What’s Happening at Middle School – Highton
Week 5
- Mon, 8 Aug – Year 8 Excursion to Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne
- Mon, 8 Aug – 2023 Elective Information Evening
- Tues, 9 Aug – Highton MS Choir Performance and workshop at Senior Campus
- Thurs, 11 Aug – GISSA Inter Boys & Girls (Y9&10) Basketball Championships
Week 6
- Mon, 15 Aug – Year 7 ‘Hope Tour’ Incursion
- Thurs, 18 Aug – Hooptime Junior (Y5& 6)
- Thurs, 18 Aug – GISSA Cross-Country Championships
- Sat, 20 Aug – Senior Stage Band Performance Essentially Ellington Festival
- Sun, 21 Aug – Sun, 28 Aug – Vic. Interschools Snowsports Championships
Reserve Your Place!
Wellbeing Evening and Cyber Safe Schools Program Launch
We enjoyed a fantastic night with the parents, families, students and staff attending the first Digital Wellbeing Evening held at our Senior School Campus last night, Thursday 1st September. If you have not yet taken the opportunity to reserve your place at the second and final of our two nights, please save the date and reserve your place now! We would love to see you there. We encourage you to take a few minutes to view the video below to find out more about this important event. The evening will be presented at our Bellarine Campus next Thursday 8th September starting at 7pm. We expect to run for about 45 minutes, finishing with time for questions and a cuppa together.
We ask all Parents and Families to share their attending intentions with us via our online RSVP Response Form. Please access the form by clicking the image or link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/QwN6TXBE41
Brendan Vanderkley
Cybersafety Resources for Parents from eSafety
Parents are encouraged to explore and make use of these recently released resources from eSafety.
Media Release: Parents urged to watch out for signs of cyberbullying
This recent media release from eSafety provides parents with a contemporary context, guidance and advice regarding cyberbullying, signs that suggest a child is the target of cyberbullying and protective strategies parents can support their child with.
Webinars for parents and carers
These webinars for parents and carers provide parents with expert support, advice and guidance when navigating technology with their young person. Click the links below to learn more about specific webinars occurring soon.
- Popular Apps
Learn about TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube and help your children stay safe online. This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8 to 13.
- Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse
Help your teens stay safe by learning how to deal with online sexual harassment and image-based abuse. This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 13 to 18.
Parents interested in either of these, or any of eSafety’s other webinars, can learn more and register via this link: http://esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
I hope these resources and support materials from eSafety are helpful to all parents in our College community.
Brendan Vanderkley
Dog Therapy, Music Therapy and more!
There has been lots of incredible things happening in the Transformation Program this week. The students have approached the program with great passion, care, and hard work as they endeavored to make a positive impact on an area of injustice they felt strongly about.
Claire and Jaime have been investigating the causes and effects of disengaged students. To combat the issue, they brought in a Therapy Dog to visit classrooms at our Surf coast and Middle School campus’. It was incredible to have the dog on campus and the students loved having the dogs in their classroom as it had a calming effect on the environment.
Isabella and Zoe led the group on a mindfulness morning at the Barwon River where they addressed the issue of anxiety and stress. The students participated in workshops to help alleviate the negative effects of anxiety and were given tools on dealing with these very real issues. It was a powerful morning and the group thrived from peer-led activities.
Alisha and Sophie baked up a storm and raised important funds for Endangered Native Animals. The students worked tirelessly in the kitchen to serve up a huge treat to the Middle School. Their motivation, self-discipline and determination to make an impact on their issue is a true credit to them.
This is what a student, Ellie Morgan has to say about Transformation.
“This term I have been privileged to take part in the Transformation class. In Transformation we research our Passion Projects and connect with others on another level. My Passion Project focuses on bullying, and I have created a box in the student office for people to write kind notes to others and then I go and deliver them. This is my impact and my favourite part of Transformation; I love handing out the notes to the Transformation class and how happy they look when they receive the notes of kindness. Mrs Barry runs this program and makes it so easy to come into a new environment and connect with the new people, I have loved every minute of Transformation!
As you can see, there was so much good happening in the Transformation Program this week and it is amazing to see our students making an impact on the world and blessing those around them.
Rebecca Barry
Library Changes Make a Difference
In Term 2 we were delighted to welcome Ms Joy Whiteside to the Highton Middle School library team to run the Reading For Pleasure program. She is a qualified teacher librarian who has come to us with a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience.
Recently Joy orchestrated some, much needed cosmetic changes to the Fiction side of the library. Removing the tall, double-sided shelving created a lighter and brighter space. Display shelves were also installed to accommodate over 150, front-facing books. The rest of the shelving was moved to the perimeter of the room so that students could access books with ease. This has been achieved with donated second-hand shelving that Joy sourced from another college. It has been great to see our students enjoying the new revamped space.
Here is what some our students think….
The library has changed so much…it looks amazing, and I love it. It’s awesome.
Nina Zhang
6G
I love the new library space. It feels a lot more spacious. It’s also a lot easier to find the books you want.
Andie Zubler
6G
This new library do up makes me feel like I have more book options and decisions.
Maya Harders
6G
I love this new space. I think it is more open, you can see all of the books and you can find books easier.
Lily Gower
6G
Jaki Groves
Getting Creatively Messy With Clay!
This term in Art our Year 5 and 6 students are exploring the creative process using clay. Modelling with clay helps promote student self-confidence, encourages self-expression, and develops problem-solving skills. It uses students’ sense of touch and further develops their tactile perception, dexterity, and fine motor skills which diminishes over time with our increased use of technology in our everyday lives. This is achieved by manipulating the clay and tools through exploration of techniques and processes. This exploration process allows for individual discovery through trial and error, celebrating the process itself in both success and failure, not just the end product.
For many students using clay is relaxing and calming which can be therapeutic through the making, destroying, and transformation process strengthening emotional stability in students. However, for some students clay can be challenging at first but using perseverance, dedication, and applied effort students can have great success in increasing proficiency in the 3D clay-making process.
Our Year 5 students are exploring fairy tale themed tiles, while our Year 6 students create pinch pot monsters. We have been having lots of fun exploring modelling and creating a bit of a mess here in year 5 and 6 Art!
Felicity Van Kan
SSV Western Region T-Ball Championships
On Monday the Christian College T-Ball Cubs played off in the SSV Western Metro Region T-Ball Championships at Stead Park Corio. The boys did exceptionally well and almost made it to the grand final but unfortunately, we just missed out after being defeated in the qualifying final to a Melbourne school, Hobsons Bay from Newport who were all experienced baseballers. My proudest moment, along with the boys’ determined efforts and continual encouragement and support for each other, was an umpire giving me positive feedback about the teams’ sportsmanship and manners. Whilst we didn’t win today, the team really held their heads high and behaved and played like champions. We were very lucky to have a wonderful group of supportive parents barracking as we made it to this final stage.
Sally Bishop
Are you a Creative Scientist or Scientifically Creative?
As part of National Science Week 2022, the CCG science faculty is offering our Years 5 – 12 students an opportunity to enter a CCG Science Photography competition and/or a CCG Science Creative Writing competition.
The theme for this years’ Science Week is Glass: More than meets the eye, so naturally, the theme of each competition is also glass. We’ve got some small prizes and it’s a bit of fun, so put your creative hats on and have a go!
The deadline for both competitions is 5pm Monday 15th August.
We are offering three age categories for the competition.
Junior – Years 5 and 6.
Inter – Years 7 - 9
Open – Years 10 - 12
The selected winning entry in each category will win a science themed book with winner's names and entries to be posted in the Vine newsletter.
Detailed guidelines and entry forms are attached and can also be obtained from your science teacher, or by sending an email to science@ccg.vic.edu.au
Good luck to all entrants, we look forward to reading and viewing your submissions!
CCG Creative writing entry form
CCG Creative writing guidelines
Entertainment Fundraiser
Purpose, Passion and Pathways
The education journey for Senior students in 2023.
With the subject preferences window open for Senior School students between August 15 and 19, I would encourage you as a family to explore our Senior School Hub especially our subject selection pages that contain detailed information regarding each subject on offer from our Year 10 program, through to the VCE, the VCE Vocational Major, Victorian Pathways Certificate, VET and much, much more.
Our senior staff are dedicated to support each student’s journey, please reach out if you have any questions. Contact information can be found on our Hub home page by clicking below.
Senior School Subject and Pathways Information
We look forward to partnering with you and your child in 2023 and beyond.
