State and Federal Government Reporting Annual Report 2008

Northside Christian College Phone: 33531266 151 Flockton Street Fax: 33534628 Everton Park Qld 4053 Email: ncc@northside.org.au PO Box 599 Everton Park Q. 4053 Web: www.northside.qld.edu.au

Our mission … To make disciples of Jesus Christ - educated and equipped for any future.

School Details . Northside Christian College is an independent, coeducational Christian School catering to children from Prep to Year 12. Total enrolments in 2008 were 1300 students. Northside Christian College’s Vision is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ – educated and equipped for any future”. Our College seeks to provide opportunities that assist each student to identify their unique giftedness, to be discipled into Christ, and be able to achieve all that God wants them to achieve in their lives.

Northside Christian College exists to challenge our students to achieve their highest academic potential, to develop their God-given gifts, to know Jesus Christ as Lord, and to love others as themselves - in order that they may serve the world through their character and leadership.

Our College is well-known and respected for its commitment to character development, community service, excellence and a Christ-centred education.

School Staff At Northside, we acknowledge that our biggest asset is the quality of our staff. The notion of continuous learning is deeply ingrained into the professional culture of Northside Christian College and as such, staff have been involved in a number of professional development opportunities. While all academic staff are fully-trained, tertiary-qualified teachers, many are currently involved in postgraduate studies. Approximately 71% of our teaching staff have multiple, tertiary qualifications and approximately 12.5% of our staff have Masters Degrees in education-related fields.

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Staff Attendance and Retention Northside Christian College employs 187 Teaching, Administration and Ancillary Staff. Of these, 104 are permanently employed teachers. The average staff attendance rate in 2008 was 98.0%. The average staff absentee rate was 4.2 days per full time staff member. The end of 2008 saw an average turnover for Northside Christian College. Six of our 104 teaching staff left to pursue Bible studies, to retire, or to travel. We thank all past staff for the time, effort, and legacy they have left at NCC and we wish them all God’s blessings in their future endeavours. Of the 104 permanently employed teaching staff, 98 will continue their employment with Northside Christian College in 2008. This equates to a staff retention rate of 94%. Staff Professional Qualifications .

Position Name Professional Qualifications

Principal Mr Leighton Kuss BEd, DipTeach, AFAIM, MACE, MACEA

Business Manager Mr Chris Richards BCom, AssocDipChrMin, ASA Assistant to the Principal, Development & Liaison Mr Graham Brown DipTeach, AFAIM, MACE

Head of Junior School Mrs Nedra Purnell DipTeach, BEd, GDip (ApLin), MEd, MACE, LSDA Head of Middle School Mr Paul Sterling BEd Head of Senior School Mrs June Van Der Ham DipTeach, BEd Head of Information Services Mr Paul Quilliam BTeach

Director of Studies Mr Michael Long BAgSc(Hons), BEd Student Activities Coord. Mr Mick Wilkinson BSc, DipEd, MEdSt JS Admin/Student Welfare Mrs Bev Starrenburg Cert. Teach, BEd

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Sec School Student Welfare Officer Mrs Alison Stegert BA, GDipCounselling

Early Childhood Coordinator

Mrs Janene Grant DipTeach, GDipEC, MEdEC

Head of Maths Mr Jack Badenhorst BScEd, BEd, BSc (Hons)Metallurgy Head of Science Mr Alec David DipEd, BA, BEd, BTheology, Cert2&3Inf Head of English Mrs Linda George BEdSec, BEd Head of SOSE Mrs Fiona Long BA, GDipEd, MEdSt Head of the Arts Mrs Lyn Smith-Cottrell DipTeach, GDipEd, MFineArts Head of Business Studies Mrs Narelle Stephenson BEd, DipTeach, CertTeach, Cert4WorkplTrain,MAITD

Director of Music Mr Maitlohn Drew BEd, AMusA, GDipMus, MMusic Instrumental Music Coordinator Mr Malcolm Elvery BMusic, GDipMus, GDipEd

Director of Vocational Education Mrs Yve Rutch DipTeach, BEd

Teacher Librarian Mrs Liz Swanson BEd (FET) AssocDipAppSc (LibTech) Sec School Learning Support Coordinator

Mr Jason Boyce BEd (SpecEd)

