Dear Saint Ignatius College community members,

On Sunday, the Victorian Premier provided the broad outlines of Victoria’s roadmap for reopening with new information on the return to onsite learning next term.

As per the Premier’s announcement, there will be no changes to the current remote and flexible learning arrangements for the remainder of Term 3. Students will return to onsite learning in Term 4, as indicated below.

Final week of Term 3, 14 - 18 September

• Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students on Monday to Thursday. There will be no classes conducted on Friday.
• Parent/student/teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday & Thursday (4 pm – 5:30 pm & 6 pm – 7 pm.) Parents will receive an email message from Mrs Annette Chidzey (Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning) about the booking procedure and conduct of these ‘Zoom’ online conferences.
• On Friday, teachers will use this day to attend to compliance matters and planning. Students can use this day as a ‘catch-up’ or revision day. Please note that there will be no supervision of students at school on this day.

First week of Term 4, 5 – 9 October

• Remote and flexible learning will continue for all students.
• There will be no classes conducted for Yrs 11 & 12 students on Wednesday due to the General Achievement Test (GAT) being conducted on this day.
• Friday will be a catch-up day for Yrs 7 – 11 students. Yr 12 classes will be conducted.
• VCE and VCAL students can only attend on-site this week for:

       essential assessments (subject teachers will organise these if needed); and

       the GAT on Wednesday 7 October (students have been informed via email about the arrangements.)

• Onsite supervision for children of permitted workers and vulnerable students will continue to be provided consistent with existing guidelines and arrangements for Monday to Thursday.

Second week of Term 4, from 12 October – return to onsite learning

• All students (from Years 7 to 12) will return to full-time onsite schooling on Monday 12 October.

This next stage of school operations both contributes to the continuing efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and maximises the learning of our students. It requires again the flexibility, adaptability and resilience that have been demonstrated so well by our school community members.

These changes remain subject to the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.

We will provide a further update on these items when we are able.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our College.

Farewell

On behalf of our College community, I bid Ms Alicia Deak farewell and extend our very best wishes to her as she leaves at the end of this term to take up a position at Newman College in Melbourne. 

We will miss Ms Deak; she has made a tremendous contribution to our College as a highly respected teacher and leader. In her roles as Ignatian and Justice & Service Coordinators, Ms Deak has generously and capably provided valuable faith formation, learning and service opportunities for students and staff. She has enhanced the integration of Ignatian spirituality into the College’s ethos and identity. I extend our gratitude to Ms Deak and wish her every blessing for her future.

Thank you & best wishes

Finally, as the third term draws to a close, I again thank all parents for your ongoing support as we work together to support our students’ learning continuity and wellbeing. I am looking forward to early next term when all students will be back at school, hopefully! In the meantime, I wish all families patience, peace, strength and joy as we progress as quickly as possible along the ‘roadway to reopening.’ May our students enjoy a restful and rejuvenating time over the coming two-week break.

Michael Exton  Principal

As we continue to make sacrifices to reduce the number of Coronavirus infections and await the “steady and safe” steps towards the easing of restrictions there is much to contemplate. Our Ignatian tradition is based upon contemplation and the desire to find God in all things. Being aware of God’s presence can help illuminate both our journey and goal. It can also bring great comfort even in the midst of disruption. The Ignatian term for this complete joy is consolation.

In the Early Church, there was a movement in Egypt to strip away the temptations of urban life and seek silence so God could be more easily encountered. These early hermits are known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers and their communities became the model for monastic life in our Church. The Desert Fathers and Mothers are commonly referred to individually as abba (father) and amma (mother). These mystics were well ahead of their time and their experience and wisdom have for thousands of years offered insight and guidance.

As an Ignatian community, we know of St Ignatius who entered his own 'cell' at Manresa and found that being removed from daily life helped him also encounter God. As we continue this extended period of isolation spending time contemplating the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers might offer great profit.

I offer you the following in the hope that this timeless wisdom speaks to your heart, guides your soul and pray that you experience consolation even during these difficult times.

Yours in Christ,

Brendan Nicholls  Liturgy Coordinator

Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

For God is silence, and in silence is he sung by means of that psalmody which is worthy of Him. I am not speaking of the silence of the tongue, for if someone merely keeps his tongue silent, without knowing how to sing in mind and spirit, then he is simply unoccupied and becomes filled with evil thoughts: … There is a silence of the tongue, there is a silence of the whole body, there is a silence of the soul, there is the silence of the mind, and there is the silence of the spirit.

