Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong Community,

As we head into the final two weeks of Term 3, I want to acknowledge the many ways members of our College community have contributed throughout the term. It has been a busy term, with achievements across learning, sport, the arts and community life. While involvement and contribution vary across our community, I am pleased to see many students and staff continuing to work hard, get involved and strive to do their best.

Our work this year has continued to be guided by our core theme, Engagement for Excellence.

It has been particularly rewarding to see this theme come to life in our classrooms, on the sporting fields, on the stage and throughout our wider community. True excellence is not simply about final marks or results; it is about how deeply our students engage with their learning, challenge themselves to grow, and support and encourage one another along the way.

Finishing Term 3 Strongly

The final fortnight of a term is always busy, but it is also a rewarding time. Teachers are finalising assessments, and students are completing their current units of study.

I encourage all students to maintain their focus and finish the term strongly. Please ensure that all outstanding work is submitted and take some time to reflect on your learning, achievements and growth over the past ten weeks.

Final Day of Term

The final day for students will be Friday, 18 September, with a 2:20 pm finish following a shortened six-period timetable. Buses will depart in their usual order from 2:30 pm.

Term 4 classes commence on Monday, 5 October 2026.

A Busy Finish to the Term

There is plenty happening across the College over the coming fortnight.

This Week

• Monday – Student TEDx Event: An exciting evening featuring engaging talks from our Years 7–10 students. 7:00 pm

• Tuesday – Year 8 Father’s Day Event: Paper Planes, Pizza and Time and Space. 5:30 pm

• Wednesday – Instrumental Solo Recital Series: Featuring guitar, bass, drums and piano. 7:00 pm

• Thursday – R U OK? Day: An opportunity to strengthen our focus on connection, care and wellbeing.

• Thursday afternoon/evening – Parent–Student–Teacher Interviews: Thank you to the many parents and carers who joined us last week to discuss their child’s learning and progress. We look forward to welcoming families again this Thursday.

Next Week

• Monday, 14 September – Companions on the Journey Evening: For all Year 12 students and parents. 7:00–8:30 pm

• Tuesday, 15 September – Loyola Market Day: Raising funds to support Jesuit Social Services.

Immersions

This Thursday and Friday, we will say farewell to students and staff travelling to Timor-Leste and Cape York, respectively.

We wish all participants safe travels and a rewarding experience filled with discovery, learning, friendship and opportunities to connect with communities beyond our own. We look forward to hearing their stories and reflections when they return.

Staffing Updates

We wish the following staff members all the very best as they take leave next term and thank them for their contribution to the College. We also warmly welcome the staff who will be supporting their classes and responsibilities during their absence.

Community Feedback

Thank you to all parents and carers who completed the MACSSIS School Improvement Surveys.

The feedback we receive from parents, students and staff is an important part of our ongoing improvement journey. It enables us to celebrate our strengths, identify areas for growth and continue working together to provide the best possible experience for every student.

Looking Ahead

There are a number of important dates to keep in mind over the coming weeks.

During the Term 3 holidays, the College will run:

• VCE Revision Lectures: Monday, 21 September – Thursday, 24 September. These sessions are designed to support our Units 3 & 4 VCE students as they prepare for their examinations. Students will receive an email with a registration link for the VCE Lecture Series.

• Units 3 & 4 Practice Examinations: Monday, 28 September – Thursday, 1 October for Year 12 students and Year 11 students undertaking accelerated Units 3 & 4 subjects. Details, including the timetable, have been emailed to parents and students.

Then in Term 4:

• Friday, 23 October – Staff Professional Learning Day: No classes will be conducted at school on this day.

• Monday, 2 November: No classes will be conducted.

• Tuesday, 3 November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

• Thursday, 19 November – Mosaic Awards Ceremony: Costa Hall, Geelong

• Wednesday, 2 December – Final day of classes for Year 11

• Thursday, 3 December – Final day of classes for Years 7–10

Year 12 Celebrations and Examinations

• Wednesday, 14 October – Valete Mass: College Chapel, 5:00–6:30 pm

• Thursday, 15 October – Final day of scheduled Year 12 classes

• Thursday, 15 October – Year 12 Farewell Assembly: Periods 5 & 6

• Friday, 16 October – Year 12 Celebration Day

• Wednesday, 28 October – Unit 4 Examinations commence

• Wednesday, 18 November – Unit 4 Examinations conclude

• Friday, 27 November – Year 12 Graduation Ceremony & Valedictory Dinner: Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, 4:30–11:00 pm

Thank You

As we approach the end of the term, I would like to commend our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to our students and their learning. I also extend my sincere thanks to our parents and carers for your ongoing support and partnership.

