Mark Ramsay, Principal
I’m pleased to share that in my time here over the last two and a half years, I’ve never heard a parent ask, “Oh, you teach about Jesus here? I didn’t realise this was that kind of school.”
At every enrolment interview, and indeed in every conversation I have with parents considering Kuyper for their children, I am very clear that Kuyper is a Christian school. If there is one thing that I want to ensure that all parents fully grasp, it is that all the staff at Kuyper hold to our faith in Jesus with the utmost commitment. Every staff member at Kuyper is a follower of Jesus, and we all view our work at Kuyper as service of Him.
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection change everything. They change our view of ourselves, our relationships, and how we live. They also change our approach to running a school. There is nothing outside of the scope of Jesus’ Lordship. What we teach in our classrooms, how we maintain our facilities, the compassion with which we care for unwell students, the way we drive the school vehicles, and the integrity with which we manage our finances – Jesus claims authority over all these things. As a school, we seek to honour Jesus in every part of every day. This is what we believe. This is what we hold firmly to.
It is also true that we are an open-enrolment school. This means that we recognise that our student and parent community includes a variety of faith and lifestyle beliefs. Let me be very clear—all are welcome in our school. We recognise the right of parents and students to hold different positions on lifestyle or faith as private matters. Nevertheless, it is important that families who join our school community understand and support what the school promotes, practices, and teaches.
The founders of Kuyper wrote a Statement of Faith to ensure that all members of the school community understood the beliefs they held to be of the highest importance. Upon enrolment, all parents are asked to acknowledge that they have read and understood this Statement of Faith.
At the recent Annual General Meeting, the Kuyper Christian School Association voted to accept an updated version of the Statement of Faith. It does not contain new beliefs and continues to acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship over all things. However, the language has been amended, which should help convey meaning more clearly. I encourage you all to read this new Statement of Faith to ensure that you continue to understand what Kuyper promotes, practices, and teaches.
If you have any questions about Kuyper’s Statement of Faith, I encourage you to raise them with me or a member of the Board. Please do not hesitate to make contact via the school office on 4573 2999 or admin@kuyper.nsw.edu.au. We would love the opportunity to discuss any questions you may have over a cup of tea or coffee.