Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 12 October

Home Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 12 October

From the Principal

Last week I had the absolute privilege of accompanying seventy-six Year 9 and Year 10 students to Gulkula, site of the Garma Festival, some twenty-five minutes out of Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

We were hosted by Culture College which is a social enterprise that “provides tailored educational programs for visiting students, teachers, professionals and executives in partnership with the Yolngu people of north east Arnhem Land. The purpose of the programs is to gain an understanding and appreciation of Australia’s Indigenous history and culture. For the Yolngu partners, Aboriginal Corporations, local businesses and others, the programs create a viable industry to enable Indigenous people to derive a sustainable income on their ancestral lands.”

This program was outstanding, and I believe has truly provided a transformational experience for our students. Our students were wonderful in their openness and willingness to learn from the Yolngu people and, in return, the Yolngu families shared their knowledge so generously and opened their hearts to all of us.

I could write a thousand words on the experience and not even begin to touch the surface of how magical it was. If you have the opportunity to speak to any staff or students who attended, be ready for a very interesting and long chat. I hope that we can continue this program in future years and highly recommend it to eligible students. It is experiences such as this that bring a depth of learning that cannot be achieved within the confines of the classroom.

I have no doubt that the students who attended Culture College have a much greater respect and appreciation of Indigenous culture and knowledge and will help shape the path to reconciliation in the future. In addition, they learned a lot about the country, nature and how they can make a difference, as well as having many opportunities to reflect on their own health and wellbeing.

On a different note, late last term and again last night, our newly formed College Community Council met and had their first official meeting. The members of the Council are:

Michelle Cameron (Chair)
Simon Howe (Secretary)
Andrew Alexander
Ben Day
Gyanendra Upreti
Rana Al- Salem
Sharon Taylor
Tamara Madjeric
Tania Differding

I really appreciate the way this group is giving their time and energy to our College Community. The Council is already starting to plan some community events. Please see details below of a ‘save the date’ for the first event.

From the Head of Junior School

Outdoor Adventures
Last week our Year 6 students ventured off on their first camp experience since 2019. It was clear to see upon their return from Allambee that a great time was had by all. Thank you to all the staff who organised the camp and supported the students in this great experience. This Friday our Year 2 students will have a sleepover at school and next week our Year 3 students will head off to Anglesea for their camp adventure.

A Letter from the Prime Minister
There was excitement in Year 4 yesterday upon receipt of a letter from the Prime Minister. Harvey from Year 4 wrote a persuasion text during the holidays to Mr Albanese about looking after nature and listening to young people’s ideas. Harvey received a response and was excited to share it with his learning group. Congratulations Harvey, this is a great example of student action.

A Message from the Planeteers Student Committee
A big thank you to everyone who has collected bread tags instead of throwing them in the bin. The Planeteers would like to remind you that we are collecting bread tags & bags until Friday of Week 5. We will then be taking them to Brumby’s, who pass them on to an Aussie organisation, who then turn them into objects like bowls and coasters. The money raised from selling the objects goes to buying wheelchairs for people who can’t afford them. If you would like to continue this worthwhile action at home, here is the link to the organisation – https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/

From the College Community Council – Save the date!

The College Community Council is back!

We have been busy working behind the scenes and we’re so excited to announce our first event – a Food and Wine Night on Thursday 10 November, so SAVE THE DATE and all the details will be shared in next week’s newsletter. Spoiler Alert – we will have some delicious Austin’s Wines there!

We’d love to see as many Senior and Junior school parents and carers attend as possible.

Withdrawal from the College

If you are planning on withdrawing your child from the College, one full term’s notice in writing is required, or one term’s fee in lieu of such notice is payable. For example, notice given in Week 2 of Term 4 will require fees to be paid up to and including Week 2 of Term 1 the following year. Please email marketing@kardinia.vic.edu.au with any questions or if you are planning to withdraw your child from the College at the end of the year. Thank you.

