Can I extend a very warm welcome to all our students and families from all of us at Parkes Christian School. It is so great to be back at school again with all your happy faces. This year we start the school year with 401 students, our biggest enrolment ever. It has been a great first week, and particularly nice to see all our new students in Kindy and Year 7!
This year we have a fantastic staff lineup including a few new faces. All staffing details are included in this week’s newsletter, including a full staff list for your information. The calendar of events has been emailed to all parents providing a full overview of all events in 2025, including excursions, hot food days, carnivals, dress ups and other opportunities for students to get involved in something outside of normal school routines. It is our hope that providing you with a full overview of events will help families with your own planning and week to week routines.
The staff enjoyed spending a few days together before students started back. It was a valuable time for us to get in and focus ourselves for the year ahead with plenty of careful planning and preparation. We began each morning as a staff, exploring our theme for 2025 which is ‘The Endless Pursuit of Being More Like Jesus’. A life filled with purpose begins with looking to meet the needs of others and not just our own; effectively loving others. This was the example Jesus set for us in how he spoke and interacted with all he came in contact with. What a challenge for us to examine what it is to live like Jesus, not just so we can live with a sense of purpose, but so others might be encouraged, supported and loved along the way.
I love being involved in Christian education. As I often reinforce with our parent community, alongside teaching student outcomes well, our role is to effectively partner with churches and families to deliver consistent, safe and accurate teaching and learning in the Bible with a heavy focus on the life of Jesus and the gospel message. We are most definitely not a church, but a school. As we get into our year, I am praying that all our students will be inspired to continue getting to know God as a lifelong journey. How exciting it is to know that all of us are made by God for a purpose; that all of us have the ability and opportunity to live lives that honour God by simply meeting the needs of others and extending kindness each and every day. There is power in the gospel, and power in schools and families partnering together to raise young men and women who are confident, equipped and excited to live a life of purpose in all they do. What an opportunity we have!
So as we get into the year, let me thank you for partnering with us in education. Let’s all continue the great work in 2025 of educating our most valuable resource, your kids!
Have a great week!
Glen