From the Executive Principal

Cultivating Curiosity

I was reflecting on curiosity this week. Curiosity is often described as the engine of learning, but I think it is more than that; I think curiosity is a way of being and a lifelong invitation to wonder. It is the quiet, persistent urge to understand, to explore, to ask questions that don’t yet have answers. In childhood, curiosity is abundant and uninhibited. According to Goodwin (2018), toddlers ask up to 100 questions a day. But as we grow older, our curiosity can be dulled by routine. By Middle School age, Goodwin found that children ask nearly no questions; they answer many, but unless we do something to provoke their curiosity, they stop asking questions. I think Lewis Carroll would say: “Curiouser and curiouser!” The challenge for us is therefore to help our children hold onto their natural curiosity.

To stay curious for life is to remain open. It means resisting the temptation to settle into what we already know and instead leaning into the unknown with humility and interest. It requires us to notice what surprises us, what challenges our assumptions, and what invites us to think differently. Ultimately curiosity is not about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to ask better questions. When we nurture curiosity in children, we’re not just supporting their learning; we are helping them build the habits of mind that will sustain them for life.

Here are ten strategies that parents can try at home to spark your child’s curiosity.

      1. Encourage questions

• Create a safe space where children feel comfortable asking “why” and “how.”
• Respond positively to questions, even if you don’t know the answer, Model curiosity by saying, “Let’s find out together.”

Community Carols – Join us for a Christmas Celebration!

We are excited and looking forward to a fantastic evening where the College community, and members of the wider community will come together to celebrate this season of joy. Our Community Carols event is happening on Wednesday December 3 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, at the Middle School-Highton campus, 18 Burdekin Road.

We invite you to bring the whole family, and some friends, your best voice, pack some outdoor chairs and a picnic rug or two and join us for a fun evening of music, carol-singing led by our student and staff ensembles, and lots more.

What’s on:

• Food trucks will be available for dinner
• Programs featuring carol lyrics (a gold coin donation would be appreciated)
• Raffle prizes to be won
• Face painting
• Santa will pay a visit
• Prizes for best dressed – so come in your festive gear!

All funds raised will go to the CCG Foundation, supporting important initiatives across our College community.

What’s Happening at Surf Coast?

TERM 4 

WEEK 7

Monday 17 November – Lunchtime Concert, Instrumental Students, Surf Coast Stadium

Thursday 20 November – Year 7 Humanities Exhibition

Friday 21 November – Year 1 Scienceworks Excursion

Friday 21 November – Year 3 – Year 6 Market Day

WEEK 8

Thursday 27 November – Celebration Evening, Costa Hall

Friday 28 November – Prep to Year 7 Sand & Surf Carnival, Cosy Corner Beach.

Remembrance Day 2025

On Tuesday this week we had the special opportunity to commemorate Remembrance Day as a campus. We were able to not only host a service on campus but also be involved with the Point Danger Remembrance Day Service, hosted by Torquay RSL.

At Surf Coast Campus, we had Archie Hodgart, Harvey Hunter, and Isla Linguey lead our service, with Lachlan Walters playing The Last Post and Rouse on the trumpet. The service was a very special time, with the opportunity to reflect and remember our brave service personnel, who have served and those who continue to serve. We additionally had our flag monitor, Kalan Ratnachandra, and his assistant, Avery Bowyer, complete their first official event involving our flags, raising the flags to fly high and free as the Rouse was played.

At the service at Point Danger, we had Paige O’Shanassy and Cailin Dando represent the College, reading parts of In Flanders Field alongside the Torquay RSL Vice President, and by laying flowers at the memorial. Kate Rice coordinated these two students for the service and with her guidance, both students did a fantastic job.

Across the two services, all our students served in their roles immaculately, and I am immensely proud of their willingness to put themselves out there.

Lest we forget.

A Huge Success: Ride to School Day at Surf Coast Campus! 

What an incredible day at Surf Coast Campus! The sun was shining, the energy was high, and we saw an amazing turnout for our Ride to School Day the Launch of our Active Maps. Over 100 riders joined in, and many students also embraced active travel by walking to school. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces arriving on two wheels or two feet! 

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our wonderful community. A big thank you to the College for backing this initiative and helping us promote healthy, sustainable travel. We are also deeply thankful to RACV Torquay Resort for generously funding this project, and to Bicycle Network for joining us on our group ride today. 

Our heartfelt thanks go to our amazing parent bike committee, and all the parents who supported the day, and in particular Mel O’Shanassy, Myra White, Jodi Heath, Ky Heath, Dave Spink, Julia Spink and Holly Magree who led group rides and ensured everything ran smoothly. A special shout-out to our students who huffed and puffed and powered their pedals all the way up the hills. It was great to see so many rosy cheeks enter the school after an enjoyable and challenging morning exercise. Well done to our teachers who pitched in to help make the event safe and enjoyable for everyone. 

Today was just the beginning! We hope you’re as excited as we are to keep the momentum going and continue embracing active travel to school in the future. Together, we can make every day a little healthier, happier, and greener. 

