From the Head of Campus
Thank-you
On behalf of all our staff at Junior School, I wish to express our heartfelt thanks to you all for a wonderful term. It has been a privilege and such a pleasure to be able to regain some of our normalcy with learning and special events over Term 3 and we most sincerely look forward to this continuing over the remainder of the year.
During this past week, we have been able to share Year 1 and Year 3 camps with students and these are such an important part of building relationships for our community as staff and students. Camps provide a rich and unique opportunity for students and staff to connect in ways not often presented in the dailyness of school life. Students are encouraged to reach beyond and be challenged in ways different to those at school and through these different experiences grow in self-confidence and resilience. We trust that your children can share their special camp adventures with you.
Looking toward Term 4, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr Nick Rice a fabulous Term of Long Service Leave. Nick will be taking leave for the entirety of Term 4 and we are very blessed to have Mrs Liza Lambert stepping into the Health and Physical Education role for Mr Rice’s HPE classes. Nick and his family will be travelling around the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and we wish them travelling mercies and rich blessings as they undertake this much anticipated adventure.
I pray that your term break is filled with good health and many opportunities for time with family and we look forward to seeing you all back at Junior School on the Tuesday 4th October for all the excitement of Term 4.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
What’s on at Junior School
TERM 4
Week 1: Monday 3rd October
Tuesday 4th October – Students return
Wednesday 5th October – Year 4 Future Stars basketball final, Werribee, selected Year 4 students (Please refer to notification from the CCG Sports Department)
Friday 7th October – Year 1 Swimming Commences (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Week 2: Monday 10th October
Monday 10th October – Year 4 Transition 1: Year 5 Staff visit Year 4 Students (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Monday 10th October – Year 4 Parents Meet and Greet Year 5 Staff, Chapel, 8.30am
Tuesday 11th October – Junior School Show Day (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Thursday 13th October – Annual Music Evening
Thursday 13th October – Bush Prep B, G, M, R (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Friday 14th October – Geelong Show, Student Free Day
Week 3: Monday 17th October
Monday 17th October – Year 4 Transition Student visit Middle School, 9:30-10:30am (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Tuesday 18th October –Prep 2023 Welcome Transition BBQ, 5:30pm
Wednesday 19th October – Year 4 Camp
Thursday 20th October – Year 4 Camp
Friday 21st October – Year 4 Camp Returns
Friday 21st October – Assembly (Project Care)
What Does Learning Look Like Outdoors?
At Christian College we have an abundance of wonderful learning opportunities for the children. We strive to give the children every opportunity to succeed. Even more so, the learning at Christian College goes outside the classroom!
Our wonderful outdoor education program starts from Prep where the children have Bush and Beach Prep experiences as well as a day camp. This builds into longer camp experiences as the years progress as well as further opportunities once the children hit Middle School.
I love having the chance to be involved in different outdoor experiences such as Bush Prep and Year One Camp. Both of these great outdoor experiences present a range of learning opportunities for the children. When outdoors on these adventures the children are building resilience, developing cooperation and teamwork, using their imagination and creativity, and observing the environment around them.
You see children shine in a different way when outdoors. Like someone who faces their fear and goes on the flying fox, others encouraging them and cheering them on, every step of the way. Or when a child fails when trying to build a shelter out of sticks and others come along to collaborate and succeed as a team.
Research suggests that participating in these types of activities assists in developing a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative.
Seeing the progress and confidence as the children progress from their Prep adventures into Year 1 and then on to Year 2. There is a culmination in skills, development, and willingness to take risks, try new things and grow together.
As teachers it helps us to see every child in a different light. For some children being outdoors is their forte, others need encouragement. For me it is truly exciting and a blessing to see each child grow and learn in this way. How fabulous it is to see where they go next!
Julie Shutie, Prep – Year 2 Coordinator
Our Year 1 Campers!
On Monday, our Year 1 children set off for their first school camp with great excitement. Although the weather was cold, the sun shone through as the students participated in a range of activities including a low ropes course, the flying fox, trampolining, a scavenger hunt, and we were even able to have a round of mini golf. The students approached the different activities with a great growth mindset, and they showed perseverance and resilience as they encouraged each other.
During the two days at Camp Burnside, the children were able to build connections and friendships as they chatted, laughed, shared meals together, and supported one another.
Upon returning to school, the students were encouraged to write about their special adventure and here are some reflections about their favourite parts of our camp:
- One of the activities was the flying fox. It was so long but instead of springs it had tyres at the end. I felt like I was in a car with no roof!
- My favourite part of the camp was the low ropes course because there was a rope that you had to hold onto and then swing onto a platform. I loved school camp so much!
- I enjoyed playing mini golf because I hadn’t played golf for a long time, and I scored a hole in one!
- In our cabin, I fell asleep second last and one of my friends fell asleep first. I was so proud of myself for sleeping the whole night at my first school camp.
- My favourite activity was the low ropes course because we got to climb on different obstacles, and we also got to help other people.
- My favourite meal was breakfast because I had three pieces of toast and two pieces of Weet Bix. I also liked the chocolate mousse at dinner, but it tasted a bit like coffee!
- My favourite part of our camp was seeing a kangaroo hop past us near the sand centre and trampolines. I had a terrific time at camp!
The children are to be congratulated for their positive attitudes, their wonderful efforts, and their willingness to ‘have a go’.
Violet Novacevski
Year 3’s Amazing Camp Experience
Our Year 3 students have finished the term on a high note with our Camp to Lake Dewar Lodge. This camp experience has given the students an amazing opportunity to develop, strengthen and explore new friendships, whilst working together to solve problems, celebrate individual talents and encourage each other through new challenges.
Lake Dewar YMCA Camp offered our students a range of activities such as archery, an Amazing Race, canoeing, campfire cooking, adventure tunnelling, geocaching, flying fox and kick biking. It was wonderful to see our Year 3 cohort embrace many of these learning experiences and for some students, giving them the confidence to really stretch themselves outside of their comfort zone.
Once the daily activities were complete it was lovely to come together to enjoy a Movie and Trivia night.
Camping at Lake Dewar was a fantastic experience for all involved.
Christine Adam
Art
Recently our students created oil pastel paintings and drawings which featured their favourite and unique plushies (Beanie Boo’s). Some students had their work selected for an exhibition and were given a prize for their outstanding efforts. Congratulations to Eleana Sun, Jesse Grills, Sophie Carpus, Sophie Keleman and Emmi Sekine. There were several other prizes handed out and congratulations to all that participated and entered their work for selection.
Jen Beck-Carlson
What we Have Loved in Library This Term!
As we head into the Term 3 holidays, I thought you might enjoy an update on the most borrowed books from our Library this term.
Wild Life by Laura and Philip Bunting is the most borrowed book. We have three copies in the Junior School Library, and they are extremely popular. This is followed very closely by a new series, Sadie by Lana Spasevski, A Sprinkle of Sadie and A Spoonful of Sadie. Our 3rd most borrowed book this Term is Anh Do’s Werido No 18 – Weird History. Pokemon Adventures came in as the 4th most borrowed. Last but certainly not least, Anh Do’s Ninja Kid 9 – Ninja Fish!
It is wonderful to see the Library so well-loved. I hope everyone enjoys their break and our Junior School families can find some time to enjoy reading together.
Deanne Elliss
Year 4 Scratch ‘Games Expo’
Year 4 students have been building on their digital programming and coding skills this term in Digital Technologies, using MIT’s Blockly coding program ‘Scratch’ to create a ‘racing car game’ over the duration of the term. Students were tasked with selecting appropriate ‘sprites’ or characters as player icons, to create a digital two player game, where the sprites could be moved around a race track using gaming conditions.
Students have worked diligently each week, creating code to independently move each player in every direction possible to race around their tracks. They have embedded sound into their codes for character interactions and incorporated background and costume changes, to allow for the full gaming experience of their target audiences.
Codes have been checked. Backgrounds have been upgraded. Sounds have been recorded. Glitches and bugs have been ‘debugged’ to allow for smoother operations and, this week, our Gaming Expo has arrived.
