Last week, our Physics students and staff joined more than 200 students from 12 all girls schools for the incredible opportunity to hear from Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia’s first qualified astronaut and the 2026 Australian of the Year.
Katherine captivated the room as she shared her journey from growing up in Adelaide with a childhood dream of travelling to space, to completing astronaut training through the European Space Agency and becoming qualified for future spaceflight missions.
While her achievements are extraordinary, what stood out most was her humility and honesty. Katherine spoke openly about moments of looking at the remarkable people around her and wondering why she belonged among them, despite it being obvious to everyone listening exactly why she did.
Her message to our students was powerful:
- Give things a go.
- Be prepared to do the hard work.
- Pursue opportunities even when there is no guarantee of success.
Katherine herself is a wonderful example of this. Completing astronaut training does not guarantee that she will one day travel to space, but that uncertainty has never made the journey, effort or experience any less worthwhile.
Our students were in awe as Katherine spoke, but perhaps the most exciting part came afterwards. Their conversation was filled with optimism, possibility and excitement about the future and about where their own pathways might take them.
At Kildare, experiences such as this are an important part of the opportunities we seek to provide, encouraging our students to look beyond the classroom, explore where their interests might take them and imagine possibilities for their future.
Sometimes, looking to the stars reminds us just how much is possible
Science and STEM learning continue to thrive at Kildare College, with students embracing exciting opportunities to explore, innovate and make a positive impact in their community.
This year’s National Science Week theme, Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All, inspired a range of engaging lunchtime activities across the College. Students participated in seed capsule creation, avocado seed germination investigations, STEM Club challenges and a Science Week scavenger hunt. These hands-on experiences encouraged curiosity and discovery, demonstrating how small ideas can grow into meaningful scientific understanding.
We are also celebrating several outstanding student achievements in Science and STEM. Congratulations to Aubree Christie, who received a Highly Commended Award in the Oliphant Science Awards Poster Competition, for her poster exploring the importance of composting. Her work demonstrated both a strong scientific understanding and a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Our Orchid Club students are preparing to showcase their orchids at the Royal Adelaide Show Orchid Competition. This exciting opportunity allows students to present their work while developing valuable skills in orchid care and propagation.
We are equally proud of our three winning teams from the Kildare College STEM Innovation Showcase, who have been selected to compete in the CESA STEM MAD State Finals. Students are now working closely with staff to develop their display ahead of the competition.
Finally, our STEM Racing team will represent Kildare College in the STEM Racing State Finals at the Adelaide Showgrounds in September. Competing in the Development Class for the first time, these students have shown exceptional dedication, teamwork and perseverance throughout their preparation.
We congratulate all students involved and thank our staff and wider College community for their ongoing support of Science and STEM opportunities.
We are delighted to be collaborating with Saint David’s Parish School for our upcoming exhibition, Waves of Wonder.
As part of this exciting project, our Year 9 Visual Art students recently visited Saint David’s Parish School to work alongside the Year 6 students, helping them begin creating their very own sculptures for the exhibition. Inspired by the theme ‘Under the Sea’, students from both schools have been exploring their creativity, developing ideas and bringing their underwater worlds to life.
The exhibition will showcase an incredible collection of student artworks from our Year 9 Visual Art, and Saint David’s Year 5 and Year 6 students, celebrating the imagination, creativity and collaborative spirit of our young artists.
We are looking forward to welcoming both school communities to Waves of Wonder in Week 9 and sharing this wonderful celebration of student creativity. We can’t wait to see everyone’s finished artworks come together!
Recently, Year 10 students took part in their annual Retreat, centred around the Core Value of Justice – making the needs of the vulnerable paramount. The focus of the day was to support Catherine House, an organisation that provides accommodation and support services for women in crisis. We were privileged to welcome Gemma from Catherine House, who spoke to the students about the vital work they do and how individuals can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable women. Her message was both inspiring and thought-provoking.
The day began with an energetic bootcamp session run by Elev8 Fit Training, which offered a fun opportunity to bond and engage in team-building activities. Students further reflected through a Letter to their Future Self and a Liturgy held at St Pius X Parish Church, providing an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Core Value of Justice and reflect on the purpose of the retreat.
In the spirit of compassion, students generously donated items to create Care
Packages for Catherine House each thoughtfully paired with affirmation cards, bracelets and a St Brigid’s Cross – a symbol of hope and healing.
The day was a meaningful reminder of the impact we can have when we come together in the service of others.
