Assistant Principal Message
Simon Huntly
Hello Everyone,
The past two weeks have been action packed for our community. We have had celebrated the outstanding contributions made by our cast, crew and staff of All Shook Up, which finished the last of eight performances at the Civic Theatre last Saturday. For those who were fortunate enough to be in the audience or work backstage, the end product epitomised everything that we espouse as passionate, collaborative members of teams and is reflective of what can be achieved given the appropriate vision, support, challenge and freedom of creativity. Again, thanks to all involved in the production and to all who supported through attending the shows.
On Monday our AFL teams were represented in each of the Grand finals that were played at Robertson Oval. Our Girls 15 Years and Boys 15 Years teams performed valiantly, and were runners-up in both competitions. Congratulations to players and coaches for the time and effort that went into getting into the finals. Our Carroll Cup team were victorious in a closely contested final, with Kildare holding off a strong finish by Mater Dei to bring the Carroll Cup back to Coleman Street for the first time since 2010. Again, congratulations to players and staff for your commitment and effort throughout the campaign. The win sees our Senior team now progress to further rounds of the state competition.
Our Year Nine and Ten Boys and Girls touch teams participated in All School state finals last week. Both teams performed admirably and the girls lost a close final game to be runners-up. A number of players were selected to represent Combined Catholic Colleges earlier in the week after selection trials in Dubbo. Congratulations to all participants.
I was fortunate enough, in Rod’s absence, to attend the Association of Catholic Schools Principals (NSW) Conference at Cessnock last week as part of a delegation from the Wagga Wagga Diocese. We were treated to some fantastic keynote addresses and workshops presented by some of the World’s most prominent academics - these included Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Louise Stoll (UK), Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Chris Sarra (Australia), Stephen Dinham (Australia), Cardinal John Dew (New Zealand) and Bishop Mark Edwards (Australia). Each of the presenters posed some interesting insights into issues confronting Contemporary Education including Sustainability, School Improvement, Leadership, Change, Indigenous Education and Faith. It was very affirming to know that as a College and as part of a Diocesan system of schools that we are aligned with what many leading educational systems around the world are striving to achieve. It was also a confronting in some ways, in that the challenges facing 21st Century Education are many and ever changing, as is the world itself. In our efforts to educate young adults to succeed in a competitive, technological world, we also need to ensure that issues regarding environmental stewardship, faith and values of humanity are not compromised.
Vale Sister Campion McCarthy
This morning a small group of staff and students attended the funeral of Presentation Sister- Sister Campion McCarthy at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Sister Campion passed away earlier in the week at the age of 101 and was an ex-student of Mt Erin. In her near 50 years of Ministry before her retirement in 1997, Sister Campion taught across the state in Young, Ganmain, Wagga Wagga, Hay, Berrigan, and Sutherland, including stints at both Mt Erin and Trinity Senior High School, the site upon which Kildare now exists. Our condolences go to Sister Campion’s family and the Presentation Sisters community as they mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman.
Eternal rest grant unto Sister Campion, O Lord
And let perpetual rest shine upon her.
Finally, as part of our ongoing training as a faith community, a reminder that Friday June 9 is a Pupil Free Day. Staff will be engaged in Faith Formation with members of the Presentation Sister community and a number of other guest speakers. Thanks again for your continued support throughout a busy term.
