From the Executive Principal
Over the past two weeks, I had the privilege of stepping back into the classroom, teaching senior secondary students, as I provided cover for a teacher on Long Service Leave. As you may know, I visit classrooms across our College community every week, yet taking this opportunity to spend longer periods of time with a few classes of students was a real joy. It reminded me just how powerful and important the work of teaching truly is. While my recent time has been spent with our older students, the experience reaffirmed something that is true across every year level in our K–12 context: at the heart of all we do is a shared purpose - supporting young people to grow, learn, and thrive.
Over my time in education, I have had the privilege of teaching students across the full P–12 age range, and into their university years. (The only age I haven’t taught yet is Kindergarten, and I have such admiration for our amazing Kindergarten educators). There is a special kind of joy that lives in classrooms at every stage of learning. In senior years, it appears in thoughtful discussions, growing independence, and moments of deep insight. In earlier years, it is seen in curiosity, wonder, and the excitement of discovering something new for the first time. These moments may look different across the College, but they are equally meaningful as they happen every day.
Teaching is about far more than lessons and learning outcomes; it is about relationships. Teachers take the time to know each child - their strengths, interests, and challenges - and to create environments where students feel safe to ask questions, take risks, and learn from mistakes. This sense of belonging and trust is essential for both wellbeing and academic success, from our youngest learners through to our graduating students.
What stood out to me most during my time in the classroom was the trust students place in their teachers. Each day, your children arrive ready to learn, supported by educators who care deeply about them, not just as students, but as individuals. Across our school, teachers work hard to ensure every child feels seen, valued, and encouraged at their stage of learning.
As parents and families, you entrust us with an incredibly important role, and we take that responsibility seriously. We want to make sure that every young person is known, challenged, and inspired. Our aim is not only to teach knowledge and skills, but to help shape confident, resilient, and compassionate young people who are prepared for life beyond school. Stepping back into the classroom reminded me that the joy of teaching is ultimately about the joy of seeing young people grow. What a privilege!
Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal
Power of Feedback in Learning
At the beginning of Term 2, CCG staff engaged in a thoughtful exercise with Dr Mathilda Joubert at Commencement Day. As part of this session, we took part in a simple task, received clear and specific feedback on this, and were then given the opportunity to have another attempt. It was a powerful reminder of just how important feedback is in the learning process.
When we were given clear guidance about what we had done well and what we could improve, we were able to refine our thinking and produce a stronger second attempt. This is exactly what we aim to create for our students every day.
In our Junior School classrooms, feedback is a regular and intentional part of teaching and learning. It helps students to understand where they are in their learning, what their next steps are, and how to move forward.
Importantly, feedback is not just about correcting errors. It is also used to stretch students’ thinking and challenge them to go beyond what they already know. You might hear teachers prompting students with questions, asking them to explain their thinking, or encouraging them to take their learning further.
In classrooms, this might look like:
- immediate verbal feedback during lessons
- clear learning intentions
- small group or one-on-one conferencing
- opportunities for students to revisit and improve their work
- questioning that extends and deepens understanding
A key part of this process is ensuring students can act on feedback. Learning is not about getting it right the first time, but about building understanding over time through practice, reflection and refinement.
By continuing to prioritise effective feedback, we are supporting all students to grow as confident, capable and reflective learners.
Amber Sharp
What’s Happening at Junior School?
Term 2 Week 3
Monday 4 May: Year 1 and 2 Bible Presentations, 9.05am, Chapel
Tuesday 5 May: Lunchtime Concert, 1.10-1.30pm, Chapel
Tuesday 5 May: Mothers’ Day Helper, Gift Wrapping: 1.30pm-3.15pm, Chapel
Thursday 7 May: Mothers’ Day Stall Set Up, 2.45pm-3.15pm, Chapel
Friday 8 May: Assembly, 3R Class Item
Friday 8 May: Mothers’ Day Stall, 9.45-11.00am, Chapel
Friday 8 May: Mothers’ Day Afternoon Spectacular – 1.45pm-3.10pm
Term 2 Week 4
Monday 11 May: Student Chapel Services
Tuesday 12 May: Parent Prayer Group, Chaplains Office, 3:00pm – 3:15pm
Wednesday 13 May: Prep Responsible Pet Ownership visit
Thursday 14 May : Prep Community Helper Talks
Friday 15 May: Prep Discovery Learning, 9.15am-12.10pm
Term 2 Week 5
Tuesday 19 May: Lunchtime Concert, 1.10-1.30pm, Chapel
Wednesday 20 May: East Timor Independence Restoration Day Service
Wednesday 20 May: Arthur Reed Photos (Full school uniform) Please refer to Compass Newsfeed
Thursday 21 May: Emergency and Lockdown Drills
Friday 22 May: Assembly, 3B Class Item
Friday 22 May: Selected Project Care Leader visit to Our Village, Geelong Mums
Friday 22 May: Year 3 Swimming Program Session 1 (details to come!)
