Cardijn Connect - a source of news and information for the Cardijn community. The blog will be published every Thursday during the school term with past editions always accessible from the menu.

Please join us in congratulating the deserving recipient of our Joseph Cardijn Award for 2025, Laylah Wilson ('25).

We also congratulate Tan Tran ('25), who was awarded the St Marcellin Champagnat Award for 2025.

We congratulate and acknowledge all of the award recipients for 2025 and thank all who attended the Valedictory Ceremony yesterday evening.

We shared an unforgettable evening with the Class of 2025 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, where families, teachers, and support staff gathered to celebrate the Year 12 Graduation.

A special moment from the night was watching this cohort perform their dance together, with families joining in on the fun.

Enjoy the highlights, and congratulations to our graduates!

Words from Alexia:

 

“What an honour to receive the Cally Nielsen Educator of the Year Award at the recent Future Anything National Grand Final. I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside a brilliant science team whose openness, courage, and willingness to embrace Future Anything from day one has transformed what student learning can look like at Cardijn College. What began as a small pilot in my own classroom has grown into a program that now empowers every Year 10 learner to think boldly, create meaningfully, and see themselves as change-makers.

 

This success belongs to a team that consistently leans into the unknown, pushing the boundaries of traditional science education and celebrating student growth in all its forms. Their commitment to curiosity, innovation, and high expectations has genuinely shifted outcomes for our students, and I am proud to work alongside such exceptional educators who make this impact possible every single day.”

Over three days, Year 9 students took part in Reflection Days, volunteering at sites including the Butterfly Garden, Seaford and Woodcroft Community Centres, RDA, and local primary schools.

Students took part in gardening, cooking, cleaning, and classroom support while meeting community members and gaining a clearer understanding of what service looks like.

Reflections from students:

“My highlight was dancing with the cooking ladies and helping to prepare food.” — Joel, Lombard student

“It was fun meeting volunteers and helping out. We should do this more often.” — Dante, Mitchell student

These days offered students a practical way to give back and strengthen their ties to the community.

Sports Achievements

Our Year 9 Food Technology class recently visited the Botanical Gardens to explore Indigenous plants and their traditional uses.

Students learned how Indigenous Australians have long used native plants for food, medicine, shelter, and tools.

This experience sparked curiosity and deepened students’ appreciation for Indigenous knowledge and culture.

Reflections from students: 

“During our visit, we delivered donations collected by Faulkner students for the Centre’s Christmas hampers. After sorting toys, clothes, and other items, we split into groups to help out. Some of us organised toys by age group, while others cut and painted custom wrapping paper for the hampers. It was a wonderful opportunity to support such a caring community.” —Jacinta, Year 12 student

 

“Our day started by packing the van and heading to the Day Centre. Once there, we met Paddy, who guided us through a range of jobs. We sorted the pantry, prepared boxes for the hampers, and organised toys and tin cans. Before leaving, we gathered for a group photo and learned about more of the Centre’s work. It was a rewarding experience.” —Lockie, Year 7 student

Year 10 Art students explored a diverse range of printmaking techniques, including etching, cyanotype, lino, gelli, and screen printing.

In addition to traditional methods, students engaged in sustainable printmaking by repurposing Tetra Pak cartons collected from MarValla Café’s used alternative milk containers as etching plates.

They further embraced sustainability by using a repurposed pasta maker from the Food and Technology department as their printing press.

Drawing inspiration from landscapes, students produced final prints that showcased both intricate detail and aesthetic beauty.

From 10 December 2025, new laws will take effect in Australia to protect young people online by restricting access to social media for those under the age of 16. This important change reflects growing community concern about the impact of early social media use on children's mental health, wellbeing and development.

Information relating to the new legislation was shared with students in Years 7, 8 and 9 on the Marian Campus this morning, as Facebook and Instagram began shutting down accounts of users under 16 ahead of the ban.

Research shows that social media can expose children to unrealistic comparisons, online pressure and harmful content long before they are emotionally ready to manage it. While regulation is a positive step forward, real safety begins at home. Families continue to play the most powerful role in helping children build confidence, resilience and awareness in the digital world.

To support families in understanding and preparing for the social media age restrictions, SchoolTV has released a Special Report outlining what the new laws mean in practice:

SPECIAL REPORT: 🔗 New Social Media Regulations: What you need to know

And just like that, we find ourselves at the end of the 2025 school year. As I pause to reflect on my first year at Cardijn, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude. The warmth, generosity and wholehearted welcome I have received from students, families and staff have made this year feel much longer than twelve months, in the very best way! Cardijn is a community grounded in faith, hope and authentic connection, and it has been a privilege to become part of it.

The final weeks of the year have been rich with celebration, recognition and ritual, important hallmarks of who we are as a Cardijn community. We have honoured our Year 12 students as they graduated and stepped into the next chapter of their lives. We witnessed the meaningful Rite Journey Homecoming ceremonies, marking growth, reflection and the transition into young adulthood. Our Year 6 students shared their Celebration of Learning with pride, while our music, arts and sporting students showcased their talents through performances and end-of-year events. These moments remind us of the diverse gifts within our community and the many ways our young people flourish.

As we look toward Christmas and the New Year, I pray that this season brings you peace, joy and the chance to rest and reconnect with loved ones. May the birth of Christ renew our hope and fill our homes with light.

Wishing all students, families and staff a blessed Christmas and a rejuvenating holiday break. I look forward to the year ahead and all that 2026 will bring for our Cardijn community.

Kate Bawden
Deputy Principal