Senior School Term 3 Week 1

From the Head of Senior School

It was thrilling to welcome students back on campus on Tuesday and to hear about the myriad adventures and activities many of our community members participated in over the winter break. During our commencement assembly, we learned about the Wind Symphony’s Performance Tour to Sydney during the holiday. Their performance at The Opera House was a peak experience for many, and we were further blessed to hear them play their opening number, “Cambrian Explosion,” at the assembly. The applause from students reflected their remarkable skill.

We also heard about our Prefect Tour to Timor Leste, where our college leaders extended their servanthood well beyond the physical bounds of our Senior Campus. If you would like to view an engaging snippet of the tour, click here to see a fantastic video created by Caitlin Deretic.

Our term commencement was also an opportunity to reflect on NAIDOC Week, which was observed during the last week of the holiday. We were further blessed to have staff member Kerrie Sirotich share her personal and very moving story as a First Nations woman with our community.

I have encouraged our students to view this term as the ‘Premiership Quarter’ and to consider that their mindset coming out of halftime may well influence the end result more than the current ‘score’.

I wish all families a productive and fulfilling third term and invite you to contact me at any time.

What’s Happening at Senior School

Tuesday July 23 – Year 12 English SAC (3.45-4.55pm)

Wednesday July 24 – Senior School Portraits and Photos

Wednesday July 24 – Senior School Subject Information Evening (4.30-6.30pm)

Friday July 26 – Senior Ensemble Music Camp / Tour

Thursday August 1 – Burrows Philanthropy Day

Thursday August 1 – House Football Final

Monday August 5 – Taylor Building Opening

Tuesday August 6 – Gordon VET applications Open for Year 11 and 12 students

Thursday August 8 – Unit 3/4 and Year12 VCE VM Student Learning Conferences only (Students finish at 1pm)

Monday August 12 – National Science Week

Monday August 19 – Book Week

Thursday August 15 – VCE Music Performance Evening

Tuesday August 20 – Gordon VET applications Open for Year 10 students

Friday August 23 – Staff Development Day – no students on site

Tuesday September 3 – Year 10 and 11 Student Learning Conferences (Students finish at 1pm)

Wednesday September 4 – Year 12 English SAC (3.45-4.55pm)

Thursday September 12 – RUOK Day

Friday September 20 – House Wearable Art

Friday September 20 – Term 3 concludes at 2.30pm

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program

The Kwong Lee Dow (KLD) Young Scholars Program is an academic enrichment program run by the University of Melbourne. It is designed to support high-achieving secondary school students in achieving their personal best, and consists of an exciting two-year program of events and activities. KLD scholars may also be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, financial assistance to move to Melbourne and an overseas scholarship during their studies.

Current Year 10 students are invited to apply directly to the university.

For further details including eligibility criteria and application forms, please visit this website.

Thank You to Our Host Families: Japanese Exchange Updates

After the pandemic, all Japanese exchange programs have resumed in full.

Manami Maekawa, Language Assistant

Our sister school, Naga High School, graduate Manami Maekawa has been working at the Senior School, Middle School, and Bellarine Campus to assist Japanese classes. We are grateful to the Ruplal family for welcoming Manami into their home since March 2024. Manami will now be hosted by the Sharma family. Sanskriti Sharma, a 2023 CCG graduate, is currently working at Naga High School in Japan to assist English teachers, and Manami’s family in Japan is hosting Sanskriti. This is one of our fantastic exchange programs, allowing graduates from both countries to participate. Thank you to the Ruplal and Sharma families for hosting Manami.

Miyuki Arai, Long-Term Exchange Student

The Gibson family is hosting Miyuki and has welcomed her as part of their family. Miyuki has been attending Christian College Geelong Senior School since Term 2 and will continue her studies here until December. She is learning English and other subjects, adapting well to her new environment, and appreciating the support from her friends and host family. Thank you to the Gibson family for hosting Miyuki. Kaylee Gibson will be leaving for Japan in September to attend Naga High School as part of our long-term exchange program. Selection interviews for new Year 10 Japanese students will take place in February 2025.

Thank you again to all our host families for their support and dedication to our exchange programs.

Important VET and Subject Selection Information for 2025

Vocational Education Training (VET) is offered as a subject in Year 10, 11 and 12 at CCG Senior Campus. Students travel off campus to either The Gordon or a Government or Catholic school (non-Gordon) that offer the courses one afternoon a week. Year 10 students who select VET also study VCE VM Unit 1 Work Related Skills over the whole year and complete one week of work experience. VET is mandatory for students studying VCE Vocational Major (VM) and optional for VCE (ATAR) students. More information can be found in the subject selection booklets and VET tab located in the Senior School Hub on SEQTA.

VET Course Information, Application Process and Dates

1. SELECT VET AS A CCG SUBJECT.
2. Create a Unique Student Identifier at https://www.usi.gov.au/
3. Choose your VET course from either The Gordon or Non-Gordon supplier.
4. APPLY FOR YOUR VET COURSE. Choose PM classes only.

Scholarship Applications Now Open!

Scholarship applications for Year 5, 7 and 10 entry to Christian College in 2026 are now open. You can access all the information you need, and apply, by visiting our website. There is a hotlink at the top of our homepage that takes you there, or just click here.

The scholarship testing date is Saturday October 12 and all applications must be received no later than close of business on Thursday October 3.

An Improved Website Menu and Structure

During the recent mid-year break, the menu on the Christian College website has been streamlined and the grouping of information simplified to improve the user experience. The homepage now has just five main tabs at the top – ‘Discover’, ‘Enrolment’, ‘Community’, ‘Parent Portal’ and ‘Contact’. There is also a ‘Book a Tour’ button for prospective parents and guardians who want to visit one or more campuses.

For parents, some key changes to note include the Term Calendar, which is now found under the ‘College Life’ heading on the ‘Discover’ tab. It can also be accessed via the ‘Community’ tab – under ‘News and Publications’, together with The Vine newsletters, In Focus magazine, the Annual Report and a new addition – ‘Latest on Instagram and Facebook’ where you’ll find links that take you directly to Christian College’s pages on each of those social media platforms. Emails to our College community will continue to be sent each Friday with direct links to that week’s Vine newsletter. 

Other changes include ‘Employment’, where positions at the College are advertised, is now accessed via the ‘Discover’ tab, under ‘About’, and the ‘Enrolments’ tab has links to all related enrolment information, including Tours, Open Days, Scholarships, The Enrolment Process, School and Kinder fees, College bus information and Before and After School Care.

Our website is a great resource that contains vast amounts of College-related information and we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the streamlined menu.

Save the Date – East Timor Trivia Night

The annual East Timor Trivia Night is always a great night of fun that supports Christian College’s work in Viqueque, and 2024’s event is on Friday August 9. This year the venue is the Sport and Aquatic Centre at the Middle School-Highton. It’s $10 per head, with each table seating 10 people. Get your friends and families involved, put together as many people as you can and don’t miss it! Call the Senior School Campus on 5241 1577 to book.

Seeking Support for Work Placements

Students studying the VCE Vocational Major (VM) are timetabled to work with an employer related to their VET course all day on Fridays. This is called Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). There are some prefilled forms to sign and there is a minimal cost of $5.00 a day to the employer. We are seeking workplace opportunities in the Plumbing, Building and Electrical trades. If you or someone you know are willing to help these students, to get a start in their chosen careers please contact myself k.fearnsides@ccg.vic.edu.au or Mary Higgins m.higgins@ccg.vic.edu.au  at Senior Campus. Thank you in anticipation of some support.

Seeking Christian College Company Members

Christian College Geelong is seeking expressions of interest from any parent or guardian interested in becoming a new Company Member.

Company Members play an important part in the governance structure and protection of the College. A number of positions on the Christian College Board are filled by company members, depending on the skillset required when vacancies arise, and it is the company members who have the responsibility of voting to pass any amendments to the Christian College constitution. Company members may also be eligible to sit on various committees involved in the governance of the College.

Whilst participating as a company member is not overly onerous, it needs to be pointed out that the position is voluntary and not remunerated in any way. Also, please understand an expression of interest does not guarantee automatic membership of the company.

If you have a heart for the College, and feel you would have the time to dedicate and an interest in this role, please contact the Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls at b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au. All expressions of interest must be submitted by COB Friday, August 2.

National Collection of Data on Students With a Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). With data collected on the first Friday in August (August 5 this year), the NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability.

These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD Guidelines.

Please see the attached NCCD Fact Sheet for more information.

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet

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!