Kardinia eNews - Wednesday 4 October 2023

From the Principal

What an interesting start we have had to the first week of term - beautiful sun-filled days, followed by a shift back to winter today.

Our Year 6 students are currently out on camp and have not had the best of the weather, but I hear that they are in good spirits. Our Year 12s are gearing up for the final run in to the exams and also seem to be in good spirits.

I always love Term 4, with lots of great events on, much to celebrate, with usually warmer weather and the festive activities that come with the end of the year too.

The events start tonight with the KIC Concert, showcasing so much of the great artistic talent we have in the school. The College Art Show is coming up soon too. Like I said, I love Term 4 and I think this is going to be a great one.

From the Acting Head of Senior School

Welcome back to Term 4! I was fortunate enough to accompany Group Six over to Chiang Mai during the holidays and through the first week of the program. It’s an amazing opportunity and I’ve seen so much growth and development in the students already. It’s also lovely to welcome back everyone who went on the French Trip at the end of term and over the holidays. I’ve heard some wonderful stories already and look forward to hearing more about the experiences of the participants.

Our Year 12s are finishing their formal classes next week before beginning exams in Week 4. We will have a number of different events next week to farewell the Class of 2023, including assemblies, their Celebration Day and the Graduation Ceremony. The Graduation Dinner will occur after exams, with information about this being shared with families tomorrow.

We have been needing to remind a number of students to wear their broad-brimmed hats at recess and lunch, many of whom have not yet brought them back to school. Please check with your child to make sure that their hat is at school and encourage them to wear it at break times.

From the Head of Junior School

Dear families,

This week our students and staff have really enjoyed re-connecting with their friends after a restful holiday. Our year 6 students are away on camp this week and have been tested by some very wet conditions. All reports are that they are demonstrating great resilience and managing to enjoy themselves regardless of the weather.

The term will be quite busy with events, we look forward to seeing you at some of those events.

📌 Mon 2 Oct - Term 4 commences

📌 3-6 Oct Year 6 Camp

Upcoming Dates

📍 Thurs 12 Oct - Year 1 Werribee Zoo Excursion

📍 Fri 13 Oct - Year 2 Sleepover

📍 Mon 16 Oct - 10am FY Assembly

📍 Wed 18 Oct FY-Y2 LP Sports Day - Goldsworthy Reserve

📍 25-27 Oct - Year 5 Camp

📍 Mon 30 Oct - 10am Year 5 Assembly

📍 Mon 6 and Tues 7 Nov - Student-Free Days (Staff PD)

📍 Thurs 9 Nov - CCC Social Food and Wine Night 7pm

📍 Mon 13 Nov - 10am Year 3 Assembly

📍 Wed 29 Nov - JS Orientation Day

📍 Thurs 30 Nov - JS Xmas Picnic Time TBC

📍 Mon 4 Dec - Y6 Graduation

📍 Tues 5 December - Last Day of School

Amazing update on the ABSTAR Youth Committee Spring market (advertised last term)

Our amazing students Novalie Morris, Ledger Morris and Matilda Schokman worked really hard at the fundraising market. They helped raise over $9,000 for the Abbey Solo Foundation which provides practical support for kids with cancer at RCH. 

Novalie is the vice president of the Abbey Solo Foundation youth committee so she was busy all of Term 3 organising the market and raffle. 

Novalie ran her Bee Brave card stall at the market with Matilda. Ledger was in charge of the LEGO stall.

Congratulations to these amazing students!

Paris' Sports Aerobics Success

Finally, we would like to congratulate Year 5 student Paris who placed 1st in the Cadet International Individual category at the FISAF Australia Sports Aerobics National Championships on the Gold Coast recently.

Paris won both her semi-final and final and placed 1st in the Cadet National Small Team. She has been chosen to represent Australia in the upcoming World Championships for Cadet International Individual to be held in Belgium from 26-28 October this year, and will be the youngest athlete on the Australian team. Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement Paris!

Please Obey College Speed Limits

Just a further reminder that the College has undertaken another preliminary review of the traffic management controls on campus and has extended the speed limit reduction to 10km/hr along the roadway (shared zones), to now include the road leading from the Kardinia Drive gates all the way to the Ballarat Road gates.

