The wonder of learning to read I have three grandsons who started Prep this year, and now, after just half a year of learning, they can all read! They are still sounding out words and reading slowly, of course, but what a wonder it is. To be able to read and write opens up so […]
Why Reading Still Matters in the Middle School Years Read More »
RoboCup continued to inspire strong interest among GCC students this year, with 18 Middle School students taking part in the RoboCup Junior SPIKE Prime Challenge. Throughout Term 2, Monday mornings were filled with energy as students collaborated to design, build, code, test and refine their robots in preparation for the national competition. This year’s challenge,
Survivors of the Future: Where Engineering Meets Imagination Read More »
I can still remember when my first child started preschool. At the time, video cameras were rare, practically only seen in banks or Parliament House, and I desperately wished I could somehow watch what was happening during the day. Was he happy?Who was he playing with?What activities were they doing? Of course, I eventually had
What Is Happening in My Child’s Class in Middle School? Read More »
This week, we remember National Sorry Day and move into National Reconciliation Week, an important opportunity to pause, reflect, listen, and consider our role in reconciliation within Australia. For many of us on the Sunshine Coast, it can be easy to feel somewhat removed from these conversations. Indigenous Australians may not be part of our
Experiential learning is the culture of the Design Studio. We have to step out and see the designed world around us, experience the spaces and analyse the design thinking behind them. Students always come back from these adventures with a fresh perspective. Often, they redesign their whole projects following inspiration from the display homes. We
Year 9 Design Discover – Who is the Greatest Designer of Them All Read More »
Middle School camp is often talked about with excitement — but it’s important to acknowledge an honest truth first: camp is not an easy experience at the beginning. And that doesn’t just apply to students — it includes our beautiful and dedicated staff as well. Being away from home can feel challenging. Days are full
Middle School Camp – An Investment in Relationship, Character and Community Read More »
In a world that constantly tells us to prove ourselves, compare ourselves, and measure our worth by success or approval, God gently calls us back to a deeper truth: remember who you are and whose you are. One of our focuses in PC this term has been to look at who we are in Christ.
As Year 7 Level Coordinator, one of the lovely things in welcoming our Year 7 students into Middle College is the excitement that comes with getting to use their “very own” MacBook. They’ve been very busy learning how to use their devices responsibly as they begin this next stage of schooling. MacBook use at the
On December 10, Australia will take one of the biggest steps in child protection we’ve seen in decades: Children under 16 will no longer be able to create or maintain social-media accounts. It’s a change many families have quietly hoped for, even while wondering how on earth they’ll manage the fallout. Tech companies are pushing
December 10: Helping Our Kids Step Back Into the Real World Read More »
As our young people journey through the Middle School years, one of the most important lessons they can learn is how to live out respect and consent in their daily interactions — from friendships and teamwork to online spaces and social dynamics. These are not just modern social topics; they are deeply rooted in the
Consent and Respect: A Christian Foundation for Healthy Relationships Read More »
‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school’Albert Einstein Every term around assessment time, and especially in Term 4, stress can start to bubble beneath the surface of Secondary School life. Students feel it, teachers feel it, and parents feel it too. This is true whether it’s one of
Glasshouse Christian College was proud to host the Tournament of Minds (TOM) Regional Competition at the end of last term, welcoming over 100 students from across the Sunshine Coast. It was a privilege to showcase our facilities and welcome so many creative young problem-solvers to our campus. TOM is a prestigious international problem-solving competition that
Innovation Challenge participants On the 8 of August, our team (Phoebe Brighouse-Johnson, Sean Chiramel, Sean Barrett and myself) had the opportunity to attend the QUT Science Week InnovationChallenge. Our task was to develop a solution to one of several real-world problems, which would later be presented to ‘investors’ who allocated fake money to the ideasthey
This week, the Year 7 Cohort has been looking at hacks to help deal with stress and anxiety. And boy, do they sure want to talk about it! I think this is in part because there has been a noticeable shift in how teens and parents view stress. Somewhere along the line, we’ve come to
Telling your Teen ‘This is Hard for You, but You Can Handle It’ Read More »
On Monday, 2 June, four of our talented Year 8 students — Allegra, Byron, Oscar and Sarannah — proudly represented Glasshouse Christian College at the National Finals of the Kids’ Lit Quiz, held at the historic Glebe Town Hall in Sydney. Their journey to the nationals began with an impressive victory at the regional round
Are you like me, when all the things we should be doing start to feel like an impossible dream? We’re bombarded with memes, messages, and videos about the importance of gratitude, quality time with loved ones, reading more, and being outdoors. Don’t get me wrong—these are all spot on. They’re things we should be striving
