From the Executive Principal

Building a culture of thinkers

What a morning of civic and community engagement! I started the day surrounded by Year 5 – 7 students, staff and parents at Surf Coast campus as we celebrated the official opening of the new Innovation Centre, with the Federal Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker MP, unveiling the commemorative plaque. I spoke about the value of learning to become innovative thinkers in a fast-changing world. This new addition to the Surf Coast campus is already creating wonderful opportunities for our older students to develop futures-focused innovation capabilities like problem-solving, curiosity, experimentation, idea development and learning to turn ideas into reality.

Meanwhile, just as Libby Coker MP was leaving our Surf Coast campus, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP, arrived at our Senior School campus to join our Year 11 and 12 Politics students for a fascinating discussion on politics. Our students peppered Mr Marles with questions on topics ranging from social media laws to foreign policy and Australia’s defence capabilities. He encouraged the students to remain open-minded in their thinking and not to fall into the trap of simplistic thinking. I was so impressed with the reflective thinking displayed by our senior students as they reflected on the importance of bringing a human-centred lens to a subject like politics.  

Official Opening of Stage 3A

The Surf Coast Campus was buzzing with excitement as staff, students, parents, and special guests gathered to officially open the latest stage of our campus development. This significant milestone included the unveiling of our new Year 7 classrooms, a state-of-the-art Food Studies room, and an inspiring Innovation Centre, facilities that will serve our growing community and enhance learning opportunities for years to come.

The opening of these new facilities marks an exciting new chapter for our campus. The Year 7 classrooms provide modern, flexible spaces to support collaborative learning. The Food Studies room will give students hands-on opportunities to explore nutrition, creativity, and hospitality. The Innovation Centre stands as a hub for design thinking, innovation, and future focused learning.

As we reflect on how far our campus has come, from its beginnings to now, we feel truly blessed. These new spaces will not only enrich the educational experiences of our current students but will also serve as a foundation for the dreams and achievements of generations to come.

What’s Happening at Surf Coast?

TERM  3 2025

WEEK 5

Monday 18 August       –       Prep – Year 4 Gymnastics continues, during PE Lessons

                                                       –       Surf Coast – Premiers Spelling Bee – Yr 3 – Yr 7 – Selected Students

Tuesday 19 August      –       Book Week Parade – Prep -Year 6

                                                       –       Great Book Swap – All Year Levels

                                                       –       Surf Coast – 2026 Year 5 – Year 9 Subject Information Session – 4.00pm – 6.00pm at the Christian College Highton Campus

Wednesday 20 August  –       Surf Coast – Science Incursion – Year 2

Thursday 21 August     –       Music Bands Festival – Concert Band Students                                                                                                                       –       SSV Deakin District Athletics Championships – Selected Students Year 4 – 6

Friday 22 August          –       Student Free Day

Big Stages, Little Stars: Drama in the Early Years

This term, Drama has taken centre stage in our Music and Performing Arts classes, sparking imagination and creativity across our Prep to Year 2 students.

Prep students have been diving into the world of puppetry, crafting quirky characters and playful conversations in pairs. With boundless imagination, they’ve explored how voice, tone, and expression can breathe life into their creations.

Year 1 students have embraced a silent challenge—storytelling without saying a word! Using Neutral Masks, they have been learning how to use their bodies, gestures, and movement to convey emotion and meaning through mime. With facial expressions hidden, students have discovered the power of posture, energy, and precise movement to communicate ideas.

Year 2 students have brought classic fairytales to life with flair and laughter. Their performances have been bursting with personality, as beloved characters from long ago are reimagined with fresh energy and humour.

Across all year levels, it’s been a joy to witness our young performers shine—not only through creativity and expression, but also in their ability to think on their feet. Their creativity, confidence, and collaboration prove that in drama, sometimes actions really do speak louder than words.

Grade 1 Starts the IDL Topic – Simple Machines with a Bang!!! Bang Bang! 🔨

Our adventure began with Grade 1 walking to the Woodwork room.

