Kuyper

In conjunction with the drug education seminars being held for our Secondary students, the ‘Teen Challenge’ organisation will present an evening parent workshop.

Date: Wednesday 9 June
Time: 7 – 9 pm
Where: Kuyper Christian School Library

The “Changing the Narrative” theme presented in the parent workshop provides attendees with information on the current alcohol and drug culture, explores some of the underlying reasons for uptake and highlights how to identify the tell-tale signs that someone is using. Alongside the student seminars, #NotEvenOnce® aims to equip schools and families with tools to have conversations and help build resilience.

These seminars have been presented annually at Kuyper Christian School and many other schools throughout Australia for several years. They deliver a powerful message about the risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol and the misuse of prescription medication. 

In addition, Mrs Stewart, one of our parents, will be sharing a short presentation about the Google Family Link program that she and her husband use to manage devices in their home with 4 teenagers. Google Family Link gives control to parents and helps them teach appropriate device use for their children at home.

The evening will conclude with supper and a brief Q & A session.

We encourage all parents and carers to attend this helpful and informative event. What these presenters have to say will be gold for families struggling with technology and other teenage issues.

For more information visit: https://notevenonce.org.au/community-forums

On Wednesday 9 June, the ‘Teen Challenge’ organisation will present a drug education seminar to students in Years 7-12. There will also be an evening session, Changing the Narrative, for parents in the Library. We encourage all parents and carers to attend this helpful and informative event.

Session 1: Year 7, 9:15 – 10:55 (P1 & 2)
Session 2: Year 8 & 9, 11:30 – 1:10 (P3 & 4)
Session 3: Year 10 – 12, 1:45 – 3:25 (P5 & 6)
Session 4: Parents, 7 – 9pm, Library

These seminars have been presented at schools throughout Australia and at Kuyper Christian School annually for several years. They deliver a powerful message about the risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and alcohol and the misuse of prescription medication. 

The link below gives an overview of the student seminar content: https://notevenonce.org.au/school-projects/

This link covers the parent session in the evening which will be run in a workshop format, with Q & A: https://notevenonce.org.au/community-forums

If you DO NOT wish your child to attend the seminar for any reason, please email the  school; admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au 

Gareth Thompson, Secondary Teacher

I have a question for you: How is the Oktas where you are?

During the recent school holidays, my wife and I spent some time on the South Coast at Narooma. For something different, we decided to take a chartered boat trip 9km off the coast to visit Montague Island, where we snorkeled with seals and then did a guided tour of the old lighthouse and island. Before we set sail, we checked the weather conditions in Google land, as a storm had been forecast and we were concerned the trip might be cancelled. It was then we made a wonderful discovery, the Oktas rating.

Did you know that there is a way of rating the amount of clouds in the sky? Simply look up at the sky, divide the area you can see into eight equal pieces, and estimate how many of those eighths are full of clouds. Now, this is where it gets really interesting. Only a perfectly clear sky can be given an Oktas of zero. One single cloud will get the rating to one. Similarly, if there is even one tiny patch of blue above, then the rating is a seven. A rating of eight can only be given if the entire sky is full of clouds. 

What I find amazing is that anyone can do an Oktas rating right where they are at any point in time. So, two people who are geographically close to one another can get very different ratings depending how what fraction of the sky they can see. An Oktas rating depends entirely on your point of view and each person can only see part of the whole.

This is much like all of life. We judge our lives and the lives of others based on what we can see from our point of view. On the other hand, while we only see a fraction, God sees the whole. This reminds me of the unofficial motto of Kuyper Christian School.

There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!‘

Abraham Kuyper, 1880

While we look at our little patch of sky and count the clouds or blue sky that we can see, an all-powerful, all-knowing God looks out over everything and declares it as His.

Mind. Blown.

I shared my newfound measuring system with my Year 9 Maths class and now regularly greet them on the verandah outside E1 with, “What’s the Oktas today?” We then spend a little time staring upwards, discussing what fraction of the sky is cloud-covered and estimating the Oktas rating.

