A Word from Ashleigh Plane
With lockdown lifting and school returning, I wonder if you have had a chance to reflect on this period of time? The lockdown may have given you an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple things: a morning coffee in the garden, board games as a family, a stroll through the whispering gums that surround our beautiful neighbourhood. Or your experience may have been tethered to a new level of insanity as you tried to balance work, school at home, and the needs of your household without the usual support of family and friends. The end of lockdown may just be your moment to come up for air.
The ability to critically reflect is an important aspect of learning. In design education, we constantly evaluate, refine and remodel ideas to produce the best outcomes. At a basic level, we may use tools such as a PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting) chart to outline the positive aspects of a design, comment on interesting features, and discuss things we could improve on. But it is a deeper level of critical thinking that informs and shapes the future. This is where innovative progress is made. This is where we ask the deeper questions. What is the purpose? How will this influence the individual, society, and the world? Will it hinder or heal?
These deeper questions are also helpful for our spiritual lives. God’s steadfast love is there for us to take hold of. He wants us to come to him, reflect on him and mold our lives around his truth. How has this time drawn you to Jesus? What do your reflections look like in this season? What will you take into the next as you go from here?
Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it at the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us – a crucified God – must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.
John Piper
My encouragement to you as we return to freedom and normality is not to settle idly into everyday life. Take time to reflect on your life through a Biblical lense. Cherish Jesus’ sacrifice, be renewed by it, acknowledge the power of the Cross, and worship God every day.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
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.
Return to School 25 October 2021
Here is some updated information on the phased-in return of students. Please read it carefully, and if anything is still unclear, contact the Office. We ask families to adhere to the return dates if at all possible. However, if this is not possible, please contact the Office by Thursday this week (21 October). Here are the next round of key dates:
- 25 October – full time face-to-face learning for Years 3 – 10 begins again
- 1 November – StuVac for Year 12 begins (study at home or school)
- 8 November – Compressed subjects begin for Year 10 & 11 students (Year 10 students can wear their Senior Uniform). HSC exams begin at Kuyper Christian School.
Here are some points to remember:
- Busways services have been running as normal from 18 October 2021. All passengers must wear a mask when travelling on public transport.
- Kuyper bus has been running as normal, completing its regular route, from 18 October 2021. All passengers must wear a mask.
- When dropping off Secondary students, please use the “Kiss & Ride” lane in the Secondary carpark, or park outside the fence.
- When picking up Secondary students, please wait outside the school fence and follow the COVID guidelines for outdoor mingling.
- When dropping off Primary students, please use the pedestrian gate near the Office or the tall gate near the playground (below the bus bay). Do not use the bus bay to drop off or pick up students as this will hinder the movement of buses.
- When picking up Primary students, please wait outside the school gates (either near the Office or at the tall gate near the playground) and follow the COVID guidelines for outdoor mingling. Staff will release students to their parents as they see them waiting.
- Please park parallel to the fence on the school side of the road, if possible, or parallel to the road on the opposite side of the road. Please do not park in or near the bus bay, the bus bay island or the Secondary or Primary carparks. Council may fine you if you park anywhere near the bus bay. It is unsafe for you to park and pick up your child from the Primary or Secondary carparks due to the movement of buses, cars and pedestrians through these spaces.
- All staff and students in Year 7 – 12 must wear a mask indoors (but not outdoors), unless written advice from a medical practitioner has been submitted to the Office.
- Students in Prep – Year 6 are not required to wear masks indoors or outdoors. However, they are encouraged to do so if they wish.
- As parents are not allow on site yet, Uniform may be ordered via telephone or email and paid for via telephone or direct deposit. Contact the Office to place an order. Orders will be picked on Mondays and Thursdays only. You will receive a text message when your order is ready. You may collect it up by phoning the Office from outside the School gate, or reply to the text and have the order sent home with your child.
- Secondary students can book a time with the Office on either Monday or Thursday to attend the Uniform Shop for sizing. We are more than happy to exchange items until the correct size is found.
At school, staff will be following Government COVID-safe guidelines. These will include:
- Separation of school student groups in Primary and Secondary where possible.
- Well-ventilated classrooms and offices.
- Sanitation stations placed around the school and use regularly encouraged, along with handwashing.
- Regular professional cleaning of buildings and furniture.
- Regular intermediate cleaning of high-touch areas by staff throughout the school day.
Here are some resources that you may find useful as you negotiate this phased-in return:
- Secondary student return timetable: https://online.kuyper.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Secondary-Student-Return-Timetable.pdf
- HSC Exam timetable: https://online.kuyper.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/2021-HSC-Exam-Timetable.pdf
- Uniform price list and order form: https://online.kuyper.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/Uniform-Price-List-Order-Form.pdf