What’s Happening at Middle School
Week 8
- Sun 3 Sept – Tues 5 Sept – Year 9 GEOS Hike Program 1
- Mon 4 Sept – Karen Students Learning Conferences
- Tues 5 Sept – Junior Boys (Years 7 and 8) Netball Championships
- Tues 5 Sept – North Geelong Division Athletics Championships
- Wed 6 Sept – Fri 8 Sept – Year 9 GEOS Hike Program 2
- Wed 6 Sept – Year 7 and 8 GISSA Sport
- Thurs 7 Sept – Athletics Victoria ‘Nitro’ event
- Thurs 7 Sept – Senior and Intermediate Boys Netball State Final
Week 9
- Mon 11 Sept – Wed 13 Sep – Middle Schools Music Camp
- Fri 15 Sept – Talent Quest
- Fri 15 Sept – Rural 6 (9R and 9Y Girls) concludes
- Fri 15 Sept – Last Day of Term – Early dismissal 2.30pm
Learning Conferences
It was wonderful to see so many teachers and families connecting via Teams on Tuesday evening to communicate the progress of our young people. A chance for teachers and families to meet and celebrate the successes and devise strategies for any challenges that students may be facing.
Teachers were seen in offices and classrooms around the campus, enjoying conversations with families throughout the evening. The evening saw 713 interviews, allowing staff to connect with many different families across varied subjects.
As we approach the end of term 3 and look towards a busy term 4, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all CCG families for their ongoing support.
Natasha Troop, Deputy Head of Campus
Ark Recovery High Performance Athlete Excursion
This past Tuesday, the Year 7 High Performance Athlete class made a trip to a facility in the heart of Belmont called, ‘Ark Recovery’. A sport recovery facility aimed at providing elite level recovery methods for everyone. Owned and run by Josh Baker, a Christian College Alum this was an opportunity that fit right in with what the Year 7’s were currently investigating in class. This being the idea that improvement from a physical point of view only comes from proper recovery. Athletes can train all they like but if they are not following simple methods such as sleep, hydration and nutrition they will not be maximizing their development.
Ark Recovery fits in with this conversation by offering a range of modalities in which any person can test and trial to see what works best for them. Students were able to experience compression boots in the comfort of soft recliners, percussive devices in massage guns, vibrating foam rollers and balls, as well as test themselves in the newly installed cold and warm baths. They definitely preferred the warm baths…. but it was great to see the students alternating between the warm and cold for the ultimate benefits! Time was spent discussing the use of these ice baths, heat therapy and mobility/stretching.
It was great to see the student’s excitement at trying things out that professionals most definitely use and the level of questions and inquiry was very pleasing to see.
Students took away and reflected on the methods underlying scientific concepts and what they personally could take away for their own sporting endeavors; the need for basic recovery but also finding a space for some ‘cool gadgets’ and different approaches.
Many thanks to Josh for facilitating this for our students and the staff involved.
Lauren Davis
Year 7 Slam Poetry Competition
It is a busy and creative English term for the Year 7s as they learn how ‘Words Shape Worlds’ through their study of poetry. From Sonnets, Gospel, Haiku, and Blackout, to Free Verse, Visual and Slam, students have been examining different forms of poetry and the effect words have on a target audience. Through analysis, annotation and writing of their own poems, students explore structure, tone, themes, mood, emotion, language, and literary devices to help make sense of the world in which they live.
To showcase some of their wonderful work, and just because it’s fun, this week saw Middle School host its very own Year 7 Slam Poetry Competition: Slam Fest 2023.
Slam Poetry is a type of Performance Poetry which combines the elements of performance, writing, competition and often contains catchy rhyme or rap to convey thought and emotion. This event was held in The Chapel with a Year 6 and 7 audience, and several brave students stood in front of their peers to perform their very own poems. Topics ranged from music, AFL, Taylor Swift, siblings, KFC, body positivity and more, with many performing in pairs or groups.
It was a wonderful day, and we are really proud of our budding poets.
Georgie Goodwin
Year 8s Prepare Dishes for Snack Challenge
As part of their Food Studies curriculum, the Year 8 students have been exploring the concept of good nutrition and how to make healthy snacks. They have been following the recipes from the Nutrition Australia website, which provides a range of tasty options for different occasions. To demonstrate their learning outcomes, the students participated in a cooking challenge this week. They had to cook and present their healthy snack creations to a panel of judges and explain what they had learnt from this unit of work. The judges were Ms. Broad and Mr. Sharp who sampled and assessed the appearance of the dishes. The judges complimented their dishes and inquired about the ingredients they used. The students amazed them with their varied and delicious snacks, such as Coconut Bliss Balls, Sushi, and Pretzels. Congratulations to all the students who took part in the challenge and showed their creativity and passion for food.
