Ruth Thompson

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

Parents are a key part of our school community and can make a rich contribution to the life of the school. So I am especially pleased to introduce the members of our new Kuyper Community Group for 2026:

Jennifer Pennings – President & Public Officer
Nicholas Stirling – Vice President
Sue Tonkin – Secretary
Kerryn Johnson – Treasurer
Felicity Burger – Committee Member
Nicole Young – Committee Member
Stacey King – Committee Member

This team of parent volunteers has generously offered their time and energy to help strengthen our school community through a range of events and fundraising initiatives throughout the year. We are very grateful for their willingness to serve in this way.

The Kuyper Community Group will play an important role in supporting the life of the school and creating opportunities for families to connect. While the committee provides leadership and coordination, the strength of the KCG lies in the wider parent community partnering together.

Throughout the year, there will be many opportunities for parents to contribute—whether by helping at events, donating items for activities, serving on the BBQ or in the carnival canteen, or supporting fundraising initiatives. These shared efforts not only enrich the life of the school but also model for our children the value of serving others and contributing to community life.

I also encourage parents to consider joining the Kuyper Community Group and attending its regular meetings, held on the third Monday of each month during school terms at 7:00pm in the School Library. These gatherings provide a simple way to stay connected with the life of the school, hear about upcoming events and initiatives, and contribute ideas as we continue to build a strong and supportive community together.

If you would like to learn more or get involved, check out the Kuyper Community Group event post or contact them at ✉️ kuypercommunity@kuyper.nsw.edu.au.

I encourage you to support the work of the KCG wherever you can. Together, these shared efforts help make Kuyper the vibrant and caring community that it is.

Cassie Dixon, Head of Teaching and Learning

As we commence another week, it seems surprising that we are already at the midpoint of Term 1. Although it may feel like we have only just returned, there are clear signs that four weeks of teaching and learning have already taken place. Teachers have been working diligently to plan and deliver great programs, providing students with many opportunities to learn through engaging lessons and activities. The routines established in classrooms are helping students feel connected and focused. During classroom visits, I have witnessed high-quality learning in action. Students are being stretched and challenged, stepping beyond what feels comfortable and learning to sit with the challenge of something new. We are very thankful for the settled start to the year.

There is also significant work happening behind the scenes as we make final preparations for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Each year, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia complete four NAPLAN tests. The testing window begins on Wednesday, 11 March, with the Writing Test, and we expect Kuyper students to complete all tests by Friday, 20 March. This week, parents will receive further information outlining the test timetable and any materials required. Classes began practice sessions last week and will continue this week to help students become familiar with the online format and reduce any nerves that may be starting to surface.

It is natural for both children and adults to feel nervous before a test. I often remind students that feeling nervous can show that we care and want to do well. At the same time, heightened anxiety can make it harder to think clearly or perform at our best. There are several ways we can support our children as they approach NAPLAN.

First, we need to remind them that their value is not determined by a test result. No assessment can add to or take away from the inherent worth we have as God’s image bearers. Our value comes from Him. His love for us does not change, and it certainly does not depend on a test score.

Second, we can help children recognise the signs of stress or anxiety,

• beginning to ask “What if…?” 
• our minds going blank 
• a racing heart, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, or a queasy feeling. 

Our bodies often give us signals when we are worried, and learning to recognise these signs is an important step.

Third, we can teach our children strategies to help them regulate their emotions. Taking deep breaths, especially inhaling and holding before exhaling, signals the brain that we are safe and can help reset our thinking. Another helpful strategy is replacing anxious thoughts with calming truths. In our high school this year, students have begun practising Breath Prayers, which combine deep breathing with Biblical truth. For example, when feeling worried, a student might pray, “Lord God,” while inhaling, and, “Give me peace,” while exhaling. This week’s breath prayer is, 

Lord God, (inhale)
we ask for wisdom (exhale). 

Scripture offers many truths that can steady anxious hearts and minds. You may like to find a few encouraging or calming Bible passages and help your child learn them through breath prayers. These reminders could be a gift to you as well.

