From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
Recently I attended an event where Australian playwright Dr. Suzie Miller was on a panel.
Suzie Miller commenced her post school studies earning an Honours degree in Immunology and Microbiology from Monash University. She later earned Bachelor and Master of Law degrees, practicing as a human rights and criminal justice lawyer. Being someone who always had a passion for writing she then undertook studies at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art). She has since written several highly acclaimed plays including Prima Facie, RGB and Inter Alia.
She had so many interesting points to make but what really struck me was how she spoke about the importance of the Arts in our society for storytelling and creating change.
Suzie has combined the Sciences, Law and the Arts throughout her career and it made me really think about how important it is that our students have the opportunity to experience a holistic education where they get to explore their passions but are also exposed to subjects that are not necessarily within their wheelhouse but which could ignite an interest or even a career that they never thought of before.
It is why both our Vertical Curriculum enabling significant student choice and our many Co-curricular offerings are so important in helping to develop the competencies our students need to thrive in the 21st century.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
Looking ahead in the Senior School:
- Friday 4 September – Casual Clothes Day (raising funds for Feed Me Geelong)
- Monday 7 September – 2027 College Prefect Elections
- Tuesday 8 September – Parent-Teacher Interviews (from 3:40pm)
- Monday 14 September – House Debating Finals
- Tuesday 15 September – Parent-Teacher Interviews (from 1:40pm) – 12:50pm dismissal
- Friday 18 September – Parent-Teacher Interviews (from 9am) – Student-Free Day
Wednesday evening last week saw our now annual Year 11 Formal take place in the College Hall, which was transformed into a ‘Midnight Metropolis’ for the occasion. The Year 11 cohort came together in outfits rather more glamorous than their regular school uniform, and enjoyed an evening of friendship, laughter, excellent outfits and a great deal of dancing. This event is entirely student-driven and would not be possible without the energy and commitment of a group of enthusiastic students.
A reminder that Friday 4 September is a casual clothes day, raising funds for Feed Me Geelong. Students should wear clothing that is respectful, safe and suitable for a normal school day. Clothing should not include offensive, discriminatory or inappropriate themes, messages or imagery, and should provide appropriate coverage for classes and movement around the College. Closed-toe shoes are required, hair may need to be tied up for practical classes, and Crocs are not suitable for practical classes.
From the Head of Junior School - Mario Chrisanthou
Tournament of Minds
This year the Junior School entered a team into the Tournament of Minds. This was held at Deakin University on Sunday 23 August. The team had to work collaboratively on a long-term challenge over several weeks. They had to present their solution in a creative way before three judges and an audience. One of the main rules in Tournament of Minds is that no adult outside assistance may be given so the team had to be very organised and self-sufficient. The team also had to complete a spontaneous challenge to a judging panel, with just 4 minutes to come up with a solution and 1 minute to present.
The team worked diligently on their solutions and did very well on the competition day. They received compliments on their teamwork and their ability to problem solve when an issue arose. We are extremely proud of how the team worked during the Tournament and how they represented the College on Sunday.
A special mention goes to Kate Cotton and Natasha Woods, who have been working with our students over a number of weeks in preparation for the competition. We are also delighted that Kate has been invited to serve as a judge at the National Finals, a well-deserved recognition of her expertise and contribution in this field. Congratulations, Kate, on this outstanding achievement.
Division Athletics
On Tuesday this week, 12 students represented Kardinia International College at the Division Athletics Carnival. Our students competed with enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the day and were a credit to the College.
The students who represented the College were Ya Ya H, Mikayla W, Lily A, Emily H, Rocco T, Estelle R, Claudia B, Billy W, Elijah T, Grace M, Evelyn S, and Orella L.
Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the next stage at the Regional Athletics Carnival:
- Mikayla W – 1st in Long Jump and 1st in Triple Jump
- Lily A – 2nd in 1500m
- Emily H – 2nd in 200m
- Claudia B – 2nd in Triple Jump
- Estelle R – 2nd in Discus
- Elijah T – 2nd in 800m
Well done to all the students for their efforts, commitment and excellent representation of Kardinia International College.
Playground
For safety reasons, our Lower Primary students are not permitted to use the Upper Primary playground equipment, including before and after school hours. When the equipment was installed, the College determined that it was not developmentally appropriate for younger students and therefore should be reserved for Upper Primary use only. We appreciate the support of families in helping us maintain a safe environment for all students.
