Surf Coast Term 1 Week 9

From the Campus Leader

As this term ends, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible staff for the care, love, and the amazing teaching opportunities they provide our children every day. I would also like to thank you, our families, for your ongoing support. Term 1 this year has been wonderful, filled with many opportunities for our children both in their classrooms and outside of them. Students have been encouraged to build their capabilities in their learning while developing more skills, knowledge and understanding. During sporting events, our children demonstrated perseverance and determination. Our children’s love for music has continued to grow this year. We have two string ensembles two choirs, and our Year 5 students are thoroughly enjoying their brass and woodwind classes. We have more than 100 students learning an instrument each week at our campus. Next term, we have many more opportunities for all our students from Prep – Year 6 to take part in. We will be welcoming more new students to our campus next term; I know we will make them, and their families, feel very welcome.

As we look toward Easter, we recognise it as a celebration of love and life. God loves us so he sent his son Jesus into the world because he wants us to become truly alive in his love. When the world offers us stress about the cost of living and interest rate rises, Jesus offers us peace. When the world seems full of hate and devastation, Jesus extends love and wholeness. Jesus says, “I came that they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance.” This is the essence of Easter. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are all for our sake, so that we can have life in all its fullness – both now and for the future.

I hope and pray you all have a wonderful holiday break with your families, and we will look forward to seeing you all at the beginning of next term.

Take care.

Easter at the Surf Coast

What a perfect way to end a perfect term. The cool Autumn morning and beautiful environment were the perfect backdrop for our annual Easter Bonnet Parade. Our children were extremely creative this year, their bonnets were brightly coloured and very original. The children had the opportunity to dance, sing and have a wonderful time together. A highlight of the morning was a visit from the Easter Bunny. Following the parade students, family and friends gathered to celebrate Easter at our Easter Service. Easter is a very special time of the year on our Christian calendar and it was wonderful to celebrate all that Jesus has done for us during our Easter Service.

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 2 2024

WEEK 1

Tuesday 16 April
Students return to school
Instrumental Music – Band and Solo Concert, featuring Eltham High school Concert Band and Christian College VCE Musicians. – Year 5

Thursday 17 April
District Cross Country for selected Middle School Students

Friday 18 April
Assembly 0900 – All Welcome

WEEK 2

Wednesday 24 April
ANZAC Service 10:30 – All Welcome

Thursday 25 April
ANZAC Day Holiday

Happy Easter everyone!

I hope you have all had an excellent week and are looking forward to the school holidays.

What a term it has been! I’m so proud of each and every one of our students, and the growth I have seen has been so encouraging. We’ve had Easter services, camp, swimming day, athletics day, and that’s only the last two weeks!

I can’t wait to see you all again in a couple of weeks, and to kick into an excellent Term Two.

I hope you have a blessed holidays and have an opportunity to reflect on the reason we celebrate Easter. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are pivotal to our Christian faith, and I personally look forward to spending time in the Word and reflecting on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, giving up his life for our own.

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you, and give you peace.”’

Blessings,

Wowee…What a Term!

I have had the pleasure this term of witnessing many moments of connection and celebration unfold across the College and the tapestry of experiences that have enriched our school days, is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering wellbeing and creating opportunities for all individuals to flourish.

From the swimming and athletic carnivals to the colour runs, from the lunchtime clubs to the competitive fervour of House challenges, the opportunities to explore the great outdoors, the camps, the incursions, the excursions, the music performances, and the production rehearsals…well needless to say it has been a whirlwind of activity and achievement. Our Project Care teams passionately championed important philanthropic causes, dedicating their efforts to raising awareness and funds for worthwhile initiatives and our Year 9s began their journey of experiential learning via the farm and transformation program.  Our Prefect Investitures afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our new student leaders of our College and Harmony Day and International Women’s Day reminded us of the importance of inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. We sang and we danced, we performed and rehearsed, we studied, we tried, we laughed and we cried, we paraded and hunted for easter eggs. You name it…I think we did it!

Easter Celebration!

As we conclude an extraordinary term, our delightful Preppies have immersed themselves in a variety of Easter-inspired activities, enriching their literacy and numeracy experiences. It’s been a joy to observe their participation and enthusiasm.

Reflecting on the term, it’s with immense pride that we acknowledge the remarkable strides our Surf Coast Preppies have made. Their journey has been marked by significant growth in social skills, intellectual curiosity, and emotional resilience.

Looking ahead, we eagerly anticipate the adventures that Term 2 promises to bring. We’re excited to continue this journey of discovery and learning with our wonderful Preppies. Until then, we wish everyone a restful and joyous break. May it be filled with the warmth of family and the spirit of the season. Happy Easter!

