Caloundra Christian College eNewsletter

Conform or Transform

Our staff have started a new devotions series on Wednesday mornings called 'The Heart of Who We Are.' We will be looking at the core purpose of CalCC and the foundational statements that help us understand the why of who we are.

During the recent student-free days, we had the pleasure of welcoming one of our founders, Pastor Kenn Kilah, back to the College. He spoke to our staff about the origins of the College and how God answered prayers in significant ways to see His work begin at what was then known as Caloundra Christian Community School. It was an inspiring way to start the series.

Over 40 years ago, the College was founded with a mission to 'develop the values of a life-long learner, self-discipline and the desire to serve God and their fellow citizens.' That statement still rings true today.

On Wednesday, I spoke to the team about one of the Bible verses upon which Christian schooling is built.

The Bible verse is Romans 12:2:
‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.’

In a world where we are constantly nudged to go along with the crowd—to adopt popular opinions, chase approval and blend in, the Bible offers a radical alternative. In Romans 12:2, Paul challenges us not to blindly accept the loudest voice in society, but to allow our hearts and thinking to be shaped by God’s truth.

At our College, we want our students to grow in wisdom, not just knowledge. That means nurturing a mindset grounded in God’s Word, open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and anchored in a clear sense of what is godly, right and true.

As author and theologian, Tim Keller, reminds us, 'The renewal of the mind is the beginning of a life that is lived in joyful submission to God’s good and perfect will.'

Our prayer is that through teaching, mentoring and daily life together, our students are transformed—not to fit in, but to live with clarity, purpose and the courage to follow God’s will, even when it goes against the latest trends.

God bless

Vince Wakefield

Principal.

Focusing on Heart in Our Wellbeing

In Term 3, our students are focusing on our Foundations of Compassion and Communicate. Led by College Captain, Maya, we heard that 'compassion and communication work together. You can't truly care for someone without understanding them, and you can't communicate meaningfully without compassion driving your words.' Jesus was the ultimate role model in demonstrating compassionate leadership, especially in his care of the poor, the marginalised and the afflicted. He did not let societal barriers restrict who He interacted with and He served everyone, willingly and without prejudice. His example helps us to open doors and build connections and community.

And as Maya so beautifully put in her Mega Launch presentation, 'Here's my challenge to all of us this term: Let's notice each other more. Let's listen before we speak. Let's be willing to help where we can. Because honestly, the smallest acts of compassion and communication can mean the most to someone who is struggling.'

Serving Community With Compassion - Rosie's Outreach

Our community focus this term is to support a local organisation, Rosie’s, and their work in serving the homeless. We are seeking canned goods throughout Weeks 3 to 5 to donate to Rosie’s and support their good works. We will also be holding a Gold Coin Pyjama Day on Wednesday 13 August, as well as the Year 12 and 11's doing a sleepout to develop a deeper understanding and empathy for those in our community who are homeless. Please be in contact if you would like more information or would like to seek ways to support this initiative.

Recognition of Student Success

We ‘Launch’ every week with a celebration of student successes. Congratulations to all of our recent award recipients for effort and achievements in Semester 1! Whether it was for exceptional academic outcomes, demonstrating the College Foundations or achieving 100% attendance, every success is amazing and we encourage our students to continue to aim high in their learning and development of character. We also congratulate all of our Athletic Age Champions and Award recipients! Congratulations to Bilyara for their House Spirit and being overall champions of the carnival!

Term 3 New Beginnings - Each One Has One!

Thank you to all students, staff and families for an exceptional start to Term 3! The Secondary Team are looking forward to an amazing term, where 'each one has one.' We are looking to extend beyond our Learning Community this term and serve others. Please connect with us and help us build a strong Secondary community, where our members are known and valued! May Term 3 bring you and your family many blessings.

'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.' Numbers 6:24-26

Sincerely,

Dr Amber-Lee Donahoo

Head of Secondary Learning Community

Flourishing in Community

It has been an honour to step into the role of Acting Head of Primary this term. One of the greatest blessings has been reconnecting with students I taught in the past—seeing how they have grown and hearing their stories—as well as getting to know others for the first time. Every conversation, smile and classroom visit reminds me just how special our community is.

I am also enjoying the opportunity to walk alongside our passionate and dedicated staff in an expanded capacity, as we explore how to make learning both meaningful and effective. We continue to build on the strong foundations laid by our much-loved Mr Bracks. Together, we are carrying forward the vision he helped shape—sparking curiosity, cultivating a love of learning, celebrating our achievements and strengthening evidence-based practices. These initiatives, combined, are the seeds that grow confident readers, writers, problem solvers and life-changers. Our shared vision is for every child to flourish—not just academically, but in heart, mind and soul.