Important dates:
August 15 – 19: 2023 subject preferences window open
August 19: VET applications close
Antony Benson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Important VET Information for Subject Selection 2023
Vocational Education Training (VET) is offered as a subject in Year 10, 11 and 12 at CCG Senior Campus. Students travel off campus to either The Gordon or a government or catholic school (non-Gordon) who offer the courses one afternoon a week. Year 10 students study VET as well as VCE Unit 1 Industry and Enterprise over the whole year which includes a week of work experience. VET is mandatory for students studying the new VCE Vocational Major (VM) and optional for VCE students. More information can be found in the subject selection booklets and on the Senior School Hub – VET for 2023 on SEQTA.
VET Course Information, Application Processes and Dates for 2023
- SELECT VET AS A CCG SUBJECT.
- Create a Unique Student Identifier at https://www.usi.gov.au/
- Choose your VET course from either The Gordon or Non Gordon
- APPLY FOR YOUR VET COURSE.
Non-Gordon Courses (Government and Catholic School Offerings)
Course information and application form can be found on the Senior School Hub. It will also be emailed to all Year 9 students and parents.
A hard copy application form is to be completed and returned to the CCG Senior Campus student office.
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 2nd FOR ALL STUDENTS
Second year students need to complete the application form to reapply for 2023.
Gordon Courses
COURSE INFORMATION AND ONLINE APPLICATION LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON Senior School Hub – VET for 2023 on SEQTA or by visiting https://www.thegordon.edu.au/sitedocs/publications/vet-delivered-to-secondary-students-guide.aspx
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 16 – VCE, VCE VM & VPC STUDENTS only
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 30 – YEAR 10 STUDENTS
Second year students do not need to reapply.
General Information
Early applications are highly recommended to secure a place. Most VET course run over 2 years. VET typically runs on Wednesday afternoons for 1st Year students and Monday afternoons for 2nd year students.
Year 10 VET students’ study VCE Unit 1 Industry & Enterprise for 3 periods a week and attend VET for 2 periods a week. They do a work placement in the first week of the holidays at the end of term 2.
CCG provides transport to VET – students make their own way home. VET courses incur an additional fee that is course dependent. CCG offers a subsidy.
For any queries about VET please contact me at Senior Campus or at k.fearnsides@ccg.vic.edu.au
THE GORDON VET STUDENTS
2nd Year Gordon students do not need to reapply. Please notify the student office if you plan to withdraw for 2023.
NON GORDON RTO’s, Belmont High, BSC, MFSC & Covenant College
2nd Year students must reapply, application forms available from the Student Office or on the Senior Hub.
Kerryn Fearnsides
Scholarship Applications for 2024 Entry now Open!
Each year we offer Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5 (Middle School-Highton, Bellarine and Surf Coast campuses); Year 7 (Middle School-Highton and Bellarine); and Year 10 (Senior School-Waurn Ponds).
These scholarships have been designed primarily to encourage and support new and current students who wish to attend Christian College and who demonstrate high levels of academic excellence.
We are now seeking scholarship applications for entry at any of those year levels in 2024.
For more information, and to apply, please see our website. Use the hotlink from our homepage or click here
Applications close on Thursday September 29. The examination date is Saturday October 8.
Come and Sample our Menu!
Over the next couple of weeks, two of our campuses are opening their doors to anyone interested in enrolling their children at Christian College.
Middle School-Highton and Bellarine Campus are hosting their subject selection expos. Aside from the scheduled evening for current College parents, each campus will also present another evening dedicated to families who are considering Christian College as an option for their children. At Middle School-Highton, it’s on August 9 between 7:00 and 9:00 pm, and the date for Bellarine Campus is August 16, also between 7:00 and 9:00 pm.
These sessions provide interested families with the opportunity to take a deeper dive into the fantastic learning programs offered by our College. There will be opportunities to meet and speak with campus, year level and subject area leaders.
We would encourage anyone within our College community who may know friends, neighbours, work colleagues – anyone – that are considering Christian College as an option to spread the word and extend an invitation to any one or more of these sessions.
East Timor Trivia Night
Golf Tournament
The Foundation Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 27 October 2022. Join us at 13th Beach Golf Links from 8:00am for a shotgun start. Tickets are $190 each ($150 for members) or $750 for a group of four. RSVPs close on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 5:00pm.
Funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting current students who are in need of financial assistance.
Book online at: The Foundation Golf Tournament
A MYTERN thought for this week
Are you being overly influenced by the passengers in your car? The back seat drivers? Your circumstances? Remember, you are the one who has control of your steering wheel. Welcome their advice, but ultimately the decision to drive down a certain road is your...and yours alone 👍😊
