In Focus - 2014 Term 2

IN FOCUS

Links to articles Cover Story: . 10 Music- Enhancing Lives: . 5 The Heart of Chaplaincy: . 19

Te r m 2

Teachers collaborating

attributes, characteristics and qualities that they

performances, year level, class and subject trends

acquire and take with them, to enable them to make

that give us feedback for use in our professional

a positive difference and contribution to the world.

development, teacher performance management

In doing so we need to ask ourselves…

At the end of their education at Christian College

Our Focus on Continuous Improvement The deliberate agenda that our College is pursuing places an emphasis on continuous improvement.

We are developing and reviewing our program to ensure that we are challenging and meeting the ever changing needs of our students.

• That all young Australians become successful

what do we want our students to know, think, feel

learners, confident and creative individuals, and

and how do we want them to act?

active and informed citizens.

and College-wide educational planning. National benchmarking information from Naplan and other sources are also included in this process.

We also receive valuable feedback from students, staff and parents from the annual LEAD (Listen, Evaluate,

We certainly know that we want them to embrace

Act, Deliver) surveys conducted for us by Independent

and reflect the College values of Christian Grace,

Schools Victoria, that benchmarks our College data

outlining a clear strategic focus on the following

Truth, Faith, Hope and Love.

with other Independent Schools across the State.

educational framework which aims to address the

As we review, plan and address the complex needs

Culture.

Four years ago we commenced this journey

The national education framework began with the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young People.

following key areas:

These were set when all Australian Education Ministers released a national declaration on 12 December 2008 stating the educational goals for young Australians. The Declaration has two national goals:

• To provide quality effective teaching.

Monitoring Data and Planning for the Future.

In order to further develop our framework and

Our College has been collecting a range of data

sites. There is no mistaking that this comes as

address these key elements, the College leaders

relating to student and school performance over the

result of God’s presence and influence. Our focus

together with the staff, are now ‘peeling’ back these

past number of years. This includes the standardised

on the Christian ethos that stems from our College

• Australian schooling promotes equity and

notions. We are particularly looking at what we want

testing that is carried out annually at Years 3, 5, 7 and

philosophy helps us to filter all aspects of the College

our students to be when they leave our College. The

9. This testing allows us to track individual student

program through a Christian lens.

excellence; and

Page 2 :.

• To Encourage and nurture Christian faith.

• To build capacity to learn.

of our students, the following aspects form our approach to continuous improvement:

The tone and atmosphere of our College is something that is often commented upon positively by visitors. There is a genuine warmth and sense of love that is experienced across each of our campus

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Teachers sharing notes at the 2013 Staff Retreat

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33

Use of Resources.

The pastoral care and well-being of our students, staff and families

In recent times Christian College has enjoyed unprecedented

are a clear focus for us. This is an important and complex task for our

advancement and development of infrastructure. New buildings,

teaching staff, chaplains and campus leaders who aim to provide

learning spaces, landscaping and technologies have all enhanced

The College staff conferences, retreat and professional development program

the right support to the many difficult situations that a community

the teaching and learning for our students. This year the provision of an exciting new Learning Management System has improved the

each contribute to the framework of professional development. In recent years

the size of Christian College faces on a daily basis.

Equally significant is the culture of learning that we are aiming

accessibility to information for our teaching staff as well as improved efficiency in the administration of duties. This has allowed a greater

to improve. It is our aim that all of our academic staff take a clear

amount of time to be focused on the students. Over time as this system

role in leading the learning throughout our College. This involves

is further implemented, students and parents will also experience and

providing best practice in seeking to offer quality effective teaching

appreciate greater levels of accessibility and communication about

in all areas of the program.

what takes place at school each day. We are already utilising the system

Students too have a role to play in this culture. We are working

for attendance data, student reporting and teachers mark book data, as

are encouraged and supported to reflect on their professional development and offered collaborative support from the Directors of Teaching and Learning as well as colleagues to improve and develop their expertise.

we have benefitted greatly from access to renowned educational authorities such as Dr. David Sousa (Educational Neuroscientist – How the Brain Learns), Professor Stephen Dinham (Melbourne University - Importance of Feedback), Dr. Julia Atkin, (Learning Consultant - General Capabilities – Australian Curriculum and Learning Styles and Learning to Learn), Chris Parker, (National Institute for Christian Education – Teaching Christianly) Dr. David Cherry, (Case notes and note taking) and Aine Mahar Director of Education Services ISV (The AITSL

well as the management and access to our curriculum documentation.

Professional Standards for Teachers).

every student is expected to learn successfully. A recent focus

People are by far the greatest resource in any school. Our College is

This year some of our staff are enjoying close collaboration with Professor

on self-management, personal learning and increased levels

blessed to have dedicated, passionate and caring teachers and support

Guy Claxton and Professor Bill Lucas from Winchester University in the United

of accountability are contributing to this culture of learning

staff. As part of our plan for continual improvement we have established a

Kingdom as part of the ‘Building Learning Power’ initiative. This will benefit our

throughout the College.

well-structured program for Teacher Performance Management. Teachers

College program over the next 3 years. .

to create a culture of high expectations for all students, where

Page 3 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Guy Claxton during his visit earlier this year

Collaboration and Leadership.

The College teachers regularly participate in conferencing sessions conducted on site. They also are involved in Professional Development provided by ISV and Professional Subject Associations as well as visiting other schools to collaborate and share ideas.

It has become a common aspect of our culture for teaching staff to plan and review units of study and lessons with colleagues, to

It is my aim to take the lead in our approach to continuous self-

capital works infrastructure and strategic planning in order to meet the

improvement. I do so through collaboration with other Principals of

needs for the future.

Independent Schools, through the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) and also through regular communication and briefings with Independent Schools Victoria.

This year I was delighted to be selected as part of the ‘Future of Learning Program’ at Harvard University in Boston, USA. I have been collaborating with other Principals from Victorian Independent Schools, looking at

The Future.

I am confident and excited regarding the future of education at Christian College and feel that as a result of our focus on continuous improvement, we are well positioned to progress and present our students with quality, effective and engaging programs that meet the wide range of learning needs within our community.

observe and support others in their professional practice and to be

the implications for education and schools in the years ahead. I am

coached and supported by experienced staff or those with specific

excited to be heading off to continue these studies in Boston in July

We benefit from solid foundations in our program and a wonderful

expertise. The development of this professional collaboration has

and to spend time with 250 other delegates from all over the world to

community of learners; and the strategic plan provides us with direction

been highly successful and productive under the leadership of the

explore aspects of the impact of globalisation on schools, technology,

and energy to move forward. The passion and dedication of our staff,

Directors of Teaching and Learning.

the digital revolution and the latest research on how the brain works.

students and families combined, will enable us to achieve great success.