Reminder
Parents and carers are responsible for supervising their children after school. While chatting with other parents, please ensure you know where your children are and that they are using the school grounds safely and respectfully. Children should not be playing in garden beds, climbing through landscaped areas or damaging plants. Active supervision helps prevent damage to our gardens and ensures all students can enjoy a safe environment.
Fidgets and Squishies at School
Fidgets can be a helpful tool for some students to support concentration, regulation and sensory needs. To be used at school, fidgets should be quiet, safe, hand-sized, used only when needed and not distract others. Students should use one fidget at a time and ensure it is a learning tool rather than a toy. We encourage families to support their child in making suitable choices, particularly where the use of fidgets has been discussed with staff or external specialists.
We have also noticed an increase in the number of squishies being brought to school. Foam squishies are permitted; however, liquid-filled squishies are not allowed. Squishies may be used as fidgets if they meet the expectations outlined above. We also remind students that trading fidgets or squishies at school is not permitted. Thank you for your support in helping students make positive choices that support learning and wellbeing.
Uniform Swap Reminder
Just a reminder that our Uniform Swap will take place on Monday 7 September in the Junior School Conference Room.
This is a great opportunity for families to buy, sell or swap pre-loved school uniforms, helping to keep uniforms affordable and sustainable within our community. We encourage families to bring along any good-quality uniform items they no longer require and to browse for items they may need for the remainder of the year.
KICOnline Groups: More Choice, More Relevant Information - A Reminder
Following valuable feedback from families earlier this year, we have continued to enhance KICOnline to provide a more streamlined and personalised communication experience.
Our latest improvement has been the introduction of KICOnline Groups, which allow families to follow areas of interest and receive more targeted updates through their KICOnline news feed and Daily Digest. Groups include areas such as Wellbeing, Future Pathways, School of Performing Arts, Co-curricular Programs and CentrePoint Café, helping families stay informed about the topics most relevant to them.
Importantly, essential College communications and information directly related to your child will continue to be delivered through existing KICOnline channels. Families who choose not to join a group can still access all published content at any time within KICOnline.
A guide for parents/carers explaining how to join groups, manage notifications and personalise your KICOnline experience can be found here.
We appreciate the valuable feedback as we continue to improve communication and engagement across our College community.
Junior School Student Action
'Pass the Snacks' Food Donation Drive
'For the past month the Junior School has been collecting food donations in year level categories for an organisation called Pass the Snacks. Pass the Snacks is an organisation that collects food donations, packs them into boxes and sends them to schools around Geelong that give the boxes to kids that don’t have enough food during the school holidays.
The Student Action Committee collected 307 items of food (22 boxes) from our Junior School community, which is incredible!
On the 10th of August a packing day was held where some Year 6 volunteers and the Year 2s got to pack all the food donations. This became part of some Year 6 students’ Exhibition action.
Everyone was very lucky that we got to have some people from the Pass the Snacks organisation come in and share important information about the charity and how we can help.'
- Hattie - Student Action Leader, Year 6
Library Services News
Book Week 2026 - A Symphony of Stories
What a fantastic Book Week we had across the College! Our “A Symphony of Stories” theme brought books, characters, creativity and plenty of fun to life, with students and staff embracing the celebrations across both the Junior and Senior Schools.
Senior School
The Senior School was buzzing throughout the week, with students getting involved in a range of activities celebrating their love of reading.
Thanks to gold coin donations from students who dressed up for the Book Parade, our community raised an outstanding $1,245.40 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, supporting access to culturally meaningful books and literacy opportunities for First Nations children and remote communities. (This total will gift two libraries of culturally meaningful books to remote Community Centres in Australia, deliver 20 books to First Nations children in remote schools and gift 5 books to an additional child who otherwise wouldn't have access to them).
The Book Parades were a highlight, with students showcasing some wonderful and creative costumes. Congratulations to our Senior School parade winners:
- Ned M, Jai S, Charlie E, Sonia H, Lenny G, Georgia S, ‘The Odessey’ and Cruella and the Dalmatians.
Students also put their artistic talents on display in our Album Cover Artwork Competition, creating imaginative album covers inspired by books, stories and characters.
