From the Principal
The return to school after the break has been extremely positive. The commencement assemblies provided a wonderful opportunity to focus on appreciating our community and how we each contribute to creating the environment that we all enjoy. We welcomed new students and staff to our College and were treated to outstanding musical performances, dancing and singing at some campuses, as well as acknowledgment of various student achievements.
These occasions provide an opportunity for me to speak with the students to encourage them and to share a message. My focus this term was to ask each of us to consider how we contribute to our community. I used a mirror to demonstrate how we can see ourselves in the reflection of our community and more importantly to use the mirror to reflect on how we contribute to making our community a welcoming, safe, and nurturing place to learn together.
During the assembly, I talked about kindness and asked students to consider how they interact with others at school, online, outside of school and within their families, reminding us all of the commandment given to us in the Bible.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34).
The command to love each other was not new, but Jesus magnified it by adding the spirit of the law, that we be motivated to love each other with the self-sacrificing Godly love that Jesus showed.
This term as we re-engage and re-connect with each other as a community, this is a wonderful reminder for us all, students, staff, and parents.
Last semester concluded with perfect examples of community events that demonstrated the value that comes from being together when we gathered for the Year 11 Presentation Balls and the Year 12 Formal. These events were a credit to the young people involved for the way that they conducted themselves. I am most grateful to the staff and families for supporting them.
Our annual Staff Retreat was held over three days prior to the semester break. We were blessed to be guided through a series of sessions led by Middle School Chaplain Mia Kafieris, titled ‘A Hero’s Journey’, guiding staff through a time of reflection, and personal growth. There was time dedicated to fellowship, worship and to honour colleagues that have reached significant milestones in their careers, serving our college over 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years. These fabulous staff achievements are listed below.
10 Years
Kristen Barr
Matthew Bonner
Kim Doherty
Renee Garing
Nicola Morrish
Kate Pritchard
15 Years
Ben Anderson
Jane Bailey
Stephanie Butler
Kerrie Dapiran
Shirley Lazaric
Jonathan Maddock
Steven Sullivan
Regina Thomae
Brendan Vanderkley
Jessie Warren
20 Years
Andrew Allen
Mandy Calderwood
Mark Foran
30 Years
Paul Brewster
Stephen Cody
Glen McKeeman
Karen Smits
40 Years
Daryl Riddle OAM
I congratulate our colleagues and thank them for their contribution to the life of Christian College. It is particularly significant to celebrate and highlight our CEO, Mr. Daryl Riddle OAM, on the 40 years dedicated to visionary leadership and energy that has left a remarkable legacy for our College. Thank you, Daryl.
The staff were blessed to commence this term with a service and to hear an encouraging message from Pastor Matt Jacoby, Senior Pastor from One Hope Baptist Church.
After repeated cancellations over the last two and a half years the staff also had the privilege to hear Dr Jordan Nguyen speak on Monday following our commencement service. Dr Jordan Nguyen is described as one of Australia’s most innovative engineers, who is committed to improving the lives of as many people as possible, and to help become a driving force behind both human and technological evolution as we move into the future.
An internationally renowned engineer for humanity, Jordan designs life-changing technologies to transform the lives of people with disabilities and the elderly through his role as founder of Psykinetic, a social business committed to bringing positive, sustainable and life-altering change, and shares his adventures through documentaries across the world. Inspired by human endeavour, Jordan has big ambitions to see our world step consciously and creatively into a better future.
Jordan’s address was inspiring, engaging and a perfect fit with our college vision and philosophy for the ‘Learning That Matters.’ His encouragement to the staff will flow on to our students as a result of hearing about his experiences as a student and his work today.
Term 3 has certainly commenced with a positive vibrancy and energy. I look forward to all that is in store for us in the coming weeks.
Glen McKeeman, Principal
What’s Happening at Surf Coast?
