Junior School Parent and Teacher Nights (K-6)

Wednesday 22 April 3pm - 7pm
Tuesday 28 April 3pm - 6pm

Secondary School Parent and Teacher Nights (Years 7-11)

Thursday 30 April 3pm - 8.30pm
Tuesday 5 May 3pm - 8.30pm

This year we have switched to using Compass to book meetings with teachers and they will appear under ‘Conferences’ in the App and on the website. You will receive an email when the system is configured and ready to book. We trialled the Compass system with our Year 12 parents earlier this term and found it to be successful for parents and teachers.

In the coming week we will be sending an invite to K-6 parents to select their bookings, followed by Secondary parents. We will include instructions and a weblink to assist you in navigating the system.

Mr Paul Carter
Deputy Principal

We then persevered to create another timetable, ensuring that we noticed all students and the various events they were involved with over the two weeks; capitalising on every possible moment and opportunity. We wondered if we could actually do it and reasoned that it was worthy of the extra effort needed. The Admin and IT staff went above and beyond in their planning and reviewing of our processes.

They collaborated beautifully with our Teaching staff, communicating the changes clearly and in a timely manner. Everyone was able empathise with the frustration felt and the various changes to plans; however, many chose to emulate what Christ has taught us – to show compassion and generosity .

Believe it or not, students were overheard sharing joy and contentment that they had done their best and were pleased with their answers. Congratulations to all students – it’s a snapshot in time, one which we will remember in future as an opportunity where we embraced every challenge and brought out the best in each other.

Mrs Rachel Robinson
Academic Head

Over the last week you should have received the official camp permission note via Compass. Each camp has a list of essential items that the students will need, as well as a Protocol for Camps document. My encouragement and advice is to look at the list of equipment needed and look to buy or borrow anything you need within the first week of the holidays. Near the end of the holidays, please get your child to pack these items into the bag they will be taking to camp. Get them to tick them off the list as they put them into the bag. This will ensure they have a reasonable chance of finding the items they need at camp.

Students who have not attended a camp like this before often benefit from spending one night away from their parents during the holidays. A sleepover at a friend or grandparent's house can help them to practice the skills they will need at camp.

This year, we will be trialling the use of Webster packs for medications at camp. A Webster pack is a simple and effective way to organise a student’s medication, allowing staff to clearly see when each dose is required. Webster packs are our preferred method for managing medications; however, if this is not possible, all medication must be provided in its original labelled pharmacy packaging. Please note that medication will not be accepted in any other form. Webster packs are different to pill organisers, and pill organisers should not be used.

When checking with Priceline Menai, they advised they are happy to prepare Webster packs for students, with the service costing $6.50. Ideally, Webster packs are prepared when a prescription is filled and are typically made up for a seven-day period.

If you are able to arrange this, we encourage you to begin using the Webster pack at home on the Monday and Tuesday prior to camp. You may also choose to remove the Saturday and Sunday doses and keep them at home, meaning there will be no medication to return after camp.

On the morning of departure, please hand the Webster pack (or original packaging, if applicable) to our team at the front office.

We believe this approach, particularly for students taking multiple medications, will help streamline processes and improve safety and efficiency for both students and staff.

If your child was at Shire last year, this article may have produced a sense of deja vu, because I also wrote on this topic at exactly the same stage last year. The message is still an important one. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s Pastoral Care teacher or Year Coordinator.

Mr David Collins
Head of Secondary

Scripture reminds us that our God is “over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6), and that His gospel is for people from every nations, (Matt 28:19-20). From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, to bring peace, reconciliation and true unity to all people in Him. This truth was joyfully echoed in the song “God of All Nations,” which our students have been learning in their classrooms over the past few weeks, and had the opportunity to sing together in praise at our recent morning assembly.

The Bible points us to a better way. In Psalm 133:1, we read: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” This unity is not merely a human ideal, but something that flows from lives shaped by God’s grace. Jesus Himself commands us in John 13:34: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Having received His great love and mercy, we are called to extend that same love to others.

This truth also has rich implications for our learning community. As students learn and grow together, they are encouraged to collaborate, to support one another, and to use their God-given strengths and abilities to enrich the learning of those around them. Our prayer is that our community would continue to grow in this Christ-centred harmony, bearing witness to the goodness of God in the way we live together as His people.

