Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Supporting student perseverance
Perseverance is a characteristic of successful learners.
As you are aware, it is essential to praise and affirm students to support their learning. In education, we focus on effort, persistence and strategy as key characteristics for successful learning more so than the praise of intelligence or skill. Moreover, to some extent, perseverance determines effort and strategy.
Like many schools, at Saint Ignatius, we encourage our students to adopt a “growth mindset.” This approach is based on Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck’s work. The powerful statement, “not yet” encapsulates and supports this approach. When a student says, ‘I don’t get it,’ using this approach, we can respond, ‘You don’t get it yet. What’s our next step?’ In this way, we encourage a student to persevere with her/his learning.
Educationalist, Tom Meagher (STEM Educator, Minnesota, USA), offers another insight that can help us to develop student perseverance. I think he makes a good point that when talking to students about tasks they need to undertake instead of presenting challenges to students as things to work on that just need to be done, we should frame the challenges as opportunities for practice, for building knowledge and skills, for getting better with learning in the doing and not just the end product.
Does your daughter/son have trouble following through on tasks and commitments? Does she/he give up when it gets too hard, or say she/he has had enough of it? As parents, we know the importance of perseverance in life. I think most of us could recall many, many examples of the challenges we have been faced with. Regardless of how we managed these, our reflection on what we learned about how we handled these would include a recognition of the value of faith, hope and perseverance. No wonder parents would naturally worry about their child’s development of her/his ability to persevere.
I came across the following advice* for parents. Most parents are doing a great job at persevering themselves with supporting their daughter/son in this matter and probably have many insights, skills and experience that is valuable. I offer this for your consideration to help parents in this task.
Don’t think of your child’s character as fixed. Most of our worries about our children are about the future. We see the young person who quits and worry about what this could mean for their character as an adult. However, who they are now is not who they will always be.
Explain the difference between “I don’t want to” and “I don’t feel like it”. Distinguishing long-term desires from immediate feelings will help children understand the difference between an immediate task and the ultimate goal. This is a lesson that doesn’t register right away, but it’s worth planting the seed and emphasising over time.
Let them know you see the areas in which they do work hard or show motivation. Say “I know you’re someone who can stick with things when they’re important to you”.
Get to the root of their concern. Why don’t they want to go? Perhaps they feel they aren’t as good as the others. What might make that better? Extra practice with your help? Help them see we often have to be not so good at things for a while as part of the process of getting good at something.
Children should have control over their own lives, but that doesn’t mean they can back out of a commitment, or waste the money parents have paid for lessons or gear. If they are adamant, then expect them to write a letter to the coach or organiser explaining why they are quitting. This makes them take ownership of their decision. They cannot ask parents to phone and get them off the hook.
Keep exploring. It may take a while to find what really motivates and enthuses them.
We can’t make them develop grit. We can expose them to things they may like, support them in sticking with things as they get harder and express confidence that they can handle the stress or the boredom.
The world is so complex that we have no idea where the things that will inspire and excite our children come from. If we encourage children to keep seeking what they love and to work hard at it when they find it, that will help them grow into confident and self-directed young adults.
[* Acknowledgement – “Principals’ Digest,” Volume 24 Number 31]
College Assembly – tomorrow
We will conduct our next whole school assembly tomorrow, Friday 17th May in the gym. Parents and Friends of the College are welcome to attend. Please report to the office by 10:45 am on the day. The assembly will conclude at around 12:30 pm.
Year 7 Enrolments for 2020
Can I please remind parents of current students that if you have a child in Year Six this year that applications for a place in Year 7 next year at Saint Ignatius College Geelong close tomorrow, Friday 17th May 2019. Application forms are available online or from our office at the College.
Year 7 Camps
I was very pleased to be able to visit the Year 7 camps on the evenings of Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th May at Anglesea. I was very impressed by the positive and enthusiastic responses I received from the students about their camp experience and how they were settling into secondary school life. As in previous years, I took some of the College Captains with me. These Senior Student Leaders were delighted by the warm welcome they received. They did a tremendous job meeting as many Year 7s as possible, talking about their experiences of camps and school and encouraging the young students to make the most of their opportunities. I congratulate Ms Leonie O’Brien (Yr 7 Coordinator) and the staff team involved in providing this valuable experience for our Yr 7 students.
NAPLAN
On Tuesday 14th, Wednesday 15th and today, Thursday 16th May, our Years 7 and 9 students sat the 2019 NAPLAN tests. I visited the test venues each day and was impressed with the cooperative manner and seemingly diligent approach of the students to these tests – well done to the students. Thank you to Mrs Annette Chidzey, Ms Jane Alexander and Ms Vicki Munro for their work to coordinate these assessments and all staff involved in supporting the running of this external assessment program. Parents will be provided with a report from VCAA via the school about their daughter/son’s performance later in the year.
Jesuit Mission Maytime Fair
Saint Ignatius College Geelong was again very pleased to be able to support the Jesuit Missions Maytime Fair at Xavier College on Saturday 4th May. This was our seventh year of helping out. The proceeds will assist the Jesuits in their work with people in India, Myanmar, Africa, China, East Timor, Cambodia, Pakistan, Thailand and The Philippines.
Well done to the six Senior Student Leaders who with some staff help ran a “Tastes of the Bellarine” stall. They raised just over $2,200 on the day. As well as raising valuable funds or performing, the students were great ambassadors for our College and strengthened our connections with the network of Jesuit groups.
Thank you to Mr Paul Lewis (Depurty Principal), Mr Anthony Gravener (Student Leadership Development Coordinator), and all staff members involved in supporting our students’ participation in this event. And thank you to the many local businesses that donated items for the stall.
Farewell to Mr Andrew Humphrey (Grounds & Maintenance)
After 15 years in this role at our College, Mr Humphrey will be moving to a position at another school. On behalf of our College community, I express my gratitude to Mr Humphrey for his contribution to the development and maintenance of the College’s facilities and grounds during a period of considerable growth in school population and expansion of our College facilities. His work has helped ensure that our students have excellent and well maintained facilities and grounds so our students have a pleasant and safe learning environment. I wish him a rewarding time in his new role.
Staff member on leave
Mrs Claire Hewitt will be on long service leave for the remainder of the term. I wish Mrs Hewitt a restful and enjoyable time. Mr Max Green will be covering Mrs Hewitt’s Mathematics classes.
Michael Exton Principal
Privacy and information collection - Saint Ignatius College Geelong is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1998. In relation to health records, the School is also bound by the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic.). A copies of the College’s Privacy Policy and ‘Collection Notice’ that take into account these laws, technology and changes to the School’s operations and practices is available on our website. You can find the link at the bottom of the College’s web page.
Being unique and special is an aspiration for many in our society. People work so hard to prove their value and their incomparable merit that they often fail to offer, or even know, themselves. Social media enables people to offer an edited vision of ourselves to the world. This image is a false and linear illustration of the person we are. The places we go and the images people view of us are presented only if they inform or enhance the approved narrative we have of our life and image. When we enter into relationship with others and are real and present, people being to uncover and engage with the complex and multifaceted nature of who we truly are. We are deeper and more valuable than we allow others to see or know. Ironically to be unique and special we simply have to know who we are and be that person.
In Religious Education classes at the College our students are encouraged to observe and be critical as they explore the history and teachings of the Church, the Bible and of Jesus himself. As students journey from their junior years to their senior studies they are guided to develop from a literal and fragile understanding of these things to a sophisticated and enduring appreciation of faith. For many students the image they offer the world begins to soften, as they find that their uniqueness is found in their sacredness.
Courage is needed in allowing young people to critically explore the Church. In exploring the history of the Church students see times where the Church was not true to the teachings of Jesus and that temptation and human weakness moved people who were viewed from the outside as good to knowingly do wrong. In our times young people have grown up hearing about how some used the image of their faith and ordination to hide their evil desires and actions. Worse than the Pharisee’s Jesus condemned are those who abused children and used the image of their priestliness to avoid scrutiny for so long.
Conversely in exploring the history of our Church the students find that although individuals within the Church can stain the Church with their choices, misuse of authority and ego have not changed the mission of the Church. The Holy Spirit always guides us so that justice, vitality and new ways come from times of challenge. Because of this the Church develops because of challenge and is brought closer to perfection and more able to bring about the Kingdom.
Encouraging the students to explore the Bible critically can cause alarm. Assisting students to explore Scripture as a text at a base level would ignorant and misguided. As foundational understandings are refined faith is questioned on this journey the students require guidance. This is an essential task for the College as an underdeveloped literal interpretation of the Bible is certain to fail them. To develop they require affirmation that their exploration and reasoning guided by the teacher and the Holy Spirit develops the ability to support their faith in the future and results in deep and enduring insights in the present. Growth requires challenge and development. Understanding and interpreting the Bible is for young people a very challenging experience. From this challenge growth occurs which bares fruit that informs and nourishes every other area of their life.
Associated with the student’s development in Biblical literacy is a change in how Jesus is understood and known by the student. In exploring the Gospels our students see Jesus in a new way. The person of Jesus, like ourselves, is complex and at unknowable. There is a mystery present that we cannot discern in examining the text of the Bible or the teachings of the Church. To know Jesus, we must ‘know’ him. To develop this personal relationship students, participate in prayer, liturgy and the Eucharist often. Even though he lives within us and we have a personal relationship with him we cannot truly know him in this life. Our love for Jesus is rewarded at the end of our lives when we meet him face to face. It is in our eternal life that we truly know Jesus.
Throughout the student’s time at Saint Ignatius College we accompany them as they complete their religious education studies, engage in social justice activities and develop their ability to pray and celebrate through liturgy. Over six short years at our College we hope and we pray that they are challenged, grow and come to see and be the best of our Church.
There is however another critical part of this process which occurs through unguided observation alone. Each day our students engage with so many members of our community. The staff at the College have a particular impact upon the individual and therefore it’s paramount that they are faithful to the aims of the College, Church and community. What is even more important that this is that they are an image of Christ to the other; always. In our humanness we fail at times to achieve this completeness. What is essential though is that when staff fail to be truly present, err or do not serve as are able to is to acknowledge this, make good what is undone and improve in the future.
At the end of this week we say farewell to a staff member who is a beacon to all in the community as to how we should hold ourselves. This Friday, Mr Andrew Humphrey will leave the College to take up a new position at Kardinia College. Andrew has faithfully served our community for fifteen years. He has overseen the development and maintenance of the grounds and facilities with dedication and enthusiasm over these years. He is always cheerful and encouraging. He is humble and is by name not known by many of the students. Yet, Andrew is an exemplar of what the staff at Saint Ignatius College can and should be. For the students his work ethic, personality and observable virtues are inspirational and enlightening. Andrew is a person who has little need to manage the image people see of him.
As our young people grow they are truly in the best place. They have access to excellent facilities, courses, professionals and formation. They also have people around them who model how being true to yourself and allowing others to also can lead to growth and a completeness in diversity as part of a community.
So with courage we offer all that we can to our students. In doing so we know with great faith in them and Jesus that they will be transformed and one day leave us as people who can offer their whole self to the world, unafraid of image and guided by their heart rather than their ego. The sum of our efforts is the development of exceptional men and women for others, who have a love for Jesus and a vision for a better more just world.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls Liturgy Coordinator
New Beginnings and New Opportunities
Between the 6-10th May, our Year 7s travelled to Anglesea YMCA for a camp.
The focus of the camp was team building through activities. Students were encouraged to push themselves out of their comfort zone as they worked through a program of initiatives that ranged from Fishing to climbing 18m in the Vertical Challenge.
In this wonderful environment, new friends were made and laughter rang out across the camp ground.
Our students are to be commended on their positive attitude and behaviour. They supported each other and should be very proud of how far they have come on their journey at Saint Ignatius. They truely embraced the theme of New Beginnings and New Opportunities.
I would like to thank the students and our passionate and committed staff who worked tirelessly to make Camp 2019 such a success.
Ms Leonie O’Brien Year Level Coordinator
What the students had to say:
My favourite part of camp was the giant swing. I went all the way to the top! My heart skipped a beat when I pulled the cherry at the top but as soon as I was swinging I had so much fun. The view was great!!
Bella Gleeson
Camp was amazing, phenomenal even. We were given so many opportunities and we got a chance to meet new people and create new friendships. My experience was awesome. I loved getting to know new people, and I must say all the activities we so much fun! My three favourite activities would easily be the giant swing, the mountain bike riding as well as the vertical challenge.
Taylah Drake
My favorite part about camp was the fishing. it was very fun, I caught 5 fish and one very big one.
Connor O’Neill
My camp highlights was the crate climb it was really fun and challenging. Also Mr Timms on the giant swing screaming!
Claire Abreu
The Saint Ignatius Senior Football team were crowned the GISSA (Geelong Independent Secondary Schools Association) Senior Champions for 2019 after defeating Christian College Geelong and Kardinia International College on Tuesday 14th May.
The Senior team have now qualified for the AFL VICTORIA HERALD SUN COUNTRY SHIELD. Taking into account the amount of schools involved in this competition across Victoria, the boys should feel proud and be congratulated for their effort, spirit and dedication.
The Senior boys played in a Division 1 and Division 2 Round Robin competition at Drew Reserve in Herne Hill.
Competing GISSA Schools:
Division 1: Christian College, Saint Ignatius College and Kardinia International College.
Division 2: Geelong Lutheran College, Covenant College and Geelong Baptist College.
Game 1
Saint Ignatius College Geelong 4.2.26 defeated Christian College Geelong 2.2.14
From the first ball up it was clear that this game was going to be a tough game for both sides. Conditions made it more of a challenge for players as they tried to adapt to the wind and pressure around the contests.
The onballers had a long day running the ball up and down the field with the ball being moved quickly by both teams, especially on turnovers.
In the final half the consistent effort and structures around the ground enabled the Senior team to consolidate a comfortable lead.
It was a terrific win from the team and it showed that we could hold our own against tough opposition.
Game 2
Saint Ignatius College Geelong 4.3.27 defeated Kardinia International College 3.4.22
A strong first half by both teams saw a low scoring game. Despite winning majority of the stoppages, the backline was still under pressure during many parts of the game.
The run and carry from the Senior team eventually allowed the side to get in front and to maintain this lead until the final siren.
