Surf Coast Term 2 Week 7

From the Executive Principal

Music has certainly been a theme of Week 7 in Term 2 at Christian College, with the All-Choirs Evening on Wednesday this week, then Senior School’s annual House Music event on Thursday. I continue to be amazed by the remarkable musical talent that exists among so many of our students – from the youngest students to the oldest – it really is a joy to behold! It is also testament to the depth and breadth of our Music Program, and commitment and expertise of every one of our Music staff. 

One of the very first connections I made when moving to Geelong from Perth was to join a local choir. To see and hear our Christian College Choirs from all five campuses on Wednesday evening perform so brilliantly and feel the excitement and atmosphere in the Middle School SAC, together with hundreds of students, staff, parents and other family members, was a fantastic experience. The night finished with the biggest College ensemble ever assembled as members of all choirs combined to perform Bonse Aba, a traditional Zambian folk song. All Vine editions carry a report from that event. 

Then to be treated to the performances involving every Senior School student in their House Choirs, then solos and performances from small and large ensembles, really was a thrill. It was also wonderful to join other staff and students at the end of the House Music event yesterday as we performed ‘Walk Like a Man’ from the musical Jersey Boys – great fun! See the Senior School Vine for a rundown on the event and winners in each category.  

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 2025

WEEK 8 

Monday 9 June Kings birthday – public holiday – no students required at school 

Wednesday 11 June

GISSA Year 7  

Botanical Gardens Excursion  

Friday 13 June

Junior Schools Strings morning 

Assembly Year 5 to Year 7 

WEEK 9  

Wednesday 18 June

Year 3 Ancient Rome Day  

GISSA Year 7 1pm – 3.30pm 

Thursday 19 June

GISSA girls AFL 

Fairy Park Excursion – Preps – more information to come 

Year 2J Strings Concert – Surf Coast Stadium 11.30am – All welcome 

Friday 20 June

Assembly Prep to Year 4 

Measurement in Prep: Exploring Length 

This week our Prep students began learning about measurement, with a focus on length. Through a range of activities they discussed, explored and compared the lengths of different objects. 

Students engaged in discussions about what makes something long or short and practised using comparison language such as ‘longer’ and ‘shorter.’ They also learned how important it is to line up objects at the same starting point when comparing lengths. 

A highlight of the week was using connecting blocks to measure classroom items. The Preps enjoyed counting how many blocks long each object was and were excited to share their findings with their peers. They had lots of fun comparing objects and discovering which were longer or shorter or the same length.  

It has been a wonderful start to their learning about measurement! 

Year 1’s Deep-Sea Diorama Activity 

This week, Year 1 students had an exciting time diving into the world of deep sea creatures through research, writing facts, reading and even a hands-on diorama-making activity! 

Each student created their very own deep-sea scene inside a box under their Antarctic Diorama. They used coloured paper, coloured pencils and so much imagination! The dioramas featured glowing anglerfish, floating jellyfish, squids with long tentacles, colourful octopuses, and more. Some students even added seaweed and bubbles to bring their underwater world to life. 

Along the way, they learned fun facts about the deep ocean, such as: 

• Some sea creatures glow in the dark! 

• The deep sea is cold and has no sunlight. 

• Animals there have special features to help them survive. 

This was a fantastic learning experience that helped students explore ocean life in a fun, creative way. We are so proud of their hard work and imagination! 

Year 2 Reflections: Reconciliation Week and Learning Through Nature 

During Reconciliation Week, our Year 2 students had a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and reflect on the importance of community and care. One of the highlights was joining a Year 3 class in the school garden to plant flower seeds together. This activity allowed us to meet and work alongside new friends while sharing the joy of gardening. It was a peaceful and meaningful way to contribute to the environment and celebrate the week with kindness and cooperation. 

The students have taken great responsibility in looking after their seeds. They regularly water them (with the help of the rain) and make sure they are getting enough sunlight. There is great excitement and anticipation as we check on them daily, hoping to see the first sprouts before the end of the term. The shared garden space has become a calming and happy part of our day, reminding us of the value of patience and growth—both in nature and in our friendships. 

In the classroom, we’ve also been busy learning about time in our maths lessons. The students have been working on reading both analogue and digital clocks and are beginning to understand how we use calendars to plan our days, weeks, and months. We’ve also explored the seasons and how they change over the year. These lessons have helped us connect what we see in the garden with the bigger picture of time and change, making our learning even more meaningful. 

Exploring, Mastering and Enjoying Our Learning 

It’s been another productive week in Year 3 as we continue to build on our learning across all areas of the curriculum. 

In English, we’ve been diving deeper into our Ancient Rome unit, learning about the life and legacy of Julius Caesar. In Maths, students have been working hard to strengthen their addition and subtraction skills, using a range of strategies to solve problems and explain their thinking. 

Our Interdisciplinary Learning unit ‘Heating Up’ has seen students exploring heat transfer, including conduction, convection and radiation. We’ve also looked at how heat causes changes in the state of matter, such as melting and solidifying. We’ve included a few photos from our lessons so you can see the hands-on learning in action. 

Students are also loving our weekly library sessions, choosing books and enjoying some quiet reading time. This is a great opportunity to remind families to encourage regular reading at home. Every little bit makes a difference in building confidence and fluency! 

We look forward to another great week ahead. 

Year 4 – Creativity, Exploration, and Hands-on Learning! 

