Ulverstone Campus Principal  

As we approach the end of Term 3, conversations about the future can be heard in our classrooms, staffrooms and offices. Students are thinking and talking about what they will do in their school holidays and staff are looking forward to their term break. The two-week intermission in the school year is full of options for us to consider, and what that looks like can be different for everyone. Similarly, Year 10 students have been looking to the future and pondering their post-secondary options, possible pathways and work experience opportunities as they seek to answer the question, 'What am I going to do when I finish Year 12?'

Our mission at Leighland Christian School is to provide Christ-centred K-12 education that inspires, nurtures and equips students to connect learning to life.  A common understanding about the purpose of education in Australia is that it equips students with the educational basics like literacy and numeracy, and to prepare students for employment beyond Year 12 in the real world. We believe that education is far more than what this simplistic view affords. We believe our students are living in the real world now. We are equipping them for today, tomorrow and for every day after that. In our school, our students receive explicit instruction and are given opportunities to apply their knowledge to solve problems, take risks, explore the world around them, and discover, learn about and develop their gifts and talents. 

This term our students have celebrated Science Week, Book Week and participated in Little Athletics, R U Ok Day, and the Christian Ministries Retreat. They have competed in the Netball Championships, 3x3 Basketball tournaments, Devonport Eisteddfods, Chocolate Winterfest Wearable Art, Lawn Bowls, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball and Chess competitions. Students have visited Jayben Group Industries, Loaves and Fishes, Central Coast Council, the Creation Discovery Centre, Seahorse World, Wings Wildlife Park, the Hive, UTAS, Mersey Community Hospital, De Jong and Sons, Fairway Park Pump and Jump Bike Track, Frozen the Musical, and the Elliot Research Station. They have travelled to Devonport on a Kinder Transport excursion, ridden on the Don River Railway, cruised on the Leven River, flown to Melbourne, and skied and snowboarded at Ben Lomond and so much more.

As Martin Hanscamp once said, 

We want our students to be prepared for life in all its richness and variety, both while they are at school and after they leave. We want our students to be equipped as lifelong learners - trustworthy, committed, informed, discerning, critical citizens, wise consumers of goods, services, and entertainment, friends, marriage partners, parents, community members and leaders, sports players and leisure seekers…We want to provide our students with an understanding of the meaning and implications of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all areas of life, to be salt and light in the world. (2020)

As we look forward to Term 4, there are even more meaningful and exciting opportunities to learn, to participate and celebrate.  Our students will continue to explore the “playground of learning” that is the world around us and the wonderful opportunities that this presents. We can continue to rely on our loving and faithful God who promises to guide us through this journey of schooling and life beyond secondary education for our students. 

This holidays, my prayer for you is that you will have a safe and happy holiday, and the Lord will bless you and keep you; He will make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; He will turn His face toward you and give you peace (Num. 6:24-26). Whatever you do in God’s “playground of learning”, may it be filled with laughter, rest, and cherished moments. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our school community in Term 4, refreshed and ready to embrace new opportunities for growth and learning.

Happy Holidays!

Katrina McNab

Ulverstone Campus Principal