The post SCEA News – 16 May 2024 appeared first on SCEA.

The Choir Master, Mrs Karen Anstee, who has dedicated hours of her time to making the students sound like angels, or the students – without whom there is no sound, no smile and no life?

The answer is – BOTH!

Well done to Mrs Anstee and the MCC Junior Choir, who performed at the Fremantle Eisteddfod choir recitals last week and received first place for their renditions of two songs. As a result, the choir has been invited to sing at the Governor’s House on Saturday, 25 May.

What an opportunity for our students to showcase their skills on a prestigious platform! Miss Jemima Halls played the piano for the performances, and her talents and gifts shone through to all our students.

Well done MCC!

The post Mundaring Christian College (MCC) Junior Choir wins Fremantle Eisteddfod appeared first on SCEA.

Swan Christian College (SCC) has been singled out for its excellent work in this area, and they will be presenting at the second session which is to be held at Hillside Christian College.

________________________________

The details for registration for both events are below:

Tuesday 4 June – Carey Baptist College – Deputies and 2ICs –

Drawing from his extensive experience as a pastor and a consultant, Tod Bolsinger brings decades of experience in guiding churches and organisations through unchartered territory. A combination of illuminating insights and practical tolls will help you to reimagine what effective leadership looks like in out rapidly changing world. 

Join together with other Christian School deputies and 2ICs for our fourth and final session as we consider his book and video material. If we are going to scale the mountains of ministry – do we need to leave behind our canoes and find new navigational tools?

_________________________________________

Wednesday 5 June – Hillside Christian College –

Dr Darren Iselin, CSA’s Director of Research & Innovation will be leading this workshop and it is aimed at Christian school leaders, business managers, registrars and marketing managers. Darren will unpack the WA specific findings of parents from Christian schools across WA and the nation and explore the implications and opportunities impacting WA Christian schools upon parent perceptions of school choice, engagement and satisfaction.

The post CSA to visit Perth in June to showcase the Swan Christian College team’s excellent work appeared first on SCEA.

Dr Cross presented the below enrolment growth graph, highlighting the current levels of 500+ students. While enrolment growth is often praised in school circles due to excellent teaching, welcoming community and financial management, the overwhelming number of enquiries from the local population have prompted calls to look for an additional site or some other alternative in the area.

“You may remember that we had a plan to put six classrooms on the site a year ago – with all the finances in place,” said Dr Cross,” but the local planning advice was that any intensification of this site would be counterproductive in terms of a fire risk, evacuation and safety concerns for students.”

The recent coincidence of a large local fire sweeping through the region close to the Bedfordale school property and the swift evacuation on a Friday afternoon has only demonstrated the need to cap the number of students that the College can accommodate on the current site.

The demand for Christian schooling in the region continues to intensify, with the College already reaching a historic enrolment high and recently topping the 550-student mark.

College Principal Mr Paul Beacham paid tribute to his staff for their patience, hard work and dedication during this time.

“We have long-serving staff who have journeyed through good and bad times. We also have new staff who are energetic and excited for the future here. We will continue to explore any options that are available to us. I have great faith in the SCEA leadership and their ability to navigate the situation,” said Mr Beacham this week.

Mr Nick Wood outlined details of the work he and the SCEA team were planning to do in order to continue the development of Southern Hills Christian College and its work within the Armadale, Bedfordale and Byford areas.

“There are a number of possibilities that we will be pursuing in the near future. As soon as we have something significant to report, the staff in SCEA schools and the parents here in Bedfordale will know about it,” said Mr Wood.

The post Southern Hills Christian College student growth prompt calls for future building options appeared first on SCEA.

The morning began with a heartfelt address from Mr Craig Hunter (KCS Principal) to an audience of approximately 150 in the school gymnasium.

“The 40-Year Flourishing Tree installation at KCS represents every student and staff member. It is a picture of being loved, known, and in a learning community with Christ, the source of all our strength. In Mathew 13, Jesus says, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’ “- Mr Craig Hunter

The celebration continued with a joyous assembly, during which each KCS class transported the audience back to the 1980s, showcasing the era’s dance, toys, technology, fashion, and more. The KCS school band added to the nostalgia with an enthusiastic performance of the Ghostbusters theme song.

Dr Graeme Cross (Chief Executive Officer – SCEA) shared the founding history of Kalamunda Christian School, including its humble beginnings in an abandoned shopping centre and its opening with only 37 students.

“I am profoundly grateful for our pioneers, those who have walked this path before us and given so much,” Dr Cross expressed. “Their faith and dedication laid the foundation for the flourishing community we are today.”

