Pacific Streams 2020 - Issue 1 by Pacific Hills Christian School

PS THE YEAR OF PERSEVERANCE GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS IN THE MIDDLE: LAUNCHING MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNING@HOME ARE YOU A GOOD LISTENER?

PACIFIC STREAMS 2020 – ISSUE 1

05 —

08 —

12 —

THE YEAR OF PERSEVERANCE

STAYING SLOW AND STEADY THROUGH THE STORM

HOPE THROUGH STRUGGLE

03 — EDITOR’S NOTE

10 — LEARNING@HOME

03 — FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

12 — HOPE THROUGH STRUGGLE

04 — GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS

14 — DEVOTION

05 — THE YEAR OF PERSEVERANCE

15 — PACIFIC BROOK ACQUIRES LAND

07 — IN THE MIDDLE

20 — MISSION REPORT

08 — STAYING SLOW AND STEADY

26 — VHS APPOINTS DIRECTOR

PACIFIC STREAMS is a free publication produced by the Pacific Group of Schools. P 02 9651 0700 — E info@pacifichills.net — A 9-15 Quarry Road, Dural NSW 2158 Australia COVER — A Pacific Hills Christian School student completing their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award trek through mountainous New Zealand.

EDITOR’S NOTE

FROM THE EXECUTIVE

PRINCIPAL

Welcome to a new decade, 2020. We began the year with a wonderful celebration of God’s goodness to us with the Hope Conference. Our theme this year is Perseverance. When we look around at what has happened in Australia we never imagined how meaningful that would become.

James 1:3-4 “...because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Our hearts and prayers went forward to our Regional Schools who were facing bushfires, floods and lifted roofs due to strong winds. Currently, we have had to postpone service trips inside and outside of Australia due to the coronavirus, and we are engaged in online teaching.

This Biblical concept of perseverance and its connection to faith in Christ is a foundationally important concept for us to consider, as we celebrate the community that we are as a Christian School. This is true for each of our Christian Schools of the Pacific Group of Schools.

What are we called to do is... persevere. Our verse this year is James 1:4. May we cleave to this verse, “And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

The Bible teaches us to add to our faith perseverance which implies clearly that faith comes first. This is the same concept as we understand from Ephesians 2:8-10, which tells us in paraphrase that it is by God’s grace and through our faith that we are right with God and as a result of this faith we are to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do.

Dr Tina Lamont Lead Principal, Pacific Regional Schools Assistant Principal (Teaching, Learning & Strategic Planning), Pacific Hills Christian School

continued over page...

GOOD NEWS FOR PARENTS! Imagine a website full of fun, exciting and creative ideas and activities for children to keep them entertained and using their imagination during this season of self-isolation. Well, it’s here!

With the concept of perseverance, we are to continue in doing good works and we are to do good works first of all as an act of worship to God and at the same time to bless others. Through worshipping God in this way and serving others we are being blessed ourselves.

A team from the Dural campus came up with this idea to serve the Pacific Group of Schools: an online resource for parents for when their children are not “in class”. One which is readymade for them to start using straight away and which they themselves can add to with their own ideas.

When we think about perseverance our normal understanding is that we keep on keeping on, but for us as Christians in Christian community it is keeping on in the Jesus way. As we read in the letter of Titus, we are to be examples of doing what is good; we are to be eager to do what is good, we are to be ready to do what is good, and we are to be devoted to what is good. This last concept of devotion in doing good is a strong reflection of the concept of perseverance, so that it becomes our lifestyle, our pattern of life. We teach our children of the next generation the value of perseverance by our own lives and then we become committed to persevering so that we will both please God and bless everyone whom we meet. We do this through our kindness, our compassion, our thoughtfulness, our consideration and also by the authenticity of ways in which we care for one another. Of particular importance in this regard is our perseverance in caring for the needy, the vulnerable and the weak, because this is the way that Jesus taught us to live when He was here on earth.

You’ll find age-specific activities, from Prep to Senior School, plus story time videos, a Teen Toolkit and the Quarantine Dance Challenge. To mention just a few. There is also a Wellbeing page with information such as the Healthy Headspace Action Plan and Raising Teenagers. Go to https://parents.pacific.education/index.php and if you would like to contribute something please email it to parentresources@pacifichills.net

In our School communities we see a wonderful display of perseverance by so many parents of the School and other members of the wider School community as well as in our staff and students. The perseverance is reflective of an attitude of sacrifice and generosity based on love for others, understanding that this love that we have and the grace that we show is a reflection only of God’s love and grace to us. As we teach our children and one another these lessons, we need to emphasise that we behave in this way because we desire to reflect the life of Christ and to follow the teachings of the Bible. In these ways we will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive to others (Titus 2:10). As we live in this way we will be attractive to others but primarily we will please God. Dr E J Boyce Executive Principal

School was a really happy and safe place. It really built my self-esteem and confidence. If felt like home to me. Anna Crawford (Alumni, Student Parent, Staff Member)

— FEATURE STORY —

THE YEAR OF PERSEVERANCE WENDY MORAN TEC Senior Administrator

The Pacific Group of Schools entered 2020 with the theme of Hope Through Perseverance (James 1:2-4). This is centred on the nature of suffering and difficulty and how hope in Jesus enables us to persevere in the midst of the struggles that life hurls at us. 5

Whilst the globe has flipped upside down and fear has collectively gripped humanity, and put us in holding patterns, God is in the midst of this immense storm and this has implications greater than any pandemic.

To read the story of Jesus and the suffering He endured to make hope through redemption possible, we see He persevered through unimaginable suffering (Phil 2:6-8). What Jesus accomplished was beyond our comprehension in securing the possibility for humanity to be restored to God and to journey through life with a Saviour that identifies with suffering in its worst form. But this act of Jesus also ensures that He will make all things right beyond the confines of our time on earth. In eternity, God will put everything right.

At no point does any type of crisis alter His power, authority and sovereign rule. God is still on the throne and this makes it possible not only to survive hardship but to navigate our way through, with the assurance that what we suffer on this earth will not only be redeemed here but also made right in the light of eternity (1 Peter 5:10).

