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.

Congratulations to Carlie Sherwood on being named the South Australian recipient of the 2025 HEIA Teacher Excellence Award. This prestigious national honour, presented by the Home Economics Institute of Australia, celebrates educators who demonstrate exceptional commitment to teaching, curriculum innovation, student engagement, and professional leadership within the field of Home Economics. Carlie was selected from a strong field of nominees across the state, making this recognition a significant and well-earned achievement.

Carlie is also one of our certified Lead Teachers at Cardijn — a recognition awarded through a rigorous national process overseen by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). This status reflects her expertise, professionalism, and ongoing contribution to improving teaching and learning across the College.

At Cardijn, we are proud to be a community of capable and committed teachers, and Carlie exemplifies these qualities in every aspect of her work. Her passion for education, dedication to student learning, and leadership within the profession continue to make a lasting impact. Well done, Carlie, on this outstanding achievement.

As part of their latest challenge, Marian Year 12 Food & Hospitality students put their culinary and critical thinking skills to the test in a unique food experiment. Working in teams of four, they planned, prepared, and presented two identical dishes that embodied the Tastes of Onkaparinga—but with a twist!

Each team had access to the same recipe and ingredients, but with one key difference: one pair sourced their ingredients from a nationally recognised supermarket, while the other pair used locally sourced produce from greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, and Foodland.

The dishes were then blind taste-tested using a sensory evaluation star, with students assessing factors such as freshness, flavour, and overall appeal to determine which ingredients produced the superior dish.

Beyond the kitchen, students have been developing essays exploring the benefits of buying local, aligning their research with the Go South, Go Local campaign. Their inquiries delve into the nutritional value of supermarket versus locally sourced produce, as well as the broader impact of food choices on public health.

This challenge reinforced the importance of supporting South Australian farmers and producers while encouraging thoughtful, informed decisions about food sourcing.

Our Year 12 Marcellin students had an amazing retreat at the Tree Climb in Kuitpo Forest on Tuesday 25 March!

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to challenge themselves, build teamwork, and enjoy the great outdoors.

Our talented students have been working tirelessly throughout Term 1 to bring the hilarious world of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical to life on stage!

We are thrilled to present this family-friendly musical in Week 6 of Term 2, marking the South Australian premiere of this exciting production.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Greg Heffley’s misadventures or discovering them for the first time, this show promises laughs, catchy songs, and a fun-filled experience for all ages.

SHOW DATES:

🎭 Matinee Performances: 4 & 5 June @11AM
🎭 Evening Performances: 5, 6 & 7 June @7PM

All performances will be held at Futures Church South 

Don’t miss your chance to witness this exclusive SA debut!
Tickets are selling fast already—secure yours now and support our incredible students as they bring this beloved story to life.

Directed by Ruby Pinkerton, Music Directed by Jakob Caudle, and Choreographed by Nadia Sinkinson & Georgia Zientara

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual's brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.

Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.

Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child.

Access this week's edition here: School TV: Neurodiversity

The Year 8 Environmental Ecologists recently visited their third local excursion to the Aldinga Washpool, a significant site for local wildlife and Kaurna Culture. During the visit, students were once again met by John from 'Friends of Aldinga Scrub', who shared valuable insights about the area’s ecological importance.

The students heard about the incredible migratory birds that travel thousands of kilometres from Siberia to the Washpool. These birds rely on the Washpool as a crucial stopover on their long journey, providing an essential resting and feeding ground.

Students also gained an understanding of the deep connection the Kaurna People have to the Aldinga Washpool. John explained how the Kaurna people have traditionally cared for and maintained the land, using their knowledge of the environment to ensure its sustainability.

This excursion allowed students to deepen their appreciation for both the biodiversity of the Washpool and the cultural significance it holds for the Kaurna People. It helped them to see that they too can play a vital part in caring for this special place.

Congratulations to Year 12 student, Amelia who has signed up as an apprentice with Breakout Heavy Diesel Pty Ltd.

Amelia is working towards completing her Certificate III Mobile Plant Technology. Pictured with her is Director Andrew Sharp and her proud parents.

We wish her all the best in her apprenticeship!

Last week, our Year 6 students from Galilee had an exciting excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre! They explored animal adaptations, walked along the coast collecting litter, discovered fascinating sea life, and engaged with the centre’s interactive resources, including Virtual Reality headsets, touchscreens, and interactive models. This excursion deepened their understanding of marine ecosystems and conservation.

Judd Wins Round 1 of the FIM MiniGP Australia Championship

Year 8 Marian student Judd competed in Round 1 of the FIM MiniGP Australia Championship held in Newcastle, New South Wales, from March 7 to 9, 2025. The event presented challenging weather conditions, resulting in 26 tyre changes and a mid-race switch to wet tyres.

