Kaelene McCaull, Head of P-6 / Director of Teacher Development
Last Thursday night, Kuyper’s 2024 Year 6 class had a pizza and ice cream party to mark the milestone of moving from primary school to high school. The students, their parents, staff and even a couple of grandparents had a fantastic time celebrating this momentous occasion. Thanks to our Year 6 teacher, Mrs Shaw, and her support team for all their hard work in making this special evening happen.
A night like this is a wonderful chance to pause and reflect on the learning journey of our oldest Primary School students. The picture below is a puzzle created by the class. Each student decorated their own piece to reflect themselves. When joined together, the puzzle demonstrates the strength of what we can do when we work together using our unique God-given personalities and gifts.
As we think about the years that have passed, it is an opportunity to reflect on the unique community that has supported, challenged, and taught these students as they have moved through their most formative years of schooling. In addition to their peers, many teachers, family members, and friends have brought their own God-given personalities and gifts to help shape these twenty-six young people. This same God-given community will continue to provide the support they need as they navigate the next chapter in their learning journey. Our prayer is that each student will also realise that the God, who loves them immeasurably more than they can fathom, is also with them every step of the way.
It is not difficult to marvel at the changes in our precious young people as they have journeyed through their first eight years of schooling. They have already mastered an incredible array of knowledge and skills in their pursuit of learning about the world that God has placed them in. Even more importantly, they have developed character, resilience and the ability to work and play alongside others. We are excited about the learning adventure that our students have ahead of them – and it really will be an adventure! It will be full of opportunities to learn about themselves as God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule, and all that this means for them and how they live both as individuals and as a community. Our deep hope here at Kuyper is that as students continue to learn and grow, they will use what they are learning to serve God and their school community and make a positive difference in the broader community in which they live.
For all those families whose children are continuing on ‘up the hill’ at Kuyper, we are excited to continue our partnership with you. We look forward to many more wonderful and challenging opportunities and adventures ahead. For those who God has called on to other places, we wish you all the best in the new year. May you take fond memories of your time as part of the Kuyper community. Wherever you go, it is still God’s world, full of opportunities to grow and serve as His people, in His place, under His rule.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
