Senior School – Term 1 Week 7 2022

It’s hard to believe we have arrived at the end of Week 7 and what a special week it has been. I’m sure no one was complaining about the public holiday on the Monday to provide a three-day weekend and a chance to find a little more downtime after such a busy start to the year. This then led into the Student Learning Conferences on Tuesday with an incredibly large online turnout of parents wanting to meet with their child’s teachers – 280 families to be exact; 306 students and a total of 1381 appointments! This year we had a noticeable increase in the number of parents booking a time with their child’s House Mentor, an indication that parents are appreciating the important role this teacher has in the overall support of each student – pastoral and academic.

On Thursday we were delighted to spend a day basking in warm weather at Kardinia Aquatic Centre for our annual House Swimming Carnival. The day was fun, vibrant and colourful, with the competitive aspects visible, not just in the racing pool, but also the synchronised swimming and novelty events. I want to thank all the students in attendance on the day for making it such a successful occasion and a reminder of the joy that comes from being together as a community that we so missed through two years of interruptions due to the pandemic. I also want to thank our House Prefects for being so committed to their role of organising participants for each event, fostering House spirit and supporting the Heads and Assistant Heads of House with various tasks through the day.

Today, two of our College Prefects, Nathan Tarrant (male school captain) and Kristen Wigg were privileged to take part in the first ever Year 4 Leaders’ Investiture Service at the Surf Coast Campus in Torquay. It was so special to witness Nathan and Kristen having the honour of handing out leaders’ badges and congratulating the Year 4s as they stepped into roles of leadership and service.

Monday 21 March – Year 12 English Author visit – Toni Jordan

Tuesday 29 March – Year 12 Drama to Top Class – Melbourne

Wednesday 30 March – GISSA Surfing Championships

Tuesday 5 April – Year 12 English Analytical Response AM

Friday 8 April -Last day of Term 1 (2.30 pm dismissal)

On Thursday, the Senior School campus enjoyed spectacular weather for our Senior Swimming Sports. It was a great day full of fun, competition and developing community. It was good to see our Year 12 students and house prefects lead from the front and set the standard for the day.

All four houses battled it out for the bragging rights for taking out the 2022 swimming sports. It came down to a battle between Taylor and Flynn, with this year’s overall winner being the Flynn Falcons.

The highlight of the day for many was the synchronised swimming event. Students trained and designed their routine through lunchtime training sessions in the lead up to the event. The synchronised swimmers delighted with their creative and detailed routines. It was a very close competition for the synchronised event this year but Flynn house won the event.

Some other highlights for the day included seeing Nicole Briscoe get fastest on campus, as well as break Christian College records in every race she swam in, across four different strokes. A very impressive effort, well done Nicole! Jonti Wylie also took out the male fastest on campus, well done Jonti.

Please see below for summary of the day below:

Synchronised Swimming

Overall Results

A nationwide STEM outreach program for Years 9 & 10 students

The Santos Science Experience is a three-day hands-on science activities program. The program aims to inform students of the importance of science and technology while stimulating and heightening student interests in a wide range of scientific disciplines and career opportunities, encouraging further studies in the science, while at the same time giving students a ‘taste’ of university/tertiary life.

The following programs are being offered in Victoria this year:

Details of the programs offered at each venue can be found at www.scienceexperience.com.au or on the attached flyer. Interested students should register directly via the website. Cost is $190 per student for the three day programs and $65 per student for the one day programs (at Queenscliff).

Further information can be obtained by calling 03 9756 7534 or email admin@scienceexperience.com.au

In Year 10 English students studying ‘Crafting Texts’ are studying Steven Herrick’s The Simple Gift and the ‘power of kindness.’ This unit has inspired students to explore big ideas and complex real-world issues in their own writing. Many students have embraced opportunities to explore ideas like compassion, loss, adversity and destitution with great sensitivity.

Old Bill and Billy’s First Encounter from The Perspective of Jessie

By Ruby Sinfield

I watched over my dad

he was alone

after all.

My fault.

He looked more

and more

disheveled

each day.

His beard overgrown

and a mop of

grey wirier hair

was all that seemed to be left of him.

He was hollow.

nothing like my dad.

Not like I could

judge,

I hadn’t lost my child

and my wife

in the span of a

year.

No one gets over that.

It pained me

that dad

suffocated

his

sadness

in the pub,

but for him

maybe it was better than feeling.

That morning

when my dad

dropped his beer

I thought he was

done.

His final straw.

But then something

strange

happened

a young boy came out of the carriage.

A sweet boy

with a kind face.

He rushed back

in the carriage

and came back out with

a pack of

cigarettes.

Handed them to dad.

I don’t think dad

knew what to do,

it was the

kindest thing

anyone had done for

him

in a long time.

And then he smiled

weakly,

but a smile

nevertheless.

As they sat

watching the sunrise

I knew this was the

start of something.

My dad and

his

simple gift,

named

Billy.

Homelessness by choice

By Daniel Scott

Homelessness

Sometimes it’s a choice

sometimes the choice is made for you.

James’ family died:

wife, kids

flushed down the drain

So he flushes down the pain

with a drink on the streets

till it numbs all thoughts.

Mary was wrongfully convicted

and when she got out

the world had changed.

She tried to get back

to the world she once knew

but the world fell

and she did too.

She landed hard

on the streets

and died there.

John

doesn’t know his real name

parents didn’t care to name him

He fended for himself

in a home that could host war

until he ran away.

16 years old.

The best thing he ever did

He can’t trust himself

in a home

cause he believes

‘History repeats’

‘Generation after generation’

And doesn’t want to put others

through that.

Unselfish and homeless

Join the Chair of the Foundation Board for lunch on Friday, 8 April 2022 as we celebrate the significance of Easter and learn more about the work of the Foundation.

All funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Scholarship Fund supporting current students who need financial assistance.

Book online today at www.ccgfoundation.org.au/chairslunch

For all enquiries, please contact Jennifer Freind via j.freind@ccg.vic.edu.au.

The Victorian State Government runs a program called the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).  As the name suggests, the fund is designed to assist families meet costs associated with school camps, sport and excursions and requires families to apply in each year they have a child who is eligible. Families who have an eligible child will receive $125 per year for a primary aged student and $225 per year for a secondary aged student.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. Please complete a 2022 Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form and return to your campus administration office by the end of Term 1 please.

Please read the attached letter for further information

We are thrilled to welcome Rev. Tim Costello to our College next week.

On Wednesday afternoon, he will address Christian College staff at One Hope Baptist Church – Barrabool Hills. On Thursday morning he will deliver devotions to the staff at Middle School-Highton, then will spend time in the classroom at Senior School speaking with students of Global Politics, before delivering a keynote address at ‘Gathering Hope’, a function organised by the Christian College Foundation at Mt Duneed Estate, (which is now fully booked).

We look forward to Rev. Costello’s visit and the opportunity for students and staff alike to benefit from his profound experience and wisdom in a range of areas, including social justice, the ministry, the law, local government and global politics.

When someone says something that hurts or offends you, try to take a moment to look at what road they are on. 

They are usually worse off than you are, so why join them? 

Keep control on your road ( be it rough or smooth) and lead through example 😊

Discover more about MYTERN here.