Dear Parents & Carers,

Finish up to Term One

It is hard to believe that next week is the last week of term one!

The last day of classes for this term is Friday, 4 April 2025. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter article, students will be dismissed at 2:20 p.m. on that day. The afternoon bus timetables have been adjusted accordingly.

Students will have only three days of classes in the first week of the next term. The first day of classes for term two will be Tuesday, 22nd April 2025. Monday, 21st April, will be the Easter Monday public holiday, and Friday, 25th April, will be the ANZAC Day public holiday.

Principal leave

Deputy Principal Ms. Bernadette Donnelly will be in charge while I’m on leave from next Monday. I will be ‘back on deck’ from the beginning of term two.

Please see Ms Donnelly for any matters you would normally contact me.

Parent engagement in student learning

As you know, we held our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences via Zoom on Wednesday last week and again on Thursday this week. Overall, there was a high level of participation, which is encouraging; however, in some areas, parents' ability to connect on Thursday was affected by a power outage. The conferences foster a strong learning culture at our College, enhancing our students’ learning outcomes. I trust that this feedback and the opportunity for discussions about improving student learning have set the stage for a productive Term Two. As is our practice, summative reports for Semester One will be available at the end of next term.

Alleviating afternoon Peninsula Drive congestion

In recent weeks, there have been several reports regarding traffic congestion on Peninsula Drive in the afternoons. Please avoid obstructing the traffic flow and continue past the College until you find a vacant parking space.

The Council is aware of the limitations of the present public road infrastructure. The connection of Peninsula Dr to Belchers Rd, which will alleviate traffic congestion, seems to be quite some time away. In the meantime, it is important that access to all facilities on this road is maintained at all times, especially for emergency service and school bus access.

Whenever possible, parents and carers should use alternative drop-off and pick-up locations to lessen the traffic and parking burden on Peninsula Dr, such as:

• Andersons Rd (now McKiernan St), with pedestrian/cyclist access under the Drysdale Bypass.

• Reserve Rd, with pedestrian/cyclist access via the walking track.

• Drysdale Railway station, with pedestrian/cyclist access via the walking track.

• Gillies Rd, with pedestrian/cyclist access to the rear of the school.

We need to work together to ensure everyone gets a fair go and that traffic can flow at all times on Peninsula Drive. The congestion along Peninsula Drive is only for a short period, so if you must use this way, please exercise patience and follow the road rules.

We will continue to raise this matter with the Council

Yr 7 Enrolments for 2026

Parents of current students, please note that the deadline for Year 7 applications at Saint Ignatius College Geelong is rapidly approaching. If your child is in Year Six this year, be sure to submit their application by Friday, 9th May 2025. Even if you already have a child enrolled at the College, a separate application is required for each student. Application forms can be accessed through the College website.

House Athletics Carnival

On Friday, 4th April, we will conduct our College House Athletics Carnival at Landy Field Athletics Track, South Geelong. Similar to the Swimming Carnival, we will not involve the whole school. All Years 7 & 8 students and only those Years 9 to 12 students who register for events will be bused to Landy Field. The remaining Yrs 10 to 12 students will have classes at school for the day. In the case of Yr 9 students, they are not required at school on this day as they will have been away on camp (Monday to Thursday). However, if a Yr 9 student wants to compete on the day, they need to register and come to school to join with those going to the Carnival.

Our Head of Sport, Mr Andrew Philp, has provided details via email to students.

Uniform Term Two

All students are required to wear full winter uniform for terms two and three. As there may be some hot days early next term, students may wear summer uniforms on any warm days for the first two weeks of Term Two.

Please check the Student Planner for details about what can and cannot be worn. Note that the summer shirt with the logo is not to be worn as part of the winter uniform since it is not designed to be worn with a tie. The College uniform long-sleeve shirt must be worn with a tie and is compulsory for both boys and girls in the winter uniform. Additionally, the kilt should be worn no longer than mid-calf with navy blue tights or stockings.

