Grateful

Psalm 100 – A Psalm. For giving grateful praise.

“Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever”

There is much that needs to be said about our Year of Jubilee – a year of celebrating the goodness of God in 2025, and reflecting on 50 years of heritage, growth, flourishing, and love. 

Our Primary Thanksgiving service last Friday was a wonderful showcase of the story that God has written through learning experiences, musical talents, social interactions this year. With so many highlights captured in 90 minutes, I am truly grateful for every person – staff, parent and of course our Primary students – who did their bit to pull our celebration together. We give God all the glory, however, knowing that it is him who continues to bless, equip and grace our community each day.

We are blessed with amazing staff, and I am grateful for their professionalism and passion to deliver a breadth of curriculum and experiences. In particular, we are grateful for the legacy of love that Matt Perry, Amy Kakkasis, Andrew Leake and Matt Conlon are leaving as they head off to educate in new places next year. We pray blessing over each of them and know that the Lord will continue to use their gifts, talents and passion as they connect with new communities.

I am grateful for the way God has brought the 2026 Teams together. As per my correspondence to all families via Schoolbox, the Teams are as follows:

Prep - Kellie Westcott, Su-Ann Chung, Orlagh Doyle, Melanie Eadie and Stephanie Farren 

Year 1 -  Kirsti Le Page, Sheridan Pover, Mel Pryce and Michelle Wrench 

Year 2 - Anna Starchenko, Courtney Ayala, Sarah Halls and Laura Power

Year 3 - Harry Foster, Brie Ashby, Esther Oakley and Joshua Turnbull

Year 4 - Helen Reid, Jacob Abbott, Sulari Nielsen and Lachlan Taylor

Year 5 - Mariah Reed, Steven Adermann, Keith Heng and Hannah Simpkins

Year 6 - Peter Evans, AnnMarie Huddlestone, Yin Kik Li and Sarah Piesse

The new year is literally knocking on our door, and there have been many hours of planning and preparation being poured into 2026 to ensure that it too is another wonderful year of growing in wisdom. I am grateful for the way our team plan with prayer, and know that it will make a difference as we step into a new year of learning.

Tomorrow, our students will experience the first taste of the year ahead, with the Orientation Day scheduled for all students entering the Primary School in 2026. We are grateful for the opportunity this day brings to allow for connection, relationship and friendships to commence as new students meet existing students in new classrooms. We are grateful for your prayers as  our teachers and students meet and learn together.

Next Monday we will honour and celebrate our Year 6 students as they graduate from Primary School. These students have been a fun-loving cohort – full of energy, joy and enthusiasm for life and learning, and we are grateful for the way they have led this year.  

Our Primary School Captains, Ezra Russ and Maisie Coffey, are to be congratulated for their leadership. They are sincere, reliable and faithful leaders, stepping into every opportunity with a heart to earnestly serve the Primary School. Our House Leaders have brought a strong sense of community to events, and have been wonderful encouragers to the younger students. The Year Level Ambassadors have connected with and supported the students in their levels, providing ways to connect and encourage throughout the year. We pray for God’s blessing over our Year 6 students for the years to come!

To the families leaving at the end of the year, we are grateful for the partnership we have shared with you and pray for God's blessings, protection, and ongoing guidance over each one of you and your children.

With a few more things to enjoy next week, including Graduation for Year 6, Party Day and our Christmas Worship Assembly, I am grateful for the way our community rally to the end with GRIT and good humour!

Finally, I am grateful for God’s rhythm of rest that is around the corner. I am grateful for the opportunity we each have to press pause, put lunch boxes away for a while and connect with family, friends and God’s world. 

As we reflect upon God’s most wonderful gift to us, I pray that our grateful hearts will respond in praise and celebration, being sure of the hope we each have in the birth of God’s son.

Psalm 100 ends with this:

“his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Join me in being grateful for who God is, all he has done, and all he will continue to do as we faithfully and humbly follow in His footsteps.

Blessings, and Happy Christmas to you!