A magazine for parents, teachers, and kids
Christian worldview
snap chat p10
So what is it really? p12
Bridging
the gap
Marrara Christian College
p6
DISNEY
Does it help or hinder?
So thankful p16
A jar of
hearts p21
p8
KIDS’ ZONE
Parenting and Christian Schools Sept 2015
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editorial
by Anne Blair-Hickman Welcome to another edition of Nurture. As you read through the articles I hope that you will be challenged, encouraged, and inspired to engage more fully with your school. We, as parents, have such a wonderful and unique opportunity to do this. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Sarah Goldsmith’s article ‘So Thankful’ (p. 16). Whether your child’s journey at school is just beginning, or whether you’re like me and you’re somewhere in between, or near the end, those first days of school are memorable—and emotional. How fortunate are we to have a choice in where our children are educated? To have a choice about who they are going to be shaped by, and which worldview is going to be revealed to them, is such a blessing. As Sarah says “My daughter’s first term of kindergarten has confirmed for me, beyond any doubt, that children’s hearts and minds are shaped to a very large extent by their time spent at school”. This shaping is important to understand. Chris Parker’s article, ‘Christian Worldview, So What is it Really?’ (p. 12) further unpacks the Christian worldview. “The Bible narrative tells us what
happened at the beginning of time, what will ultimately happen at the end of time, and the central pivot point of all history—the cross. It is this story that ought transform our mind and shape for us a biblical way of understanding all things”. This is what is at the heart of our schools—your school. When I look at my children now, I see not only my reflection, but a beautiful reflection of the seeds sown by their school and the amazing community around them. I’m so thankful that they’re more than just a product of an education system which focuses largely on academics and success. Peace and blessings to you and your families,
Anne Do you want to contribute? Email: nurture@cen.edu.au
nurture photo competition beauty, brokenness, building-up OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS 1. SINGLE ENTRY: Any image taken by a student that depicts either the beauty of God’s world, the brokenness in God’s world, or a reflection of how God’s people can be involved in building-up and restoring the brokenness. 2. PORTFOLIO: A portfolio of 3 images that depict beauty, brokenness, and restoration that are thematically linked in some way (either by the subject, and object, or photographic technique or style).
ENTRIES CLOSE 31 OCTOBER 2015 www.cen.edu.au
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Either send photos to nurture@cen.edu.au along with your name, age, school, and category you wish to enter OR drop us an email to obtain details on how to upload your photos.
BOOK REVIEW NEIL PIERSON
WHAT IF? DEALING WITH DOUBTS BY KRISTEN YOUNG What if . . . I don’t feel like a Christian, and I can’t stop sinning? What if . . . God is real and I can trust the Bible? What if . . . Jesus is real? What if . . . I fail or bad stuff happens? Kristen Young’s book What If? Dealing with Doubts is a refreshing, honest exploration of the role of doubt in our Christian faith. Her belief is that “ignoring a doubt isn’t going to make it go away. The best thing to do is search for the answers” (p. 9). Kristen addresses common objections Christian face on science, the reliability of Scriptures, creation, as well as the existence of God and Jesus. She does so with humility and strength. While the book can be read by any age group, the intended audience is teenagers and young adults. There is not a particular church flavour or denominational doctrine expressed nor does she attempt to present a single viewpoint on contentious issues. Kristen argues that “when you get a warts-and-all account of an event, it is more likely to be truthful” (p. 108). When considering Jesus and His impact on His followers and society, she reveals how countercultural He was. “If you look at modern-day hero stories, they’re mostly about strength and courage and battling against the odds to win out. Jesus’ life was totally upside-down by those standards. He was humble, a couch-surfing traveller who washed the stinky feet of his followers before he was given the kind of death sentence that screamed ‘Scum of the earth!’ Why would you make that stuff up” (p. 108). What if? Dealing with Doubts is written to help the reader understand something of the Bible’s overall context, themes, purpose, and diversity of writing styles. Rather than glossing over where the Bible text may be considered inconsistent, Kristen points out examples and presents possible ideas on why. Common myths about Christians and what our society may assume they believe on certain topics are discussed. This is not an intellectual book for academics. Rather it serves as a call to action for young people to have courage to question and work through their doubts and then consider their responses to the important issues of faith and life. Kristen’s encouragement is “the search for truth is a noble one. So get out there and look for it” (p. 101).
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Neil Pierson is a storyteller. Based at Covenant Christian School in Sydney, Neil also assists many of our CEN schools with marketing. When not at his desk, or out with his three kids, he is likely to be kayaking or sitting by a campfire.
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PARENTS IN PARTNERSHIP connect partner engage serve Build a strong relationship with your school >> >> >> >>
be actively interested in your child’s learning chat with your child’s teacher about problems or concerns read all notes sent home encourage your child’s teacher
Help your child
Help the school and build community
>> Talk to the teacher about your child’s special needs >> Know what your child needs extra help with >> Assist and guide your child with homework >> Talk to your child about their day
>> Help in classrooms, at carnivals, exam supervision, camps, excursions, and library borrowing >> Join working bees, the association or parents and friends, serve on the governing board, help with community BBQs
Strong family-school partnerships enhance student learning, build stronger relationships, and help honour God’s design for parents being primarily responsible for the education of their children
WHAT IF
I HAVE DOUBTS? Dealing with life’s biggest questions
SHOP
fervr.net/store 02 8268 3344
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Bridging marrara christian college
by joanne rheinberger
Gap Every day, children across the country cross the ‘bridge’ between home and school.
To some, the gap they cross is relatively small. Their parents or carers are fully aware of what happens at school and both teachers and parents communicate regularly regarding expectations, praiseworthy occasions, and concerns. The student arrives and participates in their learning knowing that they are supported by a team of adults who love, care for, and are consistent in their approach to the education and upbringing of their child.
Marrara Christian College
For others, the gap stretches wide. They come to school, crossing the abyss, knowing that what happens on one side of the canyon will very rarely make it across this black hole. The student has the option to be one person at school and a completely different person at home, thinking that no one will probably ever know, ever find out, or even really care. On one side, teachers become frustrated and on the other, parents think the school is indifferent to their child. All the time, this impacts on the development and learning of this student. Regardless of where we live in Australia, when our children cross that bridge from their homes into their learning, we hope and pray that their learning journey will reflect that of the first student. It is why partnering with parents and families is just so important.
Established 1979 Over 600 students from preschool to Year 12, including the Trade Training Centre and family group homes which host 100 remote indigenous boarders Located in the northern suburbs of Darwin 6 nurture September 2015
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the
It’s great to see parents and families participating and partnering with teachers in learning,
School isn’t just a place to drop kids off and pick them up. The Bible encourages us to remember the incredible role, responsibility, and privilege growing young children really is. As Christian schools, we commit to regular communication with you as parents and we continually encourage families to communicate with us. Please share with us what has been happening at home—great things to celebrate and challenging things that may impact on your child’s learning at school—mental, emotional, physical, spiritual—they all matter and your child matters. We love to see parents and families around schools; at assemblies, parent information evenings, open nights, and exciting events like school concerts or productions. It’s great to see parents and families participating and partnering with teachers in learning, especially in the developmental years of primary school where it is just wonderful to have parent helpers assist in activities such as the listening of reading, changing readers, and helping in activity rotation groups. We are blessed to live and work in a community where we are united in Christ as family. Our prayer is that our partnership will continue to strengthen and grow. Only by working together, can we create an environment where our children can play, grow, and learn with a gap so small, it is hardly recognisable!
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Some ways we can lessen the gap: • Talk to your child about school: ask them what was great, what they learnt, what they can teach you! • Listen to them read or encourage them to read independently as they grow older • Discuss topics that arise at school and encourage your children to be open and honest with you • Continually touch base with your child’s classroom teacher • Attend working bees wherever possible • Attend excursions and sports days • Attend camps • Attend assemblies • Attend parent information evenings • Participate in fundraising and school community events • Attend parent teacher interviews • Send quick emails just to update how your child might be at school if something challenging has happened— or even something great you would like to share • Be open about your concerns • Ask your child to help with things at home: cooking, preparing meals, building projects, etc—take a photo and send to school • Offer your expertise/skills/experience to partner with teachers in learning activities or maintenance/building around the school • Send photos of your child’s achievements in extra-curricula activities: eg. sport achievements, music awards, prizes won in competitions, etc.
After four years of teaching in Victoria, Joanne Rheinberger came to teach in the Northern Territory for ‘just one year’. She is immensely grateful that God had other plans and now, six years later, she lives in Darwin with her husband Cohen and is the head of primary at Marrara Christian College. With a passion for growing and learning through stories, especially those that point to God’s story of amazing love and grace, she is continually thankful for the opportunities God provides. nurture September 2015 7
Disney Does it help or hinder? By Tammy Tolman
The world of Disney captivates our hearts and our imagination; this is so for all ages. You can never be too old for a classic Disney movie—the escape and adventure, the princesses and princes, the heroes, and the conquering of evil. The story begins with ‘once upon a time’ and ends with ‘they lived happily ever after’. It’s the same story over and over again, just different characters, different tragedies, and different adventures, yet we flock to see the latest one that comes to the movies.
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s parents, we call our girls princesses. Our boys want to be heroes. When my children were young, Sam (my son) always wanted to be able to fly like Peter Pan (he still does, I think) and Georgia was desperately in love with the movie, The Little Mermaid. I remember lining up for one hour at Disneyland for her to get the little mermaid’s autograph and for her to sit beside the ‘real’ Ariel and get a picture. It took all of me not to say, “It is not really her, you know, it is just someone dressed up.” I mean, we could have had four fun rides in the time we stood in a line to go into the cave where a lady sitting on a rock in a costume was sitting, for us to take a picture, and for her to scribble ‘Ariel’ on a piece of paper.
The protagonists (main characters) in so many fairy tales are already nobles, royal, daughter and sons of the King or even the Gods. But their identity is hidden from them, and the storyline pivots around this discovery. They have to grow up to fathom their own identity. That fathoming is the very purpose of the journey.
