From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong Community Members,

COVID Positive Pathways program

MACS has asked Principals to promote the COVID Positive Pathways Program (CPPP.)

CPPP provides care and support at home for Victorians diagnosed with COVID-19. The program is for people who are most likely to need care and support at home from their local health service while they have COVID-19.

Support may include:

• regular symptom monitoring

• telehealth assessments

• access to antiviral medications where indicated

• expedited access to escalated care as required.

All Victorians, including students, are eligible for supports through CPP, with allocation based on their healthcare needs.

Parents, staff or students who test positive on a rapid antigen or PCR test can apply for support via an online form or the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

More information on the program is available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

Thank you for everything you are doing to keep our College open and safe.

Mask wearing

Thank you for your ongoing support in maintaining onsite learning and working for our staff and students and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our College is continuing our existing COVID Safe measures to help limit the spread of the virus, including air purifiers, improved ventilation and hand hygiene.

This has also included wearing face masks, which the Department of Health has recommended for indoor settings in schools since 26 April 2022.

As schools across Victoria face a high number of COVID-19 and flu cases this winter, and given the above advice, our governing authority Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), has asked that all students aged eight and over and all staff wear masks when in class from now until the end of winter.

This is a request of parents, carers and students and is not a mandate. No Catholic school in Victoria mandates the wearing of face masks.

Ultimately, parents, carers and students retain their right to choose whether to wear a face mask, and that choice will be respected.

2022 Red Earth Immersion Program

Today we farewelled two groups of Yr 10 students and teachers travelling to Cape York, Far North Queensland, for their Indigenous Immersion Trips. This follows the very successful Yr 11 student trip in April. All trips had previously been postponed due to the pandemic restrictions. So it is great that the students and staff can finally participate in this valuable experience. These trips are run by “Red Earth”, which specialises in providing Indigenous community immersion experiences for schools.

On behalf of our College community, I wish Mrs Hodge, Ms Kearney, Ms Snookes, Ms Whitehead and our students a safe and rewarding time.

Teacher Inservice day on Mon. 22nd August

We will be taking Monday 22nd August as an inservice day. So students will not be required at school on this day. Last year’s “Timetable Structure Review” recommended reviewing the Years 7 & 8 curricula. So our teachers will work together on August 22 to map what we currently do and consider how and what we can improve our junior secondary years teaching and learning programs.

Yr 7 enrolments 2023

I am pleased to report very strong interest in the College continued again this year with many more applications than places available for next year.

The support provided by the students, staff and parents for the Open Afternoon & enrolment promotion program was a valuable/vital contribution to this success – thank you. The very positive reputation of the College is a commendable result of the commitment of our students, staff and parents to our College community and its continual improvement.

I have enrolled 250 students (ten classes of 25 students) for Year 7 next year.

Any enquiries about enrolment can be made to the College Registrar, Ms Deb Miles.

Michael Exton | Principal