Junior School Term 4 Week 1

From the Head of Campus 

Dear Junior School parents and families, I hope this finds you safe and well. This term our College will be focusing on the concept of ‘Community’. We began this focus at our staff service on Monday and this was also the focus of our Commencement Service address for students when they returned on Tuesday.  
The environment of community that exists at Christian College Junior School is a unique and precious one that as staff, students and families we share. I have the privilege of sharing this sense of community through fresh eyes with those who are visiting or new to our school and in doing so I am constantly reminded that our community is something to be cherished. 

Community is about connection whether it is with family, friends or neighbours. Working together with purpose to create a network of positive relationships in our community can give us a greater feeling of belonging and wellbeing and can make us feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves.  

Student Office

We have had some internal building works done over the term break in regard to the reception area at Junior School. This means that we now have a new student office separate from the front administration office. Sophie will continue to manage all of the student-related matters including, but not limited to, sick bay and sick bay passes, lost lunches, lost property and forgotten swim bags.  Students will be able to access her via the internal corridor. For all other parent-related matters please continue to come into the foyer where Denise will be able to assist you. To this end we will now be closing the double internal doors in the foyer at approximately 9.00am each morning, which will assist students to use the internal student office. It will also help on very cold and windy days!!

Also, a friendly reminder that as parents should you need to either pick up your child during the day or drop something off for them, you must first report to the front administration office prior to entering the building. This ensures the safety and accountability for all adults onsite.

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.

Week 2  

Monday 14 October – Year 4 Transition Session 1: Parent Cuppa with Year 5 Staff- Refer to Edsmart.  

Wednesday 16 October – Annual Music Evening, Choir and Strings (Day Rehearsal) 6:30pm Evening performance.   

Wednesday 16 October – Prep Discovery Session  

Thursday 17 October – Annual Show Day and Art Festival  

Friday 18 October – Geelong Show Day; Student Free Day 

Wellbeing Curriculum at Junior School 

This term, we are excited to introduce a wellbeing curriculum across the three Junior School campuses. Each week, classrooms will host activities that focus on developing coping skills, problem-solving abilities, and stress management techniques. Rooted in Christ’s teachings, wellbeing is about fostering a positive state that supports human growth and holistic development—mind, spirit, soul, and body. It aims to promote overall growth, quality of life, and personal fulfillment, helping everyone in our school community to thrive. At Christian College, wellbeing means providing the knowledge, resources, and support necessary to improve individual health and happiness. It also encourages everyone to take an active role in their own wellbeing while supporting the wellbeing of others. 

Positive Coping  

In this topic, students will explore and discuss various coping strategies. They will learn to expand their own set of coping tools by reflecting on their choices and discovering new approaches to handle challenges. 

Problem-Solving 

Problem-solving is a key part of positive coping. These activities will help students develop critical and creative thinking skills, applying them to real-life scenarios involving personal, social, and ethical dilemmas. 

Stress Management 

Children and young people face many types of stress in their daily lives, whether personal, social, or school-related. This topic focuses on teaching positive ways to manage stress, giving students techniques to calm themselves in difficult situations. 

Staying Safe in the Sun!

As we head into Term 4, a reminder that College hats will be required to be worn by all students in the yard at recess, lunch and during outdoor activities. From Week 3 students not wearing hats will be requested to play in the shelter shed. A reminder also to check that your child’s items of clothing, including hats, are clearly named.

We thank you for your help with this!

Swimming and Bike Ed. 

During Health and PE this year, all students have had the opportunity to develop their skills and learn about being healthy, safe and developing positive relationships.  

This term our Year 1 and 2 students will have the opportunity to participate in a two-week intensive swimming program (starting in Week 3) at our Middle School Campus. We are aiming to implement a more structured swimming program that will allow students to develop their skills, confidence and water safety awareness.  

