Saint Ignatius College Geelong
Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong Community Members,
New Pastoral Structure to commence next year
As you may be aware, a very significant change will be happening next year at our College: a new pastoral structure. We have been preparing for this change and will continue to do so during the remainder of this term and term four. So again, I thank you in anticipation of your support for this school improvement initiative that will enhance outcomes for our students.
Last year Deputy Principal (Students), Mr Michael Timms, led a review of the Pastoral Structure of the College. As a result, in October, three broad recommendations were given in-principle approval by the College Executive:
A vertical structure will be adopted at the Senior School (Years 10-12) to assist in the development of student connectedness and a sense of belonging, and the current Years 7-9 structure will be maintained with the inclusion of specific actions that will continue to foster the essential relationships at these year levels.
The revised structure will also include Mentor Teachers to replace Homeroom Teachers. In the Senior School, each Mentor Teacher will remain with their House and Mentor group for three years.
The Yrs 7 & 8 Year Level Coordinators (YLCs) will follow their cohort of students from Year 7 to Year 8 and then start with a new group of students in Year 7.
A weekly Mentor Time will be adopted across the whole school within the current timetable structure to allow for meaningful relationships to develop between the Mentor Teacher and their Mentor Group. A trial of this arrangement commenced last term and will remain in place for the remainder of the year.
The role of this Mentor Teacher and Mentor Time will allow each student to be better known and feel valued within our College.
A new House system will be implemented that is inclusive of all activities for all students, in addition to sports activities. This will allow all students to associate themselves with a particular House, further establishing a connection to the College and developing that vital sense of belonging.
The new structure will be:
Senior School (Years 10 – 12)
Director of Senior School
4 x Heads of House
For each House - groups of 25 Yrs 10, 11 & 12 students, each with a Mentor Teacher
Year 9
Year Level Coordinator
10 groups of 25 Yr 9 students, each with a Mentor Teacher
Years 7 & 8 - at each year level:
Year Level Coordinator
10 groups of 25 students, each with a Mentor Teacher
The College’s School Improvement Plan (2021 – 2024) identifies student engagement as an area for growth and development, particularly in Years 10 & 11. After considering current research in the area of students’ sense of belonging, the review working party concluded that:
improving the relationships that increase a student’s sense of belonging will lead to the improvement of student outcomes;
assisting the students and staff to develop and create those crucial professional teacher/student relationships will further develop the necessary internal motivation that is required for students to become fully engaged in their learning; and
fostering those meaningful relationships will also assist the students in their transformation to become self-regulated learners.
These conclusions underpin the working party’s recommendations and will enhance our teaching and learning programs and improve our students' outcomes.
I thank you in anticipation of your support for these initiatives as we work together to achieve the aims of our School Improvement Plan (2021 – 2024).
“triUMPH-LITE” 9th September
The triUMPH music festival has been a feature of the Combined Geelong Catholic Secondary Schools for two decades. It has provided the opportunity for our students and staff to come together in solidarity to support the community of Timor Leste. Originally scheduled to occur in 2020, triUMPH was to be held on September 9 this year at St Joseph’s College. A committee of student leaders from Clonard College, Iona College, Sacred Heart College, St Joseph’s College and our College had been planning this event for over a year.
While the committee was understandably disappointed that due to the pandemic we couldn’t go ahead with the event in its proposed format, they have put forward a new proposal for a modified and much smaller version of the event to happen on the same day and at each school – “triUMPH LITE.”
A significant motivation behind the committee’s desire to still run an event was their commitment to raise funds for scholarships for Timor Leste students to be able to go to university to become teachers and then teach in their own Timor Leste schools.
Parents will have received an email from Deputy Principal (Identity) Mr Paul Lewis with more details about the plans for September 9. Some key points are:
$5 for casuals and a triUMPH wristband.
Normal school day. Normal classes all day. Normal lunchtime.
Music at lunchtime
triUMPH merchandise to be sold in the week leading up to September 9.
