Cardijn Connect - a source of news and information for the Cardijn community. The blog will be published every Thursday during the school term with past editions always accessible from the menu.

On Tuesday, Galilee gathered to celebrate and present our 2025 student leaders. Deputy Principal Kate Bawden joined us to congratulate the students and personally present them with their leadership badges:

🤍 Galilee Ambassadors – Cleo and Ari

🤍 Vice Ambassadors – Eli and Olive

🤍 Mission Captains – Airlie and Charlotte

R-6 Sports Captains:

❤️ Banksia – Indigo and Summer 

🧡 Marigold – Abel and Sadie

💚 Sheoak – Vivi and Tessa

💛 Wattle – Everly and Summer

The morning began with a special Community Prayer, followed by our Sand, Water, Vine, and Light Ceremony—an important tradition at Galilee.

These symbols reflect our connection to the land, our community, and our Catholic identity. As part of this tradition, Deputy Principal Kate and Year 6 teacher Daniel Foureur received a blessing, led by students Abel and Summer, to welcome all our new staff members.

To wrap up the morning, families, students, and staff enjoyed a ‘coffee and chat’ with Kate and Head of Campus Kerri. It was a wonderful way to come together and celebrate the spirit of leadership and community at Galilee.

We are pleased to report that all Year 10 and new Year 11 Marcellin students have successfully completed their White Card training!

The White Card serves as a Work Health and Safety (WHS) license, allowing students to enter worksites and building sites. The course includes both theoretical and practical, scenario-based training to equip students with the knowledge and skills to stay safe at work.

✅ Identify workplace hazards
✅ Understand safety laws and responsibilities
✅ Gain the confidence to work safely

This is a valuable step toward their future in the construction industry and workplace safety.

Year 8 Galilee Environmental Ecologists recently visited the Aldinga Scrub, exploring the Lacey Coral Lichen Circuit with John, a volunteer from Friends of Aldinga Scrub. John introduced students to native plants traditionally used as bush tucker by the Kaurna People and explained the importance of the scrub as a habitat for local wildlife.

Students learned how they can help care for this environment and gained a deeper understanding of the area's cultural and ecological significance.

The College is seeking dedicated and qualified individuals with a finance background to join the Cardijn College Finance Sub-Committee. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise and make a positive impact on our College’s financial governance.

Requirements:

• A background in finance or a related field
• Commitment to attending seven after-hours committee meetings over the course of the year

If you are interested in being part of this important committee and contributing to the financial stewardship of Cardijn College, please submit your expression of interest by Friday 21 February.

We look forward to welcoming new members who are eager to bring their valued experience to our sub-committee.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE TOMORROW | FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY

Marian Campus Drama students recently participated in workshops led by industry professionals, enhancing their theatre skills!

Year 10 Drama: Commedia dell’Arte

Year 10 students explored Commedia dell’Arte with professional performer Alessandro Gavello. They immersed themselves in Italian comedic theatre, embracing iconic stock characters and improvisational techniques. The dynamic workshop encouraged bold character choices and refined storytelling skills, emphasising physicality and audience engagement. A heartfelt thank you to Alessandro for this enriching experience!

Stage 2 Drama: Physical Theatre

Stage 2 students engaged in a physical theatre workshop with renowned practitioner Craig McArdle. They learned to connect with their physicality and convey emotion through movement. The session, aimed at preparing them for ensemble pieces inspired by Frantic Assembly, fostered collaboration and strengthened their bonds as a team. Our gratitude goes to Craig for inspiring students to push their creative limits.

Reflections from our students: 

• “The quality of the plays and rehearsals is supported by cast members being comfortable with each other to ask questions and help each other without judgement. With this knowledge, I will try and build trust and connection with cast members in future productions to, not only make plays and rehearsals run smoother, but also truly understand each other as people to help each other without harsh judgement.” – Marina, Year 12 student

• “Through this experience, I learnt the impact of an intense situation in stage-work and how simple but effective facial expressions can impact an actor and audience’s emotions and perception of the scene. “ – Cooper, Year 12 student

We are excited to announce that Year 12 student, Bentley has officially started an apprenticeship with Multifab Engineering. He is on his way to completing a Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade.

