NEWSLETTER D E C E M B E R
Our Mission The Christian College Foundation was established in 2015, with the goal of providing a funding source – independent of student fees – which can support students from families with disadvantaged backgrounds or those experiencing particular hardship. Our Foundation also seeks to fund new initiatives, both locally and globally, that enhance the educational program in which our students thrive. Maintaining the long-term viability of our College is another key objective of our Foundation, amid an ever-evolving society.
Our Foundation will support valuable educational projects for our students by providing financial support where it is most needed.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
It is with great pleasure that we bring you the first edition of the Christian College Foundation Newsletter. It is with great pleasure that we bring you the first edition of the Christian College Foundation Newsletter. I am very much looking forward to connecting with you in this way going forward, as we keep you up to date with all the wonderful news our Foundation is helping to generate in our community. Our College has established a fine reputation for providing excellence in education, together with a desire to build strong Christian foundations into the lives of our students, from Kindergarten through to Year 12. The Christian College Foundation supports our teachers and staff in this mission, and works within the culture created by each Campus. A generous community inspires others, and that is certainly true for our Foundation, as we enjoy the philanthropic support of not only our College community, but the wider Geelong community. Our Foundation Board members represent a cross section of the business and educational sectors, all with direct connections to our College – whether it be as past students, past and current parents or past and current staff members. I thank them for generously giving their time, knowledge and skills.
I am pleased to report that our Foundation continues to raise its profile within the community, and we are successfully seeking support from like-minded people. In these uncertain times, we are exploring a variety of ways to establish funding sources, independent of government funding and school fees, with the aim of keeping the fees at our College as affordable as possible. You can be sure that every donor to our Foundation is directly impacting the lives of each and every one of the students at our College. We are a community united in a common cause – to provide the ‘Learning That Matters’ to the young people who walk through the doors at Christian College. I hope you enjoy reading some of the ways our Foundation is benefitting those around you, and I look forward to connecting again with you soon.
Michael Peck Christian College Geelong Foundation Board Chairman
You can be sure that every donor to our Foundation is directly impacting the lives of each and every one of the students at our College.
SPOTLIGHT
Donations Making a Real-Life Impact
“I also check in with the parents to see if they have any questions they want me to ask the teachers or other staff, and also to translate forms or anything like that. My job is to get that information across to the families.” Nay’s warmth and unselfish nature have been a blessing for the Karen students as they meet the challenges of learning in a different country and integrating into our Christian College community. “I know the students are very grateful,” Nay said. “Most of the time, the parents at home don’t speak English so they find it hard to go into the Parent Portal and check the email and understand all the information. So that is another important thing that I do. I will go into the Portal and see what the important information is that the parents need to know. I really feel like I am making a difference, especially when I meet the parents and they say to me, ‘I am so glad the College has you’. It’s really nice to hear that.”
Nay Toe Aye has dreamt about being a teacher since she was eight years old. Now all grown up, she is about to complete the university qualification that will help her realise this dream. Thanks to the Christian College Geelong Foundation, Nay is already helping students improve their learning, and their lives. Due to the generosity of our donors, our Foundation has been able to employ Nay on a part-time basis to assist with a group of Karen students attending Christian College. There are more than 20 Karen students accessing a quality education at our College through scholarships, and Nay has been incredibly helpful to these young people. “I will be at the College checking on the students – seeing how they are going with their study, or if they have any problems or concerns,” Nay said. “If there are any issues, I then catch up with the teachers and learning support, and ask them what I can do to help,” she said.
Nay and her family came to Australia in 2007, having spent the first part of Nay’s life living in refugee camps in Thailand. The first camp Nay lived in was burned down, so her family then moved to the same camp that provided a home to many of the Karen families who have since relocated to the Geelong area. This experience has helped Nay develop a strong empathy for the students and families she works with, and it is also where her love for teaching was born. “I just lived in the camp, I never went outside,” she recalls. “But I did get to go to school, and that was definitely my highlight of every day. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in Grade 3. Being a teacher, I believe you can change people’s lives.” Nay said she could never fully express how grateful she is to our Foundation and our generous donors. “I just want to say thank you so much – the Foundation’s support has not only been a blessing to me, but many other people.”
GIVING
Farming Donations There are many ways of
At our Back Creek 21st year
The Foundation was also thrilled
giving to the Christian
Celebration in October 2017, a new
to receive the use of a farming
College Geelong Foundation
initiative was launched in relation
property in the Elaine area, for the
to the Scholarship Fund. For
next five years, as a donation.
and we are very appreciative of the generous support we have so far received from donations, salary
each $250 donation, our College will purchase one sheep. The profits from farming each sheep (an approximate value of $1000
deductions, in kind and the
over six years, subject to market
gifting of property assets.
fluctuations) will then be donated to the Christian College Geelong Foundation.
Our College’s Scholarship Fund has so far received contributions in excess of $160,000. We offer a sincere thank you to those members of our College staff who continue to give so generously by salary deduction. Your contributions are
To date, a total of $5,000 has been raised, equating to 20 sheep and a forecast profit contribution of
On top of the 250 acres provided, a small breeding herd of Angus cattle was also donated. It is estimated that the farming profit from this whole enterprise will be approximately $50,000 per year. As this is located in the vicinity of our current farm operations in Back Creek, this opportunity is a true blessing.
$20,000. Thank you very much to all those who have supported this initiative.
enabling more young people to access the ‘Learning That Matters’. Just as importantly, we also sincerely thank the families and friends of our College who have generously supported the Fund by donation.
We are very appreceiative of the generous support we have so far received.
The Foundation, through generous donations, continues to support our College in providing access to the ‘Learning That Matters’. If you would like more information about how you can support the Foundation, please contact Linda Salamy at: foundation@ccg.vic.edu.au or on 52 411 899.