So, take heart. As we take up this theme we know that although we feel the pain of suffering and difficulty, Jesus walks intimately with us and He will comfort, protect, provide His peace, help and deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:3). For He is our rock, our salvation and the one who helps us persevere in all things. He is our living hope.

Hope Through Perseverance is not just a theme. It is a reality in the life of faith.

Now, then, we can join with Paul and say “but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Cor 4:7-9)

The theological rod that holds this reality together is the eternal truth that hope in God enables perseverance in the greatest of suffering. We may be in the grip of mass suffering that is being driven by fear of the unknown. We may be enduring an individual crisis that tears us to pieces. But ultimately, we are in the grip of God. This is not to diminish the impact of being battered about in a crisis. What it does do, is enable the flame of hope to burn as we embark on and journey through the passage of the storm. Our flame of hope is never extinguished as we pass through difficulty and we persevere because Jesus holds us up the whole way.

It is Jesus in the midst of our frailty who takes every difficulty, every despairing heartache and every assault on our humanity and turns it from death to life, so that our hope in Him enables our perseverance. “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4)

Jesus remains sovereign but also our personal companion and is attentive to us moment by moment.

Hope is not an abstract idea where we have to conjure up positive thoughts and make it through at all costs. It is tied to the very character of God. God ties Himself to us and faithfully enacts His promises to be everything we need for all of life. God’s goodness and love will finally triumph over the evil that spawns suffering. Ravi Zacharias noted that “only in Christian theism is love pre-existent within the Trinity, which means that love precedes human life and becomes the absolute value for us. This absolute is ultimately found only in God, and in knowing and loving God we work our way through the struggles of pain.”1 God will ultimately destroy the one who wreaks such devastation and pain on His creatures as well as His creation. God did not design life to be lived in the shadow of death and suffering. But we live in a broken world where the sting of death and suffering prods us at many turns in life. The broken world we live in means we will walk the pathway of pain and difficulty (John 16:33). Whilst we wish there was an exit corridor when suffering strikes, it is precisely in the midst of difficulty that we understand our lack of control, the frailty of life and our desperate need of the very One who can enable us to persevere with hope in the midst of crisis. This is the testimony of the saints in the Biblical story and through the ages. In closing, perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus knows our suffering first-hand. As He looked on at the broken state of the world and saw the suffering, He knew He would become the answer.

avi Zacharias, The Logic of God: 52 Christian Essentials for the Heart and Mind, R (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019), 17.

IN THE MIDDLE 2020 has seen the introduction of Middle School across three Pacific Regional Schools, joining Pacific Hills which has been operating its Middle School since the mid-Nineties. Dr Tina Lamont, Lead Principal of the Pacific Regional Schools, explains the reasons behind having a Middle School. As parents, we know that students in the age range of ten to fourteen are undergoing many changes in their development. Their brain cells are growing and being ‘pruned’ continually during this stage. Bodies are changing from children to pubescent. Moods can escalate without warning and friendships take on a life of themselves. If you have not been a parent of a Middle Schooler before, then anticipate change! Schools have also changed and what may have worked when we were that age, may not work today. Today’s classrooms are comprised of more diverse students than ever before. While parents are managing the changes at home, teachers must be prepared to implement instructional practices that accommodate the learning styles of their diverse students while effectively meeting educational objectives and standards.1 For Middle School teachers, the challenges are even more imposing, as they must also be responsive to the changing developmental needs while teaching them social skills, emotional resilience and educational competencies. The specific instructional strategies that continue to have an impact on this cohort of students, include the use of visuals, peer tutoring, cooperative learning, and alternative forms of assessment. To make informed pedagogical decisions about classroom practices, Middle School teachers must be educated about and prepared for the challenges ahead. To that end, The Excellence Centre (TEC) has engaged Dr Stephen Fyson to prepare staff training modules including a textbook, worksheet activities and videos of best practice. TEC has launched that in Term 2, 2020. 1

llison, B.N. & Rehn, M.L. (2007). Effective teaching strategies for middle school A learners in multi-cultural and multi-lingual classrooms, Middle School Journal, 39(2), 12-18.

There’s a sense of worship in your work because you work with all of your heart and you are serving the Lord Colin Lees (Teacher)

STAYING SLOW AND STEADY THROUGH THE STORM LAUREN GRAHAM Pacific Group Director of Wellbeing

We live in a fast-paced, easy access world. We can buy pre-made, pre-cooked “fast” food, often for an incredibly low price. International travel across continents can be completed in a matter of hours; whilst it takes no more than a few seconds to access obscure information on any topic imaginable on our Smartphones. Indeed, in 2020, we are used to things happening quickly with minimal effort and maximum speed... and in many circumstances “the faster the better” has become our unspoken mantra.

If this was our hope at the start of 2020, how much more relevant is this now?

Technology is marketed on ability to outperform competitors with ease of use and speed of performance being the things we prioritise above all else. When I think back to my childhood and the need to physically visit a library, to manually look things up in a hard copy volume of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, to research for a school project, I can see so clearly how much has changed in just one generation.

My personal hope and prayer for all in our community, our society and our world, is that through all the fear, the uncertainty and anxiety, we will persevere, first and foremost, in our faith. Indeed, the book of James in the Bible teaches that it is the very testing of our faith that actually produces perseverance in us.

What does this mean, however, for the things in life that are not easy and the challenges we still face which take effort and energy to resolve, sometimes over a long period of time? Whether it is battling a long-term health condition or deciding to learn a musical instrument or foreign language, there are things in life which cannot be fast-tracked and where people must learn what it means to persevere. When we selected “Perseverance” as our theme for 2020 we were unaware of how pertinent this concept would become as the year unfolded. We did not foresee that an international pandemic would sweep the world, changing and challenging our physical health, our emotional resilience, our community activities and even our very livelihood. We did not know that schools would be faced with closing, that “social distancing” would have become part of our everyday vocabulary or that toilet paper would be seen as a precious and limited resource.