It has been my pleasure to lead a dedicated team of Heads and Deputy Heads of Campus who share the responsibility of setting and

The knowledge and experiences that I have already gained through participation in this project has been invaluable.

maintaining the high standards of education within the programs at

On a personal level I benefit from weekly discussions with the College

Christian College. I meet regularly with these leaders to ensure that we

Executives on management and administration processes that support

are best equipped to set the direction of our College for the future.

the College on an operational basis. This allows for sound financial,

Page 4 :.

As we seek to further these plans and directions, we continue to seek God’s wisdom, discernment and will for His College.

Glen McKeeman Principal

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Students enjoying tourist attractions while travelling around China and Hong Kong

Students performing on the Great Wall of China

89 Music students and staff travelling to Beijing and Hong Kong to perform music together…What might the participants leave this experience with? Photos, memories, some funny stories, performance accolades from international adjudicators, new friendships...let us consider the deeper, long-term life changing effects.

When students create and perform music together, the experience has the capacity to draw them into a point of heightened emotional involvement and engagement- a student can learn deeply when in this state. You often hear people say music is a great ‘outlet’ or a way of expressing ourselves, but I believe it has a much deeper, life changing effect on young developing hearts, minds and spirits. I

Crowds gather to watch the Christian College students’ performance

engage in music performance adds another layer of richness to their

the music staff is one of the most intrinsic benefits from participating in

experience.

the College music/ensemble program and tours, such as this year’s tour to

Touring with students literally moves them out of their ‘comfort zone’.

Taking our young people on a plane to a Communist country where

China. We see that this sense of belonging and inclusion has long lasting effects on a student’s self-esteem and self-confidence.

they cannot speak the language, are not familiar with the flavours

Oh yes, apart from all of this, the students performed amazing music in

and smells, are confronted by unfamiliar sights and scenes (that may

the most fantastic venues for people from all over the world. They won

challenge or confuse them), presents an unmatchable scenario for

performance medals and have become greater musicians and performers

the building of their resilience and an opportunity for them to more

through the experience. Our students performed on the Great Wall of

deeply understand our privileged place in this world. An enhanced

China, at Beijing University of Agriculture, at an International Youth Music

understanding and tolerance of other people and cultures flow on

Festival and at Hong Kong Disney!

from these touring experiences. Students have an opportunity to become more acutely aware of the complexity of God’s great creation, well beyond our own community.

see music performance as having the ability to evoke a spiritual/

Working in music groups requires the development of trust and

emotional awakening, sometimes unearthing vulnerability necessary

respect, as well as skills of negotiation and compromise. Students must

for students to learn who they are and allowing them to develop an

learn to be flexible and patient. Participation in the music groups also

awareness of their personal identity. Many studies have outlined links

allows our students to ‘belong’ and be included in something which

between student involvement in music-making and the development

contributes to well-being and the maintenance of good mental health.

of emotional intelligence. Taking students to a foreign environment to

The development of rewarding positive relationships with peers and

They represented our College, community and their families beautifully and were a pleasure to travel and work with throughout this tour.

Fiona Gardner Director of Teaching & Learning - Music

Page 5 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You’d rather eat and be served, right? But I have taken my place among you as the one who serves.’

(Luke 22: 24 – 30; Message Bible) We are very proud to see the way our students have responded to this example of being servants like Jesus: - Our Middle School Captains lead assemblies throughout the year. Much effort and organisation goes into prepping for these assemblies and the students humbly provide their time in doing so, a lot of which goes unnoticed.

- Over 120 students from across our campuses recently volunteered for the Red We have all heard the saying- actions speak louder than words.

When you examine the life of Christ, Jesus let His actions bring credibility to His words. At our Leaders Induction service at the beginning of the year we emphasised servant leadership as a

Shield Appeal. Walking, door knocking and counting money. What great servant hood. What great leadership!

- Some students excel outside the classroom. Whether at ‘Back Creek’ farm or during camp programs, offering the students so many opportunities allows everyone the chance to lead and be lead.

Leaders bless those they help and inspire like-mindedness. Servant leadership is infectious.

In this overview, I have barely scratched the surface, but it suffices to say that our students are making a difference in their community and the world we live in. They are a future generation showing they can bless their world and are more than willing to do so.

- Our Year 8 students (in training as our 2015 leaders) serve lunches to students at a local state primary school, who would otherwise go hungry. These students

quality we should all strive to exemplify, and our student body has

have discovered the joy of giving.

not let us down.

- Our Year 5 Vision Learners are choosing rich tasks where they seek to help

Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up

with Diversitat saw the whole school run a charity day to collect blankets and clothes that half-filled our foyer. A few people can lead many to make a difference.

others whether it be physically, socially or emotionally.

the greatest. But Jesus intervened: ‘Kings like to throw their weight

- A number of our Year 8 students have chosen the elective Community Service

around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s

where they serve in quite diverse areas such as: Diversitat (Refugee Support

Wayne Hines

not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become

Program), Oberon South Primary and Williams House Kinder but the message

Head of Middle School, Highton

the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant. Who would you

is the same - they are putting other’s needs before their own. The connection

Middle School Captains with Mr Hines

Page 6 :.

Supporting each other within the College Community

Students raising funds for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

In preparation for this significant occasion, we are inviting people within the Christian College community to become a member of the group to be known as the ‘Friends of the Foundation’. All interested in joining the group are invited to attend an information session on Wednesday 13th August at 7:30pm in the Senior School Library.

Announcing the launch of the new

Christian College Geelong Foundation Christian College is a key provider of Christian based education in the Geelong and surrounding community. Approaching its 35th anniversary, it is timely for the College to draw together with past and current families and the wider community in celebration of

To RSVP your attendance for this information session, or for further information regarding this special occasion, please contact Mrs. Jess Maddock at the Major Events Office –Email: events@ccg.vic.edu.au Phone: 5241 1899 by Friday 8th August.

We commend this worthy endeavor to our College families and encourage you to support it by attending the inaugural Foundation Dinner.

Yours sincerely,

its history and in planning for the future. For many years Christian College has supported the enrolment of students from families with disadvantaged backgrounds and offered support to those

Daryl C. Riddle OAM

experiencing hardship. These families have enriched the culture

CEO, Christian College Geelong

of our College and allowed us to reflect the love of Jesus in our Christian mission. The Christian College Foundation is being established to provide a funding source, independent of student fees, which will be used for such purposes and to fund new initiatives, locally and globally, to enhance the educational program

Glen McKeeman Principal

for our students.