Is 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 2022
Week 1
Tuesday 12th July Henny Penny Hatching Program (2 weeks)
Wednesday 13th July Gymnastics – 4-week program – Year 1, 3 and 4
Thursday 14th July Student reports sent home
Friday 15th July Swimming – Year 2
All of July Plastic Free July for Year 1
Week 2
Tuesday 19th July Parks Incursion – Year 1 and Prep
Tuesday 19th July Bush Prep
Wednesday 20th July Gymnastics – 4-week program – Year 1, 3 and 4
Thursday 21st July Parent Helper Session
Friday 22nd July BLP Clubs sign up
Friday 22nd July Year 2 swimming
Week 3
Wed 27/7, Thurs 28/7,
Fri 29/7 National Tree Planting – All Year levels
Wednesday 27th July Senior School House Food – Year 4
Wednesday 27th July Gymnastics – 4 week program – Year 1, 3 and 4
Thursday 28th July Basketball Extravaganza – Year 3 and 4
Friday 29th July Assembly
Friday 29th July Crazy Hair Day
Friday 29th July Year 2 swimming
Week 4
Mon 01/08, Tues 02/08 Year 1 Camp
Tuesday 2nd Aug Bush Prep
Wednesday 03rd Aug Gymnastics – 4 week program – Year 1, 3 and 4
Thursday 4th Aug NATICD – (National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders)
Friday 5th Aug BLP Clubs
Fri 5th Aug Year 2 swimming
Week 5
Tuesday 9th Aug Hooptime – Year 3 and 4
Wednesday 10th Aug Prep 100 days at school
Thursday 11th Aug Japanese Day
Friday 12th Aug Assembly
Friday 12th Aug Year2 swimming
Week 6
Tuesday 16th Aug National Science Week
Tuesday 16th Aug RSPCA week
Tuesday 16th Aug Bush Prep
Thursday 18th Aug Werribee Zoo – Whole School
Friday 19th Aug BLP Clubs
Friday 19th Aug Year 2 swimming
Week 7
Tuesday 23rd Aug Beach Prep
Tuesday 23rd Aug Clean the beach visit (front beach) – Year 1
Friday 26th Aug Book week parade – All Years
Friday 26th Aug Year 2 swimming
Week 8
Tuesday 30th Aug William Buckley – Year 2 excursion
Tuesday 30th Aug Bush Prep
Tuesday 30th Aug “See Week” – Year 1
Thursday 01st Sept Footy Colors Day
Thursday 01st Sept Father’s Night
Friday 02nd Sept Father’s Day Stall
Friday 02nd Sept BLS Clubs
Friday 02nd Sept Year 2 swimming
Week 9
Wednesday 06th Sept Indigenous Literacy Day – All Year Levels
Thursday 8th Sept RUOK Day
Friday 09th Sept Assembly
Friday 09th Sept Year 2 swimming
Week 10
Tuesday 13th Sept Science Expo – All Year Levels
Thursday 15th Sept Visit to Spring Creek for 2nd Observations – Year 1
Friday 16th Sept BLPS Clubs
Friday 16th Sept Year 2 swimming
Term 3 Provocations
To begin this term’s new Biological Science learning in Integrated Studies, the Preps started with a provocation.
The classroom tables were filled with a myriad of items. There were physical and tangible items as well as photographs and images. The theme of the provocation was living and nonliving things.
The Preppies worked collaboratively to sort the items and many conversations were had about why they believed the items had living or nonliving characteristics.
Following the provocation, the Preps then went to visit to the Year 1s who welcomed hatching chicks this week! They viewed and discussed what the needs of living chicks were in order for them to survive.
By the end of the provocation, the Preps were able to explain that living things have three basic needs. Living things grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce. The Preps were also able to explain the difference between the two and give an example of each.
It was a wonderful way to entice and excite the learning that will be taking place this term in Integrated Studies!