Abba John the Solitary

Watching means to sit in the cell and be always mindful of God. This is what is meant by, "I was on the watch and God came to me."

Abba John the Dwarf

Someone asked Abby Anthony, "What must one do in order to please God?" The old man replied, "… whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes…"

Abba Anthony the Great

Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer.

Abba Nilus

Be solitary…and be at peace.

Abba Arsenius

For general enquiries please telephone the College on 5251 1136 or email: office@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For student absence please contact the College office by 10am and leave a message or email: office@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For College Fee related enquiries email: fees@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For account related enquiries email: accounts@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For enrolment related queries email: registrar@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For general IT support enquiries please email: itsupport@ignatius.vic.edu.au

For Wellbeing support please email: wellbeing@ignatius.vic.edu.au

Thank you for your understanding.

Years 7- 11 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

Next week there will be an opportunity for parents and guardians along with students currently enrolled in Years 7 to 11 to participate in Parent/Student/Teacher conferences via Zoom on Wednesday September 16th and Thursday September 17th.

Booking Conferences

Requests for individual conference bookings will be made via the Xuno parent portal [as per normal] and will be open from 9am on Friday September 11th. Please note that bookings will close on Tuesday September 15th at 3pm if not fully booked prior to that time.

Each conference will be no more than ten [10] minutes in duration and conferences will commence from 4pm through to 5.30pm each night before resuming from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. As Year 12 students and those Year 11 students doing a Unit 3/ 4 study have already had the opportunity for Zoom conferences earlier this term, these particular end of term conferences are intended for students across Years 7 -11 who have not yet had a formal conference with any subject teachers due to the extended periods of remote and flexible learning in 2020.

Each subject teacher will have a maximum of 13 bookings available on either night. As there are limited conference spaces available, parents and guardians are respectfully asked to ensure that they only book one conference time with any teacher who teaches one or more of their children for multiple subjects.

As in previous years, some teachers may be unavailable for some or all of this time and should that be the case, parents and guardians are invited to make contact with these teachers to organise an alternative time for a conference related to student progress or performance.

Parent and Guardian preparation prior to Conferences

It will be important that parents or guardians are ready for these conferences when contact is made by the subject teacher for that particular conference to commence.

Please note that these conferences will be conducted using Zoom via the student’s laptop.

Information and instructions with screen shots to assist everyone to access these conferences will be emailed to all parents and guardians of students in Years 7 to 11 inclusive on Thursday September 10th.

Final information

As you can appreciate, we cannot ensure internet reliability among other potential technical difficulties that may arise. Should there be any unforeseen technical difficulties eventuate during these conferences, the teacher will end the conference and endeavour to reschedule that conference with you and your son or daughter at a mutually convenient time on another day.

Similar Zoom conferences were very positively received at the start of Term 3 and we look forward to having similar experiences next week when we conduct these additional conferences to conclude the term.

In closing, may I take this opportunity to thank all students and families for their continued support to maintain learning continuity and in doing so acknowledge how pleased we will be to welcome our students back for face-to-face teaching in Term 4 if all goes according to plan.

Mrs. Annette Chidzey  Deputy Principal [Learning & Teaching]

Now more than ever we are needing to check in with our friends and loved ones. We promote RUOK? Day to encourage connectedness, help seeking, and that it is ok to not be ok!

Ask the question... RUOK? You could change their day!

This year the theme is, 'There's more to say after RUOK?'

See the photo gallery below for some explanations and tips from the RUOK? DAY website.

If you feel you require further information or support at this time, please check out the many resources in the Wellbeing tile on CANVAS, or contact the Wellbeing Team directly.(wellbeing@ignatius.vic.edu.au)

Stay connected!

From the Wellbeing Team

This week is the National Child Protection week, and the theme for the 30 year anniversary is ‘Putting Children First’. The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) is the organisation that works tirelessly in promoting the importance of this week and more importantly bringing the eradication of child abuse and neglect to the forefront of Australian society. https://www.napcan.org.au/

At Saint Ignatius College we pride ourselves on supporting our students with a nurturing, safe and supportive environment to allow all our students to flourish. As it is the National Child Protection Week I feel it is important to share with the community our commitment to Child Safety at our College:

All students enrolled at Saint Ignatius College Geelong have the right to feel safe and be safe.