Overall the team played very well, with our team fighting hard till the final whistle.
Best Players for the Day:
Kobe Annand, Mitchell Clark, Jack Preece, Will Howard, Jarvis Durbidge, Tom Ness, Nicolas Ash, Logan Hockley, Will Edwards, Cody Beckley.
Thank you to the parents and staff who made the effort to support the team during both of their matches.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Andrew Philp (Sports Coordinator), who is always supportive and does an exceptional job in organising all sporting events for the College.
Congratulations to all of the students who participated and represented the College.
With much excitement and enthusiasm, we look forward to our next sporting challenge at the Herald Sun Shield Competition later this term.
Joe McLean Year 12 Coordinator
The Maytime Fair was held at Xavier College, Kew on Saturday, May 4th. It is a key fundraising event for Jesuit Mission. The fair draws a staggering 8,000 people who participate generously, knowing that all of the funds raised go directly to where they are needed most.
Saint Ignatius College Geelong has had a stall at the Maytime Fair for quite a number of years now. Our stall is "Tastes of the Bellarine" and it is always a huge success. Students and staff volunteer their time to attend the Fair and we are very grateful to local businesses who kindly allow us to sell their produce at the Fair.
The students who helped this year were: Anthony Zanghi, Sean Neylan, Chloe Broadhurst, Samuel Salisbury, Jessie Williams, Abigail Valentine-Rawlins, Heidi Bakker, Noah Gullan and Emily Jones.
We’d like to extend a special thank you for all those who contributed to our stall including:
Jesuit Mission works with local partners in over 14 countries across Asia and Southern Africa to provide a range of targeted support and training that empowers women, men and children to build the skills, capacity and resilience they need to live full and free lives.
Since the year 2000, the Maytime Fair has raised over $2.8 million for these endeavours. Rector of Jesuit Mission, Fr Trung Nguyen SJ, recognised this as “a phenomenal contribution” in support of Jesuit Mission and its partners’ work “to uphold the innate dignity and promote the rights of God’s most vulnerable people”.
Chloe Broadhurst Arrupe Leader
We encourage all families of exisiting Saint Ignatius students as well as all other families who are looking to enrol students in the 2020 Year 7 cohort to have their completed applications (including all necessary supporting documentation) by the close of business on Friday May 17th.
If you have any questions about the enrolment process you can email the Registrar at registrar@ignatius.vic.edu.au or contact the College on 5251 1136 and ask to speak with the Registrar, Mrs Gail Myers.
Details of our enrolment can be found on our website at: www.ignatius.vic.edu.au/new/enrolment/how-to-enrol#7824259
Saint Ignatius College was well represented on Thursday 2nd May in the first round of the Geelong Schools competition conducted by the Debaters’ Association of Victoria (DAV).
Our Senior Debaters acquitted themselves well against Saint Joseph’s, losing by the narrowest of margins in a very tight contest. SICG took the affirmative position, arguing “That, instead of being elected, members of parliament should be randomly selected”.
William Bothe (Year 11) opened the debate and spoke for over six minutes, outlining the key arguments. The pacing of his speech, his articulation and eye contact with the audience were exceptionally effective, earning him Best Speaker for the debate. Congratulations, William, on a fabulous performance.
As second speaker, Mikayla Michels (Year 12) countered the opponents’ case and spoke for over five minutes developing the team’s arguments further. For a first time debater since primary school, Mikayla showed great composure and performed very well.
Our third speaker, Ella Dumaresq (Year 10), presented over six minutes of arguments against the negative team’s case and summed up very effectively. With several years’ experience in debating to draw upon, Ella showed that she is increasingly comfortable thinking on her feet. It is great to see a Year 10 student speaking so confidently in A Grade Debating.
The adjudicator commended the speakers on their arguments and the quality of the debate, noting the effectiveness of the rebuttals.
We are all very proud of our Senior Debaters and congratulate them on another fine performance in the Geelong Schools competition.
This Thursday 16th May we will be represented by Ruby Mangelsdorf (Academic Captain), Madeleine Crothers (College Co-Captain), and Isabella Harry (Justice Captain). Our team will take the negative position against Kardinia International School, with the topic being “That we should criminally prosecute companies that use sweatshops.” Their preparation has been solid and the team is looking forward to the fixture.
Our Junior Debaters were very well prepared to take the affirmative position for their opening debate, arguing “That we should ban horse racing.”
Unfortunately, illness affected two of our speakers on the day and meant that their fixture needed to be forfeited in the favour of their opponents. We have received notice from our Round 2 opponents that they cannot attend on 16th May, so this means that our juniors will effectively commence their campaign on Thursday 30th May. Under the direction of Ms Brooke O’Brien, they are preparing to argue either case for the topic “That we should abolish standardised testing (e.g. NAPLAN)”. The draw for Round 3 will be finalized closer to the fixture.
Thank you to all parents who have attended the evening debating program and supported the students.
Thank you also to Ms Brooke O’Brien, Junior Debating Co-ordinator, for her ongoing support and work with the Junior Debaters.
Ms Andrea Dart Senior Debating Co-ordinator.
Fantastic Friday
Thanks so much to our Arts captain, Jack Woodfine who has recently organised musicians to play in the senior quad. It is wonderful to see the students supporting each other and Jack is hoping to see many new musicians perform during these lunch hour concerts.
Jack has many ideas for the arts and he will be speaking to our students at our College assembly on Friday.
ANZAC Day Service
Many thanks to our Senior Symphonic Winds and the College Choir for performing the National Anthem at our recent Anzac Service.
Thankyou also to the music teachers who assisted the students. A very special thankyou to Mr Angelo Scotto who I believe takes first prize for his performance of “The Last Post”.
Thanks also to “The Magis Men” and the Magis band for their wonderful rendition of “We Still Call Australia Home”.
VCE Music Soiree
The VCE music students are busy preparing for their performances which will be held at the Piano Bar on Thursday May 23rd at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased on the following link.
https://www.trybooking.com/BCIIV
Mr Tim Neal
We welcome Mr Tim Neal who has joined our vibrant staff in the Performing Arts. Mr Neal is taking the saxophone and clarinet students, the Stage Band and he is also part of the Year 7 music team.
Mr Neal has expressed how much he enjoys teaching our students and he is amazed at the talent we have in our College. Tim is looking forward to nurturing his students and assisting them in reaching their full potential.
Tim Neal is an Australian B3 Hammond organist and saxophonist. He has performed as part of the Paul Williamson Hammond Combo for about 20 years and in a number of other bands including The Swingin' Sidewalks, The Feelin' Groovies, Festa and Banana Oil. He also fronted his own Tim Neal Big Organ Band[7] and The Tim Neal Trio.
Tim has toured extensively and played at many festivals, both in Australia and overseas. He has been a part of a number of Australian and International acts, including Guy Pearce's “Unconscious Brothers” and Steve Magnussen's “Kinfolk”.
Banana Oil won an Apra Award in 1998 for their album Guava Lampo and the Paul Williamsons Hammond Combo was nominated for Apra award in 2001 for their album Live at the Espy. The Banana Oil song “My Family” was used in the movie “Bedazzled” starring Elizabeth Hurley in 2000.
