Good News Lutheran College has been known by several different names across the past 25 years. When first established, the school was called Good News Primary School. From an initial list of 22 suggestions, two options were referred to the Council for Lutheran Schools for approval and advice on the final selection. The Council’s executive considered both names proposed – ‘Morning Star’ and ‘Good News’ – and gave its enthusiastic approval for ‘Good News’. It was officially announced at the Land Dedication service held on 27 November 1994. “The School Development Team held a naming competition inviting name suggestions that were reviewed by the committee,” recalls Graeme Simpkin, current Board member and St Philip’s congregation member. “Good News was selected from the pool of competing suggestions as a name that represented the mission of the school in our western suburbs.” At the end of its first year of operation, the name was changed to Good News Christian School, to reflect its Christian heritage and values more accurately. To align with our Lutheran connection, Lutheran Education VIC, NSW & TAS (LEVNT) recommended our name change to Good News Lutheran School in 2005. Then in 2011, as the school moved to secondary, the name Good News Lutheran College was chosen to represent the school’s Prep – Year 12 offering. WHAT’S IN A NAME?
OUR MISSION AND VALUES
GNPS was established to give families in the western suburbs the option of sending their children to “a Christian school that was affordable and provided an excellent education,” recalls Irene Lutze, SDT member. This focus continues today, with the school advertising its mission as: Ȩ Living Christ’s Mission Ȩ Empowering Inquiring Minds Ȩ Preparing Global Citizens “Every child is a gifted child, growing and learning together in Christ.” 1998 school prospectus From 2007, the school aimed to: Ȩ Help children relate faith to their lives Ȩ Foster the God-given gifts of each child Ȩ Develop teacher-student relationships which are empowered by God’s love Ȩ Remain accessible by keeping fees low “Good Christian values and a belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ are the foundation upon which the Good News Lutheran School has built a quality education program,” noted an article in The Banner in April 2010. Advertisements around this time emphasised the school’s welcoming culture, small classes and community where every child is valued and known. Today, Good News Lutheran College’s core values are: Ȩ Grace Ȩ Respect Ȩ Integrity Ȩ Courage These values empower students to be both successful learners and valuable members of the wider community.
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