Pacific Streams Spring 2014

PACIFIC

A FR EE Pub licatio n of Pa cific Hills C hr ist ia n S ch oo l

HOPE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES • SISTER SCHOOLS BIRDS OF PACIFIC HILLS • FIVE STARS

Spring 2014

PACIFIC

04

School Days

05

The Way of Peace

06

Hope for the Middle East

08

Sister Schools

10

Birds of Pacific Hills

12

Five Star Accreditation

13

When Tragedy Strikes

14

Blessings & Growth

15

Helping Hands

16

Coolangatta to Uluru

18

Sport

ON THE COVER Jacob Basden Year 10.

LEFT This mixed media artwork (watercolour, salt, pen & collage) is by Connan McRae Year 8.

Pacific Streams is produced by Pacific Hills Christian School for school families and the school community. Pacific Hills Christian School 9 Quarry Road Dural NSW 2158 Phone: (02) 9651 0700 Fax: (02) 9651 3513 Web: www.pacifichills.net Email: pacificstreams@pacifichills.net An activity of Pacific Hills Education Limited ABN 001 832 282 CRICOS 04230G.

02

In this Five things to discover in this issue of Pacific Streams

13

1.

Seeing stars at the School Canteen.

2.

Look out for ventriloquial, lerp eating passerines around the School dam.

3.

Did you know schools can have sisters? Truly!

4.

Hope springs eternal for Peace.

5.

Thinking two things at the same time; a good God and a hurting world.

15

18

SPRING 2014 / 03

School Days THINGS THAT HAPPENED Grand Day Take care of your grandchildren and your grandchildren will… delight you at Grandparents Assembly – of course!

Big Purses It’s amazing what can fit in a purse and Samaritan’s Purse must be the largest purse around. Past Student, Ken James, showed the students just how big with tours of this disaster relief prime mover.

Ski Amigos Skied into ski camp history with Year 11 at Thredbo, wearing the classic, timeless many layered look.

Awesome Art There’s something startling about unexpected objects appearing in unforeseen spaces. Year 11 Art students are ridiculously talented and we pay homage to your ability to make us think with your sculptures and installations.

04

How many fathers does it take to...?

A lot by the sound of the fun and confusion at Middle School Fathers’ Night.

Pacific Hills Christian School THE WAY OF PEACE Dr E J Boyce Principal In the Bible we read about the peace of God and being at peace with God. Jesus Himself said, “My peace I leave with you” John 14:27. As we have been justified through faith in Jesus, “We have peace with God’ Romans 5:1. It is such a privilege for us in our humanness to be at peace with God. We have peace in that we are freed from our sins. We have peace with an inner contentment that comes from God. We have peace as we anticipate an uncertain future because we are right with God, and we have His Spirit living within us. The peace we have with God is in prospect of the eternal peace that we have with God in Heaven.

As a result of being at peace with God our lives can be, and should be, lives of worship for the inestimable privilege of having God’s life within our human soul. For this we are thankful and we should celebrate. It is wonderful to know that having peace with God indicates that we are part of a huge number of persons of all different backgrounds and locations and histories all over the world, both in history and today. This we have received because of our common faith Titus 1:4.

In Philippians 4:7 we read that, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. By this we understand that being at peace with God and having His peace in our hearts and lives will be the reason by which we will be in a position of relationship with God and others which goes beyond all understanding. This understanding is the imperative of the Christian Gospel by which we are commanded to be right with God first of all. The privilege for us is that this peace of God in our lives is not dependent on our intelligence, our resources, our personal history or where we live in the world. In the context of a school community this understanding of God’s peace and the reflection of that in our lives is a point of extreme blessing for us.

This concept highlights the significance of us understanding that the primary basic assumption for our existence individually and in community is for us to give glory to God and enjoy Him now and forever. The name Pacific Hills Christian School was designed to reflect this truth from the Bible as we believe that being at peace with God is more important than any level of any knowledge that we may attain.

The practice of this understanding will be that we will live in a state of significant contentment, not being phased nor impacted solely by the society in which we live nor the philosophies surrounding us or the goals and objectives that are the driving forces for the ways in which humans function. Within the world in which we live there is much strife, argument, division, war, hatred, envy, bitterness. All in all, anything but peace. This is a sad but proper description of the state of humans on planet Earth. This is a result of the Fall and our subsequent falling short of God’s glory.

