A Word from Jo Kean
Teacher Librarian
To say that 2020 has been a challenging year, is an understatement! Yet as Christians we know in all these things, God is in control. Throughout the events of this year a Colin Buchanan song has been playing in my thoughts called “Be Strong and Courageous”. It is based on a passage in the book of Joshua.
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:6-9
I don’t know about you, but I have found these words deeply encouraging. In April, we lost a precious granddaughter at just 10 days old. I never met Ivy; I just have pictures of her. I have not visited her grave or met her gorgeous brother Noah, except on Facetime. These precious grandchildren live in Tasmania and due to COVID-19 we have not yet been able to visit. With border restrictions lifting we will be able to visit at Christmas, God willing. In all the trauma of these events I know without doubt that our God is a good God. He loves my family and cares for us all deeply. I know that His purposes are much bigger than mine and He is my strength and refuge. Joshua was told to be strong and very courageous because God would be with him wherever he went. What a wonderful promise. God will never leave us!
Despite the pandemic, it was wonderful to celebrate book week on 22 October and to revel in the fun of dressing up. It was a very different celebration, yet the students enjoyed the day. Our visitors were a huge hit. The students delighted in all the day brought.
I would like to give a massive thanks to the Primary staff, who are amazing! Thank you also to Sue Stuut and Sarah Allen for their help behind the scenes. I would like to give a special thanks to our incredible photographers, Michaella Russell and Ben Miller. Thank you so much to our parents, carers and families for all your help with costumes. We did miss our Kuyper Community!
May God bless you and give you His strength today and always.
Reminders
- Scholastic BookClub is still happening! You can peruse the catalogue and order your books online by using this link: scholastic.com.au/loop until Monday 9 August. Books can be delivered to your house (for a fee), or sent to school for free. We will contact you when they arrive, and you can collect them by parking at the gate and calling the Office.
- Parents are reminded to read the Google Meet Guidelines for Appropriate Use. In particular, please note that for privacy and protection reasons, no images of other students or their work should be captured or shared outside Google Classroom. Students (and parents) must not take photos, screenshots or record the meeting.
- In light of current conditions, all off-site events/excursions on our calendar in August have been cancelled or postponed. The Book Week Parade (26 Aug) and Healthy Harold incursion (30 Aug – 1 Sept) may still be able to proceed pending the lifting of restrictions. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation changes, and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
- Unfortunately, the Bible Society Masterclass for Year 9 – 11 will not go ahead. We look forward to participating in this valuable event next year.
- Sadly, the 5/6 Canberra Snowy Camp also cannot proceed. Remember to check the Event Updates on the School@Home webpage for all the latest changes.
Prayer & Praise
- Give thanks to God for His provision and protection. Give thanks for His authority and sovereignty over all things.
- Pray for our world, as many other countries suffer greatly under the weight of the pandemic. Pray for our country, our leaders and our people. Pray for peace and hope as we wait to be released from this trial. Pray for Christians around the world, that we would speak and act with faith, hope and love. Petition the Lord with repentance for mercy, healing and protection for all nations and people.
- Pray for the Walker family, with mother Christine undergoing Chemotherapy. Pray for peace, confidence, provision, unity and healing.
- Continue to pray for the Miller family and for Josh. Give thanks for his progress. Pray for wisdom and healing as he continues his journey.
- Give thanks for all our families and staff as they teach through School@Home. Pray for protection over our community; that the Lord would be our unity, encouragement and peace and that we would communicate that to each other, holding each other up.
Everyone is welcome to attend our next prayer meeting which will be held online on Wednesday 18 August, 7 – 7:30pm. Please join us!
News & Notices
BBQ Fundraiser this Thursday
Don’t forget, if you have placed an order, that the BBQ Fundraiser for our Compassion Child, Mehedi is on this Thursday at lunch time.
Finding Treasure
Evan Barnes, Year 6 Teacher
Year 5 and 6 are richly blessed! In a year of cancellations and postponements, Year 5 and 6 were given the opportunity to travel to Bathurst for their goldfields camp. While no one struck it rich, a few gold flakes were found and we returned home with many treasures. Treasured memories of gold panning, blacksmithing and bushwalking; treasured memories of growing new friendships while strengthening old ones; treasured memories of adventuring, problem solving and team work. Most importantly, a few treasures were stored in heaven where they are safe from destruction, theft and loss, kept by our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Nurture Magazine
Nurture Magazine is a regular publication by Christian Education National (CEN). If you have been at Kuyper for a while, these publications may look familiar to you. The latest one was sent home with your child today. CEN have released a short survey about Nurture Magazine and would appreciate your participation. Please follow the link below:
Are You Ready for Limelight@home?
