Principal

A WONDERFUL TERM

OF LEARNING AND GROWING

Dear Parents and Friends

Greetings to you all!

We have had a wonderful first term with lots of growing and learning happening!

Learning happens in lots of ways - it is not just academic and classroom based.

In fact the learning that is more likely to help our children to be happy and often more successful in their career is the type of learning that builds students’ emotional intelligence (understanding self, others and how to respond in varying situations). 

I believe that this type of intelligence is also deepened by a strong spiritual intelligence (faith), that is dependent on God rather than on self, and trusts God in all that happens in life.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12 - 13.

Having a relationship with the Lord, is the most important factor for us all. It affects our lives not just for eternity but for the present and enables us to live a full and abundant life, despite our circumstances.

Recently, I helped mind my grandchild for a couple of days, whilst her Mum and Dad were unwell. It’s so lovely being grandma - I’m called Coco, which translates into 19 month year old speak as DoDO, emphasis on the last syllable! My husband is Bopbop (Pop). Together we are Coco Pop!

Anyway, my little granddaughter attends a lovely preschool at the local church, two days each week, and when she commenced at the preschool, her parents were asked, “what are your goals for your daughter this year?”

Apparently there are parents who have stated that they want their child (at nearly 2 years of age) to reach such goals as to learn the alphabet.

More than learning cognitive skills, my daughter and son-in-law want their child to know Jesus, and in the time being, to learn:

 * to be gentle

 * to be kind to others

 * to listen and follow instructions

 * say please and thank you

If we at St Andrews Christian College, had everyone being kind and gentle toward one another, we would have an even more amazing community. It would be a College community where everyone put others first and thought of others before themselves. That would be a taste of heaven!

I am so thankful for all our Year 12 students, who in their own busyness and stress are putting the rest of the College first and serving students in each year level by doing an activity or providing lunch for them in the last week of term. Thank you Year 12s for your fantastic initiative, your kindness and thoughtfulness and for modelling service and fun to all our students.

We are so blessed to have an extraordinary group of young men and women leading our College.

SPECIAL EVENT

A special event I want to alert you about, is the arrival in August of Dr D from an underground C school in Asia. Dr D will be arriving with his wife and 15yr old daughter and will be our guest speaker at our ‘Jesus the Light of the World’ festival. He will spend a few days with us to learn, participate and be blessed, then continue on to Perth to attend a CSA National conference.

While he is with us we need the help and generosity of our St Andrews family to:

·        Billet his family and provide accommodation and/or transport

·        Help out with meals

·        Invite him to speak at the host family’s church (4th August is already taken)

·        Take the family on some outings around Melbourne

If you can help, please contact me (cwansbrough@standrews.vic.edu.au) or Tamie Dekker (tdekker@standrews.vic.edu.au) as soon as possible.

Blessings to you all for a special and holy Easter with your families

Jesus is Alive! Hallelujah!

Catriona