From the Head of Campus
Being the best version of yourself
Over the past couple of weeks, I have had a few occasions to encourage students to be the best version of themselves. As this is our first year together fully on site for the past three years, children are being challenged in their behaviour to think beyond their own needs and perspectives to how they can put others first. This can sometimes be very challenging for students from a normal developmental perspective however my observations of our year are that this has been made so much more challenging for our children because of the pandemic. My conversations with the children have been for them to think about who they are and therefore how do they know when they are being the best version of themselves?
When we think about who we are we can answer it by knowing that we are a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a niece or nephew but when we think about our identity where does this come from? Why do we think, act, feel and behave the way we do? And who is responsible for this?
A challenge faced by many people in thinking about the question “Who am I?” is the danger of measuring or comparing themselves to others. We can forget that we have deliberately been created as different and unique. We might even struggle with accepting ourselves as originals and want to change things about ourselves to be more of a copy of someone else. In a paper titled ‘God Only Creates Originals’ Debbie Rodgers writes that one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century was carbon copying (slide). She states that the photocopier enabled us tremendous efficiency by allowing us to reproduce material again and again. However, the copies, as everyone knows, were never quite as good as the original. As a matter of fact, the further away we got from the original, the lesser the quality.
Lucky for us God only created an original you. Sometimes friends, media, or popular culture offer options about being ourselves that can be hurtful and make it difficult to accept our own uniqueness, but my encouragement is to search for who God has made you to be and strive to be the best version of yourself. In fact, whenever we strive to live someone else’s life, we can become stressed out by the difficulty and weight of a burden God never intended us to bear. If we stop and reflect, we might see that we are spending too much of our life at the copy machine trying to become a duplicate of someone else.
In Ephesians 2:10 ESV it says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. This Scripture tells us we were created for good works and it is our responsibility to go out each day and be the best version of ourselves.”
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Junior School
What’s on at Junior School
Week 6: Monday August 15th
Monday 15th August – Science Week at Junior School
Thursday 18th August – Bush Prep, Prep B, G, M & R
Friday 19th August – Project Care Day – The Royal Children’s Hospital (Gold Coin donation), wear an item of white (Please refer to Edsmart notification)
Week 7: Monday August 22nd
Monday 22nd August – Book Week ‘Dreaming with Eyes Open’ (Edsmart notification to follow)
Tuesday 23rd August – Annual Book Week Parade
Thursday 25th August – Prep Excursion to MOPA (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Thursday 25th August – Year 2 Excursion to Science Works (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Thursday 25th August – Deakin District Athletics – Selected Year 4 Students (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Friday 26th August – Assembly, 1G Class Item
Week 8: Monday August 29th
Thursday 1st September – Bush Prep, Prep B, G, M & R
Friday 2nd September – Father’s Day Stall (Edsmart notification to follow)
Friday 2nd September – Footy Colours Day Project Care Casual Dress (Edsmart notification to follow)
Reserve Your Place!
Wellbeing Evening and Cyber Safe Schools Program Launch
We enjoyed a fantastic night with the parents, families, students and staff attending the first Digital Wellbeing Evening held at our Senior School Campus last night, Thursday 1st September. If you have not yet taken the opportunity to reserve your place at the second and final of our two nights, please save the date and reserve your place now! We would love to see you there. We encourage you to take a few minutes to view the video below to find out more about this important event. The evening will be presented at our Bellarine Campus next Thursday 8th September starting at 7pm. We expect to run for about 45 minutes, finishing with time for questions and a cuppa together.
We ask all Parents and Families to share their attending intentions with us via our online RSVP Response Form. Please access the form by clicking the image or link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/QwN6TXBE41
Brendan Vanderkley
100 Days of School
The Prep children were excited to be able to celebrate 100 Days of School on Thursday 11th August. The children came to school as 100 year-olds bringing along with them 100 items. We spent the day discussing what we would do with $100, writing about what we would do when we are 100 years old, counting our 100 items by 2s, 5s and 10s, enjoying a shared lunch and having a disco to finish out the day!
The joy and happiness was evident amongst all the children as they shared in the activities of the day. It was wonderful to be able to have this time together to be able to celebrate the initial journey into formal schooling.
Some thoughts from the children around what they would do when they’re 100?
