From the Executive Principal

As we come to the end of my first Semester at Christian College, I want to thank you for the warm welcome I have received from students, staff and families. Christian College is a wonderful community to be part of, and I am so thankful for your continued partnership with us in your child’s educational journey. Our semesterly magazine, In Focus, was launched yesterday. Make sure to have a look, since it captures a snapshot of our vibrant community. I also want to thank you for the beautiful way that our students represent us in the community and for how positively our parents and families recommend our school to friends and family. As a result, we now have waiting lists for some year groups for next year.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting a Systems Engineering class at Villa Paloma, our specialist senior Art, Technology and Design campus. A group of Year 11 and accelerated Year 10 students were working on their VCE projects. It was fascinating observing these budding engineers, deeply immersed in their project-work. The task was to design and produce a mechanical system. Each student was working on a completely different design. I saw an articulated hand, a pinball machine, an injector mechanism and the gears for a solar-powered car. I loved seeing the high level of student agency, in choosing their projects, using CAD software to design their systems and then solving problems along the way, e.g. how do I print a strong-enough spring from plastic polymers on a 3D printer? I could see the students applying all the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and building on the foundational prior learning of all their past years of learning at school. Trial and error, prototyping, testing, redesigning and re-testing were all part of the process. What a wonderful way to build resilience, critical thinking, independence, and prepare our students for bright future possibilities.

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  3 2025

WEEK 1

Tuesday 22 July                    Students return to school

Friday 25 July                         Whole Campus Assembly All students – 9.00am

Preps go on a Magical Adventure!

Our Prep students recently embarked on an enchanting excursion to Fairy Park, and it was a day filled with wonder and excitement!

The adventure began in the Camelot playground, which quickly became a favourite. The children had a blast on the roundabout and swings, and the huge castle with its secret passages and tunnel mazes provided endless fun. The cheeky tower that squirted water brought lots of giggles, and the seemingly endless slide was a thrilling experience for all.

Next the children enjoyed a delightful lunch in the King’s Castle. The students ate their meals in the grand hall before racing up to the turret to survey the entire park from above. The view was simply breathtaking!

Afterwards, the students meandered through Fairytale Land. They peered into enchanted windows to see beloved stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Goldilocks and The Three Bears come to life. The giant dragon with its lit-up eyes was a highlight, as was the telescope high up on the hill – students even thought they could see our school from it! The huge model train set also captivated their imaginations.

Overall, the excursion to Fairy Park was a magical experience that our Prep students will remember for a long time. They returned to school with smiles on their faces and stories to share, having had a truly wonderful time.

Celebrating Term 2’s Learning, Fun and Friendships

As we reach the end of an amazing term in Year 1, we want to celebrate the learning, laughter, and growth we’ve shared. especially during our final week of Term 2 together. Students have been working hard on their IDL posters, exploring the impact of animals and deforestation. They were very creative with their responses about how we can counteract these damaging effects. Their creativity and thoughtfulness shone through as they shared important messages about caring for the planet.

To help us wind down, we also enjoyed a range of fun games and light learning activities. It was a lovely way to celebrate all the friendships, teamwork, and special memories we’ve built throughout this semester.

Year 2s Set up Shop

Our Year 2 students have been working incredibly hard on their money unit this term, so to celebrate their efforts and consolidate their learning, we organised a fun and engaging hands-on activity to wrap things up. Students were given the opportunity to create their very own mini shops, complete with handmade goods to sell.

Working in pairs and small groups, they designed and crafted a variety of items, set prices for each product, and prepared to become both shopkeepers and customers. During the activity, students used their knowledge of Australian currency to decide which coins to use when purchasing items, while the shopkeepers calculated totals and gave the correct change. This real-world application of their mathematical skills brought the unit to life in a meaningful and memorable way.

The room was buzzing with excitement and energy as students enthusiastically participated in this practical learning experience. It was a fantastic afternoon filled with collaboration, creativity, and confidence-building.

We’re so proud of what they’ve achieved and couldn’t think of a better way to end the term. Wishing all our families a restful, safe, and enjoyable break. We look forward to many more exciting learning adventures next term!

