Making Plans...

I love overseas travel. Some of my happiest memories are of exploring laneways in exotic cities, eating local cuisine, visiting cultural sites and enjoying the great outdoors.   

But almost as fulfilling as travel itself are the hours I spend planning the trips. I love mapping out the itinerary, searching for the best flights, scrolling through hotel options and planning site visits. From the comfort of my living room, I experience travel via my laptop, well before I even get to the airport!  

Unfortunately, COVID has made me more risk averse and less flexible in adapting to possible travel disruption. While I still love planning the trip, I face the journey itself with more anxiety now. For the first time in my travel life, I find myself concerned about cancelled flights, COVID disruptions and forfeited tickets. I worry about whether the travel experience will be everything that I dream or imagine. 

“They are making decisions relating to their ‘journey’ into a higher grade, work, university or other pathways for 2023 and beyond. ”

Over the past few weeks, our Year 7 to 11 students have also been doing some forward planning as they finalise their subject selections for 2023. They are making decisions relating to their ‘journey’ into a higher grade, work, university or other pathways for 2023 and beyond. Some students are sure of their goals, interests and strengths and have their eyes firmly focused on their destination. Others are still exploring possibilities, keeping all options open. Quite a few would say that their career pathway didn’t become evident until well after their Year 12 graduation. An increasing number of students have expressed that – just like my current concerns with travel planning - an insecure future makes them more hesitant and anxious in their planning for the future.

But, in the depths of the current winter, our students find themselves needing to make decisions about the subjects they are to undertake next year!

When making plans about future pathways of career or study, we encourage Calvin students to think about their gifts and interests, to seek guidance and to be willing to consider new options. Seeking the input of trusted others – parents, teachers, industry professionals and Carly Brouwer, our Pathway Coordinator at Calvin – provides invaluable wisdom and guidance. Undertaking tasks that are aligned with our own strengths, interests and gifts can lead to greater fulfillment and success.

“ And as you plan for future study or work, I encourage you to acknowledge the uncertainties and fears but don’t let them hold you back. Rather, consider your gifts and interests, seek guidance, take calculated risks and venture into new territory.”

But personal growth can also come from learning that is outside of your comfort zone. This may be when we choose a subject that stretches or challenges us. And sometimes we find ourselves in a place in life that is different to what we expected. It could be in a job, a course of study or a class that isn’t quite what we imagined. We might feel ‘quarantined’ in an uncomfortable place. While difficult, perseverance in this situation can lead to personal growth and learning. James 1:2-4 encourages us to face various kinds of tests with a joyful attitude, knowing that testing leads to endurance and the strength to deal with difficulties with increased stamina. While primarily referring to tests of our faith, endurance and stamina can be developed through facing trials and challenges in our academic and private lives too. 

And so, I continue to plan overseas travel, despite my fears and the knowledge that I may face cancelled flights or COVID disruptions. And as you plan for future study or work, I encourage you to acknowledge the uncertainties and fears but don’t let them hold you back. Rather, consider your gifts and interests, seek guidance, take calculated risks and venture into new territory. You never know what you might discover about yourself and God’s great world!

Bonny Moroni — Head of Secondary

"Our people"

The desire to be known, to be part of a community where we are recognised and understood, is deeply wired into us.

This was brought home to me a number of years ago when my wife, my two youngest children, and I travelled to Melbourne. Whilst my wife was at her seminar during the day, I took our young son and daughter off to explore Melbourne.

We did some great things together. We caught the train, we went to the aquarium, to the movies, we enjoyed some treats whilst we explored the city. Amidst all of the activity and the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, one comment from my seven-year-old daughter struck me.

“In that moment, I realised that, as much fun as we had been having exploring the city, what my daughter was asking for, what she wanted to feel, was her point of connection.”

We were travelling back by train from another exciting activity. Sitting chatting and looking around the full railway carriage, my daughter was very quiet for a time and then said to me, “Daddy, when are we going to see some of our people?”

In that moment, I realised that, as much fun as we had been having exploring the city, what my daughter was asking for, what she wanted to feel, was her point of connection. In this almost overwhelming sea of faces, she wanted a direct, personal contact. People who recognised and acknowledged her.

“One of the ways that Jesus astounded those that he met was the deep personal understanding that he had of them. It communicated that they were known and understood. ”

One of the ways that Jesus astounded those that he met was the deep personal understanding that he had of them. It communicated that they were known and understood. The woman at the well runs back to her town after an encounter with Jesus saying “come, see a man who told me everything I ever did”. In the Psalms, King David marvels “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me”. Jesus answers that longing to be known and connected and brings us, as followers of Jesus, into relationship with him. Living with a sense of community and connection is critical for each of our students.

One of my challenges is ensuring that I know our students by name and am able to learn about them, their interests and challenges. Our teachers, of course, know them much better and I often say to prospective families, this is a school where your child will be known. It is one of the strengths of our size and helps to create a sense of community. As a Christian school, we seek to live out the reality of this relationship as our young people seek the answer to that deep question of connection.

Scott Ambrose — Principal

"A spoken word in due season..."

When was the last time you received a report card on your work?

Sometimes we might experience an annual review or receive feedback on an aspect of our work, we rarely have the opportunity to sit down and read through a thorough report on each aspect of our worklife. Perhaps to do so, would help us to consider the vulnerability of our children at report time.

We quickly forget what it is like being a student, including the excitement or pressure of waiting for that final report that summarises our successes, and perhaps missed opportunities over the course of a year. You may remember the report cards that listed a grade with one or two words, something along the lines of “poor”, “good”, or most exciting of all “very good”. However, your report looked, there was always that moment of trepidation as our parents opened, read, digested, and then responded to the report.

“The parental conversations that happen at report time have the power to inspire and encourage our children, at their worst, they can demoralise and demotivate. ”

The parental conversations that happen at report time have the power to inspire and encourage our children, at their worst, they can demoralise and demotivate. Used wisely, these can be opportunities to build relationship as we help our children to consider the decisions (small and large) that will bring about positive change.

What better way to use a report than to counsel and coach our children to understand cause and consequence. Proverbs 15:23 reminds us that well-chosen words can powerfully influence a hearer: “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

This week, reports for Calvin Christian School students become available. As parents, I encourage you to carefully read and discuss these with your child. Reaffirming that they are people of worth not because of what they have done but because they are made in the image of their Creator and that they are loved by you. Next term, we look forward to welcoming you to our parent-teacher interviews face-to-face or over the phone.

Scott Ambrose — Principal