Editorial

Springing Ahead: Farewells and New Beginnings.

Spring can be both a beautiful and strange time of year in Melbourne. Green shoots, spring flowers, and the promise of autumnal fruit can appear in our gardens. The weather gives us hope that the winter cold is behind us. There is warmth, but it is intermittent. At this time of year, within the Secondary, it can also be both a beautiful and strange time of year. Over the past weeks, we have been joyfully celebrating with the Year 12s. For them, their thirteen years at Plenty Valley Christian College are coming to an end. They have now completed their final examinations. Students in Years 9-11 have also finished theirs. While much energy is being spent on the now. We are also very focused on 2026. Students in Years 8 through to 11 have chosen subjects. Our staffing is almost complete, and we are about to begin the end-of-year “Headstart” program that helps to prepare senior Secondary students for 2026.

2026 welcomes a few significant changes. As a College, we are delighted to have Mrs McKinnon joining us as the new Executive Principal. Among the changes in the Secondary is the introduction of a fourth class at Year 7. As four classes are introduced to the Secondary over the next six years, the College will need to find additional classrooms. Thankfully, we are soon to occupy the almost complete two-storey Senior School Building. Overlooking the oval, this facility will be the new “home” for all our Year 11 and 12 students. In addition to classroom and teacher spaces, it features both common and study areas, as well as a tiered seating area for presentations. Please take the opportunity to explore the new building through a virtual tour, which is accessible on the College’s Facebook page. With Year 11 and 12 students housed separately from the other Secondary students, we have decided to make a slight adjustment to the organisation of the secondary school sub-schools. In 2026, Mr. Barresi will be the Head of Years 7 to 10. Mrs. Kantzidis will be the Head of Years 11 and 12.

As I write this, we are less than one month away from the conclusion of the College year. At the end of this year, the College will farewell Mr John Metcalfe who has served as Principal, and more recently Executive Principal, of PVCC for nine years. In addition to his service to this college, Mr. Metcalfe has, for some time, played a significant role in supporting Christian schooling in this country. He has certainly enjoyed working in partnership with families, such as those at Plenty Valley Christian College, in the provision of Christian schooling. Additionally, he has faithfully served on the national boards of our broader network of schools, Christian Education National, and the Australian Association of Christian Schools. His faithfulness to Christ, and Christian schooling is something I am thankful for. I would encourage those of you who pray to bring both John Metcalfe and Natasha McKinnon before the Lord as you do so.

Chris Prior

Secondary Principal