Careers Adviser Mr Robin Grant BTeach, MEd(Guid&Couns), CertBusMan, CertMin Middle School Coord Mr Laurie Bell BEdPE&Sc, DipChristMin Secondary Teacher Mr Graham Ashton BMus(Hons) Secondary Teacher Mrs Joelle Brewer BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Roshea Buksh BEd, BSocSc, BBus, AdvDipChrisMin, Ct 4 A&WT Secondary Teacher Mr Rob Burgess AssDipElectEng, DipTeach, BEd, AssocTheo Secondary Teacher Mrs Johanna Close BA, BEd Secondary Teacher Miss Kathryn Clem BA, BEd Secondary Teacher Mr Tom Couper BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Barbara Cronk CertEd(U.K.) Secondary Teacher Mrs Mandy Downing BEng(Hons),MSc, DipBusAd, GDipHigherEd, BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Julie Elliott BEd(Sec) Secondary Teacher Mrs Alison Foster BA(UQ), DipTeach, Cert4TESOL Secondary Teacher Mrs Clare Glanville BA, GDipEd

Secondary Teacher Mr Chris Green MSc, PGCertEd, GDipBibleandMinistry, CertiVChristianCounselling

Secondary Teacher Mrs Kathryn Harwin DipTeachSecArt, GDipApLin Secondary Teacher Mr Tim Heppell BA/BEd, Cert IV Theol Secondary Teacher Mrs Aki Hernandez BAHumanities, GDipEd(P&SLOTE) Secondary Teacher Mr Gary Hine MLitt, BA, DipEd, DipBibSt Secondary Teacher Mrs Rosemary Jacobitz BSc, DipHEd, DipFEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Merrill Johnstone BTeach, GDipEducStud, Cert IV Teacher Aide Secondary Teacher Mr Andrew Jones BADrama, BEdSec Secondary Teacher Mrs Katrina Judge BA, GDipEdSec Secondary Teacher Mrs Natalie Kennedy BBus, BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Elizabeth Kuss BEd, CertNursing Secondary Teacher Mr Michael Lewis-Driver BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Jenny Mackie DipTeach, GradCertEdTesol Secondary Teacher Mr James Madigan BAppSc, BHM(Ed) Secondary Teacher Mrs Joan Malan BSc, FutherDipEd, HigherDipEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Louise Marshman DipTeach Secondary Teacher Mr Peter McClenaghan BTeach Secondary Teacher Mr Scott Murchie BEdFET, Cert IV A&WT, CertIII CompAidedDrafting

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Secondary Teacher Mrs Narelle Musumeci BSc, DipEd Secondary Teacher Mr Joshua Newington BA, GDipEd Secondary Teacher Miss Aneela Peters BCreativeIndustries, GDipEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Sarah Pfeffer BA/BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Leonie Purcell DipTeach, BEd Secondary Teacher Mrs Leisa Refalo BEd(Sec) Secondary Teacher Mr Chris Rose DipTeachManArts/Grph Secondary Teacher Mrs Angela Rumble BEd, DipTeach(PE) Secondary Teacher Mr Peter Schmidhauser DipTeach, BEd, CertMin Secondary Teacher Mrs Kathryn Scott DipTeach, BEd(Hons) Secondary Teacher Mrs Catherine Smith BA(VisArts), BEd(Sec) Secondary Teacher Miss Nicole Silva BSc, BScHonours(Maths), GDipEd Senior School Coordinator Mr Stewart Smith BScChemMarketing, GDipEd

Secondary Teacher Mr Reece Swanson DipTeach Secondary Teacher Mrs Sheree Swanson BBus(Computing), GDipEd, CertIV A&WT

Secondary Teacher Mrs Shan Wilson BEd, DipTeach(HomeEc), Cert3(CCare&Ed), Cert3 F&Bev

