Head of Secondary
Mr Steve Lobsey | Head of Secondary
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Revelation 2:9
In this Bible verse, there is the idea of over time, our actions becoming greater than they were in the past. I feel encouragement that God might look at my life from today forward and recognise if I have shown improvement; and this can help inspire me to do better each day.
As Year 12 enter their final weeks with us, the way they finish academically has a significant impact on their final results. If their level of effort is more now than it was at first, they will be rewarded for it.
The same can be said for all of our students. We are expecting them to all grow and mature over the coming years and so there must be a recognition that where they are at now is not where we want them to end – improvement needs to come.
An open mind towards improvement is helpful in learning. A student practising consistently between Year 7 and Year 10 will become significantly better at playing a guitar or shooting a basketball. The same is true for writing an essay, interpreting data or memorising quotes. Students who practice consistently will improve their academic outcomes.
We also want to make small, steady improvements as a school. There are improvements to be made in many things, such as how students wear their uniform, turning up to class on time and keeping the school clean. Our staff are also committed to improving their practice and are engaging consistently in professional development. All of us working together will lead to better outcomes for our school.
Finally, in the Bible verse, the writer was not speaking about exam results but about love, faith, service and perseverance. These are all things we can grow in and will be able to do so with a greater focus on Jesus and being connected to Him through reading His Word, speaking to him in prayer and surrendering to Him.
Veta Retreat
Our Year 11 Theology and Ministry Certificate 3 students went on a retreat to Blue Gum Lodge. This enlightening journey proved to be a valuable experience for our students as they considered the issue of identity and its connection to the teachings of the Bible. Through insightful discussions and engaging activities, our students explored the profound insights that the Bible offers about who we are. The excursion was not only an opportunity for growth but also a time of fostering strong bonds with fellow believers from other schools. Our students returned from the excursion with strengthened faith, a deeper understanding of their identities, and newfound encouragement to continue their spiritual journey.
Mr Heard
Mobile Muster
Do you have any old or broken mobile phones lying around at home and you’re not sure what do with them? Mobile Muster is a stewardship program that is reducing waste from the phone industry by recycling old mobile phones, chargers and accessories. To be part of this program students can bring old mobile phones to school, and put it in the collection box, which is in the HSIE staffroom. We will be collecting for the rest of this term. Remember to remove your phone data. For more details visit the website: https://www.mobilemuster.com.au
Year 9 Boys Mission Trip - by Ryan B
The trip began early on Friday morning. Ten long hours west we had left the hills and trees behind, and finally arrived at the small outback town of Brewarrina nestled in the red dirt. We drove a couple of minutes out of town to the charming 4-Mile Campground, set up our tents and settled in. But connecting with the locals called and so we journeyed to the small church and youth hall in the centre of Brewarrina.
There we met some of the local children from around Brewarrina and they were positively overjoyed at the sight of new people from out of town. After the initial ruckus had died down, we introduced ourselves. Then some among us shared our testimonies on how we came to be Christians. Micah’s was the most positively received since he incorporated a game into his testimony for the smaller people among the congregation. After that we listened to a sermon from one of the younger pastors of the church about the classic story of the king and the blazing furnace as a moral about idols and phones. It was quite enlightening. And that was just the start to our amazing adventure.
Next day we met two elders, Josie, and Vera, an hour away in the tiny hamlet of Weilmoringle. It was nice to listen to their many stories.
We met many other amazing people like these on the trip. One such person was Pastor Isaac. He helped us cut clapsticks, chatted with us, and most importantly preached the gospel one night around the campfire. His topic was about how it is harder than ever to be a Christian today and how to be motivated and courageous in today’s world. He also preached a sermon at church about how Jesus could be coming back at any time. He was a great speaker and stirred the hearts of the audience on both occasions.
We also met the curator of the Cultural Museum in Brewarrina. His name was Bradley, and he was a great tour guide, informing us about the very interesting history of the area, from Stone Age times right up to today.
One other pastor we met was Pastor Henry. He has a church in a tiny hamlet, and is a very dedicated, godly, and practical pastor. He is a very nice guy - very conversational with a great relationship with God.
In conclusion, it was a wild trip, and I can recommend it to anyone that is considering to go.
