Junior School Term 4 Week 8

A Candy Cane Story

This week, our Prep students heard about how we can remember the significance and joy of Christmas by looking at a candy cane. We recognised that the shape of a class candy cane also resembles a shepherd’s staff. Shepherds use their staff to protect their sheep, lead the way and guide them down the often rocky and unsteady path the sheep come across on their journey.

We also learnt that sheep are known by their shepherd and are taken care of and looked after by them. The sheep know the voice of their shepherd and find comfort in having their shepherd travel close by to them.

In the book of John in the Bible, Jesus tells us that He is the good shepherd of His people. With the understanding of the role of a shepherd, what a beautiful picture this paints to us of who Jesus is. The good shepherd who sees, knows and cares and just like the sheep, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus comes with us and is right there beside us on the bumpy roads.

The Prep students got to create their very own candy cane ornament as a reminder of Jesus being our good shepherd here on earth with their year 4 buddies. This was such a special morning as we continue to prepare and journey towards Christmas.

What’s on at Junior School

Week 9   – Reverse Advent Calendar – stationery and back-to-school items
Tuesday November 28 – Sirovilla Choir & Strings performance (Junior Strings and Years 3 & 4 choir students ) 9:30am
Wednesday November 29 – Celebration Evening Rehearsals, Costa Hall
Wednesday November 29 – Celebration Evening, Costa Hall 7:00pm start. (Refer to Edsmarts regarding permission to attend rehearsal and uniform/costume requirements) 
Thursday November 30 – Bravehearts incursion Year 1 and Year 2 
Friday December 1 – Year 4 Graduation Ceremony, Middle School-Highton SAC, 10am (Refer to EdSmart)

Week 10
Monday December 4 – Hooptime Final – Selected Year 4 students (EdSmart to come)
Tuesday December 5 – Junior School Activities Day (Refer to EdSmart)
Wednesday December 6 – Year 4 ‘Jason Mahoney’ Bike Ride (Refer to EdSmart)
Wednesday December 6 – Discovery Learning
Friday December 8 – Final Christmas Service, 12:30pm
Friday December 8 – Conclusion of Term 4, 2:30pm finish

A Stall for a Cause

This week, a group of Year 4 students ran a Project Care stall during recess and lunch with all money raised going to the Red Cross. Students from Prep to Year 4 flocked to the courtyard to purchase stress balls, bracelets, coloured clay and party bags. The Year 4 students served customers, helped them find what they were looking for and handled money and change like champions.

These Year 4 students have been preparing for this stall for many weeks and have shown incredible generosity with their time and energy, demonstrating hearts of service through their initiative in making products to sell, advertising and running this stall. A big thank you to all the families involved in the preparation behind the scenes and for all in the community who supported this stall, it was a wonderful success raising $343.75 for people needing aid overseas.

Reverse Advent Calendar

Our Christmas tree has been overflowing all week with non-perishable sweet and Christmas items and what a wonderful sight that is to see when arriving to the foyer each morning.

Students and families of Christian College Junior School, your hearts are filled with generosity and kindness – thank you for all of the donations this week. Many students have continued to ask where these items are going, and it has been wonderful to share how we have the opportunity to see a need in the community and do practical things to work towards meeting that need.

This week, classroom devotions have had a focus on giving and looking at the ways we can offer God’s kindness and hope to others in their time of need. This is such a special way for us to be preparing for Christmas here at Junior School.

Next week is our final week of our Reverse Advent Calendar and we are collecting stationary items to provide some relief for families within the Geelong community as they prepare to return to school in the new year.

Thank you so much!

Lost Property

As the final weeks of the year approach, I encourage parents to check our lost property items. Uniform that is not named will be given to the Uniform Shop to resell; all other unnamed items will be donated. Please visit Reception over the next two weeks to look through the lost property items.

Exciting Adventures at Prep Camp: Yoedene and Colac Botanical Gardens

The Preps are thrilled to share the highlights of their recent excursion to Yoedene and Colac Botanical Gardens. Our little adventurers displayed remarkable bravery, resilience and courage as they embarked on an unforgettable day of exploration and bonding.

One of the standout moments was when our young explorers harnessed up to tackle the low ropes course at Yoedene. With wide eyes and determined spirits, the children navigated through the challenging course, overcoming obstacles and cheering each other on. It was heartwarming to witness their courage in action as they faced the physical and mental challenges of the course, proving that even our smallest learners are capable of great feats.

At Colac Botanical Gardens, the children had the opportunity to engage with nature in a different way. The playground became a hub of laughter and excitement as they climbed, swung, and slid, unleashing their boundless energy. Their curiosity was piqued as they investigated their surroundings, discovering the wonders of the natural world. Teachers were impressed by the inquisitive minds of our Prep students, who eagerly asked questions and shared their newfound knowledge.

