AWARDED FOR DECADE OF SERVICE AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION
Passionate, dedicated and long-serving Kildare College volunteer Leslie Nesbitt is the recipient of the Volunteer Award at the 2025 Catholic Education South Australia Awards, an annual event celebrating outstanding outcomes through commitment to Catholic Education. The Volunteer Award recognises Leslie’s outstanding service to student learning and his dedication to conserving Australia’s unique native flora.
Since joining Kildare College in 2014 as a volunteer, Leslie has generously devoted his time, knowledge, and passion to mentoring around 20 students annually through workshops; enhancing environmental education with a particular focus on orchid ecology, maintenance and propagation. Leslie has been instrumental in developing specialised orchid propagation techniques and teaching students about the complex biology of terrestrial and epiphytic orchids. With his guidance, students not only learn to care for orchids but also gain insight into the broader significance of their conservation, developing skills that would otherwise be rare at a secondary school level.
The establishment of a laboratory, Orchid Shadehouse and tissue culture room at the College was supported by Leslie’s expertise. Through his leadership, students have learned to culture the mycorrhizal fungi essential for orchid seed germination, a process critical to the preservation of Australia’s threatened orchid species. His mentorship has equipped students with advanced scientific skills while fostering a deep appreciation for plant ecology.
Leslie’s influence is also evident in the College’s success at numerous orchid competitions, including winning the Champion School Orchid title at the Royal Adelaide Show on three separate occasions. These accolades reflect not just horticultural excellence, but Leslie’s ability to inspire and nurture student talent.
Beyond awards and academic outcomes, Leslie’s mentorship has inspired many students to pursue careers in conservation and natural resource management. His emphasis on sustainability and biodiversity has instilled a strong environmental ethic, encouraging students to become advocates for Australia's unique ecosystems.
We congratulate Leslie on this well-deserved honour and thank him for his invaluable contribution to our College and our environment.
In 2025, Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) celebrates 180 years of Catholic education in South Australia, and today marks the beginning of Catholic Education Week; an opportunity to celebrate quality teaching and learning. We reflect on how our community 'shines' through the power of kindness, care for each other, and the endless opportunities at the College igniting the potential of our students.
Happy Mother's Day! It was a beautiful Friday afternoon at Kildare College as we welcomed over 400 special guests for our Mother's Day celebration including mothers, grandmothers, special female figures and students. It was a joyful celebration and beautiful reminder of the special women in our lives.
There was a true sense of excitement as our Class of 2025 received their Year 12 Ties - a meaningful symbol of unity and the journey ahead in their final year of school.
Paired proudly with their Senior Jackets, this special occasion was more than just about uniform. It was a shared moment of connection, laughter, and teamwork, complete with "how to tie a tie" tutorials as students helped one another.
Our 2025 Sports Day was a showcase of passion, persistence and determination!
Our College Houses, Brigid, Chanel, Delany, Kildare and Nagle all displayed friendly rivalry, enthusiasm and team spirit across the day, beginning with creative House chants followed by individual and novelty events.
Congratulations to:
NAGLE | Overall Winner - First win since the introduction of Nagle House in 2018
KILDARE | Spirit Cup Winner
Our Year Level Champions are:
Year 7 - Ava (joint Overall Champion of the Day)
Year 8 - Isabelle
Year 9 - Anna
Year 10 - Aizure and Shana
Year 11 - Lara
Year 12 - Lauren (joint Overall Champion of the Day)
Congratulations to everyone!
More about this special event will be released in our upcoming College Blog.
Exploring Biomes! In HASS our Year 9 students completed geographic research, considering the characteristics and different elements from tropical to marine and polar to desert biomes. Students then chose a biome, recreating it in a jar.
Fostering cross-curricular projects, our Year 8 students are once again getting creative in a collaboration between Material Solutions and STEM!
Though a woodwork intensive workshop, students are beginning the construction of their own functional Bluetooth speakers. We cannot wait to see the results!
A wheely fun time with a purpose as part of an English empathy writing task.
Presented by Novita, our Year 10 students gained valuable insight into what it is like to live with a disability. Putting theory into action, students used wheelchairs to take part in activities and games designed to challenge their perspective and build empathy through experience.
The 2025 Senior Years Music Night showcased the talents, dedication, and teamwork of our Senior Years Music students.
Held at the Osmond Terrace Function Centre, 'Heroes and Legends' featured an impressive range of performances, including classics by Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Wonder. The intimate setting created a strong connection between performers and the audience, highlighting the students' hard work and passion. This performance was a true celebration of music.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Congratulations to our sporting stars on their outstanding effort and achievements!
Beach Volleyball is underway with three teams recently competing in the Beach Volleyball Carnival. Our Year 7 team won their final, with our Years 8 and 9 teams narrowing missing out on competing in the finals.
Competing in the SACSSGSA Athletics Carnival, our students placed 3rd overall in the B Grade. Our Under 13 and Under 16 age groups both finished 1st in their category.
At the Track and Field Championships our U/13 and U/16 Relay teams finished first in their respective events and, alongside incredible individual achievements, our students came 4th out of 9 schools in Division 1 in our Grade.
Well done to everyone who participated in these events, showcased their talents and represented the College.
