From the Principal - Catherine Lockhart
Last Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the IB Global Conference in Singapore. The speakers and workshops were excellent, and it was exciting to see how as an IB school (PYP and DP) we are connected to a global network of educators and scholars all with a common goal of developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
The final speaker was Andreas Schleicher from the OECD, and he shared some fascinating data around education. One important takeaway for me was some of the areas for education in the 21st Century that we must not lose sight of which go beyond numeracy and literacy. These include psychological wellbeing, resilience, agency and engagement, social relationships, school leisure balance, material and cultural wellbeing and openness to diversity.
Not surprisingly, in a recent study, Finland has once again come out on top as the country with the highest happiness factor and they also scored very highly in the above-mentioned indicators. Finland also does very well in academic indicators such as the PISA tests. The data that Andreas presented affirmed for me the importance of the SPICE (Social, Personal, Intercultural, Critical and Creative thinking and Ethical) competencies that our teachers are weaving into the curriculum, and which are complemented by the IB learner profile and approaches to learning. It is developing these human competencies alongside a challenging and supportive academic program that will help our students today become great people tomorrow.
On a vastly different note, I am really excited about our inaugural Golf Day coming up on 17 April. I hope that lots of parents and community members can join us for this fun day. There will also be great activities for non-golfing participants. I look forward to seeing members of our community out at 13th Beach Golf course.
From the Acting Head of Junior School - Izabella Haby
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Parent Teacher Interviews:
A reminder that the Junior School will be conducting Parent Teacher Interviews on 28 March. This is a student free day for Junior School students.
Morning Melodies:
On Monday 31 March, the KIC Junior School will celebrate the first Morning Melodies event of 2025. Featuring performances from the Junior String Orchestra, the Year 3 and 4 Choir (4JK & 3SW), The Claribells (the Junior School Clarinet Ensemble) plus many more. Hosted by our new Performing Arts leaders, Morning Melodies provides families and our wider school community with an opportunity to encourage and support musical learning in Term One. Join us in the Katsumata Centre starting at 9:15am on Monday March 31st. We look forward to seeing you there.
Thank you to all the students and teachers including Adam Burke, Alison Worrall and the music staff for your organisation and preparation to make this morning so special. Thank you to Tess Dorris for her organisation with the sound and seating arrangements.
Tuesday 1 April is an early dismissal for Junior School students (including Highview) due to Senior School Parent Teacher Interviews. Students finish the day at 12.50pm. Buses will run as normal from 1.00pm (A Bus departure) and then 1.05pm (B Bus departure).
A message from our Student Action Committee - Fundraiser for Feed Me Geelong:
When: Friday 4 April
Why: To raise money to feed those in need in our Geelong community.
What: A gold coin donation.
Dress in the colour of your favourite food.
Feed Me has not only tackled one big world problem but two! Feed Me takes perfectly good food waste and provides meals for people in need whether that’s because of poverty, homelessness or mental health issues. They have quickly expanded from just Geelong to over 3 locations! They have recently been broken into in one of their locations, so we hope to help bring their supplies back up. We hope that our donation will not only help the Feed Me Geelong foundation but also inspire other students at Kardinia to take action and always help others. At Kardinia we learn, and model ‘Wisdom leads to Respect and Friendship’. We chose to support Feed Me because it leads back to our College motto. Wisdom: We have used our good judgement skills to know that we are not just tackling or raising money for one worthy problem but two. Friendship: We hope to make someone happy by donating and we will also be so happy that we know that food is not being wasted but being used to feed others. Respect: We respect what the Feed Me community is working towards, and we would love to help them. Thank you for your support.
Easter Picnic:
The Easter Picnic is approaching. Please come and join us on this special afternoon.
Friday 4 April - Year 3 Families, How the World Works, Space Museum Afternoon-starting at 2.00 pm-2.20 pm in Learning Group spaces.
Friday 4 April - Early dismissal: Please note that the Junior School students finish Term One at 2.20 pm. Bus travellers, please refer to Dean Hinton’s email (12/3/25) regarding bus travel on this day.
Enrolment Withdrawal
If you are thinking of withdrawing your child, as per the College's terms and conditions a terms notice is required. Please contact the Marketing and Admissions Department via email: marketing@kardinia.vic.edu.au to lodge the request in writing.
Are you interested in becoming a Homestay Parent?
Kardinia International College provides a very successful overseas student program for students from Years 7-12. Our program is growing and we are looking for more people interested in becoming Homestay Parents!
