Maitland Christian School Prospectus

Maitland Christian School

Do all for God’s glory A ministry of Metford Community Baptist Church

Mission Statement To work in partnership with families and churches by offering a sound Christ-centred education which encourages the fullest possible development of the spiritual, academic, physical and social characteristics of each child.

Our Vision Statement Maitland Christian School is a school that strives to develop individuals so that they may be able to verbalise, articulate and think critically, develop healthy interpersonal relationships, develop strategies to improve their own learning and have a realistic concept of who they are in Christ. Â Maitland Christian School strives to provide all students with the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents while nurturing them in their faith and guiding them toward spiritual maturity.

Through quality educational facilities, resources and caring staff, we aim to help each student reach their full potential.

From the Principal Thank you for taking this opportunity to become more familiar with Maitland Christian School.

Over 30 years ago, the Metford Community Baptist Church had the vision to step out in faith and establish a distinctly Christian School. This school would see home, church and school working together to provide a unique Christcentred education. Today, God has blessed that vision and the trust that those founding families had in Him. From a humble beginning of 22 primary students in 1983, the school is now a flourishing Prep to Year 12 school of well over 500 students.

Our school motto is, “Do all for God’s glory”. In His strength, we continue to be a community that is changing and equipping young people to serve God, today and into the future. Through classroom based programs, extra-curricular activities and growing mission and service programs, shaping the hearts and minds of our students is at the forefront and it continues to be an important focus.

Staff at Maitland Christian School are committed Christians who are dedicated to catering for the spiritual, academic, social and physical needs of each child. Quality instruction, based on a Christian worldview, is producing healthy academic results and growth in student learning. This learning occurs in a caring, Christian environment which aims to equip and develop each child.

It’s my privilege, on behalf of the board, staff, parents and students, to invite you to further explore the many aspects of Maitland Christian School. I trust that you enjoy finding out more about our school community and the wonderful stories that exist within it.

Rich blessings

Geoff Peet

Spiritual Christianity in Action Students at Maitland Christian School are encouraged to develop a faith in God through Bible study, prayer, praise and worship. The school motto, “Do all for God’s glory”, challenges each member of the school community to strive for excellence in every aspect of their life.

All students enjoy a Time of Praise at School (TOPS) where they can worship and learn about God’s goodness. Our students are able to express the joy of their salvation, whether it be younger students learning memory verses or the older students sharing testimonies and leading the praise and worship.

Students in the Student Action Leadership Team (SALT) or mini-SALT (for primary students), lead the student body in activities, to bless the local community and share the love of God through fundraising and practical support. High school students also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of mission work, assisting local, other national and international communities.

What is Christian Education?

Maitland Christian School employs qualified staff, who are committed Christians and are active members of their local church. They pray and study the Bible together at the start of each school day and this attitude of commitment to the Lord continues into the classroom.

Biblical Christianity affects every aspect of our lives and our education is no exception to this. At Maitland Christian School, the curriculum is taught from the perspective of a Biblical Christian world view. Christian families can have confidence that the teaching their children receive at school, in every aspect of the curriculum, will support the teaching at home and in church.

Academic Prep On reaching the age of four, students who are to start Kindergarten the following year have the opportunity to attend Prep for part of the school week. Prep students become familiar with the routines and expectations of school life, while learning basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Primary Education Maitland Christian School has a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. Each morning, primary students enjoy quality, dedicated, learning time for developing reading, writing, spelling, grammar and mathematical skills.

During the afternoon, the students study a broader curriculum, including science, technology, human society and its environment, art, music and physical education.

Secondary Education Education from Years 7-12 at Maitland Christian School begins with a comprehensive range of compulsory subjects in Years 7 and 8, taught by specialist teachers with excellent educational resources and facilities.

Years 9 and 10 students have compulsory core subjects but also choose from a wide selection of electives. These electives are studied in combined Year 9/10 classes. This not only allows a wider selection of electives but also fosters a spirit of cooperation between the different cohorts.

Elective lines for Years 9-12 are not predetermined.

Rather, through the use of advanced computer software, the needs and preferences of the students in each cohort give them an outstandingly high satisfaction rate for their elective choices.

