Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Finish up to Term One
It is hard to believe that next week is the second last week of term one!
Please note that the last day for classes this term will be Wednesday 3rd April 2019. On Thursday 4th April there will be no classes due to the Parent, Student & Teacher Interviews.
Friday 5th April will be an inservice day for teachers, therefore there will be no classes on this day.
There will only be two days of classes for students during the first week of next term. The first day of classes for Term Two will be Wednesday 24th April.
Monday 22nd April will be the Easter Monday holiday and Tuesday 23rd April will be a teacher inservice day. Please note that Thursday 25th April will be the ANZAC Day holiday.
Term One Reports
You will be able to access the Term One Report via the Parent Portal on Friday 29th March after 4 pm. If you are a ‘non-residential’ parent you can, if you haven’t already, apply for the report (as well as other school correspondence) to be mailed to you. The application form is available from our office.
This interim semester report is not as detailed as the Semester Report that will be available mid-year. It is designed to give you an indication of your daughter/son’s progress to date. I encourage you to take advantage of the follow-up Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences to help set the scene for a successful finish to the semester.
Term One Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences
A reminder that the meetings to follow-up the Term One Reports will be in the last week of term one on the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 3rd April (4.00pm – 6.00pm & 7.00pm – 8.30pm) and the morning of Thursday 4th April (9.00am – 12.00noon.) Please note that we expect students to attend the meetings with their parent/guardian and teacher. There will be no classes on Thursday 4th April to provide additional time for these conferences to take place. You are most welcome to use these meetings to meet teachers, discuss progress and address concerns. Instructions on how to book meetings will be emailed to parents / guardians.
Open Day next Sunday
Next Sunday 24th March, we will be holding our annual Open Day (11 am – 2 pm). This event is vital for our school community. It provides 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. I am so pleased that many, many students have already indicated that they will attend on Open Day to promote their school. This has been such a valuable contribution to the success of the day in the past. I have consistently received positive feedback about the interaction of our students with the visitors on the day.
I would like to invite all members of our school community to Open Day. Please feel welcome to visit. Could I also ask you to extend this invitation to other members of our Geelong region particularly those parents thinking about secondary school options for their daughter/son?
Best wishes,
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.
On Friday evening we became aware of the horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch. Since then we have sought to make sense of what has happened and how we might overcome the fear and anger these events have caused. Personally I have struggled with the murder of so many peaceful and faithful people who were killed not so far from us.
On Sunday I attended the open day at the Geelong West Mosque with my family. My children noticed two police cars and asked me about them. I told them that the police always attend large gatherings. Yesterday the media reported that the police presence was in fact a direct response to online threats towards the Muslim community of Geelong ‘inspired’ by the massacre in New Zealand.
My belief that we as a society would come together at this time and work to build bridges, and care for our local Islamic community, as thousands did on Sunday, now seems naive. My ability to judge situations and keep my family safe has also taken a blow. The question, “What if?” is a challenging and dangerous thought at times like this.
In light of these events we need to stop for a moment and consider what can we learn from the situation. What good can come from all that has happened and the hate that festers in our society still?
Yesterday a small number of media outlets in the United Kingdom and New Zealand reported a story about Mr Farid Ahmed, whose wife was murdered in front of him during Friday’s massacre. The words he offered speak of his enormous courage and faith. He said.
“I lost my wife but I do not hate the killer. As a person I love him. But I’m sorry I cannot support what he did, but I think somewhere along in his life maybe he was hurt but could not translate that hurt into a positive manner. That’s why he’s doing wrong.
People who carry out terrorist attacks, they want people to be afraid, they want to incite (sic) between one group and another. Maybe they were hoping that if they target some Muslims, then maybe Muslims will retaliate, but we Muslim leaders are saying, that’s not going to happen. We will not allow you to feel afraid or to hate other people because of some of your horrendous attacks.
I don’t have any grudge against him. I have forgiven him and I’m praying for him that God will guide him and then one day he will be a saviour.”