Term 2 Week 6
Monday 25 May : Prep Bible Presentations, 9.05am, Chapel
Monday 25 May: Year 3 Excursion, Hellenic Museum
Tuesday 26 May: Prep Fire Rescue Victoria Visit session 1
Tuesday 26 May: Parent Prayer Group, 3pm, Chaplain’s Office
Wednesday 27 May: Reconciliation Week
Wednesday 27 May: National Simultaneous Storytime ‘Luna Roo – The Kangaroo Baller’
Friday 29 May: Prep Discovery Learning, 9.15-12.10pm
Friday 29 May: Reconciliation Week ‘Wear it Yellow’ – Wear a splash of yellow (details to come!)
Junior School Belmont – Parent Prayer Group
We would love to offer a time and space for parents, carers and families to gather together and spend time with myself praying for the families, staff and general happenings of Junior School and the wider College.
Prayer meetings will take place on a Tuesday afternoon from 3:00pm – 3:25pm onsite at Junior School in the Chaplain Office
These will run fortnightly throughout the term.
Tuesday 12 May
Tuesday 26 May
Tuesday 9 June
Everyone is welcome – This is a great opportunity to spend time together in prayer and to build connections with one another.
If this is something you may like to attend, please click on the link below to note your attendance.
Junior School Parent Prayer Group 2026
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Arze Painter, Chaplain
Prep Discovery Learning at the Beach
With the beautiful sunshine blessing us leading into May, our Prep Discovery Learning adventure took a different turn this week as we swapped the bush for the beach! The children were excited to spend the morning outdoors, enjoying the fresh air, warm sunshine, and the many opportunities for imaginative play.
There was plenty of fun to be had as the children worked together to dig tunnels, build sandcastles, and create all sorts of sandy masterpieces. They showed wonderful teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills while exploring the beach environment. Of course, there was also the challenge of trying very hard to stay out of the water, which added lots of laughter and excitement to the day!
These experiences are so valuable for our children, giving them the chance to connect with nature, use their imagination, and strengthen friendships with their peers. We feel incredibly lucky to share these special moments together and to provide opportunities for the children to learn through play in such a beautiful setting.
What a wonderful way to make the most of the sunshine and create lasting memories together!
Rea Pantadis
Colourful Curious Minds
Our Prep students have been exploring colour through paint this term. In the early years, open-ended experiences like this are an important way children learn. By experimenting, making choices and seeing what happens, students build confidence, curiosity and understanding through their own discoveries.
Rather than being told exactly what to do, children learn a great deal through hands-on exploration. Mixing colours, testing ideas and noticing results helps develop problem-solving skills, creativity and an early understanding of how materials work.
Students have used brushes, sticks and found objects to scratch, drag and create marks in wet paint. They have also enjoyed using their hands and fingers to blend colours, add texture and explore different ways paint can be applied.
There have been plenty of exciting moments as students discovered that when primary colours are mixed, new colours begin to appear… orange, purple and green. They also learned that mixing every colour together does not create a rainbow, but usually a large patch of brown. A great reminder that sometimes experiments bring unexpected results.
This learning is now leading into the next stage of our project, as students begin creating paper collage fireflies that will glow brightly in the night sky at our end of year Art Showcase, themed “Let There Be Light.”
Fireflies, here we come!
Tash Cooper
Exploring the Significance of ANZAC Day
Over the past week, our Year 2 students have been exploring the significance of ANZAC Day. In 2G, this was through the sharing of stories and the study of three meaningful books: Midnight – The Light Horse, The Hidden Hat and The Last ANZAC. These stories introduced students to the brave journeys of the light horses, the importance of remembering and reflecting on past experiences, and the life of Alec Campbell, our last ANZAC.
Students learned about the challenging conditions faced by the soldiers, their families and the horses, and reflected deeply on the emotions and experiences shared in each book. They wrote about their feelings of what they discovered and their understanding of why ANZAC Day is such an important time of remembrance. To complete their learning, students created expressive artwork using an effective tearing technique to show respect and honour for the light horses that courageously took part in The Battle of Beersheba.
Anna Kattwinkel
Year 4 Students Explore the Ancient Chinese Dynasties
This term in Year 4, as part of our Content Knowledge Literacy Unit, students have begun immersing themselves in the study of Ancient Chinese Dynasties. Our Structured Literacy lessons are designed to strengthen reading and writing skills, while also building knowledge of significant historical topics. A key focus has been expanding students’ vocabulary, with an emphasis on using new and topic-specific words to enhance the quality of their comprehension responses.
Recently, students explored the life and achievements of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first Emperor of China, who ruled over 2000 years ago. Through rich discussions and targeted comprehension activities, students practised incorporating new vocabulary such as emperor, dynasty, and afterlife into their responses, helping them to communicate their understanding with greater accuracy.
Students discovered how Emperor Shi Huangdi sought to leave a lasting legacy through the construction of an elaborate tomb complex, famously guarded by over 7,000 life-sized terracotta warriors. They examined why the emperor believed such a tomb was necessary and how the terracotta army was intended to protect him in the afterlife—reflecting both the grandeur of his reign and the cultural beliefs of ancient China.
Following their reading and discussions, students applied their learning creatively by designing and drawing their own terracotta warrior. This engaging activity encouraged them to think deeply about the features, armour, and symbolism of the warriors, while continuing to reinforce their understanding of the topic.
