Ignatius Park College eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

This week is our third week of face to face learning and it is hard to believe we are halfway through the term! I would like to thank all our students in the way they have settled into their studies and the routine of school. Our new Year 7s are now becoming familiar with the expectations of being in high school and the culture of being an “Iggy Boy.” Next week we will be inducting our Year 12 students as leaders in our College community. Although this is an important ceremony for our Senior students, it is also an opportunity for every student to examine their own sense of personal leadership and to live our College values of Integrity, Pride and Commitment. Leadership is about action and the effect that our actions leave on other people. Importantly, leadership is about each and every one of us as individuals. Personal leadership emerges at the end of a well-worn path of integrity, conviction and clear values. Once again, all things are achievable!

Of course, leadership is about much more than these particular characteristics, it requires an army of men, who consistently role model what it is to be an “Iggy Boy”, who is never afraid to act when it is needed. Our College theme this year calls our students to seek the opportunity to be a leader, and not be afraid to grasp it if the opportunity presents itself. Whether this is on the sports field, give it everything. In the classroom, work as hard as they can. Every time they get the opportunity to perform, make it the greatest performance they have given.

Online Survey Feedback

Thank you to all the parents and carers who provided feedback on our online learning at the beginning of the year for Year 8 – 12 students. The results showed that 98% of families were satisfied or very satisfied with the digital platform that was provided for their sons.

COVID Update

As you are aware, on Tuesday, the Premier announced significant changes from 4 March to Queensland’s current face mask restrictions and other COVID-19 measures. Face masks will not be required in most settings, including schools, from 6.00pm on Friday, 4 March. The changes apply to all workplaces, schools and shops. Masks are still required on public transport, in hospitals, disability care, prisons, aged care, airports and planes.

The restrictions that were applied as part of the back-to-school plan for Term 1, 2022, will also be removed. This will allow us to have large gatherings, assemblies and excursions without restrictions. Even though face masks will not be required from the end of next week, students will still be required to wear face masks during Week 6. It is imperative that students wear masks at school to reduce the incidents of infection in the College. Could all students please bring their own masks to school? We will be all looking forward to being mask free in the next week!

Writer’s Toolbox

It was once stated that “The limit of my language is the limit of my world.” We know nationally that there are declining standards in writing and that is reflected in NAPLAN results. This is more emphasised in boys, so, as a College community, our priority is to assist our students to be confident writers and develop strong literacy skills in the junior years, to assist them to prepare for the demands of senior education.

The College has engaged in the “Writer’s Toolbox” program again this year to provide a framework and strategies to empower our students to make measurable improvements in their writing. The program provides our students with tools and formulas that really make it easier for them to tackle writing, and allow them to expand their vocabulary, which is crucial when you are actually learning about language.

What is different about Writer’s Toolbox is that it’s strategic in its approach. Firstly, we were able to get all of our teaching staff and school officers on the one page. Secondly, nothing will happen if it’s not driven from the top in terms of leadership. So, we have our leadership team driven by our Dean of Pedagogy and our Faculty Leaders, all working together to maintain that this is a program that we want to see fully implemented, fully engaged upon, and that enables it to be successful as well. The third key to the success of this program is that Writer’s Toolbox is something that is accessible and is set out in a way students understand.

At the Assembly today, we were fortunate to have Dr Ian Hunt, founder of the Writer’s Toolbox, who has travelled from New Zealand to address our students on how to utilise this program to develop significant improvement in their writing skills. Junior students will be able to access an online toolbox that will assist them in their writing skills. The benefits of Writer’s Toolbox is that it enables students to take steps themselves, to own that in their writing, to experiment, and to see ways of doing things that are tangible and achievable.

Year 12 Induction

Next Monday we will celebrate our Year 12 Induction. Firstly, we will welcome all the new Year 7 students, through a guard of honour created by our Year 12 cohort. This will be followed with the induction of our Year 12 students, presenting them with their special leadership badge, acknowledging their seniority and importance within the school. The induction of our Year 12s calls them to be leaders who live their faith through our Touchstones, that they are authentic to the charism of Edmund Rice, setting high standards in their academic endeavour and will continually be role models to others through their attitude, behaviour and actions.

Twenty of our Year 12 students will receive their leadership blazer. This is an important Rite of Passage and symbolises their commitment to leadership, to their pride in the school and the values and traditions of the College that has been passed on by generations of leaders before them. Our 2022 theme Every Stride Done With Pride challenges them to be leaders that set high expectations and live our Iggy spirit.

Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions attendance at the ceremony is by ticket only but it will be live-streamed on Facebook on Monday, 28 February at 8.45am.

New Learning Resource Centre

You may have noticed the changing landscape at the front of the College. Preparation for the new Learning Resource Centre has commenced with the removal of some vegetation and earthwork on the site for the laying of concrete in the forthcoming weeks. It has been exciting for our College community to see our dream of a new state of the art learning centre coming to fruition. It is expected that this new centre will be completed by August this year.

Indigenous and Multicultural Program Leader

During the Christmas break, Mr Patrick Kirkpatrick was seconded by the EREA to the position of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Officer for all EREA schools nationally. Mr Jaelen Feeney has replaced Mr Kirkpatrick this year and will be working closely with our Indigenous and multicultural students and families. Thank you to all parents and carers who attended our Journey to Jobs (J2J) information evening last Monday.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lachlan Moody (Year 11) who has been accepted into the Junior Racing Academy Program and will compete in the Oceania Junior Cup for 2022. This cup runs alongside the Australian Superbike Championship and MotoGP which will result in Lachlan competing on different circuits across Australia. We wish Lachlan all the best in his competitions this year.

Ash Wednesday

Next Wednesday the College will celebrate Ash Wednesday, the commencement of Lent, with a Liturgy and the distribution of ashes. The ashes, which the whole College community will receive are a sign of our humanity; that from ashes we come and ashes we will pass. The ashes are made from the burning of palms from a previous Palm Sunday. At Ignatius Park, the Phoenix is an important symbol within our College and this bird, from Greek mythology, is a stunning representation of what Lent really means. The symbolic meaning of Lent, where there is a cycle of death and rebirth, so too the Phoenix. Once they turn old, catch on fire, burns, and from the ashes becomes a new being.

The celebration of Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are merely ash. The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and Lent calls us to be people who strengthen our relationship with God and to give ourselves to others. This year the theme of Project Compassion is “For all future generations” and money raised will support Caritas Australia in working together with vulnerable people, helping them to develop their strengths and create change in their own communities.

God of goodness and mercy,

Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you.

Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace.

Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever.

Shaun Clarke | Principal

The Importance of Sleep

Hopefully, as we move out of the COVID reality of the last two years and return to normal settings, a regular routine may come back for our students. However, one thing that probably won’t change is a pattern that has been developing for some time.

Some studies have shown that Australian students are some of the most sleep-deprived in the world. Research from the Commonwealth’s Australian Institute of Family Studies (https://aifs.gov.au/media-releases/australian-teens-not-getting-enough-sleep) identifies this as a particular problem for adolescents. It is made worse by what the researchers call ‘yoyo’ sleeping patterns where students try to compensate for lack of sleep during the week by “catching up” on the weekend. This pattern is contrary to medical advice that promotes regular sleep patterns. Overall, there are effects on both physical and mental health.

The American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adolescent students should have 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours.

So what can parents do to help our young men get the sleep that they need? A recent article quoted Dr Lynette Vernon, School of Education, Edith Cowan University offered the following advice:

Set earlier, regular bedtimes so as not to confuse the body clock.
Take all electronic devices out of all bedrooms (yes, set an example) and charge them in a place where children can’t sneak out and access during the night.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, energy drinks and large meals well before bedtime.
Exercise earlier in the day as this will increase tiredness. Make sure exercise isn’t too close to bedtime as this raises body temperature and increases cortisol (the stress hormone) making it harder for some people to fall asleep.
Try to get ahead of the problem by having conversations with your child before they reach their teens to make sure they understand the effects of not getting enough sleep
Set up the bedroom to be conducive to a good night’s sleep (no illuminated power cords, good airflow and a comfortable pillow and bedding).

John Doolan | Deputy Principal

Academic Uniform Required Monday and Friday next week

Academic uniform will be required to be worn on Monday (due to the Senior Induction Liturgy) and Friday (due to ID Photographs) next week.

As Academic Uniform is required on these two days, Sports Uniform is acceptable on Thursday next week.

Johanna Smith | Director of Students

Identity and Mission

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are settling into the routine of Term 1 by now. As we enter into the liturgical season of Lent, it is important we look inside ourselves, who we truly are and maybe who we wish to become. We eat fruit, to keep us healthy. We ‘take in’ many elements around us that also keep our mind healthy as well. In what has been a disrupted first Term I hope we can eat some ‘heart fruit’ to nourish ourselves, before the sacrificial time of Lent beginning next week with Ash Wednesday.

Heart Fruit

How can we develop healthy hearts? First off, clear the decks of all that causes hearts to go rotten: lingering on past injuries, blaming others for who we are now, presuming ill intentions of others, judging according to well-worn prejudices. Unforgiveness has got to go, as well as any hint of self-righteousness.

Then, once our hearts are clean and fresh – I realise I’m glossing over some real hard work here like counselling, confession, grief work, and huge helpings of honesty – only then can we open our hearts to the good things they’re intended for. Things like the fruits of the Holy Spirit elsewhere listed as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. (Galatians 5: 22 - 23) If we try to take good fruit in before we discharge any heart-rot we’ve built up over the years – well, you know how it works with apples. Start with a healed, new-born, and virtue will cling to us like butterflies on flowers. It may sound like an awful lot of work, but what will happen to our hearts if we don’t do it?

What kind of heart-work do you need to do to rid yourself of the damage of the past?

Don’t let anything keep you from the goodness God desires for you. Take your heart to a specialist: a priest, counsellor, spiritual director, someone who loves you. Let go of what binds you and seek only goodness.

It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

We have a few things coming up in the next few weeks, please make sure you email me if you would like to be part of these special events in any way, more help and involvement, the merrier!

Week 5

Wednesday P5&6: Catholic Studies Volunteering starts
Thursday Assembly: I&M overview from me and Introduction of first Touchstone Prefect

Week 6

Monday: Senior Induction Liturgy; House Groups
(Years 8-11 in House areas, Years 7 and 12 plus Parents in Hall)
Tuesday: Shrove Tuesday; Pancakes in the Mall from 8.00am
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Toast Room Open
Thursday: Project Compassion Fundraising starts and Project Compassion Advocacy Lessons in Junior RE Classes

Week 7

Thursday: Cheeseburger Lunch for Project Compassion

Week 8

Friday: Year 7 Retreat (more information to come)

Mark Holmes | Director - Identity and Mission

Cheeseburgers - 10 March 2022

Cheeseburgers will be on sale on Thursday 10 March to raise funds for Caritas Project Compassion.
$3 each or 2 for $5. Please ensure your son brings cash if he would like to purchase a cheeseburger.

VET and Industry Placement

School-based Apprenticeship

We are happy to announce that John McLean (11 Reid) has been signed up as a school-based apprentice with AJ McLean Constructions. Congratulations John on securing this opportunity to gain skills and a qualification whilst still at school.

White Card Courses

Last week our Year 11 VET students successfully completed their White Card courses. A mandatory requirement of the construction industry is that all workers, including industry placement students, undertake a General Construction Safety Induction (White Card) prior to entering a construction worksite. This is a valuable certificate for students to obtain and essential for their safety.

The students are being issued with their actual White Card, which they need to take with them on industry placement (if in a construction occupation). They will be emailed a Statement of Attainment (SOA) to their school email. Once received this SOA should be saved and kept with their resume and course details.

Upcoming Industry Placement

All the VET and Industry Placement students will be out on industry placement in Week 7 (March 7 to 11). This is a fantastic opportunity for the Year 11s to try different trades and for the Year 12s to begin to secure their future careers.

The students will be issued with their logbooks by Monday 28 February 2022. Students are expected to call their employers no later than Wednesday next week (2 of March). This call will be to confirm the placement, address, attire etc. In their logbooks, there is a guide on what to say and ask. If students are nervous or unsure about making their call, they are welcome to come to the Pathways Office and we are happy to assist.

Grant Rossiter | Dean of Pathways

Homework Program

Did you know that IPC offers a Homework Program for its students after school Monday to Thursday? The program operates in the College Learning Resource Centre (Library) with teachers to help students with particular subject areas, as well as providing an airconditioned and supervised space for students to do their homework.

Download the Term 1, 2022 Homework Program Timetable below:

Term 1 Homework Program Timetable

ID Photographs

The ID Photographs will be taken on 4 March.

Individual photos for all students. These photos are used to identify students in our system for roll marking etc. and are also used for student ID cards to use in the library, buses etc.
Class photos will be held in Term 2.
Students need to wear formal academic uniform on Friday 4 March.
Photos will be in the Hall.

Please place your order online before the day of photography

- Go to www.advancedlife.com.au and enter this code: XGN L8P RBG

Payment can be made using Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or Latitude Pay
If you are unable to order online, please hand your completed order envelope directly to the photographers on the day of photography.

If you have any queries concerning school photographs and ordering, please contact advancedlife directly: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

AdvancedLife

Year 11 Engineering

The Year 11 Engineering students have been problem-solving with truss structures to build bridges as part of their introduction to the subject. Unfortunately, last year’s record of 125 kg wasn’t within reach, but two groups managed to get their prototypes to survive 60 kg loads made only of paddle-pop sticks and glue. This is a testament to the power of the truss structure. Congratulations to Sonny Crawford, Vincent Micale, Khiem Luong, Aidan Phelan (Group 1) and Ethan Stout, Jake Masatto and Joe Dixon (Group 2) who tied for the win this year. And well done to all the boys in the class for their design and building process – a good sign for their upcoming assessment pieces.

Tom Lucas | Teacher

Swimming Age Champions

Last Friday, the College held the Swimming Championships.

The age champions are as follows:

John Alloway | Program Leader - Sport

Counsellor's Corner

How are we in Week 5 of the school term already?! That’s almost halfway to school holidays!

Over the past week, Ms Charge and Mrs Derwent have had the pleasure of presenting student information to each Year 7 house about Child Safeguarding at Ignatius Park College.

We have reviewed what well-being and child safeguarding are; as well as how IPC prevents and/or responds to concerns of risk and harm.

We showed a short video from The Daniel Morcombe – keeping kids safe resources site. You can access this and more resources here: https://youtu.be/r3twJMzKWR8.

As Parents and Carers, the array of knowledge available on social media can be overwhelming at times. Not sure where to start? What to look out for? Curious about how to keep your child safe from social media exposures? The ‘ThinkUKnow’ organisation, https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/resources-tab/parents-and-carers offers a range of resources for parents and carers to increase safety and decrease risks of harm to children. There is a Social Media Starter Kit that I would recommend having a look at, especially if your child is beginning to sign up for social media apps and sites.

Another helpful resource is the Australian Federal Police website. This platform offers tips and tools for Parents and Carers to prepare their children and adolescents for the digital media footprint or milestones that they will start to leave. Never to be erased again.

Top tips for Parents and Carers

Encourage your child to use critical thinking skills as to whether a person online is who they say they are.
Ensure the information and photos or videos your child posts does not give away any personal information including their address or location, (and don't post your location or 'check in')
If they want to check-in, suggest doing this once they have left the location, or disable location or geotagging on their phone.
Only accept friends or follower requests from people they know in person.
Set the privacy settings for your child's social media account to private. If the account is public anyone can see what they post and they may be searchable online.
If something goes wrong, or an interaction makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe, make sure they know how to seek help.
More information can be found in the Parent and carer social media starter kit: preventing online child sexual exploitation.

Lastly, it’s a topic we never want to talk about, feel uncomfortable talking about, but have no choice but to talk about it, as the world around our children has and is changing. Part of safeguarding our children from online predators means we need to become alert to the way our children can become targets.

The content in the attached link is informative and may be challenging to read; but the emojis, emoticons and acronyms that are being sent through online platforms need to be and talked through with our kids. https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/afp-releases-glossary-terms-used-some-sex-predators-groom-children

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Student Counselling team – Ms Dannielle Charge or Mrs Val Derwent – 4796 0222 or email counsellor@ipc.qld.edu.au .

Take good care,

Val Derwent | Student Counsellor

Rowing - Learn to Row

It's not too late to join the Learn to Row Program!

Learn to Row is a course run by the Combined Schools Rowing Program of Ignatius Park College, St Patrick's College Townsville and St Margaret Mary's College. The course gives students the opportunity to experience the sport of rowing.

Learn to Row Sessions:
21 February - 19 March (Weeks 5-8)
Mondays and Fridays 3.30- 5.30pm at Townsville and JCU Rowing Club, 55 Riverside Drive, Douglas. Buses departing school 3:20pm.

All sessions are supervised by trained and experienced members of the coaching team and assisted by members of our current squad.

To participate, please complete the Rowing Registration Forms and make payment - please see the IPC website to download the forms:
https://www.ipc.qld.edu.au/beyond-the-classroom/sports/rowing/
or please send your son to see Miss Campbell for the registration form.

Kelsie Campbell | Rowing Co-ordinator

Instrumental Music Lessons

Instrumental_Music_Poster_2022.pdf

Is your son interested in learning an instrument?

Tuition is available in the following instruments:

Guitar
Woodwind: Flute/Saxophone
Bass
Ukulele
Drums
Voice
Percussion
Songwriting
Keyboard/Piano
Music Theory

Fees are $35.00 per ½ hour individual lessons.
Tutors will invoice students for lessons on a term basis
Example: 7 lessons/term @ $35.00 = $245.00 per term

For more information, please download the Information Sheet below or contact Ms Tess Higgins, Instrumental Music Coordinator - tess.higgins@ipc.qld.edu.au.

Tess Higgins | Instrumental Music Coordinator

Instrumental Informatiom Sheet 2022

Instrumental Enrolment Form 2022

Musical Ensembles at IPC

In 2022 Ignatius Park College is offering an Ensemble Music Program for those students who wish to extend their passion and knowledge of music. The Ensemble Music Program has tuition available in three stages: Junior (Year 7 and 8), Middle School (Year 9 and 10) and Senior (Year 11 and 12).

This is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to work in an environment of musical excellence with their peers and Ignatius Park College Tutor, Miss Tess Higgins.

Ignatius Park College believes in supporting the development of young men within the arts, so the Arts Department is offering tutelage for these Ensembles free of charge upon application to join. All ensembles will be involved in developing their instrumental technique and performance skills, performing at school and community events along with entering local competitions.

For more information, please download the Information Sheet below or contact Ms Tess Higgins, Instrumental Music Coordinator - tess.higgins@ipc.qld.edu.au.

Tess Higgins | Instrumental Music Coordinator

Ensemble Information Sheet 2022

Ensemble_Enrolment_Form_2022v2.pdf

Enrolments - 2023

2023 Enrolments closing 31 March 2022

Parents and Carers are reminded to enrol siblings who will be joining Ignatius Park College in 2023. After 31 March, sibling enrolment priority cannot be guaranteed as the College will begin offering enrolment places for 2023.

If you have friends who wish to enrol their son at the College for 2023, could you please remind them to submit their enrolment application as soon as possible.

Kirrilee Browning | Executive Assistant to the Principal

Enrol at Ignatius Park College

School Fees

Please be informed that timely payment of the School Fees is mandatory. If you have defaulted a timely payment, or have outstanding fees, please pay in full as soon as possible. Please contact the College Finance Team at finance@ipc.qld.edu.au or call (07) 4796 0222 if you need any further information.

Edstart

Ignatius Park has partnered with Edstart to assist parents to manage their School Fee payments. You can pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly by choosing a plan that suits your budget. This is an application-based process. There are no credit applications and no transaction fees or interest charges when using Edstart Pay+ for your IPC fees.
Visit edstart.com.au/ipc for more information on Edstart payment options.

Vilton Crasto | Business Manager