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
- The Parent Portal and Kuyper App will be the primary vehicle for day-to-day communications between the school and parents in 2023. The School Calendar, weekly news, event advice and other essential functions will only be available in the Parent Portal and Kuyper App. At least one parent/carer from each household where your child resides needs access to the portal or app. If you are not already using the App, or need assistance resetting your user account and password, call 4573 2999 and we will assist you to connect.
- Nurture Magazine has been sent home to each family via their eldest child. Look for an article by our very own Ruth Thompson on page 20.
- Lost Property is over-flowing. Please come and check if any of it is yours, as lost property will be discarded or re-sold at the end of the year.
- Parents are reminded to continue testing for COVID and advise us if there is COVID in their household. If concerned, we encourage students to wear a mask at school for their own and others’ protection. In line with NSW Health recommendations, we also ask that close contacts wear a mask indoors and on public transport (including the Kuyper bus) and test regularly. We still have a good supply of RAHT kits. Contact the Office if you would like some sent home.
- Reminder to parents to ensure that all fees are paid by the end of year. Contact the Office if you have any concerns.
- Families who rely on the Busways service need to know that there have been some changes to the timetables until the end of term. Use the buttons below to access the temporary timetables for Term 4.
Prayer & Praise
- Praise God that he continues in his sovereignty through all circumstances. Praise him that he is “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17), and that he loves us.
- Give thanks for holidays, breaks and changes in rhythm. Pray for connection, peace and safety for all our families during these school holidays. Pray for connection and community to grow for all at Kuyper Christian School, particularly at Limelight!
- Pray for school families and staff families who are coping with illness and accident: Faithfull, Hill, Eastlake, Armstrong, Gubbins, Huxley, Daly. Pray for good rest, connection and healing for all our families, staff and students.
- 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).
- Give thanks for our Board and Executive team as they interview potential new staff members. Pray for one-ness of purpose for our staff, Board, Executive team, and Association as they plan, prepare and budget for 2023. Praise the Lord for His provision to us all the time.
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 Tickets: still some left!
Only 7 days until Opening Night (and counting), and Seussical tickets are still available! They can be booked online, by using the button below. It’s going to be amazing, so please join us and bring your family and friends!
- Performance Dates:
- Opening Night – Wednesday 10 August, 7:30pm
- Thursday 11 August, 7:30pm
- Friday 12 August, 7:30pm
- Matinee – Saturday 13 August, 2pm
- Closing Night – Saturday 13 August, 7:30pm
The show runs for approximately two hours including Interval. The Seussical Cafe will be in operation before each show and at Interval, selling delicious Seussical themed food and drinks. If you have any questions at all when purchasing your tickets, please contact the Office on 4573 2999 or email admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au
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: