PACIFIC
A F R EE P ublication of Pacific Hills C h rist ian Sc h o o l
MEANINGFUL MILESTONES TIME LINE & MARKERS • PHILIPPINES TAYLORS REACH • CAMBODIA
Winter 2014
PACIFIC
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School Days
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Celebrating Community
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Remember To Remember
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Cambodian Mission
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Philippines Mission
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Celebrating 35 Years
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Kids Matter
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Meaningful Milestones
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Looking To Serve
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South East Asia Mission
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Paama Exchange
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Alumni
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Taylors Reach
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Sport
ON THE COVER Ashley Maturure Year 6. LEFT This mixed media artwork is by Grace Cho, Year 11, and is inspired by Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton. Pacific Streams is produced by Pacific Hills Christian School for school families and the school community. Pacific Hills Christian School 9 Quarry Road Dural NSW 2158 Phone: (02) 9651 0700 Fax: (02) 9651 3513 Web: www.pacifichills.net Email: pacificstreams@pacifichills.net An activity of Pacific Hills Education Limited ABN 001 832 282 CRICOS 04230G.
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In this Five things to discover in this issue of Pacific Streams
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1.
See a view to the mountains from a drone above the School.
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Grandmas, grandpas, mums, dad, cousins – most of us have them. There’s one family in our school with a long reach.
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Forgetting and remembering – it happens to us all – but does it matter?
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Tim Evans discovered a passion for telling stories through film as a student at Pacific Hills now he ….
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Handsome is as handsome does or at least for this PacHills team.
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School Days THINGS THAT HAPPENED Parley with the Pollies We are inspired by our student leaders, who joined with students from other schools, and headed for State Parliament and a parley with the pollies as guests of Matt Kean MP.
Born for water He’s fast. He’s disciplined. He’s in Year 5. He’s Stephen Jeong, the State Age Champion in 50 metre Butterfly for NSW Primary Schools Sports Association and …. he’s off to the Nationals in July..
Sport Proteges What you see here are three high achieving athletes. First in their age and multi-class groups at CSSA Cross Country Carnival.
Cupcakeorama Cupcake craze! Which one would you choose? 1200 cupcakes – spot the difference. One of these cakes is not like the other, one of these cakes just doesn’t belong!
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Once upon a time, 35 years ago It started with an idea three and a half decades ago. Now 35 years later, we celebrate the School’s Anniversary.
Pacific Hills Christian School CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY Dr E J Boyce Principal We thank God for the community of Pacific Hills Christian School. This community commenced with eight children and one teacher in one room in an orphanage under the name Pennant Hills Christian School. The opening of the School took place on 21 May 1979. Exactly seven years later the students and the staff relocated to the current site at Quarry Road, Dural. The School has grown strongly to be a community of approximately 1200 students with more than 130 staff. The School is well-known and highly respected in areas of academics, pastoral care, sport, culture and service. We thank God for all of those involved from the beginning until now. Pacific Hills is not an institution but rather it is a community of people of the common Christian faith. The School community is staffed by a transdenominational group of men and women, both on the School Board and on the staff, whose first purpose is to bring glory to God by acknowledging God’s place in the life of the School and through serving people in the wider community as an act of worship to God. Pacific Hills has been seeking God’s will in all aspects of its ministry from the enrolment of students to the training of staff and parents in the foundations of Christian Education. The Bible is the key text for life for us and we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body, which is Pacific Hills Christian School. The story of Pacific Hills is a story of dependency on God for personnel, for funds, for resources, for facilities and for opportunities. Therefore we have learnt to trust God who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. We have received so much from God’s hand as a Christian school community and so we believe that we should reach out in service of others. Indeed we take literally the command as given to us from God in 1 Peter 4: 10-11 which states: “Each one should use whatever gifts received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks that person should do so as if speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, that person should do so with the strength that God provides so that in all things God will be praised. To Him be the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen” Pacific Hills has consistently enrolled students of all different ability levels from very slow learners to very advanced learners. Our reasons for this are biblical and simple. We believe that God has created every human in His Image, which means that they are all equal in value. Furthermore we believe that Christ died for the sins of all people and therefore again each of us is equal in worth with one another. As God sees us as equal in value, so we as a Christian school community should see all of our students as equal in value and therefore we should care for them according to the resources that God has given to us. As a Christian school community we celebrate God’s goodness to us and we are thankful that we live life together here as fellow travellers on the journey of life under God’s sovereign provision and protection. As I observe the attitudes, words and actions of many of our students I am touched by the maturity of their faith for ones so young. Over the years I have also observed so many staff being gradually transformed towards the likeness of Christ. God’s provisions have never failed in the areas of land, resources and personnel. However, we have needed to pray, we continue to pray, and we need to pray more. As we look to the future our trust must always be in God as we continue in our fellowship with each other and our service to all those that God brings across our path.
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1989
Berlin Wall comes down Tiananmen Square Massacre
1986
Space Shuttle Challenger explodes; Chernobyl disaster
1980
PacMan John Lennon dies
1983 Enrolment 200+
1979
1989
Pennant Hills Christian School 21st May 1979
1989
Mr Water Dr Knowles Mrs Cadwallader
1979
Soviet Union Dissolves Operation Desert Storm
Bicentenary Celebrations
1985
First Year 7 23 students
1991
1988
Dr Boyce appointed Principal
Mr Oliver First Principal
Middle School Commences
Enrolment 580
1985
1981
1981
1994
1994
Newcastle earthquake
1991
Bionic Ear
1983
Australia II Bob Hawke PM
1986
Move to Quarry Rd First Yr 12
1990
Mandela President of South Africa
Paul Keating PM
Hubble Space Telescope launched Nelson Mandela Free
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First Mission trip
remember to remember I AM GOD, THERE IS NONE LIKE ME, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING. Isaiah 46:10 Brendan Corr Assistant Principal, Pacific Hills Remembering and forgetting are distinctly human qualities. They are the product of being rational creatures existing within the flow of time. Despite our best intentions – even those as are expressed in the Psalm above of remembering the works of God - our memories can often fail us and our forgetfulness can so easily betray us. God, our Creator, understands so well how we are made and how we function and graciously sets in place instructions and
commandments that make best use of the best of our human qualities. He understands our tendency to forget and the things that we can do to help us remember. It was always God’s way to have His people initiate rites and rituals that would serve to help them remember. The provision of the Law that was to govern so much of the details of the lives of the People of Israel – laws about what they could eat and what they could wear and when they could work – were all to be symbols for the people that reminded them of the place of God in their lives. A wonderfully clear example of this is the story that describes Israel’s entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. This is recorded in the book of Joshua and it shows so very well how God uses our human makeup to help us look to Him. After miraculously passing through the Red Sea when leaving Egypt and divinely receiving the Ten Commandments at Sinai, the people of Israel spent 40 years wandering in the desert. When they came again to the border of the Promised Land they had to somehow cross the Jordan River. In an encore performance God miraculously
2008
2004
1998
Pacific Coast & Pacific Valley commence
Boxing Day Tsunami Facebook
Titanic the movie
2001
2007
9/11 Twin Towers Attack Wikipedia launched
1998
2002
1996
John Howard PM Port Arthur massacre
George Bush US President
NSW State of Origin series win
2002
Senior School & Western Oval completed
2011
2008
Japanese Earthquake & Nuclear disaster
“Sorry”
First mission to Kenya & Romania
Tony Abbott PM
2010
2006
Bali bombing
2000
2013
First iPhone
Prep Commences
2000 Quarry Rd Traffic lights
1996
MPC Completed & opened
1999
Columbine massacre
2005 2002
2007
2011
First Mission to China
PAC completed
Sydney Olympics best ever
Nelson Mandela Dies
2010
Apple iMac
2000
2013
Kevin Rudd PM
Julia Gillard PM
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Global Financial Crisis
parted the Jordan River to allow the people to cross on dry land.
us to Him, to remind us of who He is and what He has done.