We will need to persevere in many ways throughout the next few months: physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. We will need to be creative, patient and tenacious as things change progressively around us. Undergirding all of this, we will need to invest in and develop our spiritual perseverance, as the firm foundation of faith, on which all other aspects of our wellbeing rest. Our God remains faithful, trustworthy, true and sovereign, even when we fail to understand what is happening. Let us persevere in believing this truth. Our world remains in ever-increasing need of Jesus, the One who has defeated sin, sickness and death, to bring us back to God. Let us persevere in speaking His name. Our family and friends, our School and community, need our prayers for calm in the midst of chaos and clear direction in a time of confusion. Let us persevere in prayer for us all. Indeed, the ability to persevere has suddenly taken on a new significance at both an individual and a community level as our fast-paced, easy access world is being forced to slow down in unexpected and far reaching ways.

And, when it is hard, and when it feels like a slow and difficult process, “let us run with perseverance, the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Our hope for this year was that a focus on “Perseverance” would encourage our students and staff to keep going when times are tough. To show tenacity and determination to complete the task, stay the course, face the challenge. We envisioned this for a regular school year and the benefits of teaching that success is not always determined by the greatest natural talent, but by persistent and faithful effort.

LEARNING@HOME

“Thanks for this great online learning set-up.”

The Pacific Group of Schools was quick to anticipate that there might be a season of in-home learning in 2020 and, even before the governments started talking about self-isolation, we were ready to deliver online classes.

“Yay! Keep it up teachers. The year twelves are filled with gratitude. :)”

We appreciate our students’ comments...

“I know all the teachers are working extremely hard so thank you for your hard work and effort to give us all the materials we need to do well in our courses.”

Special thanks must go to the team of staff members who put in such a huge amount of work to develop the online course materials. It was supported by parent handbooks and an infographic showing students their step-by-step daily routine.

“Thank you for responding quickly to our messages and queries, we do appreciate it!” “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

As such, it was a seamless effort for students to go from in-class to in-home. Having technology such as Zoom made it that much easier. Each of our schools is a close and supportive community and being able to continue those valued relationships was a major priority for us. The positive feedback we are receiving from parents confirms that they are experiencing “community” despite the self-isolation.

“You are wonderful teachers. You are amazing and we love you all. The amount of extra effort you are making for our kids is impeccable. I am very, very grateful. Thank you!”

We want to make sure you continue to feel part of this community. The teachers and staff will support you in your learning at home and will be praying for you.

“Zoom was a great way to stay in touch with students. Also grateful for all the support and guidance given to children and families. It’s so nice that within a short time frame and everchanging situations the teachers have been able to get these resources organised.”

Pastor Will is married to Sandra and has six children and ten grandchildren. He is a family man with a heart for God’s people and His church. DR TINA LAMONT

WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY! Our Pacific Group of Schools continues to grow and we welcome the following people to our community: • Martina Childs (TAS Teacher) • Jane Chau (Prep Teacher’s Aide)

NEW: PACIFIC GROUP ABORIGINAL LIAISON ADVISOR

• Deborah Cowled (Teacher’s Aide) • Madelaine Edwards (Yr 8 Homeroom & English Teacher)

Let me introduce you to an amazing man of God, a church pastor and CEO of a training centre. I first met Will Dumas in 2018 when he approached me regarding hiring the Pacific Coast Multi-Purpose Hall on Sundays. As you may be aware, part of the Federal Government’s funding for school halls is to make them available to the community. I was delighted that a church wanted to rent the school hall and it was my first encounter with an Indigenous church. Ganggalah Church is based in the beautiful Tweed Heads region of Northern NSW. Pastor Will has been a Senior Minister for over 30 years with experiences that include church planting, teaching, evangelism, leading and advising many organisations. Pastor Will is also the CEO of Ganggalah Training Centre and Ganggalah Aboriginal Arts Centre. He has travelled extensively throughout Australia and into the remote areas of the Outback ministering to individuals and Indigenous communities. He conducts leadership training seminars, outreach services and conferences. Part of Pastor Will’s vision is to raise up the next generation of Indigenous leaders. He wants them to learn and know their identity in Christ. This vision has led him to initiate the Australian Christian Churches National Indigenous Conference. This annual conference is for building up and equipping godly leaders for the future.

• Angus Hawke (Senior School PDHPE Teacher) • Michelle Honor (Teacher’s Aide) • Zelda Van Den Heever (Assistant Group Finance Manager & Compliance Manager)

• Kaya Lombaard (Assistant Lead Principal, Pacific Regional Schools)

• Lachlan McLean (Junior School Teacher) • Joshua Mann (PDHPE Teacher & Yr 9 Advisor) • Naomi Nasrallah (Junior School Teacher) • Serene Yeoh (Café Barista) • Carolyn Watkins (New Hope School Teacher’s Aide) Artwork by Jessica Zhang (PHCS Yr 11)

PAYING OUR RESPECTS This year saw an ANZAC Day with a difference, without marches through the city or veterans and their families congregating at their local RSL Club. The Returned Services League asked that we would pay our respects by standing at the end of our driveways at 6.00AM on April 25, for a minute’s silence, with light from a candle or your Smartphone.

• Stacy Whiteman (Science Teacher) • Naomi You (Junior School Teacher)

ON THE MOVE This is a landmark year for a number of our staff members who have taken on exciting new roles. We pray for your success and the positive impact that you are going to have on our students now and into the future. • Catriona Campbell (Assistant Head of Junior School)

We invited every school in the Pacific Group to do so to remember the ultimate sacrifice by those who never returned from warfare.

• Daniel Ferguson (IT Support/AV Technician)

More than 102,000 Australians have died in battle since World War One.

• Karen Kok (Group Finance Manager)

Pastor Will is based at Pacific Coast Christian School and has a mandate to be of service to all of our Pacific Schools. He seeks to help people encounter Jesus Christ through knowledge and personal acceptance of the Word of God. Our thanks to Pastor Will for accepting this position and may many people come to know Christ because of his love for God and His people.

