From the Principal

Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong community members,

Open afternoons

As you may be aware, we could not run our usual Open Day last year due to the pandemic. This year we decided to provide a series of Open Afternoons to provide the opportunity for members of the wider community and, in particular, parents considering secondary school options for their children, to find out about and meet the people involved with the quality education we offer at Saint Ignatius.

Yesterday we held the final of ten Open Afternoons before Year 7 2022 enrolment applications close tomorrow. Over 1,400 people took advantage of attending an information session and tour.

As in previous years, an impressive feature of the afternoons was the presence of many of our students. The way they interacted with our guests made a very significant positive impression of our College. Well done to these students who helped out at one or more sessions; you were great ambassadors. Thank you to parents for supporting this.

And thank you to our dedicated staff for their work to present so many different aspects of our vibrant faith and learning community to the visitors.

Ignatian Ethos & Identity Review

Jesuit Education Australia is currently conducting a review of the College’s Ignatian Ethos & Identity. This review is conducted periodically as a vital requirement of maintaining the College’s status as a “Jesuit Companion School.” This review provides the opportunity to affirm areas of growth and formation of the Jesuit/Ignatian character of our College and provide recommendations for further development.

Our “Ethos & Identity” committee, convened by Deputy Principal Mr Paul Lewis, surveyed our school community and then prepared a self-reflection report under the headings specified by the review process. Today and tomorrow, the reviewers, Ms Jennie Hickey (Jesuit Education Australia) and Mr Joe Favrin (Principal of Loyola College Watsonia), are interviewing a cross-section of our school community. They will then prepare a report that covers:

• the College’s response to the recommendations outlined in the previous review;
• how the College engages with the Jesuit and Companion Schools Australia network;
• how there is growing understanding and implementation of the Ignatian Teaching Model across the school;
• three ways in which the College has offered staff an opportunity to engage in spiritual formation in the Ignatian tradition;
• three ways that students have been accompanied in their faith formation and search for meaning;
• one way that the care of the students and one way that the care of the staff (‘cura personalis’) have occurred throughout the time of the pandemic; and
• recommendations for the further development of the Jesuit/Ignatian character of the College.

Thank you to all parents, students and staff members who completed a survey or provided feedback by meeting with a reviewer. As a Jesuit Companion School, our ethos and identity is such an important distinguishing positive feature of our College that underpins and enlivens our faith and learning community. It is essential that we continue grow and develop our Jesuit/Ignatian character.

Best wishes,

Michael Exton  Principal