From the Principal
Many of you will be aware of the recent decision by the Victorian Government in delivering their latest budget to remove the payroll tax exemption from some independent schools.
As you can imagine this decision, which came about with no consultation with stakeholders and took us all by surprise, has created a great deal of uncertainty for many schools and their communities across Victoria.
No doubt, you are all wondering how this affects Kardinia International College. At this point we are still seeking details and trying to assess the implications but, to date, there remains a significant lack of clarity and many unanswered questions, which is very frustrating and highly unsatisfactory. Once the Victorian Government provides us with more information about what this tax will mean for us, we will be in a better position to consider what actions we will need to take.
Along with Independent Schools Victoria and my counterparts in Independent Schools across the state, I will be contacting MPs to express my concern about the situation. This is a tax on education and given that we know that many parents make significant sacrifices to find a school that best meets the needs of their children, we are aware that this could have serious implications for students across the state.
You may also like to make your own approaches to MPs or other influential contacts you have and, if so, we can provide guidance from ISV on how to do this.
You may also like to sign this petition that requests that the government reconsider the imposition of payroll tax on schools. It has been tabled in the Legislative Council and can be found here.
While the details remain scant, it does appear at this stage that we will incur a payroll tax in 2024. This will have serious implications for our budget and while we will do everything we can to absorb and alleviate the impact, it may affect in some way the services we provide to our students, our future planning and our fees.
As soon as we have any more details that provide us with more clarity, I will endeavour to communicate this to our College community.
From the Acting Head of Junior School
Dear families,
We have had another fantastic week of learning. Thanks so much to all families for supporting the learning of our students by discussing the learning at home, reading with your children and supporting them as they develop their inquiry skills.
Parent workshops
Congratulations to the 51 families who took the time to participate in the parent workshops which were held over the past two Thursdays. The focus of the sessions was on understanding our approaches and supporting students with their reading and writing at home. Thanks so much to Katie Steele, Izabella Haby and Nikki Petyanszki for leading these important workshops.
The next parent workshop on the horizon is a math workshop. More information will be shared closer to the date but please save the date Thursday August 10 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.
Precious Plastic Melbourne
This week our Year 4 students participated in a workshop with Precious Plastics Melbourne. This experience was part of their Sharing the Planet unit which relates to resources, waste, distribution, consumption and conservation. During this inspiring workshop, students learned about our new machines, the Benchtop Extruder and our Benchtop Plastic Shredder. Students also learned about the circular economy, design and working safely with plastic. I knew that the workshop had hit the mark when I overheard a student say “can’t we just skip recess and keep working in here”.
Our entrepreneurial Year 4 students are already brimming with ideas for the next steps.
On another positive note, after the workshop I received an email from the workshop leader Bill. I think his email speaks volumes about our learners and I would like to congratulate them on a wonderful start to this new unit.
“What a wonderful learning environment and community that you have all created at Kardinia International College. Very impressive. My acknowledgement also of the Year 4 students. The level of engagement as well as the knowledge was second to none yesterday. Some of our sustainability leaders of the future no doubt.” - Bill
Visiting Authors
This week our students were treated to a visit by two inspiring educators. Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir and Sue Lawson.
Aunty Fay and Sue create books together that explore and celebrate Australia’s First Nations Peoples and their rich Culture and history.
‘Nganga’: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Words and Phrases was the first book that Aunty Fay and Sue co-wrote. Other books that they have written together are ‘Respect’, ‘Family’, and ‘Sharing’, part of the Mahabala 'Our Place' series.
Year 5 Solar Energy Exploration
This week our year 5 students stepped into their new unit which relates to circuits, renewables and non-renewable forms of energy and managing Earth’s resources. Students have begun the unit with a challenge to build the fastest possible solar powered vehicles.
Protecting ourselves and others
With winter now upon us, the rise in cold and flu cases, coupled with an increase in
COVID cases is a concern. Post pandemic, families are now facing a mix of viruses.
Australian hospitals have admitted 57,000 flu cases in the first half of this year with more than half of those treated in the past month alone.
The actions Australians took to keep each other safe during the pandemic are important in keeping cases of flu and respiratory illnesses down in the coming months.
The College calls on students and staff to:
- stay home while you're sick, whether it is cold or flu or Covid,
- isolate for a recommended minimum of 5 days after a positive Covid result and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved,
- wear a face mask when you are a close contact with someone at home who is ill,
- continue to keep good hand hygiene,
- maintain safe social distancing when you can,
- update your Covid vaccination levels and ensure you have a current flu vaccine to prevent influenza.
Rapid Covid19 Antigen Tests will be available for any parents to pick up for free from the College’s Main Reception, Senior School Student Services & Junior School Reception.
By being vigilant we can help keep our school community safe.
The Big Freeze is Returning for 2023
The College is aiming to raise $3,000 dollars towards MND (Motor Neuron Disease) research, in an effort to find a cure for this devastating disease. It only takes a minute and any donation (no matter how large or small) will go a long way to helping us reach our target. Together we can beat the beast that is MND.
This year Ms Woods, Ms O'Neill, Mr Ota, Mr Reuben, Ms Mahr and Mr Harding are our amazing volunteers so far!
Please support our amazing teachers through our donation link and following along for updates on the KIC Big Freeze webpage!
Tasmanian Art Trip 2023
Last weekend, 20 Art students from Year 11 and 12 Art were lucky enough to be selected to travel to Tasmania for an exclusive art trip, after 6 months of organisation from the wonderful Ms D’Alessandro and the legendary Mr Verhagen and Ms Mahr.
On Friday 2 June these students, studying visual arts, left school in period six on a trip to explore the land under ‘the land down under’. The Tasmania Art Trip was a fun and thought-provoking experience. We got to explore the Salamanca Markets, travel on the MONA ROMA to David Walsh’s famous MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), have a dinner to remember at the Jack Greene pub, eat a lovely breakfast together at a local café, wander the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), spend our money while op-shopping, before exploring the Salamanca Art Precinct prior to boarding our flight home.
While this trip was absolutely jam-packed, and a lot of us may have spent a little bit too much while at the markets, everything we collected with us along the way is a monument for us to remember this fantastic journey.
The MONA itself, was quite confronting and certainly interesting to explore and experience but everyone thoroughly enjoyed looking at the wild and intricate works of art within the gallery. Live music experiences, immersive installations, and confronting exhibits throughout the museum forced us all to think about the world around us and we all gained a newfound perspective on art and the society we live in.
TMAG also allowed us to learn about Aboriginal cultures, Antarctic pollution, and various other confronting perspectives on humanity. While our experience at TMAG was limited in comparison to MONA, the impact of this Museum and Gallery didn’t go unnoticed.
Everyone that was selected for this trip came back with a new perspective on the world around us, and the art we make and view. It was truly a wonderous trip and we all appreciate all the effort that went on behind the scenes to make it happen.
Kieta Burns - Year 12, Art Creative Practice
Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System Consultation
Teachers, parents and students are being encouraged to take part in a national survey to help shape the future of school education. The Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System Consultation is part of the Expert Panel Review into the next National School Reform Agreement.
The Expert Panel will report to Education Ministers at the end of October on the practical reforms that should be tied to funding in the next National School Reform Agreement. The survey is available to complete here and will be open until Friday 23 June 2023.
To read the full media release, visit the Minister for Education website.
Is Vaping our New Pandemic?
On Tuesday 30 May, Barwon Health, in partnership with Deakin University, presented on the data and concerns about young people who are using e-cigarettes (vaping). Please find a link to the recording attached here and use the passcode: gG3gE#5M to gain access.
The survey at the end of the presentation remains open and Barwon Health would appreciate your thoughts and comments. You can also access additional information on the Barwon Health webpage.
Careers News
Families can stay up to date with Careers news by accessing the Careers page in KICOnline here.
We are seeking Homestay Families!
Are you interested in becoming a Homestay family? We are seeking new families to host international students while they are studying at Kardinia. For more information, please contact Hiroko Suzuki via email at h.suzuki@kardinia.vic.edu.au
Community Engagement and Foundation News
WHERE ARE THEY NOW-DAISY PASSMORE- CLASS OF 2017
The Kardinians invited Daisy Passmore to share her experiences since her graduation at the end of 2017.
“After completing my final year at Kardinia International College, I decided I wanted to progress further studies undergoing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, majoring in Animal Science at The University of Melbourne. My initial intentions for my degree was to use it as a pathway for veterinary medicine, but as I learnt more about agriculture and the importance in sustainability for our future.. I realised how I wanted to help animals on a broader spectrum. This motivated me to complete my degree and work for an industry which aligns with my values around sustainability. I now work for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for the Western Australian State Government as an Environmental Officer in Compliance and Enforcement. I hope throughout my career, and I
can contribute to improving environmental, social and economical sustainability. If I have any tips for anyone wanting to progress with their career, it’s to make sure your values align with your employer as you will wake up every day wanting to go to work!”
Congratulations on your achievement Daisy!
Fiona Russell- Community Engagement & Foundation Coordinator
School TV
Many families are facing the very real challenge of addressing mobile phone separation anxiety in their children. Banning mobile phones in schools has become a topic of intense debate worldwide, including in Australia. Many schools have implemented comprehensive bans on mobile phones during school hours. Critics argue against the effectiveness of such bans, but numerous studies provide evidence of their positive impacts.
One such study conducted in 2016 revealed that schools with mobile phone bans experienced a significant increase in student performance, with test scores improving by approximately 6.4% of a standard deviation. This improvement was equivalent to adding five additional days to the school year or an extra hour of learning per week. The positive effects were particularly notable among low-achieving students. Similar studies conducted in Spain and Norway have consistently supported these findings.
It is crucial to acknowledge this issue and engage in open discussions about the negative effects of phone addiction. Parents and caregivers can use various strategies to help minimise the impact of such bans whilst safeguarding their child’s mental health and wellbeing. Maintaining open communication with your school is essential. It is important to stay informed and collaborate with educators to develop effective strategies for supporting children during the adjustment period.
While addressing mobile phone separation anxiety is challenging, implementing such bans in schools allows for better focus on teaching and learning, minimising distractions and interruptions. The evidence of improved student performance and the need to address the negative impacts of excessive phone use emphasise the importance of parental involvement in promoting healthy phone habits and supporting children through this transition.
Click here to watch this episode: https://kardinia.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-mobile-phone-separation-anxiety
From the Archives
EARLY PRODUCTIONS- PART 1
DAGS
Almost from its inception the College has developed a tradition of productions of outstanding quality. The inaugural dramatic production of ‘Dags’ in 1998 was directed by Sarah Howitt and provided an amusing look at the issues of teenage life. It starred Georgia Friend, Emily Stekly, Claire Lawrence, Danny Goodfellow, Katherine Barrand, Amelia Hawkins and Cameron Bull in lead roles. This first production was held in the Auditorium. ‘Dags’ received four Kudos II School Theatre Award nominations and won two major awards for Best Lead (Georgia Friend) and Best Support Role (Danny Goodfellow). This very first production was a highly collaborative effort involving staff, students, families and friends of the College.
LITTLE SHOPS OF HORRORS
The following year, again under the direction of Sarah Howitt, the College presented a ‘musical with a difference’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’. Not only did this love story – set on the ‘wrong side of town’ in the US - involve plenty of fabulous songs, movement and humour, it also included a couple of enormous puppets which took several strong people to control. To ensure that there were plenty of tickets for all, this production was held in the Blakiston Theatre, GPAC, and all four performances were sold out. Lead actors included Cameron Bull, Ashley Kay and Peter Bothroyd. In recognition of the enormous technical challenges involved in this production, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ won first place in the Kudos Award for Technical Production.
Credits:
Dowie, P & Russell, F. Kardinia International College- Celebrating Twenty Years- 1996 to 2015. “College Productions” J. Russell
The next article features ‘EARLY PRODUCTIONS-PART 2’
Fiona Russell- Archivist
