From the Acting Head of Campus
Ethos of Learning
After a magnificent Celebration Day last Friday where our Year 12 students clearly demonstrated high levels of maturity, care and genuine respect for their College they have again returned this week to continue preparing for their up-and-coming examinations. Students should be commended for their ethos of learning and dedication to achieving to the best of their ability.
We wish all students sitting examinations well over the coming weeks.
Being a dedicated senior campus presents a great opportunity for year 10 and 11 students to experience the examination period by being surrounded with students who are focused and dedicated. This role modelling will no doubt help our Year 10 and 11 students as they will shortly turn their attention to completing their own examinations in Weeks 8 and 9.
2024 Prefect Selection Process
We are nearing the end of our 2024 prefect selection process. We have been so proud of the number of students who have nominated to be a prefect and keen to support the College and advocate for our students. In 2024 we will again have eight College prefects and 16 House prefects whose role is to proactively influence our staff and student community by becoming advocates for positive change. Our prefects will have the trust and respect of the community and will be entrusted with responsibilities aligned with their strengths and abilities. The senior leadership team hopes to finalise these positions in the coming days and will be able to acknowledge the successful candidates shortly with our College community.
Respect, Love, Compassion and Peace
In light of the many heart-breaking global events occurring at the moment it is timely to discuss these with our young people and impress upon them just how important the values of Respect, Love, Compassion and Peace are in ensuring harmony across our community and the world. The earthquake in Afghanistan, the raging war in the Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis currently occurring in Gaza highlights the need for our young people to know that embracing love, compassion, respect and peace can inspire positive change and pave a way to reconciliation, neighbourly support and lasting peace. I pray for all the families, communities and people affected by these events.
Drew Oliver, Acting Head of Campus
Model UN Conference
On the first Wednesday of Term 4, five dedicated and passionate diplomatic delegates from Year 10 attended the Model United Nations Conference at St Joseph’s College. Representing the nations of Tajikistan and the Republic of Ireland, our students put hours of research into their allocated nation’s approach to, and need for, reaching Zero Hunger by 2030 – one of the UN’s Sustainability Goals.
Our students crafted and delivered position statements to the General Assembly before conducting caucus meetings, where they negotiated amendments to the draft resolution and proposed changes and solutions to roadblocks on the path to consensus. Although the United Kingdom did threaten Ireland with a declaration of war for its moral rhetoric, and Tajikistan played a significant role in the breakdown of the US/Japan alliance over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 33 nations present successfully negotiated and passed their resolution.
The day was a fantastic success, and a credit to the hard work and dedication of Noelle Rees-Wilson, John McClure, Ethan Towle, Matthew Hegyesi, and Timothy Newton.
Peter Aumann
Product Design and Technology – Textiles
Unit 3&4 students have finalised the production of their innovative design ideas for an end-user group’s problem, need or opportunity.
Examples of products that the students have designed and constructed are:
A surfboard cover that is also a swag for surfers who like to camp out.
Interactive, distractive medical scrubs for professionals administering painful medical procedures to 1-10 year-olds.
A beach bag that protects valuables from the elements and thieves.
A sun protective outfit that detects the intensity of UV rays for women susceptible to skin cancer.
An easily transportable, dual-purpose sleeping and daywear item for homeless people.
A travel bag that appeals to, and suits the needs of, young travellers and keeps valuables safe.
These products can be seen on display at the upcoming Art, Technology and Design Festival at The Villa from 14 – 16 November.
Kerryn Fearnsides
Year 11 Chemistry – BioLAB Excursion
On Wednesday October 11, both Year 11 Chemistry classes went to the Victorian Bioscience Education Centre (BioLAB) to participate in their VCE Sports Chemistry program.
The aim of the program is for students to use ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy to determine the protein concentration in a common protein supplement and three milk alternatives to decide whether any alternative was a suitable replacement for the supplement.
The session was a great opportunity for the students to develop their skills as an analytical chemist by preparing and analysing standard solutions to generate a calibration curve and then using the curve to determine the concentration of protein in the milk samples.
All the students were actively engaged and the staff at BioLAB were impressed with the students’ positive work ethic and analytical skills.
Mike Neaves
Craig White
Christian College Rocks the Piano Bar!
On Tuesday October 17, the inaugural Christian College Rock Band evening took place at the Piano Bar in Geelong. It was a spectacular event attended by an enthusiastic full house of parents, friends and staff within the Christian College community, and featured stellar performances from three senior Christian College rock bands.
Prior to the event, Isaac Barter, and VET Sound Production students Jett Parkinson, Arjen Fernee, Henry Spry and Chester Shanks all contributed to setting up the stage. Throughout the evening, they applied the audio production skills and knowledge they have developed over the past three years and commandeered the in-house PA system, which meant the performers sounded at their best.
