From the Principal

End of term assembly

We gathered as a whole school on Tuesday for an Easter Liturgy and to review the first term and celebrate a number of achievements. College Vice-Captains, Heidi Bakker and William Palmer did a great job as MCs along with many other student leaders who helped run this assembly.

The Year 11 Theatre Studies class, under the direction of teacher, Ms Rhea Walker, provided a moving and thoughtful performance about the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus as a significant part of our Easter liturgy to commence the assembly. This highlighted for our students the significance of Easter as the highpoint of our faith story. During the remainder of the assembly, student involvement and achievement in a variety of areas were celebrated.

In my address to our students, I challenged the students to reflect on how well they have settled into the school year. Have they been making the most of their learning and co-curriculum opportunities? Have they established good routines and habits for getting enough sleep, exercising, organising their homework and contributing to the jobs needing to be done around their homes?

I encouraged each student to make a time to discuss their interim report with a parent to further support this reflection. Could I also encourage parents, if you haven’t already done so, to take some time to discuss this report with your son and daughter to affirm good progress and determine where and how improvements can be made? The Parent/Student/Teacher conferences yesterday and today will have supported this process. If you were unable to attend, you would be most welcome to contact teachers early next term if you would like to discuss your daughters/son’s progress.

There are many, many examples of commendable student individual or group achievements so far this year – well done to students in all of these cases. One individual achievement I highlighted at the assembly was that for the second year running one of our Year 11 students was awarded a Fr James Wall Bursary. This award is for leadership, achievement and community involvement and is worth $ 4,000. This year six students from Catholic schools across Victoria received this award. Last year our then College Vice-Captain and now Captain, Maddie Crothers was successful. I was delighted to attend a presentation evening in Melbourne last week where Vice-Captain Heidi Bakker was presented her award by Archbishop Peter Comensoli. Congratulations and well done Heidi!

Open Day

Open Day, held on Sunday 24th March, was again very successful with a large crowd in attendance. Keen interest in the College continues.

As in previous years, a tremendous feature of the day was the number of students who came along on the day to help show-off their school. The way they interacted with our guests made a very significant positive impression of our College. Well done to two hundred and seventy students who were able to be present on the day, you were great ambassadors. Thank you to parents for supporting this.

Also, thank you to our Parents and Friends’ Association members who were very active on the day in many valuable ways.

Also, thank you to our dedicated staff for their work to present so many different aspects of our vibrant faith and learning community to the visitors. I congratulate Mrs Claire Hewitt (Development Manager) for her coordination of this event.

Drysdale Bypass update

Recently I met with representatives from Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) and Decmil (construction company) to learn about the latest developments in regards to the construction of the Drysdale Bypass. I provide the following to inform you about some major changes that will be happening soon.

Key dates provided at the meeting:

Thursday 18th April 2019

From this day onwards, no road access to Peninsula Drive from Andersons Road. (Pedestrian and cyclist access to Peninsula Drive path from Andersons Road will still be available.)

Vehicles will access Peninsula Drive from Grubb Road. The Grubb Road/Peninsula Drive roundabout will be partially constructed.

Monday 29th April 2019

Anderson Road will be closed. No access from Grubb Road. Access to Gillies Road from the west will be via Reserve Road.

Friday 31st May 2019

The Grubb Road/Peninsula Drive roundabout will be in its final construction (subject to favourable weather conditions.)

If you have any questions, please contact MRPV by calling 1800 105 105 or email contact@roadprojects.vic.gov.au

As you are aware, the schools' precinct can be a hectic place just before and after school and more so with the construction of the bypass. Hopefully, the information in this message and in the email message I sent on Wednesday to parents will help you better manage travel to and from our College.

Uniform Term Two

Please note that all students are required to wear full winter uniform for terms two and three. As there may be some very warm days early next term, students may wear summer uniform on any particularly warm days up to Anzac Day with the blazer.

Please check the Student Planner for details about what can and cannot be worn. Please note that the summer shirt with logo is not to be worn as part of the winter uniform as it is not made to be worn with a tie. The College uniform long sleeve shirt is to be worn with a tie and is compulsory with the winter uniform for boys and girls. Also, the kilt must be worn no longer than mid-calf with navy blue tights or stockings.

Before and after school supervision

A reminder that the College provides supervision from 8:30 am each morning until the commencement of the Homeroom class at 8:50 am. Students arriving at school before 8:30 am should gather in the Information Learning Centre (opens at 8:00 am). Of an afternoon, supervision is provided for students catching a bus from the College from 3:05 pm until the departure of the last school bus at approximately 3:50 pm. Students waiting for a bus should remain in the Basketball court area or at the bus stop. The College Library is open from 8:00 am each morning and closes at 4:30 pm.

Staff News

Congratulations to Teacher, Annaliese Wandersmith on the birth of Albert (Albie) Leo.

Thank you to Teacher, Belinda Wilson who has been covering Ms Wood’s classes while she has been on leave during term one.

Parents and Friends' Association meeting

The next Parents & Friends Association Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 14th May at 6:00 pm in the Food Technology Centre. I encourage all parents to consider joining this group that makes a tremendous contribution to our school community. You would be most welcome.

Eyewatch

The Geelong Police Youth Resource officer has requested that parents be made aware of the Geelong Police Service Area ‘Eyewatch’ Facebook page.

Apart from posting photos/footage of suspects which the Police would like to identify, the Police also post valuable information concerning issues such as social media/cybersafety and upcoming events.

Commencement of classes next term

Please note that the first day for students in term two will be Wednesday 24th April 2019. The next day, ANZAC day on the 25th April will be a holiday. (Monday 22nd April is the Easter Monday holiday and Tuesday 23rd April will be a teacher in-service day.)

Best wishes for a happy & holy Easter

On the middle Sunday of the holidays, we celebrate Palm Sunday, the commencement of Holy Week. This special week is the final one in our journey through Lent. It is especially significant and sacred as it calls to mind for Christians the last week of Jesus’ life in preparation for his death and most significantly his resurrection.

Holy Week, and indeed all other events and seasons in the Church’s year, are a lead up to the most important celebration of the year and at the very heart of our Christian beliefs, Easter.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my message, Easter is the high point of the Christian year, the most important of our celebrations. Please consider taking your family to one of the many Church services over the Easter break to support your daughter/son’s faith development further.

I wish everyone a very enjoyable Easter, and I hope all students have a restful break with some time spent revising work and preparing for next term included.

Happy Easter,

Michael Exton Principal

Privacy and information collection - Saint Ignatius College Geelong is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1998. In relation to health records, the School is also bound by the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic.). A copies of the College’s Privacy Policy and ‘Collection Notice’ that take into account these laws, technology and changes to the School’s operations and practices is available on our website. You can find the link at the bottom of the College’s web page.