Ruth Thompson

Tim White, Interim Deputy Principal

The life of a Christian school is shaped by the conviction that God calls each member of the community to serve one another in love. At Kuyper Christian School, we live as neighbours together—working side by side, committing ourselves to one another, and submitting to the authority of God. We are more than employers and employees, staff and parents, teachers and students. We are partners, bound by our shared community and by the Spirit of Christ.

The task of education involves many people, each with distinct responsibilities: parents, board members, association members, students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. Recently, we also formed the Kuyper Community Group to provide practical support for our educational mission. What a wonderfully diverse group we are at Kuyper! Yet in this diversity, we stand united in our common faith and by our shared commitment to serving the Lord through education. Together, under the authority of God’s Word, we each carry out our tasks for God’s glory and the benefit of our school community. But if our priorities shift away from serving God, true partnership and community cannot exist. Instead of complementing one another, we risk division. Unless we are ‘full-on’ for God, we may pull in different directions.

Each of us is accountable to the Lord for our particular task, and, as members of one body, accountable to one another. School leaders are not ‘bosses’ but servants who use their gifts to build up the team and community. The board and staff lead with authority by serving—not to meet their own needs, but to guide the whole school in faithful obedience to God. While individuals should not expect undue interference in their responsibilities, we must remain mindful of our shared accountability as co-workers with and under Jesus. We must listen carefully to the collective wisdom of the body as our school community prayerfully seeks to glorify God and His place in His world.

Above all, we are responsible to live out our calling in education together for the Lord. Partnership is not only about completing tasks, but also about cultivating and strengthening relationships. It is all too easy to slip into confrontation or blame, to live as the world does. Yet Christ calls us to more. As Jesus’ representatives, we are to be known by our love. Genuine partnership, therefore, is something we must always nurture.

It is encouraging, when speaking with fellow Christians about difficult matters, to encounter a spirit of humility and inquiry. Rather than blustering or accusation, a simple reliance on God to guide us through challenges. The nature of a partnership is revealed in conversations. 

We are a community committed to achieving great things for God. However, we must remain attentive not only to the tasks before us, but also to maintaining, encouraging, and affirming our partnership as we serve Him together.

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

In today’s world, we are increasingly prone to receiving information in smaller, bite-sized portions. This is driven by the rise of smart devices and the reality that we live in an era of constant distraction. There is an abundance of content available for consumption that rarely requires prolonged attention, unless it is flashy and hyper-stimulating.

In the midst of this clamorous culture, we risk conditioning both ourselves and our children to crave fragmented, highly stimulating information, while losing our ability to appreciate the quieter, slower rhythms of reality. Too often, in search of a moment’s peace, parents hand children a smart device for distraction. It’s not uncommon to see toddlers in prams, eyes transfixed on a glowing screen. Adults do much the same, using devices to “pass the time.”

In the process, we are slowly losing the art of enjoying quietness, deep thought, and reflection—the kind that comes through activities which are not instantly stimulating. Activities such as reading, which fosters imagination, or walking and running, which provide space for reflection and processing, are gradually losing their place in our society.

As you seek to be the best parents you can be, I encourage you to model a different way of living for your children. Set aside times during the week to read together. Encourage activities that are slower-paced, that open up space for thought, and that invite meaningful conversations.

After all, we were created as relational beings, designed for real connection. Make time to simply be together, allowing for meaningful conversations to take place, especially around the table at mealtimes rather than in front of a screen. Pray together, laugh together, and cry together.

Let your children see your patience. Let them learn to wait as they watch you waiting. These simple but powerful practices will bless not only your children but also everyone they grow to interact with.

Rob Weule, Creative & Performing Arts Coordinator

Six months in the planning. Countless phone calls, emails, texts and negotiations. Hours upon hours of rehearsal, both at home and at school. Leads and reeds prepared, instruments tuned, cases packed. Mr Booth (our amazing coach driver) briefed, and the parent team assembled. Back at school, lessons written, class covers planned, and staff prepared.

On the Road

But the tour doesn’t just last a week. It lasts a lifetime—a lifetime of memories, friendships and musical connections.

