A Word from Shareen Liggins
Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend a week’s holiday at Soldiers Point with my husband and kids. Every morning I took my cup of tea and contemplated the view from our holiday apartment. Each day it was the same vista before me but each day there was something new to enjoy and appreciate; the dawn light, a pelican sailing regally by, the colours of the water changing from blue to gold to grey and back again; serenity.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22 – 23
As we know, life can be full of surprises – the joyful and the difficult. Often the difficult times are outside of our control; life happens and we feel helpless. In times like these, knowing and trusting in God’s great faithfulness and steadfast love is an anchor. But if you are anything like me, there are also those moments of realisation and despondency (I’ve been calling myself a friend of Jesus since I was 4. Why am I not doing any better as a Christian?) I read my bible; I pray; I want to be better. Because it’s all about me, right?
A good friend gave me a book for Christmas. It suggested that if ‘transformation’ is the central purpose of my faith, it has skewed the way I relate to Jesus and His word.
I believed the purpose of the Bible was to help me.
Jen Wilkin, Women of the Word
I could relate to what the author was saying; searching the Bible for inspiration and guidance, for purpose and transformation is what we Christians do, right? Actually, this idea is all backwards – the Bible is a book about God, about His character, about His purposes and plans, and it is only in a deep knowledge of God that we will be conformed to His likeness. While this might seem obvious, it is amazing how easy it is to take our eyes off Him and focus on ourselves. So, while bible reading, prayer and repentance are all good and necessary, our focus must be on learning about our Lord and not on learning about how to fix ourselves. A true and deep knowledge of God is what brings about true and deep transformation.
In Lamentations, the character of God is brilliantly revealed.
Thank You for Your steadfast love, O Lord. Thank You that it never ceases. Thank You that You are unfailingly and everlastingly merciful to a sinner like me. Each new day is a new day to contemplate Your faithfulness, O Lord. Please give me the grace to do so and, in doing so, become more like You. Amen.
Shareen Liggins
Reminders
- This Friday we will be holding our rescheduled W.O.W. Band-a-thon. This is an opportunity for us to sponsor our performers for their tour, as well as enjoy their music. See News & Notices for details.
- Parents of Year 7 – 9 students, please ensure that you give consent online for your child to participate in the Macquarie University Cyberbullying survey. See News & Notices for details and to access the link.
- The Arndell Interschool Equestrian Carnival will be held on Saturday 14 August 2021 at Hawkesbury Show Ground. Please contact the Office if you are interested in participating.
- NSW Government is helping families by offering vouchers, including Creative Kids, which will make it easier for school-aged children to try creative and cultural activities. Follow this link to find out more: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/creative-kids
Prayer & Praise
- Praise God that He is sovereign over ALL things and that we can trust in His care and concern for each one of us.
- Pray for Merrilynne and Ellie Shaw and their family as their grieve the loss of Merrilynne’s mother in WA. Give thanks for the faith that has assured her future. Pray for her family that they will be a comfort and support to each other over the coming weeks, months and years.
- Pray for schools in Victoria as they resume normal classes. Give thanks for dedicated staff; pray for strength, patience, mercy and hope.
- Pray for the Abraham family as they communicate with relatives in India, many of whom are sick with COVID. Pray for mercy and healing as well as comfort for all. Pray for the people of India and their government; for compassion, provision, protection and healing.
- Pray for the Tonkin family as they grieve the loss of their husband and father, Orson. Give thanks for his life and pray that Jo and Madison would receive all that they need at this time.
- Continue to pray for the Miller family and for Josh, who was admitted to hospital this week. Pray for wisdom and healing and hope.
- Give thanks for all our families and staff. Pray that we would lift each other up and seek unity and peace, with the help of our Lord.
- Pray for all in our community who are grieving, discouraged, anxious or unwell. Pray that their needs would be met and that God would give us all knowledge and inspiration to help where we can.
Everyone is welcome to attend our next prayer meeting which will be held in the Library on 16 June 2021, 7 – 7:30pm.
News & Notices
We are Going to the Show!
Roll up! Roll up! Kuyper will be at the Hawkesbury Show this year. Come and pay us a visit, behind the Art & Craft Pavilion, opposite the Redbank Communities display.
- Friday 23 April, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Saturday 24 April, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Sunday 25 April, 9:00am to 1:00pm
Working Bee Term 2 - this Saturday
The Working Bee is a great opportunity to meet other families and contribute to the place your children attend almost every day. Our first Working Bee will be held this Saturday 1 May from 8am until 12 noon and a COVID friendly morning tea will be provided. You are welcome to attend part or all of the time; any help is welcome! Children may attend, but they are the parents’ responsibility.
These families have been rostered for Saturday’s Working Bee:
All families with surnames starting with A – K!
Please bring your own whipper snipper, rake, shovel and wheelbarrow if you can. Don’t forget to note your attendance when you arrive. If you cannot attend, we will move you to another Working Bee.
School Tour Morning - this Saturday
We are looking forward to our School Tour morning for non-Kuyper families. Classrooms will be open, staff will be hosting tours, and we will be serving free barista coffee for anyone curious about Kuyper Christian School or interested in enrolling.
We encourage our Kuyper community to join us in inviting their friends and colleagues to come and see the school for themselves. You can download the brochure below.
NAPLAN Online 2021 - Exemptions
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.
Kuyper Christian School will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 11 and 21 May.
All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in the annual NAPLAN assessment. Students with disability may qualify for adjustments that reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments. You should discuss the use of any adjustments for your child with your child’s teacher. A student with a disability that severely limits their capacity to participate in the assessment, or a student who has recently arrived in Australia and has a non-English speaking background, may be granted a formal exemption.
Please contact the 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.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students do not need to be able to touch type to complete NAPLAN Online as the tests are not about keyboard skills (just as the paper test is not about handwriting skills). Students can use the public demonstration site to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact the Office or your child’s teacher.
Additional resources:
Colour Explosion Fun Run - this Friday
In response to student initiative, we will be holding a Colour Explosion Fun Run to raise money and awareness about bullying and cyber bullying in schools. We are looking forward to a fun event as we support an Australian charity, Dolly’s Dream.
The Colour Explosion Fun Run will be held after lunch, this Friday 14 May. To participate, students must wear non-uniform that includes a white t-shirt and bring a gold coin donation. During the fun run, students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable coloured powder from head to toe. If you do not wish your child to participate, you must submit a non-consent form (below). Your child would have already received a sponsorship form that explains the event and how they can fundraise.
If you have any questions at all, or would like another sponsorship or non-consent form, please contact the Office.