The School of Back Then

Year 1 students recently wrapped up their history unit in a truly unforgettable way! Dressed in attire reminiscent of the early 1900s, our young historians embarked on a day-long adventure delving into the past.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as students engaged in a variety of activities – from classic games like marbles, old-school twister, ring toss, to the timeless joy of hopscotch, every moment was steeped in nostalgia.

Then with aprons on and sleeves rolled up, students tried their hand at traditional cooking methods. Using only basic tools and ingredients, they churned and mixed their own butter, experiencing firsthand the laborious process our ancestors underwent. Some confessed a newfound appreciation for the convenience of store-bought butter!

And what’s a trip to the past without a taste of authentic fare? Students made their own batch of damper. With the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air, we journeyed to Spring Creek, where a crackling campfire awaited us. There, we cooked our damper to golden perfection, and spread our homemade butter all over it.

Our students had gained more than just a glimpse into history. They experienced it firsthand, immersing themselves in the sights, sounds, and tastes of a time long gone.

Year 2 – The Story of Easter

Throughout this term the students have been learning all about who Jesus is and what he did on Earth. The students did a fantastic job understanding all about Jesus as a child, learning more about his family and his first miracles. The year 2s concluded their Christian Education this term with learning about the story of Easter. Students learnt about this very special time of year by using resurrection eggs.As they opened each of these 12 eggs, they would find a tiny symbol that tells part of the Easter story. As a class we were able to explore the scripture from their Bible that was associated with the symbol, the students also had great fun finding the symbols in their own picture story book bibles.

Congratulations year 2s on an amazing first term of learning, the students have done such a great job learning a range of new things right across the curriculum. We would like to particularly acknowledge the fantastic work in Maths in place value, the students’ descriptive writing published in their information reports and their wonderful exploration of a local historical figure to our area, William Buckley, in their interdisciplinary studies. The students showed great commitment to their studies across the entire term and showed great motivation to further develop their learning in all subject areas. We wish all the students and families a safe happy Easter and we are looking forward to a fantastic term 2.    

A Quarter-Way Through the Year Already

The Year 3 students have completed a quarter of their school year – we can’t believe we have already finished Term 1! It’s been wonderful getting to know each of the students in our year level, and we are very blessed to have the privilege of teaching and guiding them this year.

The last week of term, despite being a short one, has been jam-packed with all our normal activities plus the extras of a sausage sizzle to raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal, an Easter Bonnet parade, and an Easter service.

Speaking of Easter, the Year 3 students have been exploring the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus. They have put themselves in the shoes (or sandals!) of one of Christ’s disciples and considered how they must have felt as they watched the story of Easter unfold before their eyes. In writing a diary entry from the perspective of a disciple, the Year 3 students have had the opportunity to research their chosen aspect of Easter using the Bible, stories, and videos. They have then used their creative, descriptive and recount writing skills to create a reflection from another perspective. We have a wonderfully creative and insightful group of children who have thoughtfully considered the Easter story.

We would like to wish you a safe and happy break as you head into the holidays. We pray God blesses you and your family as we remember what Jesus has done for us at Easter.

All things Ancient Greece!

After a term packed full of learning about life in Ancient Greece, our Year 4 students celebrated their learning with a special day this week focused on all things Greek! Starting the day with writing our first memory verse from the term ‘I am a child of God’ in Greek lettering, the students then headed to the multipurpose room for a Greek dancing session with our special guest Rachel (Hope and Mia’s mum).

Rachel shared with us the history of the most well-known dance ‘The Zorba’, highlighting the fact that this is a dance for fun and celebration and it is often danced at weddings and parties. She taught the students the five main steps of the dance and then had us all moving around the room together. We really liked the fact that this dance works best when everyone is working together as a team! Listening to the traditional music of the dance, Rachel introduced the children to the sound of the bouzouki, a traditional Greek instrument similar to a guitar or mandolin. All the children thoroughly enjoyed this special experience.

Other highlights from the day included participating in a Kahoot quiz that drew upon the learning of the term and a Minecraft build challenge – we encourage all the Year 4 families to ask their child to show them their Parthenon over the holidays!

Year 5s end Term 1

It is so hard to believe that we are at the end of Term 1 already. The students in 5T have had an amazing term, full of fun and learning. It has been a privilege to watch them settle into Middle School. In Humanities, we have been discussing the early history of Geelong. As a class we are making our own Wagga. This was the first version of a quilt, made by the early shepherds to keep them warm. Each student was given as aspect of Geelong’s history and had to illustrate this history on a piece of a wool bale. They will be sewn together and put up on our wall. It has been a fun way to learn about the importance of wool in the history of Geelong.

