A vision becoming a reality...

“We celebrate the past to awaken the future”, US President John F Kennedy remarked in 1960. 

This short statement is a reminder that the very act of remembering is powerful; that in that simple action is the potential to shape and to influence our own futures.

Tomorrow, we celebrate Heritage Day at Calvin Christian School. Heritage Day is a chance to look back on our past, to remember, and to reflect on the incredible step of faith that was taken when those first, founding families established an association for a Christian school. Putting their vision into action, these pioneers then set about saving, planning and, finally, building to create the School that we enjoy today. 

“The future that was imagined in 1962 has become a reality”

Our Heritage Day celebration this year will include time for our students in Years 6-12 to sit and learn from Piet and Jeltje Verdouw. Mr and Mrs Verdouw have a long history with our School that included Mr Verdouw working as a young man on the construction of our first classrooms and Mrs Verdouw moving with her family to Kingston so that her father (Mr O.J. Hofman) could take up his post as the first Principal of Calvin.

The vision for Christian Education remains central to our association. Our teachers have just returned from a two-day conference with staff of Christian schools from around the state. Meeting in Launceston as part of a national network of schools that began with one small school in Kingston, our staff joined other Christian school teachers in honouring God for the work that He is doing in and through our schools. Today, that association of schools (Christian Education National) that began with Calvin in 1962 educates over 23,000 in every state and territory in Australia.

The future that was imagined in 1962 has become a reality. Thousands of students have been educated at Calvin Christian School over the last 59 years in partnership with parents. As our students learn about these first steps in Christian Education, our hope remains that this will awaken them to the possibility of a future with God.

Scott Ambrose — Principal

Pressing on Toward the Goal

For some students, report time brings with it a sense of fear; fear of what might be said or exposed, a lack of understanding or potentially effort.

For most, there is a vocal or quiet sense of excitement as they look forward to that warm feeling that comes when they read the words of encouragement written on the page or see the results gained.

My own children were always eager to read what had been said or reported about them, to share successes, and even to understand where they had fallen short. As parents, my wife and I use reports as an opportunity to encourage, to celebrate, and to reflect with our children. It is a useful time to reflect on goals and their progress towards them, to consider the need for action, or the opportunities to come.

As parents, we delight in the successes of our children and recognise that success looks quite different for each of them. What we valued so much in the reports and comments of teachers was the reflection of growth, particularly growth in character and faith. As much as we delight in and encourage the academic success of our children, there is something enduring in those glimpses of Christ-like character, the promise of a life lived in relationship with God.

“As parents, we delight in the successes of our children and recognise that success looks quite different for each of them. ”

The apostle Paul writes of his determination to attain an enduring goal, “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me….Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.

As a family, we celebrate the successes of our children but deeply value the character building that comes through the messages that they receive in our home, in their school, and through our church community. For us, the real prize is a life indelibly marked by God and lived for Him.

As you read your own child’s report and speak to their teacher in our parent-teacher sessions, remember to look for and celebrate their academic successes but also to rejoice in the growing characters that reflect the work of God in their lives.

Scott Ambrose — Principal

Creating Engaging Learning Environments

At Calvin Christian School we are continually looking to bring best practice to our teaching and learning environment. This includes teaching practices, learning programs and classroom environments.

In the Primary School, Karalyn Bylsma and Isaac Smith are our Curriculum Coordinators for Kinder to Year 2 and Year 3 to 6 respectively. Along with Learning Support Staff and classroom teachers they are looking to continually grow and develop our students’ learning outcomes and opportunities across all curriculum areas.

“Our students need time in the outdoors to grow a greater appreciation of God’s creation, develop resilience as they undertake meaningful risks.”

In the early years, we have recently been investigating and learning about the importance of inquiry and play-based learning both in an out of the classroom environment. Our Kinder and Prep teachers have undertaken ‘The Outdoor Classroom’ Professional Learning, exploring the importance of utilising the outdoor environment in student learning. This Professional Learning showed us how our students need time in the outdoors to grow a greater appreciation of God’s creation, develop resilience as they undertake meaningful ‘risks’ and connect their learning to the real world. We are currently enquiring about undertaking more Professional Learning to create a meaningful scaffolded ‘Bush School’ program for students from Kinder to
Year 6. 

Our Kinder to Year 2 teachers will also be attending Professional Learning from Early Life Foundations on Walker Learning. This Professional Learning will be studying the theory behind play and inquiry-based learning and how to incorporate these concepts into the classroom learning environment. Some key questions this training will ask are:

• How do we optimise young children’s learning through an investigative learning pedagogy?  

• How do we set up inviting and meaningful environments that promote, engage and sustain children's learning?

The Walker Learning Approach provides a unique balance between children being active participants in their learning and explicit teacher instruction. 

“Continuing to grow our teachers’ knowledge and understanding in these important aspects of our students learning journey is essential.”

The book of Proverbs has many references about the importance of knowledge, wisdom and insight. This applies to our student’s spiritual walk, including knowledge and understanding of God, along with providing opportunities to develop wisdom and academic abilities. 

Proverbs 2:6-7 states “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.”

As these verses outline, continuing to grow our teachers’ knowledge and understanding in these important aspects of our students’ learning journey is essential. Continuous learning and ongoing improvement are of paramount importance to us as a school in our ongoing care, guidance and development of our student community.

Andrew Nash — Head of Primary