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From the Acting Head of Campus

As Term 3 comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on the journey we’ve undertaken together. This term has been filled with growth, challenges, and learning experiences, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared it with each of you.

I want to acknowledge the hard work and effort that the Senior School students have put into their studies. Your commitment to your education is commendable, and it serves as a testament to your aspirations and goals. I am confident that your dedication will continue to drive your success in the future.

As you break for your holidays, I encourage you to take some time for self-reflection and relaxation. Recharge your energy, spend quality time with loved ones, and, most importantly, remember to celebrate your accomplishments.

I also want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the dedication and support of our Senior School staff.  Their passion for teaching and their commitment to our student community is evident in everything they do. You have not only imparted knowledge but also instilled a love of learning for our students.

Your patience, encouragement, and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure students understanding have made a world of difference. Our community is all the better for the dedicated staff we have at Senior School.

Our Deputy Head of Campus – Ms Dianne Martin finishes her post today after 19 years of faithful service at Christian College and our Senior School community. We are so grateful for everything Ms Martin has done to support our students and families and we all wish her well as she commences with her new school and leadership role in Term 4.

In closing, I wish you all a restful and joyful break and look forward to the commencement of Term 4 on Tuesday October 3 with excitement.

 

Drew Oliver, Acting Head of Campus

RUOK? Day

The mental health of all members of our College community is a critical component of overall wellbeing, and therefore it is vital that we encourage open conversations about it.

As a national initiative, RUOK? Day offers a powerful reminder of the importance of checking in with one another in a meaningful way as a tool to strengthen our community. As we have done for many years, Senior School actively participated and engaged with RUOK? Day, which was held on Thursday. This year we extended our involvement to a week-long series of activities and events designed to connect to the theme of “Here to Hear”.

This week commenced with students writing statements of gratitude in the Monday morning House Group session. The brainchild of Vocational Major students, led by Ms Michelle Anderson, the statements were collated and used to form an impressive Archway of Gratitude in Burrows, the Yellow House. This mural, in turn, became just one stop along a Gratitude Walk which students took during Tuesday Morning House Group. Other activities throughout the week included lunchtime activities such as Staff v Student Volleyball, Mood Food, and Live Music on the VM deck, as well as the making of Calming Bracelets, and a Community Sausage Sizzle, with meats donated by Ava McCarthy, Year 12 Taylor House. On Thursday itself, HG began with a special Here to Hear session led by House Mentors, designed to strengthen belonging, empathy, and understanding, as well as to build critical listening skills. Many senior students also took up the opportunity to wear a Here to Hear badge. Finally, we also ran an art competition with the Here to Hear theme. All this happened in the lead-up to our Wearable Art competition on Friday, itself with a theme of positive mental health.

While the week held great value in encouraging authentic conversations about mental health, RUOK? Day is just one part of our broader commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where everyone is valued, heard, and supported.

 

Jason O’Loughlin, Deputy Head of Campus

Indonesian Students Cooking Up a Storm

Year 10 Indonesian students have loved the hands-on lessons taught this term in our Indonesian classroom, mastering the art of bargaining in the marketplace and preparing a traditional Indonesian meal for their families.

The class enjoyed a cooking workshop run by Pak Nova from Nova Balinese Kitchen in Pakington Street, where the students were taught how to cook an authentic Indonesian meal. Using these new-found skills, the students cooked up a storm in their own kitchens at home preparing a three course Indonesian meal for their families. Lumpia and Sate Ayam were a hit for entrée, along with Gado-Gado, Mie Goreng and Rendang for mains and Pisang Goreng and Kue Dadar for dessert. A fun and exciting way to learn language through food and culture!

 

Jess Bijaksono

Year 11 Visual Communication Design

This term, students in Year 11 Visual Communication Design have designed, developed and constructed a roadside rest stop prototype. The brief required students to design a noticeable piece of infrastructure that would encourage drivers to take time to rest during a long journey before being affected by fatigue. The rest areas have a range of amenities such as toilets and driver information.

Each student created a 3D perspective drawing, elevation drawing and a site plan of their proposed rest stop. A combination of manual and digital drawing methods was used to develop a desired rest stop concept. The laser cutter was then used to cut out materials and a 3-dimensional prototype model was constructed.