Only ONE WEEK until Limelight@home on Tuesday 8 December and students have been working hard on their video performances.
Make sure you order your Limelight show bags THIS WEEK.
Individual show bags are $10 each and contain a variety of items to help you get your lime party started. You will also be helping to support our partners in Vanuatu with your donation.
Email the Office with your order: admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au. Include your family name and number of bags. Payment can be made via direct deposit, cash or EFT.
Orders close this Friday, 4 December. Show bags will be sent home on Monday 7 December with students.
Here are some more ideas for your Limelight@home party:
- Invite some family members to help you celebrate
- Dress up in lime coloured clothes (a party hat and blower have been included in the show bags)
- Decorate your house with lime decorations (some streamers and balloons have been provided in the show bag to get you started)
- Think about having some lime food (e.g. lime cordial, lime jelly, chicken and lime sausages, green salad, lime cupcakes)
- Watch our pre-recorded videos of classes, performances, school work and more
- But most importantly, don’t forget to give praise to God for the birth of His Son Jesus!
Our online Limelight@home presentation will be streamed via our Kuyper Facebook page, commencing at 6:30pm, on Tuesday 8 December. Invite your family and friends to watch.
In a year full of challenge and change, let us hold fast to the certainty we have in Jesus and rejoice in His Limelight together.
Employment at Kuyper Christian School
Administration Support Role – Front Office
We are looking for an Administration Assistant for our busy front office. Initially, the position will be temporary and cover 1.5 days per week (10.5 hours per week). We expect the hours to increase for Term 2, with a view to becoming permanent part-time at a later date. Duties will include:
- Supporting the Administration Team
- Administering first aid
- Managing a busy reception, serving staff, parents, and students
Requirements are:
- Working with Children Check
- First Aid certificate
- Excellent verbal & written communications skills
- Strong organisation skills and flexibility
- Competent computer skills including MS office and Google
Desirable skills include experience with:
- MYOB
- Edumate
- Adobe
Applications are invited from Christians of a reformed evangelical persuasion, who are active in their own churches and wholeheartedly subscribe to the school’s Statement of Faith. If you have any questions, please contact our Secretary, Tina Vander Reyden on
02 4573 2999. Applications close 5pm, Friday 19 March 2021.
To download an application form, Creedal Statement, and other relevant information for all employment opportunities at Kuyper, follow this link https://kuyper.nsw.edu.au/employment/
Please send applications to the School Secretary, Tina Vander Reyden, tina@kuyper.nsw.edu.au or mail to:
The Principal
294 Redbank Road
KURRAJONG NSW 2758
Seussical Update
Seussical is coming along amazingly. The cast are wonderfully committed. The Elective Production students are doing an incredible job behind-the-scenes. Rehearsals are a blast! But…
The current directive from NSW Health to schools will prevent us from staging our Musical this term. So much work and rehearsal has been done already and the cast and crew are very excited about being able to bring this to an audience. We are not going to cancel. We are going to postpone again, until next year.
We have applied for new performance dates and they have been accepted. We plan to have Opening Night on Wednesday 12 May 2021 and run five shows, as previously planned. This means that we will have Closing Night on Saturday 15 May (a VERY Seussical date).
The Production Team apologise again for this change. It is simply out of our hands. We will continue to run ‘small group’ rehearsals on Thursdays during Period 6, which is within the guidelines. A complete revised Rehearsal Schedule will be released in the new year.
Thank you for your patience and support.
QR Code at Kuyper
Kuyper Christian School has a QR code. We ask that anyone who steps onto school grounds use the QR code to sign in. We advise you to download the Service NSW app, if you haven’t already got it, as this will make it quicker and easier to sign in.
Therefore, when you step onto school grounds the following now applies:
- If you are dropping off or picking up a child, dropping off an item, or dropping in to ask a quick question, please register using the QR code attached to the tree inside the main pedestrian gate.
- For Prep parents, the QR code will also be available at the Prep room.
- If you will be on site for longer than 5 minutes, you will need to register using the QR code AND sign the visitor register as well. This is to satisfy COVID guidelines and emergency evacuation procedures.
If you have any questions at all, please ask! Thank you all for your assistance and understanding.
Return & Earn for Vanuatu
Our Return & Earn fundraising for Vanuatu continues. Please deposit your aluminium cans and plastic bottles in the lime coloured recycling box in the sails area, or place them alongside in a labelled bag. All donations need to be clean, whole (not crushed) and eligible for the 10c recycling refund.