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Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Saint Ignatius College Geelong
The Old Ignatians warmly welcome you to be part of the inaugural 'The Saint Ignatius College Golf Day,' to be held at Curlewis Golf Club on Sunday the 27th of March, 2022.
Our News // 03 February 2022
I welcome all families to the new school year at Saint Ignatius College, and welcome to the first fortnightly College Newsletter. I trust you will find this publication very informative, interesting and helps you feel better connected to College life throughout the year.
After preparing for the beginning of a new school year, my colleagues and I were excited and pleased to welcome our students back to school. This week 1,387 students, including 250 new Year 7 students and 14 new students across other year levels, commenced the 2022 academic year. Each year the number of College enrolments increases. Last year’s beginning of year enrolment number was 1,343. We are well planned for this growth and ready for a great new year of learning.
As well as many new students, there are twelve new staff members. Welcome to:
Mr Darcy Bassett - Sport and PE Assistant, AFL Trainee
Mr Dean Bishop - Maintenance Team
Ms Rebecca Evans - Teacher – Food Tech
Mr John Felsovary - Teacher – Digi Tech
Mr Stuart Green - Teacher – PE
Ms Martina Gulino - Teacher – Languages
Ms Robyn Jackson - Teacher – English
Ms Claire Lawrence - Risk and Compliance Manager
Ms Thanh Le-Rodda - Teacher – Maths, Science
Mr Nathan Maultby - Teacher – Vet Building & Construction
Mr Dale Thomson - Teacher – Science, RE
Mr Michael Wilding - Teacher – Music; Bands Co-ordinator
All reports indicate a very good start to the academic year. I recognise parents' effort in preparing their daughter/son to commence the new year on a well organised and positive note. I acknowledge the work my colleagues, teachers and school officers have done to ensure we have begun well. I encourage high expectations for students and affirm the effort they will have put in to set themselves up for a smooth start to the year.
Our 2022 College focus is “helping students learn to a higher level.” This focus aligns with and supports our 2022-2024 School Improvement Plan.
We have high expectations for our students. We expect the school's culture to reflect positive and respectful relationships, proactive student involvement in school life, pride in the College, and students striving to do and be better. All of which promotes and supports student learning.
With the uncertain and challenging times students have experienced over the last couple of years due to the pandemic, we are very conscious of the need to ensure that student routines, habits, organisation and behaviours are re-established as we settle into a new year of school learning. Therefore, to ensure the learning environment is very conducive to students learning at a higher level, we will enforce firm boundaries in regards to:
Further to Deputy Principal (Students) Mr Michael Timms’ recent email to students, the Year Level Coordinators have raised these expectations during this week's online assemblies. They have reinforced what we expect regarding our students’ behaviours and attitudes. Please see Mr Timms’ newsletter article for more details about this.
With these basic standards being adhered to with a minimum of fuss, we can spend the time and energy on what we should be working on, improving student learning.
Our School Improvement Plan identifies key strategies to ‘help students learn at a higher level’. I will highlight one here that we will launch at the start of the school year – “SELF.”
SELF – Student Effective Learning Formation. So that we have a shared vision, language and understanding about what we aim for in forming our students as life-long learners, we have developed and will now implement this new framework. SELF frames our aspirations for the formation of the ‘whole person.’ And in particular, we will use it to engage students better with how they are progressing with their formation as learners.
Staff have commenced ongoing professional learning about SELF. Students will be involved in a number of sessions throughout the term to familiarise themselves with SELF. And there will be information sessions and written information provided for parents. So please keep an eye out for these.
The SELF Framework was developed with school community input. I commend Director of Teacher Development, Mr Joe McLean and Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), Ms. Bernadette Donnelly, for their work to lead and manage this initiative which will help students learn to a higher level.
The government provided Rapid Antigen Test kits (RATs) arrived on Monday.
Each student was given a box of five during their first Homeroom period. This will be enough for two tests per week for the first fortnight (with one spare.) Then, at the beginning of week three, each student will receive another box of five during Homeroom time, so they have tests for the next two weeks.
If students receive a positive test result at any time, they must report this through the Department of Health system (Rapid antigen tests | Coronavirus Victoria) or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398.
