From the Principal

Yr 12 exams and pathways

Our Yr 12 VCE students are well and truly into their exam period. Many have sat two or more exams since they commenced with English on Wednesday last week. Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers that they can revise well and demonstrate their learning to the best of their abilities at this time.

Our Yr 12 VCAL students have finished their classes for the year, and I wish them all the best for their next step toward employment or further study. I know some have already obtained an apprenticeship, and others are enrolling in a vocational course for next year. So it is also important to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they make this very significant transition from secondary school.

Mr Bruce Connor, our Work and Further Education Coordinator, supported many VCAL and VCE students and parents when considering possible pathways. Mr Connor remains available for the rest of the school year (and into the next school year) if any student or parent would like some support or information regarding pathways, courses or employment. He can be contacted by phoning our Office (03 5251 1136) or emailing (connorb@ignatius.vic.edu.au)

Invitation – Blessing & Opening of our new Loyola Centre

Parents and friends of the College are invited to attend next week’s whole school Mass on Friday, 11th November 2022 (9 am – 11 am). This will be a very special Mass for the Blessing and Opening of the Loyola Centre. I am grateful to Fr Jim Clarke (President of the Association of Canonical Administrators), who will bless this fantastic new facility and Fr Gerry Healy SJ (Jesuit Representative on our College Advisory Council), who will officially open the Centre.

Please report to the main office at 8:45 am to be escorted to a seat in the Multipurpose Centre. The official ceremonies will conclude at 11 am, followed by a tour of the new facility and morning tea.

Please note that we will include acknowledgment of Remembrance Day as part of the ceremonies, and we will also celebrate the postponed College Feast Day with the Mass and special activities for the remainder of the day.

Mosaic Evening

Our annual ‘Mosaic’ evening is a wonderful yearly College community celebration. After being unable to hold this event for the previous two years due to the pandemic restrictions, we look forward to this year’s Mosaic evening. All members of our school community are encouraged to attend this wonderful evening on Thursday, 17th November, at Costa Hall, Deakin Waterfront Campus, Geelong. The Student Art & Technology display commences at 6.30 pm in the Costa Hall foyer, followed by the celebration evening that begins at 7.00 pm in the main auditorium.

We have received very positive feedback over the years about this major College function. This year, we ask all Years 7 & 8 students to attend. All other students and their families would be most welcome to attend. Students are expected to attend in full school uniform.

Mosaic reinforces the College’s values for our students, celebrates student achievement in various areas and builds a sense of belonging and school community. So, as part of our strategy to re-establish and reinforce our College values, traditions and our culture of striving to improve oneself, Mosaic will hopefully inspire our Years 7 & 8 students and instill a sense of what they can aspire to over their years at the College. This is why we want the Years 7 & 8 students, in particular, to attend. I also encourage parents and families to support our community by attending and being part of a delightful and uplifting celebration of the 2022 school year at Saint Ignatius College.

I look forward to joining with students, families and friends of the College to celebrate the school year. As was the case in previous years, no tickets are required to attend, all you will need to do is turn up at Costa Hall, and you will be ushered to a seat. Again, there is no cost to attend, and you are most welcome to invite Grandparents, other family members, and family friends.

Parents & Friends Association

Can I please encourage all parents to consider committing to being a member of the PFA? We must ensure we keep ‘topping up’ this group each year as we lose some members with their daughter/son finishing their time at the College. Perhaps you can give a couple/few years as a member of this group? The next PFA meeting will be the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 9th November, at 7 pm in the Loyola Centre, and it would be great to see some new parents at this meeting.

Michael Exton | Principal