Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,

Mosaic Evening – Thursday 19 November 2026

Our annual Mosaic Evening is a wonderful celebration of the many talents, achievements and contributions that make our College community so special. I warmly encourage all members of our community to join us on Thursday, 19 November, at Costa Hall, Deakin Waterfront Campus (Brougham Street, Geelong), for what promises to be a delightful and uplifting celebration of the 2026 school year.

Attendance is compulsory for all Year 7 students, and we strongly encourage students in Years 8 to 12 to attend and be part of this special occasion.

The evening will commence at 6.00 pm with the Student Art and Technology Display in the Costa Hall foyer. This will be followed by the main celebration in the auditorium at 7.00 pm, concluding at approximately 9.00 pm. Parents are asked to make arrangements for their children’s transport to and from Costa Hall. All students are expected to wear their full school uniform, including their blazer.

Over the years, Mosaic has received very positive feedback from our community and has become an important event on our College calendar. It provides an opportunity to celebrate student achievement across a range of areas, recognise the diverse talents of our students and, importantly, strengthen our shared sense of belonging and community. I encourage parents and families to support this special occasion by attending and joining us in celebrating all that has been achieved throughout the year.

For organisational purposes, tickets are required for all family members and guests, although students do not require a ticket. Tickets are free and can be booked through https://events.humanitix.com/m... Families are most welcome to invite grandparents, extended family members and friends to share in the celebration.

I look forward to seeing as many members of our College community as possible at what is always a memorable evening.

Year 12 Examinations and Pathways

Our Year 12 VCE students, along with their peers across Victoria, are now well into their final examination period. Many of our students have already completed two or more examinations since last Tuesday, with this week being particularly demanding. These examinations represent the culmination of considerable effort, commitment and learning throughout their senior years.

I encourage our community to keep these students in their thoughts and prayers as they continue their revision and prepare for their remaining examinations. We wish them every success and hope they can approach each assessment with confidence, demonstrate their learning and achieve the results of which they are capable.

Our Year 12 VCE Vocational Major (VM) students have now completed their classes for the year. I wish them every success as they take their next steps towards employment, apprenticeships or further vocational study. Some have already commenced apprenticeships, while others are preparing to enrol in vocational courses next year. This is an important transition in their lives, and I congratulate them on reaching this significant milestone.

I also acknowledge the valuable support provided by our Pathways and Careers Team, who have worked closely with students and families throughout the year as they explore and make decisions about their future pathways. The team remains available for the remainder of the year and into 2027 to assist any student or parent seeking advice or information about further study, training, courses or employment. Please contact the College office to arrange assistance.

Remembrance Day

Next Wednesday, 11 November, we will pause as a College community to commemorate Remembrance Day and honour the men and women who have served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

A short memorial service will be held for students and staff during class time. At the beginning of Lesson Three, shortly after 11.00 am, the College will be called to attention. Under the supervision of their teachers, students will remain in their classrooms and give their full attention to the ceremony, which will be broadcast via video in each classroom.

Remembrance Day provides an important opportunity for our students to reflect on the courage, sacrifice and service of others, and to remember the importance of peace.

Ordination of Former Student Rhys Lowther

I am delighted to share the wonderful news that former Saint Ignatius College student, Rhys Lowther (Class of 2017), will be ordained as a Catholic priest. This is a significant and joyful occasion for Rhys, his family and all those who have supported and encouraged him throughout his journey of faith and vocation.

For our College community, it is particularly meaningful to see a former student respond so generously to God's call. We are very proud of Rhys and give thanks for his vocation and his commitment to serving the Church and the wider community.

Rhys will be ordained on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at 10.00 am at St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne. I am particularly pleased that ten of our senior students, accompanied by several staff members, will join me at the Cathedral to represent the College and share in this significant occasion.

His First Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, 15 November 2026, at 1.00 pm at St Anthony's Catholic Church, Lara.

We will hold Rhys, his family and his future ministry in our thoughts and prayers at this very special time. May God bless him abundantly as he begins his priestly ministry and continues to guide him in his vocation of service to God and His people.

Best wishes for the next fortnight.

Michael Exton | Principal

As we move towards the end of the semester, there is plenty of exciting work happening across Religious Education at Saint Ignatius College Geelong. From classroom learning and curriculum development to the ongoing creative work of our Journey and Academy programs, we continue to explore what it means to live out our Ignatian charism and strengthen Catholic Identity within our College community.

An important focus for our team has been the review of our current RE offerings and the early stages of imagining how we will further integrate the new MACS Religious Education Curriculum in 2027. This is an exciting opportunity to reflect on our current practices, consider future possibilities and ensure our RE curriculum continues to provide rich, meaningful and engaging learning experiences for our students. The new curriculum will be phased in over the coming years, allowing us to thoughtfully plan, develop and refine our approach as we move forward.

