Dear Parents & Carers,

Staff professional learning day on Friday, 9 May

The keynote speaker was Dr Nathaniel Swain, a Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences at La Trobe University School of Education, Australia. He spoke about harnessing the Science of Learning to enhance teaching. Following his keynote address, he facilitated two workshops that engaged teachers in developing lessons based on explicit teaching.

This valuable professional learning opportunity for our staff was a key strategy supporting our school improvement agenda to ensure our teachers’ practice is informed by the latest ‘Science of Learning’ research.

I commend our Director of Teacher Development, Ms. Jemma Morris, for organising this invaluable day of learning and planning for teachers.

College Cross-Country Carnival

Last Thursday morning, we held the annual House Cross-Country Carnival at school. Congratulations to Ricci House for winning the House Shield with the overall highest points in the carnival. I commend all students who participated and gave their best effort.

I thank Mr Andrew Philp (Head of Sport) and the team of staff who organised and managed this very successful event. Mr Philp will provide more details in next week’s newsletter.

As you are undoubtedly aware, there is considerable media coverage promoting adolescent health. As a school, we aim to support the development of the whole person. The Sport and Physical Education programs are also an important aspect of our students’ education. It is crucial that we continue to cultivate a culture within our school that positively encourages participation in events such as the Cross Country.

Mr Philp, as a result of the carnival, has organised a team to compete in the annual GISSA Inter-school Cross Country Carnival.

Yrs 10, 11 & 12 Student & Parent Careers Panel and Expo

I invite parents or carers of our senior students to join them with their daughter or son next Monday evening, May 26. There will be information sessions, displays, workshops and a range of guest presenters from tertiary institutions, employment services, and so forth.

Last year’s evening was very well attended, and the organisers received plenty of positive feedback. The evening will assist students in considering their pathway options throughout their senior school years and beyond. It will provide a valuable opportunity for parents to enter into discussion with their daughter or son about their future and to be better informed about many of the options available.

Senior students are encouraged to sign up for four workshop sessions to ensure they maximise their experience during the evening.

They can choose from:

Workshop 1: Navigating the VCE

Workshop 2: Vocational studies in the Senior Years Understanding VCE VM, VET, Vocational Pathways and Work Experience

Workshop 3: Unlocking Your Future: Understanding VTAC, ATAR, and VTAC Equity Schemes

Workshop 4: The experiences of our Alumni

Workshop 5: Moving from Surviving to Thriving in the Senior School

Workshop 6: Constructing your Career Pathway

Workshop 7: Resume writing and interview techniques

Senior students are able to sign up to their workshops via this link - https://www.trybooking.com/DBPQF

National Reconciliation Week

Our next full school assembly is scheduled for next Tuesday (27th May) during p.4. This has previously been known as the 'Sorry Day Assembly', but to reflect the broader events of next week’s National Reconciliation Week, it will be renamed the 'Reconciliation Week Assembly'.

A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony will occur at that time with Traditional Custodians Kristi Watts and David Tournier Jnr joining us. Our guest speaker will be Mel Gee, a parent.

We’re hoping for good weather, as we plan to hold the assembly on the outdoor basketball courts.

Magis 2024

During the past week, parents of Years 8 to 12 students should have received an email containing a link to their electronic copy of the College’s 2024 Annual Magazine. Following feedback, we have opted to print only a limited number of copies of the ‘Magis’ and make it available online for all families. Parents of last year’s Yr 12 students who do not currently have a student at the College will receive a hard copy in the mail.

‘Magis’ is a fantastic record of College life from the past year. I hope you enjoy perusing the year’s records in this annual magazine, and over time, it will become a treasured memory of your daughter's or son’s 2024 school year.

On behalf of the College community, I express my gratitude to our Communications Officer, Ms Michelle Ryan, for her design work and development of the ‘Magis’ for another year and to our Director of Community Engagement & Development, Ms Elana Cole, for coordinating the production of the magazine.

Some recent student performances

This week, we conducted two evenings where some of our students performed on stage at the MacKillop Centre. Well done to them.

