What’s Happening at Middle School
Week 4
- Mon, 24 Oct – Wed, 26 Oct – Year 5 Camp – Sovereign Hill
- Tues, 25 Oct – Year 9 2023 Transformation and Farm Information Session
- Thurs, 27 Oct – Senior & Inter Boys Cricket fixture v GGS
- Project Care Day – Cancer Council – Casual Dress
Week 5
- Tues, 1 Nov – Orientation Day
Annual Music Evening Returns!
Last Thursday saw a sold-out audience enjoy the welcome return of the Christian College Annual Music Evening to Costa Hall, having last been held in October 2019.
This Annual concert has always been significant for our College Community, our music students and their families. It was a joyous celebration, and a blessing to all who performed and attended, one that featured 560 student performances from Prep to Year 12.
The concert highlighted the exceptional direction and expertise of our music staff, as well as the depth of skills and development across the performance program of our College Choirs, Bands and String Orchestras. We also farewelled and honoured the work of our Year 12 ensemble members who have spent many years ‘growing up’ in the program.
There were 16 items with many ‘like’ ensembles collaborating across the campuses, such as the Junior String Ensembles from Bellarine, Belmont and Surf Coast combining to create a big orchestra. There were many moments of exhilaration and triumph, overcoming nerves and experiencing the joy of performing for the first time – or returning and remembering the buzz! The music staff, along with leadership and support staff from each campus were so proud of the students who presented beautiful music to the appreciative audience.
Thanks to all who contributed to this wonderful event from across the Community, both on the evening and throughout the day of preparations and rehearsals.
Fiona Gardner – Director of Teaching and Learning - Music
Andrew Dunlop – Director of Instrumental Music and Major Events
Welcome to Middle School Year 4 Students!
On Monday October 17 the Year 4 students and teachers made the short walk to Middle School as part of our Transition Program. On arrival, they were greeted by our Deputy Head of Campus; Kerrie Dapiran and the Year 5 teachers and support staff. A campus tour and visit to the Year 5 classrooms were met with lots of questions and excitement about what life at Middle School is like. There was much enthusiasm as they entered the Food Studies room, as students were presented with countless opportunities that are available to them in the coming years. Many students were enthralled by the Reading for Pleasure program, a dedicated session each week for all students to immerse in the wonderful array of books in the Middle School Library. Another highlight was meeting our Indonesian teacher Pak Zacky, who gave students an introduction to the language and revealed some of what’s to come in Year 5.
The Transition Program is a crucial part of ensuring that our Year 4 Students become familiar with the Middle School campus and staff prior to the beginning of the school year. We were thrilled that many students said they no longer felt nervous about the transition and were very excited and eager to begin their journey at Middle School in 2023.
I liked the tour because we got to see everything at Middle School and now we won’t be as nervous on the first day next year.
Evan 4R
I’m really looking forward to doing woodwork and sport at Middle School. I loved the tour.
Jordan 4R
The Middle School tour showed us what we can look forward to as well as all the clubs we can join. I’m going to join the sewing and Minecraft clubs!
Piper 4R
I liked the Chapel because it was so big. The stained glass was especially beautiful.
Sarah, 4B
I enjoyed the people at Middle School, the students, teachers and the people walking by. Everyone was so kind and I felt at home.
Hamna, 4B
Natasha Troop
Kaiko Comes to our College
This week, the Year 6 Cohort had an incursion with the creator and owner of Kaiko Fidgets, Kai.
Kai is an inspirational teenager who designed fidgets to support people reduce anxiety, assist with emotional regulation, increase focus and promote active listening at school.
The Year 6 students are currently in the beginning stages of planning their very own small business for Market Day 2022. Kai shared his experience, insight and some great advice about starting a small business, covering topics including budgeting, profit, advertising, producing with sustainable materials and sustaining the Kaiko Fidgets during Covid-19.
Kai’s inspiration for starting his business developed from his personal experience of using fidgets as a young adult. This sparked great creative ideas amongst the Year 6s to similarly include a point of passion in their Market Day business.
We are looking forward to showcasing the Year 6 business creations at Market Day later this term!
Gemma Steenholdt
Year 7s Drill Down on Data
Throughout Term 4, Year 7 students will be focusing on all things Data.
- What types of data can we get?
- How can I display this data?
- Can I identify any trends or patterns by looking at a particular display?
These are all questions that will be posed to our Year 7s, aimed at helping them gain a better understanding of how much data is used in our everyday lives.
In the coming weeks, students will be completing various surveys amongst their classes and cohort. The data will be used to produce various graph types and identify the most popular and least popular options from movie franchises, food types, marvel characters and many more. It will be fantastic to see the interaction amongst our Year 7 students in collecting this data and deciding on their preferred method of display.
Sam Nichols
Year 9s Reflections on the Middle School Experience
Year 9 students share favourite memories and what they’ll miss most about Middle School-Highton.
A production by Jamie Mackie & Oscar Kattwinkel
Scott Darlow ‘s Visit Impacts Students and Staff
On Monday 17th Oct, Highton Middle School students and staff were fortunate to participate in a visit from guest speaker Scott Darlow, a passionate Indigenous activist, and World Vision spokesperson. Scott regularly speaks in schools, businesses, and churches about his indigenous culture, Australian history, racial tolerance, harmony, and important social matters who has been touring Australia and overseas for years as a speaker as well as a musician.
