Dear Parents & Carers,

With just over two weeks remaining in this eleven-week term, I would like to highlight the following dates.

Thursday, 3rd July 2025 – Final day of classes for the Term.

(Friday, July 4th, 2025, will be a Teacher Professional Practice Day.)

Tuesday, 22nd July 2025 – First day of classes for term three.

(Monday, 21st July 2025 will be a Teacher Professional Learning Day.)

Years 9 – 12 Semester One Examinations

With Semester 1 (Terms 1 & 2) nearly complete, we are about to enter a busy assessment period. I suggest that parents check in with their daughter or son to review their level of organisation, supporting and encouraging good habits that will help them navigate this challenging time.

Our Years 9 – 11 students will have many assessments due, and in particular, they will have examinations as follows:

Week 10: Thursday June 26th Years 10 & 11 exams commence

Week 11: Tuesday July 1st Year 9 Exams commence

Week 11: Thursday July 3rd Exams conclude

As you are aware, supporting your daughter or son during assessment and exam periods is crucial to their success and well-being. Many of you will be well equipped to manage this. I provide some thoughts that you may find helpful as you open up a conversation with your son or daughter about effectively and efficiently getting through the final stages of the semester.

Begin by helping them establish a structured study schedule that breaks down topics into manageable sections. Encourage consistent study habits rather than last-minute cramming, and provide a quiet, distraction-free environment where they can concentrate effectively.

Stay engaged in their learning by asking about what they’re studying and showing interest in their progress. Offer to quiz them on material, help them create study aids like flashcards, or review practice tests together. Your involvement can build their confidence and reassure them that they’re not facing the stress alone.

Lastly, emphasise the importance of balance. Make sure your daughter or son is getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking regular breaks to relax and recharge. Positive encouragement, along with healthy routines, helps reduce anxiety and fosters a mindset focused on effort and improvement rather than just results.

Year 9 Revision Program commences next week (Week 10)

To better prepare our Year 9 students for their first experience with formal exams, we are providing a planned revision period leading up to their exams. This will commence on Thursday, 26 June, and run for three days. During this time, students will undertake set revision and review lessons along with activities according to a structured timetable under the guidance of their subject teachers. This structure will ensure that students receive comprehensive preparation, including targeted revision, reinforcement, and exam practice, all aligning with senior-level expectations in core subjects. The revision program will focus on building confidence, promoting consistency, targeting support, encouraging accountability, and preparing for future success.

Year 7 & 8 Belonging Week (Week 11)

After a successful introduction last year, we will again run the “Belonging Week” program during the last week of this term. This program builds on the “Connected Week” program we held during the first week of the semester at the start of the year. In alignment with our School Improvement Plan, it will play a crucial role in fostering a sense of connection, belonging, and community among students and staff. The program will serve as a platform to build relationships, promote inclusivity, and enhance the overall educational experience for everyone involved. It will provide a great opportunity for our students to complete their Semester One learning journey and share their achievements.

Semester One Reports

Semester One Reports will be available early next Term, on Friday 1st August (Week Two of Term 3). These are summative reports that indicate overall results for the Semester. More detailed information about student progress can be found by accessing assessment feedback through our online Learning Management System, ‘Canvas.’ If you haven’t already accessed Canvas, your daughter or son should be able to show you how to do this. Acting Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning), Ms Robyn Jackson, will email parents next week with the relevant dates and instructions on how to access the Semester One Reports.

Aside from VCE Unit 3 and Vocational Major subjects, there are no formal Parent-Student-Teacher (PST) conferences scheduled to follow up on these reports. However, you are very welcome, and I encourage you to contact any subject teachers regarding academic concerns or the Mentor teacher for any pastoral matters. Please email the teacher to organise a time for a meeting.

