KITE

Term 3: Celebrating our Excellence in Action

With Dr Ron Ritchhart’s three-year academic residency drawing to a close, Term 3 was a chance for teachers to reflect on the important learning we have gained. Across his time with us, Dr Ritchhart facilitated whole-school professional learning, small group workshops, and faculty-specific projects to strengthen pedagogy. This work culminated in a celebratory faculty session where staff used reflective protocols to consider impact and plan next steps.

Alongside intellectual growth, we continued our commitment to staff wellbeing with the third of four workshops led by Dr Daniela Falecki. Staff explored recognition, energy management, and resilience through frameworks such as self-worth theory and the 4Cs of mental toughness. Dr Falecki reminded us of our capacity to “recharge and take control,” with staff noting the program reset their understanding of wellbeing and strengthened their confidence to sustain their energy.

Our culture of innovation was also evident in curriculum leadership. At the 2025 Mathematical Association of New South Wales (MANSW) Conference, Andy Greasley, Mathematics Teacher and Data Integration Specialist, presented research on using data science to optimise Year 12 subject selection. His work, part of MANSW’s inaugural leadership stream, highlighted Kambala’s role at the forefront of encouraging more students - particularly girls - to pursue mathematics.

Kambala’s thought leadership in pastoral care was showcased by Paige Zavaglia, Head of Year 8 and Middle Years Pastoral Care Program Coordinator. At the ICGS Symposium in Christchurch she presented her design of a Middle Years Pastoral Care program, drawing on the Kambala Philosophy for Dispositional Learning and the CASEL framework. She then presented at the Collective Solutions with Wellbeing and Trauma Aware Pedagogies conference in Adelaide, emphasising the vital role of mentors in strengthening student connection at a time when belonging is in decline.

We are proud of practitioners such as Mr Greasley and Ms Zavaglia, whose contributions embody the values we cultivate in our students and reinforce Kambala’s reputation as a leader in educational excellence.

Ms Lauren Walsh

Head of Professional Practice and Learning Culture