Reserve Your Place! 

Wellbeing Evening and Cyber Safe Schools Program Launch

We enjoyed a fantastic night with the parents, families, students and staff attending the first Digital Wellbeing Evening held at our Senior School Campus last night, Thursday 1st September. If you have not yet taken the opportunity to reserve your place at the second and final of our two nights, please save the date and reserve your place now! We would love to see you there. We encourage you to take a few minutes to view the video below to find out more about this important event. The evening will be presented at our Bellarine Campus next Thursday 8th September starting at 7pm. We expect to run for about 45 minutes, finishing with time for questions and a cuppa together.   

We ask all Parents and Families to share their attending intentions with us via our online RSVP Response Form. Please access the form by clicking the image or link below. 

https://forms.office.com/r/QwN6TXBE41

Cybersafety Resources for Parents from eSafety 

Parents are encouraged to explore and make use of these recently released resources from eSafety. 

Media Release: Parents urged to watch out for signs of cyberbullying 
This recent media release from eSafety provides parents with a contemporary context, guidance and advice regarding cyberbullying, signs that suggest a child is the target of cyberbullying and protective strategies parents can support their child with. 

Webinars for parents and carers 
These webinars for parents and carers provide parents with expert support, advice and guidance when navigating technology with their young person. Click the links below to learn more about specific webinars occurring soon. 

Healthy Heroes 

On Monday the 1st of August, Zali Friswell and Claudia Cat from the Geelong Cats AFLW visited the Bellarine Campus to present the Healthy Heroes Rookie Program to Prep students. The program, which promotes the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, is presented in a fun and interactive way.  

The students participated in activities to further their understanding of the importance of healthy eating, being active, getting enough sleep, drinking water, minimising screen time, and looking after their wellbeing. They learned that everyone should have two pieces of fruit, five serves of vegetables and seven glasses of water each day and that they should be limiting screen time to no more than two hours per day, as well as making sure they get 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night.  Families are encouraged to continue developing these habits at home. 

Year 1 Celebrates 100 Days of School 

Last week the Year 1 students and staff celebrated their 100th day of school in style, by dressing up as 100-year olds. There were canes, curlers, and grey hair in abundance!!! 

Children were given the opportunity to participate in a large variety of activities from all areas of the curriculum, but especially using measurement to 100. Just a few that were on offer included: Using droppers to find out what 100 drops of water looked like in a glass, measuring items around the classroom that were 100 centimetres long and timing each other to find out how many repetitions they could do in 100 seconds.  

Year 3 and 4 Kitchen Science

Year 3 and 4 are currently studying Materials, Forces and Heat, and this week through cooking, they explored solids, liquids and gases and the role that heat plays in their transformation from one state to another.  

The young chefs and scientists hypothesised about what would happen when we added water to a pancake shake and then heated it on the stove.  We predicted what would happen to the chocolate buds heated over boiling water, and then added to the cold ice-cream. We theorised about whether the Milo shape would change when added to milk and boiling water.  

We tested our hypothesis and watched eagerly as the results unfolded.   

We are honest in that the best part of the morning was eating the delicious products! 

Samantha Bett, Renée Cunningham, Mark Jacobi, Sarah Marian, Melissa Smith
Year 3 and 4 Classroom Teachers 

Fun in the Winter sun 

As the clouds parted and the sun shone through earlier in the week, it was wonderful to see the Junior School students spending recess and lunchtime making the most of our playground area.  

Amidst squeals of excitement, we had another area in play with the opening of our Junior School wharf. The wharf encompasses a small speed boat built into a decked wharf with all the necessary accessories to enable the children to set off for the high seas or even just a quick fishing trip at recess!  

Illuminating Times in Year 1 and 2 

As part of our Integrated Studies ‘Light and Sound’ unit of work, all Year 1 and 2 students took a trip to Melbourne to see the spectacular exhibition, illuminate: How Science Comes to Light, at the Scienceworks Museum. The exhibition used colour, sound, and hands-on interactive play to explore visual perception and illumination in an engaging way. 

The joy was palatable as the children, literally squealed in delight as they investigated light. Whether it be creating their “future me” body or dancing to music with props to create interesting shadows, they raced from exhibit to exhibit, immersed in each activity.  

It is truly wonderful that we can once again utilise these excursions to immerse our students in such rich learning programs. 

