From the Executive Principal
What a joy it has been to welcome our students back to school this week. After the quiet weeks of summer, our campuses have once again come alive with the energy, laughter, curiosity, and hopeful anticipation that only the first day of a new school year can bring. I have loved travelling to all our campuses to connect with students after the holidays. It has been wonderful to see our Kindergarten students and our new Preppies, wide-eyed and ready to take on the world of “big school”, to talk to our Year 12s on the first day of their last year about the importance of leadership and legacy and to talk about holidays, dreams and aspirations with students at all different points of their school journey.
Our teaching staff have been preparing enthusiastically for the return of students, and it has been wonderful to see their excitement as they reconnect with students and step into the year ahead. Our grounds and maintenance teams have also worked hard over the holidays on several improvement projects over the holidays to get our campuses ready for our students. These projects include new bathroom blocks at Highton and Belmont campuses, an oval and science rooms for Surf Coast campus, new carpets at Bellarine, an improved canteen at Senior School and upgrades to accommodation at Back Creek Farm.
Throughout our first services, assemblies, and classes across the campuses this week and next week, we are introducing our theme for 2026: Strive for Excellence. This theme is already sparking meaningful conversations with students about what it truly means to do their best: not perfection, but the daily commitment to effort, courage, growth, and resilience. We have been encouraging students to keep striving even when things feel challenging, because it is often in those moments that real learning and character formation take place. Striving for excellence is not about competing with others but being the best version of who we can be every day. Why not ask your children if they have heard about this theme yet and what it means for them? We have also shared stories of inspiring people who embody this mindset, including our own alumna and Olympic gold medallist, Jakara Anthony OAM, whose journey is a powerful reminder that excellence is built on persistence, hard work, and setting ourselves aspirational goals. Her example shows our students that extraordinary achievements are possible when we stay committed to giving our best. As a school we are very excited to support Jakara, who visited us last year for her induction into the CCG Sports Hall of Honour, when she competes in the Winter Olympics in Italy in February this year. I am sure your children will be talking about that at home too over the next few weeks. As we begin this new year together, I am very much looking forward to connecting with families personally at our upcoming welcome picnics and social events across our campuses. These occasions are always a highlight of the year: opportunities to strengthen relationships, celebrate the start of the journey ahead, and continue building the warm, connected, and thriving community that makes our school so special. Here’s to a wonderful year of growth, joy, and striving for excellence together.
Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal
A Joyful Start to the School Year
Our campus has come alive once again as we began the school year with energy, excitement and a wonderful sense of anticipation. The first week back has been filled with smiles, reconnections and new beginnings, and it has been a privilege to welcome 77 new students across all year levels into our community.
From the very first morning, staff have been intentional in creating calm, welcoming classrooms and supportive routines, helping students settle in quickly and confidently. It has been heartening to see friendships forming, laughter returning to our learning spaces, and students embracing the opportunities that a new year brings.
Debbie Riddle, Head of Campus
What’s Happening at Surf Coast?
2026 TERM 1
WEEK 2
Monday 2 February – Device Rollout to Year 4 – 9.00am and Year 7 11.45am at school
Monday 2 February – Year 5 Trials for Beginner Band Program & Performers Workshop Commencement
Monday 2 February – Music Ensembles commence during this week, on rostered days
Wednesday 3 February – No Prep students at school
WEEK 3
Monday 9 February – Year 4 to Year 12 Device Program Parent Information Evening on Microsoft Teams – 6.30pm
Monday 9 February to Wednesday 11 February – Year 7 Camp at Cave Hill Creek
Monday 9 February – Year 7-12 Tennis Selection try outs – selected students
Wednesday 11 February – No Prep students at school
Thursday 12 February – New students ID photos – 9.00am
Thursday 12 February – Family Welcome Picnic – 5.30pm – 7.00pm
Friday 13 February – Surf Coast Campus House Cross Country Championship
WEEK 4
Monday 16 February – Year 7 & 8 Girls Cricket Try Outs – selected students
Tuesday 17 February – Shrove Tuesday
Tuesday 17 February – Year 7 – 12 Life Saving Victoria School Surf League – selected students
Wednesday 18 February – Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 18 February – No Prep students at school
Wednesday 18 February – Parent Volunteer Information Session – 2.00pm
Thursday 19 February – Year 7 – 12 GiSSA Triathlon Championships – selected students
Friday 20 February – Surf Coast Leaders’ Investiture Service – 9.00am in campus Stadium
Friday 20 February – Year 7 – 12 GISSA Tennis Championships Division One – selected students
Friday 20 February – Prep Discovery Session to Cosy Corner – 11.30am – 1.00pm
Welcoming our new Preps and Year 7 Students
A particularly special welcome goes to our Prep students, who have taken their first steps into formal schooling with curiosity and courage. Watching them learn classroom routines, explore new spaces and build relationships has been a joy, and we are so proud of how confidently they have begun their journey.
We also warmly welcome our Year 7 students, who are navigating the exciting transition into secondary schooling. Their positive attitude, growing independence and willingness to step into new challenges have been impressive as they begin this important next chapter of their learning.
Debbie Riddle, Head of Campus
New Spaces, New Opportunities
This year has also begun with significant and exciting developments across our campus. We are delighted to officially open our new Science Laboratory, Year 8 classrooms and oval.
The Science Lab provides a modern, purpose-built environment where students can engage in hands-on experiments, inquiry-based learning and deeper scientific thinking. Our new Year 8 classrooms offer flexible, welcoming spaces designed to support collaboration, focus and creativity as students continue to grow academically and socially.
The completion of our oval has already had a positive impact, offering students greater opportunities for physical activity, sport and outdoor learning. These spaces are more than buildings and facilities, they are environments that will enrich learning, support wellbeing and help our students thrive.
As we move forward into the year, we do so with gratitude, excitement and confidence in what lies ahead. We look forward to partnering with families as we continue to nurture, challenge and support every student in our care.
Debbie Riddle, Head of Campus
Reminder: Device Program Parent Information Evening
A reminder that parents from across the College are warmly invited to attend our Student Device Program Parent Webinar that will occur this coming Monday, 9th February from 6.30pm – 7.30pm.
This event, delivered via Microsoft Teams, aims to provide support to parents of students across Years 4-12, especially those new to our device program or new to our College, though all parents and staff will find the information presented to be helpful.
I warmly invite all members of our community to attend.
Parents are encouraged to RSVP using this link to help us gauge numbers and prepare accordingly.
Monday, 9th February 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Parent Webinar delivered via Microsoft Teams (join link to attend here)
All are warmly invited to attend
Brendan Vanderkley, Director of Digital Learning
Reported Fees Increase for 2026
Parents may have seen an article published in The Geelong Advertiser on January 17, 2026 which made comment on our fee increases for the 2026 school year. The article published contained a table listing the % increase of fees from 2025 for a number of schools in the Geelong and surrounding areas. The reported increase for our school in the article was inaccurate since it did not take account of the change in how we are presenting fees to parents, as explained in the letter to our parent community at the end of last year. In 2026, unlike 2025 and the years prior, our fees are now inclusive of device, rural and Year 12 levies.
Our tuition fee increase for 2026 in all year levels are 5.95% and not 12.4% as published. This places us alongside Kardinia International College and Geelong College with only Sacred Heart having a lower % fee increase when compared to the 11 schools listed in the article.
If you have any queries in relation to this article or your fees generally, please contact us by emailing fees@ccg.vic.edu.au
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