Thank you very much to all those parents who completed the survey from Christian Schools Australia on Christian schooling. We have had a great response, and this is helpful because we want politicians and those running pressure groups to understand that there are a lot of people who actually do want their children in a Christian school with committed Christian staff.

Living in a democracy used to mean that we could hold differing beliefs and views on issues and still agree to get along together. That attitude is changing, and the result is not a better society but a more divided and angrier one. I have often had to tell people in recent years that just because I disagree with you or hold a different belief, I do not hate you. We can disagree and remain friends or at least show respect for each other. That is what democratic freedom used to be about. I trust that our graduates go out into the rest of life with a healthy attitude towards those who are different.

This past week I received a resignation from Mrs Nicole Smith, our Head of Primary.  Nicole has served us at GPCC for the past 5 years and has done a wonderful job of getting Primary back on its feet and moving it forward. She has worked on the culture of the school, on the academics, particularly literacy and numeracy, on creating more opportunities for student participation in activities and who can forget the amazing Wakakirri performance!

We will miss Nicole a lot, as she has been a strong member of our College Executive Team, challenging us to raise standards and get things right. We certainly wish her all the very best as she takes up a new role in a Christian school in Sydney.  She began her teaching career here at Green Point Christian College as a graduate teacher, returning after many years of both overseas and local experience to guide our Primary into a new future. Pray with us for a really good replacement for her to carry on the good work she has initiated. 

We are filling staff positions for 2024 quite well but still have some vacancies. The teacher shortage is real, especially in some subjects. The Melos Group is embarking on a program to assist teacher trainees to study for a teaching degree while being connected weekly to a host school. The Melos Teaching School will support aspiring teachers to become excellent practitioners and be familiar with school practices long before they enter their own classrooms for the first time. This new model of teacher training is producing good results across NSW and we are looking forward to hosting our first trainee at GPCC in 2024.

Remember that we still have 5 weeks of school to go and we need students here every day and focused on learning.  Let’s together make this a strong finish for everyone.

Please click on this link to view an introduction video of our new Principal, Mr Joel van Bentum commencing in 2024.  

Phillip Nash