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Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Article by Mr Michael Exton
Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,
Friday was World Teachers Day. I would like to extend my thanks to all teachers at our College, and indeed all staff members, for their commitment to the wellbeing, growth and development of each student in their care, and for their hard work to ensure that every student has every opportunity to flourish in our College.
Our Catholic vision for our students is that they are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential and be provided with learning experiences and activities to succeed and contribute in ways that deepen their faith and develop them into women and men for others. The expertise and skills that teachers and our support staff members contribute every day, day after day are crucial to this.
The Year 12 students finished their usual classes on Wednesday last week. So, on this day we took the opportunity as a school community to celebrate the Class of 2020. We expressed gratitude for their growth and development at and contribution to our College and prayed for their future success. Due to the pandemic restrictions we had to modify our usual ways of marking this milestone for them.
On Wednesday afternoon the each Homeroom Group gathered in their classroom for an online “Farewell to Year 12” assembly. The assembly was livestreamed from the Multipurpose Centre where the Year 12 students were able to, under ‘last-minute’ government guideline changes, gather for their graduation ceremony. There were many speeches, some musical items and presentations. College Captains Heidi Bakker and William Palmer provided impressive (and emotional) speeches that captured something of the Year 12 students’ journey through their College years, expressed gratitude and delivered encouraging messages about making the most of school opportunities. A very special presentation of a ‘Platinum Loyola Award,’ the highest Loyola Award, was made to Year 12 student and Liturgy Captain, William Bothe. As has become the custom over many years, Heidi and William presented a gift of an artwork from the Year 12’s to the school community. This gift was a lovely painting of St Ignatius by former student Sophie Crothers. This beautiful artwork is currently on display in our Office foyer.
Each of our Year 12 students, as is the custom in most Australian Jesuit and Companion Schools, was presented with a copy of Michael McGirr’s, “Finding God’s Traces.” This book is a compilation of quotes, scriptural verses and commentaries that will hopefully be a source of reflection and inspiration as well as a beautiful memento of the student’s time at an Ignatian school.
In the evening we livestreamed the ‘Valete Mass’ from the College’s Multipurpose Centre. Thank you to Celebrants Fr James Puppady and Fr Darien Sticklen. We encouraged each family to share a meal together after the Mass to celebrate their daughter or son’s secondary school journey.
I commend our Year 12 students on the way they conducted themselves during these ‘last days’ at the College.
On behalf of our College community, I extend my best wishes to our Year 12 students during this current period of preparing for, or undertaking, their final assessments, including the VCE students who commence their final external examinations next week. We all know that end-of-year exams can be stressful, and I wish everyone a calm, focused and a fitting end to the year and to their time at our College.
Mr Bruce Connor, our Work and Further Education Coordinator, has provided support to many VCAL and VCE students and parents when they were considering possible pathways. Mr Connor remains available for the rest of the school year (and into next the next school year) if any student or parent would like some support or information re pathways, courses or employment. He can be contacted by phoning our Office.
Years 7 to 11 students have about one month of classes remaining. Even though the Yr 12s have finished their classes, I encourage the Years 7 to 11 students to stay focussed on their schoolwork right through to their last day. It has been an unsettled year, and therefore, it is essential they use the remainder of the year to get back on track.
Our return to onsite learning continues to focus on the importance of the social-emotional well-being of students and staff in the transition back to the classroom. We are concentrating on settling our students back into some normality supported by our school structures, supports and routines. I have spoken to each Year 7 Homeroom Group about my expectation for them to ‘get back on track’ after what has been a very inconsistent start to secondary school for them. In particular, I mentioned three expectations: using good manners, being organised and rising to challenges. Hopefully, they can rise to this challenge and better set themselves up for a successful time at secondary school.
Overall, students across Years 7-12 have worked to the best of their ability during the onsite and the remote learning times. I congratulate them for their achievements in such challenging circumstances. As we move towards the end of this school year, despite all of the disruptions, it is still very important that we continue to meet, as best we can, our aims for one of the key events on the College calendar, our annual Mosaic Evening. Every year we come together as a College community to celebrate student successes in a variety of areas such as Academic Excellence and Endeavour, Christian Leadership, the Arts, Sport and Community Service. This year we will not be able to hold this evening event at Costa Hall.
