From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
It is wonderful to see the sun shining today as we commence the first week of Term 4. As always Term 4 will be jam packed and will no doubt fly by in the wink of an eye. It is also our final term of our 30-year celebrations and I hope that we can finish this special year in a really positive way.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
Looking ahead in the Senior School
- Wednesday 14 October – Last Day Year 12 Classes
- Thursday 15 October – Class of 2026 Celebration Day
- Friday 16 October – Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony
- Monday 26 October – IB Exams commence
- Tuesday 27 October – VCE Written Exams commence
- Monday 26 October – Year 10 Leadership Program (Periods 1-4)
- Thursday 29 October – Art Show Awards Night
- Monday 2 November – Student-Free Day
- Tuesday 3 November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- Monday 16 November – Level D/E and Year 11 Exams commence
- Monday 23 November – Year 11 and 12 2027 Orientation Week commences
- Friday 27 November – Last Day for Year 11 students
- Monday 30 November – Year 10 Journeys commence
- Tuesday 1 December – Year 9 Wellbeing Day
- Friday 4 December – Last Day for Year 10 students
- Tuesday 8 December – Last Day for Year 7-9 students
Welcome back after what I hope has been a restful break for everyone. The Senior School has got straight back into the business of learning. Things come to a conclusion for Senior School students quite quickly this term, starting with our Year 12s who conclude their formal schooling next week, before moving into SWOTVAC and then exams. We are very grateful for this group of students and the positive impact they have had on our College. We look forward to celebrating with them next week.
Another reminder to students and families regarding hats; the College broad-brimmed hat is compulsory during Term 4 (and Term 1). There are a number of students who have not yet brought their hat to school this term and we’d appreciate everyone’s cooperation in making sure our young people are sun smart.
From the Head of Junior School - Mario Chrisanthou
World Teachers’ Day 2026
What profession would you choose if your day began before most people arrived and often ended long after everyone else had gone home?
What profession would you choose if, in a single morning, you were expected to teach, inspire, guide, counsel, nurture, resolve conflicts, manage technology, organise events and support the wellbeing of every child in your care?
Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions in the world, but it is also one of the most demanding. Every day, teachers plan engaging lessons, provide individual support, monitor student wellbeing, communicate with families, assess learning, supervise activities, attend meetings, manage administration and respond to the countless unexpected challenges that arise in a busy school environment. Behind every lesson is significant preparation, and behind every successful student is a teacher who has invested time, care, expertise and energy into helping them thrive.
On Monday, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day and recognised the extraordinary contribution teachers make to our community. We are fortunate to have an exceptional team of educators who go above and beyond every day in service of our students.
The same teachers we celebrate on World Teachers’ Day are also the people who know our children best. They spend countless hours with students each week, developing an understanding of their strengths, challenges, friendships, learning styles, interests and wellbeing needs. It is this deep knowledge of each child that makes them uniquely qualified to support one of the most important processes of the year: planning classes for 2027.
Over the coming weeks, our teachers will begin carefully considering class placements for next year. This process is thoughtful, collaborative and student-centred. Classroom teachers, single subject teachers, learning support staff and leadership work together to create classes that allow every child to thrive socially, emotionally and academically. As part of this process, we work carefully to ensure that every student is placed with at least one friend and is matched with a teacher and learning environment that will best support their continued growth and success.
We understand that every parent wants the very best for their child and that any suggestions regarding class placements come from a place of care and positive intent. However, to ensure fairness and equity for all students, we will not be accepting requests for specific teachers or classmates as part of the 2027 class placement process. Instead, we place our trust in the professional judgement of our teachers and staff.
Our experience tells us that the most successful class placements occur when staff are able to consider the needs of every child across the year level. This broader perspective enables us to create balanced classes and make decisions that are in the best interests of all students. Families can be assured that considerable time, discussion and thoughtful consideration goes into every placement. While class allocations may not always align with individual preferences, they are made with one goal in mind: providing every child with the strongest possible opportunity to flourish.