We have also spent time at AFL competitions this week, an excursion to watch a concert band and a full day of Athletics at the House Athletics carnival held at Middle School Highton.

Finishing with our Easter Service and Easter Bonnet parade was a special ending to our term. Have a restful and safe holiday. Term 2 is going to be great!

Year 5/6 Girls Football

On Monday this week, 31 Year 5 and 6 girls from the Bellarine, Highton and Surf Coast Campuses travelled to South Barwon reserve to participate in the girls’ football competition. It was great to see all of the girls grow in confidence and skill as the day progressed.  We took with us a group of girls for the day who didn’t have much football experience but by the end of the day, it was fantastic to see how much the girls had learnt and improved. One of the best parts of the day was watching the students from the three different campuses come together to forge connections and friendships.

We would like to congratulate all our CCG Eagles for their effort and enthusiasm over the day and for displaying our Sport Faculty mindset and values of respect, invested, safety, effort, unselfish and prepared at this Event.

Exciting Times at Mill Valley Ranch

I’m thrilled to share with you the wonderful experiences our Year 6 students had at Mill Valley Ranch during their recent camp. It was an adventure-filled journey that not only challenged them but also allowed them to shine brightly, developing effective collaborative and communication skills.

During their time at camp, our students engaged in a variety of exciting activities, pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones and embracing new experiences. From crate climb to horseriding, rogaining to canoeing, each activity presented its own set of challenges, fostering growth and resilience among the students.

Some of the highlights from the students were the night walk, playing 40/40 home base, the horseriding and crate climb. Additionally, the students loved the free time activities of basketball, trampolining and the camp’s unique game, 4-a-side.

Throughout the camp, our students embodied the values of Grace, Faith, Trust, Love, and Hope. Their interactions with one another, their teamwork, and their perseverance in the face of challenges exemplified the essence of these values.

We are immensely proud of every one of our Year 6 students for their adventurous spirit, resilience, and commitment to our college values. They are shining examples of the wonderful community we have here at Christian College Surf Coast, and we are grateful for the opportunity to witness their growth and development.

This camp has been a fantastic conclusion to Term 1. I am incredibly excited to continue the learning adventures with the students post Easter in Term 2. I wish everyone a restful and family-filled break. Happy Easter!

Always Learning

Last Saturday a group of staff from Junior School-Belmont and Surf Coast Campus attended the ResearchEd conference day in Ballarat. This was the largest ResearchEd event to be held in Australia. ResearchEd was originally set up in the UK to bring education researchers and educators together, ensuring that the research is translated into relatable and practical terms.

The speakers presented on a range of topics from behaviour management to English and Mathematics. All speakers presented from a research-informed and evidence-based pedagogy. 

Tim McDonald, who has led change through Catholic Education in WA opened, unpacked the impact that classroom routines have on behaviour in the room. Amy Haywood was there from the Grattan Institute unpacking the recent report about reading in Australia. Sarah Richardson and Cate Whiting presented from AERO, Australian Education Research Organisation regarding the practical papers they provide educators about best practice. 

There were a number of presentations that overlapped and reinforced the importance of key pedagogy. Presenters on The Writing Revolution linked explicit writing instruction to reading content which is what we are currently implementing as part of our knowledge-rich curriculum, using an EDI framework, Explicit Direct Instruction.

It was a day of wonderful learning and opportunities to reflect on our own pedagogy. There were lots of smiles and nods as we could confidently speak into key elements presented, identifying how these are part of what we do! It was great to have sessions targeted to classroom teachers and school leadership and that we were able to have representation at these various sessions.

Days like this help us as educators to continue to grow and learn. They also give us opportunities to network and hear from researchers and experts in education. 

House Athletics Carnival

On Tuesday this week, we had about 90 students from Surf Coast Campus participate in the House Athletics Carnival at Middle School. It was a particularly large event with students from Year 4 – 9 from three campuses competing in a range of running, throwing and jumping athletic events.

It was great to see the attitude and effort of all students whilst supporting their peers. There were some outstanding results on the day with Burrows House the winners on the day.

A big thank you to the classroom teachers, Mr Adam Stewart, Mrs Kate Rice, Mrs Claire Deretic, Mr Alex Pink and Ms Emily Ramsay for their support of the students and helping running events.

We will be presenting medals to the top three boys and girls from each year level early next term. Well done to all our Surf Coast students for your participation on the day.

