Strengthening community bonds

Coomera Anglican College and Gold Coast North Anglican Parish share a strong history of community engagement and a common mission. In recent years, the two institutions have worked together to strengthen their partnership, resulting in a spirit of cooperation that has benefited both the College and the Parish.

The College’s Primary Lay Chaplain, Mrs Rachael Stelzer, and Religious and Values Education (RaVE) Teacher Ms Lucy Maud have played an instrumental role in fostering this partnership. Together with Reverend Gary Smith, a Coomera Anglican College Council Member, they have worked to build strong ties between the college and the parish.

One of the highlights of this partnership was the participation of a group of parish volunteers at Coomera Anglican College’s ‘Under 8’s Day’ in 2022. This annual event celebrates the learning and development of young children and promotes the importance of early childhood education. The event focuses on play-based learning and provides opportunities for children to engage in activities that foster creativity, problem-solving skills and socialisation.

Parish volunteers worked with Mrs Stelzer and Ms Maud to organise a fun activity for the young students, which involved blowing bubbles. The activity brought joy and laughter to the children and provided an opportunity for the parish volunteers to be part of a larger community.

This year, the Gold Coast North Anglican Parish is taking the partnership to the next level by hosting an event called “What do Anglicans believe?” The event is designed to provide interested families with an opportunity to learn more about the Anglican faith and to connect with the St Matthew’s congregation. The event will be held at the St Matthew’s church building, located next to the College campus. It will feature food, fellowship, and conversations about baptism, the Eucharist, and confirmation.

The Coomera Anglican College Faith and Spirituality team is excited about participating in this event and building on the strong relationship between the college and the parish. They believe that events like this help to create a sense of belonging and community, which is essential for the healthy development of young children.