On that same day a photographer from the media was onsite to take some photos of the goats that we are using as an effective and environmental way to clear the scrub and weeds along our eastern perimeter (known to us as “the bush”). The goats’ presence has been popular with the students, and it is a great way to get a finicky job done on a sloping and uneven part of our site. 

Jonathan Haidt and his recent book “The Anxious Generation” have received significant media coverage this year, but he is just one of many thinkers and writers wrestling with human wellbeing amongst our escalating use of screens and social media. As part of our Learning Together series this year, Mr Chris Parker visited us and spoke to students, staff and, in the evening, parents on being godly and wise as we navigate the digital world and social media. It was encouraging to have a strong number of parents join us for the event. 

I am taking some planned leave with my family over the holiday break and during the first three weeks of Term 4. It is something that we first planned to do in 2020 and then again in 2021; who could have predicted COVID! During this time, our Deputy, Mr Paul Carter, will be the Acting Principal of the school.

As this is the last newsletter for the term, may you and your children have a positive and engaging time together as family over the school holiday period.

Mr David Stonestreet
Principal

Year 10 & 11 Student Workshops
During the day, our Year 10 and 11 students will participate in workshops titled ‘P*rn Culture, Consent and Respect.’ Led by Melinda Tankard Reist, founder of Collective Shout, and Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones, these sessions will critically examine how the exposure to hypersexualised content is affecting young people's perceptions of themselves and their relationships. Students will learn to clarify their values, enforce boundaries, and form relationships based on mutual respect and empathy. They will also discover ways to collectively engage in cultural change and social transformation.

Parent Evening: Navigating a S*xed-Up World
In the evening, parents and caregivers are invited to attend a special session, ‘Navigating a S*xed-Up World: How Can We Help Our Young People Resist Harmful Messages and Seek Respectful Relationships?’ As adults, we often feel overwhelmed by the challenge of protecting our children from the flood of harmful ideas in today’s world. Internationally respected author and speaker Melinda Tankard Reist will draw on research and first-person accounts from young people to explain how media messaging impacts their healthy development. Together with Dr. Ballantine-Jones, she will share practical tips on how we can help our young people resist these damaging cultural forces and build resilience, self-worth, and respect in relationships.

Event Details

• Student Workshops (Years 10 & 11): Throughout the school day
• Parent Evening:
• Light Supper: 7:00 PM
• Presentation: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
• Venue: School Hall
• Bookings are essential – secure your free tickets today!
• Please note: The parent session is for adults only. Kindly arrange alternative care for your children.

This is an opportunity not to be missed. Melinda Tankard Reist is a globally renowned advocate for the protection of young people, and her presentations have received glowing endorsements. As Steve Biddulph AM, author of Raising Girls and Raising Boys, states, “Melinda’s presentations will knock your socks off. You will be left angry in the very best way and so much better equipped to talk to, and protect, your kids.”

Don’t miss this chance to better understand the challenges facing our young people and gain invaluable strategies for supporting them through these critical years.

There will be plenty of moments next week to celebrate and recognise our students. No doubt there will be many laughs to be had and a few tears will be shed, as we reflect on their time here at school. 

On Monday, Year 12 will be spending some time together during Period 3 for one last time as a group as they share in some memories together as a year group. Following this, Year 12 will be sharing in a special Secondary School assembly in which we will be acknowledging what we appreciate about Year 12.

We also have the much anticipated Staff vs. Year 12 soccer match on the futsal courts on Monday. The Year 12’s speak a strong game, but let’s see if experience shines through in the end!

Next Wednesday 25 September is a special day for the whole school as our Year 12 students give back and serve our school at the Activities Day. Thanks to Mr Arthur, the rest of the Year 12 Pastoral Care team and our Year 12 students for all the effort that has gone into preparing a day like this. This day is a perfect chance for Year 12 to say ‘thank you’ to our school by serving in this way. We are excited to see the huge array of dress-ups on display as our students come to school dressed up in the theme of Nostalgia from the year that they started school.

The week culminates with the Year 12 Graduation on Thursday afternoon at 3:30pm. For those who would like to watch the ceremony but are not coming along in person, the recording of the graduation will be made available to watch soon after the completion of the ceremony.

A big thank you to all our staff at Shire Christian School who have invested into the lives of our Year 12 students over many years. No matter how small or big the part they have played in their development, it is very much appreciated.

And to Year 12; enjoy your final week of classes and the roller coaster of emotions that you will no doubt feel! Thank those who have invested into your lives and made a difference for you. I trust that next week will be a good opportunity for you to reflect and finish well. After next week, knuckle down, study hard and do the best that you possibly can in the HSC exams.

And finally, may you also know the love of your Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is only through him and him alone that we can truly draw meaning and purpose in our lives and keep perspective as to what is most important. I would like to leave you with one of my favourite passages in the Bible from 1 Peter 1:3-5, as it says:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

The day began with a special session for our Year 9 and 10 students, where Chris presented on 'Living Well in a Digital Age'. He engaged the students by discussing the challenges they face with technology, encouraging them to think critically about their online habits and how these affect their relationships and sense of self. In follow up Pastoral Care discussions, the students explored how to balance the benefits of technology with the importance of real-life connections.

In the evening, we welcomed parents to the ‘Learning Together’ seminar, which provided a rich opportunity to reflect on the role of digital technology in family life. Chris highlighted the importance of distinguishing between Online Safety and Online Shaping, emphasizing that while keeping children safe online is critical, we must also be intentional in shaping their digital habits and character.

He addressed a wide range of relevant topics, including:

• FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the pressure of constant information,
• Narcissism and the rise of individualism online,
• The attention economy and how technology is designed to capture focus,
• The effects of addiction and brain neuroscience,
• The impact of AI and artificial intimacy on relationships.

Chris encouraged parents to embrace their God-ordained role as digital mentors, guiding their children not just to use technology safely but to use it in ways that reflect God’s love and truth. He also recommended a number of excellent books for further reading: The Tech-Wise Family, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You and The Anxious Generation, all of which provide practical strategies for creating a healthier digital culture at home.

The seminar concluded with a final reflection activity, where parents were asked to consider three commitments they could make going forward in their digital parenting journey. It was an inspiring evening that brought our school community together, united in the shared goal of fostering wisdom and faithfulness in the digital age.

We look forward to continuing these important conversations and supporting one another as we guide our children to become wise, thoughtful digital citizens who live out their faith in all areas of life.

Keep an eye out early next term for the following two events which will complement and further this discussion helpfully:

• Dr Justin Coulson - The Screen Smart Series | Tuesday 29 October
• Learning Together Event #3 - Navigating a s*xed up world (Melinda Tankard Reist & Dr Marshall Ballantine-Jones) | Wednesday 6 November

Feel free to leave a general message or be specific in identifying an individual teacher and the difference they make! These messages will be shared with staff on Friday 25 October.

Mr Peter Richardson
Head of Secondary School

It was truly touching to hear our students express heartfelt words of gratitude, with themes like "always being a phone call away," "listening when needed," "offering encouragement," "loving unconditionally," and, of course, "spoiling" them with love.

The day was filled with joy as students created crafts, shared childhood memories, displayed their schoolwork, played Blookets, and enjoyed morning tea together. It was a beautiful celebration of love, family, and faith, bringing generations closer in a meaningful way.

We are thankful to the Lord for the opportunities for classes to enjoy excursions, sporting gala days, and robotics workshops these past few weeks. We also welcomed some of our new 2025 Kindergarten students this week for the start of their orientations! Next week we look forward to farewelling our Year 12 students by sharing in a guard of honor on Monday for them as they make their final procession through the grounds of the school. We are also anticipating the excitement of Activities Day on Wednesday, where Year 12 have organised a wonderful rotation of activities for all the Junior School, including a petting zoo!

I would warmly invite you to join us for our Term 3 Junior School assembly, which will be held on Thursday morning, in the hall, starting at 8:50am. Year 4 will be reciting a passage from the Bible and we will also have a performance from our Junior Dance ensemble with Mrs Veltmeyer. Just a reminder that Term 4 will see us move back into our summer uniform. Please take the time over the holiday to check sizing, particularly girl’s dress lengths as many of the students may have grown significantly in the last 6 months.

Seussical Fun continues…

Oh, the Seussical fun, it’s begun, it’s begun!
We’re singing and dancing before school’s even done.
At lunchtime, we gather with laughter and cheer,
Our voices are ready, the showtime is near!

In sport time, we practise, we jump, sing and twirl,
Creating a magical Seussical world.
With thanks to the teachers, who guide us so well,
And Miss Hackfath, too—she’s truly just swell!

So here’s to the hard work, the sweat, and the song,
Our Seussical journey is where we belong!

Mrs Ruth Cooper
Head of Junior School

Given the theme Stars, Nathan and Adriel created a Space Invaders-like game called Shooting Stars where the player controls a spaceship to shoot at stars in the night sky.

“We first had to come up with an idea, that took a while,” Nathan said.

“Once we came up with an achievable idea, we wrote down all the artworks we needed for the game and then created them using Pixelart.

“And then I started doing the coding and Adriel started creating the music for the game.” 

Once everything was complete, the boys put it all together, testing and tweaking the game.

“We are really happy with how it came out,” Nathan said.

“It looks good, the music sounds really nice, it’s fun!”

STEM mentor and Junior School Enrichment Coordinator Mrs Leonie Hampson said she was thrilled by the exciting announcement, given how hard the boys had worked.

“I am so proud of the way Nathan and Adriel have applied and developed their coding and game design skills, to create a fun and engaging game with very cool upgrades and effects,” Mrs Hampson said.

