Rick Geall, Acting Vice Principal
From the Acting Vice Principal
As Term 1 draws to a close, if you were to look back over 10 weeks of Vine editions, scroll through the CCG Facebook and Instagram pages, or glance at the College calendar for the term, you will quickly realise that a lot of really, really good things happen on all our campuses. There are incredible learning opportunities in classrooms, excursions and camps, House competitions and other sporting events, music performances, parent morning teas, picnics and welcome evenings, learning conferences, community service initiatives and much, much more.
None of this would be possible, of course, without the enthusiasm, dedication and capabilities of our wonderful teaching staff at Christian College. They are not only committed to helping young people learn and grow, but willing to enhance their own skills as teachers in order to do so. A large proportion of staff, for instance, are this year undertaking the Christian College Professional Growth Program, our internally-developed framework for goal-setting and ongoing professional development. I am grateful for the work of Ingrid Staggard, Director of Learning Design and Teacher Development, who is guiding staff through this important process.
We also have a number of teachers involved in opportunities beyond our College to extend their capacity for exemplary teaching, including:
- Nicola Morrish (English), Emma Workman (Food Studies) and Julie Shutie (Prep) who have been selected to participate in the Victorian government’s Teacher Excellence Program (TEP) for 2023, a year-long professional learning program for highly skilled teachers across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. We are excited about the journey that Nicola, Emma and Julie are taking this year and look forward to the far-reaching benefits such a program will have for our teaching and learning program at Christian College.
- Lori Ruplal (Visual Arts) and Sarah Nailer (Learning Support) are engaged in the Independent Schools Victoria Teacher Fellowship Program which brings together high-performing educators to design, implement and evaluate innovative models of professional learning to benefit schools, staff and students. The focus of this year’s program, Diversity in Action, uses an inquiry approach to develop resources to support the diverse needs of students. Lori’s team project focus is on identifying students' Zone of Proximal Development to diversify teaching and help students learn better, whilst Sarah’s project aims to understand and nurture the wellbeing needs of students through exploring engagement and collaborative practices.
- Tim Wright (Humanities) recently presented at the Social Education Victoria VCE conference. Presenting alongside educators and academics from institutions such La Trobe University, Monash University and Caulfield Grammar, Tim inspired dozens of teachers from around Victoria with his presentation, “Using Visible Thinking Routines in VCE Global Politics”.
- Ingrid Staggard, mentioned above in her role leading staff development at Christian College, is herself undertaking the Nationally Accredited Lead Teacher qualification with Independent Schools Victoria.
These are just some examples of Christian College teachers committed to student growth, self-growth and collegiate growth. Collectively, we are focused on ensuring our community flourishes through quality teaching and the best support for our young people.
Our Mandate
This final day of Term 1 happens to fall on the day before Good Friday, known in many church denominations as Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, or “mandate” in English. The night before his crucifixion, Jesus not only partook in the Last Supper with his disciples, but, according to John chapter 13, he washed their feet. A humbling, yet incredibly powerful example of servant leadership. After washing their feet, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, or mandate: “that you love one another as I have loved you”.
The love that Jesus modelled for us throughout his ministry was one of selflessness, serving others and, yes, sacrifice. As teachers, parents and carers, we know how important it is for young people to have good role models – in the home, in the classroom, in their sporting clubs, workplaces and community in general.
This Easter, may we all be reminded of Jesus’ call to love one another, just as he loves us. He demonstrated what it is to love. We, in turn, can demonstrate that love toward others. That is our mandate.
Finally, I hope that your child’s Term 1 experience has been a positive one and pray that the holiday break brings rest, refreshment and rejuvenation for them and for you. And may you have a safe and blessed Easter!
From the Head of Campus
As our term draws to a close, I would like to express on behalf of the staff at Junior School our sincere thanks for a wonderful start to the 2023 year with our families and students. We have been so blessed to be able to share assemblies, excursions, events such as the Welcome Picnic, Student Learning Conferences, Easter Bonnet Parade and our classroom spaces with you over these past few months. We sincerely look forward to our continued partnership with you over the coming terms and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your contribution, in making Junior School the marvelous place it is.
On Tuesday May 2, in the second week of Term 2, we will be opening our doors to host our Open Day at Junior School. On this day we will be excited and proud to share with the broader community what a wonderful school we have. I was reflecting on this idea of our campus being ‘Open’ and what this means for us.