On Monday, we held the Public Speaking Recital, and on Tuesday, our woodwind and brass students also had the opportunity to perform in front of an audience at the annual Soiree.

Both occasions were wonderful opportunities for them to display their developing talents as a result of their ongoing involvement in our instrumental music program.

It can be challenging to perform in front of an audience, and I commend all the students for their courage in doing so. Preparation is essential for success, and judging by the reports I’ve received, they handled themselves very well in front of proud parents, carers, families, and friends.

Thank you to Mr. Michael Wilding (Acting Head of Performance) for coordinating the evenings, and to our dedicated team of instrumental music tutors for their encouragement and support of our students.

We are looking forward to our VCE students performing at Geelong’s “Piano Bar” next Wednesday evening.

Best wishes for the next fortnight,

Michael Exton | Principal

When Pope Leo XIV first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he said, “Peace be with all you.” These words showed that he wanted his time as pope to focus on peace and unity.

He also said, “The world needs Christ’s light. Humanity needs him to be the bridge so that God and his love can reach us.” This reminds us that Pope Leo wants to bring people closer to God through love and hope.

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

• Real Name: Robert Francis Prevost

• Date Elected: May 8, 2025

• Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA (Born September 14, 1955)

• Religious Order: Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.)

• Name as Pope: Pope Leo XIV

Before becoming pope, he worked in Peru as the Bishop of Chiclayo and briefly as a Church leader in Callao. He has spent many years helping the poor and working as a missionary.

In 2023, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, one of the Church’s highest leadership positions.

Why is his election special?

• He is the first American-born pope.

• He is also the first naturalised Peruvian citizen to become pope.

• He is the first Augustinian pope in centuries.

His election is a big moment for both the United States and Peru, as well as the global Augustinian community.

What is he known for?

• Helping poor communities in Latin America.

• Leading with a quiet and thoughtful style.

• Supporting change and conversation in the Church.

Languages he speaks:

• English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese

• He can also read Latin and German.

His education:

• Mathematics Degree – Villanova University

• Master of Divinity – Catholic Theological Union

• Doctorate in Canon Law – Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas

[Acknowledgement: Ascensionpress.com]

Reconciliation Week began in 1993 as a Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, supported by Australia’s major religious groups. Three years later it evolved into National Reconciliation Week. It is held every year as a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The Reconciliation Week theme for this year, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between the past, present and future. Reconciliation is important because it is about healing, acknowledging the past, and unifying people to walk together towards a shared future. We are proud to lead our community on the Reconciliation journey, opening up possibilities to learn more about the rich Culture of our First Peoples, and deepen respect for the longest continuous living culture on the earth.

Significant dates

The 26th of May, is National Sorry Day. This day remembers and honours the Stolen Generations and the hurt that was inflicted by government policies.

The 27th of May, which officially begins Reconciliation Week, is the anniversary of the 1967 referendum. At this time Australians voted to remove sections of the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The 3rd of June concludes the week by acknowledging the historic 1992 Mabo decision. On this day, the High Court of Australia recognised native title, meaning that First Nations people were recognised as being on the land prior to colonisation.

Some Key Activities/Events this week

Monday

FIRE Carriers video / Reconciliation Week / During morning Mentor Time

Tuesday

Whole School Assembly / Welcome to Country / Smoking Ceremony / Guest Speakers

Wednesday

First Nations Film Festival / Lunchtime / MacKillop Theatre.

Thursday

First Nations Tasting Stall / Lunchtime / Green basketball courts.

Friday

Examen / Sausage Sizzle at lunchtime / Casual Clothes Day / Opening the Doors Foundation.

Have a great week,

SICG FIRE Carriers

This year the Houses have had such a massive start to the year. So many people have pushed out of their comfort zone and given various different activities a go.

House crest competition

This year the Heads of Houses and House Captains have created a House Crest competition that will produce Crest that represent each house. Students are designing crest that are intertwined into the values of:

- Identity and Belonging

- Tradition and Heritage

- Recognition and Differentiation

- Inspiration and Motivation

- Unity and Team Spirit

These crest will be represented on banners and will have:

- Indigenous animal

- Ignatius Aspect

- Ignatius values

- Symbol about House Saint (eg. Matteo Ricci)

- Quotes about House Saint (eg. Matteo Ricci)

- House colour

The crests will be finalised at the end of this term and presented in term 3.