I look forward to triUMPH LITE being a successful student-led event and ask our school community to please support this fundraiser for East Timor.
Thank you,
Michael Exton | Principal
Faith Matters – Wear it Purple
This week at the College we celebrate ‘Wear it Purple Day’ as a community. The purpose of the celebration is to continue to develop a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. This year’s theme is, ‘still me, still human.’ This thoughtful provocation is worthy of some contemplation I think.
Stereotypes are common in society. Sadly though, even though there are elements of truth in stereotypes they are inherently dangerous and divisive. Stereotypes and labels remove the unique qualities of an individual and replace them with a number of impersonal inflated characteristics that the individual is then expected to conform to.
The question arises as to how we might bring about change? How can we remove universal expectations that have such a historic and cultural basis? Every group I teach has the answer and it’s beautiful and simple, “value the person for who they are and what they can do.” This is the core message in the Gospel. This is the foundation for Creation and our birth. We have been created by love, for love and are loved.
God loves every person because they are unique. Each person offers a glimpse of his perfection and love for and to all things. We are great because we are different. We are able to bring about the Kingdom in the moments where we seek and affirm the unique qualities of others. Difference makes us collectively perfect.
When we reject others, label others or devalue others we dishonour God and our neighbour. When we take the wide path and stereotype we do not follow the path set for us. When we weaponize an understanding of a group we are being fooled and are guided by the bad spirit. When we don’t take the time to acknowledge and understand the other we can never hope to reach a point of consolation.
Joy is found only in love. Love only occurs through understanding, acceptance and affirmation. When we love others we lift them up. We strip away the things that hide or distort their beauty and celebrate with them in their divinity. When we encounter the loving heart of another person we are able to reconcile ourselves with the Father. Jesus was asked a simple question, “Who is my neighbour?” His response was a question with a hidden answer, “who acted as a neighbour?”
It is in our actions that we respond to God. Our neighbour is every person. Whether we act as a neighbour to others is where we love like God or allow ourselves to live in the world and avoid the greatest of all challenges.
I pray that you can stop at the end of this day and in reflecting know that you loved like God and acted like a neighbour to all the people you encountered. That is what Jesus did. That is our great mission. Avoid stereotypes and seek the unique beauty found in each person.
Wear it Purple this Friday – Still me, still human.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls
Liturgy Coordinator
Staff Professional Learning, ‘Mapping student learning formation’
On Monday 22 August, teaching staff worked collaboratively on the curriculum mapping and review of Year 7 and 8 programs. We were fortunate to have 30 of our students from Year 7 to 12 attend the morning sessions and they shared their experiences about learning at Saint Ignatius and how we celebrate learning. Staff were blown away by the level of thoughtful responses and they gained valuable insights. The feedback data that we have received from staff and students will be taken back to the Curriculum Working Party who have been reviewing our current Year 7 and 8 structure, curriculum and programs.
A special thank you to; Jasmine Halliwell, Heidi Connor, Imogen Payne, Jeeann Tinij, Owen McCoughtry, Mietta Corby, Isabelle Hewitt, Ella Dowling, Jade Cowdry, Kathryn McInerney Sotomayor, Thomas Galan, Tara Lace, Curtis McCoughtry, Charlotte Punton, Brianna Brew, Rhannah Tatlock, Madison Duncan, Alana Clark, Lily Petterwood, Tiahni Paseuthsak, Ed Aspinall, Erika Slevin, Matilda Steptoe, Emma Fenton, Zachary Dwyer, Kathleen Donald, Alexander Quirk, Emily Green, Strom Randall and Amy Thompson, our College Academic Captain.
Term 3 Student Parent Teacher Conferences
Term 3 Student Parent Teacher Conferences are a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, particularly if a student has commenced a new Semester subject with a new teacher. We have scheduled Term 3 student/parent/teacher conferences for Thursday September 15 and Friday September 16.
The conferences themselves will be conducted via Zoom and bookings will be open via Xuno on Wednesday 7 September.
