Cardijn Connect W10, T1 2024

Both Marian and Marcellin celebrated Easter Mass at St. Luke's Church this week. This was Marcellin's first visit to the church, marking a momentous occasion in the community's spiritual journey. Students and staff gathered in the church to honour the resurrection of Christ with hymns and prayers, displaying their commitment to faith and shared values.

Holy Week and Easter are significant events in the Liturgical life of the Church and a time to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. For Community Prayer on Wednesday of Week 9, the Year 5s led the school in a re-enactment of some of the Stations of the Cross.

It was a meaningful way to connect to the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross, and the students led with poise and reverence. The audience was led in some prayer and reflection, thinking about how people used their hands in a cruel way to Jesus and how we can use our hands for good, by caring for each other and the environment.

On Thursday the Reception students joined in a prayer service to remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples before he died. The students enjoyed reading prayers, singing and tasting some bread to remember the symbol of the bread and the wine. On Tuesday the whole school gathered for our Easter Mass, celebrated by Father Josy.

Each class decorated an Easter rock, which became part of our sacred space to represent the stone that was rolled away from the empty tomb. It was a beautiful celebration of the joy of the resurrection of Jesus and new life through Christ. 

“Last week, a group of 20 exchange students and two staff from Osaka Seiko Gakuin came to Cardijn College for a whole week to learn and experience the Australian lifestyle and what it is like to be a teenager in an Australian high school. 

We did many things with them like going to Cleland Wildlife Park, sharing in an Aussie barbecue with lamingtons and pavlova, and taking them into some of our lessons. The students from Osaka Seiko Gakuin participated in a range of lessons with a focus on Australian culture, learning to play AFL football, cooking Australian foods and learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions.

This experience was a great opportunity for students from both schools to learn about a different culture and we discovered that language barriers didn’t stop us from making lasting connections with each other. It was sad to say ‘sayonara’ to our new friends, but we feel lucky to have been part of this incredible experience.”

- Coa and Zoe, Middle School Captains

Galilee's Secret Garden received some special help from parents in the Reception class last week. The students enthusiastically participated in planting and drawing activities!

A big thank you to the participating parents— the students appreciated the extra support.

"This retreat encompassed a variety of sessions in which we engaged in conversation and activities as a group including peers and staff. The vulnerability shown during conversations about our lives, and futures deepened our relationships and developed our connections with one another through trust. This trust was evident when we participated in a blindfolded activity, during which a blindfolded individual trusted their partner to guide them safely around the outdoor area, as seen in the images below. This retreat also allowed us to spend time together with our peers outside of a school setting, during which we played childhood games and got to know each other better.

Through engaging in prayer and meditation we were able to find a purpose for faith and the presence of spirituality in our lives. For example, when watching the sunset quietly as a large group, focusing on the presence of our own breath of life and the beauty of God's creation around us. 

The ‘ties and tiaras’ dinner was a highlight for all, as we had fun together, dressing up and practising our graduation dances, which will need much more practice before the end of the year. 

Overall, an incredible experience and we look forward to strengthening relationships with our cohort in the year to come!"

- Jasmine and Kayla, Year 12 Mission Captains

A number of Marian students performed exceptionally well at the recent Lifesaving Senior State Titles. Among them, were students from five different clubs, including Maddy, Cooper, Eloise, Henry, Isaiah, Daniel, Austin, Swai, Tillie, Zoe, Elizabeth, Tan, and Ky.

These students showcased their talent and dedication in both beach and water events, earning numerous medals. Here's a summary of their accomplishments:

Austin – Gold in U14 Sprints, Bronze U14 flags, Bronze U15 Beach relay

Eloise – Bronze U15 Swim Team

Isaiah – Silver U15 1x2km relay

Ky – Gold U19 Double Ski, Gold U19 Ski Relay, Gold U19 Double Ski, Silver U19 Taplin Race

Maddy – Bronze U15 2km Run

Swai – Bronze U17 Female Single Ski Relay

Tillie – Gold U19 Ski Relay, Silver U19 Taplin, Silver U19 Board Relay

Congratulations to all these students on their remarkable achievements!

Marcellin's Year 12 Construction students are hard at work framing a new storage shed indoors, while their peers level the ground for the upcoming concrete slab.

The Magic Harvest season of growing was cause for celebration among the Galilee Year 3 and 4 students! They harvested tomatoes, basil, capsicum, cucumber, and lettuce to make their own delicious salad wraps! 

