Last Thursday, 21 August, we gathered for a College Assembly, focused on celebrating the learning and outstanding achievements of our talented students. College Captains, Frazer Lugden and Charlotte Garrod chaired our Assembly for the final time in their leadership capacity and did a stunning job. Please enjoy these highlights, acknowledging individual success, community engagement, team achievements and cultural enrichment.

Guest speaker from the St Vincent de Paul Society in Wagga Wagga

Community Outreach Coordinator - Shannan Carey spoke to our community about the Winter Warmth Appeal. Shannan expressed her deep appreciation for the abundant donations and generosity of the Kildare Community. She outlined that our donations were the most prolific they had ever received and how those donations were being utilised to support the homeless and impoverished in the local region.

Tournament of Minds

Our KCC TOM Team is busy preparing for their academic competition focusing on collaborative problem solving and critical thinking. Students are given six weeks to solve a demanding, open-ended challenge in areas of The Arts, STEM, Language Literature or Social Sciences. Students present their 10-minute challenge solution to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day, which will be held next Sunday August 31st. They will also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on the day. This year, participants are tackling a Social Sciences challenge to design a new community recreational facility and a STEM challenge to propose a scientific theory for a planetary imbalance and its restoration. Good luck!

Maggie Skein winner of the The Order of Australia Association (NSW Branch) Youth Community Service Award 2025

Last year, Maggie exemplified the spirit of service and community engagement when she approached Mrs Scutti with an inspiring proposition. Maggie envisioned undertaking the formidable challenge of running a marathon with a powerful dual purpose: to raise crucial funds and vital awareness for mental health, directing her efforts towards the esteemed organisation Speak and Share. This ambitious idea, born from a desire to make a tangible difference in an area of significant community need, quickly evolved into a meticulously planned and executed endeavour. Maggie embarked on a rigorous training regimen, demonstrating remarkable discipline and commitment in her preparation for the gruelling race.

On Wednesday, October 16ᵗʰ, 2024 Maggie's dedication culminated in an extraordinary achievement. She not only completed her long-held dream of running a marathon but surpassed the official distance, covering an impressive 42.76km. Her incredible effort for the organisation Speak and Share inspired the community to donate, and she raised almost $6,000. Maggie’s selflessness and determination are an inspiration to us all, showing the profound impact one person’s vision can have on the community. On behalf of The Order of Australia Association (NSW Branch) Maggie has received the Youth Community Service Award 2025 Certificate. This Award recognises exceptional community involvement and contribution by the student, especially that extending beyond the school into the broader local, state, national or even international communities. Congratulations Maggie!

Science and Engineering Challenge: Year 9 and 10 students

A group of Year 9 and 10 students attended the Science and Engineering Challenge on 8 April this year, focusing on STEM and Design and Technology. They were ably supported by their teachers Mrs McMeekin and Mrs Watt, and were acknowledged as the Champion School. During our Assembly we congratulated Dom Goldthorpe, Josh Haase, Hayden Veitch, Leo Galloway, Bentley Shoemark, Alexia Apted, Maggie Kingham, Dave Gray, Doris Liu, Grace Kelleher, Hayley McPherson, Cody Patterson, Tom Wood, Cruz Brill, Brenton Simpson, Cooper Connolly, Oliver Kimber, Jack Newman, Max Carey, Will Kerr, Tom Woodham, Stella Bennett, Tessa Patey, Jordan Nicholls, Sophie Locker, Amelie Hoff, Austin Smit, Lincoln Merrett and Rex Martin.

College Choir

Our College Choir performed a song that they recently sang at the Leeton Eisteddfod. It was called "Ngarra Burra Ferra," an Indigenous song that featured in the movie 'The Sapphires.' We took the opportunity to acknowledge their recent success at Leeton Eisteddfod, placing first in 6 out of 7 categories. Our Kildare students won the following categories: High School Choir, School Choir, Student Conducted Choir, Sacred or Spiritual Choir, High School Vocal Ensemble, and A Capella Choir. Amazing!

Student Wellbeing Committee - Musical Bells Trial

This Committee of Year 10 and 9 students support wellbeing for our whole community and we have been considering some of our needs and listening to some concerns from our student body. Some of the needs they have identified are; encouraging students and staff to arrive on time to each lesson of the day and to feel ready, energised and positive towards the lesson.

In response to the needs we have observed and identified, we are proposing to trial a new initiative that replaces some of our current bells with music. As your student representatives we feel it would be wonderfully uplifting for students to be involved in making the song choices each week. We have come up with an idea of allocating a box in the office where students/staff can place anonymous song suggestions that are appropriate for school and limited in time to 4 minutes. A new song will be chosen for each school day. The student wellbeing team hopes to positively uplift students' mood and support everyone to make their way to lessons by the time the song is finished. We will be interested to hear from our fellow students/staff any feedback about this initiative.

Boys’ Cultural Program

Jody Siegwalt, Jason Jolley and Bryce Thomas have been working closely with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students this term to continue the valuable cultural program they commenced in Term 1. Our Aboriginal, School and Community Workers, and Teachers have been reiterating the core values demonstrated within the group and identifying how these values can be reflected in school days at KCC.

With the support of Tyrone Hurler, a local Aboriginal Artist, the students have been designing, preparing and painting their own Didgeridoos. The boys have been thoroughly enjoying their time together and learning a great deal through this cultural experience!

Year 11 Wellbeing Sessions

Our College Counsellors, Rachel Smith and Bre Camp led a couple of Wellbeing Sessions with students this week to encourage them in aspects of their self care, prior to the upcoming End of Preliminary Exams. These sessions provided an opportunity for students to think about and prioritise their mental health during periods of increased workload and stress, and consider ways they can relax, centre themselves and seek support when needed.

Year 9 and 10 Real Talk Sessions - Love and Life

As part of our commitment to the moral, social and emotional development of each student at Kildare Catholic College, we have organised ‘Real Talk’ to visit and present to Years 9 and 10 next week. Real Talk provides relationships education. Their work is grounded in Catholic Christian values, and presentations will incorporate personal sharing from a team of presenters, providing up-to-date resources, discussion, and insights on these important topics for our young people. This program is scheduled to run from Tuesday through Friday, next week - Week 7. Parents/carers received a letter via Compass earlier this week outlining the sessions and providing information.

Students in the following Year and House Groups will attend these sessions:

Tuesday 2 September: Year 9 Romero, Gandhi and Benedicta Houses will attend Real Talk
Sessions Wednesday 3 September: Year 9 King, Teresa and Oodgeroo Houses will attend Real Talk
Sessions Thursday 4 September: Year 10 Romero, Gandhi and Benedicta Houses will attend Real Talk Sessions
Friday 5 September: Year 10 King, Teresa and Oodgeroo Houses will attend Real Talk Sessions

Amelia Bright | Assistant Principal

Health & Wellbeing

Leadership Launch