• Cathie Hall (Yr 7 Home Room Teacher) • Elizabeth Harris (NHS & PHCS Counsellor) • Angeline Kong (Payroll Officer & HR Officer) • Phil McDougall (IT Support/AV Technician) • Bronwyn O’Neil (Science Assistant Faculty Head)

• Stephanie Tondl (Yr 3 Advisor) • Brittany Walker (Kindergarten Yr Advisor) • Laura Wright (Science Faculty Head Teacher) • Philip Young (Head of Creative & Sustainable Innovations)

HOPE THROUGH STRUGGLE WENDY MORAN TEC Senior Administrator

The Pacific Group of Schools commences each year with a celebration event, the Hope Conference. Staff come together in community and enjoy Bible teaching, worship, fellowship and professional learning and development. The theme of Hope Conference always draws the community together and focuses us in a common direction. Little did we know how profound our choice of theme (Hope Through Perseverance) would be for navigating 2020.

At our Hope Conference we were blessed to start each day with our very own worship bands made up of the talented musicians and singers from the Pacific Group of Schools. The guest devotional speakers treated us to Biblical insights, encouraging us through God’s Word. Amongst the many workshops that were run to help professional development at our Hope Conference, we had four key-note speakers who showed us the many faces of suffering and how we can persevere in Jesus. Karsten Lauenroth (Principal of the Evangelical Georg Müller School in Germany) and his wife Heike shared their stories of unimaginable loss. Through great vulnerability in baring their souls, they not only taught us it is possible to persevere through struggles that rip you apart, they were a living model of two people who wrestled with the issues of reconciling a loving God who allowed their suffering, but finally concluding God is trustworthy. Pastor Will Dumas (Pacific Group Aboriginal Liaison Advisor) shared with us about the journey of “Struggle to Victory”. Will passionately helped us to see the possibility of the pathway to victory in times of struggle.

Andrew Jessimer (School Counsellor at Pacific Hope School) equipped us with valuable strategies in “Putting Our Oxygen Masks on First” so we are prepared and able to persevere and endure the struggles of life. Kaya Lombaard, Assistant Lead Principal of the Pacific Regional Schools, gave us a framework for teaching Christianly in the classroom and offered us a foundation upon which to build a Biblically based scaffold to deliver the message of hope as the curriculum is taught through the lens of Christianity. Each speaker presented a perspective of perseverance in the face of life’s struggles and fused together a Biblical portrait of how real people can have hope in the midst of struggle. They showed us that perseverance is possible and that God shapes our faith as we endure in intimate partnership with Jesus, Who authors and perfects our faith. On day three of our professional development, the Pacific Group of Schools undertook the PeaceWise training course. The course was exceptional in providing the community with the Biblical tools for pursuing both peace and reconciliation in all relationships. All in all, Hope Conference was a rich time of fellowship and preparation for everyone to start the year together, embracing the call to persevere with great hope, in and through all things, as we walk with the one person, Jesus who can secure us in all seasons of life.

DEVOTION: ARE YOU A GOOD LISTENER? KLAUS KNOBLOCH Director, Pacific Hope School

We read in the book of James that there is a particular quality needed that greatly helps us to go through trials. This quality is the ability to listen well to God and others. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19) A very important skill that students will need in life is the ability to listen. Listening isn’t easy and it is a skill that must be explicitly taught and modelled by parents and teachers alike. Are you a good listener yourself? Do you actually stop what you are doing and intently listen when others want to tell you about their joys and challenges? If not, remember that as a teacher/parent your students/children will copy your listening and communication skills from the moment they start in your class.

“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Jesus wasn’t creating a new law here. He was merely agreeing with and expounding on an Old Testament law. James calls it the ‘royal’ law to emphasise its supreme value to God.

Most students would rather talk than listen because they have the natural tendency to be heard. Students will interrupt, yell and talk over each other, often resulting in misunderstandings and arguments. Teaching children how to listen is one way to help them become less selfish.

Listening well is also part of any conflict resolution which is also strongly modelled by the way you interact with your students. You will be amazed how much students pick up by simply watching you. Conflict is turned into cooperation through listening. As an educator, you have many opportunities to teach the valuable skill of listening to your students. There is a great saying that goes like this:

As teachers, it is our ultimate goal for our students to become compassionate and dedicated followers of Christ, who have the ability to reflect selfless love for others. This needs to be taught over many years. The characteristic of being selfless is one of the most important traits any Christian can have. It is so significant that Jesus said it is the second most important of all God’s commandments:

Do you know why God gave us two ears and only one mouth? It’s because God wants you to listen twice as much as you can talk.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?

beliefs and values. The course features three one-hour sessions which are held once a week:

Would you like to know more about ‘Christian education’? Want to know how the Pacific Group of Schools are unique in the way we present Christ-infused curriculum learning in an environment of community and grace?

• Why Choose A Christian School?

The Parent Induction Course delivered by The Excellence Centre (on the Pacific Hills campus) enables families at all of our locations who are new to School, or those who are considering enrolling their sons and daughters in the future, to find out more about us. Friendly and informative.

These sessions are wonderful opportunities to find out more about us, understand what students experience, and to ask questions and share with other parents.

• How Will My Child Learn At A Christian School? • How Is A Christian School Different To The Local School?

For more information contact The Excellence Centre on info@theexcellencecentre.com.au

Discover how teachers, non-teaching staff and parents and carers of our students collaborate to create an excellent educational experience for our students. Find out more about the unique Christ-centred learning community and the vision to raise students whose characters are formed through effective teaching and learning and serving opportunities anchored in Biblical

one is unique. We aim to teach each child, so that they can progress and achieve success in a challenging environment and stimulating learning environment. We aim to care for each and every child, we want them to be safe, supported and valued for who they are.”

2020: AN EXCITING YEAR!

PACIFIC BROOK ACQUIRES LAND

DAVID O’HARA

The announcement was met with unanimous applause as the community of Pacific Brook Christian School heard for the first time that a block of land has been purchased for future expansion.

