Learning Beyond the Classroom
Learning at Freshwater extends well beyond traditional classroom experiences. From the arts and sport to outdoor learning, personal growth and international experiences, students are given opportunities to discover their interests, develop their God-given strengths and try something new.
Building Students' Confidence and Skills Through Enriching Experiences
Across Kindy to Year 12, these experiences are an important part of life at Freshwater Christian College, building confidence, character, creativity, teamwork, resilience and connection, while creating experiences and memories that stay with students beyond their school years.
Explore our programs and opportunities below
Chapel
Each week, students come together for Chapel, providing a regular opportunity for worship, reflection and growing in their understanding of the Christian faith.
In Kindy and Primary, students participate in praise and worship, with classes sharing engaging and interactive messages from the Bible.
Secondary students also gather weekly for Chapel, with praise and worship led by our student Chapel Band. Messages are shared by our Freshwater Church Pastor, College Chaplain, teachers, alumni, guest speakers and senior students, bringing a range of voices and experiences to our community.
Freshwater Sports Program
A Strong Foundation in Physical Education
Physical Education classes begin in Primary School and continue as a core part of learning through Junior and Middle Secondary.
In Middle Secondary, students can extend their learning through Advanced Physical Education as an elective. In Years 11 and 12, students can continue with Health and Physical Education or pursue a vocational pathway through Certificate III in Fitness, developing practical skills and industry knowledge with access to our dedicated on-campus Fitness Centre.
Perceptual Motor Program
For our younger students, the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) develops coordination, balance, fitness, locomotion and fundamental movement skills.
Supported by our Year 6 student leaders, younger Primary students participate in engaging weekly sessions that build confidence and strong foundations for physical activity.
Inter-House Carnivals
Our Inter-House Carnivals are highlights of the College sporting calendar, bringing students together for competition, participation and plenty of house spirit.
Representing Douglas Barras, Frangos Sharks or Fuller Crocs, students are encouraged to get involved in our major sporting events:
- Swimming Carnival: Years 3–12
- Splashorama: Prep–Year 2
- Cross Country Carnival: Prep–Year 12
- Athletics Carnival: Years 3–12
- Junior Athletics Carnival: Kindy–Year 2
Swimming & Water Safety
Primary students participate in swimming and water safety programs, building confidence and important skills in and around the water. The program culminates in our Swimming Carnival for Senior Primary students, while younger students enjoy Splashorama, a fun-filled celebration to conclude their swimming program.
Cross Country Squad
Students aged 10 years and older are invited to join our Cross Country Squad in Term 1. From beginners through to competitive runners, students can train in preparation for our College carnival and representative competition, or simply participate for fitness, friendship and enjoyment. Our Cross Country program has achieved strong results in recent years, with Freshwater students progressing through regional and state competition, and some going on to represent Queensland at national championships.
Athletics
Athletics skills are developed through PE lessons, with additional training opportunities offered at lunchtimes and through our Personal Growth Program (PGP) in the lead-up to the carnival.
Senior Primary and Secondary students compete in our major Inter-House Athletics Carnival, with qualifying athletes progressing through Trinity Coast North (TCN), Peninsula, State and National competitions.
Kindy and Junior Primary students also enjoy a fun-filled Athletics Carnival, featuring age-appropriate running, field and obstacle events.
Personal Growth Program (PGP)
Our Personal Growth Program provides further opportunities for students to be active, extend their sporting interests and try something new. Alongside traditional sports, students can explore a changing range of recreational activities and experiences, including golf at the driving range, roller skating, bowling and more.
Freshwater Falcons Futsal
Our Freshwater Falcons Futsal program gives Primary and Secondary students the opportunity to enjoy being part of a sporting team alongside their peers. Through weekly games during the summer and winter seasons at Redlynch Sports Stadium, students and families can connect with the Freshwater community while developing skills, teamwork and a love of being active.
After-school training is conveniently held in our College gym, and parents are encouraged to get involved, with opportunities to support and coach teams. The College subsidises playing fees to help make the program accessible and inclusive.
Students can also trial for selection to represent Freshwater at the FNQ Futsal Titles and FQ Futsal Championships, competing against schools from across Far North Queensland.
Inter-School Sport
Students have opportunities to represent Freshwater across a range of inter-school sporting competitions, including Futsal, Basketball, Netball and Volleyball, with training offered for selected sports throughout the year.
Secondary students also participate in weekly Junior Secondary Sport (JSS) and CISSA competitions, competing against schools from across the region in a variety of sports.
Representative Pathways
Students looking to take their sport further are supported to pursue representative opportunities across a wide range of sporting disciplines. Trinity Coast North (TCN) trials provide the first step in the school sport representative pathway, with successful students able to progress to Peninsula, State and National competition.
Freshwater Music Program
A Strong Foundation
Music starts early with weekly, engaging music classes from Kindergarten through Primary, transitioning into an exciting elective pathway in Secondary School.
Tailored Private Tuition
Elevate your child’s skills with private, one-on-one instrumental tutoring offered right on campus, conveniently scheduled before, during, or after school hours.
The Year 5 Band Experience
Every Year 5 student steps into the spotlight! For the entire school year, every student receives a complimentary loan instrument, 30 minutes of weekly specialised small-group tuition, and a combined band session, as well as performance opportunities.
Award-Winning Choirs/Ensembles
Students can engage in our vibrant ensemble roster, including our award-winning Primary Choir, Senior Primary/Secondary Band, Secondary ensembles, and various specialised instrumental groups.
Worship & Live Sound Production
Secondary students in our Chapel Band lead the school community in weekly praise and worship. There is also an opportunity for them to gain hands-on, practical experience mastering live sound mixing and audio production.
Performance Opportunities
Students are offered a range of performance opportunities, including our College Community Arts Festival, formal concerts, assembly and College event performances, casual lunchtime quad gigs, the local Freshwater Festival, and the Cairns Eisteddfod.
Extension Pathways
For dedicated musicians looking to take their craft further, we actively support entry into prestigious regional and state extension programs like SHEP and QREP.
Freshwater Visual Arts Program
Creativity Starts Early
Creativity is nurtured right from Kindergarten, where children explore art, craft, and creative expression through hands-on play and discovery. This continues into Primary School through dedicated Visual Arts classes, where students develop their foundational skills, experiment with different materials, and discover new ways to express their ideas.
Explore & Extend
Students with a passion for the arts can dive deeper into their creativity through our Personal Growth Program (PGP) electives, offering additional opportunities to pursue their artistic interests.
Secondary Visual Arts
Secondary students experience a progressive arts journey. In Junior Secondary, they expand their core artistic techniques through rotational subjects, progressing to tailored Middle Secondary electives. In Years 11 and 12, students can undertake a Certificate III in Visual Arts, refining their personal creative practice while developing practical skills for post-school creative pathways.
Exhibitions & Competitions
At Freshwater, learning doesn’t stop in the studio! We actively encourage our students to take their work beyond the classroom and engage with the broader artistic community. Freshwater students regularly showcase their talents and earn accolades in key local events, including:
- Cairns Show
- Cairns Children’s Festival Exhibitions
- Energy Exhibition (Tanks Arts Centre)
- Receive & Respond Exhibition (Tanks Arts Centre)
- BLA Visual Arts Awards
- Cairns Billboard Competition
- Trash to Treasure: Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose Competition (Cairns Regional Council)
Showcasing Student Creativity
Our annual College Community Arts Festival provides a vibrant platform for students from Kindy to Year 12 to exhibit their artwork, celebrating their creative achievements with families and the wider Freshwater community. Our weekly Primary Assembly also features a “Gallery Glance”, providing an opportunity to showcase and celebrate students’ artwork.
Extension Pathways
For students looking to take their creative practice to the next level, targeted extension pathways provide unique opportunities to refine skills, gain industry insight, and build connections within the professional arts world.
