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Term 3, Week 2 | 2024

Hope | Bringing a sense of purpose – Looking Back to Look Forward was the theme for the 2024 Year 12 Retreat.

Our Year 12 students embarked on their final retreat at Nunyara Conference Centre. The Retreat’s purpose was for students to connect with their peers, engage in reflective activities, embrace our Core Values, and ultimately to have FUN!
Upon arrival, students were greeted by their past, with their baby and toddler photos, numbered and displayed – an opportunity for students to see how well they knew their peers and their teachers. Students tied ribbons on the Nano Nagle Lamp as a symbol of their light, and a challenge to be the light in all that they do. A highlight was decorating their Affirmation Bags which were then displayed, allowing students to write affirmations to each other throughout the Retreat.
The Labyrinth Walk enabled students to clear their minds by letting go of their worries in preparation for three days of spiritual reflection and rest. A walk to the Belair National Park, where students engaged in a Trust Walk and some mindfulness, was followed by a Taco dinner and S’mores by the fire.
Day Two was full of a variety of opportunities to share stories which were inspirational and humbling, and participate in Mindful Movement, Fitness Blaster and create beautiful bracelets. After dinner, students used their creative and artistic skills for Say Yes, to the Graduation Dress! activity using only newspaper, butcher’s paper and masking tape. 
The final day of the retreat began with students’ Letter of Hope to themselves as they considered their future. A student led liturgy touching on the theme of what it means to be strong and independent young women was a great end to a successful, spiritual and fun-filled Year 12 Retreat.

On Tuesday evening, Kildare College hosted the Futures Fair, an event designed to provide insight and opportunities for our students’ future pathways. We are incredibly proud of the positive response it received from families and students. The sense of unity and excitement in the air was palpable, and it affirmed the shared commitment of our community to nurture well-rounded individuals.

The Futures Fair was a unique event for families and students to engage with a diverse range of higher education providers and specialist employers. During the event, we ran informational presentations on ‘Her SACE Journey,’ which aimed to empower our young women to explore and pursue their dreams and ambitions through the completion of their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). We delved into the process of SACE for each student, tracing their journey from the end of Year 9 to the end of Year 12. We presented on the subject selection process, the possibility of including Vocational Education Training into their subject choice, and how SACE differs from the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The goal of this presentation was to inform students and families about their choices and to inspire our students to think deeply and reflect on their future pathways planning.

The higher education providers and specialist employers added immense value to the event. They shared information about courses, scholarships and support services available to students as they venture into tertiary education. Our students had the opportunity to ask questions, gain greater knowledge, and discover the many possibilities that await them at and beyond Kildare. Many students left the event with arms full of brochures and merchandise, and an enthusiasm to learn more about the options available to them. Furthermore, the feedback from stallholders was incredibly positive with many noting the eloquence and maturity of our students and glowing in their praise of how invested they are in their futures.

Our commitment to fostering an environment that empowers young women to dream big, be resilient, and embrace their unique passions remains steadfast. The Futures Fair is building on this foundation to continually improve and enhance future pathways planning opportunities for our students.

Once again, thank you to all the families who attended the event, and we look forward to continuing this journey together, guiding our students to ‘take their next step’.

On the 26 July, four Year 8 students and two Year 7 students participated in Write a Book in a Day, a competition in which students collaboratively create a children’s book within a school day. The competition exists to raise awareness about children’s cancer, with the books that the students write going to children who are in hospital.

The day was initially marked by an efficient and structured approach, as the ‘Writer’s Room’ planned out the plot and characters. They did very well to incorporate the required parameters, which included a babysitter, a chauffeur, an elf, a fast-food restaurant, and a marathon. After they pulled all these different elements together, they democratically allocated roles and chapters before writing and illustrating. The coordination and teamwork displayed were exemplary, with teachers giving very little input so as not to disrupt the creative process.

In spite of the effective organisation, before they knew it, the 11th hour (or rather, end of day PC) was near, but the writers were not phased and managed to pull it all together in the nick of time. We look forward to very positive reviews of The Birthday Marathon in the near future.