The school enjoyed celebrations for its milestone in September, with the whole Gunnedah community enjoying the festivities.

The building itself was erected in 1899, where it was first home to Gunnedah Public School before it moved to Bloomfield Street. It then became Gunnedah Christian Community School in 1993 before Carinya Christian School took over in 1999.

Coincidentally, current principal Chad Kentwell also kick-started his teaching career in 1999 in Newcastle.

Read also:

Both Carinya and Mr Kentwell have seen many changes over the past 20 years.

The principal has worked at numerous schools in Newcastle, Muswellbrook, and Maitland before moving to Gunnedah for his current role.

Major changes for the school have included rapidly increasing enrollment numbers, and the introduction of its new middle school.

The school introduced year 7 for the first time this year and built a brand new campus for the older students. In the years to come, more schooling years will be added, culminating in year 10 in 2022.

"Moving into year 7, it's created another opportunity for families in Gunnedah and further afield to have more choices. We have families from as far as Narrabri coming everyday," Mr Kentwell said.

Mr Kentwell said that in October this year, there were 203 students from preparatory class to year 7, compared to just 73 students from prep to year 6 in 2015.

"We've gone from having combined classes - when I got here, each class had two grades in it - and, as of next year, we'll have a separate class for every grade," he said.

The principal said the next step would hopefully be further expansion of the school.

"We're hoping to secure more property so we can expand further and hopefully build stage 3 of the development, but before we can look at that we need to look at purchasing more properties adjoining the current property we own," Mr Kentwell said.

"If we can do that we'll build a new early learning centre, new library/multi purpose learning area as well as additional administration and staffing areas and car parking spaces."

Mr Kentwell said there were numerous 'best bits' about being the principal of the school.

"It's being part of a growing school ... providing a quality Christian education to more and more people in Gunnedah, and, as part of that growth, getting to meet so many more people who have come to look at the school and enrolled and continued to work with them on the care and education of their children," he said.

"I've very much enjoyed living in the community, living in Gunnedah, being part of the community and getting to know the school community."