Thank you to Laura Day
Company Director 2019 – 2025
Board Chair 2020 – 2025
As we launch this strategic plan, Towards 2030: Let Our Love Shine, we acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of Mrs. Laura Day to the community of Emmaus Christian School. Laura was elected to the Board of the then North Canberra Christian Education Association in 2019 and upon becoming Board Chair in 2020, she led the Board through its transition from an Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee. Additionally, as Laura began her time as Chair, with then Principal Erik Hofsink, she led the Board and community through the School’s pandemic response and the expansive building projects necessitated by a sharp growth in demand for enrolments. That the School is so well positioned for the future is testament to Laura’s skill, professionalism and leadership within our community and beyond.
As we commenced strategic planning in late 2024, Laura was again guiding the way with her usual grace and expertise... but also with a passion to see the School grow into great maturity, developing an outward focus on growing not only for ourselves but for others. Akin to the Gospel call of Matthew 5, Laura’s exhortation to us was to take the Emmaus light out from under its bowl and to let it shine so brightly before others in our local, national and global communities, that they might see a goodness that glorifies our Heavenly Father. This strategic plan finds its germination in that vision and exhortation.
So, as Laura concludes her tenure on the Board, we thank her for her service and sacrifice over many years and express our deep respect and gratitude to her and her family. We pray blessing, peace and rest over each of them.
This is an important moment in our history, an opportunity to share the heritage we will create for current and future generations of students, their parents and carers
Laura Day
Former Board Chair
Foreword from the Principal
Towards 2030: Let Our Love Shine
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 (born of student voice in the previous strategic plan), we seek to shine Christ’s light and love in all we do. This strategic plan charts our course to 2030, grounded in Biblical principles and animated by bold hope.
Our journey 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 now frame our shared vision. These are captured in the pages that follow.
From there, we invited our community 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 & Culture, Partnerships, Building, Infrastructure & Facilities, Operational Excellence, Management & 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 three-stranded cord of Ecclesiastes 4:12, not easily broken.
As we step forward in faith, we trust this strategic plan will be a testimony to God’s faithfulness, our community’s unity, and to the love that compels us to shine outward.
Principal Melanie Spencer
Emerging into The Third Emmaus Chapter – Letting Our Love Shine
Founded in 1997 by faithful parents, Emmaus Christian School began as a small community with a bold vision: to offer a Christ-centred education shaped by love, truth, and partnership between school and home. Over nearly three decades, that vision has taken deep root.
In 2025, we are a flourishing and inclusive school community with more than 650 students, strong demand across all year levels, and a reputation for academic strength, a vibrant culture, and authentic Christian identity. Our story has grown through two key chapters—our foundation years, followed by a season of consolidation and growth. Now, as we enter our third chapter, Emmaus stands strong in its identity and purpose. We are poised for greater impact with a renewed confidence, and a deeper outward focus: to let our love shine.
Our Commitment to Christ-Centred Education
In this next chapter, we remain deeply committed to partnering with families, churches, and communities to guide young people in the way of Jesus.
Our 2025–2030 Strategic Commitments support our path forward:
Promoting Learning Through Service
Students growing in Christlike love by serving in long-term partnerships with local, national and global communities.
Partnering with Churches to Strengthen Local Communities
Living Our Faith Through Global and Indigenous Mission
Supporting local congregations through shared teaching, discipleship, and mission. Cultivating justice, empathy, and reconciliation across cultures and contexts.
Exploring Future Pathways for Growth
Investigating an Emmaus Teaching Academy and exploring Years 11 & 12 expansion options.
Strengthening Professional Development for Staff
Deepening the growth of our staff—professionally, spiritually, and as a team.
Resourcing the Vision Sustainably
Building the Emmaus Foundation and launching a Bursary Fund to increase access and equity.
Securing a Site for Future Growth
Planning ahead for physical expansion, allowing the school to flourish for years to come.
Launching an Alumni Strategy
Reconnecting with past students and families, honouring their legacy and celebrating their ongoing journey.
Our Commitments
Promoting Learning Through Service
Service learning is a vital expression of our Christ-centred mission, forming students in love, humility, and purpose as they engage with the needs of others. By building long-term partnerships with local communities, students move beyond the classroom to apply their learning through meaningful, relational acts of service. This approach nurtures character, deepens understanding, and equips students to live out their faith with compassion and conviction in a complex world.