Poetic Year 2s

‘We are Poets, don’t you know it!’

Over the past couple of weeks, during our Writing sessions, the Year 2s have been reading, interpreting and constructing a variety of different styles of poetry.  We have written amazing alliterations about a range of topics and have explored acrostic poems, using our thesaurus, word walls and anchor charts to enrich the vocabulary used in our writing. The students have investigated a variety of publishing options which have enhanced the quality of their published pieces.

This week in our investigations of colour poetry the children have been learning to use imagery and similes, whilst using their five senses to describe a particular colour. This has resulted in some wonderful descriptive language being used. The children have done an amazing job coming up with ideas about the topic and using vocabulary specific to the colour. Some of the students’ published work pieces are highlighted in the photos below.

We are really looking forward to exploring further different styles of poetry such as Cinquain and Haiki poems next week, which will include writing and publishing these poetic texts.

Celebrations and Meeting our 2024 Buddies!

This week in Year 3 as part of our Integrated Studies unit we have been looking at different celebrations and commemorations in Australia and from cultures around the world. We have learnt about a variety of multicultural events including Eid, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Christmas, Easter and ANZAC Day. Year 3 students were asked to identify and explain the importance of the different celebrations and commemorations including why and how they are celebrated or commemorated. The students designed a calendar for the month of the event and included an explanation and pictures to demonstrate their learning. We had a number of students in 3G who celebrate some of these events in their families including Lunar New Year, Eid and Diwali.

We have also been counting down the days to the very exciting moment of meeting the newest members of Christian College Geelong Junior School, the 2024 Prep students. Our current Year 3 students are very much looking forward to becoming buddies to the preps next year and we have been working hard creating ‘Welcome Cards’. It was exciting to meet the new Preps and present them with their cards whilst joining them in the courtyard as part of their last transition session.

It’s a Wrap!

Our students’ artwork was a great success at this year’s Annual Christian College Art, Technology and Design Festival.

A highlight was being able to offer our handmade wrapping paper as a byproduct of our creativity this year.

Students gave up some of their lunchtime to help produce 30 metres of beautifully printed wrapping paper. These were packaged and sold to help raise money for charity. 

As you see below there were also some very proud and happy creators.

CCG Foundation Golf Day Drives a Great Result!

The second CCG Foundation Annual Golf Day held earlier this month was a major success, with more than 60 golfers of varying abilities enjoying a fabulous day out at 13th Beach. Congratulations to the winning team – Veneziano Coffee Roasters, comprising company CEO Craig Dickson, together with Lance Brown, Nicholas Edds and David Perkins. Congratulations also to Judson Belousoff who took out the NTP (Nearest the Pin) award and Glen McColl who finished the day with the longest drive. A huge thanks to all participants for embracing the day. As well as providing an opportunity for people to come together, enjoy a round of golf and each other’s company, we raised $52,546.10 for the Foundation to support disadvantaged Geelong families in giving their children a Christian College education. Again, thank you to all who contributed to making this day a success.

A date for the diary – the 2024 Foundation Golf Tournament is happening on Thursday October 24 next year at 13th Beach Golf Links. That event will be played on the Beach Course – the same one used for the Vic Open.

GenAI Parent and Student Surveys Feedback

Recently, over several weeks, parents were invited to participate in a survey regarding experiences and perspectives on generative artificial intelligence, learning, society, and future. I would like to thank those parents who generously took a few minutes to participate and share their perspective as part of this process.

Concurrently, students in Years 7-12 were also invited to participate in an equivalent student version of the survey. I was pleased with the degree of participation from our students, at all target year levels, as well as the maturity and thoughtfulness of their responses. Our young people have been, and continue to be, engaged with this technology and the complex issues surrounding it.

Given how new this technology is to most people, for many in education this year has been one of discovery, learning and deep consideration of generative AI’s impacts for education, society, and future. A key consideration is how we as a school can best support all members of our community to be empowered to shape and influence those impacts, for the benefit of all. This journey is far from over and will continue into 2024 and beyond.

Get Some Unique Christmas Cards and Support Williams House

This year Williams House is selling packets of Christmas cards designed by our own little artists!

We are selling our Angel/Shepherd cards for $5 for a pkt of 6 and our Nativity cards are $7 for a pkt of 10. Each packet contains either 6 or 10 different designs.

If you would like to support the kinder and share our creations with the community this Christmas, the cards are available at all CCG campus receptions and of course at Williams House. Payment can be made with cash or card.

We also take over-the-phone orders with direct deposit. Phone 5241 3556

All money raised will go towards making some new additions to our outdoor yards!

We hope you love these gorgeous creations and enjoy sharing them with your family and the community this Christmas!

With thanks from all the children and the team at WH!