Volleyball Champions
Congratulations to our Year 6 students Livana D, Sophia M and Aria M on their outstanding achievement at the Junior Country Volleyball Championships held in Horsham from 25-27 September. Representing the Geelong Region Under 15 Girls team, the girls competed across a three-day tournament and were crowned champions, earning gold medals for their efforts. This is a remarkable accomplishment, particularly given they were competing at an Under 15 level. We are incredibly proud of Livana, Sophia and Aria.
Regional Athletics
Congratulations to Lily A, Claudia B, Emily H, Estelle R, Elijah T, and Mikayla W on qualifying for the Regional Athletics Championships.
We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they have represented Kardinia. We wish them every success at the Regional Championships and look forward to hearing about their experiences and achievements. Good luck, and enjoy the opportunity to compete at this level!
Track and Field State Championships
I was also fortunate enough to watch Mikayla Wallis compete during the school holidays at the State Track and Field Championships in Albert Park. Mikayla represented Kardinia with distinction, competing in the 100m, triple jump and long jump against some of the strongest young athletes from across Victoria, many of whom were more than a year older. To compete at this level is an outstanding achievement in itself and reflects Mikayla’s dedication and talent. We congratulate Mikayla on her wonderful performance and the way she represented both herself and the College. We look forward to following her future athletic successes.
KIC KATS Claim Grand Final Victory
The Kardinia KIC KATS were crowned champions of the Geelong United Basketball Grades 3 & 4 School Competition, winning a thrilling Grand Final by just two points. As the only girls' team to qualify for the finals series, the KATS showed incredible determination and skill, defeating a number of all-boys teams on their way to the title. The team consisted of Milla S, Pippa G, Pearl R, Amber M, Zarli N, Mabel N, Imogen B, Zoe S and Tilly G. A special congratulations to Imogen B, who was named Grand Final MVP.
Steptember Superstar
Ana P’s commitment to Steptember continues to inspire our community. Now in her third consecutive year participating, Ana challenged herself to walk at least 10,000 steps each day throughout September to raise funds for early intervention programs that support babies with cerebral palsy. This year, she walked an incredible 408,283 steps, averaging 13,609 steps per day, and raised an outstanding $3,903. Even more remarkably, Ana set herself a three-year fundraising goal of $10,000 and surpassed it, finishing with a total of $10,186 raised. We thank Ana for the positive difference she continues to make in the lives of others through her efforts.
Upcoming dates
12 October- Year 5 Assembly
12- 15 October- Year 6 Camp
13 October- KIC Connect meeting at 2:30PM
15 October- Year 1 Excursion- Werribee Zoo
15 October- Year 5 Excursion- Geelong Show
Enrolment Withdrawal
If you are thinking of withdrawing your child, please be aware that the College requires a Term's notice, in writing. This is outlined in our terms and conditions.
Please contact the Marketing and Admissions Department via email: marketing@kardinia.vic.edu.au
College Art Show - 30 Year Anniversary Special Edition
The Annual Senior School Art Show is nearly here, mark your calendars for Awards Night!
Alongside this year's 30 Year Anniversary Celebrations, the Art Show includes a very special Art Competition! Come along to see entries from students, alumni, past and present staff, artworks have been created in response to the theme, 'Honouring the past, creating bridges to the future' as well as student pieces from various year levels, created throughout 2026.
Don't miss it! Awards Night: Thursday 29 October, 5-8pm (the exhibition will be up from 26-30 October, and open for viewing from 9am-5pm).
Waste Audit 2026
Our senior school Earthcore students and Sustaining the Planet classes rolled up their sleeves for our annual Waste Audit late last term, working alongside 30+ student volunteers to investigate what is really going into KIC’s bins.
Students sorted and analysed our waste to identify what we are doing well, where we can improve and how we can reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The audit provides valuable evidence to help KIC continue working towards our ResourceSmart Schools 5-Star goal.
