From the Principal
I cannot quite believe that this is the last e-news for the year. It seems to have come around at a blistering pace.
As we wrap up the 2023 school year, I want to take this opportunity to thank our College community, parents, students, and staff for helping to make 2023 a very successful and positive school year.
We have some staff retiring or leaving to pursue other paths at the end of the year after many years of dedicated service. In particular, I want to recognise Lizanne Gittens, Cheryl Larkin, Teola Lolait, Doug Noack, David Patterson, and Jamie Saunders who, between them, have over 100 years of service to the College and our students. I thank each and every one of them for the care and support they have provided to our students during their time at Kardinia.
Finally, next Tuesday our students will have their last opportunity to say farewell to Mr Geoff Woolard, our Head of Senior School, who has guided and moulded the respectful caring culture we have had at the College since 1997. Geoff will be missed, but he leaves a wonderful legacy and we have a great team to guide our College into the future.
I hope that all our families have a safe and enjoyable break over the summer and I look forward to seeing our students back on campus and our families at events at the start of 2024.
From the Acting Head of Senior School
As we swiftly move to the end of the school year, there are a number of farewells to make in the Senior School.
There are some students who are leaving us for other schools and new locations, and we wish them all the very best for 2024 and beyond.
In terms of staffing, Gary Cox, Michaela Fitzgerald and Leone Steffen are all heading off for well-deserved long-service leave in semester one next year. Katie West leaves us for maternity leave and is looking forward to welcoming her second child.
Thank you to Harvie Flick, our Sports Trainee for 2023 who concludes his training this year. Thanks also to Steve Andrew, Ari Engelman, Fiona Watson, Kylie Saunders, Dragi Naumovski, Jenifer Tippet and Taylah Ibrahim, all of whom finish their contracts with us at the end of the year. We’re very grateful for their support of the College and our students.
As you are all well aware, Geoff Woolard officially retires at the end of the year but we also have some other long-standing staff members who are leaving us at the end of the year. Jamie Saunders leaves us for adventures in Europe and we thank him for his 14 years of service to the College. David Patterson is moving into retirement after 23 years at the College and is looking forward to travelling. Doug Noack is also leaving the College after 26 years and is expanding his judo club into Melbourne and Ballarat. Thank you so much to these staff for their many years of service, dedication and support of their colleagues, the students and our community. We wish them all the very best for the future.
Over the holidays it is important to note that the Wellbeing Hub staff will not be available, however, there are many resources available for students and families on the Wellbeing Hub KIConline page, including suggestions for accessing support if needed over the break.
From the Head of Junior School
Orientation Day
Today was Orientation Day in the Junior School. Students learned who their 2024 FY-Y6 teachers and classmates will be. All students took 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
K3 Werribee Zoo Excursion
Last Thursday our K3 students had a great time exploring Werribee Zoo. Thank you to all the staff and parent volunteers for making this such a wonderful experience.
Japanese Week
Last week was Japanese Week in the Junior School. Thank you to Mynott Sensei for organising such a fun and action-paced schedule. Students enjoyed the many experiences on offer, including the Year 6 Travel Expo, visiting experts, taiko drumming, judo, origami, and calligraphy.
Hour of Code
Earlier this week students across the Junior School engaged in an Hour of Code. Organised by our Head of Innovation and Technology, Aisha Kristiansen, students were supported by Learning Group teachers, LSOs, IT staff and a number of expert parents. Activities included programming Lego creations, and robots, as well as creating animations and websites. Thank you to everyone involved in this fun and exciting event.
Morning Melodies
On Monday this week we were treated to our final Morning Melodies of the year. Students sang and played beautifully in front of a large audience. Thank you to all the instrumental and music teachers for supporting our performers all year. A big congratulations to everyone who participated.
