Saint Ignatius College Geelong
The new Year 9 and Multipurpose Centres under construction are now very prominent buildings on the school site.
Building program update
The new Year 9 and Multipurpose Centres under construction are now very prominent buildings on the school site. The main building activity is now directed to the interiors and external landscaping. From outside, the buildings look like they are nearing completion however, there is still considerable works needed inside.
The latest estimate from the builders of the handover time is at the end of August. So we are looking forward to taking possession in September. Hopefully there will be no delays in the meantime.
Sad news
On behalf of our College community, I express our sympathy to two families from our College community who have recently lost loved ones.
Prudence Flynn (Year 11), her brothers Clark and Joel on the passing of their dearly loved mother, Marjorie Flynn.
Teacher Stacey Learmonth and her family on the passing of her dearly loved father, Roger Learmonth. I also express our sympathy to Joe McLean (Year 12 YLC) son-in-law of Roger.
May Marjorie and Roger Rest in Peace.
School attendance
One of the key tenets of our College mission is to form well-rounded young men and women. The College provides many and varied opportunities for students to support our holistic approach to education. We encourage our students to be involved in the co-curricular program to the best of their ability and interests.
To their credit, most of our students, most of the time do embrace these opportunities. We have worked hard to develop a culture where it is the done thing to try out and have a go. The attendance rate at Sport Carnivals has been very high. For example, the number of absentees from the Swim Carnival was about the same as a normal school day of classes. Our sports teams have no shortage of participants and our performing arts opportunities, particularly the College production are very well patronised. A strong culture of students participating in co-curricular activities and events builds school community, improves student learning outcomes and strengthens the holistic education we provide that results in our graduates being known as well-rounded young women and men of character and compassion.
It is important we monitor and support the expectation of high student attendance and participation in College events. It is a condition of enrolment.
Recently, I learnt that some of our Year 11 students did not attend a special year level day on Road Safety. I was disappointed about this.
Students must not opt out of such events without a very good reason. This was a valuable program and the organising staff put a lot of effort into providing this educational experience. I imaging that most of our Year 11 students are currently ‘L’ plate drivers and with the current focus on road safety because of the increased road toll, I think the value of this program would be self-evident and therefore not to be missed.
Strong values with consistent good habits develop character. The behaviour of most of our students gives me confidence that they are developing a strong character.
I want to protect and promote this. I expect parents to support us with the expectation that if there are no extenuating circumstances, their daughter or son does not pick and choose which days to attend. As a matter of course, the Year 11 Team will carry out an evaluation of the day with a view to ensuring they are always improving how we do things, so next year’s will be even better and hopefully attended by all students.
Finishing on a positive note, I am well aware of the high student attendance at many other recent events. Two that I recently had the pleasure of attending were the Year 8 Mass and Dinner and the VCE Music Soiree evening. Both were well attended and I commend the students for their involvement.
Michael Exton Principal
Privacy and information collection - Saint Ignatius College Geelong is bound by the Australian Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1998. In relation to health records, the School is also bound by the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic.). A copies of the College’s Privacy Policy and ‘Collection Notice’ that take into account these laws, technology and changes to the School’s operations and practices is available on our website. You can find the link at the bottom of the College’s web page.
As I write this we are in the midst of the first true ‘cold snap’ for the year. The sky is dark, the wind is hurling rain so that it stings and the wind chill is minus nine degrees; meaning the temperature is effectively -2.5c! It’s times like these that you either love living in Victoria or start to consider a move to Queensland. Our seasons are a reminder that nothing is permanent and that we need to adapt and enjoy change. The true test of this ability is to have the courage to rug up and walk straight out into the storm with excitement and a sense of joy.
Our lives are not linear, everything ebbs and flows. All that we know changes like the seasons. Here for a while and then subtly change occurs so delicately that we often do not even sense the movement and then something new begins. There is no constant in our lives except for Jesus.
The cold weather over the past week can offer us something metaphoric to contemplate. Winter is a time of short, cold, rainy days. There are moments in our lives like this. Often the ‘winter’ in our lives occurs suddenly and demands a response. Often illness, a death, problems at work or a fracturing of a relationship are sudden and like winter force us to change what was in the past safe and enjoyable.
Our patron St Ignatius encountered this storm due to the catastrophic injuries caused at the Battle of Pamplona. His vision of the future was no longer achievable and all that he had known and all that he had prepared for became a memory. In his convalescence he encountered Jesus and his heart and desires changed due to the movement of the Spirit within him. His winter occurred at Manresa. The nine months in prayer and service of people in need changed him and afforded him mystical experiences that transcended the ordinary. Because of his injuries and his dedication to seek God he became truly whole and left a spiritual legacy that is a treasure freely given shared to this day.
