From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,

On Sunday, the Victorian Premier provided the broad outlines of Victoria’s roadmap for reopening with new information on the return to onsite learning next term.

As per the Premier’s announcement, there will be no changes to the current remote and flexible learning arrangements for the remainder of Term 3. Students will return to onsite learning in Term 4, as indicated below.

Final week of Term 3, 14 - 18 September

• Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students on Monday to Thursday. There will be no classes conducted on Friday.
• Parent/student/teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday & Thursday (4 pm – 5:30 pm & 6 pm – 7 pm.) Parents will receive an email message from Mrs Annette Chidzey (Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning) about the booking procedure and conduct of these ‘Zoom’ online conferences.
• On Friday, teachers will use this day to attend to compliance matters and planning. Students can use this day as a ‘catch-up’ or revision day. Please note that there will be no supervision of students at school on this day.

First week of Term 4, 5 – 9 October

• Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students.
• There will be no classes conducted for Yrs 11 & 12 students on Wednesday due to the General Achievement Test (GAT) being conducted on this day.
• Friday will be a catch-up day for Yrs 7 – 11 students. Yr 12 classes will be conducted.
• VCE and VCAL students can only attend on-site this week for:

       essential assessments (subject teachers will organise these if needed); and

       the GAT on Wednesday 7 October (students have been informed via email about the arrangements.)

• Onsite supervision for children of permitted workers and vulnerable students will continue to be provided consistent with existing guidelines and arrangements for Monday to Thursday.

Second week of Term 4, from 12 October – return to onsite learning

• All students (from Years 7 to 12) will return to full-time onsite schooling on Monday 12 October.

This next stage of school operations both contributes to the continuing efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and maximises the learning of our students. It requires again the flexibility, adaptability and resilience that have been demonstrated so well by our school community members.

These changes remain subject to the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.

We will provide a further update on these items when we are able.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our College.

Farewell

On behalf of our College community, I bid Ms Alicia Deak farewell and extend our very best wishes to her as she leaves at the end of this term to take up a position at Newman College in Melbourne. 

We will miss Ms Deak; she has made a tremendous contribution to our College as a highly respected teacher and leader. In her roles as Ignatian and Justice & Service Coordinators, Ms Deak has generously and capably provided valuable faith formation, learning and service opportunities for students and staff. She has enhanced the integration of Ignatian spirituality into the College’s ethos and identity. I extend our gratitude to Ms Deak and wish her every blessing for her future.

Thank you & best wishes

Finally, as the third term draws to a close, I again thank all parents for your ongoing support as we work together to support our students’ learning continuity and wellbeing. I am looking forward to early next term when all students will be back at school, hopefully! In the meantime, I wish all families patience, peace, strength and joy as we progress as quickly as possible along the ‘roadway to reopening.’ May our students enjoy a restful and rejuvenating time over the coming two-week break.

Michael Exton  Principal