Fairholme College 2021 ANNUAL REPORT Based on 2020 Data Introducing Fairholme College Fairholme College offers a diverse range of high-quality, contemporary educational experiences within a Christian community. It is a College of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. Founded in 1908, the College moved to the current site in 1917; it is situated on the Range escarpment in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs. Vision | Fairholme – a nurturing Christian school, committed to developing a vibrant learning community; one that challenges students to become confident and respectful contributors within our global society. Values | Christ-Centred Faith – Collaboration – Enjoyment – Respect – Seeking Excellence CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDENT BODY Fairholme College enjoys a vibrant and varied student body. The large, dynamic boarding community contributes invaluably to the unique nature of our College community. Boarding students come primarily from Queensland and New South Wales; however, we have girls from a great diversity of regional centres throughout Australia. While small in number, our international students further enrich our student community. The College is proud of its indigenous students; there were 20 students enrolled during this reporting period. YEAR LEVELS OFFERED Fairholme College offers programs from Kindergarten to Year 12. The Boarding community consists of girls from Year 5 to 12. CO-EDUCATIONAL/SINGLE-SEX The Fairholme College Kindergarten is co-educational. Prep to Year 12 offers a girls-only education. SCHOOL SECTOR Fairholme College is an independent day and boarding school. TOTAL ENROLMENT, INCLUDING KINDERGARTEN School Day Students Boarders Junior School 234 2 Middle School 194 93 Senior School 180 88 608 183 SCHOOL FUNDING BROKEN DOWN BY FUNDING SOURCE Refer to the My School website for detailed information regarding income; specifics regarding various funding sources is available at myschool.edu.au Contact Person for Further Information Regarding this Report Mrs Fleur Koch Assistant to the Business Office Contents 07 4688 4688 [email protected] From the Chairman 02 From the Principal 04 Christian Education 08 Junior School 10 04 Junior School Arts 12 Dr Linda Evans Junior School Sports 14 Middle School 16 08 Senior School 18 Junior School Teaching and Learning 20 Boarding 23 16 The Arts 26 Middle School Business 30 Careers 32 18 English 34 Senior School Sports and Activities 35 Home Economics 38 21 Humanities 39 ATAR Results Published by Fairholme College Information Technology 40 Editor: Marita Ramia Layout & Design: Sandra van der Stelt Languages 41 23 Mathematics 42 Advertising Enquiries Boarding Communications Office Greta Centre 43 T 4688 2341 Greta Junior 44 26 Fairholme College Toowoomba Proudly a College of the Presbyterian Science 45 The Arts Church of Queensland Wirra Wirra Street PO Box 688 Service 47 Toowoomba Q 4350 T 07 4688 4688 Pastoral Care 49 E [email protected] W www.fairholme.qld.edu.au VET 50 Information Technology Services 53 ABN: 16 917 099 053 Registered Provider (Queensland): Fairholme College Toowoomba CRICOS Provider Code: 03726D From the Chairman MR IAN ANDERSEN, CHAIRMAN ensuring we were able to continue accommodation for Senior Classrooms, providing the very best education Drama Classrooms, Art Classrooms, a possible. I particularly thank Dr Evans new Junior and Middle School Assembly and the Senior Leadership Team for and Multi-Functional Space and the their unfaltering commitment, drive and College Reception and Administration passion in leading the whole Fairholme Functions. It will further integrate the Community. Junior and Middle Schools through the creation of this new Junior and Middle Last year, I announced the finalization School Assembly Area and Multi- and approval of our new Master Plan. functional Space in what is the current This year I announced at ‘Presenting Administration Building. Fairholme’ that we plan to commence construction of Stage 1 of the Master The design of this space will also allow Plan in June 2021, with completion due the College to accommodate more in December 2022, at an expected cost effectively any parent functions and To state the obvious – 2020 was a year of more than $9 million. information sessions; P&F meetings; like no other. While it presented its own staff professional learning seminars; unique and significant challenges and The motivation to commence Stage 1 student socials and celebration stresses, there were opportunities to as soon as possible comes from a review events. Its location at the front of the do things differently – which is exactly of our current and projected needs, College also allows good accessibility what Fairholme did. the condition of some of our Senior for members of the Toowoomba and School buildings and the distribution of Fairholme Communities. There were many times this year when functions across the campus. I felt somewhat disconnected – simply Significantly, Stage 1 will also see the because we were not able to go about Stage 1 will make use of the only commencement of the reconfiguration our usual activities and events in the available land on the site that does not of vehicle access, set-down and parking normal way. For example, and as directly impact teaching needs – right arrangements at the front of the you might expect, most of our Board at the front of the College. Once College, in order to improve the safety meetings were conducted via video link complete, it will allow us to empty and and efficiency of this area and provide – and I really missed the many events demolish some of the buildings on the an all-weather connection to the and opportunities for me to be involved north-eastern corner of our site (the College. in College life. corner of Bridge and Fairholme Streets) to make way for new facilities to be Construction of this magnitude Our Principal, Dr Evans, and I had constructed in Stage 2, and eventually will come with some substantial many conversations about how we Stage 3. Stage 1 pulls together the impacts - particularly related to traffic managed the impact of COVID-19 Administration functions of the College movements and parking arrangements restrictions. I’m very aware of the into a new building and creates a new for parents and staff. We will, of way 2020 unfolded, so I want to front door to the College. It also course, put temporary arrangements express my sincere thanks to each accommodates teaching and learning in place to manage these impacts, but and every one of you – students, spaces. Importantly, there will be no loss I seek your patience and forbearance parents, and staff in particular – for of teaching and learning spaces during while works progress and thank you in your perseverance, persistence and any stage of construction. advance for your understanding of these ingenuity, your thoughtfulness and requirements. generosity throughout this year, thus When complete, Stage 1 will provide 2 Picture: Fairholme College Master Plan The Board of Directors continued • refurbishment of the Health greatest legacy is the impact we have to provide stable and considered Centre and Sports Offices on each other and on the lives of those leadership throughout the year. The • ongoing upgrading and around us. So, as we move on, either to Moderator of The Presbyterian Church replacement of IT equipment life away from Fairholme for some of us, of Queensland (PCQ), Right Reverend • furniture, fittings, plant and or continuing at Fairholme, I trust you Dr Phil Strong, continued to serve in his equipment replacements. will look forward with enthusiasm to the second consecutive year as Moderator; challenges and opportunities I’m sure and we welcomed the Reverend Stuart The Board approved the 2021 Budget 2021 will present. Hoadley as PCQ Clerk of Assembly and at its November meeting. The Board is Mr Paul Cotton as PCQ Treasurer, who very conscious of the many competing This great College continues to be very replaced Reverend Peter Barson and factors in developing the budget each well-placed to meet those challenges Mr George Harris respectively, during year, including the realities of daily and opportunities. the year. Reverend Barson continues life and the ongoing and new financial to serve on the Board in his previous challenges confronting many of our (vacant) position on the Board. I thank families; as well as the need to continue the Board of Directors for their ongoing to improve our facilities and provide the service and dedication to the College very best education for our students. and the use of their considerable With this in mind, the 2021 Budget talents in their vital governance role. provides for a 2.5 per cent increase in The College enjoys the wholehearted Tuition Fees; a 2.5 per cent increase in support of the Presbyterian Church of Boarding Fees. Queensland. The Capital Levy has increased by 2.5 In 2020, the College spent almost $1.4 per cent, and for the first time in six million on improvements to our facilities years the Technology Levy will increase and infrastructure. Projects approved by an increment of $10.00 per term to and completed during the year included: $150.00 per term. • Planning for Stage 1 of the College Masterplan As always, it is vital that we reflect • creation of new offices for the on each year as it passes, in order to Head of Learning Enhancement in celebrate our successes, learn from the Middle School our mistakes, and to reminisce. Our 3 The Space to Choose DR LINDA EVANS, PRINCIPAL In speaking of places and spaces in have been few in number, but they offer imagined; our global and local responses between, Viktor Frankl, holocaust sufficient proof that everything can be were and are varied and interesting. survivor, psychiatrist and Christian, is taken from a man but one thing: the last attributed as saying: of the human freedoms – to choose one’s • In Bangalore, India, a restaurant attitude in any given set of circumstances, Desi Masala fed more than ‘between stimulus and response to choose one’s own way.