Events

Today's all school assembly celebrated Easter. As a Christian school we recognise Easter as the central celebration of history. School Captains Todd and Lauren welcomed students & opened in prayer. Throughout the assembly three Bible readings told the story of Easter. 

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Mrs Staples conducted the Year 3-4 classes in playing and singing the hymn "There is a green hill" (to tune of house of the rising sun. Miss Rose and our school worship band then led us in the songs "Ancient of Days" and "Amazing Grace"

Mrs Pitt's Year 9 drama group did a brilliant presentation of 'The Three Trees". This is a story of three trees with great dreams of becoming a treasure chest, a mighty ship and the other to stay on the mountain pointing to the sky. Each tree's dream came true in the life of Jesus but not as they expected. One was made into the feeding trough where Jesus lay, another become the fishing boat in which Jesus calmed the storm and the third the cross on which Jesus died.

Mrs Conway conducted a wonderful vocal ensemble of the song "People get ready" before Mr Rusin closed in prayer.

Covenant's new outdoor amphitheatre near the shade cloths was officially opened last week. Three of those responsible for its construction - Tim Maddrell, one of our parents, John Theobald and Bill Joselin - were interviewed and honoured for their work. Head of Junior School Wayne Morton gave the following speech and explained the naming of the area.

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"I came back from holidays. I went to work in my air conditioned office but you were out here working with the sun beating down on you. I sat down at my desk to read emails, on my comfy chair, but you were slaving away with your muscles building sawing hammering. I arrived at 9am and left at 3pm (it was my holiday after all). And you were here when I arrived and still here when I left.

I must say they look fantastic, they must have been hard to build. Now I searched in the Bible for a reference to steps and this is what I found…
"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."
Mr Maddrell what thought did you have to give to the construction of these steps? ... I guess that makes you a prudent man.

Do you think that this is what the writer of the Bible meant when he wrote this? I wonder if the steps that the wise man should give thought to… are not these steps as beautiful as they are Mr Maddrell but I wonder if it is the steps he takes in his life,
-    decisions he makes  
-    the places he goes
-    the things he says

Maybe, Mr Maddrell because of the construction of these steps,
-    the games we play,
-    the assemblies we have
-    the memory verses we learn
-    and the lessons we hold here
I am hoping that they will help all of us  to give thought to our steps, God’s thoughts to our steps … and so be wise.

Mr Maddrell thanks for building these steps.
Mr Joselin thanks for building these steps for us
Mr Theobald thanks for building, and planning for the steps to be built."

Mr Theobald then had the honour of cutting the ribbon before kids moved up on to the steps for the naming of the steps.

"Suggestions for the steps included
-    Big England
-    Mount Zion
-    Covie Lovie Steps
-    The Giant Bean Stalk
-    Stairway to the handball courts (sort of rolls of your tongue this one)
-    The Spanish Steps
-    The Cauldron
-    Down Under
-    The big Green steps
-    Little Oz
-    The apple steps
-    Aussie Stadium
-    The Steppy Steps

And the winner is….  COLOSSEUM

Named after a great work of architecture (another one)
Named after a place that was a central meeting place in Rome – central meeting place
A place capable of seating 50 000 people – seats all of Junior School
A place where gladiators performed for the crowd – speech giving
A place where games were held - handball
A place used for both entertainment and learning – sport and assemblies
A place where Christians who stood up for Jesus, were so committed that they were fed to the lions – Christians meet in lines"

Well done to all involved. I am sure we will enjoy this space for many years to come. Additional shade cloths are also planned.

Today was a day of celebration for our 70 Year 10 with their final day and assembly. While most students are continuing on for Year 11 some are finishing their studies or going to another school. Mr Rusin gave a short address before certificates and reports were presented by Mr Monin and Mrs O'Sullivan. School Captains Todd Daniels and Lauren Bothma encouraged and thanked the students for the role they have played in the school. Their speech is included below.

Mrs Conway's Year 10 music class played and sang "When we were Young" before presentation of two Principals Awarxds. The worship band sang "You are my strength".