We are also thrilled to announce that Year 12 student, Jarrah has signed up with AIH Construction to pursue his Certificate III in Carpentry.

Pictured with Michelle (Mum) a Cardijn Alumni and Kylie from MAS National.

Congratulations to both Bentley and Jarrah on taking this exciting step!

As part of their curriculum, all Year 11 Electrotechnology students from Marcellin Campus undertake CPR training, equipping them with essential life-saving skills. This hands-on training not only prepares them to respond effectively in emergencies but also reinforces workplace safety and readiness—an invaluable asset in their future careers.

Please join us for an informative, free session designed to help parents understand the challenges and opportunities of raising teenagers in a technology driven world. This session will explore the impact of social media, screen time, and digital wellbeing, providing practical strategies to guide teens toward responsible and balanced technology use. Join us to gain insights, ask questions, and feel empowered to support your child in navigating the online world safely and confidently.

Light refreshments, including wine and cheese, will be provided as we unpack the challenges and opportunities of raising digitally savvy young people in an ever-connected world.

We are also excited to share an update on the new building to the west of the Marian Campus and share some student insights into our newly implemented Mobile Digital Devices Procedure.

Please register your attendance for this free session: 🔗 Navigating Screens & Raising Teens 

Our captains are ready to lead and work closely with students and staff to create a positive and memorable school year.

💬 We asked them what they’re most looking forward to this year:

• Astrid, College Captain: "I'm excited to focus on service leadership, using my position to serve and connect with the college community. As this is my final year, I also look forward to creating lasting memories for the Year 12 students before they embark on life beyond school."
  
  
• Tan, College Captain: "I am most looking forward to collaborating with my cohort to plan activities, address concerns, and resolve any issues within my capacity to ensure that everyone's year is as enjoyable and comfortable as possible."
  
  
• Khalan, Mission Captain: "As the mission captain, I am looking forward to creating new opportunities and events within our growing Marist school. I want to make the most out of every opportunity with my peers, including school events and extracurricular activities. I can't wait to see what Year 12 holds for me."
  
  
• Laylah, Mission Captain: "I am most excited about forming meaningful connections with my cohort as we enter our final year of school together. This is an opportunity to create lasting memories, support each other through the challenges of Year 12, and grow both academically and personally before the opportunities that lie ahead."

A big congratulations to Lombard House for winning the 2025 Sports Day Championship, and well done to Mackillop House for taking home the Spirit Cup! On Friday, all teams displayed incredible teamwork, participating enthusiastically, proudly wearing their team colours, and cheering with amazing energy! A huge thank you to all students from the three campuses who attended and embraced the true spirit of Cardijn at Sports Day. A special shout-out to the staff for their hard work and dedication—both on the day and in the lead-up to making the 2025 Sports Day an amazing experience for everyone! 

On Tuesday night, we had the pleasure of welcoming Year 9 families from Marian and Galilee Campus to an information session about the Rite Journey Program, which the students will be part of throughout 2025. Andrew Lines, the program's founder, delivered an inspiring presentation and urged parents to help their young people build resilience by avoiding the urge to rescue them, and instead encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and take risks. Throughout the Rite Journey Program, students will be pushed to challenge themselves, developing essential lifelong skills as they transition from childhood to becoming confident young adults ready to make a positive impact on the world. 

I encourage all parents to embrace these opportunities and continue ‘partnering up’ with us at Cardijn. Please join us at the upcoming ‘Navigating Screens & Raising Teens’ parent session at Marian Campus on Tuesday, 4 March (Week 6) at 6pm. 

Kate Bawden,

Deputy Principal