Senior School – Term 1 Week 9

From the Head of Campus

Can you believe that the end of Term 1 is upon us already? It has been a fantastic start to the 2024 school year at Senior School. The groundwork has been laid for a year of challenge, effort, and flourishing.

Of course, highlights of the term will vary from student to student depending on their suite of subjects and cocurricular involvement. From my position, looking back on the term, there are so many peak moments. From the auditorium to the aths track, the classroom to the country, from the swimming pool to the surf, our students have acquitted themselves admirably in Term 1.

It was in a fitting conclusion that we came together today as a campus community for our Easter Service. It was an opportunity to reflect on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We shared a message of forgiveness, along with beautiful music, prayer and some student interviews, reflecting the true meaning of Easter. Our senior students participated appropriately and respectfully, in what was a very moving occasion to close out the term. As we now move towards the Easter weekend in our own homes, I hope the Easter story brings you comfort and reminds you of the unwavering love of God for you and your family.

Lastly, I hope your child has had a positive experience in Term 1, and I pray that the upcoming holiday break brings rest and renewal. Wishing you all a safe and blessed Easter!

We look forward to reconvening for Term 2 on the morning of Wednesday, April 16, starting with a commencement assembly at the Middle School SAC. Until then, take care and enjoy the break!

Everyone Belongs in the Story

“Easter SchmEaster” was the comment I heard over the weekend when shopping for new editions to my Easter decorations collection. As a person of faith, who is forever thankful for the Lenten season and Easter I was so grieved to hear this, no judgement to this person only grief that they didn’t know or acknowledge the significance of Easter. I was thinking about how easy it is to embrace the Christmas season with joy and happiness, but Easter doesn’t get the same welcome. Why is that?

As a chaplaincy team we have endeavoured this year to make sure our College community hears the Easter Story, know the meaning of Easter and have the opportunity to participate in a tactile experience during the Lenten Season. In this way, our message is clear, everyone belongs in the Easter Story.

The first opportunity we presented to our community, began with the Lenten Canvases, across the College. Staff and students of all departments and year levels have placed their finger or thumb print on an image. The image chosen for Senior School was the resurrected Christ (the other four images are Palm Sunday, Passover/last supper, crucifixion, burial, and an empty tomb). All the images are created using one unbroken line, broken only by the gap between canvases. This represents our College, all connected in the same story of God’s love and His transforming presence in our lives.  Eventually when all five Canvases are assembled together it will create a powerful image of community and dwelling in the same story.

Wowee…What a Term!

I have had the pleasure this term of witnessing many moments of connection and celebration unfold across the College and the tapestry of experiences that have enriched our school days, is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering wellbeing and creating opportunities for all individuals to flourish.

From the swimming and athletic carnivals to the colour runs, from the lunchtime clubs to the competitive fervour of House challenges, the opportunities to explore the great outdoors, the camps, the incursions, the excursions, the music performances, and the production rehearsals…well needless to say it has been a whirlwind of activity and achievement. Our Project Care teams passionately championed important philanthropic causes, dedicating their efforts to raising awareness and funds for worthwhile initiatives and our Year 9s began their journey of experiential learning via the farm and transformation program.  Our Prefect Investitures afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our new student leaders of our College and Harmony Day and International Women’s Day reminded us of the importance of inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. We sang and we danced, we performed and rehearsed, we studied, we tried, we laughed and we cried, we paraded and hunted for easter eggs. You name it…I think we did it!

What’s Happening at Senior School

Monday April 15 – Staff return (no Administration at Senior School on this day)

Tuesday April 16 – Commencement Service for Students – MS SAC 8.50 am

Wednesday April 17 – GISSA Senior Boys AFL

Wednesday April 17 – Year 10 students departing for Our World – Alcoota Trip

Friday April 19 – GISSA Golf

Wednesday April 24 – ANZAC Service 8.50am

Thursday April 25 – ANZAC Day – No school

Monday April 29 to Saturday May 4 – College Production of Cinderella at Play House Theatre

Market Day at Senior School

The Year 10 Running a Small Business Market Day was once again, a big success at Senior School! What a fantastic turnout and atmosphere for the second last day of term. The two classes worked throughout the term to create their own small business and sell their food or product to their peers and teachers throughout lunch time.

We had a variety of different stalls, from sweet treats and cakes, popcorn, fairy floss to sushi, loaded fries and egg/bacon muffins. Some of our businesses made profit, a few broke even and some were at a small loss. Nevertheless, despite the money that was gained (or lost) from the event, it was a wonderful learning experience for our students.

A special thanks goes out to the Music Department and bands that happily performed throughout the event- helping immensely to create this celebratory and fun atmosphere.

Well done to all the Year 10s on their incredible work shown for this day, and many thanks to all Senior School students and staff who came along to support them.

Art Making and Exhibiting Excursion to Melbourne

This week the Unit 3 Art Making and Exhibiting students were treated to a trip to view artworks in the galleries of Melbourne. There was a real sense of excitement amongst the students as we boarded the bus at Senior School.

The students were elated to be able to leave the confines of the classroom and view artworks firsthand in the wonderful vibrant city of Melbourne.

Our first port of call was to visit the National Gallery of Victoria International to view the Triennial. This exhibition comprised of 100 extraordinary projects, 120 artists, designers and collectives at the forefront of global contemporary practice, on all four levels of the National Gallery of Victoria. One powerful and moving portrait of the world today.

The students then had their lunch at the Southbank Cafeteria.

Our next visit was to the Australian campus of The National Gallery of Victoria in Federation Square. Here we viewed Top Arts. This exhibition showcases the exceptional work and folios of students who have completed Art Making and Exhibiting as part of their Victorian Certificate of Education

Our last visit was to The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank. At this gallery we viewed a major solo exhibition by French artist Laure Prouvost. Encompassing new commissions and a survey of existing work over the past decade, the exhibition transformed ACCA’s unique architecture into a labyrinthine and other-worldly environment, introducing Australian audiences to the imaginative, absorbing and frequently absurdist hallmarks of Prouvost’s diverse artistic practice.

Welcome to our Long-Term Japanese Exchange Visitors!

On a Sunday afternoon, Year 11 exchange student Miyuki Arai and Naga High School graduate Manami Maekawa arrived at Melbourne Airport, marking their first venture to Australia. Miyuki will join Senior School classrooms, and Manami will support Japanese teachers. Both are excited to immerse themselves in Australian culture, make new friends, and connect with the CCG community.

Warmly welcomed by the CCG Senior School community upon arrival, Miyuki and Manami have met teachers, staff and students, beginning to adapt to their new school environment. Miyuki plans to remain at CCG until December and Manami will participate in the language assistant program until August.

Eagerly anticipating their Australian experiences, Miyuki and Manami look forward to embracing local culture, improving language skills, and building lasting friendships within the CCG community.

Gratitude is extended to the CCG community for the warm welcome extended to Miyuki and Manami, ensuring a smooth transition into their new environment.

In particular, a  special thanks to the Gibson family and the Ruplal family for their remarkable generosity and kindness as hosts to Miyuki and Manami. Their warm hospitality has played an essential role in ensuring the comfort and well-being of our exchange participants during their time in Australia.

Year 12 VM Melbourne City Camp

Our Year 12 VM Literacy and Work-Related Skills class went to Melbourne for a three-day camp. Here are some of the highlights from our trip. 

The Amazing Race 

We participated in an Amazing Race which took us to places like the Parliament House, the Melbourne Zoo, ACMI, and much more. We set off in small groups to complete as many challenges as possible, using public transport to traverse the city. Each group earned points by taking a selfie in front of the locations. Even though my group stopped midway through to get souvlakis, there’s no way we didn’t win! We had a great time exploring and learning how to navigate around the city. 

Road to Zero Program 

Another one of the activities that we enjoyed was the Road to Zero program. The Australian government and public have shown continuous concern about the number of road deaths in rural and metro towns. As a result, they have tried multiple ways of improving the issue. We were lucky enough to participate in one of their initiatives. 

Road to Zero is an educational program run by the Melbourne Museum. Their goal is to get the road toll in Australia to zero by 2050. The program is filled with lots of interactive activities as well as a sit-down talk about safe speed limits, safe vehicle, safe roads and safe people. The VR experience was one of the most popular activities as it showcased the evolution of car safety. This included all the improvements that have been made over time as well as the new safety features that will be added to all cars that come into Australia in future years.

GISSA Surfing Report 

The 2024 GISSA surfing Tag Team titles took place on Tuesday this week. After much discussion about the building swell and the safety of all competitors it was decided to run the event at Torquay back beach. 

CCG entered our youngest lineup in many years with only one Senior School student in our team. The mixed format requires 3 Under 16 boys, 3 under 19 boys and a Under 19 girl. So the future is looking very bright. 

We also entered a girls team that not only surfed extremely well, but also had a lot of fun. 

Our team surfed extremely well with consistent surfing across the day. 

We made it through the semi-finals in a tight fought battle against Kardinia, Iona and Geelong College. 

The final was an even closer affair with only five points separating the top 3 schools. 

Our team consisted of Jack Patel, Jack Lindsey, Eddy Martin, Tanner Maddock, Liam Thompson, Sam Abetz and Ava Abetz. 

Police Career Expo

The Recruitment Team at Victoria Police is excited to announce one of its largest career expos yet – Victoria Police Career Expo – Your ‘Made for More’ Pathway. This is an all-ages event and is a fantastic experience in creating your own pathway into Victoria Police.

This is a rare opportunity where all the Victoria Police working units gather as one to provide answers to burning questions and tell you about all the exciting ‘on-the-job’ stories.

Especially for students, this event is extremely beneficial as our Recruitment Team, Exam Provider (ACER) and Medical Team will all be in the one place to assist with any career questions or application questions.

There will be members attending from a large range of units, such as;

• Air Wing
• Water Police
• Dog Squad
• Crime Scene Services 
• Police Academy
• Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section
• Search & Rescue
• Detectives
• Medical Advisory Unit
• and more!

When: Saturday April 13 2024
Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – 1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC

Time: There are many session times to choose from, all sessions run for 15 minutes as an introduction into your pathway experience. Note: all sessions contain the same information.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER!

We hope to see you there!

Victoria Police Recruitment Team

Qustodio Parent App

As part of the College’s commitment to supporting students and families with positive digital interactions in the home, we provide access to the Qustodio Parent App for all College parents and carers.

Relationship, clearly established boundaries, and adult modelling of healthy interactions with digital technologies form the best foundation for supporting young people’s own positive digital interactions. eSafety identifies parental controls as an important tool for parents in support of home digital wellbeing and provides an excellent parent guide to parental controls.

• Parental controls | How to keep your child safe (esafety.gov.au)

Parental controls tools, such as the Qustodio Parent App, can help to enforce agreed rules, provide safety barriers, and better empower parents and carers by providing visibility over their children’s digital activity. Parents are encouraged to consider how the Qustodio Parent App can support them and their young people at home.

Video Link: A Parent's Initial Introduction to Qustodio

Interested parents who have not already registered their Qustodio parent account can learn more about how to get started below. This includes video guides on registering your parent account as part of our school program and getting started.

• Getting Started with the Qustodio Parent App

Qustodio is a valuable tool for parents which can be used in a range of ways depending on your child’s individual age, needs and context. I encourage parents and carers to consider and explore how Qustodio can support you and your young people with positive digital interactions and wellbeing at home.

Cinderella – Be Quick - Tickets are Disappearing Fast!

There are still tickets available for our major College production this year, but they are going fast, so to ensure you don't miss out - book now! Join us as we present three very special performances of this delightful story featuring students from Years 6 – 12 with exceptional talent throughout the cast, and an orchestra brimming with outstanding student musicians, all backed up by a wonderful community of staff, students and families backstage.

Performances are at Geelong Arts Centre Play House Theatre on May 3 and 4.

To purchase tickets, visit our website and click on the hotlink on our homepage, or go straight to ticket sales by clicking here. 

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund

Financial Assistance for Eligible Parents

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are part of a healthy curriculum.

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. Support from CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities and forms part of the State Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is: • $150 for primary school students • $250 for secondary school students

How to Apply

Application Forms are available online through the Parent Portal (Go to ‘Student Information’ > ‘Important Forms for Parents’) these forms can be downloaded, completed then uploaded according to the instructions. Hard copy forms are also available from reception at each campus or by emailing enquire@ccg.vic.edu.au

More Information

For the CSEF application closing dates and more information about the fund please visit this webpage

CSEF_Application_Form_2024

Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion

The Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024. Join us at Blackman's Brewery Geelong from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Tickets are $15 each and RSVPs close on Thursday, 28th March 2024 at 5:00pm. 

This will be a great opportunity for you to reconnect with your peers, catch up with past teachers, and reminisce about your school days. 

Tours of the College Clocktower at Middle School - Highton will also be optional on the day of the reunion, if you would like to climb the Clocktower and find your brick, simply book in when you register. 

For those who would like to have a tour of the College grounds, please head to our website to arrange a tour. 

We look forward to catching up with the Class of 2014. If this is your year group, spread the word and register for your 10 Year Reunion today!  

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/2014

Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon

The Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon is back on and has been scheduled for Friday, 24 May 2024.

You are invited to join us for lunch at the stunning Provenance Wines in Fyansford.

This is a fundraising event for the Foundation and an opportunity to hear about the success and progress of the College.

Our guest speaker is Jossy Chacko, Founder and President of Empart, a global ministry that exists to ignite holistic community transformation among needy communities.

Giving leadership to a team of over 13,000 people and offices in nine countries, Jossy travels around the world inspiring and challenging leaders to capture a larger God-size vision and not to waste gifts and opportunities. He is also the author of Madness! and Dare to Partner.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to come together. 

Secure your seat and book online today! 

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/gh

Golf Tournament 

Join the Christian College Foundation for an exciting four-person Ambrose Golf Day, including a $30,000 hole in one prize on Thursday, 24th of October at 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads.

Set on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, the day provides an opportunity to enjoy the award-winning creek course, known for its undulating couch fairways, deep bunkers and interesting swales and hollows.

You will be treated to a scrumptious breakfast on arrival and an opportunity to participate in several fun activities including the longest drive, nearest to the pin etc.

There is plenty of prizes up for grabs, including a cash prize of $30,000. Score a Hole in One on the 12th Hole and you can win. *

You will also be treated to a delicious buffet lunch and learn more about the incredible work of the foundation. Every dollar raised will be dollar matched!