Mission Inspired; Mission Directed.

Continuing with my newsletter series, we again visit our mission statement and it’s role in inspiring and directing a community. It has been a rewarding process to use our mission statement and Pillars of Purpose to stimulate and facilitate discussions on what our community sees as our distinctive and how this shapes our direction as a College.

Whilst we are viewing and unpacking our mission statement with a strong focus on the future direction of the College and the development of a new 2024-2027 strategic plan, it is timely to take a moment to look back on the past and reflect on our origins. As families would be aware, 2023 is a year of significant milestones, perhaps the most notable being the 40th anniversary of St Andrews Christian College. I recently had the privilege of meeting with the founding principal of St Andrews Christian College, Meryl McEwen, to learn more about our humble beginnings as a College in 1983. As a founding principal and with the support of Alan Harman as the founding board chair, Meryl was one of several pioneers in the expansion of Christian education in Victoria. In 1983 St Andrews was one of 3 Christian schools that were opened and founded based on the strong partnership with the Presbyterian Church. Meryl shared with me her photo album showing the initial site at a convent in Surrey Hills and the memories of its small beginnings, of a school with a handful of students and one staff member. As the only staff member of the school, Meryl was not only principal, but also full-time teacher amongst many other roles and tasks she fulfilled.

Since its humble beginnings to what it is today, St Andrews Christian College’s purpose and existence is firmly founded on a desire to provide our students with a Christ-centred education in which we support them to live a life in relationship and service to God and reflect our motto to bring ‘Glory to God’. Whilst we continue to plan for our future and chart a course for the next 40 years, let us take time to regularly reflect upon the pioneers of Christian education that have enable us to become the wonderful school that is St Andrews Christian College.