One very concerning and obvious observation from the day was the significant level of contamination in our yellow recycling bins. At first glance, some yellow bins looked more like general waste bins than recycling bins. We also need to remember that our green bins are for food waste only.
While we will carefully analyse the data before drawing conclusions, the audit was a stark reminder that we all have a responsibility to Bin It Right every time.
Our five bin streams are:
🟢 Green – food waste only
🔵 Blue – paper and cardboard
🟡 Yellow – comingled recycling
🟣 Purple – eligible 10c containers
🔴 Red – general waste
Full results, findings and recommendations will be shared shortly. But we don’t need to wait for the report to act. Stop, check and Bin It Right and encourage others to do the same.
A huge thank you to our students, staff and maintenance team for making this year's Waste Audit possible.
Cocurricular News
Junior School Chess Club
RoboCup National Competition
Two Kardinia teams proudly represented the College at the 2026 RoboCup Junior Australian Open National Championships in Canberra, following their success at the Geelong Regional and Victorian State competitions.
Our Year 7 Mighty Maisy Rescue Maze team of Akshaj S, Hriday A, Arya J and Dylan W finished an impressive 11th in Australia. After encountering significant challenges with their robot and code on Day 1, the students spent the evening troubleshooting, rewriting and refining their code before returning determined to compete again. Their persistence, teamwork and resilience were just as impressive as their national result.
In Standard Soccer, Year 11 students Clemy W and Winter Z achieved an outstanding 4th place in Australia and were one of only two all-girls teams in their division. Their finals campaign included a thrilling 3–2 Golden Goal victory, along with an impressive display of sportsmanship under pressure.
RoboCup is about much more than rankings. Across the competition, our students put coding, engineering, design and problem-solving into practice while developing teamwork, resilience and the confidence to keep trying when things don't go to plan.
Congratulations to Akshaj, Hriday, Arya, Dylan, Clemy and Winter on an incredible national achievement and on the way they represented Kardinia throughout their RoboCup journey.
Well done, Team Kardinia!
Sport News
All Schools State Athletics
Seven Kardinia students represented the College at the Victorian All Schools Athletics Championships in Melbourne during the final weekend of the school holidays, competing against the state's best athletes in challenging cold and wet conditions.
Their efforts were rewarded with an outstanding five medals:
- Arkadiy G (Year 8) - Gold in U14 Boys Long Jump and Triple Jump (both PBs).
- Teagan R (Year 11) - Silver in U18 Girls 400m
- Gemma Q (Year 8) - Bronze in U15 Girls Long Jump
- Zoe B (Year 8) - Bronze in U14 Girls Hammer Throw
Arkadiy's two gold medals and Teagan's silver medal have secured their selection in the Victorian team for the National Championships in Perth later this year. We wish them the very best as they represent Victoria on the national stage.
Congratulations also to the full Kardinia team for their outstanding efforts in highly competitive fields: Mikayla W (Year 6), Zoe B (Year 8), Arkadiy G (Year 8), Gemma Q (Year 8), Cooper H (Year 11), Guy M (Year 11) and Teagan R (Year 11).
2026 GISSA Golf Championship Division 2
On Friday 4 September Tom K (Year 9), Ted R (Year 11), Luke N (Year 9) and Oscar B (Year 9) represented the college at the GISSA Division 2 Golf Championships. Queen’s Park Golf Course hosted the event and the conditions were perfect. 29 students representing six local schools teed off in the Stableford format competition over the back nine holes. Congratulations to our four representatives on their performance.
Individual Results:
Tom - 20 points (tied for first place, second place on countback)
Ted - 16 points
Luke - 14 points
Oscar - 13 points
Team Results:
Iona College - 56
St Ignatius College - 53
Kardinia International College - 50
Celebrating Outstanding Rowing Achievements
Congratulations to Grace (Year 12) and Skye (Year 9), who were recognised at the 2026 Rowing Victoria Hall of Fame Gala Awards in Melbourne on 19 September.