Kaelene McCaull, Head of Primary

In our Primary School, we are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm that a new year brings. It has been especially pleasing to welcome many new students into our K–6 classes. Our current students have warmly included them in classroom and playground life, and it has been encouraging to see new friendships already forming. We encourage parents, too, to take the opportunity to introduce yourselves to new families and extend that same welcome, as together we continue to strengthen the sense of community that makes Kuyper such a special place.

Alongside the steady rhythms of classroom learning, we have introduced several initiatives this year designed to strengthen connection, broaden experiences, and continue nurturing each child’s growth—academically, socially, and spiritually.

STEM & Digital Technology

We are pleased to have reintroduced dedicated STEM and Digital Technologies lessons for Years 3–6. Mr Jeff Brown will teach these classes weekly, ensuring our students continue to receive rich and purposeful learning experiences in these important curriculum areas and further equipping them to think creatively and critically in an increasingly complex world.

Friday Clubs

On Fridays after lunch, we have introduced an afternoon of extra-curricular clubs. This new routine provides students with opportunities to build skills and relationships beyond their usual classroom groups, and encourages them to explore interests, learn new skills, and form connections with peers across a range of year levels. These mixed-age groups foster cooperation, creativity, and shared learning experiences, while also prompting students to consider how the gifts they are developing might be used in service to others.

Students were invited to nominate the club they wished to join, and have all been placed in one of their preferred options. They will remain in their chosen club for the duration of the term, with fresh opportunities and the possibility of new clubs available in Term 2. This term, students are participating in a wide variety of clubs, including Lego, Crafting, Chess and Board Games, Ukulele, Crochet, Playdough & Construction, Active Outdoor Games, and our Musical group for students involved in Peter Pan rehearsals.

If you have a particular skill or passion you would like to share during our Friday club time (2:30–3:25 pm), we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to speak with me about how you might be involved.

Primary Assemblies

Although not new to our routine, our Primary Assemblies for 2026 will commence in Week 4 and will be held fortnightly on Wednesday afternoons in the Kuyper Resource Centre (KRC), beginning at 2:50 pm. Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to join us as we celebrate learning and give thanks together as a school community. Check your Carer Oribit parent app for dates.

As the excitement of the year begins to settle, we encourage families, where possible, to have students arrive a little early each morning so they have time to reconnect with friends before classes begin. Even ten minutes of unhurried conversation and play can help children feel grounded, settled, and ready for a positive day of learning.

As we look ahead, we are excited for the many opportunities this year will bring. We look forward to partnering with you as we support your children to grow in knowledge, skills, character, and in their ability to serve God and contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they live.

Mitch Cavens, Head of Secondary

As we return from the summer break and begin a new school year, it is a joy to warmly welcome our Secondary students and families back to Kuyper Christian School. The beginning of a year always brings a sense of anticipation, and we step into this year with gratitude for God’s faithfulness and genuine excitement for what lies ahead.

We are delighted to welcome several new students and families to the Secondary School. It has been a joy to witness God at work in this way—strengthening our school community and entrusting us with the privilege of partnering with parents in the nurturing and shaping of young people. We look forward to helping these students feel known, valued, and deeply connected as they join in the life of Kuyper.

This year, we are strengthening a Secondary culture that is purposeful, relational, and deeply grounded in our Christian identity. Many of the initiatives we are introducing or reintroducing this year reflect our commitment to support students not only academically but also pastorally, socially, and spiritually as they grow in wisdom, strength, and humility.

Screen-Free Fridays

One notable feature of this year is the introduction of Screen-Free Fridays for Years 7-10. This initiative is designed to foster attentiveness, presence, and deeper relational engagement within the school day. As we intentionally create space away from screens, we hope to encourage students to connect more meaningfully with one another, with their learning, and with the life of the classroom.

Senior Connection Initiative

For our senior students, we are excited to launch a Senior Connection Initiative, led by Mr Daniel Nixon. As part of an elective activity, students will spend intentional time building community, engaging in guided pastoral conversations, and receiving career advice. This initiative is designed to support students holistically as they navigate senior schooling and discern future pathways, while also strengthening peer relationships and a sense of belonging.

