Ruth Thompson, Author at Kuyper Christian School

Tina is Retiring!

1 Dec 202531 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Our celebration for Mrs Tina Vander Reyden has been rescheduled!
We will now honour Tina together at our End-of-Year Celebration Assembly on the last day of term.

📅 Wednesday, 10 December
🕘 Commencing at 9:15 AM
☕️ Morning Tea to follow
📍 Kuyper Christian School Hall

We warmly invite friends, family, staff, and association members—past and present to join us as we give thanks for Tina’s remarkable service and the warmth she has shared with generations of Kuyper families.

Sign Tina’s card and consider contributing towards a gift.

Share our Facebook post!

Stay & Pray

31 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

What an incredible privilege it is to be able to bring all our requests before the living God.

Parents and friends of Kuyper Christian School are invited to Stay & Pray with us each Thursday morning from 9 AM to 10 AM. Young children are welcome. We meet in our Prep room, providing a stimulating and safe place for young children to play while we pray.

Please join us in strengthening our school community by lifting this place and its people up to our good, generous God.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Term 4 Dates
Week 1: Thursday, 16 October
Week 2: Thursday, 23 October
Week 3: Thursday, 30 October
Week 4: Thursday, 6 November
Week 5: Thursday, 13 November
Week 6: Thursday, 20 November
Week 7: Thursday, 27 November
Week 8: Thursday, 4 December

Formational Learning

26 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Mitch Cavens, Head of Secondary

Over the past months, our Senior Leadership Team has been reflecting together on 12 Affirmations: Reformed Christian Schooling for the 21st Century. This journey has deepened our understanding of what it means to offer education that is truly Christ-centred and has reaffirmed our shared vision for Kuyper Christian School.

In the eighth affirmation, we are reminded that Christian education is never an end in itself. Its purpose is not merely to prepare students for further study, careers, or personal success, but to equip them to serve faithfully in God’s world. Learning at Kuyper is, therefore, an act of discipleship. It forms students who see their gifts, knowledge, and opportunities as tools for loving God and serving others.

At the heart of this affirmation is the belief that every student has a vocation. This calling is not confined to future employment or achievement; it begins now, as students learn to use their talents in ways that reflect God’s character and purposes. Whether it is through creative expression, scientific curiosity, leadership, compassion, or craftsmanship, each student is being shaped to contribute to God’s Kingdom work.

As a school community, we seek to nurture this calling by connecting learning with service. Our lessons, programs, and projects are designed not only to build understanding but to cultivate wisdom and love. We want our students to ask:

How can what I am learning be used to bring truth, beauty, and justice into the world? How can my life bring glory to God and blessing to others?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This is the posture we long to see in our students, young men and women who live with purpose, humility, and courage in a world that desperately needs light.

As we reflect on this affirmation, we are filled with gratitude for the way Kuyper families partner with us in this mission. Together, we are shaping students who will not only think deeply and act wisely but also love generously. May God continue to use our community to raise up graduates who are equipped and eager to serve Him wherever He calls them.

Stay & Pray

24 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

What an incredible privilege it is to be able to bring all our requests before the living God.

Please join us in strengthening our school community by lifting this place and its people up to our good, generous God.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Looking Forward with Joy

19 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

Hasn’t this year gone quickly! We are thankful for such a smooth start to Term 4, and our attention is already turning toward 2026.

Staffing for next year remains very stable, and we are not seeking any new teachers at this time. This stability allows us to consolidate the wonderful progress made across many areas of the school, which is both encouraging and satisfying.

Term 4 can often be a season of distraction as students—and adults—begin to look ahead to Christmas. When my son Will was in primary school, he would start drafting his Christmas wish list early in the term, carefully prioritising his requests. Each week, the list would be revised, with new items added and old ones crossed off. It was both cute and, at times, a little concerning!

While we enjoyed giving our children gifts, we always tried to help them keep sight of the true meaning of Christmas. That can be challenging in our consumer-driven society, where clever saturation marketing constantly invites us to reach for our credit cards.

As you enter this season, I encourage you to enjoy and celebrate it—but also remember that our joy should not come from the momentary thrill we receive when we see the delight on our children’s faces as they tear open the wrapping paper on Christmas gifts. Our joy comes from a deeper place.

A King was born—one who is the rightful and righteous ruler. He laid down His life for His people and has promised to return to finally banish pain and suffering. That is certainly a truth worth being joyful about. It has been the joy of Christians for millennia, and it remains the sure hope and joy of Christians all over the world today.

Stay & Pray

17 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

What an incredible privilege it is to be able to bring all our requests before the living God.

Please join us in strengthening our school community by lifting this place and its people up to our good, generous God.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Welcome to Term 4

12 Oct 202512 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Bill Rusin, Interim Principal

Welcome to Term 4! We’re delighted to begin this new season together and extend a warm welcome to the many new families joining our community. We’re so pleased that you have chosen Kuyper for your children.

Term 4 is always a busy and joyful time as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Last term, we had the privilege of celebrating our graduating students as they completed their schooling at Kuyper. We continue to uphold them, as well as our Year 11 students, in prayer as they approach their final HSC exams.

Prayer is a vital part of our life together as a Christian community, and we are deeply grateful for those who uphold the school, our staff, and our students in prayer. Our staff gather to pray together each week, and a group of faithful parents meets on Thursday mornings to pray for our school. We would love to see more parents and carers join this important ministry—even if you can’t come every week, your presence and prayers make a difference.

This term, we also look forward to welcoming Hayden Lites to our staff team in a new role, providing on-site technology support for our staff and students. We expect him to join us towards the end of the month.

There are a host of wonderful events happening this term, and we hope to see you at many of them. Below is a list of dates to add to your diary. See you tomorrow!

Week 1
13 Oct | Term 4 Commences
15 Oct | Year 9 students commence their Term 4 Swim Program
16 Oct | Year 7 students commence their Term 4 Swim Program
16 Oct | K-6 students commence their Term 4 Swim Program
16 Oct | Years 11 & 12 students commence their HSC exams
HSC exams will run from 16 October to 7 November. Check the Calendar in your Kuyper app for specific days and times.

Week 2
22 Oct | Years 5 & 6 heading to Canberra for three days
22 Oct | Kindergarten excursion to the Museum of Fire
22 Oct | Kuyper Community Group Meeting
25 Oct | Term 4 Working Bee

Week 3
29 Oct | School Tour Morning for Prospective Families
We have limited places remaining in Prep, Kindy & Year 7. Share this event with your friends!

Week 4
07 Nov | Last HSC exam

Week 5
Years 7-10 Exam Week
12 Nov | Kuyper Community Group Meeting
13 Nov | 2026 Years 11 & 12 participate in their two-day Senior Equip Camp

Week 6
17 Nov | 2026 Kindergarten Orientation Morning
17 Nov | 2026 Year 7 Orientation Morning
19 Nov | Class of 2025 Graduation Dinner
20 Nov | Visiting Japanese students arrive

Week 7
24 Nov | 2026 Prep Orientation Morning
26 Nov | Year 6 Celebration Evening
27 Nov | Japanese students’ final day

Week 8
04 Dec | Years 3 & 4 School Camp

Week 9
09 Dec | Limelight Concert
10 Dec | Last day of Term 4 – Non-Uniform Fundraiser

Stay & Pray meets every Thursday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Prep room. Check the Events page on our website and your Kuyper App for more event details.

Kuyper Community Group Meeting

12 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Our new parent action group will meet twice in Term 4, with the goal of establishing the group well and being ready to start coordinating events from the beginning of Term 1, 2026.

The Kuyper Community Group aims to bring parents together to:

Coordinate fundraising activities for school development projects
Plan community-building events
Share ideas and get involved in the life of the school

The final two meetings for this year will be held in the Kuyper Resource Centre (Library) on:

Wednesday 22 October, 7 – 9 PM
Wednesday 12 November, 7 – 9 PM

Whether you have time to lead, lend a hand occasionally, or simply come along and share ideas, your involvement will make a difference. Every contribution, big or small, will help to build a stronger, more connected Kuyper community.

We warmly invite our current parents to attend these meetings, where we will discuss opportunities, set priorities, and enjoy fellowship together. We look forward to seeing you there, and to working alongside you as we grow and serve together.

Kuyper Community Group Meeting

12 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Our new parent action group will meet twice in Term 4, with the goal of establishing the group well and being ready to start coordinating events from the beginning of Term 1, 2026.

The Kuyper Community Group aims to bring parents together to:

Coordinate fundraising activities for school development projects
Plan community-building events
Share ideas and get involved in the life of the school

The final two meetings for this year will be held in the Kuyper Resource Centre (Library) on:

Wednesday 22 October, 7 – 9 PM
Wednesday 12 November, 7 – 9 PM

Stay & Pray

7 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

What an incredible privilege it is to be able to bring all our requests before the living God.

Please join us in strengthening our school community by lifting this place and its people up to our good, generous God.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12

Prep Welcome Morning

8 Oct 20257 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Discover, connect, and get ready for 2026 Prep at Kuyper!

Families with children beginning Prep at Kuyper in 2026 are warmly invited to attend our Prep Welcome Morning on Monday, 24 November, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM.

This special morning will help students experience their new learning environment, meet teachers and classmates, and begin feeling comfortable in the Prep classroom. Parents will receive helpful information about preparing for the year ahead and enjoy the opportunity to meet staff and other families.

What to expect:

Please arrive at the Prep classroom by 9:30 AM.
Students should wear comfortable play clothes and closed-in shoes.
The structured program will conclude at 10:30 AM, followed by a light morning tea.
Uniform packs will be available for purchase on the day.

We can’t wait to welcome our 2026 Prep students and their families!

👉 Register now:

📞 For more information: 4573 2999

Year 7 Welcome Morning

9 Oct 20257 Oct 2025 by Ruth Thompson

Beginning high school is an exciting milestone — a time of new opportunities, growth, and discovery!

Families with students starting Year 7 at Kuyper in 2026 are warmly invited to attend our Year 7 Welcome Morning on Monday, 17 November, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

This event is designed to help students feel confident and prepared as they take their first steps into Secondary school, and to equip parents with helpful information for the year ahead.

During the morning:

🎓 Students will meet Year 7 teachers and classmates for 2026, explore the high school, and become familiar with Secondary routines, subjects, expectations, and responsibilities.
👋 Parents will attend a welcome session with key information about commencing high school and enjoy the opportunity to meet staff and other Year 7 families.

We hope you’ll join us for this important step in your child’s learning journey and look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students and families to the Kuyper community.

👉 Register now:

📞 For more information, contact us on 4573 2999.