From the Acting Principal - Paul Dowie
During this past week, I have witnessed many instances where our school community has actively engaged in initiatives aimed at fostering a sustainable future. This aligns perfectly with our Strategic Plan, where sustainability is a goal we are earnestly striving to achieve.
I was privileged to join two classes of Year Twelve Environmental Science students on their evening excursion to Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre. Mt Rothwell is the largest feral-predator-free ecosystem in Victoria, located just north of the You Yangs. Electrified fencing surrounds a 420-hectare site protecting many threatened species including Eastern Barred Bandicoots, Brown Bandicoots, Potoroos, Southern Brush-Tailed Rock Wallabies and Bettongs. Our students went for a spotlighting walk where we saw these species after dusk. We also set traps in order to weigh, microchip and assess the health of these creatures. These small marsupials, like the Bandicoots, dig and move four tonnes of soil each year which promotes the growth of fungi throughout the soil ecosystems. This effects the growth of trees, the water retention of soils, the food sources for fellow animals etc… A great example of the interconnectedness of the natural environment. Our students learnt a great deal which will prepare them for their VCE assessments while also being presented with the wonder of such rare and exceptional creatures.
This week I met with two Year Eleven students who are members of Earthcore. They have been contacting businesses and recycling groups to address the plastics and containers we are using onsite. Their plans are to set up a system onsite and partner with a local recycling group so that we can generate an income from the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme. They hope to raise funds that will be used for further environmental projects led by our students. I was impressed by these two students and will share more about them and their plans as they develop.
Last Monday our staff worked together to audit our Junior and Senior School curriculums against the sustainability elements contained in the National Curriculum V9.
We reviewed our sustainability curriculum content encompassing attitudes, knowledge, and skills, viewed through the perspective of:
Holistic Learning: allowing students to explore interconnected themes and develop a holistic understanding of complex issues.
Relevance: align with real-world contexts, making education more relevant and applicable to students’ lives beyond the classroom.
Global Citizenship: engaging with diverse perspectives and global issues, students become informed global citizens who can contribute positively to society.
Sustainable Future: addressing sustainability ensures that students are equipped to tackle environmental challenges and create a more sustainable future.
The importance of equipping our students with the skills, language and tools to solve the many environmental challenges facing our planet is a significant element within the College’s Strategic Plan.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
It’s been a busy week in the Senior School! On Wednesday last week we had Paul Dillon visit the College to speak to students in Years 10-12, staff and parents. Paul is always incredibly well received by our students and the feedback from both staff and parents was excellent and provided current information about drug use, socialising trends and strategies to keep the young people in our community safe. I’m aware that some families were keen to attend the parent session but were unable to make it. There are many resources, including a blog that links to Paul’s podcast available from: https://darta.net.au/
Last night we hosted the Year 7 Time and Space evening, where Year 7 students and their mothers or female mentors came together to speak about their experiences of the transition to secondary school. This is a program that we’ve run at the College since 2019, in various iterations, with students in Years 7 and 8. We believe providing opportunities for students and parents to connect with each other, as well as hearing from other students and parents is immensely valuable and helps to build and strengthen our community. I’d like to particularly thank the 25 Senior School students who volunteered their time to facilitate groups, to participate in a panel, or behind the scenes. Time is very precious to us all but programs such as this cannot happen without their help.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Geoff Geddes
Dear families,
Today’s enews ‘from the archives’ section features a wonderful article relating to the first year of the Grove. It prompts us to reflect on the Grove. There have been many innovative, student driven improvements since the first year such as the First Nations Peoples Food Garden, our Hot House, the Watering System, new animals, Grove Beanies, the Sausage Gardens, dozens of businesses, the Friday Grove Market, the Mountain Bike Track and the Mini Forest for carbon capture and biodiversity. Throughout this journey the philosophy relating to the Grove remains true and constant. The Grove is a unique opportunity to develop self by engaging in authentic, place-based learning experiences that are both sustainable and community-minded. We look forward to continuing our journey at the Grove.
KIC CONNECT information and requests.
We look forward to welcoming you to our two upcoming events.
- This Friday’s morning tea, 8:30 - 11:00 am. If you are available to support this event, please consider clicking on this link to volunteer your time: Mother’s Day Volunteer Form.
- Thanks so much to the families that have provided a plate for the event. It is much appreciated.
- Students and families are encouraged to wear a touch of yellow in support of the event and bring a gold coin donation.
- Junior School Disco, Friday 17 May. If you are available to volunteer some time to support the disco, please click on this link JS Disco Volunteer Form.
