From the Principal
Last Saturday night saw another milestone for our Year 12 students with the Graduation Dinner which was held at the President’s Room at Kardinia Park. It was a lovely evening and a great way for our Year 12’s, their families and our staff to celebrate the end of exams and the end of 13 years of school.
I had a discussion early in the term with one of our Year 12’s just before they finished school and exams started. We talked about all the lasts - last week of school, last House Music, last day of school, but I then reminded her that those milestone ‘last of’ events often make way for a new round of ‘first of’ events.
It is the ebb and flow of life that makes it so special. There is also beauty in the liminal space, that time between the end of one thing and the beginning of another, which our Year 12’s find themselves in now. Exams are over but, for many, there is now a time of waiting before the next adventure starts. In the busyness of life, we do not often get time to enjoy such time and space but seeing Year 12 in this space now is a timely reminder to make the most of those opportunities when they arise.
For many of our students and their families there will be more lasts as the term comes to an end. I hope that for all those lasts, there can be some great memories that have been made to look back on and that there will also be some great firsts to look forward to.
From the Acting Head of Senior School
On Saturday evening we had our final farewell to the Class of 2023 at GMHBA Stadium. It was wonderful to be able to share the Graduation Dinner with families again after the past years of COVID restrictions. The experience of school rightly focuses predominantly on the experience of students but it is also one that involves the families who support their children, and who make connections with other families along the way. It is these relationships that make our community and we are grateful to have been able to celebrate these young people together.
I wish all the Year 10 students who are heading off on Outdoor Education experiences next week all the best. These students will be challenging themselves to physical adventures, making new friendships, building their resilience, and exploring parts of Victoria that they have never seen before. Thank you to all the staff who are giving up their own time to accompany the students on these journeys.
I’ve noticed increasing numbers of students coming to school without having had breakfast and in many instances, without an adequate lunch. There are students who bring only fruit to school and others who only bring protein bars. Growing brains struggle to learn and to interact properly with others when they are not properly nourished. I know that many of us rely on our children to make their own breakfast and lunch, so I encourage you to have a conversation with your children about their eating patterns during the day. Of course, we are all individuals, with different tastes and preferences, but planning ahead for breakfast and lunch will help to make the most of each day at school.
I’m very excited to share that Year 9 student, Zoe Shanahan, won the Lower Secondary division of the 2023 Poem Forest Prize. There were 6,400 nature poems submitted by students and teachers from across Australia. Congratulations Zoe!
I’m delighted to share Zoe’s poem, ‘they're asking where you went, mother nature’ with our community:
I fell asleep in the forest
in the weak winter sun
to forget I lived
I felt the soil welcome me
moss grew
under my blackened fingernails
and trees swelled
in my aching lungs and hacking chest
flowers bloomed over my eyes
that had seen too much.
Ivy held together
my splintering bones
bottlebrush grew
where my crimson heart once lay
aching with sorrow
for this cradling world
choked with factory smoke
and riddled with bullet holes
from a rich man's war
Congratulations to Year 11 student Matilda Corliss, whose team placed third in the Wonder Women Class at the 2023 Transmoto 8-Hour Enduro in Wangaratta over the weekend. The Transmoto hosted world champions in this field of motocross and over 600 riders. 23 teams pulled out of this extremely tough event, which consisted of a 23km track, with rocky inclines, deep rutted declines, close winding trees, log obstacles, slippery grass terrain and dust as far as the eye could see. Well done Matilda!
From the Head of Junior School
School Leaders
Congratulations to the following students who have been appointed as leaders for 2024.
Junior School Student Leaders | Edward Dally | Sara Ristevski |
Planeteers Committee Leaders | Natalya Krishnan | Isabelle Borys |
Techsperts Committee Leaders | Felix Lee | Victoria Gorgievski |
Performing Arts Committee Leaders | Hannah Nguyen | Emma Liu |
Rage Committee Leaders | Tim Smith | Paris Findlay |
International Mindedness Committee Leaders | Jarvis Burns | Sarah Harris |
Student Action Committee Leaders | Angus Welsh | Amelie Gordon |
JAM JARS Committee Leaders | Harrison Clarke | Alexandra Collis |
Thomson House Leaders | Chace Hunter | Raina Snijders |
Cowie House Leaders | Oscar Gilmour | Avah Wood |
Gotemba House Leaders | Ace Roberts | Eva Dally |
Morongo House Leaders | Lachlan Michael | Milla Nestorovski |
Year 5 Information Evening
Thank you to our Year 5 team for leading an information session at the Grove campus last Thursday evening for all 2024 Grove students and parents. The evening was well received by all in attendance.
