From the Head of Campus
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
For those who are old enough (like me) to remember the words of the late Tina Turner ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ I wonder if you noted that this week both Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day fell on February 14. As I reflected on the idea that both of these events occurred on the same day it gave me pause to think about the connection between the significance of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar, and Valentines Day, which, often linked to chocolates, flowers and romance, actually originated from the martyrdom of St Valentine for his life which reflected that of Jesus.
So, what does love have to do with Ash Wednesday? Our Dean of Christian Culture Mia Kafieris writes this… “In many Christian traditions, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent: 40 days in which to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the new life that the death and resurrection of Jesus brings at Easter. The life of St Valentine challenges me to ask myself ‘what and whom do I love so much that I orientate my life around and towards it above all else?’. Ash Wednesday is a gift that teaches me to embrace my potential while accepting my limitations and have a reliance on God.”
Ash Wednesday is therefore a day that gives us the opportunity to reflect on those things that we may want to change either in our lives or about ourselves. In doing so, we may decide to make sacrifices or commit to life changes throughout the 40 days of Lent. Whether we do then make changes in our lives during this time of Lent or not, we can be reassured that God knows and loves us unconditionally, warts and all, and we know this because we read in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” So, love really has everything to do with it!
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
Beginning of Lent at Junior School
This week at Junior School, we have been reflecting on, and celebrating, the season of Lent as we prepare for the wonderful story of Easter. Lent is the 40 days that lead up to Easter and prepares a place for the love, hope, renewal, and joy that Easter brings to have a spot to land, a place to sit within our hearts.
As staff and students, we have been encouraged to do something different for 40 days in the lead up to Easter. Some people are adding a 10-minute walk into their day, others are waking up 5 minutes earlier for a cup of tea before the day begins and some are giving their favourite TV shows a miss for 40 days, all different and wonderful ways to see what change occurs when we are intentional with where our time goes and what it is like to have an experience of life with or without these things.
Shrove Tuesday saw many pancakes and some big smiles! A day of celebration, historically, people would clear their cupboards of all the yummy foods like eggs, milk and butter that they chose not to eat during lent and made pancakes to eat together. Here at Junior School, students and staff enjoyed a pancake morning tea served by our Year 4 Project Care Leaders and spent the day celebrating who God has created us all to be. Shrove Tuesday reminds us that being honest and genuine about who we are and how we are willing to grow is a wonderful way to prepare for experiencing Jesus love at Easter time.
Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday, we were reminded that there is always potential for change. Traditionally, people in the Bible would cover themselves in Ashes to symbolise a time of transformation or a pivotal change moment. In the creation story, God forms the human being out of dust and he breathes life into dust and life is created – new things are formed, ash or dust symbolises a time of renewal. Whilst we didn’t dump ashes on ourselves here at school, there was the opportunity to take part in Ash Wednesday by creating a piece of art using ash and having time to reflect as a group and individually on who God is.
Sometimes it can feel like we need to have it all together and sorted out during Lent however this time together of preparing and celebrating Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday as the beginning of Lent has reminded us that God knows us, He loves us, He sees us and we can know that even before we go through any period of change, Jesus welcomes us with open arms.
Darcee Braun, Chaplain
What’s on at Junior School
Week 4
Monday February 19 – Year 3 & 4 Intensive Swimming begins! Mon – Thurs (Refer to Edsmart)
Tuesday February 20 – Family Welcome Picnic, 6:00pm at Front Roundabout (Refer to Edsmart)
Friday February 23 – Year 4 Leaders Induction Service. Year 4 Cohort at Middle School SAC, 10:00am (Refer to EdSmart).
Week 5
Monday February 26 – Year 3 & 4 Intensive Swimming Week 2 (Mon – Thurs)
Friday March 1 – Assembly, 4R Class Item
Week 6
Monday February 26 – Emergency Evacuation & Lockdown Drills
Tuesday March 5 – Open Day, 9.15 – 10.45am
Tuesday March 5 – Lunchtime Concert, 1:10pm
Thursday March 7 – Year 4 attend Middle School Swimming Carnival; Kardinia Aquatic Centre.