Senior Mentorship Program

We are also continuing our Senior Mentorship Program, coordinated by Mrs Sandra Daly, which provides each senior student with regular one-on-one time with a staff mentor. This programme remains a vital part of our pastoral framework, ensuring students are known, supported, and encouraged as individuals during these formative years.

House Culture

Another exciting development is the return of House Culture in Secondary. Under the coordination of Mr Ja Baldwin and our student representative team (the Representative Council for Growth), our Hawkesbury, Redbank, and Colo Houses will meet weekly during Friday Core time, followed by friendly House competitions during Recess. We look forward to seeing Houses become spaces where students grow in teamwork, leadership, service, and healthy competition, contributing to a vibrant and unified school culture.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Friday afternoons will also take on a new rhythm for Years 7-10, with students participating in Extra-Curricular subjects, including sport, service-based learning, and interest groups. These opportunities are designed to broaden students’ experiences, cultivate gifts beyond the classroom, and encourage joy, service, and creativity as part of school life.

Single-Week Timetable

To support organisation and clarity, a Single-Week Timetable has been introduced this year. We are confident this change will help students develop stronger routines and greater independence in managing their learning.

Breath Prayers

As part of our pastoral program, we are introducing Breath Prayers at the beginning of each class. These short, Scripture-shaped prayers are intended to help students settle, refocus, and grow in awareness of God’s presence in the classroom, reminding us that all learning takes place before Him and for His glory.

New Subjects

In Years 9 and 10, Mr Tim White will lead a Hybrid PACTAP and Study Skills program designed to strengthen learning habits and better prepare students for the demands of Stage 6. Alongside this, we are pleased to reintroduce Christian Studies for Years 7-10, reaffirming our commitment to explicitly teaching and forming students in a Christian worldview.

As we begin this year together, we do so with confidence that God is at work in and through our Secondary School. We look forward to partnering with you as we seek to cultivate a community where students grow in strength, wisdom, and humility, equipped to contribute faithfully to God’s world. We pray that this year would be one marked by deep learning, strong relationships, and a growing love for Christ.

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

Welcome back to all our families—and to those who are new to Kuyper this year, a very special welcome to you.

It has been a joy to see our school full of life again. Over the holidays, classrooms were quiet and the playgrounds still. This week, however—seeing all your faces, hearing your voices, feeling the energy here—has reminded me why this place exists. Our school exists for you. You bring it to life.

A new year is a gift from God. It is a fresh page—an opportunity to grow, to learn, to try new things, and to discover more about the world God has made, the people He has placed around us, and how we are called to live faithfully within it.

At Kuyper, we acknowledge God’s sovereign rule over every part of life. This conviction shapes our classrooms, our relationships, and our learning. This is the posture our teachers will adopt as they explore every aspect of reality in our classrooms.

As we begin the year together, I want to encourage our students to do three simple things:

to be curious, to be kind, and to be courageous. 

We want them to ask questions, explore ideas, and enjoy learning.

We want them to look out for one another, to include others, and to build each other up—children and adults alike.

And we want them to have the courage to try, even when learning is challenging; to grow, even when it stretches them; and to trust God, even when they feel unsure.

In a world that constantly urges children to stand out, achieve more, and chase the extraordinary, we are called to offer them something far better. We can show them that God is already present in the ordinary rhythms of life, and that joy is not found in striving but in noticing. Children don’t need pressure to be remarkable. They need space to be receptive and reflective.

They need adults who model gratitude for small mercies, who pause long enough to see God’s fingerprints in everyday moments, who delight in the quiet gifts that rarely make headlines. This is what our teachers seek to do each day as they walk alongside your children.

When we help our children discover the wonder of an ordinary life—friendship, kindness, curiosity, work done faithfully, rest received gratefully—we teach them to recognise God’s goodness everywhere. We free them from the exhausting pursuit of applause and invite them into the deeper, steadier joy of being loved by God and being purposeful in His world.

