A Great Feel to the Start of Term

It has been a wonderful commencement to the term at the Bellarine Campus. Students and staff have enjoyed a restful break and opportunity to celebrate Easter with family and friends. There has been a wonderful feel throughout the campus as students returned to some sunny days. We look forward to a full and enriching term of learning ahead.

Our Campus ANZAC service was a beautiful commemoration of those servicemen and servicewomen that have served our nation in times of war and peacekeeping, both in past conflicts and today. It was fitting to have with us Leading Airman – Mr Sean Rankin who shared a very moving and informative address on the history and significance of the Last Post and the Rouse. I’m grateful to our student leaders who played a significant role throughout the service in leading readings of scripture and poems.

Our students throughout the service were tremendous in their appreciation and acknowledgement of the occasion. We were blessed to hear the beautiful voices of our Middle School Choir, who so delicately sang the hymn ‘Abide with Me’, along with the National Anthem. The Bellarine Concert Band were fantastic, setting the tone for such an important occasion. I wish to acknowledge our choir and band members, our staff who lead these ensembles in their preparation and performances for this occasion.

Bellarine Campus ANZAC Service

The Bellarine campus staff, students and guests were able to join together to commemorate ANZAC Day in the afternoon on Wednesday April 26.

We were privileged to hear from guest speaker and Christian College Bellarine staff member, Mr Sean Rankin.

Sean is currently serving the Air Force Band as a Reservist. He left full-time service with the Air Force Band to teach here at Christian College Geelong in 2013. He has served as a musician in the Air Force since 2002 and travelled extensively performing the Last Post, Rouse and Reveille at Gallipoli twice, France, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and here throughout Australia for commemoration services and funerals.

 While studying music and education degrees at university, Sean was actually in the Army. He left school and enlisted into the army before the end of 1994. He was attached to the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment.

Drysdale Community ANZAC Day Service

What a wonderful day we had at the Drysdale RSL ANZAC day ceremony around the cenotaph in central Drysdale. The weather was fine and the ceremony captured the memory and occasion of what our service men and women experienced and sacrificed for each of us.

Lily Watson, who is one of our Year 9 prefects, led students Wayne Clark in Grade 1 and Will Clark in Grade 5 in laying a wreath on behalf of our Campus. There was a Christian College band playing the Last Post, and the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia, together with a singer.

It was a truly worthwhile experience for our students and families. Thank you to Mr Watson who participated in the march together with students, chaplain and people of all ages. Thanks also to Julie Clark for her encouragement on the day.

Year 8 GEOS Camp

No doubt there were some extremely tired students making their way home following the GEOS camp on the last day of Term 1.  We were blessed with ideal weather conditions that provided for stunning views and perfect temperatures for our programs.

Students’ more memorable moments included the thrill and challenge of the mountain bike day through the beautiful and unique Heathland, to peaceful beach solo time by Eagle Rock, to drifting along Paincelak river, and finally to navigating around a rather stubborn tiger snake along the path towards Kalimna Falls in the stunning temperate Otway rainforest. Along with these highlights, students were challenged to step outside of their comfort zone; whether that was sleeping in a tent, cooking their own meals, developing new friendships, or hiking up steep hills. This experience deliberately aimed to develop resilience, independence, interdependence and perseverance. The trip also combined curriculum elements from the Outdoor Education and Geography, which allowed students to engage in some real life learning.

As one student put it at Eagle Rock in Aireys Inlet, “I wish all lessons were like this!”

The Lost Mummy Escape Room

Throughout Term 1, Year 7 students investigated Ancient Australia in their Humanities lessons. In the final week of term, the Year 7 cohort was able to get together for an introduction to Term 2 Humanities where we expand our learning to other ancient civilisations. We turned our library into an Ancient Egypt ‘escape room’!

Students’ curiosity was piqued as we began by watching a Horrible Histories clip on tomb raiders and scary stories, alluding to the mystery that still surrounds ancient Egypt. In small groups, students then worked together to complete the puzzles and uncover the secrets of the ‘lost mummy’ hidden in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

This task was an exciting way for students to work collaboratively, problem-solve and explore their own understanding of the ancient world. The puzzles, involving hieroglyphics, codes and temples, proved to be challenging, with many “aha” moments of realisation during the session. The Year 7 teachers were very proud of the collaboration and resilience shown during this learning by all students.

Whilst no groups managed to ‘escape’ in the set 60 minutes, it was so encouraging to see so many groups wanting to persevere through recess, and even lunch, until we were finally able to crown a winner – Russell Chakir, Harley Hickson, Sonny Strachan and William Paterson. Honourable mentions to Elise Schmidtke, Vickie Christopoulos and Gianna Aloi.

All students should be incredibly proud of their achievements during this exciting task.

The Lost (Non-Naturalistic) Thing

In the Year 8 Drama Elective this term, we are going from page to stage by bringing picture story books, chosen by students, to life!

