Celebrating Leaver and Trist

In the final week of Term 3, Leaver and Trist came together to create a Chapel service celebrating their houses and share information about their newly selected House charities. The theme was ‘Beneath the Surface’ and students across Years 7–12 contributed in a wide range of ways. It was fantastic to share the connection that Leaver have established with the Lost Dogs Home (Cranbourne) and the way that Trist are supporting the Fight MND organisation. We shared stories about how, on the surface, things may appear one way, but that looking beneath the surface actually allows for a far deeper and richer understanding.

As part of the preparations, students were asked to consider the people whose hard work we benefit from, but who may go unnoticed. Here were some of their responses:

  • Those who make our clothes
  • The garbage truck drivers for collecting rubbish from our homes
  • School maintenance
  • Night shift workers
  • People who plant trees
  • Construction workers who work in harsh environments to build our community
  • Teachers for feedback in order to do our best
  • Paul for getting our science materials for experiments
  • Video editors
  • Farmers in regional Victoria who harvest crops for our food

Sincere thanks to all students involved, particularly those who spoke in the service, Allie W and Lilly W for putting together the clip for the Lost Dogs Home, Mrs Standish and Mrs Bennett as the Heads of House, and Kiarah C, Lachlan T and Mr Collidge for their work in preparing and presenting the music. It was a team effort, and a wonderful way to close off the term and celebrate the people and values of these two houses.

Supporting Backpacks 4 Vic Kids

In the last week of the holidays, a group of six teachers and 12 students went to Backpacks 4 Vic Kids in Cranbourne to support their work. It is fantastic to see so many students repeatedly returning to this organisation, giving up their time to help out. Whilst we were there, we were blown away by a large donation that had been made from a couple who decided to ask their wedding guests to buy donations for the backpacks, rather than wanting anything for themselves. Our students had the pleasure of unpacking and sorting these generous gifts as well as helping out with many other jobs. You can read more about some of our student volunteers in the ‘Students Living our Values’ section of the newsletter.

Our next volunteer opportunity is the week after school concludes in December. It will be December 14th 9:30-12:30 and we look forward to helping with their Christmas appeals.

In Awe

To commence each term, as the Chaplain, I have the privilege of leading a Staff Chapel. This term our theme was ‘Awe’ and we reflected on the value of recognising awe, as well as the opportunity we have to guide our students to be open to seeing awe-inspiring things around them. I have no doubt that many of our Junior School families felt an absolute sense of awe at what the Junior School students and Ms Searles created for the inaugural Junior School Art show. It was simply magnificent!

As a Christian, I am often in awe of the natural world, and the many gifts given to us. The verse we focused on in the Chapel was Psalm 65:8 which tells us:

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

Where morning dawns, and evening fades,

You call forth songs of joy

What a beautiful reminder of the daily blessings we experience, simply by having eyes to see them. As we are increasingly surrounded by blooms and nature regenerating, may you too feel awe and a sense of joy at what you see.

Monique Riviere-Pendle

Chaplain