From the Executive Principal
Monday was a very special day in our school: Year 12 Celebration Day. In my address to the students, I explained to them that this was a day where their past meets their future. The day was filled with special moments where the Year 12s were looking back over their time at school: visiting Junior School and Middle School, photo and video montages of their time at school and a beautiful Thanksgiving Service where students and staff shared their reflections on their fondest memories of our Year 12 cohort’s time at our school. There were also moments to look forward, e.g. when students were writing letters to their future selves to be captured in a time capsule until their ten-year reunion.
Overall, the day was filled with special traditions, rife with symbolism. Students climbed to the top of the clocktower at Middle School, the highest point on any or our campuses, signifying that they have reached the pinnacle of their Christian College journey. They each signed their name on a brick in the clocktower, leaving their indelible mark on the College for others to follow. They rang the bell in the clocktower, signifying the end of 13 years of schooling and they sang the school hymn for the last time as a reminder of their shared experience here. Then they finally walked down the driveway at Senior School, led by a single bagpiper, cheered on by students, staff and parents, arms interlinked, tears streaming down many faces, bravely walking into their future to go and make a difference in the world beyond our school gates.
This made me reflect deeply on the value of traditions. Traditions tell our story. They remind us of where we have come from, what we value, and who we aspire to be. They build a bridge between past and present, connecting generations of students and staff who have walked the same paths, sung the same songs, worn the same colours, and shared the same sense of belonging. They say: “You are part of something enduring. You belong here.” Whilst a big focus was on our Year 12s on Monday, I love the many traditions we have across our school that can reinforce this message for all of our students. They all belong here, and we love having them as part of our community.
Another tradition that we started to celebrate this week, is our annual Art, Technology and Design exhibition – this year taking place on each of our five campuses over the next two weeks. This week was Junior School, Middle School and Senior School, with Bellarine and Surf Coast exhibitions following soon. What a wonderful display of student creativity, ingenuity and imagination!
And the celebrations of our traditions didn’t stop there…on Monday evening we held the second of our biennial Sport Hall of Honour events where we inducted 2016 graduate and Olympic gold medallist mogul skier, Jakara Anthony, who joins other ex-students, Gary Ablett Jr and Tegan Philip, who were inducted at the inaugural event in 2023. It was fascinating listening to Jakara reflect on her rise to the top in women’s mogul skiing, as well as her very positive reflections about her Christian College experience. She attended our College from Years 7 to 12 and spent time away each year at Mt Buller training and competing, while her teachers kept the work up to her, which she completed during her ‘down time’ at the snow. She successfully finished Year 12 and is now undertaking a Bachelor of Business at Deakin University amidst her busy skiing schedule, which takes her to many different countries, including Milano Cortina in Italy for next year’s Winter Olympics. We’ll all be cheering her on no doubt! While Jakara was the guest of honour, just as important for us at this event is the recognition of our current students who are achieving amazing things in their chosen sports, with three CCG teams, and a number of individuals, receiving awards for reaching state and national levels of competition, and other outstanding accomplishments.
Still on the subject of traditions, Grandparents’ Day is a popular event at our three campuses with junior students in Prep to Year 4. Junior School-Belmont, Bellarine and Surf Coast Campuses all welcomed grandparents to school this week and it was lovely to see the interaction between our children and their nannas, pops, pas, grandmas, grandpas, omas, opas – and more – as they performed items for the special visitors, showed them around classrooms and engaged in fun activities with them. I think there is as much excitement about this day each year for the older generations as there is for the younger ones!
Dr Mathilda Joubert, Executive Principal
Grandparents’ Day
Grandparents’ Day is always a cherished event at our Surf Coast Campus, and this year was no exception. We celebrated together in our campus stadium, which was filled with the joyful buzz of excited children and their beloved grandparents. The atmosphere was alive with smiles, laughter, and heartfelt conversations as generations came together to share in the special occasion.
Our grandparents joined in songs and dances alongside their grandchildren, creating beautiful memories that will be treasured for years to come. Following the celebration, they spent time in classrooms enjoying games, crafts, and a glimpse into the children’s daily learning experiences. It was wonderful to see so many families connecting and celebrating the sense of belonging that defines our Surf Coast community.
Days like this remind us of the blessing of community and the importance of those who have helped shape the lives of our students. We are deeply grateful for the love, wisdom, and joy that our grandparents bring, and we eagerly anticipate the next opportunity to celebrate with these treasured members of our extended College family.
