From the Acting Head of Senior School

What an amazing start to the term we have witnessed. Our students have settled back in routine very well and have been impressive with their dedication and preparedness. It has been wonderful to interact with many students during recess and lunchtime and to hear their thoughts and ideas for our campus. Our students are very engaging, perceptive and caring young people of whom we all should be proud.

While presenting to students at assemblies over the past weeks, I have been highlighting the need for our campus to continue the great work in the areas of learning, maintaining our standards and supporting each one of us in our community.

I have presented these ideas as the need to further develop our ethos for learning, knowing and living up to our standards and paying it forward in our community. Focusing on these three attributes will continue to ensure our Christian community provides a caring and supportive environment for all to be successful.

Senior Girls’ AFL

Our Senior Girls AFL team enjoyed an opportunity to play this great game in the GISSA Championships this week. The team was well led by our Year 12 players, who appreciated their final opportunity to play football for the College. The team performed admirably in all their games, showing tremendous spirit and teamwork, along with a desire to compete on the ground or in the air against some very good opposition teams. 

We congratulate Abbey O’Hanlon (T1 Yr11) on being awarded our best player medal on the day, and thank both Mr Murnane for his brilliant coaching, and our Yr12 girls for their support over many years for the college football program.

The Asian and Oceanian High School Students’ Forum in Japan

Ashwin Ruplal, a Year 11 Japanese student, goes to Wakayama in Japan today to attend the Asian and Oceanian High School Students’ Forum in Japan for six days, representing not only Christian College Geelong but also Australia. Around 22 countries are participating in the conference. This is one of the wonderful opportunities that Christian College provides for Japanese language students to explore authentic Japanese immersive cultural experiences. The high school students will discuss global issues, and Ashwin will present Australian food issues to the audience. Mr Tim Wright will accompany him. We are grateful to the Japanese government for inviting Christian College Geelong again.

Applications for a Year 11 Japanese student to participate in this annual conference in 2024, including a free trip to Japan (funded by the Japanese government) will open early next year.

Study Japanese and seize this awesome opportunity; it could be a life-changing experience!

We wish Ashwin and Mr Wright a safe trip to Japan and look forward to hearing their report when they return.

University Open Days 2023

Get your calendars out folks, it’s ‘that’ time of year. University Open Days are here!

Students from Years 9-12 are encouraged to attend Open Days to get a feel for the sorts of courses offered, pathways, opportunities, and personalities of the various tertiary institutions.

Read HERE an article by Careers expert Helen Green, published by ISV about how to get the most out of Open Days.

A quick summary of this article:

• Be informed. Research prospective study courses and be ready
• Bring your teenager into the picture
• Be mindful of changes and opportunities
• Remove the pressure
• What about the campus experience?
• Ask questions
• Uncover the important details
• Remember ATARs are indicative only and subject to change

For Year 12 students please also note the accommodation and scholarship opportunities.

Open Days, Victoria, ACT, NSW, 2023

Sport Update

The 2023 All Schools XC Championships were held last Saturday at Bundoora Park in beautiful running conditions. In the wake of some very good performances at the GISSA Championships last term, the following students represented our college at the All Schools, which attracts some of the best runners from across the State.

Thomas Stefanovski (Yr7 Bellarine Campus) and Nate Bradley (Yr7 Highton Campus) competed in the U14 boys’ section where 170+ competitors completed the undulating 3km course. Nate finished in 49th position with a time of 10:57mins, and Thomas finished 85th in 11:35mins. Both boys competed brilliantly against some quality competition, where the winner’s time was 9:39mins.

Lewis Reed (Yr8 Highton Campus) ran solidly in the U15 boys’ age group, finishing 75th in a field of 150+ competitors. His time of 15:29mins for the 4km course was a credit to him, with the winner clocking 12:02mins.

Promoting Parent Tools and Resources for Digital Safety and Wellbeing at Home

At this early point in a new semester, and with several families who are new to the CCG community across our campuses, I’d like to encourage all parents to partner with us in your child’s digital safety and wellbeing by making use of the parent tools and resources available to all of our parents through our Cyber Safe Schools Program.

Base Level ‘Safety Filtering’ on College Laptops and VPNs

Most parents will be aware that we provide a base level of ‘safety cover’ filtering of internet content on all College student devices. This filtering is always active, on any network (home or school). The purpose of this level of filtering is to help protect students from potentially harmful content when they are engaging online – anywhere, anytime.

A change we will be making on school devices from August 14 is that VPN traffic will also be included in this base level of safety filtering. This is an important improvement to ensure that our safety filtering can always function correctly. This will mean that from 14th August, students will not be able to access and use VPNs on their school device.

East Timor Trivia Night

Preparations are underway for our annual Trivia Night which raises much needed funds for the work we do in Viqueque, East Timor.

Money raised this year will help pay for a new roof for Uma Maun Alin – Friendship House – where some amazing staff and volunteers run kindergarten classes for local little ones and English classes for older children and teens.

Part of the night is a Silent Auction and we are asking CCG families for any donations.

Some donations made already, thanks to the hard work of some of our prefects, include: a signed Cats guernsey, personal training sessions, café vouchers, Geelong Lawn tennis memberships, tennis racquet and re-stringing voucher, a vet clinic voucher... and so much more!

If you are in a position to be able to donate something to this incredibly worthwhile cause please contact:

Surfcoast Campus: Claire Deretic

Junior School: Carla Dunlop

Highton Campus: Graham Barton

Bellarine Campus: Samantha Bett

Senior School: Lee Stringer

2023 CCG Science Photography Competition

As part of National Science Week, the CCG Science Faculty is delighted to invite our Year 5-12 students to enter the 2023 CCG Science Photography competition.

Students are asked to submit photographs which record some scientific event or illustrate some scientific phenomenon. They may submit between three and six photographs, which must be linked by a common theme. Prints must be submitted.

The topic may be based on any scientific theme or you may use the theme for this year’s science week which is Innovation: Powering Future Industries.

Competition entries must be submitted before Friday August 11.

Winners will be announced and entries displayed as part of our National Science Week celebrations.

We are offering three age categories for the competition.

Junior – Years 5 and 6

Intermediate  – Years 7 – 9

Open – Years 10 – 12

Detailed guidelines and entry forms are included here and can also be obtained from your science teacher.

Good luck to all entrants, we look forward to viewing your submissions!

2023 Photography entry form

2023 Photography entry guidlines

Important VET Information and Subject Selection for 2024

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) who 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 Processes and Dates for 2024

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.

NON-GORDON COURSES (GOVERNMENT AND CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFERINGS)

COURSE INFORMATION AND HARD COPY APPLICATION FORMS can be found on the Senior School Hub under the VET tab and at CCG campus student offices. All Year 9,10 and 11 students and parents will be informed via email.

A HARD COPY APPLICATION FORM FOR NON-GORDON COURSES IS TO BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO CCG Senior Campus student office via email to [email protected]

Melbourne and Monash Unis coming to Geelong

Choosing a university is a big decision. Over two nights in August, there is an opportunity to learn more about both The University of Melbourne and Monash University, what sets them apart and what they each have to offer. These events are suitable for Years 10 – 12 students and families.

Meet Melbourne, Geelong
Wednesday August 2 at 6pm
Rydges Geelong
Register HERE to attend

Monash Information Evening Geelong

Thursday August 3 at 6:30pm
GMHBA Stadium, Captains Room
Register HERE to attend

Discover Prep Week

During Discover Prep Week, August 7 – 11, three CCG campuses are offering interested parents, families and guardians the opportunity to get a firsthand view of Prep at Junior School-Belmont, Bellarine Campus and Surf Coast Campus. Our Prep programs are unparalleled and we invite anyone interested in enrolling children in Prep in 2024 and beyond, to come and visit, join a class, see our facilities, speak with teachers and campus leaders and have their questions answered. There are multiple opportunities at each of the three campuses to participate.

We would encourage our College community to spread the word about Discover Prep Week to anyone who is considering school choices for their children in 2024 and beyond.

All details, including booking information for sessions, can be found on our Discover Prep Week webpage – hit the hotlink on our homepage or click here to access it.

Scholarship Applications are Now Open!

Each year Christian College offers Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5, 7 and 10 levels. Applications are now open for this year’s scholarships, which apply to entry in 2025, at three campuses – Middle School-Highton, Bellarine Campus and Surf Coast Campus.

Year 10 entry applies to Senior School-Waurn Ponds only.

To find out more, and to apply, visit our website and look for the homepage hotlink, or click here.

Scholarship applications are open to students who do not currently attend Christian College, as well as those who are currently enrolled here. Scholarship examinations will be held at Christian College on Saturday October 7. Closing date for applications is Thursday, September 28.

Foundation Golf Day 2023

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.

Save the date: Thursday November 9.

We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]