Alumni News

Over the next few weeks, registered Kardinians from the Classes of 2021, 2017, 2012, 2007 & 2002 will celebrate their peer group reunions. Alumni from these years are warmly invited to attend. It would be appreciated if alumni could share this invitation with former classmates.

For more information, please log onto The Kardinians at https://kardinians.com/

The ‘Events’ tab will provide details and an RSVP link, which is essential for entry. We hope that you can join your peers and celebrate your milestone reunion.

Morongo Old Collegians will have the opportunity to tour the former grounds of Morongo when they gather for a High Tea in ‘Morongo House’ at Kardinia International College, on Sunday 20 November.

This invitation is extended to boarders, day students and staff. Please use the following link to RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/xzRkNSZ7ce

For further information, please contact Ms Fiona Russell- Alumni Relations Manager on 52789999 or f.russell@kardinia.vic.edu.au

Fiona Russell- Alumni Relations Manager

Co-Curricular News

Over the school holidays, the Equestrian group competed at the Australian Inter-school Championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre, seeing fantastic results including Top 4 students in Victoria. Competitors included Year 8 students Charlize Scott and Rosie Heagney, Year 10 students Tiffany Peters and La’Moza Velisha, Year 5 student Phastian Velisha, and Year 4 student Alannah Heagney.

KIC Art Show 2022 is nearly here!

You are warmly invited to attend our Senior School 2022 Art Show Gala Night on Thursday 20 October to appreciate and celebrate the creations of our students across visual arts, media, photography, animation and visual communications.

Doors open at 7pm with the awards commencing at 7:30pm.

We hope to see you there.

From the Archives

Morongo’s Junior School building was opened in 1952. The lone image of the front is the only image of the building in our Archives.

This building has been the official Early Learning Centre for Kardinia’s Pre-school and Lower Primary students. Within the first few years, additional rooms were installed adjacent to the main building, to cater for the swell in numbers and demand for classrooms.

From the front, there has been only subtle change, including the widening of the path, and the significant growth in the trees and shrubs surrounding the building. Inside, the traditional blackboards have been replaced with interactive whiteboards, and the traditional desks soon made way to more flexible furniture, and inquiry learning spaces, but the bones remained the same.

With the opening of the new Lower Primary Learning Centre, the students and staff relocated and have now been replaced by the Upper Primary Students while their new building is under construction.

The original building is ready for its next transformation. Keep watching this space.

Fiona Russell- Archivist

From the Head of Wellbeing – Junior School

Welcome Back to Term 4!
It is so wonderful after two tumultuous years to be able to give students the consistency of routines, social interactions, and deep learning opportunities. Now that we are becoming accustomed to the ‘new normal’ it is timely to reflect on the impact that absences can have on students learning. Every day really does play a role in developing your child’s education.

I would also like to share with you some wonderful resources that being part of the KIC community allows you to have access to. These resources can be found on KIC Online, under the ‘Wellbeing Hub’ tab. I would encourage you to have look at these as they provide evidence based information that is up to date. Below is a list of the resources that can be found:

SchoolTV is particularly educational and helpful in understanding the unique aspects of our children as they develop and inevitably change. Geelong Council also offers numerous professional seminars for parents. Their document can be found in the article below.

Upcoming Parent Education Events

There are a range of upcoming events for parents in the Geelong and Barwon South West region. To learn more about these events, as well as how to register for them, click on the PDF linked here: 2022 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar

GoKIC is back!

GoKIC is a Zoom program where Kardinia students are able to meet other students from Gotemba Nishi High School in Japan, virtually! Students don’t need to be able to speak Japanese to get involved, but have the option of speaking a mix of Japanese and English if they want to.

Sessions are on November 2, 9, 16, 24 and 30, from 6:45pm-7:15pm. There are 5 session in total. Contact Mr. Ota at y.ota@kardinia.vic.edu.au for more information.

