Year Book 2013 - page 7

Board Report
2
We are blessed with having a Board made up of
individual members who collectively have the
faith, vision and belief in delivering high quality
education to our College community. The Board is
acutely aware that this cannot occur without the
leadership, determination and commitment of our
Principal Mrs Elizabeth Hutton and of her executive
team. This of course is delivered on the front line
by our dedicated and professional teaching staff.
Their commitment to the wellbeing and the personal
growth of our school students is what makes our
College.
It is easy to take for granted the increasing
reputation of BCC in the Canberra community.
This positive reputation is only achieved if current
students and parents value the College, believe that
the BCC teaching staff are delivering high quality
Christian education, and that the College remains
a safe and caring environment for all students.
The Board is fully aware of the love, dedication
and professional service provided to parents and
students by the staff at BCC. We thank all the
College staff for their service to the students and to
our Lord Jesus Christ.
That being said, we know that we don’t get
everything right and that we do make mistakes. The
most important thing is to listen to our community
and positively respond to ideas, suggestions and
complaints. We are all human and it is important
that teachers, staff, management and the Board
acknowledge our mistakes when they occur, learn
from them and deliver a better service to our
College community.
In 2011, the Board had to consider the increasing
demand for Christian education at the College
and at the same time work to preserve the sense
of community achieved through a small Lyneham
campus. The College faced a dilemma caused by
our success. The invitation from Canberra Christian
Life Centre (CCLC) to establish a second campus
at Charnwood was the answer to our prayers. The
Board enthusiastically and gratefully accepted the
invitation and developed plans for the establishment
of the second campus, beginning with an Early
Learning Centre as stage 1, which commenced in
2012. The College also submitted an application
for approval for primary years of schooling at the
Charnwood Campus.
This year the Registration process took place with
a committee of 12 attending both campuses and
assessing the quality of our education, governance,
policies and processes. The Early Learning Centre at
Charnwood has received very positive feedback from
parents utilising this new facility.
The Board is waiting to submit an application to the
Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (TCC).
The Program allows secondary students from years
9 – 12 to access vocational education and training
through TTCs to give them a broader range of
options so as to improve Year 12 retention rates
and enhance pathways into vocational careers.
Under the Program, funds are available for major
capital works, upgrade of existing facilities and
industry standard equipment. The amount of
work that goes into BGA and TCC applications should
not be underestimated. I would like to thank the whole
Board and the College Executive for their significant
contribution. It should be remembered that all Board
members, other than the Principal, perform their role
on a voluntary unpaid basis. They dedicate many, many,
hours to the College and collectively have delivered
extraordinary outcomes for our College community.
Thank you for your patience in regards to the College
carpark. The Board is in continuous discussions with
TAMS in order to achieve a positive outcome not just
for the College community but the Lyneham community
and youth located in the Lyneham precinct. It is often
forgotten that originally the College did not have
sufficient carparking space for parents and the Board
negotiated the leasing of extra land to enable parents and
carers to park safely off the main road when picking up
and dropping off children. We should be thankful for the
additional parking space provided to us, when suffering
the few days of rain and mud. The Board is committed to
a sealed carpark, however we do not want to direct funds
to sealing a carpark until all proposed building structures
are finalised in the Strategic Master Plan.
As Board Chair in 2013, I would like to express my thanks
and appreciation to our Principal, Mrs Elizabeth Hutton.
Her leadership, strength and wisdom supported by a
committed Board has achieved extraordinary outcomes
for the College. I wish to thank my other fellow Board
members: Mr Greg Zwajgenberg; Mr Stephen Brissenden
and Mr Jefferson Godfrey for their wonderful contribution
and dedication to the College community and Christian
education in North Canberra.
On behalf of the Board I also wish to thank all those
people within our College community that quietly work
behind the scenes to assist and support the College staff
and students. Thank you for your efforts!
Finally, may I wish you all a merry Christmas and
Happy New Year. I pray that 2014 will bring you peace,
happiness and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jon Hunt-Sharman
Board Chairman