The wellbeing of children in our care will always be our first priority and we do not and will not tolerate child abuse. We aim to create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for threats to their safety. There is particular attention paid to the most vulnerable children, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, and children with a disability.

Our commitment to our students

We commit to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people enrolled in our school.

We commit to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences.

We commit to listening to children and young people and empowering them by taking their views seriously, and addressing any concerns that they raise with us.

We commit to providing children with reasonable and safe channels through which they can report any concerns for their safety or the safety of any other children, free from reprisal.

We commit to taking action to ensure that children and young people are protected from abuse or harm.

We commit to teaching children and young people the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and maintain their personal safety and wellbeing.

We commit to seeking input and feedback from students regarding the creation of a safe school environment.

We commit to ensuring that all staff, volunteers and contractors with direct child contact are appropriately vetted and for rare/occasional contact, such as school campus

visits by trades people or emergency services personnel, we will make sure that any such people are supervised and/or not placed in the vicinity of children

Our commitment to our parents and carers

We commit to communicating honestly and openly with parents and carers about the wellbeing and safety of their children, by providing timely and relevant advice on child safe practices (e.g., use of technology for children).

We commit to engaging with, and listening to, the views of parents and carers about our child-safety practice, policies and procedures.

We commit to transparency in our decision-making with parents and carers where it will not compromise the safety of children or young people.

We commit to acknowledging the cultural diversity of students and families (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders), and being sensitive as to how this may impact on student safety issues.

We commit to acknowledging children and families living with a disability - to being sensitive as to how this may impact on student safety issues and to making every reasonable effort towards offering any such child unimpeded opportunities for education and associated activities.

We commit to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to protect children from abuse.

Our commitment to our school staff (i.e., employees, volunteers, contractors and clergy)

We commit to providing all Saint Ignatius College Geelong staff with the necessary support to enable them to fulfil their roles. This will include regular and appropriate learning opportunities.

We commit to providing regular opportunities to clarify and confirm policy and procedures in relation to child safety and young people’s protection and wellbeing. This will include annual training in the principles and intent of the Child Safety Policy and Child Safety Code of Conduct, and staff responsibilities to report concerns.

We commit to promoting good child safe conduct amongst staff members which helps them to protect and maintain their reputations and good standing in our community.

We commit to providing a just, reasonable and legal process for any staff member(s) facing a reportable conduct claim.

We commit to listening to all concerns voiced by Saint Ignatius College Geelong staff, clergy, volunteers, and contractors about keeping children and young people safe from harm.

We commit to providing opportunities for Saint Ignatius College Geelong school employees, volunteers, contractors and clergy to receive formal debriefing and counselling arising from incidents of the abuse of a child or young person.

To say it has been a significant challenge for families and students in 2020 would be a considerable understatement. As a community there have been several initiatives that have been established to assist in supporting their wellbeing and overall health during these challenging times. I have provided specific information below relating to some of the current wellbeing initiatives:

Back-to-School Anxiety During COVID

For some students there will be significant anxiety around the return to school next term. I have provided two articles from the Child Mind Institute that will assist families on how to best support their sons/daughters during this time.

Managing Anxiety During School Reopening

https://childmind.org/article/...

Back to School Anxiety During COVID

https://childmind.org/article/...

R U OK Day

This Thursday 10 September is R U OK Day. The Wellbeing Team have tried to promote and celebrate it in creative ways this year due to not being able to be face to face.

The Student Wellbeing Leaders have shared some conversation starters for you to have with people around you – friends, family, neighbours, fellow students and teachers.

What’s the best conversation you have ever had?

Who’s the person you know you can turn to in a tough situation?

What are the ingredients for a caring and supportive conversation?

What qualities about yourself do you love the most?

What makes you laugh?

If money and fear weren’t an issue, what are 5things you would try/want to do?

What is an interesting fact about yourself, or something you like about a friend?

Back in the 1990s there were bracelets with the acronym W.W.J.D. They stood for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ and some young Christians would wear these as a reminder to be Christ-like in their daily lives. It was a move to find God and inspiration to act like Christ in the real and busy world and not just in religious contexts.

I have often thought that it would be great to have W.W.I.D. ‘What Would Ignatius Do?’ bracelets for our Feast Days. At Saint Ignatius College we constantly challenge our students to authentically think and act like St. Ignatius. We often start with love and service in the hope of deepening our College motto amare et servire in our community. Tonight, 147 students, staff, parents and family will sleep out in their backyard for the Junior Vinnies Winter Sleepout. This is a great opportunity to explore loving service for those who face homelessness. But what about other vulnerable people in our community? What about those who face and struggle with mental health every day? Today is also R U OK Day and I wonder, what would St. Ignatius do about mental health? Would he support our students and grow a mullet for mental health?

