Newsletter 1 November 2021

Parent Calendar
Principal's Address
General News
Primary School
Secondary School
Community

Principal’s Address

Dear Parents and Friends of Providence

On Friday last week, Australia celebrated International Teachers’ Day. This day, dedicated to honouring our nation’s teachers, almost slipped by unnoticed in the busyness of everyday life.

I am so proud of our teachers! I recognise in them a deep and significant calling to educate the next generation. What makes them special, in my eyes, is the fact that they have been called to serve God through teaching.  This transforms teaching as a job – ‘just another day on the dollar’ – to teaching as a ministry. Teaching, as a ministry, adds a layer of complexity to an already complex calling. 

Last Tuesday night, we bade our Class of 2021 farewell at our annual Valedictory Dinner. If a school could be compared to a factory (a dangerous analogy, I know!), then our students would be our ‘product,’ rolling off the end of the assembly line, ready to be distributed throughout the world. And if our departing Year 12s are our product, then we can stand proud.  They leave us as well-rounded, grounded young adults, equipped with an understanding of the Christian worldview and well-prepared to take the next steps on their journeys towards purposeful service in the world.

This was manifest in the great relationships on view at the Valedictory dinner between student-and-student and student-and-staff, cemented by years of relationship in the classroom, on the oval and at camps and excursions across the years.

With over forty staff members in attendance – many of them teachers who had been part of the cohort’s Primary School journey, it brought to mind the saying that, “…it takes a village to raise a child.”

Of course, our teaching staff would not be able to function if they did not have the support of all of our non-teaching and administrative staff who labour in the background to provide the amazing work environment that is Providence Christian College.  They, too, form an integral part of the ‘Providence village.’

May I encourage you to take a moment to encourage, acknowledge and support your children’s teachers – they truly deserve it!

 

Bill Innes

General News

From Parents of Providence

What parents need to know about TikTok
TikTok has quickly become one of the worlds most downloaded apps. There are now around a billion TikTok users worldwide, almost half of whom (41%) are in the 16-24 age bracket. TikTok itself advises a minimum age of 13 to access the platform, but reports suggest that some children as young as 10 use it.
With popular accounts belonging to comparatively wholesome celebrities such as Will Smith, The Rock, Billie Eilish and Selena Gomez, most of TikTok’s content is harmless – and can be extremely entertaining. The platform has already cemented its place amount the social media giants.
Like all social media platforms, TikTok is constantly evolving and has recently brought out features linked to in-app spending as well as accessing third-party content through TikTok Jump. That’s why this week’s information guide provides a fresh look at the hugely popular video-sharing app. How does TikTok work? Why do so many people find it addictive? How easy is it to view age-inappropriate content? And should children and young people even be on the platform at all? Find out in this week parent guide.

Primary School

Term 4 seems to be moving along at a great pace! The building project is moving forward; classes are being sorted for next year, we are starting to pack, assessments are being marked, and reports are starting soon. While it is busy, it is also a great time of the year to celebrate the growth we have seen across the year. Please continue to pray for us that we continue in God’s strength.  

 

God Bless

Matt Splatt

Secondary School

Farewell, Year 12’s

Week Two witnessed the end of formal schooling for our Year 12 students and, for some, the beginning of their final revision programme for the forthcoming WACE examinations.  It was a lovely week of farewell activities and events that each of them, their family and friends experienced. The winding down of the normal classes, the final Senior School Assembly,  Year 12 Final Blessing Day and Whole College Assembly and finale, and the traditional Valedictory Service and Dinner were all part of the memorable farewells.

Term Dates for 2022