Middle School Term 1 Week 9

From the Head of Campus

As the end of term draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the support I have received during my first term as Head of Campus. The beginning of this year has presented many challenges for some of our staff, students, and families, and it has been so heartwarming to witness our community rally together to show so much love and support to those in need.

Term 1 has provided many opportunities for our students including camps, excursions, incursions, swimming and athletics carnivals, music performances, rehearsals for our upcoming school musical Cinderella and so much more. It is such a privilege to see our students having a go at new things and challenging themselves.

As we approach Easter, the sacred season of new beginnings, the tale of redemption, sacrifice, and the triumphant dawn of hope. In the quiet moments, may you find solace, and a sacred pause to reflect on the journey thus far.

I wish you all a very safe and joyous Easter and I look forward to seeing you all back on Tuesday, April 16!

Wow…What a term!

I have had the pleasure this term of witnessing many moments of connection and celebration unfold across the College and the tapestry of experiences that have enriched our school days. It is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering wellbeing and creating opportunities for all individuals to flourish.

From swimming and athletic carnivals to lunchtime clubs, the opportunities to explore the great outdoors, the camps, the incursions, the excursions, the music performances, and the production rehearsals. It has been a whirlwind of activity and achievement.

Our Project Care teams passionately championed important philanthropic causes, dedicating their efforts to raising awareness and funds for worthwhile initiatives. Our Year 9s began their journey of experiential learning via the farm and Transformation Program and our prefect investitures afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our new student leaders of our College at Harmony Day and International Women’s Day. It reminded us about the importance of inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. We sang and we danced, we performed and rehearsed, we studied, we tried, we laughed, and we cried, we paraded and served. You name it…I think we did it!

This term also presented us with many opportunities to connect with our parent community in meaningful ways. At the heart of this connection lies a profound understanding that the journey of learning and development extends far beyond the walls of the classroom or school gates. Rather, that it begins and always continues at home. Staff connected with families at open days, our digital-safety forum and welcome events which enriches our partnership in a myriad of ways. We do sincerely thank those parents and carers who were able to attend such important events in our College calendar.

As the holidays draw near, I wanted to take this opportunity to share some resources that may be of support to you and your family. Geelong Regional Library offers a free school holiday program and Geelong City council are also offering some autumn school holiday fun.  Looking ahead to Term 2 in terms of general parenting and family supports Meli have issued their Parenting Education Calendar of events. Meli aim to support the role of parents and carers by providing information on child development as well as skills and tools to enhance communication, connection, and knowledge on how to support children to thrive.

I wish you a wonderful Easter break and enjoyable holiday period. See you in Term 2!

What’s Happening at Middle School

Term 2, Week 1

• Sun 14 Apr – College Production Rehearsal – Cinderella
• Tues 16 Apr – First Day of Term
• Thurs 18 Apr – College Production Rehearsal – Cinderella
• Fri 19 Apr – GISSA Golf Championships
• Sun 21 Apr – College Production Rehearsal – Cinderella

Week 2

• Wed 24 Apr – ANZAC Day Service 
• Wed 24 Apr – Learning Conferences
• Thurs 25 April – ANZAC Day Public Holiday
• Sun 28 Apr – College Production Rehearsal – Cinderella

Year 4 – 9 House Athletics Carnival

The Year 4 – 9 House Athletics Carnival took place on Tuesday. It was a day filled with spirited competition and a great display of sportsmanship from all participants. We had students from Junior School, Surf Coast and Middle School campuses, all competing to earn points for their House.

It was an action-packed day as the students rotated through traditional track and field events as well as optional novelty activities. The participation and enthusiasm from students in all activities was wonderful to see as they competed for their house. Alongside these events, the Project Care Representatives did a great job selling cupcakes and running a face painting stall raising money for the Sports Access Foundation.

As the day drew to a close, chosen students represented their houses in our House Relays. With the track lined with hundreds of students, anticipation ran high, and the races did not disappoint. Following the relay races, we held the “Fastest on Campus” competition, where eight of the quickest male and female students from the Middle School raced to determine this year’s titleholder as the ‘Fastest on Campus.’

Congratulations to this year’s winners, Patrick O’Shea and Indiana O’Neil.

Wrapping up the day was our inaugural “CCG Gift.” A student from each year level from Year 4 to Year 9 lined up with varying handicaps, resulting in an exciting and closely contested finish in both the male and female categories.

Maya Corrigan and Daniel Rezaei Mahalati are to be congratulated for being named our very first CCG Gift Champions.

