Annandale Christian College

The Early Childhood Centre is located in a separate, fully-fenced area adjacent to the Lower Primary Precinct and is considered an integral part of the College. It operates ideally in partnership with parents in the education and care of their children, recognising that parents are their child’s first (and ultimate) teachers. Parents bring to the early childhood setting a wealth of knowledge and expertise concerning their own children, and their individual cultural and social needs and interests. Kindergarten teachers at Annandale Christian College, with their specialist training and their individual gifts and abilities, provide the skills and knowledge in developing curriculum and environments to maximise student learning and growth. The Kindergarten program runs over five days per fortnight and caters for children prior to the year they are eligible for Preparatory (i.e. children must turn 4 years of age prior to 30 June in the year they are seeking placement).

While primary education does fulfil those roles, at Annandale Christian College, we see it as having far more meaning than that. We expect that students will look back on this part of their life with wonderful memories of the pleasure of learning and of participating in the rich variety of the curriculum and the life of the school.

The Primary School provides a secure, stimulating and friendly environment for the childhood years. After completing our Kindergarten curriculum, students transition smoothly into a stage of schooling that is vibrant and academically, socially, physically and spiritually extensive, built on the Biblical understanding that all things are held together in Christ. Passionate, professional teachers, ensure a strong literacy and numeracy focus throughout an integrated curriculum, and excursions, extra-curricular activities, and positive cross-class links create a rich learning environment for each child.

We understand that each child is unique and we value their diversity and seek to cater for their different learning needs. Teaching approaches are varied to focus on helping each learner to be thoughtful and successful in each area of learning to the best of their ability. Students are expected to contribute to the creation of a learning community that acknowledges their own individual interests but values mutual support and co-operation with others too.

While children work at different levels, we see it as vital that each of them is challenged in thought-provoking activities across the whole curriculum. Our students score well on outside testing programs, but our concerns extend to a much wider and richer range of performances than will be shown by specific tests.

As students gradually take further responsibility for their own learning, they are challenged to embrace the opportunities givento them with the exhortation, ‘whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’ (Colossians 3:17)

Annandale Christian College recognises that the transition from Primary to Secondary education is an exciting and, at times challenging, period in a student’s educational journey. Although there is continuity in the curriculum between the Primary and Secondary levels, there are major changes in the breadth of curriculum and the way in which classes operate, and new students may transfer into the College at this level. At this stage of learning, we recognise the value of strong teacher-student relationships which bring a sense of security and purpose to the young adolescent and lay a stable foundation upon which to build future success. A strong, home-room pastoral care system and Core teacher philosophy facilitates a sense of cohesiveness and identity and encourages the sound organisational skills which promote success in the learning and assessment program.

Career Guidance is an integral part of the Year 10 program and formal Work Experience is supported by the College for students in Year 10 who wish to sample different vocations during school holiday breaks. Believing that God has a future of hope for each of our students, we see it as an exciting task to assist them (and their parents) to begin to discover what this future holds. Likewise, the Year 10 Curriculum becomes more Senior-Secondary-oriented in order to prepare students for the transition from Junior to Senior Secondary schooling.

The core subjects are English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities and Social Science (History and Geography). Electivesinclude Health and Physical Education, Graphics, Industrial Skills, Music, Drama, Visual Art, Home Economics (including both Food and Textiles technologies), Business Studies and ICT.

Years 11 and 12 provide the ideal environment for students to take on greater responsibility for their learning, with corresponding privileges. The Senior Secondary program provides the positive, encouraging atmosphere of small class sizes and gives students opportunities to develop their individual gifts, in the context of an educational community striving to be faithful to God in all areas of life. Given the emphasis on formal qualifications in our society, the school recognises its responsibility to ensure that students, according to their gifts and vocational aspirations, attain success in Years 11 and 12, and that students requiring specific subjects for entry into Tertiary Institutions have the opportunity to gain these.

Year 11 and 12 students have access to a wide range of Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Authority-registered subjects including: Accounting, Biology, Building and Construction Studies, Chemistry, , Drama, English, English Communication, Hospitality Practices, Information and Communication Technology, Information Technology Studies, Mathematics A, Mathematics B, Mathematics C, Modern History, Science in Practice, Sport and Recreation (Cert III), Music, Physics, Physical Education, Prevocational Mathematics, Visual Art and Visual Art Studies.