When we are at peace with God and have God’s peace in our lives, we are right with God and we have the capacity to be right with one another, particularly those of the Christian faith which we have in common. As I have discovered during my life, I can be at peace and feel at home with my Christian brothers and sisters in any part of the world, even though we may speak different languages and live in different cultures. This sense of contentment can only be understood as a gift from God. To God be the glory.

SPRING 2014 / 05

hope for the middle east

THE ARAB ISRAELI CONFLICT IS A STORY OF REJECTION, GRIEF AND SORROW. Mrs N Fletcher Faculty Head History, Pacific Hills In 2014, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a focus of study for Year 12 Modern History students, escalated once more. The militant Islamic group Hamas, fired thousands of rockets into Israel and constructed tunnels from the Gaza Strip to Israel in order to launch attacks on Israeli settlers. Israel responded with the bombing of the Gaza Strip. To date, at least 2,200 Palestinians have died.

Fighting between Israelis and Palestinians has been a constant since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent development of the Palestinian refugee problem. Despite countless peace negotiations, the Arab - Israeli conflict shows no sign of ending.

Palestinian refugees, many of whom are descendants of the 1948 refugees, continue to suffer, living in appalling conditions and often the innocent victims of fighting, as seen in the past few weeks. Most Palestinians accept that the state of Israel will continue to exist and so they yearn for peace and improved living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. Yet with extremist activity, this seemingly simple desire remains far from a reality. They suffer a loss of dignity and hope for any kind of future. For Israel, whose Iron Dome Missile Defence system has worked in overdrive this year, the security they have so desperately desired since 1948 is far from being realised. Despite winning several wars and securing peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, Israel faces numerous threats including Hamas, Hezbollah and now ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which emerged as a significant threat to the entire region in 2014.

The Arab Israeli conflict is a story of rejection, grief and sorrow. The bitterness and resentment runs deep on both sides. The situation appears unsolvable. But there is hope.

There is hope when we hear that Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of the founder of Hamas, a militant Islamic organisation which today runs Gaza and is committed to the creation of an Islamic state, has committed his life to Christ. How powerful, that the heir apparent to Hamas has stated: ‘Only Jesus could save mankind through His death and resurrection. And Jesus is the only way to God.’ There is hope when a former terrorist and personal friend

06

of Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat is radically transformed by Jesus and spreads the gospel message through Gaza, Israel and the West Bank. In the late 1960s Tass Saada was a sniper in the PLO, responsible for the deaths of Israelis, the bombing of Jordanian churches and assassination attempts on Jordan’s Crown Prince. Today he has established kindergartens in Gaza and the West Bank, instilling in a new generation the need for reconciliation rather than retaliation. Through Saada’s work programs, educational programs, cleaning programs, resource supplies and Bible studies, Palestinian refugees are hearing the Word of God. Tass Saada is spreading the message that there is a God of peace who can bring reconciliation.

There is hope when the former aid to PLO Chairman, Yasser Arafat and the former aid to the hardline Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, work together to spread the gospel message. Tass Saada visits hospitals in Israel with Dean Merrill, the former aid to Benjamin Netanyahu, whose brother was killed by the PLO in 1976.

Tass Saada and Dean Merrill visited a hospital in Ashkelon which treats Jews and Arabs wounded in the ongoing border skirmishes. Together Saada and Merrill presented cheques to the hospital to finance the purchase of medical equipment. Doctors were stunned when Tass Saada asked the hospital staff to forgive him for what he and Palestinian activists had done to harm Jews over the years.

Taas Saada found hope in reading Genesis 15-17 and saw that God had a plan for all peoples who came from Abraham. Saada stated that reading Genesis 15-17 was the first time he felt proud to be an Arab as God made promises to both the Jewish and Arab people. While God promised Abraham that his descendants, the Jews, through his son Isaac would be his chosen people, God did not ignore the Arabs, Abraham’s descendants through Ishmael. He cared for Ishmael‘s mother Hagar sending an angel to her when she was desperate in the desert fleeing with Ishmael and promising her that her descendants would be too numerous to count. Reading Genesis 15-17 showed Tass Saada that God is the God of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac.

Tass Saada was particularly touched by Abraham’s burial.

After years of animosity and hostility, 85 year old Ishmael and 72 year old Isaac cast aside their differences to bury their father. In this simple scene lies hope for compromise.