GAT Student Free Day
A quick reminder that Tuesday 18th June is a student free day for all students except students who are sitting the GAT. This is a staff development day.
Student Action Committee
Week 5 is National Families Week. To support Geelong families, we are collecting donations for Geelong Mums. This action was initiated by Yashvi in Year 3. Between weeks 4 and 5 we will be collecting items that Geelong Mums need. Things we would like you to donate are hygiene products (new only), wooden toys, arts and crafts, books for children and clothes of any size. All items must be in excellent or new condition. You will find the donation buckets in both the Upper Primary and Lower Primary. Thank you for your support – Gus and Amelie, The Student Action Committee Leaders.
Jessamy Gee
Last week we welcomed Jessamy Gee to work with our Year 5 and Year 6 students. Jessamy is a leading graphic recorder who works with both schools and businesses. She explored with students how to use images and words to represent information. Recording information and our thinking is a huge part of being a researcher and this event was very useful for our students and staff.
Reminder – Parent Reading Workshops
This is a reminder that the College will be conducting Reading Workshops for parents in the coming weeks.
The workshops will cover:
- Current research concerning the best way to teach reading;
- How to support your children at home and at school;
- How to ask suitable questions to develop your child’s understanding of the texts they are reading;
- Activities to encourage an enthusiasm for books.
The sessions will be held in the Junior School Conference Room in the Upper Primary Building on the following dates:
- Upper Primary – Thursday 16 May, 6.30-8 pm
- Highview – Thursday 30 May, 6.30-7.30 pm
- Lower Primary – Thursday 6 June, 6.30-8 pm
If you attended one of the workshops last year, the content will be very similar, however you are still welcome to attend.
Below are the links to the original invitations that were sent to families. Please RSVP if you plan to attend:
- Upper and Lower Primary Invitation - https://forms.office.com/r/WF7r1QRDdQ
- Highview Invitation - https://forms.office.com/r/DWe3uEXE5G
New bike stand
Work has been completed on our new bike stand. The stand has been placed between the Inquiry Centre and Centrepoint. We encourage Junior School students to use this stand. Please remember to wear your helmets and bring a lock for your bike.
International Student Voice Project
This Friday 10 May, the ISVP members will host an event to celebrate Japanese Children’s Day! Facilitated by the Victoria Education Department, the group members focus on celebrating festivals from different cultures to ultimately promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness within our school community. Come on down to Centrepoint at lunchtime on Friday to support the groups endeavours!
We are eager to invite our school community for collaboration. If you have cultural events or activities that you would like to celebrate at school, we encourage you to contact the ISVP ambassador, Ruhan Cai, via email caik@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Mothers Day Classic
Every year thousand of people come together to start their Mothers’ day with purpose.
Kardinia has been uniting to support and inspire our community to be part of this joyous event. On Mothers’ Day, Sunday May 12 our Kardinia International College community will come together in the event at Oval 3 East Geelong Reserve Eastern Park for the events. While this is not a school activity and we ask parents to accompany their children we would like to encourage you all to be there to:
WALK
- 4km - 8:50am - Embrace & Honour
- 8km - 9:00am
- 4km - 9:10am
RUN
- 8km - 7:50am
- 4km - 8:00am
We want to celebrate and remember those touched by breast and ovarian cancer and to raise life-saving funds for research. This is our seventh year as a community supporting this initiative, let’s make it a big one. Join our team or donate https://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/fundraisers/kardiniainternationalcollege
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 are remunerated for undertaking this role.
For more information about Homestay please contact Homestay Coordinator Yuting Zhao on y.zhao@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Community Engagement-Parent Trivia Night
Congratulations to the "Long Odds", the winning Team in this year's CCC Parent Trivia Night! Competing for the Perpetual Trophy and bragging rights, the parent social night at Murphys was a winner! Thank you to the College Community Council (CCC) for organising this event, Craig Watson for the Trophy, Murphys & Questionable Company, the Trivia Group!
Kardinia’s Combined Community Fundraiser for the Cancer Council
The Kardinia Community is supporting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea across TWO days in May!
The first event, organised by KIC Connect, is for PARENTS & THE KIC COMMUNITY. Students and participants are encouraged to wear a touch of yellow in support of the event and bring a gold coin donation. Direct donations for this event can be made via: https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/kardiniainternationalcollege
The second part of this Fundraising Event, co-organised by CAS students and Community Engagement, is on Thursday 23 May with a Biggest Morning Tea for ALL STAFF in the College Hall between 10.45 am - 11:30 am and a huge Bake Sale in CENTREPOINT CAFE for SENIOR STUDENTS between 12:50 pm - 1.40 pm.