Farid’s wisdom is timeless and seemingly beyond what we as humans are capable of. Sadly this story has not been printed via the Australian media at this time. Locally our media outlets are reporting the negative side of the story, including the headline news yesterday of the threats made to the Geelong community.
In attempting to bring these two opposing viewpoints together we may draw some profit. When we focus upon the negative aspects of a situation or life generally we become insular and dispirited. When we focus upon hope and positivity we become generous and merciful. Therefore in the world we live we must be critical in the ‘news’ we read and selective in the sources we allow to inform and guide us.
Considering Farid’s response to the loss of his wife and his extreme measure of forgiveness we can be inspired to find the good in such an awful event. We have the ability to choose how we are impacted and how we respond. Farid’s response as a Muslim is the same response Jesus asks of us as Catholics.
Jesus said we must “love your neighbour as our self” (Matthew 22:36-40). That we should forgive well beyond what we feel we are able to or for the things we believe we should not forgive (Matthew 18: 21-22). As we journey through Lent maybe we can consider a different kind of fasting. In light of the events in Christchurch, guided by the teachings of Jesus and inspired by Farid maybe we could give up our lack of mercy and compassion during Lent.
As you continue to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Easter over the remaining weeks look for those moments where you might respond differently and be attentive to thoughts that do not match who you are called to be.
When you are insulted – accept the persecution graciously.
When you feel anger – offer mercy.
When you are tempted to view someone as ‘other’ – offer empathy.
When you want to reject someone – offer compassion.
When have been hurt – forgive.
When have been hurt – forgive.
When have been hurt – forgive. Repeat this at least another 487 times (Matthew 18: 21-22).
This is what Jesus asks of us and this is the only path to peace. Peace in our world and peace for ourselves. This Lent fast in this way and watch the world change because of the grace and love you offer.
With all of these things in mind I am still challenged by the events in New Zealand and what I need to forgive. I am also comforted in these thoughts that as a parent my choice to offer friendship to a marginalised community have not altered because of anonymous online threats. We can all find good in every situation we encounter. As St Ignatius taught, “Find God in all things”. I hope you can find the good in this terrible event and bring good through your Lenten pilgrimage.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls Liturgy Coordinator
On Wednesday the 6th of March, our College celebrated International Women’s Day with an ‘Evening with Christine Nixon.’
Staff and guests were treated to delicious canapés and local wine, served by our VCAL students, before enjoying Christine’s address.
Christine Nixon was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the first woman to become a police commissioner in Australia. She led 14,000 staff, operating across more than 500 locations and oversaw an annual budget of $1.7 billion.
Prior to this role, Christine was a New South Wales Policewoman for over 30 years, attaining the rank of Assistant Commissioner.
Christine spoke of her rise to the top, her view on women in law enforcement and in the greater business sphere, how to build leadership and teamwork within work places, and the notion of applying for promotions without any reservations.
The inaugural evening was insightful, reflective, and inspiring, and it is hoped to be an annual event at Saint Ignatius College.
Ms Elana Cole
Reflections on an Evening with Christine Nixon by Ms. Rosemary Kelleher, Education Librarian.
My first impressions of Christine were vastly different from my expectations. I was expecting that the woman who had become the first Police Commissioner in Victoria to be a highly ambitious and driven woman. Someone who was hard and intimidating. But while she was mingling with us for drinks and canapes at the inaugural International Women’s Day Evening at Saint Ignatius College, I was confronted instead with a gentle, giving woman who had a passion for people.
As she spoke, I found that time and time again her belief in people is what drives her. The belief that the women around her could do more and be more. The belief that organisations are better with a wider variety of people leading them, be they women or other minority groups. But most of all, she believes that leaders don’t have to have the answers. If you ask, your people already know how to fix problems, you just need to support them to do it.
So how did Christine become the first female police commissioner for Victoria? She applied for the job. At the time she didn’t really believe she would get it – she was from New South Wales, and she was a woman, but she had a go anyway. Her message to other women was clear: have a go, and don’t listen to people saying “but women don’t…”.
