Focusing on Faith and Wisdom

Over the past six months, we have been working to develop clear guardrails and guiding principles that guide us as we support our students to develop Foundations for Life and Learning in their lives. One key guardrail is We Focus on Faith and Wisdom—not just a statement, but the lens through which we guide student growth.

King Solomon was a young ruler who was faced with the challenge of leading Israel. When offered anything by God, he didn’t ask for wealth or power but for wisdom: “Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). This choice made him one of history’s most discerning leaders. Wisdom isn’t just knowledge—it’s discernment, understanding and aligning one’s heart with God’s perspective and purpose.

At CalCC, every student has the opportunity to engage with the Gospel, not as a ritual, but as a way to explore life’s biggest questions. Through chapel, connect groups, Quest (Christian Studies) and daily interactions, students reflect on their beliefs and how they shape their worldview.

Our biblical worldview curriculum equips students to navigate modern life with critical thinking, integrity and curiosity. At CalCC, we inspire them to ask tough questions, explore diverse perspectives and marvel at God’s creation. This fosters not just academic strength but also compassionate, thoughtful individuals ready to impact their communities.

In every lesson, conversation and challenge, we weave faith and wisdom into the fabric of our students’ lives, helping them build strong foundations for both learning and living.

Farewell and Thank You Mrs Rudduck

Next week, we farewell a beloved member of our CalCC family as Mrs Lyn Rudduck retires, closing the chapter on 16 years at our school and many more years in ministry of Christian education.

Mrs Rudduck’s dedication to her students has been unwavering. She poured her heart into nurturing young learners not only to grow in their academic learning but also their character and mindset. She facilitated our Opti-MINDS teams over many years and coordinated compassion projects that instilled a love for helping others. She was a constant source of encouragement, celebrating her students long after they left her classroom—even attending school formals to honour them.

Mrs Rudduck, we are deeply grateful for your years of service, your passion for learning and the love you have shown to so many. You have left an indelible mark on our community, and though you may be retiring, your impact will remain. We wish you every blessing in this next season of life.

Primary Playground Fundraising

Last year, our Parents & Friends Committee agreed to set a goal of raising money to build a new Primary playground after much of our old wooden playground was decommissioned due to old age and health and safety risks.

The P&F Committee, with the support of our amazing community, raised $50,000 last year to get our campaign to build a new playground off the ground. This year, it remains one of our key fundraising priorities. 

We aim to build a creative and fun playground space incorporating multi-level play structures and natural play elements in two stages. In the coming months, we will engage with school playground specialists and seek feedback and ideas from our students and teachers.

It is estimated that STAGE ONE will cost approximately $80,000 and will commence as soon as we have raised another $30,000. Ideally, this will occur by the end of this year at the latest.

STAGE TWO is estimated to cost approximately $70,000 and be constructed when funding becomes available. 

The P& F Committee are developing great fundraising and community events this year, including another rollerdrome night and a colour fun run event. We are also keen to connect with community members who may run their own businesses and are keen to donate or sponsor our endeavours. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Image: Existing playground.

Welcome to 2025!

CalCC’s Mission - To provide quality Christ-centred education, strong foundations for life and learning.

As a College community, our commitment to our mission is first and foremost. Staying on one’s true north can be challenging in a world that pulls you in every direction, but when you build your foundation on Christ, the journey is much
easier.

One of the elements that underpins our mission is that we do not compromise on the calibre and beliefs of our Staff. In our Primary Learning Community, we have the pleasure of welcoming a few new team members. 

Let me introduce ... the wonderful Miss Tiarna Redfern!

Tiarna has joined our team, bringing her passion and care to Primary Learning Support and Year 1. We’re so excited to have her on board, helping our young learners grow and thrive! 

Be sure to say hello and give her a warm welcome.

Say hello to Mr Nathan Waters! 

Nathan has joined our Year 1 team and we’re thrilled to have him on board! Make sure to give him a friendly welcome when you see him.

Can you tell us about your role here at CalCC? 

I have the great privilege of joining the Wellbeing Team as a part-time chaplain.

