From the Principal
This week we received the official photos from the Premier’s VCE Awards which were held on 27 July 2023. The annual Premier’s VCE Awards recognises students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
At the award presentation ceremony, Kardinia International College had two representatives. Shylah Tucker who received one of the four study awards for VCE Physical Education and Jesse McDougall who received the Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Award which is awarded to students who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE studies. Only 34 students across the state received the Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Awards. Remarkably, this is the third year in a row that Jesse has attended these awards as he won study awards in 2020 and 2021 as well.
Shylah and Jesse worked incredibly hard and showed great dedication to their studies to achieve these awards and they are very well deserved. I also want to acknowledge their teachers who offered such great support and guidance throughout Shylah and Jesse’s studies.
We witnessed spectacular performances on the stage last week with the Senior School Production of The Addams Family. Congratulations to every single member of the cast, crew and orchestra and all our staff who gave so much time and energy to bring this Production to life. It was an absolute joy to witness the talents of our students on stage in the Katsumata Centre.
We have also seen some great performances on the sporting field. Kardinia has been hosting the GISSA Intermediate and Senior Soccer tournaments this week and last. Our Intermediate and Senior Boys’ teams both won their tournaments and our Intermediate Girls played fabulously going down at the very end in a penalty shootout. Our Senior Girls are the last to play this Friday and we wish them all the very best.
Finally, our College Community Council have been working very hard putting together our first College Ball since 2020 - The Spring Fling. Ticket sales are slow at the moment, but I know that there are many people keen to attend. Please start getting your tickets as soon as possible. Feel free to come on your own and we will sit you with people you can get to know or organise a table with friends. It will be a great night, but we really need the numbers to make it happen.
From the Acting Head of Senior School
Over the end of Term 2 and beginning of Term 3, 37 of our Year 11 students travelled to Timor Leste, supported by five staff members. After four years of travel restrictions due to COVID, our students have been able to return to Dili and then on to Viqueque, where they were able to immerse themselves in the community and volunteer in local schools. These two groups stepped out of their comfort zones to experience a very different country, embodying the values our school aspires to, specifically of making a difference in the world. It’s quite something to confront the issues of the world so directly. Making the connections across the globe, and having a meaningful impact is something of which you should all be very proud. Congratulations!
From the Head of Junior School
Maths Workshop
It was great to see almost seventy families at the Parent Maths Workshop, expertly guided by our Maths Coordinator, Scott Peel, last Thursday. Scott did a great job running such an informative session. Thank you also to all parents who attended. I’m proud of the relationship parents have with the Junior School and appreciate the amazing support we get from you.
Upper Primary Playground
It's great to see the final piece of the Upper Primary playground come online last week. Students are enjoying hanging, climbing and swinging on the Funky Monkey playground once again. Work is also complete to convert one of the mulch pits to a sand pit. This will provide another active play space for Upper Primary students and was an initiative of the Student Representative Council.
Year 4 Camp
This week our Year 4 students ventured to Cave Hill Creek for a three-day adventure camp. Thank you to our dedicated staff for their contribution to this great experience. Lots of fun was had by all in attendance.
PYP Exhibition
Dear families,
Throughout terms two and three, our year 6 students have been on their PYP Exhibition Journey. The Exhibition is unique to IB schools and something we really treasure. If you would like to learn more about the PYP Exhibition, please watch this short video below.
VIMEO Link- https://vimeo.com/854875210?share=copy
Over the coming weeks, year 6 students will be sharing snippets of their journey via eNews. We hope that you enjoy learning more about our program and our amazing students.
When you arrive at Kardinia International College for your Student Led Conference on September 12, you will also notice some of the learning relating to the Exhibition displayed around the school. We hope you enjoy being part of our journey with us.
Geoff Geddes
Deputy Head of Junior School & PYP Coordinator
Careers News
Important information for families of Year 12 students
Applications for further study in 2024 have now opened. This includes applications for both TAFE and university courses.
Students are reminded that for university courses, they will be required to create an account and apply via a tertiary admissions centre in most circumstances (these are state- based, please see the list below).
VTAC (VIC) : www.vtac.edu.au
UAC (ACT/ NSW) : www.uac.edu.au
QTAC (QLD) : www.qtac.edu.au
SATAC (SA/ NT) : https://www.satac.edu.au/
TISC (WA): https://www.tisc.edu.au/static
University of Tasmania: https://www.utas.edu.au/
In Victoria, timely course applications must be submitted via VTAC by Thursday, 28th September at 5pm. Other states have different deadlines so students who are applying interstate are encouraged to check that state’s tertiary admissions centre for further information regarding timelines. So that the careers team can assist with any issues related to the application process, we ask that students have their applications completed prior to the end of term three.
