The Latest from Education

ADVENTIST SCHOOLS ATTEND SYDNEY PRAYER BREAKFAST

Early Tuesday morning, 31st May, saw a number our schools, including Hills Adventist College, Mountain View Adventist College, Macarthur Adventist College and Wahroonga Adventist School come together at the ICC Convention Centre in Darling Harbour for the Sydney Prayer Breakfast. They joined together with Christian leaders and members from all over Sydney to pray and hear an inspiring testimony from IPROWD founder Peter Gibbs.

Hills Adventist College chaplain Pastor Jess Laws said, “It was such a blessing to be able to pray together for the greater city of Sydney as well as, on our table, to pray for our school community. We continue to pray for God’s blessing over our staff and students and their families, for healing and strength, and that every single person who is connected to, or comes in contact with, Adventist Education feels loved, because He first loved us.

Education director David Hobson added, “Praying together over our city was an incredible experience, we were inspired to choose peace over violence, faith over despair, hope over fear andservice over resignation.”

MACARTHUR ADVENTIST COLLEGE

On Wednesday 8th June, Primary students of Macarthur Adventist College had the once-in-alifetime opportunity to be part of the Ampol Little Origin Series.

This event sees schools selected throughout NSW via application process, with Year 5 teacher Mrs Maua entering our College for selection. Mrs Maua submitted a stirring and ultimately successful application highlighting the values of Macarthur Adventist College and shared about the College’s initiative in creating a Wellbeing Hub for our students as a safe place to access support.

When the day of Game 1 finally arrived, our students were collected from school in a special coach and were able to take part in many behind the scenes experiences such as stadium tours and training sessions, but the highlight was definitely running out onto the field during halftime to play a match against another school.

This event was one to remember for our whole College community and we are thankful for such a great opportunity for our students.

MUSIC PROGRAM RECEIVES A BOOST! – Wahroonga School

What a joy it is to listen to music and make music!

This blessing has been amplified at one of our Adventist schools through the generosity of a retired businessman, Mr Paul Stewart, who recently donated an outstanding array of quality orchestral music instruments to the music department.

When asked why he made this significant donation, Mr Stewart responded, “It has been our gracious Lord who has placed all this in my hand. I played a very minor role.”

Mr Stewart was treated free of charge 37 years ago at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. He remembers, “They never sent me a bill. All I was asked was, ‘Who is your Pastor?" It was Pastor Arthur Duffy, "perhaps the most serene man I was ever fortunate to meet.” Because of that generosity many years ago, Mr Stewart has likewise been generous to others as his own business flourished.

Many more students at Wahroonga Adventist School will now have access to a range of instruments, enabling them to be involved in a flourishing music program with the establishment of a symphonic orchestra. Furthermore, neuroscientist are continuously finding new and exciting research about the positive impact music has on the brain.

Just as in Nehemiah where the musicians did important work for God, so too will students be actively supported in their music education and first and foremost serving God through music.

CSSA STATE VOLLEYBALL GALA DAY – Mountain View College

On Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th of June, Mountain View Adventist College had the privilege of participating at the CSSA State Volleyball Gala Day.

This event was held at the Hawkesbury Indoor Sports Centre competing against other Christian schools from around NSW, including Wahroonga Adventist College and Macarthur Adventist College. Our students represented the school brilliantly, setting a very competitive and enthusiastic atmosphere that was greatly appreciated by all schools involved.

Mountain View competed in three out of the four divisions over the two days of competition.

Two of our three divisions won and went through to compete in the final, winning the Junior Mixed (U15’s) and Senior Mixed (16+) divisions. A big congratulations to Macarthur Adventist College for winning the Senior Boys Division. Once again we are so proud of our students for the talent they displayed and the character they exhibited over the two days.

Mr Jensen, Head of PDHP said,

Mountain View had some fantastic results and it was a real pleasure to watch the students display our school values of Respect, Integrity, Initiative and Compassion.

“Representing Mountain View Adventist College in our final year of school at the Gala Day was a way for us to give back to our College and show our gratitude for the support we have received. We love how talented and well-rounded our College is–academically, spiritually, musically and even physically. It has been an honour representing our College over these many years competing in competitions and we hope to leave a legacy behind for our younger athletes of a spirit of sportsmanship, determination, grit and teamwork. – Paul, Year 12.

HILLS ADVENTIST COLLEGE CASTLE HILL CAMPUS IS EXPANDING! – Hills College

Mrs Carlie Deppeler, Principal of Hills Adventist College said,

Our College has seen significant growth over the past 10 years and we are so excited to see the next phase of that growth as our Castle Hill Campus becomes a ELC-6 Campus.

At the end of May 2022, Hills Adventist College received registration from the NSW Education Standards Authority, granting the College permission to expand its well-established Junior Campus at Castle Hill. This will see the well-loved ELC to Year 4 Campus grow to include Year 5 in 2023 and Year 6 in 2024.

Hills Adventist College is delighted with this latest development, as the College continues on an upward trajectory of grow in the Hills district of Sydney.

This change will enable a single stream of students to journey through the Castle Hill Campus until Year 6, and then join with the Kellyville Campus students in Year 7.

As we have waiting lists for many of our year groups, this change will provide opportunity for future growth, continued nurturing of our students and opportunity for choice within our educational offering," she said.

Mr Daniel Marsden, Head of Campus at Castle Hill, said this latest development would help the College better serve the community of Castle Hill.

“Our Castle Hill Campus has had a very longstanding relationship with the surrounding community. Before we embarked on our journey to become an ELC-12 College, Castle Hill was well known in the community for providing quality Christian education that went beyond the classroom.

We now have the opportunity to return to a thriving ELC-6 Campus that has an automatic pathway into Year 7 at our Kellyville Campus.

We are excited to see where this new expansion takes us,” he said.