This is included with the changes made earlier to the speed limits being reduced to 10km/hr along the College’s roadway (shared zones), that run from the Ballarat Road entrance, and parallel to the senior school ovals, through to the Junior School car park.

The vehicle speed has been restricted for the safety of our College community.

Thank you for your understanding.

Community Engagement and Foundation News 

Community Engagement

The next Parent Community Event - Canapes and Drinks

The College Community Council (CCC) have set the date for the next Parent Community Event! Get connected, meet other parents and members of the Kardinia College Community, and enjoy food and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere at Murphy's. Thursday 9th November 2023 7pm to 9.30pm $25.00 per person, drinks at bar prices. To secure your tickets, log onto: https://events.humanitix.com/kardinia-international-college-ccc-canapes-and-drinks

Alumni Reunions

The combined 5, 10, 15 and 20 year reunion - classes of 2018, 2013, 2008 and 2003

The Combined Reunion for the Classes of 2018, 2013, 2008 & 2003, will be held on Friday 20 October and we’d love to see you there! Tickets are essential for entry. Please log onto https://kardinians.com/ for further information, to complete your RSVP and obtain your complimentary ticket to this event. 

The class of 2022 - 1 year reunion

The 1 Year Reunion for the Class of 2022 will be held on Friday 27 October. This free event is for registered members and is the first official reunion since graduation! We’d love to see you!   

Tickets are essential for entry. Please log onto https://kardinians.com/ for further information, to complete your RSVP and obtain your complimentary ticket to this event.

Where Are They Now - Kelcey Brian (Class of 2014)

Alumna Kelcey Brian graduated from Kardinia with a keen interest in literature. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Creative Writing, a Master's in Writing and Publishing and a further Master's in Teaching (Primary and Secondary). After working in children's publishing for a few years, Kelcey turned her attention to teaching and will finish her first year as a primary school teacher in December. She is passionate about sharing her love of reading and writing with her students and inspiring reluctant readers.

Kelcey has recently returned from her honeymoon in Japan, a place she fell in love with because of Kardinia, with her husband Dylan, another Kardinia alumnus.

Community Engagement

Kath O’Neill, Head of Senior School, was asked to share her Community Engagement with local theatre:

“I’ve been a musician since my own school days, having studied piano, cello and voice and singing in choirs and playing in orchestras for a number of years. As a first year uni student, in an attempt to meet people, I auditioned for The Crucible and ended up playing one of the lead roles. I’ve been in lots of different shows – musicals, theatre, pantomimes, and radio plays.  I’ve been on stage, in the orchestra and in the production team for companies across Geelong, including Geelong Repertory Theatre Company, Theatre of the Winged Unicorn, Geelong Lyric Theatre Society, Skin of our Teeth Productions, Torquay Theatre Troupe and Greater Geelong Creative Inc.

Last year, I was in Inspector Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency for Geelong Repertory Theatre Company, which won Best Production (Comedy) at the Victorian Drama League Awards for 2022. I also did some voice recording for the Living Histories Project with Greater Geelong Creative Inc, which involved telling the stories of people who had been imprisoned in the Old Geelong Gaol.

I’m currently working on The Messiah for Geelong Repertory Theatre Company, which is a comedy by Patrick Barlow about two hapless actors putting on a nativity play.  I’m working on the music for the show.”

The Kardinians congratulate Kath on all she contributes to Kardinia and the wider community. Tickets for The Messiah can be purchased through the Geelong Arts Centre, for the November and December performances.

Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator

From the Archives

Early Productions - Part 13

Matilda 2022

The student KICPIC Production- 'Matilda: The Musical Jr' 2022 delighted audiences in the College Hall in 2022. ‘Matilda: The Musical Jr’ is a stage musical from playwright Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, based on the 1988 novel ‘Matilda’ by Roald Dahl.

Matilda’s character is portrayed as an intelligent and resourceful young girl who stands up to bullies and oppressive adults, including the formidable Headmistress of Crunchem Hall.

Catchy tunes with witty lyrics, delightful characters in Matilda Wormwood (Page Punsalang), Mrs Phelps (Zipporah Harvey) and Miss Honey (Nikita Ginoski), and the memorable villain Miss Trunchbull (Jake Birley), ensured Matilda was well-received and thoroughly enjoyed by its audience.

Fiona Russell - College Archivist