From the Chaplain
In one of Bear Grylls books, ‘Soul Fuel’, Bear says this,
“Sometimes people ask me about stuff I’ve done. They’ll mention me reaching the top of Everest or surviving a jungle or crossing an ocean – things they think are successes. But to me these are the least interesting part of my story. And the truth is that behind every summit, every award or achievement that makes it into a neat headline, there is a string of failures. My life is much more of a collection of struggles, doubts, and fears, some of which I overcome, some I don’t. A more relevant question might be, where does my strength come from? The honest answer is that I often don’t feel very strong. Life can be a battle. We all feel that from time to time. But any strength I do have seems to come in the quiet moments at the start of my day…It comes from taking time to be still with God.”
He goes on to write about the story of a broken pot,
“A water bearer in India had two large pots, both hung on the ends of a pole that was slung across his neck. One of the pots was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. The other was cracked. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot always arrived half full. The broken pot was embarrassed and miserable. One day, while the water bearer was filling it up at the stream, the pot spoke, “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you. I have only been able to deliver half of what you give me because of this crack in my side. I leak all the way back to your house, making extra work for you.”
The water bearer smiled, “haven’t you noticed the flowers that are growing on your side of the path? I’ve always known about your crack, and so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path…you’ve watered them every day without realising it”.
We are human, we journey times of hardships and challenge, mixed in with times of great joy. God doesn’t ask for perfect pots, He just asks for us to come as we are.
Darcee Braun
What’s on at Junior School
Week 3: Monday 17th October
Monday 17th October – Year 4 Student Transition 2: visit to Middle School-Highton, 9:30-10:30am (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Monday 17th October – Prep School Nurse visits begin
Tuesday 18th October – Prep 2023 Transition 1: Welcome BBQ, 5:30pm
Wednesday 19th October – Year 4 Camp (Refer to EdSmart notification)
Friday 21st October – Year 4 Camp Returns
Week 4: Monday 24th October
Monday 24th October – Prep School Nurse Visit
Friday 28th October – Prep Camp (Please refer to EdSmart notification)
Week 5: Monday 31st October
Tuesday 1st November – Orientation Day, 2022 Prep – Year 4. (Information to come!)
Tuesday 1st November – 2023 Prep Orientation afternoon session 2
Friday 4th November – Assembly, Prep B & Prep M Item
Ensuring Student Safety When Dropping off and Picking up
I need to once again make mention of the use of the front roundabout for student drop off and pick up. We have been able to re-open the gates at the end of the day as the Junior School community have supported the non-use of those gates after 3pm.
However, this morning we unfortunately had many parents using the roundabout for drop off of students with nearly disastrous consequences in relation to both student safety and near misses of vehicles. Please note that this roundabout is NOT to be used for daily general student drop off and pick up, as it not designed for this purpose. The exception to this being Choir at 8am on a Tuesday morning and Strings at 8am on a Wednesday morning. In the short-term please be advised that to maintain student safety we will be closing the front gates in the morning and hoping to leave the pm gates open.
If your child has an appointment between the hours of 9.30am-3pm you are welcome to use the front roundabout for pick up and drop off as this will not generally impact student safety.
Thank-you once again for your efforts in considering our children’s safety in the school grounds.
Ann-Marree Weigl – Head of Campus
Year 1 – at The Show
When students are asked to recall their favourite memories of Junior School, our Show Day Activities are always fondly remembered.
This week, our Year 1 students had the opportunity to participate in their first Junior School Show Day. The sun shone brightly as we started our day visiting the Year 4 Side Show Alley in the gym. The children played games, had their faces painted, participated in different sporting activities and most of all, had a wonderful time experiencing the atmosphere of being at a ‘carnival’.
During the day, the children were entertained by ‘Dazzling Dan, the Magic Man’ as he performed a range of tricks and illusions which kept the children guessing and giggling. A highlight was waiting for Dazzling Dan’s bird to magically arrive at the show!
The petting zoo was a favourite, as the children were able to hold and pat a range of baby farm animals, including chickens, lambs, goats, and little ducklings. Our Integrated Studies unit of work last term about ‘Living Things’, was revisited by many of the students as they shared information about the different animals with their friends and teachers.
