From the Head of Campus
Wednesday was an atypical day at Senior School with the annual GAT (General Achievement Test) taking place on campus and Student Learning Conferences happening online.
This year’s new GAT format required students to undertake four hours of literacy, numeracy and general knowledge and skills testing. Although GAT results do not count directly towards VCE results, they play an important role in checking that School-based Assessments and external assessments have been accurately assessed.
For the Year 12 students sitting the GAT, the day also gave them the opportunity to try on their graduation gown and have their end-of-year portrait taken. It was a timely reminder to our Year 12 cohort that their time at Christian College is coming to a close. We will be communicating key Term 4 dates and arrangements for Year 12 families next week.
The Student Learning Conferences, also held on Wednesday, saw more than 160 families meet online with Year 10 and 11 teachers for just over 600 appointments to discuss their young person’s progress this semester. From speaking to a number of teachers afterwards, I know that these small windows of time were a valuable opportunity to discuss not just academic progress, but also student wellbeing, where challenges exist for some students in relation to their overall engagement with school. I am so grateful for the way Senior School teachers genuinely care for the students in their classes and want to help them flourish in all aspects of their lives.
Speaking of wellbeing, yesterday’s RUOK Day was an opportunity to be reminded of the importance of connecting with the people around us and starting a conversation with those who may be struggling. House Assemblies and individual House Groups each presented ways for students to engage with RUOK Day, whilst at lunchtime students had the opportunity to watch a short video of testimonials from two students and a staff member sharing their own experience with mental health challenges and the support available to them. Our young people are precious to God, precious to the staff at Senior School and I know they are precious to you too. We will therefore continue to provide them with the care, support, skills and strategies necessary to help them navigate life’s challenges.
Psalm 71 is a chapter that I have read many times since my own days as a young person trying to navigate life and knowing God’s love. Here is but one verse to share with you as we go into the weekend:
“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress”. Psalm 71:3
Rick Geall, Head of Campus
Unit 3/4 Holiday Sessions and Exam Preparation
As we approach the Term 3 holidays, parents and carers of VCE Unit 3/4 students may be wondering how to assist their child in preparing for the upcoming exams. Most students are completing the last of their assessment tasks and the Term 3 holidays are typically the starting point of exam revision. We are aware that many students may be feeling tired at the end of Term 3, nonetheless we encourage them to use the holiday time effectively as being well prepared will help gain those extra marks at exam time.
Some of our teachers have organised holiday sessions to do revision, practice exams or individual tutoring. Students will have been informed of these sessions by their subject teacher and they are strongly encouraged to attend. The schedule for these sessions can be found on the Senior School Hub, under the Assessments tab.
During the holidays, students should try to make good use of their time by preparing for exams. Here are a few tips that may help:
- Make a schedule. Use one of the templates provided on in the Senior School Hub to plan for studying time, rest breaks, exercise and other activities such as work, appointments, etc. Include time to spend on each of your subjects. Be realistic and allow some free time for flexibility.
- Have a quiet space to study, away from the television, phone, and other distractions. Switch off the Wi-Fi on your laptop if you find the internet distracting.
- Complete work that the teachers have set.
- Write down questions for your teacher. Be specific about what you are struggling with, and it helps if you can provide examples of questions that you find difficult.
- Finalise your summary notes. Make flash cards, mnemonics, mind maps, or whatever is your preferred method of retaining information.
- Participate in revision lectures conducted by external providers such as ACED, ATAR notes and CPAP.
- Read an examination report. These are available on the VCAA website or type “VCE your subject examination report” into your search engine.
There are many more useful exam tips available on our Senior School Hub under the Study Habits tab.
We look forward to seeing our students back for Term 4, ready and raring to go for that final stretch to the exams.
Ivan Ludinic
Year 10 Our World – Local Community
The year 10 Our World Local Community class have been out serving our community. The group visited Feed Me Geelong each Friday morning the past few weeks to help with the organisations amazing service.
Feed Me Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast collectively run a community food project, rescuing food, collecting spare food and excess produce, and sharing with the community in need with no questions asked, all run by amazing volunteers.
Feed Me Geelong has been the last to open its doors and provide this service to the local Geelong community. The students loved getting involved with sorting, decanting, preparing, presenting food, sending emergency food packages to people in need, as well as stocking the shelves of the walk-in shop.
Everyone is welcome to come and shop at the three walk-in shops in Newtown, Torquay and Ocean Grove to do their part in preventing our societies food wastage issues, with the encouragement to take what you need and pay what you can. For more information https://www.feedme.org.au/
Some student reflections on visiting Feed Me Geelong:
I think that Feed Me is a really great cause because of they are feeding people in need whilst limiting food waste. I really enjoyed our weekly visits. Shelly.
I really enjoyed connecting with the community and doing a small role to help provide for the people who might not be able to afford food. Archie.