Despite these tough conditions and strong competition, Judd secured the victory in Race 2 after completing 18 laps in drizzling rain on slick tyres. His performance also earned him the overall round victory, marking a strong start to his national season. There were lots of tense moments, uplifting moments, and in Judds words, ‘we were humbled’ by all of the above. 

Keiran & Nicole Compete at the Swimming State Championships

Year 7 Marian student Keiran and Year 11 Marian student Nicole competed at the Swimming State Championships this month, delivering strong performances over five days.

Nicole swam in eight heats, qualifying for all eight finals. She achieved six personal bests, won silver in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, bronze in the 200m medley, and secured two more National qualifying times. She now has four National times and will compete in Brisbane next month.

Keiran swam in eight heats, making seven finals. He achieved 15 PBs, improving in every swim. On the final day, he took 12.9 seconds off his 100m backstroke time to win gold.
Well done to both swimmers!

Julia & Mackenzie Secure Silver in the National Indoor Netball Competition in Perth 

Year 12 Marian students Julia and Mackenzie represented South Australia in the Under 18 Mixed Indoor Netball Team at the national competition in Perth from February 15-22.

Over eight days, they competed in both 6-a-side and 7-a-side matches against teams from New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland. The team secured fourth place in the 7-a-side competition and second place in the 6-a-side, proudly bringing home silver medals!

Sienna's Performance at the Gold Coast Cheerleading Nationals

In December 2024, Year 9 Galilee student Sienna performed at the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) Nationals on the Gold Coast. She competed with Rebel 4orce Cheerleading and was part of two teams:

• Villains Team: Senior Level 3 National Champions and Grand Champions.​
• Hades Team: Senior Level 4 National Champions and Grand Champions.​

Sienna is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming national championships later this year, with her sights set on the World Championships in America in 2026. We wish her continued success in her cheerleading endeavours!

Year 11 Plumbing, Construction & Electro students received CITB Trade Backpacks filled with essential tools, PPE, and resources—to support their journey into the trades.

Plus, they benefited from a special CITB presentation providing valuable industry insights. A fantastic initiative to kickstart their careers!

Join us for Galilee’s Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, 8 April.

This is an opportunity to bring the community together, to share key information, ask for feedback and enjoy some cheeses & wine! 

Refreshments will be served from 5:30 PM, and the meeting will run from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Galilee Hall.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, 1 April using this link: RSVP Here

On Wednesday, 2 April, the Learning Conversations will take place from 2:00pm.

🚨 Early Dismissal: All students at the Marian Campus will finish at 1:20pm.

Congratulations to our Marian Middle School 'All-Rounders' for their outstanding contributions to our community and for embodying Our Cardijn Way.

Your dedication and spirit make a real difference—well done!

Our Marcellin students have been gaining valuable work experience this term, thanks to the amazing support of local businesses!

• Plowman Restorations (Engineering) hosted Year 10 students Ghage & Harley.
• Auto Masters Morphett Vale (Automotive) welcomed Year 11 student Oliver.
• CMI Hino (Automotive – heavy diesel) welcomed Year 11 student Olive. 
• Conma Industries (Engineering) welcomed Year 10 student Shayla.
• Blue Dog Roofing (Roof plumbing) welcomed Year 10 student Zahli.

We appreciate these businesses for giving our students real-world insights into their future trades!

As Easter draws near and our Lenten journey continues it is timely to reflect, possibly again, on Pope Francis’ Easter Message for Lent 2025.

Pope Francis' Message for Lent 2025 has as its theme, “Let us journey together in hope”. This year's Lenten season begins on 5 March, Ash Wednesday, and ends on 17 April, Holy Thursday.

The Holy Father's Message is inspired by the Jubilee 2025 theme “Pilgrims of Hope”.

“This Lent, as we share in the grace of the Jubilee Year, I would like to propose a few reflections on what it means to journey together in hope, and on the summons to conversion that God in his mercy addresses to all of us, as individuals and as a community,” Pope Francis writes.

In his Message, the Holy Father underlines that to journey “evokes the lengthy journey of the people of Israel to the Promised Land” and adds that “a first call to conversion thus comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life”, as we reflected during World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2024.

Secondly, the Pope underlines that this journey is made together and explains that “Christians are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travellers”, it is necessary “to walk together, to be synodal” because “this is the vocation of the Church”.

In conclusion, the Holy Father affirms that it is necessary “to journey together in hope, for we have been given a promise”, in that “hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5).

This is the third call to conversion, which is the central message of the Jubilee, “a call to hope, to trust in God and his great promise of eternal life”. For this reason, the Pope encourages us so that hope “may be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter”.

Something to ponder as we journey together!

Steve Byrne
Principal