Senior School Term 4 Week 6

From the Executive Principal

Cultivating Curiosity

I was reflecting on curiosity this week. Curiosity is often described as the engine of learning, but I think it is more than that; I think curiosity is a way of being and a lifelong invitation to wonder. It is the quiet, persistent urge to understand, to explore, to ask questions that don’t yet have answers. In childhood, curiosity is abundant and uninhibited. According to Goodwin (2018), toddlers ask up to 100 questions a day. But as we grow older, our curiosity can be dulled by routine. By Middle School age, Goodwin found that children ask nearly no questions; they answer many, but unless we do something to provoke their curiosity, they stop asking questions. I think Lewis Carroll would say: “Curiouser and curiouser!” The challenge for us is therefore to help our children hold onto their natural curiosity.

To stay curious for life is to remain open. It means resisting the temptation to settle into what we already know and instead leaning into the unknown with humility and interest. It requires us to notice what surprises us, what challenges our assumptions, and what invites us to think differently. Ultimately curiosity is not about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to ask better questions. When we nurture curiosity in children, we’re not just supporting their learning; we are helping them build the habits of mind that will sustain them for life.

Here are ten strategies that parents can try at home to spark your child’s curiosity.

      1. Encourage questions

• Create a safe space where children feel comfortable asking “why” and “how.”
• Respond positively to questions, even if you don’t know the answer, Model curiosity by saying, “Let’s find out together.”

Community Carols – Join us for a Christmas Celebration!

We are excited and looking forward to a fantastic evening where the College community, and members of the wider community will come together to celebrate this season of joy. Our Community Carols event is happening on Wednesday December 3 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, at the Middle School-Highton campus, 18 Burdekin Road.

We invite you to bring the whole family, and some friends, your best voice, pack some outdoor chairs and a picnic rug or two and join us for a fun evening of music, carol-singing led by our student and staff ensembles, and lots more.

What’s on:

• Food trucks will be available for dinner
• Programs featuring carol lyrics (a gold coin donation would be appreciated)
• Raffle prizes to be won
• Face painting
• Santa will pay a visit
• Prizes for best dressed – so come in your festive gear!

All funds raised will go to the CCG Foundation, supporting important initiatives across our College community.

From the Head of Campus

End of year events certainly come up quickly in Term 4! On Thursday afternoon we enjoyed the Year 11 end of year Christmas service, before their final day of Year 11 VCE classes on Friday. Whilst VCE VM classes continue next week, VCE students will spend the next week or so completing their Semester 2 examinations before Presentation Afternoon on Tuesday, November 25. It was wonderful to have the involvement of a large number of students contributing to the service, whether delivering a message on Hope, Joy, Peace or Love as the Wonders of Christmas, playing music or leading the singing of a joyful Christmas Carol and thanks to our Chaplain Jen and her team of students.

Year 10 have another week of classes before their final Year 10 service next week with their exams starting Friday, November 21 and continuing until Presentation Afternoon.

We look forward to the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony and Celebration Function next Friday, November 21. This is always a meaningful, relaxed and joyful occasion for students, staff and their families to enjoy together. On this day, the school will close at 11am, after morning exams for Year 10 and 11 students. Students are only required on site that morning if they have an exam scheduled, and they will be dismissed at 11am.

What’s Happening at Senior School? 

Term 4 Week 7

Monday 17 November: Unit 2 Examinations begin

Wednesday 19 November: Final VCAA Written Examination

Thursday 20 November: Year 10 Final Service

Friday 21 November: Year 10 Examinations begin

Friday 21 November: Year 10 and 11 students dismissed at 11.00am
Friday 21 November: Year 12 Graduation Ceremony 2pm Costa Hall

Term 4 Week 8

Monday 24 to Tuesday 25 November: Year 10 and Unit 2 Examinations continue

Tuesday 25 November: Senior School Presentation Afternoon 2pm

Wednesday 26 to Friday 28 November: No classes at Senior School

Thursday 27 to Friday 28 November: 2026 Prefect Immersion

International diplomacy at Year 10

On Friday November 7 Year 10 Politics & Society students engaged in a model United Nations conference discussing the issue of climate change. Each student assumed the responsibility of a delegate from a UN member state and represented their state’s interests and its position on a draft resolution aimed at addressing the causes of climate change. This conference serves as a peak experience of the course, an engaging form of assessment, and a prompt for discussing how effectively the international community responds to global challenges.

Please read on for some students’ reflections:

“I really enjoyed listening to the debates across the classroom over states’ needs and opinions, and it was good learning how to make decisions for your own state’s needs during the conference even if you were challenged. The day was really fun and taught me lots about how the world really solves problems and how the world tries to make peace with all sorts of issues.”  Ella Williams-Clark

“It was interesting to see how each state tried to balance what they wanted with trying to find an agreed solution, and the role that alliances played in shaping their actions.”  Benny Torriero

“I enjoyed the caucus part of the assembly as we were able to discuss amendments, create alliances, and debate amongst ourselves independently.”  Lily Parker

Taylor House – Doing it for the Salvation Army

As we approach the festive season it is a timely remind for all of us to think of those in need and how small tokens of kindness and gratitude can make a significant difference in the lives of others. On Friday 7 November Taylor House held a BBQ to conclude our fundraising for the Salvation Army Drive. On behalf of the Taylor Tigers, we would like to pass on a very special thank you to all students, staff and families for their generous donations. We have raised $1530. Your kind donations will ensure 51 disadvantaged young people within the Geelong region receive a gift for Christmas when usually they would not receive anything. 

Thank you very much!

School Immunisation Catch Up Information – Year 10 Families

If you child missed immunisations at school this year, catch up is available through Barwon Health immunisation, via the information below or contact your GP.

If you intend to go to Barwon Health and you think that your child will need longer than the routine 5-minute appointment due to nerves, etc, please phone 42154444 so that we can book a longer appointment for your child.

You can book at Barwon health immunisation service via this link Vitavo or phone 42154444 if you need assistance with a booking.

Navigating the Social Media Ban 

We hope you have found our recent Vine articles helpful in preparing for the upcoming social media age restrictions that come into effect for under-16s from December 10. Our priority is to support both students and families as these national changes are introduced. 

At our parent forum, it was evident that parents and carers valued the College’s role in helping to raise awareness among our students. We recognise that this shared approach enables parents to have informed and supportive conversations with their children at home, preparing together for the changes ahead. 

In response, over the coming weeks students will students will hear more about the new restrictions through year-level assemblies or House group sessions. These sessions will include information from eSafety about: 

• how the age restrictions will work and what they mean
  •why the responsibility for enforcement lies with social media platforms, not parents or schools 
  • where to access reliable information and support 

Hampers That Celebrate Local & Support CCG Foundation

If you're looking for a thoughtful and delicious gift idea this festive season, we invite you to consider ordering a Geelong Gourmet Goodies Hamper through Kardinia Rotary. 

These beautifully presented hampers feature locally sourced gourmet treats and come in three sizes — $125, $85, and $60 — with free delivery within 50km of Geelong CBD.  

They make perfect gifts for friends, family, staff, or clients, while also supporting local businesses and community projects. 

Here’s how your purchase can make a difference: 

• For every hamper ordered that references Christian College Geelong or Christian College Geelong Foundation, $5 will be donated to the Foundation. 

• Even better — this donation will be dollar matched by an anonymous donor, doubling the impact of your support! 

Funds raised will go directly to the Christian College Geelong Foundation – Public Ancillary Fund, supporting initiatives that transform lives through education. 

Geelong Summer Music Camp Jan 11 -16, 2026

A Day Camp for Music Students aged 10 – 21 years

Christian College Geelong is proud to once again be hosting the Geelong Summer Music Camp at the Senior Campus in January 2026. The GSMC committee are excited to have registrations now open for the January 2026 Camp.

If you have a budding band, choir or string musician in your house, or you are involved in a school or community music program, please encourage students aged 10 – 21 years to consider attending.

The camp highlights:
The GSMC is a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive day camp. Students will play in a concert band, string orchestra, or sing in a choir throughout the week and then feature in a finale concert at Costa Hall.

Campers will also have the opportunity to choose an elective activity. The camp builds social time into its program where students are encouraged to connect with others, developing positive friendships and relationships with other campers and staff. Auditions at the start of the camp are designed as a time for the students to connect with the music tutors, but also allow the tutors to place students into the ensemble that best suits them, to set them up to have a rewarding week of growth and fun making music.

Your Cookbook of Family Favourites – Calling for Recipes  

Dear Christian College Families,

Our names are Elisha Williams and Willow McInnes, and we are the Middle School-Highton campus Community Building and Outreach Prefects.

We are thrilled to share that we are introducing the Christian College Geelong cookbook, which will be an important fundraiser for the Christian College Foundation. All the proceeds from the cookbook will be donated to the Eternity Fund. By supporting this initiative you will be enabling, empowering, and changing the lives of young people from families who are experiencing hardship.

This will be a hardcover book which will include recipes from families and members of the Christian College Geelong community and will be titled, ‘Our Family Favourites’. If you have a special family recipe that you would like to share, we would love for you to contribute to the book. We encourage our community to contribute one favourite recipe.