Ms Chelsea Gibb
After two years, we welcome back Ms Chelsea Gibb. In her previous role in the college, Chelsea taught vocal. Chelsea has taken over the role of public speaking from Mrs Jessica Sherman who is on maternity leave. We wish Jessica and her husband all the best with their new role as parents. I am sure Chelsea will enjoy her new position and hope many parents and friends will save Thursday, August 15th,7pm, for the Public Speaking recital. More details to follow soon.
Year 7 Concert Band Performance
Monday 17th June: The Potato Shed
Rehearsals for our much anticipated Concert Band Evening have been progressing well. After a week of school camp, the students return to furious practise of their combined band and ensemble pieces in preparation for the event which will be held at The Potato Shed. There will be 2 concerts on the evening, the details of which are below:
5:15pm – 6:00pm Saints Claver, Borgia and Lewis (Arrive 4:45pm)
6:30pm – 7:15pm Saints Ward and Miki (Arrive 6:00pm)
We look forward to hearing the efforts of our students at this event – you will be amazed at the progress the students have made after only a short period of tuition on their instruments. Please support your child by encouraging them to practise consistently over the next few weeks. Families will be notified of ticketing arrangements shortly.
The Year 7 Honours Band
Beginning this Friday 17th May, a small portion of the Year 7, Semester 1 Music cohort will rehearse together an awesome piece, which will be presented at the Concert Band Evening mentioned above. This is an extra-curricular opportunity offered to the students to extend their musical skills. We look forward to hearing the results of their hard work at the concert in June.
Mrs Veronica Marrie Year 7 Concert Band Coordinator
Geelong Catholic Colleges Combined Bands Day
Tuesday 28th May, Covenant College
Students playing in the SICG Junior Concert Band and the SICG Intermediate Symphonic Winds will combine together with over 200 musicians from schools in the region, to participate in a massed rehearsal and performance at Covenant College. Playing together in an intensive afternoon of rehearsals, allows our students the opportunity to develop their musical skills further and to immerse themselves in this unique experience of playing within a very large ensemble! A repertoire highlight will include a piece of music entitled, ‘Frogs’, featuring a unique percussion instrument: a frog guiro. The event will culminate in an evening concert starting at 6pm for family and friends.
Mrs Veronica Marrie and Miss Naomi Cordell Concert Band Conductors
Production News
“School of Rock”
The production team and cast have been in after school rehearsals every Monday night this term. Our incredibly talented cast have been busy learning dynamic choreography, challenging vocals and now we have completed the blocking for the musical through to scene 4! A huge effort from all!
But equally as impressive is the huge amount of work that is going on behind the scenes as the costume department are busy designing and sourcing costumes. The music department are devising interesting ways that we can incorporate more live instrumentalist music on stage throughout the show and the students are dedicating their personal time to learning their lines and practising the show numbers! This private practice at home means that rehearsals are stream lined and professional. Thank you to everyone for always being on time and putting in 100%! You rock!
Miss Rhea Walker Director
Unit 3 Theatre Studies
Our VCE Theatre Studies students have been busy rehearsing the musical High School Musical Jr. to meet their Unit 3, Outcome 1. To meet the outcome they must interpret a script across the stages of the production process through creative, imaginative and collaborative work undertaken in two production roles. Noah Gullan is directing the musical and the class have been working incredibly hard, rehearsing both in their own time and during Theatre Studies classes to ensure that this all singing, all dancing musical is a real hit!
There are only two shows (June 4th @ 7pm and June 5th @ 11am) so don’t miss out! Tickets are only available ONLINE at https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/potatoshed/events/default.aspx.
Tickets are FREE but seating is allocated.
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Miss Rhea Walker and the Unit 3 Theatre Studies class.
See the PDF flyer below for details:
Instrumental lessons are well underway for term 2 and I do ask that parents keep track of their child’s lesson time each week. It would be beneficial if parents give a gentle reminder to their child so that a lesson is not accidently missed and also a teacher is not wasting his or her time waiting for a student.
There are a couple of vacancies in some instruments. Instrumental enrolment forms can be obtained from either the front office or the performing arts office.
Thank you for your continued support of our performing arts students and I do look forward to seeing you at our future concerts.
Mrs Linda Pape Performance and Instrumental Coordinator.
Iggy’s Inkies Book Club
Every fortnight a group of bookworms meet to discuss and rate the books on the Inky Awards longlist. As the year progresses and the students have read more of the titles the debates can become quite heated. The announcement of the shortlist in July is eagerly anticipated and can cause cries of joy or howls of dismay as the “right” and “wrong” books make the list for voting. The longlisted Inky Awards titles pdf can be downloaded here:
The Inky Awards are run by the State Library of Victoria, but are judged and voted on by Australian teens – no adults allowed!
For more information: https://insideadog.com.au/the-inky-awards/
Creative Writing Club
On the alternating fortnights to the reading club the ILC hosts a creative writing club. Students come along to write and share ideas. They are provided with writing prompts to get their creative brains started and then will work individually or collectively on a writing activity to help them plan or work on their own stories or poetry.
New members are always welcome to both clubs.
Mother’s Day
The Mother’s Day market held by Year 11 VCAL students last week went really well. The jewellery girls and the concrete pots were crowd favourites, selling out completely. The bath bomb boys sold all of their product except for three, the herb pots sold just over half of what was made, and the card group also sold about half of what they made.
On the day the set up was nice and students and staff were able to get access what they wanted to buy for their mums for Mother’s Day. We made over $700 without taking any cost away, but we should have our final profit amount soon. To finalise our Mother’s Day Market Project we are working on our own group folios. Our folios document the entire process and form part of our assessment for PDS and WRS.
Our next major project in Year 11 is 'Flavours of the World' - a staff luncheon, where we plan, organise and host a luncheon for all staff. That is coming up on Thursday the 20th of June, and we are looking forward to that.
Isobelle Allan
Saint Ignatius College would like to welcome Year 7, 8 and Year 9 families to our upcoming Literacy Evening featuring 3 local, accomplished authors to be held on Wednesday May 29th in the ILC.
Attendees will enjoy nibblies and refreshments upon arrival, and the chance to win one of three signed copies of texts from our featured authors. The opportunity to purchase texts of each respective author will also be available for families.
Time: 6:15pm for nibbles and refreshments with the Panel commencing at 6:30pm and running approximately 1 hour.
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/BCKTO
Please see the attached poster below for details on this exciting event, there is no cost to attend this exciting evening.
We look forward to warmly welcoming families to this night, and the opportunity in continuing to share the Literacy Journey with their son/daughter.
Ms Elana Cole Companions Coordinator
Over the last couple of weeks our WIRED classes have been joined by guest visitors. The visitors participate by;
All guests have valued the time to visit WIRED classes. They felt it is a worthwhile experience to sit and read and to be have to have this enjoyable “down time” in their day.
Our guests so far include Mr Exton, Mr Timms, Mr Alexander, Ms Allen-Emery, and Ms Deak.
WIRED classes look forward to welcoming many more guest to reading with them.
Mrs Jane Alexander, Mrs Leonie Stephenson and Ms Gemma Etherington WIRED Coordinators
I would like to again celebrate Chiara Fankhauser and Abbey Maffescioni (Year 10) we are completing their media internship at Australian Catholic this week. This is a significant achievement and a wonderful opportunity. Their applications were both excellent and testament to their competence and interest in the ‘media’, Religious Education and English.
During the internship the girls are members of small team who are in the process of editing the winter edition of Australian Catholics Magazine. We are very excited about this as our Year 7 students will receive a copy of this as part of their Religious Education program. Further, I look forward to hearing of their experience, their sharing to our community and the encouragement their success offers others in the future.
I would like to conclude by sharing with you text of a piece of work that Abbey used to support her application. I am sure you will agree she is very talented and offers a persuasive and insightful response to the misuse of the media in the modern day.
I wish both Chiara and Abbey all the best as they enter into this exciting opportunity.
Mr Brendan Nicholls Religious Education Coordinator
Abbey Maffecioni
[Scene is set within the palace of MEDEA (Queen of Corinth), in the throne room; NURSE, an old servant of MEDEA]
NURSE: My Queen Medea, forced from her home the land of Colchis, her heart deceived by a spell; cast by Hera, Mother of the Gods. Unaware of the twisted spell, she assisted Jason in stealing the Golden Fleece, Jason easily persuaded Medea to execute many truly villainous acts against the innocent. Oh if only she had known of what awaited if only her hero Jason was not guilty of ordering these criminal behaviours of his bride if only Jason had not exiled them to Corinth. I ask my Queen what of her oaths that she took to Jason on the island of Drepane, with the Gods as their witnesses, what of her pledge of faithfulness. Now Jason stays no doubt plotting against our Queen and her new bride, unknowingly to be exiled from Corinth by Creon within the hour, though fairly in a foreign land a man can survive with merely a name, he can lose nothing more. But what chills me is what curses would he place on Medea and their children? No man would lightly abandon his rage, they have no belief in loss only glory and being triumphant in any battle they fight. And oh what a glorious life they must lead, die in battle or live to tell of their victories but when death comes will it be their victory they think of, is that all they hold dear, is there nothing greater in life, shall my words prove true that men are simple in their ways.
[The CHORUS of Corinthian women enter.]
CHORUS: The Colchian woman, now a Queen of a foreign land. But where is the Queen now? She must answer for the woe she has caused. She wept violently of sorrow when Jason sought out the princess for his bride and now she finds herself to be wed to whom she tried to ruin. To inflict harm on two, only one has been struck, Jason has been deceived by two women. How could Medea defend this?
[Medea; Queen of Corinth, enters and addresses the CHORUS]
MEDEA: Ah Ladies of Corinth, you all know the suffering and pain which I endured. Yet here I am the Queen of my own state married to the beautiful princess, daughter of Creon. And where is the man whom I must thank for my most impressive fortune? He is to be exiled from this land he once exiled us to. Oh the misery that was caused by his ignorance, I can only pray to the Gods he makes little fuss when he leaves this city. To think the man who I believed to be my world was my foulest traitor. Jason with his endless hunger for power, one that never wavered even after he had Iolcus in his grasp, shame was cast over him when his bride wasn’t good enough for our people. After all my false love and the love of our children, he sought the princess of Corinth to make her his bride, I would never accept such a criminal unity, charged with a vengeful fire kindled by Hera’s spell with the power of Aphrodite, I set forth with the intent to strike down the princess. But as a laid my eyes upon her I felt the fire pass over me and was replaced by bewitchment by the princess before me. When King Creon arrived, terror-stricken, he willingly gave me his daughter’s hand in marriage. Men are the most miserable of specimens, divorce brings disgrace on a woman and we should not refuse our husbands, we are bound to one lover for our lives and seek no other.
CHORUS-LEADER: We ask you, Queen Medea; Is it that Jason will seek revenge, you tell of the crime he was to commit but forget of your own criminal behaviour. What have you to say for the grief you caused?
MEDEA: You ask me to justify what I have done? Why should I defend myself? Us women live in a world with laws written by and for men; who wield weapons into battle as the fools they are, only to die for a legacy they have clutched to their whole lives that they will never see fulfilled. A woman has the torture of birthing and raising their legacy even after they are gone; and what of us? Abandoned, homeless, exiled, cast out, forced from our homes. So my friends how could I possibly defend myself in a land of men, where even a sorceress and high priestess of the temple of Hecate can be stripped of her title and has nothing and nowhere to go. Are women truly timid and cowards? When we must endure sharing our lives with strong-willed men who act so foolishly or are we stronger than any scheming, unfaithful, wicked man we have the labour of meeting. Here I stand before you, Queen of this land and you ask me of the grief I have caused; In my eyes, I see no foul play.
CHORUS-Leader: Here approaches Creon to bring news from the house of Jason.
[Enter CREON]
MEDEA: You there, Creon, I welcome the news of Jason’s exile. How did he go? What painful words did he deliver us? It would bring me twice as much joy if he left cursing our names and his tales of suffering. Tell us your story Creon.
[MEDEA sits at the throne]
CREON: When I arrived at the house of Jason, I informed him of your decree, that he was to be banished beyond this country. He spoke of the great harm he will do to you and your bride. For the sake of my daughter’s mortality, allow him to stay in this land. I beg of you humbly, my Queen.
MEDEA: There is no harm he could possibly do upon me or your daughter, I would not allow it. You must drive him out of Corinth, show no mercy. Send the servants, punish any who pity him for they should be shown no more pity than him.
CREON: Did you not love him once! is all this trouble to be caused for one man.
MEDEA: Do not waste your words trying to change my mind, you could never possibly persuade me.
CREON: A man who has been made a fool of has a murderous heart. Especially when a deed such as that is accomplished by a woman.
MEDEA: Men need no assistance in making fools of themselves, it is at their core to do so.
CREON: Please allow him to stay another day, then he will never set foot in Corinth again.
MEDEA: I see no reason to fulfil your wish. But as the father of my bride, I will listen. Go, tell Jason of my decision but be clear it was through no pity of mine that he is to stay.
[exit CREON]
CHORUS: No woman should endure the burden of men; Medea has escaped this. Blessed by this earth and the sun, the father of her father; Apollo shines in golden robes, lightened body and all-bright in gold; immortal youth and eternal beauty, surely they are of the same blood. She was saved from her spell by falling hopelessly in love with the princess, Glauce.
MEDEA: Now that I have taken a new wife and she has taken in my children, I will rule as Queen of Corinth my children will be the heirs. If only there were another means for mankind to reproduce, without the male sex; Oh what troubles the world would be rid of!
[Enter GLAUCE]
MEDEA: My princess, eternally beautiful, the perfection of all that is graceful and refined. Our marriage, words of honour to the gods binding us, but for me now in truth. I am forever devoted to you and your desires.
GLAUCE: I have been blessed by an envious wife to be Queen you needn’t fulfil all of what I ask. The gods have been generous to us and our union, I now have two children with the one that I love, are the gods not generous?
[MEDEA rises from the throne and goes to GLAUCE]
MEDEA: I thought not even the Gods had the power to undo the damage caused by my past lover, but you are here and my heart has never been so elated. You are worth more than I have ever blessed with, though many dreams of gold and power I only wish for you to stay with me.