Debbie Riddle, Campus Coordinator
Caitlin Maher
Chicken Hatching – Year 1
What a time to be back at school in Year 1! We are super excited to announce the arrival of our new fluffy friends – the Year 1 chicken hatching program is back! We have been so blessed with so many awesome new chicks and there is still so many more to hatch. This term, our Integrated Studies topic is Biological Science, and we are looking at: How does our community help living things thrive? For the first two weeks of term, we will be learning all about chicks and what they need to survive and live a full life. We cannot wait to learn and play with our new little friends.
Tracy McDonald
Nick Hogan
Year 2
We have had a wonderful start to the term and the Year 2 students have returned to school full of enthusiasm and with an eagerness to learn. The Year 2s have an exciting term ahead with an upcoming excursion to Werribee Open Range Zoo and swimming lessons every Friday. They will also have an opportunity to choose a new BLP Club and enjoy learning new skills or exploring a new activity.
This week we begin our Integrated Studies unit, Biological Sciences, investigating the cyclical nature of how living things grow and change. Our excursion to Werribee Open Range Zoo, later in the term, will be an interesting experience for the Year 2 students, as well as a celebration of their learning as they observe the various wildlife and learn about their habitats and behaviours.
The Year 2 students have been analysing the structure and features of fairytales and they are ready to plan and draft their own ‘fractured’ fairytale by varying a chosen element and weaving it into their own narrative. We look forward to celebrating their creativity and new ideas.
Leanne Crole
Sharon Sutton
Hello Term 3!
We are back! It is going to be another great term in Year 4, with our days filled with lots of learning and laughter.
This term we are looking at plants and animals and how they grow and interact with each other. We have planted our own seeds – beans and spring onions, so hopefully the nurturing side of the students in 4T will come out. We will be watching the growth of our plants and documenting their changes.
We are measuring things in our playground to learn about units of measurement, how to convert them and what the best unit is to use for certain things.
In English and Christian Ed we are going on an adventure and talking about a Hero’s Journey and what this looks like.
It’s already been a great start to the term, and I am excited about what we are going to be able to achieve.
Claire Deretic
Dear Parents and Guardians,
On Friday July 29th we will be holding the annual Crazy Hair and Casual Dress Day. This is a Project Care event, for Cystic Fibrosis. We encourage our children to donate a gold coin to help support those who are struggling with Cystic Fibrosis. We also encourage our students to wear crazy hair or a wig. There are some crazy hair ideas at the bottom of this email.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
East Timor Trivia Night
Language Assistant Exchange Program Running Again
During the recent holidays, Christian College graduate, Jack Frencham (2021), landed in Japan to work as an English Language Assistant at our sister school, Naga High until Christmas this year – the first time we’ve been able to engage with our Japanese sister school in this way for three years. Earlier this year we welcomed Naga HS graduate, Kana Miyano as a Japanese Language Assistant, who is helping around all campuses during her stay with us. We are delighted to begin the Language Assistant exchange program again, and hope all our short and long-term Japanese and Indonesian exchange programs will be back up and running soon!
National Collection of Data on Students With Disabilities
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 (this year, on the 5th), 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 (2021).
Please see the attached NCCD Fact Sheet for more information.
Golf Tournament
The Foundation Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, 27 October 2022. Join us at 13th Beach Golf Links from 8:00am for a shotgun start. Tickets are $190 each ($150 for members) or $750 for a group of four. RSVPs close on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 5:00pm.
Funds raised from this event will be allocated to our Foundation Scholarship Fund, supporting current students who are in need of financial assistance.
Book online at: The Foundation Golf Tournament
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
Since COVID began, many people have understandably been stuck on the roads of fear and frustration.
Continually travelling down a rough road (often out of control) takes its toll....increasing stress levels and reducing your immune system...leaving you vulnerable.
Pull over, breathe, regain control and steer towards a smoother road if you can.
Just that simple act can reduce your stress levels and strengthen your immune system.
Worth thinking about 👍😊
Discover more about MYTERN here
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