community report - Hillcrest Christian College

COMMUNITY REPORT
2015
www.cresteducation.vic.edu.au
CONTENT
02
Chair’s Report
03
Executive Statement
04-05
Head of College Rivercrest
06
Head of College Hillcrest
07
Junior School
08
Middle School
09
Senior School
10
Head of Learning & Teaching
11
VCE Results, Tertiary Placements & Attendance
12
NAPLAN Results
13
Ayr Hill Equestrian
14
Finance Statements
15
Satisfaction Surveys, Workforce &
Teacher Qualifications
CHAIR’S REPORT
T
here is wise advice found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own
understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you
which path to take.”
This is one of many scriptures that help the Board of Crest
navigate the many decisions and challenges we confront on
behalf of the community we represent.
Our Crest colleges had two themes in 2015, Rivercrest’s ‘Year
to Flourish’ and Hillcrest’s ‘Year of Renewal’. Both themes
had relevance for our Board. In regards to renewal we had
the resignation of Alistair Cook in February after 14 years
of service. We are extremely grateful for all he contributed
over that very long time. Mr Paul Wiggins concluded a 7
year term as Board Chairman and he continues to serve as a
Board member. Paul is a blessing in his support to me as the
new Chairman.
The Board appointed 3 new directors at the 2015 May AGM,
Mrs Amelia Munso, Mr Darren Poke and Mr Denis Girotto.
They provided fresh eyes and new perspectives during
our meetings and I would like to thank them all for being
willing to give back to Crest. As well as the renewal at Board
level, we had new leadership of the Crest precinct with the
appointment of Mr Geoff Grace. On behalf of the Board
I would like to thank and encourage Mr Grace. We have
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achieved so much already, and share an excitement about
the possibilities for the future of Crest, all for God’s glory.
Dr Gregg Weaver was welcomed to the Executive team
and we have been thrilled with Gregg’s influence and
impact over Hillcrest. I am extremely proud of the
Hillcrest community and I want to thank all staff for their
commitment to our vision and mission. I would also like to
thank our extremely generous volunteers.
In regards to the theme ‘Year to Flourish’ we have achieved
so much and a special thanks must go to Dr Michelle
Cafini and all of the wonderful staff at Rivercrest. To be
accredited as an IB world school in only our second year is
phenomenal. From a concept in August 2011, to a dream in
2012, now to see the reality of a vision come to fruition is a
tremendous encouragement to the Board. I would also like
to make special mention to Mr Dion Harvey who has made
incredible progress in all areas of his Business Manager’s
role and the achievements of his team are a credit to all
involved. I would like to thank my fellow directors for all
they give to Crest. It is a privilege to serve alongside all of
you.
Mr Mathew Daniels
Chairman
EXECUTIVE STATEMENT
T
here was much activity and growth across the entire
Crest precinct throughout 2015 with a renewed
impetus to reflect on our operations in all levels of the
organisation. From Board level down we looked afresh as
we considered how we were living out the core Vision and
Mission of our community. I recognise that our growth as
a uniquely situated Christian School community – with
two distinct yet interconnected schools and a wonderful
Equestrian facility all on the same block of land – provides
singular challenges and opportunities. We truly seek to
embody our multi-dimensional focus on faith, learning and
community and are constantly looking for ways to build
upon the rock-solid foundations of our faith and of those
whose labour preceded us. There is much to celebrate as we
look back upon 2015.
Annual Themes
In 2014, the first year of Rivercrest, the shared theme
across both Colleges was that of Faith – most appropriate
in a Christian School setting. The decision was made that
2015 would be called the Year of Renewal at Hillcrest
– an opportunity to reflect, refocus and consider our
future direction. Given that it was only the second year
of Rivercrest, however, it seemed somewhat premature to
have a year of renewal and so the Rivercrest staff adopted
the ‘Year to Flourish’ instead with the beautiful imagery of
the Psalm 1 tree by streams of water to encourage the new
community. In both Colleges, the themes were woven into
staff devotions, newsletter articles, assembly messages and
chapel services as we sought to live out the Good News of
the Gospel.
The Second Year at Rivercrest
Much was learned in 2014 at Rivercrest in its inaugural year
which allowed for a rich and rewarding 2015. Although still
very much in its infancy as a College, there has been a lot
of valuable work done by Dr Michelle Cafini and her staff
team to build a robust IB curriculum with an embedded
Christian core. The fact that Rivercrest was accredited as an
IB World School just 15 months after its commencement
is a testimony to the efforts and talents of our committed
staff. There has been much achieved in 2015 which augurs
well for the remaining years of growth of the current PYP
campus.
A New Head of College at Hillcrest
At the start of 2015, Mr Gregg Weaver arrived at Hillcrest
after many years of educational leadership in a variety of
schools – government and Christian – in both New Zealand
and, more recently, Australia. Gregg has brought a wealth of
ideas and experience to the role and we have seen the fruit
of his labours already in his first year with the production of
some comprehensive analysis work and the formation of a
detailed action plan for 2016.
Developing a Service/Mission Mindset
In the broader Casey/Cardinia community there are
countless opportunities for our students to learn to serve
– to give of their time, efforts and talents. One of the key
drivers at Crest is that of mission and service – finding areas
where there is a need and doing what we can to make a
difference. At Hillcrest there are some ‘big ticket’ service/
mission options such as student trips to Cambodia and East
Timor, but many more that are much closer to home – in
the family, neighbourhood and the wider community. For
those with a heart to serve, there are countless possibilities.
