Graduation events where students and teachers spoke with genuine warmth to express the deep relationships that exist, is a testimony to the culture we enjoy. It is a privilege to shake the hands of the students at these occasions, and to see the sense of satisfaction in their eyes.  

The end of year Celebration Evenings held in the Sports and Aquatic Centre at the Highton Campus provided the opportunity to gather as communities to share in celebrating the year with students, families and staff. The resounding success of each evening was a witness to the creative efforts of students and staff to provide nights that highlighted the learning, culture, endeavour and talents of our students. The central messages at each event provoked and reminded us of what it is to be human, part of God’s creation and importantly the love and peace that came to the world, God’s son, Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 1:23 

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 

I am grateful to everyone that attended, participated or was involved in the planning and preparation of these wonderful evenings of celebration. I particularly commend Mr Andrew Dunlop and the major events team that worked so diligently, over long hours, to ensure that the physical spaces, staging, sound, lighting, technology and all other behind-the-scenes requirements were delivered to the highest of standards. 

Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership – Teaching Excellence Program Graduation and Celebration 

Last week the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of educators to undertake these studies. I congratulate Ms Angela Tutty, the Director of Humanities, for being selected and for completing this prestigious program. 

The event was made very special having our Christian College students chosen to provide musical entertainment at the event in the Ballroom at the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne. 

Congratulations Ange and sincere thanks to the students that performed, and the music faculty staff that supported the event. 

Staffing Announcements for 2023 

It is my pleasure to share with you two significant leadership appointments for 2023. 

Ms Mia Kafieris has accepted the position as Dean of Christian Culture and Ms Kim Doherty has been appointed in the newly created role as Director of Wellbeing. These appointments will continue to develop and support the desire we have to create a flourishing environment throughout our College. Mia and Kim have already made significant contributions to the development of the College Wellbeing Framework. They are highly qualified and experienced to lead in these important areas of our College. I am most grateful and delighted that Mia and Kim have accepted these roles.  

Earlier this year our Vice Principal, Mr Scott Elliss, experienced some personal health challenges and in 2023 he will be taking leave to support and assist with his recovery. Scott is a much-loved member of our College family and a vital member of the leadership team. We wish him well as he takes this measure to enhance his recovery, and I ask that you join me in praying for full restoration and to see him return to us in 2024. God bless you, Scott. 

In 2023 Mr. Rick Geall will undertake the role as Acting Vice Principal/Head of Senior School. The Senior School leadership team will be bolstered through the return of Mr Jason O’Loughlin from leave, as Deputy Head of Campus. He will work alongside Ms Dianne Martin and Mr Damian Stephenson to ensure our senior academic and pastoral programs continue to flourish in 2023. 

The end of term comes with the opportunity to celebrate the careers of our colleagues that are retiring as well as thank those moving on to new horizons. I wish each of these staff members God’s richest blessings on the next chapter of life’s journey and thank them for their service to our community. These staff members are listed in our annual yearbook, the ‘Motivator’, that was distributed to students today. Thank you to Simon and Bridget in our Marketing and Publications team, for creating such a wonderful memento for our community to enjoy as they reflect on 2022.   

Christmas Greetings 

As the year concludes for students today, it ends a fortnight of celebrations, farewells, assemblies and speeches for me. It is a joy for me to serve our wonderful community and I am thankful to all those that I serve beside. We belong to a truly remarkable community. 

The reason for having such a wonderful community should never be taken for granted and I want to remind us all as Christmas approaches, that our College is founded and underpinned by a faith in a loving God. A God that loves each of us unconditionally! 

This Christmas, I pray that every person reading this message and each of the members of their family and friends, might truly know the love and peace that comes from celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Isaiah 9:6 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

God Bless. 

As is sadly the case each year, a number of highly skilled, deeply respected and much loved staff have departed, or are about to depart CCG in 2022. These include Mr Tony Costa, Ms Jemma Morris, Mrs Molly Drayton, Mrs Karen Friday, Mrs Kristen Barr, Mr Pete Davis, Miss Gemma Steenholdt, Mrs Jaki Groves, Miss Kinesha Pendock and Mr Jackson Holmes-Henley. These wonderful friends and colleagues will be dearly missed across our campus and the wider College, and I am eternally grateful for the contribution they have each made in service to our College, some for more than 20 years. 

We also farewell from our campus Ms Jackie Corless, Mrs Amy Savage and Mrs Lewanna Smith, who all take up new roles at our Senior School next year, and Mrs Lynsey Grinter who joins the Junior School – Belmont team in 2023. To these staff, I also give my sincere thanks, and am glad to know we will all get to continue to see them around our College over the coming years. 

It is not lost on me that our school would not exist if not for our precious students, and in turn, they would not be here with us, if not for the parents, carers and extended families behind each one of them. Can I express my most sincere thanks and appreciation to you, our families, for again trusting in us, seeing something in what we offer here at CCG that’s worthwhile and lifeworthy for your precious young person. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in the educational and adolescent journey of your child, sharing in life with your family.  

To all students, families, staff and friends of the College, I wish all of God’s richest blessings upon you for a restful, safe, connected and peaceful Christmas period and summer break. I pray that you celebrate with joy the birth of Jesus Christ, and reflect on what such a miracle can mean for you and your loved ones. I look forward to seeing you all again, as a new and exciting school year gets underway in 2023. We will begin again on Tuesday, January 31. 

Students who completed the Upstart Challenge included: 

Alina Cao, Angus Cooper, Olive Pobjoy, Holly Jaques, Molly Herbert, Isabella Keay, George Christie, James Sparkes, Cayden McWilliam, Michael Gorup, Jayden Chan, Adam Bolton, Ashton Nelson and Nicholas Thomas 

At the end of their eight-week journey the students presented their pitch to the group and were scored according to the criteria set by the Upstart Challenge: 

• Research: Proof of problem 
• The solution 
• Research: Customer discovery 
• The team 
• Next steps 
• Audience engagement  

This program encouraged and inspired the students to have a go, develop critical thinking skills and connections, as well as discovering their inner entrepreneur and changemaker. Each group or individual showed such growth and ingenuity in the development of their concepts and are commended for completing and creating a successful pitch, in only eight weeks. 

We celebrate the work of all these students, and particularly congratulate Martin (Year 10), Sebastian (Year 7) and Jem (Year 5), whose entries earned them a minor bursary award which includes a sponsored cash prize, medallion, and certificate. Martin built a working model of an orrery, Sebastian entered Creative Writing with a piece titled ‘My glass is bioactive’ and Jem used lego to construct a working model of a vacuum engine. 

Full results and samples of the winning entries are listed below: 

Martin Dean, Year 10 – Minor bursary - Working model category 

Jem Benson, Year 6 Highton – Minor bursary – Working model category 

Sebastian De Marte, Year 7 Highton – Minor bursary - Creative writing category 

Elodie Mahoney, Year 6 Highton – Merit certificate - Creative writing category 

Hugh Whitaker, Year 5 Bellarine - Merit certificate – Games category 

Abbie Curtis & Ava Aydon, Year 6 Bellarine – Acknowledgement certificate – Games category 

There are a number of different programs at different venues including the following: 

Note: This is a program supported and promoted by Rotary International, hence students may wish to seek sponsorship from a local Rotary club. Details are on the Santos Science Experience website. 

Each program is designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists who love their work. Participants perform experiments in laboratories, meet and hear senior lecturers in lecture theatres, attend site visits and walk around and experience what it is like to be on the campus of a university or tertiary institution 

You are invited to visit the website for more details and to enrol. 

https://www.scienceexperience.com.au/