Junior School Term 3 Week 8

Private Screening of ‘Inside Out 2’

As mentioned by Kim Doherty – Director of Wellbeing in last week’s Vine and on Class Dojo earlier this week, as part of a host of activities and events across campuses during the week of R U OK? Day in Week 9, Christian College is inviting families to attend a private screening of “Inside Out 2”.

This film helps us all to understand how our emotions shape our thoughts, feelings and behaviours and our overall wellbeing. It is okay to feel all of the feels!

The film is rated PG and tickets are $12 per person (plus booking and processing fee). Use the link here to find out more, and for more details and to book!

It would be fantastic to see as many of you there as possible, it is set to be a wonderful afternoon.

Professional Growth Program

The Professional Growth Program invites teachers to embark on a journey of exploration and improvement. Teachers engage in a process of researching educational theories, developing practical applications, and implementing innovative strategies within their classrooms. 

Educators select a focus area related to their teaching practice, such as direct instruction, classroom management, or technology integration. They then research the area to gain a deeper understanding of their chosen topic.

Based on their research, teachers develop and refine new teaching strategies or tools tailored to their specific needs and classroom environment. They then implement these innovations in their teaching practice, documenting and discussing their experiences and outcomes.

This week we came together to reflect and share on our Professional Growth Program journey. We focused on key questions looking at the benefits of the program, staff learnings and what had the most impact.

The program encourages teachers to collaborate with peers, exchange ideas, and build a network of supportive colleagues. Which is highlighted by staff as one of the most valuable aspects.

By delving into research and applying new strategies, teachers will gain advanced skills and a deeper understanding of effective teaching practices.

Our Professional Growth Program contributes to individual professional growth and also fosters a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within our educational community.

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.

Term 3

Week 9

Monday 9 September – Geelong Mums Visit, 10am

Tuesday 10 September – Year 10 Drama Performance Period 1/2 – Prep, Year 2, 4R 

Tuesday 10 September – Lunchtime Concerts, 1:10pm 

Wednesday 11 September – Year 5 Students to visit Year 1 Classes

Thursday 12 September – RUOK? Day

Thursday 12 September – Year 1 Camp

Friday 13 September – Year 1 Camp

Times Tables Rock Stars

Last week CCG Junior School students from Years 3 and 4 took part in a competition on Times Table Rock Stars digital platform called ‘Melbourne Rocks’. Times Tables Rock Stars is an award-winning maths learning platform where children can practise their times tables like a rock star! It is used in class and at home and students have been finding it a highly motivating way to practise their multiplication and division skills. It complements our in-class Ninja Maths program and a fact fluency ball and card games, but the excitement around TTRS ‘Melbourne Rocks’ was evident across both year levels. Some of the comments from Year 3 parents regarding the competition demonstrates this perfectly.

Vivacious Vocabulary

In Year 3 we have been reading the classic story, ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ by Margery Williams. This timeless novel is turning 102 this year, which means that we are reading 102-year-old vocabulary!

Learning tier 2 vocabulary words (academic vocabulary) is required if we want students to read and understand more complex texts and topics. The novel ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ allows us to explore language that isn’t used as regularly anymore and offers an opportunity for students to include this language in their own writing and responses.

Some of the words that we have enjoyed reading and writing are splendid, superior, thicket, bygone, by-and-by, longed, scarcely, clasped and declared. The students have been encouraged to use these words in their writing and in their responses as we progress through the literature study.

As we approach the end of the term, the students will plan, draft and publish their own narrative that will parallel The Velveteen Rabbit. Their stories will be from the perspective of the ‘wise, old, skin horse’.

We look forward to creating these and sharing the end results with families in the coming term.

