Family/Sibling Photos (students only): Orders and payment for family photos must be paid in advance no later than Monday 11 May 2026.

Individual/Class Photos: Orders and payment are due no later than Friday 22 May 2026 , otherwise a late fee will be charged.

How to order: All photo packages can be ordered and purchased through Don Wood Photography using this link and the codes listed below.
Junior School Code: 179J17
Secondary School Code: 179S17

Required dress: All students are required to wear school winter uniform on Wednesday 13 May and Thursday 14 May as set out in the Uniform Guidelines (not sports uniform). Students who are not in full school uniform including jewellery and hair as specified, may not have their photo taken. Girls hair is to be tied back and boys hair needs to be even, neat, out of eyes and well above the collar.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with me at deputy@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au if you have any further questions or concerns.

Over the next month there will be preparatory works for footings and piling works to establish foundations for the building. We are expecting minimal disruption to traffic and the school in the coming month as work continues within the building site.

Mr Paul Carter
Deputy Principal

Last week I had the privilege of taking a Year 9 English class for a teacher who was absent. She left a most excellent lesson for me (all about Shakespeare), which started with two discussion questions:
What do you already know about William Shakespeare?
Why do you think we read Shakespeare and what skills can we develop as a result?

Some of the students’ responses were:
“To learn more about our past and how to write like him.”
“To learn what his plays are about.”
“To expand our vocabulary and make our writing better.”
“We still read Shakespeare because we still say what he wrote and find out where these sayings originate from”.

I was amazed by the class’s responses, and we enjoyed sorting them into categories.
But what struck me most was the “why” question. It reminded me of Simon Sinek’s work, Start with Why , which encourages leaders to ask “why” to offer people time to articulate their shared purpose. Our Learning for Life framework embraces this, with one of our dispositions being “Wondering”, dedicated to asking questions. Schools are often so busy just “doing” and “getting on with learning”. Valuing “wondering”, at Shire means we prioritise taking the time to ask why. This provides us with rich opportunities to think deeply about how we can use this knowledge either now or in the future, and how this applies to what God has planned for us.

Once we know the reasoning for something, we can give much more of our energy and attention to it. The same applies to being a Christian. We can recite memory verses, sing Christian songs, pray and attend church, and know what Jesus did for us and how it happened, but it isn’t until we learn the why, that it touches our hearts. He died because He loves you and frees you from your sin. This hope in Christ is at the very heart of our Renewal Domain.

As part of the group of teachers here at Shire completing the Biblical Foundations of Education course through the National Institute for Christian Education, we have been learning to think about our Bible readings through the TG21 lens. This was developed by Rev Dr Rod Thompson (2023) from his resource, Birth Battle Build: A Resource for a Story-formed Approach to Biblical Studies . It offers a helpful framework that helps us to read, interpret (asking the why), and apply Scripture to our own lives and our lives as communities.

I encourage you to keep asking the why behind the thing (whatever that thing is). "Why do you think you are learning this? In what ways can it help you now and in what God has ahead for you?" It may take some time to think of a response and the language to articulate it, but it’s a worthwhile investment.

Mrs Rachel Robinson
Academic Head

Behind the scenes, we are incredibly grateful to our Front Office staff for managing the complex web of logistics, from streamlining travel arrangements to the vital task of overseeing the processes for medication administration. Finally, we want to thank our guest speakers from local churches whose generosity in partnering with us allowed our students to hear God’s Word in a relaxed setting, providing a wonderful opportunity for them to get to know our students as individuals.

I also want to thank the students for whole-heartedly embracing the camping experience. We never said that camp was easy or staying in 5-star accommodation. My reflections on camps over the years is that students who are willing to step out of their comfort zone get the most out of camps. For some this may simply be spending some time away from home, while others step out of their comfort zone and right onto the top of Mt Kosciuszko. These experiences all contribute to the forming of our students into resilient, relational and resourceful people.

Our Senior students, that is students in Years 12 and 11, have been able to attend study seminars with a group called Elevate Education this year. Presenters from Elevate have generally completed their HSC at a high level in the last couple of years. Often this means that the students actually listen when they give advice about study routines, approaching assessment tasks and preparing for exams. Generally they say the same things as teachers do, but students seem to listen to them since they are younger and better looking. Year 12 students attended the seminar ‘Ace Your Exams’, learning how they can use wise strategies and what can set them apart in the lead up to their Trials and the high pressure finish line of the HSC exams. Year 11 took part in their first ‘Study Sensei’ seminar today, targeting the daily habits of effective learning and giving them strategies to help them capitalise on the study they choose to do. While hard work is of course important, students can make wise choices about how they direct their study and how to use their time during exams.

Finally, due to the Parent Teacher nights, the new version of Afternoon Study Centre will be starting in Week 4. We look forward to seeing students take advantage of this opportunity and more details on how to sign up will be sent out next week.

Mr David Collins
Head of Secondary

Competing against schools from across the region, the students performed exceptionally well across a range of disciplines. The Year 6 team placed second overall, with first place finishes in ideation and science, alongside third place results in English and mathematics.

The Year 5 team also recorded excellent outcomes, earning second place in science, code breaking and ideation, and third place in cartography.

The da Vinci Decathlon is a challenging academic competition that focuses on problem‑solving, creativity and teamwork across ten disciplines, including engineering, mathematics, science, English, art and poetry, code breaking, cartography, creative production, ideation and legacy.

The students were well prepared and supported throughout the day by Mrs Hampson and Mrs Robinson, whose dedication and mentoring played an important role in the teams’ success.

Students showed outstanding teamwork and resilience during a long but rewarding day, departing school at 8am and returning at 5:30pm.

These results reflect the students’ commitment to learning and the strong academic and pastoral support within the Junior School.

Congratulations to all students involved on an outstanding achievement.

The journey began at UTS (University of Technology Sydney), where students visited the prestigious 2025 Shape Exhibition. This showcase features a curated selection of Band 6 Major Projects from across the state. Our Year 11 and 12 cohorts spent the morning analyzing elite work from several disciplines:

Seeing these projects up close provided invaluable benchmarks for our students as they develop their own Major Design Projects (MDPs), offering a clear look at the documentation and craftsmanship required for success.

Following the exhibition, the group headed to Darling Harbour, where the different specialties branched out to apply their classroom knowledge to the real world:

While the main group explored the harbour, our Textiles & Design students headed to the TexStyle exhibition. This specialized stop allowed them to focus exclusively on the state's best textile projects, examining intricate fabric manipulation and garment construction techniques to inspire their own upcoming HSC major works.

It was a productive and inspiring day out, leaving our seniors with plenty of fresh ideas and a renewed drive to excel in their creative fields!

Mr Brendon Arthur, Mrs Amy Sneddon and Mr David Salaun.

Our competitors showed impressive endurance, motivation and stamina as they tackled the dreaded hill up to the gym. I was particularly impressed by the sportsmanship on display, with students encouraging and cheering each other on throughout the event. A big thank you to the parent helpers and the teachers who helped with course supervision and to Mr Pinn for creating a timing system for us to use.

Congratulations to the top four finishers in each race who will go on to represent our school at the CSSA State Cross Country on Friday 29 May. We wish them the very best of luck!

Miss Ashleigh Hackfath
Junior School Sport Coordinator

Willow said, “It was exciting to compete, but there were so many people it made me really nervous. I tried my best and was quicker in both races. I’m excited for next year!”

We are extremely proud of Willow’s achievements in swimming this year and the outstanding sportsmanship she has demonstrated.

Miss Ashleigh Hackfath
Junior School Sport Coordinator

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.