Physical Physical Education As part of the curriculum, students study Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, which includes learning about healthy living and practical development of gross motor skills.

In sport lessons, students become familiar with sports such as athletics, swimming, ball sports, dancing and gymnastics.

Sporting Opportunities As well as physical education and sport classes, students can choose to participate in a variety of inter school sport teams and individual events.

As a member of the Christian Schools Sports Association (CSSA) and Combined Independent Schools, teams from Maitland Christian School are involved in zone and statewide competitions, including netball, basketball, soccer, rugby league and futsal.

Our school community comes together for swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals each year. These events foster a high degree of participation from all students, as well as determining teams to compete in the relevant zone carnivals, with the opportunity for participation in state and national events.

The Playground With a combination of natural play spaces, equipment and sports fields, in break times the playground becomes a hive of activity. Most of the school playground is shared by both primary and secondary students but there are some areas that are set aside for age appropriate play.

Social Student Welfare All children at Maitland Christian School are valued as unique individuals and are encouraged to have the highest personal integrity through their conduct and care of others.

Emphasis is placed on developing cooperation and selfdiscipline, through students showing respect for authority, other students and their property.

Maitland Christian School employs a team of dedicated staff, who watch over the welfare needs of our students, including welfare coordinators, learning support staff, psychologist and chaplains. Between them they care for the spiritual, academic, physical and social aspects of our students’ welfare.

The School Community At Maitland Christian School we want our students to know that they are a part of a caring community, which includes their families, teachers and other students.

We encourage an environment where families are welcome in the school. Parents are invited to give voluntary assistance in classrooms, the library, the canteen or the office. We welcome parental contact and opportunities to develop our partnership in Christian education through social gatherings, information evenings and meetings with individual teachers or executive staff.

Facilities Maitland Christian School is located 10 minutes from the centre of Maitland, in the picturesque Hunter Valley. The school has modern facilities and all classrooms are airconditioned and well-appointed with computer technology.

The school grounds are attractively presented with an abundance of grassy and shaded playground areas for the students to enjoy. We also have daily access to the adjacent council oval and to the Metford Community Baptist Church’s auditorium and multi-purpose sports hall.

All students have access to technology to assist them in their learning. High school students are issued with iPads or laptops for their study at school and home.

Families who are considering enrolling their children at Maitland Christian School are invited to make an appointment to have a guided tour of the school.

Creative Arts We believe in a creative God and, therefore, we want our students to develop their talents and express their thoughts and feelings through the creative arts.

Both primary and secondary students at Maitland Christian School have the opportunity to explore their creative gifts through Music, Drama and Visual Arts.

The creative arts are supported in primary school, with specialist music and art teachers and facilities. Primary classes also prepare performances for fortnightly assemblies and have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular music and drama activities.

High school Visual Art classes explore the traditional art forms such as painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and printing, as well as digital and film photography and video animation.

Each year there is either a showcase night for music, visual arts, dance and drama or a school musical. These events are a highlight of the year and become an opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the creativity of our students.

Enrolment Maitland Christian School primarily enrols children from families who are regular attendees of protestant, evangelical Christian churches. It encourages all parents to be actively involved in the school community and in the education of their children.

Children and parents from families who do not regularly attend a Christian church, or who attend a church other than a protestant, evangelical church, must be familiar with and support the aims, objects, vision and mission of the school prior to enrolment of their children in the school.

Children who would not turn five until after 30th April in Kindergarten, will only be accepted if it is considered that they are ready for school. Prep children must be 4 years old and commencing Kindergarten the following year.

The first step in the enrolment process is to obtain and complete an “Application to Register for Enrolment� form from the school website (www.maitlandcs.nsw.edu.au) or contact the school office on 02 4933 7633. This form should then be returned to the school along with a copy of your child’s birth certificate. You will receive acknowledgement that we received the form and will be contacted for further information and the payment of a Family Registration fee, if a suitable place becomes available.

Maitland Christian School

75-81 Chelmsford Drive, Metford NSW 2323 Phone: 02 4933 7633 Email: office@maitlandcs.nsw.edu.au

www.maitlandcs.nsw.edu.au