College families, both past and present, together with community leaders, educators and philanthropists in the Geelong area, are invited to be involved in the Foundation.

James Shirley Chairman, Christian College Geelong Board

The College Foundation will proudly continue the College tradition as expressed in the original College Prospectus ‘Christian College Geelong – a balance of care and curriculum for

Michael Peck

today… and tomorrow.’

Chairman, Christian College Geelong Foundation

Page 7 :.

Christian College Senior School is proud of the successful VCE results that have been achieved by our students over the past 10 years. Our extensive program and subject offerings are always on the rise to continue to meet the needs and interests of our students.

2014 marked the commencement of the new VET and VCAL program. Only

Students discussing colour choices for their new room

six months in, the implementation of VET and VCAL within the College structure has proven to be an exciting and challenging environment for the 11 students who have chosen this pathway.

year certificate of the same standing as the VCE. It is centred on

‘applied learning’.

individual.

As the Head of VCAL my role is not as a teacher, but as a facilitator.

There are three levels of VCAL being Foundation, Intermediate and

I ensure that the students lead their learning and make their own

What VCAL Includes:

Senior. Eight students are undertaking the Intermediate and three

decisions about ‘what’ and ‘how’ to learn.

Literacy

students are completing the Senior level.

Each Monday morning students have a formal meeting at which we

Features of VCAL are:

plan for the week ahead, reflect on the previous work and to report on

To date, the VCAL students have drawn a mind-map which shows

• Assessments within VCAL involve demonstrating the learning

progressive tasks. There is a rotating chair and secretary. Minutes are

how they are to attempt the major project- ‘Personal Space’ to design

outcomes.

and paint the VCAL room. Literacy tasks include completing letters of

kept and form evidence for the students’ VCAL certificate.

• Students having the opportunity to demonstrate achievement at

approval, taking notes when meeting with trade experts, presenting

To date, I am genuinely pleased with the enthusiasm of the students

ideas to the class and reporting on what has been achieved.

and their hands-on approach to their own learning.

• Tasks and activities are open-ended and flexible to meet the

This year the class project is to design, plan and paint their classroom.

This is after a great deal of research as to what type of learning

• Assessments are marked as satisfactory (S) or not yet completed

used in most areas of practical learning. During the ‘Personal Space’

environment best suits them. Students are also required to undertake

(NYC). If a student does not achieve an ‘S’ in the time set, they

project the students measure space and calculate how much paint is

an individual project with a community focus.

may continue to complete the task until achieving the

required. They also have completed scaled drawings of the room.

What is VCAL?

competence.

This type of structure is typical to VCAL- learning, and then applying

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning or VCAL is a two

• Students are placed at the right level for their learning. Flexibility

this to a practical situation.

Introduction

Page 8 :.

is given to alter the levels studied according to the needs of the

Literacy is one of the compulsory strands that the students undertake.

their own pace.

specific needs of each student.

Numeracy

Within the VCAL structure, mathematics and numeracy skills are

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Personal Development

Points of View from VCAL Students

The Personal Development section of VCAL includes personal growth

Black Sheep Restaurant Visit

and the development of an individual person throughout the year.

April Di Martino

The students will be working on projects that are aimed at developing

On the 11thof March we went to the Black Sheep Restaurant which is

themselves into responsible members of the community.

next to the Wool Museum. The manager and head chef took us on a

Work Related Skills

tour of the kitchen and the nightclub ‘Lambys’ downstairs.

Work Related Skills (WRS) must be completed before the students

We learnt about the profits of the restaurant and how it all works.

undertake any work placement tasks. WRS includes many sections

The manager explained how expensive and difficult it is to set up a

Meeting with College painter Eugene Zonneveld to learn more on

commencing with studying O H & S. The VCAL students have completed

restaurant. Soon, they will be turning the restaurant into a more family-

prepping and painting a space.

O H & S assessments within the College grounds and also out in the

friendly venue focussing more on the pizza and pasta aspect. They have

workplace.

ordered a new pizza oven from Italy which cost about $30,000.

The Integrated Project

The manager said that the majority of restaurants close within the

VCAL students can undertake the Integrated Project in more than one

first three years of opening because they are so hard to set up and

of the four strands of Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development and

continue running with sufficient profits. The cost of establishing a

Work Related Skills. Several projects run at any one time. The students

kitchen is in the order of $300,000. This does not include the tables,

have already completed one task- creating the VCAL polo shirt. This

chairs, bar, fridges, storage areas and lease payments. The average

involved seeking permission, attending meetings and reaching

cost of a reasonably sized restaurant is $1,000,000.

consensus within the VCAL group on colour and design. These shirts will

We learnt what really happens behind the scenes when it comes to

be worn during practical classes at school such as when they build in

setting up a restaurant and it really was a worthwhile excursion.

the dry creek bed.

Deakin University Excursion

VET

Sam Hart

The VET component is a compulsory part of the VCAL course. Most

The VCAL students walked to Deakin University to view the learning

students are all enrolled at the Gordon at one of their two campuses.

spaces and to get ideas for our VCAL room. We walked around to see

The VET Music component is delivered at Christian College.

how the spaces were designed and we learnt how colour and comfort

Work Placement

comes into it.

A compulsory part of the VCAL course is Work Placement. Each student

It was a good excursion and it was interesting to see University

selects a workplace of their choice, in their chosen field. The VET course

students sitting around and working in all types of different spaces.

also supports the Work Placement component.

Dry Creek Bed Project

Individual Projects

Progress Report -Ben Lewis

The class has been working hard on their individual projects. Students

As the project manager I have been leading the building of the dry

must lead an individual project as well as take part in the class-

creek bed outside the Outdoor Education House. Along with my

integrated ‘Personal Space’ project.

assistant, Mitchell Haintz, we met with the College CEO, Mr Daryl

Page 9 :.

Riddle to ask for a grant. We were successful in securing the finances and he was very interested in the project. He also spoke of his happiness with the VCAL course and how it is presenting more opportunities for our students.

The resources needed for this project include, tools, excavators, maker paint, rocks, plants, fish, water pump, sand, and plenty of hard labour.

I met with Mr Tatnell, Head of the Outdoor Education Department and he wanted the bed to be larger than I first thought. I have taken his request into account and reassessed the financials.

