VALLEY HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SOWING SEEDS The story of Valley Hope Christian School is one of hope and community, beginning back in 1979 when John and Robin Odell sought a supportive school for their son who required additional learning support. Unable to find the right fit, they joined with other families in the Hills District of Sydney to create a nurturing educational environment based on Biblical values, in a caring and supportive Christian community. The school, Pacific Hills Christian School (PHCS), embraced both mainstream students and those with disabilities, fostering an atmosphere of compassion and inclusion. As PHCS grew, Integration Coordinator, Dr Tina Lamont observed the increasing interest from families seeking this type of Christian education, especially for requests to help students who required specialised support to thrive. This need for specialist support in a daily structural form was also identified at Pacific Valley Christian School at Maclean. To address this need Dr Lamont proactively commenced the “Hope Schools” in Sydney, Tweed Heads and the Clarence Valley region. Thus, in 2016, Dr Lamont, Dr Boyce and the principal of Pacific Valley Christian School registered Valley Hope as a special school for Years 3-12. By 2017, Valley Hope opened for enrolments, sharing a campus with the Pacific Valley Christian School (PVCS) creating a unified Christian educational community where both schools flourish together. Valley Hope Christian School has become a beacon of light for families, offering Christian educational and spiritual support for children with autism spectrum disorder and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The transformation this school has brought to the local community is heartwarming. Kara Lenord remembers the early days with fondness “God provided Liz Latham from New Zealand to be the teacher, demonstrating His kindness, inclusion and care for those first students. I remember the sense of community and care which has been the trademark of Valley Hope from its beginning. For example, sometimes Mako (one of the first Valley Hope students) would need a break from the classroom environment so my husband Vince (groundsman/ and other roles) and I would take him out to work in the garden. Mako loved big vehicles and tomatoes. Another example is when teacher Liz Latham had a serious accident, the children would ask to pray for her every day until Liz returned to the class. It was such a joy and privilege to have been involved in this special ministry. God always provided. God’s provision and sovereignty was always evident even when things were tough. He already knew what we needed and had a plan for how He would provide. We just needed to walk the journey with Him trusting that He had it all under control.”
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