As we are forced to respond to the cold weather we might profit from contemplating moments in our lives, maybe even in the present moment, where we have entered into an emotional or spiritual winter. What can be drawn from experiences that we would rather not encounter? It may be that during these times we stay indoors, seek comfort and warmth. We may pause our social commitments or superfluous engagements whilst we contemplate how to move forward. We may rest and seek comfort in what is safe or we might reach out and find warmth in friendships and family members who are able to affirm and revive us.
Take a moment to bring to mind a time of winter in your life. What shocked you about the change? What subtle signals were there that might have forewarned you and allowed you to plan if you were to notice? What did your time ‘indoors’ look like and what did you draw from this period of seclusion? How did the silence of being alone open your heart to the love of God that is particularly discernible at such times? What other things bought comfort and healing? How did this unwelcomed experience lead to spiritual growth and resilience?
Based upon this reflection it would be worthwhile going deeper. Based upon what you learnt from the experience how could you respond differently in the future? The American band Casting Crowns released a track called “Praise you in this storm” in 2005. The lyrics were written by the band as they sought to come to terms with the death of a young fan to cancer. The song reached #1 on the Billboard charts, stayed in the charts for over fifteen weeks and has been bought/downloaded over a million times since its release. The lyrics of this song are worth mediating upon as they encourage us to reflect about how we might prioritise God in times of need and enjoy his mercy and healing at the most difficult moments. The song offers us the following to contemplate:
“And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm”
As the seasons change and storms move through from time to time how can we ensure that we praise God more in our day to day lives and especially in times of trouble? Inspired by St Ignatius how can we draw closer to God in times of trouble; even if we are empty and don’t feel his presence around us?
As the weather this week offers us a point of reflection we can gain so much through what is offered metaphorically. As I conclude these thoughts the wind still blows and the showers continue to pass over, but the sun breaks through and the birds begin to call. Even though the storm rages we can glimpse what is better. Although it’s Artic outside the wind will calm, the rain will move on and the sun will shine again and bring new life. In the interim we can reflect, rug up and enter into the storm. Although we don’t desire the cold wet weather we know it is necessary and that we can be joyful and invigorated if we have the courage to open the door and experience the changes that are occurring. Just as the sun shines through even on the coldest days God’s presence is discernible even when everything around us seems dark and empty.
I wish you all the best over these first wintery weeks and hope that you can find joy in the change of season.
Yours in Christ,
Brendan Nicholls Liturgy Coordinator
On Wednesday the 15th of May the Year 8 Italian students took off to destination Club Italia.
The volunteers of the Club taught our students traditional bocce, cooking pizza and biscotti and some smooth ballroom dancing moves. The activities gave students the opportunity to listen to some life stories from the Club Italia members.
Lunch time came and after having overfilled our stomach with pasta, pizza and gelato, the day ended with a fantastic ballroom dance session where students, volunteers and teachers joined together to fire up the dance floor.
Congratulations to all of the students for having shown excellent manners and great enthusiasm. Special thanks to the Year 11 girls who gave up their time to help on the day.
Students comments on the day:
“I loved all the activities and making cookies was my favourite!” Jayden
“Bocce was so fun, I really enjoyed it!” Cody
“Ballroom dancing was really fun!” Ella
This year in VCAL we have completed an assortment of upskilling including a Barista course, Safe Food Handling certification, practicing yoga and improving our cooking skills in Cooking for Life. All of these courses have been extremely beneficial to us and we have obtained many skills not only to help make us employable, but also useful for our personal lives. Upskilling is part of our Applied Learning program with Bu Allan.
The Barista course has shown us not only how to make exceptional coffees but also how to work swiftly and efficiently with others in crowded spaces and under time constraints.
Safe food handling is essential for those who want to work in any environment with food and is also just useful to have for a lot of situations, like if we want to help out in our local footy club canteen.
Practicing yoga has assisted us in learning exercises that can help our mental wellbeing and achieve an inner peace. It helps us deal with the stresses of life and have some time for ourselves.
Cooking in life has shown us simple recipes that we can use in everyday life and it also tastes good! They have been easy to do and help keep organised when things might get really busy.
Over the past two weeks we have obtained our Level 2 First Aid qualification, including CPR. This means that we now have a number of qualifications for our resume.
We’ve had a wonderful year so far in VCAL and have acquired many skills from many sources. We are grateful to all of the providers – Ms Shaw (yoga), Leeanne Irving (cooking for life) Craig and Boxhill Institute to TAFE (Barista and Safe Food Handling), and also to Jess from Intelligent Training Solutions for our First Aid Training.