Ms. Rosemary Kelleher
Reflections of a young woman at Saint Ignatius College about being a young woman today:
"Being a girl in today’s society means I am part of a community of bold, determined, brave women all around the world. As a year 12 student, the question I hear a million times is, “what do you want to do next year?” I am grateful to be a young woman today because my career options are not limited by my gender. I could be an engineer, a mechanic, a surgeon, an electrician or a CEO. A young woman just like me wouldn’t have dreamed of being these things 50 years ago.
My experiences at Saint Ignatius College have taken me to places like Timor Leste, and have challenged my world view and my perception of what is important in life. Less than 40% of countries provide girls and boys with equal access to education and I hope to help to change this in a small way by volunteering in a girl’s education program in a developing country in my gap year.
In society today, men and women all around the world are creating positive change for gender equality. But there is still a long way to go. Australia has only had one female prime minister and only 7% of the CEO’s of Australia’s top 200 companies are female. I am lucky to have women in my life who are politicians, CEO’s and school principals, because they show me that women can hold leadership roles. I hope one day I can be a role model to young girls to show them that they can do anything.
As a student leader at Saint Ignatius College I am proud to stand alongside young women and men who support gender equality, and I hope that our International Women’s Day celebrations will empower younger students to promote #BalanceForBetter.
Ruby Mangelsdorf Academic Captain, Year 12
Although only a few weeks into the academic year, our Year 12 students took some time out to reflect on their life journeys, where they have come from, and where they are heading towards on the annual Year 12 retreat at Don Bosco Camp at Safety Beach.
The retreat was the perfect opportunity for students to enrich their faith, from strong friendship bonds and remove themselves from the fast paced world we live in. Students had time, space and structured activities to discover themselves and each other over the three days. Activities based on personal and communal reflection and sharing allowed students to make the most of time away from the classroom and other commitments.
Both nerves and excitement were present between both groups of students, unaware of what to expect for the three days that were to follow. There was plenty of time for fun and activity, with the students engaging in activities such as, Yoga, Art, Mindfulness Activities, Team Challenges, Group Performances and Beach Walks. The students also had the opportunity to hear from two extraordinary individuals from the Jesuit Social Services program called “Just Voices”.
Having enjoyed delicious and plentiful meals, and having experienced some unique and memorable moments, our students are hopefully now ready to face the challenges that Year 12 presents to all. There was plenty of time for chatting and enjoying one another’s company and time to show their appreciation amongst peers to express gratitude and admiration.
I would like to genuinely thank all the staff that gave up their own time with their families to support the students on this wonderful experience and for also making a positive contribution in the lives of our Year 12 students during their time away.
Special thanks to: Mr. Paul Lewis, Mr. Michael Timms, Ms. Olivia Whitehead, Ms. Alicia Deak, Mrs. Kristin Williamson, Mr. Johnny Clatworthy, Ms. Julia Hall, Mr. Andrew Smith, Ms. Ruth Nolan, Ms. Andrea Dart, Mr. Anthony Gravener, Ms. Rhea Walker, Mr. Jason Broadbear, Ms. Kirsty Allan, Ms. Bronwyn Tegousis, Ms. Stacey Learmonth and the staff at Don Bosco Camp.
Mr Joe McLean Year 12 Coordinator.
The editor and founder of Parent Guides, Eileen Berry, together with local experts in drug and alcohol addictions/behaviours -- from McKillop Family Services, Ambulance Victoria, Police Victoria and the Drug & Alcohol Unit University Hospital -- will inform and spark open, honest and meaningful conversations with parents around all-things drugs. Parent Guides use current research, experts and real stories to help make sense of an increasingly complicated world. There are no guarantees, but arming yourself with the best information can help.
Register on try-booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BBMIC
If you would like further information please contact Michael Timms (Deputy Principal - Students) on 5251 1136
A PDF Flyer detailing the event can downloaded below.
All Year 9 students are studying a new text for English called 'The Road To Winter' by local author, Mark Smith. Students have overwhelmingly enjoyed reading and studying this text and we were delighted that Mark Smith could come to speak to the Year 9 cohort on March 6th.