Junior School Teacher Mrs Beth Anderson BEd Junior School Teacher Mr Michael Bannerman BEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Robin Bartels DipTeachPrim Junior School Teacher Miss Ruth Baskerville BEdPrimEC Junior School Teacher Mrs Tricia Bernhofen BTeachPrim Junior School Teacher Miss Lauren Briggs BLearningManagement(Prim) Junior School Teacher Mrs Cheryl Bryers BEdPrim Junior School Teacher Mrs Sue Burgess BA, DipEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Cathy Cheel DipEd, PerformCert(Voice), GCertMusicSt Junior School Teacher Miss Leanne Cotton BEdEC Junior School Teacher Mr David Crank GDipEd, BMin, AssocDipChristianSt, CertNursing Junior School Teacher Mrs Tricia Crimmins BASociology, CertTeach Junior School Teacher Mrs Lesley Davis BA,GDipEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Laura Elkins BEdPrim Junior School Teacher Miss Eleisa Harris BEdEC, DipBusSt Junior School Teacher Miss Therese Henderson BADrama, BEdPrim Junior School Teacher Miss Yasmin Henry BMus/BEd, AMusA Junior School Teacher Mr Sam Heylen BEdPrim Junior School Teacher Mrs Melinda Johnson GDipSpEd, BEd, DipTeach Junior School Teacher Mrs Lillian Jordan BA, GradDipSpecEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Margot MacKenzie BEdEC Junior School Teacher Mrs Michelle Morrison BEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Rachel Nicholson BTeach Junior School Teacher Miss Kylie Perry BEdEC Junior School Teacher Miss Tiana Robinson BMus(Hons) Junior School Teacher Mrs Lynne Ross DipEd, GDipEd (Curr) Junior School Teacher Miss Nicole Rutherford BEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Rebekah Strahorn BEdPrim Junior School Inst. Miss Elizabeth Tibben AMusA Junior School Teacher Mr Ed Todd CertT JS Computer Coord. Mr Nathan Waghorn BEdPrim, BTeach Junior School Teacher Mrs Katie Webb BEdPrimEC Junior School Teacher Mrs Cheryl Williams BA, GDipEd Junior School Teacher Mrs Calise Woodford BEd, BTeach, GDipEC

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Teacher Participation in Professional Learning . Northside Christian College views professional learning as an essential precursor to quality teaching. In 2008 Northside’s total expenditure on Professional Learning was $50, 825*. This equates to an average Professional Learning expenditure of $555 per teacher (FTE) in 2008. * This amount includes the cost of Professional Learning, and also the related transportation and accommodation costs incurred. Professional Learning Breakdown .

Assessment & Reporting No. Staff Involved

Time Involved

Audit – working on audit material 1 2 days BONSAI. SAI Assigning Software 2 4 hrs TACS Advanced Seminar 1 1 day OP Calculations 1 10 days Deputies 1 1 day Curriculum Related Mary Mahoney 24 2 days CSA conference 76 2 days CSA Conference 3 1 day QCAR 3 3 days Heads of Schools 1 1 day Curriculum Forum 1 1 day ISQ 6 2½ days JSHAA 1 1 day QSA 5 3½ days Panel Training 1 1½ days Qld Cert of Individual Ach. Dist. Training 1 1 day Deputies Collegiate 2 1 day Work program writing 3 3 days BCT – new syllabus workshop 2 1 day BCT – Panel Meeting 1 1 day BCT – Monitoring 1 1 day Careers – ACU Career Advisor’s Day 2 2 day Careers – Work Education/Readiness 1 2½ hours Careers – Next Step Results 1 3 hrs Career – Development Studies 1 1 day Drama – Recharge 1 1 day Early Childhood – Under 8’s Day with Yr 11/12 CSC students 1 1½ days Early Childhood – Step by Step Childcare 1 1 day Early Childhood – Out of the Box/Early Childhood Festival 1 1 day English – Building Key Grammatical Knowledge 5 1 day English – Introducing the English Sen Syllabus 5 1 day English – Panel Meeting 1 1 day