Book Easter Egg Design Competition

To celebrate Easter in the Library, the students have showcased their artistic talent in an Easter Egg Design Competition with a twist – a book theme.

The competition aimed to combine the joy of Easter with a celebration of literature, inviting students to create eggs with book-themed designs. The designs were not only creative, but intriguing, with many featuring their favourite books, places to read, characters and stories. We were overwhelmed to receive 111 entries from which 34 finalists were selected.

This week, students and staff had the opportunity to cast their votes for their favourite designs among the finalists, with winners selected from across the year levels. The library buzzed with excitement as students perused the entries, enjoying the creativity on display during Library lessons this week.

Congratulations to the winning entries and to all participants for their wonderful creativity and enthusiasm.

Good Friday Appeal

On Wednesday the Surf Coast Campus set out to help raise money and awareness for the Good Friday Appeal. This is an amazing charity, helping so many families with sick children. It was amazing to see the support we received from our school community. We will be donating over $1000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The students were invited to wear casual clothes to school for the day and enjoyed a sausage sizzle for lunch.

The Year 4 Project Care Representatives were able to share with each class what the Good Friday Appeal does and how it helps so many children. This was a fantastic opportunity for our young leaders to gain some experience speaking in front of their peers.

Thank you to everyone who ordered a sausage for lunch through our Project Care and for all of the donations that will help such an amazing cause.

We pray everyone has a safe and fun Easter and a restful break for the school holidays.

Qustodio Parent App

As part of the College’s commitment to supporting students and families with positive digital interactions in the home, we provide access to the Qustodio Parent App for all College parents and carers.

Relationship, clearly established boundaries, and adult modelling of healthy interactions with digital technologies form the best foundation for supporting young people’s own positive digital interactions. eSafety identifies parental controls as an important tool for parents in support of home digital wellbeing and provides an excellent parent guide to parental controls.

• Parental controls | How to keep your child safe (esafety.gov.au)

Parental controls tools, such as the Qustodio Parent App, can help to enforce agreed rules, provide safety barriers, and better empower parents and carers by providing visibility over their children’s digital activity. Parents are encouraged to consider how the Qustodio Parent App can support them and their young people at home.

Video Link: A Parent's Initial Introduction to Qustodio

Interested parents who have not already registered their Qustodio parent account can learn more about how to get started below. This includes video guides on registering your parent account as part of our school program and getting started.

• Getting Started with the Qustodio Parent App

Qustodio is a valuable tool for parents which can be used in a range of ways depending on your child’s individual age, needs and context. I encourage parents and carers to consider and explore how Qustodio can support you and your young people with positive digital interactions and wellbeing at home.

Cinderella – Be Quick - Tickets are Disappearing Fast!

There are still tickets available for our major College production this year, but they are going fast, so to ensure you don't miss out - book now! Join us as we present three very special performances of this delightful story featuring students from Years 6 – 12 with exceptional talent throughout the cast, and an orchestra brimming with outstanding student musicians, all backed up by a wonderful community of staff, students and families backstage.

Performances are at Geelong Arts Centre Play House Theatre on May 3 and 4.

To purchase tickets, visit our website and click on the hotlink on our homepage, or go straight to ticket sales by clicking here. 

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund

Financial Assistance for Eligible Parents

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors, excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works and sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are part of a healthy curriculum.

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. Support from CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities and forms part of the State Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is: • $150 for primary school students • $250 for secondary school students

How to Apply

Application Forms are available online through the Parent Portal (Go to ‘Student Information’ > ‘Important Forms for Parents’) these forms can be downloaded, completed then uploaded according to the instructions. Hard copy forms are also available from reception at each campus or by emailing enquire@ccg.vic.edu.au

More Information

For the CSEF application closing dates and more information about the fund please visit this webpage

CSEF_Application_Form_2024

Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion

The Class of 2014 10 Year Reunion is set for Saturday, April 13, 2024. Join us at Blackman's Brewery Geelong from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Tickets are $15 each and RSVPs close on Thursday, 28th March 2024 at 5:00pm. 

This will be a great opportunity for you to reconnect with your peers, catch up with past teachers, and reminisce about your school days. 

Tours of the College Clocktower at Middle School - Highton will also be optional on the day of the reunion, if you would like to climb the Clocktower and find your brick, simply book in when you register. 

For those who would like to have a tour of the College grounds, please head to our website to arrange a tour. 

We look forward to catching up with the Class of 2014. If this is your year group, spread the word and register for your 10 Year Reunion today!  

https://ccgfoundation.org.au/2014

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!