Kardinia eNews - Wednesday 17 May 2023

From the Principal

This week is Education Week in Victoria, Education Week in the Education State. The theme for this year is ‘Active Learners: Move, Make, Motivate’.

Move involves encouraging physical activity

Make is related to hands on activities and

Motivate is about student voice and choice.

There are so many ways in which these ideas can be enacted and interpreted but I think one very tangible way that we are making a concerted effort to have active learners is through our Outdoor Education programs which we are expanding and enhancing as part of our Strategic Plan.

The world famous educator Kurt Hahn who started, among other things, the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, was a great believer in the power of outdoor education and listed four pillars which he saw as fundamental to education. The pillars he noted were physical fitness; an expedition that provides challenge and adventure; a project that develops self-reliance and self-discipline; and a sense of compassion through service.

I believe that our Outdoor Education team and our educators are helping to create active learners through our Outdoor Education programs. Right now, we have a group of students in Chiang Mai undertaking practical community service. We also have other Year 9 students exploring at Wollangarra, with two Year 8 trips to the Murray and a trip for Year 11’s scheduled for the end of the term, and many more options for other year groups having occurred or to happen later in the year.

It is great to see these opportunities opening up for our students again and developing what Kurt Hahn described as the foremost task of education  “to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial, and above all, compassion.”

From the Acting Head of Junior School

Uncle Norm and Year 1

Last week Uncle Norm visited Year 1 classrooms to support their inquiry into materials. He shared the materials First Nations people used for hunting and gathering. He shared the Bunjil (the Creator) story about how his spirit provided the materials for First Nations peoples to use, and guided them to find them. He also discussed how if First Nations peoples wanted to do, make or find anything, they had to create their objects out of the materials found on Country (Sky Country, Land Country and Sea Country). We absolutely love learning from, and with Uncle Norm.

Amazing Question and Response from Britannica

Last Wednesday our teacher librarian, Sarah Manyati, was working with Year 5 students to develop their research skills. The discussion included some great questions relating to reliability of information. Students had been exploring Britannica and World Book and Sarah had been advising students to use these databases as a starting point when researching. One of the students asked, “How do we know that the information on these databases is reliable?” Sarah emailed World Book and Britannica to ask them about this on behalf of the students. They received a very informative response from the VP of Editorials. Below is a snippet from their lengthy reply.

‘Thank you for contacting World Book. Your email was passed on to me. I oversee the Editorial department. I'm delighted to hear that your students have questions about the accuracy of the information they access online. In a time of such misinformation, it's encouraging to hear that students are considering such things!

World Book has rigorous writing, fact-checking, and readability standards. Our editorial team takes pride in its work and strives for accuracy and authoritativeness. World Book editors specialize in specific subject areas and are responsible for different articles accordingly. We recently hired a new editor that studied at the University of Melbourne to oversee Oceania content. The editors regularly monitor both online and printed general and scholarly sources of information about their assigned subject areas to capture meaningful advances with respect to existing articles and to learn about trends, discoveries, and the like that prompt the writing of new articles. Thousands of updates are made to articles on World Book Online each year.

The response continues on and delivers a wealth of information relating to the reliability of information.

Congratulations to Year 5. What a great and important question to ask as you sharpen your research skills.

Year 6 Grip Leadership Conference

On Friday of Week 3, our Year 6 leaders took part in an all-day practical and interactive training conference for student leaders at the Geelong West Town Hall.

The conference highlighted the importance of being an ‘Others First’ Leader, ‘the people a leader can impact the most’ and ‘how to get everybody on board with a new idea’.

As always our students engaged thoroughly in the presentation with respect and enthusiasm.

Calling all Families!

Your expertise is welcome! Please join us on the Year 6 PYP Exhibition journey.

We are reaching out to our KIC community to identify parents (or their connections) who may be able to support the students with their PYP Exhibition inquiries.

