From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,

Welcome to the 2021 school year. It was uplifting to see our students return on Monday. We welcomed 1,359 students back to school; this included 250 Year 7 and 19 new students at other year levels. Hopefully, our students will have a more settled year with access to a broader range of programs and activities than last year and a very enjoyable and rewarding time.

I sent an email to parents and students last week to set the scene for the return to school. I reiterate the main points as follows.

Our College 2021 focus is “Learners and their learning – helping students learn to a higher level.” Our immediate focus is on establishing a positive, respectful and effective learning environment with a strong learning culture after a very unsettled 2020. We have high expectations for our students and will take advantage of the new start the new year provides to insist on student learning practices and behaviours that demonstrate a positive attitude, diligent application and reflect the importance of and gratitude for the opportunity of an education at Saint Ignatius College.

I know that parents and carers join me in the desire for a school learning environment where there are high expectations for our students and their daughter and sons can flourish. To get the year off to the best possible start, after last year’s challenges, I expect students to strive for an excellent standard in four key areas: uniform, punctuality, positive learning environment and respectful relationships. I ask you to please reinforce this with your daughter or son.

Another area I ask your support for is to please remind your daughter or son about COVID safe practices. In particular, would you please ensure your daughter or son brings a mask to school each day. Masks will need to be worn on buses,in classes and indoors at school.

I thank parents and carers for your efforts to support your daughters or son’s preparation to get the year off to a great start. School attendance and application must receive the priority they deserve. The home factors that make a big difference in student school success include parental involvement, quality family communication and, most of all, parental expectations.

The climate of the home for learning does matter. High expectations and high levels of communication enhance student learning. To facilitate the transition from holidays to school work, it is vital to set boundaries, plan for a balance and establish routines. This can be a challenge but is crucial for success. In particular, quality sleep time, exercise, recreation and study time are important considerations among many.

The start of a new school year brings a range of emotions, from the excitement and anticipation of starting afresh to the uncertainty and worry associated with forming friendships and coping with new learning environments, subjects, teachers and academic expectations.

As the school year begins, it is vital to nurture resilience in students, so they can better navigate challenges and respond to adversity with a “growth mindset” and make the most of the opportunities at our College.

Parents can promote resilience by:

• establishing connections with other students and supportive adults to help develop empathy and a broader support network;

• Encouraging students to help others as this enables feelings of empowerment;

• teaching students how to set aside or ‘take a break’ from excessive worrying by modelling right self-care strategies including exercise, relaxation and fun;

• helping students identify reasonable goals and how to take steps towards them, one step at a time. This helps to focus on what has been accomplished rather than what has not;

• nurturing a positive self-view by reminding students of the ways they have handled difficulties and hardships in the past, and connecting their past successes with future potential; and

• encouraging students to keep things in perspective rather than catastrophising – especially when they are stuck on something negative or challenging.

For additional guidance in supporting teenagers with the beginning of school, refer to Beyond Blue’s Tackling back-to-school anxiety. You are also most welcome to contact the Homeroom teacher or the College's Student Wellbeing Office if you are concerned about your daughter or son's wellbeing.

As well as many new students, there are thirteen new staff members and two returning from leave. Welcome to:

New

Kate Cash English, RE Teacher

Shane Cole Learning Support Officer

Luis Costa Systems Design , Digital Tech., Auto, & Robotics Teacher

Bernadette Donnelly Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning)

Dylan Frusher Wellbeing Placement – Semester 1

Carly Jenkins RE, English, Drama Teacher

Martin Kolka Computing, Digital Tech. Teacher & Learning Area Leader

Hayley Livingston Term One - Replacing Peter Grull

Jessica Miller RE, Environmental Studies, Science Teacher

Olivia Pearce English, Literature Teacher

Georgia Robinson Term One - Replacing Greg Fisher

Andrew Rose Technology, Robotics Teacher

Carley Thorpe RE Teacher

Returning

Emma Cuthill English Teacher

Blair Phillips Health & Phys. Ed. Teacher

A significant favourable influence on student outcomes is parental involvement in and support of school programs. Over the last few years, there has been a high attendance of parents at our Information Evenings. I want to encourage this to remain part of our community’s support of our students' active learning culture. The College calendar can be accessed through our online student management system, ‘Xuno.’ To help with your organisation, I have scanned the calendar and provide a list of some key dates for this month:

• Tuesday 9 Feb. (7 pm) Parents & Friends Association Meeting (Food Tech. Centre) (All parents welcome)

• Thursday 11 Feb. (6:30 pm) Yr 7 Welcome Mass & meet the Homeroom Teacher (MPC) (Yr 7 students with one family representative each, masks to be worn indoors, due to COVID Safe Plan.)

• Friday 12 Feb. (10:46 am – 12:42 pm) Full School Assembly – Academic Awards & Student Leadership Investiture in MPC. (Sorry, due to COVID Safe Plan, attendance only by invitation.)

• Monday 15 Feb. Yr 8 Camp Week (Parents will receive details soon via email.)

• Monday 15 Feb. (7 pm – 8:00 pm) Yr 9 Cape York Immersion Trip Information Evening for interested parents (Yr 9 Centre)

• Tuesday 16 Feb. (9 am – 10:30 am) Beginning of Year Mass (MPC) (Sorry no visitors due to COVID Safe Plan)

• Wednesday 17 Feb. Ash Wednesday liturgy for students during Homeroom

• Thursday 18th Feb. Year 7 Immunisation

• Tuesday 23 Feb. (6:30 pm) Yr 9 Parent Information Evening (Yr 9 Centre, parents only, no students)

• Thursday 25 Feb. College House Swimming Carnival (Kardinia Pool) (Parents welcome and will need to sign in at entry)

Please note:

• The Yr 8 Parent Information Evening will be held later, and parents will be informed if and when this will be held.

• The Yrs 10, 11 & 12 Parent information sessions will be held online. Parents will be informed about how to access these online sessions.

On behalf of my colleagues, I look forward to working with you to support the education of one or more of your children and wish your family every blessing for the new year. We are looking forward to a rewarding year as we work together to help our students “learn to a higher level.”

Best wishes for 2021,

Michael Exton  Principal