Surf Coast Term 3 Week 2

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 3

Tuesday 30 July        Incursion Robbie Noggler Presentation – Year 5 & 6

Tuesday 30 July &      2024 Primary Debating Day Regional Debating (2 teams) @Geelong Grammar 4pm

Wednesday 31 July      Selected Year 6 Students

Wednesday 31 July       Spring Creek Trip – Year 1

Thursday 1 August      Lunchtime Concert – selected students

Thursday 1 August        Swimming Program commences– Year 5 & 6 (Edsmart has been sent)

Friday 2 August          Assembly – All Welcome

From The Chaplain

Introducing…Bellbrae Uniting Church

I hope you’ve all had an amazing first two weeks of Term 3!

This week on Introducing…I’ll be sharing about Bellbrae Uniting Church.

As always, if you have any questions about Introducing…, or any of the churches, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email, by phone, or contact the churches directly.

So, for this week’s Vine, Introducing…Bellbrae Uniting Church!

Bellbrae Uniting is the oldest continually worshipping Christian community on the Surf Coast, being over 160 years old, and just five minutes from Surf Coast Campus.

Worship is held every Sunday at 11 am. You can sleep in and still attend church!

The Church is linked cooperatively with Torquay and Aireys Inlet Uniting, where resources and ministry initiatives are shared, and while they are three very different churches, they share a common purpose, keeping the gospel of Jesus Christ alive on the Surf Coast.

A Week of Olympic Proportions in Prep

Our preparations for the upcoming Olympics have been in full swing in Prep this week, as we await the commencement of the Games with enthusiastic anticipation. The last time the Olympics were held, our Preps were too young to remember, so this event is sure to be a special occasion for them.

Our Prep classes represented Australia and Germany in today’s Potato Olympics and we have been learning about these two countries, including studying and creating our own versions of the two countries’ important flags. The children creatively decorated their spuddy athletes this week in readiness for the Olympic course this morning, where much fun and frivolity was had! We look forward to sharing a full update of our Olympic adventures with you in next week’s edition of The Vine.

In other Prep news this week, on Monday we had the pleasure of attending Bush Prep for the first time this term. The recent rain has transformed Spring Creek into a lush, green wonderland and the children delighted in digging in the mud and creating boats and islands in the waterholes, as well as many other imaginative experiences. We just had to take the opportunity to share some of the beautiful shots expertly captured by Max’s mum Emily for us. Thank you Emily!

A Great Move by Year 1s

Over the past week, our Year 1 students have shown remarkable adaptability and helpfulness as they assisted in moving classes and settling into a new environment. Their willingness to help has been so remarkable and allowed for them to create a new environment that is their own. Despite the challenges of the move, our beautiful Year 1s  have continued in their studies, demonstrating resilience and dedication.

In mathematics, students have embraced new concepts and maintained their enthusiasm for learning where we mixed groups and tasks. Their progress in English has been equally impressive, with consistent improvement in reading, spelling, and writing. The students’ ability to balance their academic responsibilities with the additional tasks of helping their classmates highlights their maturity and commitment to their education.

Potato Olympics –  Go Japan! Go France!

Year 2s are eagerly preparing for both the Paris Olympics and the Surf Coast Potato Olympics! 2J have created pot-athletes from Japan and 2T have crafted French pot-athletes. The students named their potatoes and dressed them in colourful clothing. The potatoes were very fine indeed and ready to compete in Friday’s Potato Olympics.

The classes also made French and Japanese flags and enjoyed learning more about their country and the history of the Olympics. Go France! Go Japan! Go Aussies! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Lots Happening in Year 3

The energy is palpable as the Year 3 students dive headfirst into a whirlwind of activities, mirroring the excitement of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Surf Coast Potato Olympics showcased the creativity and spirit of the students as they rallied behind their potathletes representing Great Britain and Italy.