St. Ignatius would grow a mullet

Anxiety and depression were not unfamiliar to St. Ignatius who, struggled with mental health himself. While living in Manresa, Spain in 1521, St. Ignatius experienced a great period of depression where he struggled to accept and love the person that he was, including his purpose and identity. He struggled to find peace with his past life, as a vain soldier who sought only to be the best at all costs. He struggled to accept that God loved him for who he truly was. He struggled to accept the kindness of the world and retreated to a cave where he no longer cared for himself letting his hair, nails and beard grow uncontrollably and thinking little of food or sleep. St. Ignatius himself refers to this period in his life as the “dark days”.

It was not until a small group of women approached St. Ignatius to ask if he was ok, that he truly understood how destructive his obsessive and critical thoughts were. St. Ignatius tells us in his autobiography that the care and love he received from this support network enabled him to love and value himself once more. It is at this point in the story, that I would like to imagine St. Ignatius re-emerging into the world with his freshly cut hair fashioned into a mullet.

St. Ignatius would reach out

St. Ignatius’ personal experience of struggling with mental health, informed the way he interacted with others and the world around him. After establishing the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1540, St. Ignatius took on an administration role in Rome to coordinate and communicate with Jesuits who were set to work all over Europe and even as far as India. While St. Ignatius may have wanted to join his companions in travelling to these exciting and exotic places, he understood the great importance of communication, of asking are you ok, especially when in far and distance places, isolated from all that is familiar and known.

Through letter writing, St. Ignatius would promote what we have come to call cura personalis, that is, caring for the whole individual, including their mind (mental health and the ability to think), body (physical movement) and soul (our hearts and our ability to love ourselves and others).

St. Ignatius once wrote a letter to a Jesuit ordering him to take better care of his health after learning that he was not eating properly. His ministry and work for others was taking away from the proper care of his body and subsequently his mental health. Ignatius wrote: “For the next three months, from now until September, you are to do no preaching, but are to look after your health.” Ignatius ordered him to follow the doctor’s advice under the vow of obedience. St. Ignatius’ Secretary also used his advice when writing to other Jesuits:

“Even though situations sometimes occur where extra exertion is unavoidable, he should nevertheless not deprive himself of sleep ... What holds for sleep applies also to diet and whatever else is needed for the preservation of health. Moderation has staying power; what puts excessive strain on the body cannot last. Understand, then, that Father General’s mind on this matter is that, in whatever spiritual, academic, or even bodily exertions you undertake ... you should safeguard the health of your own body in order to aid your neighbours; and that in this matter each of you should look out for the other.”

For many Jesuits, St. Ignatius was their support network who loved, championed, cared for and accompanied them through their life giving experiences, as well as daily struggles.

St. Ignatius would challenge us to commit to action

So, what would St. Ignatius REALLY do if he were a part of our community in 2020?

I am sure he would explain that at the very heart of Ignatian Spirituality and the idea of love and service is that selfless service springs forth from love for the other. That if you truly believe that all people are created with dignity, have value and should be respected, then any action towards someone else comes from a place of love, care, empathy and concern for them. He would tell us this is what loving service is. That this is what we hope motivates our students to sleepout in their backyard, ask someone if they are ok, or support mullets for mental health. Then, he would surely do just that: join our sleepout, ask others if they are ok and grow a mullet for the greater glory of God.

Alicia Deak  Ignatian Coordinator and Justice and Service Coordinator

Throughout this Remote and Flexible learning period our VCAL students have been working hard to make their projects become a reality. We have had guest speakers, participated in workshops and are moving into the doing (often the most fun!) phase of the project learning. As a bit of an update as to what the Year 11 and Year 12 students are focusing on, here is a rundown for you.

In Year 11 VCAL the theme is Mixed Abilities. The students are working with SCOPE Victoria as well as various other local groups supporting young people with disability. As a part of the theme, in Literacy, we are reading a biography called ‘Crashing into Potential’. This book is a journey of resilience and hope as we follow Scott’s experience following an Acquired Brain Injury.

