Last year, as I was thanking some of our parents who were coaching or managing school teams, I was interested in the responses I received – ‘we make time’, ‘it is a privilege’, ‘it is great to see them improve’.
That willingness to give is such a core element of our experience of community.
Each year, I am so encouraged to see the high level of parental and family commitment to the life of our School. Oliebollen is a stand out event in terms of our community but there are an enormous number of ways that I see families actively working to contribute to the educational lives of their children.
“Each year, I am so encouraged to see the high level of parental and family commitment to the life of our School.”
Last year, I saw Calvin parents coaching soccer and basketball teams (sometimes both), cooking Oliebollen, supporting camp experiences, kayaking, visiting classes, running discos, supporting other parents in challenging circumstances, sharing transport, and generally seeking to serve one another. At times, this extended to other family members and it was great to see big brothers and sisters coaching, helping on stalls, or simply turning up to support their siblings.
The foundations of our School lie in a parent community that decided that they needed a distinctively Christian education for their children. From that foundational decision, grew a community committed to giving of themselves, their time, energy, and support for a vision of a transformative Christian learning community.
I am absolutely delighted to see evidence of that around us, often quietly and unspoken. Teachers do not do their work in isolation from family, nor do parents work in isolation from school and community. For our children to know that those adults who are most significant in their lives are working together, in common cause, to train and disciple them brings confidence and clarity. This is parent partnership in action.
We actively encourage and welcome your contributions to the life of our School. Whether that be through regular attendance at school events or our Community Engagement Committee. To start the year off we will welcome families at two Community events, on Friday 24 February our Primary Community BBQ, and Monday 27 February our Secondary Community BBQ. In early March we look forward to meeting face-to-face at our parent-teacher conferences. A number of parents also join together at 8.30am on Thursday mornings to pray for our School.
In engaging we experience the joy of community and I am often reminded of that call on Jesus’ life, as the Scriptures put it “the Son of Man (Jesus) came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many”. It is such a privilege to belong to a community that gives.
Scott Ambrose — Principal