As the children entered the Junior School Chapel where all the Show Day entries were displayed, they were presented with colour and creativity all around. The students were excited to find and share their own entries and to encourage each other with their efforts.
A great day was had by all our Year 1 children – a day filled with excitement, learning, resilience, and encouragement. And…a day for building friendships and community!
Violet Novacevski
Musical Fun
At the end of last term, the Year 3 students continued to work on rhythmic sequences and wrote their own listening task using chalk on our playground paths. One student played the rhythm and the group had to listen and be the first to get to the correct square. This term, the Year 3 students will apply their knowledge of notes aurally or by reading on the stave to create their own short melodic compositions.
Our Year 4 students have begun to investigate instruments of the orchestra and apply this to a world music context. They have been learning about the French word ‘timbre’ (pronounced ‘tam-ber’) which describes the sound that we recognise in each instrument or voice. Perhaps you have a favourite instrument because of the timbre of its sound. The Year 4 students will investigate modern-day instruments and their ancient equivalent from cultures around the world.
Laura Hollingsworth
Roll up…Roll up…
The biannual Side Show Alley has arrived at Junior School.
If the Tunnel of Fun horrifies you, try your luck at Can Toss ‘Em Down!
Do human targets grab your attention? Why not take a shot, or 6, at these passionate Year 4s putting their lives on the line and providing hours of entertainment and fun with the Nerf Blasters shoot out.
You asked, we provided…. just over the pavilion, Fortune Telling, Spirit Animal diagnosis, the daunting Mystery Box, Origami Races, Face Painting, Ten Pin Bowling, Soccer Shoot Out, the famous Puppet Show, the slippery Catch the Rubber Ducky stall, Mini Golf, Ring Toss, the infamous Tattoo Parlour then straight onto the catwalk at Fashion Fashion Fashion.
But wait, there’s still more. If you’re willing to test your luck (and grades), the ‘Guess Who?’ baby photo competition will catch your attention. These teachers were certainly game providing such vintage photos… I won’t say too much, however the colour of the photograph tended to give a few clues away!
Well, you’d think our luck had ended there, but right after the huge success of Side Show Alley, Dazzling Dan the Magic Man graced us with his wonderful magic show. Thankfully, no one managed to find themselves in a disappearing act.
What better way to top off an amazing day than to count our endless pieces of paper coins, enjoy some quiet time in the petting zoo and familiarise ourselves with the incredible Show Day entry winners.
All round, an incredible success and truly remarkable day curated solely by determined, creative and amazing Year 4 students. Well done!
Tash Cooper
Student art on Show at The Show
Our students have had another opportunity to create an artwork and enter at this year’s Royal Geelong show. The Royal Geelong Show is an annual event held at the Geelong Showgrounds. Established in 1855, it is principally an agricultural event which focuses on the primary industries of Victoria, and rural Geelong. The education pavilion has been well supported over the years and this year sees some of our Junior School students be a part of the display. Well worth a look if you are at the show.
Jennifer Beck-Carlson
Japanese
Show Day has been a fixture of the Junior School year for a very long time. It serves many purposes. It allows our Year 4 students an opportunity to lead, plan and organise. It gives all students and teachers an opportunity to experience new activities and have loads of fun with their friends. I spent a lot of time with the Year 2 students on Show Day and it was a delight to share their laughter, fun and joy. The Preps and I had many conversations that day after Show Day. Some children drew their favourite time and wrote ありがとう (arigatou) notes to say thank you for the fun. Nothings shows the joy more than photos so please enjoy these taken at the magic show with Dazzling Dan.
Katya Chaney
Scholastic Book Club News
Issue 7 of Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students and orders should be placed online or returned to school no later than Thursday, 20th October.
Our preferred payment method is via LOOP either via the mobile app or the website which can be found here
You may also return your order form and payment by cheque to school. Cheques should be payable to Scholastic Australia.
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
Our New-Look ATD Festival - Now Open!
Our Art, Technology and Design Festival is underway at Villa Paloma ATD Centre! It opened at 10am this morning and the program runs until 9pm this evening. Tomorrow (Saturday Nov.12), it's on between 10am and 4pm.
There's a magnificent exhibition of student artwork and products – all year levels from K-12 from all our campuses and Early Learning Centres are represented.
