Dear Parents & Carers,

Welcome back to the final school term for 2024. I hope all students have had an enjoyable and restful break (with some revision and preparation for the new term) and are looking forward to finishing the year off on an excellent note.

The feedback from teachers, comments, and assessment data available to parents via our learning management system, the “Canvas” portal, provide valuable information to help students and parents keep track of student progress. This information and the Term 3 Yrs 7 – 11 Parent/Student/Teacher conferences held at the end of term three will have helped identify and affirm good progress to date, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss areas of concern and helped set some directions for a productive time ahead.

Can I please suggest that parents make time with their daughter or son to review their progress to date this semester with a view to intentionally planning for a productive and balanced program of study, recreation and commitments for the remainder of the year? This term usually goes very quickly, and we want our students to finish another year on a positive note so that they can be satisfied with their year’s learning and personal growth and development.

With our senior students finishing up very soon, I am pleased that most of our VCE students have taken advantage of the Unit 3 & 4 VCE Revision Lectures and practice exams during the holidays. VCE Coordinator, Ms Andrea Dart, reported that she was very pleased with how the students approached this crucial assessment preparation.

Principal leave

I am very grateful for the opportunity to have taken leave for all of Term Three. I return refreshed and keen to serve our school community. I am so thankful to my Executive Colleagues who covered my absence. In particular, thank you to Mr Michael Timms for taking on the Acting Principal role. He has done a great job; I am sure this has been a valuable professional learning experience for him.

With Deputy Principal (Organisation) Joe McLean on leave for Term Four, Mr Timms will take on Mr McLean’s role for the term. This will mean fewer changes to our staffing as Ms Kirsty Allan will continue as Acting Deputy (Students) and Ms Kristin Williamson as Acting Head of Senior School.

Principal review

This term, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) will conduct the process for my mid-term contract review. The review will involve me completing a self-reflection on the last three years, a survey of all staff, interviews of many staff, students and parents and the completion of a report for MACS. The process will be completed by the end of this term.

The review will be structured around the following areas:

• Leadership of the Catholic Faith Community

• Leadership of Learning and Teaching

• Developing Self and Others

• Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change

• Leadership of Management of the School

• Engaging and Working with the Community

The Panel that will conduct the Review comprises:

• Prof. Marie Emmitt (nominee of the School Advisory Council)

• Mr Rory Kennedy (retired Principal and nominee of the Principal)

• Mr Craig Holmes (nominee of MACS and Panel Chair)

The review panel will interview a cross-section of the College’s community members.

Your feedback is crucial to this process. Any parent who would like to provide feedback via email directly to the Reviewer, Craig Holmes (cholmes@macs.vic.edu.au), would be most welcome to email him their thoughts by 12 noon on Thursday, 17 October 2024.

Please note that the Reviewer will de-identify any information provided to him.

Thank you in anticipation of your support for the review. Your feedback is not only valuable to me for my leadership and professional development, but it will also significantly contribute to our school improvement strategies, leading to better outcomes for our students.

Recent student trips

Cape York Indigenous Immersion Trips – Forty Yrs 9 & 10 students, four staff members, and ‘Red Earth’ Guides to visit an Indigenous community.

Indonesian Study Tour - Twenty four Yrs 10 - 12 students travelled with three staff members to Indonesia. This was the first time we have been able to undertake this trip for six years due to the pandemic putting a pause on such ventures.

Both groups returned safely during the holidays. All reports to date indicate the trips went very well. I thank the staff involved and commend the students on the very positive comments I received about their enthusiastic and cooperative approach.

Final week for Year 12s

Next week will be the final week of classes for our Year 12 students. We are looking forward to a positive and smooth finish for our senior students, and I share some of our plans for their finish-up as follows.