We will deepen our culture of service by partnering with a wide range of stakeholders—including churches, care organisations, local schools, and community support services—to create meaningful, sustained impact.
Student volunteering and skills programs, (e.g. Duke of Edinburgh Award program) will be introduced to broaden opportunities for student-led service, leadership, and personal growth.
We will also expand our engagement with aged care communities and develop a whole-school service-learning progression that nurtures every student’s capacity to serve with compassion, humility, and purpose.
Partnering with Churches to Strengthen Local Communities
Partnering with churches is a vital expression of our shared mission to see our local communities transformed by the love of Christ. As we collaborate in discipleship, teaching, and service, we strengthen both the spiritual formation of our students and the witness of the Church in the local community. These partnerships create opportunities for mutual encouragement, deepen our roots in the body of Christ, and extend the reach of Christian hope, truth, and love beyond the school gates.
We will strengthen relationships with churches by collaborating in student faith formation, pastoral care, and Christian Life Studies programs that reflect theological richness.
Local churches will be invited into the life of the school community—participating in events, providing pastoral input, and offering opportunities for connection and support.
Students will be supported to serve and grow within their home churches while also engaging in shared community projects that demonstrate faith in action.
Exploring Future Pathways for Growth
Exploring future pathways is a vital expression of our vision to equip students and staff for lives of faithful learning, service, and leadership. As the school community matures, we are committed to growing in ways that remain true to our mission while expanding our capacity to meet emerging needs. This includes deepening our investment in Christian education through new opportunities for learning, formation, and professional development—shaping not only what Emmaus offers, but who we are becoming.
We will explore the establishment of an Emmaus Teaching Academy to form and mentor aspiring Christian educators with excellence, purpose, and theological depth.
We will assess the feasibility of Year 11 and 12 expansion options or guaranteed pathways, offering ACT College options marked by strong academics, spiritual formation, and vocational discernment.
We will engage staff, students, families, and external partners in shaping these pathways, ensuring they reflect our values, meet community needs, and serve the next generation with clarity and faithfulness.
Living Our Faith Through Global and Indigenous Mission
Engaging in global and Indigenous mission is a vital expression of our commitment to live out the Gospel with justice, empathy, and reconciliation at its heart. As students encounter diverse cultures and contexts, they are challenged to see the world through the lens of God’s kingdom—where every person is made in His image and worthy of dignity, compassion, and care. These experiences expand students’ worldview, shape their character, and prepare them to participate in God’s redemptive work with humility, wisdom, and respect.
We will grow students’ cultural awareness and empathy through intentional engagement with global and Indigenous communities in Australia and beyond.
We will develop long-term partnerships with mission organisations, cultural leaders, and service groups to support sustainable projects and shared learning.
A clear learning progression in justice, global citizenship, and reconciliation will be embedded across year levels to form students who live out their faith in a diverse and complex world.
Resourcing the Vision Sustainably
Resourcing our vision is a vital expression of wise financial stewardship — ensuring the mission of Emmaus is not only preserved but expanded for the generations to come. We believe every child should have the opportunity to flourish in a Christ-centred learning environment, regardless of their background. With thoughtful planning and faithful generosity, we will build a sustainable financial foundation that reflects our values of equity, access, and long-term impact.
We will establish long-term tactics for strategic fundraising, community engagement, and mission-aligned generosity.
We will launch a Bursary Fund to increase access to Christian education for students from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
We will invite the wider Emmaus community — past, present, and future — to partner with us in resourcing growth, innovation, and impact.
Securing a Physical Site for Future Growth
Planning for physical growth is a vital expression of vision and faithfulness to God’s unfolding call for Emmaus. As enrolments grow and our programs expand, we are committed to ensuring our facilities support both the current and future needs of the school. With wisdom, foresight, and prayer, we will prepare for the next season of growth in a way that safeguards our values and strengthens our mission.
We will develop a long-term property strategy that allows Emmaus to grow with integrity, creativity, and stability.
We will explore opportunities to identify, assess, and secure a physical site that meets the school’s needs and aligns with our educational and missional vision.
We will consult with key stakeholders and ensure that any development reflects our commitment to community, accessibility, and stewardship.
