As we near the end of the school year it is timely to reflect on the approaching feast of Christmas. Prior to Christmas we go through the period of Advent.

Advent is the four-week period leading up to Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Engaging in parish and school advent activities is one way of reminding us of the meaning of Christmas and the ways we can live out the Advent cycle of hope, preparation, joy, and love.

The significance of Advent is celebrated by lighting the relevant candle that marks the Advent theme for that week.

The Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope – purple colour.
The Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Love – purple colour.
The Shepherd Candle or the Candle of Joy – rose colour.
The Angel Candle or the Candle of Peace – purple colour
Christ Candle – white colour.

Fr Sean Byrnes celebrated a liturgy with our college community this week discussing Advent and encouraging our students to use this time of preparation to make room for God in their lives. He spoke of the acronym JOY referring to Jesus, Others, Yourself in that order as a path for Christian life, encouraging a life encompassing weekly mass and the sacrament of reconciliation. He also invited everyone to midnight mass at St Michael’s Cathedral on 24th December. All are welcome!

We wish Fr Sean all the very best as he heads to Holy Spirit Lavington as their new Parish Priest. We thank Fr Sean for his time with us as chaplain and for his support of the college community in so many ways. He has a deep abiding interest in young people and the place of faith in their lives and we are sure he will make a significant impact at Lavington.

With our annual prize givings we had the wonderful opportunity to recognise the many and varied students who achieved recognition for their academic work, work habits and co curricular involvement. These are outlined elsewhere in this newsletter but I offer my own congratulations to them and as I asked all students to take from 2024 the positive growth they have seen and build on this in 2025. Please see the list below in the newsletter of prize winners. Congratulations to all for their success.

Our HSC results are announced on Wednesday of next week. We are very proud of our Year 12 of 2024 and look forward to celebrating their achievements. I will write to all families through Compass with a precis of available information.

This will be enhanced in January for us by the HSC analysis data provided by Dr John DeCourcy through Catholic Schools NSW. This data provides us with information about comparative learning growth which tells the real story for us about the growth of students in their learning over time against state averages as well statewide Catholic school growth averages. We use that data for KLA and school strategic planning as well as identifying those students with significant growth who are recognised at our high achievers assembly in Term One 2025.

We know already that many of our Year 12’s have achieved their goals in regards to planned pathways through traineeships, employment or early entry offers to universities. We are grateful in particular for the work of Mrs Karen Murray in supporting students with informed advice about possible pathways and entry requirements. Her availability to our families during school hours and of an evening is greatly appreciated.

Earlier this week we conducted a Q&A for our Year 6 families as they prepare for 2024. We covered a range of questions in preparation for high school for them. We look forward to seeing them all on 31st January for their second orientation day. The link to the Q and A is here for them to access if needed LINK.

Thank you to our College Council for their ongoing support. This year we farwell and thank Mrs Tamara Jones-Hood who completes her four year term of service to our college. On your behalf I’d like to thank the whole group of Mr. Rex Stanton (Chairperson), Ms. Kelly Shaw, Ms. Felicity Day (Boarding rep), Tamara Jones- Hood and Fr Sean Byrnes for their support of the college through their work and their willingness to continue.

With a vacancy on the college council we are now looking for a replacement and invite applications, particularly from parents with younger students Years 7,8 or 9 so that a number of years on the Council might be possible. Please have a read of the guidelines here Please email me your expression of interest to brownec3@ww.catholic.edu.au

In regard to staff news, we have a number of staff changes for a variety of reasons- retirement, promotion, moving away etc.

We thank and wish well to the following who depart the college at the end of 2024:

Kerrie Green- retiring after 25 years at Kildare with the last year as casual. Kerrie served as an Academic Care and Wellbeing Coordinator of Oodgeroo House.
Claudia Reardon
Malcolm Dunstan
Benjamin Holt

One year contract appointments who finish at the college in 2024

Sarah Gestier
Matthew Henry
Molly Costello
Barbara Landrigan

We welcome the following to the college for 2025:

Samantha Taylor- English / RE

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I encourage you to attend some of your local parish Christmas Masses and celebrations. Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all next year, along with our other incoming families.

Link to all awarded recipients:

Year 7 Awards, HERE
Year 8 Awards, HERE
Year 9 Awards, HERE
Year 10 Awards, HERE
Year 11 Awards, HERE
Year 11 VET Awards, HERE
Sports Awards, HERE
Nagle Rice Awards, HERE
Mary Mackillop Awards, HERE
Academic Excellence Awards, HERE
Major Awards, HERE

God Bless.

Year 9 PASS Scuba Diving