As they crossed the now dry river bed God commanded Joshua to take 12 large stones from the middle of the Jordan River and to use them to form a pillar on the other side. The reason for this, God explained, was that forever after the children of each generation would see the pillar of stones and ask their parents “Why are these stones here, what do they mean?” The parents would then be able to recount the story of God’s miraculous intervention to work for His people. In this way, decade after decade, generation after generation, were reminded of this thing that God had done. The nation would not forget because they were ceremoniously reminded to remember.
Special events and ceremonies - rituals such as anniversaries – serve communities and are essential in helping them recall the things of their history and of their culture that most importantly remembered.
Jesus used the same strategy in perhaps the most significant memory-marker of all time. On the night on which He was betrayed He took the bread and the cup and He instituted the ritual of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. In doing so He told those gathered with Him “every time you eat this bread and drink this cup – do so to remember me”. In this way our actions are used to point
Pacific Hills was commenced as a work of faith in God’s vision and provision. To it were called men and women of faith and service. May 21st is one of many symbols in our culture that serve to remind us, as did the “pillars of stones” for Israel. It reminds us all, and allows us to declare once again, that God is with us and has led us and will guide and bless us. Our 35th Birthday events are so much more than mile markers in our school’s development. They are so much more than self-satisfying celebrations. The stories relayed are so much more than nostalgic recollections. They are the intentional means of helping us all to remember God’s place in our school. As for me, when I am part of Pacific Hills 35th birthday events “I will remember the deeds of the Lord”. Won’t you join me.
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cambodia mission I LEARNT THAT GIVING GIVES SO MUCH MORE JOY THAN RECEIVING. Jonathon Parkin Year 8, Pacific Hills In the break between Term 1 and Term 2 I had the privilege of going on the Cambodia Mission. Whilst on the trip I made many great friendships and memories. I think the most important though is the friendship I created with God. I learnt that giving gives so much more joy than receiving, and that God has a plan for each one of us. It was nice to see the joy in this country despite the hardship they face. I think my life and problems have been put in perspective because of this. I now feel as though my relationship with God has strengthened. I have been encouraged to share Him and tell of His glory. Sometimes it is hard to see God here, but there I could see God everywhere in everything. Lachlan Parkin Year 6, Pacific Hills Recently I was lucky enough to go on a life changing experience with the School to a place called Cambodia. I learnt more about God and learnt that our every day problems are small in comparison with what people face in Cambodia. I learnt that God has a plan for me, that I’m special to Him not just unnoticed. I used to feel like I was praying to no one, but now I feel I’m having a conversation with Him. I think that I have grown as a person thanks to
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all the people on the trip as role models like Wayne, Nicola, Rodney and Sapan. I still don’t really understand how the people in Cambodia can be so happy in the struggle they have over there! But I have a feeling it is because God loves them also. I discovered giving really does give more joy than receiving. I really came to understand this giving out the Christmas boxes. You should have seen the little kids smile. And even though it was like 100 degrees and we did a heap of soccer and walking and playing, the thrill of helping really kept us going. Now I know that everyone says this but I do think God has left a part of my heart there. Thanks.
Cambodia Mission Trip 2014: Quick Facts Time: 14th April to 23rd April 2014. Team: two staff members, six students and six parents or family members. Purpose: To visit a range of Samaritan’s Purse projects in Cambodia, learn what we can, help all we can, find out how to provide support from Australia. Places: Phnom Penh, Kampong Chnnang, Poipet, Siem Reap. Projects: Included Teen Challenge, Chickens for Kids, Safe Migration and Trafficking Awareness, Pedals for Pupils, School Building, Water Filters, Church Planting, Skills Training and Prison Fellowship. Verse: Spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed (Isaiah 58:10). Biggest Problem: The heat and humidity! Blessings: Team unity and trust, helping with Christmas Box distribution, safety, meeting amazing people and inspiring pastors, Easter Sunday in a small village church.
