From the Acting Vice Principal

As Term 1 draws to a close, if you were to look back over 10 weeks of Vine editions, scroll through the CCG Facebook and Instagram pages, or glance at the College calendar for the term, you will quickly realise that a lot of really, really good things happen on all our campuses. There are incredible learning opportunities in classrooms, excursions and camps, House competitions and other sporting events, music performances, parent morning teas, picnics and welcome evenings, learning conferences, community service initiatives and much, much more.

None of this would be possible, of course, without the enthusiasm, dedication and capabilities of our wonderful teaching staff at Christian College. They are not only committed to helping young people learn and grow, but willing to enhance their own skills as teachers in order to do so. A large proportion of staff, for instance, are this year undertaking the Christian College Professional Growth Program, our internally-developed framework for goal-setting and ongoing professional development. I am grateful for the work of Ingrid Staggard, Director of Learning Design and Teacher Development, who is guiding staff through this important process.

With Spirit

Can you possibly believe that we are already at the end of Term 1? It has been a wonderful, spirited beginning to the 2023 school year on the Middle School – Highton Campus, and we are in great shape to continue flourishing throughout the year ahead. 

There are so many highlights from Term 1 which we can now look back on and celebrate. These include welcoming all new students and staff, hearing stories of adventure and friendship from Back Creek Farm and our year level camps, inviting parents and guardians on to campus for events such as our Year 5 Chilli Challenge, Year 7 Garden Party, Partnering with Parents evening, Year 9 Transformation Program Open Days and more, participation in interschool sport, Outdoor Education fieldtrips, Maths and Science excursions, incursions, music and art experiences…the list goes on! The breadth of opportunities available to the students has been significant, and they are making fantastic use of these each day on campus. 

It is also accurate to say that the term has brought its share of challenges. The earthquakes in Syria and Turkey have directly impacted a number in our community, as have floods in New Zealand and regional Victoria and NSW. Across our campus, many in our community are grieving the loss of loved ones, and battling health challenges. My prayers are with you all. In the midst of this challenge, I have been encouraged by the strong, consistent sense of calm and positivity around our campus this term. After the past three tumultuous and at times, disconnecting years, 2023 has so far been (touch wood) a year where we have largely been able to re-focus on that which makes school such a critical part of every young person’s childhood and adolescence; connection, learning, wellbeing, faith and fun.   

What’s on at Middle School

Term 2, Week 1

• Tues 25 Apr – ANZAC Day Public Holiday
• Wed 26 Apr – Term 2 Commences
• Wed 26 Apr – ANZAC Day Ceremony and Commencement Assembly
• Wed 26 Apr – Rural 3 Commences
• Thurs 27 Apr – Deakin District Winter Carnival – Year 5 & 6
• Fri 28 Apr – SSV State Primary Swimming Championships

Week 2

• Tue 2 May – Open Day
• Wed 3 May – GISSA Year 7 & Year 8 Sporting fixtures
• Thurs 4 May – Deakin District Cross Country Championships
• Thurs 4 May – 3 X 3 Junior Schools Basketball Challenge – Qualifying (Boys & Girls)
• Thurs 4 May – Learning Conferences
• Fri 5 May – Vic Schools Surfing Titles
• Fri 5 May – Year 8 Medieval Day (MRY)

Athletics Carnival!  

On Thursday April 5, students from Junior School, Surf Coast Campus and Highton came together at Middle School for a fun and competitive Athletics Carnival. Students moved through a range of field and track events with their year level group. All students are to be commended on their participation and effort on the day. Some highlights were watching the new obstacle course, Year 9 Boys high jump, the fastest on campus and relay events, and tug-of-war novelty activity were lots of fun!  

This year we had students in our Bean Break Café making coffee for staff and parents. We also had some face painting to raise money for the Salvation Army.  

Overall, the day was filled with smiles, jumping, running, and cheering! It was a much-needed day after a very busy and long term. Thank you to all parents/family members who came along to support our carnival and to all the teaching staff who worked very hard on the day.  

A big congratulations to Taylor House for winning the day!  

Male Fastest on Campus- Rennick Carey – Year 9 Burrows House  

Female Fastest on Campus- Ava Mousavi Year 7 – Flynn House.  

The Year Level Champions were recognised today after the Easter Service. Any questions about results and ribbons can be followed up at the start of Term 2.  

