From the Principal

Dear Killester Community,

We have experienced a couple of big weeks with the success of the swimming sports being squeezed in just before the lockdown. It was a wonderful celebration for our students to walk to the pool dressed colourfully in support of their teams. Congratulations to everyone who participated and especially Ms Roberts and the P.E. department for their amazing dedication and enthusiasm.

Last week we also started a great new tradition with the Tullow Sessions. This is the brainchild of our talented Performing Arts Coordinator, Ms Cronin, who encouraged the talents of several students to perform for a lunch time audience at the site of the Tullow Centre.  The first session was a great success unearthing new talent and providing entertainment for our students in a beautiful setting. Congratulations to Ms Cronin and the Arts Committee.

Killester participated in debating during the week. Congratulations to all students who participated eagerly and to Ms Mertz who has mentored and guided our students for many years in this endeavour. In particular our Year Nine team was most successful winning their debate. All of our young women will all be better for the experience and we thank them for representing the school so admirably.

Another great social justice initiative was launched by Ms Garofalo in connecting the Year Twelve RE cohort with St Kilda Mums. A guest speaker gave us insights to their support of struggling Mums with maternal and child care help and donations of prams, cots and kits to begin their journey as mothers. It was an inspiring talk by their CEO Gill who spoke passionately about their work. Thanks to Ms Garofalo our students will be volunteering and assisting in this program which will be a wonderful service experience for them.

This week we also saw Joey’s Food Van recommence. Four volunteers went with the St Joseph’s Parish Van to Dandenong to serve food.  Our young women were great ambassadors for the school and we again thank St Joseph’s for the opportunity to serve the most vulnerable.

Last week on Ash Wednesday we had an online liturgy for the school, slightly modified because of the lockdown. It was also the launch of Project Compassion, the major fundraiser for Caritas which is the Catholic Church’s  Aid Agency world wide. We heard stories of Jamila and Arsad at the liturgy and our opening Mass. Jamila is a Rohingya woman, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. A single mother, she fled armed conflict in Myanmar to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby. Through our partnership with Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila had access to emergency food and shelter. She eventually joined the Women Friendly Spaces project and received counselling and emotional support. She learnt about health and hygiene, and participated in a parenting program. She also learnt to sew, which enables her to fulfil her dream of supporting her now four-year old daughter and having what they need for a bright future. One of the amazing parts of Jamila and Arsad’s stories is the way Caritas has partnered with both communities to provide fresh water. This is crucial to hygiene especially in the fight against Covid 19.  Water is perhaps something we take for granted at times.  We have access to it so easily at so many points in our own homes.

Each student has received a Project Compassion Box. We have asked them to take them home for the Lenten Period and see what they can raise so that the boxes can be returned in the last week of term. If circumstances allow it we would love your support for this fundraiser. We also understand that many families have been financially challenged by Covid 19. The challenge for our students then is given by the Caritas theme of “Be More.” This comes from the  El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero who was  a great defender of the poor.  “Aspire not to have more but to be more.”  

Perhaps during this period our students can “be more” helpful at home and contribute more to their family and the community. If you would like to know more about Project Compassion talk to your daughter and place the box in a prominent place at home for donations. You can also watch the short films and stories on this site. https://lent.caritas.org.au/

In the weeks to come we will be celebrating International Women’s Day and Harmony Day. Year Sevens will be on camp and year eleven and twelve will be on retreat. Year Tens will have their “Dare to Dream” week. We look forward to these with great anticipation. 

Take care and God Bless us all

Mr Peter O’Neill

Assistant Principal, Faith and Mission