The last week of Term 1 has seen our amazing Year 7s busily preparing for their culminating activities FUSE and STEM. In STEM, Year 7s participated in the fourth annual Physics Cup at Aussieworld on Wednesday. In preparation for the Cup, students worked in teams to investigate the physical forces that act on us, and
The Inaugural Physics Cup and Clash of Empires Festival Read More »
As we navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, Glasshouse Christian College is taking proactive steps to ensure our Year 8 students are equipped with the tools they need for online safety and overall well-being. We began the year with Peter Janetzki who spoke on personal development, digital well-being and conflict management. We also use the Wellio
You know that feeling when you eat a large serving of chips or a huge stick of fairy floss? It tastes so good, and you gobble it up because it’s so moreish. You eat more than you should because you just need a little bit more. Teenagers live their lives more like this than we
Essentials for a Teenager to Have Their Best Life Read More »
Being assertive is a learned skill. Let’s be honest – it can be scary to take this risk, even for an adult, but more so for a child. It’s something our young people need to learn and practice. As parents and teachers, we need to teach this skill to our young people, help them practice
Each year, schools are expected to impart an increasingly larger scope of content and skills to students. So much so that it often referred to as the “crowded” curriculum, where teaching is a “mile wide, and an inch deep”. And while there is certainly great value in giving kids a broad-based understanding of the world,
Year 7 Glasshouse Students’ – Deeper Skills are Taught, not Caught Read More »
On Tuesday, Year 8 students had the opportunity to hear from Sam Clear, an adventurer and speaker known for his incredible journey of walking around the world. His presentation was centred around themes of resilience, unity, and the importance of understanding global challenges. Students were captivated by Clear’s storytelling ability, with one student, Xane ,
Our RoboCup team has triumphed once again, securing victory in the 2024 RoboCup Junior Spike Challenge, following their remarkable win in 2023. This year’s competition was bigger than ever, involving 143 teams and a total of 439 students from around Australia. States and territories were divided into ‘pools’ for judging. Our team – comprising Sean,
The last day of Term 2 saw the culmination of the Year 7 Unit, Songs of the South Land, with the ‘Streamys’ Awards. Throughout the term, students explored special places in Ancient Australia, from the iconic Uluru to our own Glasshouse Mountains. Each team was then asked to create a spoken word poem on a
Year 7 ‘Streamy’ Awards – Songs of the South Land Read More »
Glasshouse Christian College triumphs at Queensland Regional da Vinci Decathlon, securing first place overall in the Year 6 Division and a further 15 placings. On Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 May, five teams of students across the Primary and Middle Schools met bright and early to head to the Queensland Regional da Vinci Decathlon held
Glasshouse Christian College triumphs at the Da Vinci Decathlon Read More »
GCC students Isabella Buckland (Year 10), Amelia Hughes (Year 9) and Audrey Jo Caldwell (Year 8) were very successful at the 2024 annual Sunshine Coast MLTAQ Poster Competition. Each student achieved first place in the French language competition in their own year-level categories. This year’s theme was ‘Embracing our differences and enriching our lives through
What do you remember most about your time as a Middle School student? Was it the formula for simple interest, or the volume of a cone? Maybe it was learning to say “it’s good to meet you” in French or to find onomatopoeia in a text. Chances are, you remember your friendships the most. The
As the Year 8 Coordinator, my role goes beyond overseeing our current program; I am also committed to preparing our Year 8 students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This week, I had the privilege of donning my parent hat and engaging with our Year 9 students and their parents to shed light
Dear Year 9 and 10 Families at GCC I am thrilled to introduce you to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program available here at GCC for Year 9 students and above. It’s an exceptional opportunity for our young individuals to embark on a journey of personal growth and skill development. Starting the program in
Exciting Opportunities Await: Join the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program! Read More »
Carol McKee, our Future Pathways Coordinator, has been working with Year 8 this term in two workshops. As many of our students turn fourteen, they are eager to look for a part-time job. Mrs. McKee has been their guide on this exciting journey, helping them explore the ins and outs of finding jobs, mastering the
On Sunday, August 20, three GCC students, Amelia Hughes, Isabella Buckland, and Micah Matthews-Frederick, participated in the annual MLTAQ Speech Contest at USC. In this competition, students compete in their chosen language and their year-level division. The speech needs to be memorised and is performed in front of a panel of native speakers. This in
Chess is a game that has been played for centuries, and its enduring popularity continues to surprise many. While some may consider it a niche hobby, the reality is that chess is more popular than people think, with millions of players around the world. According to the International Chess Federation (FIDE), there are over 600
There’s nothing worse than taking a wrong turn on a long trip when you’ve been on the road for hours or have to be somewhere by a certain time and you end up at a dead end! Groan… Despite the navigation tool telling you otherwise or the mud map Aunty Mavis gave you… all that