Well done Year 10 enjoy the Formal and holidays!!



We are both honoured to come and speak here today at the momentous event of your Year 10 graduation. It has been hard to highlight aspected of your year which will pinpoint what you have meant to the school. You have all made such great contributions to the school through the  amazing amount of talent seen within your year. From the mind blowing abilities within music and sport which are major standouts within your year to art, drama, D&T, woodwork and even friendships. Some in your year are even progressing in their academics by doing accelerated subjects. The inspiring capabilities within your year have been central to your role in the school. It has helped grow those around you and help grow the school. If you don't agree that your year is incredibly talented then there are others who can vouch for me when I say that there is a great deal of unity within your year.

Over the years relationships have developed but 2008 has really sparked the brotherly and sister like love amongst each of you. There has been endless times when someone in your year had delivered love, or compassion, or encouragement to others. It's great to see the strong bonds whcih will last for countless years to come so keep strong with one another.

It is also evident that God is working tremendously in your year. His works have grown a lot of you into very fine and mature men and women even though there may have been times when you have gotten into trouble, but that's all part of growing up and having fun. Many if not all of you have a passion for God which does not go unseen. It strikes the eyes and ears of those around you helping to form others into who they are and influencing how God workings in their lives. Your talents and friendships are something you have helped develop in others and they have heled develop in you. It is a great belssing to have such an impressive grade at school. Thank you for the joys and love you have given this school.

Todd Daniels

Like Todd I think you guys have made a great impact on the school. For those of you who are leaving Covie we will sorely miss you, whether you are going to a new schol or finishing of your schooling to take a new path our best wishes are with you. I hope that you will carry many happy memories from Covenant and that you will continue to seek Christ in all things.

For those of you staying at Covenant we look forward to sharing with you the next few years. I hope that as the senior grades of the school that we would be able to support each other especially as we do the HSC and you guys make the jump from Year 10 to Year 11. As we stick together next year and are home class together, which will be a new experience in itself, I hope that we can make a postitive impact on our school.

Although it is often daunting, scary and stressful thinking about the next two years and doing the HSC, it is also going to be an amazing time for your grade to become closer and like our grade has found out, you will see that friendships will become stronger too.

I just want to leave you with something God has been teaching me: it seems that today we find our confidences in our marks or academics, in our friends or our popularity, in our talents or sport or music and in many other places. As Christians our confidence doesn't lie in these wordly places. Instead Jeremiah 17:7 says "blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."

So as you go to your formal tonight and as you have an extra week of holidays (think of us at school slaving away) but also remember that marks, friends, talents mean nothing when our faith is in Christ.

Have a fantastic holiday Year 10.

Lauren Bothma

Friday's Junior Assembly was a great mix of singing, Japanese drama (see below), a wonderful message on "Living for God", and recognising student's efforts with merit certificates. We also enjoyed a special guest speaker Julia Boland who is one of Australia's top female golfers. Julia is also the little sister of Mrs Dye (Year 5). Julia came to share about her experiences of being a Christian golfer on tour. Julia opened her bag and showed us her teddy Phillip who travels with her on tour and reminds her of Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength". After her inspiring talk she showed the students her trick of being bouncing a golfball on her golfstick. She made it look easy, but as three students found out it was actually very difficult.

Julia wrote the following for us "Thank you for inviting me to come and speak to you about my favourite topic, God. Being a Christian is a great honour and we are all blessed with so many gifts and abilities. Playing golf for Australia has meant that I have been able to see some amazing countries and meet heaps of people who have achieved great things on the sporting field. One of the best feelings is being able to sing your national anthem loud and proud after winning an international event for your country!!! However as amazing as playing for Australia is the best best best thing in my life is knowing that God loves me so much he sent his only son to die for me on a cross!!!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about some of my adventures today, and I hope that you all love to play sport with your friends…. But most importantly I hope you put God as your first priority!!" Julia Boland 

One of our Year 4 classes presented a Japanese Drama: Konnichiwa – A day in Japan
Students in 4S have been learning about the Japanese culture and language in class. For an assembly item, they put together a song and a skit using the Japanese phrases they had been learning. The item consisted of a Japanese greeting song followed by scenarios based on different settings; such as at school, at home, at a restaurant and at a shop. The students worked hard at pronouncing the Japanese phrases and putting together the skit. It was a wonderful experience where they were able to work as a team and demonstrate the Japanese language they had been learning.