Drawing in year 5 art 

This term in Year 5 art students have been practising their drawing skills. Students have been learning different drawing and tonal shading techniques. Through building these skills students are given the opportunity to be creative and freedom in creating their own artworks centred around their interests. They are keen to share their beautiful artwork with you! 

Year 5/6 Girls football

This past Monday the 5/6 Girls football team made the trek down the road to South Barwon Oval to compete in the annual round robin competition playing against other schools in the region. Every year brings a new mix of girls with varying abilities. Some who have played football for years, some who have just started and those who have never picked up a ball. The team that represented the school that fabled Monday was a group of girls who should be very proud of themselves. Their ability to work together, offer encouragement and work as hard as they could was second to none. Starting the day well, the girls had their first win in game three, going on a winning streak for the next couple of rounds. The excitement was palpable, really spurring them onto the rest of the day. Despite not winning as many games as they would have liked, in every game they all displayed a never-say-die attitude and did their very best in each contest. Although not moving onto the next round all the girls had a great day and represented the school brilliantly. A big thank you to all who assisted on the day and in the build up to the event!   

Any girls who played on Monday or in 5/6 who are interested in playing girls football please contact Mr Richardson, [email protected]  

Dolphin Boat Trip

Back in 2011 the Marine Mammal Foundation made an important and exciting discovery about the Dolphin species in Port Philip Bay, formally describing the resident population as a new and separate species known as the Burrunan Dolphin. There are around 120 individuals in Port Philip Bay, and they have now been identified as the most ancestral node for all ‘bottlenose’ dolphins worldwide, with the split dated at 1.03million years ago!  

Last Friday, our Year 9 Marine Studies classes were fortunate enough to have a once in a lifetime experience snorkeling with these dolphins, as well as many of our other unique and playful marine species including Australian Fur Seals. After participating in a workshop about recycling plastics, students hopped on board the ‘Seal All Dolphin Tours’ boat and made their way to Pope’s Eye – a man made structure initially built in 1880; now it is a major nesting site for Australasian Gannets as well as supporting a huge variety of species including colourful reef fish, octopus, cuttlefish, seals and corals.  

In groups of 10, students were then able to enter the water with a large pod of the Burrunan Dolphins. The smiles couldn’t be wiped from their faces! Other highlights from the trip included snorkeling with the seal colony at ‘Chinaman’s Hat’ and having some fun on the boat with the many activities provided by the crew. It was certainly a day to remember, and it was an absolute privilege to offer this opportunity to our students.  

The author acknowledges that this excursion took place on Wathaurong and Boonwurrung country and would like to pay their respects to the continuing connections of these traditional owners with the land and waters.  

Progressing Through Teaching and Learning is in Full Swing….

Our Teaching and Learning programs have been in full swing across our campuses. We are excited to offer a breadth of rich opportunities for our students, and this is just the beginning of what’s to come this year. During Term 1 at Middle School-Highton there have been many camps and excursions that provide wonderful opportunities for social and emotional development, teamwork, building self-identity, and applying classroom skills and knowledge in real-world contexts through critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and ethical understandings through a Christian World View lens.

We have seen great growth and development of our young people through the Rural and Transformation programs where students aim to make an impact on the world around them, develop their own self-identity and refine their purpose, passion and potential pathways.

We are also thrilled to offer plentiful opportunities for community involvement through our Campus Carnivals, House events, family events such as afternoon teas, information sessions, student learning conferences and more, as well as continued development in intercultural understandings through our international guests from Indonesia. Each of these has seen positive engagement with our Teaching and Learning program. Students and staff have been excited to be part of a program that enables students to engage with critical competencies and real-life opportunities and develop skills and knowledge in a diverse range of classes.

You can view your child’s progress in each of their learning areas through our In Time reporting program via SEQTA Engage. Log onto the parent portal via the College website and select the Assessments menu to view your child’s progress. As a reminder, there is also the SEQTA App that can be downloaded to your phone. I have attached a couple support documents that highlight how to get the most out of SEQTA Engage.

ParentPortalGuide_2023

SEQTAEngageMobileAppInstall

Picnic at Hanging Rock – Tickets on Sale and Helpers Wanted! 

The wait is over, tickets to see the Christian College Production of Picnic at Hanging Rock are on sale. Please come and support the work of our senior students and colleagues. A huge shout out to Kelly Clifford, who is no stranger to the role of director but as one of our newest staff members has embraced her students and this play with so much passion and energy. We are very lucky to have her, and the audience is in for a treat. 