Across our curriculum areas, students and teachers are also working towards the final assessments for the semester, with many units of study bringing their learning together over the coming weeks. These assessments provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding, reflect on their learning and make connections between the concepts explored in the classroom and the world around them.

Beyond the classroom, our Journey and Academy programs continue to bring Ignatian ministry to life through their creative and thoughtful work in faith formation, encounter and Catholic Identity development. These programs play an important role in helping our students explore their spirituality, develop a deeper sense of purpose and consider how they can contribute positively to their communities.

We are particularly excited to share that we have strong numbers confirmed across both Journey and Academy for 2027. This is wonderful news and a real source of encouragement as we look towards the future of Ignatian ministry at St Ignatius College. The enthusiasm and commitment of our students reflect the ongoing importance of creating opportunities for young people to encounter themselves, others and God, and to discover how the values of St Ignatius can shape the way they live, learn and serve.

As we look ahead, we do so with a strong sense of hope and possibility. Through thoughtful curriculum development, engaging classroom learning and the continued growth of our ministry programs, we remain committed to nurturing a Religious Education experience that is intellectually rich, personally meaningful and authentically Ignatian.

Amare et Servire — to love and to serve. This remains at the heart of our work as we continue to accompany our students on their journey of faith, learning and personal growth.

As we approach the end of another wonderful year at Saint Ignatius College, we take the opportunity to celebrate the generosity, compassion and commitment to service demonstrated by our students.

The Smith Family Reading Program

This year, 10 students participated in The Smith Family Reading Program, generously volunteering their time to support younger students in developing their literacy skills and confidence. It was wonderful to see our students building meaningful connections with their reading buddies and fostering a love of reading.

A special congratulations goes to one outstanding student who achieved national recognition for their community service hours through their dedication to the program. What an incredible achievement!

Celebrating Community Service

Our students have once again demonstrated the true meaning of Amare et Servire — to love and to serve.

Across our four Houses, students contributed an outstanding 8,536 hours of community service!

• Glowrey: 2,828.5 hours

• Xavier: 2,625 hours

• Ricci: 1,575.5 hours

• MacKillop: 1,507 hours

A heartfelt thank you to every student who contributed their time and talents to making a positive difference in our community.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2026

As Christmas approaches, our College community is invited to embrace the spirit of giving through our annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

Students in Years 7–11 are encouraged to contribute gifts, festive treats, personal hygiene products and non-perishable food items to support individuals and families experiencing hardship this Christmas. Please visit the link Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2026.

Every donation, no matter how small, is an opportunity to bring hope, dignity and joy to someone in need.

Together, let us continue to put our Ignatian values into action and make this Christmas a little brighter for others!

It’s been a busy start to term 4 across the Technology faculty at Saint Ignatius this term! We wished farewell to our 2026 Year 12 Product Design students who are currently busily preparing for their VCAA exams. It was great to celebrate their achievements and completed products as part of the combined Arts and Technology display during year 12 celebration week, where parents and family were welcomed to view the works ahead of the Valete mass in week 2.

Unit 2 Product Design students are nearing the end of their SAT (School Assessed Tasks) design processes, which focus on positive impacts for end users and designing products that improve lives. Unit 2 Food Studies students have also been busy designing and making their own sweet or savory cob loaves, with a focus on Food in Australia, addressing outcomes related to influences on Australian cuisine over time. Unit 2 students are well placed to hit the ground running in 2027 and we are very proud of what they have achieved in their first year of VCE study.

Middle years programs have been working through the double diamond design process, and learning key knowledge and skills that pathway towards VCE and vocational pathways. Year 10 Mixed Materials classes have been generating design concepts and undertaking process trials with a variety of materials to create a mixed material coaster set and coaster holder. Many of which have showcased sustainability through use of reclaimed native hardwood or repurposing existing products, as well as high quality designs and craftspersonship in their execution.

Year 10 & 11 students will shortly begin exam revision for their end of semester exams, with some students completing their final technology elective classes at the college. We wish them well for their senior study journey in 2027.

A couple of other highlights over the term have included:

• Year 7 students testing their completed pollinating robots through a series of challenges which have included races and last robot left standing activities.

• Y10 Digital Technology students integrating systems thinking and coding arduino controllers for a range of purposes, including robotic cars.

• Senior Food Technology classes planning, designing, ordering and making their own recipe dishes as part of their ‘Hello Fresher’ unit.

• 1st Year VET Building and Construction students working towards the successful completion of their first year units as they pursue the attainment of their certificate 2 in Building and Construction.

On behalf of all the technology teaching staff, we wish all students well for the upcoming exam period and in particular, the Year 12 Product Design and Food Studies students the best of luck with their final VCAA exams over the coming days.