Saint Ignatius College Geelong
MacKillop Senior Centre construction update
On Wednesday morning, we celebrated a milestone for the construction of our new MacKillop Senior Centre with gratitude. We held a “Top Out” ceremony that marked the completion of laying the top floor concrete of this three-storey building.
We have waited some time for this project, and I thank everyone for their patience and support. Thank you to the College Advisory Council, College Executive and our staff members who worked with our Architects, Clarke Hopkins Clarke, to design and plan for our most extensive building project. I also thank the MACS Infrastructure and Capital Development Unit for their support.
Each day I, with over 1400 students and 170 staff, look across at the construction site, curious and excited about the changes happening before our eyes as the Plan Group Team and their workers add new pieces to the puzzle that will become a striking landmark and impressive front presentation of our school. The additional facilities and amenities this project will provide will enhance student learning outcomes.
This large project would not be possible without the support of the Catholic Development Fund. Most of the funding for the project will come from a CDF loan, and we express our gratitude to the CDF for making this possible for us. The CDF provides valuable support so that Catholic schools can undertake such projects.
I also express our gratitude to our local State member of parliament, Alison Marchant and her predecessor, Lisa Neville. I am grateful for Alison and Lisa’s enthusiastic support of this project and the State Government’s contribution of $1M towards its funding. This support from the State Government will enable us to better serve the needs of the Geelong Community by having a stronger education provider that plays its part in the growth and development of the Geelong region and our part in making Victoria the Education State.
I am grateful that representatives from the builders - Plan Group, architects - Clarke Hopkins Clarke, MACS and CDF, together with our local State member of parliament, were present at the ceremony.
College Assembly
The next whole school College assembly will be held in the gym on Monday, 15th May 2023, at 11.00 am. It will conclude at about 12.40 pm. If you would like to attend, please report to the office at about 10.50 am on the day so that a seat can be arranged for you. The assembly is a formal occasion and a great way to celebrate many student achievements, reinforce values and positive messages and build our sense of community.
I look forward to seeing as many parents and friends of the College as possible at this event.
Year 7 Camps
I was delighted to be able to visit the Year 7 camps last week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Anglesea. I was very impressed by the positive and enthusiastic responses I received from the students about their camp experience and how they were settling into secondary school life.
I took some of the College Captains with me as in previous years. These Senior Student Leaders were uplifted by the warm welcome they received. They did a tremendous job meeting as many Year 7s as possible, talking about their experiences of camps and school and encouraging the young students to make the most of their opportunities.
Thank you to the team of dedicated staff for making this a valuable and enjoyable experience for the students. In particular, thank you to Mrs Deb Hodge (YLC) for her overall coordination of the camp and thank you to all staff involved.
2023 Annual Report to the School Community
As part of the funding agreement between the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) and the Australian Government, schools must report on specific categories of School Performance Information. This information is supplied to the school community in many ways that include (but are not limited to): a fortnightly newsletter; an annual report; the yearly school magazine “Magis”, and our website.
I am pleased to inform you that the Saint Ignatius College Geelong 2023 Annual Report to the School Community is now available on the College Website, www.ignatius.vic.edu.au/about-us/annual-report
A copy is also available upon request at the College Office. The report covers three key areas:
Professional Engagement; and
Key Student Outcomes
Mother’s Day
Finally, best wishes to all Mothers for a special day on Sunday, 14th May.
Best wishes for the next fortnight,
Michael Exton
Principal
On the 5th of May, the students of Glowrey House celebrated the caring, devoted and selfless life of our patron, Sr Dr Mary Glowrey. Sr Dr Mary Glowrey completed many generous acts throughout her life, including spending 37 years in India, setting up health care facilities for the less fortunate. We showed our gratitude for the acts of kindness Sr Dr Mary Glowrey undertook throughout her years, through mass. Once again Father Healey SJ made the trip down to conduct a beautiful mass for us. Students were invited to reflect about the caring nature of Sr Dr Mary Glowrey and to consider how they can be guided by this in their daily lives. Many students from Glowrey House got involved in the mass through readings, bringing forward gifts and singing. Following the service, Glowrey students celebrated with a frog in the pond (blue of course), a pizza lunch and an extended recess where students got to spend some quality time chatting with other members of their house.
