From the Head of Campus
Wow what a week!
The fabulous gifts and talents of our Junior School students never cease to amaze me, and this week has been no exception. Throughout the course of the week students have had opportunities to shine in events such as the Year 4 bike ride, Whole School Cross Country, Spring into Springs evening, RUOK Day activities, Year 4 led assembly and the presentation of Art Design awards.
The amazing teamwork of our Year 4 cohort led to an outstanding assembly and as adults, we can take heart that our world is in excellent hands. During the assembly this wonderful team of students brought their unique gifts together to sing, present, deliver drama through role plays, dance and pray.
Being a Junior School Campus, sometimes it can be possible for people to perhaps underestimate the capacity of our students. Yet, our students, from Prep through to Year 4, present each day with an amazing array of gifts and talents – perceptiveness, ideas and suggestions, creativity, openness, honesty, increasing independence, a strong desire to help; all this along with boundless energy and a great sense of fun.
Our Junior School students, as young as they are, not only have so much potential, but they already have real capability. It was a delight today to celebrate student learning through our awards, to have the Year 4 students lead the community singing in their message about ‘Being Brave’, to celebrate sporting talents and to witness the heart of the Year 4s as they encouraged us to be brave in making good choices based on our example of Jesus.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all students for, not only their contribution to today’s assembly, but for their great contribution to our community life at Junior School throughout the year. Watching students discover their passions and their unique gifts and talents is truly a joy!
A prayer in the words of Mother Theresa:
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received
And pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let his presence settle into your bones
And allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
What’s on at Junior School
Week 10:
Monday 12th September – Year 1 Camp (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Monday 12th September – Health Heroes Prep Visit (Refer to EdSmart notification).
Tuesday 13th September – Year 5 Students from Middle School–Highton visit, Reading with Preps cv
Tuesday 13th September – Junior Choir Rehearsal CANCELLED
Wednesday 14th September – Year 3 Camp (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Thursday 15th September – Bush Prep, Prep B, G, M & R
Friday 16th September – Conclusion of Term 3; 2:30pm Dismissal
TERM 4
Week 1:
Tuesday 4th October – Students return
Friday 7th October – Year 1 Swimming Commences (Please refer to EdSmart)
Week 2:
Monday 10th October – Year 4 Transition 1: Year 5 Staff visit Year 4 Students (Please refer to EdSmart)
Tuesday 11th October – Junior School Show Day (Please refer to EdSmart)
Thursday 13th October – Annual Music Evening
Thursday 13th October – Bush Prep B, G, M, R (Please refer to EdSmart)
Friday 14th October – Geelong Show, Student Free Day
The Fundamentals: Spelling
Prep is such an exciting year of new opportunities. We go to the bush each fortnight, we dress up as 100 year-olds, we explore through play and we learn about so many more sensational things. But there are still those fundamentals in learning that create exciting ‘light-bulb moments’ and are worth celebrating.
Every morning we conduct a Spelling Review which includes a focus on our word of the week, common word practice, punctuation, and dictation exploration – sounds exhilarating right?! Well … actually, the joy and enthusiasm on our students faces when they write new words and create sentences is contagious! When a 5 or 6-year-old can confidently articulate that a word has three digraphs and a graph, you know the learning is sinking in. In fact, it’s been a joy to have conversations with parents as they discuss that their child has explained to them what a graph, digraph or trigraph even is! These fundamental lessons are the building blocks of our literacy learning and it’s worth celebrating.
These building blocks of the English language in Prep will help our students better understand our complex language and set them up for great success. Spelling doesn’t have to be boring, in fact in Prep it’s great fun and a celebration.
Steve Horman
R U OK? We R OK in Year 2!
You are never too young to understand the importance our emotions can have on how we feel and behave. This week the Year 2 children have been exploring our emotions as part of R U OK? week. During this week people are encouraged to reach out to their friends and family and check in on them. A simple phone call or message can go a long way in helping someone with their wellbeing. So, reach out to your loved ones and ask them if they are OK, not just this week but every week!
Year 2 has discussed a number of different things you can do to ensure you’re looking after your own wellbeing. Here are some of our ideas:
- Speak to friends, teachers, and family if you aren’t feeling well
- Take at least half an hour out of your day to do something you enjoy
- Go for a walk or kick the footy to help clear your mind
- Have a big sleep and maybe a bath
During our reading groups we have created emoji faces to demonstrate and explain a particular emotion and during Masterclass we worked collaboratively to design posters with messages about the importance of wellbeing and how we can take care of ourselves.