Kuyper is a community where every person matters because every person is made in God’s image. You belong here. You are valued here. And we are excited to see who you will become this year.

As we step into this new beginning together, we do so with confidence, knowing that God has good things ahead.

It is with deep appreciation that we farewell our longstanding Office Manager, Mrs Tina Vander Reyden, who will retire at the end of this year after more than three decades of service to Kuyper Christian School.

Over the past 31 years, Tina has shaped the heart and rhythm of our school office. She has answered countless phone calls; established Kuyper’s first electronic student database; organised more camps, excursions and events than we could possibly count; supported our compliance and registration to teach Stage 6; ensured staff were paid; and offered reassurance, guidance, compassion and practical wisdom to staff, students and parents alike. In joy and in challenge, in the busyness of term time and the quietness of holiday periods, Tina has been a steady presence—organising, listening, noticing needs, and stepping in wherever she was needed.

Tina has always been willing to do whatever needed to be done, and she has done it diligently, graciously, and with great love for our community. We owe her an immeasurable debt of gratitude. As we celebrate her remarkable contribution, we thank God for Tina—for her faithfulness, her warmth, her dependability, and the legacy she leaves woven through every part of our school’s story.

Tina, we honour you. We thank you. And we wish you every blessing in this next season.

In conjunction with this change, Caz Lauter will transition away from the front desk to work primarily in Finance, supporting our Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Southwell.

Heather Robertson will also work one day a week at Reception, in addition to her part-time Teacher’s Aide role. Having previously worked in Administration, Heather brings valuable experience and insight to this position.

We give thanks for God’s ongoing provision for our school and for the dedication of our staff, who continue to bring stability, care, and consistency to our classrooms and learning programs.

Every Square Inch Belongs to Jesus.

Mr Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

Among the many activities of Term 4, a particular highlight was the opportunity to restructure the last full week of school for our Year 7–9 students. Instead of following a traditional timetable, students engaged in a series of extended workshop experiences that allowed them to slow down, go deeper, and create with purpose. Groups included Dance, Writing, Art-making, Prop-making, Performance, and Hospitality. It was wonderful to see students embrace these learning opportunities. They worked cooperatively in multi-age groups, encouraging one another, sharing skills, and often ending the day exhausted—in the best and most satisfying sense.

I had the privilege of supervising the Writing group, and I was encouraged by how diligently they applied themselves to their writing task. Across all groups, staff commented on the high level of engagement and the very few behavioural issues they encountered over the week. We were so pleased to see how well students responded to this change and their willingness to work hard and try something new.

We are grateful for Mr White’s endeavour in bringing this vision to life. His initiative reflects an ongoing commitment to Christian education that is practical, purposeful, and deeply relational. A Christian education that seeks to provide learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom, and opportunities that grow character, shape skills, deepen wonder, and have real-life consequences or products. Last week reminded us that students thrive when they are given space to create, collaborate, and reflect God’s creativity in meaningful ways. It was a great way to finish the year.

Looking ahead, there is so much to anticipate in 2026. The year already promises growth, new initiatives, and many opportunities to learn together. One announcement in particular brings great excitement—Colin Buchanan is coming to Kuyper in Term 1! For the next 10 days only, until 17 December, our Kuyper families have exclusive access to pre-launch tickets. If Colin’s joy-filled and playful performances have been a blessing to your family, you won’t want to miss this event. Further information is available on our website.

As the school year draws to a close, I would like to thank you for your partnership and trust throughout 2025. It has been a joy to see students flourish—in character, in learning, and in relationship with one another. Our staff have worked faithfully to serve your children, and we are grateful for the support we receive from families every day. Together, we continue the shared task of nurturing young people who know they are loved by God, called to serve Him, and equipped to grow in wisdom.

As we enter the holiday season, may your homes be filled with peace, rest and celebration as we remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus. May you enjoy time with family and friends, find renewal after a busy year, and return refreshed for the year ahead.

See you at Limelight on Tuesday!