From the Executive Principal

Welcome Back! 

Welcome back to all our returning students and families, and a warm word of welcome to any new families who have joined our us this term. We hope that you your child’s learning journey at Christian College will be truly blessed and we look forward to getting to know you and your children as they begin their educational adventure with us.

Giving Young People a Voice

This week I was lucky enough to attend Start-of-Term Commencement Assemblies at most of our campuses. I was so proud to see how students, from the youngest to the oldest, were making an active contribution to making their voices heard in these assemblies, whether through singing, interviewing visiting speakers, reading prayers, making announcements, or dressing up like teachers in a fun role reversal assembly at one campus.

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 2

Monday 28 July         –      Prep – Year 4 Gymnastics commences during PE Lessons

Wednesday 30 July     –      Year 5 & 6 Debating Competition (selected students)

Friday 1 August         –      Middle School Assembly – 9.00am Surf Coast Campus Stadium

• Prep Discovery Learning (changed from Monday 28 July)

Welcome Back to Term 3!

What a wonderful week it has been reconnecting after three weeks away from school! The classrooms and playgrounds were buzzing with excitement as our Preps reunited with friends and teachers, eager to share stories from their winter holidays. Laughter and chatter filled the air as we swapped tales of cosy days spent at home, thrilling fishing adventures, snowy mountain getaways, and sunny escapes to Queensland.

In our writing sessions, students enthusiastically wrote about their holiday recounts, capturing the magic of their experiences with vivid detail and reflections. It was a joy to see their creativity shine as they described everything from building snowmen and catching fish to exploring new places and enjoying family time.

Now, with Term 3 underway, we’re full steam ahead into a jam-packed schedule of exciting events and learning opportunities! We’re counting down to our 100 Days of School celebration, where we’ll mark this special milestone with fun activities and reflections on how far we’ve come. Book Week is just around the corner, promising a week of literary adventures, dress-ups, and storytelling magic. Plus, students will be diving into gymnastics and swimming programs, building strength, confidence, and skills in a supportive and energetic environment.

It’s shaping up to be a term full of growth, joy, and memorable moments. We can’t wait to share it all with you!

Dough-tally Amazing Science

Welcome back to Term 3! We are so pleased to see our Year 2 students return with such enthusiasm and energy. They have settled back into routines beautifully and have hit the ground running with their learning. It’s wonderful to see them so engaged and ready for the exciting term ahead.

In English, we have begun our Fairytale unit, and the classroom is already buzzing with imagination. From beautiful castles to enchanted fish, the students are enjoying exploring the features of traditional tales. Over the coming weeks, they’ll be diving deeper into familiar stories and even having a go at creating their own fractured versions — so get ready for some creative storytelling at home!

In Maths, we’ve been revising addition and subtraction, focusing on using different strategies to solve problems efficiently. The students have shown great focus and persistence as they revisit these important concepts, and we’re proud of how confidently they’re tackling their work.

Science got off to a fun and hands-on start with a fantastic activity: making playdough! As part of our exploration of materials and their properties, students investigated the different ingredients — flour, salt, oil, water, cream of tartar, and food colouring — and made predictions about how they would combine. There was a lot of excitement as we mixed everything together and discovered how the ingredients transformed.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are looking forward to a fantastic term full of learning, discovery, and creativity.

Year 4 – A Term of Discovery and Wonder!

Term 3 is shaping up to be an exciting one for our Year 4 students, with a rich mix of learning experiences that spark curiosity and creativity.

We’ll be travelling back in time to explore the fascinating world of the Middle Ages—a time of castles, kings, knights, and everyday village life. Students will uncover how people lived, worked, and worshipped, and how this period still influences our world today.

In Mathematics, we’re building confidence with multiplication and division, diving into the world of shapes, and wrapping up the term with a fun and interactive unit on data and graphing. It’s all about making maths meaningful and enjoyable!

Our Christian Education unit invites students to explore the promises of God through stories that inspire hope and encourage reflection. It will offer an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth for our Year 4 students.

Science takes centre stage in our interdisciplinary learning, with two exciting units: Mysteries of the Deep and H2 Whoa. From exploring marine life and ocean ecosystems to investigating the water cycle, students will be engaging in hands-on learning through experiments and models that bring science to life.

We’re looking forward to a term filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Term 3 Begins!

After a well-earned rest over the chilly winter holidays, our Year 6 students have returned to school full of energy and enthusiasm. They’ve settled quickly back into the rhythm of school life and have embraced the changes to their timetable with excitement.

A highlight of Term 3 has been the introduction of new specialist classes, with students now participating in Music, Japanese, and much to everyone’s delight, Food Tech. There was a real buzz around the kitchen as students began to explore cooking techniques, getting to cook popcorn in their first lesson.

In 5/6 Sport, the focus has shifted to Pickleball, a fast-growing paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Students have thoroughly enjoyed learning the rules and intricacies of this exciting new game and are quickly developing their skills while showing excellent sportsmanship and teamwork.