In Work Related Skills the students have been very engaged in with Crazy Ideas College Ballarat, GTECH and the City of Greater Geelong working on their Social Innovation Project. This week will be our pitch event, with community stakeholders to share our innovations and seek support which is very exciting. This is our first year participating in the partnership and we can see many benefits for our students in developing critical thinking/analytical skills as well as building out technical drawing skills using software such as CAD.

In Year 12, the students’ final year of schooling is quickly drawing to a close. Our students are completing Structured Workplace Learning where possible, some are locking down apprenticeships for 2021, which is a fantastic outcome, and others are exploring further study options for next year.

In terms of their projects, both classes are developing out their ideas around Mental Health and Domestic Animal Welfare. Some great work at home is happening, for example, Jasmine Millet is making dog rope toys from fleece, ready to donate and Noah Moon has created a short film raising awareness of cyber bullying, which was recently sent to all students via the wellbeing team. They Year 12 VCAL students have recently reached out to their Year 7 buddies, which has been well received.

There is a power of work happening behind the scenes and the VCAL staff are working to support all of our students to meet requirements and competencies for this year, but it is the students themselves that deserve to be acknowledged and commended for their efforts, enthusiasm and flexibility during the remote learning periods.

Tournament of Minds (TOM) is an international program designed to give students the opportunity to participate in creative activities involving stimulating, open ended challenges which demand experimentation and reward divergent thinking.

The TOM challenges are not simple, otherwise they would not be ‘challenges’ at all! Working with a group of seven people often provides complications; and working towards a fixed presentation date makes TOM a real-life task.

The 2020 ‘Super Challenge’ was

People often come across unusual things in unusual places. Something extraordinary has been found . . . in an unexpected place by an out of the ordinary group. People are asking many questions, there are so many questions but so few answers. Your team embarks on a journey to find the answers.

STEM Team (Salty Einsteins)

Harrison Dodds 7 Miki, Harry Rawson 7 Miki, Riley Eyck 7 Miki, Curtis McCoughtry 8 Xavier, Finn Hanley 8 Owen, Sienna Merigan 7 Miki and Max Craven 8 Realino

The Salty Einsteins discovered a new element they call Industriafonsium! They state ‘Historically our energy production has come from ecologically damaging fossil fuels, producing harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases. With the chance to reduce climate change and pollution, Industriafonsium could be the key to the future of environmentally friendly energy production for the world’.

In terms of the skills they develop, they write ‘Due to the COVID-19 isolation, everything was a bit harder. Every team member's communication developed as a result of this. Co-operative research around the polar explorer who discovered the substance, energy production and environmental issues meant that we all learnt about these topics. Our skills with technology used for research, communication, videography and video editing all had advancements.’

The Arts Team (LED - Lethal and Extraordinary Discoveries)

Max Marriott 8 Aitkenhead, Guy Wingrave 8 Xavier, Harry Tinker 8 Aitkenhead, Tiahni Paseuthsak 9 Gonzaga, Kathleen Donald 9 Faber, Jessica Sullivan 9 Arrupe and Harriette O'Keefe 7 Ricci

From The Arts team, in their own words ‘We are creating a short film retelling the story of a small band of time travelling villains. Two of the team members travel back in time to the ancient Greeks and retrieve the fabled weapons of the Gods. The lightning bolt of Zeus, the trident of Poseidon and the helmet of Hades. Two more travel into the future and grab pieces of technology with great power. The film shows flashbacks of these events after they happened and the artefacts have been brought to the present day. With everything retrieved, the leader of the villains Kronos (named after the king of the Titans), can assert dominion across the world’.

The group reported that ‘The most important behaviour and values are teamwork, consideration and respect. These three behaviours, and values are important because without them our video solution would crumble into pieces. If we didn’t work together, consider everybody’s ideas and respect what’s being said this experience wouldn’t be fun nor would it be completed’.

Social Sciences Team (Sociological Seven)

Charli Di Pasquale 8 Campion, Chelsea Ferguson 8 Rubio, Stella Burke 8 Rubio, Lily Flight 8 Campion, Will Hanley 8 Rubio, Ella McGlynn 8 Owen and Chloe McCurdy 8 Owen

The overview the team presented says ‘Our presentation started when six very different people each received a letter. On everybody saying the words ‘The Game Master’ at the end of the letter they are all transferred very suddenly into a white room that they share. This entire experiment is monitored by a character called The Game Master. It is broadcast and they are being monitored from when they find the letter till the end of this story. In other words, it’s a social experiment that is also a game show’.