Our Homestay families provide a caring and nurturing environment for our overseas students and receive weekly remuneration for undertaking this role.
For more information about Homestay please contact Homestay Coordinator Yuting Zhao on y.zhao@kardinia.vic.edu.au
The Inaugural Kardinia Community Foundation Golf Day!
Proudly Sponsored by McHarry's Buslines. Join us for a fantastic community event where you can become a community champion and support deserving students through our Scholarship Fund. The day promises fun, engagement, and plenty of community spirit!
Event Highlights:
- 🏌️♂️ Ambrose Style Game (Teams of 4)
- 🍽 Clubhouse Lunch
- 🏆 On-Course Competitions
- 🎟 Raffles and Silent Auctions
- 🎉 Activities for Non-Golfers
Event Details:
- 📅 Date: Thursday, 17 April
- 📍 Venue: 13th Beach Golf Links, 1732 Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads
- ⏰ Time: 7:00am - 3:00pm
Cost:
- Golfers: $150 per person (Includes Entry, Ambrose Competition, and Lunch)
- Non-Golfers: $30 per person (Includes Entry and Lunch)
- Drinks: Available at bar prices
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-golf-day
Join us for a day full of fun and engagement while making a meaningful impact on our community! Sponsorship Packages are available for businesses and individuals, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to this noble cause while gaining visibility within the community.
For further information, please contact the Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator, Fiona Russell, at foundation@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Global Learning Students Voice Project 2025
Last Thursday, Mrs. Armes and Ms. Mynott accompanied six students—three international and three local to participate in the Global Learning Student Voice Project, organised by the Department of Education. This initiative brought together students from 11 secondary schools across Victoria for a collaborative workshop aimed at strengthening the voices of international students within school communities.
Through engaging discussions and brainstorming sessions, our students contributed valuable insights and innovative ideas to promote inclusivity and global awareness.
Looking ahead, this dedicated group will put their ideas into action in Term 2 and Term 3, launching initiatives that address global issues within our school community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of their efforts!
Future Pathways News
Last week 60 senior school students attended the Careers and Employment Expo at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Students were able to speak directly with many fantastic providers, from study options, GAP years, employment, health services, energy, transport, technology, the defence force, sports, creative and many more. They were able to listen to seminars on key topics, hear about employment trends and jobs in demand. Our students had an excellent experience and many of them found the excursion to be valuable and helpful to support their pathway plans. A huge thank you to our Future Pathways and Education Department for facilitating the experience!
Supporting your child with Subject Selection:
Resources for families to assist with pathway planning, goal setting and subject selection, please feel welcome to access our Pathways Hub online. The upcoming parent teacher interviews will be an excellent opportunity for discussion with your child & their teacher about any possible acceleration or next steps with subject selection.
https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/kardinia-international-college/for-families/
Opportunities for student support at Kardinia:
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 this Hub, (it’s 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’ve consistently done well in one subject, then it might be a good idea for them to continue with that subject into senior school.
Talking about careers is important
If you’re struggling to start the conversation with your young person about what they want to do once school is over, then you’re not alone. Knowing what to say is tricky, and there could be consequences if you get it wrong, but the evidence shows that parents are the most trusted source of information and advice when teens are trying to choose a post-school pathway.
Tell them about your work
Share your experiences in the workplace, both past and present, and allow your teen to assimilate your experiences into what they already know about the world of work. They may not always look like they’re listening, so talk with others around you about your work, and ask them about theirs, in a place where your teens can listen in as they choose.
It’s important to talk about more than just the big picture things – tell them about the kinds of things that take up your time in a day, the things that annoy you, and the things that you like the best. They need to know about the good, as well as the not so good, so they can build realistic expectations about what work will be like.
Keep your opinions to yourself (where you can)
Your teen is the one who will have to turn up every day, so their career needs to meet their needs, not your expectations. They may see things differently to you, and that’s totally ok, so if you have an opinion about what they should do, or don’t like the path they’ve chosen, try to see things from their point of view.
Even if you can’t agree with their choices look for the positives and avoid sharing overly negative opinions with your teen. You’re unlikely to make them change their intended course, but you could knock their confidence and make them second guess themselves.
Try to remember that things have changed a lot in the last five to ten years, and your child is entering a very different workforce than the one you entered. Respect their choices and offer positive encouragement and a listening ear when needed.
Get them to think outside the box
If your teen is struggling to come up with ideas, then there are ways you can help. Encourage them to think outside of the most obvious jobs like teacher, engineer, or dentist, as many people work in jobs which are less well known.