A message from the Planeteers
WOW WEEE! That’s a lot of lids! The Planeteers would like to thank everyone who brought in plastic lids. Here we are washing the lids. These lids will not be going to landfill and will benefit kids. Lids4Kids is an Australian 100% volunteer grass-roots charity that rescues small plastic bottle lids from landfill to protect our environment and repurposes them into sustainable recycled plastic products, such as children’s play equipment, sensory toys and gardening equipment. The Planeteers will take these to a collection spot for this.
Why not keep collecting?
Year 2 Parent Presentations
Last week I joined Year 2 parents in learning about forces. We were expertly informed about levers, fulcrums, wedges, axles, pivots and other interesting terms relating to forces by the Year 2 students. Students presented and demonstrated their understanding through the creation of model playgrounds.
Book Swap
In conjunction with the Christmas Book Fair, the Student Action community are hosting an event to promote reading over the school holidays in a cost effective way. On Monday, 27 November, students are able to bring in their unwanted books. Then on Thursday, they will be able to swap their tokens for ‘new’ books. What a great chance to clean out the book shelf and share your loved books with others!
Christmas Picnic
The Junior School Christmas Picnic will be held from 5.30 - 7.30 pm on Thursday 30 November in the Katsumata Centre and will feature local favourites the Mik Maks, and JS student choirs. Parents and students are invited to bring a picnic, spread out with friends, and enjoy the festivities.
Bee Brave Cards at the Christmas Picnic
Japanese Week
Students are enjoying the amazing opportunities on offer for Japanese Week this week, including a dress-up day yesterday. Thank you to our Japanese teaching team for organising such a fun and exciting week as outlined in the schedules below.
Middle Primary Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to all students who participated in todays Middle Primary Swimming Carnival. Thank you to Mr Russell, all the teachers, and the Year 6 House Captains for your organisation and support in running the event.
Year 6 Graduation
Another upcoming exciting event is our Year 6 Graduation on Monday 4 December at 11.15 am. The ceremony will be streamed live and can be accessed at the link below.
Parent Information Sessions
The following parent information session is scheduled this week.
- Foundation Year Information Session 2024 – Thursday 23 November
Junior School Orientation Day
Orientation Day for all 2024 FY-Y6 students will be Wednesday 29 November. On this day students will get to meet their 2024 classmates and teachers. All students will take home an envelope containing the following items:
- Photos and names of the 2024 Learning Group
- FY-Y6 Staff for 2024
- A welcome letter from the Learning Group teacher
- A ‘Looking Forward to Next Year’ form
Gotemba Road Parking
I have received information today that a neighbour has been photographing cars parked on Gotemba Road near the Highview gates. Please be mindful that if you are parked illegally, you may find yourself with a parking fine.
Reminder: Scholarship Registrations are open!
Academic and Music Scholarship Registrations for 2025 are now open. Registration forms and more information can be found on our website or by clicking the image below.
Registrations will close in early February 2024 (no late applications will be accepted).
Library News
Join in the fun of our Christmas Book Fair! Come along to the Inquiry Centre in Week 9 (27 November – 1 December) to purchase some great new books or do a little Christmas shopping. The Book Fair will be open during lunch and after school. Credit Card/EFTPOS facilities are available for parents/carers. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Music News
Last Chance……! Final Notice:
Join us for a spectacular display of entertainment and student performances, with over 200 students represented!
*TONIGHT* Wednesday 22 November, 6:30 pm in the Katsumata Centre (doors open 6:15 pm).
Seating is unreserved so please arrive early!
Instrumental Music Enrolments 2024
Dear Parents,
There are many ways in which Instrumental Music can aid the academic learning, social skills acquisition and cultural development of your child……..not to mention FUN!
Did we say FUN?
Enrolments for the Instrumental Music Program 2024 are now open and parents are encouraged to get on board early as places for ‘high demand’ instruments often fill quickly. The extensive list of instruments available includes: Strings (Violin, Viola Cello and Double Bass), Woodwind (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophones) Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba) Percussion (Drumkit, Orchestral Percussion), Voice, Piano and Guitar (Guitar and Bass).
Please see the online Enrolment Forms below:
Junior School Music Enrolment Form
Senior School Music Enrolment Form
Geelong Mum's Donations Required
The Senior School Health and Human Development students and teachers are running a collection of much-needed items for families and children in need within our local Geelong area.
