What’s Happening at Middle School

Week 9

• Tues 20 Jun – Project Care Day – Casual Dress
• Fri 23 Jun – Rural 4 (9H & 9M Girls) Concludes
• Fri 23 Jun – Last Day of Term 2

Term 3 – Week 1

• Mon 17 July – Students First Day Term 3
• Mon 17 July – Rural 5 (9R & 9Y Boys) Commences
• Tues 18 July – Rural Catch-Up Class Photos and Individual Portraits
• Thurs 20 July – Netball Vic ‘All-Schools’ Qualifying Round
• Fri 21 July – GISSA Inter Girls (Years 9 & 10) Netball Championship
• Sat 22 July – Vic All Schools XC Championships

Lots Going on in Year 5

The Year 5 students have had a very busy Term 2. They have been focusing on reading and reflecting strategies using the mentor text ‘Black Cockatoo’. Watching the students immerse themselves in the topics of culture, family and traditional ways of living has been a real joy. The students have been busy creatively responding in a variety of ways to the story of Mia and her Black Cockatoo.

In Mathematics, students have been focusing on Measurement and the Metric System. They showcased their skills and learnings through the design and construction of their food trucks. The task required students to create a business model, a menu and to build the inside of their trucks, finishing with a model truck that they should be incredibly proud of.

Along with this, students have been busy creating a sustainable Australia in Humanities, purchasing items that will ensure the success of their countries, states, and territories for years to come. As the Lorax once said, “unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not” I can assure you, these Year 5 students care a whole awful lot about their country and planet.

The year 5 cohort is eager to get into Semester 2 and all the joys and adventures they will experience throughout it.

Performance at Highton

Music is a living artform. Musicians compose, plan, practice and work towards being able to share music in a performance. All the preparation reaches a climax when music is performed, and it is over in a moment. No two performances are exactly the same. Because of this, watching a performance is often very exciting.

This week, students at the Highton campus performed for each other and for their familes and friends. On Tuesday night there were two concerts of soloists from Year 5 to Year 9 playing many different instruments to an invited audience. It was such a joy for them to show our wider community what they work on in their instrumental lessons and with their home practice. The careful preparation and concentration displayed in each performance, showed me what our young people are capable of.

On Wednesday morning our Year 5 students shared performances with each other. Our large Concert Band of Year 5 students, who only began learning their instruments at the start of the year, surprised the workshop students with how much they had learned in such a short time. The Music Workshop band, assisted by Scott Jolley and Martin De Marte, performed three pieces to the Concert Band students who really enjoyed seeing what could be achieved when learning an instrument for longer. There were many heads bopping, feet tapping and much dancing in the chair happening.

Thanks to the students for their hard work, parents and instrumental teachers for their support and the audiences for their appreciation. We look forward to more performances throughout the year.

Film and Literature – Analysis, Response and Exploration

In English this term our Middle School students have been focusing on film analysis, responding to a text and exploring War Literature.

Year 7 students have studied the Australian film Storm Boy, reimagined by director Shawn Seet, analysing the key features of the film and the symbolism it holds for family relationships, nature and connection to land.

Our Year 8 students have been studying a very different Australian text, prose novel Footprint on the Moon by Lorriane Marwood. After thoroughly (and enthusiastically!) debating topics like financing space travel, conscription during times of war and making it illegal to protest under the age of 18, students are currently finishing off the term by crafting creative personal pieces in response to the theme of space travel and protesting for our rights.

Finally, half of our Year 9 cohort are exploring the grittiness of war literature, creating some amazing pieces of narrative themselves that explore the heroism and unbelievable feats of humanity to show kindness and survive against all odds. While the other half of Year 9 are having an in-depth look at Indigenous issues across the country to produce a persuasive oral while viewing the iconic Australian film Rabbit Proof Fence. Across the entire Middle School this term, it is evident that the texts we have studied remind us that in the complexity of the world we live in, the struggles and triumphs that others experience provide inspiration for our own lives even in small ways, to speak even if our voices shake.

Gideons International and The Bible From a Student’s Perspective

Today in our Chapel Service, the Year 8s and 9s combined to hear an encouraging message and receive a small gift of a Gideons Bible. Peter from Gideons International shared a message about the work that Gideons do around the world to get Bibles into the hands of people. The students watched a short video that shared a testimony of young man who had his life changed from this small gift that was offered to him when he was in High School.

Will Wray, Jett van Dreven, Felix Rankin, Jack Rivas and Elijah Grills, five of our Middle School Prefects shared with the Year 8 and 9s about their experience with the Bible and the joy that it brings to them personally. They shared of the hope, peace, and comfort it has provided for them in times of need. The students wanted to encourage others to take the time to read some of the promises written in the Bible and share the relevance of the gospel today. The Year 8s and 9s loved hearing the perspective of other students and the relevance in today’s world.

Will Wray shared with the students about a lunchtime youth group that is being held each Friday in the Transformation Space. The group is called, ‘This is us’, and the group share about their experience as young Christians and enjoy some music, a message, and some prayer together.

In a world that continues to throw lies at this generation through social media platforms, it’s so encouraging to see and hear that God is at work in this place, particularly in the lives of our future leaders here at Middle School.

In Term 3, our Year 9s will be leading some of our Chapel Services and we can’t wait to see what they have to share with the community.

MND Event Next Week

On Tuesday, June 20, the campus will be running an event in support of MND (Motor Neuron Disease). This charity was selected by the Project Care reps earlier in the term, and the date of our event coincides with the week of Blue Cornflower Day.