Principal, Pacific Brook Christian School

Principal David O’Hara has overseen the Muswellbrook based school joining the Pacific Group of Schools and experiencing phenomenal growth in enrolments. This year sees the School adding a Year 7 class and Middle School. “Research has shown that children aged 10-14 years learn significantly differently to younger children, and also differently to students who are older. Middle School recognises this and strives to meet the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs of students in this age group.” “At the same time, we will still operate Junior School, giving children a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy in a caring and supportive Christian educational environment. This makes for the ideal way for children to begin their formal learning adventure. We aim to know each child, recognising that each

Pacific Brook is located in the heart of Muswellbrook on a relatively small, sloping block which doesn’t allow for growth. The School has experienced significant growth since joining the Pacific Group of Schools two years ago. It launched Middle School in 2020 and every year forward it will introduce a new grade until celebrating its first Year 12 intake in 2025. The only way to accommodate all of these students was to move. The new block, which is approximately 2.4 hectares in size, is situated on the main road in and out of town not far from the TAFE campus, meaning it is highly visible to the local residents. An application for rezoning and a development application have been lodged with the government.

MOTHER’S DAY Loving kindness with a personal touch is how students from Pacific Brook celebrated Mother’s Day. They created big colourful bunches of flowers and then delivered them to each family’s letterbox (contactless delivery).

HOMEWORK & HELP Pacific Brook has launched a new initiative designed to provide students with extra support for completing their schoolwork. The Homework & Help Club is being trialled on Thursday afternoons and runs for an hour. It is available to Years 3-7.

Pacific Brook Christian School

DOUG ZYLSTRA Dean of Curriculum, Head of English, Pacific Coast Christian School

Doug has returned to Pacific Coast Christian School after spending the last couple of years living in Indonesia. His new role is a fantastic challenge. He is developing a seamless high quality curriculum across the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. Plus, he is working alongside our teaching staff to help them improve their skills. “I love the work that our School does, giving an opportunity for everyone in this area to have a Christian education.”

GREEN THUMBS & FOODIES Making the planet more sustainable for future generations is the challenge facing Year 7’s from Pacific Coast. The new-to-2020 Agriculture & Food class includes finding a way to grow plants in a system that is portable, self-watering and made from recycled materials.

ANDREW PAULY Head of Senior School, Pacific Coast Christian School

Andrew was a part of our Pacific Coast community about a decade ago and, after working at a couple of nearby Christian colleges, he is back to oversee our Senior School. “I have a sincere passion for meeting your child where they are at and walking the final years of their school journey to achieve all that God has planned for them.” Andrew’s family includes wife Sonya and two year old Eli.

Pacific Coast Christian School

The fun is not limited to the garden. Back in the kitchen the students are creating such delicious meals as Mother Nature’s Tasty Pasta and Sticky Thai Lettuce Cups with Pepperberries.

ACCELERATED LEARNING

Our students are collaborating with other students from Magdalene Catholic College in Sydney, and they will all compete under the new team name, Celestial.

Who would have thought that a STEM competition would provide some of our Pacific students with the opportunity to represent their nation?

The students designed and made a very quick miniature F1 car for the National Final, clocking the third fastest time, and their challenge now is to re-design the car to the higher standards of the global showdown. They also have to upgrade their technical portfolios, pit display, verbal presentation and marketing to a whole new level.

The students from Pacific Hills have been selected to be part of Team Australia which will be competing against 50 other countries at the F1 in Schools World Final at Singapore.

Given that this is their final year at Pacific Hills, having to prepare for the HSC, they are going to be quite busy! And, it will be worth it. The team which is named World Champions of F1 in Schools receives scholarships to study at a university in London!

Lachlan Vos, Lachlan George, Joshua Kan, Sam Kirkegard and Jemma Swaak are members of a team called Frontier Racing which finished fourth at the National Final of this global ScienceTechnologies-Engineering-Maths program – on their first attempt. Managing to go from Regional Final to State Final to National Final to World Final in the first year of competition is an exclusive ‘club’ with very few members.

Teachers Greg Conway and Gloria Quee have devoted many hours to supporting this campaign and couldn’t be happier. “We are absolutely thrilled that Frontier Racing is representing Australia and Pacific Hills at the F1 in Schools World Final 2020. We are very proud of each team member who has worked extremely hard, challenged and extended themselves.”

Pacific Hills Christian School

PERFORMING ONLINE Self-isolation has not been an obstacle for our Dural based Performing Arts Centre, the OneMaker Academy, which was one of the first in the state to go online. “We quickly trained all 25 of our music, dance and drama teachers on how to run online lessons and started right away”, explained Senior Dance Tutor Ashley Brown. OMA is delivering more than 60 dance classes, 160 private music lessons and a weekly drama class via video. Not only are the students enjoying it but so are their parents... “I’m so pleased that my daughter is able to continue ballet from home. It means a great deal to her.” “We really appreciate all your hard work and are so grateful for OneMaker and the staff for still offering the chance for kids to dance from home.” “Thank you for putting so much work into making sure the students can still dance at home! It has been fantastic and really gives them something to look forward to in the afternoons. We really appreciate it!!”

THANK YOU! We are thankful for the many positive responses we have received from parents during this time of learning at home... “Please pass on our gratitude to all the teachers, staff and Dr Boyce for supporting our families and students so beautifully at this time. I am very impressed with the online learning platforms and the engagement the teachers are creating for my daughters and their peers.” “Knowing we have the safe support of the school community is making a confusing time much more reassuring.”

Pacific Hills Christian School

RYAN LEADS 7-LOVE! He might only be 11 years of age, but Ryan Kwok is proving a formidable opponent on the tennis court. The Year 6 Pacific Hills student is currently the number one ranked CIS (Combined Independent Schools) player in NSW for his age group! The budding sportsman trains weekly at the Tennis Australia National Academy. His biggest accomplishment to date was being one of only four kids selected by Tennis NSW to attend the Australian Open for the Super 10’s National Camp. Ryan continued his momentum by making it into the CIS trials where he won all seven of his matches! This achievement was made even more special because Ryan is the first ever one-handed backhand player to make it into the CIS team. “I’d like to be one of those well-known players like Roger Federer and get world grand slams.”

MATHEMATICAL PROBABILITY

BOUNCING HER WAY TO THE TOP

What are the chances of an entire Maths class getting 100% in the HSC exams? A perfect score! This happened at Pacific Hills and what made it amazing was that some of those students were Year 11 students sitting Year 12 Augustine Maths. A significant percentage also achieved top bands for Extension 1 Maths!