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a captivating and mysterious story that explores the disappearance of four schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at a local geological formation in Victoria, Australia, on Valentine’s Day in 1900. The novel by Joan Lindsay, published in 1967, was adapted into a film by Peter Weir in 1975, which became a landmark of Australian cinema and culture. The story has inspired many interpretations and adaptations, including the performances brought to you by our Christian College Senior School students. 

Lots to Like at Back Creek Café!

Christian College’s Back Creek Café in Meredith is a vital part of our Year 9 residential farm experience. Located 15 minutes south of Back Creek Farm, the café is open six days a week (not Sundays) from 8:30am to 3pm. The school holidays are the perfect time to pay a visit!

While you’re there, enjoy the best coffee in town – or choose from a range of other beverages – indulge in an all-day breakfast or one of the other scrumptious light meal/snack options on the menu. There is also a variety of sweet or savoury treats to enjoy while you’re there and delicious home-made produce to purchase and take home.

Coming up on Saturday May 6, the Café is staging two craft workshops. Come along and discover how to create your own vertical garden. One session gets underway at 10:30am, the second at 1:00pm, conducted by Kathy from Coburg nursery, TD2M. Build your own standing or hanging frame, create a vertical garden to take home and learn about soils and mosses used in the process along the way.

Cost for the workshop is $90 per person with all you need provided. While you’re there, enjoy some of Back Creek Café’s delicious fare! 

You can check out the latest from the café via its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Back Creek Café is located at 1/27 Staughton Street Meredith. For enquiries and bookings, including bookings for the May 6 workshops, call 5286 1166.

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Days!

All Christian College campuses will open their doors on May 2 in the first of our Open Days for 2023.

This is an opportunity for parents/guardians and families who are considering Christian College as an option for their young people to visit one or more of our campuses, meet students, teachers and campus leaders, tour facilities, visit classes in progress and have their questions answered. It provides an authentic insight to how our College operates on a day-to-day basis. For those considering either Junior School-Belmont or Surf Coast Campus, please note our Early Learning Centres - Williams House in Belmont and Butterfield House in Torquay - will also be open for visitation at the same time as the campuses.

No booking is required, with campuses open at the following times:

Junior School-Belmont: 9:30 – 11:00am

Bellarine Campus: 9:30 – 11:00am

Surf Coast Campus: 9:30 – 11:30am

Middle School-Highton: – 11:15am – 12:45pm

Senior School-Waurn Ponds: – 11:30am – 1:00pm

Big Science Competition!

We welcome all students in Years 7 - 10 to consider taking part in the Big Science Competition!

A 50-minute, multiple-choice competition, the Big Science Competition isn't like other tests. This test focuses on how students can use their science knowledge and critical thinking skills to solve problems. 

The Big Science Competition can also lead to BIG opportunities.

All students in Australian high schools who sit the Big Science Competition have a chance to win one of four great prizes*, up to the value of $1,498.

Here's everything you need to know. 

• The Big Science Competition is open to students in Year 7-10 who attend Australian and International schools.
• The Big Science Competition will run on a date to be determined between 15-26 May 2023.
• Expressions of interest will close at the end of Term 1.

Registering your interest

All students who would like to participate are asked to complete their details on the following form:

Expression of Interest Form

Please speak to your science teacher or email Mrs Huddart if you have any questions.

Independent Schools – Meeting Needs of all Families

In recent weeks Independent Schools Victoria has been working with Independent Schools Australia on advocacy and information material to highlight the diversity and changing face of the Independent sector.

This material includes a short and engaging video that features Aitken College, one of ISV’s rapidly growing Member Schools on Melbourne’s outer urban fringe, and a new low-fee school in regional New South Wales.

ISV says that while the schools featured are localised, the message is nationwide. showing that Independent schools reflect the breadth of Australia, with every kind of school serving the needs of every kind of family.

The video is timely in light of Federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s announcement this week of an expert panel to review the National Schools Reform Agreement.

To see the video, check ISV’s website or click here

A MYTERN Thought for This Week

It’s easy to rush through a cup of tea or coffee and forget to stop and appreciate the moment. 

Take time out now to simply appreciate being able to breathe in fresh air. Take a long slow breath and feel it rejuvenate every cell. 

Make that your intention and watch your body smile from the inside 👍❤️

Discover more about MYTERN here