philippines mission IT HAS INSPIRED ME TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH MY LIFE. Emily Clancy & Kirsten Fraser Year 11, Pacific Hills How would you describe your friendship? Emily – I would say we are more than best friends. Our relationship is effortless and we literally share a brain. I always know what she’s thinking. Sometimes, when we are hanging out together, we don’t talk to each other for a few hours. There is no need to discuss anything, we just enjoy each other’s company. She always makes me laugh, especially when she does dumb things like climbing over a gate that was unlocked. Kirsten – Emily is family, we do everything together. Her house is like my second home. We are the complete opposites in most things but we also complement each other. For example, we share the same sense of humour. Emily is also always saying silly things like “which actor plays Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies?”. In our friendship, there’s never a dull moment. What is one fond memory you share with each other? Emily – Kirsten and I have lots of traditions. One of our favourites is going for walks around our local area and looking at all the big houses. We comment on everything we like and dislike and what we would change if we were the owners. Kirsten – Emily and I regularly go to the gym together. However, a lot of the time we don’t actually exercise. Instead, we just sit on the couch, listen to the music and watch other people working out. Why did you choose to go on the Philippines Mission trip? Emily – I wanted to go on a mission trip since I came to Senior School. When the opportunity to go on the Philippines Mission trip came up, I felt like everything fell
into place. My parents were keen for me to go and I had been saving money from my casual job. In my heart I felt going on Philippines was the right choice for me. Kirsten – Mr Swainson asked me if I would like to go. It was definitely the right time. Next year I will be doing the HSC and my parents were also very supportive. I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to visit another part of the world and learn about another culture. I didn’t really know much about the Philippines. What was one highlight of the Mission Trip? Emily – We spent three days visiting the Home of Hope Orphanage in Bacolod. Whilst we were there I spent time talking and playing with a little girl called Jean-Rose. I got the chance to really bond with her and that’s an experience that will stay with me forever. Those three days with her were definitely the highlight of my mission trip. Kirsten – One highlight was visiting the Kids At Home Orphanage in Manila. It was such an amazing experience. We were able to spend lots of time there playing basketball and soccer with the kids. Even though we only spent one day there, it is a one I’ll never forget. How did this experience impact you? Emily – Going on this mission trip opened my eyes and changed the way I view the world. The way I think and feel has changed and it has inspired me to do something special with my life. We met so many amazing people. Even though they had a fraction of our wealth, they seemed so joyful with their situation. Since returning from this mission trip, I am remembering daily how blessed we are in Australia. I have also been challenged about using my life to bless and serve others, both here in Australia and abroad. Kirsten – Since going on this mission trip my priorities and perspective on the world has changed. I’ve come to realise the value of family and community through the strong relational ties held by the Filipino people, as well as our own mission team who came to be one big family. This mission trip helped me to learn a lot about myself and has made me aware just how fortunate we are to live in Australia. I hope to be able to continue to make a difference by serving people on future mission trips as well as in my own community.
