Dear parents and carers,
Thank you for the warm welcome so many of you have given me, whether at the café (where I am convinced coffee is one of the essential ingredients of school life!) or in meetings across the school. It was also a joy to meet many of you at the opening of our new Learning Hub.
My intention is to write to you each week with my thoughts on matters of significance. I hope you generally agree that the subject matter is significant.
Honouring Our Founders
It was lovely to honour the vision and sacrifices of our founders, a significant number of whom attended the formal Learning Hub Opening. Their sacrifices 48 years ago were financial as well costly in time. The Lord has honoured their commitment far more than they could have imagined at the time. Our new building is beautiful, very functional and presents much of the current research and best practice of building design. We know that “unless the Lord builds the house the workers labour in vain” Psalm 127:1. This is a reminder that we need to stay true to our vision and purpose.
A Challenging Cultural Time for Young People
This is a strategic time to be part of Christian schooling. All over the Western world there is an epidemic of youth mental health crisis. Young people perceive a society which seems in so many ways out of control across the world. There are major wars in so many countries brought into our homes nightly via the television news. Young people’s frame tells them that climate change threatens the extinction of human life. They are confronted by images of poverty, discrimination, disadvantage and despair.
Social media algorithms feed them with a diet of despondency. Bullying and harassment occur in this generation not so much physically but virtually from young people’s devices, usually in their own homes. Indeed, this conforms exactly to the apostle Paul’s analysis; “We know that the whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22). Not only we humans but the whole cosmos need redemption.
The anchor, the hope young people need is found in Jesus; “He is before all things and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). This is our message and this is the centre of our school.
Parent and Carer Welcome Evening
My wife Kate and I are looking forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming Parent and Carer Welcome Evening on Monday 2 February.
On the night you will expect:
- A short presentation from me at 7:00pm (approximately 30 minutes),
- followed by 15 minutes of Q&A,
- and then time to enjoy conversation together over supper.
If you plan to attend but have not yet registered, please take a moment to RSVP to assist with catering.
Dr John Collier
Interim Principal