Staff changes

Deputy Principal, Mr Michael Timms will be on leave for the first two weeks of Term 2. Please see Ms Kirtsy Allan or the appropriate Year Level Coordinator for student matters that would usually be referred to Mr Timms.

Best wishes for a happy & holy Easter

The middle Sunday of the school holidays is Palm Sunday, the commencement of Holy Week. This special week is the final one in our journey through Lent. It is especially significant and sacred for Christians as it calls to mind the last week of Jesus’ life in preparation for his death and, most significantly, His resurrection.

On Tuesday, the whole school will gather together to participate in a liturgy to reflect on this special week and help prepare our students for the celebration of Easter.

Holy Week, and indeed all other events and seasons in the Church’s year, are a lead-up to the most important celebration of the year and at the very heart of our Christian beliefs, Easter.

Easter is the high point of the Christian year – the most important of our celebrations. Please consider taking your family to one of the many Church services over the Easter break to support your daughter/son’s faith development.

I wish everyone a very enjoyable Easter. I hope all students have a restful break, including some time spent revising work and preparing for next term.

Happy Easter, everyone, and best wishes for the Term One holiday,

Michael Exton | Principal

Towards the end of the holidays, we enter the most significant time of the Liturgical year, Holy Week. In preparation for this significant time, I share a reflection written recently by Fr Andrew Hamilton, SJ.

The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is the richest and busiest time of the Church year. It took many centuries to take its present form. In the very early Church each Sunday was seen as a celebration of Jesus’ rising. Later Christians wanted a special feast to mark Jesus’ death for us and accompanied it by a long fast. For many centuries the Eucharist was celebrated only on Sundays, while people also gathered to pray on other days of the week.

Holy Week as we knew it developed after Christians were free to practice their faith openly. In Jerusalem they could follow the path of Jesus in his last week, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem through his Last Supper with his disciples, and concluding with his crucifixion and resurrection. For Christians it was a week full of processions through the city. It began on Palm Sunday when the weekly Sunday Mass was preceded by a procession from the Mount of Olives during which people sang as they walked with palms into the Church. They gathered again in the church for prayers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday afternoon, in memory of the Last Supper, they celebrated the Eucharist at which public penitents were reconciled with the Church. The Eucharist was followed by a procession to the Mount of Olives and an all-night vigil focused on Jesus’ agony there. Friday was devoted to a service to venerate the Cross, which had recently been discovered by St Helena. An afternoon service to recall Christ’s Passion was also held, followed by another vigil.

Saturday, during which people also gathered for prayer, concluded in an all-night Vigil in Jerusalem celebrating the rising of Christ. It culminated in the Easter Eucharist at which new Christians were baptised.

You can see from this description that for devout Christians Holy Week in Jerusalem was strenuous, sleepless and largely foodless. Their observance of Holy Week soon spread through the whole Church. The absence of a Eucharist on Good Friday was not an innovation. It reflected the normal practice of celebrating it only on Sundays. The celebration of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, and much later on the other days of the week, marked a change in Church practice influenced largely by monastic life.

The history of Holy Week shows that during it Christians have always gathered to pray, to reflect and to act out the heart of our faith. This is Jesus’ death and rising. It invites us to enter imaginatively and through our actions as well as our thoughts the story of Jesus’ last days. Holy Week draws us beyond thinking about our faith from outside to feel with Christ as he endures his Passion, to be humbled when we see him wash our feet and feed us in the Eucharist on Holy Thursday, to stay with him as he hangs on the Cross on Good Friday, and to share his joy and life as he rises from darkness to light on Easter Sunday. Holy Week is a time for praying with our legs, eyes and heart as well as with minds and words. It is heart time.

The parishes of St Thomas, Drysdale, and Holy Trinity Queenscliff warmly welcome parishioners and friends to their Easter services. For families who live outside of the Bellarine or who may be travelling over the Easter weekend, please check local parish websites for services.