During my time at Feed Me Geelong, I really enjoyed being able to see what positive difference I can make in the local Geelong community. Volunteering for these services allow them to assist in supplying those in need, and by assisting for only an hour of our time, our class was able to thoroughly benefit the impact of the service. Hayden.
Jane Smith
Year 12 Biology Excursion
Year 12 Biology students finished off their curriculum work on Thursday with an excursion to the Melbourne Museum and GTAC (Gene Technology Access Centre).
Students started the day exploring the first area of study “Changes Over Time”, which included looking how the earth has changed in composition over time, the fossil history and the changes in Victoria over the last 600 million years. Students explored the megafauna, transitional fossils and what mass extinctions has led to.
The afternoon was spent carrying out a series of practical experiments in a lab to determine how an outbreak within a community can be detected, along with identifying the original source(s) of the outbreak. They used PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) as a diagnostic tool as well as Gel Electrophoresis to view the results from the PCR and ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) to determine the duration of the infection along with how infectious the outbreak was.
Some student reflections on the excursion:
It was a very valuable experience to not only look at the progression of evolution throughout the world’s history, but also to personally participate in the process of identifying disease through various scientific methods.
Nathan Tarrant
It was really interesting seeing the labs at GTAC and how the equipment works.
Indrani Ruplal
Very engaging and fun, loved the practicals as they were engaging and very relevant to our studies.
Ellie Peace
My favourite part of the day was going to GTAC and experiencing the hands on practical, our mentor was really good and our group had such a fun time.
Laura Hall
Meaghan Clark
VCAL e-Waste Drive
For their final Work-Related Skills project, two of our Year 12 VCAL students have opted to run an e-Waste collection drive at senior school. Any old electrical items (smaller than a washing machine) are being collected so that they can be sorted and sent off to be recycled at reputable processors.
Built-in obsolescence, or designing goods to have limited life spans, keeps manufacturers and retailers in business, but will eventually lead to shortages of the elements used. Some especially rare metals are used in electronics equipment. This means that we need to get serious about recycling before we run out of rare materials, and can continue to enjoy the labour savings and entertainment that our gadgets bring us!
Items can be dropped at the old English Staffroom Atrium (Penman) until the end of Week 10.
Alternatively, staff can use the carton in the main staffroom!
Duff Swanson
Senior Ensembles’ Music Tour
Seventy members of the College’s four most senior ensembles, the Senior Choir, Strings, Stage Band and Wind Symphony travelled to the Melbourne CBD for an immersive and wonderfully enriching performance tour last week. Staying at the Mercure in Little Bourke Street, in the heart of China Town, the itinerary had daily highlights and provided a range of inspiring learning experiences as well as opportunities to socialize and build on the positive relationships between the participants.
The ensembles have members predominantly from Years 10 – 12 with a small number of advanced musicians from Years 7-9 being members of these groups. The cross-year level participation provides a unique experience for our students to travel, perform and develop friendships across campus and year levels, with the most senior students providing leadership and mentoring to the younger members.
The performance tour itinerary included:
- Wednesday Aug 31st – attending a performance of Hamilton the Musical with a unique post show Q & A with cast members. A choir collaboration at Melbourne University with the University Choral Society & the Box Hill Chorale
- Thursday September 1st – Performances for all ensembles at Federation Square throughout the day and evening in the ‘Music on the Edge’ festival
- Friday September 2nd – catching the train to Carey Grammar and collaborating/rehearsing with their musicians and staff
- Saturday September 3rd – Senior Strings combined rehearsal with the String Orchestra at Melbourne Youth Music, Choir & Strings rehearsal/workshop and performances at the Collins St Baptist Church, Senior Wind Symphony performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre south bank at the invitation of Melbourne Conservatorium of music (Geelong Cats won the footy!!)
- Sunday September 4th – Performance for the public at Queen Victoria Market in the Queen Street Plaza with the amazing backdrop of the city skyscrapers, and some rides at Luna Park on the way home!
As well as the performances and concerts the music students and staff enjoyed times of fun and fellowship while sharing meals and attending local tourist attractions.
Congratulations to our performance tour participants who are to be proud of their performances and commitment to doing well in all facets of the tour.
Fiona Gardner on behalf of the touring music staff –
Andrew Dunlop, Sean Rankin, Martin DeMarte, Regina Thomae, Kate Notini, Brad Treloar, David Gardner, Carla Dunlop
Wearable Art Returns!
The popular Wearable Art – Senior School’s House-based art/fashion spectacular returns for the first time since 2019 on the last day of Term 3, September 16. Wearable Art has been a much-loved annual event on the Senior School calendar as each house designs and creates expressive costumes inspired by their house colours and a self-chosen theme. This year for the first time we will also welcome Year 3 and 4 students from Surf Coast Campus who have also been busily creating their own costumes and will parade them in front of the audience on the day. We can't wait to see everyone's fantastic creations!