Students applying for VTAC’s Special Entry and Access Scheme (SEAS) are also encouraged to begin working on their applications now. SEAS requires extra documentation such as supporting statements to be provided and these documents can take time to organise. A reminder that students who submit their SEAS and Scholarships documentation by 5pm Friday, 15th September will be guaranteed a review of their documents and will be contacted by VTAC if there are any problems, for example, if the documents are illegible or out of date. This will give students time to resubmit documents before the final SEAS and Scholarships deadline of 5pm on Friday, 6th October. There is no extension to this deadline for SEAS or scholarship applications.
Some TAFE courses can also be applied for via the tertiary admissions centres but many require a direct application via the TAFE’s website. It is important to note that these courses remain open until all places are filled, and for some popular courses such as nursing, this may be in the next month or two. If students are considering applying for a TAFE course for 2024 (even as a pathway option), we urge them to complete an application early to avoid missing out on a place.
Appointments
Year 12 students who require help with their planning for 2024 are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with a member of the KIC careers team. Bookings can be made via our online booking system (the link can be found on the Careers page on KICOnline). We also offer lunchtime drop- in sessions for all students and no booking is required.
Sports News
Baseball
Year 11 student Tanner Stack is making waves as he takes to the baseball diamond in Missouri, proudly representing Australia in the Babe Ruth World Series. Competing in the 16-18 year old category, Tanner is hopeful that his performance will catch the attention of college scouts and pave the way for an exciting future in the world of baseball. What an amazing experience, way to go Tanner!
Library News
Over the next 5 weeks I will be sharing all of the books shortlisted in the CBCA Book of the Year awards which will culminate in Week 6 with the winners announcement.
We will be sharing these books with students, particularly at the Junior School, so that they have a deeper understanding of the books before Book Week.
Older Readers (13-18 Years)
"The Other Side of Tomorrow", Hayley Lawrence
This beautifully written novel manages to perfectly balance ongoing grief and sadness with the ordinary everyday-ness of life in a positive way. Authentic characters and character development support a storyline that feels genuine and realistic in its arc, with its rapid pace mirroring the onset of the disease and deterioration of the main character. The themes of family, love, loss, grief, death, and life after death are gently explored without preaching.
"What We All Saw", Mike Lucas
This thrilling, gripping and tense story holds attention from the very beginning. It discreetly but clearly examines several themes; the persecution of women, the power of class, the futility of war, the value of strong family values and the disadvantages of being poor. These themes are deftly woven together and taken to a logical and believable conclusion. Narrated from the omniscient perspective of an adult, the story is retold through the eyes of the younger characters adding depth and credibility to the dialogue and actions.
Younger Readers (7-12 Years)
"The Way of Dog", Zana Fraillon
A little pup in a cage in a barn is at the very beginning of his life. Separated from his mother he longs for happiness and a family. That dream propels this adventure. As his story progresses, little Scruffity encounters many more people and other animals – some friendly, some sly, some kind and some cold. He’s learning what it is to be a little dog alive in a world of danger and beauty!
"Xavier in the Meantime", Kate Gordon
This book enables readers to delve into the impact of mental health issues in an authentic and age-appropriate way without being too explicit and confrontational. The characters are realistic in their struggles and the thought patterns are immersive and relatable. The link to the black dog and how it is described is true to life and offers hope without a cure. It also shows the importance of a supportive community and how it may work. Despite the heaviness that permeates the text, the plot leaves the reader with a sense of conclusion and hope for the characters.
Picture Book (0-8 Years)
"Snap", Anna Walker Lawrence
Anna Walker has cleverly created a humorous, energetic, and playful tale of a frog’s adventure through the jungle and the unexpected creatures it meets along the way. It is immediately relatable to young children, with its minimal, simple and direct language that perfectly evokes the sensory world of the frog and the other creatures in it.
"Where the Lyrebird Lives", Vikki Conley (text), Max Hamilton (illustrations)
This book delights and entices the reader from beginning to end. Lush green spreads fill the pages, beautifully capturing the setting of cool climate forests in watercolour and pencil. The sparse descriptive narrative sets a gentle pace and reads aloud well, drawing the audience in with questions and facts. Readers are encouraged to slow down, listen and look, for every now and then there is a sign of the hidden lyrebird.
Get Ready for Book Week!
Student Wellbeing
This Friday is The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, an important day for all schools across Australia to say “Bullying! No Way!”.
Growing connections
The theme for the 2023 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) is Growing Connections.
Growing connections helps everyone feel accepted, respected, included, and supported.
Being connected and having people to talk to, or to ask for help, can help to prevent bullying.
We can talk to people we wouldn’t normally talk to if they look lonely.
We can choose a different partner in class activities to connect with different students.
We can connect with school staff such as teachers, learning support officers, Centrepoint staff, library staff, office staff, by saying hello or showing our appreciation.
We can speak up if people we know are being unkind or excluding someone and seek help from a trusted friend or adult.
Remember…
Bullying is never ok.
Bullying is never your fault.
There is always someone you can reach out to for help.