Rivercrest has a focus on service and action – in fact the
Rivercrest motto of ‘Strength and Service’ is a constant
reminder that we are called to be people of faith and works
even when we are quite young.
Strategic Thinking About the Future
2015 was the final year of the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan –
one which had started when Rivercrest was only beginning
to surface as a possibility for the future. When we reflected
on this now completed Strategic Plan, we recognised with
thanks how much had been achieved over five years of
development. We look forward to the finalisation of our new
2016-2025 Strategic Vision document which will guide our
new planning processes for the future. This will require a
lot of thought, discussion and, most of all, prayer as we ‘seek
first God’s Kingdom and Righteousness’ above all else.
Our desire is that the Core Vision and Mission of Crest will
permeate all of our activities and relationships throughout the
Crest precinct in the years ahead.
Mr Geoff Grace
Executive Principal
3
HEAD OF COLLEGE
RIVERCREST
•
THE RIVERCREST THEME FOR 2015
WAS ‘A YEAR TO FLOURISH’.
T
he Bible verse for 2015 was Psalm 1:3 “That
person is like a tree planted by streams of
water, which yields its fruit in season and whose
leaf does not wither; whatever they do prospers”.
This theme embraced both the College and
International Baccalaureate mission statements as
we endeavoured to develop in our students strong
character and intellect along with a willingness to
serve others in our local and global community.
Staff provided a range of opportunities for students
to flourish in all areas; academic, social, physical,
emotional and spiritual. Through supporting the
development of the IB Learner Profile attributes our
students were challenged to be inquiring, caring and
knowledgeable young people, equipped with the
skills to flourish – now and in the years ahead.
•
•
•
•
Highlights
•
There were many highlights throughout 2015
including:
• The acknowledgment of our first birthday with a
special service and celebration
• Students from 4YO ELC – Year 2 partook in
many sessions at the Crest Environmental
Reserve linking their learning as part of our
environmental distinctive
• Year 1 and 2 participated in an intensive
swimming programme
• The introduction of the Year 2 Strings
Programme, providing all students with the
opportunity to learn viola, violin or cello
• Students participated in the concert ‘Minibeasts’
• The establishment of the Rivercrest choir,
who performed at various services and events
throughout the year
• The Year 2 class had a sleepover at school, after
visiting the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and
dining in Lygon Street
• The VIP Day was well attended with lots of
grandparents and special friends visiting the
College
• Light FM held an outside broadcast which drew
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lots of people to the College
Classes participated in various excursions to
support their units of inquiry, to places such
as the Melbourne Zoo, Scienceworks and Coal
Creek. There were also many incursions take
place, including Choco the Cow visiting the 3
year old class and emergency services personal
speaking to the Year 1 students.
A ‘Compassion Day’ was held to raise awareness
of the students the College sponsor through the
organisation Compassion. The three students
are in Haiti, Thailand and Rwanda.
The PFA held numerous fundraisers including
decorating pavers and a cookie drive. They also
held a most successful Dad’s night to coincide
with Father’s Day
The establishment of a Class Representative
programme to build community at each year
level. Social events were organised to provide
opportunity for fellowship and a food bank was
started to support College families in need
The ELC were selected to participate in the ELLA
trial to promote additional language learning
(French). Preschool children were provided with
the opportunity to engage in language learning
through a play-based approach using apps on
mobile tablet devices
The Rivercrest staff participated in a 2 day
workshop delivered by the International
Baccalaureate on ‘Concept Driven Curriculum’.
This was most beneficial in assisting staff to
further develop their implementation of the PYP
Main Achievements
There were 2 significant achievements take place
at Rivercrest Christian College in 2015. The Early
Learning Centre had its ‘Assessment and Rating Visit’
conducted by the Department of Education and Early
Childhood in Semester One. They were assessed
across seven areas under the National Quality
Framework: Educational Program and Practice;
Children’s Health and Safety; Physical Environment;
Staffing Arrangements; Relationships with Children;
Collaborative Partnerships with Families and
Communities; Leadership and Service Management.
It was with much excitement that the College
received the rating of ‘Exceeding’ for our service. This
is the highest rating achievable. This reflected the
outstanding work of the ELC staff led by the Director,
Mrs Bronwyn van Rhyn.
Also in Semester One we had our Verification Visit
from the International Baccalaureate. During the visit
representatives from the IB met with the Board, staff,
parents and students, visited classes and examined
our documentation to determine if we should be
granted authorisation to become an IB World School
offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our report
was outstanding, with the College receiving many
commendations for our implementation of the PYP and
College operations in general. In May we became an
Official IB World School ~ quite a feat in such a short
time since the College only commenced operation in
2014. This was only possible due to the dedicated of
the efforts of staff and the support of the Rivercrest
community.
Key Staff Appointments
With the commencement of new classes in 2015, our
second year of operation, our staff numbers grew
significantly. We welcomed eight new staff to the
team. A key appointment was Mr Matthew Scott, who
took on the dual role of Pastoral Care Coordinator
and IT Coordinator, as well as teaching Year 2. As we
have IT as a distinctive at Rivercrest we believed the
appointment of an IT coordinator would support staff
to integrate IT into learning experiences across the
subjects. We also formed a Pedagogical Leadership
Team for Rivercrest, consisting of Dr Michelle Cafini
(Head of College), Mrs Caryn Johnson (curriculum), Mr
Matthew Scott (IT/pastoral), Mrs Bronwyn van Rhyn
(ELC) and Mrs Candace Middleditch (specialists). This
team met regularly to oversee the implementation of
the PYP, review policies and reflect on practices.