Tell us a bit about yourself such as where you are from, what attracted you to CalCC and Caloundra?

I’m originally from Canada but now call Australia home. Most of my time has been spent doing ministry work in Brisbane, but after getting married at the end of 2023, my wife (who’s from Hawaii) gave a very compelling argument for why we should move to the coast (it was an easy sell!). Since arriving, we’ve been keen to see where the Lord might have us involved in ministry and student work has always been close to my heart – grateful for this opportunity! 

What did you do before CalCC?

For the past 10 years I was helping to pastor a church in inner-city Brisbane. 

Which of the foundations for life and learning resonates with you the most and why? 

I reckon compassion: nothing gets to the heart of Christ more than His tender love for others, especially those who are vulnerable or doing it tough.

What are you passionate about? 

Clearly communicating the good news of the gospel: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us in order to bring us back into God’s circle of love (with Him; with one another). 

What is on your bucket list? 

A trip to Japan would be right up there.

What is your favourite Bible verse and what does it mean to you?

One passage I keep coming back to is Matthew 11:28-29, where Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” It’s the most beautiful solution for a weary world and an offer that, in my opinion, is too good to pass up.  

What is your favourite sport/hobby? And why? 

Film photography! Call me crazy but I reckon nothing compares to the look, feel and beauty of film #keepfilmalive

Funny fact about you?

When I was 9 years old I grew my town’s largest pumpkin. Big enough for me and my siblings to fit inside. Ask me sometime for photo evidence :)

What a fantastic start to the year we have had in the Secondary Learning Community! 

We have welcomed 45 new students into our community across all year levels. We have also enjoyed welcoming our 55 Year 7 students into their first few weeks of Secondary. They have transitioned well into the Secondary routines, thanks to a great Orientation Week and to their Year 11 and 12 buddies! 

It was incredible to see our Student Leaders shine at their first Mega Launch and to receive their Student Leader badges as well as wearing their red jackets for the first time. We anticipate great things from our Student Leaders this year! Our Year 12 students also received their senior jerseys and we look forward to celebrating all of their milestones with them throughout their final year of schooling.

House Spirit was strong at the Swimming Carnival this year, with Matumba winning the House Spirit Award! Congratulations to every person that participated on the day, and congratulations to all of our age champions and Bilyara in being our overall winners for receiving the most points across the day.

Conrgratulations to our Age Champions

It was great to see lots of parents and students at our first Secondary Ignite afternoon. We look forward to developing productive partnerships with our parents and carers this year to support our students with their learning. 

This week our Year 8 to Year 12 students were challenged and pushed beyond their comfort zones at camp! 

It's Year 7 student’s turn in Week 4, so watch this space!

With Blessings,

Amber-Lee Donahoo

Head of Secondary Learning Community

Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are uniquely and wonderfully made by God.

In Secondary at CalCC, we believe that a child’s educational experience should nurture and develop that uniqueness. We strive to support each student's academic and career pathways, celebrate their talents and strengths and help them improve and succeed.

Our Focus for the Year

This year, our theme is centered on being created with purpose and gifted to do meaningful, high-quality work.

Ephesians 2:10: 'For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.'

To support this, we want to remind our students and families of the valuable resources available to help them thrive in their learning and future pathways.

Key Learning Resources

Google Classrooms

• Each week, teachers outline Learning Goals, Learning Experiences, and Learning Resources in Google Classroom.
• If your child is absent, their first step is to catch up on classwork and assessments on Google Classroom.

Study Skills Handbook

• To help students develop essential learning strategies, we provide access to a Study Skills Handbook.

Careers Website

• Students can explore career options and future pathways through our Careers Website.

Our Commitment to Learning

We encourage our students to strive for excellence in all they do and to embrace learning with dedication and responsibility.

Need Support?

