From the Acting Principal
As we bid farewell to another remarkable year at Christian College, it is a fitting moment to reflect on what a truly unique and special place to which we belong. We are a school made up of five distinct campuses yet bonded together with shared values, a collective call to “Seek First the Kingdom of God” and a philosophical aim to provide an education that not only excels academically but also nurtures the holistic development of each individual. I am proud to be part of this school.
Over the past two weeks, I have had the privilege of attending all five campus’ end-of-year celebration events, firstly Senior School’s Presentation Afternoon last Tuesday, followed by celebration evenings at Costa Hall for Belmont, Bellarine, Highton and Surf Coast campuses. They each recognised not only the efforts, achievements and contributions of students throughout 2023, but also celebrated the important role that community plays in shaping the hearts and minds of our young people. And each campus was able to do that in its own unique and powerful way. I am truly amazed how each campus was able to put together such a high-quality event at such a busy time of the year.
What was so striking about these celebration events was the sense of unity, a oneness between everyone involved. Psalm chapter 133 verse 1 says: “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony”. Unfortunately, there’s certainly a lot going on in the world that’s neither pleasant nor harmonious. And whilst it’s important that our young people, through their educational journey, learn about the challenges facing humanity, it is even more important that they are taught that there is hope, that people can live together in peace, that unity is not only desirable, but attainable.
As we look forward to Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we can be again encouraged by the message that it brings of peace and goodwill. And this message is not only one of families, friends and loved ones coming together at Christmas, but also one where God invites us also to connect with Him. Celebrating Christ’s birth is an opportunity to acknowledge God’s love for us, that He is with us. So, as we share in the joy of Christmas, let us carry this message of hope into the coming year, inspiring our students to believe in a world where people can live together in harmony. I am truly grateful to be part of a school that not only imparts knowledge but instils in its students the values of truth, grace, faith, hope and love.
In closing, I draw your attention to the document link below – it is a list of key calendar dates for 2024, which will be a useful reference as you plan for next year.
May you each have a blessed Christmas and a safe and happy new year. I look forward to seeing you all again when school returns in 2024.
Rick Geall, Acting Principal
From the Acting Head of Campus
Final Academic day of 2023
Although today marks the end of the 2023 academic year for our Senior School students, it has been great this week to see the campus buzzing with spirit again with all three year levels engaging in the transition program.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of our students, teachers, and staff. Your dedication and hard work have been the driving force behind our collective success. Thank you for making Christian College a vibrant and nurturing learning environment.
May the love of Christ continue to bind us together, and may the upcoming year be filled with abundant blessings for each and every one of you.
May the holiday season bring you joy, warmth, and well-deserved rest. Take this time to cherish moments with loved ones, reflect on the year gone by, and recharge for the exciting journey that lies ahead. I wish you all well for 2024.
Japanese Study Tour
Our 2023 Japanese study tour departed on Wednesday evening to visit our sister school Naga Senior High School. The students will be visiting Universal studios, Kyoto, Kiyomizu temple and Naga high school. They will experience traditional Japanese living with their home stays and Japanese education as they participate in classes at Naga High School.
We are grateful to Mr Nakayama, Ms Oataway, Ms Dawson and Mrs Haywood for all their support while on the trip. We look forward to the wonderful stories when they return on December 22.
Thank you and Farewell
At the end of the year we bid farewell to those members of our Senior School staff who are moving on to new chapters in their lives, we extend our prayers for God’s guidance and blessings upon them. We wish the following staff well for their next journeys, Elizabeth Little (1 year), Georgina Hodge (2 years), Brendan Winter (2 years), David Harmer (3 years), Chris Kondos (4 years), David Bromilow (5 years), Helen Daffy (6 years), Georgia Thompson (8 years) David Hatswell (9 years), Fiona Hines (10 years), Ange Tutty (10 years), Louis Gross (10 years), Alex Souflas (11 years), Mandy Calderwood (21 years) and Wayne Hines (30 years). Thank you all for your love, support and guidance of the students under your care and for your dedication to the College.
Important dates
2024
January 31 – Term 1 commences
Drew Oliver, Acting Head of Senior School
Transition Week at Senior School
At the end of another busy year, it has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and excitement amongst staff and students experiencing a taste of what’s to come in 2024. For our new Year 10s, the focus is on making new connections with a different set of staff and student peers, as well as continuing the learning journey of finding their way around the campus and adjusting to new routines so that they feel more confident when they arrive at Senior School next year. Year 11 and 12 students have experienced a week of lessons introducing them to their studies for 2024 and giving Unit 3 & 4 students, in particular, a head start on the content of their chosen VCE subjects.
Amongst the lessons that Year 10 students have had with their 2024 class groups, there have been a number of ‘Community and Connection’ activities happening each day. These are opportunities for the students to take a break from the academic program and engage in some fun activities. From trivia and swing dancing to gingerbread houses and paper lanterns, students have been interacting with peers from their Houses and experiencing some of the different areas of the campus that they might not ordinarily visit.
It has been a week which promises a lot for new beginnings and an exciting year ahead. We look forward to continuing this journey with you all in 2024.
Leanne Doran, Transition Coordinator
Life-Changing International Experiences
The College has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Naga Senior High School in Japan for over 30 years. However, due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, there was a hiatus of five years with no exchange programs, leaving our students disheartened.
In 2023, resuming of all exchange programs presents our students with enriching opportunities to foster their global citizenship. Hikaruko Ikemoto, a long-term exchange student from Naga Senior High School, has been in Australia since April, immersing herself in new experiences and forging strong connections within our community. During her stay, Hikaruko has formed valuable friendships and gained profound insights into Australian culture through various subjects she has explored.
Hikaruko says;
“I spent nine wonderful months in Australia as an exchange student from Japan. Time passes quickly, and my study abroad life will come to an end this month. My experience at Christian College is something I will treasure forever. New friends, great teachers, my second family. All these encounters have helped me grow and allow me to be where I am today. And it helped me expand my international horizons. Days of learning together, experiencing new things, and laughing together. These memories will remain in my heart forever. It has had a deep impact on who I am going to be, and my future choices have expanded.
I am grateful to CCG for giving me the opportunity to experience Australian culture and language and challenge myself in a new environment. I’m really glad I chose CCG as my study abroad destination.
It’s very sad to say goodbye, but I will move forward toward the future with what I gained from this experience in my heart. Thank you Australia and CCG!
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported me.
I look forward to seeing you all again. Arigatou.”
On behalf of the Japanese department, I extend heartfelt thanks to all the host families for their incredible generosity, acceptance, and warm welcome extended to Hikaruko as a cherished member of their families. Without their invaluable support, our program would not have been able to run.
Djinda, Supreet, and Niko, the long-term exchange students from Christian College in Japan, have been deeply involved in immersive experiences in Wakayama, Japan. They’ve shown great enthusiasm in learning about diverse cultures and languages, courageously embracing challenges in this new environment. Since September, they’ve been enhancing their lives through genuine daily experiences alongside their host families, friends, and teachers at Naga Senior High School. We extend our sincere appreciation to Naga Senior High School and the International Association for their tremendous assistance and support in making this exchange program possible once again. We eagerly anticipate welcoming them back to Australia and hearing their stories in the middle of January 2024.
Applications for the Long-Term Exchange Program for new Year 10 students are now open. You can also express your interest in the Japan Study Tour for 2024, which is also open for new Year 10 and Year 11 students.
Currently, 19 Year 11 students are traveling in Japan, marking the revival of the Japan Study Tour program after a five-year hiatus. We eagerly anticipate sharing the incredible experiences from our trip!
Yuji Nakayama, Head of Japanese and Exchange
Careers Newsletter
Topics this week include:
- Summer Schools
- Future Doctors Program
- Natural Health
- ADF
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Job Seeking Resources
- Victoria Police Careers
Robyn Smith
Bec Bromilow
From the Director of Wellbeing
As we near the end of 2023, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday break. Holidays provide us all with the chance to take a much need rest, connect with family and friends or to engage in many of the life pursuits and hobbies that ‘fill our bucket’. It is important to acknowledge however, that holidays can bring about unique challenges and some unexpected stressors for some members of our school community and so with this in mind it is important to remember that support is always available to you and your family.
In the spirit of promoting a mentally healthy community and to encourage help seeking behaviours, I would like to share with you some information about support agencies available to you and your child during the holiday break.
Geelong Regional Library services have some great activities for young people during the holiday break.
Summer by the Sea offer a wide range of activities, giving everyone the chance to learn whilst having fun at the same time. Summer By the Sea will be running between 6 January and 25 January 2024, during the school holiday period. The 2024 program is being designed to be inclusive of all ages, and abilities.
Parks Victoria offer a Junior Ranger program and whilst their 2024 program is yet to released, you can subscribe for updates via this website.
Geelong Youth also have a number of opportunities to connect.
Kids Helpline will continue to be available during the holiday break, 24 hours, 7 days per week. They are there to help you with anything!