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kids matter EVERY FACE HAS A PLACE. Bronwyn Wake School Counsellor, Pacific Hills KidsMatter....Kids have always mattered at Pacific Hills and recently we celebrated this in our Junior School. Using the theme ‘Every Face has a Place’ we explored the wonderful differences God has given each one of us, and the different people who are a part of our school community, helping to make it such a great place to be. Our KidsMatter day saw a number of wonderful parent volunteers help each Junior School student to draw their face. The drawings were combined to create a massive panelled artwork with the theme ‘Every Face has a Place’. At lunchtime many more parents joined us on the oval for
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a fun, action packed picnic together. Everyone enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine and the fun games run by our Senior School prefects. The tug of war saw the competitive side of some of our staff exposed! Our day finished with a KidsMatter assembly, filled with lots of fun and singing, celebrating our positive school community and the unique place each one of us have in it. We focussed on the biblical image that each of us has been created to be a different part of the body, with unique gifts and abilities to use to glorify God in different ways. Our parents were also given some information about KidsMatter. KidsMatter is a student wellbeing framework, in which the social and emotional needs of children are highlighted and addressed. KidsMatter allows the current, ongoing wellbeing practices of the Junior School to be focussed on and further explored, and is a national government initiative in which Pacific Hills is participating. Further information can be found at: www.kidsmatter.edu. au
meaningful milestones REACHING MILESTONES AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT. Lauren Graham School Counsellor, Pacific Hills Birthdays and anniversaries; annual events which encompass just some of the markers and milestones in our lives that we check off in succession as the years pass by. While some seem to relish these times as opportunities for celebration and festivity, for others, the thought of publicising or signifying such events can seem daunting, depressing or even self indulgent. As we at Pacific Hills mark the milestone of our thirtyfive years as a school, let me encourage us to think about the significance of such milestones and what meaning, purpose and joy they may bring. For any of us, there is much that can happen within the space of a year. Having faced my own unforeseen and significant health issues at the end of 2013, I know all too well the reality that life can take unexpected twists and turns. As God grows and shapes each one of us through the ups and downs of our lives, reaching milestones affords us the opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed, the challenges faced, the growth we have made and journey we have taken. Indeed, sometimes it is only through looking back, with the benefit of hindsight, that we can appreciate life with a new perspective and recognise God’s plan in the way things have eventuated. If you are not one who naturally tends towards such reflective practice, let me encourage you to use the milestones in your life, or the lives of your family members as opportunities to stop, to think, to reminisce, to share together, to consciously notice the changes that have happened and to find joy in the journey.
Milestones can be a great opportunity for expressing our gratitude and thankfulness too. Whether to those who have blessed and nurtured us towards this point in our lives, or to God, who has graciously sustained us through each and every breath, it is good to stop and be thankful as we recognise these moments of significance, and the contributions they have made to who we are. Indeed, as a school, there is much that has changed in our thirty-five years. Thousands of students and hundreds of staff have been a part of the Pacific Hills experience, and each has contributed something unique and valuable to our story. As we stop to look back and reminisce, we see precious children who have grown into adulthood during their time at our school, many who have come to faith in Christ through the witness of those around them, and friendships forged in youth which have endured through the years… We see devoted teachers who have loved their students in word and in deed, through the lessons of the classroom to the lessons of life itself, who have given of themselves in manifold ways to bring out the very best in those within their charge… We see faces of treasured friends and colleagues, both students and staff, who tragically left us far too soon, yet who will never be forgotten for who they were, the roles that they played and the ways that they touched our hearts and changed our lives forever… There is much for us to reflect upon, for thirty-five years is a long time…and yet, with the opportunity to think back, comes the equal opportunity to learn, to evaluate, to see afresh the lessons of the past, to savour the memories and relive the moments that have formed our very identity. Through it all, there is so much to be thankful for. May God continue to guide each one of us as we seek to know and love Him more through the milestones in our own lives and, as a school, may His hand continue to bless, strengthen and equip us for the privilege of serving Him, God willing, through the next thirty-five years of the Pacific Hills story, and beyond.
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looking to serve STUDENTS ARE VISITING TO WORK IN SMALL GROUPS OF TWO OR THREE AND CHAT WITH THE RESIDENTS WHILE THE RESIDENTS ARE COMPLETING VARIOUS ART AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. David Johnston Principal, Pacific Valley One of the ways we have been encouraged this year, at Pacific Valley Christian School, is through new opportunities that have opened up for our students to serve the local community. It has been exciting to establish a link with the Whiddon Aged Care facility that is a blessing for both our students and for the residents
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of Whiddon Aged Care. During 2014 different groups of students from across the whole school will be visiting the facility on a monthly basis. Part of the reason this has been made possible is through the provision of a school bus that makes the transport of the students both affordable and convenient. The time at Whiddon will be spent in a couple of different ways. On some of the visits the Pacific Valley Christian School Choir will be performing for the residents. The feedback on their first performance was certainly very positive. Our students are continuing to practice together each week and are intentionally learning songs that the residents will be able to join in with and enjoy. Other students are visiting to work in small groups of two or three and chat with the residents while the residents are completing various art and leisure activities. The first group of students to do this came back very energised and encouraged by the connections that they had made. It was wonderful to hear them speak positively about their time at Whiddon to a whole school assembly. Perhaps most importantly, as a community we are thrilled to be participating in activities and events that allow the blessings that we have received to be a blessing to others.