Upcoming events
Tomorrow (Thursday) is the Junior School Christmas Picnic. The Performance Choir, along with the Y1/2 Choir and the Y3/4 Choir will be performing, along with special guests the Mik Maks. The picnic will be held in the Katsumata Centre from 5.30-7.30pm. Year 4 student Novalie Morris will be selling her Bee Brave Christmas cards in the foyer.
This Friday, Year 5/6 students will participate in the Senior Primary Swimming Carnival.
On Monday next week we will host the Year 6 Graduation in the Katsumata Centre at 11.15am for students and invited guests The event will be live streamed and can be accessed from this link.
Friday this week is the last day of school for our K3 students, with all other students finishing next Tuesday. Tuesday will start with a Celebration Day Assembly where a number of awards and presentations will be made. Parents are welcome to attend the assembly which will start at approximately 9.20am.
Happy Holidays
Have a great holiday everyone! Thank you for another exciting year filled with great learning, fun and amazing achievements. I look forward to seeing those of you returning to the Junior School in the new year. To those students, families and staff moving on, good luck and all the best for your next adventure.
College Administration Hours
A reminder that the College Administration will be closed from Monday 18 December to Friday 5 January, reopening on Monday 8 January.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday period.
A Reminder from the Medical Centre
Careers News
Year 11 into 12 Transition Day at Deakin University
On Thursday 23 November, the Year 11 cohort travelled to Deakin University Waurn Ponds as day 1 of their Year 11 into 12 orientation program. The day had been planned and developed by the KIC Careers team with the main goal of offering our senior students the opportunity to pause & reflect on their habits, skills, progress, and goals, and to begin to think about pathway planning options.
The day started off listening to keynote speaker Mr Woon Ooi who captivated the cohort in a matter of minutes with his stories, experiences and advice for our students to take with them.
Students nominated the workshops that they attended, the options were:
- Advanced Research Skills
- Balancing life as a full-time student/part-time worker
- Food, mood and sleep - Deakin's Food and Mood Centre
- Future employment trends in the Geelong region presented by KPMG
- Harnessing the power of the stress response KIC Wellbeing team
- The brain and memory - tips, tricks and strategies Deakin's Psychology Department
- What if I don’t know what to do after school? Help with post-school planning KIC Careers Team
- Yoga
The day-long excursion offered our Year 11 students the opportunity to explore Deakin University, learning to navigate a new campus & learning facilities. Our students were exposed to lots of information throughout the day that will support them as they begin to complete Year 12 studies.
The aim of the excursion was to provide a range of opportunities and new experiences for the Year 11 students that hopefully encourage them to begin thinking about their own pathway-planning options.
The Careers team have followed up with the Year 11 cohort via email with details about booking careers appointments with one of the Colleges' four Career Practitioners. We will be encouraging all Year 12 students to book an appointment with the careers team during Term 1 and 2 2024 to research pathway planning.
Information for graduating Year 12 students and their families (release of results and change of preferences)
- Key Dates & Careers Support:
VCE Results and ATAR 2023
VCE Results and ATAR advice will be available from 7:00 AM on Monday 11 December 2023.
To access your VCE results and ATAR, you will first need to register. You will need your VCAA student number.
IB Notional ATAR
The IB Notional ATAR will be available to IB students on Thursday 4 January 2024 (9 am). If you are eligible for a notional ATAR, have applied for courses through VTAC this year, and paid your VTAC processing fees you will be sent a notional ATAR statement.
Change of Preference (VTAC)
Once results are released, students have a short period of time available to make changes to their course preferences.
For VCE students to be considered for an offer in the December Round, change of preference closes on Wednesday 13 December (4 pm).
For VCE students to be considered for an offer in January Offer Round One, change of preference opens on Thursday 21 December (2 pm) and closes on Friday 22 December (4 pm).
Once IB results are released, IB students only can make changes to their course preferences from Wednesday 3 January 2024 (3 pm) until Friday 5 January 2024 (4 pm). The first offer round for IB students is January Offer Round One.
The majority of offers are made in the December Round and January Offer Round One. It is extremely important to make sure that you have your courses listed in preference order by close of preference to ensure that you have the best chance of getting an offer for the course you most want to study.
