Recently we welcomed our Year 7, 2023 students onto the campus for their Orientation Day. Meeting new families at the front of the administration block where the five House tents were set up in the Faction House colours, was an opportunity to have some intentional conversations. Several of the students expressed their excitement of the day but confessed that they were also a little nervous and anxious, which is a feeling that one would expect. Praise God the day went well, and many students went home happy having made new friends.
Karen Young, a psychologist, and the founder of “Hey Sigmund”, an international online resource providing information on anxiety and neurodevelopment of children hosts a session called: Strengthening Children and Teens Against Anxiety. The very need to host these meetings tells us that anxiety and processing the feelings of anxiety can be debilitating for our young people. Karen explains that “anxiety is a very normal part of being human, however for as many as one in five children it can reach intrusive levels, interfering with family life, friendships, and school performance”. If your child is experiencing these debilitating levels of anxiety, please contact the school so we can work together to identify practical strategies to help our children thrive through anxiety, whether it’s everyday levels of anxiety or more intrusive.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) says; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. It seems how we direct our thoughts determines our perception of the world, events, and our life experiences.
Term 4 is a time when we farewell our Year 12 students and welcome back our Alumni. In the last few weeks, we have welcomed our parents and extended families at the Year 12 farewell assembly and a few days later we celebrated graduation with the valedictory dinner held at Optus Stadium. It was a joy to see our Year 12s receive awards and certificates to celebrate their achievements at the end of their school career. We then hosted two events for our Alumni in our 10-year and 20-year school reunions. These events were well attended and after meeting in the Maali Mia the group toured the school and posed for a reunion photo, organising to meet and enjoy a meal later in the day. We thank our students and Alumni for setting the tone of and celebrating community at Swan Christian College.
We hope these last few weeks of the academic year for 2022 is a time where our students and families enjoy the various events planned on campus and continue to celebrate community and family. We trust that as we place our hope in God, we will not be anxious about anything but experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.
Dr Darnelle Pretorius
Principal