Graeme Dent VET/VCAL Coordinator

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Sam Egbert and his friends arriving

26 Year 11 couples recently took the opportunity to enjoy a night of dancing at the 2014 Debutante Balls on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st May. 10 weeks in the making, these students have work tirelessly to

Friday Night Debutante Ball

Friday Night Debutante Ball Sam Egbert, Year 11

practice and prepare for their night that was truly one to remember.

‘My journey at Christian College started when I was a 10 year old

for 5 weeks. The bonds that have been formed due to the necessity

Representatives from each Debutante group were invited to present

in grade five, moving from a small regional primary school with

required to safely run a dairy farm has provided all students the

80 students. The thought of moving to a school with such a large

ability to grow into responsible and caring young people.

the official speeches on the night. It was a test of nerves as they stood

number of students and more in each consecutive year level

up and presented the speeches to the College community, their families

was a bit scary, however I quickly realised through the quality

and peers.

of the teachers, that the Christian College community was one

On the Friday night, Sam Egbert and Olivia Benic spoke, and on the

that fostered respect, generosity and compassion. This made my

Saturday night, James Ponsford and Tegan Miller presented their

transition to a large school very easy. Within weeks I had formed

speeches‌

friendships that I still have today, and looked forward to the ample opportunities such as camps, sporting tournaments and the school farm. As my schooling days went on I was offered many opportunities to represent our school both academically and in sporting endeavours.

The Christian College farm program allowed our characters to be

Last year I attended the Deb as a guest of my older sister. After hearing the stories about how much fun she had participating in rehearsals I thought I would challenge myself and my two left feet, and boy have they been challenged. Our first rehearsal had us all bumping into each other but as time and practice passed our rhythm and coordination improved. It’s been a great journey preparing for tonight, if not a little stressful! But I think we can all say how proud we all are to have achieved so much in the past 10 weeks of dance training and preparation. I have two younger sisters and will strongly recommend that they both also partake in this fantastic College event.

further tested. We needed to develop tolerance, teamwork and the ability to wash our own clothes. It is one thing to hang out with your friends at school all day but another thing to live with them

Page 10 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Tegan Miller and her friends arriving

Saturday Night Debutante Ball

Saturday Night Debutante Ball Tegan Miller, Year 11 ‘I have had the privilege to be a part of the Christian College

world and how I view other people around me. It has influenced my

spending time with my peers as well as learning to dance. As the

community since 2004. Even all those years ago, I was aware of the

interactions with others and has helped me to develop a sense of

awkward shuffles, bumping elbows and standing on toes turned

unique atmosphere of our College, where everybody has a friendly

morality, by showing me the school values such as love, grace, and

into graceful (or near graceful) routines, I feel as though some of

and understanding attitude and genuinely cares about each other.

truth. I am grateful not only for the educational opportunities at my

my friendships with others progressed in much the same way over

As I progressed through the years, this same school attitude was

College, but for the opportunities here for me to grow as a person

the sometimes stressful deb preparation. The whole experience

there alongside me and was consistently seen in my classmates,

and to be surrounded by such support and care. Because of this, I

has been a blast, and I will miss the laughter and some of the most

my teachers and the many leaders and members of the Christian

really value Christian College as a community that I belong to and I

aggressive ‘cucarachas’ and hip movements I have ever seen from

College community that surrounded me.

am extremely thankful for the way the school has provided incredible

our weekly rehearsals.

openings for my education, interests and character development.

I can say on behalf of certainly a lot of people that I am really proud

different compared to just any old school because of the incredible

Throughout my time here I have been fortunate enough to take part

of how everything has come together tonight, and I am so happy

opportunities and the open and empathic environment we learn

in some incredible opportunities such as school excursions and the

to be able to share this experience with my family, friends and

Many years on, I still feel as though Christian College is very

in every day. Christian College has been an integral part of my schooling life, but has more importantly played an integral role in the development of my character and the person I am today. My time at Christian College has instilled in me solid foundations from

farm, as well as being a part of both the art and music programs, which has seen me tour to Sydney in 2012 and most recently to China in April this year – and now, another exciting opportunity is the Debutante Ball.

which my attitude, behaviour, and my perspective on life have

I have found the experience really fun from the very beginning;

been able to grow from, affecting me in ways such as how I view the

even from the first hesitant rehearsal I was laughing and enjoying

Page 11 :.

classmates. So lastly, I would just like to say a huge thankyou to everybody who has made this amazing opportunity happen for all of us, from our families to our dance instructors to our teachers and to our school, Christian College, because without your support it wouldn’t have been possible.’

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

A true sense of community is derived from the effort of this dedicated team of mums working together to provide all the Junior School children with such an opportunity while, at the same time, raising money for further Junior School resources and equipment.

The excitement of this special day continues to build with the time “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we

after recess being for the Tabloid Sports. This is an opportunity

can do great things.”

for all of the Year 4 students to step up and lead the rest of the

Mother Teresa

Junior School in a series of tabloid events. Every Year 4 student has a role in demonstrating and guiding the younger students in

This quote from Mother Theresa captures the spirit of the school and wider community at Christian College. Nowhere is this more conspicuous than leading up to and on the day of the Junior School celebrations of Mother’s Day. This is a day when a variety of people, young and older, come together to create a day which is special for everyone involved.

A dedicated team of mothers begin preparing months prior to the day. They spend many hours sourcing and gathering small

Page 12 :.

fathers, grandparents and friends join in encouraging, cheering and simply enjoying the spectacle of the children participating with such enthusiasm and delight. The entire Junior School is busy, trying hard, fully engaged and working together. Surely, this is real community in action.

The sun is shining and the atmosphere is exciting as we approach the highly anticipated final event of the Sports – the Mother’s Day

items that can be put together to make beautiful and thoughtful

Sack Race. This is a race for the mothers who are still young (and

Mother’s Day gifts. In the days leading up, this ‘team’ gets together

adventurous) at heart. The very generous prize donated by Bakers’

to gift wrap each item so that it looks appealing and special for the

Delight makes this a highly sought after trophy. Children and on

prospective young buyers of Junior School; this year, there were 700

lookers line the track to cheer on the brave and willing mothers who

gifts displayed for sale at the stall.

bound their way, encased in hessian, to the finish line. A close finish,

On the day, this willing team combines again to man the stall. During

Marion Nott Head of Junior School, Belmont

the activity and then scoring each team’s performance. Mothers,

much applause and the day is almost done… except for the lunch.

the morning, each child has the opportunity with the class to visit the

The conclusion to this special day is the lunch, supplied to all of

stall. It is lovely to watch the care the students take in deciding on the

the students by Bakers Delight, in which the whole community –

very best present for their mums; they are so proud of their purchases

parents, friends, teachers and students - are welcome to gather in

that, for some, the biggest challenge is having to wait until Mother’s

the courtyard and join in the discussions and debates of what was

Day to give their special gift.

and what might have been.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

A few years ago, I reconnected via Facebook with a

who has gone onto a career in musical theatre and acting, is

student I had taught over 20 years ago in Hamilton.