Student Well-Being
Mr Scott has been instrumental in overseeing student
well-being and pastoral care at Rivercrest. Throughout
2015 he focussed on developing the IB attitudes
through assemblies, chapels, newsletter articles and
class visits. These attitudes, along with the IB Learner
Profile attributes, underpin our student well-being
policies and practices at Rivercrest.
Rivercret Attendance Data
RIVERCREST
Year Level
Attendance Rate %
0
93.27
1
92.96
2
94.41
Total
93.42
The Pedagogical Leadership Team spent time
matching both the IB Learner Profile attributes
and attitudes with verses from the Bible.
Teachers focussed on embedding these verses,
along with Christian World View, into their units
of inquiry as they developed students’ personal,
social and spiritual growth.
Students initiated and engaged in many service
opportunities throughout the year, including
a fundraiser for Nepal after the earthquake, a
Superhero Day to raise awareness of Muscular
Dystrophy, a ‘Blue Day’ to support Motor Neurone
disease, and the ‘Giving Tree’ where students and
families donated gifts and food items to needy
families in the local community at Christmas.
Taking action to serve others is a key element of
the PYP.
Students in Prep participated in a Buddy
programme with students from Hillcrest, while
our Year 2 students developed many skills as
they became leaders and buddies of our 4 year
old ELC students.
Our Chaplain, Rowan Hendrickse, provided
support to students and families throughout the
year. He also led class devotions and organised
small group sessions to build social and
emotional skills.
Dr Michelle Cafini
Head of College
5
HEAD OF COLLEGE
HILLCREST
T
he year marked the last phase of the
College’s 2011-2015 Strategic Plan and
so, with a new commitment to the vision and
with new key staff on board, it was opportune
to evaluate and celebrate progress made, take
stock of the areas that required attention, and
to prayerfully and carefully lay foundations
for the future. There was, in particular, a
renewal of our commitment to having the
gospel of Jesus Christ intentionally made
central again in all aspects of College life. The
staff were challenged over the course of the
year to consider Biblical pictures of renewal,
the importance of renewed relationships,
how to bring about community renewal and
engagement.
With nearly every grade at capacity, the
College channelled its energies from growth
in terms of student numbers and major
facility development to ensuring the best
of outcomes across a range of areas for all
students, from academic advancement to
personal and social wellbeing. Teachers
were challenged to consider many aspects
of their classroom practice, most particularly
using assessment information to inform their
pedagogy and programs in ways that lead
to greater engagement by students in their
learning and higher order thinking skills.
2015
The Hillcrest theme for 2015 of ‘Renewal’
with its scriptural basis and promise in Isaiah
40:31 “They who wait for the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up
with wings like eagles” pervaded so much of
what was done over the course of the year.
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Throughout the year we witnessed our students applying themselves
to all their learning in ways that not only displayed values such as
diligence and perseverance but reflected in very pleasing results in
academic studies and in the spheres of sport, performing and visual
arts, and technology. Once again the cohorts of Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 rated
highly in the national tests in literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN). Our Year
12 graduates continued to produce sound results in VCE with substantial
numbers gaining ATAR and study scores that ensured they were able
to move through to tertiary studies at institutions of their choice with
courses best suited to their strengths.
One of the focuses for 2015 was upon the health and wellbeing of
students, with a particular emphasis on mental health and positive social
interactions. Key to this was the full adoption and embedding of the ‘Kids
Matter’ and ‘Mind Matters’ programs at Junior School and Middle School
respectively. Alongside of these programs there was a strengthening of
the chaplaincy services of the College. Similarly, the learning support
structures, approaches, and programs were substantially changed in order
to facilitate comprehensive support of a greater number of students, the
role of the teacher in meeting diverse needs, and ensuring students with
disabilities had carefully targeted services.
Key strategic developments for the year were centred on the adoption
and utilisation of a range of powerful technologies. At a whole of precinct
level there was the full use the recently installed School Management
System and the introduction of a new e-learning platform aptly named
“Crest Connect.” Technology also continued to be used in enhancing the
teaching and learning process with student-owned tablets being extended
to Year 7 and 8 students.
MUCH TO CELEBRATE
There has been much to remember and celebrate over the course of
2015; too many to mention all. Highlights for me as the newly appointed
Head of College were getting to know the wonderful dedicated staff,
the vibrant students, the inaugural Celebration of Sports evening, the
musical production of Seussical, the 100 Year commemoration of ANZAC
Day, the Creative Arts and Technology exhibition, and the PFA’s Family
Market Night. Most of all I witnessed the ongoing renewal of people as
they align themselves with God’s purposes and use education as a means
to develop knowledge, skills and aptitudes in the service of others.
Dr Gregg Weaver
Head of College
JUNIOR SCHOOL
T
he annual ELC - Year 1 ‘Animals’ concert and Year 2-4
‘Disney’ concerts saw every child perform on stage. The
Year 1 choir debuted at the JAM Music Festival and the
Junior School Choir received an honourable mention at the
Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod. Recitals marked the culmination of
the Year 2 Strings Program each semester, while the Junior String
Orchestra showcased the level of achievement possible with
further study on a string instrument.
Excursions
Preps visited Myuna Farm to learn about living things and
then raised four chickens (Faith, Joy, Hope and Grace). Year 1
visited the Hillcrest wetlands to explore natural, man-made and
managed environments and the Coal Creek Community Park
and Museum to support learning in History. The Year 2 students
visited the Mt Martha Sewerage Treatment Works as part of
a unit of work on ‘water’. The Year 3 students learned more
about earth and space through a visit from the Cosmodrome.
The Year 4s participated in a ‘Shared Country’ experience at
the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne and had an incursion
from Monash University to support learning about materials in
Science.
All Junior School staff engaged in professional learning
sessions on literacy development from a dyslexia expert, a
Behavioural Optometrist and a Speech Pathologist. On the
Christian Schools Australia Networking Day Junior School
staff led sessions on the inquiry pedagogy being used in Prep
and Year 1 Investigations and on KidsMatter.
Class teachers produced Individual Learning Plans for all
students with a diagnosis of a special need. They also
collected data over a ten week period on all adjustments
made for students with additional needs as part of the
National Consistent Collection of Data on School Students
with Disabilities. Prior to this data collection they completed
training on the Disability Discrimination Act and the
Disability Standards for Education.
Junior School support to Tanzania expanded to include
not only support for Canon Andrea Mwaka School but also
a project providing education about a land restoration
technique called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration
(FMNR).
Key Staff Appointments
In 2015 leadership positions were created at each Year
Level to combine a Year Level Coordinator with a Faculty
Leadership role:
Camps
Camping helped the Year 3 students develop independence in
their first school camp held at Adanac Camp in Yarra Junction.
Year 4 spent two nights and three days at The Briars in Mount
Martha.
•
•
•
•
Mrs Joanna Wiggs - Prep and Mathematics
Mrs Lisa Wheeler - Year 1 and e-Learning
Miss Lisa Holdsworth - Year 2 and English
Mrs Tarryn Reddan - Year 3 and Humanities with Mrs
Alison Jakimiuk in this role when Mrs Reddan took
maternity leave.
Mrs Lorraine Nagayah Year 4 and Science
Events
•
A winning piece of student work secured a visit by the Westpac
Rescue Helicopter, which landed on the Junior School oval. Years
1 and 2 from Rivercrest joined us for this event.
Students
Junior school students visited the Laser Maze in Senior School
during Science week and hosted family and friends on VIP day as
part of National Reading Month.
Harmony Day was celebrated with a special assembly led by
our Chaplain Rowan and the Junior School Captains and Vice
Captains. These celebrations culminated in our College Family
Market Night.
Family Night saw each year level host after school activities
related to a curriculum area: Prep Mathematics, Year 1
Geography, Year 2 English, Year 3 Christian Studies and Year 4
History.
Junior School Student leadership positions were appointed
for a Semester to allow for two leadership teams across year.
Leadership by students was provided across many aspects
of Junior School life: assemblies, sporting events, music
groups and in the playground. This year leadership roles
were added to support our mission outreach to Tanzania.
The CAMS Captains (Canon Andrea Mwaka School) provided
leadership in connecting with our two sponsor children, and
the FMNR (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration) team who
promoted the tree regeneration project we support. Student
leaders met with the Junior School Chaplain each Friday at
lunchtime for leadership training.
Main Achievements
A new Social and Emotional Learning curriculum, ‘Bounce
Back’ was implemented across Prep to Year 4. This marked
the completion of Component Two of KidsMatter, a mental
health and wellbeing framework.
Junior School staff members participated in a state-wide
conversation about Early Childhood Education in Victoria led
by the Minister for Families and Children. Staff also attended
professional development on catering for children on the
Autism Spectrum. The Prep staff participated in a nation-wide
collection of data on early childhood development through the
Australian Early Childhood Development Census.
As part of celebrating God’s gift of His son to us, students
were encouraged to think of others at Christmas time. The
Junior School supported Crossway Baptist Church in their
provision of Christmas hampers to needy families across
Melbourne. Students donated shortbread, Christmas crackers,
lollies, puddings and hams.
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Mrs Janet Anderson: Head of Junior School
MIDDLE SCHOOL
2
015 commenced by welcoming 55 new families, with 75
new students entering at Middle School. Lives continued
to be shaped, developed, and renewed by so many experiences
that took place throughout the year and we have achieved so
much to be celebrated. The Year of Renewal included a number
of changes to bring improvement. In all plans and activities,
we have continued to declare that Christ is Lord in this College,
and with that in mind our students were at the centre of our
planning and school operation.
a love for mission and service is developed in each
of our students from an early age. We continued with
our recurrent mission and service activities supporting
some of TEAR Australia projects, a school in East Timor,
the NBS Christmas Hamper campaign, and the 40hour
Famine. The Exceler8 students participated in the “Write
a book a day” challenge supporting Kids Cancer by
donating the finished product to the Royal Children’s
Hospital.
Throughout the year excursions, incursions, sporting events
and performances continued to enrich student experience with
meaningful and purposeful activities.
As part of our commitment towards building students’
resiliency and ensuring that they are equipped to
operate in a smart way in Cyber space, cyber-safety
workshops were offered to all students. It is our
desire to equip students with skills and understanding
that would enable them to make good choices and to
bounce back when facing life challenges. To this end,
Friendship and Safety days were facilitated by teachers,
chaplains and parents. The Casey 360 Bus visit also
provided students with ideas on how to have social
and recreational interactions with their peers through
meaningful and purposeful activities.
The Year 6s went to Canberra for the first time, allowing
for a greater connection between camp and the curriculum.
Students continued to represent the College with their
wonderful talents in the musical, artistic and sporting arenas.
2015 has also seen the Year 4 students and their parents
join us at STEM Night, which brought the School community
together. ‘Cooking with Jamie Oliver’ was another highlight,
where the Food Technology students were involved in a global
Food Revolution Day activity inspired by Jamie Oliver.
Main Achievements
A structured weekly Devotional Themes program was
introduced where all classes had the one spiritual/value theme
as a focus for the week, bringing quality and consistency to the
weekly messages shared at pastoral devotions, assemblies and
chapels. As part of our endeavours to promote positive mental
health across the Middle School community, the MindMatters
framework was launched with staff, and this will be followed
by modules for students and parents in the near future. The
introduction of 1:1 electronic devices to the Year 7 and 8
students has had a significant impact on teaching and learning
approaches and significantly reduced the booklist costs to
parents.
Key Staff appointments
New teachers were welcomed into the Middle School and
commenced their role with enthusiasm: Mr Keith Chow, 6K
Pastoral teacher and Mrs Kiko Arakawa, Japanese.
Students
A Discipleship Trip to Israel was conducted in March, with eight
Year7-10 students and eight adults, including parents and staff.
The highlight of the trip was the baptism of four students
and two parents in the Jordan River. Our relationship with
the Nazareth Baptist School (NBS) has been strengthened as
a result of this third visit to the school. It is our desire that
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Student Leaders continued to engage in the Leadership
Program and assemblies provided them with
opportunities to practise and develop their leadership
and public speaking skills. They attended the World
Vision Leaders Conference in Melbourne, represented
Hillcrest at the Remembrance Day service in Berwick
and the Casey Leaders Reception, and assisted in a
number of College events. The Year 6 students also
engaged in the ‘Better Buddies’ initiative with their
Prep Buddies at Rivercrest, as part of our inter College
initiatives, in addition to the cross sectional mentoring
programs that are in place.
Achievements
We are very proud of students who continued to
perform highly in their academic studies and for the
hard efforts by students who achieve their personal
best. Those were celebrated at Presentation Night, End
of Semester Awards ceremonies and assemblies. Once
again we celebrated the Year 5 and Year 6 German
Poetry Competitors, and the Year 7/8 Junior Debating
Team who won the CSSN Junior Debating competition.
Both teams brought home the first prize shields for the
second year in a raw. In addition our Ag/Hort chooks
came in 4th out of 9 participating schools’ chooks at the
Melbourne Show Poultry competition and the Year 5/6
Chess team came 3rd at the CSSN Chess Tournament
against seven other Christian schools. For all of that we
give glory to God.
Mrs Hanan Khreish: Head of Middle School
SENIOR SCHOOL
This year has been a Year of Renewal and we have seen God’s hand at work in the lives of staff and students in the Senior
School. It has been a very rewarding year and it has been a privilege to work with such a dedicated and professional team of
teachers and support staff at Hillcrest who encourage each student to reach their full potential.
A
group of staff and students travelled to Cambodia and
were able to serve in several of the local churches and
provide practical support to the local communities. Another
group travelled to Timor Leste where they were able to
provide assistance in a church community and local schools.
The Agriculture Tour was a successful learning adventure
to the north-west central region of Victoria where students
were able to connect environmental problems, challenges
and industries with real people and the world that exists
outside of the classroom.
The Year 9 students participated in a three-part
Environment day. This involved tree planting along the
Cardinia Creek, a practical Science lesson measuring and
monitoring the natural world and finally an ‘environmental
impacts’ bushwalk along the Cardinia Creek.
Senate
Zachary Buchanan, Alana Chrisomalidis-Cohen, Garion
Howarth, Daniel Martinez, Katherine McCann, Matthew
McMichael, Dinah Parimi, Josephine Salib, Ratish Verma,
Dylan Webber, Elizabeth Williams, Marcelle Yacoub
School Captains
•
Daniel Martinez & Josephine Salib
House Captains
•
•
•
•
Carey - Jessie Fisher & Jaimie Blundy
Judson - Elise Gunn & T K Abioye
Mueller - Kathryn Swanborough & Joshua Tooth
Taylor - Erinn Bonser & Campbell De Kretser
Key Staff Appointments
Awards
This year we welcomed a number of new staff to the Senior
school: Miss Natalie Roberts (Psychology and English),
Mrs Brooke Scouller (Drama) – returning from maternity
leave, Miss Kelly Thompson (Physical Education), Mrs Liza
Caroll (Laboratory Technician), Mrs Rhiannon Sepssy (PA
to the Head of Senior School), Mrs Andrea Fidler (VCE
Administration Officer), Mr Joshua Battersby (Sport and PE
Trainee) and Miss Mikayla Sheppard (Outdoor Education
Trainee).
