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!

Welcome to Term 3. I trust that the last three weeks have provided a refreshing break from the busyness of school life for you and your children. We are looking forward to the return of students tomorrow.

Along with many like-minded schools, Kuyper’s mid-year break encompasses a week of staff development. This is a time for staff to think deeply about our work as Christian educators, collaborate as a team and engage in key training as we prepare to support you in your God-given responsibility to nurture your children. 

In our morning devotions last week, staff explored 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

We were reminded that true joy is found in the knowledge of our position in Christ rather than our circumstances or feelings at any one time. We spent time praying for one another, rejoicing in God’s goodness and thanking Him for every member of our school community.

Staff also completed fire safety and first aid training sessions, including practical CPR and defibrillation experience.  We hope we never need to use these skills. However, completing training in these areas reflects the commitment of all staff to be well-prepared and to care well for our school community.

To round out the week, a large cohort of Kuyper staff attended the Christian Education National (CEN) State Conference –  Practice with Purpose. As a result of the disruption to large gatherings caused by COVID restrictions, this was the first State Conference in six years. Over seven hundred and forty Christian teachers and staff from Christian schools in NSW and ACT gathered to hear from gifted educators and academics who reminded us of the importance of knowing and loving our students as unique individuals created in the image of God and designed for relationship with Him. It was a rich time of learning and a great encouragement to gather with so many other Christian school staff—our thanks to Nepean Christian School for hosting this event.

Staff in Christian schools are living epistles to the children and grandchildren in their care. It is vital that we keep our staff equipped to serve families well and pray that they will be faithful witnesses to Jesus in the lives of our children. 

Finally, with sadness, I advise that Mrs Sarah Allen will finish her time as a staff member at Kuyper on Friday, 18 August. Sarah has a long and faithful history at Kuyper, commencing as a young teacher in 2005 when she was only twenty-five. Over the past eighteen years, Sarah has blessed our school in a multitude of ways, bringing her extensive skills to serve in whatever capacity was needed at the time. Sarah has taught Mathematics, Food Technology, Agriculture, and Primary classes, in addition to her specialty areas of Sport, PDHPE and PASS. She has organised countless camps and excursions and is the driving vision behind our Hawkesbury Show and Carnival endeavours. Sarah has actively raised the profile of sport at Kuyper and has a gift for inspiring students to be involved in and enjoy sporting events.

Sarah has also worked tirelessly to apply for many sporting grants that have been a tremendous asset to our school over the years. She is loved by staff and students alike and will be deeply missed.

While Sarah’s resignation is a loss to our community, I am confident she will be a great blessing in her new role at Australian Christian College, Marsden Park, where she will teach a hybrid mix of online distance education and face-to-face classes. We are thankful for Sarah’s incredible generosity to the Kuyper Community over so many years. We pray for God’s richest blessing on this new venture as she faithfully supports Christian schooling in a different capacity. You are welcome to join us in the School Hall on Wednesday, 9 August, at 2:45 PM to farewell Mrs Allen at a special Assembly in her honour.

I pray this coming term will be one where our partnership between home and school fosters an environment that nurtures your children and bears much fruit in their lives. Every square inch of this world belongs to Jesus, and we want to acknowledge Him as Lord and King.

In Christ,
Ian Shaw
Principal

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

Ian Shaw, Principal

As we come to the end of 2022, we give thanks to God for His blessing and provision throughout our 40^th year. 2022 has not been without its struggles as our community dealt with the pain of sickness, floods, and tragedy. We know that life brings us times of joy and sorrow, but there is great comfort in knowing the Creator God and His son, the Lord Jesus, who keep the universe in motion. We can trust God in all circumstances.

We commenced the year with some excellent HSC results from our 2021 Year 12 group. These students are pursuing a range of post-school activities, including university, further study, and employment. Another huge joy this year was the opportunity to reconnect with our Kuyper pioneering families and friends who joined us to give thanks to God and celebrate 40 years of Learning in God’s World. Former parents, students and staff gathered with the current community to pray once more around the original table where Kuyper Christian School began. We thank God for His enabling of the past and the future.

