What’s Happening at Middle School
Week 9
- Mon, 5 Sept – Year 9 Geography Fieldtrip
- Mon, 5 Sept – Year 8 Medieval Day 8BGH
- Tues, 6 Sept – Year 9 Geography Fieldtrip
- Tues, 6 Sept – Geelong North Division Athletic Championships
- Thurs, 8 Sept – Netball Vic. ‘All Schools’ Final Round – Junior Boys Only
- Thurs, 8 Sept – Learning Conferences
Week 10
- Mon, 12 Sept – Wed, 14 Sept – Middle Schools Music Camp
- Thurs, 15 Sept – Athletics Victoria ‘Nitro’ event
- Fri, 16 Sept – Conclusion of Term 3 Studies. 2.30pm Dismissal
Term 3 Learning Conferences
It is a priority of ours to communicate regularly and comprehensively with you, in regards to your young person’s learning journey. In addition to regular updates on student progress via our ‘in-time reporting’ program and our end of semester summative reports, both accessed through your Parent Portal (SEQTA Engage), our twice-yearly Student Learning Conferences provide the opportunity to briefly meet your young person’s Homeroom and subject teachers, including to discuss their academic progress.
We are holding our Semester 2 Student Learning Conferences on Thursday, September 8, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, and 6.30pm – 9:00pm. As with last semester, these will be held online via Microsoft Teams.
Learning conferences are 10 minutes in duration, however if any parent/guardian requires a longer conference time, please discuss this with the relevant teacher prior to selecting your timeslot online.
Please note: We are asking all students to accompany their parents/guardians to the Learning Conferences this year. Research suggests that student learning can be impacted positively through the teacher providing direct feedback to individual students. It also provides opportunity for reflection, questions and discussion pertinent to goal setting. We feel that parents/guardians will also benefit from these opportunities for discussion and feedback.
Online Learning Conference Bookings will be available by clicking on the ‘School Interviews’ tile on the Parent Portal or by going to www.schoolinterviews.com.au Simply enter the school event code (betcm) and book the teachers and times requested. A more detailed explanation of how to make conference bookings is attached for your convenience.
Bookings:
Opened: Tuesday, August 30 at 9:00am
Close: Tuesday, September 6 at 5:00pm
Information about accessing Microsoft TEAMS on your home device is also attached for your convenience.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with you and your child/ren through these conferences.
Kerrie Dapiran, Deputy Head of Campus
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
Skilling Up Students in Product Design Materials
Product Design classes are busily planning a range of projects from simple wooden toys in Year 5 to passive amplifiers in Year 9. There are many overlapping and developing skills across the year levels including developing orthogonal drawings, using CAD software and the laser cutter to manufacture parts, learning the difference between centimetres and millimetres, drilling a range of materials with forstner and traditional bits, gluing up and sanding to name just a few of the skills and pieces of equipment.
Below is a picture of a ‘work in progress’ toy car in Year 5. The student made a paper template, traced it on to a piece of 19mm pine, scroll-sawed the basic shape, further shaped it with a rasp and then final sanded it with a 240 grit sandpaper to achieve a beautiful finish. He then laser cut wooden wheels, cut axles and mounted the wheels. This is a great project that showcases so many wonderful skills.
Below are two Year 9 projects; they are passive amplifiers that hold a phone. Students designed these around their own phones, which make these custom-made projects. As you can see, they used a minimum of two different materials including wood and acrylic. Principles of amplification were considered, and these devices double the volume of what a phone alone produces.
Moving forward, I’m excited that we’ve begun ‘upcycling’ pallets for some larger-scale projects in Year 8. I am eager to share some photos as projects are complete in my next Vine entry! Using pallets is a great way to teach students about broadening their skills and using wood that might otherwise be wasted.
Riley Price and Jack Berry
David Kehler
Tournament of the Minds
We made it! It was with great anticipation and excitement that two teams made up of Year 5 and 6 students competed at this year’s Tournament of the Minds (TOM). TOM is a program for primary and secondary aged students who work together to solve authentic, open-ended challenges. Our teams this year were the ‘Terabytes’ who worked in the area of STEM and ‘Twisted Minds’ who chose Language Literature.