Award
Student
ADF – Long Tan Award (Year 10)
Farai Vere
ADF – Long Tan Award (Year 12)
Alana Chrisomalidis-Cohen
Board of Director’s Award – Years
9 & 10
Elisha Johns
Principal’s Award – VCE
Jaimie Blundy
Valedictorian
Kathryn Swanborough
Dux of College
Ahmed Saeed
Students
Yr
Students have been involved in a number of service and
leadership opportunities including the World Vision Global
Leadership Convention, GRIP Student Leadership Training
Day and Christian Schools Australia Prayer Breakfast. The
Senate leadership team also organised a number of fund
raising events to support Syrian refugees. As part of a
campaign to end youth suicide, Hillcrest Senior students
wrote positive messages of HOPE to create a Wall of Hope.
Academic
Excellence
Outstanding
Effort
Character &
Service Award
Mena Elchagie &
Joshua Hardy-Brown
9
Sheryllin Tan
Brooke AndersonTilley
10
Bonin Sok
Alexandra Madeley Paris McKenzie
11
Nkiruka Onyeka
Charlotte Ray
Charlotte Ray
12
Ahmed Saeed
Ewan Hutchinson
Alana
ChrisomalidisCohen
Mr Michael Swanborough: Head of Senior School
9
HEAD OF
LEARNING & TEACHING
T
hroughout 2015 the staff of Hillcrest continued
to work together intentionally and collaboratively
in order to maximise the effectiveness of teaching and
learning across the College through actions designed to
facilitate improvements in a number of key areas.
Curriculum – What We Teach
Throughout the year, faculty teams continued to review our
curriculum and ensure that it is well-documented on our
online curriculum repository – ATLAS Rubicon. In previous
years we have undertaken major audits of curriculum
in order to update in line with the recently introduced
Australian Curriculum. For most faculties, 2015 was a year
of further refinement involving teaching teams reflecting
on and evaluating curriculum and making improvements.
For some faculties, such as Languages and Technologies,
the Australian Curriculum was finally released enabling
to commence significant audit and updating of their
curriculums.
In 2015 we also commenced work in developing a
framework which could be used across the College to
assist us in appropriately and effectively integrate Christian
perspectives across our curriculum areas. In doing so,
key staff engaged in professional learning and strategic
conversations with other Christian educators around the
country, including from the Christian tertiary sector.
Pedagogy – Our Teaching Strategies
As a teaching team in 2015 we continued to focus on the
embedding of Formative Assessment practices: ways we
both receive from and give feedback to students. Our goal is
for teachers and students to have the necessary information
in order to improve student achievement of learning goals
along the way. Learning is most effective when students
are able to continually refine and improve their work and
throughout the year teachers continued to trial and use
strategies which support this.
for staff that respond to the identifiable needs of learning
and teaching. It does this by creating opportunities, time and
funding for the extension, renewal and growth of all staff on a
professional level. This enhances staff knowledge, classroom
practice and leadership capacity. In 2015 all fulltime members
of academic staff at Hillcrest participated in at least eight days
of professional learning. Over the course of the year, the College
spent approximately $80,000 on professional learning for its
teaching and non-teaching staff. This included both in-school
workshops and staff attendance at external seminars, conferences
and network meetings. A high priority has been placed on the type
of professional learning activities that research supports as being
those most likely lead to improved teaching practice and which
were focussed on the College’s core learning and teaching goals.
Priority is also given to ensuring that all staff have current training
for the roles they undertake and that all legal requirements are
met in this area.
Staff also demonstrated their commitment to professional growth
through participation in additional studies at the Masters and
Doctoral levels, by being VCE examiners, in facilitation teacher
networks and by presenting at Conferences.
Technology
Technology is now a significant tool in the learning process and
we have continued to improve the ways in which we use it to
maximise learning opportunities. Our 1:1 Tablet Program is now
in place across Years 7-12 and for 2016 the number and variety of
devices available to ELC – Year 6 students will increase. Alongside
this, during 2015 significant preparation occurred for the launch
of Crest Connect in 2016. Crest Connect is our virtual learning
environment for ELC – Year 12 students. It is an all-in-one learning
management system, parent portal and intranet. Crest Connect will
enable us to better engage our students and facilitate learning,
to improve parent involvement in their child’s learning journey, to
streamline and integrate current systems and to improve the flow
of communication.
Special Events
During 2015, significant progress was also made towards
improving processes for the communication of student
learning to students and their parents. This included a
review of current literature and best practice and the
development of a new draft Assessment and Reporting
policy. Significant research also occurred as to how we
could best implement a better system of reporting leading
to the launch of Crest Connect in 2016. Further work in
2016 should see the College move towards the goal of
ongoing, online feedback to parents in 2017.
Professional Learning of Teachers
Hillcrest provides professional learning opportunities
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www.cresteducation.vic.edu.au
This year has seen a high number of special events organised
by various faculties and departments across the College. It is
impossible to mention all of them in this report. Some have been
whole school events and others much more specialised involving
a small group of selected students. The many events which occur
weekly across the College are designed, not only to engage
students and foster enthusiasm for learning, but also to enable the
students to participate in activities which can’t be accommodated
within the regular timetabled lessons and which will further
extend their learning opportunities.
Mrs Maria Varlet: Head of Learning & Teaching
VCE RESULTS & TERTIARY PLACEMENTS
T
here were many top performers in 2015 with our
highest ATAR 96.75. The top three students achieved
ATARs of 96.75, 95.35 and 94.25.