Students (or their parents) must also report a positive result to our office reception by phone (03 5251 1136) or email (office@ignatius.vic.edu.au). This is so the school can support them, record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.
Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, have completed their 7-day isolation period and are subsequently asymptomatic do not need to undertake surveillance testing for 30 days.
I would be grateful if parents would please reinforce with their daughter or son:
If students need to isolate at home, they can access classwork through ‘Announcements’ in our learning management system, ‘Canvas.’
We are looking forward to a rewarding year as we work together to nurture the growth and development of our students.
Best wishes for 2022,
Michael Exton
Principal
At Saint Ignatius College our purpose is to form young people of competence, conscience and compassion.
Saint Ignatius College is a Catholic community in the Ignatian tradition, that is learning-centred and supportive.
The College is committed to the education of the whole person and the development of young adults of competence, conscience and compassion who will be of service in the community.
We strive to recognize God’s presence in all things, to celebrate the pursuit of personal excellence and to live with hope and respect for all creation.
Forming women and men for others; students of conscience, competence and compassion.
Context: What do we need to know about our students?
Experience: What is the best way to engage our students in learning?
Reflection: How do our students reflect more deeply on what they have learned?
Action: How do we encourage students to move beyond knowledge to action?
Evaluation: How do we assess our students’ growth in mind, heart and spirit?
Since they launched their first school in 1548 the Jesuits have believed that a high quality education is the best path to meaningful lives of leadership and service.
We do not want successful professionals in failed societies
It has nothing to do with social, financial or professional success, it’s an excellence in humanity; forming better human beings, people with a heart, with compassion, with understanding.
With blessing and best wishes,
Paul Lewis
Deputy Principal – Staff, Identity and Operations
Saint Ignatius College has an excellent reputation throughout the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong area. This reputation has been established over many years and one the College strives to maintain and is very proud of. This reputation is also built upon the personal standards we have and expect of all our students.
Personal standards are rules of behaviour that individuals set for themselves. They are the rules by which you live your life and are based upon the individual’s values, beliefs and past experiences.
The College is aware and understands the importance that an individual’s personal standards can have on one’s life. It has been widely documented that people with high personal standards achieve at a higher level, have self-confidence and control over one’s own motivation, behaviour and social environment and are perceived in a positive way by their peers and those in the community.
When you set high standards, you immediately raise your expectations of what’s possible. You suddenly expect more from yourself, more from your actions, and more from others.
Throughout the past two years, COVID has significantly shifted our priorities to one of care and concern for everyone. Although we are still facing uncertain and challenging times it is important to continue to build upon those crucial personal standards that are necessary to achieve at the highest possible level.
In continuing to strive for excellence, our College will be focusing on four key areas that relate to personal standards this year. These four key areas are an expectation that the College will have of all students. If they are maintained and completed at a high standard, they can assist in building that important self-efficacy that is so vital for our students to ensure they have the confidence and belief in their capacity.
These four key areas are as follows:
It is an expectation that all students wear the correct uniform at all times. Having pride in the uniform and wearing it correctly is a simple approach that can assure students are ready to learn, engaged in the school and are maintaining a high personal standard. Any student who arrives out of uniform (facial hair, extra piercings, facial piercings, extreme haircut or hair colour, nail polish etc.) will be asked to rectify immediately, if they cannot they will be sent home until this has been resolved.
It is important that students understand the importance of arriving to school/class on time. As a College we want to give our students the best opportunity to succeed, being in class on time, attentive with all their necessary equipment, is an essential step to achieving at their highest possible level.
All students have the responsibility to be a positive influence within their classrooms. This includes submitting work on time, completing tasks to the best of their ability and participating in class discussions positively. This is an expectation we have of all students.
It is important that students treat each other with the utmost respect and role model this behaviour in the school and wider community. Our staff are committed to forming those important professional relationships that continue to form the students’ sense of belonging and allow them to achieve academic success.
To further support the College, it would be beneficial to discuss these four key areas with your child. This will ensure there is a collective approach between home and school, which we believe is necessary for a student to achieve at their highest possible level.