Some of their insights include ‘We found that working together on our solution was a great break from the remote learning routine. It was great to be working in a team environment, especially since we were all feeling quite lonely with the current restrictions.’

Congratulations to all students who participated in Tournament of Minds 2020!

Ms Karen Perkins

We are unable to travel to Indonesia; we are unable to ‘eat in’ at any Indonesian restaurant in Melbourne or Geelong; we are unable to prepare an Indonesian meal in the Food Technology area at school; so what can our Unit 1 Indonesian V.C.E. students experience to enhance their learning about our Term 3 Unit, Food and Cultural Etiquette, during on-line learning?

On Monday, 24 August, our class participated in a Zoom Master Cooking class from Denpasar in Bali in Indonesia. Our hosts, Bu Ayu and Pak Ngurah, not only shared their Indonesian recipes with us but also their language and some of their cultural beliefs.

After 150 minutes our students produced a 3 course meal for their family to share and hopefully enjoy. Gado-Gado or Vegetables with Peanut Sauce, Perkedel Jagung or Corn Fritters and Nasi Goreng.

Norma Ellis

Student Reflections of their cooking experience

Thomas

The Zoom Master Class which we undertook was an incredibly valuable experience. Through the combination of cooking and language we were able to improve our skills in an innovative way. My favourite dish from the class was the gado-gado because of the mouth-watering peanut sauce. Moving from dish to dish very quickly was challenging at times but it only enhanced my cooking skills while also making me more efficient. I would certainly repeat the class again. Having the ability to cook on zoom with Indonesian people gave me a new perspective about the cooking experience and how to utilise particular ingredients in dishes.

Hudson

I thought that the cooking class was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. Bu Ayu and Pak Ngurah did an excellent job at expressing the culture and experience and the food was great! My favourite dish was the Nasi Goreng although I really loved the corn fritters too.

Belen

I personally really enjoyed the satay sauce that our class made with Ayu and Ngurah. They did an excellent job at teaching everybody and I think that this would be a great experience for anyone!

Lily

The cooking class was such an amazing experience. My favourite thing to cook was the corn fritters, they were so crispy and delicious. The host couple was amazing and made the class really fun and super easy. It would be too fun to do this again in the future

Kaitlyn

I really enjoyed the Master Cooking Class. I got to make and try new foods. My favourite dish was the nasi goreng (fried rice). One challenge that I had was my mortar and pestle was small compared to what Ibu and Bapak were using. So it took me twice as long to crush and grind everything. However, I think it was a great experience and I would like to do it again. I was also able to talk to Ibu and Bapak in Bahasa Indonesian and in English. I found that it helped my Indonesian and improved my vocabulary learning. In true Balinese fashion the Master Cooking Class was only meant to go for 90 minutes but it went for 150 minutes1 Jam karet!

Cate

The cooking class was so much fun! It was good to see the traditional way of cooking in Bali and to even try it out. The food was so delicious. Bu Ayu and Pak Ngurah were so kind and helpful.

Ella

The online cooking class was a really fun experience, and I really enjoyed meeting Bu Ayu and Pak Ngurah. It was great talking with them and getting a bit of an insight to their lives, while also learning how to cook some traditional Indonesian meals. The food was very tasty - pure, traditional Indonesian flavours.

Mikaeli Fraser

A wonderful experience especially when we are all in ‘iso’.

We made three amazing dishes during our master class, my favourite dish out of the three was the corn fritters. The class got a bit hard for me as I was doubling everything as I was cooking for four people instead of two. This was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking or loves eating different cultural food. My family wasn’t really bothered with me taking over the kitchen during this time as I normally cook and they got some delicious food out of it. I would definitely do this again with some different recipes and learn some more Indonesian recipes to cook whenever I want.

Join us for a special screening for the Geelong Catholic Secondary Schools of the award winning global documentary 'Angst'.

Angst is a film-based education program designed to raise awareness around anxiety, with an emphasis on youth and families. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, experts, and parents. The film will be shown virtually, and promptly followed by a panel discussion with experts Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Neuroscientist Dr Jared Cooney Horvath plus others. It will also include access to further resources and materials'.

Screening presented by @indieflixceo, supported by @projectthriveau

Registration is required at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZopMFGyWTDqa9qaW14oX2A

See attached PDF:

On Thursday 27th August, Saint Ignatius College was represented by Year 7 student Georgia Neicho, and Year 8 students Curtis McCoughtry and Max Craven in Round One of the Junior Secondary Program, a competition organised by the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV). This was the first opportunity for these students to debate in 2020 and they were excited by the prospect of delivering their speeches from the comfort of their own homes via Zoom.

