From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong community members,

Annual House Swimming Carnival

This event will be held next week on Thursday 24^th February at Kardinia Pool, Geelong.

As a result of last year’s review of our House Sports Carnivals, some significant changes have been made to the ways we approach and run this year’s swimming carnival.

Why?

We want to reset the culture with a long-term view to:

• increase the number of students competing;
• enhance House Spirit;
• enhance student connection to the College;
• build a stronger College swim team; and
• celebrate student achievement in the swimming area.

How?

We will change from a full-school fun social day at the pool with some students competing to:

• compulsory for Years 7 & 8 only;
• years 9 to 12 students can register to compete voluntarily;
• competitors will wear College approved swimming attire;
• years 7 & 8 students expected to compete if they can and undertake a separate swim test;
• years 9 to 12 students not swimming to remain at school for their usual classes; and
• enhanced involvement of senior student leaders to organise the carnival and encourage House spirit.

What?

Our Sports Coordinator, Mr Andrew Philp, will provide details about the carnival via Operoo.

A parent permission letter will be sent via Operoo to all Year 7 & 8 families and those that have registered for events from other year levels.

Swimming is an important part of our Australian and our local lifestyles. Most students will have undertaken swimming lessons during their primary school years. We want to build on this to support a healthy lifestyle and provide the opportunity for talented swimmers to progress to higher levels of competition. I encourage parents to discuss with their daughters or sons the value of participating in the carnival if they can.

I am looking forward to next Thursday’s carnival setting the scene for building our swimming program into the future. Parents are welcome to attend the carnival and will need to follow Kardinia Pool’s COVID regulations upon entry.

Open Afternoons & Yr 7 2023 enrolment applications

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be offering our usual Sunday Open Day for 2022. However, the good news is we will be running a series of tours and information sessions for visitors in late-term one and early term two before the Yr. 7 2023 enrolment applications close on May 6, 2022.

The pandemic has impacted how we can provide access to the College for prospective parents and students, and members of the public to meet our wonderful students, professional staff, learn about the programs and opportunities we offer and view our developing facilities.

Guided Tours will be conducted on three afternoons. (See below)

Two timeslots will be available each afternoon for visitors to select from using our online booking system. The link is available on our College website.

Each timeslot will be about 1.5 hours in duration and comprise a brief information session followed by a tour. The information sessions will take about 30 minutes and include presentations by the Principal, Year 7 Coordinator and some students and will be held in our impressive new Multi-purpose Centre. The tours will run for approximately 50 minutes and be led by teachers and some students. (Viewing the campus will be as a member of a tour group only).

The schedule for the Guided Tours each day offered is:

Session One - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Session Two - 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

The dates are:

Please note that the closing date for Year 7 2023 applications is Friday 6^th May 2022. Online application forms are available on our website under ‘Enrolment.’ We have changed from paper to digital forms.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Registrar, Ms Gail Myers (P: 03 5251 1136 or E: registrar@ignatius.vic.edu.au)

Our visitors have commented so positively about our young women and men who act as tour guides and helpers in previous years. We will need some students to help with the tours again this year. Having students present in uniform and interacting with our visitors is indeed a significant way visitors get a feel for the College. I am very confident that they will be excellent ambassadors for their school. Please encourage your daughter or son to put their name forward when they receive an email calling for volunteers from our Development Manager, Ms Elana Cole.

Thank you & best wishes for the next two weeks,

Michael Exton
Principal