Senior School – Term 2 Week 6

National Reconciliation Week

Next week, Christian College joins with the rest of Australia in celebrating National Reconciliation Week. This important time of the year marks a number of significant events that have played a role in healing the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. May 27 commemorates the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which successfully enabled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be counted in the Australian population for the first time. And on June 3 1992, a High Court ruling recognised that a group of Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, held ownership rights to Mer Island, thus ending the centuries old British 'terra nullius' edict over the lands of Australia.

A number of activities have been arranged throughout the week on all campuses, with each day’s morning homerooms being the place where students will learn something different about the importance of reconciliation. A First Nations picture story book will be read, a song sung by our Junior School Belmont choir will be shared via video link and an Aboriginal mindfulness activity experienced.

There will also be a ‘Wear It Yellow’ fundraiser on some campuses on the Friday, where students are encouraged to wear a splash of yellow with their school uniform, an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Ground organisation.

Christian College is committed to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In 2022, a working group was formed to undertake the important task of developing a Reconciliation Action Plan. After 12 months of work, our ‘RAP’ was submitted to Reconciliation Australia and has since been endorsed and published on their website. I would invite you now to watch a short video (approx. 3.5 minutes) that explains what a RAP is, who's on the team and what actions Christian College is undertaking to fulfil our commitment to reconciliation.

RAP launch video

Fostering Respectful Relationships

You are no doubt aware of recent media reports detailing incidents at a number of Victorian secondary schools involving deeply disturbing sexist behaviour towards female students. Such incidents are of grave concern, particularly in consideration to the rates of family violence and violence against women occurring in the community.

We wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you that Christian College has zero tolerance for discriminatory, intimidatory and prejudiced behaviour in all forms. In accordance with our College values and philosophy, we expect all students to act with integrity, respect and compassion toward others.

Within our teaching and learning program, Christian College provides students with the opportunity to learn about gendered roles and expectations, gender stereotypes and gender equality in supporting the development of healthy relationships with others. We are committed to the whole-school implementation of the Victorian Government’s Respectful Relationships program which supports schools in teaching children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

We also recognise that fostering positive attitudes, behaviours, and a sense of equality among students is most effectively achieved when these values are consistently modelled and demonstrated throughout our school community.

We have a collective responsibility to be part of the sustained change needed and we are committed to fostering a school culture of empathy, understanding, respect and equality. It is important that schools work in partnership with families to take a proactive and preventative approach when it comes to addressing any concerns in our own community.

Together, we can create an environment where our young people feel safe, supported and are given every opportunity to flourish.

From the Head of Campus

Today senior staff were blessed to commence their day with a presentation and devotion led by Jossy Chacko, Founder and President of Emaprt, a global ministry transforming needy communities through Asia. Jossy leads a team of 14000 people in offices across 10 countries, so Senior School staff were privileged to have him speak to us about the importance of teachers in the lives of students. Jossy encouraged our staff to consider what was most important in their roles. He highlighted that it was our values, who we are and the way we treat each other that are most crucial as we go about our work. Jossy also spent some time with our Year 10 Global Ethics students. He then moved to his lunchtime engagement as the keynote speaker at today’s Gathering Hope Luncheon, held by the Christian College Geelong Foundation.

You will have received an email from me this week, detailing events for the remainder of the term. I have duplicated a summary of these events below.

House Music Competition – You are invited! – Thursday, May 30

On Thursday, May 30 Senior School will be conducting the House Music Competition at the Middle School SAC. This competition will begin at 1pm and go through to 3:30pm. Students will walk to the Middle School SAC from Senior Campus. Parents are warmly invited to attend. There will be large and small ensembles, solo performances, as well as the crowd favourite choirs from each of the four Houses.  Please note that students will be dismissed from the Highton Campus on this day and the Canteen will not be open.

What’s Happening at Senior School

Monday May 27 – Year 10 Outdoor Education Trip to Arapiles

Tuesday May 28 – GISSA Intermediate Girls AFL

Wednesday May 29 – GISSA Cross Country

Wednesday May 29 – Year 11 and 12 VCE Drama Ensembles (6.30pm)

Thursday May 30 – House Music Competition

Friday May 31 – ‘Touch of Yellow’ for Reconciliation Week

Tuesday June 4 – Casual Dress Day for East Timor

Tuesday June 4 – Year 10 Immunisations

Wednesday June 5 – World Environment Day

Thursday June 6 – Year 10 Drama Evening (6.30pm)

An Invitation to the Year 10 Drama Ensemble

A highlight of the year 10 Drama program is being able to share work that has been devised, written, and performed by the students, to their family and friends.

On Thursday June 6, the students will be presenting an ensemble play called The Last Australia Day, which explores a range of global Issues, inspired by a script called Atlantis, the lost empires.

The performance will take place in the Drama Room at Senior school between 6.30 – 7.00pm.

All are welcome. I hope to see you there!

Year 12 Drama Trip to Melbourne

On Wednesday last week, the Year 12 Drama students headed to the iconic La Mama Courthouse theatre in Carlton to see the VCAA selected play The Roof is Caving in by Frenzy Theatre Company. The play centred around two characters Hester and Bronwyn, who, as strangers, move into their first share house together. As the play unfolds each character tries to find a way to navigate these new surroundings and avoid confrontation, to keep their ‘home’ together.

Born out of the belief that ‘you are never ready for adulthood’ the play utilises an eclectic style of theatre-making, drawing upon the concepts of Surrealism and Australian Urban Gothic theatre, to create a disoriented, uncomfortable, and exasperating experience.

Like true Melburnians the students caught a train, tram and then walked to our destination, immersed in the cultural hum of the city. The students enjoyed the opportunity to see a play that was relevant to them, and to explore Lygon street. The students will now write a SAC on the performance in preparation for their end of year exams.

Mindful Mondays in May

During the month of May the library celebrates all things Mindfulness by promoting and encouraging different ways you can make your mental health a priority.  By performing an activity for only 20 minutes, you can refresh and reset your mind, which can be positive for mental health.  Remember it is very important to do something for you, something that you enjoy, something that will help you relax and reset.

This week the focus was on the “Power of the Puzzle”.

Puzzles are known to be mindful – simply the act of doing them gives you a break from your thoughts.

Seven Deadly Sins

Careers Newsletter

Career News May – 2024

Reminder:  Generative AI Parent Webinar

A reminder to parents and members of our community that we will be offering an online parent webinar, delivered via Microsoft Teams, next Wednesday. It has been wonderful to see such strong parent interest via RSVP responses and questions submitted so far.

There is still time to register for this event. Further details about the event are listed below.

Event: Generative AI and School Parent Webinar
Format: Microsoft Teams online webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 6.30pm – 7.15pm

Topics likely to be explored in the webinar include:

• What is generative AI?
• What are the benefits, risks, and limitations of these tools?
• What is the College’s response to generative AI?
• What AI tools do students have access to at school?
• What are the College’s rules and guidelines for use of generative AI?
• How can I support my child with navigating this space ethically and safely?

Interested parents are encouraged to register for the event via the form link below, to help with planning. Parents can also indicate what information they feel would be most relevant to them as they complete this form.

Register for the parent webinar

South Africa Conservation Expedition in 2025

We are offering an amazing opportunity for students to go on a two week conservation expedition in South Africa.  The first week will be spent in a land environment undertaking research, identification of species and animal tracking, and the following week in a marine environment where they will collect data and then work as part of a research team. This is open to students in Years 9, 10 and 11 in 2024. Students will need to fund their own expedition with a cost of approximately $7500 (TBC). This trip is planned for 28 June - 11 July 2025. If this interests you can you please email Mrs Clark at Senior school me.clark@ccg.vic.edu.au to express your interest. We will be holding an information night at Senior School on May 27 at 6pm in the Colab.

Places will be limited however we will need a minimum of 8 students for this to run.

This link will give you a quick look at what the project looks like in South Africa. 

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!