This is our final newsletter for Term 3. Our next edition will be published on Thursday, 8 October 2026.

I hope the upcoming break provides our students with an opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with family and friends. For our senior students, particularly those preparing for VCE examinations, I also encourage you to set aside some quiet time for study and preparation ahead of Term 4.

I wish all our families a safe, restful and happy spring holiday. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, 5 October, refreshed and ready for an exciting and successful Term 4.

Best wishes,

Michael Exton | Principal

Recently the College celebrated Indonesian Independence Day with a range of activities. Students tested their knowledge of Indonesia and its history with the ILC Quiz, and also had the opportunity to browse an Indonesian-themed book display, and watch a screening of the much-loved Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi. The nasi goreng from the canteen was also enak sekali! The Merdeka Cup on Education Perfect was hotly contested, with 7 Green taking out the overall competition. Congratulations to Nuwain de Silva, who was the highest individual points scorer.

The highlight of the celebrations was undoubtedly the Widaya Luvtari dance performance and workshop. Students and staff had the opportunity to watch a performance before trying their hand at the Tortor Dance from North Sumatra. The dance was challenging in all the right ways - fun, energetic and accessible to everyone. The colourful traditional costumes added to what was an enjoyable celebration of Indonesian culture.

The celebrations continued over the weekend, when students were encouraged to explore the Indonesian Trail in Melbourne or enjoy a meal at Nova Balinese Restaurant, providing opportunities to experience Indonesian culture beyond the classroom.

Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan, Indonesia, dan selamat belajar, siswa-siswi!

Recently, current student leaders, under the guidance of the Student Leadership Coordinators, were tasked with interviewing all the students from Years 7-10 who applied for SRC positions. Participating in this election process is a vital part of our leadership role within the school.

As Senior Arrupe Leaders, we take the lead in conducting the interviews and help support younger panellists as they interview potential SRC candidates. Interview panellists are able to gain insight into the grading process and learn all about what kind of leaders will take our place. Through this, we learn vital and differing perspectives on what makes a great leader, while also developing our own skills and perspectives.

By including student leaders from various year levels in the interview panels, we ensure that student voice is maximised, which is a major focus within our school community. Having current student leaders as panellists allows interviewees to feel more comfortable, which in turn enables a level of honesty and openness as they respond to the questions.

Overall, the SRC interview process provides extensive opportunities for both the candidates and interviewers, as it enables discussion that goes beyond a normal conversation and showcases the raw talent in leadership that our school will have as we move forward.

We congratulate the 2027 SRC leaders, who will be announced soon - we are confident they will do a fabulous job! We also remind all applicants that whether you hold an official title or not, we can all lead with compassion and kindness.

We have recently begun the process for electing the incoming student leaders who will be representing the College next year. Over the past few weeks, alongside student and staff voting, Ms Jackson and I have been conducting interviews for the 2027 Academic Captain candidates. We have been very impressed with each applicant’s dedication to promoting academics and education at the College. We wish them all the best of luck in their leadership journeys.

We are also fortunate to have a very exciting event coming up in the Term 3 holidays, with the College once again hosting the VCE Lecture Series. Students from across the Bellarine and beyond will join us at the College for these informative lectures. The VCE Lecture Series is an amazing opportunity for students to gain insights from mentors on effective study methods and key areas of knowledge to revise, helping to ensure the best possible outcome for each student.

The lecture schedules are as follows:

15th September -

• General Mathematics from 3:30pm to 5pm, given by Maffs GURU

21st September -

• Physical Education from 9:30am to 12pm, given by ABCPE

• English from 1pm to 4pm, given by Kirstin Bourne

• Theatre Studies from 4:15pm to 5:45pm, given by Sam Mackie

22nd September -

• Biology from 9:30am to 12:30pm, given by Andrew Douch and Evolve Education

• English from 1pm to 2:30pm, given by The English Lab

• Business Management from 3pm to 5pm, given by Simon Phelan

23rd September -

• Health and Human Development from 9:30am to 11:30am, given by Chrissy Leahy

• Australian History from 11:30am to 12:30pm, given by Richard Broome

• Food Studies from 3pm to 5:30pm, given by Belinda Page and Access Education

Saint Ignatius College senior students have the opportunity to attend these sessions completely free of charge, so we encourage all students undertaking a Unit 4 subject to make the most of these lectures to promote success.

