Executive Principal  

Welcome back to Term 3, and welcome to our new students and their families. We hope you had a blessed and refreshing break over the holidays. As we embark on this new term, we would like to share some exciting updates and developments that have taken place.

During the term break, our dedicated staff had the opportunity to engage in professional development activities. We firmly believe in the importance of continuously nurturing and equipping our staff members to provide our students with the best education and support. Three options were made available, each with its own unique focus.

The first option was the Christian Education National (CEN) International Transformation Education Conference. This gathering brought together over 1000 educators and board members from around the nation. It was truly inspiring to witness the passion and dedication of individuals who are committed to shaping the future of education. Leighland Christian School was privileged to present our innovation story, highlighting our journey towards adopting a personalised learning model. We shared how we strive to create an environment that nurtures each student's unique talents and abilities, aligning with the scriptural truth that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14).

The second professional opportunity was a trip to Newcastle for the Design Thinking Conference hosted by Future Schools and run by the Stanford University D School. This conference provided our staff members with an outstanding opportunity to explore innovative approaches to education. By aligning our vision, mission and values, we aim to cultivate an environment that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity. Through this experience, we seek to equip our students with the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world, guided by the biblical teaching to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

For those staff members who were unable to attend out-of-state conferences, we organised in-house training and development sessions focused on our playful learning pedagogy. These sessions served as a platform to delve into topics such as the Christian living curriculum in primary education and classroom differentiation. It was a joyous occasion where our staff members had the opportunity to engage in fun-filled activities, including Lego serious play and artistic sculpting. These activities not only fostered creativity but also reminded us of the importance of learning through play; we did this in community. 

At Leighland Christian School, we firmly believe in the value of developing our staff members. By investing in their professional lives and supporting them in keeping up with best practices, we can ensure that our students receive the highest quality education.

As we embark on this term, we are filled with excitement for the continued development of our campuses, our master plan, and the continued rollout of our Strategic plan. We are especially thrilled to introduce a new Year 9 program and offer a range of new subjects for 2025. These initiatives aim to provide our students with a Christ-centred K-12 education that inspires, nurtures and equips them to connect learning to life.

As we journey through this term together, let us remember to keep Christ at the centre of all that we do. May His love and grace guide our actions and interactions, and may we continue to grow as a community rooted in faith and devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

Wishing you all a blessed and fruitful Term 3.

Mrs Natasha Mackinnon 

Executive Principal