The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program

Experience a taste of university life

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program class of 2025 is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving secondary school students reach their personal best.

Successful applicants will take part in an exciting two-year program of events and activities that will expand their academic and personal horizons and set them up for success at Melbourne University, and beyond.

When they have completed their secondary studies, KLDYS could also be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree, financial assistance to move to Melbourne, and an overseas scholarship during their studies.

Student applications for the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program are now open for Year 10 students.  Applications close on September 1 and students will be notified of application outcomes from November 15.

How to apply
Year 10 students will be able to submit their application between August 1 and September 1. Melbourne University will then email schools with a list of all applicants for school endorsement, after which students will be notified of the outcome of their application.

For more information about the program, visit the Melbourne University website. Students may also speak with a career’s practitioner re the process.

You can more information here.

Senior Food Studies

Year 10

In Term 3 the Year 10 Food Studies students have been working diligently on their catering and events unit. As part of this work, students learn about the processes involved in designing a menu, how to safely prepare meals in large quantities and cater for specific dietary requirements. This unit is embedded within a real-world catering experience and this term we are excited to support our Japanese Naga High guests and host families for their farewell celebration. The Food Studies team would like to congratulate all the students and staff, including Karen Smits and Clare Townsend, for all their hard work.

Unit 2

The Unit 2 Food Studies students have been learning about Australian food systems. Students have worked hard to develop their own Australian Food System resource to share with their classmates. Students engaged in peer sharing and peer feedback as part of this work. They have looked at different horticultural and agricultural industries and completed investigations of their cooking by exploring the journey from paddock to plate of their key ingredients. Unit 2 students are also involved in the bulk cooking experience for the Naga High farewell celebration and will take the opportunity to explore the different cooking processes involved when producing a variety of different food products.

Asian and Oceanian High School Students Forum in Japan.

Year 11 student Ashwin Ruplal has concluded a very successful trip to Wakayama, Japan representing Australia at the Asian and Oceanian High School Students Forum. This forum, supported and funded by the Japanese Government and ASEAN, aims to foster a global perspective through discussion on common international issues and to develop friendship among participating nations.

Prior to the official forum, students were immersed in the local culture and history of the Wakayama Prefecture including a study trip to Wakayama Castle and the World Heritage Koyasan temple and shrine complex. Nestled amongst a tall forest of Japanese cedar in the mountains above Wakayama, the Koyasan World Heritage area was spectacular and a welcome relief from the sultry summer air at city level. Ashwin also spent time at a local high school exchanging stories and developing friendships with local students.

Ashwin then represented Australia and Christian College exceptionally well at the official forum. He delivered two presentations before a large number of fellow students as well as distinguished guests and government officials focusing on a shorter guide to Australia, and a longer research presentation on food security and the environment.

Beneath the surface of the formalities however is where the real learning happened. Throughout this experience, Ashwin tirelessly developed networks and connections with students and teachers from across the Asia-Pacific region. These connections not only bring with them new friendships, but new perspectives on the world that Ashwin is looking forward to bringing back to Christian College and sharing with our community.

Ashwin is to be commended for the enthusiastic and diligent way that he represented his school and country at the Asian and Oceanian High School Students Forum.

House Drama

House Drama on Wednesday 9th August was an opportunity for each House to show off their creative talents and skills, in response to the set theme ‘The Prize’.

To order win each House needed to include slow motion, a rewind moment, an 80s training montage and an unexpected twist at the end. They were also limited to four chairs; six props and costumes were required. The difficult job of judging each performance was giving to the dynamic Ms Martin and special guest judge Amanda Labonte.

With each House imaginatively responding to the task, scores were neck-and-neck, however, Burrows took the lead winning 3 points in front of Flynn.

The final results were;

First place:  Burrows

Second: Flynn

Third: Penman

Fourth: Taylor

Piano Day

On Thursday, around 90 piano students traveled from all campuses to the RW Gibson Centre at Senior School to take part in a great variety of activities. The morning started with a range of performances from Year 3s to 9s and at recess time the Senior School students joined in the day. First, they learned about the mechanics of the piano. Thank you, Mr Brad Treloar, for taking apart a piano and explaining everything in detail! We learned about ensemble opportunities on a small and large scale and Ms Molly Hanson ran a fun ensemble session with dozens of piano students on keys and percussion.

Former Christian College student Adela Karol gave a beautiful performance of a Debussy Prelude and answered numerous questions of the younger pianists in the auditorium. Adela was a true inspiration for all the younger students.

The very experienced clinician, Ms Teresa Lavers, listened to all our young performers and gave valuable feedback and insights into techniques and interpretation as well as how to establish good practice habits.

The afternoon was reserved for selected Senior School students, and Teresa held a 90-minute masterclass with them. It was impressive to hear already quite polished performances of Debussy, Mozart, Grieg and Liszt. The students took Teresa’s advice on board and realised it very well on the piano to bring their playing to another level.

Thank you to the piano staff and supporting classroom teachers for a wonderful Piano Day!

Three Days of Music and Fellowship

From Friday until Sunday, last weekend, members of the Senior College Ensembles headed off to Rutherford Park in Blampied for their annual rehearsal camp. The three-day intensive rehearsal camp provides opportunity for the students to develop their individual musicianship and as well, for the groups to develop their ensemble skills in a focused and intensive program. The musicians rehearsed for over 7 hours a day – they worked in small group tutorials with specialist staff, they also rehearsed in larger sectional tutorials and as full ensembles. The camp also afforded the opportunity for the Choir, Strings and Wind Symphony to learn and rehearse an item together.

A tradition of this annual pilgrimage is the games night, the games are planned and run by the Year 12s and designed to provide opportunity for students from across the campuses and year levels to get to know each other and also to build their skills in teamwork/collaboration. This year’s Senior Ensembles members are predominantly Senior School students, however there are also advanced Middle School musicians from Years 8 & 9 who are members of these groups. The games night competition saw students in instrument groups hotly contesting the prizes, our final winners being the Flute/String Team, very ably led by Angel Lawrence and Kirrily McConachy…with a special mention going to spaghetti eating champions – Jacob McKie and Grace Venn!

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

LEAD Parent Survey - Now Closing September 1

Each year, Christian College participates in the LEAD School Effectiveness Surveys conducted by Independent Schools Victoria (ISV). These surveys provide valuable insights into a school’s performance from the perspectives of students, staff and parents and are therefore an essential school improvement tool.

LEAD – Listen, Evaluate, Act, Deliver – succinctly describes the way in which this process enables our College community to grow and flourish through consultation with our valued stakeholders.

You will have received an email from ‘ISV Research Programs [email protected]’ inviting you to participate in the ISV LEAD Parent Survey. It includes a unique survey link that can only be used once and therefore cannot be shared or forwarded to others. Thank you to all parents who have completed the Parent Satisfaction Survey - we have received more than 300 responses to date. ISV has extended the deadline for survey responses - closing date is September 1. We invite any parents who have not yet participated to contribute your feedback via this year's survey. You are an integral part of our school community and your voice matters.

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

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]