Given the pandemic restrictions, we will be pre-recording a streamlined version (much shorter) of our Mosaic event. Our students will view this event in place of the usual term four assembly at school on November 26 during periods 5 & 6. Students will receive their awards in their Homeroom Groups during the viewing of the Mosaic video. The link for all families to be able to watch this event at home will be sent out soon after this.
In previous years, students have not been required at school for classes during the day of Mosaic. This year there will be no such student-free day because they will watch Mosaic at school. This year’s pre-recorded Mosaic will provide a significant opportunity to celebrate as a College community the many positives from what has been a very different and challenging year.
The Parents and Friends' Association (PFA) provides an opportunity to become actively involved in the College community. This highly valued volunteer group actively supports College functions, organises social occasions and promotes other parent activities.
There is a sense of fulfilment in helping our students and their school. The PFA is a committee that works to bring the school community together and enhance student outcomes. All students benefit from the contribution the committee members make. This is one of many ways parents contribute to our school community. Is PFA membership a way you could contribute?
The next PFA meeting will be the Annual General Meeting and it will be held on Tuesday 10 November 2020 at 7 pm via Zoom. I have been informed that the current PFA committee has received intentions from parents to nominate for the President, Secretary and Treasurer positions at the AGM. (There is currently no Vice President nomination and nominations are still open.)
With nominations for the key positions in place, I now encourage some more parents to 'step up' and ‘back up’ the 2021 committee by attending online the AGM. The Zoom link for this meeting will be emailed to all parents by our Development Manager, Mrs Claire Hewitt very soon.
As you are aware, next Wednesday 11 November is Remembrance Day. Each class will be involved in a short memorial service at 11 am.
Thank you to Ms Deb Hodge (YLC 8) for organising and leading this service.
Best wishes,
Michael Exton Principal
Feature
Events
Our News // 05 November 2020
Article by Mr Michael Exton
Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,
Friday was World Teachers Day. I would like to extend my thanks to all teachers at our College, and indeed all staff members, for their commitment to the wellbeing, growth and development of each student in their care, and for their hard work to ensure that every student has every opportunity to flourish in our College.
Our Catholic vision for our students is that they are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential and be provided with learning experiences and activities to succeed and contribute in ways that deepen their faith and develop them into women and men for others. The expertise and skills that teachers and our support staff members contribute every day, day after day are crucial to this.
The Year 12 students finished their usual classes on Wednesday last week. So, on this day we took the opportunity as a school community to celebrate the Class of 2020. We expressed gratitude for their growth and development at and contribution to our College and prayed for their future success. Due to the pandemic restrictions we had to modify our usual ways of marking this milestone for them.
On Wednesday afternoon the each Homeroom Group gathered in their classroom for an online “Farewell to Year 12” assembly. The assembly was livestreamed from the Multipurpose Centre where the Year 12 students were able to, under ‘last-minute’ government guideline changes, gather for their graduation ceremony. There were many speeches, some musical items and presentations. College Captains Heidi Bakker and William Palmer provided impressive (and emotional) speeches that captured something of the Year 12 students’ journey through their College years, expressed gratitude and delivered encouraging messages about making the most of school opportunities. A very special presentation of a ‘Platinum Loyola Award,’ the highest Loyola Award, was made to Year 12 student and Liturgy Captain, William Bothe. As has become the custom over many years, Heidi and William presented a gift of an artwork from the Year 12’s to the school community. This gift was a lovely painting of St Ignatius by former student Sophie Crothers. This beautiful artwork is currently on display in our Office foyer.
Each of our Year 12 students, as is the custom in most Australian Jesuit and Companion Schools, was presented with a copy of Michael McGirr’s, “Finding God’s Traces.” This book is a compilation of quotes, scriptural verses and commentaries that will hopefully be a source of reflection and inspiration as well as a beautiful memento of the student’s time at an Ignatian school.
