A Letter to You

Lisa Clucas, Primary Teacher (with Elizabeth Porter)
Dear Parents & Carers; thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do in support of your children and their education. Your perseverance and commitment, particularly during these difficult times, are investments into who your children are growing to be. Thank you for all that you do to enable your children to experience authentic Christian education at Kuyper Christian School. We are looking forward to more and more opportunities for your involvement and our mutual communication, as together we commit our best for the benefit of your children in days and years to come.
As you know, this is Kuyper’s 40th year and we are intentionally thanking God each week for things to do with our School (see the Prayer & Praise section of the Newsletter). This week I would like to thank God for you, and your importance in the lives of your children. Every little action counts. Every piece of quality time you give to meaningfully interact with your child, despite all the busy demands, matters in the big picture.
Importantly, the second paragraph of our Vision Statement emphasises our commitment to “serve Christ by supporting parents in their God-given responsibility to nurture their children”. We see our role in your children’s lives as a calling, rather than a career. We are serving our Lord and Saviour as we support you. We are committed to working in partnership with you as you teach, nurture, and encourage your children in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are working with you to build a firm foundation.
Start children off on the way they should go and when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
We will not hide them from their descendents; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psalm 78:4
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10
Christian education teaches children about God’s path of life. God’s plan is for children to have and enjoy life to the full.
On a personal level, I am very thankful to my parents for their faithfulness in teaching me about God, and providing me with a Christian education in a Christian school. My relationship with my teachers, the way they related to me and the class, were most significant. My favourite lesson was Biblical studies. This gave me a deep love for God’s word, which remains. I was also taught to serve and help. Many Saturdays our family joined the school working bee, and my Mum volunteered to patiently help children in their learning, or supported other parents by minding their children after school.
There are some who question the value of Christian education. This is often because of a misconception. No education is neutral. There are always underlying values that filter through. These values can be communicated through a teacher’s personal interpretation of syllabus and outcomes, and their application of them, whether the school speaks openly about these things or not. In fact, nothing is neutral. Everything that happens within a classroom and school is underpinned by beliefs and values, regardless of the school. Therefore, education is a choice about the values you want your children to be nurtured or influenced into, as much as the content of the subjects on offer. The friends your children choose, and the influence of their peers is also important.
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 12:26
We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with you and to teach your children from a Biblical worldview. Together, may we encourage children to remember their Creator and find fulfilling and everlasting life through Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
We look forward to meeting with you at the up-coming parent/teacher conferences.
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
Kuyper Concert Band is Really Back!


Concert Band is Back. Really Really! Restrictions have eased and the water has returned to the river, so we will assemble and rehearse this Friday, 18 March at 8am in the Hall. Don’t worry if you haven’t played for a while, we will start easy and enjoy being together again.
Seussical!



This Saturday is our next Seussical Saturday – the last before our holiday break.
We want to run through the whole show at the end of the rehearsal, so keep learning lyrics and dance moves.
Time: 9am – 3:30pm, in the Hall (of course)
Date: this Saturday! (18 June)
BYO: all food and drinks
Wear: comfortable, warm clothes
It’s only 58 days until Opening Night!
NAPLAN Online, Tuesday 10 May


NAPLAN Online for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will begin on Tuesday next week (10 May). All participating students will need to bring plug-in headphones. Secondary students will need to ensure that their Chromebook is fully charged for the start of the day.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online in 2022.
Please contact the School Office if you need more information on special provisions or the process required to gain a formal exemption.
Where possible, we will arrange for individual students who are absent at the time of testing to complete missed tests at another time during our test schedule.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact the Office or your child’s teacher.
Additional resources: