Principal's Message

Dear Parents & Carers,

We are now in the tenth week of the ten-week Term Two. This term and Semester One conclude on Thursday, June 25. (Friday, June 26, is a teacher Professional Practice Day, and there will be no classes at the College.) So, between now and then, students will be involved in a variety of assessments, including exams for Years 9 to 11 students. Students studying VCE Unit 3 subjects will undertake VCAA’s General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026.

Our Years 9 – 11 students will have many assessments due, and in particular, they will have examinations as follows:

• Thursday June 18th Years 10 & 11 exams commence

• Tuesday June 23rd Year 9 Exams commence

• Thursday June 25th Years 9 – 11 Exams conclude

I suggest that parents and carers check in with their daughter or son about how they are progressing in their studies. As the term approaches its end, they may benefit from encouragement, understanding, and guidance to help them manage their workload and prepare effectively and efficiently for the upcoming assessments. Discussing how to manage their schoolwork alongside other activities and whether they have a balanced, healthy schedule may lead to improvements that result in better outcomes for your daughter or son. Furthermore, parents and carers are most welcome to contact subject teachers or Mentor Teachers if they would like to discuss their student’s progress.

To better prepare our Year 9 students for their first experience with formal exams, we are providing a planned revision period leading up to their exams. This will commence on Thursday, 18th June, and run for three days. During this time, students will undertake set revision and review lessons along with activities according to a structured timetable under the guidance of their subject teachers. This structure will ensure that students receive comprehensive preparation, including targeted revision, reinforcement, and exam practice, all aligning with senior-level expectations in core subjects. The revision program will focus on building confidence, promoting consistency, targeting support, encouraging accountability, and preparing for future success.

Year 7 & 8 Belonging Week (Week 10, next week)

We will again run the “Belonging Week” program during the last week of this term. This program builds on the “Connected Week” program we held during the first week of the semester at the start of the year.

Belonging Week aims to:

• Build connections by encouraging students and staff to form positive relationships and support networks.

• Strengthen school community through activities that promote inclusion, respect, and a shared sense of purpose.

• Explore the Ignatian ethos by deepening understanding of faith, reflection, service, and social justice.

• Encourage active contribution by helping individuals recognise their role in creating a welcoming and inclusive community.

• Connect with the broader community through service opportunities and engagement with local organisations.

• Promote learning success by developing skills in goal setting, self-reflection, personal growth, and academic achievement.

Belonging Week helps build a supportive, inclusive, and welcoming environment where everyone feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute positively to both the College and the wider community.

Semester One Reports

Semester One Reports will be available early next term, on Friday 24th July (Week Two of Term 3). These are summative reports that indicate overall results for the semester. More detailed information about student progress can be found by accessing assessment feedback through our online Learning Management System, ‘Canvas.’ If you haven’t already accessed Canvas, your daughter or son should be able to show you how to do this. Acting Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), Ms Robyn Jackson, will email parents with the relevant dates and instructions on how to access the Semester One Reports.

Aside from VCE Unit 3 and Vocational Major subjects, there are no formal Parent-Student-Teacher (PST) conferences scheduled to follow up on these reports. However, you are very welcome, and I encourage you to contact any subject teachers regarding academic concerns or the Mentor teacher for any pastoral matters. Please email the teacher to organise a time for a meeting.

All VCE Units 3/4 subject PST conferences will be held on Thursday, 6th August, next term. Later in Term Three, all Years 7 to 11 and VCE VM PST conferences will take place on Thursday 3rd September and Thursday 10th September. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom, running from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Subject selections for 2027

In early term three, students from Years 8 to 11 will select their elective subjects for the upcoming year. It's crucial to discuss with your child their strengths, interests, and future plans, revisiting the topic periodically. You can use their Semester One reports as a starting point for this conversation. For Year Nine and Ten students, the Morrisby Testing Program results will also serve as an excellent basis for discussions about your daughter or son’s senior school pathway. I know many parents have already talked about the information arising from this program with their daughter or son.

Parent Information evenings will be held in Week 2 of next Term.

Spotlight on Wellbeing: Men's Health Week at Our School

Men's Health Week in Australia runs from Monday, June 15 to Sunday, June 21, 2026. The week aims to raise awareness of preventable health issues, highlight the importance of regular medical checks, and encourage men and boys to proactively manage their physical and mental wellbeing and to seek support when necessary.

To support this, in the lead-up to this week, our school hosted a special evening event to promote healthy habits, encourage open conversations, and provide practical advice. It was an opportunity to create space for meaningful discussions between young men and their parents or mentors about wellbeing.

We held a well-attended special presentation on Wednesday evening last week, featuring guest speaker Chris Anstey, an Australian former professional basketball player. Chris shared personal insights into his journey in professional sport, the importance of mental and physical health, and how young people can build resilience and self-care habits that last a lifetime. His story hopefully inspired and motivated students to take charge of their health and make positive choices.

Men’s Health Week takes a broad, holistic approach, covering not only physical health but also mental and emotional wellbeing. By fostering open dialogue and providing practical support, we aim to encourage every student to prioritise their health.

We look forward to learning, growth, and community engagement as we stand together to support men’s wellbeing.

Parent & visitor access to school grounds & buildings

A reminder that upon arrival on school grounds, all parents and visitors must report to the front office. It is not our practice to allow parents and visitors unaccompanied access to the buildings and grounds. Your cooperation with this would be greatly appreciated.

2025 Annual Report to the School Community

As part of the funding agreement between the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) and the Australian Government, schools are required to report on specific categories of School Performance Information. This information is supplied to the school community in many ways, including (but not limited to): a fortnightly newsletter; an annual report; the yearly school magazine “Magis”; and our website.

I am pleased to inform you that the Saint Ignatius College Geelong 2025 Annual Report to the School Community is now available on the College website at www.ignatius.vic.edu.au. A copy is also available upon request from the College Office.

The College welcomes feedback from our parents, students and staff at any time. Comments in response to this report are also invited.

MACS Privacy policy, student and parent permissions updated

Our Privacy Policy, Privacy Collection Notice, and the associated Photography and Recording Permission Form have been updated. The changes took effect on Friday 15 May 2026.

The Privacy Policy sets out how our College manages, stores and protects personal information for staff, students and parents, including individual rights and the complaint-handling process.

The Privacy Collection Notice – Students and Parents explains what personal information we collect and how students’ and parents’ personal information is used and disclosed.

The Photography and Recording Permission Form supports the Privacy Collection Notice and seeks consent for specific uses of photographs.

I remind parents that they can vary their consent by completing a new form to reflect any change or withdrawal of permission. They can obtain a new form by emailing the following address: communityengagement@ignatius.vic.edu.au

Staff changes

Thank you and best wishes to the following staff members who will be finishing at the College during the next few weeks: Acting Human Resources Manager, Ms Kathryn Sanders and Teacher, Ms Narelle Fitzpatrick

We wish the following teachers all the best during their leave in Term Three: Colleen Bolland (for the whole term) and Ethan Collins (for the first three weeks).

Finish up to Term Two

This is the final newsletter for Term Two.

The last day of classes for this term is next Thursday 25th June. (Friday, June 26th will be a Teacher Professional Practice Day.)

The first day of classes for Term Three is Tuesday 14th July. (Monday 13th July will be a Staff Professional Learning Day.)

I wish all families an enjoyable and safe break during the Term Two holidays.

Michael Exton | Principal