From the Head of Secondary's Desk

Dear Parents/Guardians

As we near the halfway mark for 2023, I’m so encouraged by what I see around me at HCC. For some of us it’s so easy to allow our minds to stray towards focusing on the negatives, but often that is just the enemy’s trick to cloud the reality of what’s happening that is God and that is good. Philippians 4:8 - think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise:

Prefects who ask to run a Pyjama party for the Primaries, to build community and raise funds for mission. Staff and younger students willing to support the initiative and give up their after-school time to assist. Teachers that go the extra mile to prepare for involvement in: Grade 2 “camp in a day”; Junior Mayor; Lego Masters, Seaweed Sally, Shine-Literacy, and camps along with excursions for Girls in STEM, hospitality, rock climbing, upcoming snow trips. … and that’s just to name a few things happening around HCC and seeing the joy and growth in students. 

Another thing not to forget, that is worthy of praise is the progress we see. We may not yet be seeing the potential that we know is still to come, but the progress should not be missed. For example, I‘ve seen students making great steps forward not only in their studies, musical performance and in personal confidence, but also in self-discipline, in meeting uniform standards, in showing consideration for others, and I am encouraged!

Growing stronger is our theme for this year at HCC. In secondary this term, we’ve particularly been looking how to do this with: Our words; Our appreciation of others; and the importance of each person doing Our part (important and God given part). Year 7 and 8 camp was a wonderful time for those year levels to focus on these ‘strengthening’ habits. Hearing them spur one another on through the week with their words and actions was wonderful and we hope the lessons learned continue to develop though their lives. In terms of using our words, secondary students in particular can be flooded with the words of the world which starts to co-habitat with the words of their Christian home upbringing. Yet being ‘people of light’, being ‘set apart’, is the characteristic we are pursuing. As James 3:10 states, “… blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”. Again, we are not yet where we want to be, but we praise God for the encouraging progress we’ve seen in this area too.

So let us encourage our students and one another. Thank you, parents, for your continued support for the school as we seek to support you in your desires to see your children “Growing in Christ, Striving for excellence, Influencing the world.”

Looking forward to the rest of the year.

Grace and Peace, 

Darren John

Head of Secondary