In opening our doors, we are able to both invite others into our beautiful grounds and buildings but perhaps more importantly into our loving community where the ‘vibe’ is one that reflects our Christian culture and values of Love, Hope, Truth, Grace and Faith. In Matthew 7:7 we read “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”
Ambassadors on this day will be all our Junior School students and student leaders who will have the opportunity to shine as the uniquely created individuals that they are. Whether that be in a smile, in a conversation or in a more formal interaction such as the Open Day tours, our students are the very best example of God’s ‘Good Work’.
As we enter this time of Easter reflection and celebration, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all our Junior School staff, to wish you a healthy, safe and blessed Easter time. May it be a time filled with joy and may this scripture verse fill you with hope:
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will have life even if he dies. And he who lives and believes in me will never die”.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Junior School
What’s on at Junior School
Term 2 Week 1 –
Tuesday 25 April – ANZAC Day Public Holiday
Wednesday 26 April – First day Term 2
Wednesday 26 April – Junior School ANZAC Service, 9am, front roundabout. Families welcome!
Friday 28 April – Junior School Cross Country running event, (please refer to EdSmart notification)
Week 2 –
Monday 2 May – Junior School Open Day. 9:30-11:00am
Thursday 4 May – Year 2 Camp (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Friday 5 May – Year 2 Camp (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Week 3 –
Wednesday 10 May – Prep Discovery Learning
Friday 12 May – Assembly, 3R Class Item
Friday 12 May – Mothers’ Day Stall
Friday 12 May – Mothers’ Day Tabloid Sports, 1:30 – 3:25pm (Edsmart notification to come!)
Week 4 –
Friday 19 May – Timor Leste Independence Restoration Day, Casual Dress in Black, White, Red, Yellow themes. Gold coin donation to support our friends in Viqueque, East Timor.
Friday 19 May – East Timor Restoration Day Assembly, 9am. Project Care stall, recess.
Student Leadership, Making a Difference
During this past term I have been privileged to have had some opportunities to meet with the student leaders at Junior School. One of the questions I asked of them as a group was “What can we do to make Junior School a better place?” and from this conversation students shared a variety of suggestions.
Some of the suggestions, such as having Year 4 bus monitors on the shuttle buses and resurfacing of grounds for soccer have already been addressed and next on the list is a discussion about music being played at the end of each lunchtime to raise the profile of keeping the yard tidy. It has been fabulous to see the pride shown by students as their suggestions are implemented and I look forward to supporting our students with future initiatives.
Thank-you Mr Phillips 😊
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Junior School
Easter Celebrations at Junior School
What a wonderful Thursday we had celebrating Easter here at Junior School. Our day started with colourfully decorated hats and big smiles as we danced around the front roundabout during our annual Easter Bonnet Parade. It was so special to share this morning with our wider school community from Williams House Kindergarten and family and friends.
The students also attended an Easter Service and hear of the incredible hope and joy that is found within the story of Easter. Some students from across the year levels helped tell this story to the other students, sharing about how the egg reminds us of the ‘new life’ God gives the world during Easter. The students finished their day with a final play on the playground and a yummy Easter egg treat, the perfect end to our Easter celebrations.
May this Easter time be hope-filled and joyous and remind you of the incredible love God has for the world.
Darcee Braun, Chaplain
Year 2 Takes on Geelong City!
As part of the Year 2 Integrated Studies Curriculum, the students have been investigating their local Geelong community and its history, past and present.
Last week the students in Year 2 had the opportunity to visit the Geelong Library, Geelong Art Gallery, and the Geelong Botanical Gardens. We were able to view some of the ‘Changing Landscapes’ exhibition which showcased artwork of the Geelong Waterfront in the past. In the Botanical Gardens the students were able to view many of the structures and were informed of their history, view the Conservatory as well as see a magnificent Redwood tree which is turning 150 years old this year.
The students walked along the waterfront to view some of the Bollards and learn about the people that they represented from the past.
A wonderful day was had by all students and staff and it was fantastic to be able to take our learning out into the community and view in real life many of the aspects of Geelong that we have been learning about.
