CCG Sport Hall of Honour
On Thursday, October 5, our College community celebrated a very special event, the opening of the Christian College Geelong Sport Hall of Honour. Families, past and present students, staff and other friends of the College gathered last night for a gala dinner and celebration of the outstanding achievements of current students who have reached national or international status across a wide range of sports. Twelve of these students received our ‘Rising Eagle’ awards, being recognised for their skill, application and teamwork in their chosen sport.
Furthermore, in 2023, the recipient of the Tegan Philip Medal is Abbey O’Hanlon, ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the 2023 Senior Female Netball team, and the recipient of the Gary Ablett Jr Medal is Spencer Jones, ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the 2023 Senior Male AFL team. The recipient of the Top Flight Eagles Award is the 2023 Senior Male AFL team.
A huge congratulations goes to all of these students, and this is to be accompanied by a heartfelt thanks to the teams behind the stars, the parents, guardians, coaches and other inspiring people who have enabled these wonderful opportunities for our talented young people.
In addition, a particular highlight of the event was the induction of the first members of our CCG Sport Hall of Honour, Mrs Tegan Philip and Mr Gary Ablett Jr.
A student at Christian College Geelong from 2001 to 2006, Tegan Philip (nee Caldwell) enjoyed a highly successful and decorated career as a professional netballer. Starting at the Bellarine Netball Association, and rising to State League level, Tegan first earned a spot representing Victoria in 2008. The next year, she was named in the gold medal winning Australian Under 21 squad for the World Championships. Joining the Melbourne Vixens in 2010, she quickly made a name for herself as Rookie of the Year and ended her career as a one-club player in 2020. During this time, she amassed 131 appearances and scored 2,729 goals. Both Vixen records at the time. Notable highlights include winning premierships in 2014 (as ‘Grand Final Player of the Match’) and 2020. She also served as Vixens’ Vice Captain from 2017 to 2020, while being named ‘Best Goal Attack’ in the National League in 2017.
Tegan’s achievements extended to the Australian Diamonds Netball Team, securing a gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, as well as contributing to their success during the 2017-2019 international seasons including a Constellation Cup victory.
A student at Christian College Geelong from 1990 to 2000, Gary Ablett Jr is celebrated as one of the most decorated players in Australian Rules Football history. He first played football with a Christian College team, then for local club Modewarre. Gary went on to play 357 games in the AFL for the Geelong Cats (247) and the Gold Coast Suns (110) and kicked 445 goals after being drafted out of the Geelong Falcons in the 2001 National Draft under the League’s father-son rule. His list of individual accolades includes winning the Brownlow Medal in 2009 and 2013, the AFL Players Association ‘Leigh Matthews Trophy’ five times, the AFL Coaches Association ‘Player of the Year’ Award three times, Geelong FC Best and Fairest Award twice, Gold Coast FC Best and Fairest Award four times and earning ‘All Australian Team’ honours in eight seasons. Gary, nicknamed the ‘Little Master’, also won two premierships with Geelong in 2007 and 2009, and served as Captain of the Gold Coast Suns between 2011 and 2016.
I am grateful to all across our community who have contributed to this initiative, and to last night’s event. I would especially like to thank our former Head of Sport, Mr Andrew Richardson, our Acting Head of Sport, Mr Matt Murnane, our Events Coordinator Fiona Provan, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Mr Wes Cusworth, and our inductees, Tegan and Gary, both of whom were exceptionally generous with their time, and the spirit with which they continue to share of themselves with our CCG family. Thank you.
The Sport Hall of Honour will now serve as a permanent feature within our school, displaying the names, photographs, and achievements of our extraordinary sports stars. This will not only inspire our current students but also serve as a testament to the values and dedication instilled within them during their time at Christian College.
Of note, this was only a first step towards a wider recognition of past CCG students who have achieved elite-level accomplishments in other, non-Sport fields, and our current students who appear well on the way to doing the same. Stay tuned for further information over the coming months and years, as this important part of our College grows.
Daryl Riddle OAM, CEO Christian College
From the Head of Campus
Wishing you all a very warm welcome back to Term 4 at Junior School Belmont. We have launched into the new term with a special Welcome to Country shared with us on the students’ first day back by Wadawurrung Elder Ash Skinner. Ash shared with the students and staff the significance of a Welcome to Country and about the lands of the Wadawurrung people on which we were gathered.
Our Year 4 students then boarded buses on Wednesday, for an action-packed three-day camp at Ferngully Lodge near Healesville. They have returned today exhausted but exhilarated with lots of exciting camp stories to share. Experiences such as camps, Discovery Learning, Incursions, and excursions provide our students with rich opportunities for experiential learning. Experiential learning can be defined as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping and transforming experience” (Kolb). Quite simply Experiential Learning is the process of learning by doing. By engaging students in hands-on experiences and reflection, they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations. In the words of someone much more profound than myself Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) we read “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand”. Experiential learning is and will continue to be a key foundation for learning at Junior School.
We look forward this term to providing many more opportunities for our students to learn through ‘the process of doing’ to develop their knowledge and understanding. We recognise that each student is unique as a person and is also unique as a learner and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey because every child matters to us every day. Please be encouraged at any time this term to reach out to our Junior School staff to discuss and celebrate your unique young person.