Ricci House have been busy across a range of activities already this year.

Students have been busy representing the College in a range of sports, undertaking SACs and assessment tasks, participating in a range of excursions, early rehearsal for Les Misérables, Year 10 work experience and ILC Quizzes to name a few.

Thank you to all families who have supported the Hot Cross Bun drive. There is still time to order the buns to support Caritas.

Ricci students represented the House well at swimming sports and are looking forward to the upcoming Athletics carnival

Year 12 Renewal was a highlight for all the Year 12 students. It was great for students to spend time together and get to know their peers in their House.

Congratulations to the following students who have taken on the role of Mentor Group Ignatian Leaders for 2025

Scotto

Lucas Kelly

Addison Smith

Hall

Charlotte Brokling

Evie McCooke

McGuane

Daisy Tiernan

Hollie Glanville

Etherington

Ella Wade

Sophie Allen-Emery

Clatworthy

Jensen Hammond

Nyah Howard

Grull

Max McGuane

Alex Morgan

Mitchell

Samantha Nyatsanga

Harriet Stepto

Ricci students have been committed and involved this year and have represented the House proudly. We look forward to many more Ricci successes this year.

Ms Kristin Williamson

Head of House - Ricci

Saint Ignatius College and Our Lady Star of the Sea FIRE Carriers Griggs Creek Cultural Walk

On Monday, twelve of the SICG FIRE Carrier students and nineteen Our Lady Star of the Sea students completed the Griggs Creek Cultural Walk in Curlewis.

This new partnership between the schools was an opportunity for our senior students to mentor and support the younger OLSOS students whose ages ranged between 5 – 12 years.

During the walk, students learnt about Griggs Creek and its significance to Australia’s First Nations people, the Wadawurrung, who are the traditional custodians of the lands. They heard that Griggs Creek is home to 143 species of native fauna including 17 mammal species, 110 bird species, 9 species of reptiles and 7 species of frogs.

They also learnt that some of the Red Gums trees along the creek are over 200 years old and some trees have scars on them as a result of First Nations People using the strong bark to build canoes and water vessels.

A great day out and we hope to continue to build on this strong relationship with Our Lady Star of the Sea students and FIRE Carriers throughout the year with other events and initiatives planned.

Thanks, SICG FIRE Carriers

National Consistent Collection of Data on School Students With Disability (NCCD)

All schools are required to provide information to the government about the number of students with additional needs currently attending their school.

There is a broad definition of 'disability' that includes students who require minor adjustments to those needing significant additional support to achieve success at school.

The data is provided to the Australian Government to assist in the development of a consistent, national picture of the educational needs of students with disability.

For further information related to this mandated collection process, please read the attached document in this newsletter titled, ‘NCCD Fact Sheet for Parents, Carers and Guardians’.

Should you have any additional questions after reading this information, please direct these to Mrs. Caroline Edmonds, Learning Diversity Coordinator.

edmondsc@ignatius.vic.edu.au

Each year, Saint Ignatius College hosts an Anzac Eve Wreath Companion Evening, whereby students are inspired by the stories of the members of the Drysdale RSL, before being guided by a florist on their own Anzac Wreath, which is made in collaboration with their parent/carer/grandparent.

Applications are now open for this moving evening via this link --> https://forms.gle/sZGBEQw315iiQCHf8

We look forward to this reflective evening with students, and their parent/carer/grandparent.

Successful applicants will be notified in the coming weeks.

Lest We Forget.

Sports Captain Report

As your Sports Captain, I am excited to share some fantastic sporting events coming up over the next week. We have an action-packed schedule filled with opportunities for all our talented athletes to shine and represent our school with pride!

Upcoming Competitions:

• GISSA Futsal Championships

  • Friday, 28th March – Year 9/10 Girls

• GISSA Golf Championships

  • Monday, 31st March at Lonsdale Links Golf Club

• GISSA Surfing Championships

  • Wednesday, 2nd April at Jan Juc

One of the main upcoming events is our annual College House Athletics Carnival, which will be held on Friday, 4th April at Landy Field from 9:30 AM - 1:15 PM. We can’t wait to watch everyone either competing or cheering on the houses!

