From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
Last Friday I attended the Independent Schools Australia (ISA) Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia (AHISA) National Education Forum in Canberra. I was one of more than 300 independent school principals in attendance.
We heard from politicians, the media, and experts in education about wide and varied topics. One of the hot topics with an election looming this year was about the misinformation and divisive stories circulating about funding to independent schools. While it is important to remain apolitical in my role, I do encourage our families to be informed about what the various parties have to say about their support or not, for independent schools.
As families who choose and prioritise an independent school education for your children, there are ways in which you can engage in having a voice in this election and helping to enable families from across Australia to have choice in their child’s education. You can visit the https://schoolchoicecounts.isa.edu.au/ website to explore the School Choice Counts campaign, the accurate funding information for independent schools, and how to advocate on behalf of independent schools and school choice for families.
On a lighter note, the host of the forum was Lisa Millar, formerly of ABC breakfast and now the host of Muster Dogs. She was a fabulous and interesting host who shared some delightful stories with us and posed some tough questions to the presenters on the day.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
We had a wonderful day at Adventure Park on Thursday, celebrating our school and the amazing legacy that Mr and Mrs Katsumata have left for us. Everywhere I looked there were people smiling, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Thank-you to the Social Justice Club, and in particular, Tom C and Hamish K, who put on a barbeque, which was one of Mr Katsumata’s favourite things to do in Australia. They raised money for Gateway Stronger Communities and also for Jirralinga Wildlife Education Centre, in recognition for Mr and Mrs Katsumata’s love of Australian animals.
After a few very hectic weeks, I know we’re all looking forward to the Labour Day long weekend. We’ll see everyone back at school on Tuesday.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Izabella Haby
Parent Handbook
‘Where can I find the Parent Handbook?’
This week, we would like to remind you to review the Parent Handbook. It contains essential information about school policies, procedures, and important contacts. Make sure to familiarise yourself with it to stay informed.
Next week’s focus, ‘How do I find out about what my child is learning?’
If you encounter any issues logging in, please contact IT for assistance on - helpdesk@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Thank you to all parents who continue to use KICOnline and ask any questions if needing assistance.
Some more learning experiences with Aunty Helen Brotherton:
Year 4 students had the opportunity to meet with Aunty Helen and Mr Dowie for the second time this term as part of their Unit of Inquiry, How We Express Ourselves. During this session, students explored the diverse ways in which First Nations Peoples express themselves through cultural traditions such as music, including the use of clapping sticks and the Yidaki (the traditional name for the Didgeridoo), as well as dot paintings, carving shields and telling Dreamtime stories. A highlight of the session was when students had the chance to observe a possum skin, historically used for various purposes. In addition to engaging with these cultural artifacts firsthand, students were also shown their origins on a map of Indigenous Australia, deepening their understanding of the rich cultural heritage of First Nations communities.
Adventure Park:
Thank you to the students, staff, parents and volunteers who joined in the celebrations at Adventure Park last week. It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed the rides, food and ‘visitors’ that the park offered. Most importantly our younger students knew that this day was in recognition of our founders, Mr and Mrs Katsumata.
Dr Seuss Week:
Thank you to the library staff for organsing an enjoyable Dr Seuss week for our students in Week 6. A special thank you to Susan Bowman for her preparation and organisation to make this week full of fun.
Icy Pole Fridays!
Please note that every Friday in Term One, Junior School students are able to purchase an icy pole for $1. These icy poles are sold at lunch times by our KIC Connect members and the Student Representative Committee members. Thank you to all the members for coordinating this every Friday.
Parent Helper Workshop:
Nikki Petyanszki, Katie Steele and Scott Peel are looking forward to presenting a Parent Helper Workshop on Thursday, March 6 from 1:30 pm-3:00 pm in the Junior School Conference room. If you are interested in becoming a helper in your child's room or another area, please respond to the broadcast that was sent on Monday 17 February.
This workshop is for parents who have not yet participated in a Parent Helper workshop in the last two years. If you participated previously, then you do not need to attend, and they will be in touch with these families regarding visiting learning group rooms and helping with student learning. As always, we appreciate the connections we can make between home and school.
Friendly Reminder for Lower Primary Families:
We've noticed that our lovely garden beds are starting to show some wear and tear. To help keep them looking their best, we kindly ask that families avoid walking through the garden beds during pick-up and drop-off times. Please use the designated paths instead.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Year 5 and 6 Deakin District Summer Carnival: Thursday, Geelong College.
We wish the Year 5 and 6 students all the best as they join other schools for an afternoon of team sports representing Kardinia. Good luck!
Good luck to the selected students who are participating in the Combined Geelong North and Bellarine Division Swimming next week.
A reminder to all parents Monday 10 March:
A Very Special Fundraiser - Run for the Kids
Hello KIC community my name is George and I’m a new year 7 in 2025.
