Celebrating 40 years
of Southern Christian College
Learn more about our history as a College, as we celebrate with gratitude
- 40 years of inspiring inquisitive minds.
“On Wednesday, June 18th, 1986 at 150 Redwood Road, something exciting began!
A group of twenty children, dressed in blue and gold ‘Half Miler’ tracksuits bought from Fitzgeralds assembled in the nearly complete school building for the first day of school. We stood in the corner of the hall where the sound box is now, while Fred Hartog, who was racing to get the building finished, prayed for us all. You see, the classrooms didn’t have power on or all four walls at that stage, so we were starting school with a camp at Spring Beach.”
In the beginning…
Southern Christian College was founded in 1986 as Kingston Christian Community School by Mercy Church (now CityLight Church).
The school began with a handful of students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 under the leadership of Principal, Allister Martin and supported by his wife, Jill who also taught at the school. They were exciting days! By 1987 the school had an enrolment of 40 students, which was an answer to prayer.
Our first classrooms were built because of the generosity of volunteer labour and the financial support of Mercy Church members who gave faithfully from what they had. Staff and volunteers held many roles outside of their teaching jobs as they educated and supported students, drove our soccer teams on Saturdays, and birthed the school that continues today.
The building years
Mr Bill Folkerts followed Mr Martin as Principal in 1996. Bill served the school faithfully, establishing a school farm, commencing a highly regarded languages subject and celebrated with the home grown musical, The Crimson Trail. Mrs Denise Arnold became Principal in 1999. During this time the school had its first name change and for a few years was known as Kingston Christian School. We also opened Kingston Early Learning Centre at this time and welcomed our very youngest students to the school.
With the appointment of Mr Alan Lawson as Principal in 2007, the school became known as Southern Christian College. The next decade saw many changes with rapid enrolment growth. The College became an internationally recognised IB school with the Primary, Middle and Diploma (Years 11 and 12) programs. Increased enrolments required new buildings, with the gymnasium, science building and primary classroom block built during this time. The carpark also had a long overdue facelift! This period also saw many of our earlier staff, including Allister and Jill Martin, Denise Arnold and Vicki Kreiner return as staff members to the College.
In 2022 Mrs Jodie Bennett was appointed as Principal. D Block secondary classrooms and locker rooms were built in 2024, and the design of a new Administration block for construction in 2026 was completed. The Thrive Framework for secondary was established to effectively deliver curriculum and develop character and capabilities.
2026, Mrs Jenny Mahoney was appointed Principal.
The future is bright
The completion of 40 years is a significant event for our College. Biblically, the number 40 is mentioned many times and often represents completion, generational change, fulfilment and restoration.
We believe this is a significant time of growth for our College. We also look forward into our future with excitement and joy knowing our students, our staff and our community will flourish under God’s purpose.
Giving thanks
In this, our 40th year, we give thanks to all those who have toiled, sacrificed and put their trust in the school over the years.
We are grateful to those members of CityLight Church, particularly Ps Bernie and Susie Hartog, who sacrificially donated the land to build the school, and the many members of Mercy Church who volunteered, swung a hammer, and financially supported the work that would become Southern Christian College
The building blocks of a community
Southern Christian College is not buildings.
Southern Christian College is not land.
Southern Christian College is the students, their parents, siblings and our staff. Those currently in the community, the legacy of those we have farewelled, and those that we’ve lost.
Southern Christian College is our past, present and our future.
Southern Christian College is a caring Christian community providing quality education.
We celebrate the children who have walked through these doors and continue to come along each day.
We honour the parents who sacrificially invested in their children’s academic and spiritual education.
We applaud our staff our walked with us and made sacrifices of their own.
And we give all glory to God.
For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36
Southern Christian College Alumni
Business owners, young professionals and families across our community continue to benefit from the meaningful connections and partnerships formed through Southern Christian College.
We warmly welcome your ongoing involvement with SCC. To help us stay connected, please take a moment to update your details:
