As we reach the halfway point of Term 3, there is much to celebrate across Kilbreda. Over the past fortnight, I have been particularly struck by the many ways our students are embracing opportunities to connect, contribute, challenge themselves and grow. Whether on camp, in the classroom, through leadership, service, sport or the arts, our young women continue to demonstrate the courage to step forward and the generosity to contribute to something beyond themselves.

Our Year 7 students continue to grow in confidence and find their place within the Kilbreda community. It is wonderful to see how far they have come since first walking through our gates at the beginning of the year – the friendships they have formed, the opportunities they have embraced and the increasing confidence with which they participate in College life. As they move through their first year of secondary school, we encourage them to remain curious, have the courage to try new things and recognise the important contribution each of them makes to our community.

For our Year 8 students, their much-anticipated camp provided an opportunity to strengthen friendships, develop resilience and discover something more about themselves through adventure and challenge. The Reflection Days that followed invited them to continue this journey in a different way – considering what it means to know themselves, connect meaningfully with others and live with Strength and Kindliness. Their Medieval Day provided yet another opportunity to come together, this time bringing their classroom learning to life with great enthusiasm and energy.

Our Year 9 students have also been learning in wonderfully diverse ways. Some have been honing their hospitality skills in preparation for their upcoming Café Culture High-Teas, while others have been developing new skills through the Duke of Edinburgh Award – from crocheting to coaching sporting teams. Soon, many will embark on their BRIDGES Camp to Country, an important opportunity to listen, learn and deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and connection to Country.

Leadership has been particularly visible among our Year 10 and 11 students. A number of our Year 10 students have served on interview panels for students seeking Year 12 leadership positions in 2027. I was impressed by the maturity with which they approached this responsibility and their commitment to ensuring a fair and just process. It was a pleasure to meet with them afterwards and hear the insights they had gained through the experience.

Other Year 10 students warmly welcomed our incoming 2027 Year 7 students last Thursday, leading their Trivia Afternoon with energy, confidence and plenty of Kilbreda spirit. The following day, another group generously contributed to our staff professional learning program, participating in a student panel and sharing with staff what it is like to be a 15-year-old today. They spoke thoughtfully about their experiences of learning, the world they are navigating and their hopes and aspirations for both their own futures and the future of Kilbreda. Their voices were an important reminder that, as we look towards 2030, our young people must remain at the heart of our thinking.

Our Year 11 students are similarly reflecting on leadership – considering the qualities and dispositions they hope to bring to our College community as Year 12 students in 2027. We are deeply grateful for the courage and generosity of every student who has put herself forward for a formal leadership position. Each candidate has already contributed richly to the life of Kilbreda over the past five years, and each has demonstrated leadership through the everyday choices she makes and the ways she lives our College values.

Our Year 12 VCE VM students are approaching an exciting culmination of their six-year learning journey as they prepare for their upcoming VCE VM Showcase evenings. As part of these evenings, students will present their I Learn, I Lead projects to family, peers and staff, reflecting on their learning, growth and achievements. Their learning has also taken an entrepreneurial turn through the $20 Boss Project in Numeracy, culminating in their market stalls this week. We look forward to seeing their ideas come to life and, importantly, hearing about what they have learned along the way.

Meanwhile, many of our Year 12 student leaders are already enthusiastically preparing for Brigidine Day on Friday 18 September. This much-loved celebration of community and College spirit will once again have a strong focus on justice, with our fundraising efforts supporting Saltbush Balnarring. Our student leaders are determined, in their words, to make it the “best Brigidine Day ever” – and their enthusiasm is certainly infectious!

Across every year level, there are countless other examples of students choosing to participate, contribute and have a go. I congratulate all those who dare to step into the spotlight through opportunities such as Write a Book in a Day, our music bands and ensembles, sporting teams, public speaking competitions, sustainability initiatives and justice activities. I equally celebrate those students whose achievements may be quieter – those who persevere when learning is difficult, show kindness to another person, try something new or simply commit to giving their best each day. These moments matter too.

Supporting our Staff While Planning for the Future

At this time of year, Catholic schools across Victoria are undertaking the important work of planning and budgeting for the year ahead. At Kilbreda, this work is well underway as we consider how best to steward our resources so that we can continue to provide an outstanding learning environment for our students and a supportive and sustainable workplace for our staff.

This planning is taking place within a changing broader context, including negotiations for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement for staff working in Catholic education. While the final outcomes of these negotiations are yet to be determined, we are carefully considering the potential implications as part of our planning for 2027.

At the same time, our staff have begun an important conversation about the future of Kilbreda. Last Friday, we asked them to look beyond the immediate demands of today and imagine the Kilbreda our young women will need in 2030. We listened to student voices, considered some of the changes shaping the world our students will enter, celebrated what is distinctive and precious about our College, and began to imagine what we might strengthen, explore or reimagine for the years ahead.

There was great energy in these conversations, but also a strong sense of responsibility. Our task is not simply to respond to change for its own sake. It is to discern thoughtfully what must endure, what should be strengthened and where we need the courage to evolve.

Amidst all that may change, our purpose remains clear: to form young women who know who they are, who have confidence in their voice and abilities, who think deeply and critically, who act with compassion and courage, and who are prepared to make a positive difference in their world.

As always, our enduring commitment to Strength and Kindliness will continue to guide us as we shape the next chapter of Kilbreda together.

Stephanie Smyth

Principal