Years 7 - 12

Head of School

First of all, a big ‘Hello’ to the Bayside community! My name is James Kumnick and I have recently had the pleasure of joining the College as your new Head of Secondary. What stands out to me the most as I begin my journey here is just how welcomed I have been made to feel and the amount of support I have been offered to help me settle in. Thank you and I wait with anticipation to meet all Secondary families over time and to start establishing meaningful connections and partnerships for the benefit of our students.

As a small 'get to know me' exercise, I am married to my wife Kate, and we have two children who attend the College (one Primary and the other Secondary). My original connection to the College was as a parent. As a family, we share a passion for sport and the outdoors, specifically Basketball. Sometimes it feels like I spend half my life in stadiums around the Peninsula and further abroad. Completing the family is ‘Milo’ the German Short-Haired Pointer and a yellow and red Indian Ring-necked Parrot, called ‘Cocky’ of all the names we could have thought of. Church and connecting within its community are also a big part of our family dynamic.

Professionally, I am passionate about equipping our next generation with sound biblical values and principles, helping them to discover who they are as people and what they have to offer in the way of their God-given talents whilst also respecting the differences of others. Our young people at Bayside are to be encouraged to strive for excellence in all that they do, to embrace the life and educational opportunity that God (and their parents) have given them, and provide themselves with the best opportunity to thrive post-secondary school.

Already in my short time here at Bayside I have had the pleasure of recently visiting several camps across multiple Secondary year levels and formally acknowledging our senior student leaders and College Captains at our first Whole School Assembly last Monday. It was so pleasing to see students sharing in a variety of experiences and challenges together, encouraging each other to overcome their fears, problem solve, learn about the Salvation Army’s city homeless program, and explore what Tertiary education looks like just to name a few. 

I also look forward to working with our new student leaders this year and can’t wait to see what can be achieved. The Year 9 and 10 boys and girls SIS sport teams have commenced their Volleyball, European Handball and Netball competitions for the Term 1 and our annual Secondary House Athletics carnival, scheduled for Tuesday 28th February, is just around the corner. We’ve definitely hit the ground running!

Finally, I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the community, learning the Bayside way, and partnering with you and your family as together we seek to help our students thrive in their educational journey at Bayside Christian College. I pray for God’s richest blessings for 2023. Talk soon.

Mr James Kumnick - Head of Secondary

Secondary Athletics Carnival

Next Tuesday 28 February the Secondary Athletics Carnvial will be held at Mornington Athletics Track, 350 Dunns Road Mornington. 

Bayside staff will attend and run/supervise the events. Students will travel to and from the venues via school buses. Students are encouraged to wear house colours on this day. If students do not have house colours, they mustwear their PE uniform. Free dress is not acceptable. All house-colour clothing must comply with Collegeexpectations and cover shoulders to knees for sun safety. College broad-brimmed hats must be worn. Students should come wearing sunscreen, bring a drink bottle, lunch and any medication required to manage conditions such as Asthma.

Year 7 Bible Studies

In Year 7 Biblical Studies, students have commenced the Youth Alpha course which they will explore across Semester One. Our first lesson focused on big questions, such as ‘Is there more to life than this?’ and other ‘What makes us happy?’ and ‘If you could ask God just one question, what would it be?’. There has been a lot of rich discussion in class, and we look forward to exploring the character of Jesus further in coming weeks. 

The lessons for Youth Alpha that are covered each week can be found on the Year 7 Biblical Studies Canvas page and we welcome parents and families to engage with these lessons further with their children at home each week.

Mr Joel Williamson and Mr Jay Johnstone 

Years 7/8 Study Skills

This year in Years 7 & 8, we have introduced a subject called Study Skills, where students will have 2 periods a week to develop their own personal approach to learning. 

Study skills are not subject-specific and need to be practised so that they can be developed. By increasing awareness of how to study, the aim is that students will become more confident in this area. Study skills are not just for students; they are a transferable set of life skills they can take beyond their education and into new contexts. For example, organisational skills, time management, prioritising, learning to analyse, problem solve and the self-discipline to remain motivated. 

In classes across the last two weeks, students have spent time learning how to navigate Canvas, cleaning up their Google Drive, and learnt how to organise it into folders for 2023. They were introduced to Google as an online calendar and practised adding dates and blocking times to balance homework and after-school activities. Over the next term, we will look at effective study spaces, setting and achieving goals and then move on to reading instructions and how to work collaboratively.

Here is what a few students have said: 

'Study Skills has been really useful. It will be a great time to work on your homework or something you have missed. I have learnt how to use google calendar, which I have used to work out when I'm free and what days I can use to study for upcoming tests and assignments.' - Bridie

'In study skills, I got time to work on some homework I have had. Study skills also helped me with organisation skills and ways to get to class on time. I learned how to use google calendar and organise my google drive. It has been really helpful so far.' - Francois

Mrs Jo Piening 

Years 9/10 VCD

In Visual Communicaions and Design, we have been looking at unrelated and unusual objects to design furniture. The idea of this task it to try and take inspiration by thinking in abstract ways. Please take a look at some of our sketches to see if you can figure out what we have been inspired by. - 9/10 VCD students

Year 9/10 OES Surfing

Mr Peter Zwiersen

VCE English

In year 12 English, students have been exploring the challenges for women and men living in the early 1800's in England, through Jane Austen's novel - 'Pride and Prejudice'. The tensions within the arena of courtship and marriage, between marrying for love or material security are played out within a comic narrative whose irony and wit is still enjoyable and engaging for modern audiences. 

Austen explores the challenge of living with honesty and integrity in a world full of artful manipulation, strongly delineated class prejudice and rigid gender expectations. Moreover, she argues that as well as learning how to go beyond one's personal prejudice in reading clearly the characters of others, an equal challenge is in being true to one's own conscience and acknowledging the distorting consequences of pride within oneself. 

While aspects of Austen's language are challenging for our year 12's, Austen's classic novel is timeless in the hope offered, that honesty and integrity amidst a compromised world ultimately is the true basis for lasting happiness.

Mr Rupert Balint-Smith

Exchange Students

Our three exchange students – Minae, Sakura ad Mizuki have settled in well to their host homes and the school routine. They have all said how kind everyone has been to them, from their Host families, Teachers, Bayside students, to the whole school community.

The students stepped outside their comfort zone in the first week on the Year 10 school camp.  They showed their bravery in trying new activities and enjoyed many first-time experiences.  Their school camp accommodation in Japan is in motels!!

In the second week they learned to adjust to the Australian school format which is totally different from their Kinjo format.  They are used to 5 minute breaks between classes and staying in the one room mostly!   Their kind buddies have helped the students to find different classrooms and continue to support them any time they need assistance.

Addressing the whole school assembly was daunting but they did so with courage.  Last week was also their first excursion.  They thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Moonlit Sanctuary and learning about our unique wildlife.   There were many squeals of delight as the wallabies ate from their hand and, of course, they loved seeing the koalas too! 

Thankyou all for making the first few weeks of their exchange program a happy one!

Ms Zina Ferrarin - Exchange Program Co-ordinator

Weights Shed 

The Weights Shed is open Monday afterschool, Tuesday lunchtime and Thursday during recess. We eagerly awaiting to see the progress the student make in their gym progress and community connections over the coming year.

Chess Club

Secondary Chess Club runs on Monday during lunch time for students from Year 7-12. Over the first two weeks over two dozen students have participated, engaging in some high intensity competition with their peers.