There will be three evening sessions on the Thursday:
Session 1: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Session 2: 5:20pm - 6:20pm
Session 3: 6:40pm - 7:00pm
There will be three morning sessions on the Friday:
Session 1: 9:00am - 10:00am
Session 2: 10:20am - 11:20am
Session 3: 11:40am - 12:00pm
Students will be asked to indicate their progress against the SELF Capabilities as preparation for the conferences.
Ms. Bernadette Donnelly | Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching
National Science Week 2022
Students at the College celebrated National Science Week by participating in exciting and interactive activities from the 15th to the 19th August.
Throughout the week the following activities were held at lunchtime in the Science rooms with students creating Rainbow Water, designing their own catapults which were tested for accuracy and distance and launching water rockets.
It was fantastic to see the number of students who participated and enjoyed the activities held during the National Science Week celebrations.
Ms. Elise Meehan
Being the best version of yourself is a core component of a Jesuit education. This relates not just to pursuing personal excellence in the classroom but learning about self and how to be a more generous, compassionate person that is community-focused. Having conversations and reflecting upon the impact of our actions encourages a more just and socially responsible person that builds strong relationships with others.
This has been evident in so many of the recent events and learnings Year 8s have been involved in and I am incredibly proud of their developing ability to discern, engage and respond to the vulnerable people in our community and to be open to growth. Their effort in supporting “Geelong Mums” and the abundance of items brought in shows this commitment to be of service to others. Then at the Time and Space Father – Child evening on Tuesday, it was a wonderful opportunity to engage with fathers and share thoughts about the challenges of being a teenager. I’m always in awe of the special bond the facilitator, Bill Jennings, creates between the father and child as he encourages families to find the time and space to listen to and interact with each other. The beautiful images of this connection show how important it is to be there for your child, even if they sometimes appear to not need you. Huge thanks to those fathers and sons/daughters who came out on a cold evening to support our endeavours to build community and connection; in particular, to those students who presented the Prayer and Acknowledgement to Country – Lua Payne & Will Hewitt.
On the academic front, students have applied knowledge learnt to the construction of experiments and models. In Maths, during the study of ‘Ratios and Rates,’ students did a sherbet experiment that involved sampling different types of wizz fizz to calculate the perfect recipe. The practical aspect of this task had much appeal for the students (& perhaps showed how much sugar there is in sherbet lollies). In Humanities, students have constructed some amazing Medieval weaponry and castles, and detailed their purpose and impact. The creative aspect of this task really allowed students to show their grasp of each device and its damaging effect on the enemy. Usually this unit culminates with a visit to Kryal Castle but as they were unable to accommodate us this year, Ms Anderton and Ms Windmill have organised presenters to come in next Tuesday for an Immersive History experience. Students will be able to partake in calligraphy, sword play, Medieval costumes, dance and other stimulating experiences linked to this Middle Ages period. Should be heaps of fun. In English, students have shown commendable endeavour in reading the challenging text, “The Book Thief,” and are now preparing a text essay response as they reflect on the Holocaust and Nazi Germany in 1939. Narrated by the character of Death, this text offers a poignant insight into the lives of those affected by war and their struggles to overcome adversity. Students are grappling with serious and confronting ideas raised in the text and have shown an impressive maturity and curiosity.
Looking forward, students are eagerly anticipating the Yr 8 camps and the chance to be in nature and amongst peers that they can get to know better. Our first camp for 90 students is in Wk 10 of this term and is based at Kinglake, whilst the remaining camps to Wollangarra and Buchan will occur early in Term 4. The beauty of camps is the growth in relationships, being challenged to go beyond your comfort zone and immersing oneself in the glorious outdoors. Leaving phones behind and truly engaging with each other is such a highlight so we hope students continue to be excited as the dates approach.
It’s been a busy and very productive term for learning as the GISSA and Cura Personalis programs have added even more opportunity for students to follow their interests and passions. I know students have been grateful to staff for providing them with such a breadth of choices.