Recent GISSA Competition Results:

A huge congratulations to all our teams who competed in recent GISSA competitions! Your dedication and teamwork have brought some outstanding results. In particular, I congratulate the Senior Girls Basketball Team and the Senior Boys Div.2 Basketball Team who both finished in first place. But whether you placed first, or fought hard in every match, your effort and sportsmanship are what make our school proud.

As we look ahead to the rest of the year ahead, I encourage everyone to get involved - whether you’re competing, cheering from the sidelines, or helping out in any way!

Phoebe Zahl
Sports Captain

SNAP Numeracy Program

In 2024, Saint Ignatius College introduced the SNAP Program. SNAP is broken into two learning areas, Literacy and Numeracy. Participation in the program is by invitation following specific testing or at the request of a teacher or parent. Participation in the program helps to ensure students receive targeted support and instruction to strengthen their foundational skills.

The SNAP Numeracy program involves a combination of specialised teaching methods, additional practice opportunities, and personalised attention to address each student’s needs. The program is delivered by mathematics teachers and supported by very competent Learning Support Officers ensuring ample opportunities for students to ask questions and get the support they need.

At the end of 2024 we were very proud to witness the growth in confidence and ability of all our students. The positive impact of the program on the learning outcomes for our students was significant and to see them flourish as learners was very pleasing. Having students requesting to be a part of the program in 2025 bears witness to the benefits they gain from the small group environment with targeted support. We are heartened when we see their smiling, enthusiastic faces appear at the door for their lesson. Who knew maths could be so good!

In 2025 we continue to refine our program and ensure there is a seamless transition from their classroom maths to the SNAP room. We work closely with the Year 7 and 8 STEM teachers and present the same lesson in a small group environment as the maths teacher is presenting to their peers. We also spend time at the beginning of the lesson working on building automaticity with their basic number facts, especially their times tables. It is pleasing to see how quickly students gain mathematics confidence once they have a more solid foundation with their basic number facts.

If you have any questions about the SNAP Numeracy Program or the SNAP Program in general, please reach out to our Numeracy Intervention Teacher and program coordinator Delia Jenkins.

jenkinsd@ignatius.vic.edu.au

A Transformational Start to the Year in Teacher Development

We have taken a huge step forward in teacher development at Saint Ignatius College with the commencement of instructional coaching. Instructional coaching is a professional development approach designed to refine teaching practice through personalised, ongoing support. Unlike traditional professional development approaches, instructional coaching is about growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement. By using regular observations and structured feedback, teachers make incremental yet meaningful changes that enhance student learning.

Our commitment to this approach is already making an impact. With 32 trained coaches and 60 teachers actively engaged, the momentum is strong. Even before the end of Term 1, an impressive 72 observation-feedback conversations have taken place! This reflects a significant cultural shift—our classrooms are more open, meaningful conversations about teaching practice are taking place regularly, and teachers are embracing the opportunity to learn from and with one another. As both a coach and a coachee, I have found it truly inspiring to visit other classrooms and observe my colleagues. I have also been incredibly grateful for the observation feedback I have received and ‘next step’ suggestions to take on board.

We have commenced this initiative by coaching all Year 7 and 8 teachers to support their delivery of our new Connected Curriculum, ensuring that our students benefit from evidence-based teaching approaches from the very start of their secondary schooling. To support this work, we are using Steplab, a platform designed to streamline and enhance coaching. Fellow coach Kim Lanigan and I recently attended a Steplab coaching intensive workshop at Lowther Hall, which was a fantastic day of learning led by Josh Goodrich (Steplab UK founder) and Ollie Lovell (Steplab Australia & host of the ERRR podcast). We’re excited to share the key takeaways from this experience in early Term 2 as we continue to embed, grow, and evolve this professional learning.