Felicity Rogerson
R U OK? Day – ‘Here to Hear’
The mental health of all members of a school community is a critical component to overall wellbeing and therefore it is vital that we encourage open conversations about it. As a national initiative, R U OK? day offers a timely and powerful reminder of the importance of checking in with one another in a meaningful way as a tool to strengthen connections and foster a sense of belonging and understanding.
As we have done so for many years, Christian College will actively participate and engage with R U OK? day – Thursday 14th September (students to wear timetabled uniform on this day). There will be special activities throughout the week, as well as on this day specifically. These will include various College-wide staff versus student’s sports challenges and in our dedicated wellbeing sessions, as well as a range of activities designed to strengthen belonging, empathy and understanding and to build listening skills. Finally, we will also be running a photo or art competition with the theme ‘Here to Hear’. Our aim is to create a canvas of support, encouraging conversations about mental health and this creative vision can help remind us all that we’re here to listen and support one another.
Whilst this day holds immense value in encouraging open conversations about mental health, R U OK? Day is just one part of our broader commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Kerrie Dapiran, Deputy Head of Campus
One for All and All for One!
“This world is an uncertain realm, filled with danger. Honor undermined by the pursuit of power, freedom sacrificed when the weak are oppressed by the strong. But there are those who oppose these powerful forces, who dedicate their lives to truth, honour, and freedom. These men are known as Musketeers. Rise, D'Artagnan, and join them.”
Alexandrea Durmas – The Three Musketeers, 1844
For many there’s nothing better than a dress up, for others they can think of nothing worse! Last week’s Book Week celebrations saw literary characters of every kind arrive at school across our Junior and Middle School campuses in a flurry of colour, face paint, excitement and joy.
It was my pleasure to be one of ‘The Three Musketeers’ alongside our Acting Principal Mr Rick Geall and our Head of Wellbeing Mrs Kim Doherty for Book Week and to deliver a devotions together about the significance of teamwork.
We live in an incredibly entitled individualistic society. Individuality can often be very healthy, it allows for good differentiation and boundaries in relationships and ensures that each person can be who God has made them to be without being squished, manipulated or conformed into being someone else. Individualism however is often very unhealthy. Cultures marked by individualism often organise themselves according to hierarchies of dominance – people compete to be better than others rather than be better than themselves, resources are stockpiled by the few rather than amongst the many. So often in these cultures people demand that the needs, rights and expressions of each individual must be met by the greater collective of other individuals at the expense of the community’s wellbeing, growth, healing, safety or wholeness. In these cultures you’re likely to hear phrases like “You can’t tell me, you can’t make me, it’s my right to, I’m entitled to, I don’t care what you think or feel etc” In these communities people are enculturated to think only for and about themselves. As you can imagine, individualism in a community often results in people experiencing greater stress, less social support and relationships of convenience. People in communities that perpetuate individualism are less likely to help others or engage in charity/community service, the irony is they are also less likely to seek help for themselves when they need it. What begins as individualism often results in a lack of resilience, self-esteem, self-awareness as well as competition and isolation. Individualism is more of an “the world owes me something and I deserve it” epitaph rather than the Musketeer’s cry of “All for One and One for All”. The bible’s response is quite clear in asserting that a community, like a body, is made of many individual parts that are distinct in purpose, function and appearance but ultimately useless without the other parts that come together to form the whole. You can read more about this in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 12. It is a powerful passage of scripture that validates each and every person for the fearfully and wonderfully made human they are while dignifying them and their unique differences as an essential part of the whole. Thankfully our community at Christian College is modelled upon scriptures like this and is much more akin to the biblical and Musketeer perspective rather than the “me first” world of individualism.
Our community safeguards a person’s individuality without damaging the whole by elevating or idolising one individual over another. We advocate for community. For shared unity. For the help, wholeness, health and life in abundance we can bring to each other through the practice of our College values; Faith, Hope, Love, Grace and Truth. We are Musketeers, we are parts of the body of Christ, we are teammates; Staff, Students, Parents and Families working together with the sustaining presence and power of a loving God.
One for All and All for One!
Mia Kafieris, Dean of Christian Culture
Sport News
Suzanna Mavromihalis (10F1) competed in the Australian National Cross-Country Championships as a member of the Victorian Team in Canberra last weekend. After a strong run in a quality field, Suzanna finished 21st out of 59 girls in her age group and was the 5th fastest Victorian girl overall. She was very happy with this performance, as she was hoping for top 30. Suzanna is already training and aiming to make this State team again in 2024. We congratulate her on this brilliant performance and wish her all the very best in achieving her future goals.
