Wise words with...

Welcome to our first edition of Bytes for 2022

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) 

Welcome to our first edition of BYTES for our 2022 school year. I would also wish to extend a very special welcome to the many new families who have joined our NCS community this year. I trust that the first days for your children at our school have been very special ones and that they are already feeling very much ‘at home’ in their new surroundings.

Students in Years 1-12 have been back for a total of only seven days and for our 43 Kindergarten students, ‘Big School’ commenced just this week on Thursday (and what an exciting day that was for all involved). However, during this short period of time, many activities have already occurred. We have officially ‘launched’ our new House system and students now belong to one of our three houses – Zion, Sinai and Nebo. House captains have been elected and every student has been issued with a bandanna in the colours of their new house.

Certainly, the NCS Swimming Carnival, held on Friday, has been one of the highlights of the year thus far for many of our students. What a pleasure it was to see our students, all decked out in the colours of their new houses, cheering energetically as fellow students competed enthusiastically in a wide variety of swimming events! And it was not only our students who were cheering as we were also delighted to welcome a large contingent of parents and carers as you gathered to support your children.

Yesterday, my wife Sharon and I had the pleasure of attending the Nowra Show. The weather was very pleasant and this had drawn a sizable crowd of spectators who were clearly enjoying being out and about. We spent a great deal of time at the Pavilion where we were delighted to view the large number of entries submitted by students from our school in a wide range of areas. I would wish to commend every student who took the time to submit an entry and also to congratulate the many NCS students who were awarded ribbons and certificates for their amazing creations.

Yes, your children have been back at school for less than a fortnight but I am aware that during this short period of time, you have received numerous letters from the school as the latest information has been provided in relation to changing COVID rules and regulations. Firstly, I would wish to thank you for your patience and support as we work through these changes together as a school community. We thank you, once again, for your understanding and strong partnership. Secondly, I would again desire to briefly examine this topic of ‘change’ that appears to have become an inevitable part of everyday life.

In an earlier edition of BYTES (10 April 2020), I closely focussed on this important concept of ‘change’, and spent considerable time examining it from a Christian perspective. However, nearly two years later, we still find ourselves living in changing times, especially in relation to COVID rules and regulations.

I would wish to conclude by reminding every school family, as I did in my earlier article, that we serve a faithful God who is never taken by surprise as a result of change. Our God knows the future and He wants to form a personal relationship with each one of us so that He can guide us safely through a world of changing circumstances. This is the message that our staff desire to share with your children every day and this is the God in which we have placed our trust. As stated in our focus verse, we can be confident that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) When we place our trust in this unchanging God, we can face the future with great confidence!