Together we can make a change. Everyone has a role to play for bullying prevention. The NDA promotes the importance of school, parent/guardian, and community connections to build safe and supportive learning environments.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
Where are they now?
Ellouise Parsons (nee Turner) - Class of 2003.
The Kardinians are connecting with alumni from the Class of 2003 prior to their 20 Year Reunion, and asked Ellouise Parsons (nee Turner) to share her experiences since graduation:
“I studied Medical Laboratory Science at RMIT and went straight into working as a Medical Scientist in Pathology. I got married and had a daughter, and then moved interstate for a Laboratory Manager position. That laboratory had an uncertain future, so we moved interstate again and ended up spending seven years in Karratha with me managing the hospital laboratory. Karratha was great for our young family, school drop off took 5 minutes and I could watch assembly and still be at work by 9:10. However, being so remote has its downsides, providing a 24/7 pathology service between 2 or 3 scientists means a lot of on-call and overtime.
We moved to Melbourne for 2019 where I continued working in pathology at The Alfred, which ended up being quite the experience through Covid. It also turned out to be a great time to start my Master of Medical Science, which I am still doing part-time. In 2022 after 15 years in Pathology, I moved across to Cellular Therapies. I’m still a Medical Scientist and still at The Alfred, but now working with bone marrow, stem cell, and CAR-T transplants where I have much more patient contact. I’m still struggling with Melbourne winters but am looking forward to going skiing this weekend.”
[This picture is with my sisters and my dad. Dad does a great job of getting regular photos of us. I'm wearing the Santa hat and Allysha on the right is Class of 2009.]
The Kardinians are proud of the achievements of our alumni! We look forward to catching up with the Class of 2003 at their Reunion on Friday 20 October.
Giving Back to the Community
Long time Staff member, Doug Noack, is passionate about Judo and is an accredited Australian National Coach. Through his Judo club, Douggie's Dojo, and the Defending Fitness program, he has had a significant impact on many students, some going on to be National champions and competing internationally. Doug's Community Engagement is already impressive, but he has plans to extend his Douggie’s Dojo clubs across the state, which will provide a fabulous opportunity for even more students. Congratulations on your community spirit Doug!
Alumni Reunions
The combined 5, 10, 15 and 20 year reunion - classes of 2018, 2013, 2008 and 2003
Tickets for the Combined Reunion for the Classes of 2018, 2013, 2008 & 2003, have now been released. This event will be held on Friday 20 October and is for registered members only. Please log onto https://kardinians.com/ for further information, to complete your rsvp and obtain your 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 event is for registered members only and is the first official reunion since graduation. Please log onto https://kardinians.com/ for further information, to complete your rsvp and obtain your ticket to this event.
The CCC Parent 'Spring Fling' - Tickets Now On Sale!
The CCC (College Community Council) is hosting the Parent ‘Spring Fling’! This event will be held at the Pier on Saturday 14th October and will include a two-course meal, live music and a silent auction. This special event is for parents and staff and will be a fabulous night! Please join us!
Tickets available at: https://events.humanitix.com/spring-fling-2023-kic-community-college-council
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Early Productions - Part 8
Bugsy
Another era of Americana was showcased by the College in 2013; the performance of ‘Bugsy’ meant that students had to learn American gangster slang and discover the 1920s dance moves of flappers. They also had to learn to throw cream pies with accuracy! As the director and co-choreographer, Mr Ian Nash-Gilchrist, said, ‘’Bugsy’ is one of those plays that you can’t help but have fun with’.
Fiddler On The Roof
Tradition! ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, directed by Mr Ian Campbell in 2014 is a metaphor for survival and the upholding of tradition and joy in a life of change and uncertainty. As an International College, it seemed timely to reflect on our awareness of others and of the plight of refugees. The nature of the musical ensured a huge cast and crew and yet again the Katsumata Centre was transformed, this time into a Jewish village in Tsarist Russia in 1905. Special mention must be made of the demanding lead roles, and in particular the talents of Michael Dimovski and Hannah Pohlenz.
Credits:
Dowie, P & Russell, F. Kardinia International College- Celebrating Twenty Years- 1996 to 2015. “College Productions” J. Russell
The next article features ‘Early Productions Part 9’
Fiona Russell - Archivist
School TV - Mindfulness
Recent studies have shown that one in seven primary school children have significant mental health disorders, and one in four secondary school students have psychological problems. Every year, in the last five years, that number has increased. Mindfulness, is the practice of being in the moment, being present and being open to what you're focusing on. Mindfulness is all about building resilience. It is not a replacement for therapy or medication for mental health issues but will hopefully reduce the need for it later on.
Research has proven that mindfulness has endless benefits for children. This school taught activity is on the rise, and many experts are wanting it to be a compulsory component of the national curriculum. Not only does mindfulness calm a child’s mind, but it has also been proven to reduce disruptive and bullying behaviour in schools.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/mindfulness
Community News
