One of These Things
Jo Kean, Primary Teacher
When Sesame Street came onto our TV screens in the early 1970’s they played a game called “One of These Things”. It had a catchy song about four items, one of which wasn’t like the others. The game helped children to find similarities and differences in common items.
During the last school holidays, my husband and I visited family in Tasmania. One morning we were out for a drive between Kettering and Cygnet on a winding country road. We were driving through apple orchards in bloom and green country views. As we came around a corner, in the middle of nowhere, I was surprised to see two big roosters walking along the edge of the road. One was jet black and the other was brown. They had their heads held high as they wandered along. We continued driving, puzzled as to where they had come from and what they were doing. It is true that roosters belong in the countryside, but wandering down the side of the road? Not really. The image has stayed with me, and I have been pondering its meaning for me.
Often, I feel comfortable and at home here on earth. However, that is not what my walk with Christ should be. As Christians, we are sent into the world, but we are not of the world. We are to be actively serving Christ. We are to be loving others and being Jesus to those we meet, even if it is uncomfortable, because this place is not our forever home. We are being prepared to be with Jesus in heaven for eternity. Like the unexpected roosters, we are different and our lives are meant to reflect this.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
So let’s take our lives, and not fit in. Let’s change the culture around us by being like the roosters. It may not be comfortable, or safe, but we will be obediently following our Saviour Jesus and being prepared for eternity. K/1 had the privilege of singing at the Year 12 Graduation Assembly. We sang “Be Strong & Courageous” by Colin Buchanan. One student asked me, after the item, if the words were “be strong and outrageous”! Maybe they could be, because we need to be outrageous for Jesus.
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
App News - Secure Your Account
The Edumate Parent Portal is designed for use on a laptop or desktop. If you tried to set up your new Parent Portal account via your mobile phone and were not asked to change your password, your account may not be secure. To change your password, follow the instructions below.
Access the Kuyper website on a laptop or desktop device, click on the hamburger dropdown menu at the top right of the screen, and select Parent Portal. You will be taken to the Edumate Parent Portal login screen.
Enter the username and temporary password details provided by the School in your New User Letter and follow the instructions to change your password.
If you do not receive a prompt to change your password when you log in to the online Parent Portal, click on your Profile Name at the top right of the screen and select ‘Change my password’.
We strongly advise that you do not use the temporary password provided by the School to access your Kuyper App. Before accessing the Kuyper App on your mobile device, follow the instructions you received to create a new password via the online Edumate Parent Portal.
For detailed instructions, access the Parent Guide: Parent Portal & Kuyper App.
For support, contact Ruth Thompson on 4573 2999.
Guest Speaker @ Kuyper EGM
In light of the important implications for Christian Schools surrounding reforms to anti-discrimination legislation, the Abraham Kuyper Christian Education Association Ltd will be hosting a special guest speaker prior to the business part of our EGM on Wednesday 23 November.
Vanessa Cheng is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Association of Christian Schools and will speak on Partnering with Parents to Protect Christian Schools.
Vanessa has extensive experience working in the education and government sector as a secondary Christian school teacher and a project manager in the Victorian Department of Education. She has also held senior policy roles within the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Education as well as a Bachelor of Economics/Arts from Monash University, majoring in History and Politics. She is a member of Holy Trinity Anglican Church and lives in Bendigo with her husband and their five teenage children.
State-level action to reform anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws to restrict the ability of Christian schools to employ Christian staff is already having an impact. The current Bill before the NT Parliament will vastly change the landscape for Christian Schools in NT if it is passed. Find out more.
We encourage all Association Members and other interested parents to join us for this important discussion.
- From 6:15pm, join Vanessa and our Board for a light meal.
- 7:00 – 8:00pm, Guest Speaker: Vanessa Cheng Q & A session.
For catering purposes, please RSVP by Wednesday, 16 November, with any dietary requirements.
The Australian Association of Christian Schools is an advocacy organisation representing the interests of over a hundred Christian schools in every State and Territory. For further information on their work, visit their website.
Limelight is Tonight!
Limelight is here! From 5pm – 6:30pm today all kinds of stalls will be operating on the Village Green. Eftpos will be available for a limited number of stalls, so you will need to bring cash. Food and drink will be selling for $1 – $5. Some craft and speciality items may cost more. Christmas hampers are on sale for $35 – $75 each. All money raised by Kuyper at Limelight will be donated to Vanuatu.
From 6:30pm, stalls will close and students will entertain and delight us with their performances in the Hall. We are planning, preparing and praying for a wonderful evening of celebration and fellowship. We look forward to celebrating 40 years of Learning in God’s World with you.