From the Principal
On a stunning day like today, I cannot stop but think how grateful I am for the beautiful environment I have the privilege of working in each day at KIC.
We are so lucky to have the abundance of amazing gardens and trees around the College where our staff and students can spend time when they are not in class. We also see classes making the most of the surrounds and working outside at times or in the case of How Does Your Garden Grow or our Foundation and Grove students working in their vegetable gardens on a regular basis.
Our Grounds and Maintenance staff do an incredible job keeping up with all the gardening and vast spaces they need to keep looking spic and span. What is also great to see is that our students, on the whole, look after and appreciate their surrounds as well.
I hope that you all get to enjoy the warm weather over the next few days. If experience tells us anything, it is that it will get cooler again soon but, in the meantime, enjoy the warmth.
From the Head of Senior School
It has been a very busy week in the Senior School!
Yesterday we held the annual House Swimming Carnival, which was a wonderful day out. It was so pleasing to see students in their house colours, cheering loudly and trying their best for their houses, whether in the competition events or the novelty events. One very popular new event was the House Prefects and Heads of House relay, which gained a huge amount of support from the crowd. It was wonderful to see students and staff working together for their houses. Congratulations to Thomson, who took out the Swimming Cup.
Our Year 12 students received their hoodies last Thursday and have very much enjoyed wearing them. Each year the design of these is developed by a student committee and this year’s group has clearly done an outstanding job. They look great!
We encourage students to be active and have a number of students who walk or ride to school. It is important that parents and guardians are mindful of bikes and pedestrians as they move around the College, ensuring they comply with speed limits within the College grounds.
The Senior School has been focusing on use of the Study Planner to assist in organisation and communication. Staff have been supporting students to develop good habits by explicitly instructing them to record homework, assignments, and other key information in their planners. We have also been asking our students to have a parent/guardian sign the planner each week. This allows families to have an overview of requirements and upcoming events for their children.
We are very much looking forward to Founders Day on Thursday 29 February. As well as having a lot of fun together, we focus on the generosity of the Katsumata Family in founding our school; in keeping with this spirit of generosity, I’m very grateful to the Senior School students who have volunteered some of their own time on the day to spend time with Lower Primary students. The younger students love making connections with older students, and the older students have the opportunity to give back in the spirit of the Katsumata's initial legacy.
One of our long-term staff members is taking leave from the end of this week. David Aulsebrook is a Morongo Tutor Group teacher and a Maths/Science teacher, who is much loved by all in the Senior School. We wish him well on his leave and will communicate details of his replacement with families and students in his classes shortly.
Finally, Dr Justin Coulson, a renowned psychologist, is hosting a webinar on 27 February at 7 pm looking at the youth mental health crisis in Australia and strategies for supporting young people and their families. The College has purchased a pass for our families to access the event. This is a live webinar, however, a recording of it will be available for fourteen days after the event. Families can register for the event via the following link: https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/KardiniaInternationalCollege or by clicking the image below.
From the Head of Junior School
Year 6 Investiture
This Friday we will host the Year 6 Investiture for our student leaders. The ceremony will begin at 2 pm in the Katsumata Centre. Parents are invited to attend.
Book Covering Stars
Thank you to all the parents who covered 575 school readers this week. It was a wonderful team effort by a bunch of dedicated mums to whom we are very grateful. Thank you, team!
Founders’ Day
Next Thursday 29 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. Further information will be shared with volunteers soon. 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.
Upcoming Parent Events
A ‘Wine, Canapes and Great Company’ event for KIC parents will be held at the Eureka Hotel on Thursday 7 March. Another upcoming event for all parents is the International Women’s Day Breakfast in the College Hall on Friday 8 March. Scroll down to the Community section of eNews to find out more and book your tickets.
Parents Urged to Open Dialogue on Cyberbullying Following Spike in Cases
The eSafety Commissioner is urging parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about online safety following an increase in reported cyberbullying cases. In 2023, the Commissioner received 2,383 reports of cyberbullying, compared to 1,700 in 2022. The majority of these reports (67%) involved children aged 12 to 15. The Commissioner suggests that parents discuss with their children the importance of staying safe online, treating others with respect, and parental and privacy controls. Additionally, parents should regularly inquire about their children's online activities. The Commissioner emphasises the need for continuous guidance and support from both industry and caregivers, especially with cyberbullying evolving along with the advancement of AI technologies. Please read more on the eSafety Commissioners website here.
Sport News
Last Thursday the 15th of February saw 42 students head down to the Eastern Beach foreshore to swim, bike and run in the inaugural GISSA Triathlon Championships. Pristine weather conditions set the scene for a great day of good-spirited competition and fun, with every athlete giving their absolute all on a challenging course. They should all be proud of their efforts. Kardinia performed exceptionally well, claiming 7 podium finishes across the day.