But, as parents we don’t burst their bubbles; we play along with it and fulfil their small desires. And meanwhile Disney is making a fortune out of it. How cynical of me. Actually, you don’t have to google too far to see that there have been a lot of very cynical things written about Disney over the years and possibly I stand to be criticized by even writing this article. I have to admit, deep down I am a hopeless dreamer and a romantic at the core. However, over the past 10 years it feels like through merchandising and consumerism these things have blown out of all proportion. I have been feeling that this ‘princess’ obsession, in particular, is actually becoming a problem for our young girls. At 4 years old I understand the obsession, but at 12, 14, 20 years . . . maybe this is a problem.
Maybe Disney has more to teach us than we think, if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that are open. Maybe, the deeper story can only be seen through the eyes of a child. Matthew 18:3, Jesus says, “unless you change and become like a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.”
How do we nurture our girls to grow up knowing they are created in God’s image? How do we empower our boys to ‘fly’ the way God created them to? Does Disney help or hinder? As someone who loves movies, I have struggled with this, as I am the first one who loves to escape into a fairy tale world any time I can. But hidden within the fantasy and escapism there is a true story, the never-ending story, God’s story. Someone much wiser than me wrote these words, which opened my eyes to the deeper story.
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(R. Rohr, 2011, pp. 97-98, Falling Upward)
God’s story does begin with ‘once upon a time’ and ends ‘happily ever after’. There are different characters and different challenges, but it’s the same story over and over again. Like so many of the Disney stories, we are all on the journey to find our identity as the sons and daughters of the King. As a parent it is all I long for, for my children. As a mentor of young ladies, and a minister, I see young people and adults of all ages searching in all the wrong places for identity, running from all the King has for them, and looking for happiness in a destination, or achievement, or job, or status, or in another person. Like Ariel (The Little Mermaid), the princess is really the classic prodigal son story. Merida (Brave) is already a princess who fights her heritage to find herself and finds that she had all she needed all the time. Rapunzel (Tangled) is a princess lost and stolen, who always knew there was something better out there. Her identity was hidden from her, but as she begins her journey, she learns that she was the princess all along. Snow White (Snow White), was always beloved, but evil and jealousy
took over. Snow White chooses to make the best of whatever comes to her, and see the best in everyone, and through love she is eventually reinstated back to become the princess she always was. Aladdin (Aladdin), felt like he was nothing and pretended to be something he was not, until he found purpose and acceptance and was accepted into the Kingdom by the King. And we could go on . . . My kids say I make a life lesson out of everything, so I don’t want to spoil the movies by sitting down and dissecting each movie for a life lesson. But there must be a way to help the deeper truths to come alive without spoiling the fantasy and fun of Disney. Maybe that’s the secret of Matthew 18:3, that children see so much more than we expect and that the openness and desire in them to want to fly and want to be a princess is something we lose as we grow up. Maybe our role is to go on the journey with them, model active listening, and never miss an opportunity to simply shape and massage with language, the depth of what they already know. That they are already nobles, royal, daughters and sons of the King. They have to grow up to fathom their own identity. That fathoming is the very purpose of the journey . . .
Tammy Tolman has been married for 26 years and has two children aged 17 and 14 years. She has degrees in teaching and ministry. She has been speaking nationally and internationally about children and families for the past 20 years. She runs camps for kids and mentors adults and young people on a weekly basis. She has published two books, many educational resources including curriculum, music, and DVDs. She is passionate about creating environments where the generations can collide, believing this a great place to grow and learn. tammytolman.blogspot.com
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snapch By Mic Dempsey
Do you like a good chat? We all like to feel connected, including our children. God has made us to be in community and relationship. With the Internet and digital technologies it is very easy for our kids to do so with their friends. There are many ways of doing this but this article is going to focus on one popular app: Snapchat.
< what is snapchat? Snapchat is a popular app used extensively by our teens on their phones and portable devices. This social networking app is designed to send instant messages, ‘snaps’, to each other, but our teens are mainly using it to send videos and photos of themselves. Its main attraction seems to be the self-destructing snap feature; where the sender can choose how long (from 1-10 seconds) the receiver can view the ‘snap’ before it selfdestructs. Once it self-destructs, the image is removed from the receiver’s screen—seemingly gone forever—but is it really?
< age appropriatEness
There are many concerns for parents when it comes to their children using social media and the Internet. With these apps, some of the biggest ones seem to be sexting, or sending ‘nude selfies’, and cyber bullying. The self-destruct feature of the app may give kids the courage to send an inappropriate photo/ video or message, thinking that it will be OK, because it will delete immediately. Snapchat is rated 13+ under US child protection laws. They do check your age by asking for your birth date when you sign up for an account and if underage, it will restrict your login to a reduced version without the messaging—no fun, I’m sure! Many tweens and teens are savvy enough to work around this by entering a different date of birth. The website, ‘Common Sense Media’1, which is a very helpful resource for parents, rates Snapchat at 16+ years of age for appropriate use. This could be useful information if you are having trouble with the “everyone else is using it”.
