Bayside Christian College

Leadership Report

Principal's Report

“'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

 

If you have blocked or damaged plumbing, what do you do? I suspect that your answer to this question is: call a plumber. What if that blocked pipe leads to your heart? Who do you call? I have always been quietly amused that plumbers and heart surgeons, in simple terms, both fix broken and blocked pipes. 

    

On 28 April this year, an article entitled “Thousands of high school students shun ‘two years of hell’ in favour of vocational VCE” ran in the Age. This article explores a growing trend away from the apparent stresses of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) to the less stressful Vocational Major (VM) pathway. 

 

What is sad is that the article misses the purpose of these senior secondary pathways. Students have (for a very long time) had the option to follow an academic pathway that primarily (but not exclusively) leads to university or a trade pathway. While students today generally stay at school in both pathways, completing Year 12 and being awarded a Senior Certificate of Education. They are still basically following the well-trodden paths to post-school training and life - University or a Trade. 

 

The article explores the responses of students to the pressures that are associated with the academic VCE pathway. While I am very comfortable with students recognising their limitations at any point in time, and would never encourage a student to take a course of study that would cause them harm. Where once we failed students into a trade. I am concerned that now students, regardless of their academic capacity, are opting into the VM pathway as a soft option (to avoid the stress of examinations). 

 

The problem I see here is that it devalues both of these pathways. 

 

To be clear, I am an advocate for both the VCE and VM pathways. I am proud that the College has offered both these pathways for many years and will add a third vocational pathway next year. My concern is that students as asking what is easy rather than seeking to understand their God given gifts and talents, their passions and their weaknesses. It is through this process that students find their calling, and it is this calling that guides their senior secondary pathway. 

 

If God gifts and calls a student to serve Him as a heart surgeon, then it is the responsibility of that student to do the work required to make this happen. Ideally, this student will work to be excellent in what they do. Will this journey be hard and stressful? I think it is safe to say - yes, it will. 

 

Similarly, if God gifts and calls a student to serve Him as a plumber, then it is the responsibility of that student to do what it takes to make this happen. Ideally, this student too will work at being excellent at what they do, and become an excellent plumber. 

 

Both vocations require hard work, dedication and grit to do them well. What is the shaping effect of encouraging students to take an easy out if they are capable of more?  

 

Today, students are not locked into one pathway or the other. In fact, it is common for students to choose to complete a trade qualification before entering University. Similarly, it is entirely possible to start doing one thing and, in time, train to do something else. The Lord places time limits on our calling, and He gives us the freedom to choose how we might serve him. The key to all of this is not what we do, but why we do it. Stepping into a trade and becoming a second-rate tradie because you dont feel like doing the hard yards of VCE is not a good reason to become a tradie.

 

We must strive to help students identify their calling and then step with confidence into the learning journey that this calling requires. If that means examinations, then so be it. Do we really want to encourage a generation of students who shy away from hard work? I think not. 

 

Reference Link:  Thousands of high school students shun ‘two years of hell’ in favour of vocational VCE: April 28, 2025 THE AGE

 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Manning, Principal

Bayside Christian College: NAPLAN Analysis with PAT-M Data

An investigation into how students achieve an average of 1.4 years of learning every 12 months, according to PAT-M results.

 

Bayside Christian College conducted research into the effectiveness of Maths Pathway through the analysis of PAT-M results. They scrutinised that data to identify the rate of growth in maths attainment from year to year and whether that growth is more rapid than the stated norms. Moreover, they compared this against Maths Pathway dosage data to probe whether any positive results are associated with the usage of the program.

 

After the in-depth investigation into the effect of Maths Pathway on student progress and analysis of key data points, researchers found:

  • Growth in the capacity of students to take on higher maths subjects, such as Mathematical Methods and Specialist Math in the VCE.
  • Strong development in Mathematical understanding for students from Years 7-9 based on NAPLAN results.
  • Approximately 1.4 years of growth in maths learning per school year as measured by PAT-M with clear positive associations with Maths Pathway dosage. 

“We find very strong performance overall, with approximately 1.4 years’ growth per year as measured by PAT-M; and we find clear positive associations with Maths Pathway dosage.” 

