From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
Brrrrr, the cold has certainly set in over the last week or so but that did not phase our teachers who fronted up today to have ice cold buckets of water and water balloons thrown at them all in the name of charity.
This was a student led initiative as part of the Big Freeze fight against MND. Thank you to all the students who were involved in the organisation of the event and to our brave staff who showed a great sense of community spirit in their participation.
Two other people feeling the cold yesterday were our visitors from Chiang Mai, Khun Jeab and Khun A from our Sum Pun Campus. It was lovely to have the opportunity to show them around our campus and they delighted some of our students who were on a break from the GAT and spotted them. The students rushed up and were super excited to see Khun Jeab and Khun A again.
The students' reactions reinforced for me the lasting, positive impact that the Chiang Mai journey can have on our students and how fortunate we are to have such fantastic Thai staff as part of our College community.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
Congratulations to all of our students who completed the General Achievement Test (GAT) yesterday. The GAT is a test of general knowledge and skills, and is completed by all students undertaking a Unit 3/4 VCE subject of Year 2 IB. The test draws on past study of subjects such as English, Maths, Science and History and provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate that they meet the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy standards at the expected senior secondary level.
For anyone who would like to learn more about the GAT and its importance for senior secondary students, please visit: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/general-achievement-test/gat-overview
Congratulations to Year 7 student Jennifer, who was awarded Runner Up in the Australian Youth Classical Music Competition over the long weekend. She performed Cantos de Espana, Prelude by Isaac Albéniz and The Lark by Mikhail Glinka. We are looking forward to hearing Jennifer perform for the College community in the future.
Finally, this Friday evening sees our second student-led concert arranged by our Performing Arts Captain, Millie. The Jazz and Blues Concert will be in the College Hall at 6:30pm, with doors opening at 6pm. Tickets are free and available from https://events.humanitix.com/jazz-and-blues; a gold coin donation is requested, with funds raised going towards the purchase of new musical instruments.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Nikki Petyanszki
At KIC, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and connection as outlined in the community section of our Strategic Plan. Our focus on community is something we actively nurture every day. Whether it's through collaborative learning, building meaningful relationships, or shared celebrations. This week I have seen many examples of this coming to life across the College.
Every term, during Morning Melodies, I'm reminded of the remarkable talent our students at KIC possess. They approach these performances with confidence and pride. As I walked back from the event, I overheard students praising and congratulating their classmates for their impressive performances. Moments like these exemplify the supportive community we aim to build here at KIC.
The RAGE committee ran a down ball competition for students at lunch time this week. This initiative not only developed the Year 6 student leadership skills but also created community amongst students from different year levels. A lot of fun was had by all!
Students are always excited about our buddy program, which fosters connections that last for years. Today, our Kinder 4 students visited their buddies at the Grove, and I'm eager to hear their stories. A Grove teacher shared with me, ‘The joy has been heartwarming!’
Primary School Citizenship Award
The Order of Australia Association – Barwon Regional Group invites Grade 6 students to participate in the Primary School Citizenship Award, aimed at celebrating outstanding Australian citizenship. Selected students will present a 3-minute speech on 21 August 2025 at the Geelong RSL, with applications due by 4 July 2024. There are also prizes for the winning student. The award is about what citizenship means to the student and how this has been undertaken by them in their school or community activities. Last year’s winner came from Mount Duneed Regional Primary School.
To find out more information and for a submission form, please email Wayne Myers, Convenor, Primary Schools Citizenship Award at waynemyers@outlook.com
Enrolment Withdrawal
If you are thinking of withdrawing your child, as per the College's terms and conditions a terms notice is required, in writing. Please contact the Marketing and Admissions Department via email: marketing@kardinia.vic.edu.au
A Note from the Finance Department
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) and School Savings Bonus (SSB)
The 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. The allowance is paid directly to the school to use only towards expenses relating to camps, excursions, or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student for 2025 is:
- $154 for primary school students
- $256 for secondary school students.
If you applied for the CSEF at Kardinia International College in 2024, you do not need to complete an application form in 2025 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances, (i.e. new student enrolments: your child has started or changed schools in 2025, or you did not apply for CSEF at Kardinia International College in 2024, changed family circumstances: such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commenced at the school in 2025)
If a form was not lodged in 2024, parents or legal guardians are required to complete a CSEF application form and lodge it with their child’s school for processing.
Application forms are available through the below links.
Application forms should be completed and lodged with Kardinia International College as soon as possible. Final date for Kardinia International College to process applications is 4 July 2025. Forms must be submitted to Kardinia International College no later than end of Term 2, Friday 27 June 2025
Please email completed application form to accounts@kardinia.vic.gov.au
School Savings Bonus – Non-Government Schools:
School Savings Bonus of $400 is available for students attending Non-Government Schools if they are eligible for CSEF in 2025 and have not already received SSB through a government school in 2024.
There is not a separate application process for the SSB, if you complete the CSEF application process and are eligible for CSEF you will also be eligible for SSB.
Bridges Scholarship 2026
Applications for the Year 10 Bridges Scholarship in 2026 are closing soon! Click on the image below for more information:
Host Families Needed!
Are you interested in Becoming a Homestay Parent? 🌎🏡
Kardinia International College provides a very successful overseas student program for students from Years 7-12. Our program is growing and we are looking for more people interested in becoming Homestay Parents!
Our Homestay families provide a caring and nurturing environment for our overseas students and receive weekly remuneration for undertaking this role.
For more information about Homestay please contact Homestay Coordinator Yuting Zhao on y.zhao@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Music News
KIC IT Combined School Band Workshop
Some of our talented music students were fortunate enough to participate in the Combines School Band Workshop last Tuesday at Iona College. Working together with students from other schools in the region, the students combined to learn two pieces with guest conductor Ari Farrar. They rehearsed all afternoon and presented individual school pieces and the combined pieces to families that evening.
Child Safe Standards
We’re now in Week 9 of our series highlighting the Child Safe Standards, which form the foundation of our commitment to a safe and supportive environment for all students. This week, we explore Child Safe Standard 9 - Safe Physical and Online Environments.
At Kardinia, we are committed to creating safe environments for our students, both physically and online. We work to reduce risks by ensuring our physical spaces and digital platforms are secure and promote students' safety and wellbeing. This includes assessing potential risks and making sure that both online activities and physical environments align with our Child Safety and Wellbeing policies.
We also ensure that external contractors and service providers meet our child safety standards. By prioritising safety in both the real and online world, we help our students feel secure and supported in all aspects of their learning experience.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact our Child Safety Protection Officers – the Acting Head of Junior School or Head of Senior School.
Wellbeing Hub News
Happy Families Live webinar with Dr Justin Coulson: Wednesday 18 June, 7pm
Rewards are Just Punishments in Reverse!
Punishments are out. Rewards are out. So what should we do instead?
Join Dr Justin Coulson for Carrots & Sticks: Better Ways to Build Boundaries with Your Kids (and Students!) on tonight at 7pm AEST. Together you'll explore science-backed alternatives and move beyond outdated discipline methods.
To access the Webinar: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/kic Password: happykic
* We recommend bookmarking this link. You should only need to put the password in once and the site will remember you.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Kardinians Footy Tipping Winner- Round 10
Congratulations to Alumni Henri Mason (Class of 2022) on topping the leader board at the end of Round 10 and pocketing a bonus $20.
Another winner will be announced next week for our Round 15 bonus prize!
Searching for Missing Alumni
Were you part of the Kardinia journey between 1996 and 2006 or are you in contact with those who were? We are searching for missing alumni, particularly from the first decade.
The First 10 Years Reunion is on Friday 21 November and the Combined 5-, 10-, 15- & 20-Year Reunion for the Classes of 2020, 2015, 2010 and 2005 is Saturday 29 November.
Update your contact details or register now: https://kardinians.com
Save the Dates and spread the word! Tickets released soon!
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
The Kardinians – Continuing to Reflect on Our Social Media Journey
Our Facebook and Instagram pages are a treasure trove of memories, capturing special moments from over the years. Since 2012, the Kardinians have been sharing milestones, celebrations, and everyday joys with our community.
This week, we are continuing a nostalgic trip down memory lane — revisiting some of our earliest posts, including glimpses of the Class of 2013 during their Junior School days and their proud Year 12 Graduation.
Going forward, all new updates will be shared on our official account, @KardiniaCollege, but don’t worry — all past posts will remain online for you to explore and enjoy anytime.
Thank you for being part of our story. We hope you enjoy the memories!
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
Community
Geelong Youth Choir Concert
