Fairholme College Strategic Plan 2018 - 2022 Sculpture by Grant Lehmann, Fairholme College Past Parent 2015 Burning yet FLOURISHING

To succeed, to flourish, you must burn: flourishing is the end point of a lot of hard work. Libby Munro (Actress, Fairholme College Old Girl 1998)

Following a year of community consultation throughout 2017, we are delighted to share a high level summary of our Strategic Plan for 2018–2022 with you. In all that we do we seek to honour our College’s motto: Ardens sed Virens - ‘burning yet flourishing’: the Fairholme paradox which acknowledges that burning passion and hard work fuel our ability to flourish.

This year marks Fairholme’s entry into its second century of operation on this site: originally the home of Mrs Margaret Cameron. We recognise her as a matriarch of strength; someone who was deliberate in her valuing of education for girls. Having educated her own, somewhere, somehow, she made the decision to bequest her home, perched on the edge of the escarpment – for the benefit of girls of the future… the girls of Fairholme. Who could have imagined the effect of her choice in 1917, to offer her homestead and its surrounds for sale to the Presbyterian Church of , along with a donation of a large sum of money to convert it into a girls’ school? How appropriate that our school was founded on an act of benevolence, by the vision of a woman who had faith – not only Christian faith, but also faith in the power of education, specifically for girls; a woman who was resourceful, determined and resilient... characteristics we seek to foster in each and every Fairholme student.

We do look forward to engaging with you in the next phase of Fairholme’s work as an educational community: one that burns with passion in its quest to flourish.

Mr Ian Andersen|Chairman Dr Linda Evans|Principal

OUR VALUES

There’s a culture there – I don’t know how you put words around it but inclusiveness is one way to describe it. It’s just been fantastic for all three of our girls. Dan Ostwald (Fairholme College Parent)

CHRIST-CENTRED FAITH is enacted through acknowledging God’s presence among us; believing and practising Jesus’ teachings as the core foundation of our community. COLLABORATION is evidenced through the cohesive, considerate and productive endeavours that occur within and between members of our community to enact a shared vision. ENJOYMENT is the spirited engagement and joyful willingness to participate fully in all aspects of College life. RESPECT is evident in our positive regard for one another in all interactions and communications. SEEKING EXCELLENCE is demonstrated through embracing challenges and pursuing diverse learning pathways whilst never being complacent in goal setting or expectations.

OUR MISSION

Fairholme College’s purpose is to develop young women who are: • Resilient, independent and highly competent; • Well-informed, future-focused, active and creative thinkers and learners; • Compassionate, empathic, self-aware and reflective

Fairholme College achieves this by: • Living and role modelling its Christian foundations and values; • Providing a supportive and connected family environment; • Emphasising service to one another and to communities; • Providing a holistic, robust and contemporary education for diverse individual interests, needs and abilities; • Supporting the learning, development and growth of its staff as outstanding teachers; • Focusing on relationship-building skills that link to a restorative approach to conflict resolution.

OUR STRATEGIC GOALS

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Our school exists for our students and we seek to provide optimum conditions for their learning and their growth as contributing members of their communities, both now and into the future. In all that we do, we seek to create an environment where our students embrace the notion that one must burn in order to flourish.

GROW OUR CHRIST-CENTRED FAITH

CONNECT MORE INTIMATELY WITH OUR COMMUNITIES

INCREASE ENROLMENTS TO GROW FAIRHOLME

EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY AND 21ST CENTURY LEARNING NEEDS

DEVELOP EXPERTISE IN KEY RESEARCH AREAS

ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH STRONG STEWARDSHIP AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

OUR CHRIST-CENTRED FAITH

What they don’t realise is that my service was not only to the Orphans in India or to building a house for Cambodian villages. My service was always to the Fairholme girls, to take them there and walk with them in a safe way, so they could experience service like no other.

Julian Turner (Fairholme College Teacher 2004 - 2017)

Seeking to grow and strengthen our faith through worship and service.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES

• Reach out to the broader • Continue regular Community Worship Fairholme community to Services. Increase service activities encourage a positive experience of and opportunities for staff and students church. both within the local and wider community. • Live our faith through active service in local and wider • Draw from available PCQ resources community settings. and personnel to support the quality of Christian education programs. • Broaden the educational aspect of service activities. • Distribute promotional materials through PCQ. • Build a stronger mutually beneficial relationship with the Presbyterian • Seek on-going support through PCQ of Church of Queensland (PCQ). students in need.

OUR COMMUNITY

Looking back at Fairholme, they encouraged everyone to have a go, to be a participant. You can’t appreciate how that prepares you for life in the real world. Emilee Cherry (Olympic Gold Medalist Rugby 7s, Fairholme College Old Girl 2010)

Seeking to grow our connections and our collaboration with our communities.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES

• Grow our international and • Identify methods of engaging with domestic student population prospective international students annually. Target = a maximum from areas such as (but not limited to): total of 900. China, , , South Korea and Thailand. • Develop a community building strategy and increase • Identify trends in relation to past, connectedness between students present and prospective enrolments. and their communities. • Develop a linking strategy that • Gain feedback at key transition connects our community. points (Year 6, 9,12). • Survey Year 6, 9 and 12 parents and students annually.

• Convene annual focus groups to garner feedback from parents.

OUR TEACHING OUR LEARNING

The quality of teaching and learning is the most salient influence on student outcomes. Luke McArdle (Education Researcher, 2009)

Seeking excellence in 21st Century teaching and learning.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES

• Establish a reputation as a • Undertake, read, publish and present leading educational research educational research across a range of school. fields. Proposed Areas include: - Social emotional learning • Develop strategies to deliver a - Sleep relevant, targeted and innovative - Data analytics curriculum for all (including - Boarding practices – sleep, support of indigenous, boarding, technology use and well-being international and complex learners). • Podcast lessons (recorded teaching bites). • Strengthen the quality of our co-curricular activity offerings. • Grow knowledge and practical understanding of the College’s learning management system Schoolbox (myFairholme).

• Further embed the College’s pedagogical framework (PoLT).

• Enhance social/emotional learning practices within teaching.

• Recruit best qualified staff as coaches, visiting teachers and specialists.

• Develop sporting curriculum to enhance skill development in sport.

OUR JOURNEY

As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person. Paul Shane Spear

Seeking sustainability through strong stewardship and good governance practices.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES

• Continue to ensure strong • Recruit wisely to ensure integrity of governance and leadership. operations.

• Identify and access new sources • Ensure currency of practice through of funding. regular and robust professional learning. • Ensure human resource processes attract, retain and • Repurpose the Fairholme Foundation. develop highest quality staff. • Seek avenues to develop a spirit of • Continuous improvement in giving and a culture of philanthropy. practices to provide cost effective solutions across all areas of the • Strengthen professional learning College. opportunities for all staff to ensure currency of practice and innovative thinking.

• Ensure the on-going review of operational systems and processes.

OUR FABRIC

Design is primarily concerned with the process of visualising what might be, some desired future state, and creating a blueprint for realizing that intention. Jeanna Liedtka (Professor University of Virgina, 2013)

Seeking the development of places and spaces that enhance enjoyment of living, learning and connecting with one another.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES

• Plan holistically for the future • Develop a master plan for Fairholme footprint. refurbishment and building of spaces in line with contemporary research. • Refurbish, repurpose and modernise teaching spaces to • Work with key staff to research the link with contemporary pedagogy. links between learning space, teacher pedagogy and student outcomes.

• Ensure sustainable materials and approaches are considered within the Master Plan. Sculpture by Grant Lehmann, Fairholme College Past Parent 2015 Flourishing is the end point of just a lot of hard work – but it is the point at which you can truly enjoy it, revel in it, take a deep breath and appreciate what you have achieved. It is just as important as “the burn”.

Libby Munro (Fairholme College Old Girl 1998) Fairholme College Toowoomba Proudly a College of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland Wirra Wirra Street PO Box 688 Toowoomba Q 4350 T 07 4688 4688 E [email protected] W www.fairholme.qld.edu.au ABN: 16 917 099 053 Registered Provider (Queensland): Fairholme College Toowoomba CRICOS Provider Code: 00651J