south east asia mission WE WERE TAUGHT A SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL MESSAGE: LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED. Bethany Shaw Year 11, Pacific Hills Twelve days. Three countries. My life transformed. After being a member of one of the largest mission teams in the history of Pacific Hills (45 team members), I undertook this once in a lifetime opportunity, with the hope it would help me gain a broader perspective of the world and strengthen my Christian faith. Mission helped to build my confidence and create new friendships. I experienced new cultures, grew in knowledge and understanding through appreciating how fortunate I am here in Australia and I learnt and am still learning to be more generous and understanding to those around me. A highlight of Singapore was visiting the elderly patients at a hospice. The atmosphere was one of hopelessness and sadness. For some of us, in the beginning, it was difficult to be surrounded by patients, many with disfigured limbs, who were unable to speak or understand English. Our mission team decided to perform some of our worship songs. As we sang different songs, onlookers began to smile, laugh, clap and move to the best of their ability. By the time worship ended, the atmosphere had greatly changed. You could see pure joy and happiness on people’s faces. It was an amazing feeling, to have been part of this transformation. We met with Icare Christian Fellowship in Singapore, a group of young working adults. These people became our role models and inspiration, they are one hundred percent dedicated to living every moment of their life for
Christ. They constantly motivated and inspired us to be the best individual we could be and taught us how to live our life for Christ. We were taught a simple, but powerful message: Life does not have to be complicated. Only one thing is important, that is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and let Him shine through you as you live your life. In Malaysia, we visited a special needs school and undertook a tour at Kampong Cantik that provided us the opportunity to feel and experience the lifestyle, hospitality and activities of the traditional Malay village. After talking with Malaysian students, it made me appreciate how fortunate I am to live in Australia. To these people, Australia is “the dream country”, they believe it has the perfect government and beautiful landscapes. The majority of adults and children I spoke with during the trip all wished to move to Australia to continue their education, even if this meant leaving their family and friends behind. During our time in Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia we visited an orphanage. Although there was a language barrier, it was awesome to bridge it using other means, such as pointing or acting things out. They taught us a hand game before dinner, pounding different rhythms on the table and we copied them. We showed them one in return. By the end of the night, the majority of the mission team was hammering the dear life out of the dinner tables with these new rhythms, much to the teachers’ dismay! That day in Indonesia was a special time for me. Although that night was cold, our room was flooded, and we were ankle deep in water, it was a night full of fun, joy and laughter from both groups – Australian students and our Indonesian friends. I left Australia with a group of friends, as a shy student, very much focused on my own needs and my studies. I returned a more confident person, with a greater perspective on the importance of helping others and I want to live my life for Christ. My mission team-mates became my second family. I can never thank the teachers, team members or the beautiful people I met enough for the impact they had on my life, helping me to grow both mentally and spiritually as an individual.
