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Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 30 November 2022

Home Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 30 November 2022

From the Principal

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of November and we have entered our final full week of the school year. It does not help that it still does not feel like tomorrow is the first day of summer.

I take this opportunity to thank our parent community for your support and patience throughout this year. We did manage to keep the school open for four terms, but those four terms certainly had their challenges, with illnesses and greater than normal absences from both students and staff.

We were also able to hold many of our planned events, which was wonderful. I think they were received with greater appreciation than ever before. Slowly we have also been able to reintroduce community events and, knowing how much people enjoyed these opportunities, it is something we hope to be able to do more frequently again next year.

I would also like to publicly acknowledge our amazing staff who continue to do everything they can to provide a quality educational experience for our students.

I wish each and every member of our College community all the very best for the holiday period.

From the Head of Senior School

On Friday this week, all year eleven VCE and IB classes will cease for the year. 

Classes for all other year levels will cease on Tuesday 6 December at 3.20pm. 

On Monday and Tuesday next week all year ten students, fresh from either their year ten adventure or a few days rest at home, will participate in two very important days of transition to year eleven. 

At the final Senior School assembly on Tuesday, we will have the opportunity to farewell and thank staff members who are either leaving the College or going on extended leave. 

The following staff will be leaving: 

  • Virginia Vickery – started in 2008 
  • Nathan Morton – started in 2011 
  • Marta Lagos – started in 2013 
  • Dragi Naumovski – started in 1999 
  • Dean Lamson – started in 2015 
  • Bram McLeod – started in 2013 
  • Analea McKee – started in 2022 
  • Heidi Milburn – started in 2020 
  • Nick Higginson – started 2020 

 The following staff will be taking extended leave: 

  • Tim Reichl  returning in Term 1 2024 
  • Meredith Ferguson  returning in Term 1 2024 
  • Alex Popovic  returning in Term 1 2024 
  • Lesly Windle  returning Term 3 2023 
  • Gillian Armstead returning Term 3 2023 
  • Jordyn Rinaldi returning Term 2 2023   

 For some their commitment of many years to the College represents a substantial part of their teaching career. Four of them are retiring after many years spent making a positive difference in the lives of many students, both at KIC and elsewhere. All of them have made a positive difference in our school community. 

I am sure you will join me in expressing a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for their contribution to the College and in wishing them the very best for all they do in the future. 

On behalf of all members of the Senior School staff I wish you the very best for a festive season and summer break. 

Regards,

Geoff Woolard 

 

From the Head of Junior School

Orientation Day
Today was Orientation Day in the Junior School and everything went very smoothly. The students met their teachers and classmates for next year and spent the morning in their new classrooms. Lots of fun was had by all.

Music Showcase and Morning Melodies
Last Thursday Junior School students combined with Senior School students to perform at the Music Showcase. Well done to all participants who put on a spectacular show.

On Monday the Junior School hosted a Morning Melodies assembly featuring the KICit band, Troubadours, Year 1/2 and 3/4 choirs, taiko drumming, and the performance choir.

Christmas Picnic
Families are invited to join in the festive fun at the Christmas Picnic in the Katsumata Centre tomorrow. Bring a rug and a picnic basket and celebrate with friends. Doors open at 5.30pm. Entertainment includes Christmas carols, Square One and the Mik Maks. There may even be a special visitor pop in from the North Pole.

Novalie’s Fundraiser
Year 3 student, Novalie Morris, has her own card business called Bee Brave Cards. Half of the money raised goes to charities that support children with cancer. Novalie will be selling her cards at a stall in the foyer of the Katsumata Centre at the Christmas Picnic from 5.30pm on 1 December. Packs of six cards cost $10. Check out the flyer below for further details.

Casual Day next Tuesday
The last day of the year is known as Celebration Day and is on Tuesday 6 December. The Student Action Committee is holding one last fundraiser on this day. Students are invited to wear ‘multiple colours’ for a gold coin donation. Funds raised will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Last Day of Term
This Friday is the last day of the term for our 3YO Kindergarten students. Dismissal is at the normal time of 3.15pm. The last day for K4-Year 6 is next Tuesday 6 December. Dismissal time this day is the same as normal, 3.20pm for FY-Y6 and 3.15pm for kindergarten students.