Year 11 ‘You Just Never Know’ Excursion

All of our Year 11 students attended an excursion to Costa Hall last week, to participate in ‘You Just Never Know’, which is a road safety initiative by Geelong Youth Engagement, Victoria Police and Channel 9. The program targets young people who will be probationary drivers in the very near future and aims to raise awareness and provide education about the dangers of irresponsible driving, in particular, drink and drug driving, using mobile phones while driving, and speeding.

Students heard from a variety of speakers who have been affected by road trauma, including police officers, a paramedic, a judge, an emergency physician who was also a family member of a victim, and a road accident survivor. They shared confronting stories of their personal experiences and the decisions that individuals made that led to some devastating outcomes.

One key piece of information that was shared is that young people sometimes make risky decisions about getting into cars with others when they find themselves stuck somewhere that they can’t easily get home from, such as being at the beach after buses have ceased for the day, or at a party in the country, and opt to get a lift from someone who may have been drinking.

Students have been encouraged to speak to their families about planning ahead for situations such as this, and putting strategies in place, such as parents/guardians committing to always come to collect a child if they call no matter what, or allowing access to an Uber or taxi account. As one of the presenters noted, road safety is all about teamwork; if we all commit to making the best decisions possible, the safer we all are on the roads.

Geelong Summer Music Camp

It’s BACK!

After a two year absence, the Geelong Summer Music Camp returns with more options, more diversity and importantly, more FUN!

Further details are available from the KIC Music Department.

Deakin Diwali Festival

2022 Deakin University Diwali Festival

The 14th annual Deakin University Diwali Festival will once again be located at our stunning Waurn Ponds Campus. Our open campus allows convenient access to all food, activities and entertainment simultaneously, creating a true festival environment.

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, an annual celebration that signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. It’s a joyful milestone celebrated by people across the world irrespective of their culture or religion.

There will be:

Cultural performances
DJ
Food and market stalls
Free activities and henna art
Rangoli artwork display
Spectacular fireworks display!

This is a free family-friendly community event, please register to attend via: deakin.edu.au/diwali

‘We Are Community’ Event

‘We Are Community’ is a Vinnies community initiative that shines an emotional light on how we support the Geelong community, and will ask you to open your ears, tap into your heart and ask yourselves “How can Vinnies help me be an advocate for change?”

Attendees can look forward to:

Hearing an in-conversation chat with Vinnies leaders in the Geelong region
Stories of the lived experience
Taste the nutritional food offerings provided daily by Vinnies
Activities demonstrating social justice and disadvantage
A taste of what is in store for the Geelong Community Sleepout 2023

Today, we have an active network of 1,070+ volunteers in the local Geelong area providing localised, practical support in the local community. We are looking forward to in-depth and meaningful conversations, as well as introducing the community to more of the ‘Good Works’ we do in Greater Geelong and how you can be part of them on the night!

The event details are as follows:

Registration link: https://events.humanitix.com/we-are-community
When: Tuesday 18 October, 6:30-8pm
Where: Geelong West Town Hall
Cost: Free

School TV – Year 12 Exam Stress

Supporting your teenager through their final school exams can be extremely daunting for parents. However, maintaining a calm household will ensure your child has the best chance of success.

To perform at their best, students will need regular and adequate sleep, a healthy diet, daily exercise and regular reassurance from parents that their success in life does not depend on their final mark. Many students will experience high levels of anxiety and depression during this time, so it is important that their mental health is looked after as well as their physical health.

Students should do plenty of practice exams, focusing on questions they don’t understand and always getting feedback from teachers. Parents should try not to worry if they feel their child isn’t studying enough. Sometimes students need to experience the consequences of their choices as they do not have the maturity to associate effort with outcome. Getting a bad mark will not be the end of the world, but more of an inconvenience.

Click here to watch this episode:

https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/year-12-exam-stress-special-report