Years 5s and 9 Student Mentors – Easter Egg Hunt

Every week, our Year 9 Student Mentors spend time in the Year 5 classrooms running a range of activities and connecting with the Year 5 students. Our Student Mentor program gives our Year 9 students an opportunity to be good role models and leaders to our younger students. The Year 5s also benefit greatly, building connections with some older students as they settle into their new school environment. The Mentors have supported the Year 5s at the start of the year with the Chilli Challenge, Year 5 Parent Cuppa mornings and this week, they put on an Easter Egg hunt for all the Grade 5s to enjoy. It was great to see the students laughing and smiling together and celebrating the joy of Easter.

Here are some comments from some of our Year 9 Student Mentors:

Ava Abetz 9R – I’ve enjoyed getting to know CCG’s new Year 5s this term, we have already learnt a lot together. We’ve participated in the Year 5 Chilli Challenge, played lots of games, and even read books to each other. A highlight of the term for me was having discussions with small groups of Year 5s. We discussed lots of topics, like future goals and values, and had lots of laughs together! It was great to learn about my group’s hopes for the future – it seems like there are going to be a lot of lawyers in Year 5!

Year 5/6 Girls Football

On Monday this week, 31 Year 5 and 6 girls from the Bellarine, Highton and Surf Coast Campuses travelled to South Barwon reserve to participate in the girls’ football competition. It was great to see all of the girls grow in confidence and skill as the day progressed.  We took with us a group of girls for the day who didn’t have much football experience but by the end of the day, it was fantastic to see how much the girls had learnt and improved. One of the best parts of the day was watching the students from the three different campuses come together to forge connections and friendships.

We would like to congratulate all our CCG Eagles for their effort and enthusiasm over the day and for displaying our Sport Faculty mindset and values of respect, invested, safety, effort, unselfish and prepared at this Event.

Year 6 – Unleashing Greatness

‘Unleashing Greatness’ was the term used when we took our Year 6 cohort up to The Summit outdoor and adventure camp in Trafalgar East this week. As we entered The Summit our students were eager to get off the bus and see what the camp had to offer, and they were not disappointed! The camp had five key objectives which we hoped the students would embrace, they included: having fun, play all-in, make lots of mistakes, get comfortable being uncomfortable and don’t go home wondering ‘what if?’

Students began by playing some games together and becoming familiar with the camp and its amazing staff who led incredible activities which included: abseiling, Tash’s Ladder, scavenger hunt, high wire and bush challenge. Not to mention the most anticipated event of the camp, the Year 6 Monster Challenge!

The energy was high from the cohort, and it was fantastic to see some real breakthroughs of courage, creativity and teamwork so early on. Abseiling was the most challenging, as the height of the platform seemed much higher on it than under it! On Tuesday afternoon the students ran their Monster Challenge, this mud run included several physical activities that got everyone involved (teachers and coaches too!) Everyone got wet, muddy and exhausted, however it was easily the highlight of camp for many of our students, as they demonstrated their ability to challenge themselves and each other, build on resilience and recognise each other’s achievements in their groups.

A GEOS Journey for Year 8 Students

Year 8 students have had an amazing opportunity to engage with their learning in a very practical sense. They have discovered the beauty of the Otways National Park and the Anglesea Heathlands and made connections from their observations on camp back to their learning in the classroom.

At school students have worked on an inquiry task to find out about a landscape degradation issue. There were parallels observed on camp when viewing the past uses of the ALCOA mine in Anglesea and logging of trees in Lorne. Students witnessed and imagined how various user groups interacted with the landscape. From observing the Aboriginal midden sites and considering their sustainable approach to managing the landscape’s contemporary uses such as tourism and educational groups. Students considered how the land is now managed and the changes of perspectives over time as well as their minimal impact strategies.

Aside from the rich content learning, students developed many interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. From developing their communication skills when working in trangia cooking and tent groups to developing their resilience and self-preservation skills during the practical skills, such as managing their limitations, managing the cold environment and organising themselves appropriately. No doubt students were stretched out of their comfort zone in one way or another, with valuable lessons to be reflected on.

Come and enjoy all nature has to offer! As we walk through the temperate rainforest, feel the fresh air and notice the ever-changing green tones of the moss, ferns and trees. Feel the mist on your face as you approach the magnificent waterfalls and enjoy the smooth paddle along the Airey’s Inlet River. Experience the vast heathlands and experience the rush as you descend the adventurous tracks of Anglesea on your mountain bike. Spot the hidden treasures of the popping pink Anglesea heath flower or the dwarf banksia as you ride along the tracks.  I wonder what the story of the coastline is? I wonder who has set foot here before us?

