College Overview
SUNCOAST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE is a co-educational independent institution with a total enrolled population of 930 and caters for students from Prep to Year 12 - Primary, Middle and Senior Schools. Because all three schools operate from the same campus, the curriculum is designed to be seamless and, therefore, facilitate an easy transition from one school to the other. Our entire curriculum is developed around a Christ-centred perspective, using the current Years 1 to 10 Syllabus documents and Senior study programmes accredited by the Queensland Studies Authority.
Our school population is drawn from families who desire a Christian education which recognises academic excellence and the need for a strong values base.
Distinctive Curriculum Offerings
Because Suncoast Christian College recognises the diversity of its population and that students are unique and, therefore, have different needs, a "smorgasbord" of opportunities exists. Our extensive curriculum offers the more traditional academic subjects, plus others which invite students to develop their interests and giftings through real and relevant experiences. It is our commitment to provide multiple pathways to future study and career possibilities.
Below are some features of our College that distinguish us as an educational institution which considers the development of the whole child.
- Christ-centred Curriculum including a weekly Chapel service, daily devotions and the inclusion of Christian Studies lessons.
- Learning Support catering for students from Years 1 to 12 with an emphasis on early intervention in a caring and supportive environment.
- Special Education Unit catering for students who require greater support and assistance in the form of modified programmes and immersion in main stream lessons.
- Weekly English and Maths tutorials for Secondary students requiring extra assistance.
- Dance offered as an elective in Years 7 to 9, and as an OP subject in the Senior Years.
- Vocational pathways through Certificate II courses in Business, Information Technology, Hospitality and school-based traineeships.
- Certificate III in Music (in conjunction with Cooloola Institute of TAFE)
- Year 4, 5 and 6 Extension Class where students are encouraged to challenge themselves and tackle real life problems.
- Training student teams in creative thinking and problem solving for the State Opti-Minds Competition.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Academic programme- Participation in State wide OPTI-Minds Competition
- Debating Teams
- National English, Mathematics and Information Technology Competitions
- Catering by our Hospitality students at school functions
Leadership Opportunities- Election of School Captains who represent the student body and College at important functions
- Membership of the Student Representative Council whereby a class representative reports back to the class on student initiatives and concerns
- Sports Captains who help with the general organisation of teams at interschool level and sports carnivals
- Team leaders who coordinate teams to assist in areas such as hospitality, technical help, stage management, peer support, etc.
Arts programme- Biannual Musical Production and On-Stage Variety Concert
- Annual Spotlight Production and Lip Sync performances
- School Band and choirs
- Dance Eisteddfods
- Afternoon Speech, Drama and Movement class, Timbrel group and Boys Only Dance (BODS)
- Numerous performance opportunities eg. Grandparents Day, Easter Celebration, Singfest.
Sports Programme- Participation in the Sunshine Coast Independent Schools Sporting Association (SCISSA)
- After school participation in interschool netball, basketball and rugby union competitions
Community Awareness- Annual Participation in Bloomhill Cancer Help fundraiser
- Fundraising for "Compassion" Children
- Fundraising for "Water for Life"
- Interaction with senior citizens during annual Easter celebrations at which they are guests of honour.
Our School Culture
Staff DevelopmentAt Suncoast Christian College all staff members are involved in planning and accessing personal professional development opportunities. The school administration ensures that fortnightly professional development in-servicing is done through the Head of Learning and Teaching. In 2006 the emphasis has been on curriculum development and the use of learning strategies and graphic organisers in providing quality learning opportunities, building on an earlier in-service retreat with Tony Ryan, an expert in the area of effective teaching and learning strategies. Staff members are also regularly up-dated on educational initiatives and trends at state and federal level.
Pastoral CareSuncoast Christian College recognises that every Student is unique and precious and that the environment in which they are nourished will play a pivotal role in how they deal with the responsibility of adulthood. As a result, there are support staff, programmes and processes in place to protect and care for every student.
These include:
Christian Teaching- Daily staff devotional time
- Values taught and modelled by all staff
Support Services- Church Pastor available for spiritual support
- Student Support in place for guidance in careers and curriculum/school-related matters
- School Chaplain on site for emotional support
Support Programmes- Child protection policy and designated teacher officers accessible and known to all students in the College
- Zero tolerance for bullying activated through monitoring, surveys and programmes
- Supportive discipline policy aimed at monitoring and adjusting student behaviour, where necessary
Parental InvolvementAt Suncoast Christian College parental input and involvement in all aspects of College life is both desirable and highly valued. The governing body is the College Board which consists of parents and interested members of the community. The Board meets monthly and is responsible for the overseeing of the operational side of the College and any new initiatives.
Other opportunities for parental involvement include:
- The Parents and Friends Committee which is responsible for all major fundraising drives and the running of the cafe
- Regular Focus Groups which provide valuable feedback and is used to drive continuous improvement
- The Valued Volunteer Programme offers many opportunities for volunteer support in the areas such as Support-A-Reader, Support-A-Maths, Perceptual Motor Skills Programme, administrative duties and the coaching of sports teams