Fitness Wednesday and Cross Country

Year Level Places

Prep Girls                                                                                         Prep Boys

1st  – Delilah Prusac – Burrows                 1st – Tom Hollingsworth – Burrows  

2nd – Kennedy Sheahan – Taylor                2nd – Edison Yu – Flynn 

3rd – Ava Drummy – Flynn                               3rd– Johnny-Jones Medved – Taylor 

Year 1 Girls                                                                                      Year 1 Boys

1st – Emily Murnane – Burrows                1st– Thomas Rossiter – Burrows   

2nd – Olivia Galbraith – Flynn                    2nd – Ryan Azzopardi – Penman  

3rd – Anna Tang – Flynn                                     3rd – Brooklyn Geard – Penman 

Fostering Meaningful Connections

As we approach R U OK? Day next week, our College is preparing to acknowledge this important national mental health initiative with a variety of opportunities to foster meaningful connection and support the wellbeing of all community members. R U OK? Day is a reminder that every one of us can make a difference by checking in on those around us, asking "Are you okay?" and offering support when needed.

This year, we are particularly focused on the unique challenges adolescents face and the vital role parents and carers play in supporting their wellbeing and with that in mind, I warmly invite our parents and carers of young people in Years 5-10 to our ‘Supporting Adolescent Wellbeing’ online parent webinar. Our presentation will include two presentations from key experts in their field. Dr James Burl from Blurred Minds will offer valuable insights in his presentation titled ‘Vaping Decoded – Empowering Parents in the vaping conversation’. With over five years’ experience in delivering alcohol, vaping and drug education to schools, James will share information to empower parents to have more relevant conversations with their teen around vaping, given parents are one of the most important protective factors when it comes to preventing teenage vaping. Jaimee Dunlop, Senior Mental Health Professional at Bellarine Community Health/ Headspace will also join us to share valuable advice on how to recognise early signs of psychological distress in young people and how to initiate a conversation around mental health. We will also hear from our College Director of Digital Learning about exciting updates to our parent tools and features to support adolescent digital wellbeing and positive digital engagement.

Geelong Summer Music Camp Jan 5 –10

A Day Camp for Music Students aged 10 – 21 years

Christian College Geelong is proud to once again be hosting the Geelong Summer Music Camp at the Senior Campus in January 2025. The GSMC committee are excited to have registrations now open for the January 2025 Camp, with early bird discounts available until October 11.

If you have a budding band, choir or strings musician in your house, or are involved in a school or community music program, please encourage students aged 10 – 21 years to consider attending.

Please help us to promote the camp,  which is run by a volunteer committee who are passionate about providing a wonderful experience for student musicians from the Geelong community and beyond – it’s a Geelong institution with this next camp being the 44th!

Seeking Canteen Assistants

Are you looking for a fun and fulfilling casual job within a vibrant school environment? Join our team as a School Canteen Assistant and make a positive impact on the daily lives of our students.

We are currently in search of enthusiastic canteen assistants to join our team working across Middle School, Junior School and Senior School canteens.

Applicants are required to hold a valid Working With Children Check. Previous experience working in a canteen setting or Level 1 Food Safety Certificate would be advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities will encompass a range of tasks, including food preparation, customer service, cleaning, and stock control.

Shifts are available throughout Monday to Friday, aligned with the school calendar which constitutes 38 weeks per year. Hours are generally 9-2pm

To be considered for this, please refer to the Position Description on our website and send a resume to recruitment@ccg.vic.edu.au

Scholarship Applications Now Open!

Scholarship applications for Year 5, 7 and 10 entry to Christian College in 2026 are now open. You can access all the information you need, and apply, by visiting our website. There is a hotlink at the top of our homepage that takes you there, or just click here.

The scholarship testing date is Saturday October 12 and all applications must be received no later than close of business on Thursday October 3.

Seeking Support for Work Placements

Students studying the VCE Vocational Major (VM) are timetabled to work with an employer related to their VET course all day on Fridays. This is called Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). There are some prefilled forms to sign and there is a minimal cost of $5.00 a day to the employer. We are seeking workplace opportunities in the Plumbing, Building and Electrical trades. If you or someone you know are willing to help these students, to get a start in their chosen careers please contact myself k.fearnsides@ccg.vic.edu.au or Mary Higgins m.higgins@ccg.vic.edu.au  at Senior Campus. Thank you in anticipation of some support.

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!