Gotemba Nishi High School Students

The College will welcome Japanese students coming from our sister school, Gotemba Nishi High School, Japan, in Term 1, 2023.  

The students will be enrolled in Year 10 courses. They will commute to school with Kardinia host students and attend timetabled classes and all activities at school. They will also be encouraged to join in co-curricular activities to interact with more local students.  

Their aim is to improve their language skills and learn about Australian culture and life while home-staying with local families for 10 weeks.  

The College is looking for families for the following students:

  • 16-year old male student – likes swimming, food, games and Disney 
  • 16-year old female student – likes chocolates, movies, music, photography and reading

If you are interested in hosting, please contact h.suzuki@kardinia.vic.edu.au for further information.  

Co-Curricular News

On November 18, 80 students from the Level C class ‘Sustaining Our Planet’, as well as several students from Earthcore, conducted a waste audit for the College.

The waste audit’s aim was to determine the amount of waste Kardinia generates and what actions, as a community, we can take to improve our systems and ultimately help protect our environment.

During the waste audit, we sorted through 73 bins (which included the red waste bins, green organic bins and the blue cardboard/paper bins). Out of these 73 bins, 58 bins were contaminated and only 15 were not contaminated. This means many of the waste bins had items in them that could have been recycled or composted, and the organic and cardboard/paper bins had items that should have been placed in the waste bins. All contaminated bins end up in the waste stream, which is not good environmentally.

From the data that we collected, we can see that there are many opportunities available to improve upon our waste management practices. Together, Earthcore and ‘Sustaining Our Planet’ classes have made several suggestions around how we can improve our situation, including:

  1. Educating our College community on the use of reusable containers
  2. Promoting a better understanding of recycling and waste streams
  3. Use of reusable coffee cups

and many of other wonderful ideas.

If we each do our own small part in properly disposing of our waste, Kardinia can become a cleaner and more sustainable community which truly supports the environment. It’s up to each and every one of us to make a difference. As H.E Luccock said, ‘No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it’.  Watch this space for more actions as we strive for a more sustainable College.

Written by Georgie Brown and Sachi Bridgeford

Planeteers News

Planeteers have held many successful events in 2022! Earlier in the year we collected pesky plastic bread tags to be used for making bowls, meaning they don’t go to landfill. All of the Junior School was involved, including the Canteen! The money raised went towards buying wheelchairs for people in need, mostly in South Africa. To learn more about this initiative, you can visit Oz Bread Tags for Wheelchairs website here: https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/

Alumni News 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Lucy Kania (Class of 2015) has recently opened her first exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

The exhibition, called Tiny Territory, showcases insects and other species that Lucy has collected and photographed. Lucy and her partner Nick have been commended for being some of the only people in the Northern Territory to study and photograph insects in this way.

Fellow alumnus, Martinique Haste (Class of 2014), works at the museum and is impressed with their achievements: “I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the effort and end result which is so impactful! There will be more projects coming in the future and their work on the Netflix documentary “Our Great National Parks” narrated by Barack Obama was just the beginning!”

Further information can be found at: https://www.magnt.net.au/tinyterritory

Fiona Russell- Alumni Relations Manager

From the Archives  

The Medical Centre

A Medical Centre was first noted in Morongo’s list of school buildings in 1944, as ‘a gift of Mr and Mrs O.C. Hearne’. A successful businessman (Hearne’s Bronchitis Cure), philanthropist and Geelong Mayor, Hearne provided a hospital facility to the college. A ‘sun-room’ with large windows facing the north and west, was added in 1953.

 

The Medical Centre has been a valuable facility at both Morongo and Kardinia International College, providing care for thousands of students over the years. While the original bed frames and cabinetry have been retained and preserved in the Kardinia Medical Centre, the addition of a Wellbeing Hub in recent years, directly across from the Medical Centre, has expanded the care and support available to our students in 2022.

Fiona Russell- Archivist

School TV – School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!

However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children.

Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety, so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.

Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Kardinia International College

PO Box 17
Geelong, Victoria 3220

+61 3 5278 9999
kardinia@kardinia.vic.edu.au

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