Friday March 8 – Year 3 & 4 Chapel Service; 9:00am
Friday March 8 – Sock Drive for Geelong Mums, Crazy Sock Day!
Junior School Family Picnic Reminder
An annual and special event on the Junior School calendar is the Family Picnic held on the roundabout at the front of Junior School. Families are invited to bring along dinner, mingle with teachers and other families and experience the wonderful sense of community that exists at Junior School.
The picnic will be held on Tuesday February 20, beginning at 6pm, and after an official welcome, and of course some dancing and fun, families will also have an opportunity to visit their children’s Homeroom.
A coffee van will be available on the evening.
We look forward to celebrating our community together as we kick start 2024!
Carla Dunlop, Deputy Head of Campus
Prep Literacy and Numeracy Session
On Tuesday evening, we welcomed families of our Prep children to participate in a Literacy and Numeracy session.
They were not passive in this process and were required to be hands-on and engaged in the learning process, just like we expect our children in the classrooms to be! The families had to use their mini whiteboards to join in with English and Maths daily reviews where we cycle around key concepts and ideas taught. They participated in Heggerty, our phonemic awareness program, manipulating words and sounds. We even had a card game to build number fluency!
It was a great opportunity to discuss the structured approach we have to the teaching of English and Maths and how the development of these skills progresses throughout the year. We unpacked key components of our program and how our adaptive teaching caters for support and extension.
There was a lot of laughter too as feedback was provided to the families about their formation of letters and numbers. The importance of using whiteboards allows us to provide quick, in time feedback and teacher assessment.
It was a wonderful evening and I look forward to continuing to develop teaching and learning opportunities for families in our community.
Julie Shutie
Preps Discover Jonah and the Whale
This week in Christian Education, our Prep students embarked on an exciting journey through the story of Jonah and the Whale, uncovering valuable lessons along the way.
They learned the importance of perseverance and faith when facing challenges, drawing inspiration from Jonah’s resilience. Exploring Jonah’s forgiveness towards others, our students discussed empathy and the significance of kindness at school and in their lives. Through Jonah’s encounter with the whale, they gained a newfound appreciation for the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world. Reflecting on Jonah’s journey, they shared ways that they could connect to God, fostering confidence in their ability to navigate life’s challenges with faith, hope and love.
Additionally, they had the opportunity to express their understanding of the story through creativity. Each student created a poster depicting Jonah and the whale, incorporating an important scripture that we read in the story.
Jonah 2:2-7 In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
As our Prep students continue to learn and grow in their Christian Faith, we look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.
Rachael Whelan
Welcome to Year 2!
How wonderful it is to be reconnecting with friends and getting to know new classmates and teachers, whilst embarking on another year of learning at Junior School.
Over the course of the last few weeks, Year 2 students have hit the ground running in terms of their studies which have included lessons on the four sentence types, common and proper nouns, boundary punctuation and explicit phonics instruction to build spelling and reading skills. Students have discussed beautiful picture story books full of new vocabulary and have written acrostic poems about respect for the land. In Mathematics, the children have learnt how to represent 3-digit numbers in different ways and have also honed their counting skills. The Year 2 cohort has certainly been enthusiastically participating in the activities and challenges related to the learning outcomes.
These important early weeks also lay the foundation for successful learning in the future. Staff know not to underestimate the importance of happy connections with peers, especially in protecting the emotional wellbeing of our young people. This is why so much attention is given at the beginning of the year to creating safe learning environments where mistakes are accepted. Efforts are also made to help the children confidently share their feelings and opinions, and to build their capacity to work and play respectfully with others.
Whether working in small groups to share ideas during a Pair and Share routine, playing a Maths game in a group to practise number facts, or collaborating as a class team to complete a task (such as placing numbers on a number line correctly), learning is often better, and can certainly be more fun, when it occurs alongside others.
So, congratulations Year 2 on a magnificent beginning to 2024, and for the resilience you have demonstrated with the transition to a new year level! We are all very excited about the year to come.
