As we near the end of the school year it is timely to reflect on the approaching feast of Christmas. Prior to Christmas we go through the period of Advent.

Advent is the four-week period leading up to Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Engaging in parish and school advent activities is one way of reminding us of the meaning of Christmas and the ways we can live out the Advent cycle of hope, preparation, joy, and love.

The significance of Advent is celebrated by lighting the relevant candle that marks the Advent theme for that week.

The Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope – purple colour.
The Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Love – purple colour.
The Shepherd Candle or the Candle of Joy – rose colour.
The Angel Candle or the Candle of Peace – purple colour
Christ Candle – white colour.

Jesus focused on people in need, people who were blind, paralysed, and lame. Rather than claim anything for himself, Jesus told them to look around and see what was happening in their midst. This was the theme of our beautiful mass last Thursday celebrated for us by Fr Paddy Sykes. We were reminded that the huge number of Christmas hampers for those families in need served by St. Vincent DePaul is symbolic of the need to reach out to those around us in need and support them; that those the hampers are to go to are likely someone they may know; that they themselves may one day be in need.

We took the opportunity last Thursday to farewell Fr Paddy as he ventures off to St. Joseph’s Junee, mindful of the great gift he has been to our and the Our Lady of Fatima community these past twelve years. His impact has been transformational and the wonderful standing ovation he received was testament to the wellspring of love our community has for him.

On Friday we had the wonderful opportunity to recognise the many and varied students who achieved recognition for their academic work, work habits and co-curricular involvement. These are outlined below in this newsletter but I offer my own congratulations to them and as I asked all students to take from 2022 the positive growth they have seen and build on this in 2023.

This week our Year 12’s receive their HSC results. For the vast majority this will be of less relevance as they are already accepted into university on early entry schemes or have traineeships set up or have started work. However it is a time to celebrate their achievements and their resilience through the Covid period. No year group in living memory has faced such a disruption to what would be their normal Year 10-12 progression. They have done very well and we are very proud of their achievements.

We know too that the media will try to focus on reductive measures that try to simplify and label schools. We know that the reality of a student’s learnings from school are much wider and much deeper than the minimalist approach of ATAR’s or Band 6 achievements. These are but one ingredient of the measures of success that need to be applied. We are a school that focuses on the learning growth of each student and academic achievement then looks after itself which it resoundingly does.

Academic achievement is very important but we are also in the business of preparing students for a complex world with values, capabilities and competencies that will prepare them for this challenge. We also do this in partnership with our parents and families. As we head towards the media scrum on school ranks and ATAR’s I do hope we retain perspective on what a great school Kildare is, that we are a college always striving to continually improve what we do.

If we want to compare, let's use holistic measures looking at the quality of our graduates and the many ingredients that make up what a great school Kildare is and seeks to continue to be. We are in the business of forming fine people in the image of God. A number to rate them really doesn't cut the mustard.

Staff News

(These were detailed at our presentation ceremonies last Friday)

Departing staff:

Ms Christine Savage- moving to Albury to Xavier Catholic College
Mrs Catherine Banks- moving to CEDWW as Secondary Curriculum Leader
Mrs Larissa Byrne- moving to St Mary Mackillop College Wagga Wagga
Mrs Kristina Wesley- Moving to Queensland.
Ms. Joanne Virgona- moving to the Lutheran School Wagga Wagga
Mrs Penny Mackay- parenting leave until Aug 2023)

Coordinators who have stood back from roles

Mrs Sharon Forwood
Mrs Steph Garrod
Mrs Kym Halloway
Mrs Louisa Reynolds
Ms Cherie Kendall
Ms Ali Sutton- teaching (0.6 in 2023)

Coordinator Appointments 2023 onwards

Ms Lauren Verdon (English and for 2023 on the college leadership team as Leader of Pedagogy)
Ms Nicole Goggin ( Benedicta )
Ms Clem Patterson (Oodgeroo)
Mr Robert Thompson (Romero)
Ms Lexi Mawson (HSIE)
Mr Tom Hull (HSIE)
Mr David Chaston (RE Curriculum)
Mr Ryan Price (Sport)
Mr Darcy Harland- (Acting VET)

We are finalising a number of teacher appointments due to staff changes, staff on leave, returning from leave and growth in the college. As a consequence we have appointed the following:

Mr Kieran Udy- Leader of Faith Formation and Mission
Ms. Jacquie Sharp- Learning Support Teacher
Ms Molly Jones- Visual Arts
Ms Sarah Ling- English
Ms. Jenna Larkin- English (P/T)
Mr Peter Duck- Science
Ms Jemma Greig- Science
Ms Nikki LLoyd- Mathematics
Ms Eleanor Hutchinson
Mr John Reilly- Maintenance Asst.
Ms. Lisa Sutherland- Uniform Shop Manager

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I encourage you to attend some of your local parish Christmas Masses and celebrations. Stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all next year, along with our other incoming families.

God Bless.

Students Who Achieved Recognition For Their Academic Work

Year 7 Awards,

Year 8 Awards,

Year 9 Awards,

Year 10 Awards,

Year 11 Awards,

House Awards,

Academic Excellence Awards,

VET Awards,

Sporting Awards,

MacKillop Awards,

Nano Nagle Awards,

Kildare Foundation Scholarship Awards,

Student Excursion

A visit to Zana Aerial Dance Studio and Hababi Chicken