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Only five weeks ago, we celebrated the opening of our new St Catherine of Bologna Campus. Opening a new campus is a very special and rare opportunity! It does not come around very often. The opening of this campus is something that Kolbe Catholic College has been working towards for more than five years. Students and families from the Mickleham area have also been eagerly awaiting the opening of our new campus, so it was a wonderful day when we could finally welcome students onsite.
On our first day, we invited Wurundjeri Elder, Pallyan Hunter, to lead a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. A smoking ceremony is a traditional Aboriginal cultural practice used to cleanse a space and the people within it. Native plants are burned to create smoke, which is believed to carry away negative energy and welcome participants in a spirit of respect, healing, and connection to Country. Pallyan talked to us about the history of the land on which our school is built, how the brolga is associated with this area as the Mickleham area used to be wetlands, and his memories of visiting Mickleham with his grandmother long before the housing growth we have seen recently. It was a very moving afternoon.
We followed with an assembly during which Mr Scully and I welcomed our new staff, students and parents, and discussed the spirit of Kolbe Catholic College, where we aim each day to demonstrate our commitment to living with Faith, Courage and Compassion.
Recently, I asked students at St Catherine how they are settling in and finding the new campus. Aaron, Isaac and Harjap remarked that they love how everything is spaced out and there are heaps of spaces to play, including the huge, shaded futsal court. They are excited to grow with the school!
Matilda and Kensey appreciated the clean environment and said, “Everything is so nice and teachers and students are so welcoming.”
Christella and Puneet said, “The people, the classrooms and the teachers are so nice and amazing. Everything is beautiful and we love the new campus.”
Overall, it has been a wonderful start for us as we expand our College. It is exciting for our small campus to join the wider Kolbe community, and reminds us that we are part of a large and flourishing school, with shared culture and values.
Kelley Revelman
Deputy Principal: Campus Director