An exploration of the Murray-Darling Basin highlights the vital role of waterways in Australia’s ecosystem and agriculture. Meanwhile, the tick-tock of learning doesn’t stop in maths, where the concept of time becomes a tangible experience through the hands of clocks and the digits on displays. The students are not just learning to tell time; they’re learning to understand its flow and measure the moments that make up our days.

Interdisciplinary Studies bring life cycles into focus and the distinction between living and nonliving things. The ‘Birds in Schools’ program is particularly inspiring, connecting young minds to the broader scientific community and instilling a sense of contribution to national research efforts.

As the term progresses, anticipation for the Science Expo builds, with each student focusing on a chosen Australian bird.

Thank you again for all the support and encouragement. We know that the second half of the year is going to be even bigger than the first! So, keep an eye on the Vine!

Year 4 Enjoying Hands-On Maths Lessons!

Year 4 students have been diving into a series of engaging, hands-on maths lessons designed to deepen their understanding of mass, capacity, length, and temperature. These practical activities have not only made learning more enjoyable but also helped students master important concepts and skills.

A significant focus of these lessons has been learning to convert between different units of measurement. Students have been taught how to select the most appropriate unit for various tasks, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in their measurements. Whether it’s estimating the weight of classroom objects, measuring the capacity of containers, determining the length of various items, or recording temperature changes, our young mathematicians have been busy applying their knowledge in real-world contexts.

Through a variety of practical exercises, students have practised estimating and measuring a range of items. They have conducted experiments that required them to use both mathematical and scientific skill – activities that have not only reinforced their classroom learning but also encouraged critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

One particularly intriguing activity has been Mrs Daley’s “Coffee Cup Conundrum”. This challenge has sparked curiosity and excitement among the students as they worked together to solve the puzzle using their measurement skills. Be sure to ask your child about their experience with this fascinating task!

Overall, these hands-on Maths lessons have been a great success, providing Year 4 students with valuable skills and knowledge that they will carry forward into their future studies.

Kicking off Term 3 in the new Gym!

Our sport and Physical Education sessions have taken on a whole new level of excitement in Year 5 and 6. Like the rest of the Surf Coast campus, we are loving having our new gym to use.

It has been so exciting to see the skills that are being used and practised by our students in their new space. Recess and lunch are full of basketballs, netballs and  soccer balls. Year 5/6 sport can now spread our experience with a range of new skills, including badminton, and honing those skills our students already have. With the Olympics starting this weekend it is great to see so many of our students embracing sport and the healthy lifestyle it helps to encourage.

Book Week and the Great Book Swap

On Thursday 22 August, we will hold our annual Book Week celebration day when students are encouraged to dress up as a favourite book character.

On this day, we will also be hosting a ‘Great Book Swap’ fundraiser to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). The ILF is a charity that work 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 student donations of great books in excellent condition. On the day, the books will be available to purchase from the stall for a gold coin donation.

Should you have any books at home that are looking to be loved by someone new, there are donation boxes in each homeroom. Families are also welcome to deliver donations to the library.

We look forward to celebrating Book Week together in Week 6!

Qustodio Parent App

Supervise and Support Your Children on Digital Devices

This week we have communicated with all families who have a child who enrolled with us as a new student in 2024. These parents have received an email invitation and guide to activate their Qustodio parent account as part of our school program. For families who have been with us through Semester 1 this was a follow-up invitation.

A reminder to parents that the Qustodio Parent App is available to all our parents to help them supervise and support their children with their online and digital interactions at home, on the school device and on personal devices.

While parents of new students to the College have received an email invitation to activate their Qustodio parent account, any parents in our community who have not yet done so can activate their account at any time if they wish. This help document will guide you in getting started.

In addition, these short video guides may be helpful:

• Creating a Qustodio parent account to connect to a child’s school account

• How to invite an additional parent/carer to join your Qustodio family account

• How parents can get help with Qustodio

• Getting started with your Qustodio parent account

I hope that parents will value and benefit from this tool available through our school program, and to regularly explore our Online Safety Hub for support articles and resources intended especially for parents.

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.

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!