Donations for this second day of fundraising can be made via:
https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/fionarussell/biggest-morning-tea-vic
We hope you can support this combined fundraiser by your attendance or donation to the Cancer Council.
Kardinians - Calling all past KIC musicians
How awesome was it being a musician at KIC! What's stopping you from being part of this again "One Night in May"?
Calling all musos to the Piano Bar on Tuesday 21 May, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, for the launch of Square 1’s latest EP called Get It Again. Alumni band 'Lucy Lorenne & The Early Birds' will also be performing, and we will end the evening with an 'all in' ensemble performance, with all our alumni musicians joining in to play “Master Blaster” by Stevie Wonder and “Fishies” by The Cat Empire!
What a night!
Tickets - $20 Adult & $15 Student. Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult https://events.humanitix.com/one-night-in-may
If you were a past musician at Kardinia, please click: https://forms.office.com/r/MpcWZSjbWN
Community - Celebrating Mother’s Day with Young Mums on Staff!
As we celebrate our mums, grandmothers, and the caring women in our lives this Sunday, we feature some of our young mums on staff and the amazing job they do juggling a career and their young families. Have a brilliant Mother's Day!
Where Are They Now - John Roebuck
Alumnus John Roebuck (Class of 2006) has worked as a film critic for over ten years and is the founder and former Creative Director of the ReelGood Film Festival. Currently a high school teacher, his first novel 'Batthew Aromascent and the Missing Corpse Flower', is co-authored with his accomplished author wife Ella Mulvey. "When the world’s largest and most pungent flower goes missing right before its grand unveiling, the smell-mad city of Candlenut is in uproar. Luckily, Batthew Aromascent, 11-year-old heir to the famed Olfactory Fragrance House, and his best friend, Lavender, are on the case. It isn’t just any missing flower, either. It’s a legendary Titan Arum, grown from a seed that was sent by Batthew’s parents – renowned noses, Roger and Joy Aromascent – before they vanished on an expedition deep in the jungle. Batthew and Lavender have just three days to track it down before the flower wilts and dies, along with any clues as to his parents’ whereabouts. But are they prepared for what they’ll find in the darker corners of the fragrance world?" The sequel “Batthew Aromascent and the Stolen Sequels” is coming out in September! https://www.ellajohnbooks.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/ellajohnbooks/
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Kardinia Grove - 2017
This week we look back at the opening of The Grove in 2017:
“On the first day of February this year, students attended our Kardinia Grove Campus for the very first time. The excitement was palpable as the inaugural cohort of 73 students entered this unique learning environment for the first day of the 2017 school year.
Despite the optimism and enthusiasm of everyone involved in this new venture, I don’t think anyone could really have predicted just how successful this first year would be. Whether it be the interaction with the Grove animals, the development of the gardens, the creation of the student committees, the engagement with experts from the community, the use of the various learning spaces and technology, or the strengthening of relationships, this first year at the Kardinia Grove Campus has been an exceptional one.”
Report by Matt Baron (The Bell 2017).
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
School TV - Celebrating Mother's Day
The very first Mother’s Day was celebrated in West Virginia in 1908. It was organised by Ann Jarvis as a memorial to honour her beloved mother who spent much of her life helping others. Ann’s mother devoted her life to educating mothers and improving sanitary conditions to stem her community’s appalling infant mortality rates. By 1911, Ann had successfully campaigned to have Mother's Day recognised as a national holiday in most US states honouring all mothers, living and deceased.
It was not until 1924 that Mother’s Day was officially celebrated in Australia with the help of Janet Heyden. She had campaigned for donations to assist lonely and aged mothers in a Sydney hospital making personal requests to many leading business houses and enlisting the help of local school children to help fill small bags with donated goods.
Today, Mother’s Day is a more of a commercial venture, but it is important to remember the true nature and meaning of Mother’s Day and mark it with sincerity, especially now in the post-pandemic environment we currently find ourselves in. Mothers have played multiple roles over recent months providing care and support to those they love under difficult circumstances, often putting the needs of others ahead of their own. However, Mothers sometimes need reminding to also take care of themselves, especially when it comes to mental health. A mother who experiences good mental health, is more available to her children and family, more alert to their needs, and more able to engage in everyday activities.
If you are a Mum and struggling a little bit, it is advisable to seek help from a medical professional. Or, if you just want to talk to someone who understands, you can always call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/celebrating-mothers-day