Cross country

On the 15th of May, the school held their annual cross country where students run 3.5km around Lake Lorne. The day was a great success with Ricci winning the day.

Ignatian leaders

Feast day

Feast Day is coming up and will be held on the 30th of July, where students will spend the day with their friends, participating in activities, and helping plant plants to improve the environment around the school. A new tradition that started last year, the Feast Day House Performance, is something no one wants to miss.

Paper aeroplane competition

On May 29th, MacKillop House will be hosting a paper aeroplane competition with lots of house points and prizes up for grabs. Events like these help build a better school community and allow students to show off their talents.

Results throughout the Term in sport

2025 GISSA regional athletics

Selected students who did amazing in school athletics went to Landy field on Thursday

the 8th of May where students excelled. Results are:

XVIII AFL Senior School Boys

Senior School boys have played two football games, winning both and continuing to move closer to winning the XVIII AFL Championship.

GISSA Senior school netball competition

A couple of weeks ago, students in year 11 and 12, went into Kardinia Park and competed for the GISSA championship and the girls had great results. Div 1 team came first and won the championship and Div 2, came close, finishing 3rd overall.

This term has been full of so many different schooling events and sporting opportunities and we cannot wait to see what the rest of this year will bring.

From,

Luke and Tiarni

(Ricci House Captains)

Music

The music department is in their busy part of the year with many performances occurring.

This week we had our Public Speaking Recital on Monday evening and our Brass and Woodwind Soiree on Tuesday. All the students performed well at both of these events encouraged with support from family and friends.

Next Wednesday evening, 28th May, our talented VCE Music students (Units 1 and 3) will be performing a special show at Piano Bar in Geelong. This performance forms part of their assessment and serves as valuable preparation for their end-of-year recitals.

It promises to be a wonderful night of live music, showcasing the hard work and dedication our students have put into their craft. If you are available and would like to attend to support them, tickets are $35 and can be purchased HERE. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/st-ignatius-college-geelong-vce-musical-soiree-at-piano-bar-geelong-tickets-1349228652219

The Year 9 and 10 Music Performance classes will present a concert of the pieces they have been working on in class in the MacKillop Theatre on Wednesday, 4 June at 7:00pm.

On Tuesday June 10 the Junior Band is visiting Iona College for the Combined Bands day. They will work with an experienced conductor in a large ensemble which will then perform at a concert for families at 6:30pm. Tickets are free but need to be booked by the following link https://www.trybooking.com/DBLEF.

Our final event for the term is the Year 7 Music Showcase on Monday June 23 at 7pm. All Year 7 students studying music this semester will be performing at this event in the MacKillop Theatre.

Alongside these other commitments many students have also been rehearsing as part of the cast of Les Miserables. Tickets for the production will be available to purchase soon.

Families and carers should have received Operoo notifications for all these events for the students involved. Any questions please contact Mr Michael Wilding. wildingm@ignatius.vic.edu.au

Arts Department

Year 8 Art lino prints Year 8 Art clay sculpture

The Year 9 Visual Art students have just completed screen printing onto tote bags and have now started their Guernica inspired paintings.

Year 9 Visual Art screen-printing

Year 10 and 11 Art Creative Practice students have explored a variety of art forms from abstract acrylic paintings to still life works.

Year 10 Art Creative Practice abstract acrylic painting

Year 10 still life oil painting

Year 10 and 11 Art Creative Practice students have also completed lino and lino reduction prints

Year 11 Art Creative Practice reduction lino prints

Year 10 Art Creative practice lino prints

Year 10 and 11 Art Creative Practice students are currently working on clay sculpture

Year 10 Art Creative Practice clay sculpture

The Year 12 Art Creative Practice students have completed their first final artworks that have now installed in the schools main gallery.

