From the Principal

Welcome back to the final school term for 2018. I hope all students have had an enjoyable and restful break (with some revision and preparation for the new term) and are looking forward to finishing the year off on an excellent note.

The Interim-semester Two Reports and follow-up Parent/Student/Teacher meetings held at the end of last term will have helped identify and affirm good progress to date, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss areas of concern and helped set some directions for a productive term ahead.

The Yr 12 VCE students sat their practice exams during the second week of the holidays. Acting Deputy Principal, Mrs Oliver reported that she was very pleased overall with the way the students approached this very important assessment preparation.

Three recent international student trips

All three groups returned safely during the holidays. All reports to date indicate the trips went very well. I thank the staff involved and commend the students who were able to participate on the very positive comments I received about their enthusiastic and cooperative approach.

Italian Study Tour - Seventeen Years 10 & 11 Italian class students travelled with three teachers to Italy. They visited Rome, Pompei, Sorrento, Mensanello, Florence, Bologna and Venice before returning home after a wonderful experience over 20 days. The students were involved in a homestay program for six days of the trip.

Thank you to Mr Francesco Melli for leading this trip.

Indonesian Study Tour - Twenty-two students, four staff members and one alumnus (teacher assistant) enjoyed a 13-day Langauge and Cultural Immersion trip to Indonesia.

Many thanks to Ms Julia Hall (LOTE Learning Area Leader) for all she has done towards the planning of the trip

East Timor Immersion Trip - Twenty Years 10 & 11 students travelled with two staff members and a Destination Dreaming Leader to Dili and the Arturo Island.

Thank you to Mrs Anna Oliver for leading this trip.

Final week for Year 12s

All parents of Year 12 students will receive a letter from me early next week to communicate some of our expectations and hopes and the plans in place at this stage to help facilitate a positive and smooth finish. (Extra copies are available from our office.) It is obviously very important that the Year 12s remain as focused as possible on their studies right through to the last exam. A lot depends on their ability to apply themselves well during this time. I have made it very clear about our expectations for a positive finish by the senior students on their ‘last day,’ Tuesday 23rd October.

Normal timetabled classes for the Year 12 students will cease on Monday 22^nd October 2018. The next day, Tuesday 23^rd October, will be the Yr 12 ‘Celebration Day.’ The VCE written exam period starts on Wednesday 31^st October 2018 with the English exam (for LOTE Oral, Drama & Music Performance exam times please check with the subject teacher, some of these examinations have already started.) Visit the following website for the VCE exam timetable:

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/pages/vce/exams/timetable.aspx?Redirect=1#timetable

After Tuesday 23rd October 2018, Year 12 teachers will be available during normal class time and by appointment out of class time until the exam for their particular subject. Teachers will discuss these arrangements with their students.

A number of special activities are planned over the “last week” to help make this a special and memorable time for the students and parents. In particular, I remind parents of Year 12 students and friends of the College about the Year 12 Mass at the College Gym on Thursday 18^th October 2018 (7:00 pm) and the Full School Assembly on Monday 22^nd October (report to the office at 10.30am for a 10:45 am start.) It is expected that all Yr 12 students and their families will attend the special Mass on the 18^th October and you would be most welcome to attend the assembly.

I wish our Year 12 students and their families a special and memorable time during the last phase of their secondary school journey.

Next Full School Assembly

All Parents are warmly invited to attend this term’s assembly on Monday 22^nd October 2018. I ask you to please report to the office at 10:30 am so you can be allocated a seat. The main focus of the assembly will be, as in past years, the school’s farewell to the Year 12 students.

Wednesday 24^th October 2018 – normal classes

Please note that this day is not a holiday for our students – classes will run as normal. As you are aware, this is the day of the annual “Geelong Cup.” Some schools are taking this day as a holiday; we are not as we take Melbourne Cup day instead (together with the day before.)

As some schools are taking Geelong Cup off, there was a question over what school buses will run on this day. The Region’s School Bus Coordinator has informed our Bus Coordinator that buses will run on this day for our students. I would suggest that students should check with their driver just prior to the day, particularly those on buses that carry students from other schools, in case there are any special arrangements being made due to less students travelling on this day.

Opening of the Geelong Tech School

Very positive news for secondary education in the Geelong region with the official opening of the Geelong Tech School on Tuesday. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, James Merlino and Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney opened the state-of-the-art Geelong Tech School, the eighth of 10 to open under the State Government’s Tech School initiative.

At the opening, Mr Merlino said, “We need students to be ready for the jobs of the future and that’s why we’re investing in Tech Schools – so they can get the hands-on learning with technology they need. The Geelong Tech School will form an important link between our schools, TAFEs, universities and industry.”

One of our Year 11 Maths/Science students, Sophie Skuza had the honour of being co-Master of Ceremonies for the Opening. Sophie did a tremendous job. It was great to see Sophie along with many other students from a variety of Geelong schools being involved in the celebration and promotion of this new facility.

Located at The Gordon Institute’s Geelong campus, the Tech School will give Geelong’s secondary schools access to the latest technology and programs that will support schools to better equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.

At the new Geelong Tech School, there are purpose-built spaces for students to collaborate, practice design thinking and participate in high-level problem solving, as well as design spaces where students get hands-on experience using specialised high-tech STEM equipment.

Geelong Tech School programs will be offered free to local students and will align with local industries most in need of skilled workers, including healthcare and social assistance, transport, defence and construction technologies and professional, scientific and technical services.

The Geelong Tech School has a web page on The Gordon website and can be viewed at http://www.thegordon.edu.au/future-students/gts

At Saint Ignatius College, we are considering how we can use the facilities of the Tech School to enhance our student’s STEM skills. I represent the Geelong Catholic Secondary College Principals on the Committee of Management of the Tech School. One of our Science Teachers, Mr Michael Brown, is a member of the Curriculum Committee. Planning is underway for how our students’ learning in the STEM area could be enhanced by accessing the Tech School.

One example that is currently being developed as a trial program involves two of our Yr 8 DigiTech classes. Mr Brown is working with Barwon Water and the Geelong Tech School to design a project that requires robot design and construction to solve a real-life problem such as the unblocking of a drainage pipe. The two classes will be involved in this pilot program during this term. Also in term 4, all Year 7 students will undertake a day excursion to visit the new Tech School as part of their DigiTech subject. We look forward to further developing our involvement with the Geelong Tech School for next year.

The series of three images in the attached photo gallery are:

Photo 1: Sophie Skuza with Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, James Merlino and Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney and Minister for Police and Water, Lisa Neville

Photo 2: Sophie Skuza with Geelong Tech School Director, Leanne Collins and SICG Teacher, Michael Brown

Photo 3: Sophie Skuza with her parents, Zenon and Magdalena Skuza

Drysdale Bypass – map for pedestrian route and project letter update

Main points

• Work on the construction of the Bypass has commenced.
• Consequently, there will be access restrictions to enable construction works to proceed and ensure safety for pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists.
• The Major Road Project Authority (MRPA) has identified a safe route for pedestrians walking between the College and the closest public bus stops.
• The MRPA has provided an update about the Bypass project progress. You can download this letter by clicking on the link below.

Action required

• Parents to note MRPA information provided.
• Parents to inform their student about the pedestrian route and discuss safety in regards to the construction works.

Concerns/Enquires

• See the MRPA letter for contact details.

Below are PDFs of the Drysdale Bypass Site Map and the Drysdale Bypass Construction Commencement letter:

Michael Exton Principal