From the Acting Principal
Thirty years ago, in 1993, a diverse group of major faith communities in Australia initiated a Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, from May 27 to June 3. This weeklong event evolved into Reconciliation Week which is now under the guidance of Reconciliation Australia. The two dates, May 27 and June 3 are historically significant. May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians overwhelmingly voted to include indigenous Australians in the national census. And, on June 3 1992, the High Court of Australia recognised native title – the land rights of the Meriam people in Torres Strait – also known as the Mabo decision.
Christian College is proud to promote Reconciliation Week as we join with other schools, workplaces and community groups throughout Australia in working towards a just and equitable and reconciled Australia. This year’s Reconciliation Week theme, “Be a Voice for Generations”, honours the work of previous generations who fought for justice and calls on the next generation to continue the work. We will be acknowledging Reconciliation Week in various ways including assemblies, homeroom devotions and other initiatives throughout the week.
If you happen to be attending the AFL Men’s Geelong vs. Greater Western Sydney tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, look out for the 10 Christian College students who will be forming part of a 50-strong choir singing in a pre-game performance as part of the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. Another initiative has involved singers on each of our campuses recording a version of the song, “From Little Things Big Things Grow”, to be shared on social media next week, joined by hundreds of other schools across Australia doing likewise. The song tells the story of the Gurindji people’s fight to keep their land, which culminated in the symbolic gesture in 1975 of then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring soil into the hand of Gurindji spokesperson Vincent Lingiari. In response, Lingiari spoke these words: “Let us live happily together as mates, let us not make it hard for each other”.
Whilst it is important that we specifically acknowledge National Reconciliation Week at this time each year, Christian College has an ongoing commitment to educate our young people about issues affecting Indigenous Australians and the importance of reconciliation. Our academic program includes, in all subjects, the Australian Curriculum requirement to engage students in reconciliation, respect and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Our assemblies and services commence with an Acknowledgement of Country to recognise the traditional owners of the land on which our campuses are built. Year 10 students have an opportunity to participate in an immersive cultural experience in Central Australia, with two groups recently returning from visits to indigenous communities in Finke and Alcoota. And we recently established a Reconciliation Action Plan working group, with representation from our student body, teachers, board members and parents. The group, chaired by Year 12 student Isaac Boseley, meets each term and continues to make excellent progress as we move toward formalising our own Christian College Reconciliation Action Plan.
God encourages reconciliation as a means of healing and restoring relationships. The week ahead will give all of us the opportunity to bring reconciliation closer to reality for our First Nations people.
Rick Geall, Acting Principal
Red Shield Appeal
On Saturday 20 May a group of students ranging from Year 4 to Year 9 came to the Bellarine Campus to participate in the Red Shield Appeal. After a thorough briefing by our Bellarine Salvation Army representative Dianne Hobbs, students set off on their walk around the streets of our community. The students did a wonderful job representing our school to raise funds for local struggling families. There was a lot of compassion, care and generosity on display as the students collected $1,952.65. They arrived back to school around lunch time bubbling with excitement, knowing that their tremendous efforts will provide essentials like shelter, a warm meal, and care when it’s needed most to those that are struggling. Thank you to all the students, parents and families that supported this event.
Nick Watson, Head of Campus
Year 3D and 2/3S Celebrate East Timor
Tai Making
As part of our learning about Timor Leste and their journey to independence, we embarked on making our own version of the traditional Tai, which is a thin ceremonial scarf that is usually woven and brightly coloured.
Our aim was for each child to complete their own, enabling them to wear their creation to our Independence Day Service. We wanted to show our respect to Timor Leste, acknowledging their struggles and celebrating their achievements since Independence in 1999.
This was a wonderful learning experience for everyone involved and while the techniques for making the Tais was different from the traditional ones, everyone was excited to take part in the process and proudly wore their Tai to the service.
Reader’s Theatre
This week, we also read the story ‘The Boy and the Crocodile’ as part of our reflection on East Timor and the country’s fight for independence. The story is a traditional tale which shares how the island of Timor was made by the scales of an old, tired crocodile. As a group, students turned this narrative into a Reader’s Theatre play, which they then performed. Students also made costumes for each character, and props to show the change in scenery.
Along with advancing their understanding of the culture of East Timor, students had a lot of fun participating in this activity. It was so valuable to learn about this story from another culture, and to creatively explore the text.
Renee Cunningham
Year 4 and Prep Take Flight
This week Year 4 students and their Prep buddies enjoyed a paper plane-making and flying session together. As part of their English studies, Year 4 students have been learning how to write procedural texts. The culmination of their learning was to create a procedural text titled ‘How to make a paper airplane’. The Year 4 students then shared their instructions with their Prep buddy and supported them to make a paper airplane.
The students enjoyed working together to make their planes then also enjoyed flying them from the top of the Auditorium foyer. Both groups of students gained so much joy out of the relationships created by the buddy system. They look forward to times like this where they are able to collaborate to both learn and have fun together!
Jessica Chakir
Ceilidh Band Gets Toes Tapping
The Ceilidh Band’s visit to Drysdale Grove on Wednesday brought plenty of cheer to the residents who turned out to hear some Celtic jigs, reels, and songs. There was plenty of toe-tapping during the familiar “I’ll Tell Me Ma”, and smiles as the memory of the familiar song was recalled. After their performance, the girls were interviewed about their musical journeys. Stories flowed, from performers and the audience, about instruments that they had learned. Thank you to Mia Pearce, Eden McFarlane, Amber Rickard, Molly Judge, Jessica Phelan, Annie Long and Emmerson Peck for sharing their gifts and brightening the day of the residents of Drysdale Grove.