Special congratulations to Kaelan McGee, Eilidh Sheridan, Aiden McGee and Liam Clark for placing first in their respective events. Thankyou to Mr Waight and the GISSA team for organising such a successful event, as well as to Mr Van Wyk, Mr Letts and Sidney for being down there to support us on the day.
Careers Department News
Career Programs
A number of career related program opportunities (below) have been advertised on our Careers KIC online page and emailed to relevant students over the past couple of weeks. Full program details and application forms can be found on the Careers KIC online page for you to check out.
Career Programs | Year Level | Application Closing Dates |
Girls in Property | 9,10,11,12 Girls | 26th of February |
WoW – Health & Community Services | 10 | 15th of March |
Careers in Civil Construction Day | 10,11 & 12 | 8th of March |
COGG – Work Experience & SWL placements | 10 & 11 | 15th of March |
Year 12 Students
The Careers team strongly encourage all year 12 students to be booking appointments during term 1 to begin pathway planning conversations. Bookings are made by students via the booking link on KIConline. Senior students are to book during study periods or lunchtimes. Career Practitioners are available every lunchtime in the learning commons upstairs in the Careers office and discussion rooms.
Booking link for Career Practitioner Appointments: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/Careers1@kic.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/
Contact us – careers@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Top Tip & Trend to be aware of:
- Universities are increasingly looking at the whole person (rather than just an ATAR) when accepting students into courses. What does this mean for our students?
- Students who are involved in co-curricular activities, have hobbies and interests that they pursue in their own time, who have connections to community groups, sporting organisations, who have part time jobs or volunteer are more likely to set themselves apart when applying for opportunities in the future
- What do can you do to set yourself apart? Many opportunities exist within Kardinia International College and your local community. How can you positively impact the communities you are part of?
Co-Curricular News
The Co-Curricular program is off to a great start for 2024 offering students amazing opportunities across a broad range of diverse activities. While we have our well-established activities returning, it is exciting to see so many new opportunities this year. Check out below some of the exciting things we currently have on offer. There is something for everyone!
To stay up to date with what’s happening in Co-Curricular, please go to the Co-Curricular page on KICONLINE here or contact Nicole Holton our Co-Curricular Coordinator N.holton01@kardinia.vic.edu.au
NETBALL PLAYERS WANTED:
Netball players are invited to join the competition for Semester 1 played at Kardinia Park on a Monday night. Game times are 4.15 pm, 5.10 pm, 6.05 pm and 7 pm - depending on the grade the team plays in (younger teams tend to play in the earlier time slots). Training is held at the College on Wednesdays from 3.40 till 4.40 pm. We are looking for the following players to go into existing teams;
- Players in years 2/3/4 who are new to netball or have participated in the Net Set Go program or have played for a year of netball.
- Players in years 5 & 6 with 1-2 years of netball experience who are new to netball or are still learning and want to further develop their netball skills.
- Players in years 7/8/9 with 1-2 years of netball experience who are still learning and want to further develop their netball skills.
All players will need to be registered with Netball Victoria (12-month registration). A $290 fee will be charged to your student account for Semester 1.
Contact Bernadette Walker (KIC Netball Coordinator) via email at buddywally@hotmail.com to express your interest or for further information.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
CCC Parent Social Evening - Wine, Canapes & Great Company!
This year’s first social event for Kardinia parents, is coming up soon! This ticketed event, on Thursday 7 March, is hosted by the College Community Council (CCC). It will be held upstairs at the Eureka Hotel and is a fabulous chance to connect and socialise with our Kardinia parent community.
Come and introduce yourself in a casual, welcoming environment, and if you have already established some parent connections at the College, invite them to register also.
The cost is $35 for a substantial selection of canapes, and drinks are at bar prices.
Tickets are available via the link or the QR code: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-wine-canapes-and-great-company
We look forward to seeing you there!
The CCC Footy Tipping Competition for all Kardinia families
The 2024 AFL Footy Tipping Competition is open to all our Kardinia families.
There is no entry fee for this competition! Each Kardinia family can enter once to be eligible for great prizes, with the top 3 family winners awarded:
1st- $500; 2nd- $300 ; 3rd - $200
The competition starts with Round 1 and ends with Round 24. It does not include the Opening Round or the Finals. The link for this competition is:
https://tipping.afl.com.au/tipping/index.html#/comp/37586/about?code=U7C9XYSW
The competition code is: U7C9XYSW
Please note that this is a family competition and students cannot enter this competition independently. Only current Kardinia families are eligible.