Of the 97 students, 6 gained an ATAR of 90 or above, placing
them in the top 10% of the state. The median ATAR was
60.75, with the mean ATAR at 61.05. The median study score
was 29, with the mean study score at 29.6.
The highest study scores obtained were: 46 – Business
Management and Health and Human Development,
44 – English and Further Mathematics, 43 – Business
Management, English and Health and Human Development,
42 – Business Management, Equine and Geography. In each
of these subjects, our students were placed in the top 2% of
students in the state.
Arts, Business, Business/Marketing, Commerce,
Communication Design, Criminology and Psychology,
Education, Engineering, Exercise and Sport Science, Health
Sciences, Medical Imaging, Media and Communication,
Nursing, Pharmacy, Science, Science/Arts, Sport Management,
Teaching and Visual Merchandising.
A total of 97 students achieved their VCE. This was the
largest cohort of Year 12 students in Hillcrest history. VCE
staff are to be commended for their efforts with this group
throughout 2014/2015.
Congratulations to Ahmed Saeed who was named Dux of
the College for 2015. Ahmed completed 6 VCE subjects and
achieved an ATAR of 96.75, recording a study score of at least
40 in English, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology. Ahmed is
studying Commerce/Finance at Monash University.
The majority (92%) of our Year 12 students applied for
tertiary placements through VTAC. Of these students, 99%
were offered places. Those who did not apply have entered
the workforce or chosen to study elsewhere
Year 12 students of 2015 have been successful in gaining
places to Tertiary institutions including, Monash University
(24%), RMIT (15%), Deakin University (14%) and Swinburne
University of Technology (13%). Students have obtained
places in the following courses:
ATAR 90+
38%
20%
6%
ATAR 80+
ATAR 70+
HILLCREST
ttendance rates have traditionally been very strong
and Crest schools use the Synergetic Student
Management System for attendance monitoring.
Attendance is formally collected twice a day (am/pm)
and there is an expectation that teachers keep a record
of attendance in each of their classes. Absence lists are
generated and sent to all appropriate staff.
A
The parent or guardian of any student who is absent
without appropriate reason / notice are contacted by
the School by phone that day. If attendance is becoming
problematic, systems are in place to ensure parents are
informed of the situation and that procedures are in place
to remedy or alleviate the situation.
Year Level
Attendance Rate %
0
93.30
1
93.84
2
94.27
3
94.80
4
94.46
5
95.02
6
94.44
7
93.36
8
93.78
9
93.81
10
93.48
11
92.07
12
89.18
Total
93.52
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NAPLAN RESULTS
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an
annual assessment for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students in Australia. NAPLAN tests
provide a snapshot of students’ achievement in relation to national benchmarks.
Year 3
Year 5
Year 7
Year 9
IN 2015 HILLCREST MEDIAN
SCORES FOR ALL TESTS ACROSS
YEARS 5, 7 & 9
EXCEEDED THE STATE MEDIAN.
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www.cresteducation.vic.edu.au
AYRHILL
EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
S
tudents participated in may activities during 2015 in
the Ayrhill Equestrian Centre. Activities included the
Year 9 Mounted Games Day and also fifty Middle School
equestrian students participated in various games as a finale
to the year.
Our mare ‘Isabella’ and her foal ‘River’ were a constant
source of learning and positive feedback as ‘River’ grows and
matures under the watchful eyes of the Hillcrest student
cohort. The Centre hosted four Interschool Show Jumping
competitions and took part in two more hosted by other
schools at the Ayr Hill Equestrian Centre. Students also took
part in interschool dressage.
The Bunyip State Forest Year 10 horse camp, was another
success. The 5 day camp was held for 14 students and 2
staff members, with 18 horses participating in the trail rides
in this peaceful environment.
The accredited training programs operated by the registered
training organisation (RTO) have been well attended by
a smaller cohort than in previous years. We have made
some inroads to changing the delivery method to blended
delivery. This will utilise the Trade Training Centre for the
practical part of the courses. RTO students have now found
pathways into the next course on offer. This is the Riding
Instructor course. Our first graduates will qualify towards the
end of 2016.
The horses have enjoyed grazing in the neighbouring
property, which will be sorely missed when the urban
development takes over the 100 acres.
The venue continues to be hired by a variety of clubs
using the 4 sand arenas, 10 acre polo field, 100 day yards,
specialist classroom and stable complex.
Main Achievements
Student Wellbeing
The College again was represented at the National Interschool
level for the fourth year in succession in the show jumping event.
The event was held in Sydney and the same student has also
qualified again for the 2016 National Interschool Championships.
The College finished in the top five in the state at the Grand Final
of interschool events and continues to be one of the largest teams
represented at competitions.
Equestrian students are highlighted in additional leadership
roles throughout the College. This can be directly attributed
to the personal development and skills acquired in the equine
curriculum.
An investement was made into a database system in order to
track the compliance of our documents necessary for the smooth
functioning of the RTO.
A new Certificate III course in Outdoor Recreation is available
for students to enrol in. Students also participated in the Riding
Instructor skills set, which will lead to them being qualified.
Victoria Racing have two courses, which we have begun working
with also. These courses are Stable Hand and Track Rider. In the
coming years the vision is to offer these courses to the broader
community.
Student welfare is uppermost and often students are drawn to the
nurturing nature of the horse in times of difficulty. It is a known
fact that horses have an intuitiveness about the emotional state
of their handlers.