We have noticed that in the past much of the research being done by the students is primarily from websites. It is REALLY important for the students to connect with primary resources to gather authentic, expert information. If you are willing to be contacted by a student or group, can you please click on this link to learn more and to sign up. https://forms.office.com/r/Av4Z7JnsbX

Included on the form is also a sign up relating to our Single Subject Classes. An element of the Exhibition is students having the opportunity to express themselves through a variety of ways. If you have experience, expertise or talents in any area such as song writing, dance, photography, drama, design or animation, our students would love to hear from you. Please click on the link (above) to learn more.

Many thanks for supporting our students.

Year 6

Learners Taking Action with their Learning

Over recent weeks Year 4 students have been inquiring into ancient civilisations. Will and Max discovered an ancient language which is believed to be the first ever written language. They decided to delve a little further and create some signage at the front of their classroom and they have even written a comic book in Qunieform. Congratulations to these learners for taking action with their learning.

Junior School Disco

We look forward to seeing you at the Junior School disco this Friday afternoon from 4pm-6pm.

Kind regards,

Geoff Geddes

Acting Head of Junior School

Football Boot Drive

We are holding a Bake Sale tomorrow!

The Year 11 students going to Timor Leste will be holding a bake sale to support the School Library in Viqueque, Timor Leste, this Thursday at recess and lunchtime. There will be a range of delightful freshly baked goodies on sale, at very reasonable prices. Bring your change, lots of it!

Dale Baker has released a new graphic novel!

After 5 months of working on his book, Visual Communications Design Teacher and Author/Illustrator Dale Baker is pleased to release his second graphic novel for 7-12 year olds, Bobby Dazzla, Torquay Time Traveller. 

Join Bobby and his dog Aussie as they travel through time to right the wrongs of their nemesis, Big Ted Frumpet. 

Now available on Amazon Australia for $22, click here.

Book will arrive within a week of purchase.

Community Engagement and Foundation News 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Fergus Black - Class of 2017

The Kardinians caught up with Fergus Black to find out what he has been up to the last few years. As a student he has played an instrumental role in preserving the student theatre program on campus at La Trobe:

"Since 2019 I have been studying a Bachelor's of Secondary Education specialising in Drama... In 2020 I had one of my short plays, 'All Hail The Lizardman!', featured in La Mama North's freshly minted program as part of Fringe.

In 2021 I put on my first full-length original play, 'Byron', for the La Trobe Student Theatre Moat Festival. It's a play about a guy who brings a talking ferret home to his family and introduces it as his boyfriend.

This year I'm in the final drafting process of my next play, The Wine List, which will either feature in Fringe or will be part of the Student Theatre Activate season later this year..."

Congratulations on your achievements Fergus!

Photo- Fergus performing as Earnest in a student theatre run of 'The importance of being Earnest.'

CLASS OF 2003 – 20 YEAR REUNION

Save the Date – Friday 20 October

And just like that, 20 years have passed since your graduation!

It is definitely time to ‘save the date’ for your reunion! Class of 2003, please ensure you have registered on The Kardinians platform, and that your email and mobile contact details are up to date: https://kardinians.com/

There are an array of photos in your albums, so view some while you are logged in. The photos will certainly bring back memories! The RSVP reunion link will be sent to you in August. We will look forward to seeing you all at the reunion!

Fiona Russell- Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator

CCTV Operations

Kardinia International College (KIC) has recently undertaken an evaluation of the CCTV system to review the scope, design and requirements of the system.

KIC has an obligation to ensure the College environment is safe and secure, and to fulfil our duty of care obligations to students, staff and volunteers. The CCTV system assists our College to fulfil these obligations and to prevent and manage safety on College grounds.

Consistent with the obligations set out above, the College may use CCTV cameras to:

• prevent, support and verify incidents involving:
  • Criminal behaviour – of anyone on College grounds
  • Misconduct
  • Inappropriate behaviour – including students, staff, visitors or members of the public. For example, this means the college may use CCTV footage of incidents to help inform decisions about student management.

• Verify and investigate other incidents involving students, staff and visitors (for example incidents which a person has sustained injury, loss or damage on College grounds)
• To provide visual coverage during an emergency.

CCTV cameras are not located in private areas such as toilets, changing rooms, dressing rooms, showers or other areas where individual privacy is paramount. Nor are they used to monitor student or staff work performance.

CCTV footage is managed in accordance with the College’s Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of CCTV system, please contact kardinia@kardinia.vic.edu.au.

Library Services News

Here is a list of books available to students and families for IDAHOBIT Day on Wednesday 17 May.

Senior School

Junior School

School TV

Adolescence is a significant developmental stage marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is characterised by an emerging sense of self-identity, exploration of personal interests, beliefs, values and goals, increased independence and autonomy beyond the family, growing responsibility, increased engagement in risk behaviours, emerging sexuality, amplified significance of peers, intensification of gender stereotypes, and shifting relationships with parents and caregivers. Adolescents seek increased independence and autonomy, which requires ongoing negotiation and compromise within the parent-child relationship.

Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/understanding-adolescence

From the Archives

KARDINIA SUM PUN

Debbie Goodfellow summarised the Chiang Mai experience between 2003 and 2015, for Kardinia’s ‘Celebrating Twenty Years’:

“The Chiang Mai Journey began in 2003 and has grown to be an extremely popular program for year nine students. It has now been extended to five groups of 24 students per year experiencing an eight-week program.

Chiang Mai is in the most beautiful part of Northern Thailand, where our students are able to experience and immerse themselves in Thai culture and reflect on important issues in the world. The program endeavours to educate students to have an appreciation of the phrase “same, same but different”- to look at themselves and at other people and realise that we are all basically the same even though we have different ways of life, religions and cultures.

It is hoped that the Chiang Mai experience provides students with a foundation and springboard so that their future years at Kardinia continue the growth of independence, self-assurance and understanding of their inner person. Through experiences in Thailand, journal writing and self-reflection, it is hoped that students develop an understanding of the important issues facing the human family.

When the program first began in 2003, students were accommodated and used the facilities at the Prem Centre, an international boarding college. We were very fortunate to have begun our program there.

In 2010, however, Kardinia International College, along with special Thai citizens, acquired and established its own beautiful resort and campus in Mae Jo, Chiang Mai. It was a very exciting time for all concerned in Thailand and Australia. The campus is called Kardinia Sum Pun, meaning “warm connections” between the two countries and campuses.

The Board of Directors consists of: Khun Wichin Chuladesa, Khun Jeab Ploykrachang and Mr John Goodfellow.

The campus is surrounded by rice fields and local villages and there is ensuite accommodation for 24 students, staff apartments, many Thai style buildings, swimming pool, tennis court, basketball court, jacuzzi, recreation room, classroom and onsite kitchen and dining room. Ten Thai staff assist in running the program and campus.

Khun Jeab Ploykrachang, who was also involved in our program at the Prem Centre, is the campus director and she escorts students through their special journey, along with a teacher from Kardinia International College, as well as another Thai teacher.

The program involves:

Community service projects: building a significant building for a village community, and involvement with children in orphanages.

Elephant and Mahout training program.

First-hand experience of Buddhism and meditation through interaction with monks.

Environmental studies.

Adventure activities.

Leadership and working together course.

Living with villagers in a homestay program.

The longest journey any human being can ever make is the journey to self-understanding.

THE KARDINIA SUM PUN EMBLEM

This emblem was designed to relate to the Kardinia International College emblem whereby a part of the inner symbol is used. These three ‘arms’ are to embrace our concept of Internationalism.

Sum Pun is a Thai word meaning ‘connections’ and so the Kardinia Sum Pun symbol represents a sincere connection that hugs and fully embraces our concept of learning about each other and the world.

Credits:

Dowie, P and Russell, F. Kardinia International College- Celebrating Twenty Years- 1996 to 2015. Article by Debbie Goodfellow. Pg 68.

The next article features ‘HOUSE COLOURS’

Fiona Russell- Archivist