Q&A with . . . Ms Kyd

In Ms Kyd’s 12 years at St Norbert College, she has co-ordinated immersions, retreats, liturgies winter and Christmas appeals, Christian Service Learning and Norbie Care. Ms Kyd was the Assistant Principal at Holy Spirit School in City Beach before becoming the Co-ordinator of Campus Ministry in 2010, a role she describes as one of the most valuable within a school community.

St Norbert News: Thanks for joining us Ms Kyd. What has been the highlight of 2021 for you?

MK: I guess the highlight was our Kimberley Immersion in September. This year we took our biggest group – 17 students and four staff. Logistically it was a challenge trying to put the itinerary together for so many people, but through careful planning I got there in the end. The best part of the immersion is always our students and how they interact and engage fully in the immersion experience. They always do us proud. Because we have been going to Kununurra for quite a few years now, we have been able to engage with lots of different agenices who are only too willing to work with us again. My focus this year was to try and engage more with the local people especially the adults – formally and informally and I was so pleased to see the staff and students take all these experiences on board. Each night we do reflections about our day and the way the students spoke about their experiences really showed the positive impact that an immersion can have on our students.

SNN: What do you enjoy most about your role?

MK: I really enjoy the interactions with our students and our families. I love working with my student ministers who always want to reach out an support those around them. At this time of the year I work closely with the Year 9 students, often at lunchtime where we wrap boxes in Christmas paper. We have lots of laughs and its lovely to see them so happy to assist those who need it. Our students, both past and present always make me love my job. This year, just before we went on the Kimberley Immersion I had an email from a former student who attended the immersion with me in 2015 and is now working in a remote community school in Fitzroy crossing. She mentioned that the experience in Kununurra really ignited the flame to work in the Kimberley.

SNN: Of which element of Student Ministry are you most proud?

MK: I guess the thing that I am most proud of is our Norbie care Program where we really have helped those within our College community in very practical ways, when they are in crisis. Providing an evening meal for a family in crisis, lunch for individual students, hampers at Christmas time and other resources depending on the needs of the families. This is just wonderful to be able to help people and to empower others to do the same. The meals are lovingly prepared by our staff, who are always keen to sign up and be placed on the roster. It provides our staff the opportunity to put their Catholic faith into action.

SNN: Tell us about your connection to Indonesia . . .

MK: Having a personal love for Bali and its people and having been involved with the Helping Hands Across the Sands Charity group for many years, I was keen to introduce our students to the wonderful work undertaken by this charity and to give them an opportunity to see Bali through different eyes. During our last trip, in 2019, our students and staff were amazing in the way that they interacted and lent a helping hand to many different agencies in Bali. I will never forget the day that the co-ordinator of the charity said to me “I love your kids, they serve from the heart”. It still brings a tear to my eye! I know that when the borders open and we can travel again, many of those students will go back to visit the children at the Sidhi Astu orphanage, the children at the Paul Samitania School and Rescue Home and share this experience with their families.

SNN: What is one stand-out memory from the last Indonesian Immersion?

MK: I have many beautiful memories of our Immersion – Mrs Miranda and Juliana cooking over an open fire for 200 people, Jack enjoying a dance with Sister Xaverine, the appreciation of the people who lived at the tip when we gave out hygiene packs, the little ones at the school enjoying the craft activities that our students prepared for them and the “Australian” Children’s party we held at the Orphanage introducing the children to vegemite, Tim tams, lamingtons and cheezels! I often sit back and reflect on this really special immersion and I am in awe at what we did and the way that our staff and students lived out or motto of being “prepared for all good works”. This year I taught six of the students who attended the immersion with me and we often talked about it in our class discussion and it is wonderful for the students to share the impact that this experience had on them. I think in nearly 30 years as a teacher it is one of the highlights of my career.

SNN: What are the benefits to students who decide to be part of Student Ministry?

MK: I think students develop leadership skills, the ability to reach out to others who need it, organisational skills and friendship, through working with others.

SNN: Why is it important for senior students to attend Kairos?

MK: For many students who attend Kairos it is their highlight of their whole high school experience. It is important as they have the opportunity to take some time out away from the business of their life and spend some time thinking about themselves, their families, friends and God.

SNN: Let's talk numbers. How many immersions, retreats and appeals have you been involved in during your time at St Norbert College?

MK: Let's see. 10 immersions, 23 Kairos retreats and I have co-ordinated 24 winter and Christmas appeals.

SNN: Currently, Student Ministry is working on the Christmas Appeal. How many items do you hope to collect and what will happen to all the donations?

MK: We hope to put together around 75 hampers, for the Emmaus community, the Vinnies and our own Norbie care families within our community. One of the highlights in the last week of school – the staff management days is when the staff pack and deliver hampers for the Emmaus community. It is such a wonderful positive experience that really helps to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas.

Mrs L Quartermain

(Community Relations and Marketing)

PRAYER