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English – ENC Panel Meeting 1 1 day TAFE – COTAH 1 2 hrs Technology – Electrical Trade Cluster Group 1 1 day Technology – Machinery expo 2 1 day Habits of Mind Workshop 1 2 days Home Economics – Creative Textiles 1 ½ day HEIA(Q) Home Economics Meeting 2 1½ hrs Home Economics Conference 2 1 day Home Economics - Stitches and Craft show 1 2 days Home Economics - Creative Textiles 1 ½ day Home Economics – Panel Mtg 1 1 day Home Economics – Fabric photos workshop 2 1 day Hospitality – Workshop 1 1 day Hospitality – Master cooking class 2 2hr Hospitality – Coffee workshop 1 4 hr ID Planning 1 ½ day Legal Studies (QSA) 3 1 day Japanese Yr 11 monitoring 1 1 day Japanese – Panel Meeting 1 1 day Japanese ICT in Language classrooms 1 1 day Japanese – QSA Japanese Workshop 1 1 day JPMs Inservice 1 2 day Maths Team Challenge 1 1 day Maths C Panel Mtg 1 2 days Maths A Panel Mtg 1 1 day Maths – Girls Solving It For Themselves 1 1 day Physical Education – PE Inservice 1 1 day Physical Education – Athletics Enhancement Day 1 1 day Physical Education – PE Panel training 1 3 hrs Physical Education – PE Workshop 1 1 day Science – Extreme Science 2 1 day Science – UQ Science Experience 2 1 day Science – UQ Science & Engineer Challenge 2 1 day Science – QSA Biology Panel 2 1 day Science – Physics work program 1 1 day Science – Yr 11 Chem. monitoring 1 1 day Science – Literacy Strategies for Science 1 2 days Science – Chemistry Panel Mtg 1 1 day Science – Physics Panel Mtg 1 1 day Cluster Meeting 1 1 day Leadership Development APAPDC 2 2 days CSA 2 2 days JSHAA 2 2 days Deputies collegiate 3 3 days QCE Info Seminar 1 1 day Mentoring & supporting staff MacGregor SHS 3 3 days

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Supportive Communication, Peter Evans 46 2 hrs Chaplaincy / Evangelism 2 3 hrs New School Leadership 1 1 day Senior Phase of Learning 1 3 days Quality assurance. SAS 2 3 hrs Middle School Workshop 5 1 day Observation at Monitoring 1 1 day Early Days 3 1 day Year 9 Leadership 2 1 day Vocational Education

Trade Training day 1 1 day Health Industry Pathways Project 1 ½ day Workshop 1 1 day Worklinks Com Mth + QSA Seminar 1 1 day Australian Career Development 1 1 day Worklinks Mtg 1 2½ hrs Healthy Futures 1 3½ hrs Student Welfare

BNIF 3 2 ½ days Coaching techniques 1 1 day The world of child support 1 1 day Adopt a School Project 1 3 hrs Special Needs – Sen schooling forum. 1 1 day Special Needs – Techn. Support for students with disabilities 1 2 day Support a Reader 1 7 hrs

Student Enrolment and Attendance . The table below indicates the current enrolment, average absentee rate in days per student, and average attendance rate for each of the College Schools.

Year Level Enrolments Average Absentee Rate Average Attendance Rate

Junior School 567 10.2 days per student 94.9%

Middle School 373 9.5 days per student 95.3%

Senior School 360 9.6 days per student 95.2%

Whole College Total 1300 9.8 days per student 95.1%

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Computers in Education

The College continues to develop more effective and efficient computing resources and network infrastructure for both staff and students in order to improve the teaching-learning process. Northside Christian College has a total of 568 computers that are located in classrooms, 9 designated computer rooms, and 12 computer pods. With 1300 students at the College, this represents a ratio of 1 computer for every 2.3 students. In 2008, more than two-thirds of all Secondary classrooms were fitted with multimedia projector systems for staff to be able to bring richer resources into the classroom such as video clips, PowerPoint presentation and websites. The Secondary School commenced using a program called ClickView, a fully integrated video library that can stream video content to any computer on the College network. In the Junior School, a trial of interactive Whiteboards for all Year 1 classes and a Year 3 class was a resounding success. This will mean a rollout of more IWBs into more year levels in 2009/10. In addition to this, more class computers were placed in Junior School classrooms to assist with group-work.

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Literacy and Numeracy .

Whilst it is widely acknowledged that it is students, not schools, who achieve results, we are very proud of the exceptional results our students have obtained in the National Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 Numeracy and Literacy Tests. This is the first year these tests have been undertaken on a National level and we are happy to report that, as a College, our results are consistently above the State and National averages in Numeracy and Literacy. Additionally, nine Northside students, from a variety of Year levels, received the top mark for various disciplines.

