Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 15 February 2023

Home Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 15 February 2023

From the Principal

We have some great community events coming up that I encourage our community members to attend. The first is the International Women’s Day Breakfast which is being held on Wednesday 8 March from 7:15am to 8:30am in the College Hall.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is Embracing Equity and through this theme helping spread the word about what equity means and the importance of trying to achieve equity for all. It is interesting to note the emphasis on equity over equality. While often used interchangeably, the words have quite different meanings.

Equality means giving everyone the same resources or opportunities, which sounds like an admirable goal but has its challenges because we do not necessarily need the same resources or opportunities. Equity, on the other hand, recognises that each person has different circumstances and aims to give each person the resources and opportunities they uniquely need to be successful. Achieving equity embraces diversity and inclusivity and gives everyone a fair go.

The photo below from the International Women’s Day website explains the difference really well: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/18707/Equality-versus-Equity-What-s-the-difference-as-we-EmbraceEquity-for-IWD-2023-and-beyond

The other community event coming up is Barefoot Bowls brought to you by the College Community Council (CCC) on Wednesday 15 March at the Geelong Bowls Club from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Everyone is welcome – beginners, seasoned bowlers and spectators alike. I hope to see you there. More details and the link to tickets is further down in e–news.

From the Head of Junior School

Founders’ Day
Information about Founders’ Day has been sent to families today. Parents please note, you will have received an email for each child enrolled at KIC and need to open each email and complete the permission section for each child individually. If you need any help or clarification, please contact the Junior School Office.

Junior School Family Picnic

Japanese and Culture Club
The Japanese and Culture Club is back and ready to roll like sushi! We will continue the successful collaboration between Junior School and Senior School!

Who: Any student from years 3-12 is welcome (no Japanese needed!)
Where: Upper Primary Multi-purpose Room (End of path from Centrepoint Cafe)
When: Every Tuesday from 1:00-1:25pm
What: We will be doing all sorts of activities and is student directed- bring your ideas! CAS opportunities available

*Please email k.mynott@kardinia.vic.edu.au for more information

Year 6 Investiture
The Year 6 Investiture ceremony will take place next Friday 24 February from 2.00pm in the Katsumata Centre. This event will be live streamed. To view the event please click on the link below.

Year 6 Investiture Live Stream

Grove Stall
The Year 5 Grove stall will be open again this Friday from 8.30-8.50am in the JS car park near Highview. Cash only. Eggs and zucchinis for sale.

College Community Council News

SOCIAL NIGHT AT THE GEELONG BOWLS CLUB
The College Community Council (CCC) invites you to our first social event of 2023!
Barefoot Bowls at the Geelong Bowls Club on Wednesday 15 March from 6pm – 9pm.

Tickets are $20 each which includes entry and pizza, and the opportunity to try out lawn bowls. Drinks are at bar prices. Children are welcome to attend for free. Click on the link to book for this event: https://www.trybooking.com/CFVQK

Harmony Day at KIC

This year to celebrate Harmony day, we will be creating an e-cookbook of recipes submitted by our diverse College community members. The book will then be shared with the College community on Harmony Day, 21 March 2023.

We have an incredibly rich community of cultures her at KIC, so what better way to celebrate it than by connecting through a delicious treat or meal to share with family and friends.

Over the next few weeks students, staff and families are encouraged to share a favourite recipe (sweet, savoury, or maybe even a drink) that may represent who they are and where they have come from. Recipes will then be reviewed and become part of our 2023 Harmony Day Celebration E-Book Hungry for Harmony. A few selected recipes will also be available to purchase at Centrepoint Café on Harmony Day.

Checkout the Wellbeing Hub page on KICOnline for details on how to share your recipe! https://kiconline.kardinia.vic.edu.au/d2l/home/12435

Please contact Kate Robertson k.robertson@kardinia.vic.edu.au or Katie Self k.self@kardinia.vic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Community Engagement and Foundation News

ALUMNI UPDATES
Kardinia International College welcomes four of our Alumni as new members of staff in 2023:

Claire Lawrence (Class of 2000)
“In many ways, working at Kardinia feels a bit like coming home.
Long before I was a staff member, I was one of the students embracing everything Kardinia had to offer – debating, swimming, musical productions, rowing, soccer, drama –I tried to embrace it all. At that time though I wasn’t concerned about hazards, risk mitigation strategies, policies or procedures. Now, I am grateful for my time here, as I work to create an environment for the current staff and students, for them enjoy the diverse educational activities that Kardinia has to offer.

