Staff and students became highly competitive during our annual Winter Warmers Vinnies Collection. The pinnacle of the collection came on Friday coinciding with Tracksuit Day (Friday Funday), which saw an unprecedented volume of donations arrive at the Chapel collection point.
| House | Number of Donations |
| Chanel | 493 |
| Nagle | 355 |
| Kildare | 303 |
| Delany | 249 |
| Brigid | 229 |
Overall total of donations: 1629 (not including staff donations!).
CA had the greatest number of donations with 156. In second place CF 122, and in third place NF with 86.
A brave group of volunteers attended our annual Winter Sleepout in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness. Students played a ‘Cost of Living Monopoly’ game which gave them a realistic look at what it is to live below the poverty line. They mindfully folded origami houses which have been displayed in our Resource Centre to represent the social housing we desperately need in South Australia.
Our sleepout participants were also visited by Vinnies volunteers Annette, Margaret and Peter who spoke about the inspiring work they do everyday for vulnerable people in our community. Their visit was incredibly heartwarming and they were grateful for the generosity of our College community.
Our generous spirit was taken one step further during the Senior Years Cook Up. A valiant and generous group of Years 10 and 11 students gave up 3 lessons and cooked up a storm. 11 trays of pasta bake and almost 100 banana muffins were donated to Fred’s Van, collected warm from the oven.
These initiatives and the generous spirit of both staff and students are testament to our Core Values – Hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Courage, Hope and Wonder, and see the Living Justice Living Peace Charter alive and well in the corridors of Kildare College.
High school is a time for growth, learning and building friendships. Our annual Kildare College Social | Shimmer and Shine, perfectly captured these moments, as we celebrated with students from Blackfriars Priory School and Rostrevor College. This special occasion embraced inclusivity and fostered new connections, creating a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere for all.
The venue was transformed into a shimmering wonderland with twinkling decorations, an enchanting balloon garland, a sheer curtain backdrop, fairy lights, and vibrant colours, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening. The Year 12 Student Leadership Team played a key role, ensuring the event was warm, engaging and welcoming for everyone.
The night was filled with exciting activities, including a lively dance-off that had the crowd cheering and applauding.
A live DJ kept everyone on their feet, while the shimmering photo booth provided a fun way to capture memories to last a lifetime. Ice-breaker games and shared song requests helped students from across the different schools connect and build new friendships.
As our Shimmer and Shine Social came to an end, students left with big smiles, a sense of connection and hopeful for what is to come – fitting in our year of ‘Hope’. The car park buzzed with excited chatter and happy reunions, as families heard about the night’s highlights.
The true magic of our Kildare College Shimmer and Shine Social was in the friendships forged and the joy shared.
It was a spectacular evening and memorable celebration for our students that will be cherished long after the final sparkle fades.
At Kildare College our students have demonstrated that they are creative, independent and cooperative learners who continuously seek excellence and success. Recently, we celebrated the excellence of our students at the Academic Assemblies. This year, as part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, we refined our award categories to better recognise and celebrate our students’ achievements. Each grade band is now assigned specific marks, with an A+ equating to 15 marks, an A to 14 marks, an A- to 13 marks, and so on, to create a Grade Point Average (GPA) for each student. As part of these improvements, we were excited to introduce two new academic achievement awards:
- The High Distinction Academic Award with a GPA of 14 and above
- The Distinction Academic Award with a GPA of 13 and above
We also recognise our students who put in consistent effort and maintain a positive attitude towards their studies across the semester. We assign marks to the Application to Study and Organisation criteria, which are then converted to a percentage. Endeavour Awards were presented to students who achieved above 93% and who have excellent organisational skills and application to their study.
During the assemblies, we also welcomed back two old scholars, Amatullah Mansurwala and Natasha Polglase.
Both students spoke of their love of learning whilst at Kildare and the importance of being involved in as many opportunities as possible whilst at school. They also told us that pathways are not defined and that there are many different opportunities for our students to take once they leave Kildare. We thank the families for coming out and sharing the occasion with their daughter and the wonderful performances that were showcased from our dancers and musicians.
National Science Week 2024 at Kildare embraced the theme “Species Survival: More Than Just Sustainability” through a series of engaging activities. Students explored conservation efforts for Port River dolphins, gaining insights into the challenges these creatures face. A species survival scavenger hunt around the College deepened their understanding of biodiversity, while another activity involved analysing whale snot to learn how this research reveals the health of marine animals. Led by our dedicated Science and STEM teachers, the week provided a hands-on learning experience for everyone.
Kildare College also excelled at the 2024 STEM MAD State Competition. Competing against eight South Australian secondary schools, all three Kildare teams earned the opportunity to showcase their projects. Year 8 students Amelie, Navya, and Rui won first place with their innovative Micro-Filter Force, designed to filter microplastics from water and promote environmental sustainability. The Year 9 team of Radhika, Vama, and Seher secured third place with their project, Robotic Space Vacuum. Our other Year 9 team of Prabhjit, Sophie, and Bianca just missed out on placing; their Ferru-Ray project was highly commendable. This marked Kildare College’s second consecutive year as South Australian Winners in this prestigious competition.
Learn more about this exciting achievement here.