Each year level participated in a one-hour interactive presentation that was full of laughter and challenges – looking at current social and historical events with compassion and understanding. Interspersed with his stories was the opportunity to listen to Scott’s music, ask questions and be uplifted by the opportunities we each have to create an inclusive community around us. Darlow left audiences challenged to look at the world through the lens of “FLUTE” (Forgiveness, Love, Understanding, Tolerance and Empathy), a concept that has become so popular that schools and businesses have included it in their curriculums and charters.
The content supported our focus of reconciliation in Year 9 History and built on the work staff have been doing toward deepening our understanding toward Indigenous Cultural perspectives and developing a school Reconciliation Action Plan.
It was wonderful to see many students linger back at the end of the presentation to say a special thank you to Scott and hear the buzz of excitement from students as they left the chapel and returned to classrooms.
Ingrid Staggard, Director of Learning Design and Teacher Development
Our New-Look ATD Festival - Now Open!
Our Art, Technology and Design Festival is underway at Villa Paloma ATD Centre! It opened at 10am this morning and the program runs until 9pm this evening. Tomorrow (Saturday Nov.12), it's on between 10am and 4pm.
There's a magnificent exhibition of student artwork and products – all year levels from K-12 from all our campuses and Early Learning Centres are represented.
Come along this evening or tomorrow - or both! There are food trucks, coffee and live music, a Food Studies Market Stall and Gelato Bar, face painting, the official opening at 6:30pm this evening, then the Wearable Art and Textiles Fashion Parade from 6:40 – 7:15pm.
Tomorrow, the Festival kicks off again at 10am and goes until 4pm. A ‘Meet the Creator’ program is running where students of various ages from every ATD subject area (Visual Art, Studio Art, Media, VCD, Food Studies, Systems Engineering, Product Design – Materials and Product Design – Textiles). Live music, sausage sizzle, coffee and the Food Studies market stall and gelato bar are all happening between 10am and 2pm.
Villa Paloma is at 25 Waurn Ponds Drive, Waurn Ponds. The full Event Program is on our website (follow the hotlink on our homepage) or click here.
Term 4 2022 COVID-19 Update Procedures and Protocols
Introduction
Christian College is committed to maintaining the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and College community.
The following revisions to the COVID-19 procedures and protocols align with the Victorian Government’s announcement of the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders. The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health and the Department of Education for Victorian schools now apply.
If you require greater detail, please access additional information via the DHHS or Victorian State Government Education and Training websites or speak with your campus leadership team.
COVIDSafe Measures for Schools
- No student, staff member, parent, or visitor, should come on to College sites if they are unwell or have any Flu-like symptoms.
- Practise good hand hygiene, utilising the sanitisers supplied
- Utilising outdoor spaces and increasing cross-ventilation indoors where possible
- It is recommended that a person who is symptomatic, displaying cold or Flu like symptoms should undergo a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen or PCR Test.
- Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported to do so, the College will continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
Rapid Antigen Testing
Free RATs will be made available for use by all students and staff through Term 4. It is recommended that RATs are used by students and staff when symptomatic.
Reporting and Managing Positive Results
If staff or students receive a positive test result at any time, it is recommended the result be reported to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report or via the telephone hotline on 1800 675 398.
Parents/Guardians must report a positive COVID-19 test result of a student directly to the student office at the relevant campus. Staff must notify their relevant College leader.
The College community will no longer be notified of a positive COVID-19 case associated with the school.
It is recommended that any student or staff member who tests positive to COVID-19 isolates for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test will continue to be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.
Face Masks in Schools
Current advice from the Victorian government on the wearing of face masks is available here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks: It states:
“Face masks can stop or slow viruses spreading in the air when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh. Face masks lower your chance of catching and spreading an airborne virus. That’s why wearing a high-quality and well-fitted face mask can help protect you and those around you from COVID-19.”
- Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will be supported to do so, the College will continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
- It is recommended that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.
- It is recommended that that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
- Whilst traveling on Christian College buses, it is recommended students wear a face mask due to physical distancing not being possible.
Canteen not Open on Last day of Term
Please note that on the last day of Term 4, Friday December 9, the canteen will not be open.
Thank you to all volunteers for your fantastic help during the course of this term, and throughout 2022.
Recycling Uniform Items
As part of the transition to our new College wardrobe it was important that we consider the environmental impact of clothing items no longer required. Whilst it is still possible for students to wear items from the traditional uniform, when items are no longer able to be worn, they can be recycled.
Any such items can be dropped off and placed in recycling bins at each campus. We are working with our wardrobe manufacturer to ensure that these can be recycled as part of the introduction of our new wardrobe over the next 18 months.
CCG Foundation Patron’s Dinner
Join us for the Foundation Patron’s Dinner, to be held on Saturday, 12 November 2022 at The Pier Geelong.
On this night, the Foundation will be officially launching the establishment of our Public Ancillary Fund - 'The Eternity Fund'. The purpose of this fund is to provide sustained giving for the future. This fund will invest donations to return a greater value in years to come - a donation that lasts a lifetime.
At this event, you will have the opportunity to hear from our Foundation Patron, Robert Costa, who will speak about the significance of perpetual giving and the impact of local philanthropy.
Tickets are $200 per person and include a three-course meal, a four-hour drinks package, and a night full of heartfelt celebration. If you would like to attend, please book online at your earliest convenience.
Secure your seat today! www.ccgfoundation.org.au/patronsdinner
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
Sometimes circumstances are so challenging that the only choice you really have is how you respond to them.
Riding out that rough road in control is so much better than pretending that the road is smooth.
Take a moment now to regain and maintain control.
You are not only increasing your driving skills but also growing as a person.
Well done 👍 👏❤️
Discover more about MYTERN here