The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone! Reach out to someone if you need support and in Year 2, we are all trying our best to look after each other.
Samantha Callan
‘Jason Mahoney’ Bike Ride
The Year 4 students completed the annual ‘Jason Mahoney’ Bike Ride around the Barwon River on Tuesday. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. Students had completed numerous sessions at school during the Bike Ed program and were able to put their bike skills into practice. The focus of the program was to develop confidence and awareness. Many students were able to achieve lots of success and demonstrate perseverance and resilience to complete the day long activity. We were able to reach Barwon Valley Park where students, teachers and parents enjoyed lunch and free play.
Three students were able to compete in the North Geelong Division Athletics Championships as well as complete most of the ride, Luke Hobbs, Amalia Keller and Amelie Thomson. Congratulations to Luke for progressing to the Western Region Regional Finals next term in High Jump.
The students were exceptional and cooperated well by supporting each other throughout the day. A big thank you to all the teachers and parents who contributed to the success of the day. A special thanks to Andy Richardson and Brad Morris for their transport and logistics for the day, Kate O’Halloran for a beautiful lunch enjoyed by everyone and our four wonderful parent helpers, Bernard, Michael, Sean and Beth. I would also like to thank the CCG staff for their continued support of the Bike Ed program. Thank you, Jessie Stapp, Julia Muhlenberg, Liza Lambert, Darcee Braun, Todd Brown, Octavia Rae, Jacko Holmes-Henley, Tash Cooper and Mark Foran.
Well done to everyone who was involved. I hope this provides students with the motivation and skills to continue enjoying riding
Nick Rice
HPE Day and Cross Country
On Wednesday 7th September, Junior School students commenced the day with a five-minute fitness workout on the front roundabout. It was part of celebrating National Health and PE Day recognising the importance of physical activity in our lives.
In the afternoon, our students participated in a Cross Country run around Junior School grounds. It is amazing to think almost 500km were covered by students throughout the day!
Prep to Year 2 students completed a 1km loop around the grounds. The Year 3 and 4 students ran with lots of enthusiasm completing a 2km course. It was pleasing to see the efforts students put into the running the course, with lots of perseverance to reach the finish line.
A huge thank you to all the teaching staff for your support and help throughout the afternoon. A big thanks to Mrs Nicole Riddle and the Year 9 Leaders for their help guiding the students around the course and the basketball court activities. A special thank you to Matt Murnane from our Sports Department for preparing and collating all the results.
It was great to see so many parents come along and support the children on the day. The winning House was announced at Junior School Assembly this morning…congratulations Taylor House!
Congratulations to our Year 3 and 4 medal recipients below.
For the first time, trophies were awarded to the quickest boy and girl runners. Congratulations Pieper Riddle and Mitch Ward on winning these awards this year.
Year 1 – 4 – Cross Country Results
Year 3 Girls Year 3 Boys
1st Pieper Riddle – Flynn 1st Mitch Ward – Taylor
2nd Michaela Desai – Taylor 2nd Jude Ellis – Taylor
3rd Isabelle Hughes – Taylor 3rd Jake Owen – Flynn
Year 4 Girls Year 4 Boys
1st Olivia Zampatti – Taylor 1st Luke Hobbs – Taylor
2nd Edie Cooper – Taylor 2nd Jordan Najdovski – Penman
3rd Amalia Keller – Burrows 3rd Ethan Cahill – Taylor
3rd Will Duggan – Penman
Nick Rice
Lost Property
As Term 3 concludes we have placed all of the lost property items on a table in the Junior School foyer. We encourage families to visit the table and collect any belongings. All clearly named items will be returned to classrooms today.
Thank you.
Sophie Olden
End of Term Canteen Arrangements
The Canteen will open as usual at Middle and Junior School campuses on the last day of term next Friday 16th September. At the Senior School Campus, it will only open at recess and no lunches will be available.
For all three campuses, the Canteen will open on the usual days again in the first week of Term 4 (students return on Tuesday 4th October).
A big thank you again to all volunteers who have supported the Canteen throughout Term 3 and allowed us to offer the services we do to all students and staff.
Heather Smith, Canteen 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