Smith lives in the Anglesea/Aireys Inlet area and this was the setting for the plot: therefore, many students could relate well to the surroundings that the characters in the novel had to endure.
Mark was a very engaging speaker as he told of the origins of the plot, setting and characters. He also spoke about the writing process, the gathering of ideas and character development. Smith outlined the importance of editing, as well as the many steps it takes to have a novel accepted and then published.
The students asked a variety of questions that reflected an excellent understanding of the themes, issues, plot and characters of Smith’s novel. He commented that he was very impressed with the level of interest shown by our Year 9 group, as well as their attentiveness during his presentation.
Many students brought their personal copies of 'The Road To Winter' to be signed by Mark and they were still asking him questions and commenting on the novel, well after the presentation was finished. Many students are looking forward to reading the second and third books in the trilogy. The second novel is available at the ILC but is in great demand, so many students have purchased copies of their own, which is a very positive sign for the increased interest shown in reading by the students. The third book in the trilogy will be released in June of this year.
Thank you to Mrs Leonie Stephenson for organizing Mark Smith’s presentation; it was certainly a worthwhile experience for our Year 9 students and hopefully it will further encourage them to read regularly.
This is a reflection of Toby Mew of 9 Kisai:
"On Wednesday, March 6th, the students of Year 9 had the incredible opportunity to meet local Anglesea author Mark Smith, who wrote acclaimed award winning book 'The Road to Winter'. We are currently studying this book, and he spent an hour inspiring us with his stories and behind-the-scenes production of writing a book. Along with giving us insight into the writing process and what led him to write books, he entertained us with his life stories that were dotted throughout. We are all extremely grateful for his time and thank Mark for sharing his thought processes with us."
Ms Penny King on behalf of the Year 9 English Teachers
As part of the ongoing development of the Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) program at Saint Ignatius College, a small group of female students from Year’s 7 and 8 have been selected to take part in the 'Girls as Leaders in STEM (GALS)' program through Deakin University, Waurn Ponds.
In partnership with Deakin University, Upstart, STEM industries and The Gordon/Skilling the Bay our team of students have begun a 4-month, project-based learning experience where they have the opportunity to work closely with women in STEM and STEM leadership to develop their STEM capabilities.
On Tuesday the 12th March our student team embarked upon a day-long workshop at Deakin University. Over the course of the day our team developed skills in problem-solving, the engineering process and determined the basis for their project – Managing Waste. Over the coming months, the team will continue to work on their project at lunchtimes with visits from Deakin University and STEM mentors along with participating in another day at Deakin University to develop a prototype. The program will culminate in a community awareness campaign and the launch of the prototype the students have designed and developed.
Watch this space – as our GALS delve into the world of STEM and step towards creating a positive solution for a significant environmental issue – Managing Waste.
Ms Leesa Snookes
New Homeroom Names
We have two new Homerooms this year at Saint Ignatius College: 7 Strada and 12 Barry.
7 Strada is named after La Madonna della Strada, meaning Our Lady of the Wayside or Our Lady of the Good Road. It is believed it was a place in Rome where Ignatius worked helping women, including victims of abuse. It is also believed that originally a shrine was built on the site and then a church which is now the location of the Gesù Church of Rome.
Madonna della Strada or Santa Maria Della Strada is also the name of an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, enshrined at the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the “mother church” of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).
The Madonna della Strada is the patroness of the Society of Jesus. The Founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was said to have been protected by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary during battles in his time as a soldier.
There is also a chapel at Loyola University Chicago named Madonna della Strada, and it was recently recognised as one of the most beautiful college chapels in the world; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgt6QMjuIlY
12 Barry is named after Sr Gonzaga Barry or Mary Gonzaga Barry who was born in 1834 in Wexford, Ireland. She was the daughter of John Barry, banker, and his wife Elizabeth, nee Cowan. She was educated at the Loreto Abbeys in Ireland (Gorey in 1848-51 and Rathfarnham in 1851-53) and became a Loreto nun.