Headspace Geelong supports young people, from 12-25, who are going through a tough time. They can assist young people in four key areas; Physical Health (incl. sexual health), Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Work and Study Support - They will be closed during the holiday period from Friday 22nd @ 3:00pm but reopening on Tuesday 2nd Jan @ 9:00am.
Beyond Blue is available to support you with your mental health journey, specifically with anxiety or depression.
ReachOut provides the opportunity for young people to get a deeper understanding and perspective on what’s happening in their lives, connect with people who will provide judgement-free support, and build the resilience to manage their challenges now and in the future. They also provide information and advice to getting and using a mental health plan.
Lifeline provide 24 hour crisis support to individuals experiencing significant emotional distress and provide access to suicide prevention.
Parentline is a statewide telephone counselling and support service for all Victorian parents and carers of children from 0-18 years. Experienced social workers, psychologists and family therapists can give you counselling and information around a wide range of parenting issues.
Finally, Headspace have also provided some recommended actions to stay healthy during the holidays that I thought could be of benefit to you and your child:
- Exercise boosts mood and mental health – make it fun!
- Nourish your brain by eating healthily – it will also improve your mood
- Prioritise sleep to support mental and emotional wellbeing
- Explore relaxation techniques and coping strategies
- Stay in touch and catch up with friends and loved ones
- Make time to do things you enjoy
- Practise positive self-talk – and remember you are not alone
- Seek professional help if needed.
For our Year 12s, whilst I would like to encourage them to make the most of your well-deserved break, could I also suggest that they keep in mind the importance of balancing rest and relaxation with academic preparation. It goes without saying that the holidays are an excellent time to unwind and recharge, but dedicating some time to holiday homework can significantly contribute to their readiness for the upcoming school year in 2024. Completing assigned tasks over the break not only ensures that they stay on top of your coursework but also allows them to start the new term with confidence and a sense of accomplishment. I have suggested that they aim for this holiday break to be a harmonious blend of productivity and rejuvenation!
Please note, that as we encourage growth and autonomy at our Senior Campus, an email of a similar nature has been sent directly to our Senior school students.
I do wish you all a wonderful break and I look forward to supporting the wellbeing of our school community in 2024.
Kim Doherty, Director of Wellbeing
New Christian College Drama Club coming in 2024!
I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.
Oscar Wilde
The Christian College Drama Department is pleased to announce a new initiative in partnership with the Geelong Arts Centre, which will give our students in year 7 to 12 and their families, greater access to a range of professional theatre experiences. The Drama Club will run outside of the school week, on a Saturday or Sunday matinee, with parents and students being able to buy discounted tickets directly from the Arts Centre to allocated performances.
The Drama Club aims to bring together students from across campuses and year levels, to share in a range of theatrical experiences that will challenge, inspire, delight and amaze, as students discover new ways of thinking about the world. It is also an opportunity to support drama students passionate about their studies, who what to learn more and grow as artists.
Co-ordinated by Ms Broad at Highton and Ms Clifford at Senior school, the students and parents involved will have an opportunity to discuss and reflect on each play through pre and post discussions.
Below are the list of plays currently being considered for inclusion in the Drama Club with links to the Arts Centre Website where you can read more about them. - please note that this play contains adult themes and is not suitable to anyone under the age of 16 years of age. If you are interested in coming along, look out for more information in The Vine next year. Any questions please email Ms Kelly Clifford, Senior Drama Teacher - k.clifford@ccg.vic.edu.au “Theatre opens us up to experiencing different perspectives that we may not be aware of or contemplated. Theatre's way of examining dialogue, monologue and character allows us to flex our empathy muscles. In other words- understanding theatre helps us understand what it means to be human.” - Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts, Culture and Creativity.
Get Some Unique Christmas Cards and Support Williams House
This year Williams House is selling packets of Christmas cards designed by our own little artists!
We are selling our Angel/Shepherd cards for $5 for a pkt of 6 and our Nativity cards are $7 for a pkt of 10. Each packet contains either 6 or 10 different designs.
If you would like to support the kinder and share our creations with the community this Christmas, the cards are available at all CCG campus receptions and of course at Williams House. Payment can be made with cash or card.
We also take over-the-phone orders with direct deposit. Phone 5241 3556
All money raised will go towards making some new additions to our outdoor yards!
We hope you love these gorgeous creations and enjoy sharing them with your family and the community this Christmas!
With thanks from all the children and the team at WH!
Stephanie Butler, Director Williams House Kindergarten
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
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