Stewardship

Jason Shadie, Head of Secondary
Interaction between people and their environment can be both helpful and hurtful. Our students will develop an informed perspective on local and global issues. It is our aim to nurture our students towards peace with their Creator, other people and the environment. Geography presupposes the responsibility people have in caring for the earth and submitting to God’s will for both our individual lives and the created order. In the context of God’s existence and the creation being subject to His rule, people are to find purpose in coming to grips with what our task on earth is.
This is an extract from the introduction of the Stage 4 and Stage 5 Geography curriculum documentation. To care for God’s creation, we must better understand God’s creation.
Year 9 is nearing the end of a unit called ‘Sustainable Biomes’ which has been a rich learning experience. We focussed on understanding different biomes, including large ecosystems such as deserts, rainforests, and tundra. Students have worked hard to understand the different characteristics of biomes and the climatic conditions needed to sustain these environments. Of particular interest has been human interaction with, and impact on these environments, both positive and negative.
Some of our discussions have been confronting. Inevitably, many of the questions have complicated, and often uncomfortable answers:
- Why are so many animal species threatened, endangered, and on the verge of extinction? More than 10% of the land mammals known to have lived in Australia in 1788 are now extinct.
- Why is there so much food wastage in the world? An estimated 14% of the world’s food is lost between harvest and retail, and an estimated 17% is wasted in retail and at the consumption level. This comes at a time when 811 million people go hungry (https://www.unep.org/).
- Can the earth’s biomes sustainably feed future world populations? Australia’s population in 2017 (24.6 million) is projected to reach between 37.4 and 49.2 million people by 2066 (https://www.abs.gov.au).
Of course, part of our discussions focus on finding solutions for these problems. As a school, we encourage students to be creative, critical and discerning thinkers. An example of this problem solving can be seen in recent work Year 9 completed in the area of food wastage.
You may already know that there is a staggering amount of food that is wasted or lost within the production process in Australia. It is estimated that 20%-40% of fruit and vegetables are rejected before they reach a supermarket, based solely on the way they look. Ugly vegetables? Odd looking fruit? The idea seems ridiculous, but unfortunately it is the reality we face. Year 9 were given the opportunity to create a business that worked to mitigate food wastage in society. I was encouraged by their creativity and enthusiasm to take on this challenge. Food wastage is so problematic worldwide that there is an International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (29 September 2022).
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15
It is important that students have a safe place to wrestle with local, state, national and global issues, and that they do so within a Christian framework. My prayer is that Year 9, and the rest of our students at Kuyper, mature into discerning, caring, servant-hearted adults with a love for God and His creation. We should never forget that sustainability is about caring for people. The wellbeing of future generations relies heavily on the integrity of stewardship of God’s creation here and now. God calls us to be good stewards of creation, and in doing so, demonstrate His love for people.
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
Parent/Teacher Interviews for Senior Students


Parent/Teacher interviews for Senior students will be held in the Library on Wednesday 14 September, from 4pm. Use the button below to make your bookings.
Bookings close on Thursday 8 September. Academic Reports for Senior students will be emailed to you before 14 September.
Kuyper Canteen Open for a Limited Time!


There is still time to order your fresh lunch from the Kuyper Canteen. Our Elective Food Technology class are preparing three options that students can pre-order. All meals will be prepared in the School Kitchen using safe, sanitary and hygienic work practises, and will be individually packed and delivered to classrooms on Monday 19 September, at lunchtime.
You can still place your order by Friday 9 September. Last chance!
On the menu for $6 each:
Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
Delicious homemade basil pesto tossed through penne pasta and served with parmesan and fresh tomatoes.
Vietnamese Chicken Rice Paper Rolls (GF option available)
Nutritious rice roll of chicken, lettuce, carrot and noodles, with a hint of mint and served with hoisin dipping sauce.
Mediterranean Chicken Wrap (Vegetarian option available)
Mouthwatering wrap of chicken, cucumber, tomato, spinach and feta, with lemon, garlic tahini and hommus.
Cars & Cook-Up


Our next exciting event at Kuyper will be our annual Cars & Cook-Up this Saturday 17 September. Arrive at 9am with your remote control vehicle and engage in some friendly competition on the Kuyper Track. Enjoy cooking with your kids for families in need in our school community and share a BBQ lunch where you can purchase a sausage on a roll for $4 (buy 3 and get 1 free). Any profits will go towards the cost of the ingredients for the cook-up.
This is a really enjoyable family day for all Kuyper families, their extended families and friends. It’s also a great fun time for parents and carers and their kids. No need to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you on the day!
Drama Camp


If drama is what you’re expecting these school holidays, we have a solution!
Announcing the first ever Three-Day Drama Camp @ Kuyper Christian School. Designed to build confidence and cultivate performance skills, participants develop active listening as they work together towards a shared goal. The program covers improvisation, character development, and script work. Over three days, students learn how to develop confidence in voice, movement, and stagecraft as they build towards a live performance on the final afternoon. Here they will demonstrate their new skills by giving premiere performances of newly devised scenes to an audience of family, and each other.
The program is led by Meg Lloyd-Johnson, whose professional experience as a teacher, improviser, performer, voice-over artist, producer and production manager ensures a memorable and enriching time for participants.
- Camp Dates: Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 September
- Camp Times: 9.00am to 3.00pm
- Performance: Wednesday 28 September, 3.00pm to 3.30pm
- Cost: $180 per student, which includes tuition and course materials