Glowrey students have been able to connect more and more as the year continues. Activities completed in mentor time such as painting, have deepened the connections between students and their mentor classes and teachers. Last week students worked together to paint pictures of Sr Dr Mary Glowrey, which when completed, will be hung in each mentor room. There are many ways for students to get involved with their house, such as the house footy tipping competition which has been highly contested all year.
It was a buoyant mood that was present as students keenly boarded buses last Monday morning for our Anglesea camp. On arrival, students were given a tour of the campsite and facilities before heading to their bunk room and familiarising themselves with their surroundings, especially knowing where the dining room was located (as the aroma of muffins for afternoon tea was enticingly permeating the air).
The bushland setting and vast array of facilities makes this an ideal venue for students to connect with each other, have fun, be brave in taking on challenges and working collaboratively.
I was fortunate to join Georgia & Hattie in the canoe and we gradually gained control as we paddled around the wetlands, narrowly avoiding hitting the bank and others’ canoes. At one stage, I felt some water on my back from Jack’s wayward oar and there were a few more ‘accidental’ splashes as we raced each other, ducked under bridges and enjoyed the tranquility of being on the water. A few got themselves quite wet when their raft-building exploits didn’t quite go to plan and with ropes loosened and drums separating, the inevitable spills occurred but there was still plenty of laughter. Not all were sent into the water, however, as some skilful people ingeniously managed to secure all their materials well enough to successfully float their raft. It was a great exercise in problem-solving and teamwork!
So many students pushed themselves out of their comfort zone, encouraged by peers and teachers, to scale the Vertical Climb, experience the Giant Swing or pedal hard up many steep inclines during Mountain Biking. The satisfaction felt on attaining their goal was exhilarating and much high-fiving could be heard when feet hit the ground. Well done to all our students regardless of how far up one climbed or how fast one biked! It was all about participating and trying new activities, never forgetting to have self-belief and to be persistent. Ms. Anderton exemplified this on the mountain biking when it got tough to keep going and yet she did, never giving up and staying strong. Her activity group was most impressed!
With the changeover of students on Wednesday, Ms. Edmonds and I sadly farewelled Group One and warmly welcomed Group Two. They were so excited to be there, especially after hearing about the good times others had experienced. Another two days of enjoyment, relaxing and meeting new people followed with games and a film in the evening, along with a presentation by Mr Exton and school leaders who shared how St Ignatius has shaped them into the people they are today. Our Yr 11 Arts Captain, Zoe Walter, even did an impromptu “Wicked” performance which we were all in awe of and reinforced the leaders’ message to take up opportunities on offer and get involved in school life beyond the classroom. We all slept well despite the chilly nights and the food was wonderful, particularly the apple crumble and garlic bread. Before long, Friday quickly came around and our camp drew to a memorable close.
Students are to be commended on the exemplary manner in which they participated in this camp experience. They were kind to each other, showed superb manners in the dining room, followed the expectations around bedtime and just had a really great time. It was a joy to be around them and watch them have fun! Most importantly, it was affirming to see them reach out to new people and welcome them into a group, fulfilling our camp theme of “New Beginnings, New Opportunities.” Huge thank you to staff for caring for our students and ensuring they had the best experience possible. We know you had to leave your own families behind and are very grateful for your involvement. It is this generosity and commitment that enables the camps to run and to do so without any hiccups. Special acknowledgement to Ms. Caroline Edmonds who kindly stayed with me for the week and her thoroughness and expertise in managing all medical issues. She truly was our ‘Florence Nightingale!’ To Mr Exton, Mr Lewis and Mr Timms, we thank you for coming to visit and meeting the newest additions to our College Community. It was wonderful for the Yr 7 students to get to know you in this relaxed setting.
We will continue to develop the Ignatian spirit of courage, hope and compassion that was so frequently on display at camp and which is such an integral part of our identity. Thanks to parents for embracing the camp experience and to our students for their enthusiasm, good humour and friendliness. We had a blast!
Deb Hodge | Yr 7 YLC
Here are some memories of camp from our Ignatian Leaders.
“One of the things that the majority of our classmates enjoyed was the giant swing because they had a chance to overcome their fear of heights and achieve their goal, even though they were terrified. Another thing that was a big highlight was how the YMCA Instructors reassured us that everything was going to be okay and kept giving us advice to keep going, so we wouldn’t regret not trying.”