There is hope in the Middle East when we learn that more Muslims have come to faith in Jesus Christ since 9/11 than at any other time in history. God is working in the lives of people in the Middle East.

The hope for peace in the Middle East is to be found in Jesus. Through Jesus we have compassion and

understanding. Through Jesus we can have reconciliation and forgiveness. Jesus is what the region needs. To suggest that peace through Jesus could be achieved in the Middle East today might seem idealistic and unrealistic.

Yet Jesus accomplished a radical transformation in the ethnic tensions of the first century. Jesus came into a world of high tension. The Jews were in conflict with their neighbours. The Gentiles were despised. The Jews were God’s chosen people but Jesus created a bridge for Gentiles to gain salvation. Jesus opened God’s promises to all. Jesus was and is the hope for the world.

Taas Saada writes: “In the Middle Eastern discussion of our time, we need to stop sidelining Jesus as simply the founder of something called Christianity. He is God’s unique Word to all in the midst of an emotional and noisy argument. He is clarity amid the posturing and distortion. He is the way, the truth and the life.

Regardless of all the diversity in the Middle East, Jesus is our one hope of reconciliation in the here and now. He is the only one I can think of who holds the power, the moral authority, to bring us together. He is the antidote to mistrust and bitterness and resentment. He is the one who convinces an Arab like me that the Jews are not my enemies but rather my cousins, going back to Abraham’s house. That puts a whole different light on the subject.

No wonder the ancient prophet, 700 years ahead of time, called Him the ‘Prince of Peace.’ Can we do anything to help the situation in the Middle East? The answer is yes. We can pray. Scripture commands us to bring prayer requests before God, to always pray and not give up, (Luke 18). It encourages us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6). It assures us that God hears our prayers and responds (Psalm 55:17, Proverbs 15:29). 1 Timothy 2:1-4 urges us to make ‘requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving … for everyone…. for kings and all those in authority.’

We can pray for: An end to fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The safety of Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza.

Healing for those whose lives have been shattered by war.

Middle Eastern leaders that they might seek reconciliation rather than retribution, and genuinely yearn for peace.

Wisdom in all leadership concerning the Middle East.

Protection for Christians in the Middle East.

Opportunities for Christians in the Middle East to spread the gospel message safely.

Peace in the entire Middle East region.

Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord.

Lord, hear our voices!

Above the sound of rockets and the weeping of those bereaved, hear our earnest prayers!

We look on in horror at children killed, homes and schools hit, smoking rubble.

We listen in fear to voices speaking defiance, vowing revenge, claiming violence as a solution.

We mourn with all who have lost loved ones, all who have fled the fighting, all who will lie down in fear this night.

We wait for the Lord, our souls wait, and only in the Prince of Peace can we hope; our souls wait for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch in fear for what destruction the morning’s light will show.

O peoples of this troubled region, may your angry voices be calmed, may love drive out hatred, may God’s peace settle upon you.

May God redeem all who call for further killing.

May the horrors of these days give fresh determination. to the peacemakers.

And may we see conflict here no more.

Amen.

Inspired by Psalm 130. Posted on www.christianaid.org.uk

SPRING 2014 / 07

sister schools MEMBERS TOGETHER OF ONE BODY, AND SHARERS TOGETHER IN THE PROMISE OF CHRIST JESUS. Ephesians 3:6

Craig Robson Dean of Administration, Pacific Hills Pacific Hills is committed to extending the place of Christian Education around the globe and, in consequence, is involved in a variety of programs and initiatives that support this endeavour. Among them is the Sister Schools Program.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, goes to great lengths to explain the connection all believers have under the headship of Christ.

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” Ephesians 1:4 – 6 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:6 God has called people from all over the world to be part

08

of the one spiritual family under the headship of Christ Jesus. We serve one God, through the work of our one Saviour and with the power of the one Spirit, irrespective of our locations. As a school it is our privilege to develop strong relationships with other schools who have also been called to share together in the work of the gospel through Christian Education.

The Sister School Program involves establishing close, supportive and interactive relationships between schools in diverse locations who share a like-minded vision for establishing a Christian Education Community in the context of their own culture and setting. Sister Schools are intent on equipping people at all stages of life with the transforming knowledge of Scripture and of the indwelling Spirit of Christ in order to develop and use their gifts and talents in the service of others and to the Glory of God. The Sister Schools Program benefits each participating school, including our own, in that it encourages each school community to recognize their place in the broad movement of Christian Schooling and to consider the circumstances of believers in other parts of the world.

