Kildare Campus News
It’s all happening here at Kildare Campus!
We've been fortunate to have our Kildare Student Leaders present Kildare News over the PA, regularly updating our school community of the special events occuring throughout the week and also general reminders. This is done during LM and is a great way to build connections with each other but also a chance for our leaders to develop their confidence. Speaking of leaders, shortly we will be commencing the application process for our 2025 student leaders.
Our students are excited about our recently launched Sports and Arts Academies and have been busily trying to get references and videos completed for their applications. This is an exciting opportunity for our College students, one that has required vision, dedication and commitment. Our students will certainly benefit from these learning opportunities and develop greater skills to achieve their goals.
‘Skittles’ our local Eastern Bearded Dragon is enjoying her new home and is starting to be a little more active! Our terrarium has a newly installed basking lamp which gives her a sense that there is sunlight and more heat for basking. Next door in the aquarium, our Purple Spotted Gudgeons, Southern Pygmy Perchers and Murray-Darling Rainbow fish are busily swimming around and also getting much bigger. There are also two catfish in the aquarium that control the algae. Quite often I will walk through the Science area and see many students trying to find Skittles and also just enjoying observing the behaviour of our friendly critters.
Our campus is looking brilliant with some recent additions and changes. There is new signage on each of our buildings: Kildare, Nagle, Brennan and Hayden buildings all named after key places and people associated with our history and faith. The garden at the front of campus has been beautified with the addition of some new plants and landscaping.
Just a couple of reminders that our students are expected to be in the correct school uniform. We often see hoodies coome through the school gates at this time of the year, and if this is the case students are asked to remove it and put it in their bags. Those students who travel on our branded shuttle bus are required to have a smart card loaded with available funds. If they don’t, they may be refused travel.
Jarrod O'Brien
Kildare Campus Director
SJC Receives $6M for Stage 3 Works
St Joseph’s College Echuca has received $6 million in State Government funding to progress to Stage 3 of its capital works plan.
The funding is part of the Victorian Government’s $450 million package announced in the 2023-24 Budget to build and upgrade low-fee Catholic and independent schools across the state.
The Building Fund for Non-Government Schools allocates funding for Catholic schools over one grant round. Under the fund’s Catholic stream, 65 schools will share in more than $243 million.
St Joseph’s College Principal Anne Marie Cairns welcomed this week’s funding announcement, which will enable works to continue uninterrupted on the school’s Master Plan for Kildare Campus.
“Our expansion to a multi campus school last year marked a pivotal chapter for the College, and the wider community,” Ms Cairns said.
“And while our staff and students are enjoying state-of-the-art facilities at our new Kildare Campus, our work there is not yet done.
“We are thrilled the State Government has recognised the value and importance of this ongoing project for our College and the surrounding community, and we look forward to progressing to the next stage of works.
“This funding is not just an investment in our school’s infrastructure, but in the future of our students and the local community. It allows us to continue providing the very best educational opportunities and facilities that our students deserve.”
Stage 3 of the school’s Master Plan includes a Multipurpose Learning Centre at Kildare Campus which will provide spaces for performing arts, sport and physical education, science, community use and teacher planning. This centre will include an indoor stadium with two full size basketball/netball courts and retractable seating, a 246 seat theatrette, performance stage, foyer, kiosk, and full amenities including change rooms and toilets.
There will also be an extension to the Stage 2 Learning Building to provide more classroom space for students.
Ms Cairns said Stage 3 works are expected to commence in early 2025.