Introducing our College Community Council (CCC)
This week we introduce more members of The College Community Council, including our 2024 Finance Secretary Rana Al-Salem, and new CCC member Jane Darling.
Introducing Rana
"Hi, my name is Rana, I have two children, Bella and Jonathan. I joined the CCC to have the opportunity to connect with others and help bring people together. I travelled around for a bit before settling in Australia in 2019. I like reading, exercising, and coffee. A little-known fact about me is that my childhood dream was to be an astronaut, I loved to adventure into the unknown, and I still do. In 2024 I am hoping to be able to go out more, volunteer more and contribute more to my community. "
Jane Darling.
"I’ve been a KIC parent since 2021 with kids currently in Year 1 and Year 3. I love meeting and getting to know others in our lovely KIC community and have made some great friends along the way. I’ve joined the CCC to help put this love to good use and help with connecting and bringing others together. I’m a Geelong local, but a traveller at heart. I’ve also lived in Melbourne, Japan, Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands; I love talking all things culture, language and food!"
Look out for our CCC members at the ‘Wine, Canapes and Great Company’ social event.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
Alumni, Current VCE & IB Students, Staff and Parents are warmly invited to attend the 2024 International Women’s Day Breakfast on Friday 8 March. This ticketed event will be held in the College Hall, between 7:00 am – 8:30 am.
This year's theme is 'Inspire Inclusion' and we are delighted to announce that our Keynote Speaker is past parent Jo Plummer (FAICD) (MBA) and our Emcee is current parent and Board member, Barb Cronin.
Jo is a contemporary governance specialist and seasoned board chair experienced in commercial, government, SME and NFP settings. She is an Australian Institute of Company Directors Master and Fellow, and holds an MBA majoring in leadership, communication, strategy & planning.
Her value proposition lies in creating enabling, high-performance environments where boards partner with their organisations to supercharge aspiration and collective strategic nous to deliver beyond traditional boundaries.
She is relentless in her pursuit of environmental, social and governance excellence and, is a long- term advocate for enabling choice, opportunity and equality for women and people who are underrepresented.
As a self- confessed ‘happy provocateur’, her professional purpose for being is to:
“Inspire aspiration, confidence and optimism so together we can do and be better.”
Tickets include a delicious breakfast smorgasbord!
Adults (Alumni, Parents & Staff) - $20, Students (VCE & IB)- $15. We hope you can join us!
Celebrating With Kardinians
The Kardinians are delighted to share of the recent wedding of alumnus Nick Kovacev (Class of 2009) and his partner Pattareeya (Pattie) Pattaradilok, on their recent marriage.
There were plenty of alumni to celebrate with the happy couple including: Amanda Kovacev (Class of 2014), Jacqueline Kovacev (2011), Mia Krsul (Class of 2018), Jack Krsul (Class of 2014), Chanel Simovic (Class of 2022), Max Simovic (Class of 2019), Sharon Xu (Class of 2019), Alexa Wong (Class of 2017) and staff members Zeljka Kovacev (Mother of the Groom) and aunt, Maria Lorente. Wishing Nick and Patti hearty congratulations on behalf of The Kardinians!
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!
Please ensure that your contact details are current on The Kardinians at https://kardinians.com/
Pop Up Reunion
The next Pop-up Reunion for our newest alumni will be held on Tuesday 26 March at the Prince Alfred Rooftop and Bar in Carlton. Alumni starting employment, university or continuing study in Melbourne, will be invited to attend. Head to The Kardinians for further information https://kardinians.com/
Homestay Students BBQ
Our Homestay Community enjoyed an Australian-themed Welcome BBQ to start the year. It enabled our Host Families to connect and the students to get to know each other outside of classes.
Our homestay community is always open to welcome new members. If you are interested in our Homestay Program, please contact the homestay coordinator by email: y.zhao@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Morongo High Tea Reunion
Since 2022, past Morongo students and staff have been invited back to Morongo House for the Annual High Tea Reunion.
This year, the event will be held on Sunday 24 March, between 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm at Morongo House.
Tickets available at: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-morongo-high-tea
Please share this information with any former Morongo ladies, especially those celebrating their 30, 40-, 50-, 60- or 70-year reunions this year!
The tennis courts are undergoing a refurbishment, and a penny was found under the layers of old courts. Did a Morongo student lose a penny back in the day?
Maybe a boarder’s pocket money? What would you have bought with it? We’d love to hear your stories at the reunion!
Photo Credits: Kardinia Archive Collection
Fiona Russell - College Archivist
School TV - Friendship and Belonging
It is not always easy for children and teenagers to always know how to manage friendships. Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a child’s wellbeing. Friendships are full of ups and downs and it is better for kids to learn how to manage and build their own friendships, even though as an adult carer you may be tempted to interfere.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging
