The Journey from Advent to Christmas  

We are about to embark on a journey through Advent, a time when we prepare and get ready for the coming of Christ on Christmas Day. During this time, you might prepare in many different ways, decorating the house, spending time with family, baking and cooking and buying gifts but we are also called to look deeper during this season and reflect on the most precious gift of all...Jesus. 

Three of our school values Humility, Justice and Compassion are wonderful ways of connecting and bringing us closer to Jesus, they are reminders of the true meaning of Christmas and challenge us to look beyond gifts and presents during this season.  

(The following is adapted from Discover Grace- humility-a-study-in-advent)  

HOW DOES HUMILITY BRING US CLOSER TO JESUS? 

Humility isn’t a word you see often on Christmas décor. Peace? Check out the throw pillows. Joy? All over the home decor. Flipping through a gift catalog I received earlier this year, I saw a Christmas decoration sign that read: Everyone is an innkeeper deciding whether or not there’s room for Christ.  

It takes an act of humility to let Christ in. 

Maybe that’s why it’s hard for some people to truly accept Jesus. It’s a mental, physical, and heart posture of worship where we kneel down like the shepherds and foreign kings to adore Him and acknowledge that He is in fact Lord. The good news is, Jesus makes this easy because He lived a life of humility first. 

Before Jesus was ever born, the prophets recognized his humility: “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey”  (Zechariah 9:9). Again, not the kind of entrance you expect to see from the King of Kings. 

Jesus showed His humility again and again through His baptism and servant leadership. He let John wash Him in the Jordan. Later, He washed His disciples’ feet to cleanse them before His crucifixion, as if preparing for the act that cleansed all humanity (if only we allow Jesus to do the humble work of wiping our dirty souls clean). 

When you frame Christmas from the perspective of how God chose such a humble introduction for His only son, you find peace in knowing an approachable savior who “didn’t count equality with God something to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6). 

Wishing you all a blessed and joyful Advent and Christmas. May you all keep safe, and I look forward to seeing you all in Term 1, 2024.  

As we come to the end of the year, we have the joy of looking forward to the Christmas break, the apprehension of what next year will bring and the sadness of saying farewell to some of our families, Year 6 students and some of our staff. So many mixed emotions in a short period of time. Christmas is the season of joy and giving, spending time with our families and having a well-deserved rest. From our families to your families, have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you all back for the start of school on the 23^rd of January, 2024.

Thank you to the P&F for their amazing support this year. You were able to bring together the parents and school community together for many events. Thank you to the committee members Chris Emerick, Amanda O’Day, Gemma Sugden and Rachael Steele for your commitment and ideas.  

A big thank you to the P&F for purchasing the Year 6 Graduation cake and paying for the Year 6 children’s meals, your generosity is appreciated. Also thank you to Hannah Hope for making the delicious cake and Suzy Taske for making the gifts.  

Today we also say farewell to Kim Woods who has stepped in as Tuckshop Convenor in Term 4. Kim has provided an outstanding service to the community, serving delicious food every day. We are grateful that she was able to join us once again and wish her all the best in 2024.