Year 12 student final days of classes

Last week, several significant events took place at the College, notably celebrating an important milestone for our Year 12 students, their families, and the entire school community. The Year 12 students completed their regular classes on Thursday. On this day, we came together as a school community to express our gratitude for their growth and contributions to our College, to pray for their future success, and to celebrate the Class of 2024.

On Thursday, the whole school gathered for the annual “Farewell to Year 12” assembly. We recognised and celebrated many excellent student and team achievements since our last assembly and the fine young women and men of the Class of 2024. There were many speeches, some musical items and presentations. College Captains Alana Clark and Curtis McCoughtry provided impressive speeches that captured something of the Year 12 students’ journey through their College years, expressed gratitude and delivered encouraging messages about making the most of school opportunities to the assembly. As has become the custom over many years, Alana, Curtis and Vice-Captains Zoe Walter and Thomas Galan presented a gift of artwork from the Year 12s to the school community, a stained-glass cross. (Please see accompanying image.)

Another highlight of the assembly was the expression of gratitude on behalf of the Year 7 students by two students: Angelina Kulic and Lily McDonald. I was very impressed with their speeches and the way they delivered them!

Then at 5 pm we gathered for the ‘Valete Mass’ in the Multi-purpose Centre. The Mass was a very special service involving all Year 12 students, members of their families and many staff members. Thank you to our Celebrant Fr Gerry Healy SJ.

After Mass, we conducted a formal Graduation Ceremony. As part of this, each student, as is the custom in most Australian Jesuit and Companion Schools, received a copy of Michael McGirr’s “Finding God’s Traces.” This book is a compilation of quotes, scriptural verses and commentaries that will hopefully be a source of reflection and inspiration as well as a beautiful memento of the student’s time at an Ignatian school.

The next day, Friday, the Year 12 students participated in their “Celebration Day.” The day was celebrated in a positive and fun way. I congratulate the “Class of 2024” on how they have approached this final week of classes respectfully and appropriately – well done!

I hope all goes well for them as they either study for their exams or plan for or commence work or further study or have a break. On behalf of the school community, I wish them all the best.

Thank you to the senior school staff who prepared thoroughly to ensure that the year's final phase was well organised and that parents and students were well informed about the program and the school’s expectations.

Mosaic Evening – Thurs. 21st November

Our college community will celebrate the end of the year with an event called "Mosaic" in late November. This evening aims to showcase the diverse achievements of our students throughout the year. We hope as many students and their families as possible will attend this special gathering at Costa Hall, located at Deakin University’s waterfront campus (Brougham Street, Geelong).

This event will offer an opportunity for parents and students to celebrate the role our school has played in their lives over the past year and to strengthen our sense of community. Attendance is required for all Year 7 and 8 students, and we encourage as many Year 9 to 12 students as possible to join us.

The date is Thursday, 21st November 2024. The Art & Technology display commences at 6.00 pm in the Costa Hall foyer followed by the celebration evening that begins at 7.00 pm in the main auditorium.

The evening will acknowledge and showcase student talents and achievements from a range of areas. Unlike in previous years, tickets will be required to attend for organisational reasons. (Please note that students do not need a ticket.) Tickets are free. All you will need to do is book via the link: www.trybooking.com/CWCHH. You are most welcome to invite Grandparents, other family members and family friends. In the meantime, please put this date in your diary to ensure you can attend. Students are expected to wear their school uniform with the blazer.

We have consistently received positive feedback about the Mosaic evenings over the years. This unique celebration fosters a stronger school community and a sense of belonging, and it hopefully inspires all students to make the most of the opportunities available to them at the College. I encourage our community to prioritize this evening, where students, families, friends, and staff can come together to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of some, as well as the contributions we all make to Saint Ignatius College.

Year 7 2025

On Monday evening, we held a very well-attended welcome and information evening for the parents and students of next year’s Year 7 intake.

It is very pleasing that due to demand, we will again be taking an extra class for Year 7 again next year. I have enrolled 260 students (10 classes) for next year. The number of enrolment applications was high again with many unfortunately missing out on a place. The significant demand for places at Saint Ignatius continues to reflect very well on the work our community has done to develop our College into a great place for secondary school education.

College calendar

Please note the following dates over the next couple of weeks:

• Friday 25th October – Curriculum writing day – no classes at school. Students will work from home guided by the ‘Announcements’ available on our online Learning Management System, ‘Canvas.’

• Tuesday 29th October - Units 3 & 4 VCE English & English as an Additional Language (EAL) Exams.

• Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup/mid-term break long weekend (no classes on the Monday and Tuesday is a holiday.) Students undertaking Units 3 & 4 VCE Psychology and General Mathematics will have exams at school on the Monday.