Regular timetabled classes for the Year 12 students will cease on Thursday 17th October 2024. The next day, Friday 18th October, will be the Yr 12 ‘Celebration Day.’ The VCE written exam period starts on Tuesday 29th October 2024 with the English exam (for LOTE Oral, Theatre Studies & Music Performance exam times, please check with the subject teacher, some of these examinations have already started.) Visit the following website for the VCE exam timetable:

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx

We have made it very clear about our expectations for a positive finish by the senior students on their ‘last day,’ Friday, October 18th. After that, I encourage the Year 12 VCE students to remain as focused as possible on their studies right through to the last exam. A lot depends on their ability to apply themselves well during this time, and I encourage them to support each other in doing this.

After Friday 18th October, Year 12 teachers will be available during normal class time and by appointment out of class time until the exam for their particular subject. Teachers will discuss these arrangements with their students.

Some special activities have been planned for their “last week” to help make this a special and memorable time for the students and parents. In particular, I remind parents of Year 12 students and friends of the College about the Year 12 Mass at the College Multi-purpose Centre on Thursday 17th October (5:00 pm) and the Full School Assembly earlier on that same day at 1:30 pm (report to the office at 12:45 pm so a seat can be arranged for you.) It is expected that all Yr 12 students and their families will attend the special Mass on the 17th October and you would be most welcome to attend the assembly.

I wish our Year 12 students and their families a special and memorable time during the last phase of their secondary school journey.

Next Full School Assembly

All Parents are warmly invited to attend this term’s assembly on Thursday 17th October 2024 at 1:30 pm. I ask you to please report to the office at 12:45 pm so you can be allocated a seat. The main focus of the assembly will be, as in past years, the school’s farewell to the Year 12 students. The assembly will conclude at about 2:45 pm.

Wednesday 23rd October 2024 – normal classes

Please note that this day is not a holiday for our students – classes will run as usual. As you are aware, this is the day of the annual “Geelong Cup.” Some schools are taking this day as a holiday; we are not, as we take Melbourne Cup day instead (together with the day before.)

As some schools are taking Geelong Cup off, there was a question over what school buses will run on this day. The Region’s School Bus Coordinator has informed our Bus Coordinator that buses will run on this day for our students. I would suggest that students should check with their driver just before the day, particularly those on buses that carry students from other schools, in case any special arrangements are being made due to fewer students travelling on this day.

Friday 25th October 2024 – no classes at school

Please note that students will work from home on this day because teachers will have a Curriculum Writing Day. Students will access their set work via ‘Announcements’ on our learning management system, ‘Canvas.’

Staff news

On Leave from start of Term 4:

Changes to Positions of Leadership

Best wishes for the next fortnight,

Michael Exton

Principal

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a decade since I walked the halls of Saint Ignatius College as a student. Since graduating in 2009, my journey has taken me on some incredible adventures, both personally and professionally, and I’d love to share a bit of that with you.

After high school, I headed to the University of Melbourne to study Politics and International Relations, and a Diploma in Language in Indonesian. Those years were transformative, not just academically but also personally. I dived into my language and culture studies and had a strong connection with politics and international aid work, travelling to East Timor, Indonesia and Ecuador, which helped shape my interests and career direction.

Upon graduating, I landed my first job at a local law firm in Geelong as a Paralegal. It was a great starting point, and I learned a lot about law, and conveyancing in particular, whilst also completing my double Masters degree in a subject area that was rapidly gaining my interest- International Security Studies and Policing Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism. In 2017, I decided to take a leap and move to Canberra for a graduate program, where I worked in Canberra and Melbourne for 3 years to utilise my Masters degrees and also undertake further study building my vocational proficiency in Indonesian. I learnt so much as a public servant working in Government, where I’m currently a Director at the National Disability Insurance Agency and have been with the Agency for over 5 years now. This role has allowed me to manage teams and create social policy that impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians with disability and engage directly with the community from which I’m helping to draft new laws, and I’m excited about the projects I’m working on. Having been a College Captain and joining the debating team at high school, these skills have immensely helped in my management style, public speaking and community engagement, for which I do regularly.