“I'm excited to see them represent the school at PAX this year.”

The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge, provides students with the opportunity to work collaboratively, applying creative and critical thinking skills as they develop their programming and coding skills to design and create a playable game. Part of the process is the completion of a Game Design Document that encourages them to work through the design process as they document their game creation journey. 

Shooting Stars will be showcased at PAX Melbourne from 11-13 October and other events including the It Takes a Spark! STEM Conferences held throughout Australia. As well as tickets to PAX and a hoodie with their game printed on it, Adriel and Nathan will present on a panel discussion in front of gamers and international game developers.

“I’m looking forward to it, definitely,” Nathan said.

“It’s going to be the highlight of the holidays!”

Students had the chance to rub shoulders with one of the game's most precious pieces of silverware as excitement continues to build for the Preliminary Final match between the Sydney Swans and Port Adelaide this Friday at the SCG.

As well as the opportunity to take photos with the Cup, ask questions, have something signed and kick a footy with O’Keefe, students enjoyed interacting with the media in attendance.

Kasey Paradis from AFL NSW/ACT was on hand to present the School of the Year plaque.

Mr Phillip Charleston, Year 6 teacher and AFL coach, said, “As someone who loves AFL, I am so excited that in the last three years our school has become super excited about AFL. I’m so proud of all of you.”

In acknowledgement of the award, new AFL posts were installed on the school oval for students to enjoy just in time for the arrival of the Cup. The multi-sport posts allow for AFL, soccer and rugby style games to be played and can be removed and reconfigured as required.

O’Keefe said that it was incredibly exciting to see a school in Sydney be voted the number one school in the whole country.

“It shows how much the buy-in and how big the game is here in Sydney.

“The kids loved it. You could see the excitement and enthusiasm for them to touch the Cup, take photos with it, be on the news – all that sort of stuff.

“It was really good to see that excitement and energy around it,” O’Keefe said.

Check out the video which includes some media clips and highlights from the event.

The nomination recognises the many hours of practice and hard work Elizabeth put into the subject which she studies externally, even hiring out the studio at Dance Kinetic after school to refine her performance.

She has also been heavily involved in extra-curricular opportunities at Shire Christian School over the years, often taking the lead on choreographing dances as part of the school’s Production Program.

Selections for CALLBACK will be finalised by mid-November.

Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Miss Rebekah Snellenburg
Year 9 & 10 Drama Teacher

We are given a brief introduction to the story of Esther in Exodus 17. 

The people of Israel are travelling to the Promised Land after their miraculous deliverance from bondage in Egypt when the Amalekites engage them in battle. Joshua commands the troops while Moses, assisted by Aaron and Hur are stationed on the hill overlooking the battlefield lifting Moses’ arms in prayer to God.“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. [This is the power of prayer]. 

When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:10:13).

At the end of the chapter we are told: “[Moses] said, ‘… the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.’” (verse 16).

Now, in Esther we are told that Haman was an Agagite, and Agag was ‘King of the Amalekites’ (1 Samuel 15:8)! So, Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire, a millennium later, was in fulfilment of this prophesy. And, by an amazing set of incredible ‘coincidences’, Haman’s plan backfired big-time, and the LORD God carried out his own Sovereign Plan for his Chosen People.

This ought to give us great encouragement as we face the ‘spiritual descendants’ of Amalek in battle today. And, at the same time, it ought to inspire to keep our hands lifted in prayer as we engage in the spiritual battle.

Rev Bruce Christian

The Screen Smart Series provides parents with an unparalleled opportunity to equip families with the knowledge and strategies they need to foster healthy relationships with technology. 

By offering two impactful presentations, we are making expert mental health support more accessible than ever before. Dr. Coulson, Australia’s leading parenting expert, will deliver targeted advice to parents of both primary school children and teenagers, ensuring that every family receives the guidance they need. 

Help parents navigate the digital landscape, set healthy boundaries, and empower their children to make responsible choices. Together, we can build a brighter future where screens enhance, rather than hinder, the wellbeing of our children. 

The Webinar will be split into two sessions both presentations will occur on Tuesday 29 October 2024.  

The first: Unplug Childhood is designed for Primary School Parents and will be presented at 7pm.  

The Second: Tweens, Teens and Screens is designed for High School Parents and will be presented at 8pm.  

Information on how to register will be provided next term. 

Mrs Rebecca Mitchell
School Counsellor   

CONTACT

Phone: 02 9773 8291
Online: ranier.com.au/contact
Email: custservice@ranier.com.au

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.

HSC Study Hall (Oct 1 & 2, Oct 8 & 9th)

FOUR days of up to 4 study sessions, devotions, snacks, lunch, and activities to get year 12 prepped for their HSC. 6-8 hours of study per day. Tutoring available. Sign up using this link: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-hsc-study-hall