Caleb Vines. Caleb spoke at the beginning of the year to our

He is now a Performing Arts teacher and a published

Senior School students. When Caleb was at Christian College

playwright and he directed me to comments he had

he embraced all of the Performing Arts opportunities on

just made about drama on his Blog. Out of curiosity

offer. He excelled in the Music and Drama programme and

about this man’s philosophy on Performing Arts, I

every second year performed in the College musical.

went to his Blog and was blown away by what he had just written. He talked about the influence of his old drama teacher (me) on his career choice and how I had encouraged him. I was flattered by this, but what he went on to say reinforced for me, why I am still a strong advocate for Drama education today.

Caleb’s talent and great passion for theatre saw him gain admittance to the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Caleb is now in Beijing, starring in an Arena spectacular of ‘How to train a Dragon’.

However, the majority of students who study Drama take the skills they have developed into many varied career

He wrote about the skills he had developed as a

paths such as journalism, social work, public relations and

Drama student and how they had benefitted him

teaching to name a few.

after he left school. He accredited his ability to take creative leaps, to collaborate with others on a project and to see the performance potential in a range of

different stimuli to his time in the drama classroom.

I teach Year 12 students today, who have a range of career aspirations. Some have a desire to continue in their love of performing and go onto courses and careers in musical theatre and acting. One past student

Caleb Vines speaking at the Senior School Induction Service

Page 13 :.

Mandy Calderwood

Senior Drama Teacher

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Drama performances at Middle School

At a Middle School level, Drama is an extremely exciting subject to be

In the younger year levels, Drama aids in the development of oratory

a part of. This year, one of our main curriculum foci is improvisation,

skills, empathy and imagination. As students progress, they are

which, in addition to developing performance skills develops life skills

taught the value of cooperation, collaboration, critical thinking, and

such as making offers, problem solving, team work, and putting others

respecting one’s peers and one’s self.

first. Students learn about a number of theatre forms and practitioners, take part in practical activities such as mask making, witness live

Michaela Andrew Middle School Drama Teacher

Page 14 :.

Drama practice at Senior School

Drama can positively impact students’ academic growth. It has links

performances and develop their own. The performance process in

to literacy, literature, Physical Education and the Humanities, amongst

particular can be challenging for students of this age group, but also

others. The skills Drama develops and encourages are beneficial to

highly rewarding. It fosters creativity and independent thinking, as well

many areas of the curriculum and fosters active and eager learners

as offers the opportunity for self-expression.

and contributors.

As a graduate teacher, one of my most rewarding experiences thus far has

At a Middle School level, the Drama curriculum is rich and varied,

been watching students grow as a result of them studying Drama. I have

placing a great deal of importance on participation. It is fundamentally

come to understand the integral role it can play in the development of

a subject in which students of all academic abilities can thrive and most

confidence, social skills, and personal identity as well as fostering a sense

importantly, encourages fun and creativity in the classroom.

of community many students find in the Drama classroom.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Year 10 students on Anglesea River

What do you think of when you hear the word Geography? Maps, capital cities, countries and their flags? If that is you, then chances are

Geography in the National Curriculum

Year 9 Rural Programme and Geography

The importance of Geography has recently been recognised with its

One of the two Year 9 units in the Australian Curriculum – Food

inclusion in Phase 2 implementation of the Australian Curriculum.

Security, has presented us with a wonderful opportunity to link the

As of this year, all schools in Australia must now include Geography

teaching and learning in Geography to the ‘Back Creek’ experience

teaching and learning from Prep to Year 8 and offer it as an elective

for our Year 9 students. Students on their five-week rural stay have

choice in Years 9 and 10. At Christian College, Geography is

lessons led by the ‘Back Creek’ staff that focus on the factors that

incorporated in the subject Integrated Studies from Prep to Year 4,

influence crop yields, the challenges to food production and the way

then timetabled for one semester from Years 5 to 9.

humans alter land to produce food.

One of the main aims of the new Geography curriculum is to provide

Growth in VCE Geography

learning experiences that encourage students to think about some

Since 2012, the number of students interested in Geography have

you are recalling your own experiences in the Geography classroom

of the bigger issues facing our planet including water scarcity, food

when you were a student. Times have changed however, and

security, land and resource management, poverty and wellbeing,

Geography is making ripples in schools across the country. Educators

26 students undertaking the challenging VCE Geography Unit 3 and

population pressures and globalisation. Students are encouraged

4 course. Its popularity can be attributed to the many and varied

and policy-makers are realising the significant role the subject

to come up with proposed solutions to address these issues at local,

pathway opportunities at tertiary level that Geography provides,

Geography has in teaching students about the world humanity and our

national and global scales and then evaluate the likelihood of success

its coverage of ‘real world’ problems and the numerous field trip

relationship with the environment.

of their proposal.

experiences that are included.

Page 15 :.

significantly grown and now two Year 12 classes are running with

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Year 12 Shepparton - visit to fruit orchard

Water. Can you put a value on it? We know how critical it is to our survival,

Year 12 Shepparton - Murray River boat cruise

Victoria, the stone fruit from Shepparton, the citrus fruit from the

this precious commodity for granted. Whilst we know directly how

Sunraysia district, the rice from southern New South Wales or the

much water we use when we have a shower or drink a glass of water,

cotton from Queensland. Secondly, irrigated agriculture contributes

we may not realise our indirect consumption; that a single glass of

approximately $10 billion annually to the Australian economy.

milk uses about 200 litres of water in the process of getting that milk

One of the areas of study for our Year 12 Geography students is an

to our fridge, most of this in watering the crop that feeds the dairy

investigation into the use and management of water in the Murray-

cow. Beef, rice, cotton, fruit, vegetables – all of these also require large

Darling Basin region of Australia. A two-day field trip to northern

volumes of water in the production process.