Year 7 College Average State

Average Points above State

Average Numeracy 576 540 +36 Grammar and Punct. 568 519 +49 Reading 578 529 +49 Writing 550 521 +29 Spelling 558 527 +31

Year 9 College Average State

Average Points above State

Average

Numeracy 619 573 +46 Grammar and Punct. 626 566 +60 Reading 619 569 +50 Writing 590 553 +37 Spelling 594 568 +26

Year 3 College Average State

Average Points above State

Average Numeracy 387 368 +19 Grammar and Punct. 388 370 +18 Reading 414 372 +42 Writing 413 391 +22 Spelling 395 366 +29

Year 5 College Average State

Average Points above State

Average Numeracy 499 457 +42 Grammar and Punct. 521 477 +44 Reading 503 467 +36 Writing 478 468 +10 Spelling 488 461 +27

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School Curriculum

Northside Christian College is committed to academic excellence and to providing a curriculum, which is broad enough to cater for a wide range of student abilities and interests. In addition to all regular school subjects, Northside provides a range of distinctive curriculum offerings.

Middle and Senior Schools • Continuing commitment to academic excellence, but also to accommodating the flexibility

in pathways available to students; • Strengthening legitimate Vocational Educational programs with increasing numbers of

school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) and genuine options for students who want to take a Vocational Pathway, having strong links with organisations who work closely with the College in work placement programs and the placing of students into SATs;

• The differentiated, multi-level curriculum from Years 7 to 9 has been an increasing focus

of newly developed curriculum units of work across most of our key KLAs (Key Learning Areas) into 2008. The learning needs of a range of top and bottom end learners are not being overlooked in a more encompassing and tailored program;

• The Secondary staff has had ongoing professional development on ‘The Thinking

Curriculum’ and supporting ‘Thinking Dispositions and Strategies’. Costa and Kallick’s work on “Habits of the Mind” has been developed as part of the Middle School cultural focus, in addition to the incorporation of these thinking dispositions, explicitly and implicitly, into curriculum;

• The Secondary focus has been on explicit and implicit teaching of thinking skills to target

the common curriculum elements, which cover the skills and key thinking processes that underpin the Queensland Curriculum and the Queensland Core Skills test;

• Offering options to high-ability Year 12 students, particularly in mathematics, to extend

themselves by participating in such as the University of Queensland’s Enhanced Studies Program;

• Integration across subject areas in the Middle School to promote the context and meaning

of learning – particularly across IT and the Arts in a program called Innovation and Discovery 9ID;

Year % of OP Students receiving an A or B % of OP Students receiving a C or better

2005 48.3% 83.9%

2006 60.3% 95.9%

2007 60.8% 92.8%

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• The strengthening of our values-education program through an auditing and updating of

our Life Skills curriculum and the appointment of a Chaplain to facilitate student-centred Chapel programs;

• There has been a move within specific Secondary disciplines and year levels to

implement the QCAR Framework and audit the existing curriculum for Essential Learnings using the Queensland Studies Authority Auditing and Planning Essential Learnings software ;

• There has also been a focus on the Review of the Senior Years of Learning, with a keen

interest in what Year 10 will become as a year of transition between the 1 to 9 Essential Learnings and the new suite of Senior syllabuses. As a staff, we are endeavouring to remain familiar with the most recent developments in the Federal Government’s mandate of a National curriculum by 2010. These all have some excellent implications for researched curriculum practice, which Northside is trying to take the best of and incorporate into our Secondary curriculum approaches.

Junior School

• Since 2001, Junior School students have been learning foundational and sequential English skills through the use of the Spalding Approach, a structured research-based method that teaches sound/symbol relationships in a unique way, as well as the grammar, and meaning-making strategies necessary for children to be effective and confident language users. This approach, used from Prep to Year 6 provides a sound knowledge of structure and rules governing the English language.

• Our class instrumental program provides an opportunity (with no tuition charges) for students from Years 4 to 6, not only to learn music skills, but also to try out different instruments and participate in performance groups in a small group setting.

• Junior School Early Years caters specifically for our younger learners from Prep through to Year Three. An Early Years coordinator oversees programs and activities, which include age-appropriate areas of study that provide students with opportunities to develop physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and social skills. Prep and Year One students actively engage in a Perceptual Motor Program and Phonological Awareness Program that provide a foundation and readiness for more formal learning in later years. In Prep, teachers are assisted by fulltime teacher aides and enjoy parent participation and support. Learning through child-focussed activities that engage them in relevant and exciting investigations, our Prep students have added a new dimension to our Junior School.

