Our Year 10 Dance and Music students recently had the exciting opportunity to attend a live performance of Guttered by Restless Dance Theatre at iPlay in Hillarys—an experience that proved both thought-provoking and highly engaging.

Guttered is a contemporary dance work that explores themes of resilience, identity, and human connection. Our students embraced every aspect of the experience. They participated enthusiastically in the immersive sections of the performance, demonstrating openness, curiosity, and a genuine willingness to step outside their comfort zones. It was fantastic to see them so engaged and willing to be part of the artistic process, contributing to the show’s vibrant atmosphere.

Following the performance, students participated in a Q&A session with the director/choreographer and the performers. They demonstrated impressive critical thinking and reflection, asking insightful and meaningful questions that revealed a deep engagement with the choreographic intent and themes of the work. Their ability to articulate their thoughts and respond thoughtfully highlighted both their growing understanding of contemporary dance and their capacity to engage with professional practice.

Equally commendable was the way our students conducted themselves throughout the excursion. They were respectful, attentive, and represented the College with pride—receiving positive feedback for their behaviour and attitude.

A sincere thank you to Miss Cymer, Mrs Whitehead, and Mrs Cymer for their support and supervision throughout the excursion. Their contribution ensured the evening ran smoothly and helped make this valuable experience possible for our students.

Overall, this excursion was a valuable and memorable learning experience, offering students the chance to connect classroom learning with professional performance.

Last week, our Secondary School gathered for the annual Swimming Carnival, enjoying fantastic weather and plenty of healthy house competition. Students competed across a range of events, earning valuable points for their houses and giving their all in the pool.

It was great to see strong participation throughout the day, with students stepping up in both competitive and novelty races. The cheering from the sidelines added to the atmosphere, as houses proudly supported their teammates.

Thank you to our staff for their organisation and to all students who represented their houses with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship.

The results for the winning houses and the individual champions will be announced at the Secondary Assembly on 4 March. We look forward to recognising our students’ achievements then.

Please join us in welcoming these new staff members into the ECC community. Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter, where we’ll profile more new staff.

On Friday, 30 January, our Year 12 students joined the Northshore Christian Grammar School Year 12 cohort for the much-anticipated annual Year 12 Ball, held at the beautiful Mulberry Estate in the Swan Valley.

Our students made a showstopping entrance, arriving in style and proudly showcasing their glamorous outfits. Students were warmly welcomed by ECC Principal Mrs Michelle Schouten and NCGS Principal Mr Stuart Chisholm before stepping into an evening to remember.

The dance floor quickly came alive as students and staff celebrated together. From timeless favourites like YMCA to the ever-popular Nutbush, the music kept the energy high and the smiles wide.

The evening concluded with the announcement of the Beau and Belle of the Ball, along with the ‘Life of the Party’ award. Congratulations to Skyla E., who was named Life of the Party, Zac M. as Beau of the Ball, and Ruramai M. as Belle of the Ball.

Overall, the night was a wonderful success and a meaningful way to mark the beginning of an important and exciting year for our Year 12 cohort.

Earlier this term, our Primary School gathered for its first assembly of 2026, and what a joyful way to begin the year. The atmosphere was full of excitement as students reconnected with classmates, swapped holiday stories and settled back into school life.

A highlight of the morning was the announcement of our full Primary Student Leadership Team, who were officially presented with their badges. Each of these students has consistently demonstrated integrity, initiative and a heart to serve, qualities that make them outstanding representatives of our College. We are incredibly proud of them and look forward to seeing the positive influence they will have as they lead by example.

We were also privileged to hear from our 2026 Year 12 Head Boy, Jack J., and Head Girl, Sonia N., who shared thoughtful encouragement and practical advice for our young leaders and those aspiring to leadership in the future.

The assembly concluded with our Chaplain, Mr Timothy Ballantyne, who prayed over the Primary Student Leadership Team and reminded students of the call of the Great Commission, encouraging them to lead with faith, purpose and a heart for others.

