From the Principal
The positive way in which the school year started for our students and staff has continued throughout this week. Our students seem settled and as I walk around classrooms there is a great sense that everyone is focused and doing their best.
Speaking of doing their best, last night Ms Howard and I attended the IB Diploma Programme Awards Ceremony where students who achieved a score of 40 or more out of 45 are recognised. Seven of our students were recipients of this award: Jessie Mulroyan, Poppy Brown, Steph Reade, Max Lee, Georgia Borschmann, Emma Borschmann and Mia Eastman. Only three of the graduates were able to attend the ceremony but all were recognised during the proceedings.
What I always think is remarkable is that for each of these students their academic studies were not their only focus. All of them contributed to community service initiatives, many of which they have continued on with. They were all active in sport, music, and other co-curricular activities as well, demonstrating the holistic nature of the educational experience we aim to provide for each of our students at the College.
Seeing opportunities and making the most of them is something these graduates epitomised and they are great roles models for our younger students.
From the Head of Senior School
What a wonderful start to the 2024 school year in the Senior School!
Despite the changes to access due to the COLA building works making it a bit trickier to move around the Senior School, students and staff have started the year with positivity and good humour.
Our new Year 7 students have headed off on the house camps this morning and will spend the next three days with students in their own houses, making connections that will take them all the way through the Senior School. Heading off on camp with people you don’t know very well can be a big challenge but it’s one that we think is very important. Camps and other outdoor education experiences are designed to support students in stepping out of their comfort zones and doing things that they never thought they could. I’m looking forward to the Year 7s returning on Friday, exhausted but full of stories and good memories.
Students in Years 8-12 have made a great start to their studies too and have been embracing the challenges that come with new subjects, new teachers and new students. I’ve been so impressed with the efforts, support and willingness to look after each other this year.
From the Head of Junior School
Thank you to all families for ensuring our first week back at school went very smoothly. Students appear eager to learn and excited about their new year levels. The teachers and support staff have also done a wonderful job to get the year off to a great start.
Welcome Evenings
Tonight (Wednesday) we look forward to welcoming our Grove parents for the first of our Welcome Evenings this week. Tomorrow (Thursday) we will host an evening for all other families. Please refer to previous correspondence for all the details.
Swimming Trials
Congratulations to all Upper Primary students who participated in the swimming trials today. Thank you to Mr Russell, Upper Primary staff, parent volunteers and the GAC team for hosting such a well-run event.
Taiko Club – a message from Ota Sensei
KIC taiko club starts again this term. Taiko is Japanese drumming. Practice sessions are every Wednesday from 15:30 to 16:00. In P4 music room. Beginners and experienced are both welcome. We practice every week until Term 2 Week 2. Then, we perform in KIC Founders' Day assembly (for both SS and JS assembly). If you would like to join, please send an Email to Mr. Ota (y.ota@kardinia.vic.edu.au)
International Council News
Join us in celebrating Lunar New Year 2024!
Outdoor Education News
Year 10 Journeys 2023
In the last week of term last year, 145 Year 10 students ventured out into the wilds of Victoria to challenge themselves, develop further skills and knowledge, as well as forming lifelong friendships.
Unfortunately, for us, the weather was not willing to cooperate again; most of the groups in the Bogong High Plains were stuck in huts for part of the week and the Snowy River group had to be pulled off the river due to flooding, leaving only the Great Ocean Walk group being able to complete their intended itinerary. This is always a possibility when going into the outdoors. The students demonstrated grit and a positive mental outlook when faced with these setbacks.
Hopefully, the students still returned home with some good stories about their week in the wilderness.
We have put together a short video highlighting some of the moments from the journeys - please click on the image below to view.
Junior School Performance Choir
Auditions have been occurring this week for places in the Performance Choir.
Please note the Junior School Performance Choir will commence rehearsals on Tuesday 13 February. These rehearsals commence at 8:00 am and this year will be held in the College Auditorium.
I’m looking forward to our musical journey together this year.
Mrs Linda Essery (JS Music Teacher)
Library Services News
Year 7 Library Start Right Program 2024
What a fantastic week we had welcoming our new Year 7 students.
Students participated in a Scavenger Hunt and were introduced to the Online Services the Library provides.
Our amazing library suppliers provided some great gifts for either the welcome packs or raffle prizes and we appreciate their support. From the smiles on these student’s faces, they love the prizes. Thanks to the suppliers listed below.
Congratulations to the Major Winners of the Raffle!
Francesca (Frankie) Maloney, George Ainsworth, Ryan King, Katia Grainger, Charles Allender and Emily Carr.
Additional prize winners:
Art News
Congratulations to our 2023 IB Studio Arts cohort, all of whom were chosen to exhibit in the Statewide IB Art Show - Nicole Bauza, Joey Anderson, Jamie Renshaw, Joanna Wang and Lucy Reid.