Additional offer rounds in January and February have limited opportunities available and most students will only receive one offer.
Getting help during change of preference
Institution Direct Support:
The preferred option for getting assistance during the change of preference time is to attend an event or utilise the advisory services offered by the institutions themselves. This will allow you to speak to admissions officers directly to find out about preferred pathways and alternative entry programs. Details of the services available can be found in the Change of Preference Guide.
The Careers Team will also be available to assist students following the release of both VCE and IB results. Students will have the opportunity to book a Teams meeting or request a phone call to discuss course and pathway options. Please book via the KIC booking system or email careers@kardinia.vic.edu.au and provide information about your question and the method of contact eg. via Teams or phone call. The Careers email will be monitored during the change of preference period for general enquiries. Should you need a pathways conversation with a Career Practitioner please book during the designated appointment times.
VCE Results and Change of Preference KIC Careers Support
12 to 2 pm Monday 11 December 2023
12 to 2 pm Tuesday 12 December 2023
IB Results and Change of Preference KIC Careers Support:
12 pm to 2 pm Thursday 4 January 2024
Please note: Change of preference appointments are generally for students who have not met the desired criteria for their dream course or remaining preferences. They would then need to look at alternate pathway options for entry into their chosen field of study. Most of our students will not be required to take action during the change of preference period if they have ensured that their preference list is diverse and the only thing that they will need to do is wait until offers are made by the institutions as their course preferences are diverse and ranked in order of desirability.
Sport News
Netball
Students in the Kardinia Netball Program have had a busy season which is now coming to a close. The KIC Kangaroos finished 2nd on the ladder and whilst they qualified for the Grand final it clashed with their all important Graduation party. Congratulations to all involved.
The KIC Wallabies also finished 2nd on the ladder and now play in the Grand Final next week against the top team. We wish them all the best in what is set to be a great match next Monday at 6pm.
The KIC Kookaburras finished 7th and KIC Koalas finished 8th having a great season full of lots of fun and enjoyment.
Congratulations and thanks to all involved in the program for your commitment and effort. We look forward to another great year in 2024.
Junior School Surfing
'And that’s a wrap!’
Congratulations to all participants on a stellar year of surfing. Conditions were challenging at times in 2023 but the final surf session for the year was one for the record books. Junior School students enjoyed clean peaks at Torquay back beach under sunny skies on Saturday, with some incredible progress shown in the space of our two-hour session. Some surfers have progressed to paddling into unbroken waves themselves and cutting along the open face. Coco and Flynn tied for ride of the day for a pair of epic lefts into the rocks!
Big thanks to Mr. Evans, Mrs. Gittins and the coaches from Torquay Surf Academy for helping to facilitate this program. We look forward to another great year of surfing in 2024.
Happy surfing over the summer!
- Mr Peel, Junior School Surfing Convenor
Judo
Final KIC Cup for Defending Fitness – Doug Noack
On Friday 24th November the final ever KIC Cup Judo Games that involve Defending Fitness judo classes was held in the Old Gym. The event saw 82 competitors compete, mostly from the HPA11 judo classes and the Kardinia Judo Club. It was a nostalgic event for me. Since 2007 over two thousand people have competed in the KIC Cup, from which I can recall many stories of courage, perseverance, skill and high-spirited camaraderie.
The occasion was honored by a visit from Mr Shane Alvisio, the Operations Manager for Judo Australia, who drove down from NSW to see for himself how we go about running our Judo Games. Everyone who took part seemed to have the customary great day, which was aided by people working together so efficiently on the pack up that we were able to finish with some games.