Debbie Riddle, Head of Campus
What’s Happening at Surf Coast?
TERM 4, WEEK 4
Monday 27 October – 2026 Prep Transition Session
Thursday 30 October: Year 5 & 6 Sport, Swimming, Highton Campus Aquatic Centre
Friday 31 October: Assembly, Year 5 – Year 7, 9.00am
Friday 31 October – Year 5 Parliament House Incursion
WEEK 5
Tuesday 4 November – Orientation Day
Tuesday 4 November – Cross Campus Drum Evening
Wednesday 5 November – Cross Campus Guitar Evening
Thursday 6 November – Lunchtime Concert, Instrumental Students, Surf Coast Stadium
Thursday 6 November – Surf Coast Art Show
Thursday 6 November – Cross Campus Guitar Evening 2
Friday 7 November – Prep to Year 4 Service
WEEK 6
Monday 10 November – Prep Discovery Beach, Period 3 & 4
Monday 10 November – Year 5 Concert
Tuesday 11 November – Remembrance Day
Friday 14 November – Active Maps Lauch Ride/Walk to School – All Welcome
Friday 14 November – Year 1 Ancient Dress-Up Day
Friday 14 November – Year 5-7 Assembly
Friday 14 November – 2026 Prep School Session
Prep Discovery Learning Adventures at Cosy Corner Beach
This term, our Prep students have enjoyed two exciting Discovery Learning adventures at Cosy Corner Beach. The bus ride on both occasions was filled with eager chatter, as students shared their ideas about what they might see, the sand creations they hoped to build and the games they would play together.
On our first visit, the tide was out, revealing a wide stretch of sand—perfect for ball games, imaginative play and constructing impressive sand creations. In contrast, our second trip offered a different experience, with the tide in, allowing students to dig pools and forts as the water washed in and explore how wet sand could be used to make sturdy sand sculptures.
It was wonderful to see students working in small groups to plan and build sandcastles, create fascinating sand creatures, dig mini pools and build imaginative waterfalls with the rocks. Buckets were filled with water and rocks were carefully selected to enhance their designs, showing great collaboration and creativity. It was great to see students working together to fix problems and try new ideas when things didn’t go as planned.
A highlight of our most recent trip came when a crab unexpectedly emerged in one of the pools the students were digging. Shouts of, ‘crab, crab, crab, come and have a look’ were heard across the beach as curious students rushed over to investigate. They quickly worked together to create a home for their new crab friend using seaweed, rocks and sand. With great excitement, they watched as the crab explored its new surroundings before settling under the seaweed.
Discovery Learning at the beach continues to be a rich, hands-on experience full of wonder, teamwork, enjoyment and joyful learning. We are already looking forward to our next beach adventure in a few weeks!
Melissa Smith
Year 2 Excursion to the Cosmo Dome!
Last week, our Year 2 students embarked on an out-of-this-world adventure when we visited the Junior School to experience the Cosmo Dome, an interactive space presentation run by Star Lab. From the moment we stepped inside the large, inflatable dome, there was a real sense of excitement and wonder. The darkened space and the curved roof made it feel as though we were really travelling through space!
As we settled in, the dome was filled with stunning images of the night sky. We learnt how different stars vary in colour, size, and brightness, and even compared them to the size of our own Sun. The students were amazed to discover that while the Sun seems enormous to us, there are stars out there that are many times bigger!
Our journey continued as we “flew” past each planet in our solar system. We got to see the rocky craters of Mercury, the swirling clouds of Jupiter, and the icy beauty of Neptune. Each planet’s surface looked so different, and the students were fascinated to see what it might be like to stand on them.
We also spent time learning about the Moon and why its shape seems to change throughout the month. The visuals made it easy to see how sunlight hits the Moon differently as it orbits the Earth, creating the phases we see — from a tiny crescent to a bright, full moon.
One of the most exciting moments came when asteroids appeared to zoom towards us! The moving images made it feel as though they were coming right into the dome, and there were plenty of surprised gasps and laughter from the group.
Our visit to the Cosmo Dome was an unforgettable experience that brought our classroom learning to life. The students were full of questions and excitement long after we left the dome, eager to share what they had discovered about stars, planets, and space.
Sarah Dean
Exploring the Water Cycle & Celebrating Grandparents
Over the past fortnight, Year 4 students have been immersed in a hands-on exploration of the water cycle, deepening their understanding of how water moves through our environment, from evaporation to precipitation and everything in between.
Students created posters to showcase their learning that illustrated each stage of the cycle. Alongside this, they investigated different types of clouds and discussed the importance of being water conscious in everyday life. A highlight was discovering how Geelong receives its water from the Otways, and we discussed sustainability and local resources.
We also celebrated Grandparents’ Day, a heartwarming occasion that brought generations together in the classroom. Students interviewed their grandparents, learning about their experiences and memories. Some played board games and puzzles, while others collaborated on water cycle projects, sharing knowledge and laughter.
It was a week filled with curiosity, creativity, and connection!
Adrian Bate
Outstanding Achievement at SSV Western Metro Athletics!
We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievement of Dane Hornsby, who recently competed in the SSV Western Metro Athletics Championships held on Tuesday October 21 at Keilor.
It was a remarkable accomplishment for the athletes to progress to this level of competition and we congratulate all students who made it to this stage, for their dedication, talent, and perseverance. Dane competed in the year 12/13 Multiclass 100m and 200m events, he delivered an outstanding performance — placing first in both events!
This fantastic result means Dane has now qualified for the State Finals, a testament to his hard work and athletic ability. We extend our warmest congratulations and wish him all the best in his continued training and upcoming competition. We’re all cheering for your continued success, GO DANE!
Emma Workman
Celebrating Excellence
Christian College Geelong Sport Hall of Honour Induction Ceremony
On Monday this week, the prestigious Christian College Geelong Sport Hall of Honour ceremony was held to celebrate outstanding achievements in sport across all campuses. A highlight of the event was the induction of Jakara Anthony, whose remarkable contributions to Snowsports continue to inspire the next generation of athletes.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all students who received recognition at the ceremony. Your dedication, sportsmanship, and passion for excellence are truly commendable.
We would like to especially congratulate the students from our campus, Goldie Betts, Willa Betts, Charlie Claydon and Rose Magree, for their exceptional accomplishments:
- Recipients of the Snowsports Rising Eagle Award, showcasing emerging talent and commitment in alpine disciplines.
We would also like to congratulate Alby Prendergast who was honoured as one of the players in the Top Flight Eagles Award for the mixed soccer team, demonstrating leadership and excellence on the field.
These achievements reflect the vibrant sporting culture and spirit of our campus. We are proud of every student who continues to strive for greatness in sport.
Emma Workman
Save the Date – We’re Launching ActiveMaps!
We’re excited to announce the launch of ActiveMaps – safe, fun routes designed to help families walk, ride, or scoot to school! These routes were created with input from our amazing student leaders in partnership with Bicycle Network. As part of this Launch, we are inviting parents to ride/walk with their children to school using the ActiveMaps.
When: Friday, 14th November
Meet Time: 8:15 AM
Where: At the START point of your chosen route
We have three ActiveMaps routes to choose from. Each route will have a designated Parent Representative wearing high-visibility gear for easy identification.
Important Details
- Families should meet at their route’s start point by 8:15 AM. Rides will commence promptly after.
- Parents must supervise their children unless confident in their child’s independent road and bike safety skills.
- This is a community-led initiative, occurring outside school hours and grounds. While our school supports active travel, parents are responsible for their child’s safety and duty of care.
Closer to the event, we’ll share more information about:
- Safe entry to school for those riding in.
- Where and how to store bikes on arrival.
Special Event at School
Once families arrive at our Surf Coast Campus, we’ll host a fundraiser that will roll into a Special Assembly (year 4-7). The assembly will focus on bike safety, feature updates on biking and bike trails, and include guest speakers. Parents are warmly invited to attend this assembly.
Emma Workman
Art Show
We are looking forward to our Surf Coast Campus Art Show on November 6 and invite all parents and families along to view an exceptional collection of work by students at all levels of our campus. We hope you can join us!
Community Prayer Group
Our community prayer group runs on a Wednesday, from 3pm until pickup at 3:25pm, and all community members are welcome. If you join us, please ensure you sign in at reception (on the left-hand side of the main office).
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about prayer or our prayer groups.
Aaron Cutter
Social Media Age Restrictions Update
This week, the Australian Government launched a new national awareness campaign ‘For the good of…’ regarding the upcoming social media age restrictions for under 16s.
Alongside this campaign, eSafety has just launched new resources on their Social Media Age Restrictions Hub, designed to support parents and carers, teachers, and young people in preparing for the restrictions that come into effect from December 10.
