Christian Education

MS CATH BUTLER, HEAD OF MINISTRY AND MISSION

In Psalm 121, the Psalmist looks to the mountains, remembering the help and guidance of his God, recalling the truth and steadfastness of God’s promises that he stands upon. When we look back on the last few years and consider

the continuing uncertainty for the future, we are buoyed by hope only because of faith in a good God. There have been, and there will continue to be, both pain and ease, times of hardship and moments of joy. Although both are present – far more overwhelming is the positive: a story of gratitude for teamwork and perseverance, of ‘burning yet flourishing’ at Fairholme.

The opening statements of our school prayer [drawn from Paul’s address at the Areopagus recorded in Acts 17] remind us that God is not remote but near to all, and that it is in him that we live and move and have our being. Throughout the year, the girls in the Junior School continued to develop their understanding of living and moving and having

their being in God through worshipping as a sub-school and Christian Education classes weekly. Middle School and Senior School students had chapel services every two weeks. In addition to these times of formal worship, assemblies always contain a short devotion and prayer, while Holme Group times provide the opportunity for teachers to share a reading from the Bible and pray with the girls in a smaller setting each week. Christian Education classes held every two weeks in the Middle and Senior School covered age-appropriate content aimed to develop students’ abilities to think critically about life and faith.

The Year 12 Leadership Committee for Ministry was small but mighty during 2021. This group of three girls led with distinction and continually demonstrated enthusiasm, a gentle assuredness in what they believe, and a desire to communicate this with their peers in a variety of relevant ways. The committee was instrumental in running chapel services and the THRIVE Festival; a day that encouraged all students to consider attributes of being Thankful, Hopeful, Resilient, Individual, Valued and Empowered.

Providing opportunities for student engagement in meaningful service to the community is inspired by our value of ChristCentred Faith and is an integral aspect of our educational program at Fairholme. The research is clear. Through service, girls are encouraged to consider the complexity and ambiguity of life and to develop altruism, co-operation, trust, compassion and empathy. We know these behaviours are important for physical and mental health and form the building blocks of a well-functioning society.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. … The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

(Psalm 121, select verses, NIV)

opportunity to serve and the agency to choose an area to serve in. They were asked to offer four hours of their time from the end of Term 2 to the beginning of Term 4. They had to choose what they would do, find the time to do it, and then reflect on their experiences. Some girls coached a sporting team or took photos at a charity ball, often offering many more than just four hours. Others knitted beanies or baked for the homeless, walked their neighbours’ dog or gave up their holiday time to assist on Sony Camp. We often think ‘service’ is hard, should take a lot of time, or be an organised project. However, seeing the wide variety of activities girls chose to engage in reinforced the idea that serving others can be about using our skills to do things that we enjoy and can incorporated even in short moments of our day, into our everyday lives. We hope, in the future, that graduates of Fairholme College will keep using their skills – knitting, walking, playing sport, photographing, whatever it may be – to lift others up, show compassion, love one another and be kind.