Middle School Term 3 Week 6

Offering a Wonderful Menu 

Over the past few weeks, we have provided our families with Subject Expos to assist students to make decisions and selections for their subject choices. We also took the opportunity to invite prospective families to attend the ‘Sample Our Menu’ sessions, seeing first-hand the extensive range on offer in our Junior, Middle and Senior School contexts. Attending these events provided me with a wonderful sense of gratitude and appreciation for all that our staff and subject leaders have created for our students. The rich learning opportunities are remarkable. My thanks to the campus leadership, the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Mr Antony Benson, the Faculty Directors, the staff, and the students involved for their collective efforts to curate and present our college program in such an extensive fashion.  

Piloting and Sharing Great Learning Opportunities 

We have been blessed having Harvard University Project Zero Principal Investigator Flossie Chua return to our college to work with staff on two important programs we have been piloting in partnership with other independent schools and our peak body, Independent Schools Victoria (ISV). Flossie visited our campuses two weeks ago to observe our staff and students interacting in lessons that have been trialling a framework taking ‘Ideas into Action’ using a range of strategies in a quest to translate ideas, (principles, plans, good intentions, etc.) into action on the ground.  The work undertaken by the Christian College team was later shared with other partner schools where it received high praise. The ideas that our students were exploring takes their learning beyond the classroom to make an impact in our world and community, addressing environmental and social justice issues, as well as access and equity, as part of their collective focus.  

Flossie returned this week to launch a new pilot program focusing on ‘Transformative Repair’, a concept both Flossie and I have shared with staff and our community on previous occasions. This project looks at how strategic and sustained engagement with transformative repair as an artistic practice, can create supportive conditions for individuals and communities to find personal and broader purpose. This is particularly relevant and applicable in times of unprecedented uncertainty and challenge and encourages us to design effective ways to “repair” communities both literally and figuratively. The team working with Flossie will be preparing a strategic launch of this project for our college in 2023. Together with the work that our Wellbeing Team are producing, this is a very timely and supportive element of our demonstrated care for our community. 

Our staff are loving the unique opportunity to work with Flossie and to collaborate with staff from other schools, alongside the ISV, in this important work. It is nourishment for their practice, and a powerful encouragement toward enhancing professional growth. 

Partnering With Wellbeing 

I wish to highlight the incredible work currently being done by our Wellbeing Team. The framework we have shared with you previously, designed to guide our care and support programs, is now beginning to take shape. Wellbeing involves many aspects of College life, and we are addressing each aspect strategically - from developing our Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy support, to creating a ‘Community of Respect,’ and working within our curriculum to further enhance the designated Wellbeing sessions. A particular focus we want to highlight is the cyber world that our young people navigate. To that end I commend the Parent Information Evenings which will be held on both September 1st and September 8th. I strongly encourage all families to attend and to invest this hour in support of our young people and our community. The evenings are planned to create a partnership, allowing us to work together in this complex environment, for the benefit of our students. Please register and come along. I look forward to seeing you there. 

Reconciliation Action 

Yesterday, I had the privilege to meet with the committee working to establish our college Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Since 2006, RAPs have enabled organisations to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation around core principles of relationships, respect, and opportunities together to support our journey with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The committee will be co-chaired by students and consists of representatives from our parent community, staff, our College Board, and myself. We have incredible support from Taryn Marks, our advisor, who is mentoring and guiding us to develop a meaningful RAP which will support us as a community, fostering shared conversation and future direction, as we seek to grow in our awareness and knowledge. 

Providing Important Feedback 

Families will have received an email invitation from ISV Data to complete LEAD Surveys - part of our way of reflecting upon our practice, processes, and culture. This feedback is benchmarked and used to monitor longitudinal data and trends which can assist us with our strategic and operational planning. I would appreciate as many families as possible responding to the survey to ensure that we capture a valid sample of responses. Staff as well as students at some year levels will also participate in this survey. It is important to hear both positive and constructive feedback. I hear parents say that they chose not to complete the survey because they are happy with the College, but we would appreciate hearing that information through the collected data. To gain a represented perspective from all college stakeholders, we would appreciate a larger sample of contributions to this survey.  