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paama exchange
WE NEVER STOP TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE WOULD COPE WITHOUT SOMETHING LIKE ELECTRICITY. Joanne Allen Pacific Coast We were truly blessed at Pacific Coast Christian school to host a group of 10 teachers from Paama, a remote island in Vanuatu. They came to Pacific Coast as part of a study tour and cross-cultural exchange with the aim to improve education in Vanuatu. Five schools from Paama, both secondary and primary school, were represented. The teachers completed 80 hours of professional development including classroom observation and specific education in classroom management and curriculum planning. They enjoyed the opportunity to experience how a Christian school in Australia operates and to assist our teachers in class. The visiting teachers were initially very shy but slowly began to ask more questions of the students. Eventually they sang with the students and taught them some of their language – Bislama. The students at Pacific Coast Christian School appreciated
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having the Vanuatu teachers in their classroom, they asked lots of questions about Vanuatu, volcanoes and tidal waves. Our students wrote notes and painted pictures to thank the teachers for coming. It was a joy to listen to one of the teachers, Lona, as she shared how God has worked in her life to open the door and make it possible for her to come to Australia. Since being at Pacific Coast Christian School Lona has enjoyed learning new techniques she can use to teach children in Vanuatu. Lona has also learnt a number of new practical activities to help engage the children in learning. In Paama the electricity comes on each evening from 6pm to 9pm, the rest of the time they have no electricity. In Australia we are so blessed that often we take things for granted, never stopping to think about how we would cope without something like electricity. The teachers were billeted to members of the Pacific Coast Christian School community. They enjoyed attending local church and a number of different activities, such as Fleay’s Wildlife Park and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. We will continue to pray for them as they return to their own schools and begin to use the new skills they have learnt to teach their students. It is awesome to acknowledge that as God opens our hearts to bless others, we are left with a feeling that it was us who were truly blessed by the visit from these warm, generous, beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ. We know God will bless them as they rely on Him to make a difference in the lives of many Vanuatu children.
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alumni
tim evans 2008 GRADUATE AND FILM MAKER During my time at Pacific Hills I discovered a passion for telling stories through film. When asked of my favourite hobbies as a child, I always said reading and writing and occasionally ornithology, which I think I mentioned mostly because no one else knew what it meant. I loved watching and analysing films and discovered the joy of making them through the short lived Media Club that was run after school by Miss LangfordSmith. If you think that sounds nerdy, it was and the films we made, including the illustrious ‘History of Sugar’ which we were actually given real money to produce, were good as long as you never had to watch them or talk about them...ever. Yet despite our dismal attempts, I found a great love for filmmaking, which manifested itself in various films throughout my time at school, including two film major works. When I finished school, I wanted to study film and I did, along with English and Philosophy, at Macquarie University. It was here also that I discovered Student Life, a group of Christian’s focused on reaching the campus with the gospel. Through Student Life, God awakened my heart to the urgent need people had for a relationship with Him. God took this as well as my passion for filmmaking
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and led me to become a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ Australia, in a new ministry called Wondergate Films. Their goal is to use film to tell the story of the gospel to people who would never walk into a church but who would go see a film. Pacific Hills gave me lifelong friends, including some teachers, but also taught me to follow God, to wherever He would lead me. He has led me now to become a missionary film maker and I am excited to see where He takes me next.
WEDDINGS
Rebecca Wilson (Yr 12, 2011) married Alex Hitchcock on 26 April. Nicola Body (Yr 12, 2010) and Daniel Ghali (Yr 12, 2010) are engaged and will marry in December this year. Tim Parsons (Yr 12, 2003) married Katie Mushenko on 5th April. Charmaine Choy (Yr 12, 2007) married James Vilimaa (Yr 12, 2007) on 8 March.
BIRTHS
Congratulations to Carol & Justin Cox (JS PE Teacher) on the birth of their third child, Gracie May Cox, born 20 Feb 2014. Gracie couldn’t wait to come into this world and Justin delivered her at home!