Key opportunities include:
- FLAME Mentoring Program
- Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art (QAGOMA)
Freshwater Performing Arts Program
Building Confidence Through Drama
Drama is introduced as a rotational subject in Junior Secondary and continues as an elective in Middle and Senior Secondary. Students develop skills in performance, communication, collaboration and creative expression while exploring a range of dramatic forms and techniques.
Performance Opportunities
Students have opportunities to bring their learning to the stage through school-based plays, College events and our Community Arts Festival. As a Kindy to Year 12 College, Freshwater also offers valuable cross-age opportunities, with Secondary Drama students performing for younger audiences in Primary and Kindy throughout the year.
College Musical
Every two years, students have the opportunity to be part of our College musical. From performing on stage to contributing behind the scenes, the production brings students together to experience the creativity, teamwork and excitement involved in bringing a major production to life.
Beyond the Stage
Students are encouraged to extend their skills through opportunities beyond the College, including participation in programs and events such as the Port Shorts Film Festival and Bell Shakespeare Shorts Festival. These experiences provide further opportunities for students to create, perform and share their work with wider audiences.
Freshwater Outdoor Learning Program
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Our Outdoor Learning Program gives students opportunities to learn, explore and challenge themselves in the incredible natural environments of Far North Queensland.
Beginning with nature-based learning in Kindergarten and progressing through hiking, camps and outdoor challenges, students are encouraged to build confidence, resilience, independence and teamwork as they move through the College.
Bush Kindy
Outdoor learning begins in Kindergarten with our much-loved Bush Kindy Program. During Terms 2 and 3, our 3 and 4-year-old Kindy classes venture to the creek on our 40-acre property twice each week to learn, play and explore in nature.
These regular experiences encourage curiosity, creativity and confidence while helping children develop an early connection with the natural world.
Hiking Program
Our progressive hiking program introduces students to increasingly challenging outdoor experiences as they move through the College, making the most of some of the spectacular natural environments on our doorstep.
Students build their skills, confidence and endurance through age-appropriate experiences:
- Years 3–4: Half-day hike at Mount Whitfield
- Years 5–6: Extended half-day hike along the Wangetti Trail
- Years 7–9: Full-day hike to Glacier Rock
- Years 10–11: Overnight hiking experience
Each stage builds on the last, encouraging students to challenge themselves, support one another and develop confidence in the outdoors.
Camping Program
Our camping program extends from Year 4 through to Year 11, giving students opportunities to step outside their everyday routines, experience new environments and strengthen relationships with their peers.
Across the program, students take part in a range of outdoor activities and experiences designed to develop teamwork, resilience and independence, while supporting their personal and spiritual growth.
With Far North Queensland as our backyard, camps take students to diverse locations including Magnetic Island, Fitzroy Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Lake Tinaroo, Echo Creek and the Daintree Rainforest Observatory.
The Great Wheelbarrow Race
For Year 12 students, the Great Wheelbarrow Race provides a unique final-year challenge combining endurance, teamwork, service and community.
Following a dedicated training program, participating students take on the 140km relay from Mareeba to Chillagoe over three days. More than a physical challenge, the experience also gives students an opportunity to make a difference, raising funds for a chosen charity each year.
Orienteering
Set across our 40-acre campus, our purpose-built orienteering courses give Primary and Secondary students hands-on navigation experience during PE classes and PGP electives.
Through practical challenges in map reading, compass use, route planning, and terrain recognition, students build critical problem-solving skills, teamwork, and the confidence to navigate the outdoors safely.
International Trips
Our Japan Tour provides secondary students with a rich cultural immersion experience. Participants have the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks, taste authentic Japanese cuisine, explore everyday language skills, and gain insight into daily life through a local school immersion program. This experience is open to secondary students interested in expanding their global perspective.
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Connect With Us
(07) 4243 3600
info@fcc.qld.edu.au
369-401 Brinsmead Road,
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