Hillcrest Christian College

The origins of Hillcrest Christian College can be traced back to the Palm Beach Baptist Church, which was established in 1928, and the church congregation began planning concepts for a Christian school in the 1970s.History of Palm Beach/Reedy Creek Baptist Church (2022). Retrieved from https://www.rcbc.org.au/post/history-of-palm-beach-reedy-creek-baptist-church Accessed 11 November 2024. Southern Gold Coast Christian Community School was opened on the Palm Beach Baptist Church grounds in 1982 with just 37 students ranging from years 1-7 and operated there until 1986 when the school relocated to Reedy Creek.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). History. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/about/history {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612012850/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/about/history/ |date=12 June 2014 }} The school was then renamed Hillcrest Christian College and retained a close connection with the Palm Beach Baptist Church until it also relocated to a site near the school and became the Reedy Creek Baptist Church in 2001.

The school has had four principals since its opening:

• Andrew Mackie (Founding Principal): 1982–1990
• Stuarte Kerdel: 1991–2001
• Keith Francis: 2002–2014
• Jeff Davis: 2015–current

In 2021, Hillcrest will introduce a Middle Learning Community which will create four distinct learning areas: Kindy, Junior, Middle and Senior Learning Communities.Hillcrest Christian College. (2020). History. Retrieved from https://www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au/communities/mlc Accessed 7 December 2020.

Hillcrest Christian College has partnerships with Griffith University and Bond University. In 2013, 32% of Year 12 graduates completed vocational studies while in Year 12.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). Academic Testing Results. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/news/2013-academic-testing-results {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730093102/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/news/2013-academic-testing-results |date=30 July 2014 }} In addition, five scholarships and guaranteed entries were awarded to students in 2013 to these universities.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). Past Scholarship Recipients. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/college-structure/senior-years-10-12/past-scholarship-recipients {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107101727/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/college-structure/senior-years-10-12/past-scholarship-recipients |date=7 November 2014 }}

Hillcrest Christian College offers a dedicated Gifted & Talented program to cater for students who have been identified as significantly more advanced academically than their age group.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). College Structure. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/college-structure/echo/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611212727/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/college-structure/echo/ |date=11 June 2014 }}

International enrolments make up 6% of the total student population at Hillcrest Christian College.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). International. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/international/

The school implemented its International Student Program in 1996 and teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to students currently speaking:

• English
• Chinese
• Japanese
• South Korean
• Taiwan(China)
• Hong Kong(China)

Hillcrest Christian College provides a range of sporting activities to all students including:Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). Sport. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/sport/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612001457/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/sport/ |date=12 June 2014 }}

• Physical Education
• Aquatics Program
• Interschool Sport
• Outside School Hours Sport
• Interhouse Carnivals

Hillcrest run a very successful Basketball Excellence Program, which culminated in a 2016 senior boys state championship{{cite web |url=https://www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au/news/2016-state-champions |title=2016 State Champions! |publisher=Hillcrest Christian College |date=5 October 2016}} and a third-place finish in the national championships.{{cite web |url=http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-8979-0-434300-0&pool=0&round=0&a=ROUND |title=2016 Australian Basketball School Championships |publisher=Basketball Australia |date=9 December 2016}} The College also claimed the 2019 Primary Female AFL Schools Cup State Championship, coached by 251-game former AFL player Matthew Lappin.{{cite web |url=https://www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au/news/hillcrest-girls-win-afl-schools-cup-state-championship |title=HILLCREST GIRLS WIN AFL SCHOOLS CUP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP|publisher=www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au |date=23 October 2019}}

• AFL Queensland Schools Cup

: {{Silver2}} Runners Up: 2022

• Australian Schools Championships

: {{Bronze3}} Third Place: 2016

• Australian Schools Championships

: {{Silver2}} Runners Up: 2022

Hillcrest Christian College offers an array of options for students wanting to pursue performing arts including:Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). The Arts. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/the-arts/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612001508/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/the-arts/ |date=12 June 2014 }}

• Dance Academy
• Drama
• Choral Program
• Choral Excellence Program
• College Musical
• Instrumental

Hillcrest Christian College has four houses that each student represents in the swimming, cross country and athletics carnival. Each house is named after a Christian missionary throughout history.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). Interhouse Carnivals. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/sport/interhouse-carnivals/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612014140/http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/sport/interhouse-carnivals/ |date=12 June 2014 }}

Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) was a Protestant Christian missionary in India who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She worked mostly with young ladies, some of whom were saved from forced prostitution and wrote thirty-five published books.Hillcrest Christian College. (2014). Hillcrest Houses Missionaries History. Retrieved from http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/uploads/documents/HILLCREST-HOUSES-NAMES-MISSIONARIES-HISTORY1.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604055410/http://www.hillcrest.qld.edu.au/uploads/documents/HILLCREST-HOUSES-NAMES-MISSIONARIES-HISTORY1.pdf |date=4 June 2014 }}

John Flynn (1880–1951) was an Australian Presbyterian minister who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service (the world's first air ambulance). After studying to at Ormond College in Melbourne, he was made the first superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission. Flynn quickly established the need for medical care for those living in the Australian outback and opened a number of hospitals in the bush.

Betty Greene (1920–1997) used her love for flying for Christian mission work after serving with the Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War II. She served for 16 years in 12 different countries until her death in 1997.

Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission. During his 51 years in China he was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to China who opened 125 schools. Taylor was able to preach in several varieties of Chinese, including Mandarin, Chaozhou and the Wu dialects of Shanghai and Ningbo. He used these talents to prepare a written edition of the New Testament.

• Joe Davidson, actor{{cite web |url=https://www.oceanroadmagazine.com.au/theres-life-after-neighbours-for-joe-as-sons-of-summer-hits-our-screens-whats-next/ |title=There’s Life After Neighbours for Joe, as Sons of Summer Hits Our Screens. What’s Next? |accessdate=27 October 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4915010/ |title=Joe Davidson - IMDB Profile |accessdate=22 November 2024}}
• Apollo Jackson, TV personality and magician{{cite web |url=https://goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coasters-celebrating-best-friends-day-and-revealing-what-makes-their-relationships-click/news-story/761f54b7b0d73fd265272cfc3ee87cc0 |title=Gold Coasters celebrating Best Friends Day |accessdate=4 December 2024}}

• Flynn Cameron, basketball player with Melbourne United (NBL), New Zealand (FIBA){{cite web |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/collegiate-guard-links-up-with-united |title=Melbourne United has begun what looms as a hectic off-season of signings |accessdate=10 July 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://nz.basketball/tall-blacks-stats-deep-dive-flynn-cameron/ |title=TALL BLACKS STATS ‘DEEP DIVE’: FLYNN CAMERON |accessdate=18 October 2022}}
• Tobias Cameron, basketball player with the Taranaki Airs (NZNBL){{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11760554 |title=FIBA Oceania Champs begin today |accessdate=12 August 2018}}
• Izzy Wright, basketball player with the Melbourne Boomers (WNBL){{cite web |url=https://wnbl.basketball/melbourne/news/deakin-melbourne-boomers-boost-roster-signing-izzy-wright/ |title=DEAKIN MELBOURNE BOOMERS BOOST ROSTER SIGNING IZZY WRIGHT |accessdate=16 March 2024}}
• Gideon Burnes, won a silver medal at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships

{{Reflist}}

• [http://hillcrest.qld.edu.au/ Official School Website]

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Category:Schools on the Gold Coast, Queensland

Category:Private schools in Queensland

Category:High schools in Queensland

Category:Educational institutions established in 1982

Category:1982 establishments in Australia