It allows for the interchange of perspectives and of ideas in the development of a deeper understanding of the outworking of Christian Education theology and philosophy. It also allows for practical connections between the members of the communities. It provides opportunities for mutual prayer support and for the encouragement through fellowship. In the past the Sister Schools Program has allowed for direct support and shared professional learning experiences between members of the governance and leadership of the respective schools. School exchanges have also occurred between both teachers and students.

Criteria for participation in the Sister School Program include having a Bible-based curriculum in all learning

areas and a commitment to excellence as an act of worship. Each School involved in the Sister Schools Program is committed to being solely staffed by Christians committed to deepening personal and corporate discipleship. Each Sister School also provides parent and community education programs in acknowledgement of the role our schools play in partnering with these groups in the education of a child. A further criterion is the provision of Mission and Service opportunities, which include groups from each school, as Mission and Service form key elements of the students’ educational experience.

Currently our Sister Schools include from New Zealand, Bethlehem College (Tauranga) and Middleton Grange (Christchurch), from Hong Kong, United Christian College Kowloon East, from Zimbabwe, Gateway Christian Academy (Harare), from Canada, Pacific Academy (Vancouver) and Strathcona Christian College (Edmonton), from Indonesia, Mawar Sharon Christian School (Surabaya) and from Germany, Free Evangelical School (Stuttgart). A number of other relationships are being built with schools both locally and across the globe with a view of one day sharing a Sister School or another form of strategic partnership relationship with these schools.

In the future we hope that these Sister School relationships will continue to provide opportunities for shared learning experiences for both the teachers and students across all the schools. We all are beneficiaries of the wonderful privilege of being adopted into the greater family of God. It is our hope that as we continue making new connections and strengthening existing relationships, our schools will continue to experience the promise of Christ Jesus to the praise of His glorious grace.

Our Sister Schools have committed to signing a charter of agreement in recognition of the close connections being built between the schools:

Sister School Charter of Agreement Being like-minded in our vision for establishing effective Bible-based educational communities, and in a spirit of fellowship and mutual regard, we covenant to each other through the signing of this agreement as Sister School Communities and pray that God enables us through His grace to live corporate lives worthy of the Calling we have received.

As Sister Schools we commit to: • support one another in prayer, to uphold our communities before God and to intercede for each other; • generously share insights and understandings of our stewardship before God to live out His call upon us; • advocate for the primacy of Scripture as the foundation of all policy and practice; • encourage a deepening of our corporate faith and of our reliance on the enablement of the Spirit of God to minister in His name; • promote in each others’ actions and activities our living worshipfully in community; • stimulate each other to good works; • actively pursue connectedness and cooperation between our schools; • speak well of each other amongst our peers and before our communities.

SPRING 2014 / 09

the birds of pacific hills BIRDS ARE A VERY NOTICEABLE PART OF THE CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL’S GROUNDS. Steven Hale Retired Staff, Pacific Hills The six and a half hectare campus of Pacific Hills is situated in a semi rural locality. The buildings are set between a significant row of native street trees and a substantial and relatively pristine stand of eucalypts behind. Many assorted decorative flowering trees and shrubs intermingle with the buildings. At the lowest extremity, amongst the gum trees, is a dam that catches excess rainwater and off that a macrophyte pond lined with cumbungi bulrushes. This heavily vegetated pond collects nutrients from the water overflow from the dam before it enters the creek further down the line. All this makes an excellent habitat for the many local, endemic species of birds.

Birds are a very noticeable part of the character of the

10

school’s grounds. There are dozens of species to be seen if one takes the time to look. Some of the more obvious ones are mentioned below.

Bell Miners, aka bell birds, are birds of the bush. These olive green birds are not easily seen in their treetop territories near the dam but their constant, ventriloquial, bell-like calls hang in the air and let you know they are there in numbers.

Nectar and abundant lerps form their diet. They are shy of people but you sure know they are there! Students go to school to the sound of bell birds.

