From the Executive Principal
What an Experience!
What a wonderful experience our College community enjoyed last weekend! Many families had the opportunity to see our students shine in the CCG Musical Production of Godspell, and it was truly a remarkable achievement.
The production showcased an extraordinary breadth of talent across every aspect of the performing arts. From the acting, singing and choreography to the live band, set design, staging, lighting, costumes and technical production, every element contributed to a truly memorable performance. It was clear that countless hours of preparation, teamwork and dedication went into creating such a polished and engaging show. Through moments of humour and deep emotion, the students brought to life the story of Jesus’ life and teachings in a heartfelt and meaningful way.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the production was seeing students step beyond their comfort zones and discover new strengths and talents. Families would have noticed the confidence that grew in many of our young people as they rose to challenges with maturity and resilience. While the applause from the audience was well deserved, the greatest achievement was the effort, perseverance and teamwork demonstrated throughout the journey. They were truly striving for excellence. These are experiences that will stay with our students for years to come.
Over the five months of rehearsals, it was also wonderful to see new friendships form and a strong sense of belonging develop among the cast and crew. Many students have reflected on how much this experience meant to them, not just as a performance, but as an opportunity to find their place within a supportive and creative community. Earlier this week I also heard from another Year 8 student: “I can't imagine my life without music….it fuels me!” These are the moments that highlight the true value of co-curricular opportunities in the life of our college.
Productions of this scale are never achieved alone. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff who gave so generously of their time, expertise and care to bring Godspell to life. Their encouragement, professionalism and belief in our students created an environment where each young person could flourish and achieve outstanding results.
Throughout the week we received wonderful feedback from audience members who were incredibly impressed by both our students and staff. We couldn’t be prouder of what has been accomplished and thank all families for their support of this very special production.
Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal
What’s Happening at Surf Coast?
WEEK 9
Monday 15 June – Back Creek Farm Excursion – Year 8 – 9.00am – 3.00pm
Tuesday 16 June – National Wool Museum Excursion – Year 2 – 9.00am – 3.25pm
Wednesday 17 June – GISSA AFL & Soccer Championships – Selected Year 7 & 8 students
Wednesday 17 June – Ancient China Day – Year 4
Thursday 18 June – Carnival Day – Netball at Kardinia Park – 9.00am – 3.25pm – Selected Year 7 & 8 students
Thursday 18 June – Japanese Cooking Day – Year 4 – 11.30am-1.00pm
Thursday 18 June – Big Strum Lunchtime concert – 1.00pm
Friday 19 June – Whole Campus Assembly – 9.00am
Friday 19 June – Last day of Term – Dismissal 3.30pm
TERM 3, WEEK 1
Monday 13 July – School resumes for Staff and Students for Term 3
Monday – Wednesday 13 – 15 July – Year 4 Camp – YWCA Lake Dewar, Myrniong, Victoria.
Monday- Friday 13 – 17 July – Intensive Swimming Program – Prep – Year 3
Friday 13 July – Whole campus assembly- commencement service, 9.10am
Friday 13 July – Prep Discovery Session – 11.30am – 1.00pm
Mathematics in Prep: Exploring Addition and Subtraction
This term, our Prep students have been enthusiastically exploring the concepts of addition and subtraction through a range of engaging learning experiences. Our young mathematicians have been developing their understanding of how numbers can be combined and separated while building confidence in explaining their mathematical thinking.
Students have been learning about part-part-whole relationships, discovering that numbers can be broken into smaller parts and put back together to make a whole. Through whole-group lessons, partner activities, and independent tasks, Preppies have been investigating different ways to solve addition and subtraction problems.
Students have used counters, blocks, ten frames, and number cards to model mathematical thinking and develop their understanding of key concepts and problem-solving strategies. They have also enjoyed playing maths games that help build confidence and strengthen their number skills.
It has been wonderful to see students enthusiastically share their mathematical thinking, explain how they arrived at their answers and learn from one another.
We are proud of the progress students have made this term and the excitement and enthusiasm they bring to their mathematics learning.
Melissa Smith
Community Groups and Connections
Over the past 2–3 weeks, Year 4 students have been learning about the role of community groups and why staying connected to others is so important. They explored a range of groups within their local community — including social, religious, and sporting groups — and discussed how each one helps people build relationships, develop confidence, and feel a sense of belonging.
Students also reflected on the groups they are already part of and the ways these experiences contribute to their wellbeing and identity. These conversations helped them recognise the value of being involved and the many opportunities available in their own communities.
To apply their learning, students designed their own community group, considering its purpose, who it would support, and how it would help people feel connected. They then created a Canva poster to introduce their group, focusing on clear communication, creativity, and visual appeal.
Each student presented their poster to the class, sharing their ideas, group purpose, and the needs their group aimed to meet. All students presented confidently and thoughtfully, demonstrating excellent understanding and genuine engagement with the topic.
Sam Jacka
Influential Australians – From Canberra to the Classroom
Year 6 students have been working hard in Humanities, where they have combined their knowledge of Federation and Democracy from the classroom to their experiences in Canberra.
During our Canberra Camp, we visited important places that help tell the story of Australia’s history, identity and government. Throughout the camp, we learned about influential Australians who helped shape our nation through leadership, service, creativity, courage and vision.
Students were tasked with creating an imaginary interview with one influential Australian, connected to something we learned about or somewhere we visited during camp. They have enjoyed the process of developing thoughtful interview questions and conducting research to provide historically accurate answers, embracing the opportunity to work together as a Year 6 cohort. Some students have even taken a creative approach to presenting, taking on the persona of their chosen individual and creating talk-show style interview segments to present their work.
This project has been a fitting culmination of our Semester 1 Humanities learning, allowing students to reflect on their Canberra experiences while celebrating the people and stories that have shaped Australia.
Dakota Whitten
A Terrific Day at Our Recent Athletics Carnival
Yesterday’s Athletics Day was a great success, with the sun shining brightly for a fantastic day of sport and school spirit. Held at Goldsworthy Athletics Venue, the event brought our campus together in celebration of participation, effort, and achievement.
Under the leadership of our outstanding Sports Department, and with the valued support of the Corio Athletic Club, the day ran seamlessly and was enjoyed by all. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event so memorable – especially our dedicated sports faculty, staff, and the many parents who came along to cheer and support our students.
A special thank you goes to Sharon, Sam, Leigh, and Emily for generously volunteering as parent helpers. We are also incredibly grateful to Emilys for once again capturing the day through amazing photography – thank you for giving your time and talent so generously.
We congratulate the following students for their outstanding achievements in breaking records:
Taylor– Year 6 Boys High Jump and Long Jump
Harrison – Year 4 Boys Discus
Marlon – Year 4 Boys Long Jump
O liver– Year 7 Boys High Jump
Lotte – Year 6 Girls High Jump
Reed – Year 4 High Jump
Paige – Year 5 Shot Put
Congratulations also to Charlie and Emily for winning the feature race, bringing an exciting close to the day.
It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic participation across all year levels. Congratulations to our Year Level Champions:
Year 4
Boys: 1st Harrison, 2nd Marlon, 3rd Oscar
Girls: 1st Reed, 2nd Sienna, 3rd Indigo
Year 5
Boys: 1st Archie, 2nd Lachlan, 3rd Oliver
Girls: 1st Jasmine, 2nd Phoebe, 3rd Sunny
Year 6
Boys: 1st Taylor, 2nd Edward, 3rd Rory
Girls: 1st Lotte, 2nd Violet, 3rd Claire
Year 7
Boys: 1st Oliver, 2nd Avery, 3rd Hudson
Girls: 1st Mirabell, 2nd Charlie, 3rd Olivia
Year 8
Boys: 1st Kai, 2nd Digby, 3rd Dorian
Girls: 1st Koa, 2nd Darcee, 3rd Zoe
Finally, congratulations to our House Champions:
1st – Taylor (965 points)
2nd – Burrows (897 points)
3rd – Penman (894 points)
4th – Flynn (875 points)
Well done to all participants for their enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and effort throughout the day. It truly was an amazing event that showcased the spirit of our school community.
Emma Workman
Year 8 Marine Studies
This term in Year 8 Marine Studies, we have examined a wide range of marine animals and organisms. We have learned about their unique respective classification, anatomy, habitats, adaptations, and their role within marine food chains.
One of the highlights of the unit was our excursion to the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre in Point Lonsdale. During the visit, we had the opportunity to learn from experts, observe local marine species up close, and gain a deeper appreciation of the amazing ecosystems found along Victoria’s coastline.
Another memorable experience was dissecting a mussel in class. This hands-on activity allowed us to examine the internal anatomy of a marine organism and better understand how mussels survive and function in their environment.