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< concerns
However, there is really no such thing as a self-destructing message. Many smartphones have a feature where you can save any image which appears on your phone by taking a ‘screen shot’. This screen shot can then be sent from one person to another; and what was meant as a private message has the potential to become public very quickly. In addition to this, nothing ever really deletes from the Internet. Everything we access and send becomes part of our digital footprint, whether we can see it immediately or not.
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hat
snapchat stats: • Launch date: September 2011 • 32% of Snapchat users are aged between 13-17
< snapchat tips
• 100 million daily active users
• Get the app yourself and check it out and learn how the settings work.
• 70% of Snapchat users are female
• You can stop strangers (nonfriends) sending texts and limit it to just those on your friend list. A quick Internet search for ‘snapchat settings’ will give you links to instructions and videos on how to manage this.
• 400 million Snapchats posted daily
• Make sure the username is set to private—this will make it harder for strangers to make contact. • Talk to your children about using this app wisely. Ask them to think “Would mum or dad approve of me posting this comment or picture?” • Encourage them to only connect with real-life friends. • Choose profile pictures wisely. What does it say about you; not only now but into the future?
< conclusion In essence, this app has the potential to be dangerous. We have a God-given responsibility to teach, nurture, and protect our kids. We need to help shape them and their faith. Our kids learn in many different ways, often indirectly from actions we may not have yet thought through. For example, if we allow our underage child to sign up for an account, we would need to put in a false birth date. What does this teach our child about truth and honesty? Is it therefore OK to lie on the Internet? Before saying yes or no to an app, check it out yourself first.
• Flag any inappropriate user and report abuse. Snapchat has email addresses dedicated to this purpose. You can also block an offending user.
Do some research on the Internet and try it out.
• Delete the account if you don’t want your child to be using it. Parents can request this from Snapchat if you don’t know your child’s password.
Don’t be ignorant or think that because your kids tell you “everyone” is doing it, it will be OK.
• Teach your kids to ask permission from their friends before saving a text or photo they have sent you—it’s just good manners.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
• Talk about the dangers of sending inappropriate photos or messages. • Confiscate the device if you find your child has used it inappropriately. • Read app reviews and look out for information sessions at a local school or community centre.
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Talk to other parents you respect for their opinion.
Teach your kids:
There are no easy answers but it is important to continue to grapple with these challenges and keep talking about them. I still have a few years to go before I will need to confront this with my kids but I am thankful we can be supporting each other in parenting Christianly.
• 18% of social media users use Snapchat
• 8,796 photos posted every second
Some resources Snapchat Review: Common Sense Media. www.commonsensemedia.org/ app-reviews/snapchat Susan McLean. 2014. Sexts, Texts and Selfies: How to keep your children safe in the digital space. Tim Challies. 2011. The Next Story: life and faith after the digital explosion (a Christian perspective on technology). The Government eSafety Commission website. www.esafety.gov.au/ Snapchat Support. http://support.snapchat.com/ Snapchat Parent Advice. www.snapchat.com/safety
Mic Dempsey is married to Michelle and they have two children. He is passionate about Christian education and in particular, how we can approach technology from a biblical perspective. He is a teacher and ICT coordinator at Mt Evelyn Christian School in Victoria.
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CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
In the previous two articles in this series we learnt what a worldview is—a culturally-shaped ‘story’ that shapes how we understand the world around us— and that there are many cultural ‘stories’ that are constantly shaping our (and our children’s) worldview. In this article we will see how immersing ourselves in the big picture story of the Bible brings transformation of our culturally-shaped worldviews towards a Christian worldview. Let’s start by acknowledging that the big picture story of the Bible has the power to shape both heart and mind (worldview). Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, are the culminating and defining events of the Bible—and for those that acknowledge this, we anticipate a profound heart transformation toward faithful and passionate discipleship. However, the truth of the cross is found within a big picture story—a story that shapes our worldview. It’s a story of God and His world; a story of God and His people. The Bible narrative tells us what happened at the beginning of time, what will ultimately happen at the end of time, and the central pivot point of all history—the cross. It is this narrative that ought transform our mind and shape for us a biblical way of understanding all things—a Christian worldview. The Christian school seeks to transform hearts and minds. Minds are transformed as the government curriculum is unfolded through the lens of the Bible’s view of the world. At the same time the alternative stories that shape our culture and its desires (including its government ‘curriculum’) are critiqued and exposed, as students hearts are transformed. The Christian worldview is so beautiful, hopeful, and full of intellectual depth that it is hard to sum up in a few short words. However, the answers to a few key questions can be really helpful in beginning to unfold its riches:
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WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING? A human is not a random biological phenomenon. Humans are more than biology and have been designed, made (and loved) by the supreme creator—God. Humans have a ‘soul’ and will not simply rot away to nothing when they die. Humans have been made in God’s likeness and have been given the role of caretaking and cultivating the creation—humanity is profoundly purposeful.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE WORLD? The world is not random. It has been created, and is continually sustained, by God as creator. The creation is deeply beautiful and good—this not only includes gas nebulae and pandas but also the cultural truths like family, language, reason, leadership, innovation, justice, etc.