There was also plenty of excitement as students searched the school for the six Wallys, cleverly hidden around the Senior School. It proved to be a great way to get students exploring the school while celebrating one of the world’s most recognisable book characters!
Junior School
Book Week was just as exciting in the Junior School, where students enjoyed a visit from Australian author Chris Collin, author of the much-loved Funky Chicken books. Chris entertained students with his stories and brought his enthusiasm for books and reading to life.
Our Junior School students also enjoyed getting creative at the Book Week Photo Booth, capturing some wonderful memories from the celebrations.
The creative fun continued with Book Week craft activities, where students made their own musical instruments, including tambourines and drums, linking beautifully with our A Symphony of Stories theme.
It was wonderful to see so much energy, creativity and enthusiasm for books and reading throughout the College. Thank you to everyone who helped make Book Week such a memorable celebration!
Arts News
The Annual Senior School Art Show is nearly here! Have you got your entry ready?
This year, in celebrating the College's 30 Year Anniversary, the Art Show coincides with a very special Art Competition.
Open to students, alumni, past and present staff, artworks can be created in response to the theme, 'Honouring the past, creating bridges to the future.' Plenty of prizes to be won! Register at the link below, artworks can be 2D or 3D in any medium you choose, and no bigger than 1m x 1m. Ready to hang pieces are to be submitted by Wednesday 7 October.
Register Here: KIC 30th Anniversary - Art Competition! – Fill out form
Japanese Week Celebrations
Last week's Japanese Week celebrations in the Senior School featured a variety of activities, including Mario Kart competitions, a Taiko drumming workshop, matcha smoothies, origami, koinobori kite making and more! A fun and immersive opportunity for our senior students to engage with Japanese culture.
A big thank you to our Languages Department (and a big shout out to Ota Sensei!) and IB Japanese year 1 students (Hollie M, Tina M, Sebastian F, Kirilee M, and Jasper G) for putting together a brilliant week of Japanese celebrations!
Student Achievements
Kardinia Students Shine at International Cadet World Championships - Sailing
Several Kardinia International College students recently represented Australia at the 2026 International Cadet World Championships on Lake Garda, Italy, achieving outstanding results against some of the world's best young sailors.
Will Garner (Year 8, and a member of Kardinia's High-Performance Athlete Program) delivered an exceptional performance sailing 'Kachow', and finishing 2nd overall with his crew Jack in a fleet of 65 boats from 10 countries. After earning Australian team selection following a strong result at the Australian Cadet Championship, Will and his crew competed consistently throughout the regatta and were even overall leaders midway through the event. As the highest-placed Under 15 and Under 16 skipper, Will was also awarded the Ellis Perpetual Trophy and Wilson Perpetual Trophy.
Walter H (Year 10) also represented Australia at the championships (and is a fellow member of the High Performance Athlete Program), finishing a commendable 37th overall in a highly competitive international fleet. Sailing 'Mischief Managed', in variable conditions with his crew Will throughout the regatta, Walter faced a particular challenge as one of the tallest sailors in the fleet, with lighter winds favouring smaller crews for much of the competition. Walter earned his selection for World Championships after coming third in the National Competition and was the first Victorian boat to qualify.
Meanwhile, Matilda G (Year 10) achieved outstanding success in the Promotional Fleet, sailing 'Ocean Warrior'. With the support of her crew Poppy, Matilda won the division overall after navigating challenging racing conditions throughout the regatta.
We congratulate Will, Walter and Matilda on their incredible achievements and on representing both Australia and Kardinia International College on the international stage.
Music News
Geelong City Market was buzzing!
Our bands brought plenty of energy, great music, and big smiles to the Geelong City Market on Saturday, entertaining shoppers and visitors throughout the day. It was wonderful to see our students performing with such confidence and enthusiasm while gaining valuable real-world performance experience.
Congratulations on a fantastic gig. You made us proud!
Featured Bands: Mean Teeth / Square 1 / No Standing / Eliza and Jake
Future Pathways and Education News
Year 9 Morrisby Profiles
Our year 9 students recently completed their Morrisby Profiles. Following this, each student was offered a small group debrief session where they were guided through interpreting their individual report and making sense of the results.
