Junior School Term 2 Week 5

From the Dean of Christian Culture

A Call to Prayer

I think, I feel and I believe it is absolutely time to pray.

You might say “well Mia isn’t it always time to pray?” and you’d be absolutely right, it’s always a good time to pray. The more prayer the better.

At this point in our College’s story I feel more and more the burden to be a place and community of prayer. We are in a season of change as a College, we are advertising for some very significant roles in the life of our community and our future. As we seek to appoint a Business Manager, Vice Principal of Teaching and Learning and an Executive Principal, along with the normal staffing intentions and decisions that will all need to be worked out for the 2025 academic year, I am calling our community to prayer. It’s important for us to continually remember that Christian College is God’s school, and we are here to do God’s work and serve God’s people, thus these appointments are also God’s decision. We must be praying for the wisdom, discernment and guidance to make these appointments according to God’s will and character to the best of our ability.

I really feel this chapter of our history must be marked and grounded wholeheartedly in prayer. The more we do this together, encourage one another and model this within our community the more hope we experience, the deeper and more mature our faith becomes and ultimately the closer to the character of God we remain.

From the Head of Campus

To all of our Junior School mothers, Grandmothers and special women in the lives of our children we hope you had a wonderful Mothers’ Day last Sunday. As a follow-up to our wonderful afternoon, I wanted to take the opportunity to share the results of our Mothers’ Day sack race time trials.

In perfect sack racing conditions, the sack race was hotly contested under the new format and location. However, the result remained the same as in previous years with our last sack racer of the day, Chantelle O’Kelly taking the win with the fastest time and becoming a 4-time sack race champion with Angela Azzopardi being a close runner up. Congratulations to both Chantelle and Angela and all those brave enough to enter this event. If you have any feedback with regards to our Mothers’ Day Extravaganza that you would like to share, please be encouraged to email junior@ccg.vic.edu.au

Observations Support Teacher Learning

This week a group of our teachers went to observe teachers at another school. This comprised two separate sessions, one focused on English and one focused on Mathematics. Observation is a valuable practice for professional development. It allows educators to learn from their peers and enhance their teaching methods.

Peer observations promote self-awareness of one’s own skills and teaching approaches. It was wonderful to hear from the staff once they returned just how much they got out of the observations. They were able to identify adjustments needed, celebrate successes in their own current practice and make suggestions for us to develop our pedagogy further!

By observing fresh approaches in action, teachers can introduce these into their work more quickly. The staff saw things in a different light and were able to share these immediately. There was much enthusiasm too as the staff returned with some tips and tricks.

There are seven Teaching Standards that set up a framework for how we interact with students and families, and highlight various stages of our career development. Two of these standards relate to professional engagement. Having staff head off to observe others aligns with these two standards where they can engage in professional learning and share this with their colleagues.

Continued observations, shared experiences and reflection will help us collectively.

We are all better teachers for the learning that we undertake.

What’s on at Junior School

This an up to date list of planned activities at Junior Campus that you can use for planning purposes.  Please be aware that these dates are set early in the term and occasionally items may need to be cancelled or dates/times altered.  This itinerary is altered each week to reflect any changes – please check this list of events EVERY WEEK carefully when you read the weekly VINE newsletter.

Week 6
Monday May 20 – Timor Leste Independence Restoration Day. Casual Dress – red, white, yellow, black  
Tuesday May 21 – 4B Class to visit Sirovilla (please refer to EdSmart)
Tuesday May 21 – Year 1 Deakin Primary Program (please refer to EdSmart)
Wednesday May 22 – National Simultaneous Storytime, 12pm (please refer to EdSmart)
Friday May 24 – Assembly 9.00am, 4B Item 

Week 7 – Reconciliation Week
Tuesday May 28 – Arthur Reed Photos (please refer to EdSmart)
Tuesday May 28 – Lunchtime Concert
Wednesday May 29 – Prep Discovery Learning, 1:00pm
Friday May 31 – Year 4 Forces Incursion (details to come)
Friday May 31 – Prep – Year 2 Chapel Service, 9:00am-9:30am

Week 8
Monday June 3 – Lunchtime Concert – Vocal Students, 1:00pm
Wednesday June 5 – World Environment Day   
Friday June 7 – Assembly 9:00am, 2B Item

Green Thumbs in Year 1!

As part of our Interdisciplinary Unit this term, we have been busy exploring the needs of plants and animals, focusing on their habitats and the human impact on the environment. We investigated the importance of plants in our environment and what they need to thrive. We discussed that plants need soil, water and sunshine to grow and to be healthy.

To assist with our learning, we planted broad bean seeds in plastic cups. The children were so excited! Using a trowel, the children carefully added the soil and the seed to their cup, making sure the seed was protected by the soil. The children then watered their seed and placed it in the sun.

We carefully monitored the growth of the bean plant, checking it each day to see if we noticed any changes. We recorded our findings in our ‘Bean Diaries’. The children were very excited to see the seed crack and the first signs of a root. Soon after, the bottom of the plastic cup was filled with roots. Our broad bean plants were growing!

Not long after, the stem popped out from the surface of the soil. The children were pleased to see that their plant was happy and receiving the water and sunshine it needed to grow. So exciting! Well done, Year 1!

‘I enjoyed planting my bean because you get to see it grow’ – Annie

‘You need to water the plants and they need sun’ -Ryan

‘A trowel is a small shovel used to dig up the dirt’ – Ivy

‘When you give water to the plants, the roots suck up the water’ – Parker

Year 4 Out and About in our Local Community

On Tuesday the Year 4 classes enjoyed a wonderful day out visiting two important places in our Geelong community as a finale to our IDL unit ‘Fair Go Mate!’. We are thrilled to share with you the exciting adventures and impactful experiences our Year 4 students recently had during their visit to the Geelong Botanic Gardens and Geelong Food Relief Centre.

Immersing ourselves in the lush greenery and vibrant blooms of the Geelong Botanic Gardens was a truly enriching experience for our students. The students embarked on a journey of discovery, learning about the reason for the collections of diverse plant species and the importance of biodiversity to preserve all species, native and exotic. Underneath the majestic towering trees our students fostered a sense of appreciation and stewardship for the environment and acknowledged the importance of this community group that supports us in so many ways. We enjoyed lunch and a play in the inclusive play space, another area that supports our local community.

Aligning with our values of compassion and community service, our Year 4 students also had the privilege of visiting the Geelong Food Relief Centre. Here they witnessed firsthand the incredible efforts undertaken to combat food insecurity and support vulnerable members of our community. They learned that this service is important in giving a sense of identity to those who need this group and ways in which local charities can connect to prove an invaluable resource. Thank you to all those who donated items of non-perishable food. Our donation was warmly welcomed. Thank you also to the parents and staff who attended our excursion!

Reminder:  Generative AI Parent Webinar

A reminder to parents and members of our community that we will be offering an online parent webinar, delivered via Microsoft Teams, next Wednesday. It has been wonderful to see such strong parent interest via RSVP responses and questions submitted so far.

There is still time to register for this event. Further details about the event are listed below.

Event: Generative AI and School Parent Webinar
Format: Microsoft Teams online webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 6.30pm – 7.15pm

Topics likely to be explored in the webinar include:

• What is generative AI?
• What are the benefits, risks, and limitations of these tools?
• What is the College’s response to generative AI?
• What AI tools do students have access to at school?
• What are the College’s rules and guidelines for use of generative AI?
• How can I support my child with navigating this space ethically and safely?

Interested parents are encouraged to register for the event via the form link below, to help with planning. Parents can also indicate what information they feel would be most relevant to them as they complete this form.

Register for the parent webinar

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!