Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Dear Parents & Carers,
College Production of “Les Misérables”
The performing arts are thriving and remain a vibrant and integral part of College life.
We finished last week on a fantastic high with four exceptional performances of the College’s production of Les Misérables at the Companions Centre. I believe I speak for the entire community when I say how proud we are of our students—well done! It was a big undertaking, and it was the first time for us to stage the show onsite.
More than ninety students participated in the production, taking on roles that included acting, singing, stage crew, and backstage assistance. Their talent, dedication, and energy shone through in every performance, as evidenced by the enthusiastic audience reactions and the many positive messages of thanks we received.
Although there were many impressive individual performances, the real strength of the production lay in the teamwork—both on stage and behind the scenes. Months of preparation and rehearsal not only brought the show to life but also helped our students develop skills, resilience, and friendships that will last long after the final performance.
A heartfelt thank you to the staff, volunteers, and parents who generously contributed their time and expertise—backstage helpers, crew, hair and makeup teams, musicians, and many others. The orchestra, in particular, deserves special mention—the music was absolutely sensational.
These performances wouldn't have been possible without the dedication, encouragement, and guidance of our staff. Over the past year, I have seen firsthand the care, coaching, and role modelling that shaped and supported our students throughout this journey. Many staff contributed in various ways, and I am deeply grateful to each of them. I would especially like to acknowledge the key leaders of this production for their vision and tireless work:
Director | Ms Andrea Broadbear |
Assistant Director | Ms Felicity Weir |
Assistant Director | Ms Madeleine Magher |
Producer | Ms Marina Brown |
Assistant Producer | Ms Sam Windmill |
Musical Director | Mr Michael Wilding |
Vocal Director | Ms Tania Grant |
Production Manager | Mr Attel Martschinke |
Choreographer | Mr Dean Robinson |
At Saint Ignatius, we place great value on Co-curricular opportunities, particularly in the performing arts, as we encourage our students to grow into confident, creative, and well-rounded individuals.
The following is an excerpt from the Director’s (Ms Andrea Broadbear) article in the Production Program that captures so much of what we were striving to achieve:
In Les Misérables, the characters dream of a better tomorrow a world shaped by fairness and empathy. In the same way, our production has been a space where students have imagined and built something bigger than themselves. They have learned that theatre demands hard work and patience, and that the true reward lies in the friendships and life skills forged along the way.
I hope that as you watch this production, you share in the pride and admiration I feel for these remarkable young people. They have embraced the responsibility of telling a story that matters, one that reminds us of the power of kindness, the necessity of hope, and the belief that each of us can help make the world a better place.
Do you hear the people sing?
Tonight, you most certainly will.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this magnificent achievement!
Sporting Success
Similar to the performing arts, there’s plenty of energy and enthusiasm for sport at our College.
Congratulations to our Year 9/10 Boys AFL team, who finished runners-up in the Victorian Herald Sun Shield Division 2 competition last week. In a thrilling Grand Final against Marcellin College, the boys fell just three points short after a strong defensive effort against tough conditions in the final quarter. A fantastic achievement by all involved.
Congratulations also to our badminton teams, who represented the College with pride at the GISSA Championship last Thursday. With eight schools competing over four hours of play, both our teams performed exceptionally well. Team 1 secured 3rd place, narrowly missing a grand final spot, while Team 2 achieved a commendable 6th.
Sport is going from strength to strength at Saint Ignatius!
School Community Surveys – please provide feedback
Every year around this time, students, staff, and parents are surveyed by MACS (with ORIMA Research managing the surveys this year for MACS) to gather information that helps us assess our progress with the School Improvement Plan. Parents have been emailed a link to complete the survey online, providing confidential feedback on how the College is performing in various areas. This vital information will help us evaluate our performance and shape our school improvement strategy. I kindly ask all parents to take the time to complete the survey. We need as many parents as possible to respond so we can obtain a reliable sample of opinions. Thank you in advance for your support. The survey closes on the last day of this term, September 19.
All students in Years 7–12 are set to complete the survey during Mentor time on Tuesday, 9 September, with staff doing theirs at the designated staff meeting on Wednesday, 10 September.
Some important dates on the College Calendar
Thursday, 11 September (4.00 pm to 7.00 pm)
Format: Conducted via ‘Zoom.’
Each interview slot is allocated ten minutes, and discussions will conclude at the 8-minute mark to allow time for preparation before the subsequent interview.
Parents and Carers will have received an email from Ms Robyn Jackson, Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), explaining how to book interviews.
The final day for Term Three classes is Friday, 19th September. Students will be dismissed at 2:20 pm, and buses will depart shortly after.
The first day of classes for Term Four is Monday, 6th October.