• Learners of all levels of ability have opportunity through both Learning Support and

differentiation of class curriculum. Specific activities offer opportunity for further enrichment such as problem solving in Years Three and Four, foreign language in Years One and Two and Science Challenge for Upper Primary students. We welcome the participation of parent volunteers through our Support-a-Reader program.

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• Student Leadership plays an important role in developing leadership competence and confidence, especially in Year Six. In 2008, our leadership program was extended to include specific leadership training for all Year Sixes, an ongoing training course for those holding positions of responsibility and opportunities through our continuing PALS program and the introduction of a CHUMS program, fostering relationships between older and younger students.

• Junior School staff participated in the DELTA PROJECT and worked through an Early

Years Project to give direction and a unique dynamic to our Early Years Program. Both programs focussed on developing teachers’ beliefs and practices for better curriculum development and therefore student learning.

Co-Curricular Activities

An extensive and enriching Co-Curricular Program operates throughout the College during class times, lunch times and outside school hours. Students are given opportunities to extend skills and venture into areas of interest. In addition, Northside sends teams to both District and Christian Schools sporting events, for which we have a high record of success. In the Junior School, the Co-Curricular Program offers activities such as robotics, computing, card making, paper construction, master chess classes,

choirs, private instrumental music tuition, Maths Olympiad team, a wide variety of competitive sporting opportunities and a biennial concert. Students from Years 3–6 undertake annual Australasian Mathematics, English, Science and Computer Studies Competitions. Each year students from the Junior School take part in the World Vision 8 Hour Famine, Jump Rope for Heart (raising money for the Heart Foundation) and various Missions endeavours. In the Middle and Senior Schools, the Co-Curricular Program includes debating, Tournament of the Minds, Science and Maths challenges, AISQ Days of Excellence, Australasian Science, Mathematics, English & Computing Competitions, musical productions, stage & concert bands, orchestra, various ensembles, choir competitions, public speaking competitions, a wide variety of sporting competitions such as girls and boys AFL, Rugby Union and Rugby League, Soccer, Touch Football, girls and boys Basketball, Hockey and Netball. Debating enjoyed continued success in 2008, with the Yr 8 debating team following in the footsteps of the Yr 9 debating team in 2007, also reaching the Queensland Debating Union Schools Championships Finals, but being narrowly defeated in the quarter finals. Northside’s sporting teams continued to go from strength to strength in 2008, with seven teams winning their relevant competition. The winning teams were:

Year 8 Girls Touch Football CSAQ Open Boys Rugby Union Year 9 Boys Basketball AFL BSGSA U15 Girls Year 9 Boys Touch Football Year 9 Girls AFL Year 10 Boys Touch Football

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In addition to these wonderful team results, twenty-four Northside Christian College students (24 Secondary/ 1 Primary) were selected to be Metropolitan North regional representatives at the various State championships for a variety of different sports, ranging from surfing and triathlon to orienteering. Nine of our students were also selected to represent Queensland in their chosen sports. Missions Russia In June, a team of 13 students, past students and teachers from Northside Christian College travelled to Russia, invited by the Russian Ministry of Education, to attend the 16th International Youth Camp. The team united to form an international team with common purposes: to share God’s love with the people of Russia, to distribute a Bible to all participants and to repaint a nearby orphanage play area. The team distributed Bibles to 1500 Russian students in four different camps. At each camp, they presented a concert program using drama, dance and music to share our culture and promote Biblical principles. 40 Hour Famine Camp Bollywood is bigger than Hollywood. It cranks out a staggering 1000 feature films each year and employs more than a million people. However, in the same country, there are almost 60 million children who do not go to school, but instead, work in sweat shops and other forms of child labour. As part of Northside’s campaign in 2008, 80 students and 18 teachers participated in the 40 hour Famine Camp, a 24 hour event where students slept at the school overnight and took part in program to discover what life is like for a child in a sweat shop. Students were arranged into family groups and were involved in a series of work ‘days’ where they made

match boxes and paper bags with mind-numbing monotony. Sleep was hard to get that night as cardboard boxes and newspapers became beds and sheets. In the end, students broke their fast with a feast prepared by some of the teachers. It was an eye-opening experience, which left students with an appreciation of a typical child’s life in India.