Christine Adam
Year 3 – The Velveteen Rabbit
In the second part of Term 1, we have enjoyed a literature unit based on the classic children’s book by Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit. This has been the first in-depth text study for our students and we have had many discussions about prominent themes, particular language features such as personification and similes and also text structure. Students have enjoyed extending their vocabulary to include more sophisticated language in their own responses. A particular focus has been on analysing sections of text that convey meaning linked to the major theme of what it means to be real.
We have examined these at a paragraph, sentence and word level as we further developed our understanding of syntax and the significance of choosing the best word for what we want to convey. For example, this is a quote that we have enjoyed analysing from the text “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” We examined the varied sentence length and how this can impact the audience.
We also examined the choice of the word ‘loved’ in the quote. It is an unusual choice as we would normally use a different verb to describe what is happening, such as pulled or rubbed, but the use of the word ‘love’ elicits a different image for readers. The students became very good at identifying this technique used by the author and many students have included this in their own works.
Students have enjoyed bringing their new knowledge to a creative piece of their own as they reimagine the tale of The Velveteen Rabbit in a new story about a character from the original story, the Skin Horse. I’m sure you will enjoy reading them next term when the students proudly bring their published texts home to share.
Anna Daley
Spotlight on Clubs – Dance Club
I am sure many of you will remember the 2009 film of Hannah Montana where Hannah, was played by Miley Cyrus. There is a scene at a charity boot scootin’ event where the whole crowd joins in for the ‘Ho Down’.
The dancers ‘pop it lock it – then a zig zag, step’n, slide, lean in left to clap, three times
Shake it out, head to toe, throw it all together, that’s how we roll…’
Well, we may not get to this routine, however we are having an absolute ball coming together every Monday at lunchtime.
Our session begins with some simple warmups comprising of upper and lower body plyometric moves and stretches. Over the last couple of weeks, we have begun to learn a routine to Katy Perry’s ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ The commitment and dedication of many of the dancers has shown that we are able to remember the moves from the previous week and add on new moves each week.
Congratulations to those children who have shown their dedication and commitment by showing up every week ready to shake it up and dance it off!
Liza Lambert
Picnic at Hanging Rock – Tickets on Sale and Helpers Wanted!
The wait is over, tickets to see the Christian College Production of Picnic at Hanging Rock are on sale. Please come and support the work of our senior students and colleagues. A huge shout out to Kelly Clifford, who is no stranger to the role of director but as one of our newest staff members has embraced her students and this play with so much passion and energy. We are very lucky to have her, and the audience is in for a treat.
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.
This year’s production is being held at Platform Arts in Geelong, 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 a full house. 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
Can you help?
We are also seeking willing parent volunteers to assist with preparing sets for the performances. If you are available on Monday April 17 between 2 and 4pm and would like to assist, please contact me at: d.martin@ccg.vic.edu.au
Dianne Martin, Producer, Picnic at Hanging Rock
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
Lots to Like at 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. The school holidays are the perfect time to pay a visit!
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.
Coming up on Saturday May 6, the Café is staging two craft workshops. Come along and discover how to create your own vertical garden. One session gets underway at 10:30am, the second at 1:00pm, conducted by Kathy from Coburg nursery, TD2M. Build your own standing or hanging frame, create a vertical garden to take home and learn about soils and mosses used in the process along the way.
Cost for the workshop is $90 per person with all you need provided. While you’re there, enjoy some of Back Creek Café’s delicious fare!
You can 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, including bookings for the May 6 workshops, call 5286 1166.
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
If you have friends or acquaintances who are considering schooling options at any level, from Prep through to Year 12, please encourage them to take this opportunity to visit our campuses on May 2.
Any interested families who are unable to attend on May 2 can book a tour at any campus at a time that suits them by visiting our website and clicking on ‘Book a Tour’.
Independent Schools – Meeting Needs of all Families
In recent weeks Independent Schools Victoria has been working with Independent Schools Australia on advocacy and information material to highlight the diversity and changing face of the Independent sector.
This material includes a short and engaging video that features Aitken College, one of ISV’s rapidly growing Member Schools on Melbourne’s outer urban fringe, and a new low-fee school in regional New South Wales.
ISV says that while the schools featured are localised, the message is nationwide. showing that Independent schools reflect the breadth of Australia, with every kind of school serving the needs of every kind of family.
The video is timely in light of Federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s announcement this week of an expert panel to review the National Schools Reform Agreement.
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