Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 6 October 2021

Home Kardinia eNews – Wednesday 6 October 2021

From the Principal

Today we welcomed our Year 11 students to the campus. Slowly, we are edging our way back to having our entire cohort return. No doubt, there will be great relief for all when we can have all our students on campus every day. The Year 12 students are showing a remarkable level of positivity and resilience as they approach their final exams and they are being exceptional role models for their peers. One example of the calibre of our Year 12 students is Milli McDonald, who won the Raise Our Voice Australia speech competition and will have her winning entry read out in the Australian Parliament by Richard Marles. You can read Milli’s speech in this newsletter.

To enable our Year 12 students the very best opportunity to complete the exams they have been working towards over the last 13 years, I ask the whole College community to be mindful of making sure to stay home if sick, to get tested if sick, to stay vigilant to the Tier 1 and 2 sites that emerge and to follow the Health Department directives for being tested and isolating. We will continue to minimise people who come onto campus as much as possible and do all we can as a school to keep all our students and staff safe.

From the Head of Junior School

Term 4 Learning
All students have made a great start to the term, whether it be via face to face or remote learning. This week we welcomed back our Kindergarten, Foundation Year, Year 1, and Year 2 students to full time learning at school. Next week we look forward to the staggered part-time return of our Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6 students. On Tuesday 26 October we look forward to all students returning to school full time.

Information for all Upper Primary students about the combined remote learning and onsite learning programs for Weeks 2 and 3 will be posted on their Seesaw blogs.

The table below shows the type of learning scheduled for all groups across the school for Weeks 2, 3 and 4. On Tuesday 26 October (Week 4) we look forward to all students returning to school full time.

Book Week
In Term 3 we postponed Book Week due to a lockdown. We will reschedule Book Week for when all students are back at school later this term. Further information about the dates and activities will be communicated in the coming days.

Hats
Please be reminded that all students need to have a broad brimmed hat during Term 4 when on site.

New Lower Primary Building
When our Upper Primary students return next week, they will see a significant difference in the space that used to be their basketball courts. This is of course the location for the new Junior School Lower Primary Building. The photos below show that the area has been fenced off and is being cleared in preparation for construction. This project is due to be completed mid next year.

Congratulations Milli McDonald

Year 12 student Milli McDonald recently entered a competition through Raise Our Voice Australia, which invited people aged under 21 to submit a short speech about what their vision for Australia is in 20 years.

We are thrilled to learn that Milli’s speech has been selected to be read to the Commonwealth Parliament next month by Richard Marles MP. Well done Milli!

Corangamite Schools Climate Challenge

Earlier this year, the Planeteer Committee led the Junior School to participate in the ‘Corangamite Schools Climate Challenge’. The aim of this challenge was to reduce our carbon emissions by asking the school community to commit to making simple changes including turning off lights when leaving a room, putting on a jumper instead of turning up the heater and placing food scraps in the compost bins. As part of the challenge the Planeteer Committee collected data to predict how these changes could reduce our carbon footprint by investigating the types and numbers of lights, heaters, air-conditioners and bins used. We also encouraged families at home to think about how they could take action to promote the importance that everyone can make a change for the better.

We are very excited to share that we have been awarded runner up in this challenge! Well done to our students and staff involved, and thank you to our College community for taking action.

Careers News

Year 11 Students and Parents: Deakin Accelerate Webinar

Students and parents are invited to attend an upcoming webinar to learn more about the Deakin Accelerate program. Participants will hear from experts and past Accelerate students, and find out about the study areas on offer, the selection and application process and more.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 13 October, from 6.00pm –7.00pm

Find out more and to register, visit Deakin Accelerate Webinar

Wellbeing News

From the Head of Student Wellbeing, Junior School

October is Mental Health Awareness Month (https://lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au) and acknowledging mental health is more important this year than ever before.

I know there are many resources available, but I’d like to highlight Be You (an initiative of Beyond Blue), which has some great resources for supporting wellbeing for everyone. I particularly like the sections on Self-Care as ultimately, others can support us but we have to be responsible for looking after ourselves: https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/wellbeing. It’s well worth a read (and implementation)!

Talking to younger children about mental health and worries can sometimes feel daunting. The Story Box Library has put together a collection to support mental health, with themes ranging from anxiety and depression to mindfulness and overcoming shyness. These can be good conversation starters to have with your family: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/stories/results?&sort=new_to_old&theme=anxiety-and-resilience

Body Kind Families

Body Kind Families is a Butterfly Foundation initiative for parents of teenagers, and it provides FREE resources and important tips on supporting positive body image and being body kind. This initiative compliments the work we are doing in school as part of Body Kind Schools.

It includes resources for parents on:

Resilience to media pressures
Healthy eating and exercise behaviours
Talking about appearance and weight
Body acceptance and compassion
Boys’ body image
Warning signs and what to do if concerned

For more information and to receive resources (videos, tips sheets, family activities & more) visit www.butterfly.org.au/bodykindfamilies

World Mental Health Day

Look after your mental health, Australia.

Given the position we find ourselves in with recurrent lockdowns and constantly changing restrictions, prioritising mental health is more important now, than ever before.

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day and the message is simple – ‘Look after your mental health, Australia’.

There’s also a great range of calendars available for October which provide daily ideas about what to do to look after your mental health over the month of October.

Here’s the Family Calendar:

There’s also calendars for: Young Australians, Older Adults, Workplaces and a general use one.

For more information visit: https://lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au/

Optimistic October 2021

SchoolTV

Transitioning Back

Although the reality of COVID is not quite over, there still remains a considerable amount of uncertainty. We have all experienced this event together and we are all at various levels of transition and adjustment. The circumstances of this situation have significantly impacted students, parents and teachers alike.

Emotions during this time have been varied. For some it has been an opportunity to reflect on what is important, whilst others have embraced the opportunity to learn new things. One thing that has remained constant – the need for good parenting and supportive teachers. Both of which offer young people stability and familiarity, and are vitally important during this time of transition.

Whilst many children may be excited at the prospect of restrictions being lifted, others may be experiencing mixed emotions. Each child’s reaction will differ depending on how well they cope with stress and change. As families adjust to new routines, it will be vitally important to keep a check on our young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Encourage them to focus on the things they can control or enjoy in order for them to remain motivated and ensure their sense of belonging.

Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-coronavirus-transition-back

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.