Grace was awarded School Person of the Year, recognising her outstanding achievement in rowing whilst showing great respect, initiative and commitment to both her rowing program and community. The award celebrates a school member who is a valued team member of their club or school, well-regarded by peers and staff, and who consistently makes a positive contribution throughout the season. This is a wonderful acknowledgement of Grace's character, leadership and commitment to those around her.
Skye was awarded School Rower of the Year, recognising her outstanding performance and consistency across the rowing season. This is a significant achievement at the Victorian level and follows Skye's Schoolgirl Rower of the Year success in 2025, making this a back-to-back Rowing Victoria recognition.
We are incredibly proud of both Grace and Skye for representing themselves, their schools and their rowing communities with such excellence. Their achievements reflect not only their dedication and talent, but also the commitment, resilience and teamwork that underpin success in sport.
Congratulations, Grace and Skye!
Wellbeing Hub News
Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person's life. Although the prospect might seem somewhat daunting or even terrifying for parents and caregivers, keeping young people safe can often be a compromise and a challenge.
Your son or daughter may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour. Most young people try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a caregiver is crucial. Ensure you are a good role model and discuss your personal views on drug and alcohol use. Your attitude towards addictive substances can have an enormous influence on the way your teenager approaches their own use.
Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue for your teenager can be a fun and memorable event. It all comes down to careful planning. It is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later. As the host you owe your guests a 'duty-of-care' and therefore should take all reasonable steps to ensure everyone attending the party is kept safe. Every party has the potential to get out-of-hand, as sometimes it's hard for young partygoers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in.
For more information and practical advice, visit:
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Bloom and Brunch - A Wildflower Planting Morning at Serendip Park
Our next K-12 community event is the annual Bloom and Brunch at Serendip Park on Sunday 18 October.
The focus is to plant native wildflowers at Serendip Park, that attract beneficial insects and support biodiversity. It will be followed by a BBQ brunch.
Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Location: Serendip Park
BBQ Brunch Provided! (Please complete dietary requirements)
Tickets $15 (Family) or $5 (Individual) available at: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-bloom-and-brunch-a-k-12-community-event
The First Decade Reunion 1996-2006
As part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations, we are delighted to invite all alumni and staff who were part of Kardinia International College during its first decade, to a special reunion event. This gathering offers a meaningful opportunity to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate the formative years that helped shape the College’s identity.
Date: Friday, 30 October 2026
Time: 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Venue: Meet Me at Mary’s
Eligibility: All students and staff who attended the College between 1996 and 2006
Tickets are available at: Tickets for the First Decade Reunion
This commemorative evening honours the earliest chapter of Kardinia’s history and the people who helped establish the foundations of our vibrant community.
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Celebrating 30 Years - The Bell Magazines 1996 - 2000
The very first issue of The Bell Magazine at Kardinia International College covered the foundational years spanning 1996 to 1998. It included a message from our Founder, Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata:
Congratulations to Kardinia International College on the first publication of our College Magazine ‘The Bell.’
I would like to say thank you to all staff, students and their parents for the wonderful start to the story of this new College. It is so pleasing to see so many children around these wonderful grounds. Along with the Board I will be trying my best to help the College grow stronger and become a very famous College in Victoria. The College will continue to grow larger over the next few years and will require a number of new facilities. We look forward to this continuing development.
I offer thanks to all our families for their great support and best wishes for the years ahead.
The cover of the inaugural magazine featured a photograph of the entire school, from 3-Year-old Highview children, through to Senior Students up to Year 11.
The 1999 edition of The Bell similarly holds historical significance for the college archive collection as it documents the inaugural Year 12 graduating class. After opening its doors in February 1996, the Class of 1999 was the very first cohort to complete their final year of senior schooling.
Note: The College’s annual magazine was originally titled The Bell. Following consultation with local Aboriginal leaders, it was renamed The Bridge in 2021.
Photo: College Archives
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
Community
Read The Play: Serenity in the Stadium Event
Bluebird Foundation Student Workshops