Jane Bailey
Important VET Information for Subject Selection 2023
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 study VET as well as VCE Unit 1 Industry and Enterprise over the whole year which includes a week of work experience. VET is mandatory for students studying the new VCE Vocational Major (VM) and optional for VCE students. More information can be found in the subject selection booklets and on the Senior School Hub – VET for 2023 on SEQTA.
VET Course Information, Application Processes and Dates for 2023
- SELECT VET AS A CCG SUBJECT.
- Create a Unique Student Identifier at https://www.usi.gov.au/
- Choose your VET course from either The Gordon or Non Gordon
- APPLY FOR YOUR VET COURSE.
Non-Gordon Courses (Government and Catholic School Offerings)
Course information and application form can be found on the Senior School Hub. It will also be emailed to all Year 9 students and parents.
A hard copy application form is to be completed and returned to the CCG Senior Campus student office.
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 2nd FOR ALL STUDENTS
Second year students need to complete the application form to reapply for 2023.
Gordon Courses
COURSE INFORMATION AND ONLINE APPLICATION LINKS CAN BE FOUND ON Senior School Hub – VET for 2023 on SEQTA or by visiting https://www.thegordon.edu.au/sitedocs/publications/vet-delivered-to-secondary-students-guide.aspx
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 16 – VCE, VCE VM & VPC STUDENTS only
APPLICATIONS OPEN AUGUST 30 – YEAR 10 STUDENTS
Second year students do not need to reapply.
General Information
Early applications are highly recommended to secure a place. Most VET course run over 2 years. VET typically runs on Wednesday afternoons for 1st Year students and Monday afternoons for 2nd year students.
Year 10 VET students’ study VCE Unit 1 Industry & Enterprise for 3 periods a week and attend VET for 2 periods a week. They do a work placement in the first week of the holidays at the end of term 2.
CCG provides transport to VET – students make their own way home. VET courses incur an additional fee that is course dependent. CCG offers a subsidy.
For any queries about VET please contact me at Senior Campus or at k.fearnsides@ccg.vic.edu.au
THE GORDON VET STUDENTS
2nd Year Gordon students do not need to reapply. Please notify the student office if you plan to withdraw for 2023.
NON GORDON RTO’s, Belmont High, BSC, MFSC & Covenant College
2nd Year students must reapply, application forms available from the Student Office or on the Senior Hub.
Kerryn Fearnsides
End of Term Canteen Arrangements
The Canteen will open as usual at Middle and Junior School campuses on the last day of term next Friday 16th September. At the Senior School Campus, it will only open at recess and no lunches will be available.
For all three campuses, the Canteen will open on the usual days again in the first week of Term 4 (students return on Tuesday 4th October).
A big thank you again to all volunteers who have supported the Canteen throughout Term 3 and allowed us to offer the services we do to all students and staff.
Heather Smith, Canteen Manager
Uniform Shop Hours Over the Holidays
The Uniform Shop in Centreway Arcade, Belmont will be closed from Monday 19th September and reopening 26th September 2022.
Opening hours in the second week of holidays are from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday 26/09/2022 through to Friday 30/09/2022
The Uniform Shop resumes normal trading hours from Monday 3rd October 2022.
Canteen not Open on Last day of Term
Please note that on the last day of Term 4, Friday December 9, the canteen will not be open.
Thank you to all volunteers for your fantastic help during the course of this term, and throughout 2022.
Recycling Uniform Items
As part of the transition to our new College wardrobe it was important that we consider the environmental impact of clothing items no longer required. Whilst it is still possible for students to wear items from the traditional uniform, when items are no longer able to be worn, they can be recycled.
Any such items can be dropped off and placed in recycling bins at each campus. We are working with our wardrobe manufacturer to ensure that these can be recycled as part of the introduction of our new wardrobe over the next 18 months.
Scholarship Applications for 2024 Entry now Open!
Each year we offer Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5 (Middle School-Highton, Bellarine and Surf Coast campuses); Year 7 (Middle School-Highton and Bellarine); and Year 10 (Senior School-Waurn Ponds).
These scholarships have been designed primarily to encourage and support new and current students who wish to attend Christian College and who demonstrate high levels of academic excellence.
We are now seeking scholarship applications for entry at any of those year levels in 2024.
For more information, and to apply, please see our website. Use the hotlink from our homepage or click here
Applications close on Thursday September 29. The examination date is Saturday October 8.
Golf Tournament
The Foundation Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 27 October 2022. Join us at 13th Beach Golf Links from 8:00am for a shotgun start. Tickets are $190 each ($150 for members) or $750 for a group of four. RSVPs close on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 5:00pm.
Funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting current students who are in need of financial assistance.
Book online at: The Foundation Golf Tournament