Best wishes for the next fortnight,
Michael Exton | Principal
Feature
Events
Article by Mr. Michael Exton | Principal
Dear Parents & Carers,
College Production of “Les Misérables”
The performing arts are thriving and remain a vibrant and integral part of College life.
We finished last week on a fantastic high with four exceptional performances of the College’s production of Les Misérables at the Companions Centre. I believe I speak for the entire community when I say how proud we are of our students—well done! It was a big undertaking, and it was the first time for us to stage the show onsite.
More than ninety students participated in the production, taking on roles that included acting, singing, stage crew, and backstage assistance. Their talent, dedication, and energy shone through in every performance, as evidenced by the enthusiastic audience reactions and the many positive messages of thanks we received.
Although there were many impressive individual performances, the real strength of the production lay in the teamwork—both on stage and behind the scenes. Months of preparation and rehearsal not only brought the show to life but also helped our students develop skills, resilience, and friendships that will last long after the final performance.
A heartfelt thank you to the staff, volunteers, and parents who generously contributed their time and expertise—backstage helpers, crew, hair and makeup teams, musicians, and many others. The orchestra, in particular, deserves special mention—the music was absolutely sensational.
These performances wouldn't have been possible without the dedication, encouragement, and guidance of our staff. Over the past year, I have seen firsthand the care, coaching, and role modelling that shaped and supported our students throughout this journey. Many staff contributed in various ways, and I am deeply grateful to each of them. I would especially like to acknowledge the key leaders of this production for their vision and tireless work:
Director | Ms Andrea Broadbear |
Assistant Director | Ms Felicity Weir |
Assistant Director | Ms Madeleine Magher |
Producer | Ms Marina Brown |
Assistant Producer | Ms Sam Windmill |
Musical Director | Mr Michael Wilding |
Vocal Director | Ms Tania Grant |
Production Manager | Mr Attel Martschinke |
Choreographer | Mr Dean Robinson |
At Saint Ignatius, we place great value on Co-curricular opportunities, particularly in the performing arts, as we encourage our students to grow into confident, creative, and well-rounded individuals.
The following is an excerpt from the Director’s (Ms Andrea Broadbear) article in the Production Program that captures so much of what we were striving to achieve:
In Les Misérables, the characters dream of a better tomorrow a world shaped by fairness and empathy. In the same way, our production has been a space where students have imagined and built something bigger than themselves. They have learned that theatre demands hard work and patience, and that the true reward lies in the friendships and life skills forged along the way.
I hope that as you watch this production, you share in the pride and admiration I feel for these remarkable young people. They have embraced the responsibility of telling a story that matters, one that reminds us of the power of kindness, the necessity of hope, and the belief that each of us can help make the world a better place.
Do you hear the people sing?
Tonight, you most certainly will.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this magnificent achievement!
Sporting Success
Similar to the performing arts, there’s plenty of energy and enthusiasm for sport at our College.
Congratulations to our Year 9/10 Boys AFL team, who finished runners-up in the Victorian Herald Sun Shield Division 2 competition last week. In a thrilling Grand Final against Marcellin College, the boys fell just three points short after a strong defensive effort against tough conditions in the final quarter. A fantastic achievement by all involved.
Congratulations also to our badminton teams, who represented the College with pride at the GISSA Championship last Thursday. With eight schools competing over four hours of play, both our teams performed exceptionally well. Team 1 secured 3rd place, narrowly missing a grand final spot, while Team 2 achieved a commendable 6th.
Sport is going from strength to strength at Saint Ignatius!
School Community Surveys – please provide feedback
Every year around this time, students, staff, and parents are surveyed by MACS (with ORIMA Research managing the surveys this year for MACS) to gather information that helps us assess our progress with the School Improvement Plan. Parents have been emailed a link to complete the survey online, providing confidential feedback on how the College is performing in various areas. This vital information will help us evaluate our performance and shape our school improvement strategy. I kindly ask all parents to take the time to complete the survey. We need as many parents as possible to respond so we can obtain a reliable sample of opinions. Thank you in advance for your support. The survey closes on the last day of this term, September 19.
All students in Years 7–12 are set to complete the survey during Mentor time on Tuesday, 9 September, with staff doing theirs at the designated staff meeting on Wednesday, 10 September.
Some important dates on the College Calendar
Thursday, 11 September (4.00 pm to 7.00 pm)
Format: Conducted via ‘Zoom.’
Each interview slot is allocated ten minutes, and discussions will conclude at the 8-minute mark to allow time for preparation before the subsequent interview.
Parents and Carers will have received an email from Ms Robyn Jackson, Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), explaining how to book interviews.
The final day for Term Three classes is Friday, 19th September. Students will be dismissed at 2:20 pm, and buses will depart shortly after.
The first day of classes for Term Four is Monday, 6th October.
Best wishes for the next fortnight,
Michael Exton | Principal