Mrs Ruth Cooper
Head of Junior School

Michael prayed and sang Amazing Grace with the students, demonstrating how he “praises God through Indigenous culture” by using a boomerang to create rhythm in the song. He also created a safe and open space for students’ thoughtful questions about faith, culture and identity. It was inspiring to witness the empathy and genuine curiosity of our students as they explored how he viewed his identity as a Christian, with his heritage as a First Nations Person.

The visit was perfectly timed, as Year 10 has just begun their unit on Indigenous Culture and Performance and are currently developing their first Director’s Folio for Stolen . We are sincerely grateful to Michael for sharing his story and for enriching our students’ learning in such a meaningful way.

Mrs Rebekah Johns
Drama Teacher

The day began with the hyper-realistic sculptures of Ron Mueck. Standing before his colossal or diminutive figures, students were challenged to reconsider the human condition. Mueck’s work served as a masterclass in scale and meticulous detail. It wasn’t just about the "wow" factor of the craft; it was an exercise in empathy, as students analyzed how physical proportions can amplify psychological depth.

We then transitioned to ARTEXPRESS , the annual showcase of exemplary bodies of work created by the previous year's HSC students. This was a pivotal moment for our cohort. Seeing the high calibre of painting, drawing, photomedia and sculpture created by their peers provided both a benchmark and a surge of inspiration. They deconstructed the sophisticated "Visual Arts Process Diaries" on display, gaining practical insights into how a conceptual seed blossoms into a finished masterpiece.

This excursion wasn't just a day out; it was a vital bridge between theory and practice for Year 12 Visual Arts. Our artists returned with inspiration and a sharpened vision for their own upcoming Body of Work.

Miss Susie Yock
Head of Visual Arts

On Monday afternoon, our Year 11 and Year 12 Visual Arts students attended an excursion to Hazelhurst Arts Centre to view the ARTEXPRESS exhibition. ARTEXPRESS showcases a selection of outstanding bodies of work submitted by NSW students for the HSC Visual Arts examination, providing valuable insight into the creative possibilities and high standards achieved by graduating artists.

Students spent time closely observing the diverse range of artworks, which included painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and mixed media installations. The exhibition provided an excellent opportunity for students to see how ideas can be developed into resolved Bodies of Work and how artists communicate meaning through materials, techniques and conceptual approaches.

The visit encouraged thoughtful discussion about artistic practice, the development of ideas and the presentation of artworks. It was an inspiring afternoon and a valuable learning experience for students as they continue to develop their own Bodies of Work in Visual Arts.

Mrs Annika Hackfath
Visual Arts Teacher

The five‑day event groups riders into divisions based on school year level, with competitors taking part in four challenging race formats: All Mountain, Flow Trail, Pump Track and Downhill. Will R and James H competed in Division 2 (Years 9 and 10).

Will delivered an exceptional performance, winning Division 2 outright and being crowned King of the Mountain. James also performed strongly, placing 20th overall in a highly competitive field of several hundred boys in his age group.

Across the week, their efforts earned excellent school placings:
• 2nd place Flow Trail
• 3rd place All Mountain
• 2nd place Pump Track
• 5th place Downhill

These combined results led to Shire Christian School finishing third overall in Division 2 Boys, an extraordinary achievement for a two‑rider team competing in a field of more than 400 riders. Their performance reflects a week of determination, skill and sportsmanship, and both boys represented the school exceptionally well.

We congratulate Will and James on their achievements and thank them for representing our school so positively. We also appreciate the support of families who encourage and enable students to pursue opportunities such as this.

Mr Troy Dixon
Head of Sport

Controlling possession for much of the match, the girls demonstrated sharp passing, strong support play and an exciting, attacking style that created numerous scoring opportunities. It was a confident and cohesive team performance, reflecting their preparation and commitment.

While there is always room for continued growth and improvement, this was a very positive opening to the season.

A big thank you to the many parents who came out to support the team — your encouragement on the sidelines is greatly appreciated.

We now look forward to Round 2.

Mr Troy Dixon
Head of Sport

The carnival was held at Bexley Aquatic Centre, where our team of 31 students from Years 7–12 competed against strong opposition in challenging, wet conditions. Despite steady rain early in the day, many swimmers produced personal bests and demonstrated determination, teamwork and excellent sportsmanship throughout the carnival.

This result marks an improvement on our 2025 performance, with more students progressing to State level and a significantly reduced points gap to the leading school.