Kalamunda Christian School’s first school photo – May, 1984.

The morning concluded with a wonderful morning tea, where SCEA staff, special guests, alumni, and parents gathered to fellowship and celebrate God’s abundant blessings over food and drinks.

Pioneering parents from the 1984 opening years travelled from Albany, Mandurah, and Broome to remember the early days of busy bees, lamington drives, and Christian community with founding teacher Mrs Sally Hopper and former school Principals.

The KCS leaders from the past and present are pictured below.

From left: Mr Craig Hunter, Dr Gregg Weaver, Mrs Michelle Cockrell, Mr Gavin Nancarrow, Mr Greg Wells and Mr Mike Pitman.

The post Kalamunda Christian School Celebrates 40-Year Milestone! appeared first on SCEA.

The shaggy-haired locks and easy-going style hide the determined work ethic of a UWA Archaeology student majoring in ancient tools and technology from the Biblical period of history.

“There is no way I would be interested in working this hard and finding my passion for studying without a number of teachers and a family friend guiding me with some important chats over the past few years,” says Brad with a big smile.

The budding historian traces the timeline of his turning from a failing Year 9 student to an enthusiastic go-getter in his senior year at SCC.

“Mr [David] Pitman started in Year 10 with me, just talking regularly about how to improve my attitude, lifestyle choices and getting fixed on a focus for life.”

A family relative who was based in Fremantle and worked on local archaeological projects then invited Brad to do some work experience. This led to fieldwork at Western Australian indigenous sites, and a love of prehistoric archaeology was born in Brad.

“Once I found something that I was interested in, the next part was Mrs [Shelley] Turnbull, my English teacher, really helping me with my writing. The essay writing needed for this type of study became clearer for me under her guidance. I knew that I needed to work on my writing, and she helped me a lot to improve this part of my learning.”

Once he secured entry to UWA, Brad specialised in the Greco-Roman world of study, with early technology as his initial area of inquiry.

“From my studies at Swan, I know that technology really accelerated quickly during the Biblical period. The concept of work and life being balanced, the Stoic philosophers, the Christian phenomena around the meaning of life, and the subsequent approach to the way people interacted in life changed dramatically at that point, and that’s where I want to delve into.”

Brad also speaks of teacher Mr Gerhard May as someone he could always go to for help and the openness of College Principal Dr Darnelle Pretorius in providing every opportunity for Year 12 students to pursue their calling in life.

“I always loved it when Dr Pretorius would speak to us, and I loved the sense of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and an openness to see the world in different ways—particularly coming from the Christian perspective. It’s interesting from a historical perspective in my studies, but also interesting for me personally.”

Jorja Byrne is in ‘hi-viz’ gear, unloading gardening equipment at 6.00 am in Kalamunda.

Again, looks may be deceiving.

“I graduated Swan late last year, and I was accepted into Law at UWA, but I wanted to take a gap year to work with my dad in his landscaping business.”

Jorja’s stint in landscaping has allowed her to do things that most corporate lawyers do not experience in their day-to-day work.

“I work on the excavator most days, we work with architects to re-design backyards and coordinate paving and water features. It’s incredibly varied,” says Jorja.

“Mr [Ian] Harris was really helpful for me. He was my Politics/Law teacher and directed me toward future studies. Now I’m going into Criminal Law at UWA.”

Like Mia Steyger from Mundaring Christian College, Jorja was fascinated by the criminology element of the legal process. However, she leaned away from the forensic side and is now focused on the judicial angle of defending and prosecuting offenders.

“It’s always been of interest to me,” says Jorja.

“The idea of wrong and right, the concept of redemption – these are the things that I think about a lot. They drive the legislative process, they govern life choices. I’m interested to see where the study leads me – I’m keeping all my options open at this point.”

The Year 12 graduates who made themselves available for this series of SCEA News interviews touched on common themes regardless of their particular SCEA school location:

• Thankfulness to certain teachers who had a profound impact on their lives,

• A receptiveness to different worldviews and free of the judgemental attitudes that young people are so often labelled with, and,

• A wide-open view of life, with a sense that ‘life is a journey’ and ultimate pathways lie before them.

Our hope and prayer for every graduate is to continue to follow the path God has laid out for them, knowing that their parents, past teachers and the SCEA community will support them each step of the way.

Stay tuned for the 5-year update on Brad, Jorja and the other graduates in the years ahead!

The post 2023 Graduate Stories: Swan Christian College (SCC) appeared first on SCEA.