It’s been a fantastic start to the term, and we’re looking forward to everything the coming weeks have in store!

The Bechis Brothers Shine at Juventus FC Football Camp in Italy

During the recent school holidays, many of our students achieved great sporting milestones. In this sporting spotlight, we recognised Elijah and John, who embarked on an unforgettable journey to Italy, where they participated in the prestigious Juventus FC football camp. Held in the heart of Turin, the camp brought together young athletes from around the world to train under elite coaches and experience the intensity of European football.

Both students showcased exceptional skill, discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the program. Their performance stood out among dozens of participants, earning praise from coaches and peers alike.

John delivered an especially remarkable performance. Demonstrating outstanding technique, vision, and leadership on the field, he was voted best player of the camp—reflecting not only talent but also dedication and passion for the sport.

This experience not only enriched their football development but also offered cultural immersion and personal growth.

Their success is a testament to the power of hard work and the opportunities that international sporting experiences can offer. Well done boys.

I have many more exciting sporting updates of our amazing students and look forward to celebrating all these achievements either via the future vine articles and/or around the school. Keep up the amazing sporting achievements Surf Coast Students, we are a talented sporting bunch!

From The Chaplain

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope the school holidays were a wonderful time of rest and recuperation with friends and family, and that you are feeling ready to return for an amazing term. I’m so excited to be back for another full term of school, and I’m filled with hope and expectation for all the fun things we’ll be doing as a campus. We have officially reached the second half of 2025, and the growth and development of our students has been so encouraging already.

It was such a blessing to be able to lead our Term 3 Commencement Assembly this morning, and to relive my musical theatre days as Jesse, a Year 3 student who packed way too much in his backpack for school. As someone who is a chronic “overpacker”, it was a great challenge to be reminded by Jesse’s story that we don’t need to carry everything by ourselves, but that God is there with us to carry what we can’t.

As the weather warms up, we look with expectation to springtime, new growth, and new life, and I pray that this term is another opportunity to be challenged, learn, and build relationships with one another.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Indigenous Literacy Foundation ‘Great Book Swap’

It’s that time of the year again! This term, we will be holding our annual Book Week celebrations, with festivities including a ‘Great Book Swap’ stall to help raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). The ILF is a charity that works to promote literacy in remote communities across Australia by providing culturally relevant books and learning resources to children and families.

To help run the ‘Great Book Swap’ stall, we rely on donations of great books in excellent condition. Should you have any books at home that are looking to be loved by someone new, there will be donation boxes in all year level classrooms ready to accept them. Families are also welcome to deliver any donations to the library.

How you can participate:

• Students donate books in excellent condition to their classroom. Donations are accepted until Friday August 15 (Week 4).
• On Book Week Celebration Day, Tuesday  August 19, students will visit the stall and can purchase a book for a gold coin donation – $1 donation per book

What books can I donate?

• Books that are in excellent condition with no damage
• Books that you love and think others would enjoy reading
• Books that are appropriate to your age and reading level

For more information, please watch this video produced by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. 

We look forward to celebrating Book Week together!

Timor-Leste Trivia Night – Book Your Table Now!

It’s always a popular and well-attended night on the Christian College events calendar and this year’s Timor-Leste Trivia night is only two weeks away!

It's a great night of entertaining trivia rounds, games, a silent auction, and plenty of laughs, all while raising funds for important educational initiatives in Timor-Leste. All are welcome!

We’re also seeking silent auction donations from local businesses and community members. If you can contribute an item, service, voucher, or experience, we’d love to hear from you. Every contribution helps us continue our long-standing partnership with Timor-Leste and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

It’s on Friday August 8 at the Middle School-Highton Sports and Aquatic Centre. Tickets are $10 a head and doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. You can book individually, as a couple or family – or get a group together and book one or more tables of 10. For more information and to book your tickets for the big night, call the Senior School campus on 5241 1577. Likewise, if you can help by donating item(s) for the silent auction, please contact Senior School on the number above. 

The Foundation Golf Day - Only 20 Places Left!

Calling golfers of all abilities! You are cordially invited to make a team and join us for a round of golf at the Christian College Foundation Golf Day on Friday October 17, 2025 at The Sands Torquay.  But be quick, only 20 spots remain! This event is proudly sponsored by AECS (Australian Environmental Cleaning Services).

It’s not only a great day to have fun and meet people, but also an important annual tournament to raise money for the Christian College Geelong Foundation that supports families in their greatest time of need by providing them with life-changing educational opportunities.

Set on a sleek and modern premium 18-hole championship golf course designed by Stuart Appleby, known for its challenging layout and coastal views, it’s characterised by undulating fairways, numerous bunkers, and a strong connection to its natural surroundings.

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 are plenty of prizes up for grabs, including a cash prize of $30,000. Score a Hole in One on a selected hole* and you can win.

You will also be treated to a delicious buffet lunch and learn more about the incredible work of the Christian College Foundation.

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.