From the Principal
The busy final term is well underway and there is plenty of positive activity across the College. I feel that there is a true sense of emergence from the challenging experiences of the past few years, and greater engagement for our community.
The new term commenced with all staff gathering for a Commencement Service. This important time spent worshipping God together is a vital aspect of our Christian culture and ethos. We were particularly blessed and entertained by Junior School music teacher, Mr Kevin Smith and we enjoyed his enthusiastic and colorful singing and dancing to songs that have been popular amongst our junior students for many years.
We continued our work and journey as part of the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our guest speaker Shelley Ware, an educational consultant and media personality led us in support of our desire to authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture into our classrooms. She guided us through a path of discovery through her own journey as a teacher, mother, and media identity.
A particular highlight of the staff session, and the Commencement Assemblies at each campus throughout the week, was the powerful message about the work of the RAP team by three of our First Nations students. We have begun this journey positively and understand that we need to take future steps gently at a pace that creates respectful opportunities for further growth and learning.
Music Evening
The return of the College Music Evening reminded those present of show much we have missed in recent years. The coming together at Costa Hall to marvel at the incredible performances of the ensembles across ages and campuses was simply a great joy! It was so good to see and catch up with families past and present, and to repeatedly hear how much everyone had missed these opportunities to be together.
But most significant for me was the obvious joy and satisfaction of the students and Music staff at having the opportunity to perform in front of their families and wider community. I was moved by the standard of performances and how that impacted me personally, and I could sense a similar mood among the entire audience throughout the evening.
My sincere congratulations and thanks to the Directors of Music Fiona Gardner and Andrew Dunlop and the entire Music team on the outstanding success of the evening – it was a blessing for the audience.
Year 12 Celebrations
The annual tradition and rituals that create the important narrative and passage for the graduating class provided the Class of 2022 their opportunity to reflect upon their Christian College journey and to leave their mark in the clock tower
It is a privilege for me and other colleagues to share in these occasions and to hear the positive conversations and emotion amongst the students.
Here is a link to a seven-minute documentary that captures highlights of this special time. It is accessible via our website homepage > Experiences.
I pray for our Year 12s as they complete their exams, plan for their future pathways and prepare for the next chapter in their lives.
Class Reunions
The opportunity to reconnect with past students has been another feature of recent months. It has been great to attend these occasions to meet former students to reminisce and to renew connections with students dating back to the first graduation class. The stories, memories and friendships that are reignited from these gatherings are an important development of College growth. Establishing an Alumni is a new feature of our progression, and we are excited about the potential that this will bring for the future.
Videos for Change
‘Videos for Change’ creates a rich opportunity for students to produce short videos that express their voice and create awareness about issues that they seek to share with their community. These videos reach an authentic audience and provide a space for their advocacy about issues that are important to them.
Once again, Christian College students have featured well in the program, receiving high praise and feedback regarding the quality and depth of content in their work. I am delighted to see the continued involvement and development in this area of learning.
Art, Technology and Design Festival
Excitement is building as we approach the Christian College Art, Technology and Design Festival. This year there is a revised format with some new initiatives which, I'm sure, will prove popular. As it was for the Music students and staff, this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and provide students with an authentic audience to experience and appreciate their creative work. I encourage families to come along to support and experience the amazing work on exhibition and to meet some of the artists and hear about the design and creation of their pieces.
Foundation Golf Day
The College Foundation hosted the Inaugural Christian College Golf Day at Thirteenth Beach yesterday. The support of parents, friends, past students, and staff members as well as some of our business partners who participated in this event is highly appreciated and valued. They enjoyed healthy competition, great fellowship over lunch and an opportunity to hear about the wonderful work the Foundation is doing to support the College.
The day was a huge success and will become an annual feature on the College calendar. I am most grateful to the Foundation team for organising this event, particularly Mr Graeme Dent for driving the project.
Grandparents and Special Friends’ Days
These special days have become a regular event over the years and their return at some of the campuses has been tremendous time for some of the students at our Junior Schools to welcome grandparents or special friends to school to visit them in their classrooms and to see what school is like for them each day. I had the joy of visiting my own grandchildren and being part of this experience. It is vital to encourage the broader connections for our students and families through events such as this.