What is your Oktas today?

An exciting opportunity is coming our way – The Hot Potato Band

On Friday 21 May (this Friday) the Hot Potato Band will be conducting a workshop for selected students (who should have already received an email). The Workshop will begin at 11am and culminate in a performance for the whole school in the Hall at 2pm. Parents are welcome to come and enjoy the performance too, of course.

This is what the band says about themselves:

Hot Potato Band’s larger-than-life brass collective is a breath of fresh air, setting a new bar for energetic and interactive musical performances. Finding home in Sydney, Australia, their positive coastal energy pushes euphoric boundaries in their bold quest to reignite acoustic instrumentation. The band’s unique sound is built on the backs of three drummers, a sousaphone and five horns that cover catchy chorus lines, providing a beautiful harmonic cloud for Ben (vocalist) to float above. Hot Potato Band is un-bound by genres, stages and audiences. They are re-inventive of the traditional New Orleans brass band as a modern day dance machine and visual spectacle for all demographics with a strong sense of pride for their fun-loving, organic, and quirky musical nature.

If you are still curious, follow this link – https://www.hotpotatoband.com/

Rob Weule, Year 4 Teacher

Excuse me Madam…We’re on a mission from God. We’re getting the Band back together.

The Blues Brothers

Learning music can help students’ self-confidence, self-discipline and team work. 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: www.biggerbetterbrains.com

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)

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 five years ago at Kuyper Christian School.

Here are the numbers for 2021:

• 15 enthusiastic Year Four Musicians
• 2 Flutes
• 3 Trombones
• 3 Alto Saxes
• 2 Clarinets
• 5 Trumpets
• 5 Students learning drums
• 1 Conductor
• 3 Instrumental Tutors
• Countless hours of home and school rehearsal ahead
• 1 amazingly supportive School Board and Principal
• A lifetime of learning awaiting

The Year Four Band are involved with an instrumental tutorial and whole band session each week (Thursdays and Fridays) as well as being involved in regular individual rehearsal at home (thanks Band Families).

Music is a vital part of everyday life and school life. 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. The learning of an instrument 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.

We look forward to this exciting musical adventure with our Year 4 Band. Stay tuned for their first ‘public’ performance.

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

Ja Baldwin, Yr 5/6 Teacher

“Heart, Head, Hands and Hoofs!” is the theme for our Stage 3 (Year 5 & 6) students in 2021. After only a few weeks, and some theme-related activities, students were asked what exactly they thought “Heart, Head, Hands and Hoofs!” meant. Their responses were varied. Here are just a few of them:

“Heart, head, hands and hooves means that we have to work together…” (KO, Year 5)

God created hand, head, and heart; the hand for the deed, the head for the world, the heart for mysticism.

Abraham Kuyper

Without wanting to give too much away or spoil any opportunities for students to discover and learn for themselves, this wonderful theme can be kept simple, or explored deeply. As one of the Stage 3 teachers this year, it is my hope that students choose the latter.

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.

Psalm 40:8

Lyndal Mitchell, Assistant Principal

If you have scrolled through Facebook or looked at a local newspaper lately, it is likely that you have seen reports or photographs of an incredible floral event occurring in the Blue Mountains at the present time: an abundance of the very rare pink flannel flower. On Saturday, I went up for my second visit to see this spectacular display. Hundreds, if not thousands, of other people had the same idea. There were park rangers directing traffic, and road signs warning of crowds and advising caution. When was the last time that a flower created traffic congestion? It was delightfully strange! 

As soon as you step off the Narrow Neck fire trail, the dense carpet of sweet, pink flowers spreads out in all directions. Nestled beneath the blackened limbs of hundreds of burnt banksia trees, the soft fleshy blossoms contrast almost comically with the rough charred seedpods of the banksia remains.

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According to local sources, it is 50 years since pink flannel flowers were last seen blooming in the Blue Mountains. It’s incredible to imagine all those seeds lying dormant (in their millions!) in the soil all that time, until the conditions for germination were exactly right: drought and severe fire in one season, followed by heavy rainfall in the next. 

