Year 8 

The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat is the tale of an elderly widow named Rose whose friend and companion is a dog, named John Brown. John Brown is a loyal friend and caretaker for Rose, looking out for her as best as he can. One night, Rose thinks she hears a cat out in the garden. John Brown assures her that it is not a cat. When Rose goes to bed, he goes outside and confronts the noisemaker, who really is a cat. John Brown, jealous at the thought of someone else receiving Rose’s attention, tells the cat to stay away.

When Rose realizes that there is indeed a cat outdoors, she cares for it by leaving a bowl of milk outside the front door. Each night a jealous John Brown tips the milk bowl over. One morning, Rose does not get out of bed. She feels ill and tells John Brown that she will not be getting up. John Brown worries about Rose all day. Finally, he enters her room and asks if the cat would make her feel better. When Rose replies, “Oh, yes!” John Brown brings the cat in. The end of the story finds a contented Rose, John Brown and the newcomer cat relaxing and enjoying the quiet— and one another’s company!

John Brown is just like a Year 7 girl at the end of the year who is feeling worried about what might happen in 2019 and doesn’t want to share the friends she has made in Year 7. She wants to stay in the same Homeroom; she is happy and safe there and she doesn’t want this to change. She is around her friends and she likes being in a comfortable, happy classroom with teachers that she feels safe with. But if she doesn’t change and accept new people and welcome new experiences, she’ll never be the best person that God is calling her to be.

Once John Brown accepted the Midnight Cat and made her welcome, he became contented and happy. He also made a new friend and developed a new and better relationship with Rose. So not only did he still have Rose, he had a new friend in the Midnight Cat.

My challenge to the Year 8 girls at the beginning of this year was not to think as John Brown did when he first saw the Midnight Cat. Instead of being afraid of the changes that will come in Year 8, welcome and embrace them.

Many girls have accepted the challenge of the opportunities provided in Year 8.

I am pleased to announce the following girls have been elected by their peers as Homeroom Captains for Semester 1:

Congratulations to them, and the girls who have embraced all that life offers them in Year 8.

Through the abundance of their hearts, they are flourishing and producing good things - because just as John Brown was, they are better for taking the chance!

Bill Fitzsimons

Year 8 Level Leader