From the school’s inception, the desire to minister to students was deep in the hearts of the teams at the Valley and Sydney. They did not see students as coming from any particular background, or as belonging to a particular kind of group. They saw each student as born in the image of God with different backgrounds and abilities. They wanted to love each student by teaching them as best they could with what they had. What the students and parents experienced was a safe and caring staff who did not give up on them. It also reveals the second core dynamic of the founders which has continued to this day – Christ, the Centre. This same heart was the reason for the establishment of the Valley Hope school, where students who in other places would be ‘educational outcasts’, are welcome. There are two schools in one learning community, where each one is respected, each student made in God’s image with their own God-given purpose. With the variety of activities, including working at the Coffee Trailer and caring for the chickens, past parents comment that they are so grateful for the care their children receive at Valley Hope. (See story of Valley Hope Christian School) If you were to ask some of the long timers why “Christ, the Centre” came about as the school’s motto, and why it has ‘stuck’, the answer is the same. They will tell the story of how it came out of those pioneer hearts amongst the parents and staff, that it explains the heart of PVCS, and in the words of the founding principal, “More words would simply complicate and dilute the message.” Fifteen years on, the message still stands. To come to Pacific Valley Christian School is to come to a place where Christ is the Centre. All the teachers and staff are Christians who trust God, through Christ. Ailsa Schilling, recently retired, shares her thoughts: “Having been here for 15 years, seeing the school grow from those 24 students to what it is now, I still say that what I love most about this school is being able to share the wonderful, good news of Jesus. Each and every day, each staff member gets to share their faith with the students and the families. It’s one of the highlights of my time here at Pacific Valley, watching these children grow all the way through from Prep to Year 12 and then go on to serve in the community and see them grow in their Christian faith.” With this kind of passion in the staff, it is why students mature in this school. It is why parents are thankful for this school. And it is why the staff keep on keeping on, with faith in their spirits, hope in their hearts, and love in their actions. Contributors DAVID JOHNSTON AILSA SCHILLING Original Campus Principal, PVCS Teacher, PVCS (recently retired) LEE HACKFATH BRETT SHARROCK Dean of Special Programs, PVCS Current Campus Principal, PVCS
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