From the Chaplain
The City of Greater Geelong, in conjunction with the Regional Parenting Service and Victorian State Government has released the ‘All Regional Parenting Service’ program calendar for Term 3.
This can be a wonderful place to engage with programs from MELI (formerly Barwon Child Youth & Family and Bethany), Family Relationship Centre, Drummond St Services and Barwon Southwest Region in a range of programs focused on supporting families, children, and young people.
Please see the attached calendar outlining details of dates, times, and venues below.
Darcee Braun, Chaplain
Junior School Music Evening
On Thursday evening of this week, it was with great pleasure that I attended the Junior School Music Evening at the R.W. Gibson Music auditorium at Senior School. Junior School and Instrumental staff, students and families celebrated a group of very talented musicians who shared their artistry and passion with all those present. Musical performances from students in Years 1-4 featured piano, violin, cello, viola, and voice. The evening was hosted by our Junior School classroom teacher Mrs Laura Hollingsworth, assisted by Mr Kevin Smith, and students were ably supported by instrumental staff Mrs Tammy Treloar, Mrs Cecilia Bell and Mrs Jeanette Carnie.
It is often said that music can elicit emotions and this evening provided a perfect example of this. Through their performances students were able to make their audience laugh, dream and become lost in the music.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
What’s on at Junior School
Week 9
Monday June 19 – Student Learning Conferences, 4R only 3:50pm to 7:00pm (Refer to EdSmart)
Tuesday June 20 – Lunchtime Concert
Tuesday June 20 – Student Learning Conferences, 3B only – 1:30 to 4:00pm (Refer to EdSmart)
Wednesday June 21 – Prep Discovery Learning
Wednesday June 21 – Year 1 Barwon Water Incursion (Refer to EdSmart)
Wednesday June 21 – Student Learning Conferences, 4R only 3:50pm to 5:00pm (Refer to EdSmart)
Friday June 23 – Assembly, 2G Class Item `
Friday June 23 – Final day Term 2, 2:30pm Dismissal
Term 3
Week 1
Monday July 17 – Students return for the commencement of Term 3
Week 2
Tuesday July 25 – Student Learning Conferences, 4:00pm –7:00pm (Refer to EdSmart)
Thursday July 27 – Student Learning Conferences, 4:00 – 6:00pm (Refer to EdSmart)
Thursday July 27 – Prep Discovery Learning Session
Week 3
Wednesday August 2 – Prep Discovery Learning Session
Friday August 4 – Assembly, 1G Class Item
Student Learning Conferences
Please note the scheduled times for our Student Learning Conferences and details on how to make a booking below:
Year 3B
Year 3B Student Learning Conferences will be available on Tuesday June 20 from 1:30pm – 4:00pm online via Microsoft Teams.
Year 4R
Year 4R Student Learning Conferences will be available on Monday June 19 from 3:50pm to 7:00pm and Wednesday June 21 from 3:50pm to 5:00pm online via Microsoft Teams.
Years Prep, 1, 2, 3G, 3R, 4B and 4G
A reminder that these Student Learning Conferences will be available on Tuesday July 25 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Thursday July 27 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm only via Microsoft Teams.
To book a Student Learning Conference appointment with your child’s teacher please access the online booking system at www.schoolinterviews.com.au using our school’s event code. The Online Conference Booking Information document attached includes the event code and full instructions to make your bookings. Please also find a link to a document which outlines the steps for you to participate in the online Teams conferences. We encourage you to forward any queries regarding accessing the online conferences to our IT Specialists by contacting [email protected].
Click here to open the Parents’ Guide to joining a Teams meeting: Parent Guide, Joining a Teams Meeting
We look forward to sharing your child’s learning at the upcoming Student Learning Conferences.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
Kings and Queens of the Prep Kingdom
On Wednesday June 14, the Prep Kingdom opened their gates to the royal party. There were knights, princesses, princes, kings and queens and court jesters all in attendance. Across the day the royalty created a Prep Kingdom castle, made, and ate royal biscuits, created self-portrait artworks and wrote biographies about themselves.
Days like these help us as educators to make hooks for children to consolidate and transfer their learning. As we continue to explore the facts and fiction around Kings and Queens, we have moved to look at the story of King Midas. This unit has given us great opportunities to be able to delve into the real world of Kings and Queens and also stories, rhymes and songs that aim to teach important life lessons.
The Prep children thoroughly enjoyed their royal party:
I loved that we got to do some cookies. Emmi
I liked making the cookies. Thomas
I liked doing everything all day! Jean-Luc
I liked painting the boxes and building a castle! Elle
I liked colouring the letters to make a sign. Sarah
It was so good doing the cookies they tasted good. Krithan
I loved eating the cookies because they were so yummy. Kai
I liked doing the drawing because I love drawing. Hazel
I liked going outside and taking pictures of all the kings and queens. Sophia
I liked the costumes because I got to wear a Godly dress like this Godly school. Maeve
I enjoyed eating the cookie – Sonny
I liked Kings and Queens investigations – Patrick B
I liked wearing my princess dress and looking at everyone’s outfits – Tia
I loved adding lollies and sprinkles on my cookie and wearing my costume – Lenni
I liked making the sparkly crown – Florence
Julie Shutie
Investigating the Mass of Objects
Our wonderful Year 2 students have been investigating the mass/weight of objects during our Maths lessons this week. The students have explored mass through a variety of mediums, including lots of hands-on measurement activities. The students were fully engaged in the tasks at hand, using balance beams, weight scales, digital technologies such as Matific Maths tasks and finding the packaged weight of everyday grocery items. Recording the object’s weight using mathematical vocabulary such as heaviest, lightest, heavier, lighter, same as, equal to as well as ordering a list of items according to their mass gave the students an opportunity to relate maths to everyday life.