Georgia Mantzaris
The Year 12 Melbourne Immersion was such a great experience! As part of Senior VCAL we chose our theme for the Semester to be Mental Health and Homelessness. As a part of the research and community engagement aspect of the program we planned and organised a two-night immersion experience.
We worked with our teachers to contact organisations, book accommodation and plan the itinerary to maximise our time in Melbourne.
Through working with the fantastic service providers such as; Sacred Heart mission, The Big Issue Classroom, Salvation Army, Les Twentymen Foundation and St Vincent De Paul, I learnt how privileged we all are and how we can all do our part to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
One of the first activities I was involved in was helping homeless people in the community by providing meals which brought me a lot of joy. The amount of time, effort and care that is given by volunteers in these organisations is astounding.
I was blown away by the amount of food we helped to prepare. At the Sacred Heart Mission for example, they are preparing around 300 hot meals for lunch, and breakfast every day. When I was helping to serve the food to the clients I felt a little nervous at first, but soon found that the gratitude shown and the dignity that the clients were treated with made me feel secure.
I realised the difference that my smile could make – I might have been the only person to interact positively with that client that day. It made me feel humbled and honoured to be a small part of the process.
During the experience we had many presentations about what life is like living with homelessness. This included learning facts in relation to how many people were sleeping rough, had no food to eat or access to fresh water.
We explored different types of homelessness and I was really surprised by the number facts surrounding the issue of homelessness.
With these great organisations, people can get back on their feet, or at the very least have access to good food and day to day requirements.
The immersion was a really eye opening experience and one that I am certainly grateful for. For anyone interested we are screening our documentary with some live performance this coming Tuesday at GPAC as part of the Take Over program.
Thanks, Jordan
The rain clouds stayed away and it was a fine, balmy evening when 290 family members gathered in St Thomas’ Church on May 20th to celebrate Mass and a shared meal in the College’s Xavier Centre, whilst being entertained by the musical talents of soloists, a duet and drummer from the Year 8 level, as well as two of our senior musicians.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerry Healy, our Jesuit chaplain, who shared a poignant story of his early days as a priest when he had to give some sad news and struggled in knowing how to respond to these parents’ grief. This experience taught him the importance of presence and how the love of the Church can sustain people in moments of loss.
Mr Brendan Nicholls’ welcoming gesture of the playing of the bagpipes was certainly an uplifting way to greet families and we are always grateful for his presence and contribution to the liturgy. The theme of the Mass, “Where We Come From Shapes Who We Are”, was introduced by our Vice School Captain - Heidi Bakker and a Year 8 Ignatian leader - Juddy Verlin; the readings and reflections emphasised the love, sacrifice and commitment of family.
There were many moving moments, especially the Communion Reflections by Ross De Lange and Mrs Rebecca Blair (see excerpts below), as well as Oliver Harris’ inspiring reading of Albrecht Durer’s story of “The Praying Hands” and the sacrifice his brother made. However, the highlight was probably the letters of gratitude students wrote to their parents; there were many hugs and displays of affection in response to these heartfelt words.
Following this was our community dinner where families and staff indulged in lasagne and an array of salads and slices, whilst listening to musical items prepared so meticulously by Ms Linda Pape and her students. It was a joy to hear our students sing with such confidence and poise; the crowd was amazed by their renditions and applauding of their many musical talents.
Special acknowledgement to Lily Petterwood; Summer De Vries; Genevieve Kelly; Eliza Bermingham & Brigid Keating; Ashleigh Cox, Ciana Rogers Ella Beasley; Mackinley Watson and our Yr 12 Performing Arts Captain, Jack Woodfine, and Callum Branch, another Year 12 student whose rendition of the Eagles hit, “Desperado”, was very soulful. Special mention to our effervescent comperes – Will Palmer and Noah Gullan – senior students who were similarly in awe of the talent in Year 8. Thanks boys for your energy, humour and enthusiasm! Heidi Bakker ‘s support and mentoring of our younger students, whether as a singer, speaker or server was another great example of positive role-modelling from our College leaders.
Before we knew it, time was up and we farewelled families, grateful that they could join us in honouring the joyfulness of families and experiencing what it means to belong to the Saint Ignatius family.
It was a significant undertaking overseeing this special occasion and the student leaders of our level (SRC & Ignatian) were pivotal to its success. They ran the evening and were outstanding spokespeople for our College, so enormous thanks to them for their efforts and commitment to really step up and take charge. Congratulations to Kathleen Donald, Murphy Moulton, Ari Gillies, Tom Ray, Sasha Williams, Matt Brennan, Tiahni Paseuthsak, Juddy Verlin, Matilda Stepto, Flynn Smith, Ruby McCooke, Mitchell Blair, Lily Hallam, Ella Beasley, Jayden Voudiotis, Ross De Lange and Bridget Keating.
