Junior School Term 1 Week 7

From the Acting Principal

In my interactions with parents at various events over the past couple of weeks – welcome picnics, swimming carnivals and leadership inductions – I’ve taken the opportunity to ask a few questions about this very newsletter, The Vine. “Are you a regular reader?” “What’s your feedback on the content?” And “Is Friday afternoon the right time to receive it?”

It has been pleasing to learn that almost all parents I spoke to read The Vine weekly. They love learning of all the classroom and non-classroom activities taking place on their child’s campus each week – not just the ones relevant to their year level, but all the goings on, mindful that their child might partake in such activities in the not-too-distant future. And as for the Friday timing? Well, again, the vast majority expressed a strong like for receiving it at the end of the week. A welcome wrap-up, if you will, offering a glimpse into the highlights and achievements of the week. And, according to some, a great way to wind down on a Friday evening!

Like you, I’m also seeing The Vine hit my inbox on a Friday afternoon. I never tire of reading the latest happenings across all our campuses. The feedback from parents underscores the significance of The Vine as a means of fostering unity and connection within our broader school community. And the breadth of content, across subjects, year levels and campuses, in and out of the classroom, showcases the rich tapestry of experiences available to our students.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teachers for their commitment to keeping you, our parents, informed and connected through The Vine. Each week, staff at each campus go to great lengths to ensure that the content resonates with you, offering an insight into your child’s schooling experience and the wonderful community to which they belong.

 From the Head of Campus

Partnership in Learning

This week we have been excited to meet with families to celebrate our children’s learning through the Student Learning Conferences. These conferences offer an opportunity to practise the ‘Harvard Pause’ where we create space for reflection on individual students’ educational journeys. In doing so we can come together to share the social and academic learning that has been and to discuss goals for future learning.

These conferences provide valuable feedback regarding your child and aim to offer a snapshot of their learning at a particular moment in time. Participation by our staff and parents in this process is highly valued and we sincerely appreciate the time, energy and expertise families contribute to supporting their children’s learning and development at Christian College.

Our feedback is sometimes that Student Learning Conferences are not long enough as they offer the opportunity to have a general discussion regarding your child’s learning and are of a 10 minute duration. Please be reassured that whilst these conferences are an opportunity to touch base with the Homeroom Teacher they should not be considered as the only opportunity to meet to discuss your child’s learning. You are always welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to speak with your child’s Homeroom Teacher or Specialist Teacher throughout the year to seek feedback or clarifications around your child’s learning and progress at Junior School.

What’s on at Junior School

Week 8
Monday March 18 – Harmony Week Begins
Monday March 18 – Naplan, Conventions of Language
Tuesday March 19 – Naplan, Numeracy
Tuesday March 19 – Lunchtime Concert, 1:10pm
Tuesday March 19 – 4G Students to visit Sirovilla (Refer to Edsmart)
Tuesday March 19 – 2B Class Strings Concert, 11:20am
Wednesday March 20 – Preps at Discovery Learning, 1pm
Wednesday March 20 – Selected Project Care Students Visiting Geelong Mums
Thursday March 21 – Harmony Day, Casual Dress Day – Wear Orange!
Friday March 22 – Prep – Year 2 Chapel Service, 9:00am
Friday March 22 – Year 2 Excursion, William Buckley Experience (Refer to EdSmart)

Week 9

Monday March 25 – Preps Fire Rescue Victoria Visit 2, 9:15am
Tuesday March 26 – Year 4 Attend Middle School Athletics Carnival
Tuesday March 26 – Year 1, Old World Day
Wednesday March 27 – Preps at Discovery Learning, 1pm
Thursday March 28 – Easter Bonnet Parade, 9am
Thursday March 28 – Easter Service, 11:30am
Thursday March 28 – Conclusion of Term 1; 2:30pm

Term 2; Week 1
Tuesday April 16 – Term 2 Commences

Annual Easter Bonnet Parade

On the final day of Term 1, Thursday March 28, Junior School will become a ‘colourful spectacular’ at the Annual Easter Bonnet Parade. Students are encouraged to begin making and designing Easter Bonnets to wear on the day. Families are welcome to come along and join in the fun which will begin at 9:00am at the Junior School front roundabout.

*A reminder that the school day concludes at 2:30pm on Thursday March 28.

Wonderful Whiteboards

As part of our structured literacy approach you will see the use of mini whiteboards. 

The points below outline some of the key reasons why we use mini whiteboards in our learning at Junior School… 

Ease of use

The children find the use of a whiteboard to be quick and efficient. Make a mistake, rub it out and rewrite it, if you need to add something it’s easy to change. They are a hard, flat surface which makes it easy to have resting on your lap too.

Check for understanding 

Mini whiteboards give the teacher the ability to quickly check the students’ understanding of a question, topic or process. When teachers ask the students to ‘chin it’ they are asking them to show their learning. The teacher can see who has grasped the ideas and easily make note of this with the use of their own checklist or by taking a photo. Before moving on to the next part.

Descriptive Writing

Over the past few weeks, during our Structured Literacy writing sessions the Year 2 students have been exploring and investigating ideas of how to write a short story using correct descriptive writing format and structure.

We have been implementing all the wonderful things we have learnt throughout our Literacy sessions, such as using adjectives and adverbs to add extra detail and information to our written pieces.

The children have written and published a variety of descriptive pieces using their five senses to describe the ocean and a mythical creature which they have created themselves. The students also had the task of writing a descriptive passage about their chosen special toy or item, which was directly related to our rich text study of the book ‘Tilly’, written by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker.

The Year 2 children have done a great job using vocabulary specific to each topic. Some of the students published work pieces are highlighted in the photos below.