Anne Spence
Year 3s take on the Ancient Greek Empire!
This week in Year 3, as part of our Core Knowledge Unit we have been learning all about Ancient Greece. We have been able to work together to create a timeline of sort showing how long ago the Ancient Greek Empire existed and its relationship to the time when Jesus was born. We went on to discuss where Greece is and that at its peak the Ancient Greek Empire spanned three continents. Students answered the big question about Athens being the place where democracy began.
Students discussed the fact that the rights of men and women were different in Ancient Athens and that the government was known as an Assembly, but it was pointed out that not allowing women to vote didn’t seem very much like democracy. The lesson, centered on Ancient Sparta, also highlighted the different rights of men and women in these ancient societies. In learning more about Athens and Sparta our students have planned and are writing a persuasive piece using the similarities and differences between Athens and Sparta and which they think they would prefer.
The Year 3 students worked hard to connect Athens as the ‘birthplace of democracy’ with some of the democratic decisions we have been making in class such as creating a list of classroom rules and responsibilities. This formed part of our Interdisciplinary Learning unit on Civics & Citizenship. We talked about our classroom being a safe place to share ideas and feelings in the presence of others and with God. As we talked about how we want our classroom to be we realised just how different we are as individuals and that many of us learn in different ways, yet we all have a right to learn!
Todd Brown
Music and Performing Arts
Music and Performing Arts classes are up and running here at Junior School. The fun has begun!
Through these twice weekly sessions, our students embark on a captivating journey where they not only learn about rhythm, melody, and harmony but also discover the magic of self-expression through various forms of artistic performance.
In our music classes, students are encouraged to explore different musical genres, experiment with diverse instruments, and hone their vocal talents. From lively sing-alongs to interactive instrument demonstrations, every lesson is designed to ignite their passion for music while fostering teamwork and cooperation.
In the realm of Performing Arts, our students delve into the captivating world of drama, dance, and storytelling. Through imaginative role-play, expressive movements, and theatrical performances, they develop confidence, empathy, and communication skills that will serve them well both on and off the stage.
We are immensely proud of the dedication and enthusiasm our students demonstrate in their musical and artistic pursuits. Their creativity knows no bounds, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth and artistic achievements in the months ahead.
Steve Horman
Junior School Clubs
Facilitating a Child Safe Culture
Christian College is committed to providing an environment in which our students are safe, happy and empowered. The College regards its child protection responsibilities with the utmost importance, ensuring compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations to embed and facilitate a child safe culture.
Just like physical environments, online environments need to be considered when implementing the child safe standards and assessing the risks of child abuse or harm. Whilst the eSafety Commissioner has information about popular and emerging online technologies and ways to manage online risks, I wanted to take this opportunity to notify you of two upcoming events that may be of interest to you:
- Tuesday 20 February - BATForce is partnering with Geelong Regional Libraries and Geelong Connected Communities to deliver a community-based Digital Tattoo workshop, a family approach to supporting young people online. This session aims to explore how families/communities can create safe and supportive environments for their young people to explore technology, build healthy relationships and increase protective factors as they grow. Places are limited, so please attached flyer for more information and to register.
- Wednesday 20 March - Christian College Geelong will be hosting a Digital Wellbeing and Cybersafety parent forum. Our aim is to provide parents/guardians the opportunity to discuss openly any concerns, to ask questions and seek support. We will also provide information on the school’s commitment to digital wellbeing and cybersafety as well as providing resources to support you in this journey. More information on this evening and how to register is coming soon!
As the Senior Child Safe Officer, I work closely with a team of Child Safe Officer’s to provide coordination in communicating, implementing, monitoring, enhancing and reporting on strategies to embed a culture of child safety across our school community. I encourage you to make note of your dedicated Child Safe Officer and to reach out to them directly if you have concerns about the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person.