Our teams were given their challenges six weeks prior to the competition day and were required to find an innovative solution. Each team would share their solution in a scripted performance in front of the TOM judges. Many rules outlined the space they performed in, and the materials they could use to create costumes and props. As well as the long-term challenge, our teams would also need to solve a spontaneous challenge on the day. This would involve an unseen problem and a short amount of time to present a solution in front of judges, all without teacher support.
Challenge day arrived and our teams headed to Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, to present their solutions to the judges. Team spirit and enthusiasm was evident as both teams tackled the spontaneous challenge and their long-term challenge with tenacity, and a little bit of nerves.
All students must be commended for their level of commitment, perseverance and teamwork, as they gave up lunchtimes and class time to meet and collaborate. They worked through frustrations and differences to come together and present as a team, and their sense of triumph shone through on challenge day.
The judges were also impressed by what our teams accomplished as both teams were awarded with Honours! Congratulations to the Terabytes and Twisted Minds and their outstanding effort in the 2022 Tournament of the Minds.
Empathy, Diversity, Connection
A City Walk to Remember
The Transformation students visited The Intersection in the city of Melbourne last Friday where they explored ideas around empathy, diversity, and connection. The students participated in a city walk which used an interactive story-based approach. Students learnt that homelessness, addiction, and racism are symptoms of a deeper problem of disconnection in the urban context. On this excursion students were challenged to ‘meet the other’, because empathy, diversity and connection are vital to creating a livable city and change.
The educators at The Intersection connected with the students through a city walk and engaged them in an Empathy Workshop. We heard stories of the city, personal experiences and relevant statistics to craft a powerful narrative that broke through stereotyping and invited human connection and empathy. It was an amazing day, filled with rich and powerful ideas that reflected ‘the learning that matters’.
Kathrine Bowyer
Rebecca Barry
New Arrivals in the Science Labs
Spring has well and truly sprung at middle school in the Science Labs. This week we excitedly hatched two baby chicks from incubated eggs. Students had been patiently watching and waiting over the last 21 days for our babies to arrive.
This extracurricular activity was driven by Charlie Carlson in year 9 as an extension of his Transformation Passion Project on poultry cruelty. However, all of our students in Science are benefiting from this experience – learning about life cycles, adaptations, habitats and how to care for chickens. A group of Year 9 students also got to participate in an embryo dissection.
The big question on everyone’s lips is now what are we going to name them?! Here is where we are seeking help from our students and College community. If you have a suitable name for our little chicks (they are still too young for us to know if they are roosters or hens- so try to create a “neutral” name) please complete the attached Microsoft Form. The winning names will be decided by a panel of judges before the end of term.
Rachelle Garrard
Sport Update
Our College Golf team competed at the 6th GISSA Championships held at the challenging Lonsdale Links GC last Friday. In perfect playing conditions, our team members acquitted themselves very well on the day. Ben Bowers (Yr10) finished runner-up in the Div.1 stroke event, with 74 off the stick on the day. Bailey Cooper (Yr10) finished 4th in the Div.1 nett event with 71. We congratulate our two Yr12 team members, Charlie Barnett and Ben Breguet on their performances on the day, and thank them for their valuable contribution to this college team over the years.
We look forward to Ben and Bailey representing our College at the Independent Schools Golf Championships next year.
Brandon Firth (Yr9) competed at the recent Round of the interschools Clay Target shooting series. With a field of over 300 students from across the State, Brandon shot very well to finish in 5th position at the end of the day. He has been involved in this sport for a few years now and is continuing to compete strongly in the interschool series. He will be heading to Warrnambool in October for the last competition of the year, and we wish Brandon all the best for this event and the future.
Andrew Richardson, Head of Sport
Camp Australia Staff Recruitment
Camp Australia, the nationally recognised leader in Outside School Hours Care, is seeking new team members - please click on the link to the poster below:
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.
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
When travelling down a rough road, you need to have both hands on the steering wheel in order to maintain your direction. Do you have control of your life now or are you just bouncing along with one hand on the wheel.... blaming others?
Worth thinking about 👍😊
Discover more about MYTERN here