Tahlia Geelan has achieved a rare feat for a person of her age. The Pacific Hills 12 year old has represented Australia in international sport and stood on the winner’s dais. Tahlia competed at the FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Tokyo and despite badly injuring her foot before leaving Australia, and having disruptions to her regular training schedule, she still managed to finish in second place!

Sharni Selzer said she was helped by her faith in God and her teacher’s (Mr Royston Lee) belief in her abilities. “The impossible things became possible: balancing Maths and my other subjects, serving in church, playing tennis, completing my Silver Duke of Edinburgh, working, applying for leadership and achieving a band 6 for Mathematics. For me, the aim of my Augustine journey was not to achieve a first rank or to get 100% on an exam, instead my focus was on enjoying the journey, the friendships I made and learning all I could through the experience.”

Her other major achievements include taking out two national titles and winning the Under 13 category – despite only being 10 at the time! Tahlia trains for 10 hours a week and also enjoys athletics, cross country, bike riding, soccer and swimming.

For Saki Yoshizumi, her favourite thing to do as a class was pray before going into the exams.

What a blessing it is when School staff partner with parents.

“We would huddle together outside the classroom. The teachers prayed for us too before they started the timer.”

Helen McDougall (Board Member, Past Student Parent )

Pacific Hills Christian School

MISSION REPORT: CAMBODIA Mission trips by teachers, students and parents have been a core part of the culture of Pacific Hills Christian School for decades, and the most recent journey to Cambodia once again highlighted why they are so important. To others and to us. Teacher Patrick Lai said it was an amazing experience to worship with other believers, reflect upon the goodness of God and to see Him at work within the team. “We saw a lot of poverty which was heart breaking. In our lives we have so much and it is easy to feel guilty, but I think the right response is to be thankful for our blessings and to actively try to resist the sin that we see in the world. I can’t solve the problems of the world, but I can do my part.” The team visited Jesus Village Church in Phnom Penh and joined them in worship – despite not being able to understand the Khmer language. They taught at a school, visited local families, and saw the work of Samaritan’s Purse (which included a birthing centre and providing water filters to ensure fresh water) and joined in their Operation Christmas Child. “I was always moved by the love the Cambodians showed us even after all they have been put through. We gave out Christmas boxes and seeing the kids smiles when they opened their boxes was a great experience. They wouldn’t stop smiling over something as simple as a toothbrush or a skipping rope”, said student Ethan Glanville. Sophia Yi mentioned another highlight of the trip. “We went to a school and painted a mural. It was a rainbow with a cross on the hill and we wrote ‘Jesus Loves You’ in Khmer. We told them the story of Creation. It was incredible to see a story that we’ve heard for years being told to children who have never heard it. Seeing them smile and reply to questions and the joy in their faces was heart warming.” The trip had a profound effect on Siena Heptonstall. “God showed me on this trip that we don’t need materialistic things to be happy or fulfilled. The people we saw in Cambodia had barely anything but still were grateful for what they had. This showed me that we should be grateful for what God has given us.” Georgia Wang said the mission trip helped her to decide on her future. “I want to study medicine and hopefully go into neurology studies. The lack of equipment and professionally trained doctors in Cambodia made me want to serve in places like this, rather than in big hospitals in Australia where they have efficient equipment and facilities. I feel like this was God pushing me further into my goals.”

Pacific Hills Christian School

DRIVE THROUGH WITH A DIFFERENCE!

BAULKHAM HILLS TO BOSTON Year 9 student Katrise Folland is bound for the United States because of her passion for ballet. She has been accepted into the prestigious International Summer Dance Program at the Boston Ballet School.

It’s not every day you see your teacher dressed as a kangaroo, clown or wearing a fluoro tutu and afro wig...but believe it or not, that is exactly what the Middle School staff at Pacific Hills did! It was all in the name of having some fun whilst distributing Term 2 home learning packs to parents.

Katrise started dancing at the age of three and a half, after having been born with inwardly turned feet. A family friend suggested that ballet could gradually push out Katrise’s bones, as children’s feet are malleable up until the age of five. The plan worked and the hard work since has clearly paid off for Katrise. She has danced with the Queensland Ballet Summer School and competed nationally.

The teachers, dressed in their wackiest and most colourful costumes, bopped along to music while handing out the packs. “It was so good to see all our kids’ smiling faces. We had so many thankyou’s from parents and even tears from a couple of mums! Some beautiful parents dropped off chocolates and Krispy Kreme donuts. We had so much fun. We’re so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community full of care and joy”, said teacher Amity O’Connor.

One reason why Katrise is heading to Boston is because they celebrate diversity through ballet, meaning her “differences” such as her Filipino heritage and height will be celebrated, rather than looked upon negatively. “I’ve been at dance competitions and it’s been implied that I don’t fit the ballerina mould”, said Katrise.

One parent told them, “I was moved greatly by the loving care and attention to the resources packs which I delighted in collecting. So well organised, so generous and so much fun!”

Other parents said... “How cool is it when your teacher dresses up as a kangaroo to hand you your remote learning pack!” “We love our school community and our awesome teachers so much. Thank you Year 5 teachers - you rock.” “We are new to the school and were so happy to see the lengths that you go to!” “The Freddo Frog and paper aeroplanes made my son really smile. Thank you.” “It was excellent, I got emotional as I was so touched by the teachers’ efforts.”

Keep loving time with God and trust Him always. John Ezzy (Alumni)

“We’re missing you and praying for you all.”

Pacific Hills Christian School

“It was a wonderful blessing to hear their stories of what the Lord had taught them about being a Christian teacher.”

The visits to the Promise International School and the Promise National School were a great blessing to see the joy in the children’s faces as they are educated in these Christ-centred schools where they experience the love of Jesus through His people. The Promise International School is struggling to get experienced teachers to teach their secondary curriculum. We need to trust God continually to raise up committed teachers who are called to this place.

HELEN BLANCH TEC Senior Consultant

I have had the privilege of participating with Transform The Nations through the Christian Education Development Program in the Kachin region of Myanmar. The Transform The Nations team have been teaching their Effective Teaching and Learning Series (ETLS) over five years, hosted by the Kachin Foundation.

