Education opportunities to expand at Namoi Valley Christian School

Wee Waa is set to offer more educational opportunities for students with the expansion of Namoi Valley Christian School.

The town is fast becoming a hub for learning in the Narrabri region, with the redevelopment of Wee Waa High School and growth and construction plans at NVCS set to help retain and encourage families to move to the area, boosting the local economy and community.

This year, NVCS started the transition to becoming a high school after it received registration to teach Year 7 in 2022 and will apply for Year 8 in 2023, and Year 9 and 10 in coming years.

NVCS is the only independent high school in the Narrabri Shire and the school community continues to grow every year.

“We currently have 62 students in kindergarten to Year 6, 11 students in Year 7, and 11 in our prep class,” said NVCS principal Peter Henderson.

“We also have around 20 students travel over from Narrabri each day.

“Back in 2015 we had 15 students at the school.”

As the Wee Waa News reported in 2021, a meeting of NVCS Association members approved the plan to offer Year 7 in 2022 as well as the start of a staged building process, including specialist classrooms required to teach high school subjects.

In recent weeks, members of the NVCS board, staff and school community have met with Narrabri Shire Council to discuss the concept designs for the school’s expansion.

“The building masterplan forms part of our educational plan to provide school from kindergarten to Year 10,” said Mr Henderson.

“We’ve purchased 30 and 32 Cowper Street, which is where we’ll be setting up our secondary campus.

“For the first stage of the building masterplan we received a grant of $400,000 from the Capital Grants Program; the school will be funding $600,000 on top of this.

“The first stage will provide food technology and science spaces, as well as an inquiry hub.

“We also hope to have some demountables placed on the site for extra classroom, support, and teacher spaces. As we work through each stage of the plan, we’ll continue to apply for capital grants.”

Mr Henderson said NVCS’ transition to a high school had been well received.

“The feedback from the community has been positive,” he said.

“It has been delightful and full on.

“There are many aspects of secondary schooling which are different to primary.

“We’ve been blessed to have Peter Carrett and Renee Ritchie join our staff and lead the teaching of Year 7.

“Amongst other things, one of the reasons we looked to expand into secondary school is to hopefully encourage families to stay in the area once their eldest reaches Year 7.

“God willing, it will also attract families who are considering moving to the area.

“It is a joy to know that we’ll be able to offer an independent secondary option in the Shire.”

Newly appointed NVCS board chair Travis Lions has two children who attend the school, and he also drives the school’s bus from Narrabri every day.

“As a parent, it’s great knowing we have the option for the children to go all the way through to Year 10 at a Christian school and an independent school,” said Mr Lions.

“And the board is also very excited about the expansion,” said Namoi Valley Christian School’s newly appointed board chair Travis Lions.

“Peter (Henderson) has done a lot of the leg work and the architects that we’ve engaged for our concept designs were very focussed on creating a school that fits in with our country lifestyle – the soft colours reflecting cotton fields and the round windows cotton bales.”

Narrabri Shire Council’s economic development manager Bill Birch said NSC is very supportive of the school’s expansion and is working with NVCS to ensure the development application and other processes run smoothly.

“It’s very exciting – it’s a great thing for the shire, but it’s a better thing for Wee Waa,” said Mr Birch.

“It is investment in educational resources like this which can potentially attract people to this town.

“We know that people will look at school options when making decisions because they want continuity of education for their children.

“We’re very pleased to see NVCS developing the next stage – it’s on the same block and it’s obviously a very well-run school.

“To take it from the low numbers up to the numbers that are presently enrolled at the school now, they’re obviously driven, and committed to the school, industry, shire and community.”