Through my career, I’ve seen risks managed and mismanaged. I’ve worked with motorsport daredevils, world champions and corporate CEOs, but the applied and intricate way in which risk and compliance supports and enhances the learning environment, is by far my favourite challenge.”

Daniella Lozar (Class of 2003)

“I love that I’m back with the teachers who inspired me to be a teacher! I love seeing so many familiar faces and I love seeing how much the school has changed and grown. However, the important elements haven’t changed.

I love the school community and its’ vibes!”

Hannah Valmadre (Class of 2006)

“As a member of the Secondary Teaching Staff, I am teaching across Level B and C English this year, as well as IB Literature and VCE English. I particularly enjoy teaching text analysis. Books, plays, poetry, anything!

As a previous student of the IB Diploma, my overwhelmingly positive experience has led me to pursue opportunities to teach IB.

I am also a tutor group teacher in Cowie house and have just returned from an excellent Year 7 Cowie Camp!”

Harvie Flick (Class of 2022)

“As the new Sports Administration Trainee in the sport department, I assist in coordinating and engaging students in various PE programs. This includes things such as organising equipment, operational planning and generally helping out. I’m looking forward to learning a bunch of new things over the coming year and getting to know everyone as colleagues rather than teachers.”

We are thrilled to have Claire, Daniella, Hannah and Harvie join our professional team and actively ‘give back’ to their Kardinia Community.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST

The booking link for the International Women’s Day Breakfast is now live!

Wednesday 8 March is International Women’s Day, and we are hosting a ticketed community breakfast for parents, alumni, staff and Year 12 students. This event will be held in the College Hall between 7:15am- 8:30am with speakers, musicians, and the most delicious array of food! You are warmly invited to this special event!

Alumni, staff & parent tickets are available for only $20. Student concession tickets are $15. Please click the link to secure your ticket: https://events.humanitix.com/kic-iwd-2023

Fiona Russell- Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator

Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) Are you Eligible?

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend school camps, excursions, and sports and outdoor education programs.

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. All are part of a healthy curriculum. CSEF is provided by the Victorian 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 $125.00 for Primary School students and $225.00 for Senior School Students.

The CSEF Program for 2023 closes on 23 June, 2023.

How To Apply

New applicants – please complete an application form from the link below and return to accounts@kardinia.vic.edu.au or at the School Office.

Existing applicants – If you have applied for CSEF at your child’s school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

New student enrolments: you child has started or changed schools this year
Changed family circumstances: such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number or new siblings commencing this year.

Application Form

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/CSEF_application_form.pdf

More Information

For more information about CSEF visit:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

Co-Curricular News

Junior Girls Firbank Regatta – 11 February 2023

Junior and Inter Squads

The Junior and Inter crews were eager to get back out on the Barwon river for a second Saturday in a row, with much better rowing conditions. Aside from the benefits of physical fitness, developing rowing skills, and building a community, the rowing program is great for teaching essential life skills and resilience. All of our crews demonstrated great self-awareness, effective communication skills, and flexible thinking when challenged.

After a strong row in their heat, the Division 3 Junior crew unfortunately were unable to compete in their D Final due to arduous steering issues with the Mac, and were sent back down the course to return the boat.

The Division 2 Junior crew were faced with the obstacle of a crab and snapped oar with 400m to go. Team communication (heard from the bank) and persisting with only three rowers, they maintained their lead and finished their heat in first position, qualifying for the A Final.

The Inter girls performed a Personal Best time in their heat and went on to win their C Final with an incredible push from behind in the last 500m, to take out the win in a close finish.

Amazing effort and determination by all!

The KIC team community was enhanced by some of the Senior girls, who came to cheer on the Junior crews.

Results:

Lola Ogilvie, Charlotte McKinnon, Emma Carland, Jess Bailey,
Cox: Ruby Weatherhead

Female School Coxed Quad Scull Year 9 Division 3 D Final – DNF.

