From a technical standpoint, God is the only true creator, as He created out of nothing (“ex nihilo”). However, the word “create” is generally used in the broader sense of the creative and purposeful arrangement of the things of this world by humans. Our Father made us in His image, and as image bearers, it is right for us to express ourselves creatively and to celebrate beauty, innovation and aesthetic skill where we see it displayed.

And so, with that foundation in mind, I would like to congratulate all the students involved in the wonderfully artistic and creative works displayed and performed at our recent Expression evening. It was such an encouraging evening to marvel at our student's creative capabilities in TAS, Art, Science Extension, Drama and Music. Also, a big thank you to all of our parents, friends and past students who came along to support and enjoy the evening. It is through events like these that we build community and shared culture, upon our Christian foundation.

Mr David Stonestreet
Principal

Our teachers provide continuous feedback throughout the year to update parents on their child’s progress. Given the restrictions on the number of timeslots available, please only request a booking if you have a specific question or concern to discuss with the teacher. In the Secondary School, if you do require an interview, we encourage students to attend the interviews along with their parents.

Parents will receive an email next week to enter their preferences so that the event can be scheduled and will then receive their schedule on Monday 9 September.

Mr Paul Carter
Deputy Principal

A huge congratulations to everyone involved, and a heartfelt thank you to our staff who dedicated countless hours to making the event a success.

What stood out to me most was the strong sense of community. It was wonderful to reconnect with alumni and hear about their journeys since leaving Shire. It’s clear that God continues to work in the lives of many.

Haidt refers to this shift as the "Great Rewiring of Childhood," where overprotective parenting and reduced opportunities for free play have deprived children of essential developmental experiences. He stresses the importance of collective action by parents, schools, and society to reverse these trends and improve the mental well-being of our youth.

I highly recommend reading this book. It will likely prompt meaningful discussions and reflections on parenting in the digital age. A summary page and take away points for parents is available here. Additionally, the eSafety Commissioner provides valuable resources and advice for navigating online safety issues. Together, as a community of parents and educators, we can work to reclaim childhood, strengthen family life, and protect our children’s mental health. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions on this topic.

Secondary Assemblies 

One of the highlights of our secondary assemblies is hearing a student share a devotion from God’s Word. On Monday, Eliza Dixon from Year 10 spoke about her experience volunteering with Hands at Work in Zambia. This Christian organization cares for the most vulnerable communities across Africa. It was inspiring to hear not only about the organization, which we support as a school, but also about how God is moving in Eliza’s heart.

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 100:5

We are grateful to Eliza for her courage in sharing with the entire high school. If any of your children would like to share during an assembly, please let us know.

Mr Peter Richardson
Head of Secondary School

At the heart of these festivities, we were reminded of the timeless importance to “BE devoted to God’s Word”. The Bible, as God’s divine revelation, stands as the ultimate source of truth. Our key verse from Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path," served as a guiding reminder of the power and wisdom found in Scripture.

A big thank you to Ashleigh Hackfath and Michelle Jovanov for their superb organisation and coordination of this wonderful event.

As the weather begins to warm in the coming weeks, please refer to our updated hot weather procedures for information on when the summer uniform can be worn.

Mrs Ruth Cooper
Head of Junior School

The atmosphere in the library was buzzing with energy as students collaborated on imaginative storylines, crafted beautiful illustrations, and worked together to bring their books to life. The spirit of teamwork and determination was evident from start to finish, with every team embracing the challenge and producing incredible works of fiction.

At the end of the day, four unique books were completed, each one a testament to the creativity and resilience of our talented students. It was inspiring to see everyone rise to the occasion, pushing their limits and having a great time while doing so!

We couldn’t be more proud of all the participants for their hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication. A huge thank you to everyone involved for making this event such a resounding success, and congratulations to our fantastic young authors and illustrators for their incredible achievements!

We can’t wait to see what future creative projects these students will embark on next!

Mrs Kirren Wilson

For students studying The Hunger Games, the hands-on introduction to Tribalism saw their random assignment to Districts, competing and collaborating with peers to complete several tasks. They were encouraged to be resourceful learners, drawing on their knowledge of the text, the strengths of District-mates as well as resilience and flexibility when challenges arose.   

District-nominated “Tributes” were selected to compete in RedLight/GreenLight in the fight for dominance and the attention of sponsors to emulate the experience of Collins’ characters. The next “Tributes” scrambled for resources at the Cornucopia, working with their District team to build the tallest and strongest structures. During construction, students worked to remain safe from the Teacher Gamemaker’s Fireballs and Tracker Jacker stings, as well as sabotage and resource pilfering by other Districts. Savvy groups formed alliances to swap paddlepop sticks, masking tape and ideas to complete word challenges, noticing the advantage of communication over isolation.  