“If only someone had trimmed that limb above the stable when it was small.” I recently dealt with a problematic limb from a large gum tree which was overhanging an old stable on my property. This tree had continually been dropping large branches with a thud onto the stable roof where I keep the ride
This week, Year 7 students have been busy demonstrating their talking and riding skills, participating in the annual Physics Cup and Clash of Empires Debates. The Physics Cup Year 7 students have been and exploring the world of physical forces and machines this term, investigating the forces that make our world ‘turn’ and the simple
It is no surprise that one of the first words children say is ‘No’. As a young parent, I found navigating this difficult because they did need to eat the food, go to bed, do an activity etc. However, in reality, children at the earliest of ages must have the ability to say no and
Day for Daniel: Middle Schoolers and Personal Safety Read More »
Middle School Design Technology students have been exploring the way things work in the world of invention and innovation with car safety design and the amazing contraptions of Rube Goldberg machines. Year 9 students investigated the aerodynamics and hydrodynamics of powerboats, and then designed and created balsa wood prototypes, vacuum formed a plastic hull to
Design and Technologies: I design, I create, I inspire Read More »
The grand prize winner of a recent National STEM competition was Year 8 student Madyson Pearce. The Girls Day Out in STEM (GDOS) program helps girls aged 10 to 14 aspire to a career in STEM through education, working with professional female role models, and through opportunities in STEM. A total of 863 girls aged
Glasshouse Christian College’s Year 7 students have been welcomed into Secondary College with a whole new look super classroom space in L8. Variable and comfortable workspaces have been developed for students to use that are particularly suited to collaborative teamwork. The space’s focus is on student collaboration, helping to develop communication, critical thinking, conflict resolution
Last Friday half of the Year 7 students were transported back to Ancient Egypt as we wandered around the Abbey Museum. The displays told the journey of humankind through history. We were able to imagine what it was like to be living as an Egyptian. We were introduced to a new interesting career and had
Year 9 have created some amazing cakes in class. They made the cake and then decorated it to their choice. Even though icing and decorating the cakes was extremely challenging, the students didn’t give up and the results speak for themselves. What a great job they all did … definitely worthy of a celebration! Julie
It’s often the ‘lasts’ that we look back on and realise they no longer happen – some time after they stopped. I remember having this moment several years after I no longer took my own children to ‘you-beaut’ playgrounds. It’s funny how it can be tiresome and then when you realise it’s no longer a
There have been some great events, moments, excursions and opportunities for our students this term. GCC families will be able to see all the photos in Pixevety in the links below: Gold winners from 2020 (no RTCs) Cross Country Year 8 Geography Excursion Legacy Cup – Boggle Challenge Athletics Carnival – photos coming soon NAPLAN
On Monday 8 March, the Year 7 students were treated to a French movie excursion to Brisbane. The purpose of the excursion was to compliment their studies of French speaking countries and cultures around the world. Each year, Alliance Francaise de Brisbane, the French cultural centre of Brisbane, organises the French Film Festival to offer Australian
This year’s bible verse states “… be strong and courageous…” (Joshua 1:9). For each person, what they are being strong and courageous IN differs both circumstantially and psychologically. We know that one day ‘what can be shaken will not remain’ (Bible: Hebrews 12:27). What will remain is who we are, what we have done, and
If you are a parent of a middle school-aged child this quote may resonate and encourage you. They’re capable of reasoning intellectually, interpreting emotions, and taking a moral stand, but they lack perspective or life experience. Sorting out social drama can consume large chunks of their time, and they tend to experience emotions in polarities.
Seasons: We have already had several eventful weeks in Middle School with the Launchpads (a retreat day where students had the opportunity to get to know their classmates and teachers and reflect on important aspects that will direct their focus for the year), for our Year 9 leaders – a Leaders’ Retreat and Induction Assembly,
Books: Are there lots of books in your home? A new study of 31 countries shows that ‘being surrounded by books in the home during adolescence may have as big an impact on long-term literacy, numeracy, and digital skills as a university education’. Reading and being able to learn about things outside of our physical world
Reports and Grades: Interim reports will be sent out over the holidays and will be made available online through the Parent Portal. Please remember that for some subjects, in particular, this grade is not the final grade but rather a ‘ballpark’ figure of how a student is performing in a particular subject. The Australian Curriculum
As always, the first week of Year 7 has been an incredibly busy one. It’s been a mad rush of new routines, timetables, rooms and getting used to many new teachers and expectations. It’s sure to have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride of excitement and nerves, both for students and parents. On the