Noisy Miners are a very similar species of bird but of quite different colouring with grey and black feathering. They are easy to see as they live in groups that noisily move around the school playgrounds. They are as happy to pick at a discarded sandwich on the ground as they are to sip their normal nectar diet in blossoms found higher up in trees. They build their nests in trees and shrubs growing in the very busy Junior School yard. They sometimes venture into classrooms.

Willie Wagtails, sartorially splendid in their black and white feathering, are not so common and, although quite small, are not shy or timid as they search for insects.

They have no hesitation in noisily scolding and fearlessly chasing much larger birds such as hawks and ravens if they perceive any danger to their nestlings.

Rainbow Lorikeets are arguably the most colourful bird to

be seen in the grounds. They are ‘loud’ in colour and loud in behaviour. Always busy picking at scraps of fruit on the pathways, lawns and bins, they are there almost under your feet all day.

Crested Pigeons with their mauve, grey plumage and jaunty hairdo, are quiet gatherers of bread crumbs thoughtfully left by students hurriedly finishing their lunches before going off to play. They are quietly beautiful and doves (pigeons) are a well-known symbol of peace.

When I consider these birds (and many others) that share the school’s facilities, I am constantly reminded of God’s amazing creation and His abundant provision. As I walk around the grounds, the birds remind me of the community God has blessed us to be in at Pacific Hills.

Birds can teach us much.

For example, we see the birds are well provided for with the necessities of life. They are not stressed as they go about their busyness and so neither should we. However, while God provides for them, they have to gather their food and they have to work at building their nests and raising young. Nature is not lazy!

What an important understanding for both ourselves and our children as we take up various roles in society.

We need to be relaxed in our faith that God has supplied all we need. At the same time we are reminded that it is our responsibility to work, and work hard, at becoming

the best citizens that we can be in order to harvest God’s provision, to benefit society and to extend the Kingdom of God. We see the different bird species with their varied personalities and very different appearances. Some are quiet, some are noisy, some are shy, some are bold, some are quietly coloured and some are really bright and showy.

People are like that too. They are all different. We are reminded by the birds of our need to accept the variety of all those we meet with all their variations. We are to be kind because God cares for them and therefore we can peacefully work alongside them.

When we consider the less brightly coloured birds especially, we are reminded that God made them all and cares for them. Knowing that God created the ‘ordinary’ helps us with accepting all people in our community as well as accepting ourselves. It helps us respect the quiet and not so obviously attractive people we meet and it also boosts our own self esteem to know that God cares for each of us.

These are some of the thoughts I have when I see birds.

When you see these fascinating and delightful creatures adorning your pathways around the school, maybe you too will be reminded by them to consider again the various aspects of God’s grace and His care for us and the creation. It is good to be reminded of some of the things God requires of us.

SPRING 2014 / 11

✭✭✭✭✭ canteen STUDENTS KNOW THE CANTEEN FOOD IS GREAT. Janine Murphy Canteen, Pacific Hills

Congratulations to the Pacific Hills Christian School Canteen upon being awarded the Australian School Canteen Association (ASCA) 5 Star Accreditation in Term 2, 2014.

ASCA’s 5 Star Canteen Accreditation program was implemented at the start of 2013 and is the only national quality accreditation for school canteens in Australia.

ASCA identified the need for a national quality accreditation for school canteens to provide principals, P&C Committees and parents with assurance their canteens meet all the required standards of quality.

12

The accreditation focuses on five key criteria: 1.

Staff competencies

2.

The canteen as part of the school community

3.

Quality and variety of products and service

4.

Regulatory compliance with health regulations

5.

Systems and Procedures in place to streamline a quality-working environment.

The students at Pacific Hills already know the canteen food is great, now it is official that all operations are 5 Star.

The Canteen received very positive feedback from the ASCA adjudication board as demonstrated by the following comment, “I must say that your submission was absolutely brilliant – a pleasure to assess”.

The School community extends a big congratulations and thank you to our wonderful canteen staff, Janine Murphy, Angela O’Donnelly and Janet Swalwell and to each of our generous volunteers who together provide such a valuable service to the students and their families.

when tragedy strikes HOW CAN WE PROVIDE COMFORT FOR OUR CHILDREN? Lauren Graham School Counsellor, Pacific Hills The past few weeks have heralded reports of many devastating tragedies. From the escalating conflict in the Middle East to persecution in Syria, kidnapped young women in Africa, and lost lives on flight MH17, to name but a few, the news has, of late, been heavy with the weight of seemingly senseless violence and unimaginable grief.