This year, students and staff have also been thrilled that camps and excursions returned after a lengthy hiatus due to COVID. Then there was Seussical!  What joy it brought to our community. It was marvellous! Tonight, once again, we celebrate Limelight – in person! I am looking forward to this gathering of the Kuyperian community and the show that will unfold.

One way God has blessed us over 40 years is by providing wonderful staff, students and parents to form the school and knit it together. Each person is an important part of our school and contributes to the mission of nurturing children in the Lord.

 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

Romans 12:4-6

Each person plays their part in the body by helping this Christian school to function. We are blessed by each other, and I am thrilled to announce several new staff members for 2023. We welcome Brett Mills, Jerusha Thompson and Guy Boughey as new teachers in the Primary School. In addition, Karina Chambers and Lyndall Gluskie have been appointed to the Secondary School.

Kae McCaull and Alexis Clarke will take on senior roles in 2023 as Head of Primary and Head of Secondary, respectively. Jason Shadie will step down from his current leadership role and continue teaching at Kuyper in the Secondary School. We are deeply thankful for Mr Shadie’s leadership over the past 8 years. Alan McCartin will continue as our Business Manager in 2023, however, the position will now be full-time. Caz Lauter will also continue in Reception for four days per week instead of two, and Ruth Thompson will focus on a new full-time Enrolment & Communications management role.

Sadly, we say farewell to Anna McQueen and Ashleigh Plane, who are moving on to new challenges. We thank them both for their faithful service to our community and pray that God will continue to use them in the next chapter of service.

There are also a number of other educational roles and changes that will be finalised over the holidays and communicated early next year.

I take this opportunity to wish all the Kuyper community a joyful and blessed Christmas. We look forward to seeing you all at the Meet the Kuyper Team evening on Tuesday, 14 February 2023. Happy Christmas!

Ian Shaw, Principal

When Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23, He was seeking to encourage His followers to live as a united community, maintaining a culture of peace. Recently, all Kuyper staff completed PeaceWise training with a view to rolling out an ongoing learning program across the school that fosters peace in relationships.

We are not doing this because we have noticed any extraordinary unrest or disharmony, but rather because we want to further a faithful response to the biblical mandate of peace with God and peace with each other.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:20-23

Building and maintaining a culture of peace is important and worthy of our time and energy. There are reasons why Jesus made this a focus of His prayer.

Jesus knew that the community of people would be made up of natural enemies. Jesus prays for unity because he knows that one of the greatest threats to the community is that people take their eyes off the gospel that unites, and look back to ethnic and cultural differences. Or in our case differences in; non-core belief, baptism, vaccination, perceived understanding, interests, financial wellbeing, where we live… By being unified, we show the power and priority of the gospel in our lives.

Jesus prays for unity, because in unity, we reflect the nature of God. Through our relationship with each other we reflect the nature of who God is: three in one.

Through unity we make Christ known.

D.A. Carson (paraphrased)

For these excellent reasons we will continue to foster peace in our community. We plan to embark on a PeaceWise learning journey throughout the coming year. My prayer at the first School Assembly for the year went like this:

Our gracious Father. Thank you for sustaining us over the past 40 years as a school. Thank you for what you have done in students’ lives who have come to Kuyper. We ask you to bless the people of this community this year with understanding and wisdom. Lord may we understand more deeply your grace and mercy and your sovereign rule over the universe. May it help us respond to each other with kindness, respect and peace. We ask for protection over coming weeks especially confronting COVID. We know that nothing surprises You. Lord we put our trust in You again this year. We pray these things in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus.  Amen.

I trust you will pray with us this year, seeking to put Jesus in His rightful place as King. He is the One who can make true peace possible between God and mankind and peace among all people.

