The motto of our school is ‘Equipped for Life’. We chose this as a way of summarising our purpose statement and making sense of the elements of our graduate profile. The motto raises some questions, however. What does it mean to be equipped, and what sort of life are we seeking to equip students for?

Education is understood to have many different purposes. We may be educating to help students get a higher education or a good job. We may be educating to help them become a better person. We may be educating to enculturate them into our society. We may be educating them to be productive and skilled workers to improve our economy.

As a Christian school we take as our starting point the beliefs of the Christian faith, captured in the Bible which we understand to be God’s explanation to us of the purpose of the world, its issues and his solutions to those. So, a Christian school grounds its purpose in that story – the story of the world from its creation to its final restoration. Education is a way of ensuring students understand that story and are helped to know how they might take their place in it.

For those who embrace the Christian life, it means seeking a relationship with the Creator God who promises to renew us and give us a fresh start in life. Remember that the story of God begins very positively in the Garden of Eden, but humankind refuses to live according to God’s pattern for them, wanting to be in total control and so reject relationship with God and are cast adrift to use their own resources to survive.

Being made in His image, humans have been able to survive, spread across the earth and achieve some remarkable things. But the announcement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that all is not right. Hatred and war, disease and famine, greed and selfishness have accompanied human progress. The story of God is about how God seeks out people to return to Him and begin to restore this brokenness. For Christians, education is about helping students learn this story and understand and develop the skills to live once again according to God’s template for human existence.

So, at GPCC, we seek to equip students intellectually, spiritually, socially and physically to live this life. When we do this, we discover that life can be lived to the full, that we can flourish despite the issues in the world. That there is a greater purpose for us than mere survival. That God’s promise is to renew us, to help us live a renewed life in Him and, that He will be with us through all the troubles that we still experience in this world.

We hope this is a vision that you have for your child and that together we can partner in helping them to grow as their Creator intended.

Phillip Nash

Principal

Mrs Nicole Smith | Head of Primary

Introducing Mrs Kaylie Turner

Mrs Turner wears many hats at GPCC. On our Primary Leadership team she is one or our curriculum Co- ordinators. Kaylie also teaches Gifted and Talented students in our Enrichment Department.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Do you have any hobbies,

hidden talents, or play any sports or musical instruments?

I love travelling, camping and finding amazing new places in the great outdoors. You might also find me hiking, at the beach, curled up with a good book or hanging with my friends. My brother and I started attending Green Point Baptist Christian Community School in 1990, and I was in the first cohort to graduate Year 12 at Green Point Christian College. I loved my time at GPCC as a student and now my whole family are here: Ellia (Year 11), Bryce (Year 9), Jaymin (Year 6) and Kieren (who’s working on graduating Year 6 yet again). I’m the least musical person in my family and it won’t be long until I’m the shortest as well.

What do you enjoy about teaching?

I absolutely love teaching small groups. I enjoy the relationships I’m able to develop with my students as I have a front row seat in watching their growth and excitement for learning develop.

What is your favourite part or verse in the Bible and why?

A few years ago, I read the ‘Chronological’ Bible over the course of a year. It wasn’t until about the September that I got to the New Testament. By that stage I was so frustrated and extremely ready for Jesus to come and save His people. I knew that He was what the people of God so desperately needed. It changed the way I see the whole Bible. God’s entire story points to Jesus. We just can’t do life as it was intended without Him.

At GPCC we have a Graduate Profile – which section of the Graduate Profile interests you most?

As a Gifted and Talented teacher I should probably say Critical and Creative Thinker, but I’m going to go with Collaborative. I think that we were designed to live and love in community. We learn, we think, we grow more effectively when we work together. I hope that if you came into my classroom, you’d see a community of critically creative collaborators.

What do you want our student and parent body to know about you?

It is my absolute desire to see children reach their full potential and to demonstrate that through serving others, solving problems and understanding their place in the world that’s been entrusted to us. I want our students to know that they are loved, created for a purpose and gifted in order to give. It is such a privilege to work in an environment where I can do that every day.

Primary School Photos – Tuesday 1 March

Please ensure that your child is in correct formal school uniform. Hair is to be compliant with School Uniform Policy – tied back for girls using black, red or white ribbons only. Girls may only wear one pair of silver or gold studs or sleepers. Boys in Years 3-6 will not be wearing ties in their class photos.

If your class has PE or Gross Motor on Tuesday they will be doing this in their formal uniform.

Head of School Award

Congratulations to the following students for receiving the Head of School Award for Week 5:

Knox G, KDL; Clara M, KG; Isla A, 1C; Tara J, 1G; Heidi L, 1S; Annabella C, 2D; Meisha Y, 2G; Jeremiah C, 3D; Juliana L, 3B; Celine R, 3PH; Isabella T, 4B; Piper L, 4BK; Lachlan B, 5PC; Xavier W, 5L; Irene N, 5P; Sarah T, 6T; Lillian R, 6MR; Aliyah R, 6S.

Kiss and Drop

Thank you to all our families for your patience and care taken when using our Kiss and Drop zones in the afternoons. Please ensure you have a clear sign of your family name in the left hand side of your windscreen so that we can call your children to be ready for pick up. This is very important especially if someone different eg grandma is picking up students as they often don’t recognise the car.

After School Pick Up and Buses

It is important that students are only collected from the areas designated and supervised by teachers. This ensures proper duty of care continues for each child. Please do not arrange to meet primary students on Beatties Road or at the Seven 11, or across the road at Tank Worx, as there is no one there to supervise them and ensure they are safely picked up.

Mr Peter McLellan | Head of Secondary

It was great to have our first Chapel Life in the MPC this week after having it online for so long.

This time is core to who we are as a school and allows us to explore how to do life well as an individual in community. Its focus starts from a Christian perspective, and it does challenge students in how to look at God in their context of life.

Even for those students who do not hold a Christian faith this is a time that allows them to think through life from a different perspective and to learn how to respect different world views. The values that are expressed are foundational for any person to develop into effective positive contributors to our society. It is a core time in our week and every student is expected to attend.

Year 11 and 12 Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all who came to the Parent Teacher evening. It was good to catch up with so many of you at this valuable time. My biggest feedback for parents and students is that good consistent home study is vital when tackling the HSC and is the best way to reduce stress.

Year 7 Meet the Faculty and Teacher Evening - Tuesday 8 March 7:00pm - 8:30pm

On Tuesday 8 March we are hosting the Year 7 Meet the Faculty and Teacher evening in the MPC, where you will have the opportunity to meet Faculty Co-ordinators and teachers of your child.

The aim is to help you understand the expectations of different subject areas and to meet your child’s teachers.

It is also an opportunity to get an overview from the Faculty Co-ordinators of the different subject areas which your child will study.

We look forward to seeing you and your student at this information session.

Secondary School Photo Day - Tuesday 8 March 2022

8:45am – 9:35am - Year 7