This is just one tool in a student's future pathways toolkit — it can be logged into and revisited at any time, at the student's discretion. We encourage students to sit down with family and talk through their Morrisby results together. It's worth remembering that the tool doesn't predict the future; rather, it offers a starting point for researching careers and planning future pathways.
The Morrisby Profile is a set of assesments and questionnaires designed to help students discover their own strengths, preferences and interests. Results are interpreted in the context of careers and education, offering personalised suggestions for career areas, subject choices and study pathways.
Future Pathways Resources for Kardinia students and families: https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/kardinia-international-college/
Supporting Year 12 Students with University and TAFE Applications
It's a busy time of year for our senior students, who are nearing the end of their learning content and beginning exam revision — all while managing applications for university, TAFE and residential colleges. We'd encourage you to check in with Year 12 students to see how they're coping with the administrative load. A reminder that most initial university applications are due towards the end of Term 3, and that application dates, submission windows and requirements vary across states and territories.
We have been offering weekly lunchtime drop-in sessions where students don't need to make an appointment, and we can provide assistance with applications and questions for Year 12 Students.
Planning What's Next: Pathways and Career Resources for Senior Students and Families
The senior years bring a wave of big decisions — and just as many questions. To help students and families navigate this exciting stage, we've pulled together a set of resources covering the key steps in planning life after school.
Whether your family is exploring university, weighing up a trade, or just starting the conversation about "what's next," these guides are a great place to start:
- Pathways Planning Guides – A range of guides to support students exploring their options after school
- Accommodation Guide – What to consider when moving away for study or work
- University Applications – Step-by-step help with applying to uni
- Apprenticeships – Information on entering a trade or apprenticeship pathway
- Scholarships – Where to look and how to apply for financial support
- Year 12 School Leaver Guide – A comprehensive resource for the transition beyond school
All these resources — and more — can be found in our Future Pathways Hub, accessible via KIConline and Pathways Hub.
We encourage families to explore these together and use them as a starting point for career conversations at home. As always, our future pathways team is here to help — reach out any time with questions futurepathways@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Work Experience
One of the most valuable things we can offer young people is a glimpse into the world beyond the classroom. Our Future Pathways team is seeking support from the College community — alumni, parents/carers, community members and local businesses — who may be able to offer work experience opportunities or share their career journey with our students.
Even a few days of workplace exposure, or a 30-minute conversation, could help a student discover a passion, build confidence, or explore a pathway they may never have considered.
As a community, we hold a wealth of experience, knowledge and connections that can help shape the next generation. If you're in a position to help, we'd love to hear from you.
Please contact futurepathways@kardinia.vic.edu.au, or reach out directly to Kloe Woods, Head of Future Pathways and Education Department.
Wellbeing Hub News
For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on.
Recent studies have shown that children benefit greatly from having fathers who are present and interacting in everyday activities. This has transformed the understanding of how fathers shape children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.
Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.
In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care.
Upcoming Parent Webinar
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Term 4 Parent Coffee Morning - Save the Date!
The final K–12 Parent Coffee Morning for the year will be held on Monday 5 October, from 9:00am–10:00am at Centrepoint Café.
We warmly invite parents to come along, enjoy a morning beverage, and reconnect with one another and with members of our Leadership Team. It’s a relaxed and friendly opportunity to catch up after the holiday break and begin Term 4 with fresh momentum and a warm sense of community.
No RSVP is required for this event.
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Celebrating 30 Years - Book Week Through the Years
As we celebrate 30 years of Kardinia International College, Book Week stands out as one of the enduring traditions enjoyed by both Highview and Junior School staff and students. From its earliest days, the event has brought together creativity, laughter, and a shared love of reading. It is an annual reminder of the joy that stories bring to our community.
Across the three decades, Book Week has been a highlight for children and staff alike, filling classrooms and corridors with colour and imagination. As shown in these cherished archival images, the celebration has always been more than costumes and characters; it reflects our collective enthusiasm for literature and learning.
Since last year, Senior School staff and students have enthusiastically joined the fun, adding their own flair and energy to the festivities.
With the 2026 Book Week now fresh in our memory, it’s wonderful to look back on the photos and moments that capture the spirit of this long‑loved tradition. From thoughtfully created outfits to inspired literary displays, Book Week continues to remind us that stories connect generations and spark creativity across the College.
Photos: College Archives
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
Community
City of Greater Geelong Parenting Support Programs
