Kuyper Christian School

Light

Esther — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:36:54 +0000

Mitchell Cavens, Head of Secondary

I would like to use this broadcast to share a conversation with you that I had with our Secondary team at the end of a demanding school day. I hope that hearing about the hearts of our staff will encourage you.

It had been a challenging day; one student in particular had placed considerable demands on our staff. It’s a great challenge to face the evil that arises in our culture, or even within our own hearts, but facing evil that arises in the hearts of our children can be particularly taxing. As parents, experiencing this from time to time, I’m sure you can agree! This was one of those times when the behaviour of a student had a negative impact on our staff.

So at the end of the day, instead of complaining about the student, or putting forward ways in which they could be gradually excluded from learning, the conversation was characterised by a communal, unified desire for the student’s best; we were prepared to extend every strategy that was available to us to help the student become the person God had called them to be. We were saddened by the student’s behaviour, because we knew that they were not living out the authentic identity that Christ had bestowed on them; an identity that we had seen manifested before in the student’s life, and wanted to see again.

I was highly encouraged to see our staff members’ attitudes in preparing to take the harder road; the way of patience, endurance, prayer, and pressing forward until we have utilised every available option to assist the student.

I have been studying the Psalms recently, and happen to be reading Psalm 112. In verse 4, I encountered this thought: “Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” Jesus declared Himself the light of the world. Similarly, in Matthew’s Gospel, He looked at His disciples and said: “You are the light of the world.” I saw our teachers embody the light that rises in the darkness, the light which was first in Christ. I was compelled to pray for them on my way home, that God would continue this work in our teachers, and to thank Him for the work He has already done.

I am deeply grateful for a staff body who carry this kind of love. And we are grateful for you; a community of families who entrust your children to us, and who share with us the conviction that every child matters, and that the work of forming them is worthy of everything we have to give.

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Stay & Pray

cassie — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

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

Parents and friends of Kuyper Christian School are invited to Stay & Pray with us each Friday 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: Friday, 16 October
Week 2: Friday, 23 October
Week 3: Friday, 30 October
Week 4: Friday, 06 November
Week 5: Friday, 13 November
Week 6: Friday, 20 November
Week 7: Friday, 27 November
Week 8: Friday, 04 December

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Delayed Gratification

Esther — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 03:59:43 +0000

Bill Rusin, Principal

This is the time of year when things start to get a bit crazy. Christmas decorations are beginning to appear in shops and shopping centres, adults start planning end of year celebrations and children start dreaming of presents.

There are still things to attend to. Schoolwork still happens and children need to keep focusing on the ordinary things of life, as do adults. This is a good opportunity to teach your children the value of delayed gratification. This discipline is worth learning. Children who learn to wait, rather than being pandered to, experience many benefits including:

Developing self-control. Children learn to resist impulses and manage desires rather than being ruled by them. This self‑control underpins almost every other developmental gain.
Wiser decision-making. Kids who can wait begin to weigh options, think ahead, and choose long‑term benefits over short-term pleasure. This supports wiser choices in school, friendships, and later, in finances and health.
Improved academic achievement. Research linked to the Marshmallow Test (yes, this was a research project) shows that children who delay gratification tend to:

stay focused longer
complete tasks more reliably
achieve higher test scores
develop stronger problem‑solving skills

Improved emotional regulation. Waiting teaches children how to manage frustration, disappointment, and excitement. Over time, this reduces impulsivity and supports healthier emotional responses.
Improved health outcomes. Children who develop patience are more likely to:

maintain healthy habits
avoid impulsive eating
show lower rates of obesity
experience fewer behavioural problems and addictions later in life

Improved social skills. Patience helps children:

take turns
resolve conflicts
show empathy
build stronger, more stable relationships

Improved perseverance and goal setting. Kids learn that worthwhile things often take time. This fuels perseverance in sport, music, reading, and long-term projects.

At this time of year, when you or the children’s grandparents may be tempted to “spoil them”, it might just succeed.

I would encourage you to keep reminding your children that waiting is a good thing. It might be unfashionable, and your children may not be that pleased about it, but it is worth persisting, especially at this time of the year.

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Stay & Pray

cassie — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

What an incredible privilege it is 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

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Buddy Anyone?

cassie — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Kae McCaull, Head of Primary

Great news for our Kuyper community — our new Buddy Bench has officially arrived and found its home in the Primary playground!

This special addition was made possible thanks to the generosity and hard work of our Kuyper Community Group (KCG), who raised the funds and purchased it for the benefit of our students. Their commitment to supporting our school community, both in and out of the classroom, is something we’re all grateful for.

Since it went in, the enthusiasm from our students has been wonderful to see. Students have been using it in many ways from day one, and it’s clear the Buddy Bench has already become an integral part of our playground.

But this isn’t just about a new piece of furniture — it’s about giving our students a genuine voice. Each primary class has selected two representatives to help decide how the Buddy Bench should be used, where it should be placed, and how we can all make the most of it. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to take ownership of something that belongs to all of us.

What’s especially heartening is that the idea behind the Buddy Bench is already showing up in our classrooms. During class discussions especially in PDH lessons, the Buddy Bench has naturally come up as possible strategy or tool students can use to address friendship issues or include others. It gives our students another tool to use as they develop characters that allow them to live out God’s call to treat others in a way that honours Him.

It’s a simple idea with a powerful message: at our school, we look out for each other, because that’s what it means to be part of a caring, Christ-centred community. A huge thank you the KCG, and to every student embracing the spirit of the Buddy Bench.

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Stay & Pray

cassie — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

What an incredible privilege it is 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

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Welcome to Term 4

cassie — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Cassie Dixon, Acting Principal

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you all enjoyed a restful and refreshing break and time together as a family. This is a full and exciting term, and I look forward to sharing it with our students, families, and staff.

We begin by praying for our Year 11 and 12 students, who sit their HSC exams in Weeks 1-4. These students have worked hard over many years, and this is a significant time for them and their families. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for and sit these exams.

Alongside the HSC, school life continues with plenty of energy. After a short break last term for Peter Pan Jr., Band returns on Friday morning! Hopefully everyone has been making the most of the opportunity to practise during the holidays. Our Extra-Curricular Clubs will also resume on Friday for students across Kindy to Year 10, with new options available. As always in Term 4, our Primary students will attend swim school each week. There are also some wonderful excursions this term, including our Stage 5 Outdoor Recreation elective class’s off-site practicals, and Year 2’s ‘Digging Up the Past’ excursion. We will also hold a Saturday Working Bee, a great opportunity for families to help around the school and enjoy working alongside one another.

One of the term’s highlights is the Stage 3 Bathurst camp, which is always gold. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to build friendships, try new things, and grow in confidence. I’m sure they’ll have a nugget or two of wisdom to share on their return.

We will be marking some significant milestones in the life of a school. Once the HSC exams are finished, we will celebrate our Year 12 students at their Graduation dinner. It will be a special evening to mark the end of their time at school and to thank God for all He has done in their lives. Later in the term, our Year 6 students will also celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout their primary school journey at the Year 6 Class Party.

While we farewell our Year 12s, we will also welcome our 2027 Prep, Kindergarten and Year 7 students at special welcome mornings. It is always a joy to meet our newest families and see students and staff help them feel at home before they officially join us next year.

Later this term, Mr H and some of our students will take part in Scripture assemblies at local public schools, where they will present the meaning of Christmas to students there. What a great opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with our wider community!

This term, we will once again host students visiting from Hamamatsu Gakuin, Japan. We look forward to showing our visitors warm hospitality and building the friendship between our two schools.

Term 4 closes with Limelight, our end-of-year celebration, on Tuesday 8 December. Families are warmly invited to join us for a barbeque dinner before the festivities. It’s always a great evening where we keep Jesus in the Limelight in the lead up to Christmas, so mark it in your calendars now!

And finally, our Japan Trip is almost here! After school finishes for the year, a group of twenty students from Years 8 to 12, three staff and two parents will travel to four cities. This thirteen-day trip is a very exciting opportunity. I can’t wait to share Japan with everyone coming on the trip! Please keep the group in your prayers as we continue preparing, and for safe travel and a wonderful experience for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I wish you all a blessed Term 4!

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Secondary School Twilight Tour

cassie — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:17:46 +0000

We warmly invite prospective families to join us for a Secondary School Twilight Tour prior to one of our upcoming Information Evenings.

These guided tours offer an opportunity to explore our Secondary facilities and meet members of our staff. Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy a light meal together before the information evening commences.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tuesday 27 April, prior to our Senior School Information Evening.
Tuesday 4 May, prior to our Year 7 Information Evening.

Register for a Secondary Twilight Tour now.

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Secondary School Twilight Tour

cassie — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:19:00 +0000

We warmly invite prospective families to join us for a Secondary School Twilight Tour prior to one of our upcoming Information Evenings.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tuesday 27 April, prior to our Senior School Information Evening.
Tuesday 4 May, prior to our Year 7 Information Evening.

Register for a Secondary Twilight Tour now.

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Prep Welcome Morning

cassie — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:01:11 +0000

Monday 23 November

Discover, connect, and get ready for 2027 Prep at Kuyper!

Families with children beginning Prep at Kuyper in 2027 are warmly invited to attend our Prep Welcome Morning on Monday, 23 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 2027 Prep students and their families

For more information: 4573 2999

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