If you have any questions about your child’s learning, please follow these steps:
✅ First, speak with your child’s class teacher.
✅ For Secondary subjects, contact the relevant Head of Department:

Mrs Rebecca McDonald – Arts & Technologies
e: r.mcdonald@calcc.qld.edu.au

Mrs Brittany Howard – English, HASS, Business and Languages
e: b.howard@calcc.qld.edu.au

Mrs Bianca Vieiro (Myself) – Maths, Science, HPE, Study Smart and Subject Selections
e: teachingandlearning@calcc.qld.edu.au

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a strong learning community.

It’s been a busy start to another year and the library has been a hive of activity. We have welcomed Mrs Tania Tucker to the role of Library Assistant for Term 1 and we look forward to getting to know her more. The library started the term by celebrating
Queensland School Library Week from Monday 10 February until Friday 14 February. The theme this year is Window to the World and students are encouraged to enter our first competition for the year by showing how books can be a window to the world and take us to some amazing places.

The competition details are:

Prep - Year 2: What is your favourite story? Draw or paint a picture to illustrate this. Your picture should be on an A4 sheet. Add a caption if you like.

Year 3 - Year 6: Produce an artwork to reflect the theme Window to the World.

Secondary students (Year 7 - Year 12): Produce an artwork or take a photograph to reflect the theme Window to the World.

Students will need to submit their entry to library staff by Friday 21 February.

Secondary students should now all have their laptops and should also have access to Box of Books which is our digital textbook platform. Classroom teachers will let students know where to find specific resources for their subjects. If any students have concerns in regards to digital resources, they can ask their teacher or come and see us in the library for support. The library now has IT help before school and during morning tea and lunch for students.

Secondary Book Club has resumed this year and it was lovely to welcome some new Year 7 members. Secondary Book Club meets in the library every Monday at morning tea time.Tuesday lunch times offer a Chess club for Secondary students and LEGO Legends for Primary students.

Primary classes have been eager to visit the library upon their return to school and it’s been so lovely to see their happy faces. Each Primary class will visit the library during class time each week to borrow their reading books.

Primary Classes will need to bring their library bags for borrowing on the following days:

Prep Orange (Mrs Livingstone) – Friday
Prep Blue (Mrs Lewis) - Friday
1MR & 1W – Monday
2B – Wednesday
3M – Wednesday
3/4F – Friday
4S – Thursday
5H – Monday
5/6 ST- Tuesday
6G – Monday (even weeks)

Students in Primary would have also received a Scholastic Book Club catalogue to take home recently. This is a great way to encourage children to get excited about reading. Secondary students can access the catalogue via the link above. Evidence shows that students who select their own books are much more likely to stay engaged in reading. If you’d like to order from the Scholastic Book Club, please do so by ordering online via Book Club LOOP.

We hope that you’ve had a great start to the year.

From the Library Team

Invite a Friend to Open Day & Enjoy a Reward! 

Do you know a family looking for a school where their child will thrive? Invite them to our upcoming Open Day! A special postcard will be coming home soon—perfect for sharing with friends and family who might be interested. Need more? Extra copies are available at the office!

As a thank you for spreading the word, if someone you refer enrols, you’ll receive $250 off your fees! It’s a win-win—help a family discover our wonderful College community while enjoying a little bonus yourself. 

College Administration

Open: 8:00 am-3:45 pm
Phone: 07 5436 6777
Email: general@calcc.qld.edu.au

Absentee Lines

Phone: 07 5436 6767
SMS: 0418 986 308
College App: Go to app store, search for Caloundra Christian College and download
Bus: https://cloud.itmprojects.com.au/studenttracking/

Uniform Shop

Open term time only.
Tuesday - 8:00 am-9:30 am and 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
Thursday - 8:00 am-9:30 am
Online ordering available through MSA

Outside School Hours Care

Before School Hours: 7:00 am-8:00 am (term time)
After School Hours: 3:00 pm-6:00 pm (term time)
Vacation Care: 7:00 am-6:00 pm (holidays)
Phone: 0422 843 760

Flourish Early Learning Community

Open: 7:15 am-6:00 pm
Phone: 07 5436 6777

International Program

Mark Spencer - Program Manager
overseas@calcc.qld.edu.au

Complaints Handling Policy