Coming Home

Thank You

So many people contribute to making an event like this happen. A massive thank you to:

• Our Parent Team: Cat, Stephen, Rachel and Nicole
• Colleagues who covered classes back at school
• Families who supported us from home
• Behind-the-scenes helpers: Caz, Es, Tina, Andrew and Ruth
• The encouragement of school leadership
• Every touring musician—including our teacher-players.

A Word of Encouragement

On the final night, Jodie Paul (our peripatetic music teacher and band member) shared these words with us:

Over the last four days, I have joyously noticed many small acts of kindness and serving, but I would like to highlight the unity you’ve developed as a group. It has been wonderful to see high schoolers, primary students and adults—boys and girls, friends and strangers—performing, serving and laughing together as one.

Jodie went on to reflect on a passage from 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, which speaks of unity among followers of Jesus. She reminded us that these verses apply beautifully to playing in a band and paraphrased them as follows:

Just as a band, though one, has many instruments, but all its many players form one team, 

So it is with Kuyper Concert Band.

For we were all encouraged by teachers, parents and friends to learn music,

Whether old or young, Queenslanders or New South Welshmen, Panthers fans or Knights supporters,

And we were given the same pieces of music to play.

If the flute should say, “Because I am not a saxophone, I do not belong to the band,” 

It would not, for that reason, stop being part of the band. 

And if the triangle should say, “Because I am not a trumpet, I do not belong to the band,” 

It would not stop being part of the band.

If the whole band were clarinets, where would the rhythm be? 

If the whole band were timpanis, where would the sweetness be? 

If the whole band were trombones (pause for effect), where would the SENSE be?

But in fact, God has placed each one of us on this band tour just as He wanted us to be. 

If we were all individuals doing our own thing, not listening to each other and working together, 

Where would the band be?

As it is, there are many wonderful musicians and support crew here on Band Tour 2025,

But one Kuyper Concert Band team—in the words of Mr Weule,

“One Sound. One Band. One God.”

Kae McCaull, Head of Primary

Last week was a busy one in the life of our Primary School as we celebrated our much-loved annual Book Week.

Continuing a long-held tradition, our students brought great joy and colour to the Book Parade, dressing as their favourite book characters and proudly sharing them during assembly. Many classes also prepared songs, poems, and skits that reminded us of the timeless truths found in the greatest book of all—the Bible. The day was filled with creativity, laughter, and a wonderful sense of community. Thank you to everyone who supported our students, whether through helping with costumes or cheering them on from the audience. These celebrations are only possible because of the generosity of our families and staff.

This week, we also had the privilege of welcoming Christian author Naomi Reed and her husband, Darren. Together, they delighted our K–6 students with puppetry, storytelling, and music, bringing to life Naomi’s book The Zookeeper. As well as sharing some of the aspects of being an author, it was great to hear her talk about some of her thoughts about why she included different elements of the story. We have purchased a copy of this book for our library, so perhaps it might come home in a library bag or two. 

The theme for Book Week this year was “Book an Adventure.” What a fitting reminder that reading takes us on journeys of learning, imagination, and discovery. As Christians, we know that the greatest story ever told is found in the Bible—God’s story of hope, love, forgiveness, purpose, and freedom. It is the true story that gives meaning to every other story, teaching us not only who we are but also the truth about the world God has made.

God, the author of creation, is also the giver of many good gifts: imagination, knowledge, creativity, and the people who share them with us through stories. As Dr Seuss once said, 

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go

Here at Kuyper, we often reflect on the truth that we are made in God’s image. One of the beautiful ways this is expressed is through our creativity. The act of writing, reading, and sharing stories is one way we reflect God’s own nature as Creator. Stories allow us to learn, to delight in imagination, and to see the world through new eyes. As author George R.R. Martin wisely wrote, 

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.

Speaking of adventures, it is with both gratitude and sadness that I share some important news. Mrs Tina Vander Reyden, our faithful and ever-supportive Office Manager, has announced her plans to retire at the end of this year. Tina has served our school with dedication and love for more than 31 years. Her warmth, wisdom, and tireless commitment have been a true blessing. While words cannot fully express our appreciation—or how deeply she will be missed—we rejoice with her as she prepares to step into this next adventure of retirement.