Middle School Term 2 Week 7

What’s Happening at Middle School

Week 8

• Mon 3 June – Hope Tour Presentation
• Tues 4 June – Deakin Forensics Day for Year 9
• Thurs 6 June – 2024 SSV Winter Sport Pathway – Round 5
• Thurs 6 June – GISSA Junior Girls AFL Championships
• Thurs 6 June – String Ensembles Performance Evening

Week 9

• Mon 10 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
• Wed 12 June – Parent Webinar: Generative AI and School
• Fri 14 June – Talent Quest

Red Shield Appeal

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

On Sunday May 26, 31 students from Middle School – Highton doorknocked in the local area to collect money for the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal.  In perfect autumn conditions, the students headed out in small groups with a map marked with their allocated houses to visit.  The collection was very successful with the students collecting $1040 in just over an hour and a wonderful display of faith in action.  Many thanks to the students and staff involved and to Major Karen Castley from the South Barwon Salvation Army for her assistance and preparation for the collection.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a significant time in Australia, fostering understanding, respect, and unity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. The theme for NRW 2024, “Now More Than Ever,” emphasises the urgency and relevance of reconciliation in our contemporary context.

During NRW, the Middle School Community actively engaged in various activities to deepen our understanding of reconciliation. These activities gave time for students to reflect on the importance of acknowledging and honouring First Nations cultures.

Nude Food Day – Tuesday June 4

World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 each year, is a global initiative aimed at inspiring positive change for the protection of our climate and environment. In recognition of this important day, our Project Care committee has organized a ‘Nude Food Day’ event for next Tuesday, June 4. As part of the celebration, we will conduct a school cleanup on Monday afternoon and weigh the collected waste. We encourage students to discuss with their parents about minimising the use of disposable items like glad wrap, foil, and sandwich bags in their lunch boxes.

On ‘Nude Food Day,’ students are requested to eat their recess and lunch in their homerooms to reduce trash on school grounds. There will be two separate bins in each classroom for compostable items and regular waste, although students can choose to take their waste back home. Project Care representatives will collect the waste at the end of the day to weigh it. This initiative aims to promote environmental awareness and responsible waste management among students.

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and is a global platform for inspiring positive change. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses, schools and individuals to create a more sustainable world. It has been led by the United Nations Environment Program since its inception in 1973.

The theme for this year’s  World Environment Day is 'Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience'.

At Christian College, we are supporting this movement and each of our campuses is hosting an activity during the week.

There will be tree planting at both Senior School and Surf Coast campuses, switching off lights in a more careful way at Bellarine, a Nude Food Day at Highton campus, and a recycle-reuse challenge as well as a plant care competition at Junior School.

We would encourage you to ask your child about the event and related activities at their campus, and what part they might be playing, and support this action. As a family, you may like to take on a challenge to make a change and reduce your household emissions.

You can find out more about World Environment Day at this website:  World Environment Day   Scroll down to ‘Highlights’ and ‘Explore World Environment Day events’ and you will see the Christian College events registered on the map of the world.

Seeking Christian College Company Members

Christian College Geelong is seeking expressions of interest from any parent or guardian interested in becoming a new Company Member.

Company Members play an important part in the governance structure and protection of the College. A number of positions on the Christian College Board are filled by company members, depending on the skillset required when vacancies arise, and it is the company members who have the responsibility of voting to pass any amendments to the Christian College constitution. Company members may also be eligible to sit on various committees involved in the governance of the College.

Whilst participating as a company member is not overly onerous, it needs to be pointed out that the position is voluntary and not remunerated in any way. Also, please understand an expression of interest does not guarantee automatic membership of the company.

If you have a heart for the College, and feel you would have the time to dedicate and an interest in this role, please contact the Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls at b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au. All expressions of interest must be submitted by COB Friday, August 2.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Funding

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. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. 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 (Student Information, then 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

The closing date for applications is June 28.

 For more information about the fund visit www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

National Collection of Data on Students With a Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). With data collected on the first Friday in August (August 5 this year), the NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability.

These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD Guidelines.

Please see the attached NCCD Fact Sheet for more information.

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet

Reminder:  Generative AI Parent Webinar

A reminder to parents and members of our community that we will be offering an online parent webinar, delivered via Microsoft Teams, next Wednesday. It has been wonderful to see such strong parent interest via RSVP responses and questions submitted so far.

There is still time to register for this event. Further details about the event are listed below.

Event: Generative AI and School Parent Webinar
Format: Microsoft Teams online webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 6.30pm – 7.15pm

Topics likely to be explored in the webinar include:

• What is generative AI?
• What are the benefits, risks, and limitations of these tools?
• What is the College’s response to generative AI?
• What AI tools do students have access to at school?
• What are the College’s rules and guidelines for use of generative AI?
• How can I support my child with navigating this space ethically and safely?

Interested parents are encouraged to register for the event via the form link below, to help with planning. Parents can also indicate what information they feel would be most relevant to them as they complete this form.

Register for the parent webinar

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!