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Torres Strait Island Northside Junior School students raised funds for missions in the Philippines, Uganda, Indonesia and

also for children in Wallambilla, Aboriginal Bibles, TEAR Australia and Operation Christmas Child .

Secondary School mission activities included “Cool to be Kind” Week for Operation Smile,

Operation Christmas Child, and outreach programs to schools and nursing homes. Teachers and Year 12s raised funds and volunteered their time to help feed the homeless

and poor through an inner-city church ministry. Students in the Senior Boys Basketball team played basketball with youth from the local

Detention Centre.

Local Chaplaincy Evangelism; Year 9 Leadership As part of the Year 9 Leadership teams in 2008, twenty-nine students from Year 9 participated in the Chaplaincy Evangelism group. They planned for many weeks and then travelled to Patrick’s Road State Primary School and Ferny Hills State Primary School and presented Religious Education lessons to Years 3-6. This was a fantastic opportunity to reach-out to students through drama, music and interactive games, discussion and presentation of Bible stories. Our students continue to build on the good reputation they enjoy in the local community. 40 Hr Famine In 2008, Northside Christian College raised more than $22 000 for World Vision during the 40 Hour Famine, once again putting it among the highest fund-raising schools in Queensland. Northside is such a generous school, and has a tremendous heart for missions and for those less fortunate than themselves. In today’s economic climate, it is wonderful to see young people with an outward focus and a generosity that sets them apart. Well done to all those involved.

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Korean Sister School In January, Northside welcomed 36 students and 3 staff from our Korean Sister School, Yang Jeong Girls’ Middle and High School. The College showcased Australian culture and offered a range of educational and recreational experiences during the Home stay Program. The Sister School relationship began during our former Principal’s visit to Yang Jeong Girls’ Middle and High School in April 2004 and is an excellent opportunity for a cultural exchange between the schools.

Yang Jeong students performed a range of martial arts displays, along with songs and traditional dance at student assemblies. Future study tours are anticipated from Northside Christian College to Yang Jeong Girls’ Middle and High School in Korea. Student Welfare .

The mission of Northside’s Student Welfare Program is to promote well-being and to develop social competencies. To achieve this aim, we have a multi-facet approach. First, our students are intentionally taught various social and emotional skills through our Life Skills curriculum. The newly revamped Secondary Life Skills curriculum targets four areas of competency across six grades: Resilience and Emotional Literacy, Effective Interpersonal Skills, Self-leadership and Values, and General Well-being. In addition to classroom learning, our students develop these important skills through various activities such as leadership camps, extra-curricular activities and peer support. The second facet involves the Student Support Centre, which provides counselling services to our school community. The Centre is staffed by a qualified school counsellor and a student support worker (a male teacher). Students and their families can access support — one-on-one counselling or group work. Also on offer are educational workshops in small groups on topics such as: self-esteem, interpersonal excellence, grief support, positive relational strategies (aimed at bullies and their victims), and managing time, anger, and stress. The 2008 Middle and Senior School Life Skills and Welfare Program included the following initiatives: • Esther-Gen: a girls' group aimed at promoting community and empowerment amongst our

girls through mentoring with older girls; • Boys' Breakfasts: The men in the college community gathered around a hearty breakfast to

discuss what it means to be a man; • ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) Week: A Middle School initiative aimed at encouraging

kindness in and beyond our community. Funds raised supported The Royal Children's Hospital;

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• MS Connex: A Middle School initiative aimed at promoting resilience, connectedness and problem solving;

• Peer Support: Senior students connecting with and mentoring Middle School students to develop resilience and community spirit;

• Choices, Decisions, Outcomes: Values-based sex education; • Mentoring Camps: connecting boys in need with Christian role models. In Junior School, the CARE focus is used to teach vital skills for life. The puppets and songs for each character are used extensively with the younger children as tools for engagement. The Junior School Coordinator/Student Welfare Officer and Early Years Coordinator run Year level sessions with a specific CARE focus to enhance the learning. Assembly talks, class devotions and specific lessons are used to equip the students with these important life skills. CARE stands for Courtesy, Attitude, Resilience and Excellence; attributes that are needed for the healthy development of the whole child. Each Term, the Welfare Officer distributes a parent newsletter that has the CARE focus for the Term and also includes parenting tips and information. This is to encourage the partnership between home and school.