There are literally thousands of jobs out there, and it’s impossible to know much about most of them but knowing that there are thousands of options can relieve the pressure to choose something obvious. Encourage your teen to ask people in your circle about their work experiences and focus on the way they got to where they are – many adults have taken a less than obvious path to their current job, and it’s good for young people to know there are many roads that all lead to good places.
Release the pressure
If your teen is allergic to talking about their career then take the pressure off – the reality is that they don’t really have to pick anything until school is over, and even then, there are ways that they can learn about the world of work before jumping in.
Giving them breathing space can be a really good thing – for example, the evidence shows that students who take a 'Gap Year' between school and further education are more likely to finish their degree and achieve higher marks.
If your teen doesn’t know what to do then encourage them to find a path they’re interested in for now and see where it leads them – ask them to just take things one step at a time and think about what they want to do next, rather than what they want to do with their entire career. If they have the marks and want to go to university but aren’t sure what to study, encourage them to find a course they’re interested in and not worry so much about the possible career paths – once they’re further along the track new career opportunities will open up.
A Note from The Finance Department - CSEF Newsletter Information
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) and School Savings Bonus (SSB)
The CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps, and sporting activities.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance is paid directly to the school to use only towards expenses relating to camps, excursions, or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student for 2025 is:
- $154 for primary school students
- $256 for secondary school students.
If you applied for the CSEF at Kardinia International College in 2024, you do not need to complete an application form in 2025 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances, (i.e. new student enrolments: your child has started or changed schools in 2025, or you did not apply for CSEF at Kardinia International College in 2024, changed family circumstances: such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commenced at the school in 2025)
If a form was not lodged in 2024, parents or legal guardians are required to complete a CSEF application form and lodge it with their child’s school for processing.
Application forms are available through the below links.
Application forms should be completed and lodged with Kardinia International College as soon as possible. Final date for Kardinia International College to accept and process applications is 4 July 2025. Forms must be submitted to Kardinia International College no later than 3 July 2025.
Please email completed application form to accounts@kardinia.vic.gov.au
School Savings Bonus – Non-Government Schools:
School Savings Bonus of $400 is available for students attending Non-Government Schools if they are eligible for CSEF in 2025 and have not already received SSB through a government school in 2024.
There is not a separate application process for the SSB, if you complete the CSEF application process and are eligible for CSEF you will also be eligible for SSB.
Mothers' Day Classic!
Every day in Australia 63 people are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Every day 12 people die from those two diseases. The Mothers’ Day Classic provides hope that the day will come when no more lives will be taken.
Mother's Day Classic aims for another record breaker to boost women's health and save lives uniting for breast and ovarian cancer research. Our Kardinia International College Community has been actively running, volunteering and supporting the MDC for the last 9 years. It is not a college event but we encourage all our families and friends to be part of it, to volunteer or to run / walk on the day. We encourage all parents to accompany their children this Mother’s Day and join our team and the battle together
The event is held at Eastern Gardens, Oval 3 on Mother's Day: Sunday May 11, 2025
For event details https://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/event/mothers-day-classic-geelong
Here is the link to join the team: https://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/join/kardiniainternationalcollege
And here is the link to view our Team’s page: https://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/fundraisers/kardiniainternationalcollege
Year 7 Immunisations
Our Year 7 students are due to receive their HPV & Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) booster = 2 injections on 23/10/25.
Online consent information will be sent out closer to this visit. The following link explains why this vaccine is given at school.
Secondary School Immunisation Program - Better Health Channel
There has been an increase in whooping cough notifications in Year 7 age students during 2024/2025.
If you would like this booster given prior to the scheduled school visit, please contact Barwon Health immunisation service directly via the information below or contact your GP.
You can book at Barwon health immunisation service via this link Vitavo.
Immunisation Centre | Immunisation Hours |
Belmont Vaccination Centre 2 Colac Rd, Belmont, 3216 (enter off Reynolds Rd) - Carpark in between Bowling Lanes & Barwon Health. FOLLOW SIGNS | APPOINTMENT ONLY FOR ALL SESSIONS see below Wednesday and Friday mornings - 09.00am - 12.00pm
Wednesday and Friday afternoons - 1.30pm - 4.45pm
Saturday morning - 08.30am -12.00pm
|
Korayn Birralee Family Centre 146-152 Purnell Road, Corio, 3214. | APPOINTMENT ONLY FOR ALL SESSIONS see below Every Wednesday 9.45am - 11.45am
|
Ocean Grove Boorai Centre, 4-50 Shell Road, Ocean Grove, 3226. | APPOINTMENT ONLY FOR ALL SESSIONS see below 2nd and 4th Friday of each month 9.30am -11.45am |
Wellbeing Hub News
The 7 Habits of Happy Families
This week’s Happy Families Schools Insight article looks at the small handful of habits that Dr Justin Coulson has seen parents practice that make their family happy. And they are astonishingly powerful. Read the Insight article here
(Make sure you’ve logged in first with the details below to access the Happy Families resources).
Happy Families School Login: 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.
Happiness and Gratitude
Happiness is defined as the balance of positive and negative emotions, combined with overall life satisfaction. Happiness and gratitude have been studied in positive psychology for many years and researchers have found that gratitude is always strongly associated with greater happiness. Although everyone has their own definition of happiness, many of us want to feel more positive emotions than negative ones. However, negative emotions are still important. They have a lot to teach us and alert us when things need to change. Practising gratitude helps people feel more of the positive emotions, enable us to relish good experiences, improve our overall health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/happiness-gratitude
Community Engagement and Foundation News
The KIC Business Club THIS THURSDAY
📅 Date: Thursday, March 27
🕖 Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: The Geelong Club, 74 Brougham Street, Geelong.
Event Focus: Business in Geelong: The Future
Join us at The Geelong Club from 7:30pm-9:00pm on Thursday 27 March as a panel of guest speakers including Glenn King, President of The Geelong Club and recently retired PEXA Group Managing Director and CEO, and previously NSW Customer Service Commissioner and Executive for the National Australia Bank Group Australia, UK and New Zealand, to discuss ‘Business in Geelong: The Future’.
Complimentary Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/ccc-kic-business-club Drinks available at bar prices.
Tickets include a shared ‘after dinner’ menu, tea and coffee. Don’t miss this great opportunity to network and be part of the KIC Business Club!
The College Community Council
Rock Showcase THIS FRIDAY
Get ready to rock! Join us for an electrifying Rock Showcase on Friday 28 March.
Get ready to unleash your inner rock star! Join us for an unforgettable evening where rock style clothing is not just encouraged, it's celebrated! Join us to enjoy some fabulous music provided by Kardinia’s very own students and support a worthy cause!
The event will both celebrate the incredible musicians within our College community and support Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD), a wonderful initiative inspiring and aiding Australian youth who are suffering mentally, physically, socially and financially from traumatic experiences.
📅 Date: Friday, March 28
🕖 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: College Hall, Kardinia International College
Dress Code: Rock Style! Think leather jackets, band tees, ripped jeans, and all things edgy. Whether you're channeling classic rock vibes or modern rock chic, we want to see your best rock-inspired outfits!
Book your ticket. https://events.humanitix.com/rock-showcase and donate a gold coin (or more) at the door. Get into the spirit and dress Rock-style!
K-12 Parent Coffee Morning for Term 2
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 23
🕖 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (after drop-off)
📍 Location: Centrepoint Café
RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/v8BJLMqDXa
We had a fantastic turnout for Term 1, and we encourage all parents to join us for this event. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet other members of the community, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy a coffee to kickstart the term.
Save the Date - Trivia Night
Join us for an exciting evening of fun and friendly competition at our Trivia Night, hosted by the CCC for parents and friends.
Date: Thursday, 15 May
Mark your calendars and get ready to test your knowledge! Details and tickets will be released soon! We look forward to seeing you there.
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement and Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
The Annual Morongo High Tea Reunion
Over the last few years, we had the pleasure of welcoming back many Morongo alumni for our annual High Tea Reunion at Morongo House. These events have been filled with nostalgia, laughter, and cherished memories as the group reminisced and toured the beautiful grounds and historic buildings.
We are excited that the 2025 Morongo High Tea will be held this Sunday, 30 March!
Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to reconnect and create new memories. Please share this information with other Morongo students.
Tickets are available now at https://events.humanitix.com/2025-morongo-high-tea-reunion
Contact f.russell@kardinia.vic.edu.au for more information.
Fiona Russell- College Archivist
Community
Chess Club
Bellringers Required
St Paul’s Geelong are looking for four new people to become bellringers, to join our team and maintain a local tradition dating back to 1867. We practice Monday evenings and, when we can, ring prior to Sunday services. We welcome interested children or parents to visit and “have a try” at ringing these beautiful 200 to 650kg bells. Come and find out if this is a hobby you would enjoy! Please see https://anzab.org.au/towerPages/GEE/learntoring.php for more information.
School Holiday Workshops
Inverleigh Good Friday Appeal Family Fun Day
