Rick Geall, Acting Vice Principal
From the Acting Vice Principal
As Term 1 draws to a close, if you were to look back over 10 weeks of Vine editions, scroll through the CCG Facebook and Instagram pages, or glance at the College calendar for the term, you will quickly realise that a lot of really, really good things happen on all our campuses. There are incredible learning opportunities in classrooms, excursions and camps, House competitions and other sporting events, music performances, parent morning teas, picnics and welcome evenings, learning conferences, community service initiatives and much, much more.
None of this would be possible, of course, without the enthusiasm, dedication and capabilities of our wonderful teaching staff at Christian College. They are not only committed to helping young people learn and grow, but willing to enhance their own skills as teachers in order to do so. A large proportion of staff, for instance, are this year undertaking the Christian College Professional Growth Program, our internally-developed framework for goal-setting and ongoing professional development. I am grateful for the work of Ingrid Staggard, Director of Learning Design and Teacher Development, who is guiding staff through this important process.
We also have a number of teachers involved in opportunities beyond our College to extend their capacity for exemplary teaching, including:
- Nicola Morrish (English), Emma Workman (Food Studies) and Julie Shutie (Prep) who have been selected to participate in the Victorian government’s Teacher Excellence Program (TEP) for 2023, a year-long professional learning program for highly skilled teachers across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. We are excited about the journey that Nicola, Emma and Julie are taking this year and look forward to the far-reaching benefits such a program will have for our teaching and learning program at Christian College.
- Lori Ruplal (Visual Arts) and Sarah Nailer (Learning Support) are engaged in the Independent Schools Victoria Teacher Fellowship Program which brings together high-performing educators to design, implement and evaluate innovative models of professional learning to benefit schools, staff and students. The focus of this year’s program, Diversity in Action, uses an inquiry approach to develop resources to support the diverse needs of students. Lori’s team project focus is on identifying students' Zone of Proximal Development to diversify teaching and help students learn better, whilst Sarah’s project aims to understand and nurture the wellbeing needs of students through exploring engagement and collaborative practices.
- Tim Wright (Humanities) recently presented at the Social Education Victoria VCE conference. Presenting alongside educators and academics from institutions such La Trobe University, Monash University and Caulfield Grammar, Tim inspired dozens of teachers from around Victoria with his presentation, “Using Visible Thinking Routines in VCE Global Politics”.
- Ingrid Staggard, mentioned above in her role leading staff development at Christian College, is herself undertaking the Nationally Accredited Lead Teacher qualification with Independent Schools Victoria.
These are just some examples of Christian College teachers committed to student growth, self-growth and collegiate growth. Collectively, we are focused on ensuring our community flourishes through quality teaching and the best support for our young people.
Our Mandate
This final day of Term 1 happens to fall on the day before Good Friday, known in many church denominations as Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, or “mandate” in English. The night before his crucifixion, Jesus not only partook in the Last Supper with his disciples, but, according to John chapter 13, he washed their feet. A humbling, yet incredibly powerful example of servant leadership. After washing their feet, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, or mandate: “that you love one another as I have loved you”.
The love that Jesus modelled for us throughout his ministry was one of selflessness, serving others and, yes, sacrifice. As teachers, parents and carers, we know how important it is for young people to have good role models – in the home, in the classroom, in their sporting clubs, workplaces and community in general.
This Easter, may we all be reminded of Jesus’ call to love one another, just as he loves us. He demonstrated what it is to love. We, in turn, can demonstrate that love toward others. That is our mandate.
Finally, I hope that your child’s Term 1 experience has been a positive one and pray that the holiday break brings rest, refreshment and rejuvenation for them and for you. And may you have a safe and blessed Easter!
From the Deputy Head of Senior School
As we press toward the end of an action-packed first term at Senior School, I’d like to thank all members of our community who contributed to making Term 1 a memorable, productive and enjoyable one.
