Surf Coast Term 3 Week 8

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 9

Mon – Wed 9 – 11 September   Intensive Swimming Program – Prep to Year 4 – EdSmart to follow

Wednesday 11 September         Lunchtime Concert – Year 6 performance

Thursday 12 September            RUOK Day

Thursday 12 September             Lunchtime Concert – Selected Students

Thursday 12 September             Year 6 Food Studies & Swimming Program

Thursday 12 September             Year 5 Swimming Program

Friday 13 September                 Year 4 Melbourne Museum and IMAX Excursion

Friday 13 September                 Assembly – All Welcome

A Familiar Face Brings the Ambulance to Prep

On Tuesday, the Preps welcomed paramedic (and Prep parent) Tiana and her ambulance for an interactive hands-on incursion at our Surf Coast campus. Tiana began by explaining the importance of knowing what number to call in an emergency. Did you know that not only can you call “000” in an emergency, but dialling “911” will also connect you to emergency services here in Australia? And dialling “112” will connect you, even if there is no phone reception in the area you are calling from! Tiana went on to chat to the children about the types of questions an ambulance operator might ask, such as their location and the nature of the emergency. Tiana explained that this information helps the operator send the right assistance quickly. She also let the children know that the operator will ask them to unlock the front door and ensure pets are placed outside, so that the pets are not frightened when the paramedics arrive with their special equipment. Tiana did a wonderful job of speaking with the children in such a way to normalise the steps that take place when making an emergency call in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Colourful Clay Birds

Our Prep students have spent time observing their environment. With spring on the way their eagle eyes were quick to spot the wide variety of bird life.

Indoors they incorportated their imagination to create some captivating plans for their clay creation.

The students enjoyed the challenge of using their drawing plan to create a small bird sculpture. They manipulated and moulded clay around a soft armature (an open framework on which a sculpture is moulded with clay).

 Students learned the importance of joining and balance so that their bird could stand. They were offered feathers and a variety of coloured clays which they used to further embellish their bird.

The results were delightful!

Highlights of Year 1’s Week

Year 1 students have been actively engaged in their Mesopotamia unit, diving into the ancient civilization’s writing styles and expanding their knowledge of the topic. They explored cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing, learning how it was used to communicate and record important events. The students showed enthusiasm while participating in hands-on activities that brought the ancient world to life.

In addition to their studies, the students had the chance to attend a Bravehearts incursion in our new stadium. This focused on empowering our Year 1s with knowledge about identifying safe adults they can trust and turn to if they ever feel nervous or uneasy. Through interactive sessions, students were encouraged to identify trusted adults and understand the importance of speaking up about their feelings. This holistic approach to both academic and emotional learning has made this unit a well-rounded and engaging experience for the students.

Footy and Fairytales

Footy Colours Day was an exciting celebration of the first week of spring and the excitement of September finals season. Year 2s decked themselves out in the Cats’ blue and white rings, Essendon’s red and black and some other ‘football’ codes. Friendly rivalries were played out during recess footy matches while the anthems were sung loudly!

This term, Year 2s have explored some traditional fairytales in reading lessons, such as Beauty and the Beast and The Emperor’s New Clothes. The students then wrote a fractured fairytale, changing either the characters, setting or the plot. They altered Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, or The Gingerbread Man. Their stories were introduced with a sizzling start, using dialogue, action or onomatopoeia. They progressed with interesting problems and concluded with clever solutions. In one story, the Gingerbread Man escaped the fox’s mouth, and moved into a mansion in Candy Land, with a chocolate swimming pool. In another fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood was a mermaid who had to escape a shark who had eaten her grandmother. Amazing writing, Year 2s!

A Year 3 Whirlwind!

The past fortnight has been a dizzying array of activities and events, so packed that it seems impossible to have crammed in anything more! Our adventure began with the delightful camp at Queenscliff, brimming with joy and camaraderie, followed by the heartwarming celebrations of Fathers’ Day Evening. The excitement didn’t stop there; we were whisked away into the wonders of the Science Expo and then immersed in the vibrant Footy Colours Day. It’s been a remarkable journey, albeit a tiring one!

Amidst this flurry of events, we’ve also embraced some enriching educational experiences. Our literacy sessions have seen us delve into the enchanting world of ‘The Velveteen Rabbit,’ a story that has touched the hearts of many of our students, stirring deep emotions as we turned each page. In Mathematics, we’ve tackled the concepts of multiplication and division, and it’s been a joy to see the children master their times tables with increasing confidence.