We welcome the following new staff for 2022 and look forward to working with all these new appointments. We rejoice in God’s faithfulness to our community over 40 years.

Mrs Caz Lauter brings a wealth of experience to the role of Administration Assistant, having worked in both commercial and church administration.

Miss Jade Spillane joins us each Tuesday to assist Mrs McAlpine with Prep, as well as other student gatherings. Jade is completing a Year 13 program with Youthworks College.

Mr Fred Wong comes to us this year as additional IT support 2 days per week, working with Mr Rhys Andrews. Mr Wong previously worked in IT at Toongabbie Christian School.

Mrs Steph Hargans, a recent Kuyper graduate, is now completing educational studies at Sydney University. She joins us in the role of Teachers’ Aide.

Ian Shaw, Principal

This year Kuyper Christian School celebrates 40 years! Starting a new school year is always a good time to reflect on our Creedal Statement, and after 40 years, it’s timely to evaluate how we are going. Do we still live the hopes and the story of our pioneers 40 years ago?  Most importantly, are we living a story that is true to our Biblical worldview and beliefs? The Creedal Statement was designed to keep us focused on the important issues. It is a foundation that was laid 40 years ago by parents like you and me who want their children to grow up knowing Jesus in every aspect of life and learning in His world.

Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He liberates and renews us. He also sends His Holy Spirit to lead us into truth. We gladly submit to the Bible as our guide for all of life. And because of these things, we humbly, yet confidently engage in education so that Jesus Christ will be glorified in everything.

Creedal Statement, Kuyper Christian School

That’s right, everything; every square inch! I love this statement in our Creed. It pronounces Christ King of Kings and Lord of all. It reminds us of His saving work in renewing, restoring and guiding us with spiritual healing and leading. I speak for more than myself, I am sure, when I say these things. I speak for all Staff, Board members and many Parents at Kuyper who gladly seek to submit to the authority of the Bible as our lifelong guide. In a season filled with uncertainly and anxiety, the Bible is a time-honoured book, the word of God, that can be trusted to speak words of life into a world that longs for hope and meaning.

During this year, may we come with thankfulness to God for what He has done in the preceding 40 years, and pray with confidence for what He will do in the future. I am convinced that God’s faithfulness will be ongoing in this community.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

As my retirement approaches, along with the feelings of sadness at leaving Kuyper and all the involvement I have had here for more than 30 years, there’s a joyful anticipation of what is going to happen on the next part of life’s journey for my husband Peter and I as well as an overarching thankfulness. I am thankful to an awesome God who gave me a calling and a passion to be a teacher. A God who has sustained me through the challenges and victories of what it means to teach with Christ at the centre of all things. A God who through the death and resurrection of his own Son, Jesus, has graciously given me a hope and an assured future in eternity. I am also thankful to have been part of the Kuyper community. The founding members of our school were convicted of the importance of their God-given responsibility to raise their children to love and serve Him and others. They considered that a school that partnered with them in this undertaking was vital.

The privilege I have had to teach and partner with parents in educating, nurturing and discipling their children has been a great honour and humbling experience. Working in the Primary years of schooling, you don’t always see the fruits of your labour. I have seen young men and women I taught, graduate from Year 12, confidently articulating their faith, some returning to Kuyper to work in serving others, to do practicums to become teachers themselves. I have also been encouraged and privileged to teach the children of past students. What an awesome heritage for our school!

Working on the Education Sub-Committee in the early years of our school, gave me insight into the challenges of teaching with Christ at the centre of all things. Kuyper has an awesome, passionate, creative and faithful staff as they serve in the classroom, in administration or hold everything together in the maintenance of our school. I am so grateful to have been able to serve with these people and I commend them all to you.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

I know that God has already got things planned. I just need to rest in Him. So rather than say, ‘Goodbye’; I’ll say, ‘Au revoir – until we see each other again.’

You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream.

C.S. Lewis

Many blessings in Christ, Sue Huxley