As part of our ongoing support in preparing students for their final VCE examinations, we will also be conducting Units 3&4 Practice Examinations from Monday, 28 September to Thursday, 1 October. Attending and preparing thoroughly for these exams is one of the best ways to ensure success in the final VCE assessments. These practice exams provide students with the opportunity to experience exam conditions, consolidate their knowledge, and receive valuable feedback ahead of their final assessments. Timetables have been emailed to all participating students. We wish all students success in their academic endeavours.

We also wish our Unit 4 VCE VM students all the best in their Sustained Presentations, where they share information about their two-year VCE VM journey with family and staff in an extended oral presentation. Here are some photos from their recent excursion to explore some local business operations.

Our History and our Future

Saint Ignatius College has been an active FIRE Carrier school since 2015. FIRE stands for Friend, Igniting, Reconciliation through Education. Our FIRE Carrier Charter and Four Pillar approach is as follows:

We acknowledge the Australian First Nations peoples have been the caretakers of the lands, sea and air for more than 60,000 years. We respect their spiritual connection to Mother Earth through Dreaming.

Re recognise that true Reconciliation requires national and social solutions achieved through positive and purposeful partnerships not just for today but for tomorrow. We work for Reconciliation that is authentic and ongoing for future generations.

Our Four Pillar approach

Bush Fruit Ceremony Track/Pathway Community

Celebration Days of Sharing &. Building Stronger

Recognition Discovering Together Relationships

Current SICG Student FIRE Carriers

Willow Dunne, Gabriela Fernandes, Xavier Cunningham, Harriet Stepto, Willow Annand, Hamish Dallman, Ella Dowling, Hannah Dreise, Nuwain de Silva, Sebastian Gee, Ruby Ritchie

Current SICG Teacher FIRE Carriers

Carmen Ahearn, Caroline Edmonds, Olivia Hall, Deborah Hodge, Ian Anderson, Georgie Brown, , Deb Chasemore, Ella Hobbs, Daniel Palmer, Leesa Snookes, Rebekah Spencer-Pill, Felicity Weir, Kristin Williamson, Kymberley Naylor, Alexie Murray and Attel Martschinke

Regards, SICG Cultural Identity Leader

PFA RAFFLE | Lets go!

Get behind the 'PFA $1000 Fuel Card Raffle,' and get behind our College Community!

Tickets are only $5, with all money raised going towards student resources at the College. Purchase your tickets here --> https://events.humanitix.com/2026-pfa-usd1000.../tickets

The 2026 PFA Fuel Card Raffle is drawn on September the 13th, with the winner notified by phone, and collection of the fuel card being at the school.

Thanks for your support of our College, and best of luck with your tickets!

VCE Lecture Series

Saint Ignatius College Geelong is delighted to once again host the '2026 Lecture Series,' and invites students from across the Geelong region to join us for these sessions.This year, during Week 10, we will welcome the Maffs Guru!

Make sure you don't leave it too late to book in! Students and teachers are welcome to join us for this series, as we invite expert presenters across a range of subjects to our College to provide hints and tips for Unit 3 & 4 studies and examinations.

Registrations for this series can be made here --> https://forms.gle/hn3TPDFL8E6hrPFk9

VCE Unit 4 Practice Examinations

28 September - 2 October

SICG September Practice Exam Timetable 2026

Venues:
CC = Companions' Centre
MSC = MacKillop Senior Centre (performance, language, special provisions)

Year 9 H Building = Special Provisions

Monday 28th September - Session 1

Monday 28th September - Session 2

Tuesday 29th September – Session 1

Tuesday 29th September – Session 2

Tuesday 29th September – Session 3

Wednesday 30th September – Session 1

Wednesday 30th September – Session 2

Wednesday 30th September – Session 3

Thursday 1st October – Session 1

Thursday 1st October – Session 2

Thursday 1st October – Session 3

Register attendance here ---> https://events.humanitix.com/m...