Principal's Update
It has been wonderful to have students and staff return to the College this week with all Year 7, 11 and 12 students, along with our Year 10 students who are studying a VCE/VET subject, returning to onsite learning on Monday. The classrooms, offices and yard have started to return to how they should be… filled with people, conversation, laughter and colour! We very much look forward to having all our Year 8, 9 and 10 students back onsite as of Monday 26 October!
Not surprisingly the most common response by students to my question, “What are you enjoying most about being back at the College?” has been “Seeing my friends again”. We are social creatures by nature, wired to connect with others. Being socially isolated and unable to interact and connect with family, friends and colleagues has been for many the greatest challenge this year. Thankfully, the technology we have today has allowed us to remain connected, virtually at least.
As students return to onsite learning, we will be focussing on helping them to both reconnect and widen connections with one another and supporting them in adjusting to a new routine. Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, we are unable to hold year level or large gatherings and excursions are not permitted. Several College events will therefore need to be adapted and continue to be held virtually or in smaller groups. Regardless, we will continue to connect as a community, share and celebrate student contributions and achievements etc!
Two such events are our VCAL Showcase and our annual Art and Design Exhibition, both of which will be held on Thursday 22 October. At the Showcase, our students will present their Individual Project which is a key component of demonstrating their learning within the Personal Development Skills Strand of the VCAL course. In relation to the Exhibition the easy option would have been to cancel the event due to COVID restrictions; however, that was never a consideration! Instead our Art and Design students and staff will bring the Exhibition to our community virtually! We very much look forward to seeing and hearing about the achievements of our senior students at these events.
It is hard to believe that our Year 12 students are entering their final fortnight of classes. Numerous events will occur to acknowledge and celebrate their time at Kilbreda and graduation as the Class of 2020. It has been a pleasure to join our Year 12 students in recent days for their Year 7 Homeroom Reunion Morning Tea at which they have reminisced about their experiences in Year 7 and their journey at Kilbreda since.
While we cannot gather together for their Graduation Mass and Ceremony, every effort is being made to make this a special and memorable event for students and their families. We look forward to coming together virtually via Zoom on Thursday 29 October to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the exceptional young women that are our graduating Class of 2020!
Please keep our Year 12 students in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare to complete their final assessments and take their place in the wider community. May they continue to be women of Strength and Kindliness and embrace their future with hearts full of love, hope, faith and courage.
Loving God,
We pray for our Year 12 students as they near the end of their time at Kilbreda College.
We pray for all those who have taught them: that their care, dedication, love and support will provide the basis for a life time of the care of self, and care for others.
We pray that their family and friends will guide them in the weeks ahead, and we pray that you will share this journey with them and their life-long journey to come.
Amen.
Nicole Mangelsdorf
Principal