It was wonderful to have the College leadership team (Mr Exton, Mr Timms, Mrs Chidzey and Mr Lewis) attend, especially when that was a busy week with many other College commitments. The students really appreciated them being there to witness their presentations and families enjoyed the opportunity to engage in conversations and share stories.
To the incredible Year 8 homeroom team who were behind this endeavour and supported students as they wrote their tributes of love to their family and rehearsed speeches and prayers, sincerest thanks for empowering our students to lead and reflect on the importance of family. Without your commitment, hard work and generosity, the evening could not have been the success that it was. Included in that recognition must be Leeane Irving, from our College catering team, who should be thanked for the superb job she did in overseeing the food arrangements.
And finally, to the families of our level who attended, it was an absolute joy to meet you and your extended family. We hope you felt welcomed and thank you for being part of the 450 year old Jesuit tradition of educating the heart and mind of the students, as based on our patron, St Ignatius of Loyola.
Deborah Hodge Year 8 Coordinator
Excerpts…
What Family Means To Me
“My parents are my greatest champions. Their belief in me and in who I can become is limitless.
People say that good mums let you lick the beaters…… Great mums turn them off first. I am lucky enough to have a great mum.
My mum has taught me:
• To follow the rules.
• To constantly strive to be better.
• To be dependable
• To treat others fairly
• To stand up for what I believe in.
Conversely, my dad is a dreamer. My favourite author, Dr Seuss, wrote:
‘Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh the things you can think if only you try.’ This quote typifies my dad. He is the most creative thinker I know.
He has taught me:
• To think outside the square.
• To believe in the possibility of most things.
• To dream big.
• To view life optimistically.
• And that there is always a plan B.
Some people say that siblings teach you how to dance……… while waiting outside the bathroom door! Although this is true, my siblings have taught me so much more. They are the people I practice on and my parent’s greatest gift to me.”
Ross De Lange – 8 Montserrat
“Family is everything. Family shows up and supports you through good times and bad, in fun times and during sad times. Family are the ones who love you most, unconditionally.
In our family we celebrate each other, birthdays are very important, regardless of the number. My number this year my children told me now makes me old, but I'm ok with that because it is a real privilege to be "old". Birthdays in our family are celebrated with grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins all sharing a meal and spending time together, kids playing and us "old" adults stopping for a while to catch up on what's been happening in our busy lives. Regardless of how long it is between seeing one another it's always so easy to pick up where we left off.”
Mrs Rebecca Blair
Year 9 students will undertake 6 core subject exams over the duration of 3 days. Each day students will sit an exam during periods 1 & 2, followed by a study session in periods 3 & 4, concluding with another exam during periods 5 & 6.
This is the first time the Year 9 students will sit for an extended period of time under examination conditions. Having witnessed first-hand recently the exceptional application and behaviour, by our Year 9 cohort during the NAPLAN testing, I am confident that this Year 9 group will conduct themselves admirably.
Year 9 students are also expected to prepare and revise thoroughly for each exam and many staff are organising graphic organisers, worksheets and conferencing in the lead up to exam week. I would ask for your support with this by not booking appointments during these times so that students are then providing themselves with the best preparation possible.
Exams can be a stressful time for both students and parents. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and mind set in the lead up and during exams. Eating the right foods, getting sufficient sleep and conducting effective and efficient study routines can go a long way to improving performance.
Yours Sincerely
Mr Joe Pannuzzo Year 9 Level Coordinator
Please view the Year 10 exam timetable and examination rules for semester 1 2019. Students work on an individual timetable at Year 10 and have been asked to take their own responsibility to know when they will be sitting each of their exams.
Exams really go up a level at Year 10 and our procedures and processes reflect that but I am also confident the students will rise with the expectations. Exercise, sleep and good routines at home will also assist students in what will be a busy time for all Year 10's
The exam rules reflect the VCE VCAA exam rules and are expected to be adhered to by all students.
When students are not in exams they are fully expected to be here at school for their supervised study sessions and I would ask for your support with this by not booking appointments during these times so that they are then providing themselves with their best preparation possible.
Year 10 students are also expected to prepare and revise thoroughly for each exam.
Advance notice - classes will run as normal post exams and prior to work experience although there are a number of alternative activities to complement their normal timetable (wheelchair basketball, wellbeing day, assemblies etc).
