From the Director of Community Engagement.

Dear members of our College Community,

It certainly has been a busy week across the College with students enjoying the many academic, and extracurricular opportunities that have been made available to them.

It was wonderful to see so many parents/carers attend last week’s Instrumental Showcase held at the College MPC. The hard work, dedication, and talent of our musicians shone through with both their individual and group performances. Congratulations to our students on their respective performances, and to our dedicated and enthusiastic music staff who provide so many opportunities for our musically talented students to shine.

This week our Unit 4 Outdoor and Environmental students have embraced the opportunity to put their classroom studies into practice by attending the Alpine Experience, being greeted by fresh snow on arrival, the first snowfall since June. Students have been afforded the opportunity to witness the effects of El Nino and climate change first hand with the rugged snowfields of the Bogong High Plains looking more like spring than winter.

Over 50 students participated in the '2023 Winter Sleepout' last night and were able to live out our Ignatian value of being 'people for others' last night, preparing spaghetti bolognese and apple muffins for local community centres. Students witnessed the inspirational and moving story of Agum in the Xavier Centre, before listening to the incredible story of Sammy in the ILC. Sammy shared his faith journey, and the incredible support he has received from Jesuit Social Services and Launch Housing.

Before setting up their swags, students and food technology staff supported our students in making meals for Lazarus Community Centre, and The Salvation Army Northside Geelong Community Centre, with all meals being delivered to our grateful recipients this morning.

Students and staff are to be commended on their endeavours with the ‘2023 Winter Sleepout’ to be ‘young people for, and with others.’

It is with great excitement that the College announces its collaboration with Noone Uniforms in providing our College Community the opportunity to purchase their child’s/children’s uniform requirements here on site. The Noone Uniform Shop will stock all the usual uniform items that you would find in the Moorabool Street store, but in a more convenient location for our community. The uniform shop will be open Monday & Wednesday 12.30-4pm and Friday 9am -1pm.

As we approach the ‘halfway mark’ of the Term, students across the College are reminded of their commitment to being students who ‘love and serve’ by ensuring that they collate and record their community service hours for the year. Students in Year 7 are required to complete 5 hours, whilst students from Years 8-12 are required to complete 10 hours over the academic year. These hours can be recorded on the CANVAS page, which will then transfer to the poster that is in each Mentor Group.

Whilst the extract above is a snapshot of the many opportunities that our students have the opportunity to embrace, I recognise that this is merely a snippet of these opportunities.

I encourage all families to take a moment to read the article written by Year Level Coordinator Mrs Deborah Hodge who, along with Ms. Kristin Williamson accompanied a group of students to the Top End for an experience that they won’t forget.

Next fortnight’s calendar continues with major event days such as the Xavier House Mass, Science Week, Indonesian Independence Day Celebrations in Canberra, GISSA/Cura Personalis, the Vocal Evening and much more!

Don’t forget to take a moment to purchase your Anastasia tickets, it is a production that you don’t want to miss!

Wishing our College Community a wonderful weekend, and a wonderful fortnight ahead.

Ms. Elana Cole | Director of Community Engagement.