Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Friends,

Winter has definitively arrived this week and everyone has felt the chill. It was a sober reminder of how difficult it must be for those who are homeless or can’t afford heating let alone food. Today we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart which reminds us of the love and care Jesus showed to the vulnerable and poor. Girls brought donations of food to our Mass which were delivered to the local St Vincent de Paul in Springvale. The food will be distributed to the needy in our local area and whilst this is good, it is important for us to remember that care for others is an all year round responsibility. Girls have many opportunities to show care towards others through school activities and are encouraged to continue these acts of generosity when they become young adults.

We were wowed this week at the ‘Heroines, Heroes and Villains’ music concert held in the Kennedy Hall on Monday night. Yet again the music department, led by Mr Hickey, put together a wonderful evening of entertainment with the girls showcasing their talent. It was a great culmination of the work students have done across this semester and for which they can be proud. The music department is made up of a team of enthusiastic classroom teachers and instrumental teachers who encourage girls to extend beyond their expectations. Sincere thanks to all staff involved in this department and to the others who helped on the night, including our VET Hospitality class and Mr Tucker.

This week has been ‘Wellbeing Week’ at Killester and we officially opened our Wellbeing Centre for students. This is a great space where we hope to meet the needs of individuals and groups who need time out to manage their stress or anxiety. As part of the activities this week, yoga, mindfulness and meditation have been on offer as well as a range of speakers. The centre brings together a number of expert staff who work with students in the areas of wellbeing, pathways and careers. We hope this week is the beginning of many services provided for the girls to support them during their time at Killester. Thank you to Ms Doko, Ms Comptom and Mrs Rotunno for enabling the centre to finally come into fruition.

As we look towards the final week, a number of students will be reflecting on their Semester 1 results. In particular, senior students who have just undertaken exams. June holidays is a great time to regroup and set goals, organise the study area and make changes that will help improve study habits. Year 12 girls especially need to take advantage of this time. However, it is important for girls to ensure they also do some relaxing activities, get plenty of sleep and aim to return to term 3 with good health and well rested. Term 3 tends to be a long term so planning and preparation will assist with success. Parents can expect to receive reports in the first week of the holidays.

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy week ahead,

Leanne Di Stefano, Principal

Killester College Three Generations of Principals

Ms Di Stefano, 1999-2019, Sr Helen Toohey, 1982-1998, Ms Sally Buick, 2019