Michael Timms
Deputy Principal - Students
As we begin a new school year it’s a very Ignatian practice to reflect on the past and contemplate our present situation and what we believe we are being guided to in the future. Meditating upon the ‘now’ in the presence of God, helps us determine the better way forward. For our new students and families this contemplation may have seemingly endless possibilities and a sense of great excitement. For some in our College community this contemplation may be difficult or even seem limited dependant on their situation. Regardless of where you find yourself, you can be inspired by St Ignatius who at Manresa, guided by God, was transformed and found a new and greater purpose.
At present many of us find ourselves concerned about COVID and frustrated about the ongoing disruptions in our daily lives. We are all a little wound up or maybe even feel trapped by things we can’t necessarily control. For me, the present reminds me of a yo-yo trick, the cat’s cradle, that I never perfected in my youth. My attempts at the cat’s cradle would invariably end up in a lengthy period of untangling the string of my yo-yo. But even though it was a challenge is was well worth it. I was lucky enough to have one of the Coca-Cola yo-yos and the string for those cost more than a Chomp bar at the milk bar.
Although I never perfected the cats’ cradle I got better at it and the time it took to untangle the mess became shorter over time. Along the way my patience grew without me noticing. My confidence and objectivity grew also I knew that my attempt would get close but probably fail and when it all went wrong the tangle wasn’t as bad. As we begin the year I think this is a fitting allegory for where we find ourselves today. We can’t control what happens around us, but we can refine our focus and we will have a better outcome in the future.
If when you take a moment to meditate upon the present you find that you feel tangled up by something take some time to be in that situation and consider it carefully. You may be joyfully tangled up in all of the opportunities that are vying for your attention, or you may even feel a little trapped by things beyond your control. Regardless of what you observe, ensure that God is part of this review. On this theme I suggest Pope Francis’ favourite prayer might be a go to. Pope Francis offers this prayer that may help you over the next few weeks as you consider the present and seek God’s insight for a way to proceed.
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love,
Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need,
Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart,
cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands, there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with your Son and my liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot - Mention your petition here.
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, O safe refuge.
Amen
I hope that the time you spend meditating upon the present and your desire for God’s insight for the future is fulfilled and that Mary may intercede for you and undo the knots you may not be able to on your own.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls
Liturgy Coordinator
The Old Ignatians warmly welcome you to be part of the inaugural 'The Saint Ignatius College Golf Day,' to be held at Curlewis Golf Club on Sunday the 27th of March, 2022.
Golfers will enjoy breakfast, lunch, 18 holes of golf, and a brief address in the Clubrooms as part of their ticket.
Format of the day includes teams of 4, with the competition type being '4 Ball Ambrose.' Individuals can still register, with team allocation occurring on the day.
Please see the Trybooking link for registration and further information regarding this exciting event. (There are limited tickets, so please don't leave it too late)!
We are also offering 'Sponsorship Packages' to this event, if you would like to embrace a package, the deadline is March 1st, 2022. All proceeds from the Saint Ignatius College Golf Day will be used for student resources at the College.
For further information regarding Sponsorship Packages, please contact Elana Cole, colee@ignatius.vic.edu.au
We look forward to sharing a great day of golf, delicious food, connection and community with you all.
Ms. Elana Cole
Development Manager.
Mietta Corby (8 Owen) and Finn Corby (8 Rubio) have just completed a fantastic 3 weeks as Ballkids for The Australian Open. They had the opportunity to ballkid for many well know players, including legends such as Mark Philappoussis and Pat Rafter; as well as witness Dylan Alcott and the Special Ks playing on Rod Laver Arena.
It was an enormous commitment, with many early mornings and late nights. They needed to complete daily Covid 19 RATs and contend with standing in the sun in relentless hot weather.
A great achievement for these two students.
Andrew Philp
Director of Sport.
The College canteen is a hub of activity for our students during recess and lunchtimes. As such canteen staff require additional support during these periods.
Assisting with the canteen allows parents and guardians of the College an opportunity to see the College at work, and to connect with other like-minded people.
If you would like to assist with the canteen, and are available on any days between 9am-1.30pm, please contact Ms. Sandra Woodall on woodalls@ignatius.vic.edu.au outlining what days you are available.
Volunteers must hold a current WWCC and meet vaccination requirements as per the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s Guidelines.
Ms. Sandra Woodall.
Canteen Manager.