Come along this evening or tomorrow - or both! There are food trucks, coffee and live music, a Food Studies Market Stall and Gelato Bar, face painting, the official opening at 6:30pm this evening, then the Wearable Art and Textiles Fashion Parade from 6:40 – 7:15pm.
Tomorrow, the Festival kicks off again at 10am and goes until 4pm. A ‘Meet the Creator’ program is running where students of various ages from every ATD subject area (Visual Art, Studio Art, Media, VCD, Food Studies, Systems Engineering, Product Design – Materials and Product Design – Textiles). Live music, sausage sizzle, coffee and the Food Studies market stall and gelato bar are all happening between 10am and 2pm.
Villa Paloma is at 25 Waurn Ponds Drive, Waurn Ponds. The full Event Program is on our website (follow the hotlink on our homepage) or click here.
Student-Free Day Tomorrow!
A reminder to all families and students from Junior School-Belmont, Middle School-Highton, Bellarine Campus and Surf Coast Campus, there is no school tomorrow, Friday October 14, due to the Geelong Show Day holiday. Senior School students will attend as normal.
Term 4 2022 COVID-19 Update Procedures and Protocols
Introduction
Christian College is committed to maintaining the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and College community.
The following revisions to the COVID-19 procedures and protocols align with the Victorian Government’s announcement of the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders. The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health and the Department of Education for Victorian schools now apply.
If you require greater detail, please access additional information via the DHHS or Victorian State Government Education and Training websites or speak with your campus leadership team.
COVIDSafe Measures for Schools
- No student, staff member, parent, or visitor, should come on to College sites if they are unwell or have any Flu-like symptoms.
- Practise good hand hygiene, utilising the sanitisers supplied
- Utilising outdoor spaces and increasing cross-ventilation indoors where possible
- It is recommended that a person who is symptomatic, displaying cold or Flu like symptoms should undergo a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen or PCR Test.
- Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported to do so, the College will continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
Rapid Antigen Testing
Free RATs will be made available for use by all students and staff through Term 4. It is recommended that RATs are used by students and staff when symptomatic.
Reporting and Managing Positive Results
If staff or students receive a positive test result at any time, it is recommended the result be reported to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report or via the telephone hotline on 1800 675 398.
Parents/Guardians must report a positive COVID-19 test result of a student directly to the student office at the relevant campus. Staff must notify their relevant College leader.
The College community will no longer be notified of a positive COVID-19 case associated with the school.
It is recommended that any student or staff member who tests positive to COVID-19 isolates for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test will continue to be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.
Face Masks in Schools
Current advice from the Victorian government on the wearing of face masks is available here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks: It states:
“Face masks can stop or slow viruses spreading in the air when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh. Face masks lower your chance of catching and spreading an airborne virus. That’s why wearing a high-quality and well-fitted face mask can help protect you and those around you from COVID-19.”
- Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported to do so, the College will continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
- It is recommended that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.
- It is recommended that that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
- Whilst traveling on Christian College buses, it is recommended students wear a face mask due to physical distancing not being possible.
Christian College Canteen Manager – we are Hiring!
We seek the services of a Canteen Manager from 2023 to oversee the day-to-day operations of the school canteens at Junior School – Belmont, Middle School – Highton and Senior School – Waurn Ponds, including the supervision and rosters for relevant staff and volunteers. The role is full-time and ongoing, and also involves some catering for special events.
If you have a passion for food quality and customer sevice, a warm and friend personality, if you love working as part of a great team, have exceptional organisation and communication skills and are able to manage challenging circumstances in a calm, professional and compassionate manner – this could the job for you!
Full details, including a Position Description and how to apply can be found in the Employment section of our website.
For Families Relocating or Withdrawing Students
A reminder that if your family is relocating and/or you are planning to withdraw your child from Christian College, a full term’s notice, in writing, is required. Please contact your student’s Campus.
Jonathan Ryan, Operations Manager
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.
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
Comparing the roads you travel and the car you drive is not helpful. A flower doesn’t compete with the flower next to it. It just tries to become the best flower it can be. So, look within, and know that what is there is perfect. Your job is to just let it out 👍❤️
Discover more about MYTERN here