Congratulations and thank you to all students who represented the school so positively. We also extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Baker for her tireless behind‑the‑scenes work in results processing, and to Mrs Henderson for her support as Team Manager on the day.

We now look forward to cheering on our swimmers as they compete at the CSSA Swimming Championships on Tuesday 24 March, with further details to be shared via Compass.

Mr Troy Dixon
Head of Sport

The first, Simeon, is described as being ‘righteous and devout’ which meant that he took the Law of Moses seriously and sought to live his whole life in obedience to it, the ‘Torah’, as well as to the ‘Prophets’ and ‘Writings’, the three major divisions of the Scripures (our Old Testament). He was a ‘spiritual’ man whose life was governed by the Holy Spirit, who had assured him that the Promised Messsiah would be born before he, Simeon, died. Traditionally, he was thought to be a very old man, but Luke doesn’t tell how old he was and he isn’t mentioned in the other Gospels.

The second was Anna, whom Luke describes as a ‘very old’ ‘prophetess’ of the ‘tribe of Asher’ who had only been married for 7 years before she was widowed, a state in which she continued until she was 84 (possibly for over 60 years!). She also was very devout, devoting her whole life as a widow to ‘worship in the temple’, ‘fasting’ and ‘praying’ ‘night and day’.

‘Messianic expectation’ was in the air in Jerusalem at the time, so much so that the thought of a rival King coming had poor old Herod nervous and worried, and it had been over four Centuries since God’s people had received a definitive word about it from their God. Because they were suffering under harsh rule at the time, this expectation mainly took the form of a conquering King who would liberate them and make them the ruling world power. Their religious leaders, the ‘Pharisees and Teachers of the Torah’, had managed to convince themselves that they were not only, like Simeon, seeking to live their lives in obedience to the Torah, but that they were actually doing this. This is why the word Jesus would later use constantly to describe them was ‘hypocrites’.  The ‘Messianic’ stance they took required them to overlook significant parts of their Scriptures with Messianic implications, like the whole second half of Isaiah’s prophecy that spoke of the Messiah as a ‘suffering servant’, especially Chapter 53 that talks about us all ‘like sheep going astray’ and our sins being ‘laid upon’ the Messiah who would take all the punishment we deserve, as our substitute ‘in our place’.

The religious leaders’ official nominalism sits in stark contrast with Simeon and Anna, who were truly devout as opposed to just claiming to be, and in whom the Holy Spirit truly dwelt, guiding their thinking. The ‘song’ Simeon sang while holding the infant Jesus in his arms was centred on the ‘ salvation ’ the baby was bringing, not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles, something much more all-encompassing than military conquest in Israel. Anna “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” The Holy Spirit had given them a much better understanding of their Scriptures than that claimed by the religious hierarchy!

As we come to celebrate the sacrificial death on the Cross and the Resurrection and Empty Tomb of Jesus the Messiah, let us follow the example of humble, obedient Simeon and Anna and not that of the self-righteous Pharisees so that the families that make up our School Community will be a light that points the people with whom we interact to Jesus, the Messiah and the ‘Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

With my love and prayers,

Rev Bruce Christian

Each stage will respond to its own theme:

Junior School (K–6): The View From Here
Students are encouraged to draw, paint or photograph what they see from their own perspective – whether it’s a favourite place, a familiar view, or a meaningful memory.

Secondary School (Years 7–12): One Moment in Time
Students are invited to create an artwork that captures a single meaningful moment – an event, feeling or everyday scene frozen in time.

All students may use any medium, including drawing, painting, photography or mixed media.

Entries close: Tuesday, 21 April

We look forward to seeing the unique perspectives and creative talents of our students as they reflect on the world around them.

Families can set up an account online or via the app using the instructions provided . Please set up a profile for each child to help us distribute the food.

Orders can be placed up until 8am on the day of delivery, an added convenience for families, now able to decide at the last minute to order lunch for their children. This time will be reviewed and adjusted if demand requires, and parents will be notified in advance by email.

While limited snacks are available on the School Fuel menu, parents should be aware that with delivery later in the day to keep the food fresh, snacks should still be provided for Break 1.

Junior School students will have their orders brought to their classroom. Secondary School students can collect their order during Break 2 (12:27pm) in the Year 12 area outside Student Services. Secondary students are responsible for collecting their orders from this location.

We hope this arrangement will provide a healthy convenient option for our families.