Victoria earlier this semester provided students with a first-hand

Geography helps students to delve deeper than they may otherwise

yet in Australia, the fact that it is so accessible and seemingly so infinite

experience of the competing uses of water use and how governments

have thought about some of our world’s bigger problems. But more

means that we rarely stop to appreciate its true value to individuals,

and stakeholders aim to address those conflicts through management

than that, Geography encourages students to evaluate possible

communities and nations. Two-thirds of the world’s population use less

policies and strategies.

solutions, and in doing so, our Christian College learners might be the

Students visited numerous irrigated properties in the Goulburn Valley,

problem-solvers of the future that this planet needs.

than 60 litres of water per day, yet the average Australian uses twice that in just their daily shower.

met local farmers from Shepparton, tourism operators on the River

Whilst governments are now encouraging individuals to consume less

Murray and environmental experts at Goulburn Weir to gain a better

water, our problem goes way beyond domestic use. Two thirds of the

understanding of the conflict over water use, providing excellent

water consumed in Australia is used for agricultural purposes. And since

preparation for the end-of-year Geography examination. The key

Australia is largely a dry continent, farmers cannot rely on rainfall alone

learning for most students was appreciating the need to make irrigation

and so the diversion of water from our major rivers, known as irrigation,

and water diversion more efficient than in the past, not necessarily

is critical to maintain the regular water supply needed for crops and

taking water off the farmers.

livestock.

At present, water storages in eastern-Australia are at relatively healthy

There are two reasons why we should not ‘blame the farmer’. Firstly, we

levels. After dropping as low as 16% during the 2006-07 drought, the

are the beneficiaries of their produce – the milk from south-western

major dams are now well over 50% capacity. However, we cannot take

Page 16 :.

Rick Geall Director of Teaching & Learning - Humanities

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

As members of the community, we have a responsibility to help those who are less fortunate and contribute to the common good.

Gardening at the Senior Campus

Herd Project in the works

The bible tells us: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.

Colossians 3:23-24 23

Middle School students are working hard at contributing to the community in more ways than one and knowing they have contributed to improving someone else’s life is enough of reward for them...

All Year Levels Over 70 Middle School students and staff collected money for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and a record-breaking amount was raised.

Some of the activities the students were involved in included: • cleaning of the school yard • assisting maintenance staff with planting over 100 plants • weeding and cleaning sections of the Senior School • cleaning another classroom as a surprise

Year 7 The Herd Project is something that Year 7 students have been working on since the beginning of the year as a class and as a whole year level. The thought behind it was to show that as a year level we are a family and that caring for each other is important.

“Our class elephant is named ‘Eli’ and her story was that she was injured however, her herd refused to leave her behind. This demonstrated to us

All students have also been highly involved in the selling of the Entertainment books. Lead by Mrs Barnett-Dunlop raising $2,011 for East Timor.

that being part of a herd or team is important and that each individual

Year 6

each other out through the good and the difficult times is a vital part of

The Year 6 students participated in National Volunteer’s Week, 12th - 18th May and offered their time and effort to show kindness to others and to serve, just as Jesus did.

Page 17 :.

means something. Without each individual the team is no longer complete and cannot function effectively. We have learnt that helping being a class, team or group. We all need to ‘belong’ and as a class and year level we are doing our part to ensure everyone feels this way.”

Kaylee Jones 7R

Enjoying volunteering to raise money for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Year 8

Proud moment completing the Middle School garden bed

Students have been visiting DIVERSITAT through their ‘Community Service’ elective weekly for 10 weeks. During these visits, the students learn about the refugees and asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Geelong and how transitioning to a new country is extremely difficult at times. The students have been raising money for the refugees and asylum seekers as well as collecting warm clothing and blankets for them too.

Year 9 Some of the Year 9 Prefects volunteered their time and went to Johnstone Park and to the Geelong Hospital for ANZAC Day. The students sang in the choir and read a poem at the service to show their support for those who fought in battle.

By the students participating in a variety of volunteering and giving activities, it is hoped that they will develop a sense of compassion for others less fortunate than themselves, gain a sense of pride for the College and local community and an appreciation for those people who work tirelessly for their community without getting paid.

Heather Faulkner Middle School Deputy Head Students laying wreaths at the ANZAC Service

Page 18 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

People still ask me, ‘What is a Chaplain? What does a

In reality, human beings regardless of their status or position

Chaplain do?’ I realise it is the word ‘Chaplain’ that is not all

are subject to emotional and spiritual struggle and pain. For

that familiar. But when you answer that a Chaplain offers the

this ‘human condition’ we all need support for well-being.

basics of Pastoral Care and well being, then a ‘light’ goes on.

I think this is the heart of Chaplaincy: Pastoral Care and

paralysed man, the family of a girl who died, a blind and mute

well-being -I just love those terms.

man. This is life in the raw.

Many years ago, when I began Student Chaplaincy at the

In our context at Christian College life can also be raw.

Geelong Hospital, two important Scriptures summed up and

Children experience sadness through loss. The loss of loved

inspired my heart.

ones, the loss of long-loved pets. Changes in families like

1. In Matthew 9:35-37 Jesus was among the people.

Then it says, ‘When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.’

Jesus saw, and had compassion.

The people were, not being well, and without Pastoral Care.

Page 19 :.

In the context of Matthew 9 Jesus has interacted with a

separation and divorce, new family status: e.g. step-families and the pressures these bring. Separation will mean one parent moving out of the house, it can mean a parent moving far away from the family unit. Irregular contact increases the emotional struggle.

Many of our young people suffer from anxiety and other forms of depression. Students (and parents and teachers – for

2. In Jeremiah 8:22,23 God is passionate about the needs of

none of us are immune to life’s struggles) will often indicate

His people:

some experience of ‘helplessness’ in their behaviour – often in

‘Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror

the classroom, sometimes in the school yard and, increasingly,

grips me.

also on Social Media. These behaviours need our responses.

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?

But most importantly they need our compassion and care. I

Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?’

have three ‘P.E.P’ Principles of Pastoral Care:

God sees and feels our struggle and pain. He has

The Principle of Presence.

compassion on the ‘harassed and helpless’ and the ‘crushed

Jesus saw the needs. God feels our needs. Pastoral Care

and wounded’. His heart’s cry is: ‘Where is the care for these

means being present in order to ‘see’ the needs. At Deakin

people?’ Where is the ‘balm’ (medicine, bandage, care, help,

University we called it ‘Strategic Loitering’. As a hospital

support) for these wounds?

