It has been a pleasure to join Year 10 students for their Service Learning activities this week. I took a group out to the retail shop in Campbelltown for Lifeline on Monday and the students enjoyed reorganising the store, working on the cash registers and giving their ideas to the social media content creator. They also learned about the army of volunteers who assist in lifeline retail stores across Australia to support the work of the counsellors manning the suicide hotline. It was distressing to hear that lifeline receive a call every 26 seconds from people in crisis who need some help.
On Tuesday, the group I was with were able to make Christmas gifts for patients at the Children’s Hospital to hopefully bring a little cheer and love to young people having a Christmas time impacted through illness. They made handwritten cards with heartfelt messages, gave them a story to read, some lollies to eat and a handmade cartoon figurine to play with. It was good to see the spirit that was present in our young people focusing on the needs of others.
On Wednesday, my group headed out to the Lifeline Headquarters in Smeaton Grange and once again both learned a lot about the valuable work that lifeline does and gave of themselves to assist in some volunteer tasks. They folded informative leaflets containing valuable information about mental health services to be handed out to the public at an upcoming awareness event. They made accessories for the Christmas wrapping stations which will appear in shopping centres across NSW to help raise money and they placed dog tags and ribbons on cute soft toys which will be going up for sale to help the cause.
Dr Nalla has done an incredible job in coordinating a wide range of service learning activities for all the students.
It is challenging to write this next paragraph as it will be my opportunity to say goodbye to the Thomas Hassall community that I have been a part of for these last 13 years. What a special place this has been to work at! I have been able to teach thousands of students alongside Christian colleagues in a wonderful Mathematics department and in the broader staff. I have had the privilege of leading house and year groups, running operations at the College and finally these last few years to be Deputy Principal alongside Mr Young and Mrs Wheeler as we assisted Mr Whelan and Mrs Easton. I want to thank Mr Whelan for giving me the opportunities to take on such wonderful roles. It is such a blessing to be able to serve in a school with committed Christian leaders and staff. To be able to share the gospel message of hope that comes through a faith in Jesus Christ in the South West of Sydney has been an honour. I enjoy being a small part of the journey of students learning and growing up, graduating and choosing their first directions in life. I love the staff here at Thomas Hassall who all work to bring about the best outcomes in the lives of their students and the support that families have given me over the years through emails, phone calls and at College functions. It really means a lot to me and the staff when students and parents come and speak with us to share updates about what is happening in their family or to say thanks or how are you?
I look forward to remaining in the Anglican Schools Corporation as I head to Marsden Park Anglican College next year. I will continue to be praying for Thomas Hassall and Mrs Easton and I am confident that God will continue to bless the College. I want to thank Mrs Easton for her support and kindness since she has joined the College and led as Principal. Her passion for seeking to understand the stories of every student here to ensure that we as a College can be designing the best learning activities possible for them all, has been so inspiring. She leads with strength and kindness, and I am so grateful to have been led by her these last 2 years. She will continue to steer the College in a Godly way for years to come which students, staff and families should be very thankful for.
Goodbye