From the Executive Principal
What a joy it has been to welcome our students back to school this week. After the quiet weeks of summer, our campuses have once again come alive with the energy, laughter, curiosity, and hopeful anticipation that only the first day of a new school year can bring. I have loved travelling to all our campuses to connect with students after the holidays. It has been wonderful to see our Kindergarten students and our new Preppies, wide-eyed and ready to take on the world of “big school”, to talk to our Year 12s on the first day of their last year about the importance of leadership and legacy and to talk about holidays, dreams and aspirations with students at all different points of their school journey.
Our teaching staff have been preparing enthusiastically for the return of students, and it has been wonderful to see their excitement as they reconnect with students and step into the year ahead. Our grounds and maintenance teams have also worked hard over the holidays on several improvement projects over the holidays to get our campuses ready for our students. These projects include new bathroom blocks at Highton and Belmont campuses, an oval and science rooms for Surf Coast campus, new carpets at Bellarine, an improved canteen at Senior School and upgrades to accommodation at Back Creek Farm.
Throughout our first services, assemblies, and classes across the campuses this week and next week, we are introducing our theme for 2026: Strive for Excellence. This theme is already sparking meaningful conversations with students about what it truly means to do their best: not perfection, but the daily commitment to effort, courage, growth, and resilience. We have been encouraging students to keep striving even when things feel challenging, because it is often in those moments that real learning and character formation take place. Striving for excellence is not about competing with others but being the best version of who we can be every day. Why not ask your children if they have heard about this theme yet and what it means for them? We have also shared stories of inspiring people who embody this mindset, including our own alumna and Olympic gold medallist, Jakara Anthony OAM, whose journey is a powerful reminder that excellence is built on persistence, hard work, and setting ourselves aspirational goals. Her example shows our students that extraordinary achievements are possible when we stay committed to giving our best. As a school we are very excited to support Jakara, who visited us last year for her induction into the CCG Sports Hall of Honour, when she competes in the Winter Olympics in Italy in February this year. I am sure your children will be talking about that at home too over the next few weeks. As we begin this new year together, I am very much looking forward to connecting with families personally at our upcoming welcome picnics and social events across our campuses. These occasions are always a highlight of the year: opportunities to strengthen relationships, celebrate the start of the journey ahead, and continue building the warm, connected, and thriving community that makes our school so special. Here’s to a wonderful year of growth, joy, and striving for excellence together.
Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal
Welcome Back to a New School Year
It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome you all to the beginning of a new school year. There is something truly special about the start of a new year—the fresh notebooks, the renewed energy, the sense of possibility that comes from new beginnings. As I shared with students at the Commencement Assembly, the new year is an opportunity to write a new story.
This year, our theme is Strive for Excellence. Excellence is not about perfection; it is about committing ourselves to doing our best, being open to challenge, and continually growing in character, knowledge, and confidence. Whether our students are beginning new learning in Prep or preparing for leadership in Year 9, striving for excellence is about making small, consistent choices that move us forward, academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. I look forward to seeing how this theme shapes our learning, our relationships, and our community throughout the year.
One of the exciting opportunities as we started the year was for our Year 9 students who began their Rural and Transformation Program. What a privilege it is to start the year with such a formative experience. One that will encourage independence, teamwork, and character development. This program will allow our students to step beyond the classroom, engage deeply with new environments, and reflect on who they are becoming as young leaders. We are incredibly proud of them as they prepare to embark on this adventure, and we pray it will be a milestone year of growth.
At the other end of the school, our youngest learners are just beginning their educational story. It was truly lovely to welcome our new Preps and their families on Wednesday for a relaxed gathering before the first official day of school on Thursday. The joy on their faces, sometimes mixed with a few nerves, reminds us of the wonder and excitement of beginnings.
Our Year 7 students also began their secondary journey with a welcoming gathering on Wednesday. Sharing a time of fellowship and connection was a wonderful way to set the tone for the year ahead. One of encouragement, belonging, and strong relationships. It was a pleasure to see families meeting one another, students beginning to form friendships, and teachers building those early connections that are so vital in the transition to secondary school. We look forward to walking alongside our Year 7s as they embrace new responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities throughout the year.
As we step into 2026 together, I am filled with gratitude for this community, our students, families, and staff who support one another and work together with purpose and hope. I pray that this year will be one of courage, connection, and excellence for all.
Nicola Morrish, Head of Campus
What’s Happening at Bellarine
Term 1 Week 2
Thursday 5 February: Year 4 Device Rollout
Thursday 5 February: Welcome Picnic |5:30pm – 7:30pm
Term 1 Week 3
Monday 9 February: Year 7 camp depart for Cave Hill Creek
Monday 9 February: College Device Program Parent Information Evening, via Teams | 6:30pm
Wednesday 11 February: Year 7 camp return from Cave Hill Creek
Thursday 12 February: Swimming Championships
Friday 13 February: New student ID photos
Friday 13 February: Junior School assembly
Term 1 Commencement Service – an Excellent Start to 2026
The Bellarine Campus community gathered on Thursday afternoon for our Term 1 Commencement Service, marking the beginning of another exciting year of learning and growth for our Prep-Year 9 students. While our Year 9 boys were already well underway in their Back Creek Farm journey, and our newest Preps enjoyed their very first Art class – the rest of the campus came together for a meaningful and uplifting start to 2026.
This year, our College-wide focus on striving for excellence was brought to life through an inspiring keynote address from our Executive Principal, Dr Mathilda Joubert, who encouraged students to pursue excellence through character, effort, and purpose in all areas of school life.
The service also provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the talents and dedication within our school music community, whilst we were also proud to formally recognise our 2026 Bean Break barista team, who will serve our community with skill and hospitality throughout the year.
Finally, a very warm thank you was extended to the 2025 Year 4 students and Bean Break team, whose servant-hearted efforts last year resulted in brand-new sandpit toys for the Junior School play area – already a source of great excitement and joy for our younger learners.
We are especially grateful to 2026 Bellarine Campus Captain, Elodie Barker, and Faith Prefect, Scarlett Cull, for their confident and thoughtful leadership throughout the service. Their presence helped set a positive and hopeful tone for the year ahead.
As we step into 2026 with enthusiasm, purpose, and high expectations, we look forward to a year defined by growth, gratitude, community, and above all, excellence.
Victoria Kent, Deputy Head of Campus
Ensembles 2026
We’re excited to announce that music ensembles will be back in action from Week 2 in 2026! Being part of an ensemble is one of the best ways to grow as a musician — and it’s also a whole lot of fun.
Ensembles give you the chance to make new friends, build confidence, develop teamwork skills, and perform as part of a supportive group. Whether you love singing, playing in a band, or performing with strings, there’s an ensemble for you!
Weekly Ensemble Schedule (Please refer to the blue section in the attached PDF for details) MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY If you’re already in an ensemble — we can’t wait to welcome you back! To join an ensemble or ask questions, please email the ensemble conductor listed above. Let’s make 2026 a year full of music, connection, and great performances!
If you’re thinking about joining one for the first time — now is the perfect time to jump in.
Molly Hanson
Annual Welcome Picnic
Thursday | February 5 | 5:30 – 7:30pm
We are looking forward to opening our classrooms for students to share with their families from 5:30-6pm at our upcoming community event on Thursday, February 5.
Pack a picnic and bring a rug, (no alcohol, glass drinkware or dogs please) or take advantage of the onsite food trucks. We are looking forward to being able to meet as a College community where families will have the opportunity to spend time with staff, other families and students in a social setting.
Families are also encouraged to visit the instrument try out space in ‘the Pond’ where they will meet Music Staff. The Music Department will have a range of instruments for students to try including woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. Staff will also be able to highlight the opportunities at our Bellarine campus to learn instruments, sing in choirs, play in bands, string orchestras and contemporary bands. Please look out for this opportunity in the Pond during the picnic.
Reminder: Device Program Parent Information Evening
A reminder that parents from across the College are warmly invited to attend our Student Device Program Parent Webinar that will occur this coming Monday, 9th February from 6.30pm – 7.30pm.
This event, delivered via Microsoft Teams, aims to provide support to parents of students across Years 4-12, especially those new to our device program or new to our College, though all parents and staff will find the information presented to be helpful.
I warmly invite all members of our community to attend.
Parents are encouraged to RSVP using this link to help us gauge numbers and prepare accordingly.
Monday, 9th February 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Parent Webinar delivered via Microsoft Teams (join link to attend here)
All are warmly invited to attend
Brendan Vanderkley, Director of Digital Learning
Reported Fees Increase for 2026
Parents may have seen an article published in The Geelong Advertiser on January 17, 2026 which made comment on our fee increases for the 2026 school year. The article published contained a table listing the % increase of fees from 2025 for a number of schools in the Geelong and surrounding areas. The reported increase for our school in the article was inaccurate since it did not take account of the change in how we are presenting fees to parents, as explained in the letter to our parent community at the end of last year. In 2026, unlike 2025 and the years prior, our fees are now inclusive of device, rural and Year 12 levies.
Our tuition fee increase for 2026 in all year levels are 5.95% and not 12.4% as published. This places us alongside Kardinia International College and Geelong College with only Sacred Heart having a lower % fee increase when compared to the 11 schools listed in the article.
If you have any queries in relation to this article or your fees generally, please contact us by emailing fees@ccg.vic.edu.au