Deborah Hodge | Year 8 Level Coordinator
Joining the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Nick Gibbon and Campbell Snookes have reigned supreme in the inaugural Year 12 Pickleball Championships. With 13 teams battling it out over week 5 in the new Multi Purpose Centre, the last 2 remaining pairs fought in the all-important final played in front of the entire Year 12 cohort. With a full stadium, Kynan Bond and Sam Woolard, the eventual runners-up, put on a desperate fight, bringing Snookes and Gibbon to a final deciding set. The winners walked away with a Saint Ignatius College scarf and will receive the Pickleball shield …when it arrives.
These Pickleball Championships are just one of the many student led initiatives around the school in recent times. With the unfortunate cancellation of the TRIUMPH Festival, (a fundraiser music festival with the combined Catholic Colleges around the Geelong region), Saint Ignatius College is holding a Triumph-Lite Festival instead on September 9th, 2022. Students are looking forward to this day that will be full of music and fun, with all funds raised going to supporting education scholarships in East Timor.
Thursday August 24 was our casual day for ‘Share the Dignity Campaign.’ Students were encouraged to wear a splash of pink to show support for disadvantaged women in our wider community. Along with a gold coin donation, students also ran a BBQ to raise extra money for the cause.
From a Year 12 perspective, we are all nearing the finish line. Final assessments are being completed, and for those doing VCE, our exam period will start at the end of October with the English exam. We are all extremely excited (some are a little nervous) about the exams coming up, but on November 25, we have our valedictory dinner and look forward to celebrating together knowing we will have officially graduated from Saint Ignatius College Geelong.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy end to Term 3,
Bring on the holidays! (is it too early to say that?)
Sam Hines | Saint Ignatius College Captain.
On Tuesday 23rd August the Year 11 VCAL students attended The Lume, Van Gogh exhibition at The Melbourne Convention Centre.
The focus of the visit was to understand the processes and procedures for holding a major public event. This complemented the work we are currently doing whilst completing a Certificate II in Public Safety during our Work Related Skills subject.
Whilst at the exhibition, we had a chance to speak with The Lume manager, Mrs Sophie Tucker. Sophie has been working at The Lume since it started and used to work in Operations Management at the MCG. She told us that up to 5,000 people have visited the exhibition each day since it started. That's 35,000 people a week since November 2021. Making the venue safe is her number one priority and she explained to us the processes and policies needed to run a safe event. Things like, emergency exits, staff who are trained in first aid and reviewing/improving evacuation procedures are all part of her job.
Running a festival or an event can be fun and rewarding but a successful event needs to be safe and everyone needs to feel secure. This excursion was a fantastic opportunity to see first hand what we are learning about in class. Areas like Risk Management, Hazard Identification, Environmental Health and Safety ( EHS ) and organising a POPE ( Place of Public Entertainment ). A great and educational day out.
Year 11 VCAL students
Brain Storm Productions presented to the Year 7 and 8 Cohort of Saint Ignatius College during period 1 and 2 on Monday 8th of August. The performance was delivered by two young professional performers who were positive role models for the students.
The aim of the 50-minute live performance was to help identify and inspire students to undertake positive change within the school communities whilst encouraging respect, empathy, and compassion for fellow classmates. The topics covered were cyber bullying, harassment, image-based abuse and coercive control. This act displayed strategies for emotional regulation, assertiveness, conflict resolution, resilience, and help seeking.
The story covered student’s experiences from Grade 1 to year 12 which may occur to individuals throughout this school transition.
Following the performance was a 5–10-minute discussion with the students, in which key aspects of the performance were evaluated to help students understand how they could intervene and support friends handling similar situations.
This Brainstorm Presentation compliments the school wellbeing support offered at Saint Ignatius College and is an effective program which delivers a positive mindset for mental health amongst school populations.