Students reflected on their experience of Tribalism, considering the impact of the situation on their actions, attitudes and values; specifically the preservation or abandonment of empathy, compassion or protection of others. This experience has highlighted to students the flaws of Tribalism and the innately sinful nature of humanity that drives the ideology.

For students studying Lord of the Flies, they were challenged to immerse themselves in the dystopian world of the novel by emulating its premise in a contemporary context; the junior school bush area. Through this task, students experienced the effects of Tribalism on the fight for survival and as they scrounged for resources, painted their faces with mud and sought objects to create shelters trying to establish their dominance or form alliances, they began to see what happens when structure and order disintegrate and individuals are left to govern themselves.

Following the activity, students engaged in a deep reflection, articulating their varying perspectives on humanity. Many recognised that while humans have the ability to save themselves physically, they cannot save themselves from moral and spiritual corruption. This realisation prompted a discussion on the limitations of human nature and the ultimate need for a saviour, culminating in the recognition that true redemption and hope lie beyond human ability and can only be found in the saving work of Jesus on the cross.

Mrs Stacey Saunders, Miss Bek Snellenburg & Miss Lauren Dalrymple 
Year 9 English Teachers

We were blessed with some fantastic conditions with a base of 1.2 meters of snow, next to no wind and crystal clear visibility. Snow Trip is a fantastic opportunity for our senior students to learn some new skills and get out in God's magnificent creation.

This year over 70% of students were either first timers or beginners and it was great to see them mastering some of the green runs and progressing to the blue runs by the end of our trip. Well done to all our students for giving it a go! What a great opportunity to develop their resilience and to be relational outside of the classroom.

A special thanks goes to Mr Arthur, Mrs Burnes and Mr Moore for giving up their weekend to come on the trip. We look forward to seeing more students on the slopes next year!

Mr Scott Newton
Years 7-9 Welfare Coordinator

We entered three teams, each ready to argue with logic, engage with complex ideas, and persuade their audiences.

Debating offers so much more than the thrill of competition. It is a skill that fosters critical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to see multiple perspectives on an issue—abilities that are crucial for high school students both in and out of the classroom. Our students sharpened their analytical minds, developed teamwork skills, and grew in confidence as they argued on a range of topics with composure and respect.

One of our standout successes this year came from our Middle Team 2, which made it to the quarter-finals, placing them in the top 8 teams in the state! Although they were narrowly beaten, we are incredibly proud of their determination, commitment, and the hours of practice they dedicated to honing their craft. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work and willingness to give up their own time to improve.

While this is the end of the season for our school, we are filled with pride for every student who participated. Each debate was a learning experience, and each team pushed themselves to new heights. We eagerly look forward to next year, when we aim to build on this year’s accomplishments, further developing our skills and continuing to grow as debaters.

Congratulations to all of our students, and thank you for your dedication to representing our school with such passion and skill. We can’t wait to see what next year holds!

Mrs Kirren Wilson

Coming off the back of wins in the Sydney Major, the Melbourne Major, and Australian National Championship, Mr Read is competing in both the individual and squad World Championships.

An emerging and fast-growing international sport, sometimes referred to as Spikeball™, Roundnet is a game played between two teams, usually with two players each. 

“The way it works is you get three hits to get the ball back onto the trampoline [without letting it hit the ground]”, Mr Read said.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

After winning the Asian Cup Individual Championship in 2023, Mr Read is excited to take on the world’s best with his playing partner and 21 other Australian athletes.

“My teammate Tom has been over in London for about a month. He’s been playing in tournaments over there which is really cool because neither of us have played outside of Asia previously. We know how good we are against all the Asia-Pacific players, but we don’t really know how good we are compared to the best in the world – Europe and the States. So he’s getting a taste of where we might match up,” he said.

“If the Australian men make top 10 that would be huge.

“In the individual tournament, if Tom and I make top 24, we’d have to be really causing some upsets at that point so that would be ideal.”

After a shoulder injury late last year, Mr Read says the four-month recovery and time spent playing with his non-dominant hand has helped to improve his game. 

“It’s definitely made me a better player. I had to relearn how to use all the muscles in my back. I’ve also had to learn a whole bunch of stuff that I didn’t know how to do before.”

“That was a big process.”

With 35 countries and over 700 athletes competing at Surry Sports Park in London from August 29, Mr Read says he’s ready to take on the competition and test his skills.

“I’m really excited!”

The Shire Christian School community and staff team are behind Mr Read as he leaves the classroom for a couple of weeks to represent Australia. 

