Cassie Dixon, Head of Teaching & Learning/Acting Principal
I would like to share some staffing news for 2027, as we give thanks for seasons of faithful service and prepare for new opportunities and growth in the year ahead.
As previously announced, our much-loved Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Jo Kean, will retire at the end of this year, bringing to a close a long and significant association with Kuyper Christian School.
Jo first joined the Kuyper community as a parent in 1997 and has since served the School in many ways, including as a School Board member and on the Association’s Education Subcommittee. She joined the teaching staff in 2010 and has served as both a Teacher Librarian and K–2 teacher.
Throughout her teaching years, Jo has invested deeply in students and families, helping our youngest students begin school with a strong and joyful foundation for life and learning. Known for her huge heart, wisdom and cheeky sense of humour, Jo is deeply loved by students, parents and colleagues alike. We are enormously grateful for her faithful contribution and look forward to celebrating Jo’s career at a special event in November.
At the end of this year, we will also farewell Mr Charles Tan, as he continues his teaching journey in a new school community.
Charles joined Kuyper in 2024 as a Teacher’s Aide while completing his teaching degree and has since become an Accredited Teacher, teaching a range of English classes, including Stage 6 Standard English.
It has been a privilege to play a part in these formative years of Charles’ teaching career. We have particularly valued his desire to make Christ known to students, his willingness to challenge them to think deeply, and the encouragement he has given our senior students to consider their future goals and take purposeful steps towards them.
We are thankful for Charles’ contribution to Kuyper and pray that God will continue to equip and bless him as he grows as a teacher in a new setting.
This Friday, we will farewell Mrs Ruth Thompson, our Enrolment & Communications Manager, as she concludes a significant season of service at Kuyper. Ruth is passionate about Christian education and longs to see people live in light of the truth that every square inch belongs to Jesus.
Ruth first joined the Kuyper community as a parent in 2009, later serving on the Association Community Development Committee and School Board before joining our staff team in 2018.
Ruth has played an important role in strengthening Kuyper’s enrolment and communication processes, building our profile in the wider community, and shaping the way prospective and new families experience and connect with our School. She has also been the driving force behind many of our school events, bringing our community together and encouraging parents in their partnership with the School.
Ruth’s warmth and welcoming nature have been a blessing to many, and she will be greatly missed as she begins a new season at another school. We warmly invite you to join us at Friday’s End-of-Term Celebration Assembly as we farewell Ruth and give thanks for her many years of faithful service.
New Growth
As we prepare for 2027, we are mindful that the life of our school is marked by seasons. As some seasons of service come to an end, new opportunities emerge for others to grow and serve.
Mrs Amanda McAlpine, our current Prep teacher, will move into the full-time role of Kindergarten Teacher. We are grateful for the continuity Amanda will provide for our youngest students and families, and look forward to seeing her contribution grow in this important beginning to school life at Kuyper. We will be advertising for a new Prep Teacher for 2027.
Mr Jeff Brown, currently our Year 5 teacher, will move into the new role of Learning Enrichment Teacher (Years 3–10). We look forward to the opportunities this dedicated role will create to extend student learning across a broader range of year levels. We will therefore also be seeking a new Primary Teacher.
In addition, we will be advertising for a new Secondary English Teacher and an exciting new role within our Administration Team, with further details to be announced shortly.
There is both continuity and new opportunity in the season ahead. We are grateful for those who have faithfully invested in Kuyper, for those stepping into new areas of service, and for those who will join our community. We pray that through each of these transitions, God will continue to bring new growth as we serve together as His people, in His place, under His rule.