On Tuesday 12th the Senior Assembly was a full program. Student Ben Fraser delivered a passionate devotion to fellow students and staff. You can read it below.  Students were then challenged by a very clever and satirical video by World Vision on the "terrible" condition of Australian students being forced to go to school. This is part of the 40 Hour Famine. You can learn more and see the video here.

The Winner of the Year 10 Bald Covie Art Competition went to Simon Swadling. The People's Choice Award was won by Evelyn Cheng. (See their artwork here). Then it was a wonderful array of awards being presented for students in Writing and Science. The applause from fellow students for each of the presentations was extremely encouraging.

Devotion by Student Ben Fraser

“Renounce your Jesus or we will kill you.”
Imagine being asked that question. You life rests upon your answer. 
Nine years ago a young teenage boy living in Indonesia was faced with that exact situation.
What would you say if you were him?

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
- Matthew 10:21

Who ever said that being a Christian should be easy? Who ever said that our path should be laid out straight before us like a highway? When Jesus said the words; “All men will hate you because of me,” he didn’t mean; “you are going to have an easy life” he meant that you are going to be insulted, despised, tortured and killed for your faith. Thousands are martyred every year because they stood up for Jesus. Who ever said that being a Christian is easy?

It’s funny though, an observer would easily make the observation that, in fact, the life of the Christian in Australia is easy. We have religious freedom and we are able to share the faith openly. We are not killed tortured or thrown into jail for our faith. To be fair we may be insulted and rejected once in a while, but, to put it in perspective, we aren’t asked to “Deny Christ or die.” every day. This, this is something to be thankful for, because persecution truly is a terrible thing but, I think that this can also be dangerous, we can become lazy, complacent inactive and weak and, when faced with trials we can falter and fall. If we are presented with a hard road to travel then we simply crumble. When we are faced with trials we need to persevere and when we are presented with the hard road we need to sand firm. Matthew 10:21 says “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” One martyr, as she was about to die said this; “My Saviour died for me. I will also die for Him.”

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”

What Paul is saying here is absolutely amazing! He is saying that he likes it when people mock him, when people throw him in jail, when people beat him! Why? Why? “For when I am weak, then I am strong” When Paul is huddled up in the corner of the prison cell, after being spat on and beaten, that is when he is weakest, and that is when God is with him most. This gladness in suffering isn’t a human thing. No, Paul wasn’t some superhuman superhero, he was just like you or me. What made him say that? What made him so brave? I think that it was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit that gave him the strength to say those things, gave him the strength to keep standing firm for God.

And just like the disciples and the early church, we can be strengthened by the Holy Spirit too. Throughout our lives God calls us to stand firm for Him, and sometimes that means be persecuted, “refined by fire”. For, through hardships we produce things like perseverance, love for our enemies and a much stronger relationship with God. I want to say, that maybe, if we aren’t being persecuted, we should make ourselves more prominent in the world. Just like a runner in the Olympics, if your legs aren’t screaming out to stop then you aren’t running hard enough. Now, I’m not saying we should go, and get on everybody’s nerves and try to make them hate us, rather to preach the gospel wherever it needs to be heard, encourage Christians wherever they need to be encouraged and, if persecution comes as a result, then, so be it.
Acts gives a stirring account of the stoning of Stephen and right in the middle there is this wonderful verse: “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55.

“Renounce your Jesus or we will kill you.” Threatened the Muslim extremists.
The boy replied; “I am a soldier of Christ”
Imagine being asked that question. A question of life and death; one answer equals life and the other results in death. But I think that often people get them mixed around.

“Deny Christ or die.”
What would you say?