Personal development and positive mental attitude are evident
in many students as they work their way through their knowledge
of being a successful horse handler. In caring and interacting
with the horse, many Christian principles are demonstrated. The
humility and servant attitude of the horse is just one of many
instances of the Christian principles that are always evident.
Ms Deborah Lovett - Equestrian Teacher
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Crest Education is a not-for-profit organisation, and we adhere to contemporary commercial business and governance
practices to ensure that finances are managed in an effective and efficient manner. All end-of-year surpluses are applied
to facility development and/or repayment of borrowings. Crest has also been successful in maintaining school fees at an
affordable level that are amongst the lowest in its sector. The following graphs outline the major sources of income and
expenditure for 2015.
income
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
53%
35%
Government Grants
School Fees & Levies
11%
Other
1%
Capital Grants
expenditure
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
64%
10%
8%
6%
Employee Benefits
Curriculum
Depreciation
Building & Maintenance
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
Other Income
4%
3%
3%
2%
Finance
Transportation
Other
Office
I
n 2015, Crest continued to develop its facilities and
infrastructure to meet the needs of its growing and
dynamic school community. The newly developed Rivercrest
campus continues to be the main capex focus in the near
term.
Rivercrest Classrooms
Stage 3 of the Rivercrest PYP campus was constructed,
delivering another three classrooms which will accomodate
the rapidly growing school population. In addition to
landscaping and installing a new playground we also
completed a new car park and upgraded a section of
Soldiers Rd. Rivercrest was also connected to main power,
after having operated on a generator for its first year and a
half.
Hillcrest Refurbishments
We continued to upgrade facilities by completing the
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www.cresteducation.vic.edu.au
refurbishment of the S14 classroom, whilst the Creative
Arts facility underwent a major refurbishment of its HVAC
systems.
Masterplan Updates
As part of a strategy to improve our capex strategic planning
we have commenced work on updating the masterplans
for both schools. This work will allow us to better plan
new facilities so they are in accordance with our Strategic
objectives. This work is expected to be completed in 2016.
Service Infrastrastructure
As development around Crest has intensified it has brought
with it the opportunity to connect to mains services and we
have commenced planning to connect to sewer, water and
power services over the next couple of years.
SATISFACTION SURVEYS
opportunities for student leadership development and
the provision of a strong focus on student wellbeing and
resilience. Given the open enrolment policy of Crest, there
was a more diverse perception of the importance of the
Christian vision and mission to the organisation’s current
practice and future growth and development
s part of Crest Educations commitment to student
wellbeing, in 2014 two surveys of students were
conducted which showed overwhelmingly positive
results with regards to student’s sense of belonging at
school and their engagement with their studies, friends and
families. In 2016 Crest will be using a new industry standard
tool to survey students, parents and staff.
A
Staff Satisfaction
Parent Satisfaction
A large scale Community Survey was conducted in
September 2015 to gauge the level of support of parents
from both Hillcrest and Rivercrest. There was a strong
endorsement of key areas of Crest’s overall direction
and purpose, and parents noted the importance of a safe
environment and a strong set of values. The highest
response was the ongoing provision of high quality teaching
and learning. At Rivercrest, the IB program was strongly
supported whilst student discipline was also important
at Hillcrest. At both Colleges, parents also highly value
WORKFORCE MAKEUP
Teacher
Non-Teacher
Over 50Over 50
Under 50
50+
23%
50+
27%
Age
Age
The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) monitors the registration of
teachersOver
throughout
Victoria, ensuring all teachers meet the standards
50
of professional teaching practice within three domains of knowledge,
Under 50
practice and engagement.
Besides the formal tertiary qualifications that are necessary for a teacher
to gain registration through the VIT, teachers are encouraged to work
towards a high level of continual professional learning.
Non-Teacher Age
Female
Male
Male
21
Gender
Female
85
Teacher Gender
Gender
Female
52
Doctorate
Full Time
Full Time
23
Teacher Status
Bachelor
Part Time
Full Time
Full Time
82
Masters
36%
Non-Teacher Gender
Part T
Status
27%
3%
Male
Female
Male
30
Part
Time
33
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Under 50
77%
Under 50
73%
Teacher Age
Crest Education has a number of ways it seeks to obtain
feedback from our staff members. Surveys conducted
in 2015 of school staff, generally indicated a positive
experience for our staff. Significant positive responses
were seen in the areas of leadership, team dynamics,
collaboration and skill development. School leadership are
continually working to develop Crest as an ‘employer of
choice’ and ongoing consultation and communication with
staff is a key focus.
23%
Status
Part Time
50
Non-Teacher Status
Graduate
Diploma
11%
Diploma
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CONTACT US
500 Soldiers Road
Clyde North
Ph. 9702 2144
VISION
To be a leading provider of quality
Christian education delivered by Christian
staff, ensuring the gospel message is an
integral part of all we do.
email: [email protected]
www.cresteducation.vic.edu.au
Crest Education is a leading provider of quality
Christian education to the Casey and Cardinia
communities of South East Melbourne. Our
magnificent 138 acre property serves as a
precinct for two Colleges, Hillcrest and Rivercrest,
an Equestrian Centre, Agriculture/Horticulture
precinct and Environmental Centre with 25 acres
of waterways and reclaimed bush bordering
Cardinia Creek.