Annual Report 2015 - page 6-7

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Acting Executive
Principal’s Report
On behalf of the teaching staff, I would like to congratulate our students on another year of excellent,
focused, creative learning. This Annual Report records many of the joyful things our children and young
people have been engaged in and I believe it reflects the hopeful enthusiasm for living a life of wisdom,
integrity, service and excellence that is the Brindabella way.
In this year of transition, it has been my very great privilege to lead the teaching team at the College and to
see many of them flourish in their calling to serve the families of our community. I would like to acknowledge
the service and commitment of the Board, the Leadership Team, the Teaching Team, the Administrative Team,
the Maintenance, the IT and the support staff. Together they have been the village that raises the child.
A particular delight in 2015 was witnessing the growth in, and impact of, our P&F volunteers. I recognise the
sure foundation laid by pioneering families and past presidents and thank God for our current P&F Executive,
Julianne McMaster, Terence Palmer, Julie Ford and Justine Baekalia. Thank you for your commitment and
service.
This year we celebrated the birth of Tobias Body and Tyler Campbell and look forward, in the near future,
to welcoming Babies Clear, Rademaker and Shellard. We congratulate Mr Archer on his marriage and Miss
Stewart on her engagement.
Memorable events in 2015 include the third Vietnam Missions Trip, the Fete, the Encore Performing Arts
Evening, sporting success with our championship netball teams and national swimming representatives,
Duke of Edinburgh Awards, mid-semester showcases and celebrations of effort and achievement. It was
a thrill to host the launch of Sporting Schools Australia in the ACT and for students to lead prayer at the
Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast. Again, we enjoyed hosting outstanding speakers at Think Tank and we
honoured our service men and women at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services.
It is with thankfulness to God that we continue to have strong enrolments as the College continues to grow.
In 2016 there will be 732 children enrolled in both the ELC and main campus at Lyneham with a further 131
children enrolled at Charnwood.
We welcome our new Principal, Mr Bruce Handley, and ask you to join us in praying for him and his wife
Michelene, as they return to Canberra to follow the call of God in serving our community. We look forward to
Mr Handley’s leadership and friendship in the coming years.
This year, the College Scripture was from Isaiah 42:5-6: “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched
them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks
the earth. And it is he who says, ‘I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you
by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them.
And you will be a light to guide the nations.’ As the year draws to a close we reflect on God with us and the
righteousness of His good character. He is truly the light who guides us.
Grace and peace to each and every one
Melanie Spencer
Acting Executive Principal
2015 has been a year of maturity for Brindabella Christian College as we establish the College’s position as one
of the leading Christian Educational Institutions in Canberra. It is great to see that most of the student growth
we will welcome into the College in 2016 is by word of mouth from our teachers, staff and parents of the College
community.
It has also been a year of change and consolidation with the resignation of Mrs Elizabeth Hutton following an
extended period of illness in the latter part of 2014 and into the early part of 2015.
The full Board past and present would like to congratulate and thank Liz for 12 years of leadership and we
dedicate within this Annual Report a history of achievements Liz and the Brindabella College team have
accomplished along the way in her time with us.
For the devoted years of service Liz gave the College, its teachers, staff and students, knowing every child by
name and virtually never missing a day without a smiley face being pinned to one of our students on their
birthday, we wish her well into the future.
A special thanks also goes to Mrs Melanie Spencer who has led the College following Liz’s resignation while the
Board went on an extensive search to bring to the College a second generation leader to guide and strengthen
the College’s offerings for the next chapter in its life.
Our new Principal, Mr Bruce Handley, brings to Brindabella a welcomed strong educational career history
in Mathematics culminating as Head of Mathematics at Radford College, followed by a diverse range of
educational platforms ranging from Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) education in Australia
through to International education in Abu Dhabi in the UAE catering to the varied demands of multicultural
staff, students and parents alike. Bruce previously spent time both as Head of High School at Radford and Head
of Senior School and Acting Principal at Canberra Girls Grammar School before leaving Australia for Abu Dhabi.
Following in the footsteps of Elizabeth Hutton, Bruce brings to Brindabella a balance to our College’s strength
in Humanities with demonstrated skills in developing strong and successful professional working relationships
with students, staff, parents and the wider school community; providing a strong learning environment for our
students to improve their sense of achievement across all areas of their school life and helping develop the skills
to face future challenges, preparing them for employment and study anywhere in the world.
With strong enrolments into our two Early Learning Centres, Brindabella will see this growth lead on to the
establishment of our third stream of classes from Kindergarten through to Senior College in Lyneham along with
the development of our single year 5 and 6 stream at our Charnwood Campus.
In 2015 we also opened our first College Café and Cafeteria for Senior students, teachers and parents. This has
proven from day one to be a significant enrichment to the heart of the College. A special thanks to Liz Williams
and her team who have made the Café more than a place to simply enjoy the brilliant coffee. Thanks should also
go to Janine Clark for the unique and welcoming decor.
With growth will come the development of needed new infrastructure in both general classrooms and specialist
technical facilities at Lyneham. This will bring with it some challenges as we commence our classroom building
program in 2016 as the College undergoes some minor disruption while we build our new Junior and Middle
School classrooms. For that, we ask for your patience.
Acting Board
Chair’s Report