Annual Report 2024
Growing Together in Faith, Love and Wisdom
FROM THE PRINCIPAL – MELANIE SPENCER
As my first year as Principal of Emmaus Christian School drew to a close at the end of 2024, I was filled with profound gratitude and a heart full of joy. 2024 was a year of incredible learning, growth, and connection, and I closed out the year deeply thankful for the warm welcome and support extended to me by students, staff, parents, and the wider Emmaus community. When I stepped into this role at the start of the year, I prayed that God would guide our community in strengthening the foundation of our school’s mission: to grow together in faith, love and wisdom. It was a privilege to witness this mission come to life in so many ways. From the laughter of students in the playground to the academic achievements in our classrooms; from heartfelt worship during Chapel or to acts of kindness throughout the school, it was evident that God’s hand was at work in our community.
Looking back, there is so much to celebrate. Our students excelled not only academically but also in their character and service. I’ve seen them grow in confidence and resilience, taking on challenges with courage, and demonstrating the values that make Emmaus unique; equipping for service, caring for others, and striving for mastery.
2024 was a year in which we built on the firm foundation laid by previous principals. I acknowledge the foundations laid by Paul Marshall & Erik Hofsink and express my gratitude to them. As well as introducing new initiatives to enhance learning; wellbeing, and community engagement were enhanced. Whether it was through academic programs, the Japanese Cultural Tour, the Musical, sporting achievements, or service projects, I was amazed by the dedication and talent of our students and staff. A few standout moments include:
Our Community Events: Grandparents’ Day Musical performances, the Twilight Picnic and P&F Outdoor Movie Night, Working Bees and the Justin Coulson Parent Seminar. These gatherings reminded me of the strength and beauty of our school family and of Christian Community.
Opportunities for Spiritual Growth: Chapel services, Godly Play, Worship Bands and Christian Life Studies classes provided opportunities for our students to deepen their understanding of God’s Word and grow in their faith. Academic and Extracurricular Successes: Seeing students challenge themselves and achieve their goals in a variety of areas has been a joy.
Our School Scripture verses (Colossians 1:15-23a and 3:12-17) were introduced in 2024, and these proved to be the plumbline of our practice and relationships at the School. In providing the community with a profound theological reflection on the person and work of Jesus Christ and offering practical instruction on how we are to live together in community, these verses supported us in remaining tethered to our core purpose.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication and effort of so many. I thank the staff for their tireless work, creativity, and passion for seeing every student thrive. Their commitment to providing a high-quality Christian education is inspiring, and I am grateful for each one of them.
The enthusiasm, curiosity, and love our students exhibit for one another have been a constant source of encouragement. It has been a joy to watch them grow and succeed, and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in their lives. The support and partnership of parents has been equally delightful.
FROM THE BOARD CHAIR - LAURA DAY
It is my joy to welcome you again to reflect on another year of journeying together here at Emmaus. It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the Board during a year filled with both new beginnings and continued growth.
Supporting our new Principal in her first year of leadership has been a key focus for the Board, and we are thankful for her wisdom, vision and dedication which are evident in the daily outworking of our shared mission across the school.
We have also welcomed four new Board Directors throughout the year who bring fresh insights, a wide range of skills and a shared passion for seeing Emmaus flourish. Their addition to the team has strengthened our capacity to serve the school and uphold the values that define us.
This year we strengthened our focus on safeguarding, ensuring that every student can grow and learn in an environment where they are valued and protected. We also began the important work of strategic planning for 2025-2028 and look forward to continuing to incorporate your perspectives on the future direction of Emmaus.
I am deeply grateful to every member of our community—staff, parents and students— for your commitment to the vision of Emmaus. Together, we are building a community that reflects God’s love and truth in all we do.
Through these efforts, we are reminded of our calling to glorify Christ, knowing that He is the One who holds all things together. Whether in the classroom, on the playground, or within the wider school community, we see His hand at work, guiding and sustaining us as we grow in faith, love and wisdom.
As we step forward into a new year, may we continue to rest in the assurance that all things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him. As a community, we trust in God’s plan for 2025, confident that He is at work in and through us.
STRATEGIC PLAN
During this period, Emmaus Christian School Canberra progressed the objectives of the school’s Strategic Plan.