Once the stage was set, the VCE Unit 2 rock group consisting of Max Bettiol, Penelope Christie, Maya Cooke and Oliver Burgess set the tone for the evening with cracking renditions of Metallica and Arctic Monkeys classics. Their energetic performances had the audience engaged from the get-go.
Up next were a VCE Unit 4 rock group, featuring Alex Crawford, Angus Fuller, Harper Migios and Jordan Sollars, with several guest appearances from Ivan Bilic. They presented a diverse range of music, including re-imagined works prepared for their upcoming exams. Their ability to adapt and breathe new life into well-known songs like Message in a Bottle and Hit The Road Jack left the audience captivated, and culminated with an encore of Iron Maiden’s The Trooper.
The Christian College Contemporary Band, consisting of Trinity Cronkwright, Oscar Geraghty, Chester Shanks, Jordan Sollars and Caysee Vos then took to the stage, and brought the night to a thrilling climax with a mix of contemporary hits and classic tunes. Their dynamic stage presence and musical finesse earned them not one but two encores, and had the audience grooving along at every opportunity, cheering for more.
The Piano Bar in Geelong was a perfect setting for this wonderful showcase of student talent, and the night will be remembered for years to come. The dedication, commitment, and efforts of the student rock bands in combination with the enthusiasm of the Christian College community created a great vibe. I look forward to more such events that highlight the remarkable talents of our students in the music department.
Scott Jolley
VET Information
VET classes officially finish for 2023 next week on Wednesday October 25. VET students have the option to sign out from the student office with parent permission when otherwise at VET or to stay at school for independent study.
Students who have applied for a VET course for 2024 should now know if they have been offered a position or have been put on to a waitlist. Students who have been waitlisted will be put into one of their reserved CCG subjects until a position becomes available.
Students and parents should regularly check emails as the training organisations will be in touch directly with course specific information this term. The Gordon will be inviting new first year students and parents to an information session and tour at the City Campus on 22nd November 5.30 – 6.45pm and at East Campus on 27th November 5.30 – 6.45pm.
The training organisations prefer that all VET correspondence comes through the school. If you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me [email protected] or Cathy Brew [email protected] in the student office.
Kerryn Fearnsides, Vocational Pathways Coordinator
Careers Newsletter
Topics this week include:
YEAR 12 STUDENTS
- Important tertiary reminders
- Early entry programs still open
- Scholarships closing soon
- Australian Catholic University – scholarships information webinar
- Alternative Schoolies
- Tertiary dates
- ADF Gap Year – applications still open
- Richmond Institute of Sport Leadership
YEAR 10 + 11 STUDENTS
- United World Colleges – applications now open
- Indigenous Australian Engineering School 2024
- Santos Science Experience – Agriculture program
- Monash University Peninsula Campus Experience Day
- University of Melbourne – VCE Summer School
- Medicine and Dentistry UCAT webinar
ALL STUDENTS
- Exciting STEM Job Kits
- Music Careers Guide
- Victoria Police Careers Guide
- Careers working with people with eye disorders
- Summer jobs
- Train to become a flight attendant
- Study climate change
- Explore outdoor education and outdoor recreation courses
- Interested in forensic science courses?
- Summer schools
Bec Bromilow
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.
Rehearsal Schedule
All rehearsals will take place at the RW Gibson Centre – Senior Campus with regular weekly rehearsals during Term 1 on Thursdays, 4.00 – 6.30pm and Sundays, 2.30 – 5.00pm. There will also be nominated full days and extended rehearsals, with more detailed information included in the email to be sent to students next week.
To be allocated a part, successful auditionees must be available for the full rehearsal period. We aim to cast approx. 70 students, with over 200 expected to audition. We request families to please consider the implications of their child’s involvement and that a total commitment to the show is required prior to auditioning/accepting a place in the cast. Please do not audition if you are unable to commit to the full rehearsal period.
There will also be opportunities for students to be involved in the production orchestra and a range of backstage tasks. More information about these opportunities will be shared with students as the project progresses.
There will be a large group of staff and visiting tutors working with the students throughout the staging of the production. The initial production staff includes Kelly Clifford – Director, Taylah Broad - Assistant Director, Fiona Gardner - Musical Director, Kate Notini - Vocal Director, Andrew Dunlop, Victoria Kent, Sharon Huber, and Brian Alexander. Students with specific questions are invited to approach the teachers at their campus.
We are looking forward to meeting students from across the campuses at auditions, casting and staging this production for our community.
Fiona Gardner, Musical Director on behalf of the creative team
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]
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
