Cardijn Connect - W7, T1 2023

Two Galilee students Macy (Year 9) and Harriet (Year 2) took some time out to get to know our Principal Mr Steve Byrne in a Q&A session filmed by Maddie (Year 9).

M: What’s the most challenging part of your job and what’s your favourite?

S: The most challenging part is being able to get to everything that I’d like to get to because there’s so many things going on, exciting events, but also the learning in the classroom. I just wish I could get to every classroom all of the time. The most rewarding is watching young people grow into fine young men and women. 

H: When I grow up, I want to be a police or a movie actress. Why did you want to be a Principal?

S: Good question! I love school, as a student, even as a young boy, and somehow or other, I just couldn’t leave school. So, I came back, and I was a teacher, and then, to be a Principal, you don’t get to choose, people choose you. So people that I deeply respected said, you should think about being a Principal. Then for Cardijn, there was a panel of special people who selected me to be here, and I gratefully accepted.

M: What should we as students do if we want to see a change at our school?

S: There’s a number of things you can do. You’ve got student leaders that you elect, you can work through them, you can write to me, make an appointment. Just send me an email, I’m on the email – pretty easy to work out. Say “I need time to meet with you,” and I have met with many students already. I met with a year 8 student yesterday who had a plan to deal with bullying so we sat down and she shared her ideas. I think your voice is very important.

H: When I am not at school I like surf lifesaving, gymnastics and jazz. What do you like to do?

S: Well, you’re very busy! I like to stand up paddle surf, I like to walk my daughter’s dog, who is a Kelpie and like a little child, named Cookie.

Watch the full interview below!

A virtual tour of our Marian Campus is available on our website, providing 360-degree views of many of the spaces on campus.

Visit: https://advancedpromo.com.au/tours/cardijnc/

We extend a huge thank you to SA Metropolitan Fire Service for delivering the hard-hitting Road Awareness Program (RAP) to our students at Marcellin Campus. The seminar gave an insight into the experiences firefighters working in road crash rescue come across and delivered their core message: 'You get to choose the risk, but you don’t get to choose the consequences'.
 

We are excited to invite you to explore what makes Cardijn College Galilee Campus middle school a special place by joining us for an information session for parents/carers of students in Years 3-6. Explore the new building, hear from current middle school students and take the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Please download the invitation for more details.

From the Principal

Child Safeguarding

Further to my correspondence earlier this week I think it is important to focus on Child Safeguarding, formerly Child Protection, across our College. Please be assured that there are strict protocols and procedures in place for all staff in all Catholic settings. Staff are required to complete regular online and in person training. In fact, prior to the commencement of classes this year all College staff attended a session at Marian Campus presented by Ben Tallboys (Principal, Russell Kennedy Lawyers) and legal advisor to many non-Government schools across the nation. The key focus was the ‘Duty of Care’ required of staff towards their students. 

Ben covered a range of issues including the need for professional rapport between staff and students and the boundaries required to ensure a safe environment. This included clear advice not to engage on social media, to raise concerns in a timely manner, to follow the formal policies and procedures in place and when unsure seek clarity from the school’s leaders, amongst other key points. Cardijn staff do report concerns regularly and then the College leaders ensure the students are in fact safe and accessing the support they require. As a result of following this clear advice, we are now working with the SA Police on the matter shared with you this week. SA Police (SAPOL) in turn work with Catholic Education SA following strict protocols and thus the communication with you was approved by SAPOL.

Should you have any concerns or you are of the view that further support is required for any of our students, please contact the College and we will ensure this happens. To be clear – Cardijn is committed to ensuring all of our students are safeguarded such that our school is a happy, healthy and safe environment for all!

Best wishes,

Steve Byrne
Principal