Fathers’ Day Celebration
Excitement filled the air at our Surf Coast Campus on Thursday afternoon when our dads and their children arrived to spend a fun afternoon together. The dads learnt how to make friendship bracelets, had their portraits drawn, planted seeds in the veggie garden and shared their favourite dad joke. A quick sausage in bread and then on to some more fun together. On Friday morning procrastination was at its highest as the children chose a gift for their dads at our annual Fathers’ Day Stall. Once the purchase was made it was quickly hidden in the school bag so dad would not see it before Sunday. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our dads a wonderful and blessed Fathers’ Day.
Debbie Riddle, Campus Coordinator
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 2023
Week 8
Monday 4 September Gymnastics – Selected Days
Tuesday 5 September Division Athletics – More information to come – Selected Students
Wednesday 6 September Science Expo – More information to come – All Students
Thursday 7 September Lunchtime Concert – Selected Students
Thursday 7 September Footy Colours Day – More information to come -All Students
Friday 8 September Assembly 2.45pm – 3.30pm – All Students
Week 9
Monday 11 September Gymnastics – Selected Days – More information to come
Monday 11 –
Wednesday 13 September Middle School Music Camp – Information sent from Music Department on 11 August – Selected Students Only
Tuesday 12 September Discovery Learning – Prep Students
Thursday 14 September R U OK? Day
Friday 15 September Last Day of Term 3 – 2.30pm Dismissal
Budding Zoologists!
Over the past few weeks, the Surf Coast Preppies have absolutely loved becoming an animal expert, after being inspired by the great, Sir David Attenborough.
After reading Little People, Big Dreams David Attenborough, the preppies were given the opportunity to choose a favourite animal to learn about and to become an expert on. They were able to choose from a turtle, lion, gorilla or a penguin. The children learnt about animal needs, how they can be classified, what physical features they have, as well as attaining many wonderful, interesting facts.
The Preppies loved creating a plasticine model of their animal, as well as making an information poster. The Preppies are very excited to share their newfound knowledge at the upcoming Science Fair.
Caitlin Maher
Nereda Welsh
Animals and Their Habitats!
Over this term, we have been exploring animals and their habitats. After many sessions researching and learning about an animal of our choice, we finally began the creation process. Using newspaper, aluminum foil and clay we were able to craft and make our chosen animals. This process took a lot of time as we molded the creatures. The next step on our journey will be painting them to give them a realistic look to showcase our learning. We are very excited to showcase these at the expo coming up where we can teach everyone about our incredible, animals.
Nick Hogan
Sarah Minge
Year 3 Happenings
The Year 3 students have had a full and exciting term so far. Last week they visited the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and took a keen interest in the Australian Trail, seeking out many of our native animals but, in particular, the birdlife on display. This experience contributed to the science learning the Year 3 students have been doing with their investigation into Australian birds. The Orange-bellied Parrots were a favourite at the Zoo, and the students were intrigued about the seemingly non-existent ‘orange bellies’ on the mostly green parrots. There was much excitement when they caught a glimpse of the peach and golden feathers on the parrots’ plump bellies as they flitted from branch to branch in the enclosure. The lions, though, with their adorable new cubs, were a favourite and held the students’ attention with their sweet antics.
Book Week is another fun activity in the school calendar and the Year 3 students made a fabulous effort with their costumes depicting a book character. They participated in the parade and dances, and also donated to the book swap with books or gold coins or both. Thank you so much to the parents who generously contributed their time and skills to costumes and for the many books donated.
The Year 3 students have been busy making a paper mache bird, researching their bird and creating information reports in readiness for the Science Expo – we look forward to seeing you there to celebrate their efforts.
Leanne Crole
Adam Stewart
Library Lego Exhibition
The last two weeks in the Library have seen the space transformed into a Lego wonderland! Almost 60 students brought in Lego creations from home to contribute to the inaugural Library Lego Exhibition. Each and every class that has visited the Library over the last two weeks, from kinder to Year 5, has been captivated by the display, with Lego works varying from small and detailed freestyle builds to large set builds with thousands of pieces and remote controlled!
During Library lessons this week, students have been sharing and demonstrating their creations to their classmates, with presenters discussing the intricate details, interesting features and the intriguing stories behind their builds. It has been a wonderful way to celebrate our students and their gifts and talents in a different way.
In Week 8, students are encouraged to come to the Library at the end of the school day to collect their Lego. We encourage students to bring a box to school to take their Lego home in (unless they left their box in the Library at Lego drop off). If a suitable time needs to be arranged with families for the collection of larger or fragile Lego builds, please feel free to email [email protected].
Katherine Tatnell-Moore
One for All and All for One!
“This world is an uncertain realm, filled with danger. Honor undermined by the pursuit of power, freedom sacrificed when the weak are oppressed by the strong. But there are those who oppose these powerful forces, who dedicate their lives to truth, honour, and freedom. These men are known as Musketeers. Rise, D'Artagnan, and join them.”
Alexandrea Durmas – The Three Musketeers, 1844
For many there’s nothing better than a dress up, for others they can think of nothing worse! Last week’s Book Week celebrations saw literary characters of every kind arrive at school across our Junior and Middle School campuses in a flurry of colour, face paint, excitement and joy.
