See you next year!

This week we have been busy celebrating our students in our final assemblies and awards presentation ceremonies. One of the changes brought about by COVID-19 has been our split end of year events.  

Whilst this has meant a lot more events, it has had the benefit of focussing our time on smaller groups of students and creating more intimate events that parents and carers have been able to attend.

“I have noted something in every report that is worthy of celebration.”

It has been good to see some of our families represented at multiple events. I jokingly referred to them as our ‘parent groupies’ in the Year 4-6 Assembly today but their attendance is a reflection of the community nature of our school. There is regular connection and the fostering of relationship. 

In each of our final events, I have been keen to remind our students that it is not just the award recipients that we honour. As I have read through some of the reports and seen the students through the teachers’ eyes, I have noted something in every report that is worthy of celebration. Each of our students has been growing, learning, and sharing. Many of our students are learning to increasingly reflect Jesus in their lives and interactions.

“Many of our students are learning to increasingly reflect Jesus in their lives and interactions.”

It is character and effort that are reflected in our end of year reports and awards. Our students are created bearing the image of our God and it is exciting to see them growing and learning, with all of the challenges. Reflecting on Jesus in Luke 2:40, Luke writes that he “…grew and became strong, he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him”. 

What a wonderful prayer for our own children as we proudly observe and celebrate them in their growth. May God bless each of your families as you celebrate Jesus’ coming this Christmas time. We look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

Scott Ambrose — Principal

The Year in Review

The year 2020 has definitely been one that we will remember. A worldwide pandemic which involved students working and learning from home will be a huge part of that, however, we also want to take thoughts and memories of the positive experiences and events of this year with us into 2021.

There has been a wide range of great experiences within the school, some of which have been a direct result of the changes and restrictions of 2020. In the Primary School, students have had opportunities to engage in their usual classroom learning programs along with the many other co-curricular and academic opportunities. This included Athletics Carnivals for Kinder to Year 6 and a Swimming Carnival for our Year 3-6 students. The participation and involvement at these events was outstanding. We had 11 Athletics school records broken and many students successfully represent Calvin at Huon and Channel Carnivals. We had 102 students represent the school outside school hours in soccer, basketball, futsal and indoor cricket.

“We had 102 students represent the school outside school hours!”

I remember multiple conversations with people outside the Calvin community commenting on the sportsmanship and role modelling of our students at these events. We also heard many stories of success and improvement in our weekly Line Up sessions. Our sporting achievements and participation was showcased in an outdoor assembly, in which we were blessed with good weather making this possibility a more regular occurrence in the future.

Students were able to practise their musical talents in our weekly music lesson and individual piano tuition throughout the year. This was all showcased in our annual Music Assembly, which due to gathering restrictions was filmed and made available to our parent community. This gave families the opportunity to keep and re-watch these items, especially those who can’t usually make it to our daytime assemblies. 

Although we weren’t able to have camps this year, our Year 3-6 students undertook a range of activities that took their place. This included a trip to Port Arthur, rafting, rock climbing, crate climbing, roller skating, beach days, surfing, a ropes course and a day trip to Blue Lagoon campsite. Seeing the excitement and positive chatter after these events was encouragement that students were having positive experiences and gaining life long memories from these events.

“We had 75 students who received credits in these tests, with 48 receiving distinctions or higher.”

Throughout these experiences, students were also engaging in a strong academic learning program within the classroom. We continued our involvement with the University of New South Wales International Competitions and Assessments for Schools testing (ICAS), receiving many positive results. We had 75 students who received credits in these tests, with 48 receiving distinctions or higher, including 5 students winning medals for the best score in Tasmania! These medals will be awarded at the Final Assemblies on Tuesday 15 December.

As you can see, although 2020 has been a very different year in many ways, students have still been able to engage in a range of positive and memorable experiences, and the examples above are only from the Primary School. I encourage you to take the time to look at the positives that have come out of 2020 as we head into the busy season of Christmas and holidays. In 2020, we have learnt and reinforced that we cannot always be in control and we will encounter times of challenge and adversity, but as Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes for them” (NLT). 

Andrew Nash – Head of Primary

Celebrating Relationship

Halfway into Term 4 is an unusual time to arrive at a new school, the rhythms of the year are well and truly established and, in some respects, it feels as though the year is winding down.

I have felt this with Year 11/12 students completing exams and Year 10 students heading off to work experience as their school year concludes. But in reality, this is also a great time to begin to get to know the community (staff, students and parents), to observe the structure of school life at Calvin, and appreciate the strength of relationship that exists.  

“I have discovered... a community with a rich expression of faith that values connection with one another. ”

My first few weeks at Calvin have been all of that and more. I have discovered myself in a warm and welcoming community, a community with a rich expression of faith that values connection with one another. Celebrating the Year 12 graduates at their dinner on Monday night, worshipping with staff members, and being welcomed by inquisitive students are experiences that have quickly made me feel at home.

Rich relationships bring a sense of connection and community. Part of what makes an exceptional school is the sense that we belong and are known - it is so simple that it is easy to neglect. It is good to remember that, at the core of our faith, is a restored relationship with the living God that brings strength and perspective to our relationships with one another. Part of the joy of community is in the ways that we share with one another and celebrate our relationships.

Scott Ambrose — Principal