Ashton Schram (9R) was selected in the State U16 Hockey team that played at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Adelaide. The Vic team made the play-off match for the bronze medal, with the match providing an exciting ‘goal for goal’ spectacle before going down 4-3 to South Australia. As a result of a successful year with this State team, and earlier with the Vic U15 team, Ashton has been selected for the Melbourne under 16 ‘Futures Team’ that will be playing several games interstate over the next few months. The college wishes Ashton all the very best with this next stage of his career.
Our College soccer teams competed in the GISSA Championships throughout August, with some very competitive results. Our Inter Girls team won their Championships play-off match in a penalty shoot-out against Kardinia IC. After winning all their ‘Pool’ matches, they faced their traditional rival for the Title, which was 2-2 at full time. It was CCG’s sixth penalty taker (Evy Nobel) who kicked truly to give the team the win after penalties were locked at 4 all. Our Senior and Inter Boys teams competed brilliantly on their respective Championship days. In what was a first for the college, we fielded two senior teams, which is a credit to our Year 11 & 12 cohort and the coaching staff. The Senior 1 team and the Inter team qualified for their respective Championship play-off match against Kardinia IC. Both teams lost narrowly to their archrival but showed tremendous skill and strong character in two hard fought Championship matches. The Senior girls team enjoyed representing the college on their Championship day and competed very well in their respective matches across the day to finish in the 3rd v 4th play-off and drawing this match against Covenant College after full time.
We wish to acknowledge and thank our coaching staff: Mike Neaves, Andrew Groves, Louise Bull, Andrew Tucker, and George Elliss on their time and effort in preparing our teams and providing quality coaching on the day. Their valuable input with our college soccer program is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to students enjoying their coaching efforts and playing the ‘world game’ for our college in the future.
Andrew Richardson, Head of Sport
National Science Week Photography Competition Results
A number of students from Bellarine and Highton campuses embraced the opportunity to enter our recent Science Week Photography Competition. The brief was to take and submit 3-6 photos that link together and demonstrate a scientific concept or principle.
First place was awarded to Jessica Phelan, Year 8 at Bellarine campus for her series of four photographs illustrating fluid dynamics using different photos of bubbles.
Second place was awarded to Sarrah Millie, Year 7 at Middle school campus for her series of five photographs demonstrating the upward lift and hydraulic pressure evident when a strawberry is dropped into a bowl of water.
We congratulate all students who took part and hope they enjoyed themselves and learnt a little bit more about science along the way!
Elissa Huddart
The Christian College Sport Hall of Honour
We are proud to announce a new initiative, which will become an important tradition in the life of our College – the Sport Hall of Honour – to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our past students who have reached national or international status in their chosen sports.
On October 5, we welcome our inaugural inductees to the Sport Hall of Honour – ex-students, Gary Ablett Jr and Tegan Philip. Both are universally recognised as champions at the highest level in their respective sports – AFL football and netball.
You are invited to join us for this gala dinner event at Mt Duneed Estate. On the night, we will also honour a cohort of current students as ‘Rising Eagles’ for their outstanding achievements in their chosen sports, putting them on a pathway to perhaps achieve the type of success required to enter our Sport Hall of Honour in future years.
The night also presents the perfect opportunity to award, for the first time ever, the ‘Gary Ablett Jr’ and ‘Tegan Philip’ medals to the students named as MVP of our Senior Male Football team and Senior Female Netball team from this year’s GISSA Championships.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the October 5 event, please visit our website.
The Hall of Honour will be a permanent display within our school, displaying the names, images and achievements of our extraordinary sports stars. This will not only inspire our current students but also serve as a testament to the values and dedication instilled within them during their time at Christian College.
We encourage our College community to join us in celebrating those who have pursued their gifts and passions to an extraordinary level of success. While one of the criteria for induction to the Sport Hall of Honour is that individuals have retired from their sport professionally or at the very highest level, if you are aware of any past students who have achieved, or are achieving, national or international recognition in sport, please reach out to our Sports Administrator Matthew Murnane m.murnane@ccg.vic.edu.au with any relevant information.
Daryl Riddle OAM, CEO of Christian College
Scholarship Applications are Now Open!
Each year Christian College offers Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5, 7 and 10 levels. Applications are now open for this year’s scholarships, which apply to entry in 2025, at three campuses – Middle School-Highton, Bellarine Campus and Surf Coast Campus.
Year 10 entry applies to Senior School-Waurn Ponds only.
To find out more, and to apply, visit our website and look for the homepage hotlink, or click here.
Scholarship applications are open to students who do not currently attend Christian College, as well as those who are currently enrolled here. Scholarship examinations will be held at Christian College on Saturday October 7. Closing date for applications is Thursday, September 28.
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 f.provan@ccg.vic.edu.au
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