Nominated Child Safe Officers:
Kim Ali – Back Creek Farm
Carla Dunlop – Junior School – Belmont
Debbie Riddle – Surf-Coast Campus - Torquay
Andrew Ellery – Middle School - Highton
Nicola Morrish – Bellarine Campus - Drysdale
Paul Breguet – Senior School – Waurn Ponds
Building a child safe culture and organisation is an ongoing process of learning, monitoring, and reviewing, and requires commitment from every member within the school community. Please do take some time to familiarise yourselves with our Child Safety and Protection Policy, which can be found on our College website. Should you have any questions or if require further clarification on our child safe policy and guidelines, please don't hesitate to contact me at our Senior Campus.
Kim Doherty, Director of Wellbeing
ENVISAGE – a Helpful Support Service
We would like to bring to the attention of all parents/guardians and families a program that exists as a possible support for families in the Geelong region called ENVISAGE.
ENVISAGE is a program co-created by Australian and Canadian researchers, clinicians, and parents of children with developmental concerns and disabilities. Their mission is to “empower caregivers to feel confident and competent to navigate the experience of parenting a child or children with developmental concerns by embracing contemporary strengths-based ideas about health, wellbeing, and development”.
We have included this link to the ENVISAGE website should you wish to discover further information as to whether this service could be of benefit to your child and your family.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Junior School-Belmont
Prepared for Digital Learning in 2024
Over these first weeks of Term 1, it has been a pleasure to work alongside our IT team and support teachers and students in rolling out new student devices with Year 10s, Year 7s and Year 4s across the College.
As we have supported students in the signing in and setup of their device, alongside guidance in its care, maintenance and use as a learning tool, I’ve enjoyed some wonderful conversations with students about smart, safe and responsible uses of technology.
This week, parents and students across the College have been asked to accept their annual digital learning and device agreements, which is a requirement for students’ continued access to the device program, College network and internet and digital technologies at school.
This is a great opportunity and prompt for conversations with your child at home about safe, ethical, and respectful uses of technology more generally. While these agreements focus especially on a school and learning context, many of the expectations, and the guidance contained in the documentation, is equally relevant to contexts outside of school and represents positive digital engagement and good digital citizenship.
The partnership between school and home – teachers and parents – in supporting our young people in developing strong, positive habits and attitudes towards technology is promoted in the Digital Learning and 1:1 Device Program Parent Information Events that we provide at this time each year on our Junior School campuses. It was pleasing to see the positive turnout from parents at the Junior School-Belmont event this past Wednesday evening, and similar events will occur at Bellarine and Surf Coast campuses on Tuesday and Wednesday next week respectively. These events are intended to provide support particularly to our Year 4 parents, where in many cases their child’s new College laptop may be their first personal digital device.
Parents are reminded that the College laptop is first and foremost provided as a tool for learning, and it is important that they support their child to care for and maintain their device so that it can provide the wonderful learning opportunities that are possible. Where a student encounters an issue, problem or any damage to their device, it is important that they take it to the IT Office on their campus for support and repair as part of our device program as soon as possible.
The College and all staff are committed to ensuring the College laptop and other technologies have a positive impact on learning for our students. At a recent staff meeting we launched a collective focus for this year of “nailing the basics” of device use to support learning, while moving forward with a strategy for equipping staff and students to meet the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI. This includes ensuring we support students to develop positive habits and attitudes towards technology and that they are equipped to use generative AI in ways that are safe, ethical, and effective.
We see the support of our young people to develop positive skills, attitudes and habits regarding technology as something in which we must partner our parents. It is for this reason that we aim to provide families with resources, guidance, advice and other tools to support this at home.
Most parents will be aware of the Qustodio Parent App that is available to them to equip them to better supervise and support their young people in their digital journey at home. Families who have a child who is a new student to the College can expect an invitation via email to register their Qustodio Parent Account as part of our school program over the next week. More information about the Qustodio Parent App is available via our Online Safety Hub.
To further empower and resource College parents at all levels to support their young people in digital wellbeing and positive engagement with technology, the College invites all parents to attend a Digital Wellbeing and Cybersafety Parent Forum, equally relevant to parents of children in junior, middle or senior school, coming up on Wednesday March 20.
More information about the parent forum will be forthcoming, so at this stage simply save the date.
