Dear Parents & Carers,

Welcome to the 2026 School Year

Welcome to the beginning of the 2026 school year. I hope all families enjoyed a joyful Christmas celebration and a restorative holiday break, and that the weeks ahead bring renewed energy, optimism, and a strong sense of purpose.

I extend a particularly warm welcome to the families joining our Ignatian community for the first time this year. We are delighted to have you with us and wish your daughter or son every success as they transition into life at Saint Ignatius’ College. I sincerely hope that your family quickly develops a strong sense of belonging and connection within our community.

This year, we are pleased to welcome 260 students into Year 7, along with a further 26 new students across other year levels. Our total enrolment now stands at 1,486 students, an increase from 1,442 at the same time last year. We also warmly welcome many new staff members who bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm. Their contribution will play an important role in supporting our shared focus on Engagement for Excellence across all areas of College life.

Our school improvement focus for 2026, Engagement for Excellence, recognises a simple but powerful truth: students achieve their best when they are genuinely engaged intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Engagement also includes the everyday disciplines that underpin success: turning up consistently, being punctual, prepared, and present, and seeing tasks through even when learning becomes challenging. When students commit to these habits, they place themselves in the strongest possible position to grow, to learn deeply, and to achieve excellence.

The beginning of a new school year offers students a valuable opportunity to start afresh—to set clear goals, establish positive routines, and recommit to personal growth. Reflection on previous learning, including the 2025 Semester Two reports and conversations with parents or carers, can help students identify areas for consolidation and improvement, enabling them to engage more deeply with their learning and fully embrace the opportunities ahead.

We hold high expectations for our students, and we work in close partnership with parents and carers to support them in meeting these expectations. Through sustained engagement, arriving each day ready to learn, persisting when work becomes challenging, and taking pride in completing tasks to the best of their ability, I am confident students will continue to make strong progress throughout 2026. It would strengthen our shared commitment to your daughter or son’s education if these expectations are discussed at home, helping to set the scene for a positive, purposeful, and effective start to the academic year.

For more than 500 years, Ignatian education has been recognised globally for its commitment to academic excellence and the formation of the whole person. At Saint Ignatius’ College, we encourage students to be curious, to think critically, to act with kindness, and to contribute positively to the life of the community. Each day, students are invited to engage deeply with their learning and, in doing so, to grow beyond their perceived limits.

An Ignatian education extends well beyond the classroom. Through a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, including sport, performing arts, community service, enrichment programs, camps, immersions, and educational trips, students are encouraged to discover their strengths, build relationships, and develop confidence. Meaningful engagement in these experiences requires commitment: turning up, contributing positively, and seeing responsibilities through to completion. In doing so, students deepen their sense of belonging and further their personal growth and wellbeing.

I would like to thank parents and carers for the essential role you play in supporting your daughter or son’s engagement with school life. Your partnership with the College, particularly in promoting regular attendance, consistent routines, and the importance of seeing commitments through, is fundamental to our shared pursuit of Engagement for Excellence. Thank you also for all you have done to prepare your daughter or son for the commencement of the new school year.

I would like to acknowledge my dedicated colleagues who have worked with great care and enthusiasm to prepare for our students’ return. A list of staff names and roles is available via this link. As always, if there is any support we can offer as the year begins, I encourage you to reach out to the relevant staff member.

Together, as a community, we look forward to a year that is challenging, rewarding, and rich in opportunity, a year in which every student is encouraged to engage fully and strive for excellence.

Key Dates and Events

Term 1 is always a busy and exciting time at the College, with a wide range of events, activities, and celebrations. We encourage families to regularly consult the College Calendar, available through the Xuno Parent Portal. For your convenience, some key upcoming events are listed below:

• College Mass (Periods 3 & 4, MPC) – Monday 2 February
• College Assembly (Periods 1 & 2, MPC) – Wednesday 4 February
• Student Individual Photos (Years 10–12) – Wednesday 4 February
• College Swimming Carnival (North Bellarine Aquatic Centre) – Friday 6 February
• Year 7 Parent Information Session (7.00–8.30 pm, College) – Monday 9 February
• Year 8 Parent Information Session (7.00–8.00 pm, Zoom) – Tuesday 10 February
• Year 9 Parent Information Session, including Camp Briefing (7.00–8.00 pm, College) – Wednesday 11 February
• Student Individual Photos (Years 7–9 and siblings) – Wednesday 11 February
• Year 10 Parent Introduction to Senior School (7.00–8.00 pm, Zoom) – Tuesday 17 February
• Parents and Friends Association Meeting (7.00 pm, Loyola Centre) – Tuesday 17 February
• College Athletics Carnival (Landy Field) – Tuesday 17 February

Connection Week

To support students at the start of the academic year, we commence with a program known as Connection Week. This program includes regular Mentor periods, the Opening Mass and Academic Assembly, and additional year-level sessions focused on our Student Effective Learning Framework (SELF). These sessions provide students with Ignatian formation, wellbeing information and strategies, academic support, and opportunities to connect through House activities.

As part of this program, students in Years 7 & 8 will undertake ACER testing, providing us with a snapshot of each student’s literacy and numeracy levels. A tailored transition program has also been designed for Year 7 students on their first day, with support from our Year 12 students to help them settle confidently into College life.

Beginning of the Year Assembly

The ‘Beginning of the Year’ Full College Assembly will be held in the Multipurpose Centre on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, commencing at 9.00 am and concluding at approximately 10.30 am. Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend and are asked to report to the College Office at around 8.45 am so seating can be arranged. This formal occasion is an important opportunity to celebrate student achievements, reinforce shared values, and strengthen our sense of community. Tea and coffee will be available for parents following the assembly.

Communication

The College communicates with families through a fortnightly digital newsletter available on our website, with an email alert sent when each edition is published. We also share updates and celebrations via the College Facebook page. Important letters and messages are sent to parent email addresses, and parents are welcome to contact staff directly by email.

Our usual practice is for staff to respond to emails within two working days. Please note that some staff work part-time and, in accordance with the “Right to Disconnect” legislation, standard teacher work hours are 8.30 am–3.30 pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 8.30 am–4.30 pm from Tuesday to Thursday. Staff may not read or respond to emails outside of these hours.

Synergetic Community Portal

As previously advised, Operoo has ceased operations in Australia. The College has transitioned to Synergetic as its replacement. Parents have received emails from our ICT Manager, Mr Paul James, outlining this transition and providing details for accessing the Synergetic Community Portal via PIPs (Parent ID Passport System).

The Community Portal allows parents and carers to:

• Provide consent for excursions and College events
• View and update student medical information
• Review and update contact and census details
• View tuition fee account information, including invoices and receipts

The email also includes instructions for accessing:

• ‘Canvas’, our learning platform
• ‘Xuno’, our student management system

If you require assistance, please contact our ICT Team at itsupport@ignatius.vic.edu.au.

We look forward to a rewarding year as we work together to nurture our students' growth and development.

Best wishes for 2026.

Michael Exton | Principal