Although the term has not been without its challenges for some students, I want to reflect on the warm and encouraging campus community we enjoy here. Through the love of Christ, we have flourished this term and we move into the Easter break with a general sense of accomplishment.
A great example of this flourishing was evident on Wednesday when the Year 10 ‘Running a Small Business’ groups, led by their teachers Lee Stringer and Elizabeth Lowe, were in full swing at lunch time, creating a sensational, entrepreneurial atmosphere as part of the term-ending ‘Market Day’.
Today on campus, all staff and students had the chance to share some fellowship during our campus Easter Service. Our faithful Chaplains, Mrs Jen Foord and the Reverend Johnathon McPherson, facilitated a compelling service, which provided an opportunity for reflection on the true meaning of Easter. A performance of the Zulu worship song ‘Ukuthula’, led by Kate Notini and the Senior School Choir, was a moving highlight, as was the key message of forgiveness shared by the Reverend Andrew Drummond.
As we turn our attention and excitement to the school holiday break, I pray for safe travelling for those holidaying away. It has been a fitting final week of term. I hope you enjoy reading through the articles below, and that they may inspire you.
A reminder that students recommence their studies for Term 2, after Anzac Day, on Wednesday, April 26.
Happy Easter.
Jason O’Loughlin, Deputy Head of Senior School
2023 NCS National Schools Constitutional Convention
Kirrily McConachy who was selected to attend the 2023 NCS National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra last week (Tues March 28 – Thursday 30). She was selected as one of only 24 students to represent Victoria at this year’s Convention where discussion centred around the very topical ‘The Voice Referendum’.
“While the focus at this year’s National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) was on the fairness of the referendum process, my biggest takeaway was that young people are incredibly open-minded and able to appreciate all perspectives on certain issues. It was an incredible 3 days with highlights including a trip to Parliament House (and Question Time), meeting our local MPs, and a trip to Government House to meet General David Hurley, Australia’s Governor-General. I found most impressive the way different perspectives on issues (including the inclusion of the territories in the “double majority” requirement for referendums as well as the Voice to Parliament), were treated and debated with respect towards the people presenting them and why they came to have their beliefs.“
Kirrily McConachy
Year 12 VCE VM City Experience Camp
At the start of Week 8 from March 20 to 22, the Year 12 VCE VM students went on their Melbourne Urban Camp. This camp was designed by the VCE VM teachers, and the class worked on a tourist brochure that had to cover different attractions, accommodation, eating, transport, and safety. This activity covered all classes in VCE VM.
On Monday March 20 everyone met at the Geelong Station before 8:50am and we boarded the train for Southern Cross, full of excitement. Once arrived we headed off to our accommodation (CYC City Camp) which Mr Bromilow and Ms Anderson had organised for us. Our first destination was DeGrave’s lane, and we looked at the café culture and got to see all the different varieties of cafés. We did an activity that required us to identify different aspects of OH&S in the cafés. After finishing our activity, we then made our way to Royal Stacks for lunch. For our last activity of the day, we did “The Great Race” which required us to travel around Melbourne using different transportation finding different icons and landmarks. During The Great Race, we got to see many different beautiful attractions. We saw not only the busy side of Melbourne but also the peaceful side, which was the beautiful parks and gardens. The Great Race went on for 4 hours and our last destination was the State Library, from which we then travelled back to our accommodation. We had dinner at the Arbory Afloat restaurant which served amazing pizza and other cuisines.
Tuesday March 21 was our second day in Melbourne, we woke up to the sound of trams and their bells and an awaking city. Our first destination was the Melbourne Museum.
At the Melbourne Museum we saw many different exhibitions and artefacts. The first exhibition was ‘The First Peoples’. The museum’s curator spoke to us and gave us a booklet to fill out while we were walking around. We saw how the First Peoples lived before the arrival of the Europeans. The exhibition showed us all the culture of the First Nation Peoples and walked us through their stories. Their stories showed us their happy moments but also difficult and sorrowful times. It provided us with a better understanding of the First Nation People and what they had to go through, It was an awakening moment.
