Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Dear Parents & Carers,
Welcome to the new school year! I hope all families enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebration and had a relaxing holiday break.
A warm welcome to families joining our Ignatian community for the first time. I wish your daughter or son all the best for their transition and sincerely hope your family will cultivate a deep affection and connection to our school community.
We welcome 260 Year 7 students and 14 new students to other year levels. We have 1,461 students enrolled, up from 1,451 at the same time last year. We also welcome many new staff members to Saint Ignatius, who bring a wealth of experience and passion to our community.
I trust all students will return ready and willing to embrace their educational opportunities this year. Students in Years 7 and 12 commenced on Friday, January 31st, and those in Years 8, 9, 10, and 11 commence on Monday, February 3rd. Please note that students are to wear their summer uniform both next Monday and Wednesday and on photo day, Friday 7th February. They will not be required to wear sports uniforms on these days, even if they have Physical Education or other subjects, where they may usually wear their sports uniform.
The start of a new school year provides students with an opportunity to begin anew and foster their academic and personal growth. The 2024 Semester Two Reports, discussions with parents or guardians—who offer invaluable insights and support—and personal reflection can assist students in identifying areas for improvement and consolidation so they can enhance their learning experience and fully embrace the opportunities presented by our College.
I have high expectations for our students. Through their diligent application to their studies, I believe they will achieve solid gains in their level of learning and development again this year. I aim to foster a culture in which students feel motivated and supported to achieve at a high level.
Over the past 500 years, Ignatian schools have gained worldwide recognition for their excellence in education. At Saint Ignatius' College, we foster a culture of intellectual rigour and high academic standards. Our students are encouraged to be inquisitive, think critically, and practice kindness and inclusivity. Every day, we challenge them to surpass their perceived potential.
An Ignatian education aims to develop the whole person. To support this holistic approach, we offer a variety of co-curricular programs, such as sports, performing arts, community service, enrichment activities, camps, immersions, and trips. Our students are encouraged to make the most of these valuable opportunities. Their involvement helps build their sense of belonging and connection to our school community and enhances their learning and personal development.
I want to express my gratitude to parents and carers for everything you have done to help your daughter or son get off to a good start this year. I appreciate your proactive efforts in helping your child establish good routines and setting boundaries that prioritise their education.
Term 1 is a vibrant time at the College with many events, activities and celebrations. We look forward to engaging with our community and encourage you to refer to our College Calendar, which is available via our ‘Xuno’ Student Management System Parent Portal. I provide some key events and activities that are happening over the next couple of weeks for your convenience:
College Mass (Pds 3 & 4, MPC) | Mon. 3rd Feb. |
College Assembly (Pds 1 & 2, MPC) | Wed. 5th Feb. |
Student individual photos | Fri. 7th Feb. |
Yr 7 Parent Information Session (7 – 8:30 pm) at the College. | Mon. 10th Feb. |
Yr 8 Parent Information Session via Zoom (6 – 7 pm) | Tues. 11th Feb. |
Yr 9 Parent Information Session (6 – 7 pm) at the College. | Wed. 12th Feb. |
Yr 10 Parent Introduction to Senior School via Zoom (7 – 8pm) | Thurs. 13th Feb. |
Student family photos | Thurs. 13th Feb. |
College Swimming Carnival (North Bellarine Aquatic Centre) | Fri. 14th Feb. |
PFA Meeting (7 pm, Loyola Centre) | Wed. 19th Feb. |
To help our students prepare better for the upcoming academic year, we commence the academic year with a program called "Connection Week." The program will include the regular Mentor periods, the start-of-the-year Mass and Academic Assembly, with additional year-level sessions that will focus on our Student Effective Learning Framework (SELF). These sessions will provide students with Ignatian formation, well-being information and strategies, academic strategies, and House activities. Additionally, the program includes ACER testing for students from Year 7 to Year 10. This will give us an instant snapshot of each student's numeracy and literacy levels. Furthermore, we have designed a special program for Year 7 students to help them settle in their new school. This program will be conducted on the first day, and our Year 12 students will be involved on the day to support them.
The ‘Beginning of the Year’ Full College assembly will be held in the Multipurpose Centre on Wednesday 5th February 2025 at 9.00 am. It will conclude at about 10.30 am. If you would like to attend, please report to the office at about 8.45 am on the day so that a seat can be arranged for you. The assembly is a formal occasion and a great way to celebrate many student achievements, reinforce values and positive messages and build our sense of community. I look forward to seeing as many parents and friends of the College as possible at this event. Coffee/tea will be available afterwards for parents.
Communication methods for parents include the following. The College provides a fortnightly digital ‘newsletter’ on its website. You will receive an email alert each fortnight when it becomes available. The College also has a Facebook page where there are posts about College events, student achievements, etc. Letters, other information and permission forms for excursions are sent via the ‘Operoo’ app. Another key method of communication is via email. Letters, information and messages may be sent to parent email addresses. Parents can also email staff, and our usual practice is that staff respond to emails within two work days. However, please keep in mind that some staff work part-time, so they may take a little longer to respond. And with the new “Right to disconnect” law, please note that standard teacher work hours at the College are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday and Friday and 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday to Thursday. Staff may not read or respond to emails outside of these hours.
I want to thank my dedicated colleagues who have been working hard and enthusiastically to prepare for our students’ return this week. The staff list (names and roles) can be viewed by clicking on this link. As always, if there’s any support we can offer you as we start the academic year, I encourage you to reach out to the relevant staff members.
We look forward to a rewarding year as we work together to nurture the growth and development of our students.
Our summary School Improvement Plan statement is:
“Building community for better learning – belonging, connection & learning.”