Mr Mark Spencer (Director of Public Policy – Christian Schools Australia) and Mrs Vanessa Cheng (Executive Officer – Australian Association of Christian Schools) have been travelling the country in recent weeks, sharing stories of lives changed by Christian education, of families being supported in their faith journeys and as well as updating staff and supporters of Christian schools with the news from Federal Parliament in Canberra.

Mr Alistair Macpherson (Executive Director – Associated Christian Schools) also detailed some of the legal ramifications of the current discussions taking place in Canberra. 

The purpose of these ‘town hall’ gatherings is to demonstrate the large number of voters that may be affected by these legislative changes, with the following politicians present to hear from constituents and invited guests:

• Federal Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash (Shadow Attorney-General),

• Federal Liberal Senator Matt O’Sullivan (Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate)

• Federal Labor Ms Tania Lawrence (Member for Hasluck)

• Federal Liberal Senator Slade Brockman (Chair of Standing Committee of Privileges)

• Federal Liberal Senator Dean Smith (Chair of Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills), and

• WA State Liberal MP Mr Nick Goiran (MLC)

Former SCEA students, current SCEA parents, and affiliates from different Christian schools in Western Australia were asked to speak on their experiences of Christian schools and their positive impact on them and their families to date.

The list of speakers included:

• Mrs Jess Kapitola (Acting Executive Officer – Christian Schools Australia) shared about the transformative impact of Christian teachers and staff in the life of her son.
  
• Mr Tyrone Brownley (former student—Swan Christian College) on being welcomed, accepted, and loved during his schooling years.
  
• Mr Mark Vanderstoep (parent and teacher from Mandurah Baptist College) on the power of authenticity and love in action.
  
• Mrs Nicole Pleysier (Chief Executive Officer, Rehoboth Christian College) on the value of Christian faith for all staff.
  
• Mr Callum Kelly (parent, Swan Christian College) on the importance of alignment of Christian school and home values and
  
• Ms Chloe Cormack (student from Swan Christian College) on her journey from trauma to transformation in the surrounds of a Christian community.

Why is this event so important for Christian staff in our schools?

On 21 March, the Australian Law Reform Commission released a set of recommendations that would undermine faith and freedom of belief in Australia. If the Government accepts these ALRC recommendations, Christian schools will be unable to employ only Christian teachers and staff who share and can teach the school’s values and beliefs.

These national events are an opportunity to discuss the impact of Christian faith in our schools, share our concerns with our Federal political representatives, and ask for their support in this matter.

The post ‘Faith In Our Future’ Town Hall Event brings Christians together at SCC appeared first on SCEA.

In many ways, policy and procedures are the vehicle, game book, and development manual that help move us as an educational enterprise from uncertainty and inconsistency to confidence and constancy.

Here are the latest developments that are helping in that shift.

• By the end of next week, all our schools will be uploading hundreds of documents for eminent submission to the Non-Government Schools Regulation Division for a whole-of-SCEA Registration review and renewal. Key to this process is having all our policies and procedures in place and staff familiar with them.

• An extensively rewritten draft policy – Incursions, Excursions, Camps and Tours – went out for wide consultation at the end of last term. We are eager for feedback and so have extended the deadline until 14^th May. Please contact your principals for further information.

• The Enrolment Policy has been modified to include a section on the place and use of trial days. Now that the principals have contributed, this will be completed and uploaded to the SCEA Intranet shortly.

• Can I encourage you all to view the updated ‘Alcohol at SCEA Events Policy’ on the SCEA intranet, especially for those on school social committees?

• The next Policy being reviewed is the ‘Graduate Teacher Support Policy’. It will be important for those who are, or have recently been provisionally registered or have supervised graduates to input so we are setting up those new to the profession to thrive.

The post Episode 3: The Coach appeared first on SCEA.

The post SCEA News – 3 May 2024 appeared first on SCEA.

The show was accompanied by a dinner option from SCC’s famous ‘Chef Rob’ who worked to prepare pre-ordered meals with the Swan Christian College Hospitality Program.

“Very impressive work by hardworking students! The number of lines they remembered and the way they delivered it were so enjoyable to watch,” said one mother, who had brought her daughter along to learn more about Swan Christian College (SCC).

The Fenceline Theatre Company has now worked hard to establish its reputation as one of the finest performance groups in the secondary school space in Western Australia, winning multiple awards and tackling high-level productions and narratives with current students, ex-students and famous local actors.

The amazing performances led to sell-out performances, with more productions lined up for the rest of 2024.

The post SCC’s Production of ‘Little Women’ is a BIG hit! appeared first on SCEA.