From the Principal

Dear Families of Killester,

As the school year drew to a close the College had a number of celebratory events last week that enabled us to acknowledge the work of staff and students, and gather together as a community to celebrate our rich heritage. Our Awards assembly recognised students for their success this year, in doing this the College acknowledged that success this year was vastly different to the ways in which we have defined success in years prior. For many of our students success had to be determined against the context of every individuals experience during the pandemic, thus was born the Resilient Learner Awards. These awards acknowledged not only academic achievement but, where applicable, adversity that has been overcome to reach an individual's version of success. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our award winners for 2020. 

On Thursday, a day of glorious Melbourne weather, we celebrated Brigidine Day. Normally held in August we held off for as long as possible so that we could come together as a community to embrace the most anticipated day in the Killester calendar. We missed our Year 12 students very much but those who were able to attend participated with great enthusiasm in all activities; in particular the staff vs student football match which is always a highlight. The day commenced with a virtual liturgy in homerooms which meant we opened by reflecting on our rich heritage and acknowledging those who had worked hard before us to allow us to celebrate such a wonderful day.

On Friday homerooms spent a double period working through the student version of Killester Dreaming. The feedback and data collected from the morning is invaluable in helping us to hear the voices of our young women in how they believe we can strive on our path of continual improvement. This data, along with the parent feedback surveys and numerous sets of staff data, will inform our strategic planning for the next few years. The students were respectful and thoughtful in their feedback and I thank them for embracing this opportunity with such openness.

It is impossible to end the year without acknowledging and thanking all of the people in our community who have worked so incredibly hard in what has been the most challenging year many of us have ever experienced in education. Firstly I would like to thank the young women of Killester, they have been outstanding in the way in which they have conducted themselves this year. They have been committed to their studies, thoughtful of others and respectful at all times. They are to be commended for their attitude, application and true engendering of our College motto, being women of "strength and kindliness". To our parents I extend my sincere thanks, we know that when we work in partnership the educational, wellbeing and spiritual outcomes for your daughters are greatly enhanced. It has been a year full of challenge but our ability to work with families has enhanced the ways in which we work and the opportunity for us to continue to learn and evolve.

The staff at Killester are without doubt one of the most dedicated and vibrant groups of people with whom I have ever had the privilege to work. They have shown this year that they are not only deeply committed to the young women of Killester, they are agile, compassionate, critical thinkers who have extraordinary resilience and good humoured. To them we owe an enormous debt of gratitude for the way in which they have gone about their work in 2020. All staff at the College have done a phenomenal job however I would be remiss if I were not to personally thank the leadership team of Ms Faye Jamieson, Ms Loreto Cannon, Ms Luana Doko, Ms Sandra Rotunno, Mr Steve McPhail and Mr Peter O'Neill. They have worked tirelessly all year and have always had at the heart of their decision making the best interests of our young women. 

I wish to particularly thank Ms Luana Doko as she concludes her time on the leadership team. Ms Doko has been the leader of wellbeing at the College for many years and has remained deeply committed to the young women of Killester in this time. Ms Doko has made the decision to return to her first love, that of full-time teaching and will be a very welcomed addition to the year level teams in History and Religious Education for 2021.  

The birth of the Baby Jesus calls Christians all over the world to rejoice and celebrate, at the conclusion of 2020 there is much to be thankful for and certainly there is opportunity to pause and reflect on the year that has been. Whether or not your family celebrates Christmas, I wish all in the Killester community a healthy, calm, peaceful and hope filled holiday. I pray that for each of us the challenges of 2020 bring a new sense of purpose and recognition of what truly matters, and that we forge into 2021 with vigour and wonder.

Ms Sally Buick

Principal