We encourage all students to participate in casual dress but ask them to bring a gold coin donation for the privilege. Students will hopefully wear at least a splash of blue, as we strive to raise awareness for this important cause. Thanks to the talents of Mrs Ruplal and Mrs Bergin we’ll also have blue face painting available, adding a touch of vibrancy to our event. Additionally, satisfy your sweet tooth by indulging in delicious cakes and biscuits available for purchase, courtesy of Mrs Rogerson and the Year 9 Food group.

Another exciting opportunity awaits the three homerooms who donate the most money. Three lucky students, one from each of the top three homerooms, will have the extraordinary opportunity to pour an ice-cold bucket over the heads of some brave teachers! This is our version of the Big Freeze event. 

Let’s come together as a school community, make a difference, and support those affected by MND.

Term 2 in the Middle School Library

An added appeal of holidays is undoubtedly extra reading time! The Middle School Library staff have greatly enjoyed supporting students make their selections for the term break, with many eager to try a new author or make progress through their favourite series.

Term 2 has seen our Year 5 students enthusiastically borrow a total of 1,229 times, with Year 8 students not too far behind. Throughout the year to date, the prolific Ahn Do and Tristan Bancks have proved our most popular authors, alongside master of Manga Eiichiro Oda. The willingness of students to seek recommendations, make requests and share their feedback reflects the thriving culture of our Reading Room.

Similarly, the Research Room has welcomed many classes throughout the term. Students have been well supported in their research on topics ranging from Ancient Civilizations to the history of Geelong, renewable energy and First Nations leaders. Students can access our online Research Guides via the Library homepage during and beyond school hours, in addition to our non-fiction collection.

Scholastic Book Club

We also look forward to continuing to offer the Scholastic Book Club in Term 3. Book Club can make a significant difference to the reading that happens outside of our Reading for Pleasure program, as well as assist Library staff in tailoring our collection to students’ needs and interest. Look out for Issue 5 early next term.

Canteen

Please note: Canteen at Middle and Senior School Campuses will not be open on the last day of Term 2, Friday June 23. Normal opening days resume in Week 1 of Term 3.

Senior School Subject Selection – Learning Pathways Night and More

To empower our students and their families to make well-informed decisions regarding their learning pathways, subject choices, and accredited courses of study, we have organised a series of valuable opportunities. These initiatives aim to familiarise students and families with the available options, processes, and potential outcomes available to them. We are excited to commence these events with a Learning Pathways Information Session, taking place online on Tuesday, June 20th at 6:30 PM.

During the Learning Pathways Information Session, we will provide essential information to students and families, shedding light on the revised VCE (ATAR), VCE VM (Vocational Major), Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), VET courses, and School-Based Apprenticeship & Traineeships (SBATs). Our aim is to offer clear and concise explanations of how each of these pathways presents unique opportunities for students in their pursuit of future ambitions.

This session will prove immensely beneficial for families joining our Senior School community in 2024, serving as a comprehensive guide for our current Year 10 and 11 students and families as they consider their options while progressing into the next year level.

CCG Equestrian Team

Congratulations to all members of the CCG Equestrian team who competed at the Interschools Geelong Grammar School Dressage and Show Jumping VEIS round for 2023. Show jumping riders included Molly Spry, Sian Hayes, Leonora Turner and Liberty Armitage while Zoe Sambucco competed in the Dressage. Well done to Liberty and Nora who were placed second and fourth respectively in the Intermediate Class, with Liberty finishing fourth overall. Thank you to all competitors, parents and staff for your participation and support! 

The STEM Education and Industry Conference

Recently hosted by Wyndham Tech High School, the aim of the conference was to bring educators, businesses and community partners together to hear about future trends in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).  We had the chance to listen to teachers present case studies on how they are embedding STEM initiatives at their schools, hear from students, and interact with an industry panel as they discuss business challenges and career opportunities.

The day was packed full of inspirational people doing great things in our community. The keynote speaker, Steve Sammartino, had many personal stories and experiences to share about how technology is shaping society and the economy. He is one example of a futurist who is challenging traditional norms in exciting ways. You can read more about Steve and some of the innovative projects he is working on by visiting https://stevesammartino.com/

The industry panel emphasised the current need for employees to be proficient in design thinking and encouraged educators to embed design thinking as much as they can within their school programs. Teachers were asked to help clear the misconception that students must excel in mathematics to be successful in STEM. It was communicated that having the skill of adaptability is advantageous. In fact, it is a skill that many employers are currently seeking given the constantly changing nature of the modern workplace. The emphasis on having students develop their capabilities, especially resilience and collaboration, in readiness for future employment, featured strongly by the industry panel.

Would you Like to go to Space…Camp?

The Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship is an international education program which aims to reward aspiring STEM enthusiasts and future leaders with a hands-on astronaut training experience at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre’s renowned Space Camp, located in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

Four students from Australia will be awarded a scholarship to the International Space Camp program taking place in Huntsville, Alabama in July 2024. The winning group of students (and one teacher) will make up ‘Mission Crew #13 - Team Australia’, and will join fellow groups from the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Singapore, United States and Poland to become ‘Team Endeavour’.

Successful applicants will receive an all-expenses paid enrolment and airfare to Space Camp, where for one-week students are immersed in the ultimate educational experience to illuminate real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

All covered expenses include tuition, dormitory accommodation, meals throughout the week, and economy class round trip from Australia to Huntsville, Alabama. Travel will also include all transportation on the ground, as well as a day trip to Washington DC ahead of Space Camp commencement.

Foundation Golf Day 2023

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.

Save the date: Thursday November 9.

We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]

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