Principal and CEO

Please use this link to visit the Governance page on our website to access the Strategic Plan Overview. 

Dear Parents and Carers 

Each year at our staff retreat in January, I share with staff our next steps in implementing our shared vision outlined in the College Strategic Plan. In a world characterised by so much disruptive change, it is essential that our strategic plan remains relevant. This document gives direction to our daily work to equip students for a future filled with hope where they have the competence and courage to live purpose filled lives. We are constantly looking at our strategic plan critically through the lens of emerging research and the evidence we see in our daily experiences working with our students. Our strategic plan has moved through two iterations in my time as Principal so far. There was a 2017-2022 version and then our current 2023-2028 version.  

Our educational strategy has remained consistent, and I expect this consistency that lies at the heart of our strategy will remain. At Calvary, we are and have always been committed to the development of the whole child and do not perceive our role as merely to deliver curriculum to students and ensure they meet reporting outcomes! For us, what matters most has always been the development of the whole child. We express this simply as What matters most is the formation of character and faith. What has changed in each iteration of the plan has been the Preamble which outlines WHY we do what we do. It links the strategy to the disruptive change we see in the world around us. 

One of our College values is agility, and this is lived out in the way our College Council works with the Executive team to maintain the currency (and relevance) of the Strategic Plan. Each year since my appointment in 2019, the Strategic Plan has had updates (tweaks) that ensure it maintains our consistent strategic direction while being responsive to changes in education and society. In 2022 the plan was updated with the most significant changes being made in the preamble which outlines the WHY (rationale) that lies behind the plan. This 2022 process gave rise to a refreshed document Strategic Plan 2023-2028, available via Parent Lounge under School Links > Parent Manuals and Policies. 

Over the past few months our team has been looking at potential updates to the plan. The rapid pace of change and its impact on our daily lives invites me to clarify afresh why and how we go about preparing our students for their future. During second semester I will be sharing with you an updated Strategic Plan 2026-2030. This will be an important topic at our Evenings and Mornings with the Principal in August this year. I look forward to the opportunity to share with you on those occasions.  

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you some of my thoughts about what matters most as I lead Calvary in the development and implementation of our updated strategic plan over the coming years. My commitment to you is always to keep you informed as together we work to secure a future that holds intriguing opportunity underpinned by hope. For every Calvary graduate to be fearlessly authentic in their approach to all aspects of their lives is the aspiration I hold. Every day I seek to move us closer to making that dream a reality. 

 Yours sincerely 

Cherylynne Gostelow 

Dear Parents and Carers

I am writing to you today from the Culbert deck on the Carbrook campus. The refreshing sound of moving water, birds and, occasionally wind stirring the leaves of the four magnificently tall gum trees are soothing. I have my coffee and my computer, and I am settling in to write after having spent the past three hours weeding what I think of as our WELCOME gardens.

Today I’d like to share with you WHY I invest my time in our College gardens and how this, like everything else I do, links to the implementation of the College Strategic Plan.

If you are familiar with our Strategic Plan distilled into three sentences, you will know that the third sentence is What matters most is the formation of character and faith. What’s this got to do with gardens?

It’s pretty simple really. We know, and have probably always known instinctively, that being surrounded by and stewarding the natural world well, nurtures human wellbeing. Neuroscience confirms this.

Calvary students who have known no other schools will probably be unaware of the privilege we have with both campuses set in exquisite natural surroundings. The Springwood campus built on naturally sloping grounds, preserving surrounding bushland where possible, has set the standard since 1984 for a Calvary always taking good care of the natural environment – and enjoying it!

On both campuses we look to provide spaces for active play and spaces for peaceful rest. Spaces for social interaction and spaces for quiet reflection.

Recently a Calvary family made it possible for us to acquire a number a mature Little Gem Magnolia trees. These will contribute to the natural beauty that is part of a Calvary experience. Three trees will join the WELCOME gardens at the entrance to the campus. (My intention is to continue the refurbishment of the front entrance extending the low wall near the waterway towards the western boundary. These trees form part of that vision.)

