Welcome to Calvin Christian School for the 2021 school year! As you can imagine, an empty school is a very lonely place.
Without people, school playgrounds and classrooms become strangely quiet spaces. In contrast, the return of students feels like a type of re-awakening as life returns. Spaces that were lifeless quickly become places of connection and relationship.
Having spent time in prayer and planning for the start of the year, Monday morning was a rewarding moment. There were happy, smiling faces as students reconnected with one another and staff welcomed them back into the School. You may have seen some of the photos on our Facebook page as suddenly, our empty spaces became hives of activity. Movement and noise filled previously empty corridors and classrooms as people re-established relationships or began the process of connecting with new students.
“This year, our school theme is CommUnity. We want to both celebrate belonging to the Calvin community”
Schools fulfil their purpose when they are spaces for learning and interaction which is why it was so good to see our returning students. Up to seven hours is spent at school each day for our students, forming an enormous part of their life during school term. No wonder that this community is so significant for them.
This year, our school theme is CommUnity. We want to both celebrate the wonderful aspects of belonging to the Calvin Christian School community and to remind ourselves of the value and challenges of building a genuine sense of community. On Monday, in our opening assemblies we talked about the type of words and actions that can help to build community and those that can tear community down. Ultimately, the strength of our community is found in our central relationship with God through Jesus Christ and it is out of that strength that we give to our school community.
As parents and supporters of Calvin, we would ask you to be praying for our school community as we seek to increasingly reflect God in the ways that we communicate and value one another. We would love to be identified as a community that reflects the encouragement in 1 Peter 4:8-10, loving one another, being hospitable, and faithfully serving.
Scott Ambrose — Principal