Company Directors’ Report
Statement from the Chairperson
It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus encountered some (presumably) dusty and downhearted disciples. Their world was in chaos, hopes betrayed, nothing was certain. I love the image of Jesus walking alongside them—unrecognised by them because they were so preoccupied with their anxiety—as he starts teaching them again from the very beginning (Luke 24:27). It’s a beautiful insight into Jesus the patient teacher using scripture to open people’s minds and rebuild their understanding of the world around himself. I love that our school’s name is a gesture to that moment. Our prayer is that Jesus might still be our patient teacher—all our families together—through his words in the bible; and that our Emmaus might be a place where he opens our minds and (re)builds our understanding of reality around him.
I’m relatively new to our school which means I easily remember the first time I walked around the playground. I was struck by the sense of warm and meaningful community between teachers and families. We share a love for our kids and a desire for them to know the flourishing life that flows from a centre in knowing and trusting Christ in every way. It’s a privilege to serve with other parents on the Emmaus Board. We serve as stewards of the mission, the togetherness, and the people and property resources of this community.
I have only very recently stepped into the role of Board Chair. Our previous Chair, Laura Day, finished in the role in March after 6 years. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Laura for her service. Having served with her this past year, I can say that she is a remarkable Chair who gave body and soul to serving the school. The health and growth of our school community is a testimony to her work with the school leadership over this period.
As a Board we are delighted to have realised the goals of the previous strategic plan, prior to consulting broadly with the Emmaus community in the development of the next strategic plan, Towards 2030. The process of community consultation was creative, inclusive and entirely consistent with the Emmaus way. We look forward to partnering with the Principal and the School Executive in their determination to foster Let Our Love Shine over the next 5 years.
Company Directors’ Report
This Report covers the calendar year 2024. During that time the Board focussed on the following:
1. Preparing a new Strategic Plan for 2025-2030. Our strategic plan is the document that sets out our key objectives as a community for the next 4 years. Over the year the Board worked with the Emmaus community and stakeholders to run innovative consultation sessions in order to hear the key things that people love about our school and what ‘good’ would look like in 2030.
2. Supporting our new Principal into her role. 2024 was the first year for Emmaus under the leadership of our Principal, Melanie Spencer. We have also welcomed 3 new Board members. This means that a key focus for the Board has been on building the working relationships and processes between Board and Principal that are crucial for good governance.
3. Providing governance oversight of the completion of Stage 7 and Stage 10 building works in the Emmaus Master Plan. Ensuring that budget and regulatory conditions have been met on these important building projects that enhance the learning environment and capability of our school.
4. Training in safeguarding and reviewing the Christian Education Health Check results. The Board received training from Kate Halloran of Halloran Morrisey (a leading firm specialising in all aspects of child protection and safeguarding requirements). This enables the Board to work with the Principal in developing Emmaus’ safeguarding culture and the necessary policy framework. The Board also met with Dr Felicity McLure to review and understand the results from her Christian Education Health Check conducted at Emmaus in term 2. These results gave a very encouraging insight into student perceptions of the level of integration between our Christian commitments and teaching practice.
Emmaus Christian School continues to pursue and deliver excellent academic standards while maintaining an authentically Christian community with excellent support for student welfare. The majority of our Year 3 to 9 students were categorised as meeting or exceeding the challenging but reasonable expectations for their year level in all NAPLAN tests. We have many reasons to thank God.
In His Grace,
Daniel Anderson
Directors of the Board and Officeholders
Chair of the Board - Mrs Laura Day
Vice-Chair of the Board - Mr Pinghan Chua
Treasurer - Mr James Penton
Company Secretary - Mrs Rebecca Jeffery
Board Members - Mrs Mary Winkels (Public Officer)
- Mrs Kristy Allen-Shirley
- Dr Daniel Anderson
- Mr Eddie Kulas
- Mrs Melanie Spencer (Ex Officio)
- Mr Murray Woolnough
3. Community and Culture
In 2024, Emmaus strengthened its investment in the school’s Wellbeing Services, expanding the team to include the Wellbeing Coordinator, Inclusion Support Coordinator, two School Counsellors, a Student Wellbeing Coach, and School Psychologist. Located in the refurbished ‘Wellbeing Hive’ at the front of the school, the team provided wrap around care and support to students and their families through personalised care plans as well as whole school programs which are responsive to student and parental needs.
In regular afternoon meetings, teaching staff learned about strategies to support dysregulated learners in the classroom and had an introduction to the Berry Street Education Model which aims to equip both mainstream and specialist schools with practical, classroom-based strategies to increase the engagement of all students, including those with complex, unmet learning needs.
Engagement in community remains an Emmaus distinctive and strength. Parents belong to the Emmaus family, participating in multiple facets of day-to-day school life through the Parent Induction Courses and the Parent Involvement Program (PIP), including working bees, reading programs, and committees. The Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee hosted the Mother’s Day stall and organised for parenting seminars led by Dr Justin Coulson. Additionally, Bunnings BBQs and the famous Preschool Mother’s Day Disco featured on the annual calendar.
Service-learning opportunities opened up for students in 2024, particularly with the neighbours around the school. At Easter, hot cross buns were delivered to each of our neighbours around the three streets that surround the school and students engaged in gardening projects with St Brigid’s Church. Local community members were invited to our Twilight Picnic and to our Movie Night on the oval.
4. Educational Infrastructure & Systems
As Emmaus continues to progress building works in line with the 2016 Masterplan, the entry to the school was refreshed to include new paving, a new awning and a yarning circle. The Stage 10 Art building (providing a new multipurpose art space and associated storage areas) was completed, and landscaping took place around the Stage 7 building and courtyards.
Emmaus was successful in its application for an Australian Government Capital Grant for a planned Multipurpose Court to sit adjacent to the playground on Davenport Street. Additionally, the school was successful in securing a Parent Engagement Grant from the ACT Government to contribute to the development of the Community Courtyard.
The technology landscape supports the delivery of a wide range of educational programs and is based on sustainable platforms for future growth requirements, including exploration of the Schoolbox learning management, communications and record keeping platform. Further, our systems and infrastructure continue to be developed both for the benefit of Emmaus families.
5. Operational Excellence, Management & Governance
While it is widely recognised that there is a teacher shortage in Australia, Emmaus was again blessed with a full complement of highly qualified and well-regarded teaching staff.
Emmaus continued with a sustainable financial portfolio throughout 2024, balancing investment decisions with the application for and awarding of government grants in a challenging fiscal environment.
Emmaus continues to review policies by the Executive for presentation and endorsement by the School Board on a cyclical basis, ensuring legislative compliance and alignment with our Statement of Faith.
Finance Committee Report
I thank God for the continued financial blessings over Emmaus Christian School and its impact on students, their families, and the community through Christian Education. I also acknowledge the diligent efforts of our Finance Staff, Finance Committee, and Board in overseeing our finances and effectively allocating resources according to the school’s Strategic and Master Plan.
Throughout 2024/2025 financal 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.
James Penton Treasurer
Figure 1: Proportional View of Operating Expenses in 2024
Figure 2: Proportional View of Capital Expenses in 2024
Building Committee Report
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 wrapup 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.
We are very thankful to the Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the ACT Government for their generous financial assistance in supporting the realisation of the School’s Masterplan. We are grateful also to the Block Grant Authority for their administration of these grants.
Election of Directors
Re-election of current Directors
The following Company Directors are standing for re-election at the Annual General Meeting:
term.
1. Pinghan Chua, standing for a second
2. James Penton, standing for a second term.