• Friday 8th November – College Assembly (includes the 2025 Student Leaders investiture), Parents are welcome to attend. Please report to the office at 10:45 am for an 11 am start. The finish will be at about 12:30 pm.)

Finishing the year off well

The final months of the school year can be particularly challenging, with students facing exams, projects, and tight deadlines. I came across an article (https://learnwellservices.com/...) that may be helpful for parents. I provide the following excerpt from the article for your consideration as you support your daughter or son finish the academic year up well:

1. Create a routine: Establishing a consistent daily routine can help your child stay organized and focused during the final stretch of the school year. Set specific times for homework, studying, meals, recreation and relaxation to ensure that your child stays on track with their assignments and responsibilities. Ensure they are getting enough sleep by prioritising their sleep routine.

2. Set goals: Encourage your child to set realistic goals for themselves for the remainder of the school year. Help them break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps so they can make progress towards their goals each day. Celebrate their achievements along the way to keep them motivated.

3. Provide resources: Make sure your child has access to all the necessary resources they need to succeed academically, whether it’s textbooks, online study materials. Offer to help them find additional resources if needed or connect them with teachers or classmates who can provide support.

4. Prioritize self-care: It’s important for students to take care of their mental health during stressful times like exams and final projects. Encourage your child to prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, getting enough sleep, eating well-balanced meals, and taking breaks when needed. Remind them that it’s okay to ask for help if they are feeling overwhelmed.

5. Communicate openly: Keep an open line of communication with your child about how they are feeling as they approach the end of the school year. Encourage them to talk about any worries or concerns they may have about their academic performance or mental well-being. Offer guidance and support without judgment so they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts with you.

As you know, each child is unique and may require different forms of support, and your approach will need to demonstrate patience and flexibility.

Please feel free to contact subject teachers or the Mentor Teacher to discuss your daughter or son’s progress. Our Student Wellbeing Office is also available for support (E: wellbeing@ignatius.vic.edu.au).

I encourage our students to remain focused on their school programs and make the most of the remaining weeks to finish the year well. With a strong home-school partnership, our students will be better placed to manage and complete another academic year successfully.

Best wishes,

Michael Exton

Principal

It has been a busy time in Ricci House over the past few weeks. One of the major highlights was winning the House Supremacy Shield for the second year in a row! This victory is a testament to the dedication, teamwork, and spirit that every member of Ricci House has shown throughout the year. We couldn’t be prouder of this accomplishment, which demonstrates our commitment to excellence across all areas of school life, from academics to co-curricular activities and community involvement.

Another standout moment was our contributions to the Share the Dignity charity. Led by our wonderful captains Jack Pummeray and Olivia Tolan, Ricci House organised a donation drive, where we were thrilled to collect over $800 worth of sanitary items. These donations were picked up by Deborah, a representative from Share the Dignity, who expressed her sincere gratitude for the generosity of our students, staff, and families. This initiative not only helped those in need but also highlighted the values of compassion and social justice that we uphold at our college.

We also proudly farewelled our Year 12 students, who have been exceptional role models for their peers throughout their time here. Their dedication to building Ricci House spirit, participation in events, and overall leadership has set a high standard for all. Their efforts in fostering unity and enthusiasm will leave a lasting impact on our house community. They’ve led with integrity, kindness and positivity and their presence will certainly be missed. As we say goodbye to our Year 12 students, we wish them all the best as they step into the next chapter of their lives with confidence and excitement for what awaits them.

The spirit of Ricci House is stronger than ever, and we look forward to continuing to build on this success for the remainder of the year. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making 2024 a remarkable year for Ricci House!

“It's estimated that over 870,000 (48 per cent) of low-income households are experiencing food insecurity in Australia — the highest rate since the onset of the cost-of-living crisis, up five per cent since 2022.”

With this concerning statistics, we are reminded that this Christmas, families are doing it tough and many will go without. This is why it’s so important that we contribute to the College’s Christmas Hamper Appeal. All students are kindly reminded to bring in an item we can use to create hampers for the most vulnerable in our community. Each house or year level has been invited to donate under specific categories. Thank you to all who have already brought in a donation and who continue to do so every year. Even just one small item can make the world of difference in someone’s life, and help to ensure that Christmas is a time of joy and giving.

As we head into the middle of Term 4, I reflect on all the things that our team has achieved this year at the College. We kicked the year off well by raising money for the Alma Nuns on International Women’s Day and supporting the wide range of school wide Caritas fundraisers organised through the Houses and year levels. Moving into Term 2, we banded together to raise awareness for Refugee Week, with many students participating in the Cage, Ration Challenge or the Silent Protest. In Term 3, we turned our focus on the rising issue of homelessness in our community. It was great to see a range of teachers and students from various year levels get involved in the annual Winter Sleepout.

