What a rollercoaster it is watching a Dockers match! Watching the preliminary final at the Year 11 Dinner Dance will certainly be a highlight of the year.
It wasn’t just the result that made it memorable, but the way the night brought different groups together. For some students, the match provided a talking point and a way to connect. Others got the dance floor going, while several made the most of the dusk light for some amazing photographs.
Those final few minutes, with the music pumping and Wharfie Time in full swing, brought the room together in a moment of shared joy, except perhaps for the few who supported the Cats!
Term 3 can also feel like a rollercoaster. I’m sure many families have navigated waves of illness, busy assessment schedules, event drop-offs and pick-ups, social commitments and the pressures of everyday life.
There have also been plenty of highs over the past 10 weeks, with Kolbe students performing exceptionally well across College life. Our Drama students were recognised with a Catholic Performing Arts Festival Shield, our junior girls were crowned SSWA basketball champions and our athletes brought home several shields from the ACC Athletics Carnival. We also celebrated a runner-up result in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, university scholarships and Rockingham leadership awards. These achievements reflect excellence across the pillars of College life: academics, sport, performing arts and service.
The quiet wins have been just as rewarding to witness. Watching Year 10 students lead Religious Education lessons in local primary schools was heartwarming. After learning about St Francis and the patron saint of a local Catholic school, they shared their knowledge with younger students. Leading these lessons took courage, faith and a commitment to doing their best. Afterwards, seeing primary and secondary students playing together on the oval at break time was magical. The kids are all right, and the future looks pretty safe in their hands.
With our Year 12 students finishing up, I’ve spent the past week reflecting on the rollercoaster of school life. Their final day brought smiles, laughter and relief, alongside tears and uncertainty about leaving behind familiar routines. As they collected signatures from staff, peers and younger students who had been part of their journey, there was a real sense of connection. It is a privilege to recognise how each person in our community has left their mark.
I hope we have prepared our Year 12 students well for the rollercoaster of life ahead, building on the strong moral foundations laid by their families throughout their time at Kolbe.
Many are now turning their attention to exam study, employment, final TAFE assessments and apprenticeships. I look forward to celebrating with them at our first Graduation Ceremony in the new Gymnasium.
To our Year 7 to 11 students and families, I wish you a safe and relaxing break before Term 4, although heart rates may be high on Saturday for the Grand Final!