 

–  Toni Steinbergs, Deputy Principal

Student Digital Wellbeing - Parent Tools Available

Screens are here to stay. With children using devices at increasingly younger ages, having the right tools to help your kids develop healthy digital habits is more important than ever. Bayside Christian College is proud to work closely alongside Linewize and provide our families with important tools to assist every household in monitoring and managing screen usage as part of our Student Digital Wellbeing Program.

Every family at the College is encouraged to regularly visit our Online Safety Hub and become familiar with the resources available. Here, you can also create a Qustodio Family Account. The Qustodio Parent App enables parents and carers to monitor screen usage, filter content and join us in fostering positive student online behaviours. These tools offer insights and visibility, empowering you to better understand your child's interactions with their school device and other personal devices you wish to protect.

 

Communication with full details has been sent to all families. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

 

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child, and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au) and on the NCCD fact sheet.

If you have any further questions about the NCCD, please contact the Education Support Coordinators, Jo Piening (Secondary) or Louise Van Niekerk (Primary) at the College. 

Employment Opportunities

Bayside Christian College is currently accepting applications for a variety of positions across the College including Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher (PE and Food Technology), Payroll Administrator, Property Assistant, Casual Relief Teachers and Tutors (Drum and Vocal).

 

To access the Position Description and further information about the application process, visit https://www.baysidecc.vic.edu.au/info/employment

 

Mrs Toni Steinbergs, Deputy Principal

Whole School ANZAC Service

On Thursday 24 April, Bayside Christian College held an ANZAC Day assembly to honour the sacrifices and contributions of the ANZACs—from the first landing at Gallipoli in 1915 to their continued service in later conflicts and peacekeeping missions.

 

The service, led by College Chaplain Mr Josh Hill, began with a video recounting the well-known story of Simpson and his donkey—an enduring symbol of selfless service. Following the video, Mr Samuel Green delivered a personal reflection on the significance of ANZAC Day. His address included a summary of the Gallipoli campaign, a focus on the values of camaraderie, mateship, and resilience in the face of adversity, as well as reflections drawn from his visits to war memorials in France and his father’s 20 years of service in the Australian Defence Force.

The College community, under the leadership of Mr Justyn Mether, respectfully observed The Last Post and a minute’s silence in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in service to our country. It was a meaningful occasion that brought our community together and deepened our collective understanding and appreciation of the ANZAC legacy.

On behalf of Bayside Christian College, we extend our sincere thanks to all current and former service personnel who attended our ANZAC Day service, and to those within the broader College community. Your service and sacrifice are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten.

 

Mr Samuel Green, Wellbeing Mentor

Whole School Worship Assembly

On Tuesday 6 May, we held our first Whole School Worship Service for the term—and what a powerful and memorable time it was. I hope everyone who attended was impacted in some meaningful way.

 

We began the service with a surprise change to the seating arrangements. Secondary students were seated on one side of the room, and our Primary students on the other, with our Year 12s and Preps leading from the front of each section. This small change created a powerful sense of unity and fresh perspective as we came together in worship.

 

The theme for our service was "Hope Amidst Change", and we were truly blessed to hear three moving testimonies and three heartfelt prayers that brought this theme to life. Sarah Cave, one of our incredible Primary teachers, shared her journey, followed by Joshua Goschnick, a legendary presence in our Secondary team, and finally, a new student in 2025, Xavier Wallis from Year 5/6. Each testimony was a brave, honest reflection of how God’s hope shines through in times of transition and uncertainty.

Between the testimonies, our amazing Primary Worship Band led us in two beautiful songs: Goodbye Yesterday and What a Beautiful Name. Their passion and musical gifts created an atmosphere that was both uplifting and deeply moving. It was a joy to hear the whole room singing together.

 

To close the service, we had three deeply personal prayers from Jay Johnstone, Donna Martin, and two of our students—Joel Berry and Thomas Bell. Each prayer reflected a unique response to change: I’m scared or anxious, I’m enthusiastic and eager, and I’m optimistic but hesitant. Their words were powerful reminders of the many ways hope can take shape in our lives.

 

We would love to welcome more parents and members of our community to future Whole School Worship Services. They are truly special times of connection, reflection, and encouragement.

 

Mr Josh Hill, Chaplain