My thanks go to Guto Santos for setting up our sound system, to the club leaders for doing such a great job of running their mats, to the parents for their support and of course to everyone who actually competed in the Cup. In 2024 the club will continue, with sessions on Tuesday to Thursday plus Saturday mornings, but as mentioned the HPA11 Defending Fitness class will sadly be no more, as I am leaving the College and will be running judo clubs in Melbourne and Ballarat in addition to our Kardinia Judo Club. I have many great memories from my 25 years of teaching judo at Kardinia and would like to thank every student and parent, either from my class or from my club, who has contributed to those memories, which I shall always treasure.
The results in event six, the Age/Weight Judo Tournament were as follows:
U9 B&G u22kg: Gold – Addi Cromb, Silver – Orella Luo, Bronze – Luca Alonso, 4 – Mabel Chen, 5 – Sebastian Skratulja.
U9 B&G u25kg: Gold – Joe McCaw, Silver – Eli Gao, Bronze – Alex Tennakoon, Maggie Smith, 5 – Aria Feldman, Hamish Tank
U9 B&G u28kg: Gold - Mark Tan, Silver – Olivia Van Kalken, Bronze – Zoe Ip, Luke Branchflower, 5 – Georgia Tysoe, Divraj Dhaliwal
U9 B&G u32kg: Gold – Christian Deniz, Silver – Claire Bond, Bronze – Elliot Friebe
U9 B&G o/36kg: Gold – Yaya Huang, Silver- Darren Chen, Bronze – Nicolas Carter
JG u33kg: Gold – Ellie Growden, Silver – Georgie Nguyen
JG u36kg: Gold – Ellie Growden, Silver – Livana Dhaliwal, Bronze – Chloe Gibson
JG u43kg: Gold – Eleanor Van Kalken, Silver – Frankie Pianta
JB u27kg: Gold – Angus Tysoe, Silver - William Cromb
JB u35kg: Gold – Jamie Growden, Silver – Orlando Skratulja, Bronze – Mitch Murison
JB o50kg: Gold – Jayden Bond, Silver – Dada Huang, Bronze – Aiden Leonard
SG u48kg: Gold – Louisa Rimmer, Silver – Indie Abbott, Bronze – Abbey Chen, 4 – Dee Bhalla
SG u52kg: Gold – Malia Lawson-Moore, Silver – Olivia Swanson
SG u57kg: Gold - Alina Murad, Silver – Jessica Rodriguez
SG o61kg: Gold – Sienna Morgan, Silver – Olivia Edwards, Bronze – Kaitlyn Moorcroft, 4 – Masha Polovnikova
SB u40kg: Gold – Jordan McDougall, Silver – Akshay Mandala, Bronze – Mitchell Lefebure
SB u45kg: Gold – Fin Darcy, Silver – Xander Hateley, Bronze - Riley Shields, 4 – Toby Bennet
SB u50kg: Gold – Ramin Arjomand, Silver – Lucas Mar, Bronze – Max Osborne, Aarav Doosa, 5 – Harry McConaghy, Valentino Felsovary
SB u55kg: Gold – Hudson Drew, Silver – Tristan Bock, Bronze – James Stanton, Gabriel Miletic, 5 – Owen Spowart, Louis Furnari
SB u60kg: Gold – Marlo Pediatitis, Silver – Tate Hobson, Bronze – Oliver Welsh
SB o66kg: Gold – Noah Harding, Silver – James Duonis, Bronze – Ted Spurdens, Sam Asbell, 5 – Albert Meagher, Mitch Murphy
Cadet Open: Gold – Gus Linke, Silver – Ellie Shanahan, Bronze – Ollie Greig
Outdoor Education News
In the lead up to the Year 10 Outdoor Education expedition, the fearless Great Ocean Walkers took on the challenge of preparing a meal on a trangia (camp cooking stove) in a session run by the food tech legend Ms Lozar.
The session was part of a wider program, spanning Term 4, that has focused on gear selection, training walks, hygiene and self care, packing a pack and tent set up/pack down. As the Great Ocean Walk is focused on the students effectively self guiding the expedition, these sessions have been an integral part of assisting in appropriate skill development.
Take a look at some images from the class collaboration below, and stay tuned to the college's social media channels over the next few days for some photos out in the field!
Innovation and Technology News
What a huge week in the innovation and technology space! On Monday, the K-12 AI Working Group reconvened to finalise the first draft of the College’s Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Guidelines document. The next day, we had almost 200 members of our College community come together to learn more about GAI with leading educational researcher, Leon Furze.
On Friday, the President of our Innovation and Technology Student Advisory Committee - Lily (Y11) and our G6 Techsperts Leader – Sophia (G6) were invited by Associate Professor Linda Hobbs to attend the ‘STEM and Gender Summit’ in Melbourne. As two dynamic and passionate female leaders at Kardinia, Lily and Sophia engaged with some of the opportunities and challenges of increasing female participation rates in STEM subjects at the College. They were even asked to present their perspective to a room full of academics in the afternoon! We look forward to seeing the wonderful initiatives they create for 2024.
If any member of the school community would like access to the ‘Navigating the Age of AI: A Parent’s Information Session with Q&A’ recording, please email Aisha at: a.kristiansen@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Aisha Kristiansen, Head of Innovation and Technology
Community Engagement and Foundation News
International Students Homestay Christmas Celebration
Our International Students and their Host Families gathered last week for a Christmas celebration to end the year.
We sincerely thank our Host Families for their generous and invaluable support towards our international students, by welcoming them into their homes and extended families. It provides the students with an effective and fully immersive, Australian experience.
A huge thank you to Yuting Zhao, for her enthusiastic and engaging coordination of our Homestay Program.
Geoff Woolard’s Farewell Tour
Kardinia International College staff, both current and past, gathered last Friday night to express their gratitude and well wishes to Geoff Woolard, on his retirement.
A Kardinia Welcome!
Kudos to the Wallis family for organising a play date with new 2024 Year 4 student Sophie. Robyn and Mike Wallis’ daughter Mikayla, and her friends, enjoyed an afternoon together to help Sophie get to know her new classmates, and establish a connection prior to beginning at Kardinia in the new year.
Fiona Russell - Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
From the Archives
Judo at Kardinia
“Judo, which began in 1998, has been co-ordinated by Doug Noack from the start. Membership doubled in 2000 to more than twenty members and by 2011 it had grown to over one hundred members.
In 2001 we had our first two Victorian representatives at the Junior Australian Titles….and our first stint in the Victorian Schools Championships in 2004… In 2006 Stephanie Palumbo won Kardinia’s first gold medal at the National Titles.
The KIC Cup, which was to become an institution in the judo world, was first held in 2007. It has been… one of the region’s premier competitions. In 2011 we had three students attend the National Titles. In 2012 Aaron Eobob made the Australian team while Hayden Nilon travelled to Japan to train for three months. In 2013 we had three Australian team members representing Oceania and in fact 12% of the Victorian team at Nationals were from Kardinia. Kardinia's close relationship with Gotemba Nishi continued, as Airi Tajiri trained and studied there for six months. In 2014, membership stood at sixty members. Taira Tajiri followed in his sister's footsteps, training at Gotemba Nishi, along with Ryan Gibson, for six months. As a result, both boys were unable to take part in the national titles, where Kardinia had fourteen members of the Victorian Team. Of those, Michal Valent won silver, Airi Tajiri two bronze and Sakura Tajiri won a silver medal in her Senior Girls’ division. In 2015 Doug Noack became the President of Judo Victoria. Since its inception in 1998, the Kardinia Judo Club has come a long way from humble beginnings at the bottom of the ladder!”
Through his Judo club, Douggie's Dojo, and the Defending Fitness program, Doug has had a significant impact on many students, some going on to be National champions and competing internationally. Doug has plans to extend his Douggie’s Dojo clubs across the state from 2024, which will provide fabulous opportunities for even more students. Congratulations on your community spirit Doug!
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 - School Transitions
Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!
However, for many, it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children.
Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety, so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.
Click here to watch this episode:
https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions
