From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
This week our Student Leaders’ Investitures have taken place or will take place.
The concept of leadership is an important one at the College and one in which we hope to instil in our students an understanding of what it takes to be a good leader and how to recognise and support good leaders.
We have many formal leadership positions available for students such as Captains and Prefects and these play a significant role in our school and come with many responsibilities.
There are also many more informal ways in which students can experience leadership, from leading a group activity in class, to being involved in student committees, peer support, co-curricular activities, and our outdoor education programs to name just a few.
Some of the traits of good leadership which can developed through all these endeavours are integrity, empathy, accountability, responsibility, self-awareness, resilience, and compassion.
I wish all our College Leaders the absolute best as they lead the school this year and trust that in doing so they are great role models for their peers. I also hope that all our students make the most of the opportunities to lead and learn and grow throughout the year.
From the Head of Senior School - Kath O'Neill
Congratulations to Year 12 student, Olivia D, who is one of four Australian students to be awarded the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship. This is an international education program which aims to reward aspiring STEM enthusiasts and future leaders and their teachers with a hands-on astronaut training experience at the US Space and Rocket Centre’s renowned Space Camp, located in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
Congratulations also to Sienna C and Cooper B for making it through to the final round of this scholarship program. Having three Kardinia students make it to the final round is an amazing achievement.
On Monday evening we welcomed many of our new families to the Senior School at the New Parents Information Evening. It was wonderful to meet new members of our community and to see them connecting with each other. Thank you to Mr Nick Fairlie, Mrs Aisha Kristiansen and Mr Damian Van Wyk for their presentations on the evening.
We are very much looking forward to our House Swimming Carnival on Monday and our Founders' Day Celebration on Thursday. Both of these are important events on the College calendar, and we expect that all students will attend, as outlined to families at the beginning of the year. While everyone has different skills and interests, days such as these allow us to come together as a community, support each other, cheer each other on, celebrate achievements, and connect with each other outside of the regular College environment.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Izabella Haby
Welcome to KICOnline
At Kardinia, we believe that teachers, students and parents are all learners, discovering new things together. To help you on this learning journey, I am going to post weekly updates regarding KICOnline for the next few weeks. Thank you to the IT Team who have been supporting the Junior School staff and families. This week’s focus is ‘Getting to Know KICOnline’.
Getting to Know KICOnline
You should be able to log an absence, book a bus, order lunch, read newsletters/eNews and access KICOnline through the App. The ‘News’ stream holds all articles, so if you are looking for specific information about your child’s class, please go to the ‘Learning Group’ tab. The App and Desktop versions do vary slightly when accessing KICOnline. The Desktop version has all information on the landing page, whereas you will need to select ‘KICOnline’ in the App to access the information.
Next week’s focus, ‘What are Learning Moments’?
If you encounter any issues logging in, please contact IT for assistance on - helpdesk@kardinia.vic.edu.au
The Junior School Car Park - some concerns raised by families:
I ask all parents to please adhere to the following information regarding the Junior School pick - up area after school. There are a number of families who park in the pick-up/drop off zone and leave their car to collect their children. If you need to leave your car or simply decide to wait for your child/ren to meet you, then you need to park in the allocated car park area, not the pick-up zone area. The pick-up zone is for parents to pick up their child/ren when they are in sight, waiting on the grass area with the supervising teacher.
This area is congested and is not being used effectively. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Year 6 Investiture Ceremony
On Monday we acknowledged our Year 6 students and badge wearing leaders at the Investiture Ceremony. Thank you to Katie Steele, the Year 6 team, Tess Dorris and the maintenance team for organising such a wonderful ceremony. Thank you to the families who were able to attend.
Congratulations to all our leaders including the Student Representative Council members for 2025. No doubt the leaders, with their committees, will organise some exciting events for the Junior School community.
A visit from the Geelong Advertiser
On Thursday 20 February the Geelong Advertiser will visit our Foundation Year students to take class photos as a part of their ‘My First Year’ special. Parents have been asked to give permission via a EdSmart broadcast for any photos to be taken of their child. We look forward to seeing the photos soon.
Founders’ Day
Next Thursday 27 February all FY-Y12 students will attend Adventure Park to celebrate our founders, the Katsumata family. Thank you to all parents who have volunteered to support us on the day. 3-year-old kindergarten sessions will operate as normal on this day; however, all 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten students are invited to attend Adventure Park with a parent or caregiver.
Some Upcoming Community Events
Message from Outside School Hours Care
Music News
One of our Year 12 students Jack T was selected by Dami Im to perform (sing) with her at her concert over the holiday break. Dami also asked him to sing one of her songs acapella on stage without any warning. He did an amazing job! What a fantastic opportunity Jack!
Sport News
Congratulations to Jimmy (Year 11) on coming in at number 10 on the 2025 Judo World Rankings for his weight range. Jimmy has been training and competing over many years not just at a school level but also at a national and international level. His hours of commitment and dedication to his craft are starting to pay off and it’s great to see this recognition for Jimmy to start 2025 with such a great ranking.
Congratulations to Addison (Year 11) was a referee at the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup from January 12-18. Addison was rewarded for his efforts by being allocated to referee the Under 16 Men’s Gold Medal Game at the Championships. This is a terrific achievement to be recognised as one of the most accomplished referees of the tournament.
Library News
KIC Seed library
🌱 Growing Together: Our Seed Library Has Sprouted! 🌿
We’re excited to announce the launch of our Seed Library, a new initiative that encourages students and staff to get their hands dirty and grow something wonderful!
📍 How It Works: Borrow a seed packet from the Learning Commons—one at a time—plant it, nurture it, and watch it grow! When your plants produce seeds, you can harvest and donate some back to the library to keep the cycle going.
👩🌾 Year 7 students have already started their growing journey with special seed sticks, while staff members have received seed paper to plant.
🌻 Connecting with Our Community: We’ll be inviting guest speakers to share their knowledge about gardening, sustainability, and growing your own food. Keep an eye out for upcoming sessions!
📸 Share Your Progress! We’ve created a tile on the Senior School Library page where you can upload photos of your plants and harvests. Let’s celebrate our growing community together!
Start your gardening adventure today—borrow your first seed packet and help our Seed Library flourish!
🌿 Happy planting! 🌿
Future Pathways and Education News
All year 9 students attended a Future Pathways and Education workshop this week to begin their subject selection journey for semester 2 and beyond. The most important messages from this event were that we encourage students to:
- Reflect on what they enjoy and are good at
- Have conversations with subject teachers about which level is right for them to study at (eg. perhaps a level D or E in semester 2, prior to an early VET or VCE subject)
- Make a few different plans, assess which one feels best suited to you
Resources from the workshop have been posted to KICOnline for students to access. Lots of support material also exists on our Pathways Hub via Study, Work, Grow. https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/kardinia-international-college/
https://kiconline.kardinia.vic.edu.au/news/5802
Articles for parents:
The world of work looks very different
Your child is entering a complex and dynamic world of work, and the steps they take as they move into their careers look different now from how they did when you left school.
There are less lines, less barriers, and more options, which gives your child more choice, but can also make the decision a bit more confusing. University is more expensive than it probably was when you left school, and the range of vocational pathways and apprenticeships has exploded recently.
Your child is also more likely to change career paths multiple times throughout their life, which means that even if they start out on the path to become a doctor, electrician, or teacher, chances are that they won’t stay in that career forever.
Focus on the subjects they enjoy, and do well in
Your child should select senior subjects that give them options once they leave school, but they also have to spend the next few years of their lives focusing on these subjects, so it will help if they pick things that they enjoy and can succeed in.
Start by reading the 'Subject Selection' section of the Pathways Hub, (found in Further Study), then make yourself available if they want to talk through their options. Try to stay calm, even if you disagree with their selections, and ask them to validate their choices which can sometimes solve the issue.
Select subjects they enjoy
We always suggest that students select things they enjoy, because if they enjoy the subject, they are more likely to persevere when things get difficult, and they are also more likely to enjoy the career paths that the subject could lead to.
Use their marks as a guide
It’s also important that you look at their current progress for an indication of which subjects might be right for them. For example, if they are performing about the middle of their class for mathematics, then they should select a mid-range senior mathematics class, unless they are seriously committed to a mathematics pathway and willing to put in the work to improve their grades.
If they have consistently done well in one subject, then it might be a good idea for them to continue with that subject into senior school.
We look forward to seeing all Year 9 parents and students at the Future Directions Evening on Monday 24 February, in the Katsumata Centre from 7pm.
This evening will give a comprehensive overview of the possible pathway options, course offerings and subjects for students at Kardinia. There will be new course offerings, so we encourage all families to attend to hear this new information.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
International Women's Day Breakfast
The 2025 International Women's Day Breakfast is hosted by the Kardinia Community Foundation.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The annual IWD Breakfast enables us to celebrate and support fairness, equality and inclusion in our community through awareness, education and fundraising.
All parents, alumni, staff, and VCE and IB students are invited to attend this event.
Date: Friday 7 March 2025
Venue: College Hall, Kardinia International College
Time: 7:00am-8:30am
Tickets: Adults (parents, alumni & staff) $20; Students (VCE & IB) $15
https://events.humanitix.com/2025-international-women-s-day-25jyat86
Tickets include a delicious breakfast smorgasbord! We hope to see you there!
Kardinians 2025 AFL Footy Tipping Competition
The Kardinians 2025 AFL Footy Tipping Competition is now open!
The competition is open to registered alumni, current Year 12 students and staff only. There is no entry fee, but great cash prizes and leader board vouchers during the comp.
Prizes: $1000 1ST PRIZE*, $750 2ND PRIZE*, $500 3RD PRIZE*
$20 VOUCHER TOP OF LEADER BOARD END OF WEEKS 5, 10, 15 & 20 & a $50 TRICKY TRAV PRIZE FOR WEEK 3.
*In the event of a draw, the top 2 or 3 prizes are combined and split.
The comp is for the 2025 AFL season. It starts with Round 1 and ends with Round 24. It does not include the Opening Round or the Finals.
Prizes will only be awarded to registered members. Good luck everyone! (Head to The Kardinians platform for the link and password.)
Parent ‘Mingle at Mary’s’
A reminder to all K-12 parents that our first social evening, 'Mingle at Mary's' is on THIS WEEK! This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and enjoy a relaxed evening together. We look forward to seeing you there and making this a memorable night for everyone.
Date: Thursday 20 February
Venue: ‘Meet Me at Mary's’, 66 Pakington Street, Geelong West.
Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm
Cost: $20 per person (Includes entry and nibblies)
Drinks: At bar prices.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/kardinia-ccc-parent-mingle
Hosted by the College Community Council (CCC)
Kardinia Community Foundation Golf Day
Kardinia International College, in partnership with the Kardinians, are excited to invite you to the inaugural 2025 Foundation Golf Day, proudly sponsored by McHarry's Buslines.
This community event provides an opportunity to become community champions and be directly involved in supporting deserving students to attend Kardinia International College through our Scholarship Fund.
Consisting of an Ambrose style game (Teams of 4), a clubhouse lunch, on-course competitions, raffles, silent auctions, non-golfer activities, and plenty of community spirit, this event promises a day full of fun and engagement.
Date: Thursday 17 April
Venue: 13th Beach Golf Links, 1732 Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads.
Time: 7:00am-3:00pm
Cost: $150 per person (Includes Entry, Ambrose Competition and Lunch); Non-Golfers $30 per person (Includes Entry and Lunch)
Drinks: At bar prices.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-golf-day
Hosted by the Kardinia Community Foundation
Call for silent auction donations
As part of this Foundation event, we will be hosting a Silent Auction to raise funds for our Foundation's Scholarship initiatives. We are reaching out to our generous community to ask for donations of items or services that can be auctioned. Your contributions will make a significant impact and help us continue our work in supporting those in need.
Whether it's a product from your business, a gift voucher, or a unique experience, every donation counts and is greatly appreciated. Your support will not only help us raise funds but also showcase the incredible generosity and spirit of our community.
To donate, please head to https://forms.office.com/r/jFiDxSgVgk or use the QR code on the poster.
We would also love to hear from any professional auctioneers in our community, who would be willing to host the major live raffle during the lunch. Please contact Fiona Russell at: foundation@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.
Community on KICOnline
If you would like to know ‘What’s On’ in our Kardinia International College Community, then head to the Community Tile in both the Junior School and Senior School sections. Information, links to our socials and ticket to events are all here!
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Then and Now: Celebrating International Women’s Day Breakfast at Kardinia International College
The first International Women’s Day Breakfast at Kardinia International College was held in 2023. What began as a reasonably modest gathering has now become a cornerstone event on the College Calendar, celebrated annually with great enthusiasm and participation.