In response to an appeal by the Bishop of Ballarat for the Loreto Sisters to come to Australia Mother Gonzaga led a group of nuns to Ballarat in 1875. The Loreto Sisters had already won wide renown as a teaching order and it had attracted to its ranks educated women who provided a superior education for girls. Mother Gonzaga quickly responded to this need in Ballarat and started the Loreto schools that we still have in Australia today. Her vision for the education of girls contributed to a broad and rich curriculum and led to her being a significant influence in the development of education within Australia.
Today, there are seven Loreto Schools in Australia and over 90 throughout the rest of the world.
The Loreto sisters were founded by Mary Ward and in terms of religious orders they are regarded as the female equivalent to the Jesuits.
Mother Gonzaga died in Ballarat in 1915 after a life of educating girls and travelling widely in Australia and abroad, always keeping her Sisters informed about new methods in teaching and administration.
Kind regards,
Mr Paul Lewis Deputy Principal [Staff, Identity and Operations]
The Saint Ignatius College Open Day 2019 will be held on Sunday March 24th.
The College is open from 11.00am to 2.00pm with Information Sessions in the College Gym at 11.00am and 12.15pm.
There will be tours of the College's facilities, course information, presentations and exhibitions provided by staff and students and our Open Day is a great opportunity for prospective students and families to experience what the College has to offer.
Please Note: Year 7 2020 applications for enrolment close on Friday May 17th 2019
On Wednesday 27th February, St Ignatius College welcomed for the first time to the school, METS Performance Consulting who offer learning experiences for VCE students.
As part of their Unit 3 Physical Education studies, our 54 students are currently investigating the role of Biomechanics in elite sport and how this can improve sports performance.
Presenter Luke McIlroy, worked with our students during three sessions explaining and then demonstrating through practical activities, how a number of biomechanical concepts can effect the ability for an athlete to produce best efforts.
From concepts such as angular momentum, inertia and Newton’s Three Laws of motion, our students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and certainly would have gained further knowledge as they prepare for their first SAC.
Mr Jason Broadbear Health and PE Leader
"If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book." J.K. Rowling
All Year 7 – 9 classes are currently participating in the WIRED reading program provided through their English classes. Year 7s are attending weekly sessions and Year 9s are coming into the ILC fortnightly. Students are being encouraged to read in a quiet and sustained manner for this lesson. Many staff and students are loving the restful atmosphere in the ILC when these classes are participating in the program.
Online testing for Year 7s has been completed in the past few weeks and the results will be analysed so that the students can access level appropriate texts which may increase the chances of their enjoyment in the reading program. The testing will also allow the school to track the future progress, or if there is regression in reading skills this can be addressed as well.
It is always interesting to read student reflections. The comments below were collected from Year 7 students who participated in the program last year.
‘I valued Wired because it was a nice relaxing time to just sit and read a novel, before getting back into class work. India’. Rose Benton
‘I liked that in WIRED we had the chance to just read and not do anything else. I liked this because sometimes you just get too much work to do and need a break’. Zachary Dwyer
‘I love the period of calmness and quiet in the library to relax’. Joyce Alexander
‘I value WIRED because I love to read and WIRED gave me the chance to enjoy my book during the day in some peace and quiet’. Zali Mew
‘It gave me a chance to sit down and relax and I do not get to do that very often’. Ethan Higgins
The key message from the students seems to be that by providing an opportunity to read there are benefits that are flowing on into other areas of their lives.
As parents you can support this program by simply asking your son or daughter what they are currently reading. Screen time tends to dominate both family and school life so this program aims to throw out a challenge to students and parents to return to the simplicity of reading.
Mrs Jane Alexander Literacy Coordinator
Saint Ignatius is participating in the Smith Reading Program again this year to help improve the reading ability of young students in Victoria. This program will run during Terms 2 and 3 and involves being paired with a younger student at another school and reading to them over the phone for 3 x 20 min session each week. Please see the flyer below for more information.
Please submit your application form to Ms Deak by Wednesday 27th March.
Alicia Deak Justice and Service Coordinator
To help raise funds to support ‘Project Compassion’ our school will hold its first casual clothes day for the year on Thursday March 28th.