One will provide shade for students gathered on the seating outside the Culbert. Another will set off the entrance to the Junior school precinct and the rest will form an avenue down to the MPC between the CAPA building and the Junior school handball courts. I hope you will enjoy them.

The new playground equipment purchased for the Springwood campus lower playground renewal is available to us BUT sadly, this work is delayed by the urgency of repairs to buildings following the cyclone. Like you, I am looking forward to seeing Springwood with its competition outdoor multipurpose courts on the hill being ready for action (we are close now) and the lower playground refurbished to provide active play space that includes some space for quieter social interaction.

My prayer is that our students will draw strength and hope from the beauty and functionality of the grounds that surrounds them. Each morning as they put on their uniforms and step onto the grounds, I hope that they will find their hearts and minds captivated by a sense of the value that comes with belonging and contributing to the Calvary community.

Please join me in nurturing this awareness in all who call Calvary theirs.

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow

Dear Parents and Carers

WHY am I obsessed with building leadership where I have opportunity, influence, authority and invitation to do so?

In short, it’s because the world needs impactful leaders who will bring about positive outcomes for the common good.

There is a lot of chatter in the media about the power and value of leadership, and in education we see most schools claiming not only to acknowledge this but also claiming to build leadership skills for all young people. The chatter is on point: there is a need for the development of great leadership skills – and let’s not leave our children out of this great endeavour.

I have been Principal at Calvary since 2019 and for the most part the Executive Leadership Team with whom I have worked has been stable. This has given us an opportunity to give deep thought to and be intentional about ‘leadership at Calvary’.

Our leadership model is founded on a few premises the team at Calvary have found to be true under a variety of conditions, true over time and hold true in the light of emerging research.

Our core position on leadership holds true for our staff AND our students and is intentionally woven into our culture.

The extract below is taken from the preamble to the College Strategic Plan. It expresses clearly our intent and purpose as well as the distinctive way we go about this at Calvary.

Learn to Lead:        Influence the World

All students at Calvary are invited into developing their leadership capacity. Leaders are intentional in the way they use their influence. Students learn that leaders and influencers do not always need to wear a badge or have a title. The simple leadership model embedded seamlessly across the College is lived out by students through three simple steps:

• Students learn to lead self through character formation encompassing the development of emotional intelligence.
• They learn to lead others through informal opportunities and formal programs in mentoring and coaching as they are mutual encouragers of one another.
• Students have agency, actively choosing to design and develop initiatives that make an impact on our vibrant community, and this then provides the platform from which they can extend their influence to impact the world around them beyond Calvary.

One of my focus goals for 2025 reads like this:

Deepen a cultural expectation of more opportunities for more leadership from more people, through supporting leadership development as widely distributed leadership opportunities.

My preoccupation: can be summed up as ‘more leadership from more places more of the time’.

At the moment, students are being invited to reflect on their personal commitment to developing their leadership capacity. For our young ones, understanding and regulating self along with committing to service of others can be difficult to sustain and we look to support them by encouraging them to make these practices a regular part of their day every day.

I value your partnership with us in supporting your children’s growth and development in this very practical way as we seek to grow their leadership capacity. May they learn what it is to focus on their personal development with an end goal of being the ones who will lead improvement in community culture.

• Be Fair
• Be Kind
• Be your Best Self

at home and at school every day and in every way!

There are so many ways we can give our children opportunities and prompt them to bring their best selves to every situation. Let’s make this our mutual commitment to the people our children are becoming and to the world they will not only inherit but also shape.

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow

Dear Parents and Carers

On 21 April as the term began, I wrote updating you on campus conditions following the cyclone and ongoing very wet weather. Here we are a little more than month later and there is still much to do in the cyclone damage recovery projects. And, of course, this priority repair and the work required on the Springwood campus last week, has set back our commitments to projects made before the start of the year. What follows is an update on the repairs to facilities across both campuses following the cyclone damage and in relation to other projects we remain committed to completing.

Working closely with our insurers and College Council, we have committed to a program of work that not only repairs storm damage, but also brings the building into better condition. For example, instead of merely patching water damage, we are working to prevent water ingress in the future. Much of this forms part of our regular planned work accounted for in forecast planning covering the next five years. The March storms accelerated the need for repair work and the improvement work scheduled for a few years’ time is being completed simultaneously. This work will mean less disruption in the future and improved facilities sooner.

I’d like to share a quick outline of the current situation on each campus.

The Carbrook campus suffered significantly more damage owing to its exposed nature and location in the flood plain of the Logan River.

Much of the Oval restoration work has been delayed by excessive rainfall that has kept the ground boggy. The sunshine this past week and anticipated dry weather forecast for this week will help make a difference. The restoration of the oval will include cricket practice nets when the cricket pitch is restored. With the water table as high as it is, repair is slow requiring patience from us all.

Work continues on Koolyangarrah, our worst affected building. The damage is extensive.

The interior fitting of the kitchen in Alcorn block, which was flooded, has been demolished, essential repairs conducted to the building and the materials for a fully restored stainless steel hospitality kitchen have been ordered. I am looking forward to what we hope will be a Term 3 reveal of a very special space for our popular Hospitality and Paddock to Plate classes.

The Mango Café is looking wonderful again- and thank you for your patronage. It is heartwarming to see families enjoying a morning treat together before school. I am grateful to the Café team who managed to keep functioning around repairs and replacement equipment.

There are many other smaller projects still underway, and I am encouraged by the knowledge that by January 2026 we will have many spaces that reflect the Excellence we value.

If you are a regular visitor to the campus, you will have seen the extensive damage to the road surface on the first roundabout. Repair will take place over the July break as this is least disruptive to traffic. In the meantime, please exercise care on the roundabout and be on the lookout for the family of ducks – the parent pair are raising about 10 little ducklings and it lifts my spirits every time I see them!

At Springwood, you will have seen containers delivered. Some of these will be installed in more suitable permanent locations and serve to store Phys Ed equipment (as we do on the Carbrook campus). One of the items accommodated will be high jump mats, making accessibility and storage much more suitable. Also, having storage near to the undercover multi-purpose court will be a great blessing to Tim!

But sadly one (temporary) container is being used to store the new playground equipment. I have reluctantly had to delay this work probably until next year as we focus on the extensive work in Florence Young and other parts of the campus. I am looking forward to celebrating with you the new look Florence Young upper story once work is complete. All I can say is it will be a very fresh and different look and provide greater flexibility to the spaces our Stage 3 students enjoy. It will be worth the wait! The air conditioning units, including ducting in the Administration block, need replacement – an extensive job that will be completed over the winter break.

And, best of all, work will commence soon on the retaining wall between the new courts and Rob Evenden’s maintenance shed. The water bubblers will be installed and once we have sign off on the project, the courts will be open for student enjoyment. I am looking forward to that.

In August you will be invited once again to join in conversation with me – there will be four opportunities: two mornings and two evenings spread across both campuses. One of the topics is the development of a Master Plan 2026 – 2030. With the improvement projects currently underway we have made a head start and I am keen to hear from you what you would prioritise as the next major projects to improve each campus.

As we head into June, we are incurring significant cost in the work we are doing to improve our buildings. Your investment in Calvary’s tomorrow would support us to secure campuses that provide a learning environment that helps us to help your child grow and flourish every day. Contributions to the College building fund are tax deductible.  If you have not yet done so, I ask you to consider donating using the details below.

BSB: 034-605

Account No: 468461

Account Name: Calvary Christian College (Westpac Banking Corporation)

Your Reference: (First name + Last name) & Building Fund Donation

Our Finance team will email receipts for tax deduction purposes.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal and CEO

Dear Parents and Carers

I was born in South Africa, like many others among our parent body. I was a university student when shots were fired in Soweto on 16^th June 1976 during a peaceful march of school children. The shock waves of that moment reverberated around the world. No matter what our political views may be, when peaceful protest is met with violence, it is deeply disturbing. Watching world events unfolding over the last week, I can’t help feeling even more strongly committed to ensuring we teach our students the value of acting justly, being kind and bringing our best selves to every situation.

My commitment to our community is to consistently exemplify trust and reliance on a solid foundation in all decisions and responses. Children and young people observe our actions daily, and I urge you to find ways to maintain a calm and composed presence – what I often refer to as a non-anxious presence. This presence is essential for the well-being of our children, allowing them to envision a better world.

The work of our Property Team and many contractors means that each campus should open next term to the ‘better world’ of repaired and refurbished rooms. While this work will continue over second semester, we will begin to experience the fruit in the coming weeks. It so exciting to see progress each week and once again I thank our staff and students for their resilience and patience in making the best of what are often awkward spaces for learning. I am sure Stage 3 (Springwood) are looking forward to their new home upstairs in Florence Young and that the Hospitality classes (Carbrook) will be more than delighted not to be washing up outside in rudimentary, and often cold, temporary facilities once their new kitchen is installed.

As is the case in schools at the end of term we have some staff changes. Alana Dunn from support staff leaves us and we thank her for her work with the cleaning team and as STEM staff support. We wish Mrs Zipf a safe delivery of her first baby in the coming weeks and welcome Sally Jamieson who joins us in the MSS Humanities and English team. Mrs Sam Bierman also embarks on maternity leave at the end of this term. Joining the Carbrook Stage 3 team is Mrs Tatum Furner. Mrs Waldren has rejoined the Springwood campus following her parental leave and the arrival of little Remy last year and we farewell Mrs Terracini.  Mrs Kippen is leaving the Stage 2 team, and we welcome Mrs Martina Toms, well known to both Junior School campuses in a relief capacity. We also farewell Mrs Hefti-Jones who has made a valued contribution supporting learning designers over many stages and for many years at Carbrook.

Mrs Sprenger, Head of School (Community and Wellbeing) on the Springwood campus, has made the heartfelt decision to retire at the end of Term 3. Michelle’s first classroom experience was at Calvary and she has chosen to end her teaching career on the campus where it began. An educator of high calibre, Michelle exemplifies a strong commitment to leading authentically and we thank her for her impact on our community. Michelle’s willingness to serve our community and her contribution to the mission and vision of Calvary are highly valued.

As you approach the welcome winter break, I hope you will enjoy holidays away, stay-cations and the opportunity to change rhythm – especially if this includes some leisurely slow mornings.  I am looking forward to a change of pace and some days of leisure as, along with other senior staff members, I enjoy some annual leave. May we all return refreshed and ready for all the wonderful College activities and fun and challenge that lies ahead in Term 3. I particularly wish our Year 12 students and staff a happy and successful Snow Tour as they head out on Saturday morning.

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal and CEO

Dear Parents and Carers

Last week staff and over 200 parents had opportunities across three events to hear from psychologist Dr Judith Locke. Many of us on the staff at Calvary are parents, some of us are grandparents and we have been wrestling with big questions about how we can ensure we are in authentic partnership with College parents as we know the power of effective interaction among students, parents and teachers in ‘growing the whole child’ (holistic education).

As Dr Locke confirmed, “parenting is more complex than it has ever been” and the ongoing challenge is balancing demandingness (relentless expectations or standards) with warm responsiveness (support).  Dr Locke then continued to explore what this looks like and how we can ‘step back so our kids can step up’. If you were unable to attend these sessions, you will find that Dr Judith Locke’s two books Bonsai Child and Bonsai Student referenced throughout her talks, elaborate on the ways we can function as parents and teachers working together for the benefit of our children.

The Grounded Team video summarises reflections. Dr Judith Locke’s books are available for purchase here.

This week we look forward to two Athletics carnivals (Stages 2-3 on Wednesday and Stages 4 – 6 on Friday). These events have been planned in such a way to provide a meaningful experience for EVERY student enrolled at the College. If this is difficult for your child, please help us to help your child by trusting us to support them through the expectation that they attend.

In August, you are invited to Meet with the Principal as we do each year. This is an opportunity for me to hear directly from you and to share with you my priorities for the next year. There are four opportunities for you: 2 mornings and 2 evenings. Parents are invited to attend at either campus as the conversation is whole College focused.  Please use the buttons below to book the meeting you will attend and let me know what questions or topics you would like covered.

The dates available are

Springwood  (Register Here)

Tuesday 19 August 8:45am at Happy Hens and 6:00pm in the Springwood staffroom.

Carbrook (Register Here)

Thursday 21 August 8:45am at Mango Café and 6:00pm in the Culbert.

I look forward to seeing many of you around our campuses as you help us to help your child learn and grow.

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal and CEO

Dear Parents and Carers 

Thank you to those who have already registered for one of the four Meet with the Principal events to be held next week. Should you still wish to attend please register via the links below. You are welcome to choose the campus and time that is most convenient for you regardless of which campus your child attends.  

Several parents have raised questions about the uniform changes and uniform shop. As I am sure this concern impacts many of our parents, next Monday’s communication from me will cover these matters.  

Today I am delighted to share with you the news of the appointment of Andrew Marshall to the Head of School, Springwood position recently advertised. Andrew’s appointment begins at the start of Term 4. The recruitment panel thanks God for the call to Calvary he has placed on Andy’s heart, and we believe this appointment will undoubtedly strengthen a team who seek to discern God’s will for the ministry that is Calvary Christian College. 

Andy is currently on the team at Redeemer Lutheran College. His team at Redeemer speak very highly of Andy and we are now excited to see him take his place on our team.  

Andy comes to us with rich and relevant experience: he has worked at schools such as Somerville House and Coomera Anglican College. He has a strong background in student wellbeing and a passion for building thriving learning communities.  

I am confident that our whole Calvary community will make him welcome and help him to feel at home quickly. Term 4 is a term of ‘celebration and planning’. With your support, experiencing all that is good about Springwood over Term 4 will give Andy the cultural knowledge and Calvary specific tools to lead with confidence and courage into the future. 

We wish Andy many years of joy and growth as he shares his gifts and talents with us. 

Yours sincerely 

Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal and CEO

Dear Parents and Carers

As we begin the second half of the term, I am reminded again of the richness of the Calvary experience: recently there have been successes in sport for individuals and teams, the success of our team at EKKA, several groups tasted success at recent Eisteddfods in Beenleigh and the Redlands, there have been successful excursions ranging from short focused visits by groups of students designed to extend their learning in a particular learning area, to the year 10 Classroom in the City program and, of course, the Year 6 Canberra trip.  And around all this our Calvary community have navigated unusual weather continuing this term, the ongoing projects undertaken by our Property Team and contractors some of which have reached completion (like the reopening of the Florence Young Building at Springwood and the projects whose completion we anticipate eagerly, like the improved Hospitality facility at Carbrook).

Alongside all this, our counsellors are supporting the personal growth and development of all students through their work with individuals, groups and families. I hope you are looking out for their Grounded vlogs – Alison Stone shared last week many tips on helping our youngest students manage separation from home routines and transition to the school environment in times where they may find this a bit more challenging than usual. And our Senior students are preparing for an exam block as part of their final preparations for the final assessments in their school journey.

And it’s Book Week, celebrating reading and the place of stories in our lives. And we look forward to celebrating our fathers and the significant father figures in our lives, Good News week (formerly Prayer and Mission week) is almost upon us as is Showcase and then it will be Spring school holidays after the Year 9 Service Trip to Chinchilla. There are many other worthy projects and events I have not mentioned. I list these as a reminder to us all of how much added value our indefatigable and committed staff bring to the lives of our children. And while we may not get everything right all the time our deep desire is to serve you and your children well.

I am looking forward to sharing with many of you at the four Meet with the Principal events scheduled for this week. I am excited about what we have achieved over the last year and the hopes and plans we have for this next year. Some of the things I’d like to talk about are some adjustments to our Strategic Plan responding agilely to recent developments in the world of education and the world of Calvary. I indicated earlier in the year that we want to consult with you about the development of the next phase in the College Master Plan. Many of you want to talk with me about school uniforms. It will be a busy week for many of us!

Link to Grounded vLog

Yours sincerely

Cherylynne Gostelow
Principal and CEO