From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
Term 3 has started well, despite the cold and wintery weather we have had over the last few days. As I have wandered around the school this week, I just love the warmth and energy that is produced by our students, it takes the cold chill away.
We have had some new staff and students commence with us this term and I hope that they are all feeling a warm Kardinia welcome.
It was great to see a good number of parents at the CCC coffee morning yesterday and hear about their children and their experiences at KIC.
I wish everyone all the very best for Term 3.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
Welcome back to Term Three and Semester Two. We welcome four new staff members in the Senior School – Mr Lachlan Verhagen (Health and PE), Ms Izzy Willmott (Humanities), Ms Jacqui Cussen (English) and Ms Heidi Bridges (English). We are also very pleased to have Mrs Margaret Scorgie and Mr Colin Brown back with us after extended periods of leave.
At the end of last term we announced the four new Heads of House, who will take responsibility for the new wings of each existing house in 2026. Congratulations to Mr Allister Hill (Cowie), Mr Tim Adams (Gotemba), Mr Trent Lucas (Morongo) and Ms Leah Higginson (Thomson). These members of staff will work closely with the existing Heads of House for the remainder of this year in preparation for the launch of the new wings in 2026.
Over the break I was fortunate to travel to Timor-Leste with a group of Year 11 students. Kardinia International College has a long-standing connection with Timor-Leste, and in particular, with the municipality of Viqueque. While we had done extensive preparatory work prior to leaving Australia, the students were able to immerse themselves in Timorese culture from the moment we arrived in Dili, learning about the country’s fight for Independence and the terrible toll on the country and its people. In Viqueque, our students were able to enact the projects that they had worked on, including teaching English, running art and music sessions, setting up a computer lab, donating sports equipment, and establishing a community garden. I was so immensely proud of our students, who worked hard to establish their projects and then were able to see the impact of these projects first-hand. We were also fortunate to attend the Australia Timor-Leste Friendship Network International Conference when we returned to Dili, and learned about the impact that Friendship groups from across Australia have had on communities across Timor-Leste, in some cases for over 20 years. We were incredibly fortunate to meet the President of Timor-Leste, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta at the conference, who spoke with our students for an extended period.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Geoff Geddes
Welcome back, families! We’re so happy to see everyone’s smiling faces again and are thrilled to share that it’s been a wonderful start to the term. Thank you for sending your amazing kids ready to learn and grow together. Here’s to another fantastic term filled with wisdom, respect and friendship.
We’re also excited to let you know that we’ve been working with Tania Latanzio this week. On Monday, Tania delivered a full-day workshop for all our staff. She will continue working with each team to plan lessons, model lessons, and then work with teachers to reflect and plan next steps in the learning for each group. As an expert in concept-based inquiry, Tania has been an incredible resource, and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with her for a third year running. Please browse Tania’s website if you would like to learn more about her work.
Today our Foundation Year students worked with Tania as they launched into their How the World Works unit. Students were busy exploring nature, the purpose of this session was to give students the opportunity to share what they already know about nature. Students were encouraged to focus on the details. Teachers will now review what has been revealed during the session and plan next steps in the learning.
Please have a wonderful term!
Bridges Scholarship 2026
Applications for the Year 10 Bridges Scholarship in 2026 are closing soon! Click on the image below for more information:
A Note From The Finance Department
Friendly Reminder: 2025 Term 4 fees are due on Friday 1 August 2025.
Sport News
GISSA- Year 7/8 Girls Netball
Trudy G was awarded with Best Sportsperson, Matilda was awarded with Best of Court and both received prizes. They showed good sportsmanship throughout the day, and the teams were encouraging towards each other and played with high energy and positive attitude. A huge thank you to Hannah C who coached them.
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
Library Services News
Morris Gleitzman is one of Australia’s most successful and experienced children’s authors. He was the Australian Children's Laureate for 2018 and 2019. As a speaker he uses the mix of humour and emotion in his best-selling books. His sessions are informal, interactive and fun. Sharing the secrets of his writing room, Morris leaves students informed and inspired, as well as equipped with tools for their own adventures in literacy and creativity. His titles include Two Weeks With The Queen, Grace, Doubting Thomas, Bumface, Give Peas A Chance, Extra Time, Loyal Creatures, Tweet and the series Once, Then, After, Soon, Maybe, Now and Always.