One of the deep riches of this worldview is that it invites a confident response of the heart, head, and hands. Seeing the world through this lens inspires young people to partake as disciples of the hero of the story, Jesus, and invites them into a story of transformation.
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Christianity in Australia
SO WH AT IS IT REALLY ? SERIES: PART 3
BY CHRIS PARKER
WHY DOES LIFE (AND THE WORLD) OFTEN SEEM BROKEN AND MESSED UP? The biblical worldview is plain speaking on this question. The pinnacle of God’s good creation—humans—have rejected the creator and not trusted in His goodness and provision. This has resulted in the relationship between God and His people being messed up and the whole world being broken and its ‘goodness’ sometimes hidden and waiting to be transformed.
On the cross, God has begun to transform all things back to perfection and we as His people are invited into this grand project. IS THERE A REMEDY OR SOLUTION TO THE MESS IN THE WORLD? God has entered the creation and acted to bring transformation to the effects of the rebellion—first to the relationship with His people, and then to the creation itself. This is the power and the purpose of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Minds are transformed as the government curriculum is unfolded through the lense of the Bible’s view of the world.
Chris is passionate about helping children to see the world through the gospel of the Lord Jesus. He is currently a lecturer and speaker with the National Institute for Christian Education and on the executive team of CEN. Chris and his wife, Coco, live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. They have two children and a growing collection of ukuleles.
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Mother -Daughter A
Book Club
s our daughters grow up, we find ourselves rejoicing at the newly found, small packets of time released to us. They no longer cling to our legs or totter in our oversized shoes, wishing to be just like us when they grow up. A time comes when they want to be their own person. They can easily slip away, into the digital abyss—being shaped and influenced by an alternate worldview to the one you’ve nurtured throughout their life. Creating opportunities to remain connected with your daughter and to continue shaping them into the beautiful young ladies God desires for them to be, has never been more important—and storytelling is one way to help do this.
Reading a range of different story lines will create opportunities for discussion. Try introducing a range of different genres such as history, family stories, science fiction, fantasy, classics, and offbeat romances. Start reading, stay connected, keep shaping, and relishing the beautiful gift of your girl.
5-8 year olds
• Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth – Jane O’Connor • Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White • A Bear Called Paddington – Michael Bond • The BFG – Roald Dahl • Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder
9-12 year olds
• Journey to the River Sea – Eva Ibbotson • Our Australian Girl (series) • The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster • Anne of Green Gables – Lucy Maud Montgomery • The Secret Garden – Frances Burnett • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis
13-18 year olds
• Ranger’s Apprentice (series) – John Flanagan • A Waltz for Matilda – Jackie French • A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L’Engle • Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë • The Book Thief – Marcus Zusac • Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
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For more ideas on books to share with your daughter: www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/ sure-fire-picks-for-your-motherdaughter-book-club
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NEW PRINCIPAL APPOINTMENTS FOR 2016
news
• Mr Erik Hofsink from Launceston Christian School will be taking up the principal role at Emmaus Christian School in Canberra • Mr Adrian Bosker from Calvin Christian School in Tasmania will be taking up the principal role at Launceston Christian School
From Michelle Dempsey, CEO It’s been a huge month or so for Christian Education National as we have recently had our four yearly International Transforming Education Conference or ITEC15. What a thrill to gather with 1,200 people in Melbourne to sing praise, fellowship, network, and soak in the wisdom, insights, humour, and challenges of a huge number of speakers. We are delighted with the outcomes of the conference and it has been a pleasure for me to hear enthusiastic responses from teachers across our schools. It is one thing to love Jesus, but how do we allow that relationship to permeate all that we do in the classroom? How do we move from reading the Word to living the Word as we ‘practice what we preach’? How do we as parents partner effectively with our schools as they wrestle and struggle to understand this more deeply? It’s a great challenge, but I am thrilled to be a part of the ride. The one challenge with the conference was the weather. I heard today that here in Melbourne we’ve had the coldest July on record, and we had chose the coldest week to host the conference. Fortunately, the venue was warm—the Northern Territory crowd (of which there were about 100 people—what an outstanding commitment!) took a week or so to thaw out when they returned home, but even so, were pleased that they made the effort. If you missed out on the fun, you are able to order the complete recordings of the conference to watch at your leisure.
• Mr Daniel Clark from Geraldton, WA has been appointed as principal of Annandale Christian College in Townsville • Mr Matt Patterson from Rivergum College has been appointed principal of Mid North Christian College, Port Pirie Please join us in praying for these gentlemen.
NEW BOOK
That’s it for now. I look forward to updating you next time.