When tragedy strikes on an international, or a personal scale, how do we deal with this information, and how can we help our children to process such intense and overwhelming subject matter?

When our own hearts are saddened by what we see and hear and when our own fears are raised about the very state of our world, how can we seek to be the ones who provide wisdom, comfort or even explanation for our children? The task can seem somewhat daunting.

As an initial thought, perhaps it is important to give ourselves some time and space to think through, pray about and discuss such world events with other adults we trust and respect. Making sense of tragedy and violence is difficult, if not impossible sometimes, but sharing our thoughts and feelings about these incidents and issues can help to provide insight and ease the task of processing our own emotional responses before we even begin to think about educating our children.

Secondly, it is important and significant to recognise the very real and deep impact that such incidents can have upon us, even when they happen on the other side of the world. At a basic human level, we rightly and instinctively respond to perceived injustice, death and destruction with

strong emotions and feelings. We may even grieve deeply about the deaths of people we have never personally met, but whose stories resonate strongly, touch our hearts and move us powerfully.

As Christians, we hold in tension the reality of a fallen world with the certainty of a good, loving and sovereign God. We hold also to the hope for heaven where such brokenness will cease to exist, but still find ourselves longing for peace in the here and now. Such issues, both theologically and personally, can be challenging and confronting.

When it comes to speaking with our children about these matters, some may claim that ignorance is bliss and that the young should be protected from the harsh realities of the world we live in for as long as possible. Whilst I understand this thinking, and agree that there is no need to expose young children to traumatic imagery or information without due cause, for those with slightly older children who watch or listen to the news or social media, trying to prevent awareness of every distressing news story is nigh on impossible.

As parents, we hold the God-given responsibility for raising and teaching those precious ones entrusted to our care, and this will, at times, mean having hard, even heart-breaking conversations. However, to be able to have an input, even the primary input, into what our children see, hear or think about a particular issue, is incredibly important. We ought not to leave our children’s education about our world and its events to Wikipedia, facebook, or even the news. They need our thoughts, our insights, our wisdom and our guidance to understand things in context, and ask questions when they have concerns.

To think prayerfully, consciously and sensitively about what we tell our children when tragedies occur, will enable us to play an active role in our communication with and education of our children - in both the easy and the difficult times in life. Indeed, modelling how to think about, process and most significantly, deal with difficult subjects can be a great gift to our children - and will set a precedent for home being a safe space where no topic is taboo and where they can reliably know that Mum and Dad will speak honestly with them about whatever is happening in their home, their lives or indeed, the world.

SPRING 2014 / 13

blessings and growth

14

WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE GROWTH IN NUMBERS, AS WE EAGERLY DESIRE THE SCHOOL TO GROW.

works for our new Food Technology area and two additional classrooms. We are obviously very pleased that we have need for the additional classrooms in order to be able to cater for the continued increase in student numbers across all grades of the School. We are looking forward to the learning spaces being ready for use late this year and the opportunity for our community to hold a celebration event for theses spaces early in the New Year.

David Johnston Principal, Pacific Valley How quickly we like to take credit when in fact all of the thanks should go in one direction only and that is to our amazing creator God who has bought us through His Son. This is the truth that we as a community are endeavouring to live out in word and action as we continue to experience seasons of growth across the school.

We are very thankful for the growth in numbers, as we eagerly desire the school to grow. However we are also very thankful for the learning in which we see our students engaged. As each of them choose to make the most of the talents and abilities they have been blessed with they honour the gift giver. As they engage with their learning they also engage with the world and thinking about other people; how good it is for our students to be intentionally outwardly focused and to consider putting the needs of other people above their own.

It has been an exciting start to Term 3 at Pacific Valley with our new building project commencing its construction phase. This has provided great interest for our younger students as they watch the machinery prepare ground

Please continue to uphold our school community in prayer and ask that we will see and think truthfully about all the activities that we are engaged in so that Christ will indeed be the centre of all we do.

different ways to show what you know

•

Ask the student to repeat a word or sentence.

•

Ask the student to spell difficult or obscure words.

“GOD’S GIVEN ME A HEART FOR THIS WORK.”

•

Punctuate and use capital letters without the specific direction of the student.

•

Operate a calculator at the student’s direction.