Successful Strings

2J spent a term exploring the violin, viola, or cello as part of the Year 2 String Program. We celebrated their progress with a special concert in the beautiful Surf Coast Library, where the children shared their learning with their families. They performed three pieces, producing a beautiful resonant sound on open strings and demonstrating both pizzicato (plucked) and arco (bowed) techniques. Many students have chosen to continue with their instruments next term. As they develop their skills, they will have the opportunity to join the newly forming Junior Strings ensemble at Surf Coast. A massive thank you to Matheus Oliveira for his exceptional leadership of this program, and to Catie Martin and Tammy Treloar for their tutoring and accompaniment. We look forward to sharing a similar journey with 2T next term.

A Term Even Caesar Would be Proud of!

We can’t believe we have already reached the end of a very successful Term 2. Kicking off with an incredible time together at Camp Wyuna in Queenscliff, we have seen Year 3 students grow deeper in their friendships, learning and personal growth.

We celebrated achievements across every subject and various sporting events. Students have thoroughly enjoyed their exploration of Ancient Rome and learning about the different class structures, daily life, jobs, famous structures, gods and goddesses plus a lot more. Students especially enjoyed our Ancient Rome Day and all voted that making pizza and eating gelato was the number one activity!

“My favourite thing this term was going on camp, because of the fun activities. I loved canoeing.” (Ollie B)

“Ancient Rome Day was my favourite thing this term because there were lots of fun things to do.” (Jana S)

“My favourite thing this term was camp, because of the food.” (Sophie H)

“My favourite thing this term was Ancient Rome Day and having Ms Mac as a teacher. I loved playing Minecraft Education.” (Henry M)

“A highlight this term has been making friends with Jemma in my class.” (Pia H)

“A highlight this term has been being with my teacher.” (Lola-Jane O)

We hope our students and families have a wonderful and safe holiday break and return feeling refreshed. We look forward to seeing you in Term 3.

Dynasty Duel: Year 4 Kahoot Showdown

Our Year 4 students have been busy showcasing their new knowledge from our Dynasties of China unit in a creative and engaging way this past week. Working in pairs, they utilised their understanding from the term and our weekly fluency passages to craft multiple-choice and true/false questions for their Kahoot quizzes.

The students also demonstrated impressive skills by learning how to save images from the internet and uploading them into their quizzes, making them visually appealing and interactive. This hands-on activity not only reinforced their learning but also allowed them to explore digital literacy skills.

The highlight of this project was undoubtedly the moment when students played each other’s Kahoot quizzes. Testing their knowledge and recall with these tricky questions brought excitement and a sense of accomplishment to the classroom. It was a fantastic way to wrap up the unit, and the students thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and fun of competing in the quizzes.

Congratulations to our Year 4 students for their hard work and creativity in making this project a success!

 Year 7 Embark on a Rhyming Adventure with The Poet’s Quest!

This Week, our Year 7 students from the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Highton Campuses were treated to a wonderful experience when the talented team from Poetry in Action visited our school to perform their dynamic and engaging show, The Poet’s Quest.

From the moment the performance began, our students were swept into a whirlwind journey through time, language, and imagination. The show followed a young poet on a mission to discover the power of poetry, encountering famous poets, battling writer’s block, and unlocking the secrets of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery along the way.

What made The Poet’s Quest so special was how it brought poetry to life in a way that was both educational and entertaining. Through clever storytelling, humour, and high-energy performances, the actors demonstrated how poetry isn’t just something we study in books—it’s a living, breathing form of expression that can inspire, challenge, and connect us.

With Term 3’s poetry unit just around the corner, students are already brimming with ideas and enthusiasm.

From The Chaplain 

The winter holidays have arrived! It’s been a very chilly, wet, dry, grey, sunny, and windy Term 2, yet the resilience and perseverance I’ve seen from our students has been so encouraging. I hope this term break is a special time of rest (and hopefully warmth) alongside family, friends, and those special to you.