This week, the Year 8s took part in a non-naturalistic workshop (where we are not trying to replicate reality) and they took scenes from Shaun Tan’s well-known The Lost Thing and turned these into GIFs – looped movement and sound.

The term will culminate in small groups devising a stylised and non-naturalistic piece based on a picture story book of choice. In the past we have had an array of performance pieces, including Peppa Pig, The Highway Rat, Pig the Pug, Grug and even Where’s the Green Sheep?

Canteen Service 

The Bellarine campus will continue to offer 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.

The Fresh Meal Fairy will use an online ordering service https://www.school24.net.au/ which also includes the option of a mobile app. The registration details including unique school ID number is included in the attached Parent Registration Guide. This is a very convenient platform for weekly student orders and payment.

Parents and students can place orders online up until 9pm on the evening prior to the service. The order is delivered to classrooms prior to lunchtime. Please see attached a parent information sheet from the Fresh Meal Fairy. Please note that snacks for recess time will need to be supplied by parents.   

Registration Guide – Christian College Bellarine Campus Drysdale

Science Talent Search at CCG 2023

Students at Christian College Geelong in Years 5-10 are invited to participate in the 2023 Science Talent Search (STS).

The Science Talent Search has three broad aims:

1. To stimulate an ongoing interest in the study of sciences by:
   • encouraging independent self-motivated project work amongst students of science.
   • giving students the opportunity to communicate their achievements to a wider audience.
   • providing recognition of effort and achievement in a scientific enterprise.
2. To promote the direct involvement of the students in the processes of science and its communication.
3. To give the public at large an opportunity to see the quality of work being achieved in science, by both primary and post primary students.

Equestrian Interschool Championships

Christian College Equestrian Team members competed in the 2023 PETstock Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships from April 15 – 19.
The CCG team consisted of eight riders, from three campuses, who competed against 438 other riders and 600 horses in their chosen disciplines throughout the event.
All riders pushed through the challenging conditions and supported one another to end up 13th overall out of 165 schools!

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Days!

All Christian College campuses will open their doors on May 2 in the first of our Open Days for 2023.

This is an opportunity for parents/guardians and families who are considering Christian College as an option for their young people to visit one or more of our campuses, meet students, teachers and campus leaders, tour facilities, visit classes in progress and have their questions answered. It provides an authentic insight to how our College operates on a day-to-day basis. For those considering either Junior School-Belmont or Surf Coast Campus, please note our Early Learning Centres - Williams House in Belmont and Butterfield House in Torquay - will also be open for visitation at the same time as the campuses.

No booking is required, with campuses open at the following times:

Junior School-Belmont: 9:30 – 11:00am

Bellarine Campus: 9:30 – 11:00am

Surf Coast Campus: 9:30 – 11:30am

Middle School-Highton: – 11:15am – 12:45pm

Senior School-Waurn Ponds: – 11:30am – 1:00pm

Picnic at Hanging Rock – Performances on Next Week!

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a captivating and mysterious story that explores the disappearance of four schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at a local geological formation in Victoria, Australia, on Valentine’s Day in 1900. The novel by Joan Lindsay, published in 1967, was adapted into a film by Peter Weir in 1975, which became a landmark of Australian cinema and culture. The story has inspired many interpretations and adaptations, including the performances brought to you by our Christian College Senior School students.

Excitement is now running high - next week's shows are on at Platform Arts in Geelong in Lt Malop St, with three evening shows from Thursday May 11 to Saturday May 13.  Tickets are only $30 and the cast and crew are looking forward to performing to full houses.  Please note that Picnic at Hanging Rock contains mature themes, parental discretion is advised re the age of audience members.

To purchase tickets please follow this link:

https://events.humanitix.com/ccg-picnic-at-hanging-rock

Sports Centre Programs

Swim Squad

Christian College offers a morning fitness swim squad program. Fitness swim squad is for medium to advanced swimmers of all ages who are capable of swimming multiple laps over a 45-minute period and who are wanting to improve their technique and fitness level under the coaching of the very experienced team at Geelong Swimming Club (GSC). **Please be aware this is not a swimming lesson.

Swim Squad will run every Wednesday and Friday from 7:30am - 8:15am beginning Wednesday May 3rd and finishing for the term on Friday June 23rd. 

The cost is only $6.50 per session, payable by the term and is also open to non-CCG students to join is as well. You can choose between one or two sessions per week.

We will require each participating CCG family to email and provide their full name, year level, DOB, address and phone number to secure their spot to [email protected]

Students can bring their own breakfast which they can eat in the Sports Centre kitchen.

A MYTERN Thought for This Week

It’s easy to rush through a cup of tea or coffee and forget to stop and appreciate the moment. 

Take time out now to simply appreciate being able to breathe in fresh air. Take a long slow breath and feel it rejuvenate every cell. 

Make that your intention and watch your body smile from the inside 👍❤️

Discover more about MYTERN here