Kuyper

From the Board Chair

The Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Mark Ramsay as the new Principal of Kuyper Christian School to commence in January 2024.

Mark is a highly experienced Christian educator, having served for over twenty years in Christian education, more than half of these in senior leadership positions, including Deputy Principal at Nepean Christian School, Penrith Anglican College and most recently here at Kuyper. 

Mark is a relational leader, a strategic thinker and has a heart for service learning. His vision for Christian education aligns strongly with Kuyper’s mission to foster a learning environment that enables each student to flourish with the gifts our God has given them. Mark is well acquainted with our parent-governed Christian school model and is committed to working alongside our staff and parents to build on Kuyper’s reputation for parent partnership and care for all students.

The Board is grateful for the assistance of Christian Education National with the recruitment and selection process. We were delighted with the level of interest shown in the position by a number of highly qualified candidates, which is an indication of Kuyper’s standing in the Christian schooling sector.

The Board would like to congratulate Mark on his appointment and assure him of our support as he takes up the challenge of leading our growing school in the years ahead.

As you are aware, Ian Shaw will be retiring at the end of this year, and the Board would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his enormous contribution to the Kuyper community over the past eight years. There will be a number of occasions in Term 4 to recognise Ian’s work and acknowledge the significant growth of our school under his wise and steady leadership.

We thank the Kuyper community for your prayerful support during the selection process. We are grateful that God has provided a Christ-focused, missional and visionary leader for our school. We are excited to see how God will use Mark as he leads Kuyper in this next season.

Wayne Speirs
AKCEA Board Chair

A Word from Ian

I am thrilled with the appointment of Mr Mark Ramsay to the role of Kuyper Principal commencing in 2024. Having worked alongside Mark here at Kuyper and in another Christian school, I am confident that Mark is an excellent choice to lead our wonderful Kuyper community when I retire. I know Mark has a servant heart and will lead by example in ways that model Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him over the next five months to ensure a smooth transition, and trust our community will gather around and support him in this new adventure.

Praise God for His ongoing provision for our school.

Ian Shaw
Retiring Principal – 2023

A Word from Mark

I am humbled that God has granted me the opportunity to lead Kuyper Christian School in this new season. Getting to know our wonderful school community over the past eighteen months has been a joy, and I am excited about what lies ahead in Kuyper’s story. I am committed to continuing Kuyper’s strong foundation on God’s Word and delivering education in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is my privilege to continue working alongside Ian over the next five months as we prepare for his retirement.

I look forward to serving you as Principal of Kuyper Christian School in 2024.

Mark Ramsay
Incoming Principal – 2024

Wednesday 23 August

Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to join us on Wednesday, 23 August, for a showcase of HSC Major Works and a spectacular Whole School Celebration Assembly featuring the Kuyper Concert Band.

1:10 PM – 1:45 PM: HSC Music Performance Showcase, in the Hall

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM: HSC Design & Technology Major Work Showcase, in the Music Room (opposite the Hall, across the Village Green)

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM: Barista Coffee, on the Village Green

2:15 – 3:25 PM: Whole School Celebration Assembly featuring the Kuyper Concert Band, in the Hall. Fresh from their tour through Western NSW, our Concert Band will entertain you with some of the items that thrilled audiences at schools in the Blue Mountains, Dubbo, Orange, Parkes and Wellington.

Special Guest: Susan Templeman, our local Federal Member.

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating our students as they bless us with their God-given talents.

Wednesday 6 September
6 PM – 8 PM

Current and future families of students in Years 7-12 are invited to join us for an evening of information and inspiration as we shine a light on what Secondary students have been learning and creating this year.

The evening will commence at 6 PM with dinner on the Village Green and a Secondary Expo in the Hall, followed by presentations on the Kurrajong Program, subject selection and starting Year 7 at Kuyper.

6 PM – 7 PM: Dinner & Expo

7 PM – 8 PM: Presentations

• The Kurrajong Program (Years 11 & 12)
• Starting Year 7 at Kuyper in 2024

We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 16 June 2023

8:45 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue: McMahons Park, Kurrajong

Our K-12 Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday, 16 June, at McMahons Park, Kurrajong. We love to see our parents and grandparents at this event. Dress warmly and bring something to sit on.

BBQ meal deals are available to pre-order. Use the link in your Parent App to order by 8 June. Other treats will also be available for purchase on the day. Please bring cash. All proceeds will support our Concert Band Tour in Term 3.

The carnival also provides a multitude of opportunities for serving one another. Please note your ability to help on the day when you grant permission via your Parent App. We look forward to seeing you!

House Colours: Hawkesbury (Green), Colo (Blue), Redbank (Red)

Rob Weule, Head of Creative & Performing Arts and Year 4 Teacher

God created music to aid us in our praise, honour and worship of Him and to bring others and ourselves joy and fulfilment. The learning of a musical instrument involves specific skill development that can bring lifelong pleasure. It is a tool for developing a sense of personal identity, it is a T.E.A.M. activity as much as a personal activity, and it enhances all other layers of learning. Music is a vital part of everyday life and school life.

Learning music provides children with the cognitive foundations for effective learning, which ultimately helps them become confident learners, ready to make the most of their education.

Dr Anita Collins (Bigger Better Brains)

Music is one of the few activities which engage the entire brain. Learning music can help students’ self-confidence, self-discipline and teamwork. Music helps students progress in other important learning areas such as Maths and English. Indeed, countries with a strong focus on music education tend to have higher scores in literacy and numeracy. Engaging music programs have been shown to help with attendance and can be particularly beneficial for students who are not achieving well in school. All of this evidence for music’s extrinsic benefits make a strong case for music education but should not overshadow the sheer joy people experience making music, nor the value of the art form itself. Music is one of the few activities which engage the entire brain. You might want to check out: BiggerBetterBrains

Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility.

Hillary Clinton

Seven Facts About School Music… (yep these are supported by research)

• Music makes a contribution to kids’ development that no other subject can match.
• Music students are more likely to be good citizens.
• Learning music helps under-performing students improve.
• Musical training can enhance brain function.
• Incorporating music learning into other curriculum areas helps kids learn.
• Playing music improves concentration, memory and ability to express feelings.
• Australia lags behind other countries in the provision of music in school.

With these thoughts in mind, it is most exciting to be part of the Year 4 Band Program that began seven years ago at Kuyper Christian School.

All students in Year 4 are part of the Year 4 Band. They participate in an instrumental tutorial and whole band session each week as well as being involved in regular individual rehearsal at home (thanks Band Families). It is always an exciting musical adventure with our Year 4 Band. Stay tuned for their first ‘public’ performance.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3