A PDF of the Exam Timetable and Rules of Conduct can be viewed here:
Thanks for your support in this busy time of the year
Yours Sincerely
Mr Brendan O'Brien Year 10 Level Coordinator
Year 11 exams
As part of the year 11 studies at Saint Ignatius College Geelong students will be undertaking a series of Unit 1 exams starting on Thursday June the 6th. Students have been provided with an exam timetable and a set of examination rules to help plan their studies and have been informed when they will be sitting each of their exams. It is the responsibility of the students to advise Ms. Williamson, Year 11 coordinator or Mr. Brown, VCE coordinator of any exam clashes or dates by Monday June 3rd especially if students are currently timetabled to undertake more than two exams in one day. Once advised of such clashes, alternative arrangements will be made for these students.
Teaching staff have been preparing students ahead of these exams to reflect on their learning over the past semester as well as guiding them in the development of examination skills expected at VCE level. Ways in which you may support your son or daughter in these exams include helping them to maintain good sleep practices, undertaking regular exercise and maintaining balanced routines at home during this busy time.
During the exam, the rules and regulations pertaining to VCE exam as outlined by the VCAA will be followed. These rules can be found on the VCAA website: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/as...
During the exam period, students will be expected to undertake private study here at the College during any non-exam periods. I would seek your support further by trying not to make external appointments in the next few weeks, so as to provide students with the best opportunity to optimise their preparation and exam performances. It is expected that students revise thoroughly prior to exams, reviewing notes, completing past questions and maintaining a positive work ethic.
At the completion of the examination period on June 14th, students will commence Unit 2 studies in their chosen subjects on June 17th. Students who undertake any College based immersion trips such as World Challenge or the Kokoda Expedition are advised to obtain directions from their teachers regarding any work that may need to be completed by the start of Term 3.
I wish all year 11 VCE students success with their Semester 1 exams.
A PDF of the Unit 1 Examination Timetable can be viewed here:
Should you have any further queries, please contact me at the College via email: brownm2@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Mr. Michael Brown VCE Coordinator
The College is excited to extend an invitation to ACYF2019 to students in Years 10-12. We are encouraging students in Years 10-12 to apply to be part of this amazing opportunity. The the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) will be held at Perth in December. We believe this event would be a wonderful end of year experience for our students.
ACYF is the largest gathering of young people in Australia with 20,000 young people in Sydney 2017. As a reference point the event is best paralleled with World Youth Day. The primary differences being that ACYF is open to Australian Youth, is held in Australia and occurs every two years.
The aim of the festival is to enable young people to enter into a contemporary experience of our Church and assist each participant to develop their identity as a Catholic or member of our Catholic community. The festival is open to Catholic and non-Catholic students who attend a Catholic school.
The theme of this year’s festival is “Listen to what the Spirit is saying”. Based upon this theme the participants will experience concerts, masses, social justice initiatives, meditation opportunities, be able to access spiritual direction, engage with people from across Australia and discern their identity. The festival will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre which affords the participants the opportunity to determine which events and experiences they would like to be part of.
The festival itself runs from Saturday the 7th to Tuesday the 10th of December 2019. Applicants for SICG will be asked to nominate the travel package they would prefer as a member of our group. Although travel and accommodation is being facilitated by the Archdiocese Office for Youth staff from Saint Ignatius will accompany participants throughout the duration.
The College is committed to the formation of our students in our Ignatian commitment to Cura personalis (Care for the whole person) and strongly recommend that parents and students consider this opportunity and encourage you to discuss the opportunity as a family.
The College will release applications on Friday the 31st of May. It is important at this time to note that the cost for the festival includes a 50% discount (paid by the Archdiocese of Melbourne) and is inclusive covering flights, accommodation, meals, entry to the festival, transport etc. Further details will can be found in the application package which will be released on Friday.
Further details about the festival can be found at the ACYF website at https://www.cam.org.au/Portals/82/Resources/ACYF19_A4_4ppSchoolBrochure_web.pdf
and a video of the highlights of ACYF2017 can be viewed so that you might visualise the experience at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txVXLgxaHT0
I hope that this announcement excites our Year 10-12 students and their families and look forward to receiving applications in the coming weeks.
Sincerely,
Brendan Nicholls Australian Catholic Youth Festival Coordinator
Round 2 of the DAV’s Geelong Schools’ Competition was held on Thursday 16th May and saw the SICG A Grade team victorious over Kardinia International School.
In an outstanding debate, all speakers from both teams performed to an exceptionally high standard. Our students took the negative position with the topic being “That we should criminally prosecute companies that use sweatshops.”
First speaker Ruby Mangelsdorf (Academic Captain) opened the team’s case strongly and presented effective counter arguments. Her points were very well supported and developed further by Madeleine Crothers (College Co-Captain), and William Bothe (Year 11 SRC Representative) concluded our case with solid rebuttal and summing up. Congratulations to both Ruby and Madeleine who were jointly awarded Best Speaker by the adjudicator. They performed magnificently and can be very proud of their efforts.