Ann-Marree Weigl, Head of Campus
What’s on at Junior School
Week 2
Monday October 9 – Standardised Testing Year 1-4
Monday October 9 – Year 5 Teachers to meet Year 4 Parents, 8:30am (Refer to EdSmart)
Thursday October 12 – Annual Music Evening
Friday October 13 – Assembly; Prep G Class Item
Friday October 13 – Year 1 Swimming Commences
Week 3
Monday October 16 – Year 4 Transition Session 2 (Refer to Year 4 Transition EdSmart)
Tuesday October 17 – Geelong Schools’ Music Festival, Junior Choir and Strings (EdSmart to follow)
Wednesday October 18 – Year 4 Sideshow Alley (EdSmart to follow)
Thursday October 19 – Year 3 Fizzics Incursion
Friday October 20 – Geelong Show Day, Student Free Day
Week 4
Tuesday October 24 – 2024 Prep Transition Session 1 – Sausage Sizzle 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Wednesday October 25 – Prep Discovery Learning Session
Thursday October 26 – Grandparents’ Day
Friday October 27 – Assembly; Prep R Class Item
Week 5
Tuesday October 31 – Year 4 readiness for Middle School, 4:15pm
Thursday November 2 – Emergency Lockdown and Evacuation Drills
Exploring Shapes: A Fun Week of Learning for Our Prep Students!
We are thrilled to share the exciting adventures of our Prep students as they dived into the world of shapes this week! It has been a week filled with laughter, learning, and exploration.
In their classes, the Prep students delved into the fascinating realm of 2D and 3D shapes. They enthusiastically learned the various names and unique features of these shapes, sparking their curiosity and creativity. The joy on their faces was contagious as they mastered the art of drawing these shapes and counted the faces on their 3D blocks.
But the learning didn’t stop there! Our little explorers took their knowledge outside the classroom for an adventurous scavenger hunt. Our Preps, armed with excitement and curiosity, embarked on a mission to discover 3D shapes in our school yard. Despite the weather’s attempts to dampen their spirits, our enthusiastic learners dodged the raindrops and embarked on a quest to find different 3D shapes. Their sharp eyes and inquisitive minds led them to a multitude of shapes, transforming our school yard into a playground of geometric wonders.
It’s heartwarming to see our Prep students embracing the joy of learning, especially outdoors.
Rachael Whelan
Holiday Fun and Welcome to Term 4!
The students in 1B returned from their holidays with excitement to share all their wonderful adventures. From interstate travels, family picnics and lots of sleep-ins. Students were eager to come back to share with their classmates.
In our class we spent our first day back sharing and comparing our holidays adventures with one another. The students love to hear what their teacher gets up to over the break! Once we spent some time chatting in pairs and then sharing with the whole class, students were able to write about their holidays.
Here are some of the awesome sentences the students wrote.
“After lunch I went with my Mum and Celeste to get my ears pierced, the studs were white crystals.” – Isla
“On the school holidays I went to Lego land, and I got to go on a ride there.” – Alexander
“I went to Inflatable World with my Dad and Paddy and we had lots of fun, the best part was the basketball.” – Alby
“On the school holidays I went to my friends Eadie’s house for a swim in her pool.” – Willow
“At Phillip Island I saw the penguins and we only saw about 30 but the lady said there is a lot more.” – Frankie
Happy to hear that everyone had a wonderful break and is ready to take on the last term of the year.
Bridget Mapleson
A Wet and Wild Adventure of Camaraderie and Challenges
When the skies opened and the rain poured down on our Year 4 students, it could have spelled disaster for their much-anticipated camp experience at Ferngully Lodge. But as the saying goes, “The show must go on,” and that’s exactly what happened. The wet weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits; in fact, it only served to strengthen the bonds of camaraderie among these resilient young adventurers.
From the moment the buses rolled into the campsite, excitement was in the air. The rain was relentless, but the students, armed with their waterproof gear and infectious enthusiasm, tackled it head-on. They say adversity reveals true character, and this group of Year 4 students showed nothing but positivity and determination.
The camp organisers had planned a wide array of activities to keep everyone engaged, and they certainly lived up to their promise. From challenging obstacle courses to team-building exercises and giant swings, the students were kept on their toes. The wet conditions made every task a bit more challenging, but they embraced the challenge with gusto.
But it wasn’t all about challenges and conquering the elements. The evenings were filled with laughter as students demonstrated part in the Talent Quest. The rain played a symphony on the tent roofs, providing the perfect backdrop for tales of adventure and friendship. As the camp came to a close, it was evident that this experience had left an indelible mark on our Year 4 students. They returned home with muddy clothes, tired bodies, and hearts full of memories. It was a fitting way to kickstart their final term at Junior School, carrying with them the lessons of teamwork and resilience.
Tash Cooper
Scholastic Book Club News
Issue 7 Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students and orders should be placed online by Monday, 16-10-2023.
Our payment method is via LOOP either through 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 ongoing support of Book Club.
Violet Novacevski, Book Club Coordinator
Out of School Hours Care Newsletter
Chess Club
Foundation Golf Day 2023
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.
Save the date: Thursday November 9.
We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