Presented by the Wellbeing Team - Olivia, Sarah and Michael
We are holding “My Book Doesn’t have a Charger” Literary Evening on Monday 29th August. Join us alongside a panel of authors, hosted by renowned local author Sue Lawson as they discuss the benefits of literacy and reading. Nibbles and Refreshments at 6.45pm with the panel beginning at 7pm for duration of 1 hour.
Leonie Stephenson
ILC Coordinator
The SRC have continued to meet fortnightly. We have been working away on lots of different ideas and proposals.
Recently we have planned the Casual Clothes Day this Term (Thursday, August 25th). The money raised will be going to ‘Share the Dignity.’ Share the Dignity is an organisation that the school has supported before, where their work aims to benefit those in crisis experiencing period poverty.
Year 10 SRC Representative, Curtis McCoughtry, has worked on a Bike Shed proposal. He recently met with the Acting Deputy Principal (Students), Bu Allan to discuss this. We have many students who ride their bikes to school.
Other ideas we’ve been looking at have been planning a coin drive and also the different ways the college will be changing next year, in terms of the school House system.
It’s very pleasing to see the SRC at work, lending support and being the voice for the students. A reminder to all students that the SRC is your avenue to enact change in our College Community. Please do so by using the Google Form link that is posted on the XUNO Bulletin each week.
Isabel Gee
Year 9 SRC Representative
On Monday the 29th of August, the College is delighted to host the former Medical Director to Mother Teresa's Mission, and founder and director of non-profit 'Institute for Indian Mother and Child' Dr Sujit for a presentation to the College's student leaders.
Dr Sujit is visiting Australia for a short period of time and Saint Ignatius College Geelong is blessed to have such an inspirational leader join our College for this presentation.
It is hoped that his work and story will inspire our students to continue to be 'men and women for, and with others.'
Regular dates (1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month) from 3-5pm
7th September
Opening prior to the P & F meetings from 5-7pm
13th September
Support Our School Through rebel Community Givebacks
Do you shop at Rebel? You can support our school every time you shop by linking your Rebel Active Membership to our school. 5% of what you spend is given to P&F to purchase sporting equipment for our school. If you’re not a member it’s free to join either online or ask a team member in store.
Rebel Community Givebacks St Ignatius College
Entertainment Book
Yes we are still selling the Entertainment Book however it now is digital and is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. If you would like to purchase an Entertainment Book please email us at sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au.
Become part of the Parents and Friends’ Association
We are still searching for a new Treasurer, unfortunately there was no nomination at our AGM. We would like to invite you to consider nominating for this role and be part of our wonderful team.
Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th September 2022. We look forward to seeing you there. Even if you cannot make it to the monthly meetings, but think you might be able to be on call to help at fundraising events, please get in touch with us by emailing sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
The Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop is now opening prior to our monthly Parents and Friends meeting in addition to the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Please check the Saint Ignatius College Facebook page for updates regarding open days and times. Email the uniform shop at uniformshop@ignatius.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.
Did you know the uniform shop also sells brand new socks, ties and hats?
Items to be sold or donated can be dropped off at the Uniform Shop during opening times or anytime at the front office. Please ensure any item that is sent in for sale has been freshly laundered, if not it will be returned to you.
We are always seeking Volunteers to help in the uniform shop. If you are available and have time to help out contact Kate by emailing uniformshop@ignatius.vic.edu.au . Training is provided.
W/C 29/8/2022 | ||
29th | P.Perkins, K.Allchin, E.Musella. | |
30th | J.Johnson, NEEDED. | |
31st | C.Ford, NEEDED. | |
1st | M.White, NEEDED | |
2nd | L.Taylor, B.Aleen, J.Rogers, L.Hart. | |
W/C 05/09/2022 | ||
5th | B.Rees, NEEDED. | |
6th | K.James, S.Peters. | |
7th | C.Holland. NEEDED | |
8th | B.Collins, S.Clarke. | |
9th | E.Savage, J.Peters. |
If you are able to assist on the above mentioned dates, please contact Canteen Manager Mrs. Sandra Woodall on woodalls@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Volunteers must hold a current WWCC. New volunteers must fill out the form provided via the link below.