As we wandered amongst the abundant beauty and marvelled at the unlikeliness of such a rich botanical treat, my friend and I couldn’t help but see parables of God’s goodness and grace everywhere we looked. Passages such as Isaiah 61 came to mind: beauty from ashes, joy after mourning, a garment of praise that replaces despair. 

There is much in this world that can worry our minds, burden our hearts, test the mettle of our courage, and weigh down our spirit. It can be hard to hold on to the promises of God, and believe that He is always working for our ultimate good – in spite of how our current circumstances feel to us. But that is the truth. God’s timing is often not what we would choose or wish for; He will not be hurried or rushed along by our own impatient agendas or human sense of urgency. He is on His own time schedule. That can be hard to accept, but it can also be immensely liberating. Trusting God is not a vain pursuit, it is wisdom. Waiting on His timing is not foolishness, it is the key to serenity. These are hard lessons to learn and I’m thankful for all the illustrations and reminders that He sends my way. 

As we unwrap the story of God’s redemptive grace to the students we teach here at Kuyper, we pray for the message of hope to sink deeply into each and every heart. We pray that our students will find themselves within God’s unfolding narrative and know that they belong. May they each have the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Jo Kean, Teacher Librarian & Sue Stuut, Librarian

Here is a snapshot of what happens in one of our most busy spaces here at Kuyper Christian School. Every class in the school attends the Library and every child has a chance to borrow books, read, learn and be creative through the Library.

Library lessons for Primary students occur on Thursdays. During these lessons Years 1 – 6 borrow books. Kindergarten students have lessons about how to use the library. They listen to a fun book together and complete an activity. Years 1 – 6 are working on Digital Citizenship; discovering how to stay safe online and what they can do to protect ourselves. Students will also be considering how to be responsible disciples of Jesus in a digital world.

We will celebrate Book week in August this year, and the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge. Look out for details in the Newsletter. May God bless you in the year ahead.

Mike Hottinger, Chaplain & Teachers’ Aide

Last week in her newsletter article, Kae McCaull highlighted the joys of teaching, learning, and serving God in a variety of contexts. She also reminded us of Romans 12, where Paul speaks of the gifts God has blessed us with, and using them to build up His body. I found myself reading the newsletter on a Blue Mountains train home from the city, unwell and excluded from the final day of the Year 9/10 camp. As disappointing as this was, both the train trip and Kae’s article allowed me an opportunity to reflect on the time I had just spent with the students.

From Wednesday to Friday of Week 2, Year 9 and 10 took part in the Urban Challenge Camp. We chartered a bus and met our guides at Milsons Point. From there the students were divided into three teams. Each team member was given a specific role; Caterer, Treasurer, Navigator, etc. We were then set loose on the city with clues in an ‘Amazing Race’ challenge. 

We (in no particular order, and among other things) walked across the Harbour Bridge, had lunch in The Rocks, played games on the beach, made a giant pyramid, sang to a shop owner, had a surfing lesson, prepared food for the homeless, went bowling, were given a whole large pizza each for dinner and went on a late night ferry ride. Of all the experiences however, what impressed me the most was how the students worked together. They encouraged each other in their individual roles, they offered to carry the bags of those who were struggling, they cared for members of the general public and in doing all this, they represented Christ and Kuyper Christian School in a way that made us, as participating staff, very proud.

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God has given each of us gifts. This experience was an amazing opportunity for us all to learn more about those gifts and how we can use them powerfully, selflessly and with humility to build others up and point them to Jesus. Observing our students and their efforts throughout the week allowed me to contemplate our own responsibilities to each other, and I was reminded of both the depth and simplicity of living life together as God’s people.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Kae McCaull, Year 1 Teacher

One of the things I love about teaching is that every day is different; different information to learn and experience, different conversations to share and different challenges to overcome.  Some days we’re in the classroom thinking about numbers and learning the meaning of new words or patterns that God has built into His creation. On other days we are investigating our amazing natural surrounds. And on yet other days we’re beside a pool cheering our classmates on as they try out new swimming skills or use the abilities they have been practising and developing to push themselves further.

