A Word from Merrilynne Shaw
I vividly remember a children’s talk at a church I attended. The speaker had brought in some old leftovers he’d found in his fridge, as well as some mouldy vegetables and some bananas, way past their prime. He combined them all in a large clear bowl, creating a most unappetising brownish sludge, and then suggested the children eat it. They declined of course. The speaker asked the children what would happen if they ate it. They all agreed that they would be sick, with one bold child adding, “…from both ends.” If we put garbage into our bodies, then the garbage is going to have to come out. It’s the same with our minds. If we feed our minds with garbage, then it is going to come out in our actions.
Garbage In – Garbage Out!
This phrase is often heard in Stage 3 as we dig into the theme of Head, Heart, Hands, Hooves. If we feed our heads and hearts with garbage, then garbage will come out in our actions and behaviour; our hands and hooves.
It is increasingly important to guard our hearts and minds from the bombardment of unappetising items that are offered to us through social media and television; falsehoods about body image, inappropriate language, selfish attitudes and ideals, and so on and so on…
God created us in His image. As followers of Jesus, we endeavour to take on His attributes; to become more like Him. The Bible speaks of our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is a contradiction to feed the same body, that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, with things that distract and steer us away from God.
Another phrase from my youth that carries the same message of Godly living and standing for Christ is this:
The first bible a person will read is your life.
How we live and behave testifies to the core of what we believe and who we believe in. So, if we are feeding ourselves on garbage, that is what will come out in our lives. If we surrender our hearts and our minds to God, then we will produce good and wholesome fruit.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Reminders
- TOMORROW Secondary students who have ordered soup may enjoy it!
- Families are reminded to ensure that at least half of your school fees for the year are paid by the end of June. If you need to discuss this, please contact Tina in the Office Monday – Thursday.
- We have oodles of lost property here in the Office following the athletics carnival. Please come and claim some!
- Tomorrow’s prayer meeting will be held in the Office from 7 – 7:30pm. All welcome.
- We would still like some help with morning tea on Friday 1 July for the 40 Year Celebration Service. Please email admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au if you can assist.
- All students, staff and their families should be aware of NSW Health’s advice to reduce the risk of COVID-19, and other illnesses that may affect schools this coming winter, such as the flu. Please note the following NSW Health messages: stay home if unwell; keep up to date with vaccinations, including the flu vaccine, which is available from your local GP, pharmacy or Aboriginal Medical Service. Flu vaccines are free for all children aged 6 months to under 5 years, or for a small charge for those aged 5 years and older; get tested immediately for COVID-19 if you become symptomatic and isolate until you receive a negative result; even if you receive a negative result, do not attend school whilst symptomatic; practice good hand hygiene by washing regularly with soap and water; take a RAHT before visiting vulnerable loved ones or going to large gatherings and events.
- Eczema Support Australia has recently released a new video series with Dr Justin Coulson on Practical Parenting for Eczema Families. The video resource provides an insight into the daily challenges faced by families with eczema. It also provides strategies to help develop positive coping mechanisms and reduce feelings of isolation for the family unit. Please use this link to view the video series.
Prayer & Praise
- Praise God that he continues in his sovereignty through all circumstances. Praise God for His grace towards us through Jesus Christ. He is worthy of all of our love and devotion. Worship and thank Him for His sacrifice that rescued us from death.
- Give thanks for our athletics carnival; for great weather and friendly competition. Give thanks for our staff and volunteers who contributed so much to the day.
- Give thanks for our staff. Pray that the Lord would restore us all to full health and strength to finish Term 2 well.
- Give thanks for all our students and their families. Pray for the ministry of the Holy Spirit through those who know Him, to lead us in prayer, words and deeds to encourage and exhort each other and find our health, peace and direction in the Lord. Pray for protection over the hearts and minds of our children and young people.
- Give thanks for our CEN schools. Pray for Dubbo Christian School, and their Principal. Pray for healing, fellowship and peace.
- Pray for our 40 year celebrations; that we would be truly thankful and joyful for what God has provided and achieved for us and through us. Pray that we would continue in the spirit we began with in 1982.
- Give thanks for our Kuyper families. Pray for connections to strengthen and grow in genuine community and care for eachother.
- Give thanks for our Government and those in authority. Pray that they would be led in wisdom and truth to lead our country for the future good of all. Pray that “every person be subject to the governing authorities.” Give thanks that our government has been “instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
- Praise God for the faithful Pioneers of Kuyper Christian School. Give thanks for those who have continued to nurture and grow those beginnings. Give thanks for Abraham Kuyper, his vision and his teachings. Give thanks that our foundations are in Christ, who is the source of all Truth. Give thanks that we are in partnership with each other – staff, parents and carers – as we serve the Lord by nurturing children in the knowledge and love of Him. Thank Him for each individual who makes up the Kuyper Community and lead us to value the whole person, so that each one may be encouraged in their relationship with God. Thank God for the students he has entrusted to our care, made in His image, to glorify Him. Worship Him because He is holy. Thank Him for His love and faithfulness towards His creation. Praise Him as Creator God, from whom we inherit our creativity. Give abundant thanks for his mercy and grace, without which we would be lost indeed. Give thanks also for His justice, that will not fail, and His forgiveness which is freely extended to all who would accept it. Give thanks for our God and his omnipotence; his power and influence is unlimited! Give thanks for our God and his omniscience; his universal understanding and complete knowledge.
- Give thanks for our Board and Executive teams. Pray for one-ness of purpose for our staff, Board, Executive team, and Association.
News & Notices
Colour Explosion Fun Run - this Friday
In response to student initiative, we will be holding a Colour Explosion Fun Run to raise money and awareness about bullying and cyber bullying in schools. We are looking forward to a fun event as we support an Australian charity, Dolly’s Dream.
The Colour Explosion Fun Run will be held after lunch, this Friday 14 May. To participate, students must wear non-uniform that includes a white t-shirt and bring a gold coin donation. During the fun run, students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable coloured powder from head to toe. If you do not wish your child to participate, you must submit a non-consent form (below). Your child would have already received a sponsorship form that explains the event and how they can fundraise.
If you have any questions at all, or would like another sponsorship or non-consent form, please contact the Office.
Trial Drop-Off Zone
We are currently trialing a drop-off zone so children can easily disembark from vehicles in the Secondary Carpark. This is a trial, and we welcome any helpful feedback with a view to making drop-off a safe and relatively seamless operation. This will be a staged trial initially involving drop-off only, not collection. Please email your feedback to admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au The trial started on Monday 17 May and will run for two weeks. It will involve the morning drop-off only. Below are some guidelines:
- Only use this drop-off zone if this is normally where your children would alight. If you have been seeing your children into school at either of the other two gates, please continue to do this.
- Do not allow your children to alight at any other place in the Secondary Carpark.
- Children are not to cross the carpark. Bollards will be positioned to remind them to alight on the western (oval) side of the drop off area and use the current walkways from there.
- Drivers must take care not to block the gate as buses and cars will continue to turn around using the carpark.
- If the drop-off zone is full please do a circuit by going out the exit gate and re-entering by the entry gate. Two cars should be able to drop off at any time.
- Please do not reverse out of the drop-off zone; move forwards, turn back into the carpark (giving way to any buses and cars passing through) and continue out the exit gate.
- Remember this is a drop-off zone. To keep traffic moving smoothly, please stop only to allow your children to alight. If you need to do anything else, please exit the carpark and stop outside the fence.
Thank you for your patience as we seek to improve our facilities and systems.
Yumtown Pop-up Eatery - next Tuesday
Year 9/10 Elective Food Technology class will be running a pop-up eatery for students and staff next Tuesday 18 May at Recess for Primary Students and Lunchtime for Secondary Students.
Pre-ordering is not available. Just come to the courtyard outside the Food Technology room with the correct money for the food you would like.
Take a look at all the yummy options!
Evacuation & Lock-down Procedures
Following our last lock-down drill, we thought it would be helpful if parents understood the process. Feel free to contact the Office if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding evacuations or lock-down. One evacuation or lock-down drill is performed each term, usually alternating, so that two of each are performed every year. The Principal determines the day and time when the drill will occur. Staff are informed of the week in which the drill will occur. Students are not informed.
Evacuation
- Evacuation alarm is activated. It is a series of short siren blasts that will continue until all students have reached the assembly point.
- Students line up outside their classrooms.
- Classrooms are then locked and students, lead by their teacher, proceed to the Hall (unless otherwise advised).
- Students sit down in class groups in the Hall.
- As each class is seated, the teacher marks the class roll.
- Class rolls are compared with the daily absence list. Any discrepancies are investigated and accounted for.
- Principal provides explanation and debrief.
- Students are dismissed with their class teacher.
- Parents are (now) informed via text message.
Lock-Down
- Lock-down alarm is activated. It is a series of long siren sounds that will continue until lock-down is complete.
- Students are instructed to sit under their desks.
- Classrooms are then locked and blinds drawn by the teacher.
- Principal and Executive Staff conduct a walk-around of the school, releasing each class from the lock-down by knocking on the door and confirming that it has concluded.
- Class teacher provides explanation and debrief to students.
- Classes continue as normal.
- Parents are (now) informed via text message.
Parents & their Children's Stories
Bronte Kelso-Marsh, a PhD candidate at Murdoch University, is working on a project being developed through the University (ethics approval 2020/200), which aims to investigate the role of parental involvement in primary school-aged children’s writing.
This project is being developed to understand more about Parent/Carer involvement in a child’s writing during the primary school years. Although research has demonstrated parental involvement in a child’s education provides many academic benefits, little is still known about what parents do to support their child’s writing. Furthermore, even less is known about what motivates parents to become involved with their child’s writing. As such, this project will address these important gaps to better understand what parents are doing to support their children becoming good writers.
The attached letter provides further information about this study and invites Parents/Carers of primary school children to complete an online survey designed to capture parental involvement in writing. The survey is completely anonymous, and it will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. A link to the survey is included in the information letter below.
As participants in this research, Parents/Carers will have early access to details of any research outputs arising from this project. These will be made available online in early 2022. To view the research outputs, Parents/Carers are invited to visit the Writing and Reading for All Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/writingandreadingforall/.