Justin Boseley
Community Prayer Group
Aaron Cutter
Godspell – Congratulations and Thank you!
The Senior Campus Musical Godspell was a superb presentation of wonderful performances and collaboration.
The learnings our students walk away with from the experience of performances such as this production, impacts them deeply and for life. Congratulations Godspell Cast, Band and Crew - a team that achieved a wonderful show and demonstrated the collective power of many hands, heads and hearts with a shared goal and purpose.
Thanks to our community including our students’ parents for the encouragement and support. Godspell played to three sold out audiences who rode the emotion of the narrative. As an audience we laughed, wept, pondered, celebrated and were challenged by our students’ work and the staff who guided them through the creative process.
Please see the Godspell program link below for further details of the team behind the show. You can also visit the Godspell webpage for more – including a photo gallery and review from Entertainment Geelong.
We reflect with a sense of pride and gratefulness for what was an outstanding show. We give thanks for the opportunity to present the story of the parables. The staff production team have worked together with conviction since the end of the 2025 College year to provide this production as an opportunity for the students involved but also, as it turned out, an absolute gift to our community.
Congratulations to the staff of the creative team :-
Director: Steve Horman
Musical Directors: Kate Notini and Stef Gumienik
Choreographer: Josh Vucicevic
The student cast –
Cuan B | Jesus - Yr 11, Toby S | John the Baptist / Judas - Yr 11, Abbey P - Yr 12, Aiden G - Yr 10,
Angus C - Yr 12, Arabella G - Yr 10, Campbell W - Yr 10, Evie T - Yr 12, Hannah W - Yr 11, Heidi W - Yr 12, Lucy R - Yr 11, Phoebe C - Yr 11, Rebecca P - Yr 11, Sarah M - Yr 11, Tara Z - Yr 10, Thomas O - Yr 10, Winnie G - Yr 12.
The Band
Musical Director from the Keyboard: Stef Gumienik
Guitar: Charlie G – Yr 11and Scott Jolley
Electric Bass: Mia P - Yr 12 and Martin De Marte
Keyboard/Percussion: Izzy K – Yr 12
Percussion: Elise S – Yr 10
Drums: Felix R – Yr 12
Fiona Gardner, Co-Producer, and on behalf of Taylah Broad, Co-Producer
Godspell The Musical, 2026
CCG New Parents and Families Program – an Exciting Initiative!
In 2026, we’re excited to launch our Parents & Families Program, a new initiative designed to bring our community even closer together across all Campuses and Kindergartens.
This program is all about strengthening relationships, creating a genuine sense of belonging, and supporting meaningful opportunities for families to get involved in College life. In the video below, Executive Principal, Dr Mathilda Joubert, provides more details. Membership is open to all parents, guardians and grandparents of students enrolled at Christian College Geelong, including Kindergarten families, and continues for as long as a member has a child attending the relevant campus.
If you would like to join the P&F Program straight away, please click here. You will need to complete your details, upload your WWCC number, and nominate yourself if you are interested in a leadership role.
From special events to fundraising, volunteering on camps, excursions, and other campus‑based activities, there will be plenty of ways for families to contribute, connect, and make a difference in the student experience at your selected Campus.
An information session will be held on Thursday 16 July at 1:30 pm at the Belmont (Junior School Campus) for families from all Christian College campuses who would like to learn more. To help us with planning, please register here if you wish to attend.
Combined Junior Strings Rehearsal
Today saw the Junior String Ensembles from Surf Coast, Junior School and Bellarine gather together for a fun day of combined music-making. The enthusiastic students were brought together in the Bellarine Auditorium to form a super-sized String Ensemble of over seventy-five musicians! They rehearsed two pieces before a short break during which students from each of the different campuses got to mingle with their string buddies.
We then resumed playing, with each campus’ ensemble performing individually before the excited audience of Year 1 and 2 Bellarine students arrived to hear the combined string group perform ‘March of the Astronauts’ and a rousing rendition of the Irish folk tune ‘Gerry’s Reel’, made famous by the Irish pop group The Corrs. Lastly, the students all shared a sausage sizzle lunch—always a great way to finish off a morning’s hard work of string playing!
It is amazing to see how students who learn from different teachers and attend different campuses can combine so seamlessly to create such a warm and resonant sound. It is even more amazing that nearly all of these students began playing their instrument as part of the Year 2 String program and are now only in their first or second year of playing a string instrument. Congratulations to all performers!