The students had the chance to learn about the benefits of healthy eating and the importance of growing their own produce. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing parent volunteers who joined us for the celebration. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, our Year 10 students at the Marian Campus engaged in their annual reflection day. To enhance the experience for our students, the Year 10 cohort was divided into two groups. This approach allowed us to connect with all students and delve deeper into our chosen theme taking a closer look at our Marist Characteristics.

Throughout these reflection days, we engaged in a diverse range of activities, facilitated by a staff member or a Year 12 Student Leader, focused on exploring each characteristic in unique ways; including a meditation, nature walk, LEGO construction and writing letters to loved ones. 
The day not only developed connections among peers but also provided students with a deeper knowledge and  understanding of how the Marist tradition resonates in their everyday lives.

Thank you to all Year 10 students for helping make this such a wonderful experience!

What an incredible three days for our Galilee students Ethan, Flynn, and Max representing Onkaparinga South in SAPSASA softball!

They won six games and drew one, culminating in a Gold Medal victory. Congratulations to these students on their outstanding performance!

A group of students from Years 3 to 6 participated in the Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival on Wednesday at the Marion Aquatic Centre. 🏊‍♀️

The day was filled with many highlights, including multiple ribbon winners and our Year 3s coming in second place in the relay. Additionally, our Year 6 and Year 4 Relay Team won first place against some very tough competition. 🏅

Congratulations to our students who competed!

Between March 24th and 28th, a select group of Cardijn basketball students took part in the 32nd annual Marist Basketball Carnival held in Beenleigh, Queensland. The event involved 23 Marist colleges and 34 teams from all over Australia.

The Cardijn girls' team displayed their resilience and finished an impressive 7th place overall, while the Cardijn boys' team won the Grand Final in the Plate division, securing a commendable 9th place finish overall.

We would like to give a special shoutout to Riley and Bayley for winning the St Marcellin Champagnat Award for exhibiting excellent sportsmanship, skill, and team spirit! Congratulations to Brandon and Myah for being awarded the team MVP. We would also like to acknowledge Myah's exceptional performance, earning her a spot in the Marist X. The Marist X is a selection of the top 10 players in the tournament, which is a remarkable achievement for a Year 9 student.

We congratulate all students and staff who took part in the tournament; it was a celebration of teamwork, perseverance, and the enduring Marist spirit.

We're excited to announce the upcoming VET Life Skills & Career Program! 

Both employers will aim to provide insights on employment opportunities and guidance on why VET is a valuable choice.

Open to Marian Year 9s & 10s and Galilee Year 9s. There are limited spots available, so don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to jumpstart your vocational journey. 

Please register your interest by emailing andrew.parkes@cardijn.catholic.edu.au or visiting the Pathways Hub in the Library.

Are you planning to enrol your child at Marian Campus for Year 7 in 2026?

To avoid disappointment, it’s important to apply before the closing date even if your child is a sibling of a current Cardijn student.

Any families with children currently in Year 5 MUST submit their application no later than by Friday 12 April

Begin the online enrolment process today: APPLY NOW

As part of Galilee's morning routine, all homegroups include a positive primer to start the day positively; each activity is designed to boost positive emotion to support learning outcomes. 

Last week, our middle school students stood in a circle and participated in a team-building activity, passing a hula-hoop around as quickly as possible. The first group to complete the task were crowned as the winners, fostering a sense of competitive spirit.

Incorporating positive primers into the morning routine has proven to be enjoyable and effective for our students. These primers help alleviate any initial stress or nervousness students may feel at the start of the school day, thereby supporting their ability to engage effectively with their learning. 

Last Monday, Year 5 students from Galilee School explored Kuitpo Forest as part of a team-building exercise. The activities included making catapults and billy carts, as well as team games like stretcher-making, providing hands-on learning experiences and fostering a sense of teamwork and community.

We were thrilled to host a professional development session in collaboration with the 'Young Change Agents' at the Marist Centre. Past and present students, along with their families and staff, participated in the event.

With a focus on holistic education, the Young Change Agents is a non-profit organisation at the forefront of youth entrepreneurship in Australia, offering programs to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, skillset, and toolset among young people aged 10 - 22. 

We received fantastic feedback from attendees, who found the session incredibly valuable. Many have noted that the session provided creative insights to help them introduce and integrate entrepreneurial and design thinking into their curriculum more easily.