Saisha Tagore and Sofia Delgadinho
“The food was excellent - fried rice, spaghetti with garlic bread, toast and cereal for breakfast, yummy salad rolls for lunch, and for dessert there was ice cream with chocolate sauce topping and apple pie with custard. We really loved the food!”
Fred Ing Chung and Ava Stonehouse
“Camp was an awesome experience! I personally loved the giant swing; a lot of the kids in our Mentor group did too. The food was delicious, we loved all the activities. We all had so much fun! Thank you so much to all the YMCA staff and all the Saint Ignatius staff for all their hard work and commitment to this camp!”
Olivia Cox
“The giant swing was our favourite activity at camp. I loved the view of the beach. Another highlight was the adrenaline you would get as you got pulled to the top. For a split second your stomach dropped and you would think why are you doing this. But it was all worth it as you reached the ground and had the privilege of telling your peers about the ride of a lifetime.
One of the funniest activities to watch from the sidelines was the crate climb as some of the students' teamwork was tested at times, ending up in some hilarious fails. Austin provided some great commentary to keep it engaging for everyone participating.”
Sonni Andrew and Tasman Gilroy
“I loved the activities and the opportunity to challenge myself. It was challenge by choice activities meaning that we could choose how far or extreme we wanted to go. We got to form connections with new people and create stronger connections with our already close friends.
We had to work together to achieve bigger goals. If things didn't go to plan, we had supporting peers to help us bounce back. Overall, the camp was really fun and gave us each new lessons to take with us on the next stages of our life.”
Iluka O’Loughlin and Grace Edwards
“What we loved about camp was the giant swing. It was 18 metres high, and most
people went to the top. The food was awesome! On the first night, we had chicken and
potatoes, followed by ice cream, and on the second night we had pasta and mince, followed
by apple crumble. Most people on the camp were very excited about their cabin groups.
Everybody got their friends or at least one of their friends in their cabin. Camp was heaps of fun!”
-Massimo Costanzo and Charlotte Carlson.
“Once we were off the bus, we were given a warm welcome by the YMCA staff and the leader, Austin. He took us around for an interesting tour and played some fun games. Finding our camp cabins was both nerve wracking and exciting. Once we were settled in, we started our activities. We were faced with so many challenges and persevered with them really well. As we know, heights is a common fear and the giant swing really made people overcome their fears and show resilience. This was true for the other activities too. One of our favourite moments was when we were able to overcome our fears and challenges. We thank the staff of YMCA Anglesea and Saint Ignatius for letting us have a great camp experience and getting to know other people.”
Sienna Stowe- Winder & Ruby Mc Manus
“I loved the giant swing as the 18 metre drop was amazingly fun, exhilarating, exciting and spectacular. Archery was one of my favourites as it is calming and enjoyable to try to hit a bulls-eye and even if you didn’t, it was fun to try. Radio rogaine was great. I loved going around the camp searching and finding the hidden markers and reading out the clues. It was entertaining and also calming and relaxing.”
Izzabella Barr and Brody Farrugia-Zarb
School refusal
Victorian data reveals that the rates of school refusal grew by 50 per cent in the three years leading up to 2021. School refusal refers to a student or young person refusing to attend day-to-day activities and tasks during school hours. This can be due to anxiety-based problems remaining in class (e.g., separation, generalised or social anxiety). It can present as extended absences, periodic absences, or missed classes, with the student experiencing intense dread about school that precipitates future non-attendance. School refusal can be incredibly challenging for the parent or carer of the student and strain relationships or home life. This is why it is important to understand how to mitigate the underlying factors of school refusal behaviour to increase the student and family’s quality of life.
Underlying factors of school refusal
School refusal has four different behavioural functions:
Avoidance of emotionally aversive (i.e., anxiety-provoking) situations
Escape from socially evaluative situations
Pursuit of attention from parents and significant others
Pursuit of reinforcement outside of school
It is also important to note that lower attendance exacerbates the worry and fear of returning to school due to falling behind in classwork.
Red flags of school refusal
Frequent requests to go to sick bay.
Frequent requests to call home or go home during the day.