We also went to other venues such as Road to Zero which taught us how to be safe on the road, then we went to the Metro Tunnel Headquarters where the staff talked to us about their mission and how the tunnel will make life easier for the people in Melbourne.
Our last activity for the day was going to watch Avatar in 3D at IMAX. It was a first-time experience for all of us, so we were all very excited. While watching Avatar, we were able to see a world we had never seen before and to feel like we were there in that world was absolutely magical. Not only did we get to enjoy the beauty of the film, but the message of the film also taught us that we need a resolution to the destruction of natural habitats for the sake of greed. Avatar brings forward the true nature of how humans have chosen to treat the motherland. It is a really powerful wake-up call for humanity.
Wednesday March 22 was our last day on this trip. We were all very tired from the day before, but we were ready to make the most of the last day and have fun.
We only had one activity for this day, which was to visit the Immigration Museum. While at the Museum, we explored the histories, stories, and current challenges of Victoria’s diverse communities, and what connects us all as humans. Through the exhibitions we explored themes of migration, identity, citizenship, and community through a wide range of different perspectives of people from different backgrounds.
Our journey in Melbourne ended at 2:30pm and we boarded the train back home.
We are very lucky to have gone on this amazing trip and we are very grateful for it. We all got something out of this trip but most of all, we as a class developed a stronger bond and were able to make some great memories.
Gay Ka Yaw Yaw, Year 12 Student
Humanities Incursion – A Daylight Connection Workshop
On Tuesday April 4, Year 12 Sociology and Year 10 History students enriched their study of Indigenous Australian history and culture by participating in an immersive theatre workshop experience with Indigenous theatre company, ‘A Daylight Connection.’ The workshop facilitator, Kamarra Bell-Wykes, is a Butchulla and Yagera woman and a highly respected writer, director, actor and educator who has been an artist in residence at the Malthouse Theatre.
Kamarra’s school program involves her adopting the dramatic persona of a ‘Protector,’ to mirror the stern paternalism of government officials of the past. Students are then actively placed at the centre of the dramatic workshop, engaging in a variety of activities including role play, games and problem-solving challenges to experience in an authentic way some of the devastating effects of colonisation and dispossession, and, equally, the importance of reconciliation, unity and respect for all people.
The students participated in an enthusiastic, respectful and cooperative manner and many spoke of how enlightening, profound and worthwhile the experience had been in the yarning circle debrief at the end of the workshop.
Thank you to all who participated and supported this wonderful experience for our Senior School Humanities students.
Jess Brandon
Market Day
There was a great atmosphere in the Taylor area on Wednesday as the Year 10 Running a Small Business classes held their biannual Market Day. There were a variety of stalls selling farm produce, burgers, sausages, drinks, sweets, jewellery and even a staff car wash. It was great to see the students’ hard work pay off. A big thank you to all the students, parents and staff that helped on the day. This was a valuable learning experience for the students and fun way to end the term.
Lee Stringer
Unit 1 Product and Design
Term 1 of Unit 1 Product and Design is a heavily folio-focused term and the students have done exceptionally well to complete the provisional folio criteria for their upcoming Term 2 projects. The students have researched and created a design brief that highlights the constraints and considerations they need to work within to successfully build a sustainably redeveloped product. The students have researched timber types and methods for joining timber to ensure that they are ready for building to commence in Term 2.
Dave Harmer
Visual Communication Design Year 11
This term, students in Year 11 Visual Communication Design have developed their design skills using Adobe Illustrator by redesigning a teaser movie poster of an existing film. These teaser posters are early promotional film posters, containing a basic image or design without revealing too much information such as the plot, theme, and characters. The purpose is to incite awareness and generate hype for the film. The focus was on developing an understanding of design elements and principles to better develop their design sense. Each student produced a folio outlining the development of ideas and printed a full-size teaser poster.
Mark Naylor
VET courses Monday April 24
Parents and students please watch your emails or be advised by your RTO as to whether your course will be running. CCG students with VET classes on this day will need to make their own way there, as this is a student-free day. A reminder that attendance at VET is very important for success in the certificate courses.
Kerryn Fearnsides
Career Spot
Building Careers: Geelong Site Tour – Year 11 & 12
The Gordon, MBA Victoria and other organisations have created a free event for students in Year 11 or 12 who are interested in a future career in the building and construction industry.
A day is spent visiting domestic and commercial building sites in the Geelong region where you will hear from those in the industry about careers in the building and construction industry. If you have an interest in architecture, you may also find this event could give you an insight into the work done after architectural design is complete. There are strict clothing and footwear requirements.
Transport will be provided between construction sites, however, transport to and from the event will need to be arranged by families. The day will start and finish at The Gordon’s East Geelong Campus, Boundary Road.
This event will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 9.30am – 2.00pm.
Expressions of interest in participating are due by lunchtime on Friday, April 28 and must be directed to both Mrs Gabby Mahon (g.mahon@ccg.vic.edu.au) and Cathy Brew (c.brew@ccg.vic.edu.au) – re Building Careers Geelong Site Tour.
The Careers Department
Progressing Through Teaching and Learning is in Full Swing….
Our Teaching and Learning programs have been in full swing across our campuses. We are excited to offer a breadth of rich opportunities for our students, and this is just the beginning of what’s on offer this year. During Term 1 at Senior School there have been many camps, excursions and guest speakers that provide wonderful opportunities for social and emotional development, teamwork, building self-identity, and applying classroom skills and knowledge in real-world contexts through critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and ethical understandings through a Christian World View lens. We are also thrilled to offer plentiful opportunities for community involvement through our Campus Carnivals, House events, family events such as afternoon teas, information sessions, student learning conferences and more, as well as continued development in intercultural understandings through our international guests from Indonesia. Each of these has seen positive engagement with our Teaching and Learning program. Students and staff have been excited to be part of a program that enables students to engage with critical competencies and real-life opportunities and develop skills and knowledge in a diverse range of classes. Our Senior students have embraced the rigors of the VCE and the VEC Vocational Major with many students demonstrating their new knowledge and understanding through school-assessed coursework, meeting VCAA assessment criteria or demonstrating new skills to industry practitioners through work placements and VET courses.
You can view your child’s progress in each of their learning areas through our In Time reporting program via SEQTA Engage. Log onto the parent portal via the College website and select the Assessments menu to view your child’s progress. As a reminder, there is also the SEQTA App that can be downloaded to your phone. I have attached a couple support documents that highlight how to get the most out of SEQTA Engage.
Antony Benson, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Picnic at Hanging Rock – Performances on Next Week!
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a captivating and mysterious story that explores the disappearance of four schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at a local geological formation in Victoria, Australia, on Valentine’s Day in 1900. The novel by Joan Lindsay, published in 1967, was adapted into a film by Peter Weir in 1975, which became a landmark of Australian cinema and culture. The story has inspired many interpretations and adaptations, including the performances brought to you by our Christian College Senior School students.
Excitement is now running high - next week's shows are on at Platform Arts in Geelong in Lt Malop St, with three evening shows from Thursday May 11 to Saturday May 13. Tickets are only $30 and the cast and crew are looking forward to performing to full houses. Please note that Picnic at Hanging Rock contains mature themes, parental discretion is advised re the age of audience members.
To purchase tickets please follow this link:
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
Lots to Like at Back Creek Café!
Christian College’s Back Creek Café in Meredith is a vital part of our Year 9 residential farm experience. Located 15 minutes south of Back Creek Farm, the café is open six days a week (not Sundays) from 8:30am to 3pm. The school holidays are the perfect time to pay a visit!