In January 2017, my sister Olive passed away at the Royal Children’s Hospital after a brave fight with congenital hyperinsulinemia, a rare genetic condition. Our family spent 11 months in the hospital before bringing her home, Olive became unwell and despite the incredible efforts of doctors and nurses, she couldn’t be saved. Since then, we’ve participated in the Run for the Kids every year to honour her memory and raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal, which supports the hospital that cared for Olive. This year, on April 6th, I will be running 14.4km in her memory, and I would love for our school community to get involved. Whether by running, walking (4.7km or 14.4km), joining our team 'Love Olive', or donating, your support would mean the world.
Here’s the link to our fundraising page: Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids 2025 | Love Olive
Here’s the link to our team: 2025 Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids — Race Poster — Registration, Marketing, Fundraising
Thank you for helping us make a difference!
George
Outdoor Education News
Sport News
GISSA Tennis Championships 2025
A huge congratulations to the students who represented Kardinia International College on Friday 21 February!
The standard of tennis played throughout the day was excellent, while the sportsmanship and respectfulness displayed by all members of the team was exceptional. We were extremely proud to have each of these young stars representing the College on the day.
The Division 1 championship was a round robin format. A set of doubles and singles was played against each of the competing schools - Ioana, St Ignatius and Christian College. Kardinia won each round by a convincing margin, which saw them become the undefeated 2025 GISSA Tennis Champions!
The Division 2 Doubles team put on an outstanding performance, showcasing wonderful teamwork and skill culminating in winning the A Final against Christian College.
A special thankyou is extended to both Sibi J and Wes M, (year 12), who have represented the College over numerous consecutive years, and special mention to Nicholas W (year 12) who was awarded MVP and who has represented the College every year in tennis.
The Division 1 team will go on to play the Tennis Victoria Schools Championships on Thursday 15 May, which is the qualifying event for the Gallipoli Youth Cup, Tennis Australia’s National Schools Championships.
We wish them the best of luck!
ConsentLabs: Parent Information Session
As part of our commitment to equipping our young people with the personal and social skills needed to navigate their adult lives, all Year 10, 11 and 12 students will participate in a 100-minute Personal Development session facilitated by Consent Labs, during week 10 of this term.
The sessions are aimed at teaching students about healthy relationships and issues related to the legal and ethical concerns around consent in a sexual context. Each year level will be addressed separately, with the aim of providing information most relevant to their age group.
In support of these student sessions, we have also invited Consent Labs to provide an online seminar for parents, which will be held on Tuesday 18 March at 6.30pm.
In a 1.5hr online seminar for parents, they will address these key topics:
- Consent Foundations
- Digital Consent
- Consent with Alcohol & Other Drugs
- Recognising & Responding to Sexual Harassment and Assault
They will answer questions, such as:
- How can I keep my children safe, even if I have different views about sex and relationships?
- How can I start a meaningful conversation with my children?
- What are some strategies I can use when discussing these awkward topics?
The seminar details are found below.
Topic: Consent Labs x Kardinia Intl. College Parents and Carers
Time: Mar 18, 2025 06:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87050229425
Meeting ID: 870 5022 9425
Wellbeing Hub News
Webinar 1: Emotional Regulation
A Heart-Centred Approach to Supporting Your Child - Wednesday 12 March, 7pm
Meltdowns, outbursts, and challenging behaviours can leave us feeling lost and unsure how to help. It's tough when our kids are struggling with big emotions! What we sometimes forget is that these behaviours usually stem from overwhelming feelings that our children don't yet have the tools to manage.
Emotional Regulation is Dr Justin Coulson’s powerful guide to helping children understand and regulate their emotional world. Once they develop competence with this critical life skill, emotionally intelligent children will feel more confident, perform better at school, have healthier relationships with others, and even be physically healthier.
This presentation will equip parents with a five-step “emotion coaching” process that brings together the very best in emotional intelligence research from Dr John Gottman, the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, and others, to build children’s resilience, increase wellbeing for the whole family, and develop healthier humans.
Webinar Link:
https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/emotional-regulation/
*Note that the link will only work if you are already signed into our school page using the details provided below.
We will regularly share resources available through our Happy Families membership with you, including Insight Articles and Webinars. You can also access your resources at any time using the below URL (unique to Kardinia) and password.
URL & PASSWORD
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
Reminder - The International Women's Day Breakfast
The 2025 International Women's Day Breakfast is hosted by the Kardinia Community Foundation.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The annual IWD Breakfast enables us to celebrate and support fairness, equality and inclusion in our community through awareness, education and fundraising.
All K-12 parents, alumni, staff, and VCE and IB students are invited to attend this event.
Date: This Friday 7 March 2025
Venue: College Hall, Kardinia International College
Time: 7:00am-8:30am
Guest Speaker: Alex Hamilton – Charity Founder of River’s Gift and CEO of The Compassionate Friends Victoria TCFV
MC: Barb Cronin - Director, Residential Services at GenU
Tickets: Adults (parents, alumni & staff) $20; Students (VCE & IB) $15
https://events.humanitix.com/2025-international-women-s-day-25jyat86
Tickets include a delicious breakfast smorgasbord! We hope to see you there!