For some of us, winter and cold weather can bring feelings of loneliness or sadness, and it can sometimes be more difficult to get out of bed and do the things that we need to do each day when it’s very cold and grey. If you feel loneliness or sadness during this wintertime, I encourage you to reach out to a trusted family member, friend, or loved one, and to be open with how you are feeling as you seek support.

All throughout the Bible, we are reminded that even if we are feeling distant from people, that God never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8). God is a constant presence, and He encourages us not to fear, as He is with us (Isaiah 41:10). We have the opportunity and the privilege to reach out to God, and cast all our stresses and anxieties on Him, because He loves us (1 Peter 5:7).

Even if winter is cold and dark, spring is coming, and the new life that comes will bring brightness and colour back into the environment around us. What a blessing it is that God has created us to have a relationship with Him, and that He chooses to be right there with us, no matter what. I hope your winter holidays are a blessing!

A PB Round for Kieren in Golf Trials

On Monday this week, Kieren Heaton (Year 5) played in the School Sports Victoria Under 12 golf trials at Neangar Park Links in Eaglehawk. 

Kieren delivered a remarkable performance on the course, achieving his best round ever with an impressive score of 89 from the back blue tees. His determination and focus were evident throughout the day, culminating in a thrilling birdie where he chipped in over a bunker—a moment that captured the spirit of the game and the resilience of the player.

This round wasn’t just about numbers; it was a powerful lesson in perseverance, smart decision-making, and true sportsmanship. Kieren’s ability to stay composed and push through adversity inspired everyone watching.

We’re excited to see what the future holds and look forward to welcoming Kieren back for another try next year. His journey is a testament to the strength of character and the joy of the game.

CC Eagles Basketball and Netball

This year the CC Eagles introduced basketball and netball at Surf Coast Campus. The uptake of both these sports has been beyond expectation, with five netball teams and four basketball teams playing in local competitions.

Our five netball teams have been playing in the Surf Coast Netball Association competition. Emma Workman and Claire Deretic have been giving up their lunchtimes to train the girls at school, which has been beneficial for all players, particularly our newer ones. While most of our players come from Christian College, it is great to see girls from other schools joining the club. We are still in need of a couple more girls to join our 13 & Under teams, so please contact the CC Eagles if you are keen to play.

The four basketball teams are playing in the Surfcoast Basketball Association. We have seen a big uptake from our younger students, with two Rookie Hoops teams playing. An added bonus for these teams is to have home games – the indoor basketball court is being hired by the Association for games throughout the week.

Piano Scales Competition – a Spark for Technical Work 

Week 10 of Term 2 saw piano students taking on their studies in a sporting fashion.

A total of 64 students across Junior, Bellarine, Highton and Surf Coast campuses entered the inaugural Scale Competition, and the students had been diligently practising their technical scales, focusing on accuracy, fluency and tempo, to present them at the appropriate level. This meant a student working at Grade 2 level was competing with the Grade 2 scales; a student working at Grade 5 level was competing with the Grade 5 scales, and so on.

The competition was designed to be short and sharp on a knockout basis. Two attempts per scale were permitted, and any mistake in the second attempt meant a competitor was knocked out.

Whilst it may not sound like an intensively creative or musical exercise, it has been terrific to do and lots of fun. We have heard students practise their scales for many weeks, and the results were mind blowing! The young pianists had a lot of fun, there was a prize for everyone and of course a special one for the winners. Any musician will understand that the regular practice of technical work will lift their playing to a different level. By practising scales, we equip ourselves with tools to assist with interpretation, creativity and confidence in performance.

Congratulations to the everyone who participated!

Thank you to the teachers for preparing your students for this fun event and thanks to the parents for your ongoing encouragement at home.

Keep practising!

Regina Thomae on behalf of all Piano Teachers at Christian College

Library – Scholastic Book Club

Due to some shipment and distribution delays from our supplier orders will not be handed out in Term 2 as originally planned.

We’re expecting them to arrive over the holidays and the orders will be handed out to students in Term 3.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Surf Coast Library Team

Spotlight on Wellbeing 

Wellbeing Over the School Holidays 

As we approach the winter school holidays, it's important to take the time to rest, relax and ensure that our personal wellbeing is taken care of. The break from school routine offers a perfect opportunity to focus on mental, emotional and physical health for both students and their families. 