Mrs. Sandra Woodall.
Canteen Manager.
Finding skilful ways to manage strong emotion that get triggered in everyday life can be one of the most challenging aspects of raising a family.
Kate arrived home late from work exhausted to the sound of her teenage sons arguing. Life for her family hadn’t returned to normal after the pandemic. Emotions ran wild and Kate and her partner often felt as if they were walking on eggshells around the boys.
Usually, she was able to hold on to an awareness that she needed to monitor how she reacted to their arguments. On this occasion, however, in the moment that anger overwhelmed her, Kate felt absolutely convinced that the boys were not even trying. In that moment memories of similar difficult times flooded into her mind and added to her sense of outrage. Before she was aware of what she was doing, Kate had stormed into their room, angrily yelling that she was fed up with both of them and was fed-up with being their mother.
There was no answering back from the boys this time. Kate felt shocked by the words that had tumbled out of her mouth. She apologised and left the room in tears.
Later that day, Kate was able to see that the incident with the boys had triggered within her an even more complex issue. One year ago, a disagreement with her sister had escalated into a heated argument and their relationship had not recovered. The precious friendship they had shared seemed lost, transformed into a painfully difficult situation where family gatherings were tense, and Kate felt caught up in messy feelings of anger and sadness.
We’re all familiar with situations like this, painful disconnections which can undermine the strength of relationships in an ongoing way. Can you recall a similar experience? Try and picture it in your mind and see if you can recall what it’s like to be pulled into a compelling story line and be engulfed in strong feelings like anger, shame, or fear.
Ironically, managed well, situations like this can be powerful opportunities for growth. The secret lies not in getting better at arguing your perspective, but by understanding how our nervous system processes memory and emotion.
Deep beneath conscious awareness, in a primitive part of the brain called the limbic system, 3 discrete systems of emotion - threat, strive, and connect - are in constant flux. Each system is driven by nerve cell pathways which run throughout the body as well as specific hormones and neurotransmitters. Our most important memories tend to be encoded within only one of these systems.
When Kate heard the raised voices of conflict, her threat system fired up and her system was flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. The threat system powerfully disconnects us from parts of the brain that help provide clear thinking, creativity, and wisdom.
The parenting program Circle of Security calls this shark music.
But just like any muscle, each system of emotion can be strengthened. The threat system is by far the most powerful. The system that tends to come in as its antidote, is the strive system.
Running on the “feel good” hormone dopamine, the strive system encourages us to distract and disconnect from negative feelings. Although comfortable in the short term, if our response is only to turn away from what’s difficult, then we don’t learn how to repair ruptures in our relationships by using the skills available to us in the more fragile connect system. This explains why over time, patterns of shutting down and disconnecting tend only to get stronger.
The connection system uses the hormone oxytocin, which has been called the love hormone. When this system is active, the stress response is calmed and we are able to move closer toward what is hard and become curious about a bigger picture. We are better able to pick up on the feelings and perspective of others and not be so triggered by what they are doing or saying.
Patterns of disconnection in relationships usually begin in childhood and form the basis of what are called insecure patterns of attachment. This explains why for many people, handling anger skilfully can be very tricky. But research shows clearly that because the nervous system is capable of change, these underlying patterns can be transformed and lead to what is called an earned secure attachment.
Research has revealed many ways in which we can build strength in the system of connection.
In closing
As we worked together, Kate learned how to use methods of mindfulness, imagery and body-based practices to shift out of a threat response. By deliberately bringing to mind memories of arguments and disconnections, she learned how to ride waves of anger. She practiced looking more closely at the storylines she was holding onto and as time went on, she found ways to use interactions with others as opportunities to tune in more carefully to what was often going on at a deeper level.
Click here to view a quick tip video by Dr Justin Coulson related to this Insights article