Prep DigiTech classes were joined by the Year 4 buddies, who came to share their learning experience, and showcase their games, with the Prep students.
Here are some of the comments from students after the session.
Angus PG ‘It’s fun and super interesting. I like that it’s challenging too’.
Scarlett PG ‘The games are good. The year 4s did a good job’.
Molly PG ‘I liked the games because the year 4s taught me how to play them’.
Keming 4B ‘It’s been really fun, and I really enjoyed this activity’.
George 4B ‘I like it because it’s been really interactive, and it’s been fun sharing it with the Preps’.
Ava 4R ‘I’ve enjoyed learning how to create the game, it was tricky at the start, but I think my favourite part was sharing it’.
Well done to all the students involved from both year levels. The Year 4s interacted beautifully with their younger peers and embraced sharing their creations, while the Preps enjoyed the engaging session immensely.
Emma Anderson
Spring into Strings – Junior String Players Perform!!
Last Thursday saw the return of our annual celebration of String playing in our Junior Campuses with 'Spring into Strings'. The Junior String ensembles from Bellarine, Surf Coast and Junior School Belmont campuses gathered together at the RW Gibson Music Performance Centre to perform for each other and their families. We were also graced with enchanting performances from the Yr. 4 String Quartet from Belmont, as well as the Ceilidh Band from Bellarine, before all students combined to form a massed String Ensemble which then presented two pieces for their captive audience.
There were many excited and nervous young musicians at the start of the night, but it was amazing to see these young musicians focus and perform with such aplomb-well done to all!
Thanks to our accompanists Tammy Treloar and Stephanie Lawrence for your support.
Martin DeMarte on behalf of the String Team -Trish Timmins and Jeanette Carnie.
For Families Relocating or Withdrawing Students
A reminder that if your family is relocating and/or you are planning to withdraw your child from Christian College, a full term’s notice, in writing, is required. Please contact your student’s Campus.
Jonathan Ryan, Operations Manager
Uniform Shop Hours Over the Holidays
The Uniform Shop in Centreway Arcade, Belmont will be closed from Monday 19th September and reopening 26th September 2022.
Opening hours in the second week of holidays are from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday 26/09/2022 through to Friday 30/09/2022
The Uniform Shop resumes normal trading hours from Monday 3rd October 2022.
Canteen not Open on Last day of Term
Please note that on the last day of Term 4, Friday December 9, the canteen will not be open.
Thank you to all volunteers for your fantastic help during the course of this term, and throughout 2022.
Recycling Uniform Items
As part of the transition to our new College wardrobe it was important that we consider the environmental impact of clothing items no longer required. Whilst it is still possible for students to wear items from the traditional uniform, when items are no longer able to be worn, they can be recycled.
Any such items can be dropped off and placed in recycling bins at each campus. We are working with our wardrobe manufacturer to ensure that these can be recycled as part of the introduction of our new wardrobe over the next 18 months.
Scholarship Applications for 2024 Entry now Open!
Each year we offer Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5 (Middle School-Highton, Bellarine and Surf Coast campuses); Year 7 (Middle School-Highton and Bellarine); and Year 10 (Senior School-Waurn Ponds).
These scholarships have been designed primarily to encourage and support new and current students who wish to attend Christian College and who demonstrate high levels of academic excellence.
We are now seeking scholarship applications for entry at any of those year levels in 2024.
For more information, and to apply, please see our website. Use the hotlink from our homepage or click here
Applications close on Thursday September 29. The examination date is Saturday October 8.
Golf Tournament
The Foundation Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 27 October 2022. Join us at 13th Beach Golf Links from 8:00am for a shotgun start. Tickets are $190 each ($150 for members) or $750 for a group of four. RSVPs close on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 5:00pm.
Funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting current students who are in need of financial assistance.
Book online at: The Foundation Golf Tournament
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet and may never happen, reach for a PET (Personal Emotional Tool e.g. breathing, exercise, immersion in nature, music). The best way you can influence your future is by taking control of this moment. That's why they call the present a gift 🎁👍😊
Discover more about Mytern here
