Kardinia eNews - Wednesday 5 June 2024

From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie

Winter has arrived and, along with it, a rise in respiratory infections: Influenza, RSV and COVID-19 infection rates are all significantly increasing in the College community.

The advice and guidance provided below are taken from the Department of Education and the Department of Health. I provide this information to further support our school community during this winter season.

It is recommended that staff members, students or visitors who have symptoms of cold, influenza or COVID-19 undergo testing for COVID-19.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are no longer supplied to Victorian Schools.  They can be purchased from local pharmacies and retailers such as supermarkets and petrol stations.

It is recommended that RATs are used by students and staff who:

• have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
• are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
• are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

Should students start displaying symptoms during the school day, parents of symptomatic students will be asked to collect their child from school and keep them home until they are no longer symptomatic.

The Department of Health recommends that staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for a minimum of 5 days and do not attend school until their symptoms resolve.

If well enough, students will be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.

How to reduce the spread of flu and COVID-19

We encourage students and staff to:

• wash and sanitise their hands regularly,
• avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands,
• cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze,
• maximise external ventilation,
• stay home if unwell and consult their GP or NURSE-ON-CALL as required,
• stay up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations,
• wear a mask if feeling unwell to help protect those around you.

Flu vaccinations

Annual flu vaccination is recommended from mid-April every year.

Flu vaccinations can be booked through general practitioners (GP) and pharmacies, many of whom can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and above.

COVID-19 booster

The 2024 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and above.

Getting your booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness. You can have your booster dose 6 months after your last dose or COVID-19 infection.

Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a 2024 booster dose.

You can get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP. To find one near you, refer to the vaccine clinic finder.

You can receive your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations on the same day. School community members can speak with their usual healthcare provider to see if this is right for them.

Find out more

If you have concerns about your health or getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you can:

• speak to your GP
• phone: nurse-on-call (1800 60 60 24)
• refer to the latest Australian Technical Advisory Group on immunisation booster advice
• refer to the Victoria Government webpage Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria - Better Health Channel

From the Acting Head of Junior School - Geoff Geddes

One of the beautiful aspects of the PYP is the focus on action. Students often grapple with the question - How might we not only be sustainable, but how can we actually improve planet Earth and improve the lives of the people on it? There are many ways students can take action, these opportunities are both deliberately planned for and also acted upon when students make their own suggestions. We describe the types of action as;

Participation

Being actively involved in the learning community and showing commitment to contributing as individuals and as members of a group.

Advocacy

Taking action individually or collectively to publicly support positive social, environmental or political change.

Social justice

Taking action for positive change relating to human rights, equality and equity. Being concerned with the advantages and disadvantages within society, and with social well-being and justice for all.

Social entrepreneurship

Supporting positive social change through responding to the needs of local, national and global communities; applying prior knowledge and skills to identify and address challenges and opportunities in innovative, resourceful and sustainable ways.

Lifestyle choices

Making positive lifestyle changes in response to learning.

This week I would like to highlight some learning that relates to our commitment to action.

Year 3 Food Systems

Year 3 students have been learning about our food systems and considering how we might improve our systems so that we are being responsible with our production and consumption of food.

Year 4 Precious Plastics

Year 4 students have been working with Precious Plastics while inquiring into the circular economy. They are exploring waste and the world of opportunities that come with waste.

Year 6 Exhibition

The Exhibition is an opportunity for students to consider an area of passion for them, learn more about it, then take meaningful action. The photo below shows the students exploring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as they consider the world of possibilities for taking action.

Student Action Committee and Geelong Mums

This morning our Student Action Committee loaded a van full of goods which has been delivered to Geelong Mums. Also pictured is Yashvi from year 3 who initiated this action. Thanks so much to all families for contributing to this action.

Reconciliation Week Learning

Last week students inquired into many aspects of indigenous culture as part of Reconciliation Week. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, reflect and take action.

Seeking: Host Families for Gotemba Nishi High School students coming to Kardinia!

There will be a Gotemba Nishi High School homestay group coming in August (20-26). We will be welcoming 19 students from Year 10 to Year 12 - boys and girls - and 2 accompanying teachers. This is an exchange homestay program and a group of Kardinia students will be going to Gotemba in September this year.