Cheers, Michelle CEN GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE
GODLY GOVERNANCE LEADING VISION DRIVEN SCHOOLS
15-17 Oct 2015 Melbourne
We all understand that good governance is essential to our schools running well and being compliant. This conference is especially shaped to assist the board chairs and deputy board chairs of our associations to dig a bit deeper into what it means to be leading our boards effectively. Other board members are welcome to attend as well. We encourage you to take advantage of this professional development opportunity. Main Speaker: John Sikkema. John is the executive oficer of Halftime Australia and author of Enriched: Redefining Wealth. When: 7 pm Thursday 15 October – 3 pm Saturday 17 October 2015 Registrations: open from 4pm, conference opens with a dinner at 7pm Register: online at www.cen.edu.au
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Transformational Education was recently launched. Written by a team of staff at Mt Evelyn Christian School and edited by Cameron Semmens (a remarkable performance poet who entertained and stimulated our thinking at ITEC15), Transformational Education includes some wonderful insights and echoes the wisdom of the late Harry Burggraaf (who we miss so much). It’s a great little book that captures in a nutshell what Christian education is all about. Copies are available for purchase in the eStore, on the CEN website. nurture September 2015 15
So th Term one in he slower pace of holidays has given me the chance to reflect on my daughter’s first term at her Christian school. Unsurprisingly, there have been steep learning curves for us in the parenting department; when is something an opportunity for resilience-building and when do we as parents need to step in? When do we email the teacher about something or are we just worrying too much? We are still navigating our way and probably will be for the next 13 years! But when I reflect on this first term of ‘big school’, above all else, I am filled with immense gratitude.
Fifty lunches made, one hundred drives to and from school, readers and sight words, washed uniforms seemingly forever, searched high and low for that one missing library book—again! We survived term one of kindergarten! 16 nurture September 2015
Each morning when I take my daughter into her classroom I notice the prayer points on the whiteboard from the previous day—a prayer for a classmate and her family who have moved to India as cross-cultural missionaries, a prayer for one of the kindergarten children’s mothers who is sick, a prayer for a little sister’s cold, a prayer for someone’s dad who has a busy week at work. I love imagining my daughter and her classmates sitting together on the mat, talking to Jesus. I love that this is a part of her day, every school day. I am so thankful that she is praying with other people, beyond her own family. I am so thankful for a teacher who wants to help grow my daughter in this precious and vitally important way. Early on in the term our daughter’s teacher posted on the class blog telling the parents just a little of what the class would be learning: The children have worked together to make special ‘creations’ from building materials and have used this as a foundation to talk about our world as God’s creation and our role in caring for it. Throughout the year we’ll be exploring areas of social justice and caring for our environment as being part of a God-centred worldview. www.cen.edu.au
hankful kindergarten Sarah Goldsmith
This was exciting to read, really exciting! Throughout the year the children are learning about God’s world and their roles and responsibilities in it. They are being encouraged to look beyond themselves, to see things as God sees things, a perspective that has the one, true and living God right where He belongs—as the centre of attention and as the one who rules, loves, and cares for His world and its peoples. Parents and families are warmly invited to join the weekly K-6 assemblies. Each time I do so, I am thrilled to see the children’s hearts and minds being filled with God’s truth! Last week my girl spun around to look at me from the front row, with a big grin and two thumbs up, as the teacher began to strum his guitar and the words went up on the screen: “I am the light! I am the light! Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world!’” She had been teaching us this song for weeks at home and that very morning had explained to me that we are not in darkness when we know God— we are in the light! “It says so in the Bible!” (rapping): “John 8, verse 12!” This evening, I noticed a little paper bag with the words, “Open my eyes” written on it. I asked my daughter about it and she explained that the bag is to hold the paper glasses she made at school. As she walked away with her little bag, I heard her singing to herself, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart; I want to see you, I want to see you.” It’s a song we used to sing at church, but she would have been too young to remember. Surprised, I asked her where she learnt it. www.cen.edu.au
My daughter’s first term of kindergarten has confirmed for me, beyond any doubt, that children’s hearts and minds are shaped to a very large extent by their time spent at school. Her eyes lit up as she told me how her teacher taught the class the song, with actions, and that later they had listened to it playing in the background as they made their glasses. Later this evening, I heard her three year old sister singing her own version, “Open my heart, Jesus . . . Open my heart . . .” “ Six hours a day, five days a week, 38 weeks a year, for God-willing, about thirteen years—that’s a huge amount of time. My daughter’s first term of kindergarten has confirmed for me, beyond any doubt, that children’s hearts and minds are shaped to a very large extent by their time spent at school. My husband and I are so thankful for the hours, days, months, and years that our children’s hearts and minds will be filled with such good and invaluable things while they’re away from us at school—with truths about the Lord and His world, with love of neighbour and God’s good creation, with love for Jesus.