Our topic was ‘That schools should enforce consequences for students who participate in strikes during school hours’ and we took the affirmative position. 

Georgia opened our team’s case confidently, speaking with real conviction in her first appearance in a debate for SICG. Our second speaker, Curtis, eloquently rebutted the opposition’s key arguments and successfully advanced the team’s case with an impressive display of oratory skill. Max, our third speaker, did a wonderful job countering the opposition’s main points and providing a succinct and witty summation of our own case. The adjudicator praised both teams’ competent delivery and enthusiasm, awarding the points to our opposition, Haileybury College, in what was a very close debate.

Congratulations to our junior debaters for this fine performance in what promises to be an enriching and rewarding competition. The support of all parents involved is also greatly appreciated.

Mr Michael Tod  Junior Debating Coordinator

A strange and at times challenging year to say the least! 

Can you think of some of the good things about this year such as: I now know how to use zoom; I have got used to my dad jokes, my dog loves all the walks he/she is going on, I have learnt how to play cards, I have spent more time with my 'home tutors'! , we as a family are doing Vinnies sleepout! I have done other things I don't usually get to do and so on.

Why not share your uplifting experiences of this year or what the good things are that you have learnt in remote learning. Express them in a variety of ways: photography, performance, oral reflection, short story or song. Competition closes October 19th. Generous prizes.

Enter via ILC Canvas Page - Assignments.

Looking forward to learning about what you found to be positive during this year.

From your Gifts of 2020 team.

College Meal Program

The PFA will be donating $2600 towards the Meal Program to enable meal packs for those who require them in these difficult times. A huge thank you to the College for this initiative. Don’t forget, you can play your part by donating food items to the school or making a financial donation

Uniform Shop

I appreciate that now, more than ever, this service is really important for our school community so rest assured, we are looking into some proposals to get the store up and running for Term 4 in time for summer uniform!

Will keep you posted….

Fundraising

Please don’t forget we are still fundraising! E-Entertainment Books are now available for 2020/2021 so please help support the school by e-purchasing!

Visit the school Facebook page for details or you can contact me directly on 0438 353 855 if you need any further details.

2021 Executive Committee

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again, but we will be seeking nominations for 2021 Executive committee positions (President, Vice President , Secretary and Treasurer) in the coming months – if you would like to know more about these roles, please feel free to email me on ps.clark@bigpond.net.au

Stays safe and look out for one another.

Regards

Sandi Clark President

Parents and Friends' Association

Please click here for the latest edition of Catholic Education Today https://www.cem.edu.au/News-Events/Catholic-Education-Today.aspx

The Term 3 edition focuses on ‘stepping up’ with articles that explore school transitions and how to support your child through changes at all levels of school from beginning in Foundation to leaving secondary.

This issue explores how a school changed its language offering and involved the whole community. It also contains guidance to help families build resilience, looks at how our students are building connections with the vulnerable through the Letter Project, and celebrates events around the Archdiocese.

Help kids tap into their inner resources

My first parenting mentor, Maurice Balson, author of Becoming Better Parents constantly reminded parents, “If you want your child to be resourceful you need to put them in positions to develop their resources.”

Balson’s resourcefulness message is just as apt today. Coping with change, dealing with small losses, handling rejection and overcoming disappointment are the types of experiences that build a child’s or young person’s inner resources.

Developing resourcefulness is the appropriate approach to take when considering the disruptive impact that coronavirus is having on kids’ lives. A child who is struggling to come to grips with the changes brought about by the pandemic initially needs an emphatic, supportive approach. They also need encouragement to tap into their inner resources to help them manage the hard times. The following strategies will help develop your child or young person’s inner resources.

Give them a chance to be resourceful

Harry, age 10, often leaves his lunch at home. His father, who works from home, won’t take forgotten items to school. Harry either misses lunch or persuades his friends to share their lunches with him. Either way, when Harry leaves his lunch at home he’s forced to rely on his emotional or physical resourcefulness to get by. And he does.

Catch them being resourceful

A child’s behaviours that gain a parent’s attention generally expand. Highlight a child’s good manners, acts of kindness or honesty and you’re more likely to get a repeat of those behaviours. Positive parental recognition is a high motivator for most kids. To encourage your child’s resourcefulness, focus your attention and positive comments on acts of resourcefulness and resilience they exhibit.

