NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FROM VISION TO REALITY: A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND INCLUSION Every student deserves to be known, valued, and cared for. This fundamental belief drove John and Robin Odell, along with other families, to establish an inclusive school which could meet their son’s individual learning needs and create a nurturing educational environment that embraced Biblical values. Their vision was to integrate students requiring learning support within a mainstream educational setting, fostering an inclusive community where all students could thrive together. Joining Pacific Hills Christian School in 1992 as the Integration Coordinator, Dr Tina Lamont focused on providing the best possible care for the children each day. She remembers, “The School wanted to make sure that the integration and inclusion of special needs students was professionally managed by someone who had a Christian understanding of heart, head and hands. Someone who would be an advocate for disability in the school system.” Throughout her early days as Integration Coordinator at Pacific Hills she said, “We never let go of the fact that children with a disability have every right to be in the school system in the classrooms. We are all made in the image of God and we all have a responsibility to care for each other.” While Pacific Hills Christian School was successful in this vision, families with children requiring more specialised support began contacting the school. This interest highlighted the need for a dedicated approach to education that could cater to a wider range of learning needs. As enquiries increased, Tina saw that, “We had children in the mainstream classrooms who needed minor adjustments but when you came to the children who needed major adjustments, time away from the classroom in small groups or a different-paced program, we couldn’t fulfil that. We needed a Christian special school and that is how it all started.” It was decided to establish a school specifically for students with autism spectrum disorder and moderate intellectual disabilities on the same site as Pacific Hills Christian School, underscoring the commitment to offer diverse educational options in the one community. By creating a special school alongside a mainstream institution, the unique needs of students who required additional support would be met, while reinforcing the dedication to every child and embracing the diversity of God’s creation. New Hope was born from this commitment, and its establishment required focused dedication and expertise. New Hope’s beginnings were modest, starting with just seven students from Years 5 to 10. Our commitment to holistic education laid the groundwork for an approach centred on individual growth and development. Our staff shared the common desire to offer their best to each student. Penny Hambling, one of the early staff members, fondly remembers “I loved my time at New Hope – it is a beautiful community, and it shaped me as a Christian Educator.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1