To create a sustainable future for Emmaus’ growth and to maintain its culture, the Strategic Plan was designed around five pillars:
1. Academic Excellence
2. Community and Culture
3. Partnerships
4. Educational infrastructure and facilities
5. Operational excellence, Management and Governance
EXECUTIVE STAFF 2024
STAFFING
While it is widely recognized that there is a teacher shortage in Australia, Emmaus has continued to be blessed with a full complement of highly qualified and well-regarded teaching staff
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
At Emmaus Christian School, we believe education is more than content... it is formation. Grounded in our motto, Growing Together in Faith, Love and Wisdom, there was wide community consultation in 2024 as we developed the school’s next strategic plan, designed to chart our course to 2030, grounded in Biblical principles and animated by bold hope.
The consultation began with a community-wide invitation: to listen, to dream, and to reimagine. In late 2024, we surveyed families and staff, receiving overwhelmingly positive reflections and heartfelt hopes for the future. This gave rise to a Board and Principal retreat, where we prayerfully discerned the eight commitments that came to shape our shared vision.
From there, we invited our community to a community consultation evening to provide them with an opportunity to imagine the future through nine “personas” from 2030, reflecting on how the Emmaus story shaped their lives. This creative imagining was deepened by rich consultation with students, staff, families, alumni, community members, and regulators. Their feedback sharpened our focus yet again and confirmed that our foundation—academic excellence, community and culture, partnerships, educational infrastructure, and operational excellence, management and governance—remains firm.
Our Executive Team helped articulate what success will look like for each commitment, through the lenses of learning, resources, and partnership. Woven through every strand is our deep commitment to the Biblical worldview—like the threestranded cord of Ecclesiastes 4:12, not easily broken.
FINANCE REPORT
Throughout 2024 financial year, the school has made significant investments in infrastructure, including the completion of Stage 10 Building works—specifically, the art rooms—and the landscaping and grassed areas. These developments were made possible through Government Capital Grants (both federal and territory) as well as contributions from parents. Emmaus Christian School’s financial management practices have effectively supported current operational needs while positioning the school for future sustainable growth and continuous improvement. The ability to balance investment decisions with the strategic use of government grants demonstrates fiscal responsibility and a commitment to educational quality. Emmaus’s financial portfolio reflects its dedication to students, staff, and the broader community.
Figure 1: Proportional View of Operating Expenses in 2024
Figure 2: View of Income in 2024
MASTERPLAN
The Emmaus Masterplan, endorsed in November 2016 continues to guide the systematic upgrade, modernisation and augmentation of our teaching and learning spaces. The Masterplan seeks to: address the ageing and unsuitable infrastructure, meet the needs of modern curriculum and pedagogical practice, and support the development of specialisations - particularly for secondary students.
The major building work for 2024 was the new art room with a kiln room, internal storage and external sports storage. This was ready for use at the beginning of the 2025 academic year. Moving forward we will be focused on small stages of work that wrap up the last 10 years of building and planning.
The next stage will be the completion of landscaping adjoining many of our stages, finishing the rear carparking and building a multi- sport court next to our current playground. In 2023 and 2024, Emmaus was once again successful in obtaining funding to support the building of stages mentioned below from the ACT Block Grant Authority’s ‘Capital Grants Program’. The next stage of works for completion of the landscaping, carpark and multi-court will commence in late April 2025 and be complete before Term 4 of 2025. This will mark the end of 10 years of continuous building projects dominating our school campus.
Our thanks to TPC builders and Conrad Moore of MunnsSlyMoore Architects for their consistent and high-quality delivery of our masterplan, alongside our Building Committee Chair - Adam Moore and Board Representative – Eddie Kulas. We greatly appreciate the work of the Emmaus Property Team - Craig O’Meara and John Donnelly and those families who have participated in the school’s working bees to ensure the school’s high-quality infrastructure continue to be maintained.
Stage1–Preschool
Stage2–DesignTechnology
Stage3–Year1and2
Stage4–Kindergarten,Year3and4
Stage5A/B–Year4and5,StaffRoom,Office,WellbeingSpace
Stage5C–NewScienceLabandSciencePreparationSpace
Stage5D–EssentialInfrastructure-FireandHydrant
Stage6–PrimaryCourtyard
Stage7–SecondaryClassrooms,CaféandHospitality
Stage8–Shelter
Stage9–SensoryGarden,CommunityCourtyardandPlayingCourt
Stage10–Art
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Emmaus’ academic excellence was again demonstrated in consistent growth at the individual and collective level. Academic rigour was encouraged through the learning activities that occurred within the daily life of learning and teaching at the school. Students were encouraged to steward their interests and talents as they contemplated how God might be using these to prepare them for His call on their lives.
