As the sun rose this morning, I watched as a bright orange glow came up over the horizon. From my vantage point I got to observe as the light gradually grew from the horizon and filled the sky. It was a majestic skyline, filled with bright colours and light beams streaming across the valley, right to where DCS is found. It was just as if the sky was ‘turning the lights on’ over the school, ready for the 2021 school year. Only a few hours later, after the team had shared devotions together and spent time praying in teams, the families started arriving and the light started beaming from the faces, with huge smiles, of our children returning to school.
As we enter the first week of the 2021 school year, I firstly wish to welcome all our new families to the DCS Community. It is an honour to partner and do life with you and your family. Adding two additional classes for this year has enabled us to include and welcome 31 new Kindergarten students and another 22 new students commencing throughout Prep to Year 6. As I walked around the school grounds this morning, welcoming back returning students and welcoming our new students, it was a joy to see how new children had connected with fellow DCS students over the break. Therefore, I would like to pass on a deep heart-felt welcome to each of you, I trust you find your new Christian community one of encouragement and Godly love and unity. I too sincerely say ‘welcome back’ to our returning students and families, it is wonderful to see your beautiful smiles back in our community for another academic year.
As our students commence this year it is our prayer that they know they are valued, known and loved in this community. We are looking forward to seeing them connect, belong and build long lasting friendships and grow into our community. It is our prayer that as parents you find a community where you can grow and serve too. Our theme for 2021 is based on the Bible passage found in Ephesians:
A Prayer for the DCS Community
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
Our hope is that each member of our community; our staff, parents and especially our students, can go deeper in 2021, and in going deeper they can reach higher in their knowledge, learning and faith! We love that His love reaches wide, long, high and deep! The first days of a new school year are blessed times for our students.
The very first day is always one full of mixed emotions, nerves, sometimes concern, but also joy and excitement – for students, parents and teachers! We are so excited for this year ahead and sharing in raising and encouraging your children with you.
I too would like to welcome the following teaching staff members to the DCS team in 2021. Mr Zak Stewart teaching 1/2S; Mrs Lauren Heagney teaching our second Kindergarten class; Mr Jesse Dance teaching Physical Education classes and some class time in Year 5/6C; and Mrs Jess Bellchambers will be assisting the Student Services team and some new PreSchool activities in 2021.
Feel free to come and introduce yourself to our new team members! The three most important things to have are faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
