The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including Mr. Tony Zappia, Member for Makin, and Tea Tree Gully Mayor Marijka Ryan, alongside other key community leaders and educational representatives.
The opening ceremony was a fantastic celebration, highlighting both the school’s growth and its steadfast commitment to providing an environment that fosters educational excellence and spiritual development. The new building, a $10 million investment in the future of education, is designed specifically to support the school’s mission of delivering a Christ-centred education that nurtures the whole child.
Among the esteemed guests were Mark Steyn, CEO of Christian Education National, Ryan McMahon, CEO of the Tea Tree Gully Council, and Marina Champion and Blake Lawrenson, local Tea Tree Gully Councillors. Representatives from the Block Grant Authority, Walter Brooke & Associates (architects), Sarah Construction (builders), Katanoo (project managers), and the National Australia Bank were also in attendance, reflecting the collaborative effort behind the project.
The school’s inaugural principal, Peter Van der School, reflected on TVCS’s humble beginnings during his address. He shared the story of how, in 1980, the school began with just 20 students in a church hall. The early families pooled together $88,000 to purchase land in Hope Valley, starting the school with parent-built log cabins and a playground. His words painted a picture of the school’s journey from modest beginnings to the thriving community it is today, now home to 600 students and featuring this new, purpose-built facility at the heart of the campus.
Current Principal Emily Brookes highlighted the building’s alignment with the school’s broader educational goals.
“Buildings certainly aren’t the ‘heart’ of any school—but they can be designed in a way that directs the heart to a wider story. What a joy it is to have a new building that encourages all to participate in God’s story, learning about His world, and stewarding and caring for His creation in the learning process.”
This new facility is more than just a physical structure. It represents TVCS’s ongoing commitment to creating spaces where students can grow academically, spiritually, and socially, fully aligned with the school’s Christian values.
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