He will be speaking to Year 5, 6 and 7 students on Monday 28 July at 1:40pm, followed by a book signing.
Families may want to purchase his books online, from other bookstores or bring books in from home.
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 at y.zhao@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Wellbeing Hub News
Happy Families Upcoming Webinar - Wednesday 20 August, 7pm
Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry
It’s heartbreaking to see our kids struggling with anxiety. The statistics paint a stark picture: anxiety disorders are on the rise, affecting approximately one in seven primary school children and one in four adolescents. We see our kids burdened by fears and worries, their confidence fading, and sometimes even experiencing panic attacks. As parents, we desperately want to help but often feel lost or unsure of what to do.
Anxious: Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry offers a lifeline. In this presentation, Dr Justin Coulson will unpack what anxiety looks like in children and provide you with simple, practical strategies that are both clinically proven and easy to implement at home.
Empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and help them build resilience in the face of anxiety.
Click here to register
School TV
Resilience is important for a child’s mental health. It is their ability to bounce back from failure, challenges, adversity and stress. It’s not something that kids have or don’t have but a skill that kids develop over time as they grow. Building resilience not only helps a child deal with current difficulties, but it also helps develop a resilient mindset that will help them deal with challenges later in life. All children are capable of working through challenges and coping with stress, but they require guidance and support from a charismatic adult role model.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Where Are They Now- Alumna Alicia Ryan (Class of 2014) Selected for Swedish Team at World Championships
We’re thrilled to share that alumna Alicia Ryan (Class of 2014), riding Morricello 11 VH, has been named to the Swedish Team for the prestigious FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. This international event will take place in Verden, Germany this August, showcasing the world’s most promising young dressage horses.
Congratulations to Alicia on this incredible achievement — we’ll be cheering her on as she represents Sweden on the world stage!
“Morricello II VH has been selected to represent Sweden at the 2025 World Championships for Young Horses in the five-year-old class and Vilas Blarney is named first reserve six-year-old!” said Alicia via social media. “Thank you to my amazing team and owners for your trust and support!”
Read more at Alicia Ryan selected for Swedish team at World Young Horse Championships - Equestrian Life
Photos by C. Hallqvist and L. Foto were published in Equestrian Life.
K-12 Parent Morning Coffee - Term 3
It was wonderful to see both familiar and new faces at our regular first day of term Parent Coffee Morning. These gatherings are a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with fellow parents, chat with our College Principal and Deputy, and continue building the strong sense of community that makes our College so special.
We’re excited to invite you to our next Coffee Morning on Monday 6 October, the first day of Term 4. Mark your calendars and come along after drop-off for a hot beverage and pastry and a chat with fellow parents.
Calling All Parents and Alumni! Promote Your Business with The Kardinians Community Business Directory
Do you own a business? We’d love to support you!
The Kardinians Business Directory is now open for submissions from our vibrant community of parents and alumni. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business, connect with others, and grow within our network.
Register now at https://kardinians.com Follow the prompts to list your business and start reaching our community today!
Fiona Russell- Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
A New Chapter for a Cherished Building
Many alumni will fondly remember the original Morongo building, known for decades as the Lower Primary building at Kardinia International College. Following the relocation of Junior School students to modern facilities, the historic structure was carefully stripped back, ready to be reimagined for a new purpose.
This week marks an exciting milestone as the refurbished building officially opens its doors, now home to Kardinia’s vibrant School of Visual Arts. With classes commencing this semester, the space has been thoughtfully designed to inspire creativity and support artistic exploration. It features purpose-built gallery areas, wet art studios, ample storage, a kiln and pottery zone, and even a potential site for a sculptural garden.
The transformation of this beloved building reflects Kardinia’s commitment to honouring its history while embracing innovation and creativity for future generations.
Fiona Russell- College Archivist
Privacy Reminder
Kardinia International College collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent/carer personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the College’s Privacy Policy.
Please take a moment to review the College’s Standard Collection Notice, available on our website https://www.kardinia.vic.edu.au/
For further information about how the College manages personal information, please refer to the College’s Privacy Policy.
Community