With my time as Justice Captain coming to an end, I would like to thank everyone who has put their hand up and gotten involved in these events, as well as the parents who always donate an item or a gold coin. Without you, these events would not be able to happen.

I would also like to commend Ms Sadler and all her dedication and effort into the Justice program here at Saint Ignatius. We are so lucky to have genuinely supportive and passionate staff here at the College who help out at all our justice events.

I wish the best of luck to the incoming 2025 Justice Captain, Sarah Tolan. Please provide her with support by attending and participating in the variety of justice events at the College.

To finish, I leave you with a quote from none other than Saint Ignatius himself; ‘actions ought to show themselves in deeds more than words’, which is truly what justice is all about, creating positive change for those in our community through our actions and service.

Thank you,

Steph Reynolds

2024 Justice Captain.

Year 7 - Breakfast items

EG; cereals, coffee/tea/Milo, Pop Tarts, jams, Vegemite

Year 8 - Juices, long life drinks and treats

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

Year 9 - Chips, lollies and chocolates

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

SENIORS

Glowery - Christmas specialties

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

Xavier- Savory Christmas items

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

MacKillop - Sweet Christmas items

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

Ricci - Tinned goods

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

Over the last few weeks, our Year 10 Business Management students had the opportunity to visit a local primary producer, TuckerBerry Hill Farm less than 5kms away from Saint Ignatius College.

This working farm has been growing organic produce like fresh raspberry’s, strawberry’s, passionfruit and tomatoes for over 20 years showcasing the best of what the Bellarine Peninsula conditions can offer.

Chris and Dave Lean, owners, are passionate farmers, educators and advocates for locally produced artisanal goods. Tuckerberry Hill Farm is a great weekend outing for the family with all sorts of goodies available including homemade ice creams, fruit juices, jams and preserves, dried fruits, freshly baked breads, pastries and amazing local / wild honey.

Students were able to see first hand the many layers and complexities involved with running a small / medium style tourisms business including customer service, marketing/advertising, quality control, pricing, staffing and HR management and Workplace Health and Safety requirements.

This excursion is helping students to decide on their our business ideas for the upcoming $20.00 Boss Project where students will plan and organise their own unique business operation. We thank Chris and Dave for their time speaking with the students giving them excellent advice and support.

Andrea Broadbear and Attel Martschinke

Year 10 Business Management Teachers

After three and a half years as one of the Melbourne Correspondents for Sunrise, I’ve moved back to Nine News Melbourne where I’m a sports presenter and reporter. It’s been a great year ticking oA some bucket list items...covering an AFL season in the footy bubble that is Melbourne and getting to present bulletins alongside Peter Hitchener and my wife Eliza. High school me would be pinching himself!

I’ve also just recently become a Dad - seven weeks in and Eliza and I are loving life with our son Hugo.

Click here to view 2024 Year 12 Save the dates

Join the parents and friends in 2025

1st PRIZE
Anonymous
Ticket Number: #258

2nd PRIZE
GD
Ticket Number: #55

3rd PRIZE
LB
Ticket Number: #296

4th PRIZE
VW
Ticket Number: #356

5th PRIZE
RU
Ticket Number: #88

6th PRIZE
Anonymous
Ticket Number: #213

7th PRIZE
PM
Ticket Number: #227

8th PRIZE
BM
Ticket Number: #235

9th PRIZE
RG
Ticket Number: #13

10th PRIZE
RH
Ticket Number: #62

Missed school vaccinations 2024

Key messages for parents/guardians

• The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free vaccines provided by the National Immunisation Program each year to students in Year 7 (HPV and Diphtheria/Tetanus/Whooping cough) and Year 10 (Meningococcal ACWY).

• If your child missed out on receiving their vaccinations at school this year, it's not too late to get vaccinated.

• Free adolescent vaccines can be accessed at your local council immunisation service, GP or pharmacist immuniser.

• To see if your child is due for any vaccines, check your child’s immunisation history statement on the Australian Immunisation Register using your MyGov account. Children aged 14 years of age and over can access their own immunisation history statement via MyGov.

Further information

• Contact the local council immunisation provider [insert contact details]

• Better Health Channel – Secondary School Immunisation Program fact sheet - https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary-schools

• Adolescent vaccinations outside of school and catch-up immunisation – https://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/adolescent-vaccinations-outside-of-school-and-catch-up-immunisation

Click the links below for more information.

Bellarine Neighbourhood Watch

Melbourne Swimming Club

Potato Shed October Spookfest Family Day

Child Online Safety Forum

Geelong World Festival of Magic

Family Games Night invitation

Campion College Australia Summer Program 2025