Absences on significant days (e.g., days of tests, speeches, or physical education classes).
Absences on days that have fallen on Mondays, after holidays, after school camps or sports days.
Strategies parents can use with their young person.
A large body of research shows that the authoritarian approach can negatively impact students refusing school. Forcing or punishing students for school refusal may lead to lower self-esteem, increased difficulty in forming relationships, and lowered independence, therefore increasing school refusal behaviour. Talking with the young person promotes understanding. The more we understand, the more we can help. Parents could use prompts and questions such as;
"If you were the principal of this school, what changes would you make?"
"You tell me what needs to happen for you to return to school."
Have them define the pace of school re-entry and how it happens after discussing the pros and cons of the options.
Parents could allow them to have a "trump card" of one mental health day every four weeks of school to use (equivalent to sick leave allowed in a workplace).
Rebuilding Trust with the School
Having someone consistent from the school, such as the mentor teacher or student well-being staff, communicating with the young person and family helps build trust and a bridge between school and home. Effective intervention requires the same person to connect with the student & their family on an ongoing basis.
Chores
If the young person is convincing enough to stay home, parents could ask the young person to assist with household and shopping chores. Getting the young person out into the community by helping with the shopping can keep students from feeling isolated as they may feel when staying at home.
Gaming
If the young person plays video games at night, disconnecting the internet at a specific time may be practical. If students claim they need a phone to wake up on time, parents could provide them with a clock or a phone (just not their own). The aim is not to ignite a battle at home. The aim is to make staying at home as dull as possible. It is hard to be fearful & bored at the same time.
Establish a morning and evening routine.
Having a routine in place can help give your teen a sense of stability which keeps things predictable. Sit down with them, work out goals, and schedule them into the student planner provided by the school. Consider including relaxation techniques in this schedule, such as breathing exercises or meditation, an effective intervention for reducing anxiety.
Return to school plan
A return-to-school plan aims to help the student and their parents or carers to reflect and consider strategies and resources that may be helpful during this time. Return plans serve as an information-gathering starting point and allow students to mobilise their own responsibility. The school and family members review these plans to understand what is and what is not working.
What about parents?
Common feelings for parents and carers
Being the parent or carer of a teen who refuses to go to school can be emotionally challenging; It is important to acknowledge feelings and seek help now. Common feelings have shown to be:
fear and worry about your teen's future
sadness for your teen
loneliness and isolation
guilt that you're not doing 'enough.'
confusion about what to do
Anger and frustration
Self-care tips for parents and carers
Dealing with school refusal can pressure parents, carers and other family members. It is also essential to take care of yourself, which will help you support your teen through this challenging time. It will also model to your teen how important it is to practice self-care and stay healthy. The best self-care is the kind you enjoy. Make self-care a habit, even for only five to ten minutes daily. Self-care could be exercising, listening to music, meditation and mindfulness, or catching up with friends.
Overall, it is important to equip yourself with the support available along this Journey. School refusal does not just occur alone. There will always be underlying factors contributing to the behaviour. The best way we can respond to these factors is with a curious mind and persistent action in a compassionate way.
Please see below flyer from MACs with further information.
As part of their term two Life Science studies focused on ‘environment’ Year 10 students visited the local coastal dune area known as ‘the narrows’ at Queenscliff.
All students participated in dune restoration by weeding out the invasive Bellarine Pea (Polygala myrtifolia) and clearing patches of secondary dune so that local indigenous vegetation could be given the opportunity to take root and thrive. They also learned about some of the adaptations of local coastal plants to the high salinity and windy weather conditions. Some students were brave enough to taste coastal Bower Spinach which was found to be rather tasty, the closer to the beach that we came, due to the salt residue adhering to the underside of the leaves.
Where possible, students were also given the opportunity to learn about local First Nation culture and stewardship from Ash Skinner, Wadawurrung educator. Ash led one group through the walking track near the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre, explaining the cultural significance of the place, the plants and the animals that inhabit this environment. Ash told the local story attached to the Coastal Moonah; a story about two young lovers who were bound by the waterways, one to become a dolphin and one to watch over the shore (the Moonah). He also explained the interconnectedness of every living thing within the ecosystem.
Towards the end of the excursions, students were given the opportunity to briefly visit the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre to familiarise themselves with the centre and its learning opportunities.