Reminder to Register - 2025 KIC Family Footy Tipping Competition
The KIC Family Footy Tipping competition is hosted by the CCC. It is open to all Kardinia families.
Entry is $10 per family and the prize money will be a percentage of all entries. The more involved, the bigger the prizes!
1st place - 50%, 2nd place - 30%, 3rd place - 20%
Register payment at: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-ccc-family-footy-tipping-competition BEFORE clicking the URL below. URL: https://tipping.afl.com.au/tipping/index.html#/comp/85531/about?code=HX3MHKH5 Comp Code: HX3MHKH5
The competition starts from Round 1. It does not include the Opening Round or the Finals Series. The winners will be declared at the end of Round 24. Prizes will only be awarded to paid members. Good luck everyone!
Kardinia Community Foundation Golf Day
Kardinia International College, in partnership with the Kardinians, are excited to invite you to the inaugural 2025 Foundation Golf Day, proudly sponsored by McHarry's Buslines.
This community event provides an opportunity to become community champions and be directly involved in supporting deserving students to attend Kardinia International College through our Scholarship Fund.
Consisting of an Ambrose style game (Teams of 4), a clubhouse lunch, on-course competitions, raffles, silent auctions, non-golfer activities, and plenty of community spirit, this event promises a day full of fun and engagement.
Date: Thursday 17 April
Venue: 13th Beach Golf Links, 1732 Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads.
Time: 7:00am-3:00pm
Cost: Golfers $150 per person (Includes Entry, Ambrose Competition and Lunch); Non-Golfers $30 per person (Includes Entry and Lunch)
Drinks: At bar prices. Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-golf-day
Sponsorship packages are also available, offering a unique chance for businesses and individuals to contribute to this noble cause while gaining visibility within the community.
For further information, contact the Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator, Fiona Russell, at foundation@kardinia.vic.edu.au.
Join us for a day of golf, camaraderie, and community support!
Can You Assist with Silent Auction Donations
As part of this Foundation event, we will be hosting a Silent Auction to raise funds for our Foundation's Scholarship initiatives. We are reaching out to our generous community to ask for donations of items or services that can be auctioned. Your contributions will make a significant impact and help us continue our work in supporting those in need.
Whether it's a product from your business, a gift voucher, or a unique experience, every donation counts and is greatly appreciated. Your support will not only help us raise funds but also showcase the incredible generosity and spirit of our community.
To donate, please head to https://forms.office.com/r/jFiDxSgVgk or use the QR code on the poster.
We would also love to hear from any professional auctioneers in our community, who would be willing to host the major live raffle during the lunch. Please contact Fiona Russell at: foundation@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.
Class of 2025 Celebrate Their Membership on The Kardinians
The Year 12 students were treated to morning tea and a raffle to celebrate 100% registration on The Kardinians by the end of February. Congratulations! The lucky random draw prize winners were:
Zahra V- $50 Westfield voucher, Trinity R - $30 TEEN voucher, Ava K - $30 TEEN voucher, Billy H - $30 Rebel voucher, Lashen D - $30 Dymocks voucher, Sam P -Large block of chocolate.
Save the Date
The next KIC Business Club event at The Geelong Club, will be held on Thursday 27 March. Further information will be released soon.
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Mr and Mrs Katsumata
The Kardinia International College community, past, present and future, is indebted to our Founders, Mr and Mrs Katsumata.
“The founder of Kardinia International College, Mr Yoshimaro Katsumata, brought the former Morongo Girls’ College site in early May of 1995. Mr Katsumata had ties with Geelong for many years. The school he owns in Japan, Gotemba Nishi High School, had been placing students in local schools for short term exchange experiences. The exchange program was run by the Australian Institute of International Understanding. The local representative of this organization was Mrs Patricia Whitford.
Mr Katsumata’s wish to foster international understanding between his students and the people of Australia was given expression through the exchange program his school ran. When Morongo Girls’ College closed down, Mr Katsumata saw the opportunity of starting a new school which had, as its basis, the idea of reaching out and educating students, to have true international understanding…
…Mr Katsumata took possession of the property on the 11th of July 1995. After finalising the purchase of the Morongo property, Mr Katsumata announced he would be opening a new school in February of 1996. The Geelong Advertiser (12th July 1995) printed the following statement from Mr Katsumata: “The new school offers a breakthrough of great significance for our Asian Australian connections. In shape and form not unlike other prestigious campuses…it will be somewhat familiar and yet quite new. By moving into fully developed facilities the principal and staff will have maximum opportunity to develop a unique and powerful model of effective schooling.”
(Dowie, P. The First Ten Years)
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
Community
Alumni - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
Are you or do you know of a great young person aged 18 to 25 who wants to enhance your leadership potential or gain some skills to help you achieve your goals?
Then look no further than RYLA https://ryla9780.org/
This is a fabulous week of friendship and personal growth and just great fun. If you are on a gap year or if you can take a week off uni or work to focus on developing you, you will not regret it. Previous participants have said it is the best experience they have ever had. If you are keen, there are Rotary clubs out there willing to sponsor you too.
