5 June 2026

Hello Kearnan College Community!

As we move swiftly through the term, I’m continually reminded of what makes our school community so special: the energy of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the ongoing support of our families. Each week brings new achievements, challenges, and moments of pride, and it’s a privilege to watch our students grow not only in their learning, but in their confidence, character, and connection to one another.

In this edition of the Chronicle, you’ll find updates from across the school, highlights from recent activities, and a look at what’s coming up on our calendar. I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate the wonderful things happening in our classrooms and beyond.

We are beginning the enrolment process for our Year 7 students in 2027. If you know of anyone who might be interested in exploring whether Kearnan is a good fit for their child and family, please suggest that they contact the office for a school tour and a chat with me. Our first of three transition days will be on Thursday, August 13. This is a day for students to come along to experience the College and meet their potential classmates. It is an opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ and there is no obligation to enrol.

At their meeting earlier this term, our wonderful P & F donated numerous items to our school. This includes new desks for five of our secondary classrooms, a new 3D printer, two new water bubblers, the provision of sanitary products in the secondary girls’ bathroom and some new scissors for our textiles class. They are also currently fundraising for a new cubby house for the Nature Playground. Parent support for P & F events makes a huge contribution to enhancing the education and wellbeing of our students. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Speaking of P & F events, their Quiz Night is being held on Friday, June 19 in the Parish Centre at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start. Mr Smith is feverishly working on the questions and there are lots of fun games and activities planned. Tickets are $80 for a table of eight and are available to purchase here.

It has been a rich and reflective month at Kearnan, filled with opportunities for our students to pause, reset, and reconnect. Through retreats, liturgies and community events, students have been invited to deepen their understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their place within our College community.

Year 7 Retreat

On 20 May, our Year 7 students attended their annual retreat, centred on the theme of community and belonging. Throughout the day, students explored what it means to be part of the Kearnan College community, learning about the history of our College, our founders, and our House patrons.

A highlight of the day was the design of House shields, which will proudly feature in future House events and carnival days. These creative activities helped students to develop a sense of identity and pride in their House.

It was wonderful to have full attendance for the day, with every student engaging positively in the experience. The retreat concluded with a smorgasbord of delicious shared food – thank you to our families for their generous contributions, which added to the sense of community.

My sincere thanks to Mrs Liz Collins, Mr Riley Mason, Mr Connor Tempra, Miss Penny Meredith and Miss Courtney Webb for their time, energy and expertise in making the day so meaningful for our students.

Year 11 Retreat

Our Year 11 students attended their retreat on Tuesday June 2, focusing on the theme of Christ-centred leadership.

Students had the opportunity to hear from key leaders within our College – Dr Gallin, Mr Mason and Mr Pedlar – who shared insights into their own leadership journeys, including their strengths, challenges and values. These conversations provided a powerful foundation for students to reflect on the type of leaders they aspire to be as they move into their final year at Kearnan College.

The day was marked by thoughtful discussion, honest reflection and positive engagement from all students. I thank Mr Mason, Mr Pedlar and Dr Gallin for their generous support and contribution to the day.

Our Year 11 cohort is a fantastic group of young people, and Mr Mason and I are very much looking forward to continuing to work alongside them as they grow in confidence and leadership capacity.

Year 9/10 Mass

On Thursday May 28, our Year 9 and 10 students gathered for Mass, reflecting on the theme of Choosing kindness in a loud world.

This was a timely and powerful reminder that kindness is not always the easiest choice, particularly when emotions run high or voices around us are loud. Students were encouraged to be people who lead with compassion, who choose patience over reaction, and who seek to build others up rather than bring them down – especially in moments of challenge.

Our next Mass will be for Year 7 and 8 students in Week One of Term Three. All parents are warmly invited to join us.

McCormack Day

On May 21, we held our first House event for the year – McCormack Day.

The day began with a liturgy honouring Sr Irene McCormack, whose life and legacy continue to have a profound impact on our College. Students were given time to reflect on her courage, faith and commitment to justice.

McCormack students proudly wore their Physical Education uniform and enjoyed a well-earned serving of chips and gravy for lunch – a simple but much-loved tradition!

We now look forward to Rooney Day on June 12, where we will celebrate our House Patron, Fr Pat Rooney.

Good Standing Reward Day

Wednesday, May 20, saw the celebration of our Good Standing Reward Day.

At Kearnan College, every student begins with Good Standing, which is maintained through consistent effort in uniform and presentation, attendance, behaviour and commitment to learning. It remains an important and positive strategy in supporting students to uphold our College values.

Students across Years 7-10 were able to choose from a variety of activities, including:

• Football
• Minecraft Capture the Flag
• Colouring and craft
• Private study
• Bike riding
• Music and board games

Our Year 11 and 12 students enjoyed a well-deserved donut as their reward.

It was a highly successful day, with students engaging enthusiastically, demonstrating respect, and enjoying a relaxed and positive atmosphere with their peers. The sense of community, fun and celebration was evident throughout the College.

Thank you to all staff who contributed to the organisation and running of the day.

As we move into a busy season of interschool carnivals and events, we remind families that Good Standing is closely linked to student eligibility to represent the College. We encourage all students to continue demonstrating pride in their uniform, attending consistently, and maintaining positive behaviour and work habits. Please reach out to your child’s Head of Year if you have any questions or concerns.

We also look forward to celebrating our PBL Reward Day on June 24, with more information to come.

There have been many events and opportunities over the past month at Kearnan College, and I would like to congratulate our students on the exceptional behaviour, respectful attitudes and genuine engagement they have consistently demonstrated. They continue to represent our College with pride, and we are very grateful for the way they embrace each opportunity with such positivity.