Change and Challenges

‘What is going on at the Primary Campus?’ might be a question you have been asking yourself over the course of the last two weeks. 

Sometimes it feels like our school has been a non-stop construction site this year. With work on the Multi-Purpose Hall, Primary Music Room, and Secondary Administration complete, attention has turned to our Primary Staff Room, Sports Court, Carpark and Drop Off Zone.

It is the Primary Carpark and Drop Off Zone that has caught the attention of passers-by of late. Whilst carefully retaining the trees that we can, preparation works have involved the clearing of the site. The outcome will be a much-improved access to drop off and parking for the Primary Campus. 

Above: Plans and progress for the new Carpark and Drop Off Zone

“Growth and change, whether in buildings or in our own lives, are rarely clean and without struggle.”

Change brings its own challenges, of course, as we continue to run a busy and active school community around the restrictions of building works. Growth and change, whether in buildings or in our own lives, are rarely clean and without struggle. A life lived in faithfulness to God does not bring a promise of ease and comfort. Rather, God promises to use the challenges and struggles of life to transform our character and to gradually conform our lives to the pattern of His
son, Jesus.

Jesus’ brother, James wrote to encourage the followers of God, “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:2-4

Scott Ambrose — Principal

Seasons

The end of year is often a time of mixed emotions; a little bit of us is usually excited by the promise of holidays and precious time with family and friends over the Christmas period. 

It is not unusual to feel a sense of weariness following the effort of exams and work, this can also be a symptom of the busyness of this time of year. And yet another part of us feels that sense of loss as we say goodbye to long standing friends and peers.

This is certainly true of our Year 12 students who are busily studying for and sitting exams at the moment and will soon be celebrating their ‘Leavers’ Dinner’. The excitement and promise of next year, whether that be further study or work, is often tinged with a sense of sadness that the friends whose company and support we have enjoyed over many years, will not be sitting beside us each day or sharing in regular conversations.

As teachers, we feel this as well. One of the incredible blessings of this school community is the strong sense of connection with students and colleagues. Farewelling our Year 12 Leavers, as we will at formal events in coming weeks, it is easy to say that they have become much more than students to us.

Of course, it is not only students that we farewell at the end of the year and for us as a school community, we are also saddened to say goodbye to teachers and colleagues who have faithfully served and willingly given far beyond the expectation of their role. This year, we will be acknowledging two retiring staff members, Mr Phil Knowles and Mrs Gaye Reynolds, a teacher who is moving to Launceston, Mr Jordan Green, and a teacher who is moving to Queensland, Marie Claire O’Malley.

“God reminds us that change is an inevitable part of life but with that change comes an opportunity to celebrate, acknowledge and remember the good things that God has given us through these relationships. ”

In acknowledging these faithful servants of God, I am reminded of the very familiar word of God to us in the book of Ecclesiastes, “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh”. God reminds us that change is an inevitable part of life but with that change comes an opportunity to celebrate, acknowledge and remember the good things that God has given us through these relationships.

This period of change is not the end of our relationships but rather a new season. In entering this new season for our departing staff and students, we want to leave an open invitation to continue to connect with us; they remain part of our community. Mr Knowles and Mrs Reynolds have talked about being available to return as required and we pray that the same may be true of Mr Green when he moves back to the south. In the meantime, we look forward to the coming period of celebration and the reminder, again from Ecclesiastes that God “…has made everything beautiful in its time”.

Scott Ambrose — Principal

A day in the sun...

There is something about the start of daylight saving that lifts the spirits. After winter, I appreciate the longer days and the warming sun.

A day in the sun yesterday at the Secondary Athletics Carnival, bathed in sunlight and seeing the efforts and joy of students, has a real air of celebration about it.

Conversely, darkness can also influence us. As a primary school child, my first paying job was as a paper boy working with my younger brother. Each morning we would be up shortly after 4.00am, dressing and heading out into the cold early morning on foot. We repeated this pattern six days a week, ensuring that the papers were in people’s letter boxes or on their front porch by 6.30am. The two things that I remember most distinctly from the job were the bitter cold in winter and the darkness of the mornings.

“Darkness is an interesting thing. It narrows our field of vision...”

There was one delivery on our paper round that neither my brother nor I were keen to make. It was down a long, gravel road with no lights and, at the end of it, one paper to deliver. We would divide our resources to get the job done as quickly as possible and my brother was so determined to avoid this particular delivery that he offered to deliver every other paper in the long adjoining street if I would deliver this one, solitary newspaper.

Darkness is an interesting thing. It narrows our field of vision and, in the shadowy spaces devoid of light, we as young boys, imagined all sorts of potential terrors that, in the summer months we quickly forgot. The idea of light and dark is used often in Scripture and literature to speak to us about life. The follower of Jesus, Paul wrote an encouragement to “live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases God. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them…everything exposed by the light becomes visible…” — Ephesians 5:8b-13.

“ As a School, we actively plan for and seek opportunities to bring the light of God into our relationships and curriculum...”

Part of the broad education of every young person is the development of spiritual character. By this I do not simply mean the ability to choose right from wrong (although that is part of it), but the transformational effect that the light of God can have in our lives when we seek to align our lives with Him and to live as imitators of Christ. This is the heart and vision of Christian Education. As a School, we actively plan for and seek opportunities to bring the light of God into our relationships and curriculum, seeking the fulfilment of Jesus’ prayer “Your (God’s) Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.

Scott Ambrose — Principal