When I’m 100 I will be resting – Leon
I would have to go to the hospital sometimes – Helios
I would be able to go to Melbourne and someone will drive me because I’m really old and can’t walk – Darko
I will go to a dance party where only old people are allowed – Miller
When I’m 100 I won’t be able to do anything because I will be so old – Buster
When I’m 100 I will be able to cook pizza – Willow
I will be able to sit down in a rocking chair and not do anything – Angus
I will be able to do very good cooking like strawberry muffins – Molly
A big thank you to the parents who have not only assisted their children in dressing up ready to celebrate the day, but for the ongoing support in the learning journey of the children. The relationship between home and school is crucial to building a wonderful school experience and we appreciate all that you do as families to assist us.
Looking forward to a wonderful rest of the Prep year!
Julie Shutie
Year 1 Excursion to Aldi
This week the Year 1 students were delighted to head to Aldi to practise their money skills. We have been learning about the Australian coins and notes in Numeracy this term and learning how to add money to find out how much is required to make a simple transaction.
Each child was allowed to bring along five dollars to spend at the Waurn Ponds Aldi store and complete a worksheet. They were required to find various items which cost more than and less than five dollars and then choose an item to purchase.
Over the course of the term the children have learnt that there is one hundred cents in a dollar, each coin and note has special pictures representing our country, and that we can add money easily if we can skip count by twos, fives and tens. Thank you to the parent helpers who assisted us during this activity. We were so grateful to have you come along.
Lisa Johnson
Fun and Games in Year 2
Through this semester’s Integrated Studies Geography unit, the Year 2s have been learning that people have personal and local connections to places. We began the term by discussing and looking at the connections we all had to different places within our country. These varied greatly, but also had us wondering where these places actually are in our great nation. As a result of the Year 2 children’s wonderings, we are now able to name the six states and two territories within Australia and the capital cities of each state and territory.
Our integrated and cross curriculum activities from our Integrated Studies unit have included Writing, Maths and Masterclass. In Maths we have collected data from our classmates about their favourite activity when they are at particular places. This data has been collated and represented in a graph. In Writing we have used our persuasive writing skills to convince others to visit a favourite place and in Masterclass we are working in small groups to create our own special place. We began creating our places this week during Masterclass and discovered that more time was needed for these wonderful places to be finished and they will be completed and presented to our peers in Week 6.
The learning never stops in Year 2 and neither does the fun!
Samantha Callan
Getting Creative in Christian Education
Christian Education in Year 3 is an exciting time for learning each week. This term we have been exploring prominent figures in the Old Testament and how lessons from their lives and experiences can help us to be closer to God. Our lessons have included Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, and Joseph. The remainder of the term will see us investigate Moses, David, and Josiah.
We have enjoyed showing our learning in creative ways and making links to other learning areas. During our research about Noah, we were also expanding our understanding of how we measure length using formal units of measurement. When we were reading scripture, we discovered that God gave Noah some very clear instructions about how to make the Ark, including length, width, and height. Armed with this information we headed out to the oval so we could get a clear idea of how big the Ark was.
We discovered that our oval length is smaller than the length of the Ark! With this picture in our heads, we used our creative and collaborative skills to sketch, design and create a miniature version in a small group. We needed to use our understanding of measurement, shape nets, animal relationships and needs and ways to organise the inside of the Ark to support animals and Noah’s family. This was an excellent rich task where students could showcase their creativity and knowledge from a range of learning areas, and it was very enjoyable with all students actively engaged in the process.
Anna Daley
What We’re Loving in Library
Excitement is building for our Book Week celebration. Over the last few weeks, we have been sharing more of the shortlisted books. In the Picture Book category, we have been reading Blue Flower and Just One Bee. These books have touched on wonderful themes of both environmental issues and perseverance.
In the Early Childhood category, we have enjoyed “When the Waterhole Dries Up” and “What do you call your Grandma?” The students were excited to share the special name they call their Grandma and also pick up on the visual literacy clues throughout the other book.
There has been much excited discussion about what we are planning to wear on Tuesday 23rd of August for the dress up parade. Students are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. We will parade around the basketball courts from 10.45 until recess, accompanied by Mr Smith’s fabulous music.
We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate reading and books with your children.
Deanne Elliss
Japanese
The Prep students are learning about Japanese food that people eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are comparing the different foods and deciding if we think something is oishii or mazui. If we think something is oishii, we do a thumbs up or rub our tummy. If something is mazui, we might do a thumbs down or poke our tongue out. We have been watching some very interesting videos made by a young girl in Japan who shows what she eats for different meals and how to cook some simple Japanese meals.
In Japanese schools, most students eat the same meal all together in their classroom. The students are very involved in serving and cleaning up after the meal. We have had some interesting conversations about whether the Preps at JS would like to have this and there have been a wide range of opinions. Many students worried that they wouldn’t like what was offered and also that Mum and Dad might miss making their lunches every day. I assured them that, after 13 years of making school lunches myself, I think their parents would be quite happy for them to have a ready-made school lunch!
We will continue to explore this subject together and Shizue Sensei, our Japanese assistant is also bringing a variety of food and kitchen items from her own Japanese kitchen to share and talk about with the students.
Katya Chaney
12A Reach Project
Last week, Flossie Chua from Harvard University and Kieren Noonan from ISV made a visit to CCG to see our 12A Reach teachers in action.
For the last three years, selected staff have been piloting a program designed by Flossie with her colleague David Perkins. Over that time, the staff have implemented the 12A Reach cards which focus on being an explorer, investigator and innovator. The teaching staff from Prep to Year 12 have trialled the program and fed back to both Harvard and ISV, what works and what doesn’t work. From this feedback, the cards have been redesigned applying what the teachers have said.
On Friday, Flossie was able to see the cards being used in a variety of ways in Prep, Year 1, Year 9 and Year 12. There was learning about the caring for animals, to designing a new playground and from issues of the world to unpacking of a VCE study design. In each situation the students were encouraged to dig deep into their learning and through the art of conversation really think about possibilities.
Flossie was able to gather firsthand evidence through observation, interviews of students and staff and video recording that will be used to develop this project further. The 12A Reach teachers will be attending a session with Flossie, Kieren and the other pilot school in Melbourne to share their discoveries as well as network with the other teachers.
Angela Tutty
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.
Come and Sample our Menu!
Next Tuesday evening, Bellarine Campus is opening its doors to anyone interested in this Christian College campus as an option for their young person. This includes students who would enrol at either Junior or Middle levels. The subject selection information and expo evening is an excellent opportunity for families to take a deeper dive into the fantastic learning programs offered by our College. There will be opportunities to meet and speak with campus, year level and subject area leaders who can provide information about the diverse specialty areas of learning that are offered to students at all levels at Bellarine Campus.
We would encourage anyone within our College community who may know friends, neighbours, work colleagues – anyone – who might be considering Christian College Bellarine as an option to spread the word and extend an invitation to any one or more of these sessions.
Mrs Tutty Joins the Teaching Excellence Program
Christian College’s Director of Teaching and Learning – Humanities, Mrs Angela Tutty, is one of 250 teachers statewide to be selected to participate in the elite Teaching Excellence Program (TEP).
This program, created by State Education Minister, James Merlino, is designed to immerse the participants in professional development by having a range of educational experts share their knowledge through varying presentation models. Whether face to face or webinars, they are all interactive presentations.
Mrs Tutty said the presentations empowered her to think about her own teaching practice and hearing from other TEP teachers, has enriched the program for her.
“Always the students and their learning need to come first and I have a really enjoyed being able to implement my new learning in the classroom for more effective learning for the students,” she said.
“The important thing about learning new things is that you need to be motivated to make change. It is vital that I model to my students what a lifelong learner looks like as that is what I want to encourage them to be. Learning is a journey that we never get to the end of.”
Over the year the TEP participants are expected to engage and contribute to:
- 4 conferences
- 16 hours of masterclasses
- 12 hours of Teacher Excellence Learning Communities (TELC) within your teaching discipline
- 17 responsive electives (optional)
- A variety of activities to record and develop the learning
They also complete one individual and one collaborative practitioner inquiry.
“I feel very humbled and honoured to be part of this inaugural year of the program. I look for every opportunity when working with staff at varying levels in the school, to share my new learning,” Mrs Tutty said.
“After our TEP sessions I am able to take back to school, different evidence-based approaches to teaching to improve our student outcomes.”
We congratulate Mrs Tutty on her selection into the TEP and are excited about the benefits it will bring to our teaching and learning programs throughout the College.
East Timor Trivia Night
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
Although anger, resentment, jealousy, shame and the feeling of inadequacy can eat you up, they can also be a wise teacher. Without judgement, try to recognise the discomfort early. Stop and breathe. Only when you have regained control can you transform it into an opportunity....to build your resilience 😊
Discover more about MYTERN here