Mrs S Pinkerton Learning Support Teacher, Pacific Hills

•

Rule lines as directed by the student.

•

Re-read the last two sentences that have been written, to enable the student to regain their place in their work.

Pacific Hills Christian School supports the different learning needs of students in a variety of ways during their time at school. In Middle and Senior School one form of assistance for students is providing Disability Provisions during exams. According to the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) disability provisions in the Higher School Certificate are practical arrangements designed to help students who couldn’t otherwise make a fair attempt to show what they know in an exam.

At Pacific Hills the students who are eligible for Readers and/or Writers during their exams are supported by a faithful, generous but small group of parents who give of their time and skills to ensure these students can demonstrate their knowledge. The Senior School Learning Support teachers, Miss Jenny Reynolds and Mrs Sue Pinkerton rely on the commitment of parents who express their desire to help. As one volunteer explained “God’s given me a heart for this work and I will do it for as long as I can”.

The students appreciate the provisions provided for them with comments such as “having rest breaks allows me to refocus and remain calm.”

“It helps me concentrate if I am in a small group for exams.”

“The extra time that I’m eligible for allows me time to process my thoughts.”

Ideal qualities for a reader/writer: •

Ability to communicate clearly in English.

•

Understanding of the subject(s) being examined.

•

Clear, legible handwriting (if writing for the student).

•

Patience and sensitivity to the student’s special needs.

•

Understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality and an ability to do so.

A Writer can: •

Write the student’ s answers exactly as dictated by the student.

If you feel God calling you for this work with the students please be encouraged to contact the Senior School Office and give your name as an examination helper. All training is provided.

“The reward is knowing that the student has been able to give honour and glory to God by their efforts to do their best.”

The definition of ‘disability’ in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 includes: physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, learning disabilities, physical disfigurement and the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms.

Disability provisions are approved by the BOSTES to provide students who have a permanent or temporary disability with practical support in the Higher School Certificate examinations. Disability provisions apply only where the disability is such that a practical arrangement is required to reduce disadvantage in an exam situation. Medical, psychological and academic evidence of a student’s disability must be provided to the BOSTES. This documentation is collated and lodged with the BOSTES by the Senior School Learning Support Teacher.

Disability provisions also apply to temporary and emergency-related disabilities. A typical example of an emergency is where a student breaks their writing arm a week before an examination.

Regardless of the nature of the disability, the provisions granted are solely determined by how the student’s exam performance is affected. Provisions may include Braille papers, large print papers, oral interpreters, use of a writer, use of a reader, extension of test time, rest breaks, establishment of a special test centre, small group supervision, individual supervision, permission to take medication, or other provisions as judged appropriate.

SPRING 2014 / 15

coolangatta to uluru NOT ONLY WERE THE TEAM CHALLENGED BY THE DRYNESS OF THE COUNTRY Joanne Allen Pacific Coast A team of 18 Pacific Coast students and adults flew from Coolangatta to Uluru earlier this year. While they were away they drove over 2000km on dirt roads to visit communities in some of the more remote areas of our Nation. The most challenging part of the journey for many was the time spent at the Warburton Ranges.

Not only were the team challenged by the dryness of the country, the flies, the cost of food and the lack of services for the locals but they were also challenged as they observed the people’s heart for God and their desire to worship Him. This was particularly evidenced when the students arrived in Warburton around 9:30pm on Good Friday and a church service was in full swing. God was moving powerfully in people’s lives and this encouraged the whole team particularly Pacific Coast teacher Mrs Carol Stubbs and her husband Greg. They were blessed to see young people leading the service who had been involved in the children’s programs the Stubbs had run in Warburton ten years earlier.

16

Mr Greg Stubbs showed the team around his Country including a visit to the statues planted on Lake Ballard by world-renowned artist Anthony Gormley. From Morapoi Station the group ventured on the long drive to Perth via Kalgoorlie. They celebrated their arrival in Perth with a Chinese banquet. Although after the 3500km drive, no one felt like eating.

The team have been invited back by the elders at Warburton who said that the visit was an encouragement to the whole community and especially to the children.

There are opportunities to revisit Mutijulu for a longer stay and minister to the children who live at the base of Uluru, in the heart of our Nation. There will be more trips so please pray and start saving if you would like to come along.

