Bellarine Community Events 

• Junior School Assemblies – Monday mornings, 9.00-9.45am as per calendar throughout the term
• Year 8&9 Parents – Social Coffee & Afternoon Tea (Bellarine Barn) – Friday March 17, 2.30-3.30pm

North Bellarine International Women’s Day Luncheon

Thank you to Bellarine North Rotary Club, our two school captains Mia Pearce and Guy Williams were invited to attend the North Bellarine International Women’s Day luncheon at the Portarlington Golf Club. This is also where the Monica Hayes Community award was presented. Monica Hayes is remembered as a feminist, community leader and volunteer who contributed significantly to various community groups, and her award celebrates and recognises women who make a positive community impact. The guest speaker for the afternoon was Marine Science Researcher and Deakin University Bachelor of Marine Science course director, Dr Pru Francis. Dr Francis is also known for promoting ocean literacy through research, education and engagement. She has also been recently identified as a STEM Superstar for 2023-2024. This national program, which recognises women in science and technology, is changing gender bias against women working in science, technology, engineering and maths. Both of our school leaders engaged and shared discussions with different members of the community who spend a lot of time volunteering for a variety of community programs to improve the lives of many living on the Bellarine.

Year 2 Strings

It has been a pleasure to work with students involved in the Year 2 String Program at Bellarine.

These young musicians have been experiencing what it is like to learn a string instrument. They attend a weekly 30-minute lesson, and are encouraged to establish routines for home practice, as well as participate in a string ensemble class.

The Year 2 String Program provides each student with an outstanding opportunity to learn about things such as caring for a string instrument, tone production, playing posture and technique, notation reading, pitch and rhythm.

Every Wednesday, students and string teaching staff collaborate to share the joy of performing and learning to make music together, as students gain a deeper understanding of the role of their instrument in an ensemble setting.

We wish to thank the parents and guardians for their encouragement and support of the students in their musical endeavours this term. We are looking forward to sharing all we have accomplished in an open rehearsal on Wednesday 22nd March.

Our Girls Hit the Court for IWD

To celebrate our passionate, strong, capable and determined young ladies here at Christian College Bellarine, our Middle School girls hit the court on Wednesday for International Women’s Day. The friendly netball match saw our Year 5 to Year 9 girls showcase their talents in front of a packed gymnasium of cheering staff and peers. Congratulations girls on your involvement, enthusiasm and fair play!

Art – Behind the Scenes

Everything that arrives home to you from the art room has a body of learning and understanding attached to it. There is a lot behind children’s drawings.

Different skills and techniques are explained, explored and practised – often with much excitement and wonder about why things have happened the way they have. Fruitful discussions and stories occur along the way as our art classes experience the different stages of creating a work of art.

This week, Year 1 students began studying Aboriginal art. As we chatted about traditional paint colours, we wondered how paint, brushes and paper were obtained long ago. No art shops to order and purchase art supplies like Mrs Young has available to her!

It is inspiring listening to budding artists problem-solve together, talking and listening to one another as we learn together.

Behind the scenes…there is a lot of buried treasure.

Year 5/6 Summer Carnival

The Year 5 and 6 students recently travelled to Geelong College to compete in the 5/6 Summer Carnival. It was wonderful to be able to welcome the first Year 5 cohort from Surf Coast campus to join us on the day. The students were given the opportunity to compete across a range of sports, including Cricket Blast, Swimming, Hotshots Tennis, Tee Ball and Dodgeball. As always on these days, the competition was fierce, and it was great to see so many of our students active and involved in their sport. I was proud of the way the Christian College students conducted themselves in games and activities, demonstrating great sportsmanship, a positive team spirit and an attitude of teamwork. Thank you to the 5/6 sport staff who helped this day run smoothly.

Bellarine House Swimming Carnival 2023

A great time was had by all at our 2023 Bellarine House Swimming Carnival. Year 4-9 students enthusiastically participated in the novelty events, earning house points in the team chants, bomb competition and body board relays whilst our championship swimming events saw some amazing results and tight finishes in the pool, with several College records being broken. Congratulations to Penman House who came out with the win, narrowly beating Flynn. House captain Kade Little with teammate Evie Perez, accepted the trophy on behalf of Penman.  

It was also heartwarming to see the junior school students, Prep – Year3, engaging with house spirit in and out of the pool. A fantastic opportunity for all to participate and support each other. Well done to our Year 3 students who enjoyed the chance to swim the 25m freestyle event in the Olympic Pool.

A big thanks to parents and spectators for coming down and cheering on the students and contributing to our college community. 

Scholastic Book Club

The Scholastic Book Club is back for 2023!  Students in Prep to Year 6 have been given the latest Scholastic catalogue to bring home (Edition 2, 2023). All orders are submitted online via the Scholastic website and paid for via credit card.  Orders are due by March 20. 