Launching an Alumni Strategy
Launching an alumni strategy is a vital expression of honouring our story and strengthening our future. The legacy of Emmaus lives on through the lives of our past students and staff, who continue to serve, lead, and witness in a wide variety of contexts. By reconnecting and celebrating these journeys, we nurture a lifelong sense of belonging and invite alumni to remain part of the unfolding Emmaus story.
We will develop an Emmaus alumni network that supports connection, celebration, and shared purpose across generations.
We will collect and share alumni stories that inspire current students and reflect the long-term impact of a Christ-centred education.
We will create opportunities for alumni to contribute to school life through mentoring, events, giving, and prayerful support.
We are grounded in our history, confident in our present, and hopeful for the future. As we step forward into this new season, we remain anchored in Christ — shining His love, leading with purpose, and learning for life.
Our Hope for the Future
This new season is not simply a continuation—it is a courageous step into the bold vision God has placed before us, one marked by faith, purpose, and a growing impact beyond ourselves. We are called to shine Christ’s light more brightly—to grow in service, influence, and connection within the broader community.
To truly understand the heart of our vision, we imagined what it might look like when lived out in the lives of real people.
What if we stepped into the year 2030 and listened to those who had journeyed with Emmaus through this next chapter?
What would they say?
How would the story of our school — its faith, culture, and commitments — have shaped their lives?
The following nine imagined personas are based on deep listening. They are not fictional in spirit, but grounded in the hopes, feedback, and experiences shared by our community. Students, staff, families, alumni, church leaders, neighbours, and even external partners like regulators, offered rich insight that helped shape our direction.
Through their imagined reflections, we see a picture of a school living out its mission with clarity and courage — a school that forms people of faith, purpose, and compassion who go on to serve and lead in every sphere of life. These voices from the future help us see what’s possible when we grow together in Faith, Love and Wisdom.
Hey, Mele here! My daughter, Talia, is in Year 5 at Emmaus, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey we’ve had here so far.
What will our strategy mean for… PARENTS/CAREGIVERS
As a parent, it’s rare to find a school that truly feels like an extension of your family. From the moment we joined, Emmaus has been a place where my voice is heard, my concerns are addressed, and my daughter’s growth is prioritised in every way. What really stands out is how Emmaus nurtures not just academic excellence, but also strong Christian values that align with our family’s beliefs. The support from teachers and staff has been invaluable, helping both Talia and I grow stronger together. I’ve learned so much from the school, and it’s been such a rewarding experience to see Talia flourish in this environment.
As a parent, I’m proud to stay involved with an amazing community of like-minded families. I truly value our partnership with teachers and staff who take care of our kids, through programs such as PIP (the Parent Involvement Program) and the P&F (Parents and Friends Association). I’m excited for the years to come and grateful for everything Emmaus has done for my family!
What will our strategy mean for… STUDENTS
Emmaus isn’t just a school to me—it’s where I’ve made my closest friends and grown in my faith. It’s a place where I feel safe, heard, and supported. The Biblical values I’ve learned here give me the strength to face challenges, pursue my dreams, and treat others with kindness and respect. Through activities like nursing home visitations and other outreach opportunities like the mission trips to Japan and Outback Australia, I’ve learned the importance of caring, listening, and being there for others.
I’m also excited for The Rite Journey next year, where I’ll take on more responsibility, grow in my independence, and step into new roles. It’s a chance to leave childish behaviours behind and grow up with new privileges and trust.
The teachers here are amazing. Many of them are also go to my church. They guide me in my faith and teach me how to live out Christ’s teachings every day.
I’m proud to be a student at Emmaus and look forward to continuing my journey here, growing and representing this incredible school!
Hey, my name is Josiah! I’m in Year 8 at Emmaus, and I’ve been here since preschool.
What will our strategy mean for… COMMUNITY MEMBERS
This school has been such a blessing. It’s heartwarming to watch the kids head home, filled with joy and energy, and to see their kindness and love. My son loves saying hi to the students who walk past our house every day—they always greet him with big smiles, and it makes me so grateful for this community. I can’t wait to send him to preschool here!