Sarah has been part of the Wycliffe Christian School community for many years, first as a student for 13 years, then as an English/history teacher for five years, and more recently as a parent and member of the association. She loves people and she loves teaching teenagers. Currently however, she especially loves the best job in the world—being mum to her 6, 3, and 1 year old children.
nurture September 2015 17
PART3:
DEVELOPING A FAMILY SPENDING PLAN
PLANNING IS NOT ALWAYS FUN, BUT IT DOES HELP US TO ACHIEVE GOALS IN THE AREAS OF SAVING AND FREEDOM FROM DEBT, WHILE MEETING BASIC NEEDS. A SUCCESSFUL SPENDING PLAN SHOULD BE A TEAM EFFORT. IT’S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE AND MAKE JOINT DECISIONS ABOUT MANAGING YOUR FINANCES, NOT BEING MANAGED BY THEM. BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE PROCESS OF PLANNING AND PRAYING ABOUT FINANCIAL DECISIONS CAN HELP THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MONEY AND DEVELOP GOOD HABITS FOR LIFE. To set up a spending plan, there are three simple steps: 1. Begin with your current situation
world is to see everything as a necessity, but usually they aren’t really when we stop and think about them. Being intentional in the small decisions (taking lunch from home or foregoing a morning coffee) can result in savings that can really add up. And of course, there are big decisions (downsizing your house or opting for a second-hand car) that can make a significant difference as well. Sometimes, forcing ourselves to use cash rather than a debit or credit card can make us rethink spending decisions and help to save money too!
Determine how much money is earned and spent. If your wages are not consistent, make a conservative estimate of your annual income and divide by 12 for a monthly income. Keep a record of every dollar spent for one month to get an accurate picture. You can then use your monthly income and expenses to develop a good idea of what things will look like over a year, but don’t forget to include big one-off expenses as well.
2. If your expenses are more than you earn, there is a solution
3. Don’t stop!
By writing your income and expenses down you now have a picture of your financial situation. Well done! But often, this first attempt doesn’t result in a positive number at the bottom. There are two solutions— either increase income or decrease expenses. Increasing income may not be an option. Even if it’s possible to earn more, sometimes the sacrifices to do so (time, family, relationships) aren’t worth it. So for most of us, we need to learn how to manage our expenses effectively. This means learning to ask what is absolutely necessary, and working out our priorities. Balancing these is difficult, and our temptation in a consumer-driven
18 nurture September 2015
Being intentional about our finances is difficult to begin and even more difficult to maintain. Think of it like a lifestyle, rather than a crash-diet. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but each step towards intentionality in your decisions will help you to be financially healthier.
“Through godly wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge shall its chambers be filled with precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4 Tim Macready is a Christian who is passionate about financial stewardship, having completed a Masters of Divinity with a thesis on the topic of contentment. He is married with two children and is chief investment officer at Christian Super.
www.cen.edu.au
NAIL BITING
Nail biters love to snack on their digits—sometimes it’s their fingernails, and for others, their toenails! This is the most common ‘nervous habit’. Thumb sucking, nose picking, hair twisting and teeth grinding are other nervous habits. Your child is more than likely doing this as a coping mechanism for minor stresses.
Who bites their nails?
• 30 percent of children aged 7-10 • 45 percent of teenagers • 25 percent of young adults • 5 percent of older adults bite their nails Nail biting is more common in boys than girls.
Why we gnaw our nails
Stress and boredom are the main nail biting culprits for most people. The habit is often a way to ease anxiety or to keep at least one part of the body occupied while the mind lacks interest. Frustration and loneliness are additional emotional triggers that can lead to nail biting.
Reasons to stop Biting your nails can:
• rip and tear your nails and the skin around your nails—causing bleeding. • infect your fingers (or toes!) and leave you in a lot of pain!
QUIT NOW >>>
Here are some simple options to help stop the nail biting habit: • Keep a journal to identify nail biting triggers, such as boredom or watching TV. Avoid triggers as much as possible. • Keep nails trimmed short, manicured, or polished. • Consider behavioural therapy, such as habit reversal training. • Cover nails—wear gloves or wrap fingertips with BAND-AIDS® or electrical tape. • Keep hands busy with other activities, such as playing video games, drumming, painting, knitting. • Apply a special nail polish that makes nails taste gross.
• invite those germs living underneath your nails to enter your mouth—you could get sick! • damage your front teeth.
www.cen.edu.au
nurture September 2015 19
IMAGE: WASU WATCHARADACHAPHONG / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
WHY I’M GLAD I WENT TO
By Sam O’Brien
A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Just over a month ago, I returned home from a year spent teaching English to children in Thailand. Reflecting on my time there, I realize that it wasn’t the math, history, science, or even English lessons completed over my 13 years of schooling that best helped prepare me for that ministry, but rather, the life lessons that I experienced during my time at Nepean Christian School.
School teaches that a person’s value isn’t based on their accomplishments, but on the unconditional value that God sees in them. My time spent at Nepean Christian School and the valuable life lessons I learnt, reinforced by my home and church environments, allowed me to be the best reflection of God’s light that I could be.
Through the modelling of the teachers at Nepean Christian School, I learnt how to love my students, even when I really didn’t feel like it, and how to demonstrate God’s love through patience. My time at Nepean Christian School helped me to be creative in my class preparations, and taught me the importance of an engaging, interactive, and fun lesson. It taught me to deal with conflict resolution in a helpful way—the
In the three and a half years that have passed since my graduation from school, I realise that my time there has left me with more than just a great educational experience. I have also gained a greater understanding of the importance of being authentic—not striving to be the best, but to be my best. I know that this is a lesson that will stay with me for the rest of my life journey.
