With Glad and Sincere Hearts

Stepping into my role as Acting Head of Primary has been such a privilege, and as I look back over the term, I can’t help but smile at the growth and beauty I’ve witnessed in Primary. It hasn’t just been about the big events — though the Colour Run, year level camps and Foundations Day certainly filled each participant with joy — it has been about the daily choices our children are making, the small, self-directed changes that reveal significant shifts in heart and character.

Our focus verse for this term has been Acts 2:46:'They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.' This picture of the early church has been a wonderful way to teach our students what it means to love, care for and serve one another. Again and again, I’ve seen this verse come to life in the way our children are building community here at CalCC.

I have noticed so many Primary students taking more pride in themselves. Boys arriving with fresh haircuts, girls changing their earrings and hair accessories to reflect our uniform expectations and stray wisps of hair being neatly tied back with clips, pins or a spritz of hairspray. These may seem like minor details, but to me they represent something deeper — children understanding that the way we present ourselves is a reflection of respect, care and pride in who we are as part of our CalCC community.

That same pride is flowing into classrooms and playgrounds. I’ve seen tidier desks, neater bookwork and cleaner learning spaces. Across Primary, students are working hard to care for our grounds and take responsibility for the places we share. One of my highlights has been watching several Year 2 children begin a buddy club, spreading picnic blankets on the grass for those who might otherwise feel left out. With books, teddies, Connect-4 and colouring, they have created a safe space of welcome — a beautiful example of children seeing a need and doing something about it.

Even more inspiring has been the way this simple initiative has sparked new ideas. Some students are taking steps to start a prayer group, while others are organising a Bible study club to share memory verses and unpack God’s Word with younger friends. I love that our shared green spaces are becoming places of ministry and mission, where children are learning to lead with love and invite others in.

As an inevitable part of life, conflicts have also become an opportunity for growth. I’ve been honoured to facilitate conversations with students, helping them utilise their PeaceWise strategies at lunchtime to work through current and long-term disagreements — admitting their part, offering forgiveness and moving forward together. On the courts, I’ve overheard students choosing encouragement instead of criticism, uplifting one another instead of putting each other down. These are the moments that remind me why I love what I do.

Of course, there’s still more to work on. As we head into the next term, this term's priorities will continue, along with taking greater care of our bathrooms, using them properly, and showing respect for others. Each goal we concentrate on is part of a larger picture: taking pride in ourselves, our College, and the community God is shaping here at CalCC.

I want to acknowledge the dedication of our Primary staff, who have faithfully supported me — not only as I step into this new role, but also in carrying forward this term’s focus on pride that begins with self and extends to our whole College community. Their encouragement, consistency and care have been vital in helping our children grow, and I count it a profound blessing to serve alongside such a united, faithful, steadfast and committed team.

I am also deeply grateful for the support of our families. Your partnership has strengthened all that we have sought to achieve this term, and the way you encourage your children at home makes a real and lasting difference. Thank you for walking with us in this journey of growth, belonging and community.

For me, Term 3 has been a beautiful season of growth, friendship and love. I have seen our children discover that little adjustments can make a big difference, and that when we practise our Compassion and Communicate Foundations well, we are living out Acts 2:46 — learning to gather and grow together with glad and sincere hearts.

What a joy it has been to serve CalCC during this season, to see God at work in the lives of our children and to walk alongside such a wonderful community. Together, we are learning to be the people God calls us to be — people who love, serve and encourage one another in every space we share.