Concluding my Tenure

I spoke at both the Primary and Secondary assemblies this week to communicate face to face with the student body about concluding my tenure as Principal.

I employed the metaphor of the game of chess making several points, namely:

• The game is all about the King.

• Each piece has a different purpose and moves in unique ways.

• Even small pieces like pawns have enormous power in many circumstances.

I then stretched the metaphor to ‘life chess’.

Our daily lives are still all about the King. We are cherished by God, and play a purpose in His plans. It was a lovely Holy Spirit moment that the verse of the day in the Primary School was Jeremiah 29:11,

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’”

God moves the chess pieces to achieve His purpose. His movement of people is sometimes celebrated, sometimes inexplicable, but always sovereign and befitting of His purposes.

I have developed a great fondness for the purposes and people at Calvin Christian School.

A critical element of successful chess and ‘life chess’ is that the pieces don’t resist being moved around the board. This is much less of a problem with inanimate objects. Obedience is often a challenge for people as their desires and hopes become something of an idol. We favour personal preference over obedience. This was a risk for me.

My text in the Secondary assembly was Acts 8:26. To paraphrase, having achieved what we might call a revival in Samaria, Philip is prompted by an angel to take a desert road to another place. On that journey Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch, from the court of Queen Candace, whom he later baptised. God had His purposes.

When I arrived in 2013, I was given a brief by the Board and that brief has been achieved. The school is in a healthy condition. I have great faith in the teaching staff, and confidence in the exceptional leadership team. It is time to hand the baton to a new leader. I would ask that the school community commit to prayer the process of securing God’s chosen leader for this next stage of Calvin’s future.

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Head of Year 7 Announcement

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Annalé van Heerden as Head of Year 7, commencing in 2020.

Ms van Heerden is an experienced teacher of mathematics, science and agriculture, who has held leadership positions as Curriculum Leader for Year 7, homeroom teacher, and wellbeing leader and co-ordinator for Grade 6. Ms van Heerden also held the rank of captain in the South African Defence Force where she was a military combat engineer, with a speciality in training and development.

Ms van Heerden has a speciality in the middle school years of children’s educational experience. She has a strong balance in her capability to focus on student wellbeing and student learning. In her interviews, the panel were impressed by her demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and to managing the individual learning of a wide range of student abilities. This professional commitment was fostered by her early life experiences in South Africa, and is amplified by her Christian faith. She noted poignantly in her application,

‘My love for Christ started as a small girl, growing up in different rural areas in South Africa. It is deeply rooted in all I do. It shapes my relationships and my own world view. The diverse cultures of South Africa and my experience living in Tasmania reinforced my belief in the proverb “it takes a village”. We all bring different experiences and cultural knowledge to the table and by celebrating each others’ uniqueness and making respect and unconditional love the lens in which you perceive life, we enhance our own life experiences while contributing to the upliftment of others.’

I am sure Ms van Heerden will make a splendid contribution to fostering the values and culture of Calvin Christian School.

Iain Belôt - Principal

Farewell Leavers 2019

In this Communiqué, I want to pay testament to our Year 12 students.

Today was their final day of classes before examinations commence on Monday 11 November. 

I have been deeply impressed with the contribution of these young people to building, fostering and amplifying the culture of Calvin. We place considerable emphasis on culture. The culture of an organisation is the most essential element in determining the overall outcomes in wellbeing and in outcomes for both individuals and the collective group. The maxim rightly claims, “Culture eats strategy for lunch!” 

“The class of 2019 are exceptional because they authentically live with inclusivity, generosity and compassion.”

 The complexity of schools works against the development of a coherent culture. We have students of all ages and stages of development, a great variety of parental perspectives, and a popular culture often emphasising alternate views. 

 Students step into a culture in their early years and they increasingly impact the school culture as they approach their senior year. In Year 12 their example and emphasis becomes a powerful bell note for the younger students, the community, the staff, and parents. These students demonstrate the values that actually exist in the school. In essence, they have the power to enhance and the power to erode their reputation and that of the school. 

 The class of 2019 are exceptional because they authentically live with inclusivity, generosity and compassion. Their experience as a cohort across six years at Calvin secondary afforded them opportunity to learn that you have to find a person’s soul before you know them, and that through loving someone as they are right now, you change their future. This group of people have lived with compassion for, and genuine acceptance of other people. I have been humbled and inspired by what I have observed them achieving in this regard. Impressively, they stepped beyond the human pettiness of easy criticism and natural suspicion for difference. This was not navigated easily on occasions. However, as God presented the experiences, this group embraced the lessons. Our community is enriched by their example of living for others. 

“We have conversed to achieve a powerful outcome even though we sometimes commenced from different perspectives.”

It is entirely appropriate to acknowledge the contribution of the teaching staff to this process. Led most capably over six years by the Head of Year, Mrs Whiteley, these men and women have influenced in a myriad of important ways. Mrs Whiteley has fulfilled her responsibility to us all by delivering a strong cultural identity that is aligned with our school’s core values and spiritual heart. I thank her and all the staff for all they have contributed.

I am grateful to all the parents for their collaborative work through these years. We have added some polish to the impressive raw material, your children. On many occasions we have conversed to achieve a powerful outcome even though we sometimes commenced from different perspectives. Our mantra, ‘Quality schools are built on quality conversations’ has been proven valid and authentic on many occasions. 

The public aspect of this group’s experience diminishes from today. Their study week is a private expression of unity, care and support. I have no doubt that they will continue to pursue the delicate balance of achieving personal goals amidst a deliberate caring of each other. 

I thank them for their contributions, and desire every success for them in the coming weeks.

Iain Belôt – Principal

Managing personal wellbeing and achieving academic outcomes

I extend a warm welcome back to school to all families. 

This is always a busy term. At the centre of all activity is the tension between managing personal wellbeing and achieving the desired academic outcomes.

Students press to achieve and also feel the pressure of expectations. These pressures are a mix of the real and the imagined, and are both self-imposed and communicated by others.

I request that all parents and carers commit to partnering with us in two things:

• Communicate any challenges you notice in wellbeing very early to a specific teacher or the Head of Year.

• Monitor how you communicate your expectations. Children are well aware of the expectations that you have. Parents often voice, “It doesn’t matter what your results are, we love you. Just do your best.” Students are able to hear multiple messages in this, and they are already well aware of your hopes and ambitions for them.

If you have students in Year 11 and 12, may I suggest the following:

• Take your child out for a nice afternoon tea.

• Ask them to explain what their goals are for the end of the year, and the study routine that they could like to follow.

• Ask how you can assist them in their study routine. Ideally, identify the priority times for study and then you can avoid adding unnecessary events to their social calendar that may create pressure.

These steps are also very valuable for students of other years.

I encourage everyone to re-read my newsletter of September 24, when I declared this term the ‘Zero Talent Zone’. I noted 10 things that require zero talent:

1. Being on time

2. Work ethic

3. Effort

4. Energy

5. Body Language

6. Passion

7. Doing extra

8. Being prepared

9. Being coachable

10. Attitude

These are great points to affirm in positive and supportive conversations.  I spent time in Assembly this week reaffirming the value of these 10 things and how they contribute to developing an enviable attitude.

I also took the opportunity to affirm the importance of every member of our community accepting responsibility for stewarding the wellbeing of others. It is regularly the case that friends and parents become aware of wellbeing challenges before the teaching staff. Please share concerns early so all may receive excellent care.

Iain Belôt – Principal