20 nurture September 2015
small classes and family-like atmosphere of Nepean Christian School, often meant that family-like drama occurs. Whilst teaching in Thailand I was able to keep in mind what was reflected to me by the teachers at Nepean Christian School—that what was important was not the students’ grades or abilities but their effort, perseverance, and character. Contrary to the messages that permeate society, Nepean Christian
www.cen.edu.au
A jar of hearts
When my kids were little, I started up a jar of hearts which I would leave on my bedside table. I told my kids that if they ever needed to tell me something, they could drop a note in the jar of hearts and I would read it before I went to bed. Over the years, the kids have left me many notes. Some were confessions, sometimes they were notes of sadness or worries, and other times they were notes to tell me how much they loved me. Once, my daughter left me a little organza bag filled with all her pocket money and a note telling me that she wanted to help me pay for the plumbing which had recently failed. At night when I turned in, I’d find these notes. With the events of the crazy day subsided, I would be in a much better headspace to deal with whatever the notes held. The next morning I would always wake them with a hug and we’d talk about what was on their heart.
A
I
n the whirlwind of family life, our children can feel lost and upset. Sometimes they’ve done the wrong thing and they’re carrying a huge weight in guilt. Sometimes they’re worried because you seem sad or worried about something that has happened in your life.
eighs down w ty e i nx rt, but a kind ea h e heers it up. c d or bs 12:25 (NIV) er v o r
w th
By Anne Blair-Hickman
P
y a r p
fully power
The Jar of Hearts helped us to: >> restore relationship >> build trust >> strengthen bonds >> encourage honesty >> pray powerfully >> nurture peace >> love deeper
strengthen bonds www.cen.edu.au
nurture September 2015 21
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made E
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BABIES BIBLE BLOOD BODY BONES CREATED EAR EARTH EYELASHES
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V B BY RACHEL RAJ
did you know? kg
Your mouth produces about one litre of saliva each day!
Babies are born with 300 bonesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; adults have 206
Your ears and nose never stop growing
You lose about 4kg of skin cells every year!
Your fingernails grow four times as fast as your toenails Eyelashes last about 150 days The heart circulates blood through your body about 1,000 times each day kg
22 nurture September 2015
Children have more taste buds than adults
www.cen.edu.au
Clean any Bedroom in
ten Minutes Does your child live in a room that could serve as a set in the crime drama “CSI-Magic Kingdom”?
TEN Minute clean
It’s mind-boggling to imagine how it went from looking like the beautiful IKEA showroom you designed to what now resembles a gruesome, triple homicide in a princessthemed dump.
step 1 step 2
Until now, you may have felt that your biggest failing as a parent was the inability of your child to keep her room clean. It’s not. Your biggest failing is the “all denim” family photo from 2010. But, the room and perhaps your first attempt at cutting hair, are certainly a close second. Sure, you’ve already considered many options to overcome the horror which is a child’s bedroom. A chambermaid, giving it all away, arson; all are potential, yet impractical solutions. You might have given up all hope of tidy living, suffering from Sudden Onset Voluntary Dirtiness Dissociative Disorder as a personal coping strategy while passing the bedroom door.
clear the bed and make it (1-2 minutes) put all clothes on the bed (2 minutes)
step 3
gather items that belong in the room put everything else outside the room (2 minutes)
But what if we told you there is a way to teach your child how to clean on their own quickly, thoroughly, and effectively? What if we told you it could be done in only ten minutes? The process is simple. Broken down, it’s a five step approach in which the child is making easy decisions between a few distinct options. This method is as much about teaching good, sustainable cleaning strategies as it is getting a room in order. But in order to be successful, you must be willing to let go of the minutia of adult-level details in favor of quick success.
step 4 get rid of the garbage (2 minutes) step 5 separat
e clothing-clean/dirty (2 minutes) you are done!
Now you are ready to begin.
Circulation 9,150 ISSN 0312-2778
Design: Taninka Visuals Email: tanya@taninka.com.au
Editor: Anne Blair-Hickman
Cover image: istockphoto
Address for correspondence: PO Box 1892 Penrith NSW 2751 Tel 02 4773 5800 Fax 02 4773 5801 Email: publications@cen.edu.au Website: www.cen.edu.au
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Advertising, circulation, and subscriptions: Anne Blair-Hickman, anne.blair-hickman@cen.edu.au Printer: Signs Publishing
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Publisher: Christian Education National Ltd.
Copyright: All material appearing in Nurture is copyright. It may be reproduced in part for study or training purposes subject to an inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source and with permission of the publisher. Publications committee: Managing Editor: Chris Parker Editor: Anne Blair-Hickman Committee: Margaret Aitchison, Ruth Thompson, Neil Pierson, Amy Moore. Editorial policy: 1. To challenge Christian parents to a fuller and deeper responsibility towards the training and education of their children.
2. To bring before the Christian community the compelling claims of Christ-centred education which supports parents in this task. The opinions expressed in editorials, articles, reviews, letters, and advertising are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Christian Education National Ltd. Letters to the editor are invited: letters may be edited to meet editorial requirements. All advertising/ editorial copy may be edited, condensed, or refused for publication. Anonymous contributions will not be published.
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