A Little Taste of Heaven…

21 excited students, from Prep to Year 6, their somewhat nervous and apprehensive parents, teacher and teacher aide, met on the first day of school in February 1993 at the Berriedale Community Centre to mark the start of what was then known as the Northern Suburbs Christian School. This event was the culmination of many years of hard work by the Steering Committee and members of the Emmanuel Christian School Board, all working together to establish a Christian school in the northern suburbs of Hobart.

The school had been granted a provisional three-year registration to operate, conditional on it being on its own site within three years. We initially shared the Berriedale Community Centre with a church group, a service club and occasionally members of the public who hired the venue for parties. This was not without its challenges, but by the time we left there, we had a lease on the whole building, three classes, about 55 students and a vibrant, supportive school community.

While we owned the block in Cobbs Hill Road, over the three years, we explored other site options, including a recently closed state school. With one year to go and, as yet, no school buildings on our own site, we came to the conclusion that we were not going to meet the three-year deadline. To that end, we began the process of applying for another three years of registration, fielding objections from local state schools who considered that they catered adequately for students in the area and that there was no need for another school in Bridgewater.

However, the Emmanuel Board, realising that with the continuing growth of the school and the limitations of the Berriedale site, decided that we should build at Bridgewater and be operating within the three-year time limit. A local architect was engaged to draw up the plans, a builder contracted, and construction began, with six months to complete the buildings and be operating on site.

While a little remote from the main population centres at Bridgewater, our builder suggested that it would be good if a roster of parents and staff could be onsite over the weekends to mitigate the risk of theft or vandalism. I owned a campervan at the time and welcomed the opportunity to park up at the school, do some lesson preparation and other administrative tasks, and enjoy a coffee and a walk around the property. Mounds of dirt from the excavation of the building site had been piled up behind the school, and these later became the oval.

As I wandered around, I was continually amazed and blessed by the beautiful views up and down the river. Reflecting on the hard work of so many over the three years and being reminded of God’s goodness, faithfulness and the provision of such a beautiful location for a school with a growing community, which had embraced the vision to be a witness for God in the northern suburbs, it did seem like a little taste of heaven.

The builder completed the construction of our first two buildings and the access driveway to the school two weeks before the end of the school year. The students stayed home for a week while we relocated from Berriedale to Bridgewater, and one week before the end of the school year, we began operating on our own site, thus fulfilling our registration requirements. Over the holiday period, a great deal of hard work by the school community and Mobile Mission Maintenance provided paths and other basic infrastructure to begin the 1996 school year.

As we celebrate our 30 Year Anniversary this year, it’s important to remember that God is so good!

Malcolm Lacey - Northern Christian School Principal (1993 - 1996)

Here’s the stories we’ve posted, just in case you missed them. Don’t forget to like our page and posts:

Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show
A visit from Ps Martin Hughes from City North Church
Chess Tournament
RIBIT Day
Year 4 Bible Lesson

This is a particularly exciting time of the year in Prep as students begin to make connections with letter-sounds, which we learned in Term 1, and the introduction of letters this term. Students are beginning to write their first sentences as they listen for sounds in words and then recall the particular letters needed to write those sounds! At the same time, they are learning the conventions of sentence writing and practising using full stops, capital letters and finger spaces in their sentences! All Prep students are on their journey to becoming independent readers, and it is wonderful to see the excitement on their faces when they realise what they are learning to do!

In Bible, we are learning about some of the miracles which Jesus performed and Prep students continue to be amazed by the mighty miracles God has done (and continues to do) in the lives of His people. It is such a joy to be able to help students ponder God’s amazing creation. We have been able to do this not just through His Word but through Mathematics as we investigate measurement, shapes, patterns and numbers, and through Science, as we look into seasons and weather patterns that God has created in our world.

In Geography, we are learning about the area we live in and the places we go to.  We are thinking about why we go there, and we are attempting to create our own simple maps to represent familiar places. We were recently blessed with beautiful winter weather for our excursion to Kingston Park to explore the many activities there.

Adrienne Bitt - Prep Teacher

Friday, 7 July - Free Dress and Pizza Day

On the last day of Term 2, we will be holding our Aussie Bush Dance! This is a great opportunity for students to showcase the skills they have learnt as part of their Dance unit in PE.

Parents are welcome to join the students as they kick their heels up to the ‘Heel and Toe Polka’, ‘Strip the Willow’ and many other bush dance favourites while enjoying some ‘Dancing Food!'

This will be a bush dance-themed free-dress day for students, so get your dosey-doe on and come join us:

Prep - Year 2 from 11.30am - 12.10pm
Years 3 - 6 from 12.10pm - 1.00pm

You can also find the event on Facebook.

Please contact the Office prior to the day if you would like to book a disabled parking spot to attend this event.

Peter Humphrey - Physical Education Teacher

Community Engagement Committee - Pizza Lunch

The CEC will be taking pre-orders for 2 slices of pizza (variety on the day - GF options available) and a juice box for $4.50 via QKR! No cash/food will be able to be purchased on the day, and no late orders will be accepted, so please get your orders in by 4.00pm Wednesday, 5 July.

We would love some help with serving the lunch from 12.30pm onwards. Please email the Community Engagement Committee if you would like to help. All volunteers must have a valid Working With Vulnerable People card.

Anita Halse - Community Engagement Committee

As part of the celebration for Naidoc Week in Week 11, the Student Representative Council are fundraising for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory to have the Bible translated into their heart language. Students are encouraged to bring a coin/coins on Monday, 3 July and we will put our coins together to make a picture of the Aboriginal Flag. All funds will go directly to the Australian Society of Indigenous Languages.

With the end of the 2022/2023 financial year drawing to a close, we are pleased to announce the return of the Christian Schools Tasmania Annual Giving Program.

Each year we will be inviting members of our community to partner with us financially to further our Founders’ vision for Christian education. This year, with strong enrolment growth, there has never been a better time to invest in our school and its future. You can make a tax-deductible donation via bank transfer.

BSB - 067 105
Account - 1004 4632
Reference - Your Name (so we can confirm your project preferences and issue a tax receipt)

We’re excited about the possibilities of what we can achieve together with your generous financial support. Please see our website for more information on how you can partner financially with us.

The freedom for Northern Christian School to choose to employ Christian teachers and staff is fundamental to who we are as a Christian school. There is currently a proposal from the Australian Law Reform Commission to remove legal protections that allow Christian schools to employ staff whose beliefs align with our school. Under the current policy proposals:

• Christian schools won’t be able to recruit only staff who live their Christian faith.

• Christian schools won’t be able to provide an integrated, Christian education.

• Parents will no longer have the choice of a genuine Christian education for their children.

By removing the ability of Christian schools to hire people who live and breathe the Christian faith, the Government is removing the heart of what makes Christian schools special.

There is still time to speak up. We would encourage you to visit the My Christian School website, Facebook page or read the latest Newsletter to find out more about these proposed changes.

For more information about this campaign, contact the Australian Association of Christian Schools.