It was my pleasure to be one of ‘The Three Musketeers’ alongside our Acting Principal Mr Rick Geall and our Head of Wellbeing Mrs Kim Doherty for Book Week and to deliver a devotions together about the significance of teamwork.
We live in an incredibly entitled individualistic society. Individuality can often be very healthy, it allows for good differentiation and boundaries in relationships and ensures that each person can be who God has made them to be without being squished, manipulated or conformed into being someone else. Individualism however is often very unhealthy. Cultures marked by individualism often organise themselves according to hierarchies of dominance – people compete to be better than others rather than be better than themselves, resources are stockpiled by the few rather than amongst the many. So often in these cultures people demand that the needs, rights and expressions of each individual must be met by the greater collective of other individuals at the expense of the community’s wellbeing, growth, healing, safety or wholeness. In these cultures you’re likely to hear phrases like “You can’t tell me, you can’t make me, it’s my right to, I’m entitled to, I don’t care what you think or feel etc” In these communities people are enculturated to think only for and about themselves. As you can imagine, individualism in a community often results in people experiencing greater stress, less social support and relationships of convenience. People in communities that perpetuate individualism are less likely to help others or engage in charity/community service, the irony is they are also less likely to seek help for themselves when they need it. What begins as individualism often results in a lack of resilience, self-esteem, self-awareness as well as competition and isolation. Individualism is more of an “the world owes me something and I deserve it” epitaph rather than the Musketeer’s cry of “All for One and One for All”. The bible’s response is quite clear in asserting that a community, like a body, is made of many individual parts that are distinct in purpose, function and appearance but ultimately useless without the other parts that come together to form the whole. You can read more about this in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 12. It is a powerful passage of scripture that validates each and every person for the fearfully and wonderfully made human they are while dignifying them and their unique differences as an essential part of the whole. Thankfully our community at Christian College is modelled upon scriptures like this and is much more akin to the biblical and Musketeer perspective rather than the “me first” world of individualism.
Our community safeguards a person’s individuality without damaging the whole by elevating or idolising one individual over another. We advocate for community. For shared unity. For the help, wholeness, health and life in abundance we can bring to each other through the practice of our College values; Faith, Hope, Love, Grace and Truth. We are Musketeers, we are parts of the body of Christ, we are teammates; Staff, Students, Parents and Families working together with the sustaining presence and power of a loving God.
One for All and All for One!
Mia Kafieris, Dean of Christian Culture
The Christian College Sport Hall of Honour
We are proud to announce a new initiative, which will become an important tradition in the life of our College – the Sport Hall of Honour – to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our past students who have reached national or international status in their chosen sports.
On October 5, we welcome our inaugural inductees to the Sport Hall of Honour – ex-students, Gary Ablett Jr and Tegan Philip. Both are universally recognised as champions at the highest level in their respective sports – AFL football and netball.
You are invited to join us for this gala dinner event at Mt Duneed Estate. On the night, we will also honour a cohort of current students as ‘Rising Eagles’ for their outstanding achievements in their chosen sports, putting them on a pathway to perhaps achieve the type of success required to enter our Sport Hall of Honour in future years.
The night also presents the perfect opportunity to award, for the first time ever, the ‘Gary Ablett Jr’ and ‘Tegan Philip’ medals to the students named as MVP of our Senior Male Football team and Senior Female Netball team from this year’s GISSA Championships.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the October 5 event, please visit our website.
The Hall of Honour will be a permanent display within our school, displaying the names, images and achievements of our extraordinary sports stars. This will not only inspire our current students but also serve as a testament to the values and dedication instilled within them during their time at Christian College.
We encourage our College community to join us in celebrating those who have pursued their gifts and passions to an extraordinary level of success. While one of the criteria for induction to the Sport Hall of Honour is that individuals have retired from their sport professionally or at the very highest level, if you are aware of any past students who have achieved, or are achieving, national or international recognition in sport, please reach out to our Sports Administrator Matthew Murnane [email protected] with any relevant information.
Daryl Riddle OAM, CEO of Christian College
Scholarship Applications are Now Open!
Each year Christian College offers Academic Excellence Scholarships for entry at Year 5, 7 and 10 levels. Applications are now open for this year’s scholarships, which apply to entry in 2025, at three campuses – Middle School-Highton, Bellarine Campus and Surf Coast Campus.
Year 10 entry applies to Senior School-Waurn Ponds only.
To find out more, and to apply, visit our website and look for the homepage hotlink, or click here.
Scholarship applications are open to students who do not currently attend Christian College, as well as those who are currently enrolled here. Scholarship examinations will be held at Christian College on Saturday October 7. Closing date for applications is Thursday, September 28.
Foundation Golf Day 2023
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we are delighted to announce the Christian College Foundation Golf Day tournament for 2023.
Save the date: Thursday November 9.
We are seeking prizes for this event – if you own a local business and are interested in creating partnership opportunities with Christian College, please contact Fiona Provan on 0400 477 467, or email [email protected]
Uniform Shop Clearance Sale!
A MYTERN Thought for This Week
It’s easy to rush through a cup of tea or coffee and forget to stop and appreciate the moment.
Take time out now to simply appreciate being able to breathe in fresh air. Take a long slow breath and feel it rejuvenate every cell.
Make that your intention and watch your body smile from the inside 👍❤️
Discover more about MYTERN here
