A Week of Energy, Achievement and Community

From the launch of the Kilbreda Dance Company to bands and line-dancing bringing laughter and energy to a pastoral lesson, to students proudly reciting Pi to more than 100 decimal places, the past week at Kilbreda College has been alive with enthusiasm, creativity and achievement.

While these moments have filled our days with energy, preparations are also well underway for some much-anticipated events next week – Year 7 Camp, the House Swimming Carnival and Harmony Day – all wonderful opportunities to strengthen friendships and celebrate the rich diversity of our community.

Amidst the busyness, we also paused for moments of reflection and celebration. Our International Women’s Day Breakfast provided a powerful opportunity to honour the courage, leadership and contribution of women in our community and beyond, while the Year 12 Retreat invited our senior students to step aside from the pace of daily life and reflect more deeply on their journey, their faith and the kind of people they hope to become.

Taken together, these moments – some joyful, some reflective – remind us of the vibrant spirit of Kilbreda College: a community where each young woman is encouraged to discover her gifts, support one another, and contribute her own thread to the rich and enduring story of our College.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of the strength found in community – an opportunity to reflect on our shared call to challenge the status quo and to be people of action. It was wonderful to gather as the Kilbreda College community on Friday 6 March to celebrate this significant occasion, embracing the spirit of the United Nations theme, ‘Balance the Scales.’

Our breakfast was beautifully hosted by Emma G and Matilda D, whose warmth and confidence set the tone for a morning of inspiration and celebration. We were privileged to welcome back past pupil Louise Bedford as our guest speaker. Louise, a trailblazer for women in the stock market, shared powerful and deeply authentic insights from her life journey. Drawing on the image of climbing the tower, she reminded our students that each of us must have the courage to climb our own tower in life – step by step, with determination, resilience and belief in ourselves. Her words resonated deeply as she reflected on her time at Kilbreda.

Louise’s message was both a challenge and an invitation for our students – to dream boldly, take risks and trust in their own capacity to rise to new heights.

Her inspiring presentation was complemented by thoughtful and courageous reflections from students Pratima T and Matilda E, who spoke with wisdom and conviction about the importance of lifting one another up and supporting the next generation of women to lead with confidence, compassion and purpose.

As we celebrated the achievements of women past and present, we also took a moment to honour the Brigidine Sisters, whose unwavering commitment to justice and education has shaped the foundation of Kilbreda College and so many Catholic schools across our country. These remarkable women saw need and ran toward it – creating opportunities where none existed and responding with courage and practical action. Their legacy continues to challenge us today: Where is the need? How can I help? Their hopeful and courageous spirit reminds us that meaningful change begins with those willing to step forward.

The morning concluded in a spirit of unity and celebration as the Year 10 Music Masterclass led us in a powerful performance of I Am Woman. Their voices filled the room with the unforgettable refrain:

I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.

It was a fitting conclusion to a morning that celebrated courage, possibility and the power of women supporting women.

Year 12 Retreat

Last week, our Year 12 students embarked on a deeply meaningful retreat at Rutherford Park, an opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily life and immerse themselves in self-reflection, connection and spiritual growth. The Retreat provided students with the space to develop a deeper awareness of themselves, their spirituality and their relationships – with each other and with God.

Through presentations delivered by our dedicated College staff, students explored each of Kilbreda’s core values, enriching their experience through shared stories of struggle, resilience and vitality. A highlight of the retreat was the celebration of the Eucharist, led by Father Peter Matheson, which was thoughtfully created by our students.  Centred on the 2026 College value of Justice, the mass was a powerful reminder of faith, unity and the shared road ahead.  The Retreat provided precious moments for students to pause, reflect and consider the road they have travelled, the companions who have walked alongside them and the guiding presence of St Brigid’s flame as they prepare to step beyond the gates of Kilbreda.

A heartfelt thank you to John Riddle, Bill Fitzsimons and Sue Dempster for their exceptional leadership of the Retreat, and to the staff who accompanied our students on this deeply spiritual journey.

Year 7 – 9 Meet the Team Evening

On Wednesday 4 March, we warmly welcomed students, parents, and teachers to our Year 7 – 9 Meet the Team evening, an event that highlighted the strong partnership between home and school at Kilbreda College. It was wonderful to witness the energy and engagement in the Hall as meaningful conversations unfolded, reinforcing our shared commitment to each student’s growth and success.

At Kilbreda, we deeply value the role of parents and carers as the first and most influential educators in their daughters’ lives. Your support, encouragement and presence are the foundation upon which their learning journey is built. Thank you for taking the time to connect with our teachers, ask questions and experience firsthand the dedication and passion that shape your daughters’ education every day.

Together, as a community, we are committed to empowering young women – encouraging them to approach challenges with confidence, embrace new opportunities, and become leaders of positive change. We are grateful for your partnership and trust and look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Peace in our World

As we look beyond our own community, we are also mindful that our world continues to carry deep wounds. Across many regions, conflict, fear and uncertainty are shaping the daily lives of countless families. In moments such as these, we are reminded of the profound importance of peace – peace that begins not only in global agreements or political decisions, but in the everyday choices we make to act with compassion, justice and understanding.

At Kilbreda College, we believe that education is one of the most powerful forces for peace. Each day our students learn not only knowledge and skills, but how to listen deeply, to stand alongside those who are vulnerable, and to seek justice in ways that honour the dignity of every person. These small but significant acts are the seeds from which a more peaceful world can grow.

In the spirit of our Brigidine tradition, we hold hope that even in uncertain times, kindness, courage and faith will continue to light the path forward.

A Prayer for Peace

God of peace and compassion,
In a world often marked by division and conflict,
help us to be people who build bridges rather than walls.

Give us hearts that listen with understanding,
hands that reach out in kindness,
and voices that speak with courage for justice and peace.

Bless all those who live in places of fear and uncertainty.
Strengthen those who work for reconciliation,
and guide our leaders to seek wisdom and compassion.

May we, in our own small ways each day,
bring light where there is darkness,
hope where there is despair,
and peace where it is most needed.

Amen.

Stephanie Smyth

Principal