God blessed us with some beautiful weather last Friday for our swimming carnival.  We saw many students give their best to participate in their races. One of my favourite parts of the swimming carnival every year is watching the Secondary students help the younger students swim in their 25 metre race in the ‘big pool’. For Kindy students, this is their first experience of swimming in the carnival and the support and encouragement of their school community is a fabulous way to start. For some of the Year 1 and Year 2 students this support allows them to do something they would never feel brave enough to do alone.  Thank you to all those Secondary students who helped the younger kids and gave them a great first experience at our school carnival.  And this reminds me of another of God’s gracious blessings to us: community.

The Bible has many verses and passages that make it clear that God created us to be in community.

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

This passage makes it very clear that we are better together. Even Jesus, who is perfectly capable, and does not need human help, chose to surround himself with a large community, that included His 12 disciples.  At Kuyper, community allows us to use the gifts we have been given by God to serve and love others. It provides a place where we are encouraged to be who God created us to be. Community provides help and support when life is hard and it can also challenge us and “rub off” those rough edges that we all have. Community isn’t always easy but a God-honouring community is always worth it.

Community has become a bit of a theme in our class this year as we participate in activities that remind us that we work best when we are working together under God, rather than competing with each other.  We made elephant toothpaste by using some ordinary ingredients that, together, make something pretty awesome. We put our heads together to solve many different puzzles and reveal a secret code.  We are now working on a whole-group artwork which is beginning to look really good.

As we enter a new year, let’s thank God for the amazing community of students, staff and families that He has blessed us with. It is my prayer that we contribute to and build up this community.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24

Ian Shaw, Principal

On Monday staff and students gathered together in the Kuyper Christian School Hall. It was so good to see everyone’s smiling faces! Because parents were not able to attend due to COVID-19 guidelines, here is what we did:

The gathering commenced with a video of A Current Affair news story about of one of our students, Josh Miller and his remarkable recovery from Leukaemia. Josh was in the audience yesterday and it is wonderful to have him back at school after more than two years under medical treatment. Please continue to pray for him and his ongoing recovery.

We were treated to a duet of our National Anthem by Miss Clucas and Mr Weule, which focused on us being one. Miss Clucas reminded us that true one-ness comes from being one in Christ Jesus. New and nearly-new staff were introduced to students via a school game. Mrs Allen enthusiastically promoted the swimming carnival this Friday by wearing flippers and toting a kickboard and a huge blue peacock swim ring. Mr Shaw challenged students that knowing God is a gift not to be overlooked. The Bible tells us about God and how we can know Him.  What will we learn about God this year?

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.

Ephesians 1:17

This is our prayer for students at Kuyper Christian School. We long for them to personally know God through His son Jesus Christ. We pray that His truth might establish a firm foundation in their lives to prepare them for the good plans He has for them. I trust that this is your heart’s desire for your children too; a holistic education, grounded on the Word of God, that will equip them to deal with the wonder and horror that comes to us all as we move through life.

And what is in store? I can report many happy stories from our graduating students; a large number of university placements, apprenticeships and employment. We celebrate them and hope to share some of these individual stories over the coming year.

On a practical note, although there are limitations on casual visits to the School property, I am able to meet parents who have important things they would like to discuss with me. I welcome this contact if you are well. 😊 Please make an appointment with the School Office.

Finally, I would like to mention some Kuyper families who are doing it tough right now. Orson, husband to Jo and father to Madison Tonkin is suffering with a serious cancer. There are no easy answers or comforts at present. Please pray for the family as they live day by day with chemotherapy and the hardship that sickness brings. Pray too for the Abraham family with Samara starting Kindy at Kuyper; mum Sarah will be undergoing surgery soon. Pray for James Hansen’s ongoing recovery and treatment. These are just some of the journeys within our community. There are others you may know about too. May our community bring support and comfort to all our parents who are in need.