Best wishes for 2025,
Michael Exton | Principal
Feature
Events
Article by Mr. Michael Exton | Principal
Dear Parents & Carers,
Welcome to the new school year! I hope all families enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebration and had a relaxing holiday break.
A warm welcome to families joining our Ignatian community for the first time. I wish your daughter or son all the best for their transition and sincerely hope your family will cultivate a deep affection and connection to our school community.
We welcome 260 Year 7 students and 14 new students to other year levels. We have 1,461 students enrolled, up from 1,451 at the same time last year. We also welcome many new staff members to Saint Ignatius, who bring a wealth of experience and passion to our community.
I trust all students will return ready and willing to embrace their educational opportunities this year. Students in Years 7 and 12 commenced on Friday, January 31st, and those in Years 8, 9, 10, and 11 commence on Monday, February 3rd. Please note that students are to wear their summer uniform both next Monday and Wednesday and on photo day, Friday 7th February. They will not be required to wear sports uniforms on these days, even if they have Physical Education or other subjects, where they may usually wear their sports uniform.
The start of a new school year provides students with an opportunity to begin anew and foster their academic and personal growth. The 2024 Semester Two Reports, discussions with parents or guardians—who offer invaluable insights and support—and personal reflection can assist students in identifying areas for improvement and consolidation so they can enhance their learning experience and fully embrace the opportunities presented by our College.
I have high expectations for our students. Through their diligent application to their studies, I believe they will achieve solid gains in their level of learning and development again this year. I aim to foster a culture in which students feel motivated and supported to achieve at a high level.
Over the past 500 years, Ignatian schools have gained worldwide recognition for their excellence in education. At Saint Ignatius' College, we foster a culture of intellectual rigour and high academic standards. Our students are encouraged to be inquisitive, think critically, and practice kindness and inclusivity. Every day, we challenge them to surpass their perceived potential.
An Ignatian education aims to develop the whole person. To support this holistic approach, we offer a variety of co-curricular programs, such as sports, performing arts, community service, enrichment activities, camps, immersions, and trips. Our students are encouraged to make the most of these valuable opportunities. Their involvement helps build their sense of belonging and connection to our school community and enhances their learning and personal development.
I want to express my gratitude to parents and carers for everything you have done to help your daughter or son get off to a good start this year. I appreciate your proactive efforts in helping your child establish good routines and setting boundaries that prioritise their education.
Term 1 is a vibrant time at the College with many events, activities and celebrations. We look forward to engaging with our community and encourage you to refer to our College Calendar, which is available via our ‘Xuno’ Student Management System Parent Portal. I provide some key events and activities that are happening over the next couple of weeks for your convenience:
College Mass (Pds 3 & 4, MPC) | Mon. 3rd Feb. |
College Assembly (Pds 1 & 2, MPC) | Wed. 5th Feb. |
Student individual photos | Fri. 7th Feb. |
Yr 7 Parent Information Session (7 – 8:30 pm) at the College. | Mon. 10th Feb. |
Yr 8 Parent Information Session via Zoom (6 – 7 pm) | Tues. 11th Feb. |
Yr 9 Parent Information Session (6 – 7 pm) at the College. | Wed. 12th Feb. |
Yr 10 Parent Introduction to Senior School via Zoom (7 – 8pm) | Thurs. 13th Feb. |
Student family photos | Thurs. 13th Feb. |
College Swimming Carnival (North Bellarine Aquatic Centre) | Fri. 14th Feb. |
PFA Meeting (7 pm, Loyola Centre) | Wed. 19th Feb. |
To help our students prepare better for the upcoming academic year, we commence the academic year with a program called "Connection Week." The program will include the regular Mentor periods, the start-of-the-year Mass and Academic Assembly, with additional year-level sessions that will focus on our Student Effective Learning Framework (SELF). These sessions will provide students with Ignatian formation, well-being information and strategies, academic strategies, and House activities. Additionally, the program includes ACER testing for students from Year 7 to Year 10. This will give us an instant snapshot of each student's numeracy and literacy levels. Furthermore, we have designed a special program for Year 7 students to help them settle in their new school. This program will be conducted on the first day, and our Year 12 students will be involved on the day to support them.
The ‘Beginning of the Year’ Full College assembly will be held in the Multipurpose Centre on Wednesday 5th February 2025 at 9.00 am. It will conclude at about 10.30 am. If you would like to attend, please report to the office at about 8.45 am on the day so that a seat can be arranged for you. The assembly is a formal occasion and a great way to celebrate many student achievements, reinforce values and positive messages and build our sense of community. I look forward to seeing as many parents and friends of the College as possible at this event. Coffee/tea will be available afterwards for parents.
Communication methods for parents include the following. The College provides a fortnightly digital ‘newsletter’ on its website. You will receive an email alert each fortnight when it becomes available. The College also has a Facebook page where there are posts about College events, student achievements, etc. Letters, other information and permission forms for excursions are sent via the ‘Operoo’ app. Another key method of communication is via email. Letters, information and messages may be sent to parent email addresses. Parents can also email staff, and our usual practice is that staff respond to emails within two work days. However, please keep in mind that some staff work part-time, so they may take a little longer to respond. And with the new “Right to disconnect” law, please note that standard teacher work hours at the College are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday and Friday and 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday to Thursday. Staff may not read or respond to emails outside of these hours.
I want to thank my dedicated colleagues who have been working hard and enthusiastically to prepare for our students’ return this week. The staff list (names and roles) can be viewed by clicking on this link. As always, if there’s any support we can offer you as we start the academic year, I encourage you to reach out to the relevant staff members.
We look forward to a rewarding year as we work together to nurture the growth and development of our students.
Our summary School Improvement Plan statement is:
“Building community for better learning – belonging, connection & learning.”
Best wishes for 2025,
Michael Exton | Principal