Stephanie Lawrence
Raf’s a Marvellous Mathematician!
We are thrilled to announce that Raf Berra, a Year 8 student at CCG Bellarine, has completed the Maths Pathways program. Raf’s achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He spent countless hours studying and practising mathematics in order to complete the program. His commitment to improving his mathematical skills and knowledge is truly inspiring.
The Maths Pathways program is designed to meet students where they are in their learning journey. It uses advanced diagnostics and ongoing formative assessments to provide granular data on each student’s gaps and competencies. Students are then delivered the content they are ready for, building mathematical mastery along a continuum from where they happen to be.
Raf joins the 0.09% of Maths Pathways students across Australia who have completed the program. The highest level it works to is equivalent to level 10 (Year 10) extension work.
We are incredibly proud of Raf’s achievement, and we look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the future.
Pat Sculley
Kindness Persuasives
Over the last few weeks in Year 5 we have been focusing on persuasive writing and developing our writing ideas. We did this by practising focusing our ideas on specific topics and then developing our ideas. We then experimented with the best information to convey our developed ideas. Our result was our Kindness Persuasives. We spent time planning, exploring the structure and learning about different persuasive ploys. Attached are some wonderful examples of our hard work.
Josh Lees
Kate Pritchard
Year 9 English: War Simulation
This term, Year 9 English students are focusing on global conflict through war literature. As a part of their learning, students are examining a variety of war texts in small book club groups. As well as encouraging collaboration and deepening their understanding of the complex issues surrounding war, this is also helping students develop critical reading and analytical skills, as well as empathy and an appreciation for different perspectives.
Whilst students have been considering different perspectives by putting themselves in someone else’s shoes figuratively in their verbal discussions and written responses, this week students took part in a simulation where they could only rely on the student in front of them, whilst also being the only hope of the student behind them, as they navigated the school blindfolded. This was in response to an image of World War 1 soldiers blinded (among other injuries) by poison gas. Being able to consider the perspectives of these soldiers was further enhanced with a war-time soundscape following students on their journey.
Students embraced this challenge and were then better able to consider what these people might have thought and felt in that place and time.
Victoria Kent
Tornelo Zonal Chess Tournament
Christian College Bellarine was very excited to be involved in the Tornelo Zonal Chess Tournament on Friday May 19 hosted by St Joseph’s College Geelong. Our campus was represented by eight boys from Years 7 to 9.
Collectively our team placed fifth overall with 18.5 points, which was a tremendous effort as it was their first interschool tournament and we attended with the third smallest team of students. The boys were gracious in victory and defeat and came alive discussing each other’s games between rounds and forming connections with their opponents from other schools. Individually, William Hannaford and Guy Williams had standout performances scoring 5 out of 7 points.
It was very exciting to take the students to this event and a joy to see their passion grow through their first tournament of this scale. We are keen to help chess continue to grow at Bellarine through a house tournament later in the year and lunchtime chess club.
Liam Monagle
Reidy Sensei
The MEGA Band and our Wonderful Workshop
The Year 5 musicians are moving along very well with some new repertoire and are showing some excellent growth as individuals and in their ensembles. As they learn about their instruments and the music they are playing, the students are also learning about commitment to the goals they have and the benefits of practising and working together in the ensemble. Please enjoy a few snap shots from our morning rehearsal.
Sharon Huber
Stephanie Lawrence
Division Cross Country
Congratulations to Year 4-6 students, Harvey Stefanovski, Will Guise, Patrick Clark, Lexie Strachan, Ellie Cox and Tayte McKenzie who represented Christian College Bellarine on Tuesday at the Division Cross Country. All students are to be commended for their hard work in the lead up, and for their impressive results on the day. Harvey finished 2nd in the 9/10 boys, Patrick finished 10th in the 11-year-old boys, Lexie finished 3rd and Ellie finished 12th in the 11-year-old girls. These four students have now qualified to progress to the regional event that will be held on Monday June 19. We wish these students all the best for the next stage and will follow their progress with interest.
Caitlin Hoiles
Canteen Update
VCE Drama Ensemble Performances
Calling all CC Eagles Members and Families
We are pleased to present an opportunity for you to be a part of CC Eagles/ Geelong United Basketball Club Fundraiser, with NBL1 tickets available for the following game through the club:
Round 10 – Hoop City Geelong United Supercats v Dandenong Rangers – Saturday June 17, 2023. Tip off: Women – 5:00pm, Men – 7:00pm (Ticket gets you in to both games at The Geelong Arena)
All PRE-ORDERED tickets will cost $10.00 with $5.00 being retained by our club.
On the night we want to see our members show up at the game in our CLUB COLOURS.
We hope that everyone embraces this opportunity to get our CC Eagles family together and support Hoop City Geelong United Supercats on the night.
How to purchase tickets:
For Christian College families: you can purchase 1- 8 tickets ($10 to $80) on credit card via the College portal.
- Log into Parent Portal – My Details – Payments Tab – Click on the NBL1 Game Day Tickets icon.
- Then click on the drop down to select how many tickets you want to purchase. The amount will automatically fill.
Important – Please include your email address in the Additional Information box.
For non-Christian College families: you can purchase tickets by calling our Middle School-Highton reception on 5241 1899 and purchasing over the phone.
Tickets can be purchased up until 11.59pm on June 13, or until SOLD OUT and will be distributed prior to the game.
If there are any queries, please email [email protected]
Foundation Golf Day 2023
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.
Save the date: Thursday November 9.
We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
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