Emmaus continued to perform well in external testing such as NAPLAN and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Many families opted to engage in International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS), the results of which reflected the strength of the Emmaus academic offering. 2024 saw the school engage at depth with the Australian Curriculum version 9 and the student achievement standards therein. This was important, not only to support a focus away from unhelpful comparisons and towards individual student growth over time, but to strengthen quality teaching practices and expand student learning experiences at the school.
NAPLAN TESTING
Since 2023, NAPLAN results have been reported using four proficiency levels, which provide a clearer and more meaningful measure of student progress. The updated reporting system helps teachers better understand each student’s performance and identify those who may benefit from additional support or extension.
Students at Emmaus continue to excel in the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). During the most recent testing period, the majority of students from Years 3 to 9 met or exceeded the expected proficiency standards for their year level across all test areas. Compared to ‘All’ ACT schools, Emmaus had a high percentage of students achieving in the top two proficiency bands—Strong and Exceeding—across all tests.
CLASS SUMMARY – YEAR 3
CLASS SUMMARY – YEAR 5
CLASS SUMMARY – YEAR 7
CLASS SUMMARY – YEAR 9
STUDENT SATISFACTION
Emmaus Christian School remains committed to amplifying student voice by regularly surveying students to better understand their satisfaction and attitudes toward classroom learning and the broader school community.
In 2024, we conducted the second annual Attitudes to School and Satisfaction Survey for students in Years 4–10. The results continue to show high levels of student satisfaction, particularly in how teachers manage classroom behaviour.
Students report feeling appropriately challenged and supported through differentiated learning. They believe their teachers prepare them well for lessons, use class time effectively, create engaging learning environments, and provide constructive feedback that helps them improve.
We are committed to acting on student feedback by using these insights to guide our Professional Learning priorities and enhance teaching practices, ensuring the best possible learning outcomes for our students.
Regarding our students’ sense of belonging —which include statements such as "I like this school”, "I am happy to be at this school", "I feel like I belong", and "I look forward to going to school"—Emmaus students reported an average satisfaction score of 89%.
ENROLMENTS
INCLUSION SUPPORT
INCLUSION SUPPORT PROGRAM – 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Expanded in-class support for students with diverse learning needs.
Had 20 TAs working across the school in full-time and part-time roles.
Provided ongoing training and professional development for TAs to enhance their effectiveness and confidence in supporting students.
Placed a strong emphasis on inclusive practices, ensuring all students feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.
Maintained a strategic focus on early intervention, particularly in early primary years.
Continued implementation of the MiniLit program to support foundational literacy.
Continued a strong collaboration approach with the Wellbeing Coordinator to deliver cohesive wrap around support to our students.
Implemented small group programs supporting social skills in the primary school.
WELLBEING
In 2024, Emmaus successfully expanded its whole-school Bible-based social-emotional program, Friendzy, by introducing a Student Buddy Program that fostered meaningful connections between secondary and primary students.
Peer support groups such as Warm Welcome, Seasons for Growth, and Restorative Practices continued to provide targeted emotional support. To enhance emotional regulation in younger students,the Zones of Regulation framework was implemented across Kindergarten to Year 2.
A key new initiative was the introduction of Dr Kristy Goodwin’s Digital Wellbeing Program, delivered to students, staff, and parents. Additionally, parents and carers benefited from a workshop led by renowned parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson, offering practical strategies grounded in positive psychology.
The Wellbeing Services team maintained comprehensive student support through coaching conversations, wellbeing check-ins, referral pathways, and tailored whole-class wellbeing lessons.
Now in its third year, the ACER Social, Emotional and Wellbeing Survey (Years 3–10), administered biannually, continues to inform staff of cohort-specific needs. Complementary research by Dr Felicity McLure provided further insights into student development and growth areas. Survey data consistently highlights the school’s effectiveness in supporting student wellbeing and fostering flourishing social-emotional outcomes.
