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ChristianCollegeLeadsBeerwahGrowthExplosionChristian College Leads Beerwah Growth ExplosionAs the Beerwah community wrestles with growth factors such as retail expansion, large housing estates and the new rail crossing, one of its learning institutions is more than reflecting the incredible progress in the area. When the elders of the Glasshouse Country Baptist Church decided in the 1990’s to purchase eleven acres and establish what they termed “affordable Christian education” to service the Range area and beyond, they may not have anticipated its dramatic success. When Glasshouse Country Christian College opened in Roberts Road in 2000, 16 fresh-faced students were enrolled. In 2007 there were 400 students from Prep to Year 10 on the campus, with 40 teaching and non-teaching staff, including Principal Cheryl Bryers. Cheryl, who has had 34 years experience in state primary education, was appointed in 2002 (there were 43 students that year) and is clearly relishing the task of managing staff, students, parents plus a substantial building program with permanent specialist facilities being constructed each year. Mrs Bryers was at great pains to explain that the College was far removed from an old-style, elite boarding school in the “Goodbye Mr Chips” tradition or the GPS private school model. The school is described as “a low fee, values-based non-state/independent school” rather than private, and is open to all students, with operating costs supported by fees and State and Federal Government recurrent funding. The nearby Beerwah High School provides for years 8 to 12 and Glasshouse Country Christian College will introduce its Senior program (Years 11 and 12) during the next two years (2008 and 2009). Kindly contributed to Beerwah.org by John Jennings - January 2008 |