One of the most powerful aspects of instructional coaching is its personalised nature—each teacher works on a specific next step relevant to their practice. While these individual incremental changes may seem small in isolation, together they create a significant impact across the entire school, shaping a stronger learning environment for both teachers and students.

This is just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to support our teachers in their evidence-based teaching approaches throughout the school. Thank you to all the staff involved for their dedication and openness to this transformative journey.

Jemma Morris

Director of Teacher Development

Saint Ignatius’ time at Manresa was a transformative period that shaped the Jesuit order’s spirituality and educational mission. Inspired by his journey, our College offers the ‘Manresa Leadership Challenge’ - a program designed to foster personal growth and leadership in our students.

The Manresa Leadership Challenge encourages students to develop leadership skills through a combination of learning modules, volunteer service, active participation in key events, and reflective journaling. This holistic approach ensures that participants gain valuable experience while making meaningful contributions to their community.

Students recently completed their first module for 2025, led by Student Leadership Development Coordinator Ms. Frigo. During the session, students reflected on the Student Leadership Pledge and examined the core values that define leadership within the College. Students finished the session by reflecting in their designated Manresa Leadership Challenge journal, a practice that allows them to document their personal growth and leadership development.

Interested students are invited to bring their lunch and attend the next module, which will be held in the Arrupe Room, at lunchtime on Monday 31st March. This module will be presented by our wonderful College Captains and Vice Captains, and is sure to be a great opportunity for all students who want to learn more about how to ‘Dream. Discover. Do.’

Domenica Kiely
Assistant Student Leadership Development Coordinator

On Thursday the 27th of February, the Saint Ignatius College SRC hosted a College-wide casual clothes day with all donations going to Caritas.

Caritas is a worldwide Catholic organisation committed to humanitarian aid, promoting economic justice, fighting poverty and much more. We raised $1438.00, which will be sent directly to Caritas. Thank you to all the students who took part in the event, as every coin raised helps those in need.

You can support the amazing work of Caritas by donating what you can, or finding out more information on how they support those most vulnerable people here: https://www.caritas.org.au/

The SRC is proud to continue supporting and fostering partnerships with organisations that uphold our ethos, Amare et Servire: to love and to serve. We look forward to next Term’s casual clothes day event and announcing the next organisation we will be supporting.

Written by the SRC Promotions Team:
Ella Hobbs, Samantha Nyatsanga and Stephanie Reynolds

During Term 1 the ILC celebrated a range of activities, including ‘Library Lovers Week’, Dr Suess Week, The MacKillop House & ILC Uno House Competition and the recommencement of Chess Club on Mondays at lunchtime.

Please sign up at the ILC help desk if you wish to become involved with the Chess Club.

As the school holidays are fast approaching we encourage all students to take part in holiday reading.

The ILC have created some holiday reading lists to help you with your selection, please see below.

Please note that the borrowing period for students will extend until the end of the first week of Term 2.

Student holiday reading list

These lists are updated regularly and can be found, with many others, on the library catalogue under Reading Lists.

The ILC also has a huge range of e-books and audiobooks available to borrow.

Find e-books and Audiobooks here.

Happy reading!!

What's the first song you're going to play as you buzz down Peninsula Drive in your new MG ZST VIBE?

Grab your lucky tickets in the '2025 PFA Car Raffle' here --> https://rafflelink.com.au/2025-sicg-car-raffle

The '2025 PFA Car Raffle' is drawn on Sunday March the 30th, with all proceeds of the car going towards student resources at the College.Saint Ignatius College Geelong. 

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the inaugural 2025 PFA Car Raffle:

Sing the song, purchase some delicious hot cross buns and support Caritas Australia! The '2025 Hot Cross Bun Drive' is back and with all 4 Senior Houses combining this year, it is bigger and better than ever!

Purchase a packet here --> https://www.trybooking.com/CZAFT