A Seat in the Room where it Happens 

I was invited to participate in a roundtable conversation at Parliament House in Canberra last Friday, called by the Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare MP. The meeting was attended by all the State and Territory Education Ministers and representatives from all education sectors, teacher unions and tertiary institutions. The focus of the meeting was to address the issue of teacher workforce shortages, and matters relating to initial teacher education, and the demands and conditions that impact teachers. As a community we need to seek solutions to these concerning issues.  

It was a privilege for me to be afforded a voice to speak on behalf of my independent school colleagues and the communities we lead and care for. It was refreshing to witness time being invested by our ministers from across the nation to listen to our voice. There is much work to be done, but I left with a deep sense of hope, seeing our leaders presenting a genuine appetite to address the fact that the teaching profession needs to receive greater respect and support to best meet the complex needs of the young people in our schools today and in the future. 

As always, I continue to hold my colleagues in education in high esteem, and I remain grateful for the significant and vital work they do each day in their classrooms, and throughout the broader community. They invest generously in the lives of students and indeed families. I look forward to further conversations and action plans addressing the delivery of collective support for the important work done by Teachers.  

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace. 

Why wouldn’t we support and respect our teachers? 

It begins with each of us. I believe in the power of education and in the shared partnership that we enjoy with students, families, and the College - working together with purpose to make the world a better place and to see humankind flourishing. We each have a responsibility to value and support one another in this process. 

To conclude, I offer one more quote from Nelson Mandela; “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” 

Week 8 

• Sun, 28 Aug – Tues, 30 Aug – Yr 9 GEOS – The Prom Camp 1 (Wilsons Prom National Park) 
• Tues, 30 Aug – 2023 Gordon VET course enrolment open for 2023 Year 10 students 
• Wed, 31 Aug – Sun, 4 Sept – Senior Music Tour 
• Wed, 31 Aug – Fri, 2 Sept – Yr 9 GEOS – The Prom Camp 2 (Wilsons Prom National Park) 
• Thurs, 1 Sept – Deakin District Basketball (Yr5&6) 
• Thurs, 1 Sept – Highton and Bellarine Concert bands Performance 
• Thurs, 1 Sept – Wellbeing Parent Evening and Cyber Safe Schools Program Launch 
• Sat, 3 Sept – Senior Wind Symphony Performance -Melbourne University Wind Band Day 

In Mathematics, all students have been learning about Chance and Data. They gathered data and produced corresponding graphs, showcasing their impressive technology skills. They have also been working through strategies when playing games with a partner, Hex being the clear favourite.  

It has been wonderful to see the growth and maturity in our Year 5 students across all areas of school life. We are all very much looking forward to our camp at Sovereign Hill in October where we will be able to continue to build on the close relationships that have been made this year.  

“I have enjoyed the maths games and warm ups this term, because I am still learning maths, whilst being able to play interactive games with my class”.  

Lucas M. 

“I have really enjoyed making a newspaper article about settlement in Australia and learning about the stolen generation. I didn’t know that people took the indigenous children from their homes. It is really sad that this happened.”  

Jet P. 

It was such a joy to hear students from Years 3 – 12 raise their voices in beautiful harmony and share their love for community singing with plenty of smiles all around! For any students interested in joining the Middle School Choir, please contact Ms Kate Notini: k.notini@ccg.vic.edu.au 

Please note – All College ensembles are currently preparing repertoire for the Annual CCG Music Evening in Costa Hall, Thu. 13th October (Week 2 of Term 4). Part of this preparation will include a Middle School Music Camp held in the final week of Term 3 in Anglesea. This will be the first opportunity for many of our students to attend in recent years with great excitement building towards both events!  

We request that parents and guardians who schedule conference bookings, ensure that they have a quiet and respectful area available in which they can connect to the video call. Please note that teachers will not be able to participate in calls with family members who are driving a vehicle or in an inappropriate setting.  

If you have any questions about these conferences, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Homeroom Teacher or Heidi Wilkinson by phone or email. We look forward to speaking with you online soon.  

VET Course Information, Application Processes and Dates for 2023  

1. SELECT VET AS A CCG SUBJECT.
2. Create a Unique Student Identifier at https://www.usi.gov.au/
3. Choose your VET course from either The Gordon or Non Gordon
4. 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.