From the Principal

Welcome to 2022

Welcome back to all our students, parents and staff. Although the first 5 weeks have some grating restrictions, it has been a joy to feel the sense of belonging, reconnecting and also making new connections.  I would especially like to welcome our new students from new families who are beginning their journey with LCS in Kinder this year.

KINDER: 

Agamvir S

Tomas H

Daniel F

Samuel R

Maxwell M

Jonah P

Mehtaab K

Eve M

Arna D

Sophie S

Esther D

Sarah A

Josie N

Aria P

Millie L

Claire J

Ivy G

Billy V

Tarik G

Tarif G

Jack v

Isaac v

Caleb D

Cooper M

Rex P

Olivia V

Sadie H

Lacey T

Montana V

Marlie J

Sarah H

Phillipa v

Ella F

Anabelle V

Camellia P

Mabel F

We also welcome new students from existing families across the school and other new families across all the other year levels at LCS. 

PREP:

YEAR 1:

YEAR 2:

YEAR 3:

YEAR 4:

YEAR 5: 

YEAR 6:

YEAR 7: 

YEAR 8:

YEAR 9:

YEAR 10: 

YEAR 11:

We are also excited to welcome new staff to LCS this year.

•              Kristy Walton (Year 1)

•              Jed Matthews (Year 2)

•              Katie MacKenzie (Year 2)

•              Lois Kidmas (Year 3 – covering Nicole Serret’s class 2 days per week)

•              Elizabeth Hanna (Prep – covering Sacha’s class 1 day per week)

•              Scott Black – Lifeskills & ESU Resource Teacher

•              Jess Guest – ESU Resource Teacher

•              Tamieke Bosker – Middle School Art Teacher

•              Susan Davies – Year 7 Core Teacher – covering Julie Ferguson LSL

•              Lisa Tognella (Secondary Aide)

•              Ashleigh Jeffrey (Secondary Aide – return following leave to have a baby)

•              Kristie Marshall (Office Receptionist – 2 days per week)

•              Reuben Plummer (has been casual but now joined our permanent cleaning staff)

Over the next few editions of the Herald, we will introduce you to them.  Here is the Ashleigh Jeffrey, Lois Kidmas, Kristy Walton, Jed Matthews,  Jess Guest, and Tamieke Bosker,.

Hi, My name is Ashleigh Jeffrey. I am a teacher aide working with grades 7-12. I have worked here at LCS before – As a secondary Aide in 2020 and with a primary student for a term last year.  I am married to a lovely man named Jonathan, and we have a beautiful son called Luca, who is nearly 1! – He is very cheeky but also very sweet. We attend the Tailrace Community Church are really love it there.

I love art, especially watercolour painting, playing games (board games and videogames) and traveling and being outside.  I also really love helping people, so I very much enjoy my job!

My name is Lois Kidmas.  I teach Year 3 part time (Thurs & Fridays).  I’m not really new here as I have previously worked here at LCS for a couple of years.  I stopped teaching full time then to pursue my PhD which I have now successfully completed.  I am married and blessed with three lovely children (teenagers).  I love Jesus and I fellowship at Legana Christian church.  Outside of work, I enjoy baking and have a licenced home baking business for custom made cakes😊.  You’ll also find me gardening, listening to music and reading when I’m not teaching or baking.

My name is Kristy Walton. I’m one of the year 1 teachers this year. Before coming to Launceston Christian School I worked at Launceston Church Grammar School in various roles. My two children attend LCS so I’ve been involved in the community for nearly 8 years. I attend the Launceston Revival Fellowship. My passions are music and animals and I really love spending time at Hawley Beach with my family or around our beautiful state. I’m originally from Western Australia but my husband and I fell in love with Tasmania after we were married in 2004 and have been here ever since. I feel very blessed and privileged to be given the chance to work at such a great school. 

Hi, my name is Jed Matthews, and I’m one of the yr 2 teachers at LCS this year. In the past, I have worked as a teacher aide at LCS, and I’m really excited to continue working here alongside students, staff and parents.

I have attended the Branch Christian Church in Kings Meadows for the past 3 years. I go here with my wife, Blaze, who I have been married to for 7 months. I have been a Christian for about 5 years, being saved as an 18 year old. This changed my life, and now I live each day with the prayer that it will serve God and share the good new about Jesus in one way or another.

In my spare time, I love spending time with my wife, exploring God’s world or playing sport.

