Surf Coast Term 3 Week 1

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 2024

WEEK 1

Monday 15 July             Staff Return to School

Tuesday 16 July             Students return to school

Friday 19 July                Assembly – All Welcome

From the Chaplain

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Term 3!

I hope you’ve all had a restful holidays, and an opportunity to spend valuable time with family and friends.

I know that myself, and the entire staff team here at Surf Coast, are so excited to have the students back after their break, and to dive into a new semester of learning, growth, and encouragement. I look forward to continuing to get to know our students, and to be a reliable support to all involved with our campus.

As always, if you need to get in contact with me with any pastoral or faith-based needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Welcome to Term 3 Preppies!

As the new term began, our Prep students returned to school with a remarkable transformation. Their maturity, diligence, and studious attitude were evident from the outset. They understood the expectations placed upon them and have worked tirelessly to meet those standards. Notably, their growth extended beyond academics; they displayed remarkable social and emotional development as well!

In the classroom, they eagerly immersed themselves in learning. Detailed recounts of their holiday experiences flowed from their pencils and through watercolor painting. They explored the fascinating world of living and non-living things, their curiosity sparking engaging discussions. In mathematics, they took part in many revisional activities with enthusiasm.

We are so excited for what this term holds for our amazing Preppies!

Money

This week in Year 1, we’ve been diving into the wacky world of money! We’ve been checking out Australian coins and notes, and the kids are thrilled to learn that money comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors—it’s like a treasure hunt! Over the term, we’ll keep earning money for our jars, trading coins, and buying fun stuff while learning to calculate change. We can’t wait to see where this wild money adventure takes us—maybe we’ll even find pirate gold!

Welcome Back Year 2

We are excited to welcome back our students this week for their first week of learning in Term 3. They’ve kicked off this term splendidly, maintaining the daily routines that were emphasised in the preceding terms. One area where they’ve shown commendable progress is their consistent evening reading, logging their reading in their diaries, and remembering to bring their library books for their library sessions. They’ve also been diligent in keeping the Year 2 deck area tidy and lining up quietly at their classroom door, patiently waiting for their teacher before starting their class. An exhilarating opportunity awaits our Year 2 students as we will be joined by two exceptional Pre-Service Teachers from Swinburne for a four-week placement. Ms Olden has already joined 2J this week, and Ms Osborne who will be joining 2T next week. A hearty congratulations to all the students and families for a spectacular first week of Term 3.

Semester 2 – Time for More fun Learning

Time flies! It’s already Semester 2 and it was wonderful to welcome our Year 3 students back this week. They have joyfully returned to school, excited to catch up with friends and exchange holiday news. In the classroom, the Year 3 students have taken to their learning with enthusiasm, exploring the characteristics of living and non-living things in Biological Science, discovering new information about river systems around the world in our Literacy unit, and practising their time-telling skills in Maths.

Time is a tricky topic but a handy skill to have up one’s sleeve – especially when calculating how many minutes (or hours!) it is until recess, lunchtime or home-time! The Year 3 students have experienced various approaches to assist with their growing understanding of time. They have had individual clocks to practise manipulating the hour and minute hands to show specific times, they have drawn the hour and minute hands on clockfaces and solved time problems, they have played time-themed dominoes games, and raced to win time-themed bingo games. Amidst the challenges and fun of the Maths lessons, the Year 3 students are adding another life skill to their collection.

How Long is it?

What would I use to measure a pencil sharpener? What about the length of our school tables? What would I use to measure the classroom? What about the basketball court?

These are all questions the Year 4 students have been asking this week in our new Measurement unit. Beginning with looking at how to measure length, the students have been completing a range of hands-on tasks using different measuring instruments. They have also been considering the most suitable unit of measure for each situation. Rulers, tape measures and trundle wheels have all featured in these lessons.

A highlight this week has certainly been getting outside and exploring the length of the lines on our school basketball court. The students worked collaboratively in groups recording their measurements on a scaled diagram.

We look forward to future learning where we will explore mass, capacity and temperature in the coming weeks.

Hitting Term 3 Running! 

As Term 3 begins, our Year 6 students have returned well-rested and ready for a busy and exciting term ahead. The energy and excitement are high, especially with the launch of our highly anticipated Food Tech unit.

Each Wednesday, the students will head to the Highton campus to conduct their sessions with Mr T. This week, they had the opportunity to explore the campus and familiarise themselves with the kitchen and utensils. The students are eager to dive into their cooking adventures, and we can’t wait to see the delicious dishes they’ll create.

In addition to the Food Tech unit, the students have also put together a class newspaper to report on their fantastic holidays. Writing from the third person and incorporating both direct and indirect quotes, they have crafted engaging articles that reflect their experiences and creativity.

Stay tuned for more updates on our Year 6 students’ journey through Term 3, as they continue to learn, explore, and grow!

Seeking Support for Work Placements

Students studying the VCE Vocational Major (VM) are timetabled to work with an employer related to their VET course all day on Fridays. This is called Structured Workplace Learning (SWL). There are some prefilled forms to sign and there is a minimal cost of $5.00 a day to the employer. We are seeking workplace opportunities in the Plumbing, Building and Electrical trades. If you or someone you know are willing to help these students, to get a start in their chosen careers please contact myself k.fearnsides@ccg.vic.edu.au or Mary Higgins m.higgins@ccg.vic.edu.au  at Senior Campus. Thank you in anticipation of some support.

Scholarship Applications Now Open!

Scholarship applications for Year 5, 7 and 10 entry to Christian College in 2026 are now open. You can access all the information you need, and apply, by visiting our website. There is a hotlink at the top of our homepage that takes you there, or just click here.

The scholarship testing date is Saturday October 12 and all applications must be received no later than close of business on Thursday October 3.

An Improved Website Menu and Structure

During the recent mid-year break, the menu on the Christian College website has been streamlined and the grouping of information simplified to improve the user experience. The homepage now has just five main tabs at the top – ‘Discover’, ‘Enrolment’, ‘Community’, ‘Parent Portal’ and ‘Contact’. There is also a ‘Book a Tour’ button for prospective parents and guardians who want to visit one or more campuses.

For parents, some key changes to note include the Term Calendar, which is now found under the ‘College Life’ heading on the ‘Discover’ tab. It can also be accessed via the ‘Community’ tab – under ‘News and Publications’, together with The Vine newsletters, In Focus magazine, the Annual Report and a new addition – ‘Latest on Instagram and Facebook’ where you’ll find links that take you directly to Christian College’s pages on each of those social media platforms. Emails to our College community will continue to be sent each Friday with direct links to that week’s Vine newsletter. 

Other changes include ‘Employment’, where positions at the College are advertised, is now accessed via the ‘Discover’ tab, under ‘About’, and the ‘Enrolments’ tab has links to all related enrolment information, including Tours, Open Days, Scholarships, The Enrolment Process, School and Kinder fees, College bus information and Before and After School Care.

Our website is a great resource that contains vast amounts of College-related information and we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the streamlined menu.

Save the Date – East Timor Trivia Night

The annual East Timor Trivia Night is always a great night of fun that supports Christian College’s work in Viqueque, and 2024’s event is on Friday August 9. This year the venue is the Sport and Aquatic Centre at the Middle School-Highton. It’s $10 per head, with each table seating 10 people. Get your friends and families involved, put together as many people as you can and don’t miss it! Call the Senior School Campus on 5241 1577 to book.

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.

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

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!