For students in Years 7 and 10, the new school year has brought with it more than just a change of classroom. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of the ICT team, students have received their new locked-down MacBook or iPad prior to the start of the term.

The Managed Device Program is an important step toward strengthening online safety and enhancing classroom learning. Below is a quick guide to what families need to know.

1. What happens if my child’s device needs repairing?

While Apple devices are durable, accidental damage can occur. If your child’s device requires repair, the process is outlined below:

1. The student reports the issue to Student Services or the ICT Training and Support Technician.
2. A daily loan device is issued if needed (where available). Loan devices need to be returned at the end of each day.
3. The device is repaired onsite or sent away under warranty or AppleCare+.
4. Families are notified when a repaired device is ready for collection.
5. Any applicable AppleCare+ charges are processed for parent billing.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing the importance of careful handling, safe storage, and daily charging of student devices at home. Devices must always remain in their protective case and should not be transported loosely in school bags.

For questions about device repairs, please contact your School ICT Training and Support Technician.

• Optional theft and loss insurance

AppleCare+ is included with all SCEA-leased devices and covers most accidental damage. It does not cover loss or theft. Under the Parent Agreement, families remain responsible for loss, theft, and damage not covered by warranty or AppleCare+.

As previously advised, families may wish to check whether their home contents policy provides cover for their child’s leased device. For those who prefer additional protection, SCEA now offers an optional three-year Theft and Loss Only Insurance Plan through Protecsure (single upfront payment). This option is voluntary and does not change parental responsibility for device care. Cost and coverage details have been provided directly to participating families and are available online here.

Additional at-home parental device controls (for SCEA-leased iPads)

Families with SCEA-leased iPads can download the Jamf Parent App to support healthy device routines at home. The App works alongside SCEA’s device management system and cannot override protective settings. Parents can:

• Disable the camera or AirDrop.
• Set focus timers for apps.
• Create morning and evening routines.

For more information about Jamf Parent App and the installed management software on your child’s leased device, refer to the video below.

Keep your eye out for some exciting updates on how Managed Devices are improving classroom learning later this term!

It’s not every day that our College is featured in The West Australian.

With the rapid rise of technology and growing research suggesting young people are developing unhealthy screen time habits, the conversation around student wellbeing has never been more important. In addition, the Australian Government has recently announced a ban on social media access for children under 16. The question many are now asking is: What are schools doing to address this ongoing issue?

The West Australian article highlights the Swan Christian Education Association (SCEA) decision to transition from a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model to a school-managed device program.

This initiative was implemented at the beginning of this year and initially impacted our Year 7 and Year 10 students. The program will be progressively rolled out across the College, with full implementation anticipated by 2028. Encouragingly, feedback from both parents and staff has been overwhelmingly positive.

At ECC, student well-being remains a top priority. We believe this change not only supports the development of healthier screen time habits but also helps reframe devices as purposeful tools for learning rather than gateways to games and entertainment.

As SCEA CEO Graeme Cross shared in the article, “We don’t want to set up a situation where students actually become so reliant on these devices it creates some form of addiction.”

Farewell
2025 has been a significant year for Ellenbrook Christian College, with our community welcoming new staff and preparing to farewell several long-serving team members. Each departing staff member has contributed greatly to the life of the College, and we are grateful for the impact they have had on our students and broader community.

We thank the following staff for their dedication and commitment over the years, and we wish them every success as they move into the next chapter of their careers.

Primary

• Mrs Pam Tyrrell
• Mr Dan Rolt
• Mrs Hayley Tuffin

Primary Education Assistants

• Mrs Gabby Shere
• Mrs Olga Burger
• Miss Inez Tang

Secondary

• Mr Stefan Grove

As we reflect on their time with us, several staff members shared some of their fondest memories.

Mr Stefan Grove recalls the Year 9 and 10 camp with the current Year 12 cohort as a standout moment. “We had a great time, and it was great to see how the students bonded as a group.” We wish Mr Grove all the very best as he relocates to Broome to continue his teaching in the Kimberley.

