‘Life was not meant to be easy!’, is a familiar phrase that was first coined by the late Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm Frazer, and has since been written into the annals of Australian folklore. What is forgotten, however, is the last part of the sentence: ‘, but take courage child for life can be delightful’. What a wonderful phrase when you hear it in its entirety.
It certainly makes sense when you consider the start to the year that is 2020: unprecedented fires, recent floods, the threat of coronavirus, threats to the ecology and major challenges to the economy, have been part of our news headlines over recent months. This media coverage has created an atmosphere of constant tension that has the potential to send out a negative message. However, take courage child, because life can be delightful. At this time, we need to pause, take stock, and thank God for what we have in our hands. We need to reframe and work together to rebuild and rethink how we want to live into the future. What an exciting opportunity!
Despite the challenges, 2020 provides a great foundation for our young people to explore God’s world. The recent camps were not easy for some students. Just getting to camp was difficult: unfamiliar places, different food, sleeping out, and for some, all of this was shared with strangers. For the most part, I was really proud of our young people and the way in which they worked together: sailing boats, navigating high ropes, learning to surf, budget for lunches, shop and prepare meals and share the problems. All of this develops a level of resilience and perseverance which is something that is an invaluable commodity in preparing for life. Please don’t rescue your child when they face tough challenges, be that the camps, carnivals, study times or navigating the routines of school, sport, and play. Research shows that If you support your child and encourage them to push through the difficulty and not give up you will help prepare them for success beyond school.
What impresses me as I talk to our students is the wide variety of ethnicities and cultures represented from across every major continent. Our families speak a broad range of languages and I think we need to value this as a rich inheritance. We will be celebrating this diversity in our International Week and Harmony Day later in the term. Let’s do this well!
Welcome to all the new families who have joined our community this year, it's great to have you on board. I have met most of the new families and will look forward to getting some feedback at the upcoming Parent/ Teacher Nights. These nights are likely to have some information sessions feeding back on issues relevant to each year group in attendance.
I know the sacrifices that many of the parents make to have their child at Thomas Hassall Anglican College and I commend them for their courage and commitment. As an Anglican School, we are committed to providing the best opportunities for quality, Christian education. Let’s agree together prayerfully to make this a great year. Thanks for your ongoing support! Have a great term.
'And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.' 2 Corinthians 9:8