Mrs Ngare Knight, Ms Susie Moxey, Mr Sam Kennedy, and Mrs Jessica Chakir 
Year 1 and 2 Classroom Teachers 

Year 3 Architects 

‘Some kids sculpt sandcastles. Some make mud pies. Some construct great block towers.’ 

(From Iggy Peck Architect, by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts) 

After being inspired by the amazing abilities of Iggy Peck as a builder of greatness from everyday items, Year 3 decided to take that one step further and create their own city using nothing but plastic cutlery and sticky tape.  

The Novice Concert Band Wows the Crowds! 

This week the Bellarine Novice Band travelled to our senior campus to join with the Highton Novice Band for the Victorian School’s Music Festival. The band grew to around 50 students and it was a joy for the students to work alongside each other for their common goal. They played for the first time in the RW Gibson centre auditorium which was also very special.  

The feedback from adjudicators was glowing and the students received outstanding marks for almost all categories. 

We are very proud of the efforts of these young musicians and are excited for their future. 

Year 3/4 Basketball Extravaganza 

On Thursday 28th July, all Year 3 and 4 students participated in the CCG Basketball Extravaganza at AWA Stadium. An initiative organised and run by the Christian College Sport Department and the CCG Eagles Basketball Club. The round robin format allows students from our three Junior Campuses to come together to play basketball in some friendly games.  

Students played a minimum of three games and were refereed by Year 8 students from Middle School and the Bellarine campus. It was great to see lots of fun, skills, and team work on show. Some students will be selected to represent the College in the Year 3 and 4 Hooptime Tournament on Tuesday 9th August at the same venue.  

Thank you to Flora, Olivia and Matt for their organisation, Year 8 referees, our super coaches, and the many other teachers from each campus for making this a successful day. 

Any students that are wanting to get involved in our CCG Eagles Basketball club can do so by contacting Flora Murdoch at f.murdoch@ccg.vic.edu.au 

Year 7 Science:  Separating Mixtures 

The Year 7 Science cohort this term is completing a Chemistry unit of work, focusing on Particles and Separating Mixtures. Students have learned about and investigated several forms of separation of substances and have been given a practical water purification task. This involved the creation of a water filtration system for a specific country with a fixed budget. Students were given a choice of purchasing several products which needed to conform with the given allotment of funds. There were quite a few surprised reactions when it was observed that the systems represented by the biggest spend were not always the best! 

Year 8 Printmaking

The Year 8 Studio Art students have been eagerly making a start on printmaking this term. They have been experimenting with stencilling and have created some very effective prints using sponges to print their designs onto handcrafted backgrounds. They have excitedly trialled their prints on collaged backgrounds, lovely water-coloured washes, and patterned illustrations. The students are looking forward to taking their printmaking to the next level and crafting detailed lino prints throughout the rest of the term. 

Student Leadership Forum 

Last week, our Year 9 Prefects and House Captains were invited to a student leadership forum at our Senior School campus.  Our leaders were inspired by Mr Michael Peck, Chair of Christian College Geelong Foundation, as he challenged them to strive for opportunity, to make SMART goals and aim to lead others. 

The evening also allowed for a question-and-answer session involving both Christian College Highton student leaders as well as our Senior school student leaders, before sharing pizzas together where further discussions were had around Senior School and what to look forward to in 2023. 

Year 8 Drama: Snap! Flow…FREEZE!

Students these past weeks have been continuing their focus on non-verbal communication through mime. We have taken part in workshops, performed solo mimes – which saw us stuck in gum or thinking we could lift more than we were actually able at the gym. 

This week, students have been devising short group mime performances. These needed to include mime conventions like snap, flow, slow motion and freeze frame (tableaux). 

Students were able to use or adapt a given scenario or devise their own – with a princess losing her prince to…another prince, whilst a giant seagull was causing all sorts of problems at a youth camp. 

Next week we will develop our knowledge of Italian-based theatrical form Commedia dell’arte to further extend our expressive and performance skills, before finding our voice when we combine these techniques in a showcase to share with the younger years towards the end of term. 

Year 9 English – Author Visit  

This week our Year 9s were thrilled to have a visit from the author of the novel we are currently studying, The Road to Winter. Mark Smith shared his personal story of how he went from being a reluctant reader to an avid reader after a horse-riding accident left him incapacitated for an extended period of time. His love of reading turned into a desire to become an English teacher and later, a writer of young adult fiction.   