For those looking for fun and enriching ways to spend their holidays, Geelong offers a variety of activities for our students to enjoy. 

Look below to see what's on offer and remember to keep warm! 

Student Wellbeing Officers – Sandra Marinovic, Kate Hickey, Amy Cornwell and Angie Russell    

String Ensemble Performance Evening

On Wednesday Evening this week, over 100 String students from Christian College’s five campuses gathered at the RW Gibson Music Performance Centre for the 2025  String Ensemble Performance Evening. This concert featured the Belmont and Bellarine Junior School String Ensembles, the Surf Coast String Ensemble, the Highton and Bellarine Middle School String Ensembles and the Senior String Ensemble.

This was the first occasion since 2019 that we have had all the College String Ensembles perform for each other and their families, so it was truly a special occasion for all involved. Each ensemble played elegantly and with great poise, owing to the great work of their conductors and instrumental teachers. It was heartwarming to see students of different abilities and age play with the same tone and resonant sound. Congratulations to all performers!

A special thank you to the conductors Rebecca Bertoncello and Matheus Oliviera; String instrumental staff Miriam Bell, Jeanette Carnie, Catie Martin, Cecilia Bell and Siobhan O’Shaughnessy; String support staff Shohreh Mehrabadi and Stephanie Lawrence; and of course, our accompanists Tammy Treloar and Molly Hanson.

Help Dylan and James get to Tokyo! 

Two brothers who are ex-CCG students, Dylan and James Logan, are working very hard to get to this year’s centenary Deaflympics in Tokyo in November as part of the Australian Deaf Swimming Team.  

It will be a first for Dylan, 22, who graduated in 2021 and James, 19, who attended CCG until Year 9. Each has represented Australia at the Deaf Swimming World Championships, between them bringing home three bronze medals and eight top 10 rankings. They were the first deaf brothers ever to ever compete and medal in the same event at a Deaf Swimming World Championships (2023 in Argentina) and will be the first deaf brothers to represent Australia at the Deaflympics in Swimming.  

In the pool, Dylan and James’ also have: 

• Broken 37 Australian Records and 32 Victorian Records between them 

• Won 5 gold ,12 silver and 8 Bronze national medals at Australian National Age and Open Championships 

• Attained 131 Podium top 3 finishes at State Championships between them in under 5 years 

Because there is no government funding of elite deaf athletes, the boys must fund their trip themselves, to the tune of $6500 each to cover essentials such as travel and accommodation, uniforms and team preparation, and more.  

To help the cause, they have set up this fundraising page through the Australian Sports Foundation and would welcome support from anyone who is able to assist. 

Foundation Appeal

We believe every child deserves a Christian College Geelong education, and to make this a reality, the Foundation has a fund called 'The Eternity Fund'. Contributions made to this fund will provide a regular income stream to the College, which is independent of school fees. Therefore, as it grows, so will the distribution to our Foundation Scholarship Fund and College Building Fund.  

Please consider donating to the Eternity Fund especially before the End of the Financial Year (EOFY). Donations of $2 or more to the Foundation are tax deductible. 

Thanks to a very generous donor, every dollar donated will be matched dollar for dollar! So, should you wish to donate, your gift would be doubled! 

Your giving can make a difference. The College has many needs, and these needs will continue to exist, even with financial support. This is why we created The Eternity Fund. We wanted to ensure your gift today will continue to impact the lives of students and their families forever - for eternity.    

Please click here to donate 

 Your gift today will change a life tomorrow because a donation to The Eternity Fund is a gift which increases in value, so it continues to help students and families in an ongoing capacity for generations and generations to come. 

If you can help, please consider donating to the Foundation today. 

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.

Baptist Camping Victoria - Go Wild This Winter!

Baptist Camping Victoria has four different camping adventures on offer during the upcoming term break - three at Mill Valley Ranch in Tynong and one at Burnside Camp in Anglesea. There are camps for primary and secondary school aged young people. Please click on the link below for further information.

Go Wild On Winter Camps