Moving in the Same Direction

The Compass document allows the NBCS Board to move into the future while staying true to our unique culture and our founders’ intents.  

Every school has its own unique ‘flavour’. But as time moves on, and with staff and leadership changes, staying true to that original flavour can be challenging. A lack of shared clarity around a school’s mission, values and founding principles can give way to ambiguity and inconsistency. 

Recently, the Board of Northern Beaches Christian School engaged imageseven to assist in documenting its founding principles, beliefs and values. The result was The Compass, a document that sets out and supports continuity, leadership and decision making over time. 

“It both re minds us of who we are as a School and tells us where we’re headed,” says Principal Tim Watson. 

Clarity is essential for moving forward together in the same direction, says Mr Watson. “When leaders are working from different assumptions about what a school stands for, it leads to disappointment and disaffection. The more you have a shared view of what you’re seeking to achieve, the easier it is to work together.” 

Having a reference point like The Compass that achieves clarity and supports continuity is important for NBCS right now. At the age of 45 years, the school is on the point of generational change, with many custodians of culture retiring.  

Creating The Compass underlined for the Board that it was important to continue to be openly, non-apologetically and non-defensively the school that NBCS has always been.  

“We don’t have to hide the fact that we are Northern Beaches Christian School,” says Mr Watson. “What we need into the future is to be authentically who we say we are.” 

The Compass is used as a touchpoint for the Board to come back to when looking at future directions. It’s also used in the recruitment process for future Board members and has enabled NBCS to have positive and strong engagement with members of alumni, former staff and former board members.  

“Recently, we named our new STEM building for the founding family,” says Mr Watson. “It’s been lovely to reconnect with the roots of the school and share with them the ongoing shared vision and purpose that they had 45 years ago. I think they were heartened and pleased that what they had set out to do wasn’t being washed away.”

LINK: Read The Compass document.

LINK: Listen to Mr Tim Watson discuss the process of creating The Compass: Replacing Assumptions with Clarity – Interview with Tim Watson

LINK: Read Mr Watson’s summary of The Compass on his blog.