It is a privilege to be part of a College grounded in God’s incredible plan for humanity. Our Foundations for Life and Learning shape every aspect of our work—from the way we teach, to the way we care for one another, to how we help each child discover who God created them to be.

We saw this clearly at our recent School of the Future event. Families, staff and friends of the College gave their time, energy and encouragement to support our students. It was a powerful reminder of the strong and genuine connections between our College and the wider community—and just how much can be achieved when we come together.

As the semester progresses, I look forward to many more opportunities to dream big with our students and staff and to help them discover what’s possible when we unite faith, expertise, innovation and passion.

What is your role here at CalCC?

I am the Senior Sports Coordinator and Explore Program Coordinator. I also teach Year 10 Connect, HPE for Years 8 and 9 and Sport & Recreation for Years 11 and 12.

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

I moved to the Noosa Hinterland in December 2024, after spending my whole life in Melbourne. Many Sundays after church, we as a family grab fish and chips in Caloundra, explore the expansive sand dunes and enjoy finding driftwood or
fishing. Our path from church to the beach took us past CalCC - between that and a timely ad on SEEK, the opportunity caught my eye!

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

Create. In the beginning God 'created' ... so, when I create and can facilitate others to create, it's a fast-track alignment to living out of our true identity as being 'made in His image'. Just following orders like a robot, like a mouse on a wheel, copying someone else's pre-programmed life verbatim ... that's just not my cup of tea. Create. Be like our Creator.

What are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about Jesus, my wife and children, surfing, ocean life, renovating, homesteading and writing music.

What is on your bucket list?

Here's my bucket list: Surf from Boiling Pot through to Main Beach; fly first class anywhere; busk as a family on Hastings Street.

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

Genesis 1:1–2 recalibrates me. It reminds me I’m called to be a pioneer — a bringer of light — even in the face of emptiness and chaos. When life feels formless and void, dark and deep, I take heart in knowing the Spirit of God hovers over me, dwells within me. I can speak, create and carry His light into the unknown. From there, the rest of the creation process can begin to unfold.

What is your favourite sport/hobby? And why?

Surfing. It's the pure manifestation of being in a realm infinitely bigger than yourself (ocean) and having its energy build and then transmit itself through you and your board as you catch and ride a wave. It's so smooth and powerful. I can't explain it. I began surfing at age 14 and I'm still not over it! The stoke.

This week, CalCC hosted its very own Sumo Robot Competition. Imagine traditional Sumo wrestling, but with robots! Students designed and programmed LEGO robots to move, sense objects and track down their opponents, aiming to push them out of the circular ring and be the last robot standing.

What an incredible day it was! The atmosphere was filled with laughter, applause, nail-biting moments and plenty of cheering. There were challenges along the way, but the sportsmanship and teamwork on display were outstanding. Students had an absolute blast showcasing their creations.

Our Primary CRIB students had been working tirelessly throughout Semester 1 to prepare for this event. While we were devastated that one of the biggest events on our robotics calendar was cancelled this year, it was great to see that students still got an opportunity to put all their hard work to good use.

The day was a rewarding celebration of problem-solving, collaboration and robotics skills. We are extremely proud of what the students accomplished and can’t wait to see where their robotics journey takes them next.

Congratulations to Liam Vivas Rojas and James Madine, our Senior Primary champions, and Jude Fox and Willem Leermakers, our Junior Primary champions!

We are thrilled to kick off Semester 2 by welcoming some bright new international students to CalCC! Henry, Amelie and Julius have joined us from Germany in Years 11, 11 and 9 respectively, along with Maya from Japan in Year 9.

Amelie will be with us until mid-next year before returning to Germany to complete her high school studies, while the others will head home at the end of Term 3, just in time for more German students to arrive and continue the exchange!

We also celebrate the achievements of Rinka and Zen from Japan, who joined us at the beginning of 2025 and were recently recognised for their academic excellence, strong character and outstanding attendance. We are so grateful to have these courageous and inspiring young people in our community, making friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Meanwhile, our Year 5 students had an exciting start to the term, hosting ten visiting students from Edogawa Primary School in Japan. With big smiles, boundless energy and a willingness to dive into every experience, these young visitors brought joy and cultural richness to our campus during their week-long stay.

Stay tuned — more vibrant cultural exchanges are on the horizon as Semester 2 unfolds!

CalCC is known for its sense of community and the CalCC International Office strives to bring our passion for life and learning to the global community. Last term, we welcomed 12 Immersion students to the campus, of which Rinka and Zen will continue their studies with us till the end of 2025. Our local students sampled Japanese culture in the classroom and around the playground and lifelong friendships were formed.

Next semester, we will see a vibrance across campus with the arrival of students from Europe and Japan. CalCC will welcome eight term-long Immersion students and five Study Tours, bringing both Primary and Secondary students to Caloundra. And we can't wait!

If global connection and cultural exchange are experiences you wish for your family, hosting an international student is a great place to start. Our Homestay Program pays hosts $65/night (for one student) and $120/night (for two students) and equips host families with 24/7 support, access to bilingual staff and connection to a network of experienced hosts.

If you would like more information about the program, please register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form (below) and one of the team will be in touch.

Expression of Interest Form

Let’s give these students a warm CalCC welcome—right from our own homes.

CalCC Athletics Carnival Highlights

Congratulations to Bilyara for taking out the CalCC Athletics Carnival 2025! What an outstanding team effort and a well-deserved victory.

A big congratulations to our 2025 Age Champions:

9 Years: Knox Clark, Lilliana Hincksman

10 Years: Skyler Picking, Sienna York

11 Years: Michael Poole, Sophia Fox

12 Years: Flynn Vella, Ayla York

13 Years: Lucas McCormack, Sabelle Hincksman

14 Years: Charlie Boniface, Samantha Tweedale

15 Years: Isaac Francis, Monica Tanner

16 Years: Luca Megson, Keira Spain

17–19 Years: Zac White, Tiara Ellaby

A special shoutout to our record breakers:

Ayla York, Sienna York, Sophia Fox, Flynn Vella and Ava Vella — your incredible efforts have earned a place in the CalCC record books!

Well done to every student who participated. Your enthusiasm, teamwork and determination made the day a great success.

Stage 1 is in sight with a fundraising target of $80,000 and thanks to your incredible support, we are paving, running and performing our way closer to the goal.

Keep an eye out for our friendly fundraising giraffe, who will soon be hanging around the basketball courts, tracking our progress spot by spot. She is here to cheer us on as we work together to bring this exciting project to life!

Leave Your Mark with a Personalised Paver

This is a very special opportunity for families to be part of something lasting - our Paving the Way to Play campaign.

By purchasing a personalised paver, your family name (or even your child’s original artwork) will become part of a beautiful new pathway beside the playground. It’s more than just a paver. It’s a chance to leave a legacy and help create a space where curiosity, creativity and community can flourish for years to come.

Let’s build this dream together—one step, one spot and one paver at a time.

Order your paver through MSA or chat with Katie York about corporate sponsorhips. You can email her at ea@calcc.qld.edu.au

Student Fun Run – 29 August

Watch this space for details of our upcoming fun run, an explosion of colour as our students lace up their runners and hit the track to raise funds. It’s going to be energetic, vibrant and an unforgettable day of fun with a purpose!

Donut Fundraiser – Donut Miss Out!

Treat yourself and support our playground fundraiser at the same time!

Order 6 delicious Galactic Donuts for just $19.90 via MSA. $10 from every box goes straight to the College.

They are perfect as a gift, a sweet thank you or a fun afternoon tea for the family. Eat your way to a new playground—one donut at a time!

*Order by lunch and pick up at Administration from 2:30 pm.

Can You Lend a Hand in the Tuckshop?

We are still on the lookout for a few extra hands to help out in our tuckshop. If you’ve got a few hours to spare on a Friday, we’d love to have you on the team!

If that sounds like you, get in touch with Dawn at employment@calcc.qld.edu.au

Maintenance Officer - Fulltime

We are currently seeking a Maintenance Officer (full-time position) to carry out day to day repairs and maintenance of all College buildings, be involved in College events, assist with parking, setting up and pack down, coordinate and liaise with external contractors for specialised repairs and maintenance projects and more.

Applicants must be a practising Christian who is active in their own church. Please apply via our website or chat with Dawn if you have any questions - employment@calcc.qld.edu.au

Cleaners

We are currently seeking cleaner/s for before and/or after school cleaning shifts between 2-4 hours (for up to 7 hours per week), with the opportunity for extra hours from time to time. Please apply via our website or chat with Dawn if you have any questions - employment@calcc.qld.edu.au

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