In the evening we livestreamed the ‘Valete Mass’ from the College’s Multipurpose Centre. Thank you to Celebrants Fr James Puppady and Fr Darien Sticklen. We encouraged each family to share a meal together after the Mass to celebrate their daughter or son’s secondary school journey.
I commend our Year 12 students on the way they conducted themselves during these ‘last days’ at the College.
On behalf of our College community, I extend my best wishes to our Year 12 students during this current period of preparing for, or undertaking, their final assessments, including the VCE students who commence their final external examinations next week. We all know that end-of-year exams can be stressful, and I wish everyone a calm, focused and a fitting end to the year and to their time at our College.
Mr Bruce Connor, our Work and Further Education Coordinator, has provided support to many VCAL and VCE students and parents when they were considering possible pathways. Mr Connor remains available for the rest of the school year (and into next the next school year) if any student or parent would like some support or information re pathways, courses or employment. He can be contacted by phoning our Office.
Years 7 to 11 students have about one month of classes remaining. Even though the Yr 12s have finished their classes, I encourage the Years 7 to 11 students to stay focussed on their schoolwork right through to their last day. It has been an unsettled year, and therefore, it is essential they use the remainder of the year to get back on track.
Our return to onsite learning continues to focus on the importance of the social-emotional well-being of students and staff in the transition back to the classroom. We are concentrating on settling our students back into some normality supported by our school structures, supports and routines. I have spoken to each Year 7 Homeroom Group about my expectation for them to ‘get back on track’ after what has been a very inconsistent start to secondary school for them. In particular, I mentioned three expectations: using good manners, being organised and rising to challenges. Hopefully, they can rise to this challenge and better set themselves up for a successful time at secondary school.
Overall, students across Years 7-12 have worked to the best of their ability during the onsite and the remote learning times. I congratulate them for their achievements in such challenging circumstances. As we move towards the end of this school year, despite all of the disruptions, it is still very important that we continue to meet, as best we can, our aims for one of the key events on the College calendar, our annual Mosaic Evening. Every year we come together as a College community to celebrate student successes in a variety of areas such as Academic Excellence and Endeavour, Christian Leadership, the Arts, Sport and Community Service. This year we will not be able to hold this evening event at Costa Hall.
Given the pandemic restrictions, we will be pre-recording a streamlined version (much shorter) of our Mosaic event. Our students will view this event in place of the usual term four assembly at school on November 26 during periods 5 & 6. Students will receive their awards in their Homeroom Groups during the viewing of the Mosaic video. The link for all families to be able to watch this event at home will be sent out soon after this.
In previous years, students have not been required at school for classes during the day of Mosaic. This year there will be no such student-free day because they will watch Mosaic at school. This year’s pre-recorded Mosaic will provide a significant opportunity to celebrate as a College community the many positives from what has been a very different and challenging year.
The Parents and Friends' Association (PFA) provides an opportunity to become actively involved in the College community. This highly valued volunteer group actively supports College functions, organises social occasions and promotes other parent activities.
There is a sense of fulfilment in helping our students and their school. The PFA is a committee that works to bring the school community together and enhance student outcomes. All students benefit from the contribution the committee members make. This is one of many ways parents contribute to our school community. Is PFA membership a way you could contribute?
The next PFA meeting will be the Annual General Meeting and it will be held on Tuesday 10 November 2020 at 7 pm via Zoom. I have been informed that the current PFA committee has received intentions from parents to nominate for the President, Secretary and Treasurer positions at the AGM. (There is currently no Vice President nomination and nominations are still open.)
With nominations for the key positions in place, I now encourage some more parents to 'step up' and ‘back up’ the 2021 committee by attending online the AGM. The Zoom link for this meeting will be emailed to all parents by our Development Manager, Mrs Claire Hewitt very soon.
As you are aware, next Wednesday 11 November is Remembrance Day. Each class will be involved in a short memorial service at 11 am.
Thank you to Ms Deb Hodge (YLC 8) for organising and leading this service.
Best wishes,
Michael Exton Principal