Project Compassion’s theme for this year is 100% Hope, and we want our College to ‘Be the Difference’ by raising much needed funds to support this cause.
Earlier in the term, members of the G11 attended a Caritas Justice Leadership conference at Sacred Heart College. We heard about the work Caritas does to empower communities with hope and help those in great need to shape a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.
After last year’s success, each year level leaders have come up with ideas for either the whole school or year level activities which will be conducted on the day. Some of the activities planned this year include a raffle, BBQ, cake stall and water drop challenge.
We also encourage students to reflect on the clothes they are wearing and to consider who made their clothes and the conditions under which they were made (#whomademyclothes). Students may also be interested in bringing a few extra dollars for a BBQ lunch that will be provided by Year 11 students and staff.
The Student Representative Council for 2019 are so excited to share our ideas with our school and hope it will be a fun day for the College.
Will Palmer College Vice Captain
On behalf of the SRC
Show your support for Team Lydom in the XVenture Family Challenge TV series – an epic Trans-Tasman clash!
On Sunday 24th March at 3:00pm the XVenture Family Challenge premieres on 10, a brand- new positive TV series focused on learning, growth and development in families.
Supported by ecostore, over the 8- part series, 8 families from Australia and 8 families New Zealand compete in fun and exciting challenges at the stunning Eagles Nest, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Let’s show our support for our Colleges Poppy (Year 7) and Lochie Lydom (Year 9) and family by tuning in on Sunday 24th March at 3pm on 10.
You can find further details at www.xventurefamilychallenge.co... where you can also win $1000 cash for your family.
Recently all families received information regarding a survey to complete. We would be very grateful if you could please find the time to complete the ESCI (Enhancing Catholic School Identity) survey. All Catholic schools in Victoria are required to conduct this survey once every four years. We will receive the feedback in the form of a report later in the year and this will inform us as to how the Parents, Students and Staff of our College feel we are performing in terms of our Catholic Identity.
Your answers are completely anonymous and the survey results (Staff, Students, and Parents) are processed online and combined into one report by the Catholic Education Office in Melbourne for our College. The survey was designed by the Catholic University (KU) Leuven (Belgium). Once you log in you’ll receive your own personal password and entry code and you can use this if you need to make more than one visit to finish the survey. All staff and students have completed the survey in recent weeks.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries. Thank you very much for your time to complete the survey.
Kind regards
Mr Paul Lewis Deputy Principal [Staff, Identity and Operations]
Our new Year 9 Centre and Multi-purpose Hall are on track to open at the start of Term 3 2019 with the estimated completion date July 31st. The builders, CICG, have been providing us with regular updates and works are progressing well and to schedule.
Currently CICG are doing the following:
Year 9 Centre
Multi-purpose Hall
Work to be undertaken in the next week or so:
Year 9 Centre
Multi-purpose Hall
Further updates will be published as they are supplied.
To make it easier for families with enquiries about Fees and Buses, the College has created two new direct email addresses.
For all Fee related enqiries please use: accounts@ignatius.vic.edu.au
For all Bus related enquiries use: buses@ignatius.vic.edu.au
A PDF of our Canteen Price List can be downloaded here
Starting March 25th
Monday 25th
N. Van Vliet, E. Musella, F. Cahill-Low, A. Schneider
Tuesday 26th
L. Vella, L. Hamilton, S. Crawley, Needed
Wednesday 27th
S. Suzuki, C. Johnston, Needed, Needed
Thursday 28th
M. White, C. Swinton, N. Lowther, Needed
Friday 29th
J. Payne, K. Callaghan, J. Dries, M. Grabowsky
Starting April 1st
Monday 1st
B. Brinfield, M. Burnett, C. Eltringhan, J. Gray, E. Carpenter
Tuesday 2nd
L. Tigani, M. Jackson, L. Vella, Needed
Wednesday 3rd
D. Worrell, Needed, Needed, Needed
Thursday 4th
Student Free day
Friday 5th
Student Free Day
If unable to attend, please make sure you get a replacement.