Mark shared his journey on becoming a writer, explaining how much resilience and dedication is needed to get work published. His inspired students with their own creative writing and challenged students to consider what is important to survive. Mark provided students with an author’s insight into The Road to Winter, this was beneficial as it helped students understand setting, character and themes.  

Mark finished up with a Q and A, in which many students asked engaging questions about the novel as well as the other books in the trilogy. Students also appreciated having Mark sign their books signed. 

Semester 2 Weekly Maths Challenge Number 4

Welcome to the fourth version of the weekly Mathematics conundrums and logical questions. Each week a different fun question is posed to share the fun of Mathematical trivia. Share the joy with your family and friends and amaze them with your Maths skills! Did you get last week’s answer? Check out the solution below! 

Challenge Number 3 solution 

A man is climbing up a mountain which is inclined. He must travel 100 km to reach top of mountain. Every day he climbs up 2 km forward in daytime. Exhausted, he then takes rest there at night-time. At night, while he is asleep, he slips down 1 km backward because mountain is inclined. 

How many days does it take him to reach mountain top? 

Purpose, Passion and Pathways

The education journey for Senior students in 2023.

With the subject preferences window open for Senior School students between August 15 and 19, I would encourage you as a family to explore our Senior School Hub especially our subject selection pages that contain detailed information regarding each subject on offer from our Year 10 program, through to the VCE, the VCE Vocational Major, Victorian Pathways Certificate, VET and much, much more.

Our senior staff are dedicated to support each student’s journey, please reach out if you have any questions. Contact information can be found on our Hub home page by clicking below.  

Important VET Information for Subject Selection 2023

Vocational Education Training (VET) is offered as a subject in Year 10, 11 and 12 at CCG Senior Campus. Students travel off campus to either The Gordon or a government or catholic school (non-Gordon) who offer the courses one afternoon a week. Year 10 students study VET as well as VCE Unit 1 Industry and Enterprise over the whole year which includes a week of work experience. VET is mandatory for students studying the new VCE Vocational Major (VM) and optional for VCE students. More information can be found in the subject selection booklets and on the Senior School Hub – VET for 2023 on SEQTA.

Are you a Creative Scientist or Scientifically Creative?

As part of National Science Week 2022, the CCG science faculty is offering our Years 5 – 12 students an opportunity to enter a CCG Science Photography competition and/or a CCG Science Creative Writing competition. 

The theme for this years’ Science Week is Glass: More than meets the eye, so naturally, the theme of each competition is also glass. We’ve got some small prizes and it’s a bit of fun, so put your creative hats on and have a go! 

Scholarship Applications for 2024 Entry now Open! 

Each year we offer Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5 (Middle School-Highton, Bellarine and Surf Coast campuses); Year 7 (Middle School-Highton and Bellarine); and Year 10 (Senior School-Waurn Ponds).  

These scholarships have been designed primarily to encourage and support new and current students who wish to attend Christian College and who demonstrate high levels of academic excellence.  

We are now seeking scholarship applications for entry at any of those year levels in 2024.  

For more information, and to apply, please see our website. Use the hotlink from our homepage or click here 

Applications close on Thursday September 29. The examination date is Saturday October 8. 

Come and Sample our Menu! 

Over the next couple of months, two of our campuses are opening their doors to anyone interested in enrolling their children at Christian College. 

Middle School-Highton and Bellarine Campus are hosting their subject selection expos. Aside from the scheduled evening for current College parents, each campus will also present another evening dedicated to families who are considering Christian College as an option for their children. At Middle School-Highton, it’s on August 9 between 7:00 and 9:00 pm, and the date for Bellarine Campus is August 16, also between 7:00 and 9:00 pm. 

East Timor Trivia Night

Golf Tournament 

The Foundation Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 27 October 2022. Join us at 13th Beach Golf Links from 8:00am for a shotgun start. Tickets are $190 each ($150 for members) or $750 for a group of four. RSVPs close on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 5:00pm.  

Funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting current students who are in need of financial assistance.  

Book online at: The Foundation Golf Tournament

A MYTERN thought for this week

Are you being overly influenced by the passengers in your car? The back seat drivers? Your circumstances? Remember, you are the one who has control of your steering wheel. Welcome their advice, but ultimately the decision to drive down a certain road is your...and yours alone 👍😊