In English, students worked on publishing their poems, bringing their chosen animals to life through rhythm, rhyme, and thoughtful stanza structures. Each poem showcased a strong understanding of how language can create vivid imagery and emotion. 

Mathematics saw students sharpening their location skills as they continued developing their Shark Island maps. They practised compass navigation, plotted pathways, and used directional language to bring their island adventures to life. 

In Christian Education, we explored Paul’s friendships and how his friends supported him throughout his journey. This led to insightful discussions on the value of encouragement, teamwork, and faith in hard times. 

For IDL, students worked in groups to test different materials and see which created the most friction. They recorded results and used toy cars, various surfaces, and stopwatches to measure differences in speed and resistance. 

To finish off the week, students also began designing mock community groups, brainstorming ways to serve and support people in need. It was inspiring to see the thought and care put into ideas that could truly make a difference! 

With so many exciting projects underway, this week was a fantastic mix of creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Looking forward to another great week ahead! 

Year 5 – Visiting the Old Geelong Gaol 

On Tuesday this week the Year 5 classes braved the weather in Geelong on an excursion to the Old Geelong Gaol and a walk along the waterfront looking at the Bollards.  

The history and stories told as part of the tour at the Gaol had the students on the edge of their seats. They heard about escape stories, prominent people in the history of Geelong and some of the characters the old goal has seen over the years.  

From there the students walked down to Eastern Beach, stopping and discussing landmarks along the way, like the Corio Villa House overlooking the Bay.  

The bollards on the waterfront are always a hit. The students will now be tasked with researching various bollards and the history behind them. There was certainly a bit of rain about on the day, but despite this the students had a great day together, learning in a completely different setting.  

An Incredible Opportunity for our Year 7 Leaders  

Five students from our Year 7 cohort took part in the Emerging Leaders Forum, hosted by representatives from the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Education, in partnership with the Asia Education Foundation. 

The forum gave participants the chance to connect and collaborate with peers from Victorian and Asian schools. They were challenged to deepen their understanding of identity, belonging, and intercultural awareness, prompting thoughtful reflection on what it means to be a globally competent leader. 

As part of the forum, our students engaged in a collaborative learning task anchored in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Using the Design Thinking model, they were encouraged to identify an area of need within the Surf Coast Campus and propose practical, innovative solutions. 

Year 7s Ride the Waves  

This week, our Year 7 students took their classroom learning to our coastal backyard with an exhilarating “Go Ride a Wave” surf experience at Torquay Surf Beach. The excursion was more than just fun in the outdoors—it was a hands-on opportunity to apply the surf safety and health knowledge they’ve been exploring in class. 

Under the guidance of professional surf instructors, students practised essential skills such as identifying rips, reading surf conditions, and using correct paddling and board techniques. The session was filled with laughter, teamwork, and a strong sense of achievement as many students stood up on a surfboard for the very first time. 

Teachers and instructors alike were impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and their ability to translate theory into practice. This real-world application of surf safety not only reinforced their learning but also built confidence and respect for the ocean environment. 

It was a memorable day that perfectly blended education, physical activity, and fun—well done year 7’s!  

Spotlight on Wellbeing

Wellbeing and Nature 

With World Environment Day and National Reconciliation week wrapping up, it seems timely to first pay respects to the Traditional Custodians whose land we live, work and play on – for many of us that is Wadawurrung Country – and pay respects to all elders past and present, acknowledging the ongoing connection to land, waterways and skies. 

As Humans, we are interconnected and intertwined with nature, we need clean air and waterways just like any other living animal on this beautiful planet, for our bodies, minds and survival. Research like that published by the Royal Botanic Gardens (Chomley, 2021), confirms that being in nature helps reduce stress, and positively impacts mental health and wellbeing.  

So, this weekend, you’re encouraged to take a moment to be present in nature, take notice of what you see, feel and hear and notice how your body and mind respond. This might be your garden, the nature reserve or park down the road, Geelong Botanic Gardens, the beach or somewhere further afield.  Wherever you might go, you might like to try this simple grounding technique, the ‘5 Senses’ that helps you become more present and aware of your surroundings, it can also encourage calm and curiosity within yourself and your child. 

All Choirs Night 

Term 2 has been a very busy time for our Christian College campus choirs with a range of performance opportunities from Easter and ANZAC Services, campus assemblies, and much, much more! 

On Wednesday night, we held the Christian College All Choirs Night at the Highton Middle School SAC, featuring 7 campus choirs from the Surf Coast, Bellarine, Highton, Belmont and Waurn Ponds campuses.  

Featuring students from Prep to Year 12, audiences were given a showcase of engaging repertoire ranging from traditional choral to pop, film, musical theatre, jazz and world music styles. The evening culminated in a combined finale item, featuring around 300 singers, performing with total and unabashed joy! 

Thank you to all our dedicated and enthusiastic voice and choral staff, our music admin team, and the major events crew for their work on the night; and for the encouragement from family, friends and the wider College community. 

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

Staying Safe on E-Scooters

With the growing popularity of e-scooters, it’s important that students and families are aware of the current laws and safety requirements. To help everyone stay informed, we’re sharing a Victoria Police fact sheet outlining the legal use of e-scooters in our community. 

We encourage all families to read through the information together and discuss the importance of safe and responsible riding.  

Youth Road Safety Fact Sheet 2025