I’m also thankful for having access to the playground outside school hours. It’s a great space for my son to enjoy, and it makes us feel part of the Emmaus family. I’ve enjoyed attending events like the Twilight Picnic and Movie Night on the oval… and even received hot cross buns from the Principal last Easter — a thoughtful gesture that shows how much Emmaus cares.
I’m so thankful for the positive impact Emmaus has had on our family. I’m proud to be part of this amazing community and look forward to what’s ahead!
Hi, my name is Natalie, and I live just across the road from Emmaus! I’m a mum to a cheeky two-year-old, and I feel so lucky to be raising him in such a wonderful community, shaped by Emmaus.
I’m Chris, a regulator in the ACT, and I’ve had the privilege of working with Emmaus over a number of years, ensuring compliance with key criteria like relevant regulations, financial stability, educational quality, student safety, community impact and long-term value.
What will our strategy mean for… REGULATORS
What stands out most is the consistent professionalism I witness whenever I visit. The school maintains strong policies that align with all relevant standards, with well-maintained facilities and transparent financial reporting. Beyond the operational side, I’m always impressed by the genuine values that shape the school’s culture. The staff and students consistently demonstrate kindness, respect, and a deep sense of community.
Every time I visit, I feel valued and respected for the role I play, and I’m always treated with kindness and warmth. It’s clear that Emmaus not only cares about meeting regulatory standards but also about fostering a welcoming environment for everyone involved.
I continue to work with Emmaus in confidence, knowing the school is committed to ongoing improvement. The Board is always open to new ideas, and I look forward to seeing the continued positive impact Emmaus will have on its students and the broader Canberra community.
What will our strategy mean for… TEACHERS
Teaching here is incredibly rewarding. Emmaus prioritises educational excellence, and I’m proud to be part of a team that encourages students to reach their full potential. We weave a biblical worldview into our lessons, helping students grow into kind, thoughtful leaders with purpose and integrity. We aim to support all our students to nurture their gifts and talents, and to step with strength into God’s plans and purposes for their lives.
I’m also grateful for the supportive environment. My colleagues are always willing to collaborate, and the students are eager to learn. Many of them know me from church, which deepens the respect they have for me as a teacher. This connection creates a classroom where trust, mutual respect, and faith are at the heart of everything we do.
It’s a privilege to teach at Emmaus, where excellence in education and community is always valued!
Hey, I’m John, a teacher at Emmaus — the best school ever!
What will our strategy mean for…
ADMIN AND SUPPORT STAFF
I’m Sam, the Receptionist, and I love greeting students with a smile as they sign in or out. It’s so rewarding to meet visitors and make them feel welcome, knowing that I play a crucial part in keeping things running smoothly at Emmaus.
I’m Mariam, the First Aid Officer. I’m always here to help when students are hurt or feeling unwell, offering care and kindness while I pray for their recovery. It’s a privilege to support their wellbeing in such a meaningful way.
I’m Raj, and I handle payroll. I take pride in applying my skills in a school that shares my values. Knowing my work supports an environment that nurtures both spiritual and academic growth is really fulfilling.
We’re all grateful to be part of a school that values us, and it’s an honour to contribute to the positive culture at Emmaus. We’re excited to continue serving and making a difference in the lives of our students.
Hey, we’re Sam, Mariam, and Raj, the Admin Team here at Emmaus!
Growing Together in Faith, Love and Wisdom
This strategic plan is not a fixed destination, but a living document — prayerfully shaped to guide our next season as a community formed by Christ. Rooted in the faithfulness of our past and inspired by the voices of our present, it shines a light on the path ahead, inviting us to walk forward with clarity, courage, and love. The eight commitments outlined in these pages reflect our deep hope:
to grow in faith; to serve with purpose; to partner generously; to extend our impact beyond the school gates.
As we step into this new chapter, we do so with a renewed boldness — believing that God has called Emmaus to be a light in the world, a community where love shines through learning, leadership, and service.
The nine voices from the future offer a glimpse of what this vision might look like when fully lived — people, shaped by a school committed to formation, excellence, and compassion. They remind us that our work is about people: students, families, staff, and neighbours, each impacted by the faithful presence of Emmaus in their lives.
We take heart from the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven
With deep gratitude and joyful anticipation, we entrust this plan — and all it represents — to the One who leads us forward in love and truth.
GROWING TOGETHER IN FAITH, LOVE AND WISDOM