GLAUCE: I know of the suffering afflicted by Jason, but now we needn’t worry about him.
MEDEA: Of course we needn’t, Jason is gone we will never see him or be harmed by his treachery.
[MEDEA kisses GLAUCE’S forehead: exit GLAUCE]
MEDEA: Ah, this is hard to bear. I should have exiled Jason; why did I listen to that fool Creon [moves and sits back on the throne]. Jason doesn’t give up easily and would never accept being fooled.
CHORUS-LEADER: I believe that you said no harm would come to your wife or children. What unpleasantness do you fear? You may have to face it presently; Jason is fast approaching.
[exit CHORUS: Enter JASON, angered]
JASON: You scheming viper-minded woman; You lioness, you have had your claws wretched in my heart. Your decree for my banishment, I know to be an act of war. Is that what you desire? To fight, because I will willingly do so to take what is rightfully mine.
MEDEA: Oh, of course, you believe everything to be an act of war! Is that all you think of? The next battle, who is against you and who your enemies are. You deserve nothing and you have no right to fight for something that you do not own.
JASON: [paces in front of throne] You have stolen my children, my kingdom and my reputation; and I will fight for them.
MEDEA: Oh poor man wretched in your sorrows! What pity I take on you, what a cruel twist of fate that the woman you tried to abandon, abandoned you. I take pity on you, poor fool.
JASON: You witch; you have done villainous things, you never deserved to be Queen of any land. You killed your own family and many others [stops pacing, turns to MEDEA], did you enjoy watching your father and brother suffer at your own hand, where you gratified to trick those girls into killing their father.
MEDEA: You have no right to speak of what I have done. I had no control over what I did.
JASON: But you still did it, you can deny your villainous conduct or admit to being the abomination you are.
MEDEA: All that I did was under your order; I had no way of denying, I was under a spell. I had no choice in what I did, I never willingly murdered my father and my brother. I merely did what you set me out to do so it would seem we have encountered a moral dilemma, is the one who gives the order as guilty as the one who executes it?
JASON: What I have done in my past for the right to my own crown is no act of villainy.
MEDEA: Yet what I have done, you see is appropriate to hold against me, why should the rules not be enacted on you as you believe they should to me?
JASON: You are an unfeeling monster, you betrayed me for a new bride. Gone is all trust we placed in our oaths, you cast me from this land with no friends without my children.
MEDEA: When I witness the day you are to bear a child you may take them.
JASON: You have an incurable evil within you, I feel nothing but hatred for you. I was your husband once, remember our oaths, our pledge to one another.
MEDEA: Ah, yes, a wonderful husband indeed. A truly good husband does not ask her to murder her family, or abandon his wife and children-
[JASON tries to speak]
MEDEA: I do not care for your excuse, I am the Queen, you are not the King. You dare accuse me of being unworthy of trust, on land where you have no rights. You, Jason, are a wicked man who is dark at his heart. Call me a lioness! Call me a witch! But I say now when I dig my claws into your heart all it bleeds is the darkness within you.
[Medea rises form the throne: exit MEDEA]
JASON: Damn her! I curse the days we shared a wedding bed. I wish now that I had never gone to Colchis and retrieved the Golden Fleece. And now I am to be exiled, penniless without any heirs.
[enter CHORUS of Corinthian women]
CHORUS: We hear your cries of unjust hatred for the Queen, you are undeserving of the right to a city. You have earnt nothing you possess, it was Medea who knew how to defeat the warriors of the earth and how to make you impervious to fire and Medea who tamed the dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece, the key to your rule Iolcus. But it was also you who took her from Colchis, made her kill her family and leave her without a home to go back to. You cursed her the moment she became a part of your legend, and yet you still deceived her.
JASON[faltering]: I do deserve a kingdom; it was my birthright. [looks towards CHORUS] I have killed many for glory if people told of my story would I not be known for my triumph. So many are dead because of the glory I sought out for.
CHORUS: Then there is one last person in your story who must end it all, all the pain was caused by one and you must destroy them for it, a person who is unfaithful to you and has caused you the most grief.
CHORUS-LEADER: Jason, you must know who it is we speak of.
JASON: A life of triumph for nothing. Zeus have mercy on me a once honoured life of adventure, so now it must come to a bitter end; I have become a tragic figure in my eyes all the adventure was for nothing. I am tired.
[JASON exits]
CHORUS: Both Jason and Medea, from the moment they became part of each other’s lives they were doomed. Their fate was chosen by a goddess who sought revenge, in gaining revenge on one she achieved the destruction of another. Jason and Medea, no one could live with the other. One would have to die.
[enter MEDEA]
MEDEA: How ironic, drowning on a burning ship [MEDEA begins laughing] Oh what a hilarious twist of fate. A man thought to be so strong, crumbled at the loss of a wife who never loved him. Oh, the shame he must have felt to take his own life. I would not hesitate to say that those who pass for the great thinkers of this earth are in fact the greatest fools.
[enter MESSENGER]
MESSENGER: My Queen Medea, I have brought you news of Jason.
MEDEA: What of him, what more annoyance can he cause in one day?
MESSENGER: He is dead, my Queen. He went to his ship the Argo, and set it aflame with himself inside. It was as though the ocean itself was on fire. Many tried to stop the flames but it was without a doubt going to sink. Jason was heard inside crying out for Zeus to end his suffering. He had trapped himself inside and drowned. I will leave you now.
[exit MESSENGER]
MEDEA: How ironic, drowning on a burning ship [MEDEA begins laughing] Oh what a hilarious twist of fate. A man thought to be so strong, crumbled at the loss of a wife who never loved him. Oh the shame he must have felt to take his own life. I would not hesitate to say that those who pass for the great thinkers of this earth are in fact the greatest fools.
[Exit MEDEA]
CHORUS: Anger crushed both of their hearts of anger that lead them to their fate. In any circumstance, Medea leaves with the last laugh, and Jason is left to grow tired of living a life of regret. For Medea always sent on the path of freedom by her noble father the sun. Because, when raging seas subside, when wars are over and poets sing, Medea remains a monument of woe.
Reflection
I chose to write it the way I did because I felt that I wanted to kind of like the original but change it a bit to get a different message from it. My aim was to write the story but tell it where the roles were in a way reversed, between Medea and Jason and get more of a fair argument going between them without the misogynistic ideology seen throughout the original play. I didn’t write it with a particular audience in mind, but it would probably be aimed at someone who has read Medea and knows the story and so they get to see the story differently to what they originally saw in the original.
It was connected to the original text, it was set in the same place and time; with the same characters involved. With the elements of the text I kept the original themes of the play, which are; Conflict, between Jason and Medea; Passion, love for the princess; Revenge, practically everyone; The role of women, this theme in particular I tried to explore more, like in the original with the Chorus (Ladies of Corinth). I altered the text kind of with a role reversal, but not really; it was more like what if I followed the story of Jason and the Argonauts where Medea was under a spell, and then the spell was kind of lifted/broken after she met the princess and fell in love with her. So similar to a role reversal because then Jason was left with nothing and to be exiled. I also used formal and dramatic language, like the original text. I used the same setting and characters because I felt that I should be true to the book while achieving a different aim to the original play.