All VCE Units 3/4 subject PST conferences will be held on Thursday, 14th August, next Term. Later in Term Three, all Years 7 to 11 and VCE VM PST conferences will take place on Wednesday 3rd September and Thursday 11th September. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom, running from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Subject selections for 2026

In early Term three, students from Years 8 to 11 will select their elective subjects for the upcoming year. It's crucial to discuss with your child their strengths, interests, and future plans, revisiting the topic periodically. You can use their Semester One reports as a starting point for this conversation. For Year Nine and Ten students, the Morrisby Testing Program results will also serve as an excellent basis for discussions about your daughter or son’s senior school pathway. I know many parents have already talked about the information arising from this program with their daughter or son.

The Careers Panel and Expo evening held at the College on Monday, 26th May, was well attended by families. Alumni students and representatives from tertiary institutions provided valuable information on careers and courses. This event effectively opened up conversations to help inform subject selections.

Best wishes for the next fortnight,

Michael Exton

Principal

This Refugee Week has been a meaningful time to deepen our understanding of the refugee experience and to reflect on the importance of freedom, welcome, and safety in diverse communities. As educators, we are committed to forming young people who act with compassion and justice, grounded in the belief that every person is loved—regardless of race, religion, belief, wealth or actions. By encouraging curiosity about the world and a critical awareness of how events and policies affect people’s lives, we empower students to become advocates for a more inclusive and just society.

Alongside our prayers this week, students participated in ‘The Cage’, either as detainees or visitors. This powerful initiative symbolises the loss of freedom and choice faced by refugees and asylum seekers around the world. It highlights both the physical barriers, such as detention centres and refugee camps, and the emotional impact of displacement and resettlement.

In addition, students and staff will take part in a Circle of Silence to peacefully raise awareness and express solidarity with refugees. This movement began in 2007 with the Franciscans of Toulouse, France. Since then it has spread globally uniting compassionate individuals in a quiet, collective act of support for refugees and those seeking asylum.

Loving God,

You are the shelter of all who wander,
the hope of those who flee danger,
and the guardian of every lost and broken heart.

In this Refugee Week, we remember all who have been forced from their homes—
children, families, elders—
searching for safety, justice, and peace.

Lord Jesus, who yourself knew what it was to be a refugee in Egypt,
bless those walking the hard road of exile.
Strengthen their hearts, protect their dignity,
and lead them to places of welcome and new life.

Holy Spirit, stir within us compassion that moves to action.
Open our eyes to see Christ in the stranger,
our ears to hear the cries of the displaced,
and our hands to build communities of hospitality and hope.

May your Church be a light in dark places,
a refuge for the weary,
and a voice for justice in a world that too often turns away.

Amen.

Local events

The Queenscliff Big Walk 4 Refugees will be held this Saturday 21st June, 10-11.30am. This walk promotes fairness, compassion and permanency for all refugees in Australia and our local region. Participants will gather at 10am on the grass near the Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre, hear from two speakers, walk to the Springs foreshore and back (approximately 4km return). Families and friends are invited to attend this community event.

This Term, the SRC hosted a Casual Clothes Day and a Sausage Sizzle to raise funds for the Opening the Doors Foundation. With over 300 sausages cooked, 25 loaves of bread served, and litres of tomato sauce enjoyed, the day was a huge success!

Between the Casual Clothes donations and the Sausage Sizzle, we raised $1935.00 for this 25-year old First Nations led organisation to continue supporting educational opportunities for First Nations children from regional, remote and urban communities across Australia, with educational opportunities within Victorian non-government schools. We encourage everyone who can to donate to this cause.

A big thank you to our SRC and VM student volunteers, and to all the staff who made the event possible - including our maintenance and administration teams, and teachers such as Mr Martschinke, Ms. Windmill, Mr Clatworthy, and Ms. Kiely. We’re also especially grateful to our generous local business sponsors: Hommy’s Butcher, Baker’s Delight, and Woolworths Drysdale.

We’re also proud to share that the SRC campaign to provide menstrual products in female bathrooms across the College has been successfully put into place, with the College kindly funding the project. This will keep students in class longer and help them feel more safe and comfortable. Our SRC Representatives at Year 9 - 12 will keep the baskets updated with a range of products added each week, however, if you notice we are running low on stock, feel free to email Ms Frigo or Ms Kiely to let them know.

Thank you to everyone who helped make these projects a success.

