History

June 1983

Mid 1983

A public meeting is held for anyone interested in establishing a Christian school in Alice Springs.

June 1983
December 1983

December 1983

A second public meeting is held, initiating the process of starting a school.

December 1983
February 1984

February 1984

‘Alice Springs Christian Academy (ASCA)’ commences at a private home in Alice Springs using Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) Australia. Staff are parents who have undertaken an ACE Supervisor training course. The purpose is: “To teach children God’s principles of relationships, self-discipline and personal character development, in conjunction with their academics.”

February 1984
April 1984

Easter 1984

The Academy moves to rented property on Elder Street due to growing enrolment numbers.

April 1984
October 1984

October 1984

Alice Springs Christian Academy is incorporated as an association.

October 1984
December 1984

Late 1984

The Academy moves to rented commercial property in Kidman Street with 13 students.

December 1984
June 1985

June 1985

Alice Springs Christian Academy is awarded professional registration.

June 1985
January 1986

January 1986

Five Transition students start morning class in a private home in Poeppel Gardens using ‘ABCs of ACE’ program.

January 1986
March 1986

March 1986

Assemblies of God pastor Phil Griffin is appointed as (nominal) School Principal. Alison Scott, the first qualified teacher, is appointed the ‘Teacher in Charge’. (Unfortunately, she falls ill and returns to Adelaide in late 1987.)

March 1986
June 1986

June 1986

Alice Springs Christian Academy applies for a grant of land to construct a new school.

June 1986
November 1986

November 1986

Alice Springs Christian Academy registers as a primary school.

November 1986
December 1986

December 1986

Glen Sawtell commences fabrication of steelwork for a new building.

December 1986
March 1987

March 1987

Department of Lands grants permission to commence site preparation.

March 1987
April 1987

April 1987

Alice Springs Christian Academy is granted Crown Lease of our current site on Blain Street, Araluen.

April 1987
August 1987

August 1987

Site preparation and foundations are completed.

August 1987
January 1988

January 1988

School year commences in the new school building.

January 1988
April 1988

April 1988

David (Bud) Crawford is appointed school Principal. (He returns to Canada in December 1988.)

April 1988
May 1988

May 1988

Alison Scott returns to teach at the school (before returning to Wales in December 1990).

May 1988
January 1989

January 1989

Shireen Selvaratnam is appointed ‘Teacher in Charge’. (Shireen returns to Malaysia in December 1990.)

January 1989
May 1989

May 1989

A formal invitation is extended to the Baptist Union of the Northern Territory to assume control of ASCA. The offer is declined after prayerful consideration and following a vote by church members.

May 1989
May 1990

May 1990

A public meeting is held at the Araluen Performing Arts Centre to gauge the level of support for establishing a parent-controlled school in Alice Springs.

May 1990
July 1990

July 1990

Darwin Christian Schools Association Executive Officer Craig Reynolds advises that his Association will incorporate Alice Springs Christian Academy into Darwin Christian Schools Association.

July 1990
October 1990

October 1990

School name is changed to ‘Araluen Christian School’.

October 1990
December 1990

December 1990

Consent is granted by Department of Lands to transfer Crown Lease of Blain Street premises to Darwin Christian Schools Association.

December 1990
January 1991

1991

A logo competition is held to find a logo for the College. (It is later rebranded for a more contemporary look.)

January 1991
January 1996

1996

The food technology and woodwork rooms are built.

January 1996
January 2008

2008

Middle school commences at ACC with the first Year 7 class. The school changes its name to ‘Araluen Christian College’ to include middle school. The words ‘faith, hope and love’ are added to the College logo.

January 2008
January 2009

2009

First Year 8 class at ACC commences.

January 2009
August 2009

August 2009

Middle school classroom is built and opened.

August 2009
January 2010

2010

The library opens. The first Year 9 class starts at ACC, using a room in the library as their classroom.

January 2010
January 2012

2012

The first College Chaplain begins working at the College. The general purpose leaving area for middle school students is also built and opens.

January 2012
June 2013

June 2013

Fire in the sports shed, with fire damage also to the food technology and woodwork rooms.

June 2013
May 2014

May 2014

Araluen Christian College celebrates its 30th anniversary.

May 2014
May 2015

May 2015

Middle school buildings open.

May 2015
June 2015

2015

Basketball court is built.

June 2015
January 2018

2018

The College is painted (from ochre red to the green shades of today).

January 2018
January 2019

2019

Staff develop ‘The Araluen Way’. The middle school grass area is landscaped.

January 2019
December 2020

December 2020

The new College logo is unveiled and master planning is also completed.

December 2020
January 2021

2021

New College signage is installed. B2 is refurbished into a food technology room. Junior outdoor learning area is refurbished. A10 is refurbished into an art room. B1 is refurbished into a woodwork room.

January 2021
January 2022

2022

First Year 10 students of Northern Territory Christian College, Araluen Campus, begin. Students paint ‘The Araluen Way’ mural.

January 2022