Surf Coast Term 2 Week 7

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 8

Tuesday 4 June                   Celebration of Learning Conferences – All Students
Wednesday 5 June                    World Environment Day
Thursday 6 June                                    Winter Sports – Year 5 and 6
Thursday 6 June                                    Celebration of Learning Conferences – All Families
Friday 7 June                           Combined Strings Morning 0845-1330 – Strings players (Bellarine Campus)
Friday 7 June                       Assembly – Whole School

From The Chaplain

Introducing…Anglesea Baptist Church

I can’t believe its already Week 7! I hope you’ve had an excellent week, and that you’re able to have an amazing weekend, and have opportunities to spend time with family, friends, and close ones.

This week on Introducing… I’ll be sharing about Anglesea Baptist Church.

As always, if you have any questions about Introducing…, or any of the churches, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email, by phone, or contact the churches directly.

So, for this week’s Vine, Introducing…Anglesea Baptist Church!

Anglesea Baptist is a small church with a big heart that serves the community through its Opshop, Seaside Seconds. There’s not just bargains to be found at the Opshop, it’s also an opportunity to serve and give back to our community. Beginning as a group of home churches in 1989, and commencing weekly services by 1992, Anglesea Baptist now has an average attendance of 50 adults and 20 youth and children, not including holidaymakers on the Surf Coast.

We meet during the week in small groups and on Sundays we come together at 11am at 11 Murch Crescent, Anglesea (at the Uniting Church). On the first Sunday of the month, you’ll typically find our younger ones leading us in a story of faith, everyone welcome.

Reconciliation Week in Prep

This Reconciliation Week, our Prep students embarked on a meaningful journey, embracing the rich cultural heritage of Australia’s First Nations peoples. Like all campuses, we commenced the week with the viewing of a video, which brought together the voices and stories of the wider College community in a powerful affirmation of unity.

Each day throughout the week, our Prep students revisited the poignant stories of ‘Come Together’ and ‘Welcome to Country’ books that have become a cornerstone of their learning about Indigenous culture and history this year. Meaningful conversations were had, with our Preps sharing their knowledge and understanding of First Nations people and culture, specifically that of the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation, who have cared for, and are deeply connected to, the land on which we live and learn.

Our young learners crafted their own Aboriginal flags, and explored why the colours black, yellow, and red are used. To commence our literacy session on a beautiful sunny morning, they hunted for Aboriginal symbols in the school ground.

Through stories and lessons, the children learned about Bunjil the Eagle, a central figure for First Nations people of the Kulin Nation. Bunjil’s wisdom and guardianship remind us of the importance of caring for each other and the environment. Our Preps added to the symbolic Bunjil nest during our Bush Prep discovery session.

As we reflect, we are reminded that Reconciliation Week is more than just a series of events and activities; it is a time to acknowledge our shared past and foster the respect and understanding that are the foundations of a united future.

Counting Species at Spring Creek

A Journey of Discovery for Year 1s

This week, our adventure took us back to the natural wonders of Spring Creek. Our mission? To count how many species we could spot in the area. The children were brimming with excitement as they embarked on a quest to uncover the diverse wildlife in our own backyard.

With eager hands and curious minds, the kids searched, dug, and played, each discovery sparking joy and wonder. By the end of our expedition, we had identified 12 different species, including kangaroos, eagles, various birds, and a fascinating array of insects.

One of the highlights of these outings is witnessing the children’s growing passion for learning about animals. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and it’s heartwarming to see them develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

As we near the end of our Biological Science unit, only a few lessons remain. The anticipation is palpable, and we can’t wait to see the incredible projects and discoveries the kids will showcase by the end of the term.

Year 2’s Geelong District Excursion

On Wednesday this week the Year 2 students embarked on an exciting journey around the Geelong District. This adventure allowed them to delve into the local transportation and mail delivery systems between Geelong and various interstate locations. They gained insights into how individuals and locations are interconnected across local, regional, and interstate levels.

Their first destination was the Spirit of Tasmania. Here, the students had the opportunity to closely examine the massive ship and understand the infrastructure needed to facilitate its operations, such as parking areas and the dredging process to increase water volume for the ship’s buoyancy. The next stop was Avalon Airport, where they enjoyed a personalised tour. The students simulated the check-in process, including checking in their make-believe luggage. They explored both the domestic and international terminals and even got a close look at the runway.

After a brief lunch break at Eastern Beach, where the students enjoyed the beautiful weather and had fun rolling down the grassy hills, they were ready for their final stop – the Grovedale Australia Post Delivery Centre. Here, they were fortunate to hear from Trish, a local postie, who shared fascinating stories about the various transportation methods used by the posties for mail delivery. The students got a behind-the-scenes look at the Post Office system, even finding their own house mail file and placing their mail in it. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the chance to experience the actual modes of transportation used by the posties. It was an unforgettable day for the students, filled with learning and fun.

Mixing up a Treat…

Dr Suess introduced our Year 3 students to Oobleck before they had the opportunity to make predictions about whether the gooey mess would be a liquid or a solid.

Working in teams, the students measured out their ingredients and collaborated to create their own Oobleck, stirring, poking, squishing, and scrunching their sticky creation. There was much chatter, excitement, amazement, and wonder as they shared predictions and made observations.

We were impressed with the students’ analysis of the Oobleck and their wonderful ability to successfully describe their results and draw impressive conclusions. We look forward to our next experiment and learning about viscosity.

Data is Everywhere!

Our Year 4 students have dived into the world of statistics this week exploring the many places we see data being used in the world around us. Examining graphs for both discrete and continuous data, students have been making interpretations and writing statements to share their findings.

With the House Cross Country being held this week, we turned our ‘maths minds’ to the spread of students in the four houses. Hoping that we would see a fair competition, the students investigated if student numbers are even across our four competing houses.

Students took off across the campus to survey each class before bringing their collected data back to class to be combined, giving us a picture of student house spread across the school. You will be pleased to hear that student numbers are very evenly spread across the four houses!

Students then explored how to present this data through both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphing options. Using Excel is new to our Year 4 students, but they quickly picked up how to generate different graphs and even learnt some handy formulas to help them total their data more quickly.

We are looking forward to using our data collecting, presenting and interpreting skills further next week as we explore probability and conduct a range of chance experiments.

Debating Superstars!

In 6T, the students have been learning and practising their debating skills. Later this term, they will be conducting their first ever organised debate on the topic: Social Media should be banned until age 15.

The program provides students with an opportunity to develop their skills in critical thinking, reasoning and public speaking. The students on the debating team learn to articulate in a clear manner, address an audience and present a strong argument. They learn about important issues affecting our world and engage in friendly competitions with other students.

National Reconciliation Week

As we journey through Reconciliation Week from May 27 to June 3, we at Surf Coast Campus, alongside all Christian College Geelong campuses, take this opportunity to deepen our understanding of reconciliation and its significance in Australia. This week is a crucial time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in our country.

Reconciliation Week begins on May 27, marking the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, a significant event in Australia’s history where over 90% of Australians voted to amend the Constitution to allow the Australian Government to create laws for Indigenous Australians and include them in the census. The week concludes on June 3, commemorating the historic Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Indigenous peoples have rights to the land that existed before the British colonisation of Australia.

On the eve of Reconciliation Week, May 26 is observed as National Sorry Day. This day holds deep importance as it acknowledges the Stolen Generations—First Nations Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. By recognising the challenges and injustices of the past, we pave the way for healing and the establishment of a more just and harmonious society.

World Environment Day

World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June and is a global platform for inspiring positive change. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses, schools and individuals to create a more sustainable world. It has been led by the United Nations Environment Program since its inception in 1973.

The theme for this year’s  World Environment Day is 'Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience'.

At Christian College, we are supporting this movement and each of our campuses is hosting an activity during the week.

There will be tree planting at both Senior School and Surf Coast campuses, switching off lights in a more careful way at Bellarine, a Nude Food Day at Highton campus, and a recycle-reuse challenge as well as a plant care competition at Junior School.

We would encourage you to ask your child about the event and related activities at their campus, and what part they might be playing, and support this action. As a family, you may like to take on a challenge to make a change and reduce your household emissions.

You can find out more about World Environment Day at this website:  World Environment Day   Scroll down to ‘Highlights’ and ‘Explore World Environment Day events’ and you will see the Christian College events registered on the map of the world.

Seeking Christian College Company Members

Christian College Geelong is seeking expressions of interest from any parent or guardian interested in becoming a new Company Member.

Company Members play an important part in the governance structure and protection of the College. A number of positions on the Christian College Board are filled by company members, depending on the skillset required when vacancies arise, and it is the company members who have the responsibility of voting to pass any amendments to the Christian College constitution. Company members may also be eligible to sit on various committees involved in the governance of the College.

Whilst participating as a company member is not overly onerous, it needs to be pointed out that the position is voluntary and not remunerated in any way. Also, please understand an expression of interest does not guarantee automatic membership of the company.

If you have a heart for the College, and feel you would have the time to dedicate and an interest in this role, please contact the Company Secretary, Bernard Nicholls at b.nicholls@ccg.vic.edu.au. All expressions of interest must be submitted by COB Friday, August 2.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Funding

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. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CSEF will be provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (HCC) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. 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 (Student Information, then 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

The closing date for applications is June 28.

 For more information about the fund visit www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

National Collection of Data on Students With a Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). With data collected on the first Friday in August (August 5 this year), the NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability.

These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD Guidelines.

Please see the attached NCCD Fact Sheet for more information.

NCCD Parent Fact Sheet

Reminder:  Generative AI Parent Webinar

A reminder to parents and members of our community that we will be offering an online parent webinar, delivered via Microsoft Teams, next Wednesday. It has been wonderful to see such strong parent interest via RSVP responses and questions submitted so far.

There is still time to register for this event. Further details about the event are listed below.

Event: Generative AI and School Parent Webinar
Format: Microsoft Teams online webinar
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 6.30pm – 7.15pm

Topics likely to be explored in the webinar include:

• What is generative AI?
• What are the benefits, risks, and limitations of these tools?
• What is the College’s response to generative AI?
• What AI tools do students have access to at school?
• What are the College’s rules and guidelines for use of generative AI?
• How can I support my child with navigating this space ethically and safely?

Interested parents are encouraged to register for the event via the form link below, to help with planning. Parents can also indicate what information they feel would be most relevant to them as they complete this form.

Register for the parent webinar

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!