My deep gratitude goes to the Christian Education Development Program for this opportunity to participate in this wonderful ministry of growing teachers. I was blessed and grew in my own professional practice and rejoiced in seeing firsthand what God is doing in this nation.

The Kachin Foundation represents the Kachin area which is traditionally Christian and has about thirty Church schools. The training of teachers has been an effective ministry to share what it means to be truly Christian and then to fulfil their calling as one who is formed by Christ.

Helen is a member of The Excellence Centre and presents the same ETLS course to staff in the Pacific Group of Schools and other schools across Australia.

PARENT PRAYER FELLOWSHIPS BIL GHALI

love can look like. It’s also something we witness most days in Pacifica - our School’s café.

Community Fellowship Coordinator

There is a wonderful connectivity that happens when believers commune together and intentionally include Christ in their gathering. At PHCS we have a number of weekly gatherings where we can experience this kind of community. Most of us who participate are active and busy people involved in our own churches and juggling the many aspects of life. Nevertheless, we choose to make time for intentional fellowship with one another and the Lord.

It all begins with a single decision. The choice to engage despite all the reasons not to. At first, it feels unfamiliar, even uncomfortable. Soon, however, you realise you are with family. God’s family. It’s precious. It’s sacred. It’s an oasis! You begin to relax and to trust, and you realise God is using this family to grow you. We call it “fellowship”. The heart of Christian Community is caring and sharing of lives in Christ. This is fellowship and it’s one of the earliest pillars of Christianity. In Scripture we read that the first believers met together daily with glad and sincere hearts. Together, they ate and prayed and studied. They shared their possessions so that none were left in need. It’s a beautiful picture of what communal

Pacific Hills Christian School

Why? Honestly, because life is better together. Together we laugh and cry, hope and pray, celebrate and mourn, question and learn, and drink way too much coffee! But, together, we are definitely better. It all begins with a single decision – the choice to engage.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

IN APPRECIATION... We are always appreciative of the feedback that we receive from families when their children graduate from our Schools. These are just a few of the hundreds of comments that we receive...

COLIN LEES Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

“Thank you! All my three children have said that going to PHCS was the best thing I ever did for them and all the sacrifice to get there was worth it.”

When significant effort is made towards a goal, and major challenges are overcome, the joy of the achievement becomes all the sweeter. Often the quality of the celebration is a reflection of the level of striving and aspiration one makes to attain a goal.

“We couldn’t have been happier with the School. The staff have been supportive and have helped my son develop into the young man he is becoming.”

This was certainly the case for students, Augusta Bothma and Freya Sinclair, when they were awarded their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Both girls committed substantial time and effort in physical activities, learned skills, service to the community, adventurous journeys and a five day residential project. Augusta and Freya received their awards from the Governor of NSW, Margaret Beasley AO QC.

“Grateful for the strong Christian values taught and modelled by the teachers and students and staff.” “We are very thankful to God that we were able to send our son to this School from Kindy to Year 12. Very happy with the tuition, Christian development and service he received.”

For the Gold Adventurous Journeys, Augusta trekked the magnificent and challenging Routeburn and Kepler Tracks in New Zealand, whilst Freya sea kayaked through coves, natural harbours and islands in Clayoquot Sound at Vancouver Island, Canada. Augusta worked as a volunteer in a hospital café and Freya in the Air Force Cadets at the Richmond RAAF base.

“The quality of your teachers is outstanding and their commitment to the students is above and beyond what we could have hoped for.” “The teachers and staff have passionately taught their subjects, modelled their faith and encouraged service and mission – areas our daughter has thoroughly enjoyed.”

Augusta is at university studying Social Work, whilst Freya has taken some time out to decide on her future directions.

“Placing my child in a Christian environment has reassured me that our daughter has grown and strengthened her faith. I’ve always felt reassured that my child was safe.” “We really appreciate that PHCS is a mission-minded School.”

CEDP SLOWDOWN DR STEPHEN J FYSON Pacific Hills Special Consultant

The global pandemic is having a widespread impact on how we live our lives including one activity which is central to our vision of spreading Christian education around the world. That area is the Christian Education Development Program. The slowing down of the Christian Education Development Program in 2020 is a significant lost opportunity for our staff. I was involved in two CEDP ventures at the end of last year and they provided invaluable opportunities for three of our senior teachers to explore the depths of our ministry (by preparing their material to share) and the breadth of the ministry (through fellowship with our brothers and sisters in such different contexts). The ventures clarified and reinforced the heart of our work at the Pacific Group of Schools plus they helped the staff to “put things in perspective”, as they expressed it. That is, they were reminded of how the things that we regard as “issues” all pale into relative insignificance given the pioneer work of these brethren of ours living and working in more hostile contexts. None of this renewalist work (as per Romans 12:1-2) could be achieved whilst staying in our normal activities.

Pacific Hills Christian School

YEAR 5’S IN A LANE OF THEIR OWN Matilda McMahon-Willott from Pacific Valley starts every school day with a five kilometre swim, and three days each week she travels to Lismore to train in the afternoon. Her dedication resulted in winning six events at the School Swimming Carnival, being named Age Champion, going to Zone where she finished first and second in every event, then competing at the State level. Pacific Valley said “We have loved seeing Matilda striving towards her goals and accomplishing so much at such a young age. With hard work and perseverance we know that she will be someone to watch.”

BUSHFIRE FUNDRAISING

Ryan Chai from Pacific Hills is a similar age and he also seems to be unstoppable in the pool, having taken out the Age Champion in the Christian Schools Sports Association Zone Swimming. The Year 5 student was first introduced to the sport when he was six after having a pool party and not knowing how to swim. These days he trains four days a week.

When Pacific Valley Middle School held their first Mission and Service fundraising activity for 2020 it was to help victims of the bushfires which ravaged through the Northern Rivers region.

“I love swimming, it’s fun when you hit the cold refreshing water on a hot sunny day.”

The students were inspired by Matthew 20:28 which says, “Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Ice cream splits were the order of the day as students eagerly donated $2 for their tasty treats. The funds were sent to the Nymboida Recovery Hub, southwest of Townsend. This support hub was set up to help local residents affected by the fires, including the 90 families who lost their homes.

Play time is even better at Pacific Valley with the completion of the new playground.

