eNewsletter

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart Yesterday I returned from chairing a Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation visit at a school in Penang, Malaysia. It was a great school which has made a considered effort to focus their curriculum on STEAM, but with a focus on developing life competencies. This philosophy is not too dissimilar to our approach to the SPICE competencies (social, personal, intercultural, critical, and creative thinking and ethical) that we are beginning to…

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie Endeavour Scholarship We are very pleased to share the news that Year 12 student Olivia has been awarded a prestigious 2025 Endeavour Scholarship and will soon be embarking on an extraordinary educational journey. At the end of 2024, our Future Pathways and Education team supported a group of students in applying for this highly competitive international program, delivered in partnership with the Avalon Airshow 2025. The scholarship provides a…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart This week we celebrated our 29th Founders’ Day, a day when we recognise the incredible legacy of Mr and Mrs Katsumata as the founders of Kardinia International College. Every time I think about their story, it never ceases to amaze me that upon Mr Katsumata’s retirement they chose to open a school across the other side of the world. Like many of our families at Kardinia, I have lived and worked overseas. I know how complex it can be just to get a…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart What a stunning day to welcome in the new term. I hope that everyone had a restful break over the holiday period. Two holiday highlights for me were seeing an echidna in the wild on the Mornington Peninsula and the College’s Inaugural Golf Day which was held last Thursday. We could not have hoped for a better day weather wise, and all teams seemed to have an enjoyable day, regardless of how they scored. There was one, hole in one achieved by Nick Ryan,…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart Since Iast week’s eNews, we have welcomed several special visitors to the College. The first was the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Ben Carroll, joined by Member for Lara, Ella George, and representatives from the Department of Education, Independant Schools Victoria and Catholic Education. Minister Carroll announced during the visit that 81 additional schools had joined up with the Respectful Relationships Program, with over 2,000 schools…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart Last Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the IB Global Conference in Singapore. The speakers and workshops were excellent, and it was exciting to see how as an IB school (PYP and DP) we are connected to a global network of educators and scholars all with a common goal of developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart This week we celebrate Harmony Week with Friday being our official Harmony Day where we encourage everyone to wear a bit of orange. With our SPICE competencies we have chosen the colour orange for I (intercultural) because orange symbolises warmth, enthusiasm, inclusivity, and harmony. It encourages socialisation and friendliness, which are important for bridging cultural divides and fostering intercultural understanding. Speaking of socialisation and…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart Tonight, our fabulous Wellbeing Hub are hosting a webinar for families on emotional regulation - A Heart-Centred Approach to Supporting Your Child​ presented by Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts. The time of the webinar has been advertised incorrectly due to different times in Brisbane and Melbourne. The correct time is 8.00pm. I hope that many of our families can join in this wonderful opportunity to learn more about…

From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart Last Friday I attended the Independent Schools Australia (ISA) Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia (AHISA) National Education Forum in Canberra. I was one of more than 300 independent school principals in attendance. We heard from politicians, the media, and experts in education about wide and varied topics. One of the hot topics with an election looming this year was about the misinformation and divisive stories circulating about…