Sandra Woodall Tel: 0417 050 258
Open Day BBQ – Sunday March 24th
Parents and Friends get together and run an Open Day BBQ and Information Booth for this occasion. In this way we are able to interact with Staff and Students, and prospective families looking to join our community. It is a fun social day. We promote our work within the College, chat with and provide information to new families, and cook up a great sausage sizzle. Through this BBQ we raise funds which are donated to Timor Leste.
We encourage you to become a part of the volunteers that help put it together and make it happen.
It is a fun, easy way to get to know other parents and start to feel that sense of belonging to your new school community. Any volunteer help will be greatly appreciated. But given this late notice we would be just as happy for you to come along and introduce yourselves and have a chat with us.
Please email: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au to indicate interest and availability, or for more information.
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
Parents and Friends' Meeting for May 2019
We have been invited to join the Year 7 parents and guardians at a “Digital Tattoo Session” commencing at 7pm in S1-3 Rooms. We would love to have you come and join us at our next meeting on Tuesday May 14th which has been scheduled to start 6pm in the Food Tech Rooms, and afterwards come along to the session conducted by Lee Bartlett from Batforce, 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
Remaining Wednesday dates for Term 1 are: March 27 (Term 1 School break is April 3 – April 24)
Important News!!
The Uniform Shop will be open on Wednesday April 3rd from 4.00pm - 6.30pm – During the Term 1 Parent/Teacher interviews.
This is a great opportunity to bring in old uniforms for sale, and to pick up items you require, at a more suitable time to you. Get your child ready for Winter.
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.
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.
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:
Last Friday’s shooting of innocent people in two Christchurch mosques is an event that has shaken people to the core worldwide.
While we’d like to protect our children from such events, in reality it’s impossible, as the news coverage is so widespread and the event itself has impacted so many people. The personal nature of this particular tragedy makes it even harder to stomach than some recent natural disasters that have made the news, as awful as they have been.
So how do you approach this with your children? There is no easy answer, but be assured that your child will benefit from talking to you. These ideas may help:
Be available
Let your child or young person know that it is okay to talk about the events in Christchurch. Listen to what they think and feel. By listening, you can find out if they have misunderstandings, and you can learn more about the support that they need. You do not need to explain more than they are ready to hear, but be willing to answer their questions.
Filter the news
While we don’t advocate censorship, we do suggest that you take particular care about your child’s exposure to news events. The consistency of images can be frightening for young children who don’t understand the notion of distance and have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fiction. Older children and teenagers will probably be interested in the news events, but they probably need an adult available to answer their questions and reassure them.
Engage in the news with older children
Many issues are now arising from this event that may be of significant interest to older primary-aged children and teenagers. Be prepared to engage in discussions about political leadership, gun laws, the coverage of the event itself by the media and other issues that will emerge. Increasingly, young people are demonstrating that they want to have a voice in shaping the world they live in. Give them a chance to air their concerns and formulate their ideas in the safe confines of home.
Manage emotions raised
The Christchurch tragedy may raise many emotions for children and young people including sadness over the lossof life, confusion over how such an event could happen, and outrage over injustice. Take your cues from your children and follow the threads that emerge. Demonstrate that you understand how that they may be upset and clarify their emotions if possible: “It’s understandable to be angry when you hear news like this.”
Moderate your language
Currently, we live in very divisive times. The fact that this shooting was carried out on one particular group demonstrates just the extent of the divisiveness of our community. Encourage kids to be inclusive, steering clear of valued-laden, extreme language such as ‘terrorists’, ‘evil’ and ‘horrors’ when describing the events and the alleged perpetrators. Not only does this type of language encourage children and young people to take a position rather than focus on the problems, it risks desensitising them to the reality of the impact of this event. The use ofmore sedate, yet descriptive language such as ‘gunman’, ‘awful’ and ‘tragedy’ can take remove the emotional sting, while demonstrating the enormity of the event’s impact.
Keep to a normal routine
Your child may feel powerless. You may feel the same way as that’s what events like the Christchurch shooting does to us. Maintaining the same sleeping, eating and daily routines can help to restore a sense of control over our daily lives.