Pacific Valley Christian School

at Port Hedland – Toni took on the role of Head of Creative Arts before deciding to head east to Shark Creek near Maclean. Toni started out by home schooling her children before placing them into Pacific Valley Christian School. This connection led to her being asked to do some casual teaching and the Principal invited her to take on the role of Dean of Curriculum. The most recent change has seen Toni become the Head of Senior School. RICHARD SANSOM

“With the introduction of the Middle School and having just had our 10th Anniversary, it is a new era and to be a part of that is a weighty challenge and a humbling opportunity. We have a very strong School Leadership Team this year who are very committed and united in the vision of the School. The teaching and support staff are a hardworking, fabulous team with which to work. I am really looking forward to the growing of the students, staff and School into the next decade.”

Head of Middle School, Pacific Valley Christian School

The latest addition to the leadership team at “The Valley”, coinciding with the launch of Middle School, is Richard Sansom who originally comes from The Apple Isle. He taught in Launceston for ten years before becoming Principal of Hinterland Christian College in Mullumbimby. Ten years later, Richard returned to his homeland to be Head of Middle School at Launceston Christian School. Now back on the North Coast, Mr Sansom is excited to be serving the Pacific Valley community in leading the establishment and growth of our new Middle School. Away from teaching, Richard has two key interests: music and Aussie Rules football. He is an accomplished musician who has played in many bands, along with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and he has been a fan of the Hawthorn Hawks since the age of five. Richard is married to Kim, who is also a teacher, and has five children: Lilli, Mia, Abel, Olive and Daisy. Welcome to The Valley!

FUN AND ADVENTURE

TONI MCCOSKER-ANKERSMIT Head of Senior School, Dean of Curriculum, Pacific Valley Christian School

School camps are always an exciting time of fun and challenging activities mingled with learning, building valuable friendships and getting to know God. Stage 5 and 6 students from Pacific Valley enjoyed a variety of activities when they visited QCCC Tambourine and the Moreton Island Wilderness Camp... sandboarding, snorkelling the Tangalooma wreck, night fishing, hiking to the lighthouse, exploring Bulwer Wreck, a high ropes course, team building challenges, tree tops challenge, getting soaked at Wet ‘n’ Wild…and an epic paintball battle! The daily programs also involved devotional times.

Before arriving in Maclean, Toni’s life journey had taken her from country NSW to Sydney and across three continents – Europe, Africa and Central America. Toni grew up in Inverell and embarked on a teaching career at Sydney and the Central Coast – starting off with pre-schoolers and then moving to the very different world of high school. She returned home to become Head of Visual Arts at the local high school. Her external interests led to her becoming President of the Art Gallery and a member of the Shire Council’s Drug Advisory Committee.

The School said the camps were a great time of community with one another and beneficial for encouraging healthy relationships and for developing Christian values.

Then came the desire to go overseas. As well as travelling across Europe, Toni’s adventure included working in a Mexican orphanage and at a school in Tanzania. Back on home soil –

Pacific Valley Christian School

VALLEY HOPE SCHOOL APPOINTS DIRECTOR Nathan Murray has been promoted from Head Teacher to Director of the Valley Hope School, at Townsend, which caters for children with a moderate level of intellectual delay or who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. “It is a great privilege for me to lead a capable team of staff who are committed to relying on God, while seeking to demonstrate and share His love with the students. Valley Hope School is a welcoming and friendly school environment. We had a student encourage his friend to attend and we hope these kinds of invitations continue to happen because students realise that they are well known and loved by us and God. Also, we want our students to view our school as an attractive and enjoyable place to learn about themselves, the world around them, and the God Who made it all.”

IS IT A BIRD... IS IT A PLANE...?

Nathan enjoys being part of a Christian school community.

We’ve seen how Technology has become integrated in the classroom including interactive boards, laptops, tablets and online learning plans. Could you ever have imagined that drones would be added to the mix?

“Being the smallest School in the Group we are thankful for the significant support received from staff from the other Schools.”

Students at Valley Hope School have been enjoying educational drones which enable them to learn Technology outcomes including basic coding. They progressed through licensing levels to prove they were able to safely control the miniature quadcopters. iPads and dedicated controllers made it possible to navigate through obstacles and perform stunts. The students can also use their drones to capture photos and record videos and create multimedia presentations.

Pacific Hills laid the foundation for my beliefs, my identity and who I am today. It shaped me. Ivan Yip (Alumni)

VALLEY HOPE TURNS 3 It was celebration time in the Valley in May with our Special Needs School thanking God for three years of His grace and goodness. Director Nathan Murray thanked the staff and community of both Valley Hope and Pacific Valley who have contributed to the growth of this amazing School.

Valley Hope School

AN OUTSTANDING EFFORT When Nathaniel Baker attended New Hope School (he graduated in 2019) he was well known for his sporting prowess both on the field and in the pool. His multiple achievements have been formally recognised by Combined Independent Schools which presented him with their Outstanding Secondary Contribution Award. Nathaniel is one of only five individuals who have received the award. Others include Australian cricketers Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy. Nathaniel is a remarkable athlete who first competed in the CIS Athletics Championships in 2009, before going on to swimming and cross country. He represented CIS at Christian Schools Sports Association and All Schools Championships and, in total, has achieved 29 Championships! Nathaniel has all the qualities of a sportsman including determination, enthusiasm and his striving to achieve bigger and better objectives. He also enjoys soccer, cricket and basketball.

CIVIL CONDUCT

I am so glad how God keeps giving us skilful people who get the vision and want to bring glory to God.

Congratulations go to Pacific Hope School student, Jack Donaldson, who has completed two units of training in operating excavation machinery. Jack has passed Conduct Civil Construction Skid Steer Loader Operations and Conduct Civil Construction Excavator Operations.

Dr Tina Lamont (Lead Principal, Pacific Regional Schools)

New Hope School

Pacific Hope School

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. JAMES 1:2-3 NIV

PACIFIC HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — PACIFIC COAST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL PACIFIC VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — PACIFIC BROOK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL NEW HOPE SCHOOL — PACIFIC HOPE SCHOOL — VALLEY HOPE SCHOOL