I chose to do a play script format because I felt that it would be easier to tell the story without having to only see it from one character’s point of view, or constantly changing the character you were seeing the story from. And honestly, I felt as though it fitted the way I was writing it more and how I adapted it. I addressed most of the elements, I could have been more descriptive with adding actions and directions in the script.
I used the original play script format as the original author as well as the original themes and formal language. With writing my own adaption of the story and writing the characters differently while trying to stay true to who they are was difficult, but I found that I did learn more about them trying to figure out what kind of language they would use, what choices they would make in situations. I found it difficult to really get my ideas written out, I found it difficult starting to write because I found everything to be kind of pretentious when I wrote it out. I tried to use the same kind of writing as the original text, like the kind of writing style, of course, its translated from the original text in Greek, but I still tried to stay true to the writing style.
I think with this creative writing piece that I really wanted to explore what Jason would do if he were put in a similar situation to Medea, which back then would have been a very unlikely situation. I also really wanted to explore the chorus a bit more because I feel like they are such an important part of Greek plays; also through the chorus’ interactions with Medea, I tried to explore the roles of women more, and kind of their thoughts on men of that time. I chose to do this because I felt with writing about whether or not Euripides was a feminist or a misogynist really made me want to write it again but with the roles reversed and a more feminist point of view. Honestly what inspired me to respond like this was showing Lucy what an actual feminist writer looked like, just kidding, I really wanted to rewrite it in a more interesting way without all the misogynistic comments. I’m proud I got it done in the end.
Please note that the Colour Club will be meeting in the ILC every Wednesday lunchtime from this week onwards, for those students interested in getting together to enjoy some mindful colouring and/or free drawing.
See you there!
Sarah Somerset Wellbeing Team
In 2019, schools are asked to provide information to the government about the number of students with additional needs currently attending their school.
There is a broad definition of 'disability' that includes students who require minor adjustments to those needing significant additional support to achieve success at school.
The data is provided to the Australian Government to assist in the development of a consistent, national picture of the educational needs of students with disability.
For further information related to this mandated collection process, please read the attached document in this newsletter titled, ‘NCCD Information Sheet for Parents, Carers and Guardians’.
Should you have any additional questions after reading this CEM information, please direct these to Mrs. Caroline Edmonds, Learning Support Coordinator, during school hours or via her school email: edmondsc@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Mrs Annette Chidzey Deputy Principal [Learning and Teaching]
It’s time to socialize and enjoy a fun night together!
“Comedy for a Cuase” is tomorrow!
Featuring comedians from Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals including Chris Wainhouse, James Master, Angus Gordon and Zack Dyers.
Tickets are still available so if you are thinking about going - book now!
Date: Friday May 17, 2019 Venue: Potato Shed – Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
Doors and Bar Open at 7.00pm - Show starts at 8.00pm
Tickets: $25 each - Must be 18+Book tickets online: www.comedyforacause.net/SIC
A PDF of our Canteen Price List can be downloaded here
Starting May 20th
Monday 20th
T.Smale, L. Grist, C. Kopec, Needed
Tuesday 21st
S. Twaits, L. Vella, Needed, Needed
Wednesday 22nd
M. Favelle, C. Whitworth, Needed, Needed
Thursday 23rd
M. White, E. Carpenter, L. Hamilton
Friday 24th
T. Dowie, S. Hammond, E. Stokie, L. McElroy
Starting May 27th
Monday 27th
N. Van Vliet, A. Schneider, F. Cahill-Low, J. Gray
Tuesday 28th
L. Tagani, E. Cruickshank, N. Robinson, M. Jackson
Wednesday 29th
L. Vella, K. James, S. Peters, Needed
Thursday 30th
V. Durbridge, M. White, L. Eastwood, N. Lowther
Friday 31st
J. Payne, J. McMahon, T. Burke, T. Hamilton-Dowd
If unable to attend, please make sure you get a replacement.
Sandra Woodall Tel: 0417 050 258
Open Day BBQ Donation
We are able to donate $1500 to Atauro – Timor Leste, Viqueque as a result of the Open Day BBQ held in March. Thank you once again to all who contributed their time and efforts to this event. Without you we would not be able to do show the generosity of our school community.
Become a part of the Parents and Friends' Association
We invite you to join the Saint Ignatius College Parents and Friends' Association.
Please email your details to us at: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Even if you can’t make it to the monthly Meetings, but think you might be able to be on call to help at the different things we are involved in, please get in touch with us.
After our last meeting we joined the “Digital Tattoo Session” conducted by Lee Bartlett from Batforce in S1-3 Rooms. It was definitely a night full of information to aid and inform us as parents, and give us some ‘tools’ and advice to help us ‘parent’ our way through technology. What we say and do still impacts on our children, just as much as what they learn through using technology, and it opened our eyes to some truths and realities we may not have thought to even watch for and discuss with our kids. Well done Lee and Juddy for organizing and presenting this session.
Parents and Friends' Meeting for May 2019
We would love to have you come and join us at our next meeting on Tuesday June 11 - which has been scheduled to start 7pm in the Food Tech Rooms, and afterwards come along to the session, and light supper.
We really look forward to seeing you there.
The Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is our major source of fund raising. What we raise we are able to put back into the College with donations to certain areas, aspects and developments.
The Uniform Shop will be open every 2nd Wednesday 2pm – 4pm
Term 2 Dates are: Wednesday May 15 and 29 and Wednesday June 12 and 26
We can always use your help
If you are available to join our regular Uniform Shop Roster, in the shop on a Wednesday, or can volunteer to help on a specially scheduled day, please email: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
The commitment to help can be as frequent as you are able. Training and support is provided.
It’s time to socialize and enjoy a fun night together!
“Comedy for a Cause” is tomorrow!
Featuring comedians from Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals including Chris Wainhouse, James Master, Angus Gordon and Zack Dyers.
You can still book your tickets online - up to the end of the day!
Date: Friday May 17, 2019
Venue: Potato Shed – Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
Doors and Bar Open at 7.00pm - Show starts at 8.00pm
Tickets: $25 each - Must be 18+
Book tickets online: www.comedyforacause.net/SIC
Entertainment Book (2019/2020)
Due to a few enquiries, we have reassessed and decided to run with the Entertainment Book Fundraiser. If you wish to purchase an Entertainment Book from St Ignatius College, please email Attention: Sandi Clarke (P&F Treasurer) on: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au with your details.
We will fill you in with the details/information for you purchase.
Thanks for your support.
Having a supportive group of friends plays an important role in the life of young people. They can help your young person negotiate the journey from childhood, where they are reliant on parents, to adulthood, where they need to stand on their own two feet.
The importance of peers
To a parent a teenager’s friendships may seem all-consuming, taking precedence over family, school and even healthy leisure time. While peers may now begin to take a more prominent place in your young person’s life, family is still an important source of belonging and safety for them. It helps if you get to know their friends and discuss any concerns you have about their choice of friends.
Managing peer pressure
We all experience some degree of pressure to conform to the behaviours and norms of our social groups, yet this pressure is heightened in adolescence, when the need to fit in with peers becomes paramount. Ostracism is unthinkable, which makes some teenagers susceptible negative influence of some peers. You can help by talking to your young person about peer pressure; helping them resist peer pressure while maintaining status and encouraging them to speak out rather than be reliant on the approval of others.