As we approach the final two weeks of term, the pace shows no signs of slowing. We’re gearing up for our swimming program, set to make a splash from Monday to Wednesday over the next couple of weeks. Additionally, we’re excited to bring our biological science unit to a close and explore the profound lessons in our Christian Education classes about God’s promises. There’s much to anticipate, so stay tuned for all the thrilling updates, and don’t forget to keep an eye on The Vine for the latest news.

Year 4 Discover Mysteries of the Deep

As Term 3 draws to a close, our Year 4 students have been busy exploring the wonders and challenges of the ocean through their Interdisciplinary Unit, ‘Mysteries of the Deep’. This unit focused on biological science, where students delved into the fascinating world of marine life and the delicate ecosystems that sustain life in the ocean’s vast depths.

Throughout this unit, our young marine biologists learned about the various habitats within the world’s oceans and the unique creatures that call these habitats home. They discovered how animals have adapted to survive in their specific environments, from the shallow coral reefs to the mysterious deep-sea trenches. A key takeaway from their studies was the delicate balance of these ecosystems and the impact humans have on this balance.

The students were particularly engaged in discussions about the negative effects of overfishing, plastic pollution, and global warming on marine life. They explored how human activities have disrupted food webs and symbiotic relationships, vital to the survival of many species.

Footy Colours Day

This week the students at Surf Coast Campus got to show their true colours!! Coming to school on Friday in the colours of their favourite football team. We had supporters of soccer, AFL clubs, both local and major teams.

It was great to see the whole campus get behind our
Footy Colours Day, with all money raised going to the Fight Cancer Foundation. This is a wonderful foundation that supports families and helps them stay together while they are helping a child who is battling cancer.

Thank you to all or our families for your support with our Project Care Program here at our Surf Coast Campus. Our students are being given the opportunities to see the beyond their own world and how they can help those around them. As our campus continues to grow, and our Middle School gets larger, it is so important to teach our students that they have an important role in helping others in our community.

Celebrating 30 Years of OSHC

Open Day Birthday Party!

We are thrilled to celebrate three whole decades of guiding children’s growth in our Outside School Hours Care programs.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the children, families, and school communities who have been part of our incredible journey, and eagerly extend a warm welcome to new families joining our extended family!

Throughout the past 30 years, we have forged deeply meaningful connections with over 475,000 children and have become an integral part of more than 1,800 school communities.

This profound sense of connection empowers us to create joyful and enriching experiences for every child, every single day, nurturing their growth through the magic of play, engaging learning, and the sharing of wonderful experiences.

Fostering Meaningful Connections

As we approach R U OK? Day next week, our College is preparing to acknowledge this important national mental health initiative with a variety of opportunities to foster meaningful connection and support the wellbeing of all community members. R U OK? Day is a reminder that every one of us can make a difference by checking in on those around us, asking "Are you okay?" and offering support when needed.

This year, we are particularly focused on the unique challenges adolescents face and the vital role parents and carers play in supporting their wellbeing and with that in mind, I warmly invite our parents and carers of young people in Years 5-10 to our ‘Supporting Adolescent Wellbeing’ online parent webinar. Our presentation will include two presentations from key experts in their field. Dr James Burl from Blurred Minds will offer valuable insights in his presentation titled ‘Vaping Decoded – Empowering Parents in the vaping conversation’. With over five years’ experience in delivering alcohol, vaping and drug education to schools, James will share information to empower parents to have more relevant conversations with their teen around vaping, given parents are one of the most important protective factors when it comes to preventing teenage vaping. Jaimee Dunlop, Senior Mental Health Professional at Bellarine Community Health/ Headspace will also join us to share valuable advice on how to recognise early signs of psychological distress in young people and how to initiate a conversation around mental health. We will also hear from our College Director of Digital Learning about exciting updates to our parent tools and features to support adolescent digital wellbeing and positive digital engagement.

Geelong Summer Music Camp Jan 5 –10

A Day Camp for Music Students aged 10 – 21 years

Christian College Geelong is proud to once again be hosting the Geelong Summer Music Camp at the Senior Campus in January 2025. The GSMC committee are excited to have registrations now open for the January 2025 Camp, with early bird discounts available until October 11.

If you have a budding band, choir or strings musician in your house, or are involved in a school or community music program, please encourage students aged 10 – 21 years to consider attending.

Please help us to promote the camp,  which is run by a volunteer committee who are passionate about providing a wonderful experience for student musicians from the Geelong community and beyond – it’s a Geelong institution with this next camp being the 44th!

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

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!