ACHIEVEMENTS
Colin Wood – Masters of Educational Leadership
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taylors reach I REALLY ENJOY STILL HAVING AN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SCHOOL THROUGH MY GRANDCHILDREN. John & Ailsa Taylor Pacific Hills Prior to 1981 we had four of our children attending the local public school. John and I realised that we would not be happy to send our children to the local high school so started looking for a Christian school that included high school. We heard about Pacific Hills through friends from our church. I prayed about sending the children to Pacific Hills and really felt it was the type of environment we wanted our children to be educated within. We raised our children in a Christian home and wanted to have them educated in an environment that reinforced our Christian values. We also liked that they had children with disabilities in every class. My favourite memory of our early days is the small intimate size of the school. I remember it being approximately 45 students and two teachers, Mrs McCrindle and Mr King. Our children knew everybody at the school and some of our children have formed lasting friendships from those early days. The school grew rapidly after that first year but never lost that small school feel. The School was located at Lutanda on Boundary Road Pennant Hills initially and had beautiful old buildings and a large playground. I really enjoy still having an association with the school through my grandchildren. I love watching the school grow and expand. My grandchildren are continuing to be positively impacted by the beautiful Christian environment that Pacific Hills provides. I enjoy seeing some of the
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teachers from the early days also on my frequent visits to CafÊ Pacifica. I love that the School continues to incorporate biblical principles through learning and I enjoy hearing about all the new things my grandchildren are doing. I love that every day begins with prayer and that the children can share their needs and have them prayed for specifically. We currently have three grandchildren in Prep (Harlon, Esther & Scarlett), Jacob in Kindergarten, Aria in Year 1, Lennox in Year 2, Charlie in Year 5, Matisse in Year 7, Preston in Year 8, Liam in Year 10 and Alec and Connor in Year 12. We are currently enjoying semi retirement and frequently travel around Australia in our Winnebago for weeks at a time. We have just returned from Uganda where we visited our sixth child, Ainslie, and her family, who have been living there for five years. Ainslie’s husband, Michael, is also a former student of Pacific Hills. Our eldest two grandsons, Harrison and Benson, who completed their schooling at Pacific Hills in 2011 have both followed their grandfather and two uncles into the building industry. Our eldest granddaughter, Cara, completed the HSC in 2012 and is currently doing Business Studies at Bedford College. We look forward to many years of close association with the School through our children. We are so thankful we made the decision to join the School so many years ago and are grateful for the continuing legacy on our family.
John & Ailsa Taylor: Quick Facts John and Ailsa Taylor have eight adult children. All were students at Pacific Hills. They have 27 grandchildren. Since 1981 the enrolment of the School has always included a descendant of the Taylor family.
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NSWCIS Football State Cup Paul McConnell Faculty Head PDHPE Pacific Hills Christian School has been privileged to have many talented footballers come through the school throughout its 35 year history. I have often found myself in awe of the grace in which our students move around the field displaying skills with an ease and precision that sets them apart from their peers. The challenge each year is to bring that group of talented players together and unite them as a team with common goals and purpose. I firmly believe that having a team of champions does not always mean they will become a champion team. To develop a spirit of commitment to one another is as important as any ingredient for success. It has been said that there is no I in team and this is no more evident than on a football field. It is my hope and desire that the unity and teamwork that is encouraged among the players would also reveal itself throughout the School in all its aspects of life. The School’s rich history in producing and nurturing talented football players has enabled our students to compete in a number of competitions over the years. Our commitment to provide opportunities for our gifted and talented footballers continues to be a priority as we look to enable our students to display their skills while representing the school in such a way that brings honour and glory to God. 2014 has brought together a group of players that would rival any previous generation.
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Many of whom are currently playing at a representative level outside the School. They all bring a vast level of experience and understanding of what it takes to succeed. Having such a gifted bunch of boys together at one time left us with no option but to enter the NSWCIS State Cup knockout competition. What a ride it has been! Seeded last due to the fact we have only ever entered the competition once before, we knew it was going to be a challenge from the start. Yet here we are down to the final eight teams from across the State. The results below reflect our journey thus far……. Round 1 PHCS 2 defeated St Ignatious Riverview 1 Round 2 PHCS 5 defeated St Columba Port Macquarie 1 Round 3 PHCS 5 defeated The Armidale School 0 Quarter Final PHCS lost 3-0 St Josephs, Hunters Hill The boys have played some incredible football despite long bus trips and limited preparation. The opposing coaches have been consistent in their post game comments, saying that the PHCS boys played with greater desire and in a spirit that was pleasing to see. Congratulations to the following boys…. Matthew Stroud GK, Jake Dickson, Nathan Philips, Connor Stewart, Samuel Genovese, Daniel Polkinghorne (C), Chris Turner, Jacob Basden, Justin Wilkin, Daniel Kim, Mitchell Wyatt, Joshua McAdam, Isaac Bingham, Alex Kassis, Isaac Wylie, Jemuel Wong, Eric Garcia.
WINTER 2014 /
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