These excursions were made possible thanks to the funding received from DELWP through the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) Earthwatch/Kids teaching Kids partnership project and through the support of Bellarine Catchment Network and their funded partnership with Wadawurrung Corporation.
Tasting indigenous Bower Spinach
Listening to Ash explain the significance of this location including burial grounds and middens in the local area
A decent pile of invasive weeds removed!
The result of our labour
Working hard at removing weeds
Naomi Wells from BCN explaining how to identify the invasive species
On Monday the 22nd of May at 7pm the College will hold ‘The 2023 SICG Careers Panel Evening’ whereby Alumni return to the College and share their pathway beyond their graduation, and students are afforded the opportunity to ask questions regarding their respective careers.
This evening is open for students in Years 9-12 and their parent/carer, with the evening consisting of the opportunity to listen to 3 panels, all of which are approximately 20 minutes in duration.
This evening is an exciting opportunity for our students to further understand aspects of uni life, gap years, and career options.
This year, we are excited to introduce ‘The Pathway Showcase’ from 6pm in the MPC where TAFE and tertiary providers will be on site to present their information.
Student sign up to this evening can be found here → https://forms.gle/oV1YXAF8bsnu7dfZ8
Ms. Elana Cole | Director of Community Engagement.
Ms. Dot Vajda | Acting Work and Further Education Coordinator.
MOTHER'S DAY RAFFLE | The Saint Ignatius College Parents and Friends Association are excited to announce their 'Mother's Day Raffle' for 2023.
The College Community is invited to purchase a ticket in this raffle, with tickets only being $5 each via the below link or at Reception.
https://www.trybooking.com/CHTXT
The raffle closes at 4pm on Monday May 15th, with all monies raised going towards student resources at the 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 always looking for people to joing/support our committee and the work we do. We have monthly meetings to discuss how we can support our school community and would love to see you there even. Our meetings are held the second week of every month and are advertised via social media, please email us if you are interested in attending. Even if you cannot make it to the monthly meetings, but think you might be able to be on call to help at the different things we are involved in, please get in touch with us by emailing sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
The Uniform Shop
Our uniform shop is now closed if you have any items at the uniform shop please contact the school to organise pick up or to donate your items.
The Saint Ignatius College Parents and Friends Association presents 'The Little Mermaid' at Village Cinemas Geelong. The new release Little Mermaid is a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1989 animated film of the same name. We look forward to welcoming members of the College Community to this evening.
Village Cinemas Geelong
194-200 Ryrie Street, Geelong
Students are reminded of Thursday's (18th May) lunchtime special, Sushi.
Eftpos and cash are both accepted at the Saint Ignatius College Canteen.
W/C 15/5/2023
15th: K.McCauley, NEEDED.
16th: S.Twaits, C.Rivo.
17th: C.Ford, NEEDED.
18th: F.Ferguson, NEEDED.
19th: L.Taylor, NEEDED.
...................................................................................
W/C 22/5/2023
22nd: NEEDED, NEEDED.
23rd: NEEDED, NEEDED.
24th: B.Allen, NEEDED.
25th: M.White, S.Sheerin.
26th: NEEDED, NEEDED.
NEW Streets Icecream prices from this term.
Mini Calippo. $1.50
Paddle Pop $2.50
Pop Icy Twist $2.00
Cyclone $3.50
Click here to view the 2023 Canteen Price List
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
Have your say
Barwon Water is embarking on a project to transform our former Bellarine Basin site into more than 30 hectares of environmental and public open space to be enjoyed by the community for years to come.
The environmental and community place planned at the corner of Grubb and Swan Bay roads has been named Murrk Ngubitj Yarram Yaluk, meaning ‘headwaters of continuous flowing river’ in Wadawurrung language.
Share your feedback on the concept plan
Following extensive community engagement, we have prepared a draft concept plan for the site. It’s based on the preferred site uses and activities determined by our agency advisory committee and local community. We are keen to have your input. This will help guide our final stage of decision making about site uses and activities.
Learn more and complete the online survey:
www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/bellarine-basin
Hard copies are available on request.
Closing date for feedback: Wednesday 10 May 2023.
For enquiries, please contact Barwon Water on projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au or 1300 656 007.