“I’m not sure how much my class understands what I’m doing but they seem excited anyway!”

To keep up to date with Mr Read’s progress in the Championships, follow @joelread_roundnet on Instagram.

As they navigated the gallery, students encountered a diverse array of portraits, each piece telling a different story and reflecting the personal style of the artist. This exposure to varied artistic approaches not only enriched their understanding of portraiture but also stimulated their own creative thinking. The exhibition showcased the power of art to capture both the essence of individuals and broader cultural narratives, emphasizing the importance of both technical skill and conceptual depth.

In addition to viewing the artworks, students also looked at traditional and modern artworks, deepening their appreciation for the intricacies of artistic expression. This visit was a valuable extension of their classroom learning, offering practical insights and inspiration and broadening their perspectives on the role of portraiture in contemporary society.

Miss Susie Yock

Take a look at how much fun they had in the photos below. 

Similarly, the Open Boys were defeated 16-11 against Inaburra in a nail biter grand final. 

Our open girls didn't make it to the final but showed great endurance and determination, fighting hard in every game despite having only 5 players for most of the day.

I would like to extend my thanks to Raymond Sciacca for his assistance in coaching both boys teams over the two days. His knowledge of the game and guidance of the boys was invaluable and very much appreciated. 

Well done to all of our teams! 

Mrs Kelly Henderson

The students braved a rainy day at Werrington near Penrith to play four pool games before the finals, with around twenty schools competing overall.

Both girls and boys teams showed great skill and teamwork, with tries being distributed between many players as Shire won all four of their pool games in both divisions.

Our run came to an end in the semi finals with the girls losing narrowly to Covenant Christian School and the boys went down (despite a late comeback) to a strong Inaburra outfit.

Mr Rhys Williams

In my devotional reading earlier this week, Tim & Kathy Keller, in “The Way of Wisdom”, made the following comment on Proverbs 29:10 (“The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.”): “Christians are to be the ‘light of the world’ (Matthew 5:14), but light exposes, and people do not want to be exposed. [They had given two actual examples of people whose employment was threatened because they did not conform to the established questionable culture.] Simply living the way you should live can expose dishonesty in the office, racism in the neighbourhood, gossip in your social circle, corruption in your government office. Just living with integrity will irritate many people. This is why simple goodness will attract hostility, just because it is good. People hate a person of integrity. The wise person is not surprised at this. We should expect this (2 Timothy 3:12) because our Lord, who was the light who exposed the darkness, got nothing less (John 1:5-11).”

As we get used to living in this increasingly hostile environment, let us encourage one another, and pray constantly for one another, that we might have the strength and courage to stand firm in our witness as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and let us draw our strength each day from the ministry of God’s Word in our hearts. 

Remember: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”!

Rev Bruce Christian

Please consider bringing money to donate to MAF, as well as money to purchase goodies from the shop. There will be items such as cold drinks, chocolate bars, and chips. You will also be able purchase some cool MAF Merchandise that will be for sale.

Please pray for the good work of MAF and click here to find out more about what they do.

Mr David Salaun

Feel free to spread the word to parents, carers and grandparents to bring along their preschool aged children for a taste of big school! 

Register Here

Children can come and explore our Junior School IRC, share a story with our librarian, as well as participate in a craft. The program will run from 9:30am to 10:30am.

10:15-10:50am Session 1 A-K Families only

Grandparents exploring our classrooms.

10:50 - 11:30am All Families Join for Morning Tea - (tea/coffee/apple danish for grandparents) 

Spend time with grandchildren

Photo booth area for creating special memories

11:30 Assembly

11:45 - 12:15 Session 2 L-Z Families only

Grandparents exploring our classrooms

Supervisors must:

• have a valid Working with Children Check 
• work as part of a team
• have attention to detail
• be able to carry out duties in confidence and with discretion
• be able to stand for long periods of time.

 Supervisors must not supervise at any school where they have a friend or close relative who is sitting the HSC.

 Please contact the school’s Presiding Officer via email at regclarke1957@gmail.com.

With Edstart, you can fund tuition fees, additional charges such as uniforms, extra-curricular activities as well as amounts in arrears.

To find out more, visit edstart.com.au/shirechristian.

Please note that in providing information about Edstart, the school is not providing any recommendation, brokering or advice services. The school does not receive referral fees, commissions or any other remuneration from Edstart.

The initiative is designed to build community, encourage support for our families who are business owners and provide access to goods and services from within our community.

If you’re going to spend anyway, why not spend with a local Shire Christian School connected business and invest in your community.

View the directory on our website or register your business.