Mark Foran
Christian College Geelong Shines at Hooptime Tournament
On Wednesday, a selected number of Year 3 and 4 students showcased their basketball skills at the Hooptime Tournament held at Eagle Stadium in Werribee. The event was well attended with a number of Melbourne schools competing as well.
The College entered three teams into the Future Stars division, with an all boys, all girls and a mixed team. It was great to witness the teamwork and encouragement from all the teams competing.
The tournament provided a fantastic opportunity for the students to develop their basketball skills in a competitive yet friendly environment.
All the teams had success, with each of them winning games. The mixed team started off shakily, with a big defeat, but fought hard and improved throughout the day, finishing with one win towards the end of the day. The girls team started with a draw, but hit their straps, and won their grand final easily. The boys team had a dominant day, going through undefeated, also beating their one and only game against an All Stars team.
A special thank you goes out to the coaches and parents who supported the students throughout the day. Your dedication and encouragement played a crucial role in making this event a memorable experience for everyone involved.
I would like to thank Carl Hillier for a lot of work that went into the day as well as Matt Murnane and Edwina Norgard. Also, a big shout out to the many parents that made the trip up the highway to support our students, thank you.
Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and spirited play. We are incredibly proud of our Year 3 and 4 students for representing Christian College Geelong with such enthusiasm and teamwork. Well, done, everyone!
Nick Rice
Scholastic Book Club News
Issue 3 of Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students and orders should be placed online by Monday, May 4.
Our payment method is via LOOP either using the mobile app or the desktop site which can be found here
Please do not send cash as we are unable to process cash payments.
Thank you for your assistance and support of Book Club.
Violet Novacevski
Academic Excellence and Music Excellence Scholarships – Applications Open!
Applications are now open for Academic Excellence Scholarships – for entry to Years 5 to 11 in 2028.
Any interested parents, guardians and families with children in Years 3 to 9 in 2026 are welcome to apply, including families who have children currently enrolled at Christian College.
Applications for Academic Excellence scholarships close on August 6.
Also open to both Christian College families, and families with children attending other schools, are our Music Excellence Scholarships. These are open for students entering Years 5 to 12 in 2027 or 2028.
Applications for all Christian College scholarships can be made via our website. Click here to visit our Scholarships page, where you’ll find more information about all the scholarships we offer. From there you can click on the individual scholarship tiles for more specific details, and to apply.
Discover Prep at Three Campuses!
Discover Prep sessions invite parents, guardians and children to step directly into a Prep classroom and take part in the learning, discovering the wonder our students experience every day. These sessions are being held on May 19, 20 and 21 at Junior School-Belmont, Bellarine and Surf Coast Campuses respectively.
Christian College’s Prep program is unparalleled. Strong foundations in literacy and numeracy are complemented by rich explorations across Interdisciplinary Studies and Christian Education. Our classrooms are fun, inclusive and caring places where children feel safe, known and celebrated. Learning is enriched by weekly timetabled sessions with specialist teachers – in Music, Japanese, Art, Health and PE, Digitech and Library.
Afterwards, we welcome everyone to stay for light refreshments, meet our staff, chat and ask questions.
We are asking attendees to register to assist with our planning. Please visit our website and use the homepage hotlink. If you know someone who might be considering Prep options for 2027, 2028 or beyond – we’re sure they will benefit from attending a Discover Prep session, so please pass the word around!
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Godspell the Musical – Senior School Production on Stage June 5 & 6
R.W. Gibson Centre – Christian College Senior Campus
Tickets now on sale! 3 shows
Friday June 5 – 7:00pm
Saturday June 6 – 2:00pm & 5:30pm
Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/DKBJO
Featuring a student cast of Yrs 10,11,12 and a band of students and staff who have been rehearsing since the start of the school year.
Prepare ye for the timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love in a masterful retelling of the original sensation with dazzling contemporary arrangements and references. Godspell, 2012 Revised Version, featuring songs by Stephen Schwartz, (known for the Broadway hits WICKED and PIPPIN), uses song, dance and storytelling to retell the passion story and parables of the gospels. Filled with high spirited musical styles ranging from pop to vaudeville, this theatrical celebration is a reminder that kindness, tolerance, and love should live on vibrantly.
Our audience will be treated to a unique presentation of this well-known production, one that will showcase the exceptional skills of our students and the creative expertise of our production staff team. This dynamic show is also supported by a crew of staff, students and parents who will ensure that the onstage presentation is a memorable experience.
Our College is proud to present Godspell! Please assist us to promote our show to your families, friends and the broader community. Please find a poster attached which can be emailed as a digital attachment or printed for display as far and wide as you like!!
Tickets are now on sale for this boutique theatre experience on Trybooking, we look forward to welcoming our audiences!
Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/DKBJO
Fiona Gardner
Taylah Broad
Future Student Enrolments
Please note, across our campuses we have now commenced sending enrolment offers for 2027. We ask that all families with future siblings wishing to attend Christian College, please confirm their child is enrolled or use this link Christian College Geelong | Christian College Geelong to commence the process.
To confirm your child’s Enrolment, please phone or email the relevant campus(es).