Samantha and Reuben
Year 10 SRC Representatives

As we approach the end of Term 2 it can be a particularly challenging time for students and families with increased academic stress, shorter daylight hours, illness and signs of burnout.

Helping Teens Through Tough Times: How to Support Without “Fixing”

It’s one of the hardest things about parenting teens: watching your child struggle and feeling unsure how to help. Whether it’s social isolation, academic pressure, or just the emotional weight of adolescence, many teens go through periods where they feel stuck or overwhelmed.

As parents, our instinct is often to step in and fix the problem. But what teens often need most is something different: our presence, not our solutions.

Here are four ways you can support your teen through tough times:

1. Hold Space Without Judgment

Sometimes the best support you can offer is simply being there. Holding space means allowing your teen to express their feelings without rushing to solve or minimize the issue. Sit with them, listen without interrupting, and resist the urge to immediately cheer them up or offer advice.

A simple, “That sounds really hard,” can go a long way in helping your teen feel heard.

2. Validate Their Emotions

Teenagers experience emotions intensely. Telling them “it’s not a big deal” or “you’ll get over it” may be well-meaning, but it can feel dismissive. Instead, acknowledge their feelings as real and valid.

Try phrases like:

• “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

• “Anyone in your shoes would be upset too.”

• “I’m here with you.”

This kind of validation doesn’t make the problem worse — it helps your teen feel less alone in it.

3. Normalise the Experience

Adolescence is a time of rapid change, and feelings of loneliness, confusion, and frustration are common. Without diminishing what your teen is going through, you can gently reassure them that these struggles are a normal part of growing up — and that many of their peers are likely feeling similar things.

You might say: “A lot of people your age go through something like this at some point. You’re not alone, even if it feels like it.”

4. Offer Hope, Not Pressure

Your teen doesn’t need a pep talk or a grand plan — they need to know you believe in them and their ability to navigate difficult moments. Offer hope in small, quiet ways.

Let them know: “Things can change — even if they don’t feel like it right now,” or “I’ve seen you get through tough things before, and I know you’re strong.”

And remember: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is keep showing up with love, patience, and belief in your child’s resilience.

Adolescence isn’t easy — for kids or parents. But your calm presence, your willingness to listen, and your quiet faith in your teen can be exactly what they need to find their way forward.

As always, there is help available. Contact wellbeing@ignatius.vic.edu.au for support and referrals to services.

Closed July 4th. Opening the 2nd week of the holidays - 18th of July - 10am - 2pm then normal trade from the Monday first day back at school. 

Please see regular trading hours below.

Year 12 students are excitedly preparing for the upcoming 'Combined Catholic Colleges Winter Ball' which is held in the final week of Term 2.

Each year the Captains of these Catholic schools create a 'Winter Ball Raffle,' complete with a wide range of prizes. The recipients for this year's Winter Ball Raffle are The Smith Family and Ocean Minds.

If you wish to purchase a ticket in this raffle please click here --> https://events.humanitix.com/2025-winter-ball-raffle

Winter is coming in fast—and while we’re rugging up, let’s not forget our furry friends at Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) who could use a little extra warmth this season.

MacKillop, Xavier, Glowrey and Ricci Houses are running a Blanket Drive to support the incredible work GAWS does for animals in need. We're calling on our amazing community to dig through cupboards and donate any clean, old blankets you no longer need.

Where to drop them:
Years 10–12: Ms Allan’s office or pass onto your mentor teachers
Years 7–9: Your Year Level Coordinator’s office (Yr 9 the room next to Mr Ryan's room).

Donations will be welcomed right up until the last day of Term 2.

Let’s show our SICG heart and help keep the animals warm and cosy this winter.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity

Warmly,

The House Team

Join the College PFA next Wednesday 25th June for their 7pm meeting in the College Boardroom. Enjoy canapes and refreshments, and updates from the College. To register your attendance click here --> https://forms.gle/3XUNJcZhnMUBFZH38

Saint Ignatius College Geelong. A connected, engaged and vibrant College Community.Dream. Discover. Do.