We are really looking forward to exploring further different styles of writing this semester, which will including writing and publishing Information Reports.

Year 3 Investigation of Geelong

This week in Year 3 as part of our Interdisciplinary Learning we have been looking at different places around Geelong and the way they have changed over time. Students used a ‘newspaper article’ to create a timeline for each of the prominent Geelong Landmarks: Eastern Beach, Market Square, Bay City Plaza, GMHBA Stadium and Wool Mills. Having looked at the different features of these landmarks the students were asked to identify the way these places have changed and give reasons why they might have changed. As a class we managed to identify and record some of the different reasons for changes to these landmarks, including the increased popularity of football and swimming for GMHBA Stadium and Eastern Beach in Geelong, and changes in the population growth and technology, which in turn explains changes to the Market Square.

We have also been learning all about The Olympics in our core knowledge unit on Ancient Greece and one of this week’s activities was identifying what each of the Olympic rings represents. We learned that the Ancient Olympic Games started as a religious festival honouring the ‘Greek God Zeus’. Students were able to identify some of the events from the ancient games that still exist in the modern Olympic Games, such as running races, boxing, wrestling, discus, and javelin throwing.

Geelong North Division Swimming Carnival  

On Tuesday, Junior School had 4 students compete at the Geelong North Division Swimming Championships.  

The following students competed in the following events: 

Macy Forbes – 9/10 year old 50m freestyle (15th) 

Nellie Gray – 9/10 year old 50m freestyle (2nd) and breaststroke (1st) 

Bodhi McKenzie – 9/10 year old 50m freestyle (11th) 

Harry Pollard – 9/10 year old 50m freestyle (16th) 

It was a great experience for all our students to be competing at the next level above the Middle School House Swimming Carnival. Nellie Gray has been rewarded with all her hard work progressing to the next stage on Tuesday March 26, at the Western Metropolitan Region Swimming Championships. Many thanks to the parents for taking the students to and from the pool and for Ms Hoiles and Mrs Bishop being able to support the students on the day. 

Spotlight on Music – Felix Drums up a Storm!

Felix Rankin from Year 10 was invited to perform as a “Young Guest Artist” with the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra featuring a piece of his choice at the Paris Cat in Melbourne. 

The DMJO has been a cornerstone of the Australian Music scene since the 1980's, supporting countless local and international solo artists. They came into their stride in the 90's as the studio band for "Hey Hey Its Saturday". 

A week before Felix's performance, when the resident drummer became unavailable, he was asked to step up and play the entire two-hour gig. Members of the DMJO (who are music directors themselves) were blown away by Felix’s preparation and performance on the night. 

Here is a snapshot of his feature piece "Magic Flea" by Sammy Nestico, from the Count Basie recordings

Doing the Right Thing on our Buses

I have noticed a decline in the overall behaviour of some students on our bus network, which is something we take very seriously. We have seen some significant damage to bus seats (cuts / slashes) and an increase in graffiti on seats and other surfaces of the bus. Please note, this behaviour will not be tolerated, and appropriate disciplinary action will follow, including the reimbursement of costs associated with repairing damage, if applicable.

We ask all parents to please remind your children that damaging the buses disadvantages everyone who uses them, and to encourage those who witness this sort of behaviour to either email schoolbustravel@ccg.vic.edu.au or talk to their home room teacher. We will ensure that their identity remains anonymous.

Most importantly, appropriate behaviour on our buses is vital for the safety of all passengers and drivers.

Please click on this link to a YouTube video as a reminder of how to travel safely on our bus network:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN5SfNHr37s

I would like us all to work together to ensure that we are operating the safest possible bus service every day and thank you in anticipation for your assistance in achieving this.

CCG Digital Wellbeing and Cybersafety Parent Forum

Thank you to the parents and guardians who have responded and registered for this upcoming event next Wednesday evening. Based on your responses to date, here are the top 5 topics parents are most interested in exploring on the night:

• Protecting my child from harmful or inappropriate content
• Screen time - finding a healthy balance
• Parental controls
• Cyber bullying
• Making informed parental decisions about specific apps and games

We’re especially excited about the opportunity on this evening for some rich sharing and discussion amongst parents attending and will also share information on how the school can support you and your children in this space, at school and at home.

As this event is intended for interactive participation by attendees in a forum-style format, there will not be a recording available.

This event will be suitable and relevant for parents of students of all ages, from Prep through to Year 12. This one-hour forum will involve a combination of information and support from the College, as well as an opportunity to share and discuss challenges and strategies with fellow parents.

Cinderella – Be Quick - Tickets are Disappearing Fast!

There are still tickets available for our major College production this year, but they are going fast, so to ensure you don't miss out - book now! Join us as we present three very special performances of this delightful story featuring students from Years 6 – 12 with exceptional talent throughout the cast, and an orchestra brimming with outstanding student musicians, all backed up by a wonderful community of staff, students and families backstage.

Performances are at Geelong Arts Centre Play House Theatre on May 3 and 4.

To purchase tickets, visit our website and click on the hotlink on our homepage, or go straight to ticket sales by clicking here. 

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

CSEF_Application_Form_2024

Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion

The Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024. Join us at Blackman's Brewery Geelong from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Tickets are $15 each and RSVPs close on Thursday, 28th March 2024 at 5:00pm. 

This will be a great opportunity for you to reconnect with your peers, catch up with past teachers, and reminisce about your school days. 

Tours of the College Clocktower at Middle School - Highton will also be optional on the day of the reunion, if you would like to climb the Clocktower and find your brick, simply book in when you register. 

For those who would like to have a tour of the College grounds, please head to our website to arrange a tour. 

We look forward to catching up with the Class of 2014. If this is your year group, spread the word and register for your 10 Year Reunion today!  

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/2014

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

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!