Chaplain it meant moving around the wards and being alert

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

to special areas where the most serious of illnesses

Life etc. Sometimes it is in just having some fun to

were treated or responded to.

lighten the load. I also encourage parents to come

At school, for me, it is regularly wandering around the classrooms and, for nearly 10 years I have attended most camps in order to get to know the

and chat with their sons and daughters in times of need. We try to connect and build relationships. I believe strongly in the family.

students and staff. The occasional home visit has

Chaplains have no agenda. The needs of the person

enabled me to see the needs in the family context.

sets the agenda. The well-being of the student,

For me it also means being on Social Media. Being

family or staff member is the need. The challenge is

aware of what is happening amongst students,

how to provide the support. There is a huge amount

families and staff is so important; it is about building

of professional Pastoral or well-being support

the relationship.

available to assist us. We should be acutely aware of

The Principle of Empathy.

these.

To empathise is to try to feel with the person – as God does in Jeremiah 8 ‘I am crushed when you are crushed’ – to provide support and try to walk in another’s shoes – or at least alongside the other.

It warms my heart to see how Pastoral Care and well-being is embraced in all areas of society. It is the heart of Chaplaincy that gives honour to our students, families and staff.

Empathy goes hand in hand with compassion. The word for compassion comes from a word that means, heart or gut, which can be best understood as emotions. Supporting someone who is in need.

The Principle of Provision.

Providing the help, support, or the ‘balm’ that is needed.

Page 20 :.

Sometimes that is in general discussion. Sometimes

Bart Kroon

it is in organised groups like Rainbows, Friends for

Chaplain, Bellarine Campus

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Jan Strauch Year 11 Coordinator, Senior School

Students visiting Uluru in the Northern Territory

Students today are exposed to many images and much information, but experience is the great educator.

The Our World program endeavours to utilise all of the senses as well as engaging the heart - through completely immersing students in unique and culturally challenging environments.

centrally and as such, we have a unique opportunity to be able to see how a community functions at all hours of a day. The medical centre, recreation facilities (basketball court, football and softball grounds, BMX track, art and music rooms) shire offices, women’s centre, store and houses are all close by.

Central Australia

Alcoota is home to 180 Aranda people. The Alcoota cattle station, 3 km away, is one of two indigenous owned cattle stations in the Northern Territory. It has been managed for the last 20 years by Chris and Margo who follow innovative management practices which ensure that the station produces top quality Santa Gertrudis cattle whilst preserving the land.

Since 2001, Christian College students have had both the opportunity and the privilege to travel to Central Australia to learn about indigenous culture and life in remote Aboriginal communities. Travelling to the Central Desert in our College bus gives students an appreciation of how vast and majestic our country is, as well as how remote these communities are from the coastal fringes where most of our population reside.

In Alcoota, we set up camp within the school grounds.

In the Engawala community, the school is situated

Page 21 :.

The students embrace the challenges of working one to one with the Engawala students for whom English may be their 2nd or 3rd language. Time in the classroom is spent on literacy, reading, mathematics,

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

history, science and oral presentations. But outside

through painting, looking for bush tucker and

the classroom, the students of both communities

cooking kangaroo tails at creek night.

are talking - sharing experiences of each other’s daily lives, humour, love of sport, family life, music and craft.

The other Our World Year 10 classes travel to Finke and Titjikala. In the early years we stayed at Ipolera,

I remind my students they must never underestimate

Hermannsburg and Areyonga. The trips for our

the influence they have on the Engawala students

students are similar in many ways no matter which

- whether it is conversation, role modelling a love

community is visited.

of school, learning, persisting with difficult tasks, regular attendance and so on.

The experiences enable students to have their head and heart in synch.They come back with

We have hosted two visits in the past 6 years when

a genuine desire to share their knowledge and

Engawala students, teachers and elders have stayed

stories. Some develop a passion to contribute to

with Christian College families. They have come to

indigenous communities in a variety of fields like

a variety of classes including drama, IT, sport and

education, nursing, medicine, sport and recreation or

music, surfed at Torquay, enjoyed family life, social

supporting outreach in faith based organisations.

activities, visited the farm and participated in events in Melbourne.

This year was my 12th trip. I remain convinced of the importance of this subject and have never lost sight

My students gain a real appreciation of the

of the impact this course has on both our students

difficulties facing young indigenous people. They

and those in the communities we visit.

learn about culture from the ladies of the community

Interacting with the Engawala children

Page 22 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Vietnam In April, 2 groups of Year 11 students spent a fortnight in Vietnam. This is the 8th year we have visited this amazing yet confronting place to study culture and responses to poverty and social justice.

The program included home staying in the northern countryside. As the only tourists to visit these northern villages in 60 years, the students get a true insight into life for most Vietnamese people. A common response was ‘They seem so happy with so little’ and ‘They are so generous with what little they have’.

Students also spent a day with World Vision in Central Vietnam which was most illuminating.

Another 2 days they worked in the Bo De orphanage in Hanoi. This experience was very confronting.

Students helped women who were responsible for 8 babies each in difficult conditions. Students were horrified by the serious health issues confronting these people and were moved to fundraise to enable a doctor to visit the 150 kids on a fortnightly basis.

including the My Lai site and the famous museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Most importantly, we developed some great friendships with Vietnamese people who welcomed us and gave us great insight into their lives and culture.

Experiencing this ‘full immersion’ into the REAL Vietnamese life is not easy. We rarely see other Westerners and only eat local food. For most, the culture shock is huge. Apart from the extreme conditions of the orphanage, students realise that people do not need a lot to survive and be happy.

Many are moved to give and support poverty reduction programs. They love the strong culture that appears to support all including the young and old. The shock of people having to do back breaking work for little money leads to appreciation for what they have in Australia. It is also an ‘eye opener’ to meet people seriously affected by a terrible war who have forgiven and made a success of life.

We also spent 3 days in the beautiful mountains on the Chinese border – trekking and staying with the resilient Ethnic minority people. We were amazed at how difficult life was to make a living in such inhospitable conditions.

The students also studied the impact of the terrible war that killed 2 million people last century,

Page 23 :.

John Tatnell Director of Teaching & Learning Outdoor Education

Students immersing themselves with the locals

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Even though East Timor is not on the tourist destination list yet, Viqueque sees its fair share of ‘malais’ or foreigners, thanks to the regular trips made by Christian College Geelong. Not only is this

April trip this year was dubbed the ‘tradie trip’.