Resource Pages for Parents and Young People
In particular, we’d like to highlight to families the eSafety resource page for parents titled ‘Social media age restrictions and your family’ as well as the companion page for young people, titled ‘How will the social media age restrictions affect me if I’m under 16?’. We encourage parents and young people under 16 in our school community to visit and explore these resources together.
Both pages explore topics such as:
- Why the change?
- Quick facts
- FAQs
- Tools and webinars to help with the change
- Resources to explore together with your under-16s
- Health and wellbeing advice
eSafety Parent Webinars
On the heels of our own recent online parent forum, a reminder that eSafety is also offering a series of 30min parent webinars in the coming weeks which parents and carers may find supportive in preparing for the changes with their under 16s.
Get-Ready Guides
Finally, eSafety has made available some ‘Get-Ready Guides’ to help parents and carers, and young people, prepare for the changes. For example, the parent/carer get ready guide suggests an 8-step action plan that many parents will find helpful.
Continued Support
As further information and support are made available, we’ll highlight it through the remainder of this term in The Vine. Keep an eye out.
The changes will be most significant for under-16s who have existing social media accounts, and we encourage all families to explore and prepare together so that all young people are well supported through this transition. Through the resources and support from eSafety highlighted above, parents will feel informed and supported in talking about and preparing for the changes with under-16s in their home.
Brendan Vanderkley, Director of Digital Learning
Kim Doherty, Director of Wellbeing
Geelong Summer Music Camp Jan 11 -16, 2026
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 2026. The GSMC committee are excited to have registrations now open for the January 2026 Camp.
If you have a budding band, choir or string musician in your house, or you are involved in a school or community music program, please encourage students aged 10 – 21 years to consider attending.
The camp highlights:
The GSMC is a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive day camp. Students will play in a concert band, string orchestra, or sing in a choir throughout the week and then feature in a finale concert at Costa Hall.
Campers will also have the opportunity to choose an elective activity. The camp builds social time into its program where students are encouraged to connect with others, developing positive friendships and relationships with other campers and staff. Auditions at the start of the camp are designed as a time for the students to connect with the music tutors, but also allow the tutors to place students into the ensemble that best suits them, to set them up to have a rewarding week of growth and fun making music.
Key information and contacts:
A Day Camp for Musicians 10 - 21 Years*
Venue: Christian College Geelong, Waurn Ponds
Camp Concert: Friday 16th January, Costa Hall
Camp fees : $425 & $385 additional family members
*Age Calculation - 1st January 2026
Enquiries: 0411432155 or gsmc.secretary@gmail.com
More information can be found on attached poster and online registration on the camp website
GSMC.org.au
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 45th ! Each year students from across Victoria, Interstate and even as far away as New Zealand attend.
Please share the promotional poster attached. They can be emailed and/or printed out and displayed anywhere you think appropriate.
Looking forward to another wonderful and inspirational week of music and joy in January!
Fiona Gardner, Musical Director GSMC 2025 - On behalf of the GSMC Committee
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.
If we receive multiple versions of a popular recipe, we may ask for alternatives. We encourage you to share gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
Please feel free to upload one or more images to go alongside your recipe. For example, this could be a family photo, colourful drawing/artwork, or photo of the recipe. By uploading a photo, you agree to have your photo published. Please also let us know where you got your inspiration from. Is your recipe based on another food author or published cookbook, or is it a special family recipe? Why do you love this recipe? Please share your story with us. By contributing your recipe to the cookbook, you agree to have your name published, but no personal contact details will be shared.
Please note, you are welcome to contribute recipes until the end of November 2025. The published book will be available at the start of 2026.
If you have a family business and you would like to advertise your business in the cookbook, please contact Tenille McInnes (t.mcinnes@ccg.vic.edu.au). This is a great way to showcase some of the incredible family businesses we have associated with the College.
We encourage all families to pre-order a cookbook today. Your purchase will enable the foundation to manage costs, stock levels, and ensure we deliver a profit. The cost of the cookbook is $39.50, and your donation to the Christian College Eternity Fund will be dollar matched by a very generous, anonymous donor.
On behalf of the Foundation, we sincerely thank you for your support and contribution to this project and know that you are supporting a great cause.
You can find the links to purchase and contribute to the cookbook here;
Click Here to contribute a recipe
Click Here to Pre-order your Cookbook
Thank you so much for your contribution.
Elisha and Willow
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