Year 12 Art Creative Practice - first round of final works

The SRC stands for ‘Student Representative Council’, and although that sounds serious, it is actually just a group of students from every year level trying to improve the school. We take your ideas and try to turn them into reality.

What We’ve Been Up To

The SRC has confirmed the date for the Term 2 Casual Clothes Day. On Friday 30th of May there will be a Casual Clothes Day and a sausage sizzle. The money raised from the day will go towards the Opening The Doors Foundation. The Foundation provides educational grants to Indigenous students attending Catholic, Christian and Independent schools. This not-for-profit foundation provides First Nations children from regional, remote and urban communities across Australia, with educational opportunities within Victorian non-government schools. It helps Indigenous students “participate fully and equally in education, by supporting families to make their own choices about their children’s future for their entire education journey.” You can learn more about this fantastic foundation here: www.openingthedoors.org.au

We also continue to push to make the P.E uniform an option for all students to wear for Mentor Time on Tuesdays. We think this will be a great way to show our house spirit across junior and senior levels and hope to see more opportunities for connections between all students in houses.

Lastly, we are working on having an open SRC meeting soon, where anyone can come and suggest their ideas to make the school better and their voices and ideas heard.

What Are We Working on Next

We're currently looking at how we can better advertise what the canteen sells and how much everything costs. Our goal is to make it super clear and easy for everyone to see what’s on offer. Right now, there are some awesome items available, but they’re not always advertised - so people might miss out or not know the prices. We'd love to know all the delicious options available at our great canteen!

Don’t forget you can check out Xuno because there are always lots of ways you can get involved, for example:

Coming up we have Rainbow Alliance at Sacred Heart College on Wednesday 21st May from 3.45pm - 5.30pm. See Xuno for more information.

Also, you can create a postcard for Ukraine to show your support. Contact Mrs Horbowsky for more information:

We look forward to continuing to support all Year 8 students in having their voice heard! Please remember you can always chat to your SRC representatives if you have any questions, ideas or requests. We will be happy to listen and do our best to help.

Get ready for some sky-high excitement! MacKillop House is gearing up for the much-anticipated Paper Aeroplane Competition, and the buzz is building as we prepare to take on our rival houses in what promises to be a fun and fiercely competitive event. With students across all four houses perfecting their paper-folding skills, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation—and just the right dose of friendly rivalry.

More than just a contest of distance and design, this event is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our house spirit. Our MacKillop House Leaders continue to prioritise inclusiveness and unity across all year levels. Events like this one are a brilliant way to bring our community together, and we’re especially excited to see more engagement from our junior students as they get involved in the house culture from the beginning.

Looking ahead, our leaders are already planning the next big moment on the calendar—the House Feast Day Performance. Last year, MacKillop brought the energy and joy with an unforgettable full-band rendition of Sweet Caroline, featuring student musicians from Year 7 through to Year 12. It was a proud moment of unity and talent—and a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together.

That said, there’s a bit of a running joke that “MacKillop always comes first at coming second.” While we’ve consistently shown strength, spirit, and flair—this year, we’re aiming to take it all the way. With determination, creativity, and heart, we believe 2025 could be the year Mackillop House brings home the win.

Let’s go, MacKillop—keep soaring!

Sign up! Sign up! Senior Students are encouraged to sign up to all 4 Workshop Sessions to ensure they get the most out of the '2025 SICG Careers Panel & Expo' which is being held at the College on Monday May the 26th.

Senior students are able to sign up to their workshops via this link --> https://www.trybooking.com/DBPQF

Saint Ignatius College is delighted to announce that the 2025 keynote address, and Q and A for Men's Health Week will be delivered by Geelong great Tom Hawkins.

This evening, to be held on Wednesday June 11th is a 'Companion Evening,' and is complimentary to attend, however registration is required via this link --> https://www.trybooking.com/DAWXF

The College Community can also go into the draw for a chance to win a signed guernsey and book by Tom via this link --> https://www.trybooking.com/DAWXF with all proceeds from the raffle going towards the College PFA. 

The College looks forward to welcoming our students and their parent/carers to this Companions Evening, an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about men's health.