Ruth Thompson

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

We hope that you have been able to spend quality time with your children over the mid-year break and look forward to seeing our students return to school on Monday. We especially welcome new families joining us this term. 

There was a movement some time ago that asserted it is not the quantity of time you spend with your children, but rather the quality of the time spent with them that is important. I suspect the idea was suggested by those who are “time poor” and was then embraced by those who were also “time poor”.

However, I think they were wrong. The amount of time you can spend with your children is as significant, if not more significant, than doing “quality time” things. Vegging out with your children, doing simple, mundane things, builds a connection and relationship with them in ways that doing exciting things for much shorter periods cannot. Children are aware of how much time you give them. 

This is also true at school. Staff spend both quality and quantity time with your children, in the classroom and outside of it. The everyday tasks that happen in the classroom, which are not flashy or shiny, build relationships just as much as the more exciting events that occur at school. 

That being said, a multitude of activities are happening across the school in Term 3. These include:

• Secondary Sport Gala Days
• Elevate Study Skills Workshops for Years 10-12
• Year 10 Road Safety Excursion
• CSSA Zone Athletics Carnivals
• Veterans Day
• Term 3 Working Bee
• Concert Band Tour
• Book Week
• Kuyper’s Biggest Morning Tea
• Trial HSC Exams
• Healthy Harold Visit
• Father’s Day Breakfast
• Year 4 Slalom World Championships
• Grandparents Day
• Compassion Fundraising Event. 

Check the weekly update in your Kuyper App for upcoming events.

We also have a small group of parents who meet on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to pray for our school, and we would love to welcome you to this important aspect of the school’s life.

As this term begins, we also remind you to update us about any changes that may have occurred, and to communicate early if you have any issues or concerns, so that we can partner effectively with you in nurturing and caring for your children. 

We look forward to another wonderful term of Learning in God’s World at Kuyper.

Mr Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

This term has flown by, and as we approach the school break, I am reminded that school communities, especially Christian school communities, are meant to be celebratory. While there’s always so much happening that’s worth celebrating, it’s good to plan times when the community comes together simply because it’s a good thing to do.

Cultivating social connections and relationships within our school community is vital for fostering a supportive environment for our children. Spending time together is a key attribute of a strong community. However, being able to enjoy one another’s company is a gift, and we relish the opportunities we have to do this.

Recently, we had a great night watching the second State of Origin match together here at school, and this coming week, we’re looking forward to another special event – our Winter Markets. It promises to be a joyful occasion where we can share food, enjoy a snowy atmosphere, experience live music from our students, browse market stalls, participate in snowball target practice, and more! All funds raised will be used to improve school facilities.

I’m grateful to the staff and parents who are doing so much to make this a fabulous evening, but I’d like to give a special shout-out to those brave enough to volunteer as snowball targets—true team players!

This is an unmissable event in the life of the school. It will take place on the Village Green (the area between the Resource Centre and the Hall), on Thursday, 3 July commencing at 5 p.m. You can download the program for the evening from our website.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Kuyper Community,

Despite a thorough and prayerfully undertaken recruitment process over the first half of this year, the Board has not yet identified the right candidate to serve as Kuyper Christian School’s next Principal. While we await our Lord’s provision in this area, I am pleased to share that Mr Bill Rusin and Mr Tim White have graciously agreed to continue in their roles as Interim Principal and Deputy Principal throughout 2026.

Their continued leadership brings valuable stability to our school community and allows the Board to remain focused on determining the right person to lead Kuyper into its next season of growth and development.

Bill and Tim have already made a significant and positive impact on the life of the School. Bill’s wealth of experience as a Principal in Christian Education continues to provide wise and steady guidance to our Senior Leadership Team and staff. Tim’s strengths in curriculum development, particularly from a Christian worldview, are especially timely as we begin implementing new curriculum across the Primary school over the next two and a half years.

In reflecting on God’s provision, I’m reminded of these words from 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 are deeply thankful for the ways in which God continues to provide for our school, in both the big and small things. The Board welcomes your continued prayers as we seek His guidance in the ongoing Principal recruitment process. Please also join us in thanking God for His faithful provision of leadership for Kuyper Christian School in 2026.

In Christ,
Wayne Speirs
Board Chair

Miss Cassie Dixon, Head of Teaching and Learning

On Wednesday night, many members of our school community gathered together to watch Game 2 of the State of Origin. It was a fantastic night, not just because Queensland won, but because of the joy that we experience when we spend time together. Family and friends of all ages were present with one another. There were collective gasps at close calls and cheers when tries were scored. It was fun being together. 

During the initial stages of planning, we had been tossing around the idea of having one side for the Blues supporters and the other for the Maroons. In the end, I’m glad that we didn’t proceed with that decision. It would have been quite lonely for the two of us who are Maroons supporters!

It was easy to be a proud Queenslander during the first half of the game and through the half-time break, when Queensland were well and truly in the lead. However, when the tide started to turn and New South Wales made a comeback in the second half, those around me could see and feel the tension building in me. I’ll admit that I was starting to worry about facing sixty Blues supporters at the end of the game if NSW was able to win the game and take the series. I was also worried about showing my face in Year 11 English the next day, because I knew that the very vocal Blues supporters there wouldn’t let me live it down if their team had made that comeback. 

Despite that fear, there was no way that I would have backed down. I am a Queenslander through and through. I often say, “You can take the girl out of Queensland, but you can’t take the Queensland out of the girl.” Even though there was a part of me that would have wanted to hide away rather than have everyone else surround me and rub it in, my team losing on Wednesday night would not have made me change my allegiance. 

How often do we face situations where it would be easier to back down or hide away than to truly stand for something? We often talk about ‘peer pressure’ with kids and teenagers: the pressure to speak or act in a certain way to fit in. It could be something little like the choice of hairstyle, or using a certain brand of drink bottle, or leaving some work undone for fear of being labelled a ‘nerd’. Sometimes it’s bigger things, like denying your body the nourishment it needs to be and feel healthy so you can look a certain way, or standing by while people mistreat others, or pretending that you’re not a Christian because you don’t want others to think less of you. 

Even as adults, we can still feel and even succumb to the pressure to fit in or to ‘go with the flow’. 

Incredible strength and courage are required to hold tightly to our beliefs, especially in the face of uncertainty, doubt and opposition. As parents and teachers, one of our primary tasks is to help the young people in our care understand what they believe and develop the strength to stand by their convictions. To not do so would be to allow them to relate to the sad line of one of Katy Perry’s songs, where she sings, “I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything.” 

It can seem like a daunting and impossible task. There will be situations in which our own strength is insufficient. It is a great encouragement that in all situations, we can and should turn to our Saviour, the Perfector of our faith, who promises to strengthen and uphold us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrew 12:1a-3

Mr Mitch Cavens, Head of Secondary

Over the past two terms, our Senior Leadership Team has been reflecting on the 12 Affirmations: Reformed Christian Schooling for the 21st Century. These affirmations have helped to shape our thinking and give fresh expression to what has long been true of Kuyper Christian School, that education is a calling, and that calling is rooted in the gospel.

A few weeks ago, we were drawn to the sixth affirmation, which focuses on the teacher as a witness. It speaks to the unique and sacred task of teaching, not merely as the transmission of knowledge, but as the daily, deliberate act of bearing witness to Christ.

At Kuyper, we believe that teaching is fundamentally relational and a form of disciple-making. Christian teachers are not only professionals – they are people whose lives should point to Jesus. This certainly does not mean they are perfect, but it does mean they teach from a place of faith, humility, and love. Every interaction, every lesson, every correction is an opportunity to model the grace, truth, and patience of our Lord. In this way, teachers bear witness not only to what is true, but to Who is true.

The classroom, then, becomes more than a learning space. It becomes a living testimony. Students are not just being prepared for exams, careers, or even service; they are being invited into a story far bigger than themselves, centred on who God is and who we are in His world. Our teachers are not simply equipping students with skills; they are helping shape hearts, habits, and hopes in the light of God’s redemptive plan.

You have likely heard it said that more is caught than taught. This is especially true in Christian education. Our students are watching how we live. They notice how we respond to conflict, how we encourage, how we listen, and how we pray. In these small, daily acts, our staff proclaim a powerful message: Christ is Lord, and He is worthy of our whole lives.

This affirmation also reminds us that we cannot and do not work alone in this. Our teachers need your prayers, your partnership, and your encouragement. The spiritual formation of young people is a shared task, one that involves home, school, and church working together to shape a generation who will love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

We are deeply grateful for the privilege of serving your children in this way. May God continue to use Kuyper as a place where students encounter faithful witnesses who point them toward Christ, not just with their words, but with their whole lives.

Mr Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

At Kuyper Christian School, we take a distinctive approach to student motivation—one that prioritises relationship, grace, and purpose over traditional reward systems. Rather than relying on stickers, stars, or awards to motivate students, our approach centres on fostering a genuine desire to learn, grounded in love, dignity, and meaningful connection with God, teachers, peers, and the learning process itself. We want our students to grow into confident, compassionate learners who are motivated by relationships, curiosity, and service, not by competition or comparison.

The Heart of Motivation: Relationship

We believe each child is a whole person, created in God’s image, deeply relational, and responsive to love and grace. This means that motivation should stem from strong, loving relationships between students and teachers, where trust, forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance give students the courage to take risks and learn from failure.

We want our teachers to model a personal love for learning and set high, compassionate expectations that demonstrate an understanding of students’ strengths and weaknesses and inspire them to grow. In the context of this type of learning relationship, students are affirmed through meaningful, natural feedback that is directly connected to their learning, rather than extrinsic rewards, prizes, or marks.

Learning with Purpose: Motivation Through Context

Just as Jesus lived fully in the context of His time and culture, we believe learning must be rooted in real, purposeful life experiences. This means that lessons should be relevant, challenging and engaging, with opportunities for exploration, surprise and real-world impact.

Such an approach avoids artificial motivation tactics that foster competition or selfishness. Instead, it allows students to discover joy in the learning process itself and in outcomes that serve God and others.

Play and Creativity: Motivation Through Joy

God is the Creator of life, joy and beauty. The creativity, artistry, and craftsmanship of teachers and students are genuine reflections of a creating God and vibrant expressions of our humanness. We want our classrooms to reflect this through playful and creative learning experiences that stimulate curiosity and imagination; embrace humour, drama, and excitement; and celebrate talents, craftsmanship, and the thrill of discovery.

We want our students to pursue excellence, not for grades or comparison, but for the joy of doing something well and the satisfaction of sharing that in community.

Upholding Dignity Over Dangles

Using external rewards can undermine children’s dignity and intrinsic motivation. They convey the message that students are not naturally interested, trustworthy, or capable unless they are coaxed. At Kuyper, we believe every child is made in God’s image, with a unique purpose and deep capacity for learning. Our task is to inspire, not manipulate, that God-given desire.

Children are motivated by relationships, trust, purpose, and the satisfaction of learning well, not by trinkets or treats. They thrive when they feel their work matters—whether by sharing it with peers, receiving a thank-you, or being trusted with responsibility.

Our role as educators is to minister to the whole child, not to manipulate behaviour. To set high but realistic expectations in the context of trusting and respectful relationships, and to give feedback that is specific, constructive and rooted in genuine progress, not comparisons.

Learning In God’s World

At its heart, Kuyper’s approach to motivation is grounded in the Gospel:

Grace, not merit

Love, not manipulation

Relationships, not rewards.

This vision prepares students not only to achieve academically but to live with gratitude, humility, and purpose, following Jesus in every area of life.

Let us partner together as parents and teachers to inspire our children, not through external rewards, but through relationships that reflect God’s love, and learning that reflects His world.

Kaelene McCaull, Head of Primary

Last Thursday, our K-6 students were treated to a special visit from the NED organisation as part of their Ned’s Resiliency Ride tour. The engaging and dynamic presenter, Shaun, captured the attention of students across all year levels with his impressive yo-yo skills.

The school hall was filled with laughter, clapping, and enthusiastic participation as Shaun reminded us all that challenges are opportunities to grow.

However, the learning did not stop once the yo-yo was packed away. Back in classrooms, our teachers encouraged students to reflect more deeply on the idea of resilience from a Christian perspective. 

While it is important to persevere and do our best, as God’s people, dearly loved by Him, we are never expected to rely solely on our own strength. Students were reminded that God is with us through every difficulty. It is in His strength that we can use the challenges of living in this broken world to grow in character and faith. One of our Year 3 students put it beautifully, 

“Never give up and remember that God is always with you.” 

Despite the relative wealth and comfort we experience in Australia, we cannot expect this life to be easy. This is something we can all attest to as we reflect on our own life experiences, and something we are reminded of in the Bible. In John 16:33, Jesus says,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

What a great comfort it is to know that this same sovereign God, who has overcome the world, walks beside us in every trial.

In our classrooms, we also took the opportunity to reflect on how God places us in community. We are not alone in our struggles, and part of being resilient means leaning on one another, offering support and encouragement, and serving each other in love. 

Resilience is not about pretending everything is okay or ignoring the hard times. True resilience, rooted in faith, means acknowledging our struggles while trusting that God is using these moments to shape us into the people He is calling us to be.

For the time being, Yo-Yos have become an optional part of our primary playgrounds. In a world rich with experiences of instant gratification, it has been wonderful to walk through the playground and see students practising to build new skills that take time, perseverance, and patience to develop. Even better has been the experience of watching students help and support each other in the pursuit of these new skills. From watching older students unknot and rewind the strings of younger students ’ yo-yos, to hearing them share ideas and encouragement, and finding joy in others’ achievements, it has been a great reminder of God’s wisdom in placing us in community.  

Through the NED incursion and the follow-up conversations we have been having in our classrooms, our students are learning that resilience isn’t something you have or don’t have, but rather something we can develop as part of our character through the ups and downs of this life. As we trust in God’s strength, we grow in godly character, becoming people who can face life’s challenges with courage, compassion, and hope.

We’re thankful to NED and to Shaun for bringing an important message to our school for us to reflect on, and even more thankful that we can anchor that message in the eternal hope we have in Christ.

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

National Reconciliation Week is recognised annually from 27 May to 3 June. It is a significant time for reflection, healing, and action. As Christians, we are called to do more than recognise the need for reconciliation; we are called to be peacemakers and reconcilers, following the example of Christ, who reconciles all humanity to God.

In his letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul writes:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18

This is not a “nice if you can” suggestion, but an imperative for God’s people.

Historically, Reconciliation Week has roots in the Christian church in Australia, beginning as a Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993. Today, many Christian communities across Australia continue to engage in prayer, advocacy, and practical steps toward justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

While our call to be reconciled to one another is much larger than the relationship between First Nations people and those who came later, it is nevertheless good to be reminded of the need to be reconciled with our First Nations brothers and sisters. For our school in Kurrajong, we acknowledge that we are on traditional Dharug land.

Kuyper has a number of values shaped by biblical truths that speak into this space:

Freedom

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
Galatians 5:13

Fair Go

Being fair, just, merciful, loving, considerate, and other person-centred, acting with equity, and giving opportunity and access.
(Based on various texts from Proverbs 2, Leviticus 19 and Hosea 12)

Being Caring and Compassionate

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3

During Reconciliation Week, we remind ourselves and the children we teach that these biblical truths extend to all people. At this particular time, we seek to show respect, generosity, justice, and mercy to the Dharug nation, who cared for the beautiful land on which our school is built.