Ruth Thompson

Cassie Dixon, Acting Principal & Director of Learning Enhancement

What a wonderful week we have had, being reminded of the value of partnership within the Kuyper community. From welcoming new families to catching up with old friends, we have witnessed again the importance of connection and belonging. 

On Monday, we met with parents and students for our 2025 K-12 Orientation. These families are either joining us for the first time or are entering a new stage of their learning. It was encouraging to see so many new parents making connections, not just with staff but also with other parents. Those for whom this was a familiar experience were able to welcome and help settle the nerves of those who were new to our community. It was a reminder that partnership is essential in helping our students flourish and that we each have a role to play in the Kuyper Story. 

One of the many opportunities parents have to be part of the Kuyper Story is to assist staff in running our annual Christmas Craft sessions for Prep-2 students. Every year, parents make an invaluable contribution to these events, held over three weeks in Term 4. Recently, a Kuyper graduate shared that the Christmas Craft sessions in which they participated about 15 years ago were among their favourite memories of their time at Kuyper. For that individual, these seemingly childish activities helped them understand and remember the true meaning of Christmas. The parents of 15 years ago played a role in that young man’s story, just as the parents who have been partnering with us this year have been playing a part in the story of 2024’s youngest students. In years to come, I hope we continue to hear stories of the ways in which various parents have contributed to our students’ understanding that they are God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. 

On Saturday, Mr Mike Hottinger, our chaplain, hosted the Kuyper Alumni Barbecue. This annual event provides an opportunity for past students to visit the school and share the recent parts of their stories with past and present staff. It has been a great blessing to hear from our past students, as they recognise the part that Kuyper has played in their individual stories, especially as they have learned more about who God made them to be and the plans He has for their lives. 

As we look ahead, may we all be mindful of the bigger story and seek to contribute to our school community in ways that are for God’s glory and the good of others. 

Dear Kuyper Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Bill Rusin as the Interim Principal of Kuyper Christian School, three days per week commencing 20 January 2025. This twelve-month interim principal role will enable the Board to conduct a thorough and rigorous recruitment process for a permanent principal. 

Bill comes to us as a retired principal with a wealth of experience in Christian education spanning over three decades. Bill was the principal at Covenant Christian School, NSW, for thirteen years between 2007 and 2019. In recent years, he has served as the Executive Principal for a group of Anglican Schools and as Interim Principal for Moree Christian School in northwest NSW and Marrara Christian College in the NT, where he has used his knowledge and skills to assist other Christian schools in periods of transition. 

Bill has also served on the Board of several Christian schools, the National Board of CEN, the National Institue for Christian Education and Morling College. He and his wife, Kerry, attend Windsor District Baptist Church, where Bill is an elder.  

Bill’s vast experience and profound passion for Christian education will be invaluable as we search for a permanent principal. We look forward to the contributions he will bring to our school community.

To support Bill, Mr Tim White will be stepping into an Interim Deputy Principal position for two days per week in addition to his regular one-day-a-week teaching role. We are grateful to have such an experienced duo heading up our leadership team in 2025.

As we approach the end of the year, we do so in the confident knowledge of God’s sovereign hand over Kuyper, evidenced in the ways He has provided for us in the past and continues to provide for us into the future. I commend Bill to your prayers as he finishes his time at Marrara Christian College, NT and prepares to join us in 2025.

Wayne Speirs
Kuyper Board Chair

A Word from Bill

To the Kuyper Christian School Community,

I am thankful for the opportunity to be returning home to the Hawkesbury and Kuyper Christian School after spending 2024 as Interim Principal at Marrara Christian College in Darwin.

Kuyper Christian School has been part of my life for a number of years since I finished my time as Principal of Covenant Christian School in Belrose, and I have enjoyed being part of the Kuyper community as a casual relief teacher and an Association Member.

My journey in Christian Schooling has spanned over 35 years, and my passion to see them thrive as God honouring learning communities has not diminished. All schools go through both good and difficult times, but trusting the Lord in all things at all times is what is paramount. 

I look forward to using my gifts and experience at Kuyper in 2025 as the School Board searches for the right principal to take Kuyper Christian School into its next season.

I also look forward to catching up with staff, students and other members of the school community upon my return.

May you rest in God’s peace as you move into this season when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus.

Bill Rusin
Incoming Interim Principal

Mark Ramsay, Principal

Last Wednesday night was a strange moment for me. It was my first time speaking as the Principal at the Kuyper Graduation Dinner—and it was also my last. I had just one chance to share some words of wisdom. If I messed it up, there were no do-overs. But perhaps that’s what makes moments like that all the more meaningful. In fact, isn’t that how life goes?

In a world that rarely offers us do-overs, each moment counts. We’re constantly navigating a journey filled with unexpected twists, sudden detours, and sometimes challenging lessons. Life is a series of one-time experiences, of which the Graduation Dinner was one.

One of the most significant challenges we all face is the desire for predictability. We want to know what comes next and feel certain that everything will unfold according to plan. It’s natural to seek security—to want a road map for the future. But things rarely work that way in life. Each one of us will be surprised. We need to adapt, to reimagine our plans, and to keep moving even when the path ahead is unclear.

And in the face of the unpredictability of this world, we all need to maximise our experiences. Yes, I’m a Maths teacher, but I’m not referring to finding the highest point on a graph. No, in the context of living a life that honours God, maximising means making the most of each opportunity, each experience, and each challenge that we face. It’s about showing up, even when things don’t go the way we planned, and maximising what we have. It’s about saying yes to listening to God, to growing, to being resilient, and to being courageous.

For all of our families, I hope that school is a predictable part of your lives—a foundation of stability. Here at Kuyper, we encourage your children to maximise every opportunity, to grow in knowledge, faith, and character, and to make the most of what God has given them.

What are you thankful about your child’s experience at Kuyper that will prepare them to make the most of what God has given them? I asked a similar question to the Graduates on Wednesday night as they considered the end of their journey as Kuyper students.

I truly hope that all of you can say that the Kuyper community taught your children about who God is, what he is like, and how he relates to us. That is the most important thing they can learn. More important than how to solve quadratic equations, how to write a good essay, or how to do the high jump really well. It’s important because knowing God results in being loved. And that is what all people need.

Jesus reminds us of this in His prayer in John 17:

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” 

Did you pick up the link that Jesus makes in that prayer? Let me highlight it for you: “I (Jesus) have made you (God) known to them (us) … in order that the love you have for me may be in them (us) …”

Knowing God leads to experiencing his love. Knowing God means being loved by him. In a world where so many people just want to be loved, valued, and cared for, your children have been gifted with the greatest blessing imaginable. They have been introduced to the loving God who rules this world. Experiencing that love gives them a foundation of security in an unpredictable world.

In knowing God, they have received the greatest gift—the chance to be fully loved by Him. And this gift, this love, is meant to be maximised. It’s a love that not only fills us but also allows us to share it, to pour it out to others, and to make a difference in the world around us. Maximising this love means allowing it to transform us so we can love others with that same fullness.

Each member of staff at Kuyper – the admin team, maintenance staff, teachers, and teachers aides – knows God, and each one of them loves every student with God’s love. 

My prayer is that every student at Kuyper knows God, that they know God’s love, and that they let that knowledge of God’s love be a constant in an unpredictable world. It is my prayer that every one of your children embraces God’s love and maximises it by letting it flow through them to others.

Alexis Clarke, Director of Programs & Development

This year, we have been working towards developing a Learning and Wellbeing Framework that reflects our commitment to promoting the wellbeing of students and staff while meeting the Child Safe Standards highlighted by our Principal, Mark Ramsay, in his recent message. This framework aims to foster a school culture where every individual feels safe, valued, and supported to optimise learning.

As part of this process, staff have been engaging with research on how schools can create environments that promote both safety and support. One particular area is relationship building. When this is prioritised, it creates a foundation of security and trust, allowing students to feel valued and confident. This is essential for meaningful engagement and academic growth, creating a nurturing environment where students can fully engage and thrive.

To drive this culture, we promoted the concepts of ‘Predictability’ and ‘Maximisation’. Emotional safety plays an important role in predictability. If students know what to expect from staff, such as interacting with students in consistent and reliable ways, it builds trust and encourages open communication. Recently, a student shared that she feels more secure in the classroom and more confident to learn when she feels seen and cared for. It wasn’t the laptop she was given or the books she used, but the feeling of being cared for and safe with her teacher.

When students know that their feelings and concerns will be met with understanding and compassion, as we are encouraged in James 1:19 (being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry), they are more likely to take risks in their learning, such as asking questions or expressing their opinions. This helps students feel comfortable engaging in the learning process, knowing they can rely on their teacher for support, thereby contributing to maximising learning. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework research also indicate that students thrive in structured environments where they feel safe and secure.

Creating an environment where students feel valued and respected is vital. Even if they struggle with a subject or don’t particularly enjoy it, they’re more likely to put in effort when they feel listened to and understood. This is why it’s so valuable that staff engage with students, whether through structured activities like overnight camps, Service Teams, or simple conversations during break times. These interactions can make a real difference in how students feel about school. The National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy highlights the importance of creating supportive and safe environments for young people. It emphasises that predictability in school settings contributes to better mental health outcomes, reducing anxiety and stress, which are critical for effective learning.

Positive student-teacher relationships are fundamental to enhancing student behaviour. Donna Cross, a prominent researcher in the fields of education and psychology, presents evidence that effective relationships are instrumental in promoting resilience, especially for students with a history of trauma or difficulties. By fostering these trusting relationships, teachers can help students build resilience that supports them through challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

Reflecting on this past year, it has been a time of growth and teamwork, all focused on creating a positive, caring environment for students and staff alike. We remain dedicated to building a school culture where every student feels seen, supported, and eager to learn, believing that teaching is as much about care and connection as it is about academic success.

In alignment with child-safe standards, we are committed to ensuring that our environment is not only safe but also empowering for all students. This means implementing policies and practices that safeguard the wellbeing of every child and prioritising their voices in our community. Our ongoing training for staff in child safety practices and the emphasis on transparency and communication ensures that we can effectively prevent harm and respond to any concerns swiftly. By integrating these standards into our framework, we can further enhance our commitment to protecting children and fostering an educational environment where all students can flourish. 

Dear Members of the Kuyper Community,

I would like to start by thanking you all for your support of our staff over the last few weeks. Your many words of encouragement and gestures of kindness speak volumes about the calibre of our families and community. We are so grateful to be partnering with you.

In this season of change, I want to assure you that the Board is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that Kuyper has robust leadership for the remainder of this year and into 2025. As I communicate our plan for the remainder of this year, I am mindful of the many ways in which God has gone ahead of us, preparing the right people to serve our community in this season.

I am pleased to announce that from the beginning of Week 6 until mid-January 2025, Mr Tim White will step into the role of Acting Principal three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Miss Cassie Dixon will serve as Acting Principal on Tuesday and Friday.

Cassie is already well known to you as our Director of Learning Enhancement and part of our current Senior Leadership Team.

As many of you know, Tim was one of Kuyper’s early principals, serving in this role from 1993 to 2003. In recent years, Tim has worked with professionals from other like-minded Christian schools to design a framework for developing curriculum from a biblical worldview. His work on the Transformation by Design model has blessed many Christian schools, including Kuyper. Tim is currently teaching English in our high school one day a week.

Tim’s experience as a past principal, love for Kuyper, and passion for seeing communities transformed by the love of Jesus are a provision for Kuyper at this time. We praise God for placing Tim in our school community for such a time as this. Tim will continue to teach in the high school on Fridays.

The Board is confident that Tim and Cassie will provide excellent support to our staff, students, and families for the remainder of this year as we solidify plans for our school leadership in 2025. We expect to announce the appointment of our new Principal, commencing 2025, in the next couple of weeks.

The Board acknowledges that seasons of change can be unsettling. We extend our thanks to our teaching and support staff for their faithfulness in their work and for continuing to celebrate the joy of learning in their classrooms and activities.  We also thank the many faithful parents and friends who have been and continue to pray for the Board and the School’s leadership.

At Kuyper, we often speak about being God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. This foundational truth is the stronghold of our community. God will continue to write His story of Kuyper. We can trust in His faithfulness and provision in this season of the unknown. 

We welcome your contact if you have any questions or simply would like to chat with a board member. Contact details can be found in your Kuyper App, or contact the Office on 4573 2999 to request a personal call.

Wayne Speirs
AKCEA Board Chair

A Word from Tim

It has been exciting for me to return to Kuyper and interact with wonderful teachers and effervescent secondary students. Kuyper is a caring community that encourages thoughtful engagement with God’s world. It has proven to be a fantastic opportunity for me personally. 

Kuyper has a long history of innovative teachers and teaching. Its unique provisions in Creative Arts and a range of engaging elective choices supplement the caring Christ-centred environment.

I am pleased and honoured to serve the Kuyper school community in the Acting Principal role for the remainder of this year. It is a joy to interact with school staff, students and parents alike.

Feel free to drop in and make an appointment for a catch-up. I would be delighted to meet those people responsible for the wonderful young people we serve.

Contact details for Tim and Cassie can be found in your Kuyper App, or contact the Office on 4573 2999 to request a personal call.