Term 1 Week 5

Learning Conferences 

Our Parent/Teacher/Student Learning Conferences, which are scheduled for Tuesday March 7 from 4.00-8.00pm and Thursday March 9 from 4.00-6.00pm, are an opportunity for parents to discuss the commencement of the academic year and the learning progress of their sons/daughters thus far in 2023.  

Conferences will be held ONLINE via Microsoft Teams video conference. Each conference is 10 minutes in duration. If additional conference time is required, an alternate time should be discussed with the relevant teacher.  

Online Learning Conference bookings are available by going to www.schoolinterviews.com.au. Enter the school event code kgg4s and book the teachers and times requested. Please see further instructions in the attached flyer, for your convenience.  

International Women’s Day

The Project Care team for 2023 is excited to start the year with International Women’s Day. The focus for International Women’s Day is #Embrace Equity. 

International Women’s Day is a global event celebrated annually on March 8, as a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. 

We can all truly embrace equity. It’s not just something we say. It’s not just something we write about. It’s something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. It’s what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world for the girls and women in our lives. 

With this in mind, students have opted to put their energy into a local women’s support group called Geelong Mums. This is a group that supports women in need in our local community. 

Hats, Hats, Hats…Can I Wear my art? Yes, you can! 

Last week, Year Prep Art students decorated paper with oil pastels in creative ways and continued using scissor cutting skills to fringe the edges of the paper in readiness for their hat constructions. This week, these hats were embellished with buttons, sequins, mosaic squares and a hand-made tassel. These tassels were an opportunity for students to refine their fine motor skills further. Fringing, wrapping tightly and winding coloured wool around the top challenged their abilities to manipulate different materials and perform a variety of hand movements. These actions exercise and strengthen small muscles in the fingers, hands, and wrists, helping to enhance flexibility as they work with all kinds of objects and materials in the art room and other learning areas. 

As you can see, the hats were a great success…and we wore our art proudly back to our rooms. 

Bellarine Community Events  

• Junior School Assemblies – Monday mornings, 9.00-9.45am as per calendar throughout the term  
• Student Learning Conferences – TEAMS, Tuesday 7th March, 4.00-8.00pm and Thursday 9th March, 4.00-6.00pm  
• Year 8&9 Parents – Social Coffee & Afternoon Tea (Bellarine Barn) – Friday 17th March, 2.30-3.30pm  

Year 5 Musicians – Onwards and Upwards!  

After an inspiring concert at the Gibson Centre last week with our Senior Wind Symphony, the Year 5s have come back ready to get moving on their own musical journeys in the Year 5 Music Performers Program. Each student in Year 5 has an instrument that they have either learned for some time or have been given new this year. The program aims to extend our more experienced musicians and create some new skills for our students that are learning one for the first time. Throughout the year the two groups collaborate and share ideas, creating a great time of growth and discovery. Stay tuned for some more Year 5 updates in The Vine.  

Year 6 Music – Let’s Make a Band!  

The Year 6 classes have jumped enthusiastically into our class bands this term! After learning about melody, chords and rhythm concepts students have gone into their own bands and are busy working away learning ‘The Lucky Number’ song. Key goals for this task are to try something new while adapting to this small group independent learning environment. I have been blown away by the peer collaboration and support for each other as they learn new music concepts and instruments. Please enjoy some photos of their adventures so far!  

Year 7 Systems Engineering  

Students in Systems and Engineering are off to a great start. They have been engaged and enthusiastically designing, producing, and testing prototype solutions to their design brief. Using the Lego Robotics and EV3 software as a foundation, students have started to explore sensors and simple engineering components for construction. They have been working collaboratively to design solutions to problems whilst they assemble, build, and troubleshoot their projects. After their initial system ports and software updates, along with battery and initial code checks, they have gone onto testing and coding motors and sensors to perform a series of challenges around the concept of a ‘rescue robot’.  

Year 8 Students Prepare for GEOS Camp 

In preparation for our upcoming four-day, three-night camp in Week 10, Year 8 students have been developing their tent assembling and Trangia stove cooking skills. Having just completed a practice cook including pasta, curry, stir fry and laksa as some trial dishes, students are now working towards planning their four-day menus, ensuring they are preparing nutritious and tasty meals whilst also considering sustainable practices. 

Marine Studies Kicks off in Style… 

Year 8 Marine Studies students have kicked off the program with a spectacular snorkel at the Glaneuse rockpools in Point Lonsdale with crystal clear conditions, no swell, light winds and 30-degree weather. Students were treated with some wonderful sights, including subtidal and intertidal rocky reefs, towering kelp forests and a range of fish species including the zebra fish, wrasse and a cardinal fish. In preparation for our ocean snorkels this term students participated in a snorkel skills and safety session at the Highton Campus Pool. 

Muffins! Muffins! Muffins! 

The Year 8 Food Studies put on a Pop-Up Muffin Stall for Middle School and made around 180 muffins which quickly sold out. Students trialed and refined their designs to ensure the quality and taste was perfect. They calculated costs, made fabulous posters and sold their products. Profits made will be donated to the Project Care fundraiser this term, which is Geelong Mums. Congratulations to all the students involved! 

Future Enrolments 

For Deputy Head Mr Andrew Platt, and myself, it is a real privilege as part of our roles to meet with prospective families and conduct tours around our Bellarine Campus, sharing with them the rich and authentic learning program that takes place in each classroom with your young person on a daily basis. 

A tour of the Bellarine Campus provides each prospective family with a genuine ‘feel’ of everyday life and learning at our campus, and that’s something that really has to be seen and experienced firsthand to gain a full understanding and appreciation. 

With Term 1 2023 well underway, it has been wonderful to have had the opportunity to meet and talk with many prospective families as to their educational aspirations for their children. We feel both excited and privileged that many families are seeking a Christian College education at all year levels. In particular, Years Prep, 5 and 7 are filling quickly for next  year. 

Canteen Service  

The Bellarine campus offers Christian College Bellarine students a fast and easy lunch service each Tuesday and Thursday.  

The Fresh Meal Fairy located in Drysdale, will be the provider of this lunch service to the Bellarine Campus. Servicing many schools across our region, The Fresh Meal Fairy offers a broad menu in line with Nutrition Australia Guidelines, made fresh daily in a local commercial kitchen that is then carefully packed and delivered to the school.   

CCG Tennis Championships 

Christian College’s finest tennis players contested our annual Jon Ryan Shield recently. Congratulations to all participants and both junior and senior finalists and winners!