Abbie Forder, Mia Parker, Chloe Dillon, Daisy Dripps,
Cox: Beth Lycett

Female School Coxed Quad Scull Year 10 Division 2 C Final – 1st

May Welch, Claire Jamieson, Molly Callahan, Ava Lyons,
Cox: Hannah Lane

Female School Coxed Quad Scull Year 9 Division 2 A Final – 3rd

Well Done Georgia Simpson!

Georgia Simpson (Year 10) was featured in the Bellarine Times recently for some amazing volunteer work she has completed with the Ocean Grove Toy Library.

Georgia has volunteered at the library each weekend since April 2022 as part of her Duke of Ed placement, and library staff have said that Georgia has become an asset to the committee and the library.

To read the newspaper article about Georgia online, click here.

KICking Goals Fitness Squad starts this week!

Are you currently playing a sport, but want to give yourself an edge?
Do you want to make a change to your lifestyle this year?
Do you want to feel better, be stronger, get fitter?
Do you want to improve your mental health?
Are you looking to put yourself outside of your comfort zone?
Do you want to cultivate a positive attitude and mindset?

Mrs West and Mr Robertson are teaming up this year to help you achieve your health, wellbeing and fitness goals.

What: a variety of fitness workouts designed around fun and participation designed for any fitness level.

When: Every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 – 4:30pm.

Where: Weights room

Starting Week 3.

Please email Mrs West if you have any further questions at k.west@kardinia.vic.edu.au.

From the Archives

OUR FOUNDERS- MR AND MRS KATSUMATA

Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata was born in 1922, into a highly respected family living at the foot of Mt Fuji. His broad early experiences included radiotelegraphy, farming and mathematics teaching. Yoshimaro married Kiyoko in 1946, settling in Gotemba City to raise their three children, Kikuko, Yoshihisa and Yumiko.

An exceptional educator and visionary, Yoshimaro built Gotemba Nishi High School, opening the new school in 1967. Mr Katsumata was Principal for over three decades and ‘…worked tirelessly with Mrs Katsumata to set the highest standards for education at their school.’

Mr Katsumata’s contribution to education in Japan was recognised by the Emperor and the Minister of Education. Over the years he received numerous medals and awards for his valued contributions on numerous boards, associations, corporations and committees. He retired from his role as Principal at Gotemba Nishi but remained Chairman of the Board.

In 1995, at 73 years of age, Mr Katsumata’s dream to create a new school to ‘…educate its students to be global citizens…promote international understanding, peace, harmony and friendship,’ was coming to fruition. The opportunity arose to purchase the empty former Morongo property, with his new school Kardinia International College opening its doors on 1 February 1996.

Mrs Kiyoko Katsumata was acknowledged as a co-founder and was a Director on the College Board. From 1995 to 2009 Mrs Katsumata joined her husband on extensive stays at their second home, Geelong. She embodied ‘…gentleness, graciousness and concern for others’ which was displayed through her daily Tanka.

As Kardinia International College continued to expand, Mr and Mrs Katsumata exemplified ‘…qualities of friendship, respect, humour, generosity and goodwill.” They were held in high regard by the College community and their visits to Geelong were memorable.

After leaving an incredible legacy, Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata died in August 2008, after suffering a stroke. The following year, his wife Kiyoko Katsumata travelled to Tokyo to accept his posthumous Order of Australia medal, for services he made to education in Australia. Kiyoko died in July 2014.

The Kardinia International College community is deeply indebted to our Founders, Mr and Mrs Katsumata. The Katsumata Centre was named in their honour with the stunning foyer a tribute to their enduring legacy.

Credits:
The Bell 2014
Dowie, P & Russell, F. Kardinia International College: Celebrating Twenty Years 1996-2015
Special Newsletter 2008 Yoshimaro Katsumata’s Memorial Service tribute publication.

Next week’s article features the Tradition of Founders’ Day.
Fiona Russell- Archivist

Parent Participants Needed for Research

From Monash University – We are researching risk and protective factors associated with school refusal in secondary school students.

To participate, you must be:

● an Australian resident

● the parent or guardian of a secondary school student

● the student attends a mainstream (government, catholic, or independent) secondary school

● the student is not home-schooled or attending a special developmental school

Participation involves completing an online survey which takes approximately 30 -45 minutes.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW

https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QcuWYGGwnS4ej4

Chief Investigator: Moira Whelan

Moira.Whelan@monash.edu

From the Head of Wellbeing – Junior School

A big shout out to all the parents who filled in the social emotional understanding survey, it is much appreciated. If you are still wanting to have your say please click on the link here.

Positive Priming

As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter the Junior School has been developing a positive approach to reinforcing and recognising all students and their diverse learning attributes. This allows us to celebrate diversity in students and their individual learning journeys. As part of developing this approach, research into best practices has been considered, including trauma-informed practices, positive education and the science of wellbeing.

Research tells us: When students (or anyone) feel positive emotions, the brain releases oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Positivity and gratitude both build stronger ‘FEEL GOOD’ pathways in the brain. Evidence tells us that there is a group effect- a contagious effect. Therefore, the more positive we are as a collective the more positive we are as a community. This is also linked to mirroring. Mirroring is the notion that behaviour in one individual can often affect other individuals. Therefore, an individual flourishing and being celebrated can affect other individuals positively. You may liken it to when you see someone laughing a big belly laugh, you can’t help but smile or laugh along.

Gotcha’s

In the next week you may start to notice your child/ children coming home with a sticker that says “Gotcha”- with either wisdom, respect or friendship ticked. A gotcha is given by any KIC staff member and is positive recognition for displaying behaviours that align with our school motto. The hope is that this will help to positively prime students and strengthen the ‘feel good’ pathway and positively reinforce the expectations and values of KIC. The KIC values are not aligned with academic success and celebrate all student’s diverse needs.

In students taking these home, we are hoping to create a positive space and partnership between home and school that celebrates students’ achievements, builds a shared language, and creates positive communication. Most children will be eager to share their gotcha with pride, however, what do you do if your child/ children can’t remember what they got their gotcha for?

You might ask them if they were in a specific class (ie music class, PE) when they received it
You might ask them where they were when they got it (location)? Were in the playground

The hope is to develop students’ abilities to share these positive experiences with you. We ask that you are mindful of this and do not email the learning group teacher if your child doesn’t remember. As you can imagine, this would take precious teaching and planning time from our wonderful teachers.

BEWARE: Please note that this is not intended to be used in a manner by which students are working only to get a gotcha, or parents are expecting students to work hard to come home with a gotcha. The intent is not for this to be tokenistic, but to develop an authentic school climate that positively celebrates all and helps students to also notice and celebrate others’ unique abilities.

Please be aware that this approach is in its beginnings and will evolve, refine and develop with new research, parent feedback, teacher feedback and student feedback. We may not have all the answers yet but we are working towards it.

Parent Wellbeing Information Session – Term 1, Week 9 – Thursday 30 March 6.30-8.00pm

The purpose of the parent wellbeing session is to develop parent knowledge and understanding of their child/children but also have an understanding of the diverse needs of all children. The first session will be run like a book club. I ask parents interested in coming along to read one of my favourite parenting books – Dr. Daniel Siegel- The Whole-Brain Child

You can hire it from the Geelong Library, listen to it as an audiobook, or grab a copy if you are like me and love building your personal library.

Come to the session with your questions and new understandings or further information to share. This will open the floor to developing our knowledge of the whole child and the brain. Tea, coffee and nibbles will be provided. We are hoping that this will be an open forum allowing for parents in the community to develop relationships, share knowledge and learn from each other.

Careers News

See the latest edition of the Careers newsletter here:

Compass Careers Newsletter February 10th 2023

Important points covered…

Academic Excellence Scheme at the University of Sydney
Why Study Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University?
Career in Health Information Management
ADF GAP Year 2024
Career as an Intelligence & Policy Analyst
Agriculture Degrees on offer in Victoria in 2023

As always, for further details please contact the Careers Team at Kardinia International College.

School TV – Surviving Final Year

Every year, the media exposes us to the hype and pressure relating to the final year of secondary school. However, putting things into perspective for students and parents alike, can help prevent everyone getting overwhelmed. Although this final year is important, it will not be the most important year of your child’s life. It is crucial for parents to reinforce the mantra of ‘you are more than your ATAR’.

A student’s performance in final year is only a point in time measured by their ability to sit an exam. If the desired ATAR or NCEA score is not achieved at the end of the day, there are other options available to your child. It will not define their happiness. There will be many other pathways available to them to help them reach their goals.

Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/surviving-year-12

Library Services News

Camp Australia Newsletter

To view the most recent Camp Australia Newsletter, click here: OSHC Newsletter