The act of giving, understanding and having a sense of appreciation for those within our community are all vital parts of our curriculum in Health and Human Development - It connects to our curriculum and the local community in many ways – social action, discussions around SES, income, population groups, health and wellbeing, and connection to a local community group supporting those in need.
All the information about the collection has been given to our Level E Health and Year 11 VCE Health and Human Development Students via the flyer. If you are in a position to donate an item we are happy to collect and drop off on behalf of the Kardinia International College Community. Also sharing this opportunity with family and friends to help increase the reach that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your support.
Community Engagement and Foundation News
A Celebration of Life
Tess McMurtrie - 6.1.2000 to 29.09.2023
Tess was born in Anglesea and developed a love of the ocean and bush throughout her life. She was creative, curious and loved arts, drama and travel which started at Kardinia with school productions and a Year 9 trip to Thailand. Her gap year included travel and studied a short course at NDIA Melbourne for the year. In 2019 Tess commenced a Bachelor of Fashion at RMIT. In 2022 she worked at Ghanda as a junior fashion designer. Tess showed amazing grace and determination after being diagnosed with metastatic osteosarcoma in December 2020. She had the eloquence and insight to raise awareness for young adult cancer and osteosarcoma which raised thousands of dollars for cancer organisations. Tess was authentic, honest and had a great sense of humour. Tess passed away peacefully surrounded with the love of family and friends. The Kardinians Celebrate the Life of 2017 alumna, Tess McMurtrie.
Credit - Sue McMurtrie
The Brisbane Pop-Up Reunion
The Pop-Up Reunions are location-based and are open to ALL peer years. Partners and friends are most welcome at the Pop-Up Reunions.
Pop-Up Reunions are a way to reconnect with other members of our Kardinia community around the world, wherever you are living, working, studying or visiting. It is important that your email, mobile number and location are current on your Kardinians profile.
If you will be in Brisbane on Wednesday 29 November, the first Pop-Up will be held at the Pig 'N' Whistle - King George Square, between 5:30 pm-6:30 pm.
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/brisbane-pop-up-reunion
The next Pop-Up Reunions will be in Melbourne and Canberra in early 2024!
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Japan Trips
Camps and overseas trips have been part of Kardinia from its very first year in 1996, when staff and Senior School students travelled to Japan, where they visited our sister school Gotemba Nishi High, also founded by our own Founders’ Mr and Mrs Katsumata. Since then, the tradition has continued as the Japan Study Tour.
Images above from 1996, 1996, 2005, 2006, and 2009 respectively.
Credits: Dowie, P. & Russell, F. Kardinia International College-Celebrating Twenty Years-1996 to 2015.
Photo Credits: Kardinia Archive Collection.
Fiona Russell - College Archivist .
School TV - Gambling & Young People
Today's generation of children and adolescents face a unique and concerning environment regarding gambling. They are growing up in a digital age characterised by constant connectivity, where the gambling industry has evolved significantly during their formative years. With smartphones and social media platforms at their fingertips, the line between gambling and entertainment has blurred, particularly within the realms of video games and social media.
Even with legal restrictions in place, a considerable number of teenagers are engaging in online gambling, a trend facilitated by the industry's normalisation of betting practices on the internet. Research consistently highlights that a significant percentage of adolescents are involved in gambling activities, and some experience adverse consequences such as diminished academic performance and strained relationships.
The digital era has made gambling more accessible, and certain factors elevate the risk of problematic gambling among young individuals, particularly those who already engage in risky behaviours like alcohol consumption. Simulated gambling in video games can further increase the likelihood of teenagers transitioning to real-money gambling and developing future gambling-related problems.
To navigate children through responsible online gaming and gambling, it's imperative for parents and caregivers to foster open discussions about media choices. Encouraging a balanced approach to screen time, promoting alternative activities for stress relief and boredom, and setting clear family rules for screen and internet use, including establishing spending limits for online gambling and in-game purchases, can empower children to make informed and responsible decisions in this digital age.
For support services and more information go to:
Gambling Help Online: Free online support for anyone affected by gambling. Available 24/7 across Australia.
SMART Recovery: SMART Recovery is an evidence-based recovery method grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), that supports people with substance dependencies or problem behaviours.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-gambling-young-people-au
Community News
Upcoming workshop: Join Christina Keeble in person as she explores what demand avoidance is, how it can look in Autistic & ADHD kids & explain what PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) is. She will delve into why traditional behaviour strategies don't work & how to best support with trauma informed, relationship based approaches. Please click the image below for more details.