Leonie Stephenson, Teacher Librarian

Year 5s Step Back in Time

Last week students from Year 5 enjoyed their excursion to Geelong Waterfront and learnt some stories about Geelong’s History. We had three main destinations: The Geelong Bollard Walk, The National Wool Museum, and The Old Geelong Gaol. 

We studied and learnt about Geelong’s rich history and connection to the wool industry. We heard stories of people and iconic events in our past through the Bollard Walk. We experienced the Old Geelong Gaol, roaming the corridors and cells and learning stories about the different ways the historic building has been used over the years.

Students will use the stories and experiences from this excursion to plan and create some historical fiction narratives set in Geelong.

Year 8 Community Service 2023

Each Wednesday afternoon during Semester 1, students who are part of the Year 8 Community Service elective are given the opportunity to experience a voluntary work placement in various local charities and community services. This year is the first time since COVID that students have been able to attend these placements in person.

The aim of the program is to encourage our students to develop a strong sense of compassion for others and a desire to actively contribute to both local and global communities. Through interaction with an interest group they chose, students will hopefully gain an awareness of others and learn to give of oneself for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return.

Groups of two and three Year 8 students have been allocated the following places:

• Salvos Store, Drysdale
• Great Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Curlewis
• Fight Cancer Foundation Recycle Shop, Drysdale
• Drysdale Grove Aged Care

The students have had three visits already to their placements and both times they have all come back to school at the end of the day full of stories and eager to share their experiences. As the semester progresses some of the students will hopefully share their experiences, both successes and challenges, here.

Data From Debris

“I really didn’t think there was so much waste on the beach.”

On Monday afternoon, students from the Year 9 Marine Science class spent a part of their class along the Dell shoreline in Clifton Springs collecting and recording marine debris. To the naked eye, the shoreline looked relatively clean, but it wasn’t until they looked much more closely that they began to see more and more debris hidden amongst the sand and the coastal shrub line.

Originally, the class was meant to be on a boat this day, touring the ecosystems of Port Phillip Bay but the trip was cancelled. Instead, they embraced the opportunity to be marine custodians and capitalised on the opportunity to give back to an environment that gives so much to us.

Students became much more aware of the importance of data and that marine debris is not just something that needs to be collected, it also needs to be collated. Data provides information which can be a powerful tool used to detect trends and can ultimately be used as evidence, as well as a catalyst to implement source reduction strategies.

 SMAN 2 Mataram Visit to Middle School

Earlier this week, the CCG Middle School students had the privilege of extending a warm welcome to 15 Indonesian students from our twin school from Lombok, SMAN 2 Mataram, alongside Year 8 and 9 Indonesian language students from Highton and Bellarine campuses. This cultural exchange event served as a platform for the students to showcase their traditional Indonesian performances and promote cross-cultural understanding between the two countries.

The welcoming ceremony, which featured a beautiful showcase of traditional Indonesian performances, was presented by both the Indonesian Students at CCG and SMAN 2 Mataram. Following the ceremony, the event proceeded with a series of Indonesian traditional games, which were played by the students from SMAN 2 Mataram to the CCG students.

This cultural exchange event provided a valuable opportunity for the CCG students to broaden their knowledge about Indonesian culture and explore novel experiences in a supportive environment. Furthermore, the interaction between the students from the two countries promotes the strengthening of their relationship, develops their cultural understanding, and enhances their language competence – all crucial skills in today's increasingly interconnected world. Ultimately, through this exchange, CCG and SMAN 2 Mataram students can strengthen their bonds and develop lifelong friendships.

Students from SMAN 2 Lombok have now arrived safely back in Lombok. Sampai Jumpa lagi!

College Portal – Updating Family Details

As school camps and excursions have commenced, it is recommended parents and guardians please update their student/s and family details if any changes have occurred, including contact details, emergency contacts, medical details and dietary notes, etc.  This link will connect you to the College website parent portal. If you have misplaced your password please enter your mobile number to re-set.

The SEQTA homepage tiles below will lead you to separate areas to update your details.

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.   

Visit Back Creek Café! 

Christian College’s Back Creek Café in Meredith is a vital part of our Year 9 residential farm experience. Located 15 minutes south of Back Creek Farm, the café is open six days a week (not Sundays) from 8:30am to 3pm. On weekdays during term time, working at the café is part of the schedule for the Year 9s’ Farm Program work groups. Students learn a whole range of hospitality-related skills as they assist with the day-to-day café operations.

If you’re passing through Meredith this weekend, or just fancy a 35-minute drive up the Midland Hwy from Geelong, make sure you drop in and say hi. While you’re there, enjoy the best coffee in town – or choose from a range of other beverages – indulge in an all-day breakfast or one of the other scrumptious light meal/snack options on the menu. There is also a variety of sweet or savoury treats to enjoy while you’re there and delicious home-made produce to purchase and take home.

You can also check out the latest from the café via its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Back Creek Café is located at 1/27 Staughton Street Meredith. For enquiries and bookings, call 5286 1166.