Surf Coast Term 1 Week 2

From the Chaplain

Hi everyone, and welcome to the 2024 school year!

For those of you that haven’t met me yet, my name is Aaron Cutter, and I’m your Campus Chaplain at Surf Coast. It’s been an absolute blessing to work alongside your children since the start of Term 4 last year, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the Preps and all our new students this year.

Already our first weeks have been full of adventure, fun, and learning, and I’ve no doubt your children came home full of excitement and stories about their first two weeks.

I’m here to support both you and your children, so if you have any pastoral or faith-based needs or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can organise a time to meet. Alternatively, my door is (usually) wide open, so you can drop in almost any time, on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays.

My email address is a.cutter@ccg.vic.edu.au.

Blessings

What’s Happening at Surf Coast?

This an up to date list of planned activities at Surf Coast Campus that you can use for planning purposes.  Please be aware that these dates are set early in the term and occasionally items may need to be cancelled or dates/times altered.  This itinerary is altered each week to reflect any changes – please check this list of events EVERY WEEK carefully when you read the weekly VINE newsletter.

TERM 1 2024

Week 3

Monday 12 February             Discovery and Learning Program – Preps- Cosy Corner 
Please refer to EdSmart

Tuesday 13 February              Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day – All Students – More information to follow

Wednesday 14 February        No Preps at school

Thursday 15 February            Parent Helper Session – Multipurpose Room – 2.45pm – 3.30pm

Thursday 15 February            Discovery and Learning Program – Year 2– Cosy Corner – Please refer to EdSmart

Friday 16 February                 Geelong Advertiser – Prep Photos -Annual First Day of Prep Edition Photo – Please refer to EdSmart

Friday 16 February                 Assembly – Leaders Induction – 9am Multipurpose – All Students and Families welcome

Playground Preps!

Our Preps have been busy settling in and getting to know their classmates, teachers, and routines and we are so proud of them. They have been having lots of fun playing and learning in the playground, showing their creativity and imagination.

They have been building castles, forts, and tunnels with the blocks, digging in the sandpit, climbing on the play equipment, sliding on the slide and swinging on our amazing spider web swing. They have been playing ball games and getting to know some of our bigger children at our Surf Coast campus who have loved showing our Preps around the school.

Our Preps have demonstrated turn taking, sharing and how to be a good friend during their playground time. They have adapted well to their new environment and are quickly forming friendships with each other and with our existing Surf Coast students. We look forward to seeing them grow and learn through play as the year continues.

Year 1s hit the Ground Running

In our first two weeks in Year 1, the students embarked on a journey of discovery and connection. With enthusiasm and curiosity, they eagerly found their footing, forging new friendships and strengthening bonds. It was heartwarming to witness how they hit the ground running, immersing themselves in learning about their country and celebrating the diversity of families. Through activities and discussions, they learned that families come in all shapes and sizes, each unique and special in its own way. From sharing stories to drawing pictures, every child embraced the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of human relationships and family. These initial weeks were marked by growth, both academically and socially, as the students embraced challenges and supported one another along the way. We couldn’t be prouder of their efforts and the sense of unity they’ve already cultivated within our classroom community.

We’re in our New Building!

Year 2s have had a wonderful start to 2024. The students have settled in exceptionally well, getting to know new classmates and enjoying being in our brand-new classrooms. There is a real sense of excitement and joy being together again and the children are learning the routines in our new space.

Year 2 students have approached their learning with lots of enthusiasm. In Maths we have been exploring the days, months, weeks in calendars and in English have organised the classroom library. We have also explored the idea of acknowledging and respecting the original inhabitants of our land and have started to learn about William Buckley’s life on the Surf Coast in the 1800s.

We are looking forward to a great year!

Year 3 – a Whirlwind Start!

What a whirlwind start to 2024! Both Year 3 classes have already settled into a routine, adapting quickly to all the new changes to the timetable and the way our curriculum is being delivered. It has been wonderful to get to know the kids over the first week and a half and watch their little (and some not so little!) personalities emerge as they progressively feel more comfortable.

We have started learning about Ancient Greece in English and the origins of democracy. The kids always find these topics fascinating. This topic has crossover in IDL (interdisciplinary learning), where we have been discussing rules and responsibilities.

In Maths we are learning about place value; reading, writing and representing numbers up to, and sometimes beyond, 10000.

In Christian Education we are asking the question- “Who is Jesus?” and learning about the fundamentals of Christianity.

It really is a big term ahead so keep an eye on The Vine for all the things happening in Year 3! 

The start of the Middle School Journey

The start of the new year has seen our next group of students start their Middle School journey at our Surfcoast Campus. The new Year 5 students have settled into Middle School so well. They look super smart in their new blazers. We had eight new students join us for Year 5 and they have been a wonderful addition to our class. Watching new friendships develop and real connections being made has been so exciting. The Year 5s have been able to experience the new subjects offered in Middle School, including the Year 5 Band program in music, Stemming the Tide, Science and Indonesian. This group of amazing students are a wonderful addition to our Middle School and are excellent representatives of our college.

Camp Australia Newsletter

Find Yourself at our Open Day!

On March 5, all five Christian College campuses and two kindergartens are holding Open Days. Our Open Days provide the opportunity for parents and others interested in enrolling their children at Christian College to have a firsthand look at our College campuses, speak with campus leaders, participate in student-led tours of the facilities, visit classrooms in real time and have their questions answered.

We would encourage everyone in our Christian College community to spread the word and tell anyone you might know who is considering schooling options for their children about our Open Day and the opportunity to come and visit one or more campuses and/or our kinders, with no tour booking required.

Details are on our website – follow the hotlink on our homepage or click Homepage > Join > Open Days.

Opening times for March 5 are as follows:

Junior School-Belmont and Williams House Kindergarten – 9:15 – 10:45am

Bellarine Campus – 9:30 – 11:00am

Surf Coast Campus and Butterfield House Kindergarten – 11:30am – 1:00pm

Middle School-Highton – 10:30am – 12:00 noon

Senior School – 11:30am – 1:00pm

We would love to see as many interested families as possible finding themselves at our Open Day!

Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon

The Foundation Gathering Hope Appeal Luncheon is back on and has been scheduled for Friday, 24 May 2024.

You are invited to join us for lunch at the stunning Provenance Wines in Fyansford.

This is a fundraising event for the Foundation and an opportunity to hear about the success and progress of the College.

Our guest speaker is Jossy Chacko, Founder and President of Empart, a global ministry that exists to ignite holistic community transformation among needy communities.

Giving leadership to a team of over 13,000 people and offices in nine countries, Jossy travels around the world inspiring and challenging leaders to capture a larger God-size vision and not to waste gifts and opportunities. He is also the author of Madness! and Dare to Partner.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to come together. 

Secure your seat and book online today! 

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/gh

Golf Tournament 

Join the Christian College Foundation for an exciting four-person Ambrose Golf Day, including a $30,000 hole in one prize on Thursday, 24th of October at 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads.

Set on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, the day provides an opportunity to enjoy the award-winning creek course, known for its undulating couch fairways, deep bunkers and interesting swales and hollows.

You will be treated to a scrumptious breakfast on arrival and an opportunity to participate in several fun activities including the longest drive, nearest to the pin etc.

There is plenty of prizes up for grabs, including a cash prize of $30,000. Score a Hole in One on the 12th Hole and you can win. *

You will also be treated to a delicious buffet lunch and learn more about the incredible work of the foundation. Every dollar raised will be dollar matched!