Mr T greeted us and explained what we were going to create. He explained all the equipment we were going to use and the tools. First, the car’s body, two wooden pieces ready to become one. We used sand paper to knock off rough edges and make our car smooth. We then applied a generous layer of glue to the joint surfaces, ensuring they were clean and dry first. With glue spread evenly, we chose where we were going to place the two pieces and pressed the two halves together firmly.

Once the glue had dried sufficiently, Mr T brought out nails and demonstrated how to carefully hit them into place. Using child-sized hammers, we hammered the nails across the glued joint. This not only secured the pieces more firmly but also taught us how combining adhesives with mechanical fasteners can create a sturdier bond. With each tap, we learned precision and safety and how to work steadily and with control. We made a lot of noise!!!!

We then sanded our wheels, along the wood grain, learning how consistent pressure and motion helps achieve a smooth surface.

News from Year Three!

It has been a wonderful start to the term in Year 3, filled with curiosity, creativity and lots of learning. Our days have been buzzing with activity, from classroom lessons to adventures out in the fresh air.

In PE, our gymnastics program has been a highlight. Students have been stretching, balancing and rolling their way through each session, showing both persistence and teamwork as they try new skills.

In the classroom, our learning has been just as exciting. As part of our Biological Sciences unit, we put our ‘science caps’ on and headed outdoors to investigate invertebrates in our school grounds. We discovered ants, slaters, worms, moths, and… even more ants! Students have been making thoughtful observations and asking great questions about the world around them.

In English, we are nearing the end of our Content Knowledge Unit on Rivers. Using the facts and ideas we have gathered, we are now turning our attention to planning and writing our own information reports. We hope conversations at home have been flowing with fascinating river facts, and we cannot wait to see the amazing writing pieces our students will produce.

Finally, a big congratulations to our recent BLP award recipients; Pia, Oscar, Tiggy, Indi and Sophie, who proudly received their awards at last week’s assembly. Keep up the fantastic work!

We are looking forward to another fortnight filled with fun, learning and discovery.

Stay Warm!

Year 5 Debaters Win Against the Odds

Our Year 5 Debating team has demonstrated such growth so far this debating season, winning their first debate and they did it against tough competition. They are the only Year 5 students in a competition otherwise filled with Year 6 teams, making this win even more impressive.

To make things even more challenging, this was a cold debate. The team only found out the topic when they arrived at the venue, meaning they had to prepare their arguments entirely on their own, without teacher assistance. Despite the pressure, our debaters rose to the occasion with confidence, teamwork, and clear thinking. Writing their arguments for the topic, “Pets are a waste of recourses” with a growing confidence and great teamwork.

Savannah, as first speaker, opened the case brilliantly by introducing the topic and weaving in personal experiences to make the argument relatable and engaging. Lotte, our second speaker, built on these points with strong, well-structured arguments and impressed the audience with her confident rebuttals of the opposing team’s points. Harrison, as third speaker, brought it all together with a powerful summary that reinforced their stance and tied every argument into a convincing conclusion. His performance earned him the title of Best Speaker of the Debate.

Outstanding Success at the Victorian Country Short Course Championships

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of two of our dedicated student swimmers who represented the Geelong Swimming Club at the prestigious Victorian Country Short Course Swimming Championships held last weekend in Bendigo.

This event is a major highlight on the regional swimming calendar, known for its fast-paced racing and vibrant team spirit. Dane Hornsby and Primrose Baker rose to the occasion, showcasing the results of their hard work, discipline, and countless hours of training.

Dane competed in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke, delivering personal bests in both events and securing bronze medals in each—an extraordinary accomplishment.

Adding to the excitement, Dane has also qualified for the upcoming Victorian Open and Victorian Age Championships, set to take place next month. We can’t wait to see what’s next on their swimming journey!

Community Prayer Group

Navigating the Social Media Ban

Online Parent Forum on Support for Children and Young People

With a national ban on social media use for under 16s set to take effect this December, many families may be navigating some uncertainty about how this change will impact their child/children. To support our community, Christian College is hosting an online Parent Forum on the evening of Tuesday, September 9th, exploring the upcoming social media ban, the impacts on young people, and how schools and families can partnership together to navigate the changes and promote consistent, positive messaging around safe and supportive digital engagement. Please keep an eye out for more information regarding our forum soon.