Show them how to change the world
Arguably, these are the worst of times in terms of social divisiveness. Our children in many ways are letting us know that they don’t want to continue living this way. So how can they have an impact? Recently a timely clue came my way in the form of a notification from Facebook. Over the weekend, a parent shared an existing message to her Muslim friends as a message of hope. The quote reads:
“Don’t become too pre-occupied with your child’s academic ability, but instead teach them to sit with those sitting alone. Teach them to be kind. Teach them to offer help. Teach them to be a friend to the lonely. Teach them to encourage others. Teach them to think about other people. Teach them to share. Teach them to look for the good. This is how they will change the world.”
We get that power back when we start to impact the people around us in small ways, making positive changes for the better.
‘Kindness’, ‘helping others’, ‘encouraging’, ‘sharing’ and similar concepts don’t make great political slogans but they form the basis of every strong community - which is precisely what kids need.
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.
Local Community and Sporting groups you may be interested in.
Lenten Program 2019
'A day of Reflection by the Sea', Santa Casa, Queenscliff: We walk in the footsteps of Jesus
The day will include: Meditation, Time of quite and reflection, Walking the Labyrinth, A foot wash and massage. Jesus said 'Do as I have done unto you.'
Venue: Santa Casa Retreat Centre, Flinders Street, Queenscliff. Facilitator: Sr Jean McGonigal RSM.
Dates: Tuesday April 9th or Wednesday April 10th. Time: 10.00am to 3.00pm
Cost: $15 with Morning Tea and Lunch included.
Bookings: Parish Office or Sr Jean on 0408 559 981 or email: jean.mcgonigal@mercy.org.au
It’s time to talk about suicide
A new and engaging production that combines a play about suicide with a panel of mental health experts aims to help build resilience in the Geelong community.
Suicide: It’s Time We Talked is a 35-minute play that addresses youth suicide in the online era and how young people can reach breaking point without their parents realising.
Its developers argue that suicide has been taboo for too long and families should discuss it in a way that educates and potentially prevents self-harm.
The play will be performed at Sacred Heart College in Newtown on Friday, 29 March, after winning a Victorian Government Pick My Project online community grant. Admission is free.
The story follows a young girl, Jessica, whose parents find suicidal comments on her computer when she climbs out her bedroom window. After giving her parents a scare, Jess discusses her concerns with them, including bullying and her friend Lindy’s suicide. The message is one of understanding and hope.
Written by theatre veteran Alan Hopgood AM, the play is followed by a 30-minute Q&A with an expert panel including the likes of PoPsy director and positive psychology advocate Marie McLeod and headspace manager and mental health social worker Kirsten Cleland. Participants then enjoy refreshments.
For more information including the script of the play see the follwing downloads:
High School 'Battle of the Bands'
The Ocean Grove Hotel is putting ona High School 'Battle of the Bands' on Sunday March 31st. This is a Duo's Plus competition (sorry no solo artists!) and your namd must be made up of high school students only and in Years 7-12 and currently attending school. There is an entry fee of $30 per band with all funds going to pay for quality sound engineering for the event.
Should you need any further information please call 0434 607783.
For more details and how to apply to part of the 'Battle of the Bands' see the attached PDF
Repair Café Bellarine
Ocean Grove's Repair Café is a community initiative that promotes repairing items as an alternative to throwing them out, to reduce our landfill problem and carbon emissions. At the Repair Café, volunteer repair experts are available to help fix household items such as furniture, electrical items, bikes and clothing. Next Ocean Grove Repair Café is Sunday April 14th, 10am - 1pm.
See the attache PDF for details:
City of Greater Geelong Parenting Program
"Tuning into Teens"
Tuning into Teens is a six week program providing parents with a greater understanding of their teen's emotional experience while teaching specific skills that can assist in being supportive, empathic and staying connected with their young person.
For more details and how to book see the attched PDF.
Group Parent Education Events: Barwon South Western Region Term 1 2019
Please attached PDF for the evnts being run for Term 1.
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