Letter to Family and Friends

Seeing Pilgrim School Through Fresh Eyes

Dear Families,

One of the great privileges I have in my role at Pilgrim School is welcoming prospective families through our doors and into the life of our school.

Some of our school tours happen on a Saturday, such as the group that came to see our school last weekend. Often, we have families wanting to see the school in operation and these happen during the week.

Each school tour is more than just a walk through our classrooms or a look at Campus facilities. It’s a chance to introduce families to what makes Pilgrim special - our Christ-centred culture, our caring staff, our happy students, and our commitment to excellence in learning and wellbeing. It’s a moment where we can show, not just tell, what it means to belong to this community.

Families often reflect that you can feel the difference at Pilgrim. Whether it’s the calm and respectful tone of classrooms, the confident conversations with our students, or the connections made between staff and families - there is something deeply grounding and life-giving about our environment. And it’s a joy to witness those moments through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time.

What stands out most to visitors? It’s not always what you’d expect. Yes, they notice the beautiful spaces and the learning in action. But more often, it’s the little things that leave a mark: the student who stops to greet them with a friendly ‘hello’, the staff member who speaks enthusiastically about their work at Pilgrim, or the kind interactions witnessed when a child needs help. There’s an authenticity here that people quickly notice - it’s not something we manufacture, it’s who we are.

As parents, you are our greatest ambassadors. The most common way new families find us is through your personal recommendation. Thank you for continuing to share your Pilgrim story with others. Your words carry weight, and your invitation into this community helps us grow with the right families - those who will share in the heart and vision of our school.

Recently I asked for feedback from some of our families about their experiences at Pilgrim School and what they appreciate for their children. I was blown away by some of the responses and thought some might resonate with you too!

Pilgrim School has captured something very special within its walls, a caring supportive community in which our children have been nurtured and grown into confident, kind-hearted young people with a love for learning. These values will see them through many years of their school lives and beyond.

As a family, we feel so incredibly blessed to be part of such a warm and welcoming school community. We value most the Christian education and that this is a foundation that flows through everything they do. We love that teachers are nurturing our kids minds and hearts to love Jesus in everyday life. 

The Wellbeing Team and care has impacted our home life too, our son will often come home talking about what he has learnt about his feelings and friendships. We are so thankful for Pilgrim creating such a safe space for our kids to learn and grow.

Pilgrim truly delivers what every parent hopes for in a primary school -caring teachers, strong values, great communication, and a genuine sense of community. Our girls are thriving, not just academically but emotionally too. They feel safe, seen, and excited to go to school each day.

What I really appreciate about Pilgrim School is that it’s a Christian community where everything is grounded in the Bible. I love that my children actually enjoy going to school - they look forward to it every morning and come home full of stories about what they’ve done and learnt. Their teachers are always approachable and open to talk, which really means a lot to me as a parent. I also really value how the kids from different year levels mix and look out for each other. My younger one loves playing with the older kids, and it’s so lovely to see the older ones being kind and caring. It’s made a big difference for our whole family - we feel part of something special.

If you know someone who is exploring options for their child’s education, please encourage them to book a tour or get in contact with me. It would be my honour to meet them and give them a glimpse into the wonderful place we all call Pilgrim School.

With blessings,

Kristen Heath

Administration Coordinator & Registrar