A special mention must go to William Bothe who truly embodied the College’s theme for this year: “Be the Difference”. William was the difference between us having a team for the fixture or facing a forfeit on the day due to the illness of our third speaker. It took great courage and genuine commitment to step into the role of third speaker with only a few hours’ notice.
Many would be tempted to take the easier route in these circumstances and decline the opportunity, yet William stepped up to the challenge, rebutting solidly and with confidence for 8 minutes. Congratulations to our A Grade Debaters on a brilliant performance!
Our third fixture is set for this Thursday 30th May, and this will also be the first debate for our Junior Debaters in D Grade of the competition. We look forward to our students continuing to represent SICG with pride.
Ms Andrea Dart Senior Debating Co-ordinator.
A PDF of our Canteen Price List can be downloaded here
Starting June 3rd
Monday 3rd
B. Brinfield, Needed, Needed, Needed
Tuesday 4th
S. Easton, Needed, Needed, Needed
Wednesday 5th
D. Worrell, L. Vella, C. Whitworth
Thursday 6th
M. White, L. Eastwood, N. Lowther
Friday 7th
C. Ford, S. Jenkins, K. Callaghan, M. Stewart, J. Payne, M. Grabowsky
Starting June 10th
Monday 10th
Student Free Day: Queen's Birthday Holiday
Tuesday 11th
L. Tigani, M. Jackson, M. Dunstan, S. Crawley, P. Joly
Wednesday 12th
L. Vella, L. Hamilton, Needed, Needed
Thursday 13th
C. Duncan, M. White, C. Swinton, L. Eastwood, N. Lowther
Friday 14th
J. Rogers, A. Campbell, A. O'Connor, S. Hammond
If unable to attend, please make sure you get a replacement.
Sandra Woodall Tel: 0417 050 258
Parents and friends' Social Fundraiser
Friday May 17th saw over 100 people support our Social Fundraiser – Comedy for a Cause.
A big thankyou to all who supported the event – Over $1300 was raised from this night of fun.
A special thanks to the Potato Shed for hosting the event, the Raffle donors: Bellarine Memories - Bellarine Produce Hamper, Potato Shed - 2 Tickets to “The Sapphires” in July, & Christy Francis - Local Ocean Grove Artist – Landscape Painting, and thank you for the huge efforts of Clare Gordon and her team, for the organisation and smooth running of this wonderful event; definitely an entertaining way to spend a cold Friday night. Check out the photos on the College Facebook page.
Become a part of the Parents and Friends' Association
We invite you to join the Saint Ignatius College Parents and Friends' Association - whether it be attending our monthly meetings, helping out at fundraising events , you can receive some up to date information on events coming up at and around the College by emailing your details to sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
After our last meeting we were given the opportunity to join the “Digital Tattoo Session” conducted by Lee Bartlett from Batforce. The session opened our minds to recognising that we still have a huge impact on our children through our actions and words – both of which are detrimental on how we use modern technology today – and how this modern technology effects the everyday life of our children. Well done Lee and Juddy for organizing and presenting this session.
Parents and Friends' Meeting for June 2019
Please come and join us on Tuesday June 11th at 7.00pm in the Food Tech Rooms.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Email your details to us at: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Even if you can’t make it to the monthly meetings, but think you might be able to be on call to help at the different things we are involved in, please get in touch with us.
The Uniform Shop
Please note that Uniform shop will be open every second Wednesday from 2pm to 4 pm. Remaining dates for Term 2 are: Wednesday June 12 and 26.
If you are able to assist and help us out in the Uniform Shop we would love to hear from you!
Please email sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au Training is provided.
Entertainment Book (2019/2020)
It’s on again – please help support Saint Ignatius College by purchasing an Entertainment Book - feel free to visit the front Office for details, or email Sandi Clark on: sicgpandf@ignatius.vic.edu.au
Buy a new membership before 11.59pm JUNE 1st, 2019 and get a bonus $10 Priceline eGift card!
Terms and Conditions:
$10 Priceline eGift card. Limit one per membership order.
Offer valid for Entertainment Book or Digital Memberships purchased between 12am Tuesday May 28th and Saturday June 1st 11.59pm 2019 AEST.
eGift card will be sent by email within 14 days of order.Priceline eGift cards expire after 36 months of the issue date.
Priceline eGift Cards Terms of Use: HTTPS://WWW.PRICELINEGIFTCARD.COM.AU/PRICELINE/CMS/PAGE/GIFTCARDTERMS
If you’re the parent of an anxious child you’re most certainly not alone. The number of children experiencing an anxiety disorder is currently estimated at 117 million worldwide. Here in Australia, there’s an average of 2 anxious kids in every classroom; and they’re the ones with a diagnosis. Many more anxious kids are yet to have their anxiety identified and understood.