Mrs Pam Tyrrell, who has been part of ECC since 2009, shared that she will deeply miss her colleagues and worshipping with students each Friday. Mrs Tyrrell is stepping into an exciting new role with Elastik as a School Development Manager, where she will continue her passion for helping teachers identify and address gaps in student learning. We pray God’s blessing over this next season.

Mr Daniel Rolt, who has served at ECC for 12 years, has been a much-loved presence in our Primary community. Reflecting on his journey, he shared:
“I’ll miss the moments of laughter and teamwork with colleagues who have become more like friends. I’ll miss the conversations with students — the ones that spark curiosity, brighten the day, or catch you off guard with their humour and honesty. And I’ll miss the families who have trusted, encouraged and journeyed alongside us, helping create the welcoming, grounded ‘we’re in this together’ atmosphere that defines ECC.”

Please join us in honouring each of these staff members. We are grateful for their service and pray that God will bless them and their families as they step into new and exciting chapters.

Welcome
With many farewells also come many warm welcomes. We are delighted to introduce the new staff joining Ellenbrook Christian College in 2026. We look forward to the fresh perspectives, skills and enthusiasm they will bring to our community.

Administration

• Mrs Angela Roberts – Student Services
• Mr Jason Dean – Grounds and Maintenance

Primary

• Mrs Joanna De Grauw – Learning Support Education Assistant
• Mrs Mariska Treurnicht – ELC Education Assistant
• Mrs Carien van Wyk – ELC Education Assistant
• Mrs Esther Cliff – Year 6 Teacher
• Mr Brenton Williams – Year 3 Teacher and Primary STEM

Secondary

• Mr Ben Walmsley – Science and Computer Science
• Mr David Clarke – Design and Technology (Woodwork)
• Mr Stephen Herd – Physical Education
• Mrs Twanette Vorster – HaSS

Leadership Appointments
We also offer a very warm welcome to our new Head of Primary, Mr Michael Gaudin, who has been visiting the College regularly in preparation for the new year.

In addition, we congratulate Mr Sam Freind on his appointment as Dean of Wellbeing (Years 4–6) from the beginning of 2026. We are also delighted to share that Mrs Michelle Cockrell will continue to serve within our community as the Primary Dean of Enrichment.

These changes reflect our continued commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students. We thank our departing staff for their faithful service and warmly welcome our new team members to Ellenbrook Christian College.

Last week marked a significant milestone for the College as we celebrated the completion of our new Sports Pavilion. Construction began in early 2024 and has now been completed, thanks to State Government funding under the METRONET Morley–Ellenbrook line. The pavilion now provides new change rooms, shower facilities, and drinking fountains for students accessing the far side of the pedestrian underpass, a significant addition to our campus.

On Friday, 5 December, we were delighted to welcome several honorary guests, including Hon Klasey Hirst MLC, SCEA executives, former ECC principals and valued ECC community members. The celebration also launched Carols on the Green, our much-loved annual Christmas event where students from across the College perform festive musical pieces for the wider community.

The evening was a tremendous success, with an outstanding turnout and a fantastic atmosphere. Carols on the Green remains a highlight of our year, bringing people together in the spirit of Christmas and strengthening the sense of community that makes ECC so special.

Last week, we officially farewelled our Year 6s from Primary School as they prepare to embark on their Secondary journey next year. The event brought together students, staff, and families and provided a special moment to reflect on their memories, recognise their growth, and cheer them on as they step into this exciting new chapter.

The evening began with a heartfelt address to the Year 6s from our Head of Primary, Mrs Michelle Cockrell. Our Year 6 students then performed a series of musical items that showcased their talents as a cohort. Academic and endeavour awards were also presented, and we congratulate all the award recipients. The celebration concluded with a final roll call and closing remarks from Year 6 teachers, Mrs Madeline McWhirter and Mr Jeff Gibson.

We wish all our Year 6 graduates every blessing as they begin this new journey. May God continually bless you and may you shine His light.