| Harvest Christian School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| George Street Kadina, South Australia, 5554, Australia |
|
| Information | |
| Denomination | Interdenominational |
| Opened | 2000 |
| Principal | Paquita Ruch (2000 - 2010) Sandra Jesshope (2011 - Current) |
| Grades | Reception-Year 12 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Slogan | Growing In God's Grace |
| Website | http://www.harvest.sa.edu.au/ |
Harvest Christian School is an interdenominational Christian school located in Kadina, South Australia. It serves over 300 students from Reception to year 12. The school is affiliated with Christian Schools Australia (CSA) Ltd and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and is registered by the Non-Government Schools Registration Board.
The Copper Triangle Christian School Association was officially formed on 3 February 1997. Almost three years to that day on 31 January 2000 Harvest Christian School opened its doors to students for the first time.
Contents |
Initial Planning
During the first 18 months to two years, the association struggled to find a suitable site for the school. During this time, the members also worked hard to promote the concept of Christian education within the community in an effort to gain the necessary numbers required to start.
Early in October, 1998, the State Government changed its New Schools Policy which meant Harvest Christian School would need to lodge its Registration Application by 5 pm Friday, October 31, 1998, for a year 2000 start. The application had to include the names of at least 25 students who had paid a deposit, names of all students intending to attend the school in the first three years, and proof the school would have 45 students by the middle of its third year.
All this was required 16 months before school would even start. At that stage the association had no money, no site or buildings, but they had faith, and faith was all they needed. They believed that God had called them to bring this together, so in faith they leaped.
Twenty-four hours before the deadline, the school had 22 children, three short of the minimum required. That day enrolments were received from a family of four, bringing the numbers to 26. The application was finalized Friday morning and hand delivered to the Non-Government Schools Registration Board in Adelaide on Friday afternoon with a few hours to spare. The first miracle had been witnessed.
A Site and Building Plans
The second and subsequent miracles came thick and fast over the next 16 months before the opening, with many hurdles facing the Association. After exhausting every possible option to find an existing site, the Association applied to the District Council of the Copper Coast to lease five hectares of parklands, to which the Council agreed. After public consultation, by the end of January 1999, the school had a site (no money, but a site).
A building designer from Adelaide donated the basic plans needed for planning approval and by the beginning of June, the association had full plans in hand, council approval, site prepared, foundation ready to lay and set for commencement on June 8, but still no money. The school was unable to borrow through conventional methods because the land was leased and therefore couldn’t offer security.
God's Provision of the First Building
On June 7, the day before the foundation was to be poured, the Association received a loan for $50,000 unsecured from the Christian Parent Controlled Schools Building Fund. Another miracle. The slab was poured and through the graciousness of the people involved, the school was charged for the cost of materials only.
From that time on the school was blessed through the generosity and grace of many. Throughout the building process, the Association received a second loan from CPCS and nearly $15,000 in donations from other Christian Schools around Australia.
Much of the timber was supplied at cost, the roof was supplied at cost, carpets and vinyl at cost and installed free, air-conditioning at cost and installed free, cabinets and reception area made for cost of materials only, computers supplied at cost; much of the labour for the carpentry was donated and even fuel was donated for excavation.
Mobile Mission Maintenance, are a national group of dedicated volunteer Christian workers who assist with building projects related to Christian ministry free of charge. They were fed on site for over a month.
The Association had no idea how much the school would cost, because they knew they would be relying on the generosity of others. By completion the school over spent approximately $2,000 more to complete the project; upon which the Principal of Orange Christian School, Mr. John Metcalf, visited Harvest and presented a cheque for approximately $1,700, which had been raised by that school’s students. A sincere thank you was sent in appreciation.
God's Faithfulness
The list of contributors is endless, but the greatest testimony is about God’s faithfulness and provision, to which all who were involved can testify. The journey to establish Harvest has been unique, one which the founding committee will look back on for many years to come. But God’s faithfulness is the thing that we will all remember, and it is that which we shall lean on even harder now in the years to come.