2023: The Inaugural Event
In 2023, the College hosted its first-ever International Women’s Day Breakfast in the College Hall. The event aimed to bring together students, staff, and community members to honour the achievements of women and to initiate and discuss the ongoing challenges they face. The breakfast featured inspiring speeches, performances, a buffet breakfast, and a sense of camaraderie that set the tone for future celebrations.
2024:
2025: A Growing Tradition for Impact and Inspiration
Fast forward to 2025, and the International Women’s Day Breakfast has grown in both size and significance. Each year, the event attracts a larger audience, including notable guest speakers, performances that highlight the diverse talents and contributions of women in our community.
Impact and Inspiration
The annual breakfast has become more than just a celebration; it is a platform for empowerment and education. Students are encouraged to participate actively, whether by highlighting their own social justice projects, performing, engaging in table discussions, or volunteering to help organize the event. This involvement fosters a deeper understanding of gender equality and inspires the next generation of leaders.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, the International Women’s Day Breakfast at Kardinia International College promises to continue evolving. With each passing year, the event not only honours the progress made but also renews our commitment to advocating for equality, enabling deserving students to be part of our community, and supporting those in our wider community. We look forward to seeing how this tradition will continue to evolve and inspire in the years to come.
A reminder - All parents, alumni, staff, and VCE and IB students are invited to attend this event.
Date: Friday 7 March 2025
Venue: College Hall, Kardinia International College
Time: 7:00am-8:30am
Tickets: Adults (parents, alumni & staff) $20; Students (VCE & IB) $15
https://events.humanitix.com/2025-international-women-s-day-25jyat86
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
Wellbeing Hub News
As you will have seen from previous editions of eNews over the last few years, the Wellbeing team has shared many useful articles and helpful advice from School TV, which is all still available through the Wellbeing Hub page on KICOnline.
We’ve now also joined Happy Families (see below) from which we’ll also be sharing information and resources. So, keep a look out for both School TV and / or Happy Families in future eNews editions.
And make sure to head to the Wellbeing Hub page which has information on various topics including Body Image, Drugs & Alcohol, Grief and Loss, Organisation and Study Skills, Sleep, Stress & Anxiety, Technology and Transitions/Change. You’ll also find links to support services such as Headspace, Kids Help Line, Minus18 and Raising Children, among others.
We are a Happy Families School!
A ‘How To’ Guide for our KIC Community
As mentioned, we’ve now subscribed to the Happy Families School Membership! Owned and run by Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts, the membership offers a wealth of parenting education and resources.
We will regularly share resources available through our membership with you, including Insight Articles and Webinars. You can also access your resources at any time using the below URL (unique to Kardinia) and password.
URL & PASSWORD
https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/kic
Password: happykic
We recommend bookmarking this link. You should only need to put the password in once and the site will remember you.
INSIGHTS ARTICLES
A new Insights article is released weekly during the term, and we will include these with the school newsletter. Insights articles are written by Dr Justin Coulson and other leading experts and provide parenting education and support for a wide variety of traditional and contemporary parenting challenges. You can also access 300+ previous Insights articles on our school’s URL.
PARENT WEBINARS
You have access to 4 live webinars a year (one per term), with information on the first webinar below. You’ll have access to the recording via our school’s URL but as the webinars are live, we recommend you watch them in real time so that you can ask Dr Justin and/or the guest presenter any questions you may have.
We hope you enjoy the Insights and webinars! Webinar 1: Emotional Regulation A Heart-Centred Approach to Supporting Your Child Wednesday 12 March, 7pm
Meltdowns, outbursts, and challenging behaviours can leave us feeling lost and unsure how to help. It's tough when our kids are struggling with big emotions! What we sometimes forget is that these behaviours usually stem from overwhelming feelings that our children don't yet have the tools to manage.
Emotional Regulation is Dr Justin Coulson’s powerful guide to helping children understand and regulate their emotional world. Once they develop competence with this critical life skill, emotionally intelligent children will feel more confident, perform better at school, have healthier relationships with others, and even be physically healthier.
This presentation will equip parents with a five-step “emotion coaching” process that brings together the very best in emotional intelligence research from Dr John Gottman, the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, and others, to build children’s resilience, increase wellbeing for the whole family, and develop healthier humans.
Webinar Link: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/emotional-regulation/
*Note that the link will only work if you are already signed into our school page using the details provided above.
Community