Encouraging more than one set of friends
It’s helpful to think of friendships as a series of concentric circles. Most young people will have a few close friends in their inner circle but are surrounded by many friends in the outer circles. Encourage your young person to maintain friendship groups outside of school to help insulate against any teasing or unfriendly behaviour that may occur at school.
When you disapprove
Sometimes parents disapprove of their young person’s choice of friends, because of behaviour, poor reputation or the adverse influence they may have on a young person. Young people take criticism of their friends personally so be careful how you handle these issues. If you have worries about your child’s choice of friends: Check that your concerns are real. Encourage diversity of friendships. Be available to take your young person and their friends to outings, sports practice, parties and school formals, to familiarise yourself with their social groups. Many parents have found that, when they get to know their children’s friends, many of their concerns were unfounded.
Differentiate between online and offline friends
In all likelihood, your young person will communicate with their friends in real time or through digital technology.
Help your young person understand the difference between the two, discussing how behaviours and norms vary between the real world and online. Discuss the ethics and behaviours appropriate to each format so they can enjoy healthy friendships in both the online and offline worlds.
Friendships can be a source of angst and also a source of joy for your young person. Your role as a parent is to promote healthy friendships and encourage your young person to empathise with others, show they are worthy of trust and treat others with respect – all foundations of mature adult relationships.
Michael Grose
Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.
Join Saver Plus and we'll match your savings, dollar for dollar, up to $500 for school costs.
To join Saver Plus, you must have a Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Consession Card, be at least 18 years old, have some regular income from work (you or your partner), and have a child at school or attend vocational education yourself.
Contact: Your local Saver Plus Coordinator
Phone: 03 5278 8122 Email: GeelongSP@bethany.org.au Web: www.saverplus.org.au
See PDF flyer for details:
Information for Parents
Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.
Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)
School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership.
CSEF is provided by the Victoria Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student is:
For more details and how to apply for CSEF see the attached PDF.
Local Community and Sporting groups you may be interested in.
Reconciliation in the Park 2019
Sunday 2nd June 10am – 3pm
Come along and join us for this FREE event – Everyone Welcome!
In support of the 2019 Reconciliation Week theme: ‘Grounded in Truth – Walk Together with Courage’, local Aboriginal community members will provide song, dance, workshops, children’s activities, Victorian Treaty discussions and indigenous food plants.
Everyone is welcome to this FREE event at Johnstone Park.
More info: www.geelongonefire.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/recinthepark/
We hope to see you there! For more details see the PDF flyer attached below.
Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group
Group Parent Education Events Calendar: Term 2 Scedule
The Parent Education Calendar has been collated by the Regional Parenting Service with the aim of providing information on the mainstream parent education groups that are happening across the barwon South West Region. If you have any questions regarding these programs or parenting activities, or want to be added to the mailing list please email: rps@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or contact Regional Parenting Services on 5272 4741. Outside of Geelog Freecall 1800 11 078
City of Greater Geelong Free Parenting Forum: Calming Our Kids
This forum presented by the City of Greater Geelong with guest speaker Maggie Dent who is an advocate for healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. Thursday June 27th, 7.00pm to 8.30pm with a light supper available from 6.30pm and the Moolap & Barrabool Hills Baptist Church in Highton. Pleae see the attached PDF for details and how to book tickets.
Did your Year 7 students miss their vaccines at school?
See the list below of Immunisation Centres and Hours:
Belmont Community Health Centre
Barwon Health 1-17 Reynolds Road, Belmont, 3216.
(Please note that this is the Barwon Health building, not the Maternal Child Health building)
Wednesday morning (Appointment only) 9 am - 12.30pm
Open sessions (No appointment required) Wed and Friday afternoons 1.30pm - 4.45pm
Saturday morning (Appointment only) 08.30am – 12.15pm
Corio Community Health Centre
Barwon Health 2 Gellibrand St, Corio, 3214.
Every Wednesday 9.30am - 11.45am (No appointment required)
Newtown “Ariston”
245 Pakington St, Newtown, 3220.
1st Friday of each month 9.30am -11.45am (No appointment required)
Ocean Grove - Boorai Centre (behind Aquatic Centre)
4-50 Shell Rd, Ocean Grove, 3226.
2nd and 4th Friday of each month 9.30am -11.45am (No appointment required)
Newcomb Library meeting room (upstairs)
Corner Wilsons Rd & Bellarine Highway, Newcomb, 3219.
1st and 3rd Friday of each month 9.30 – 11.45am (No appointment required)
Bell Park Parish
Holy Family 147 Separation St, Bell Park, VIC 3215
Sunday: 8.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am Croatian, 12.15pm Slovenian 2nd Sunday Only
Ss Peter & Paul’s Cnr Mercer & Malone St, Geelong West, VIC 3218
Saturday: 5.00pm Vigil
Holy Spirit Cnr Bostock Ave & Nambool St, Manifold Heights, VIC 3218
Sunday: 11.00am
Belmont Parish
St Bernard’s 74 Fryers Rd, Belmont, VIC 3216
Sunday: 9.00am, 10.30am
Saturday: 6.30pm Vigil
Corio and Lara Parish
St Francis Xavier 143 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio, VIC 3214
Sunday: 10.30am
Saturday: 7.00pm Vigil
St Anthony’s Kees Road, Lara, VIC 3212
Sunday: 9.00am
Drysdale Parish
St Thomas Peninsula Drive, Drysdale, VIC 3222
Sunday: 9.00am
St Patrick’s 10 - 14 Harding St, Portarlington, VIC 3223
Sunday: 9.00am
St Phillip & St James 1345 Murraduc Rd, St Leonards, VIC 3223
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Lumen Christi 66 Kensington Road, Leopold, VIC 3224
Sunday: 10.30am
Geelong Parish
St Mary of the Angels Basilica 150 Yarra St, Geelong, VIC 3220
Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.00am, 12.15pm Polish, 5.30pm
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Grovedale, Anglesea and Torquay Parish
Nazareth 10 Griffith St, Grovedale, VIC 3216
Sunday: 10.30am
St Therese’s 43a Surfcoast Highway, Torquay, VIC 3228
Sunday: 8.45am
St Christopher’s 72 Bingley Parade, Anglesea, VIC 3230
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Meredith Parish
St Joseph’s 28 Lawler St, Meredith, VIC 3333
Sunday: 11.00am Alternate Sunday
Sacred Heart 70 Hamilton Highway, Inverleigh, VIC3321
Sunday: 9.00am except last Sunday of the month when it will be at Bannockburn gymnasium
St Brigid’s 2439 Ballan Road, Anakie, VIC 3221
Sunday: 11.00am Alternate Sunday
St John the Baptist 4 Harding St, Winchelsea, VIC 3230
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
St John the Evangelist 24 High Street, Bannockburn, VIC 3331
Sunday: 9.00am Mass in the Stadium last Sunday of the month
Queenscliff Parish
Holy Family 101 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads 3227
Saturday: 6.00 pm
Our Lady Star of the Sea 68 John Dory Drive, Ocean Grove 3226
Sunday: 9.00 am
Holy Trinity 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff 3225
Sunday: 11:00 am