A big thank you to: Rebecca Bertoncello (Bellarine String Coordinator); Matheus Oliveira (Surf Coast String Coordinator); our cello teachers Jeanette Carney, Caitie Martin and Olivia Sagor; and the piano accompaniment staff, Molly Hanson and Tammy Treloar. Thanks also to Mr Andrew Dunlop, who cooked all the sausages for our lunchtime sausage sizzle.
Martin De Marte, Head of Strings
Showing Appreciation for First Responders
On Wednesday this week, the Christian College community and many others across Australia paused, reflected and gave thanks to those who risk their lives every day.
Thank a First Responder Day was established in 2020 to show gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of first responders who support us across Australia. June 10 represents a National Day of Appreciation to recognise the extraordinary service of police, fire, ambulance, SES, marine rescue, and other emergency service personnel, along with the families who support them behind the scenes.
Being a first responder can be challenging, for both first responders and their families. But the power of gratitude can have an extraordinary impact on wellbeing and mental health.
Thank a First Responder Day reminds us all that behind every emergency response vehicle is a human being who has chosen a profession or volunteer role dedicated to helping others during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
First responders face quite high rates of psychological distress, making mental health supports essential. Dedicated programs exist across Australia to provide clinical care, trauma support, and peer connections for emergency personnel and their families.
Tips for Supporting Loved Frist Responders
- Learn the signs: Educate yourself on the early warning signs, such as withdrawal, irritability, or change in sleep
- Seek outside support: Connect with peer support groups you can share experiences with those who understand.
- Prioritise self-care: Ensure you maintain your own wellbeing and hobbies outside of your loved one's profession.
Here at Christian College, we show our ongoing support to you all and pray over you all.
Please see below support available for our dedicated heroes and their families.
National Emergency Worker Support Service - Black Dog Institute | Better Mental Health
Family support | ambulance.vic.gov.au
Where to get help - ESF - Emergency Services Foundation
A Guide for Families (06052023)
The Wellbeing Team
CCG News and Events
In recent weeks we have created a News/Events carousel down the bottom of the CCG website homepage with information and links covering many aspects of life at Christian College Geelong. Right now, you’ll find fabulous picture galleries of Godspell and the Year 6 Canberra adventure, a fantastic video covering the first week of the recent Indonesian study tour, a quick link to our Scholarships page, and more. We’ll regularly update and add to the carousel, so keep an eye out for new content in the weeks and months ahead.
Calling all Coding Wizards
Are you ready to unlock your inner tech wizard? 🧙♂️✨ We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge, open to all students with a knowledge of coding.
What is it?
The Raspberry Pi Foundation Coding Challenge is an international competition where students will tackle fun programming puzzles using their coding and algorithmic thinking skills. The coding challenge requires students to have a working knowledge of Turtle Blocky, Python, C#, Java or VB. More information can be found at https://www.bebras.uk
When and Where?
Date: Tuesday June 17, 2026
Location: On Campus/online
Duration: 45 mins
How to Sign Up:
Email Ms Bergin at s.bergin@ccg.vic.edu.au before Friday June 12. Please indicate the division you want to attempt from the list below.
Divisions are based on skill, not age. There are four divisions:
- Novice – For students who are new to block-based programming, or who have recently started learning to code using blocks.
- Explorer – For students who are confident using block-based programming and have experience creating programs using blocks.
- Navigator – New to text-based programming. For students who have recently started coding using a text-based programming language and are developing their skills by creating small programs.
- Trailblazer– Experienced text-based programming. For students who are confident programmers using a text-based programming language.
Practice challenges, including information on block-based and text-based challenges can be found on the UK Bebras website
Sophie Bergin
Academic Excellence and Music Excellence Scholarships – Applications Open!
Applications are now open for Academic Excellence Scholarships – for entry to Years 5 to 11 in 2028.
Any interested parents, guardians and families with children in Years 3 to 9 in 2026 are welcome to apply, including families who have children currently enrolled at Christian College.
Applications for Academic Excellence scholarships close on August 6.
Also open to both Christian College families, and families with children in other schools, are our Music Excellence Scholarships. These are open for students entering Years 5 to 12 in 2027 or 2028.
Applications for all Christian College scholarships can be made via our website. Click here to visit our Scholarships page, where you’ll find more information about all the scholarships we offer. From there you can click on the individual scholarship tiles for more specific details, and to apply.