Year 9 Indonesian – Game Design

Year 9 Indonesian students embarked on an exciting journey this term, focusing on sports and games. Over nine weeks, students immersed themselves in the vocabulary surrounding sports, enhancing their conversational skills and articulating their interests in various sports.

As the term concluded, Students were challenged to design their own game. However, there was a twist – no props allowed. This constraint sparked creativity, pushing students to think outside the box and devise ingenious game concepts solely through imagination and verbal description.

The classroom buzzed with innovation as students collaborated, brainstormed, and refined their game ideas. This design thinking activity fostered teamwork and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

At the end of this session, students exchanged feedback and engaged in playing with each other’s creations. Through this hands-on exploration, Year 9 Indonesian students not only deepened their language proficiency but also practised essential life skills.

Qustodio Parent App

As part of the College’s commitment to supporting students and families with positive digital interactions in the home, we provide access to the Qustodio Parent App for all College parents and carers.

Relationship, clearly established boundaries, and adult modelling of healthy interactions with digital technologies form the best foundation for supporting young people’s own positive digital interactions. eSafety identifies parental controls as an important tool for parents in support of home digital wellbeing and provides an excellent parent guide to parental controls.

• Parental controls | How to keep your child safe (esafety.gov.au)

Parental controls tools, such as the Qustodio Parent App, can help to enforce agreed rules, provide safety barriers, and better empower parents and carers by providing visibility over their children’s digital activity. Parents are encouraged to consider how the Qustodio Parent App can support them and their young people at home.

Video Link: A Parent's Initial Introduction to Qustodio

Interested parents who have not already registered their Qustodio parent account can learn more about how to get started below. This includes video guides on registering your parent account as part of our school program and getting started.

• Getting Started with the Qustodio Parent App

Qustodio is a valuable tool for parents which can be used in a range of ways depending on your child’s individual age, needs and context. I encourage parents and carers to consider and explore how Qustodio can support you and your young people with positive digital interactions and wellbeing at home.

Cinderella – Be Quick - Tickets are Disappearing Fast!

There are still tickets available for our major College production this year, but they are going fast, so to ensure you don't miss out - book now! Join us as we present three very special performances of this delightful story featuring students from Years 6 – 12 with exceptional talent throughout the cast, and an orchestra brimming with outstanding student musicians, all backed up by a wonderful community of staff, students and families backstage.

Performances are at Geelong Arts Centre Play House Theatre on May 3 and 4.

To purchase tickets, visit our website and click on the hotlink on our homepage, or go straight to ticket sales by clicking here. 

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund

Financial Assistance for Eligible Parents

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are part of a healthy curriculum.

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. Support from CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities and forms part of the State Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is: • $150 for primary school students • $250 for secondary school students

How to Apply

Application Forms are available online through the Parent Portal (Go to ‘Student Information’ > ‘Important Forms for Parents’) these forms can be downloaded, completed then uploaded according to the instructions. Hard copy forms are also available from reception at each campus or by emailing enquire@ccg.vic.edu.au

More Information

For the CSEF application closing dates and more information about the fund please visit this webpage

CSEF_Application_Form_2024

Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion

The Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024. Join us at Blackman's Brewery Geelong from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Tickets are $15 each and RSVPs close on Thursday, 28th March 2024 at 5:00pm. 

This will be a great opportunity for you to reconnect with your peers, catch up with past teachers, and reminisce about your school days. 

Tours of the College Clocktower at Middle School - Highton will also be optional on the day of the reunion, if you would like to climb the Clocktower and find your brick, simply book in when you register. 

For those who would like to have a tour of the College grounds, please head to our website to arrange a tour. 

We look forward to catching up with the Class of 2014. If this is your year group, spread the word and register for your 10 Year Reunion today!  

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/2014

Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon

The Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon is back on and has been scheduled for Friday, 24 May 2024.

You are invited to join us for lunch at the stunning Provenance Wines in Fyansford.

This is a fundraising event for the Foundation and an opportunity to hear about the success and progress of the College.

Our guest speaker is Jossy Chacko, Founder and President of Empart, a global ministry that exists to ignite holistic community transformation among needy communities.

Giving leadership to a team of over 13,000 people and offices in nine countries, Jossy travels around the world inspiring and challenging leaders to capture a larger God-size vision and not to waste gifts and opportunities. He is also the author of Madness! and Dare to Partner.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to come together. 

Secure your seat and book online today! 

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/gh

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!