Orientation Days
We are looking forward to welcoming the new students and their families that will be joining us in 2023 at Orientation Day next week. I pray that each new student, as well as our current students, will enjoy meeting and making new friends and hearing about the exciting plans for then in their new classes in 2023.
World Teachers’ Day
It is with a thankful heart that I acknowledge our teaching and professional support staff today for the invaluable work that they do each day as part of World Teachers Day. We are blessed to have such dedicated and hardworking professionals that serve our community and care for our student each day at Christian College. I offer my sincere gratitude for all that they do.
I found this prayer to offer on behalf of our community as a blessing.
Most gracious God, thank You always for blessing us with the most capable educators who lead us to You with every lesson they teach. Our teachers deserve all the good in the world. I know that with You, they are always blessed with the grace only You can give. May our teachers continue to be showered with Your blessings of grace and mercies, so that they may be inspired to continue being a blessing to others. Glory to God in the highest, Amen.
Best wishes for the remaining weeks of term.
God bless.
Glen McKeeman, Principal
Stepping Up – O Day 2022
Although it feels like we only just commenced Term 4, preparations for 2023 are certainly well under way. As a significant part of our transition and preparation process for students and staff alike, Orientation Day, or ‘O Day’ as it has become known, is always one of the most eagerly anticipated experiences for our students in Term 4. O Day will be held next Tuesday November 1 across each of our Junior School, Bellarine and Middle School Campuses.
On this day, all new and current students will spend the day in their new 2023 Homeroom to take that first step up into the next phase of their educational journey here at Christian College. Each of our year level teams have created an outstanding day of fun, engaging and community building sessions for our new 2023 classes.
All current / continuing and new students (and families) will receive an email on the evening of Monday October 31, informing them of their 2023 Homeroom and Homeroom teacher.
Upon arrival at school on O Day, Year 5 students should go to the Chapel, Year 6s to the Library, Year 7 students to the SAC and Year 8/9 students should proceed to their allocated homeroom. Our current Year 9 students will be joining the Year 9s from our Bellarine Campus at Senior School for their first day as Year 10s.
We ask parents to also note that there is an early dismissal at 3:15pm for students in Years 5 and 6 to help ease traffic congestion. Students in Years 5-7 should wear casual clothes on this day, and students in Year 8 and 9 should wear their PE uniform.
Jemma Morris – Acting Deputy Head of Campus
What’s Happening at Middle School
Week 5
- Tues, 1 Nov – Orientation Day
Week 6
- Mon, 7 Nov – Year 7 Immunisations
- Tues, 8 Nov – Robbie Noggler – Essential Education Talk – Year 7
- Wed, 9 Nov – Robbie Noggler – Essential Education Talk – Year 8
- Thurs, 10 Nov – Robbie Noggler – Essential Education Talk – Year 9
- Fri, 11 Nov – Hooptime Regional Finals Future Stars (Years 5 & 6)
- Fri, 11 Nov – Sat, 12 Nov – 2022 Art, Technology & Design Festival
Year 5s go for Gold
The Year 5s thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Sovereign Hill this week with so many activities and learning opportunities to experience.
We started the trip with a visit to Back Creek Farm, where the students were toured by the amazing Year 9 students around their learning spaces. We held guinea pigs, played with ferrets and saw how the students go about their day-to-day activities. This was an amazing experience and can be something the Year 5 students can look forward to in the future.
Sovereign Hill provided us a chance to be immersed in a rich historical environment with the old buildings and street performers showing us what life was like during the Gold Rush.
Attending educational sessions, students got to roleplay being part of the Gold Rush, mining, banking, and even being put in jail. They also explored living in the past with hands-on artefacts from the olden days including layered outfits.
A major highlight was the Aura light and sound show, which is iconic to Sovereign Hill. It was an excellent visual representation of the discovery of gold in Ballarat. The Pantomime version of Blackbeard the Pirate was also a hit.
Students also got to try their luck at gold panning, go on mine tours, watch candle dipping and of course, purchase some of the famous Sovereign Hill Raspberry Drops!
David Kehler and Gary Crole presented beautiful messages throughout our trip encouraging students to consider the value of sacrifice that many go through and that they are treasures in God’s eyes.
We look forward to unpacking our experience further in our History and English lessons where students will be creating artefacts reflecting their knowledge of early Australian settlement and the Gold Rush.
Harry Mackay
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