This mathematical analysis began by using informal units such as unifix blocks, counters, and other concrete aids to measure the mass of classroom objects. Secondly, formal units of measurement such as grams, kilograms and tons were introduced and examined further in our rotational maths inquiries. The students delved further with their new understandings and utilised grocery catalogues to find everyday products that we use in our household that are measured using grams and kilograms.
They were extremely excited, and the acquisition of new learning was evident in the discussions students had, and the vocabulary they used with their classmates. The activity fostered teamwork and an opportunity to explore social friendships further, whilst allowing them to consolidate their mathematical knowledge in this area.
There will be further opportunities to explore many other areas of measurement this year.
Christine Adam
Year 3 Prefect Visit
We were so excited to have some special visitors in 3G recently. Seth and Molly, our Senior School College Captains, paid us a visit and joined as we learnt more about ancient Roman engineering and Rome as a city. Our core knowledge unit has been focused on Ancient Rome this term and students have enjoyed learning about the legend of how Rome began, all about Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Caesar Augustus and the geography of the Mediterranean Sea and the many battles that have centred around it.
Molly and Seth were welcomed into our class and encouraged to join in with their own individual whiteboards as we attempted to answer The Big Question: How was Rome similar to a modern city? Using our explicit direct instruction format and our engagement norms, the students and prefects were asked to “Pair Share” their answers verbally before responding on their whiteboards individually. They then had to “Chin It” to show their understanding and receive immediate feedback. It was great for 3G students to see two of our Senior School students engage in our content knowledge unit the way they did, and all students enjoyed helping each other formulate their full sentence written responses having rehearsed them orally.
Todd Brown
Fostering Creativity
At Christian College, we really understand and nurture the importance of creativity. Embracing the importance and benefits helps develop critical thinking. This is very important in a world that is changing at an unprecedented rate. At a glance, we have explored many different mediums to create some marvelous art works, but coinciding with that, students were engaged in a creative process and developing their abstract thinking. These are much-needed skills and a part of a student’s repertoire needed for future life in society.
What is Creativity?
Creativity usually starts with the littlest idea and then in the right environment is allowed to flourish. Thus, creativity is a far-ranging and diverse subject. At first glance we may assume that creativity is a particular skill such as drawing and painting, however there are many more subtle layers to its meaning.
It is creativity that fuels an innovative mind and leads to innovation which brings new ways to solve all kinds of problems.
So next time you see a young person’s creativity at work, or the product of their creative self-expression, take a moment to consider the possibilities of the future as it may be this person who brings about the greatest innovation. Hope you enjoy a snapshot of some of our creatives at work!
Jennifer Beck-Carlson
Lost Property
As we head into our final weeks of school for the term, I strongly encourage you to check the lost property table in Reception. It is filled with unnamed jumpers, sports uniforms, drink bottles, and some hats.
Sophie Olden
CCG Equestrian Team
Congratulations to all members of the CCG Equestrian team who competed at the Interschools Geelong Grammar School Dressage and Show Jumping VEIS round for 2023. Show jumping riders included Molly Spry, Sian Hayes, Leonora Turner and Liberty Armitage while Zoe Sambucco competed in the Dressage. Well done to Liberty and Nora who were placed second and fourth respectively in the Intermediate Class, with Liberty finishing fourth overall. Thank you to all competitors, parents and staff for your participation and support!
Allie Jacobi
The STEM Education and Industry Conference
Recently hosted by Wyndham Tech High School, the aim of the conference was to bring educators, businesses and community partners together to hear about future trends in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). We had the chance to listen to teachers present case studies on how they are embedding STEM initiatives at their schools, hear from students, and interact with an industry panel as they discuss business challenges and career opportunities.
The day was packed full of inspirational people doing great things in our community. The keynote speaker, Steve Sammartino, had many personal stories and experiences to share about how technology is shaping society and the economy. He is one example of a futurist who is challenging traditional norms in exciting ways. You can read more about Steve and some of the innovative projects he is working on by visiting https://stevesammartino.com/
The industry panel emphasised the current need for employees to be proficient in design thinking and encouraged educators to embed design thinking as much as they can within their school programs. Teachers were asked to help clear the misconception that students must excel in mathematics to be successful in STEM. It was communicated that having the skill of adaptability is advantageous. In fact, it is a skill that many employers are currently seeking given the constantly changing nature of the modern workplace. The emphasis on having students develop their capabilities, especially resilience and collaboration, in readiness for future employment, featured strongly by the industry panel.
Our Art, Technology and Design programs provide repeated opportunities for students to develop their learning, allowing them to become comfortable with ambiguity and using problem-solving as a key process.
Artistic endeavours often involve experimentation, revision, and overcoming obstacles. Students learn to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, develop resilience, and persevere through challenges. These skills are transferable to other areas of life and can contribute to long-term success.
Many artistic endeavours require collaboration and teamwork, fostering effective communication skills, cooperation, and mutual respect among students. Through group projects and performances, students learn to work together, share ideas, and appreciate diverse perspectives, essential skills for success in the professional world.
On reflection, it is exciting to be reassured that the design thinking and other skills encouraged, learned and developed in our Art, Technology and Design programs are adaptable, transferable and aligned with what employers are seeking.
Sally Gray, Director of Teaching and Learning – Art, Technology and Design
Foundation Golf Day 2023
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.
Save the date: Thursday November 9.
We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
It’s easy to rush through a cup of tea or coffee and forget to stop and appreciate the moment.
Take time out now to simply appreciate being able to breathe in fresh air. Take a long slow breath and feel it rejuvenate every cell.
Make that your intention and watch your body smile from the inside 👍❤️
Discover more about MYTERN here