On Thursday evening the 28th of August Pacific Coast Junior School presented their musical, Life is Good, under the direction of Miss Holly Gibson. Over 200 students and members of the School community portrayed stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Esther, Jonah, Job and Jesus. The common thread that tied these stories together was the Bible verse John 16: 33 “In this world you’ll have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.” The School Hall was packed with enthusiastic family and friends who enjoyed a spectacular display of music, dancing, singing and acting. The message that Jesus came to overcome troubles in this world is a salient point that resonated with every member of the audience.

During their time away the Pacific Coast team served, sang, shared and loved the people they met along the way.

Mostly though, the team were blessed by the faithfulness of the locals and by their hunger for the Word of God.

Pacific Coast Christian School has recently purchased 10 canoes and a trailer. The Year 9/10 Community Service and Careers students are busy with the restoration of the trailer, restoring it completely to its full beauty and functionality. The completion of this project will allow the Coast to use the canoes as part of the school’s curriculum in 2015.

They visited Morapoi Station where they were blessed with comfortable beds and surprised by frogs in the toilets.

PCCS 3rd out of 12 schools competing at the North Coast Zone Athletics. Congratulations!

SPRING 2014 / 17

[

sport

High Achievers in Sport 2014 Paul McConnell Faculty Head PDHPE

Together we celebrate our High Achievers in 2014.

These students have performed at the highest level or were successful in winning Championships throughout the year in a wide range of events. We wish to congratulate each one of these talented athletes and encourage them to continue to strive to be their best and glorify God in the process.

18

]

NATIONAL SWIMMING GOLD MEDALLIST Stephen Jeong

NSW PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATION HOCKEY Suzaan Stander

CAPTAIN NSW COMBINED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM Hayden McWilliam

HILLS ZONE SPORTS ASSOCIATION RUGBY UNION SEVENS CHAMPIONS

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION OPEN BOYS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

Jack Donkin, Pieter Bonnarens, Jake Lamprill, Michael Deane, Liam Thomson, Alex Magus, Wade Madden, Luke McWilliam, Henry Garvan

Jemuel Wong, Joshua McAdam, Isaac Bingham, Samuel Genovese, Alexander Kassis, Daniel Kim, Nathan Philips, Daniel Polkinghorne, Dale Shepherd, Connor Stewart, Matthew Stroud, Christopher Turner, Mitchell Wyatt, Isaac Wylie, Lachlan Crawford, Harry Broughton

[

sport

]

HILLS ZONE SPORTS ASSOCIATION OPEN FUTSAL CHAMPIONS

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION PRIMARY SUPER 8 CRICKET CHAMPIONS

Jacob Basden, Eric Garcia, Samuel Genovese, Alexander Kassis, Daniel Kim, Daniel Polkinghorne, Joshua McAdam, Connor Stewart, Matthew Stroud, Jemuel Wong, Isaac Wylie

Samuel Kirkegard, William Mitchell, John Koleth, Liam Weiss, Corey Bridgewater, Matthew Gates, Joshua Baker, Benjamin Walker, Matthew Brisbane

CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION U/15 CRICKET CHAMPIONS

HILLS ZONE SPORTS ASSOCIATION YEAR 7 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

Pieter Bonnarens, Riley Behlevanas, Harry Broughton, Isaac Bingham, Jack Donkin, Samuel Dearden, Jake Lamprill, Aidan Federow, Luke McWilliam, Michael Deane, Pavel Kozyrev, Zachary Mills, Alexander Magus

Jay Azzopardi, Nicholas White, Cooper Glanville, Nicholas Pavia, Sebastian Securo, Jarrod Guy, Caden Wickham-Hill, Farzan Kamoosi, Zachery Cooper, Ryan Clarke, Blake Bridgewater, Daniel Bohun, Daniel Train, Aidan Sumskas

SPRING 2014 / 19

Tom Kerr Auto Centre FAMILY OWNED - FAMILY OPERATED

Your Northern District supplier for Mazda, Subaru, Kia and Quality Used Cars.

All new Mazda3 Special consideration for friends of Pacific Hill Christian School. Please let us know!

Subaru XV Proudly supporting this publication in the interest of the values instilled by Christian Education.

Kia Cerato

Tom Kerr Auto Centre 9807 2266 883 Victoria Road, West Ryde. www.tomkerr.com.au

20

BB1166 DL1142