Engagements with students and parents over these first few weeks of Term 1 have been thoroughly rewarding. I’m excited about the promise and potential of the remainder of 2024 and invite all parents to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to partner with us in this important aspect of their child’s wellbeing and learning.
Brendan Vanderkley, Director of Digital Learning
Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund
Financial Assistance for Eligible Parents
School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are part of a healthy curriculum.
Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. Support from CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities and forms part of the State Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.
If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
The annual CSEF amount per student is: • $150 for primary school students • $250 for secondary school students
How to Apply
Application Forms are available online through the Parent Portal (Go to ‘Student Information’ > ‘Important Forms for Parents’) these forms can be downloaded, completed then uploaded according to the instructions. Hard copy forms are also available from reception at each campus or by emailing enquire@ccg.vic.edu.au
More Information
For the CSEF application closing dates and more information about the fund please visit this webpage
Jonathan Ryan, Christian College Geelong Operations Manager
Find Yourself at our Open Day!
On March 5, all five Christian College campuses and two kindergartens are holding Open Days. Our Open Days provide the opportunity for parents and others interested in enrolling their children at Christian College to have a firsthand look at our College campuses, speak with campus leaders, participate in student-led tours of the facilities, visit classrooms in real time and have their questions answered.
We would encourage everyone in our Christian College community to spread the word and tell anyone you might know who is considering schooling options for their children about our Open Day and the opportunity to come and visit one or more campuses and/or our kinders, with no tour booking required.
Details are on our website – follow the hotlink on our homepage or click Homepage > Join > Open Days.
Opening times for March 5 are as follows:
Junior School-Belmont and Williams House Kindergarten – 9:15 – 10:45am
Bellarine Campus – 9:30 – 11:00am
Surf Coast Campus and Butterfield House Kindergarten – 11:30am – 1:00pm
Middle School-Highton – 10:30am – 12:00 noon
Senior School – 11:30am – 1:00pm
We would love to see as many interested families as possible finding themselves at our Open Day!
Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon
The Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon is back on and has been scheduled for Friday, 24 May 2024.
You are invited to join us for lunch at the stunning Provenance Wines in Fyansford.
This is a fundraising event for the Foundation and an opportunity to hear about the success and progress of the College.
Our guest speaker is Jossy Chacko, Founder and President of Empart, a global ministry that exists to ignite holistic community transformation among needy communities.
Giving leadership to a team of over 13,000 people and offices in nine countries, Jossy travels around the world inspiring and challenging leaders to capture a larger God-size vision and not to waste gifts and opportunities. He is also the author of Madness! and Dare to Partner.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to come together.
Secure your seat and book online today!
https://ccgfoundation.org.au/gh
Jennifer Freind, Foundation Manager
Golf Tournament
Join the Christian College Foundation for an exciting four-person Ambrose Golf Day, including a $30,000 hole in one prize on Thursday, 24th of October at 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads.
Set on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, the day provides an opportunity to enjoy the award-winning creek course, known for its undulating couch fairways, deep bunkers and interesting swales and hollows.
You will be treated to a scrumptious breakfast on arrival and an opportunity to participate in several fun activities including the longest drive, nearest to the pin etc.
There is plenty of prizes up for grabs, including a cash prize of $30,000. Score a Hole in One on the 12th Hole and you can win. *
You will also be treated to a delicious buffet lunch and learn more about the incredible work of the foundation. Every dollar raised will be dollar matched!
Event: Christian College Foundation Golf Day
Date: Thursday, 24th of October 2024
Dress: Casual
Cost: $195
Format: Ambrose – team of 4 players
Location: 13th Beach Golf Links, 1732 Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads
You can individually register or register up to a team of 4 players
This event is proudly sponsored by AECS.
Event Information:
For Players, registration commences at 7:00 am.
Breakfast provided; coffee & tea available.
Ambrose Golf (shotgun start): 8:00am – 12.30pm.
Lunch and formalities: 1:00pm – 3:00pm – auction items available to bid!
*Terms and conditions apply
CLICK HERE to register
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