 

Mark Naylor

Sports Aerobics – Nationals Update

Push-ups, high kicks and splits were just some of the incredible skills on display at the National Sports Aerobics Championships held in Queensland on the weekend. And what an amazing Nationals competition our senior Christian College team had! The school team, consisting of Ali Cronk, Abbey Hodgson, Morgan Seech, Isabella Benson and Eva Milentijevic placed sixth out of the 12 teams who qualified from schools around the country. 

All the girls who competed in individual events also achieved great success. Ali competed in the Youth International singles, as well as Pairs with Abbey, achieving Bronze in both. Abbey competed in the Youth National Advanced section and achieved Gold. Eva competed in the National Novice competition and achieved Silver. Ali qualified for Worlds in Singles and Pairs, and Abbey in Pairs, however unfortunately they are unable to attend due to Year 12 exams scheduled at the same time. Best of luck to the girls as they plan to continue their involvement in 2024.  It was described by those watching the event as an incredible competition, seeing the athletes compete against the best in Australia and achieving such incredible results.

 

Tracy Dawson

Careers Spot

Topics this week:

YEAR 12 STUDENTS

  • University and TAFE applications – reminders, key dates and resources 
  • Closing on Monday! Applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme
  • Get help with your VTAC preferences by booking a consultation with a university 
  • Scholarship – construction management
  • Exam preparation lectures 

 

ALL STUDENTS

  • TAFE and Polytechnic institute applications for 2024
  • Apprenticeship and traineeship applications for 2024 
  • Summer schools. Note – applications for the National Computer Science School close this Friday.
  • FLiCKER FEST 2024 – FlickerUp competition 
  • Upcoming career events
Read more

Bec Bromilow

Robyn Smith

Qustodio Parents App

Supervise and Support Your Children on Digital Devices this Holiday Break

As we enter the holiday break, your young people may have the opportunity to engage and interact online more than they would during the school term. It can be challenging at times for parents to feel confident and empowered to help their children to be safe and responsible in their online activities, and to have balance between on-screen and off-screen activities.

A reminder to parents that the Qustodio Parent App is available to all our parents to help them supervise and support their children with their online and digital interactions at home, on the school device and on personal devices.

Parents of new students to the College this term have recently received an email invitation to activate their Qustodio parent account, but any parents in our community who have not yet done so can activate their account at any time if they wish. This help document will guide you in getting started.

Read more

Brendan Vanderkley, Director of Digital Learning

College Production 2024 – Update

As published in The Vine at the end of Term 3, the College will be staging Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Broadway Version) at the Geelong Arts Centre from May 2 – 4, 2004.

Audition Registration

All students from Years 5 – 11 (in 2023) across the College will receive an email early next week, with information and a link to an online registration form. Auditions will commence across the College on designated days from Sunday October 22. To register for an audition, students must complete the online form on/by Friday October 13.

There will be an information session held at each campus for students to have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the show. These will be held at:

Highton MS Campus Chapel                   Monday October 9 12.40

Senior Campus Music Department         Tuesday October 10 1.20pm

Bellarine Campus Auditorium                Tuesday October 10 at Lunchtime

Surf Coast Campus – Ms Notini will visit the Year 5 classroom next week.

Read more

Fiona Gardner, Musical Director on behalf of the creative team

The Christian College Sport Hall of Honour

We are proud to announce a new initiative, which will become an important tradition in the life of our College – the Sport Hall of Honour – to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our past students who have reached national or international status in their chosen sports.

On October 5, we welcome our inaugural inductees to the Sport Hall of Honour – ex-students, Gary Ablett Jr and Tegan Philip. Both are universally recognised as champions at the highest level in their respective sports – AFL football and netball.

You are invited to join us for this gala dinner event at Mt Duneed Estate. On the night, we will also honour a cohort of current students as ‘Rising Eagles’ for their outstanding achievements in their chosen sports, putting them on a pathway to perhaps achieve the type of success required to enter our Sport Hall of Honour in future years.

Read more

Daryl Riddle OAM, CEO of Christian College

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 f.provan@ccg.vic.edu.au

Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!