I’ve always believed in the importance of giving back, and since graduating, I’ve been involved in local sporting clubs for tennis and netball, aid work, the Old Ignatians Alumni, and the St Mary of the Angel’s Parish Geelong. Whether it’s training new netball umpires, upgrading tennis facilities for online bookings, attending careers panels, or chairing the Parish Pastoral Council, these experiences have enriched my life and reminded me of the values we learned at Saint Ignatius- to love and to serve.

On a personal note, I’ve had some wonderful experiences along the way. I have travelled to some amazing places, bought a house, achieved careers goals, and got engaged to my partner who also brought with him Goblin the greyhound. I’ve also picked up some new hobbies like baking and tennis, which have become a great source of joy and balance in my life.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future with my fiancé (and hopefully soon travelling to Scotland to meet his family in person) and starting in a new role at work that I recently received a promotion for. I’m always seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally.

To those currently navigating high school, I encourage you to embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone—those experiences will shape who you become. Remember, the friendships and lessons you gain now will carry with you for a lifetime. Where I thought I’d be when I left high school to where I am now was not always clear but I’m so thankful that I let my experiences and my passions guide me to where I am.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey. I’m grateful for the foundation Saint Ignatius College gave me, and I can’t wait to see where life takes us all next!

Best,
Georgia Cowdery

Click here to view 2024 Year 12 Save the dates

Term 3 Holiday Program - Community Connections

On the first Tuesday of the holidays, myself and Mr. Tod ventured, with seven Saint Ignatius College students from years 7-11, to Iona College to participate in a Community Connections Day. The aim of the day is to engage with young people who have recently come to Australia, most with refugee and underprivileged backgrounds.

Throughout the day, students from SICG participated in a series of planned workshops and activities, supporting these young people in each of the tasks. Some of the highlights of the day included a soccer match, charm making, skipping and even badge making! A highlight for me was getting to know the vivacious personalities of some of the young people who had not let adversity dim their light, as well as getting to know our students more. This was such a rewarding day for all involved as it reminded us of our blessings and the good we can do for others in our community – I encourage everyone to get involved in the program next

year as it was an unforgettable experience for all of us involved.

Ms Baker

Term 4 Christmas Hampers

Once again we are conducting our Christmas Hamper Appeal (CHA) to help make other families’ Christmas a special time. During the next four weeks we ask that those who can and wish to donate to please send to school with your children an item or items from the lists provided below.

The CHA will run from the Monday 14th October to Friday 15th November.

As a Catholic and Ignatian community, we believe in walking with those in their challenges, demonstrating compassion and bringing hope and joy. So please remember those in need when selecting a food item and think of the type of foods you appreciate eating at Christmas time.

Your generous contributions and positive attitudes towards this initiative are greatly appreciated!

Stephanie Reynolds

Social Justice Captain

Donation Lists

Year 7 - Breakfast items

EG; cereals, coffee/tea/milo, pop tarts, jams, vegemite

Year 8 - Juices, long life drinks and treats

EG: juice boxes/soft drink, long life milk, custard, supadoopers

Year 9 - Chips, lollies and chocolates

EG: potato chip bags, party mix lollies, chocolate blocks, cake mix, ice cream toppings

SENIORS

Glowery - Christmas specialties

EG: Candy canes, bonbons, tinsel, christmas decor items, napkins, etc

Xavier- Savory Christmas items

EG: mince pies, savoury biscuits, sauces (apple, cranberry, mustard), jars of olives or pickled vegetables

MacKillop - Sweet Christmas items

EG: Christmas Puddings, (large and small) fruit cakes, sweet biscuits, mince tarts, lollies, custard powder

Ricci - Tinned goods

EG: Tinned ham, tinned fish, tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, soup cans

We’ve had an exciting and busy year for our Environmental Team. Here are some of the highlights.

