The Story of Northshore Christian Grammar School
In 2012, Swan Christian Education Association (SCEA) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Six schools had been planted during this era, and there was a sense that the concept of a new school site should be sought and planted in the coming years. SCEA had a significant presence in the hills of Perth, but the new coastal developments in Perth’s northern suburbs presented an opportunity for a new SCEA presence.
In October 2014, an agreement was signed between SCEA and PEET (the property development group opening ‘Shorehaven’, a coastal development in Alkimos) to establish a K-12 School. In February 2015, Shorehaven announced that a new school would be built within its estate.
At that time, families began to sign up for this “proposed Christian school”, which was yet to be built on Scotthorn Avenue. The process of selecting a uniform and school name began.
In July 2015, after numerous surveys, samples, and consultations with various stakeholders, the name was set. Northshore Christian Grammar School. “Northshore” signified a Christian school serving Perth’s northern shores rather than affiliating with a specific suburb like Alkimos, Eglinton, Trinity, or Shorehaven. Including “Christian” in the school’s name was consistent with other SCEA schools, which prioritise a non-denominational, Christ-centered education. The addition of “Grammar” emphasised the school’s focus on academics, sports, and music, creating a vision of an educational institution on what was previously an undeveloped piece of land.
In August 2015, Mr. Stuart Chisholm was appointed the founding Principal, assuming a pivotal role in shaping the new school.
The school’s scriptural basis came from Psalm 1, emphasising the Lord’s provision and a steadfast dedication to following His ways.
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”
Throughout 2016, construction of Stage 1 took place at the Northshore site, which included the current Kindergarten to Year 3 buildings. The colour scheme of gold and grey was implemented across the campus, spanning the uniforms, the cladding and the entrance statements.
Additionally, the foundation staff were announced.
1. Mrs Richelle Schokman (Kindergarten/ Pre Primary)
2. Mrs Rachel Gibson (Grade 1/2 and Music)
3. Ms Tanya Nicholl (Grade 3/4)
4. Mr Steve Pivetta (Grade 5/6)
5. Mrs Carla Dooley (Reception)
6. Mrs Melissa Carter (Admin)
On a scorching day in January 2017, Northshore opened its doors to just over 50 students. The sense of excitement within the community was palpable, with parents even dedicating their free time to constructing the new playground equipment. This was the culmination of countless hours of discussions, mission and vision statements, community meetings, and the dedicated efforts of the staff to transform the buildings into welcoming classrooms.
By August 2017, student numbers had increased to 80 as the first set of school photos was taken. If the first year could be captured in a few words, they would be Happy, Hot, Hectic and Heartfelt. Northshore was now a part of the community.
2018 marked the beginning of the secondary school journey, with 12 students transitioning from Grade 6 to Year 7. To cater for this new stage of development, Derek Speldewinde and Angel Hanna were employed to deliver the core subjects. Like many of the foundational staff, they continue to serve at Northshore today.
In 2019, Stage 2 of the school’s construction was complete, which included the undercover Sports Area and the E-Block building – the latter housed specialist rooms for Food Technology, Science, Art, and Woodwork. This expansion enabled Northshore to offer a comprehensive range of core subjects up to Year 12. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, 2020 proved to be a breakout year for Northshore. The sense of community and the effective response to the pandemic led to a doubling in enrolment numbers as the wider community recognised the quality of education and environment being provided at the school. Over the next eight terms, ten new classrooms and over 500 students were added to the school site and by 2022, the Primary School at Northshore had become double-streamed to accommodate a growing student population.
Most recently, in 2023, Northshore School achieved its goal of becoming a complete Kindergarten to Year 12 School, boasting a total enrolment of almost 700 students.
The inaugural Year 12 Graduate class finished in October 2023.
There is much to celebrate in the first seven years of Northshore. These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff, students, and supportive community.
There is still so much more to do at Northshore, and history is waiting to be made at the Scotthorn Avenue site. This future will be fulfilling for all involved and bring Glory to Our Lord and Saviour – Jesus Christ.