My name is Jess Guest and I am a resource teacher in the Education Support unit.  I am a resource for teachers supporting and including students with additional needs and well as working directly with students and families.  I have had children attending LCS for the past three years and our family has been attending Trevallyn Life Church.  I have 7 children, 4 of whom are identified as having additional needs, so my passion for supporting each unique child to fulfil their Godly purpose is personal as well as professional.  We have a busy and active family life with never a dull moment!

Hi, my name is Tamieke and I am the new Art teacher in middle school. I am married to Ryan and we have 4 children. Ryan and I both attended LCS as students, he has been working here for 15 years and all our children are and students here. So now that I’m working here too… its quite a family affair – we love LCS!

I graduated from Uni 14 years ago (before having children) and have had the privilege to spend most of the years since then being a full time Mum – which I love. I have a lot of different interests including, piano, cooking, basketball, gardening, being creative… but my main passion is spending time with my family. We love going on walks, doing sport, going to the beach, camping, or just hanging out together.

My family and I attend Riverbank Christian Church and I feel very blessed to be surrounded by great Christian friends, family and community at church and here at LCS.

Welcome back to:

•              Ryan Bosker from Long Service Leave in 2021

•              Maree Rigby from Long Service Leave in 2021

•              Ben Lundie from leave of absence in Term 4. 

Theme for 2022 – God’s Word ‘One Unified Story’

2 Timothy 3:16 - God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Throughout this year we will be exploring this important truth.  In our world, that appears to be heavily influenced by progressive secularism, it is even more important for us to more fully understand the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture.  As we explore this topic in Staff Devotions each week, we will address some of the major themes presented in the Bible.  God’s Word – One Unified Story will help us in clarifying and uniting our understanding in way that could be described as an expression of togetherness.

At LCS we are seen as an institution where we have the ability to transcend barriers and obstacles that can plague other Christian organisations from working in unity.  The stronger our sense of unity, the greater the witness to the world, which is consistent with what Jesus prayed for in his high priestly prayer in John 17.

This entire chapter is Jesus’ prayer.  From it we learn that the world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan’s power and those under God’s authority are at war.  Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Christ and his forces.  Jesus prayed for his disciples including those of us who follow him today.  He prayed that God would keep his chosen believers safe from Satan’s power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth. 

We are so privileged to have the support of Christian parents who are faithful members of our church communities who understand the need to be united in our purpose to provide Christian education here at LCS.  We also have the commitment from all parents who choose to enrol their children here to uphold these important truths as we express God’s love in Christian community. We recognise that we are not perfect, like Jesus is, but we do strive to be obedient to the calling to daily repent of our shortcomings, seek forgiveness from God and each other and to recommit our lives to the rule of Jesus Christ and His Word.

Prayer

Every Tuesday morning at around 8:30am, a small group of faithful pray-ers meet in the Board Room to pray.  This is such an important work within our school.  Although the number is small, I’d love that number to increase, it’s important to remember that the power of prayer is in the one who hears them, and not in the one who says them.

Uniform Update

The LCS Off-Field Sports Uniform is in the production phase.  While it’s disappointing that it wasn’t ready for the first day of Term One, we continue to push on to achieve the earliest possible delivery.

Here is a recap the progress to date.

An Urgent request has been made for the hats on order to be prioritised.  It is urgent, especially Kinder, as the Uniform Shop has no hats in stock.  As an interim measure to comply with our SunSmart commitment, broadbrim hats from home will be permitted until the uniform shop receives its order for hats. 

Thanks for the patience and understanding that parents and students have exercised during this period of transition.

Religious Discrimination

Much has been said about this issue in the media and there is a lot of confusion and misinformation circulating around.  Just the heading may cause many of us to become weary.  I think that’s the point.  Let’s take the wisdom from God’s Word in Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. My main reason for including this is a call to prayer for our politicians as they are charged with making decisions that allow us to live in peace and respect as we go about our work of doing good.

For those interested there is an excellent article reported by the ABC.  While it is a long read, Professor Patrick Parkinson gives a good summary of the issues and gives some keen insights into process and implications from numerous angles.  If you are interested in this issue, I’d recommend a read.

I Love My Christian School

The Australian Christian Lobby has set up a website to gather the testimonials of people who have had good experiences at Christian schools.

I’m asking that people who are, or have been, the beneficiaries of Christian schooling to speak up now to defend Christian schools. 

Thankfully we have the right to choose an education for our children that reflect our Christian beliefs. This is a key part of the right to freedom of religion that is enshrined in international law.

If you, your child, or grandchild has had a positive experience at a Christian school – recently or in the past – please share a few words to say so.

Thank you for standing up for our Christian schools!