As much as we’d like to, we can’t rid our kids of their anxiety, but we can help them to manage it in ways that enable them move it from centre stage and get on with living a vibrant, rich and meaningful life.
Here are 6 tips to support you to parent your anxious child:
1. Explain anxiety
Anxious kids can struggle to explain how they feel and can worry that no-one will understand what they’re going through. That’s why explaining anxiety is an important step in supporting an anxious child. The knowledge that anxiety is well understood, that other kids experience it and that it’s manageable brings them immediate relief.
Teach your anxious child that the part of their brain that protects them from danger is always on high alert. Called the amygdala, it’s meant to protect them from genuine danger but for anxious kids, it can be almost constantly activated.
Explain that when they feel anxious, their amygdala sends signals to their body to fight or flee from the threat, whether it’s real or imagined.
Next, talk about the body changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing and an upset stomach that power them up to fight or flee. They might even feel dizzy, hot, sweaty and panicked. Anxiety effects thinking and behaviour too.
2. Respond with empathy
In the midst of an anxious moment it’s natural to want to reassure anxious kids they’ve got nothing to worry about. Reassurance works in the short term but it soon wears off and they come back for more, which becomes an unhelpful pattern.
Instead, respond with empathy and validation. Use ahhh statements such as:
Anxious kids need to know you understand what they’re going through.
3. Show the amygdala they’re safe
Once the amygdala senses danger, the cascade of events that follow can’t be stopped. The body and brain will respond as if the danger is immediate. The best way to help an anxious child calm their anxious brain is to teach them to show their amygdala they’re safe. Deep and intentional breathing helps an anxious child to calm their amygdala and will begin to reduce their anxious symptoms. Practise intentional breathing regularly between anxious times before applying this technique in the midst of an anxious moment.
4. Practise mindfulness -the antidote to worrying
Anxiety is distress now about a possible future event, which is why worrying is common for anxious kids. When an anxious child’s mind fast-forwards to an upcoming event or expectation, their amygdala can respond as if the ‘threat’ to their safety is immediate. The antidote to worrying is mindfulness. Put simply, mindfulness is paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment. It may take time to learn, but is a powerful anxiety management strategy once it’s mastered.
5. Practice defusing sticky thoughts
Anxious thoughts can get stuck, refusing to budge no matter how much attention is payed to them. Defusion is a strategy that helps anxious kids look at their thoughts rather than from them.
Imagine your anxious child is worried about an upcoming test. They’re thinking “I’m going to fail the test”. The thought makes them feel awful. Defusion helps kids (all of us) to look at their thoughts by reminding them that the words in their heads are indeed just words, not reality.
Your anxious child can defuse his unhelpful thoughts by putting a statement in front of the thought such as: “I notice I’m having the thought that I’m going to fail the test.” Alternatively, he can say the thought in a character
voice like Darth Vader or Peppa Pig, or sing it to the tune of happy birthday or a nursery rhyme. Defusion puts distance between anxious kids and their thoughts and is a wonderful skill to learn.
6. Get the fundamentals right
Ample sleep, good nutrition and exercise are essential for anxious kids. Support your child to adhere to their optimal bedtime so they wake naturally around the time of their alarm, reduce their sugar intake to support their gut health and to exercise regularly for optimal mental health.
These are some of the many strategies that you can share with your child to support them to recognise and manage their anxiety so they can live life in full colour.
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.
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:
Information for Parents
Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.
Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)
School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership.
CSEF is provided by the Victoria Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student is:
For more details and how to apply for CSEF see the attached PDF.
Local Community and Sporting groups you may be interested in.
Reconciliation in the Park 2019
Sunday 2nd June 10am – 3pm
Come along and join us for this FREE event – Everyone Welcome!
In support of the 2019 Reconciliation Week theme: ‘Grounded in Truth – Walk Together with Courage’, local Aboriginal community members will provide song, dance, workshops, children’s activities, Victorian Treaty discussions and indigenous food plants.
Everyone is welcome to this FREE event at Johnstone Park.
More info: www.geelongonefire.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/recinthepark/
We hope to see you there! For more details see the PDF flyer attached below.
Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group
Leopold Lakers Basketball Club are looking for U16 players!
The Leopold Lakers Basketball Club are urgently looking for basketball players born 2004 / 2005. Saturday games 12.30 and 1.20pm with training Monday and Thursday evening. New players welcome. For more details see the attached PDF.