A male teacher has continued to have particular oversight of the boys. He has had special afternoon activities for boys without fathers, as well as ongoing support and guidance for all boys in Junior School. He maintains both formal and informal contact with the students. Year Five and Six students partner with students in Prep, Year One and Year Two with lunchtime activities and other supports. Initial care is undertaken by class teachers with a support network in place to ensure that students feel safe, secure and supported.

School Culture .

Our view at Northside Christian College is that each student is a precious gift from God and is valued as an individual of worth with God-given abilities. The College has been careful to remain balanced enough to care for students while maintaining a sufficient size to provide the facilities

and programs that families require. Division of the College into Junior, Middle and Senior Schools enables the staff to be attentive to students’ needs. Regular reporting and parent/teacher interviews keep parents up-to-date with student progress. As a Christian College seeking to develop the character of our students, pastoral care plays an essential role in ensuring our culture is one in which students feel safe and free to learn. Encouraging selflessness, care and compassion

for others, and providing the academic, spiritual and personal support students need are just some of the many facets of pastoral care at Northside Christian College.

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Northside Christian College commenced out of the conviction that the Christian home should be supported by a school which shares its values and which is willing to assist parents as they fulfil their God-given responsibilities. From our Coffee Club (parent fundraising group) to parent prayer groups and the many volunteers involved in classrooms, College Café, College productions, and special events days, parents are warmly welcomed into the life of the College and acknowledged as partners with us in the education of their children.

Senior Secondary Results Northside’s Year 12 cohort from 2008 achieved academic results of which the whole College community can justifiably be proud. Of OP eligible students, 82% received an OP between 1 and 15. Additionally, 94.5% of Northside students who applied to QTAC received an offer, 57.5% of students applying to QTAC were offered their first preference. Of the graduating students, 33 were completing VET competencies. In addition 8 of our students completed or were continuing on into full-time apprenticeships after graduation. Congratulations to the class of 2008 for their success.

Yr 12 School Outcomes 2008 The School Reports on Year 12 outcomes are published annually in Queensland metropolitan and regional newspapers in April. The data provide a snapshot of school outcomes for students who finished Year 12 in 2008. The public release of this data is part of the Queensland Government’s Changes to School Reporting initiative, announced in October 2004. It has been compiled from data provided to the QSA from Queensland schools and the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.

Destination Results from 2007 Year 12 Cohort . Students completing tertiary education 48% Students completing Vocational apprenticeships or training 24% Students who entered the work force – full time 13% Students who entered the work force – part time 12% Students not studying/ not in labour force 3%

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Working FT

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VET Cert III

VET Cert IV+

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QCE,

QCIA

, IB

D,

VET q

ual

ific

atio

n

Per

centa

ge

of

OP/I

BD

stu

den

ts

who r

ecei

ved a

n O

P 1

to 1

5 o

r an

IBD

Perc

enta

ge

of

Yea

r 12 s

tuden

ts

who a

re c

omple

ting o

r co

mple

ted a

SAT o

r w

ere

awar

ded

one

of

the

follo

win

g:

QCE,

IBD

, VET q

ual

ific

atio

n

Perc

enta

ge

of

QTAC a

pplic

ants

re

ceiv

ing a

ter

tiar

y offer

Num

ber

of st

uden

ts a

war

ded

an

Inte

rnat

ional

Bac

cala

ure

ate

Dip

lom

a

Nort

hsi

de

Christ

ian

Colle

ge

Eve

rton P

ark

114

0

96

41

6

84

7

82%

90%

95%

0

19

Student Retention Rates .

Year 10 Year 12 Year 10-12 Retention rates**

Year Enrolled Year Enrolled 95.5% 2004 110 2006 105 95.5% 2005 137 2007 126 92.0% 2006 120 2008 114 95.0%

**These rates have been calculated using the nationally agreed methodology which is defined as the number of full-time students in Year 12, expressed as a percentage of their Year 10 cohort group two years previously. In Closing... .

Northside Christian College has had another successful year of learning and growing together. We thank God for his grace, mercy and continued blessing on our College. We thank God for our wonderful staff who are committed to our mission and purpose: to make disciples of Jesus Christ - educated and equipped for any future. Finally, we thank God for a wonderful body of parents who are partners with us in the Christian education of their children. We appreciate your continued support, your prayers and your constant encouragement.