Volunteers making a difference

A short video clip may be viewed at this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=znjbKEFIxeA

fact amazing due to the tyranny of distance, but the

the back. It will create more sleeping quarters for

tradespeople in the community. This is testimony to

In summary, a group of tradesman, their families and a

standard of the roads is also challenging; and there is

groups by freeing up the central living space in the

the fact that the locals are open to Christian College

few staff volunteered their time and expertise to work

main house. In the past, bigger groups have slept

not exactly a tropical paradise awaiting at journey’s

being part of their community. They understand

towards increasing the capacity of accommodation

around the dining room table!

end! Viqueque is a dusty market town with several

that we have established a reputation of investing in

in our sister village, Viqueque. For the last 10

schools, about 180km from Dili, the capital city. It

years, Christian College trips have visited the same

takes 6 hours when driving there directly, but meals

community where we rent a house from the local

and toilet stops are well advised. Legs appreciate

government. Up until this trip, the smaller cottage at

a stretch during the bumpy journey too. Viqueque is inland by about an hour’s drive (16km) from the south coast, and is approached over the rugged mountainous spine of the country, which is often

the rear of the property has been used by a family.

They recently relocated and Christian College was able to renovate and freshen up the place.

During the intense week of activity at the house in April, so many hands made light work. Tasks included scrubbing and painting walls, nailing window frames,

their community through infrastructure and through education. Yes, the infrastructure is enabling slightly larger groups to stay, but it means more can be

fitting out the ‘mandi’ or shower and toilet room,

achieved in the community during the seemingly

procuring locally made palm branch panels to create

very short visits.

internal walls and connecting electricity so lights and fans could allow a modicum of creature comfort.

Down the road at our kindergarten, two classes of four and five year olds are thriving in the bright and

draped in cloud. Since the country became politically

With the help of many local volunteers and

The level of goodwill and generosity of spirit

engaging environment. The three staff, and the four

stable and secure, there have been several trips a year

tradespeople, the derelict, smoke burnished shell of

emanated not only from our very own volunteers

new volunteer assistants, are stimulating the local

made by staff and students for different purposes. The

a place was transformed into a fresh feeling pad out

at the Friendship House, but also from artisans and

children through play and a range of fun activities

Page 24 :.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

around the new bright green tables and the sandpit and swings. All three staff have all spent training stints in Geelong over the last few years and the new volunteers are keen to follow in their footsteps and also undergo training. It is heartening that the staff at the kindergarten are implementing a fantastic program using ideas and training from their experience at Williams House.

One of the friendship schools which Christian College built two years ago will soon have water connected to it, so the children can have

Deb Singleton

something we take for granted: toilet and hand

Viqueque Liaison Director

washing facilities. Fundraising occurring at the campuses this year has already raised important awareness and moneys for this hygiene and sanitation project. The generosity of the school community buying handcrafts, making donations, some students attending an East Timor student forum and the Independence Day flag raising ceremony, all contribute to building compassion and understanding in our young people.

It sounds cliché, however, the ‘tradie trip’ built not only walls and windows, but also cemented the bonds of friendship and invest in the lives of our friends until the next group arrives. One of the key reasons for the success of the College’s relationship with Viqueque, is its ability to return again and again. It is often the catch cry of the community as we leave, ‘Are you coming back?’ and ‘Don’t forget us.’ So with the continued interest and support of the College through student, staff and tradie trips, we will be able to say confidently, ‘Yes, we will come back!’ and ‘We won’t forget you!’

May the tourist trail to Viqueque develop and flourish.

Washing the ‘uma kiik’ - little house out the back of the main accomodation

Page 25 :.

Volunteer-Eby painting

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Elana Cole-Lucas, 1997 Graduate Since graduating from Christian College in 1997, life has been a whirlwind for former student and now Christian College parent, Elana (Saz) Cole-Lucas.

Not only has she competed a Bachelor of Arts (Indonesian) and a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) at Deakin University, she is currently the Head of LOTE (Indonesian) at Trinity College, Colac 4 days a week and is completing her Masters in LOTE. In addition, Saz and her husband Brad also own and run their thriving business ‘Cafe Botticelli’ in Herne Hill. Above all of this, Saz is the loving and devoted mother to her two daughters, Java (6) and Billi (5) who attend Christian College Junior School, Belmont.

Saz with her family

Page 26 :.

Saz often reminisces about the first moment she

at Christian College, in so many ways. Firstly as a

fell in love with ‘the most magical place on earth’ –

passionate teacher of Indonesian, and also by the

Indonesia. “This opportunity was afforded to me

fact that we were all so encouraged by teachers to

in 1994, when the school conducted their first tour

do whatever we did well, to push ourselves to reach

of Indonesia, with a group of Year 9 students, Daryl

our full potential.”

Riddle, Michael Peck and Howard Williams. It was a mere fluke that Indonesian was the language that

Earlier this year, Saz taught Indonesian one day a

would influence my life, as it was only introduced

week at Christian College Middle School. “Teaching

in 1992, when I commenced Year 7. My language

at Middle School in Term 1 allowed me to see the

teachers were so passionate about what they did,

same dedicated, passionate, and determined attitude

and I’m still in contact with Julienne Welsh today

within staff was still prevalent, which was great to see

– swapping resources these days, instead of her

as a fellow teacher and also as a mother of students

marking my essays!”

at the College.”

“My life has definitely been influenced by my time

Daughters Java & Billi all smiles in their CCG uniform

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Christian College has recently optimised its website to be

deleted by the beginning of Term 3. Everything that could

responsive and ‘mobile friendly’ to be compatible with a

be accessed through the ‘App’ will now be easily accessible

wider range of devices, from mobile phones, tablets and

through the website.

desktop computers.

This new development allows the website to be viewed and navigated with ease and minimum resizing.

With this transition, the Christian College ‘App’ will be

Page 27 :.

The Christian College ‘Careers Blog’ will be linked through the portal.

We hope you enjoy this positive change and greater accessibility of the College website on portable devices.

christiancollege.vic.edu.au

Williams House Kindergarten

Middle School, Highton

39 Broughton Drive, Belmont 3216 Tel. 03 5241 3556

18 Burdekin Rd, Highton 3216

Junior School, Belmont

Senior School, Waurn Ponds

39 Broughton Drive, Belmont 3216 Tel. 03 5241 1565

135 Pigdon’s Road, Waurn Ponds 3216

Bellarine Campus, Drysdale

‘Villa Paloma’ Arts/Technology Centre

40 Collins Street, Drysdale 3222

25 Waurn Ponds Drive, Waurn Ponds 3216

Tel. 03 5253 2998

Tel. 03 5241 8844

Tel. 03 5241 1899

Tel. 03 5241 1577

christiancollege.vic.edu.au