We started off with ‘Clean up Australia Day’ in Term 1 to make the space where we learn and play cleaner and promote better practice in waste disposal. This was held over 3 days where we had a team of volunteers from Years 7 and 8 clean the junior and senior areas as well as the oval and the tennis courts. During the week we collected 3 full garbage bags of litter as well as identifying catchment areas that need more attention and areas where more garbage bins had to be installed.

We also introduced the Keep Cup Wash Station which last year's Environmental Captain Paddy helped create. This was designed as a space for the cups used at the coffee van to be washed and reused to help reduce the amount of litter coming from the van.

Following this we held the movie “2040” on World Environmental Day in the MacKillop Senior Centre Theatre. It was a documentary exploring the future concerns to the environment as well as empowering young people to become change-makers.

To finish off Term 3 we celebrated Feast Day with our annual tree planting. We were kindly donated a range of shrubs from Barwon Water which were planted near the senior quad and Loyola Building by students and teachers across the school.

This year we have paired with Citizen Science to have different themes for each Term. In Term 1 the theme was “Take three for the Sea” which encouraged people to pick up three pieces of rubbish each time they went to the beach. In Term 2 the theme was the Frog Count to learn about the threats to the frogs' habitats. Last Term’s theme was the Aussie Bird Count where we learned about the impacts of habitat loss, pollution and climate change and this term's theme will be the Climate Watch to learn about how change in temperature and rainfall can affect the seasonal behaviour of Australia’s plants and animals.

Overall, we have had a very successful year for the SICG Environmental group and have some very exciting events lined up for next year which all students and teachers can get involved in! We would also like to thank Mr Brown for helping make this all happen.

Kind regards,

Isabella Milne | Environment Captain

We are very excited to offer Year 9 and Year 10 Saint Ignatius College students in 2025 the opportunity to attend the 2 x Cape York Indigenous Immersions offered during October 2025.

Next week, Tuesday 15th October, students will be presented with information and details from Red Earth Australia, our experience provider, on the two Immersions offered in 2025. During the last 8 years, over 300 Saint Ignatius College students have attended the annual Indigenous Immersions spending quality time on country with Traditional Owners and Community Elders learning and immersing themselves in Australian Indigenous Culture, Customs, Language and Traditions.

The students information session at school will be followed by a Parent Information presentation for Year 9 and Year 10 students in 2025 on Tuesday 15th October, at 6.00pm via Microsoft Teams. The link to attend this virtual presentation by Red Earth Australia is available via the QR Code on the poster invitation.

We look forward to seeing you then and sharing with you this unique opportunity for your son/daughter to be a part of this significant cultural experience.

Regards, Attel Martschinke | SICG Intercultural Perspectives Coordinator

From left to right, SICG FIRE Carriers, Tiarni Blair, Stephanie Reynolds, Isabel Gee & Ella Hobbs

At Saint Ignatius College, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land our College campus sits on, the Wadawurrung People. Wadawurrung Country expands from the You Yangs and Port Phillip Bay in the north, to the Barwon River and Connewarre Wetlands in the west, down to Bass Strait and our coastal shores in the south and east.

The Wadawurrung are the seven family groups who are recognised under the traditional lore and custom as Wadawurrung and are descendants of John Robinson, their apical ancestor. According to John Robinson’s birth certificate, he was born in 1846 and lived until 1919.

Descendants of John Robinson researched their ancestry and succeeded in 1997 to acquire enough information to be recognised as Traditional Owners.

We are very proud to display our new College signage and invite you all to join us in committing yourself in the ongoing journey of reconciliation and healing with Australian First Nations People.

SICG 2024 FIRE Carriers

Dear Saint Ignatius College Geelong,

Australian Parents Council hopes this message finds you well. We are reaching out to invite you to participate in an important survey, and to join APC for a special event in Melbourne.

Survey participation

Your feedback is invaluable to us. We are conducting a short survey on the recent NAPLAN testing, now that it has ended and the dust has settled. We would love it if you could please take a few minutes to complete our survey by clicking the link below:

https://austparents.schoolzineplus.com/survey/6