Thank you again to everyone who made this day such a success! 

Ancient Egypt Adventures

What an exciting couple of weeks it has been in Year 1! We have been buzzing with energy and curiosity as we’ve begun our new learning journey into Ancient Egypt. The students have absolutely loved diving into this fascinating topic, with so many questions being asked every second… within every subject! From exploring what life was like thousands of years ago, to learning about pyramids, pharaohs, and hieroglyphics. Their excitement has been through the roof! Each day brings new questions, creative ideas, and lots of laughter as we step back in time to discover the wonders of this ancient civilisation.

Our hands-on activities have helped bring this history to life whether it’s crafting Egyptian collars, learning about the River Nile, or decoding ancient symbols, the students have eagerly engaged with every part of it. It’s been a joy to see their imaginations soar and their enthusiasm for learning shine through.

Year 3

As we get closer to the end of Term Four, there’s a buzz in the air as we look forward to many celebration events.

Thank you to all our families who attended and supported the Art Expo. It was such a highlight for the children to exhibit their beautiful artworks and show them to you. All art works will make their way home by the end of term.

Students have been working extremely hard in class on many of their learning assessment tasks and it has been so encouraging to see the immense progress they have achieved since the beginning of the year.

Grade 3’s continue to learn about Vikings and how they survived in harsh Scandinavian conditions. Students have thoroughly enjoyed creating narratives that delve into what life was like as a Viking and have demonstrated excellent creativity in linking their ideas to Viking themes.

Year 5 Students Run for Election!

The Year 5 students have been busy campaigning for their very own school election as part of their Parliament and Politics unit in Humanities. Each student has joined a political party and worked hard to create slogans, mottos, posters, speeches, and logos to convince voters that their party has the best ideas to make the school a better place.

The classroom has been buzzing with excitement and creativity as students prepare for the big vote. Campaign posters decorate the walls, catchy slogans echo through the hallways, and each party is eager to share its vision for a happier and more inclusive school community.

From improving the playground to organising more lunchtime activities, students have come up with thoughtful and practical ideas to support their classmates. Teachers have been impressed by the teamwork, leadership, and confidence shown throughout the process.

The upcoming election will give students the chance to cast their votes and experience what it’s like to take part in a democratic process. No matter which party wins, every student has learned valuable lessons about responsibility, fairness, and having a voice in their community.

Year 5 Band Concert – Inspiring the Next Generation of Musicians

This week our Year 5 Band and Workshop Band took to the stage for a special concert, performing for an enthusiastic audience of Year 4 students, parents, and friends. Each band performed two pieces they have been working hard on throughout the year, showcasing their developing skills and teamwork as young musicians.

The concert was not only a celebration of the Year 5 students’ progress but also an exciting introduction for the Year 4 students, who will have the opportunity to join the band program next year. It was wonderful to see the current band members share their personal experiences — from learning to read music and mastering their first notes, to the joy of playing together in a full ensemble.

Several students also offered advice for those considering continuing their musical journey next year, encouraging their peers to “keep practising,” “have fun,” and “not give up when it gets tricky.” Their confidence and enthusiasm were truly inspiring!

Congratulations to all our Year 5 Band and Workshop Band members on a fantastic performance, and thank you to our instrumental teachers for their ongoing guidance and support. We can’t wait to see these talented students continue to grow as musicians in the years to come.

Navigating the Social Media Ban 

We hope you have found our recent Vine articles helpful in preparing for the upcoming social media age restrictions that come into effect for under-16s from December 10. Our priority is to support both students and families as these national changes are introduced. 

At our parent forum, it was evident that parents and carers valued the College’s role in helping to raise awareness among our students. We recognise that this shared approach enables parents to have informed and supportive conversations with their children at home, preparing together for the changes ahead. 

In response, over the coming weeks students will students will hear more about the new restrictions through year-level assemblies or House group sessions. These sessions will include information from eSafety about: 

• how the age restrictions will work and what they mean
  •why the responsibility for enforcement lies with social media platforms, not parents or schools 
  • where to access reliable information and support 

Hampers That Celebrate Local & Support CCG Foundation

If you're looking for a thoughtful and delicious gift idea this festive season, we invite you to consider ordering a Geelong Gourmet Goodies Hamper through Kardinia Rotary. 

These beautifully presented hampers feature locally sourced gourmet treats and come in three sizes — $125, $85, and $60 — with free delivery within 50km of Geelong CBD.  

They make perfect gifts for friends, family, staff, or clients, while also supporting local businesses and community projects. 

Here’s how your purchase can make a difference: 

• For every hamper ordered that references Christian College Geelong or Christian College Geelong Foundation, $5 will be donated to the Foundation. 

• Even better — this donation will be dollar matched by an anonymous donor, doubling the impact of your support! 

Funds raised will go directly to the Christian College Geelong Foundation – Public Ancillary Fund, supporting initiatives that transform lives through education. 

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.

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.

All Star Kids - December Holidays Extravaganza!

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.