As a tradition, our Year 4 students will be involved in a Bike Ed program that will culminate in an all-day ride on Wednesday December 4. We are encouraging any parent, grandparent or guardian that wants to come and help on the day to please let me know by email – n.rice@ccg.vic.edu.au.  

More information will be sent shortly, with students encouraged to bring a bike along to school to start in week 6. We are aiming to commence the program on Wednesday  November 6. 

Embarking on the Final Leg of Year 2

It’s so hard to believe that we are on the downhill stretch for the 2024 academic year, but it’s full steam ahead for our incredible Year 2s as there is still so much that we hope to consolidate before the year draws to a close. 

The beginning of term often brings the excitement of new topics and one of those new topics is Persuasive Writing. This is an important genre and is one which will be used by our students, with increasing complexity, in the years to come. This week, staff have modelled how to plan for a persuasive text and how to use that plan to develop a correctly structured piece of writing for this genre. At this stage, each step is modelled and scaffolded, but as the term progresses, the children will be encouraged to use important skills they will be introduced to, such as the use of exaggeration and rhetorical questions, with greater independence. As the unit develops, students will learn to take different points of view and develop pros and cons for various arguments, but for now they are developing their own simple plans to persuade their peers why the animal of their choice would make a fabulous pet. 

An Adventure to Remember! 

Our Year 4 students recently returned from an exciting and fun-filled camp at Fern Gully Lodge, Healesville, completing challenging activities and building unforgettable memories. The camp offered a variety of activities that tested their skills and courage. 

Students problem-solved as they navigated through the low ropes course, whilst flying high from the treetops on the high ropes, conquering their fears and building confidence. It was a thrilling experience that encouraged teamwork and personal growth. They crawled, climbed, and sprinted through various obstacles in the commando course with agility and determination. It was a fantastic way to build resilience and camaraderie. 

VATD Resources Request 

If anyone in our community has balls of wool, cotton, or thread kicking around in cupboards and taking up space…maybe that knitting project that was left unfinished…the Art Room would gratefully take any donations. We can use that beautiful wool for some amazing collaborative projects we’d love to do. Anything of that nature that you might be able to spare can be dropped off at the Student Office, or the Art Room – and will be greatly appreciated!  

Scholastic Book Club News

Issue 7 of Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students and orders should be placed online by Monday, October 21. 

Our payment method is via LOOP either using the mobile app or the desktop site which can be found here.

Please do not send cash as we are unable to process cash payments. 

Thank you for your assistance and continued support of Book Club. 

A new Strategic Plan for our College

On Monday this week I had the pleasure of sharing Christian College's new Strategic Plan with College staff, following the Term 4 Commencement Service. This included a video presentation, which, on behalf of the College Board, I’d like to also share here with parents, guardians and all others who make up our vibrant College community. Click here to view the video.

This Strategic Plan forms an important piece of continuity for us at this time of transition as a school. The Board, assisted by the Executive, have considered carefully the elements of our school that we believe are essential to us thriving as a College into the future, and have developed four strategic pillars, or key focus areas for us to develop and grow in as we move forward:

• Christ-centredness
• Learning for life
• Stewardship
• Community

Annual Music Evening

Tickets now on Sale! – You’re Invited! - Christian College Annual Music Evening – Costa Hall - Wednesday October 16, 6.00pm

The Annual College Music Evening is an outstanding showcase event, and a highlight of the College year, featuring the fine musicianship of the Christian College Geelong students from Years Prep to12. The concert will feature the College String Ensembles, Bands and Choirs from each Campus.

Venue: Costa Hall - Deakin University Waterfront Campus, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong VIC 3220

The Costa Hall stage provides our students with a unique opportunity to perform in a wonderful concert hall filled to capacity. This public event is attended by College Leadership, staff, students, family and friends. One of the highlights of this concert is welcoming our newest performers to the stage. We also farewell the graduating Year 12 music students and acknowledge their years of dedication and wonderful musicianship.

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!

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!