Junior School Term 2 Week 7

Reconciliation Week – Now More than ever

As students, staff and families we have had the opportunity to participate in this year’s Reconciliation Week, from May 27 to June 3. This week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. It runs from 27 May to 3 June. The theme for 2024 is Now More Than Ever.

National Reconciliation Week is intended to celebrate Indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster reconciliation discussion and activities. It started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993, developing into National Reconciliation Week in 1996.

This week is a time that we can share different ideas in how we can care for everyone in our country, we can learn more about the history of our country and we can join together and pray for everyone in Australia.

From the Wellbeing Coordinator

Equip: The development of character, personal capacity, emotional maturity and positive behaviours

Inclusive Learning Environments

At Junior School we are committed to providing students with inclusive learning environments that encourage a sense of connectedness and increased belonging.

We provide students with inclusive learning environments by:

• Creating and fostering community and belonging
• Providing students with opportunities to collaborate with others
• Acknowledging differing perspectives and opinions
• Establishing community agreements and classroom norms to ensure that students are treated with respect and productive communication
• Welcoming all students and providing them with learning experiences that are accessible to all

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 8
Monday June 3 – Lunchtime Concert – Vocal Students, 1:00pm
Tuesday June 4 – Parent Prayer Group 1, 9.00am-9.30am
Tuesday June 4 – Lunchtime Concert, 1:00pm
Wednesday June 5 – World Environment Day
Friday June 7 – Assembly 9:00am, 2B Item
Friday June 7 – Combined String Ensembles rehearsal morning, 8.55am-1.45pm, Bellarine campus (Junior String Ensemble)

Prayer Group

As a follow on from the Parent Prayer Group that was mentioned in our 2024 welcome letter and in Mia Kafieris’ Vine article in Week 6, here at Junior School, we would like to offer a time and space for parents and carers to gather together with our Campus Chaplain Darcee Braun and intentionally pray for the families, staff and general happenings of Junior School and the wider College.

Jesus spoke a lot about prayer, both in our own time and with one another and it is our hope that this intentional time together would be filled with the hope, peace, faith and love that inviting Jesus into our everyday lives offers.

This will take place on a Tuesday morning from 9:00am – 9:30am onsite at Junior School every three weeks during school terms.

Our first Parent Prayer meeting will take place on Tuesday June 4, Term 3 dates will be communicated at the beginning of Term 3.

Everyone is welcome – should you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email or give Junior School reception a call.

If this is something you would like to attend, please refer to and accept the EdSmart you have received, simply so we can get a gauge of numbers to set up an appropriate space to meet.

Please note that you will require a Working with Children Check to attend these prayer sessions.

Wacky Hair Day – Support Geelong Mums

On Thursday June 13 Christian College Junior School’s Project Care team is running a Wacky Hair Day as a drive to collect much-needed toiletry products to continue to support the work of Our Village – Geelong Mums.

Last term, our Junior School community donated an incredible number of socks to support this local organisation help families in need and as Our Village – Geelong Mums continues to provide relief to local families, the need for specific toiletries has arisen.

These Project Care initiatives give students the opportunity to hear and learn about local organisations who support within the community and offer students a tangible experience in caring for others practically, as Jesus encouraged His followers to do.

Students are encouraged to come to school in their uniform with the most wacky, colourful and fun hairstyle and bring along an item listed below to support this cause.

Our Village – Geelong Mums have provided a list of the most-needed and practical toiletry items to assist families in need, including:

Kids 3-in-1 Wash
Deodorant
Baby Shampoo and soap
Hairbrushes

Please note that a gold coin is NOT required for this day. We really look forward to celebrating this day together, thank you for joining with us to support people in need within our community.

Knitted With Love

A Grandparent within our Junior School community has tirelessly been knitting ‘Godly Play’ stories for our Staff and Students to use. These sets offer students the opportunity to explore Biblical stories in a tangible and interactive way, allowing for discussion, wondering and reflection. Our students have been loving engaging in these stories and they have become a valuable part of our program here at Junior School.

We are so thankful for her generous time and resources to bring these stories to life and as resources continue to be knitted for Junior School, we want to share her incredible talent with our community and offer a way for our families to get involved and support.

In the Junior School Foyer, a stall has been set up where hand-knitted teddies, hearts and animals can be purchased, with all proceeds going into purchasing more yarn. Pop into the foyer anytime and have a look, there will be new creations coming in throughout the term.

A special highlight is the small hearts for sale for $2 – these work wonderfully for students to have in their pocket throughout the day and hold on to in times of big emotions or for added comfort.

We are so thankful to have this very special and talented knitter within our Junior School community and thank her for her generosity and heart to serve. We hope these Godly Play story boxes will be part of Junior School for years to come.

Learning Lots About Animals

During our Literacy program this term, the Year 1 children have been reading a range of rich texts all about different animals and their habitats. They have also been learning to write information reports whereby they have been following the structure of researching and recording information about an animal’s features, habitat, food, and other interesting facts.

Some of the animals that the students have researched and will continue to study this term include: honeybees, koalas, giraffes and birds.

This week the children were provided with the opportunity to read a non-fiction book called ‘Close Up Penguins’. As a class, we were able to gather and record lots of information about penguins, and the students were then set the task of working through the key sections of their information reports. As the children completed their work, they were very keen to share their writing with their classmates.

The students were also able to create a ‘paper plate’ display of a penguin’s habitat using a range of different craft materials. They were able to apply their problem-solving and creative thinking skills as they supported and encouraged each other in completing their displays of ‘Antarctica’.

Exploring ‘Come Together’ by Isaiah Firebrace

This week, our Year 4 students have embarked on an enlightening journey through the pages of ‘Come Together’, a compelling book by Isaiah Firebrace. This exploration is more than just a reading exercise, it’s a deep dive into understanding the rich tapestry of Australian Indigenous culture and history. The book, co-authored by Jaelyn Biumaiwai, has captivated our Year 4 readers.

‘Come Together’ is a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written. It introduces young readers to the 20 most significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words and concepts, fostering a sense of appreciation and respect for Australia’s First Nations peoples.

Inspired by the vibrant illustrations in ‘Come Together’, students have been creating their own artworks that reflect the themes and symbols from the book. These art projects have allowed students to express their understanding creatively while appreciating the aesthetic elements of Indigenous art.

Our exploration of ‘Come Together’ coincided with Reconciliation Week, providing a perfect backdrop for our studies. Students participated in various activities and discussions centred around reconciliation.

The exploration of ‘Come Together’ by Isaiah Firebrace has been an enriching experience for our Year 4 students. It has opened their eyes to the beauty and significance of Indigenous culture.

An Array of Paintings on Display

As we wrap up our exciting painting unit, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Our students have dived deep into the vibrant world of art, learning to understand the emotions behind colours. 

Throughout this unit, we’ve explored the intricate balance of perspective, shape, and form, discovering how these elements come together to create emphasis and drama in our paintings. Not only have the students’ embraced the harmony of colour mixing, but they’ve immersed themselves in the works of various renowned painters and have drawn inspiration from the greats. Landscapes by Albert Namatjira, Still Life by Henri Matisse, Pop Art by Andy Warhol…just to name a few. Their ability to balance the technical skills of painting, colour mixing and technique, and bring it all together into beautiful artworks is amazing.  

This unit has been messy, colourful, fun, vibrant, and I couldn’t be prouder of the masterpieces that have emerged. 

Health, Physical Education and Run Club

As the weather is getting cooler, students have been adapting well and have been putting a huge effort in during their Health and PE lessons.

 The Prep students have been working hard to develop their catching skills this term. They’ve had lots of fun catching different objects including bean bags, balls, cones, netball bibs and flat discs. They’ve also enjoyed playing whole class games, with Scarecrow tag, Band-Aid Tag and Octopus the firm favourites. It’s been great to see the Prep students playing cooperatively as a large group, following game rules and demonstrating teamwork.

During the term, Year 1 have been working hard on the overarm throw with the two main focuses, standing side on, and looking at the target. They have been challenged to throw as far as they can, but also to work on accuracy. There have been opportunities to continue working on their running skills as well as some catching. The health topic we have been exploring is about respectful relationships and celebrating our differences.

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and is a global platform for inspiring positive change. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses, schools and individuals to create a more sustainable world. It has been led by the United Nations Environment Program since its inception in 1973.

The theme for this year’s  World Environment Day is 'Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience'.

At Christian College, we are supporting this movement and each of our campuses is hosting an activity during the week.

There will be tree planting at both Senior School and Surf Coast campuses, switching off lights in a more careful way at Bellarine, a Nude Food Day at Highton campus, and a recycle-reuse challenge as well as a plant care competition at Junior School.

We would encourage you to ask your child about the event and related activities at their campus, and what part they might be playing, and support this action. As a family, you may like to take on a challenge to make a change and reduce your household emissions.

You can find out more about World Environment Day at this website:  World Environment Day   Scroll down to ‘Highlights’ and ‘Explore World Environment Day events’ and you will see the Christian College events registered on the map of the world.

Seeking Christian College Company Members

Christian College Geelong is seeking expressions of interest from any parent or guardian interested in becoming a new Company Member.

Company Members play an important part in the governance structure and protection of the College. A number of positions on the Christian College Board are filled by company members, depending on the skillset required when vacancies arise, and it is the company members who have the responsibility of voting to pass any amendments to the Christian College constitution. Company members may also be eligible to sit on various committees involved in the governance of the College.

Whilst participating as a company member is not overly onerous, it needs to be pointed out that the position is voluntary and not remunerated in any way. Also, please understand an expression of interest does not guarantee automatic membership of the company.

If you have a heart for the College, and feel you would have the time to dedicate and an interest in this role, please contact the Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls at b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au. All expressions of interest must be submitted by COB Friday, August 2.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Funding

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. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. 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 (Student Information, then 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

The closing date for applications is June 28.

 For more information about the fund visit www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

National Collection of Data on Students With a Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). With data collected on the first Friday in August (August 5 this year), the NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability.

These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD Guidelines.

Please see the attached NCCD Fact Sheet for more information.

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet

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

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!