Group Parent Education Events Calendar: Term 2 Scedule
The Parent Education Calendar has been collated by the Regional Parenting Service with the aim of providing information on the mainstream parent education groups that are happening across the barwon South West Region. If you have any questions regarding these programs or parenting activities, or want to be added to the mailing list please email: rps@geelongcity.vic.gov.au or contact Regional Parenting Services on 5272 4741. Outside of Geelog Freecall 1800 11 078
City of Greater Geelong Free Parenting Forum: Calming Our Kids
This forum presented by the City of Greater Geelong with guest speaker Maggie Dent who is an advocate for healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. Thursday June 27th, 7.00pm to 8.30pm with a light supper available from 6.30pm and the Moolap & Barrabool Hills Baptist Church in Highton. Pleae see the attached PDF for details and how to book tickets.
Did your Year 7 students miss their vaccines at school?
See the list below of Immunisation Centres and Hours:
Belmont Community Health Centre
Barwon Health 1-17 Reynolds Road, Belmont, 3216.
(Please note that this is the Barwon Health building, not the Maternal Child Health building)
Wednesday morning (Appointment only) 9 am - 12.30pm
Open sessions (No appointment required) Wed and Friday afternoons 1.30pm - 4.45pm
Saturday morning (Appointment only) 08.30am – 12.15pm
Corio Community Health Centre
Barwon Health 2 Gellibrand St, Corio, 3214.
Every Wednesday 9.30am - 11.45am (No appointment required)
Newtown “Ariston”
245 Pakington St, Newtown, 3220.
1st Friday of each month 9.30am -11.45am (No appointment required)
Ocean Grove - Boorai Centre (behind Aquatic Centre)
4-50 Shell Rd, Ocean Grove, 3226.
2nd and 4th Friday of each month 9.30am -11.45am (No appointment required)
Newcomb Library meeting room (upstairs)
Corner Wilsons Rd & Bellarine Highway, Newcomb, 3219.
1st and 3rd Friday of each month 9.30 – 11.45am (No appointment required)
Bell Park Parish
Holy Family 147 Separation St, Bell Park, VIC 3215
Sunday: 8.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am Croatian, 12.15pm Slovenian 2nd Sunday Only
Ss Peter & Paul’s Cnr Mercer & Malone St, Geelong West, VIC 3218
Saturday: 5.00pm Vigil
Holy Spirit Cnr Bostock Ave & Nambool St, Manifold Heights, VIC 3218
Sunday: 11.00am
Belmont Parish
St Bernard’s 74 Fryers Rd, Belmont, VIC 3216
Sunday: 9.00am, 10.30am
Saturday: 6.30pm Vigil
Corio and Lara Parish
St Francis Xavier 143 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio, VIC 3214
Sunday: 10.30am
Saturday: 7.00pm Vigil
St Anthony’s Kees Road, Lara, VIC 3212
Sunday: 9.00am
Drysdale Parish
St Thomas Peninsula Drive, Drysdale, VIC 3222
Sunday: 9.00am
St Patrick’s 10 - 14 Harding St, Portarlington, VIC 3223
Sunday: 9.00am
St Phillip & St James 1345 Murraduc Rd, St Leonards, VIC 3223
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Lumen Christi 66 Kensington Road, Leopold, VIC 3224
Sunday: 10.30am
Geelong Parish
St Mary of the Angels Basilica 150 Yarra St, Geelong, VIC 3220
Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.00am, 12.15pm Polish, 5.30pm
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Grovedale, Anglesea and Torquay Parish
Nazareth 10 Griffith St, Grovedale, VIC 3216
Sunday: 10.30am
St Therese’s 43a Surfcoast Highway, Torquay, VIC 3228
Sunday: 8.45am
St Christopher’s 72 Bingley Parade, Anglesea, VIC 3230
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
Meredith Parish
St Joseph’s 28 Lawler St, Meredith, VIC 3333
Sunday: 11.00am Alternate Sunday
Sacred Heart 70 Hamilton Highway, Inverleigh, VIC3321
Sunday: 9.00am except last Sunday of the month when it will be at Bannockburn gymnasium
St Brigid’s 2439 Ballan Road, Anakie, VIC 3221
Sunday: 11.00am Alternate Sunday
St John the Baptist 4 Harding St, Winchelsea, VIC 3230
Saturday: 6.00pm Vigil
St John the Evangelist 24 High Street, Bannockburn, VIC 3331
Sunday: 9.00am Mass in the Stadium last Sunday of the month
Queenscliff Parish
Holy Family 101 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads 3227
Saturday: 6.00 pm
Our Lady Star of the Sea 68 John Dory Drive, Ocean Grove 3226
Sunday: 9.00 am
Holy Trinity 34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff 3225
Sunday: 11:00 am