Congratulations to our very own Mr Dale Baker on the production of another small picture book, Murf the Master Surf Blaster! www.facebook.com/dalebakerartist
Free Parent Webinar: How to Get (& Keep) Your Child Motivated This Year
Dear Parents,
We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for our parents on motivation on Wednesday 14 February.
Elevate works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your children at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.
Their upcoming webinar on motivation will give you some easy-to-implement strategies to help your child get focused on achieving their goals this year.
Live Parent Webinar: How to Get (and Keep!) Your Child Motivated
Wednesday 14 February 6:30-7:30 pm
Click here to register for free
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
- Using praise and reassurance to motivate your child
- Setting relevant and effective goals for your child
- Helping your child to stay motivated long-term
We hope to see you there!
Sport News
Judo Club
The Kardinia Judo Club has started training and all current and new members are most welcome to step on the mat! To get started in judo, simply come along to the Old Gym / Katsumata Stage, borrow a jacket and step on for a free trial session. The clubs has Junior, Intermediate and Senior sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, with Juniors starting from 4 pm. Saturday morning sessions are also held for all age groups, with Juniors starting at 9:15 am.
For more information, call or text Doug Noack on 0447-719-090, or send an email to: douggie.noack@gmail.com
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Parent Social Evening - Wine, Canapes & Great Company!
Save the Date for the first parent social event for 2024! ‘Wine, Canapes & Great Company’ will be hosted by our College Community Council (CCC). The booking link and further details will be released in the next e-news.
Welcome Back Kardinians!
In 2024, we welcome back some of our alumni to join our Kardinia International College staff.
Sidney Montano (Class of 2023) is the 2024 PE Sports Trainee working alongside the PE staff, organising, learning and educating. Sidney hopes to gain skills and knowledge towards her goal of being a PE teacher, prior to commencing a Bachelor of Education next year.
Oscar Slaviero (Class of 2023) has been appointed the Help Desk Trainee for 2024 and has a joint passion for technology and computers. He has already obtained a Certificate II in Horticulture across Years 11 and 12 and hopes to combine the two in his future studies, at the conclusion of his traineeship.
Ali Lever (nee Gerischer - Class of 2013) is a familiar face as she has been working casually at the College over the last few years. We are delighted that she now joins us as a full-time member of staff in the PE and Health Department.
We wish all our returning alumni a successful and rewarding year!
Where Are They Now
Alumnus Shane McInnes (Class of 2002) was spotted at his annual gig at the Australian Open, reporting for 3AW.
We love to hear from our alumni! Whether you are travelling, working, raising a family, starting a business, studying, volunteering or celebrating a special moment in your lives, our Kardinians community would love to share your story. It keeps our community connected!
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
The Calvert Family
Born in Scotland, in 1807 to John Calvert (c1771-1846) and Janet Rogerson (c1771-1818), John Calvert came out to Hobart on the ‘Lord Lyndock’ in 1831. He left Van Diemen’s Land in 1840 and travelled to the Port Phillip District eventually acquiring 68,000 acres above the shores of Lake Colac, with the following stations in his possession: Lake Colac (1840-1845), Dreeite (1850-1854), Irrewarra (1850-1862) and Watch Hill (1854-1866). John Bell was his pastoralist partner from 1842-1850.
John Calvert married Jane Murray (1824-1898), daughter of Hugh Murray (1789-1845) and Jean Carmichael (c1788-1871) at Colac on 26 April 1849. They had seven children including John Calvert Jr (1850-1907).
When John Calvert Sr. retired from managing his properties, he built a grand bluestone homestead on the outskirts of Geelong. Calvert bought the property on 22nd of October 1859 for £4000 from Dr MacWhirter who had bought the land from the Crown. Calvert employed Joseph Lowe Shaw as his architect and Foyle & Co for the building of the two-storeyed bluestone house with Barrabool sandstone dressings, which later became Morongo Girls’ College, and is now within the grounds of Kardinia International College.
Calvert lived at Morongo until 1868 when he moved his family to England. He died in London in 1875, leaving the property to his wife.
However, the story of Morongo House does not end here. We currently have direct descendants of John Calvert Sr, back at Kardinia! Alumna Kezia Calvert (nee Holbery-Morgan) from the Class of 2003, married Ryan Calvert and are proud parents of the next generation of Kardinians with two of their three sons, Theo Calvert (Year 12) and Jensen Calvert (Year 8), as current students.
Credits: Dowie, P. Kardinia International College - The First Ten Years - 1996 to 2005.
Photo Credits: Kardinia Archive Collection.
Fiona Russell - College Archivist.
School TV - School Refusal
Though many children will refuse to go to school at some stage in their lives, school refusal is very different to truancy. It is a more serious condition than separation anxiety and often stems from a child’s anxiety about school. They may be worried about their school work, interacting with other kids, dealing with teachers, playing sports or being away from family. School refusal is a behaviour that can also be accompanied by sadness or depression, physical symptoms and social isolation. This condition is equally common among boys and girls, from all socioeconomic groups and across both primary and secondary levels.
Click here to watch this episode:
Community