Strings of Success - Gold and Platinum Shine at VSMF!

At the start of this week, our Middle School and Senior String Ensembles travelled to Melbourne to participate in the Victorian School's Music Festival (VSMF) held at the Hawthorn Town Hall.

The day began with a combined rehearsal for the MS groups from Surf Coast, Bellarine and Highton. These groups had previously rehearsed separately and this was there was their first opportunity to play together. They performed with great energy and attention to detail in front of two esteemed adjudicators and an audience consisting of other participating students and the wider public. To their great delight, the MS String members received a Gold award for their efforts.

Later that same day, our Senior String Ensemble presented their selection of three contrasting pieces and were awarded a Platinum-the highest possible award at this festival. This is an amazing achievement for this ensemble, especially given that it is quite a small group of only 14 players on the day. Well done to all students for their wonderful performances and representation of CCG in the wider community. 

CCG Soccer Report

Eagles Fly High Above the Rest, Grounded in Respect

A fabulously diverse collaboration from three different campuses, from four different year levels and with both male and female players, took to the field this week to contest the Geelong Independent Schools Sports Association’s 2025 Soccer Competition (Year 9 and Year 10).

Our Mighty Eagles did not let the rainy conditions dampen their enthusiasm as they topped their group and went on to win the Grand Final to be crowned Champions for 2025. For a number of the team, it was a ‘back-to-back’ success after taking the honours in 2024 in Year 7/8 as well.

Our Leadership group of Benson Flanagan (Captain), Nate Bradley and Ava Mousavi, were gracious and humble in accepting the trophy and pennant. They took time to thank the organisers and offer praise to their defeated opposition - the Kardinia International College team.

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.

Academic Excellence Scholarships – Applications are Open!

Each year, Christian College offers a number of Academic Excellence Scholarships. These are open to both current Christian College students, and to students currently attending other schools. Please note, this year some key aspects of these scholarships have changed from previous years.

Scholarship applications are now invited from any student for entry at Years 5 to 11 – in 2026 or 2027. When applying, you will be asked to nominate which calendar year of entry to Christian College you are interested in.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship entry in 2026, applications are open to students currently in Years 4 through to 10.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship entry in 2027, applications are open to students currently in Years 3 through to 9.

Further details are available, and applications can be submitted, on our website. Click on the Scholarships hotlink on our homepage, or go directly to the page by clicking here.

Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 16 October.

Scholarship testing will be conducted at Christian College Geelong on Saturday 25 October.

CC Eagles Basketball – Summer 2025/26 Season

Do you have a keen basketball player in your family? Or are you new to basketball and want to know more?

As one of the largest Basketball Clubs in Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast, the CC Eagles is able to provide the appropriate competition for all our players, with a wide range of levels and age groups for any gender. In Geelong we play in two separate competitions:

• The Club Competition – This is as “Under Age” system, with the age for the season being taken as at 31st December, 2026. i.e. Under 10, Under 12
• The Schools Competition – This is for boys and girls of primary school age and teams are based on the players year level in 2026

The Club and School competitions are not exclusive to students from Christian College. We welcome all players at all levels of ability to join the CC Eagles.

The Geelong United basketball season runs over Term 4, 2025 and Term 1, 2026. We are currently inviting current and prospective players for the Geelong competition to attend either a “Bring a Friend” session or Club Trials, as per the following schedule. All sessions will be held at the Christian College Highton SAC.

Join Our Growing Kinder Community at Butterfield House in 2026! 🌟

We are excited to announce that, due to high demand, we’ve added an extra 4-Year-Old Kinder group for 2026! 🙌

Even better – two of our groups now offer 19 hours of kinder across 3 full days each week, giving children plenty of time to learn, play, and nurture their curiosity in nature. 🌿

At Butterfield House, we pride ourselves on being an Exceeding rated service that fosters each child’s growth through a caring, play based program rich in nature play and discovery.

📞 Spaces are limited so please call 5264 6803 to find out more.

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.