It is hard to believe that just 65 days ago, we were saying farewell to our students and wishing them a safe and relaxing break and looking forward to seeing them again in 2023. Well, 2023 has definitely arrived and, in fact, we’re already halfway through the second month of this year!
I trust that each of you had a fantastic break, whether you stayed at around home enjoying a ‘staycation’, travelled somewhere in Victoria or another state of Australia, or you may have been fortunate enough have to travel overseas. The Staff and I are so pleased that each of you have returned safe and well.
As we commence this new school year, I shared the following reading with our students as a form of a dedicating our 2023 school year and College to God:
“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:9-11)
As we move into a new year, we have a sense that we know for sure some things that are going to happen, such as looking fantastic in the updated school uniform; celebrating and enjoying our new facilities like Year 1-2 Building at the Werribee Campus and B-Block and newly refurbished Primary classroom at the Melton Campus; students attending excursions, camps, the Central Australia Mission exposure trip, and some of our Senior French students will be going on a study tour of France.
We also have a sense that there are some things we hope will happen. Such getting a great mark for a piece of work; being the next Downball Champion so that you get to take on Mrs Sobey (who is the current Staff Downball Campion!); being selected to represent the College at an interschool sporting competition; and, for those poor long suffering North Melbourne (AFL) supporters like me, that the mighty Kangaroos might win more than two matches this year!
However, there other things that we have no idea of what’s in store for this year. It’s like when we try to think, and our minds are blank!
For our God, His mind is never blank and doesn’t need to hope for things to happen. For Him, He already knows what’s going to happen for us month by month, week by week, even every day, hour and minute; in fact, He knows what will happen second by second.
Nothing ever catches Him by surprise, as nothing can happen outside of His knowing. He will be there in every moment. Sometimes we’ll know this, other times we’ll have no idea. However, as the writer of Isaiah has indicated in the verse above, “He is there in the midst of it all and He knows and He is able to lead and guide us each step of the way, refreshing, strengthening and sustaining us.”
In 1982, Heathdale Christian College commenced with 37 students and a few teachers. As we commence the 2023 school year, when we include all the Kinder children and all students from both the Melton and Werribee campuses, we have 2100 students and more than 360 staff across the College!
This fact doesn’t surprise God, because He knew that we would grow to this size over 40 years. He knows how big Heathdale Christian College will be in 140 years! This is because God knows all things. He with us and He has guided us each step of the way for the past 40 years. He is faithful, as He promises to continue to refresh, strengthen and sustain us today, tomorrow and forevermore.
This is why I want to take a moment in this first newsletter for the year to say: thanks be to You, God. Thank you for the way You have guided us in the past and will do so into the future.
As we stand here together on the threshold of a new school year, we can have a deep sense of comfort and confidence, simply because even though we may not know in fine detail what’s going to take place, our confidence and assurance based upon the fact that God – our God – knows exactly what’s in store for us in 2023 and we can fully trust Him!
Blessings,
Ross Grace
Executive Principal