Surf Coast Term 3 Week 6

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 7

Mon to Wed 26 – 28 Aug           Year 3 Camp

Wednesday 28 August               Fathers’ Day Night and Fathers’ Day Stall

Wednesday 28 August               Lunchtime Concert – Year 6 performance

Thursday 29 August                   Lunchtime Concert – Selected students

Thursday 29 August                   Deakin District Athletics – Selected Yr 4-6 Students

Thursday 29 August                   Year 6 Food Studies and Swimming Program @ Middle School

Thursday 29 August                   Year 5 Swimming Program

Thur & Fri 29 and 20 Aug           Year 1 Camp

Friday 30 August                       Assembly – All Welcome

Book Week Magic!

This week, our Preps participated in one of the most exciting weeks on the school calendar… BOOK WEEK! It has been a magical week, especially considering the Preps were able to take part in their first ever school Book Week Parade on Wednesday.

The Preps gathered with the rest of the Surf Coast campus to watch the teachers’ lively reenactment of the beloved story, ‘Who Sank the Boat?’ The fun and frivolity set the tone for the day’s festivities. Following the performance, our Preps joyfully paraded around the stadium, showcasing their incredible character dress-ups. From the adventurous Pippi Longstocking to some fantastical Disney princesses, to a few Hogwarts heroes, to the imaginative Minecraft characters and beyond, the creativity on display was truly inspiring. It was heartwarming to see the pride and joy on the children’s faces as they embodied their favourite book characters.

Excitement, Creativity and Lots of Learning

Year 1s have had an incredible week of learning, filled with excitement and creativity. As part of Book Week, we not only dressed up as our favourite characters, showcasing our love for reading, but also engaged in a variety of enriching activities. In English, students explored the themes and characters from beloved books, diving deep into discussions and creative writing exercises that sparked their imaginations. Mathematics was equally engaging, with students integrating literacy and numeracy in a fun and meaningful way.

Alongside these activities, students have been showcasing their learning about Mesopotamia, discovering how this ancient civilisation contributed to the world with original inventions like the wheel. They explored how these inventions were adapted and evolved over time, connecting the past to the present. This combination of imaginative dress-ups, historical exploration, and immersive learning experiences made the week unforgettable, fostering a deep appreciation for both books and history.

Book Week Fun!

The Year 2s thoroughly enjoyed dressing up for our Book Week Parade this week. Their costumes were created with such thought and care. Well done, everyone! Last Friday, Mrs Moore ushered in Book Week with our resident Story Dog, Ollie. She read the Surf Coast Junior students’ top pick, Every Night at Midnight, much to the delight of the Year 2s. Marshmallows were roasted over the fire and a wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Discovering New Worlds Through Stories

To coincide with the Book Week theme, Reading is Magic, it was in Year 3 where the joy of reading and the power of storytelling was celebrated with great enthusiasm. It’s been a week filled with adventures between the pages, as students embark on literary journeys that spark their imagination and creativity. From dressing up as their favourite book characters for the parade to embarking on a new narrative unit focusing on a classic children’s book – The Velveteen Rabbit. We will continue exploring the literary devices in this text and using them to enhance and support student writing. However, the week was not just about reading, but about building a lifelong passion for learning and discovering new worlds through the wonder of stories. This special week highlights the importance of reading in shaping young minds and creating a vibrant, imaginative classroom environment.

And just when you thought things ease up next week, think again, with the focus switching to camp and our Fathers’ Day evening upon our return. So be sure to rest up this weekend!

Surf Coast Convicts

The Year 5 students spent a morning this week getting into character. They have each come up with a convict name and crime. Each student is writing a picture story book showing what the life of a convict may have been like, and what life in the colonies could have included.  We have spent time in class learning about what England was like in the late 1700s and early 1800s and what it might have been like to live as a convict. We have looked at what Australia may have looked like at this time and the changes that the Europeans brought with them. The students all had to bring in a costume to help them dress up as the convict that will be part of their picture story book. It was great to see these character brough to life.

Book Week Celebration Day

Thank you to all of our wonderful families for all of their support and enthusiasm to create another memorable Book Week Celebration Day. We were joined by our 3- and 4-year-old kinder groups all the way to our Year 6s for festivities to celebrate the magic books and reading bring us.

The celebrations kicked off with an assembly announcing this year’s winning books for the CBCA Book of the Year awards, followed by a staff performance of Pamela Allen’s classic, ‘Who Sank the Boat?’ The Surf Coast version didn’t feature a little mouse sinking the boat, rather Aaron Blabey’s ‘Pirahnas Don’t Eat Bananas’ character (Mrs Riddle) terrorising the other book characters going for a row in Spring Creek.

After the book performance, the students showcased their imaginative costumes in the Book Week Parade. From beloved storybook characters to fantastical creatures, the parade was a colourful celebration of creativity and the magic of literature.

To finish off the morning, students visited the ‘Great Book Swap’ book stall, where we were able to raise over $400 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF). This initiative not only fosters a love of reading for our students, but also supports the ILF who work to promote literacy in remote areas of Australia where resources can be limited. I’d like to thank everyone who generously contributed books to the stall over the course of this term to make this initiative possible.

We extend our thanks to all families for their generous support of Book Week for its continued success and for helping to instil the importance of reading in our students. It was a wonderful display of creativity and well-loved book characters, filled with joy and a shared love for reading.

Hungry Animals and a new Classroom!

This semester, our Year 6 Indonesian students have been thriving in their dedicated language classroom. With a space uniquely designed for their language journey, they’re quickly getting into the groove with simple greetings like “Selamat siang” (Hello), “Apa kabar?” (How are you?), and “Sampai jumpa” (Goodbye).

The classroom is adorned with Indonesian artefacts and decorations, immersing students in the rich culture of this beautiful nation. This term, they’ve been diving into the days of the week and discussing their hobbies, creatively integrating their new vocabulary into their very own book—’The Hungry Animal!’ The enthusiasm is palpable as they explore and learn through engaging activities and cultural insights.

School Crossing Supervisors are Needed

With a new school crossing now in place just down the road from our campus, the Surf Coast Shire is seeking to employ School Crossing Supervisors. Please see the linked PDF here for more information.

School Crossing Supervisors – Surf Coast Shire

Camp Australia

Supporting Adolescent Wellbeing – Parent Webinar

A reminder to parents/carers of our College community that we will be offering an online parent/carer webinar, delivered via Microsoft Teams, on Tuesday 10 September. It has been wonderful to see such great parent interest via RSVP responses and questions submitted so far.

Further details about the event are listed below:

Event: Supporting Adolescent Wellbeing – Parent/Carer Webinar

Format: Microsoft Teams online webinar

Date: Tuesday 10 September      Time: 6.30pm – 8:00pm

Topics to be explored:

* Vaping de-coded - Empowering parents in the vaping conversation from Blurred Minds.

* Supporting adolescence health and wellbeing from Bellarine Community Health – Youth.

* Building parents’ and carers’ skills and confidence to support their young person's mental health – Kate Hickey.

* Enhanced tools to support parents with their young person’s digital wellbeing – Brendan Vanderkley.

To save the date and register for this event, please complete the following form – Parent/Carer - RSVP Form.

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.

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!