Encourage creativity

Sylvia, age 13 walked to school each day, saving her bus fare to spend on clothes that were out of reach of her parents’ budget. Sylvia found a way to overcome her money problem in her own way. Children and young people usually come up with very creative solutions when they’re allowed to own their problems.

Develop coping skills

Kids rely on their coping skills to help them manage their emotional states when life throws them curve balls. Build your child’s set of coping skills through direct teaching, modelling and discussion. Humour, distraction, relaxation, exercise, play and thought-distancing are some of the more common coping skills kids can use to help them tolerate their difficult feelings.

The resourcefulness a child develops when they experience adversity doesn’t desert them when life returns to normal. It waits in the background, ready to be drawn upon again when hardships, frustrations and difficulties come their way.

Michael Grose

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.

Join Saver Plus and we'll match your savings, dollar for dollar, up to $500 for school costs.

To join Saver Plus, you must be at least 18 years or over, have a child at school or attend vocational education yourself, have regular income from paid employment (you or your partner), have a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card and be in receipt of an eligible Commonwealth social security benefit, allowance or payment.

The eligibility criteria has also been broadened to assist more families, with JobKeeper and/or a formal Child Support arrangement classed as ‘income’.

Contact: Your local Saver Plus Coordinator

Phone: 03 5278 8122 Email: GeelongSP@bethany.org.au Web: www.saverplus.org.au

See PDF flyer for details:

Local Community and Sporting groups you may be interested in.

Parent Education Events - Geelong Region: Term 4 2020

All Regional Parenting Services programs are free and will be run via Zoom, however, bookings are essential.

To book visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au/parenting or call us on 5272 4781.

There are a number of events planned for Term 4, please see attached flyer for event details:

Drummond Street Services

Drummond St services is still here for you, running many webinars, groups and events all accessible on line. There is something for everyone, from music and movement for kids in lockdown, to support with new babies, to managing uncertainty during Covid and staying connected with worried kids and teens during this challenging time.

The Geelong team will be facilitating a free webinar and then a 4 week group – this is a version of our Parenting teens who worry seminar and the focus is on Staying connected with your Anxious Teen through Covid.

Registration is online. The specific link https://ds.org.au/events/parenting-teenagers-who-worry/

Ocean Grove Cricket Club: 'Come & Try / Registration' Days

The Ocean Grove Cricket Club is preparing for the coming 2020-2021 cricket season. We think the smell of fresh-cut grass and seeing kids playing cricket in the sun gives us something to look forward to at this time. On that, we understand that current state government COVID restrictions are creating some level of uncertainty for the season starting, however, the club is committed to being ready to field cricket teams at all levels including junior boys and girls once we are given the go ahead.

This coming season the Club plans to field boys’ junior teams in all age groups, girls’ junior teams in stages 1, 2 & 3. Additionally, plans are in progress to run the Woolworths Blast program for children under 9 years old.

The club will be conducting come and try days and registration days for both girls and boys from late September 2020, dates as follows:
Girls: come & try / registration day – Saturday October 3rd from 9:30 am to midday
Boys: come & try / registration day – Sunday September 27th from 9:30 am to midday

The club will ensure that all Cricket Australia and Government directions in relation to COVID safety and compliance are followed to ensure we have a safe playing environment for all participants. There will be more information sharing as further directives are issued by Cricket Australia, in particular conditions and rules of play and equipment sharing.

If you would like to become part of the club this coming season, please contact the club at ogccjuniors@gmail.com, ogccgrubbers@gmail.com or ogccblast@gmail.com and we will include you on our registration list to help prepare allocation of players into the various age groups. Also, if you have any friends that have missed their sport during the winter months, share this with them and ask them to come and play cricket at the Ocean Grove Cricket Club.

Also, we have an important request to all parents of the club – as always, we are looking for volunteers to help to coach and/or manage the junior teams. The Club regards these roles at the junior level as enormously important and will provide strong support, advice and training as needed. Anyone who is interested in either of these incredibly rewarding roles will be seriously considered. All team coaches and manager roles are open for application.

If you are interested, please let us know at the above email addresses and someone will contact you to further discuss.

We look forward to seeing you all soon to be part of the 2020-2021 cricket season with the Ocean Grove Cricket Club – we love cricket and Go the Grubbers….

Johnnie Giuffrida OGCC President