Welcome to Term 4.  I began the term by reminding teachers and staff that our task as a Christian school is to "unhide" God and His presence and purposes in the world, and to prepare our students for the type of life God intends for all people, a life of flourishing.

Albert Einstein once said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in schools.” This a rather disconcerting statement for teachers who work hard to give their students lots of things to learn. But it reminds us that education is very much about shaping a person for their future.

The process begins at home with you as parents.  The first five years, psychologists tell us, are the most significant in shaping the person a child is likely to become in the future. Their attitudes, values, and perspectives are all being formed very early on. Once at school, teachers become the second most important influence. For those of us who are regular Church attenders, the Church also plays a significant role in the shaping of the religious and spiritual perspectives of the child.

This is why we need to partner together so that we work in harmony in the forming of the adult that is to come. The question might be asked, how does teaching someone mathematics or history or how to read, form them as a person? Well, the content of education and the process of education is very connected to our current culture. Schools pass on cultural norms and cultural norms shape people.

A curriculum is not neutral but develops a way of looking at the world in students. That is why as a Christian school, we re-vision the curriculum to ensure that a God perspective comes through. Current NESA curricular exclude or marginalise a religious perspective because we live in a secular culture. God has been replaced by human potential and that is what the curriculum enculturates students into.

This is a change of course from previous generations when a God perspective in education was considered the norm. The interest in religious schools is said to be driven by the recognition by parents of this missing element which is seen to be necessary to ensure that positive values such as kindness, compassion, empathy, co-operation etc are taught to their children.

Now all this is not to criticise public education. Our public schools are a proper reflection of the majority view of our society which believes that a religious perspective belongs not in the public realm but in the private, individual realm. Christian schools like GPCC exist to offer an alternative to those who still want a religious perspective shaping the values and beliefs of their children.

I believe we can work together to shape mature and capable young men and women, who will be a positive influence in the world, seeking to use their talents and abilities to bring restoration and good to those around them. The team at GPCC look forward to working with you on this in Term 4.

Phillip Nash

Principal