It is a volunteer homestay, and families are required to provide all meals, and a bedroom or a shared bedroom during the stay. They are asked to provide care and friendship while the Gotemba students are experiencing and sharing the Australian life and culture. Gotemba students will commute to/from school with their host family members.

Any families who are interested in hosting, please e-mail h.suzuki@kardinia.vic.edu.au for further details and requirements.

Community Engagement and Foundation News 

CCC Kardinia Parent Event - Coffee Morning

Starting on the first day of Term 3, there will be a Coffee Morning for all Highview, Junior School, and Senior School Parents and Carers!

Date: Tuesday 16 July, 9:00 am - 10:30 am.

Venue: Gather’d Café, 1/11 Kardinia Drive.

Once you have dropped off your children, please join other Kardinia parents for a first-day-back coffee! This event will be held on the first student day of each term and gives the opportunity to meet, chat and relax with other parents in a casual environment. There are play facilities for toddlers!

Please complete the RSVP to assist with catering: https://forms.office.com/r/CQAW2fTtfA We look forward to seeing you there!

KIC Business Club Launch

The College Community Council invites the Kardinia parent community to the launch of the KIC Business Club.

Join us at The Geelong Club from 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm on Thursday 25 July as Deakin Lecturer Dr Graeme Pye, Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics (DISBA), presents ‘The Future of Business in Geelong’.

Dr. Graeme Pye received his PhD in information systems security analysis and modelling in 2009. His research is widely published and focuses primarily on the area of Cyber-security. Graeme is currently investigating the cyber-security risk aspects of SMEs within the Australian business context. In particular, focusing on their resilience and the human relationships, including cyber-security preparedness, engagement, confidence, culture, awareness, and training.

Tickets include a shared ‘after dinner’ menu (charcuterie, cheeses, dips etc.) and tea and coffee.

Tickets are now available at $50 per head. Drinks available at bar prices.

https://events.humanitix.com/college-community-council-launch-of-the-kic-business-club

Don’t miss this great opportunity to network and be part of the KIC Business Club!

The College Community Council

Where Are They Now - Amelia Hawkins (Class of 2000)

Amelia Hawkins, an alumna, shares a special bond with our Bell Post Hill site. She holds the distinction of being one of the earliest graduates of Kardinia, where she later returned as a teacher. Additionally, she attended Morongo Girls School, and a part of her uniform is showcased in the Morongo Collection within our College Archives.

"After my undergraduate degree, I worked in financial analytics for 8 years before spending some time in Japan, working and studying at Osaka University. I came home and did a Master of Teaching and spent 10 years teaching (including a year at Kardinia!) and recently left the profession to pursue my PhD full-time. My research is related to the work of teachers in the hardest-to-staff schools."

The Kardinians appreciate the generosity of our alumni in supporting our current students and recent graduates with advice, mentoring and network connections in their field. Connect with Amelia via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-hawkins-b075b7101/

Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator 

From the Archives

The Junior School

Over the years, the iconic 'Lower Primary' building has remained a cherished landmark, holding a special place in the hearts of Kardinia and Morongo Alumni. Despite the subtle changes in its external appearance, such as a widened pathway and the growth of surrounding trees, its essence and historical significance remain deeply rooted.

The western façade still offers a familiar vista, virtually unchanged over time, evoking nostalgic memories for those who have walked its halls. Similarly, while the eastern view may have seen alterations with the addition of garden structures and residential developments, the essence of the building remains intact, albeit framed by newer constructions on the site.

Reflecting on its inauguration in 1952, as chronicled in The Lucerian, one can sense the palpable excitement that surrounded the introduction of the new Junior School at Bell Post Hill. The contemporary accounts speak volumes about the transformative impact of modern infrastructure on the educational experience, emphasising the conducive environment it provided for both learning and leisure.

Throughout its storied history, the building has served various functions, initially housing the Lower Primary and later transitioning to accommodate the arts, including music. Today, amidst its evolving role, it stands on the brink of another phase as it awaits refurbishment as part of the College Master Plan. This transformation promises to preserve its legacy while enhancing its functionality for future generations of students and educators.

Photographic credits - The Morongo Collection. Morongo The First Fifty Years and Lucernian 1952.

Fiona Russell - College Archivist