Chaplain's Spot
Welcome: If you are a new family to Great Ryrie PS, welcome. We trust that your time here will be a very rewarding one. We are very thankful to be part of this community.
May you be able to leave behind the regrets of 2024, and look to the possibilities of 2025. Whatever has happened in the past, this does not need to hold you back from what you may be able to achieve in this new year.
This is my 19th year as Chaplain, and I am here to support our whole school community, in whatever challenges come in our lives. If you would like me to support your child or your family at any time, please contact me or your class teacher.
About me: I am a husband of one, a father of three, and a grandfather of five. I regularly attend the gym, or go walking. I have many fun socks in my cupboard, themes including food, animals, characters and shapes. Our eldest grandchild is School Captain at his school this year. My major covid project was writing my memoirs. I love telling, and hearing jokes, as well as music and singing. I am also Chaplain at Bayswater North PS, and this is my 5th year there.
Community wellbeing: Each week, we run a Toast Tuesday program before school in the Sports and Performance Centre. This is open to any students. It is supported by Woolies Eastland and Bakers’ Delight in Heathmont.
We also have available second-hand uniforms in good condition for sale, for gold coin donations. These sales also provide necessary supplies for Toast Tuesday.
Roster: If you would like to help occasionally on our TT team [ably supervised by my wife Bonnie], here is a link set up to enter your name for whichever dates you are available. volunteersignup.org/LJX4A. We will begin TT on February 11th.
Baker Delight goods: Each week, Bakers Delight provides loaves for us to use in our Toast Tuesday program. They also have loaves and rolls left over at the end of Monday trading. If your family would appreciate regular bread or rolls, sourdough, multi-grain, wholemeal etc. please email me below, or see me at school. This will be packaged and given to your child, or you can collect it on Tuesday mornings.
Extra support: If there is an emergency in your family, we can arrange a weekly meal to help your family for a few weeks. Please contact our office if this would be helpful for you.
Monthly themes: My plan for this year is to create a themed article on life qualities, such as hope, friendship, joy, peace, faith, wellbeing and justice. This will be alternated with other appropriate articles as the year progresses.
My challenge for this year: My theme for this year is “2025 – Choose Life”. This speaks to us about our major life attitudes. May you be able to rise to each challenge as your best self. It’s not always easy, but a short and catchy theme such as this may help us as we seek to make the most of the year ahead of us, whether as parents, partners, employees, friends, or part of the wider community.
Contact: If you need to contact me, please email, phone, or see me on my days at school.
Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday & Friday]
[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au]
Supporting the School community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing.
Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.
2025 – Choose Life!