From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong community members,

Building relationships with young people

Positive relationships are essential to successful outcomes for young people. When students feel supported, they’re more likely to engage in learning and have better academic outcomes and participate in and make the most of their opportunities that will lead to personal growth and development. In addition, through their interactions with adults and other students at home, school and the wider community, students further discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them. Unfortunately, these uncertain times during the coronavirus pandemic may have made it even more challenging for young people to establish and maintain connections with adults and other students.

How can adults create the empowered relationships that will achieve these aims? I provide the following thoughts from an article* I recently read that provided positive reinforcement strategies for parents to consider when interacting with their daughters or sons.

Express care: Show me that I matter to you.

• Be someone I can trust.
• Really pay attention when we are together.
• Make me feel known and valued.
• Show me you enjoy being with me.
• Praise me for my efforts and achievements.

Challenge growth: Push me to keep getting better.

• Expect me to live up to my potential.
• Push me to go further.
• Insist I take responsibility for my actions.
• Help me learn from mistakes and setbacks.

Provide support: Help me complete tasks and achieve goals.

• Guide me through hard situations and systems.
• Build my confidence and take charge of my life.
• Stand up for me when I need it.
• Put limits in place that keep me on track.

Share power: Treat me with respect and give me a say.

• Take me seriously and treat me fairly.
• Involve me in decisions that affect me.
• Work with me to solve problems and reach goals.
• Create opportunities for me to take action and lead.

Expand possibilities: Connect me with people and places that broaden my world.

• Inspire me to see possibilities for my future.
• Expose me to new ideas, experiences, and places.
• Introduce me to people who can help me grow.

[*Acknowledgement: “The Developmental Relationships Framework” from The Search Institute, 2018 cited in “Principals’ Digests,” Volume 27 Number 55.]

Indigenous Recognition Day

Today, Thursday, November 4th, we celebrated Indigenous Recognition Day at our College. And tomorrow, we will be celebrating the heritage of First Nations Peoples and raising awareness about the challenges faced by First Nations Peoples. Well done to the Social Justice Committee, led by Captain, Toby Mew, to promote and organise the various activities available over the two days.

Students were invited to wear casual clothes and bring a gold coin donation for the Opening the Doors Foundation (ODF.) ODF supports the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by funding their costs and running school programs.

Some of the activities available were as follows. A video was produced for students to watch during homeroom time that mentioned some issues Aboriginal people face today. Students could participate in a variety of fun Indigenous sporting activities on the oval at lunchtime. And at lunchtime, finger buns were sold, with the profits going towards ODF.

Year 12 exams and pathways

Our Year 12 VCE students are well and truly into their exam period. Many have sat two or more exams since they commenced with English on Wednesday last week. Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers that they can revise well and demonstrate their learning to the best of their abilities at this time.

Our Year 12 VCAL students have finished their classes for the year, and I wish them all the best for their next step toward employment or further study. I know some of them have already obtained an apprenticeship, and others are enrolling in a vocational course for next year. So it is also important to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they make this very significant transition from secondary school.

Rescheduled Year 12 Valedictory Mass and Graduation Ceremony

I am delighted to inform you that we plan to hold the Mass and Graduation Ceremony on Thursday 25th November 2021 instead of November 18 so that hopefully, parents/carers can also attend.

We want to celebrate this special occasion with students and their parents/carers as best we can. With the easing of the pandemic restrictions outlined in the Victorian Roadmap, the timeline provides an indicative date of 24 November 2021 for the commencement of Phase D (90% fully vaccinated, 12+ years.) Subsequently, if all goes according to plan, by moving (subject to meeting the government’s and Chief Health Officer’s requirements), we will be able to have parents/carers attend on November 25 with their daughter or son.

More details will be provided via email to Year 12 parents soon.

Michael Exton Principal