While you’re there, enjoy the best coffee in town – or choose from a range of other beverages – indulge in an all-day breakfast or one of the other scrumptious light meal/snack options on the menu. There is also a variety of sweet or savoury treats to enjoy while you’re there and delicious home-made produce to purchase and take home.
Coming up on Saturday May 6, the Café is staging two craft workshops. Come along and discover how to create your own vertical garden. One session gets underway at 10:30am, the second at 1:00pm, conducted by Kathy from Coburg nursery, TD2M. Build your own standing or hanging frame, create a vertical garden to take home and learn about soils and mosses used in the process along the way.
Cost for the workshop is $90 per person with all you need provided. While you’re there, enjoy some of Back Creek Café’s delicious fare!
You can check out the latest from the café via its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Back Creek Café is located at 1/27 Staughton Street Meredith. For enquiries and bookings, including bookings for the May 6 workshops, call 5286 1166.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Days!
All Christian College campuses will open their doors on May 2 in the first of our Open Days for 2023.
This is an opportunity for parents/guardians and families who are considering Christian College as an option for their young people to visit one or more of our campuses, meet students, teachers and campus leaders, tour facilities, visit classes in progress and have their questions answered. It provides an authentic insight to how our College operates on a day-to-day basis. For those considering either Junior School-Belmont or Surf Coast Campus, please note our Early Learning Centres - Williams House in Belmont and Butterfield House in Torquay - will also be open for visitation at the same time as the campuses.
No booking is required, with campuses open at the following times:
Junior School-Belmont: 9:30 – 11:00am
Bellarine Campus: 9:30 – 11:00am
Surf Coast Campus: 9:30 – 11:30am
Middle School-Highton: – 11:15am – 12:45pm
Senior School-Waurn Ponds: – 11:30am – 1:00pm
If you have friends or acquaintances who are considering schooling options at any level, from Prep through to Year 12, please encourage them to take this opportunity to visit our campuses on May 2.
Any interested families who are unable to attend on May 2 can book a tour at any campus at a time that suits them by visiting our website and clicking on ‘Book a Tour’.
Big Science Competition!
We welcome all students in Years 7 - 10 to consider taking part in the Big Science Competition!
A 50-minute, multiple-choice competition, the Big Science Competition isn't like other tests. This test focuses on how students can use their science knowledge and critical thinking skills to solve problems.
The Big Science Competition can also lead to BIG opportunities.
All students in Australian high schools who sit the Big Science Competition have a chance to win one of four great prizes*, up to the value of $1,498.
Here's everything you need to know.
- The Big Science Competition is open to students in Year 7-10 who attend Australian and International schools.
- The Big Science Competition will run on a date to be determined between 15-26 May 2023.
- Expressions of interest will close at the end of Term 1.
Registering your interest
All students who would like to participate are asked to complete their details on the following form:
Please speak to your science teacher or email Mrs Huddart if you have any questions.
Elissa Huddart, Director of Teaching and Learning - Science
Independent Schools – Meeting Needs of all Families
In recent weeks Independent Schools Victoria has been working with Independent Schools Australia on advocacy and information material to highlight the diversity and changing face of the Independent sector.
This material includes a short and engaging video that features Aitken College, one of ISV’s rapidly growing Member Schools on Melbourne’s outer urban fringe, and a new low-fee school in regional New South Wales.
ISV says that while the schools featured are localised, the message is nationwide. showing that Independent schools reflect the breadth of Australia, with every kind of school serving the needs of every kind of family.
The video is timely in light of Federal Education Minister Jason Clare’s announcement this week of an expert panel to review the National Schools Reform Agreement.
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
When you are on a rough road, people often tell you to get a grip and drive on.
Try not to judge yourself harshly if that feels too hard.
Sometimes it's not as simple as just shaking it off and moving on.
Slow down, take a deep breath and know that no road lasts forever 🙏❤️
Discover more about MYTERN here
