Term 2, Week 4

Change – a constant part of living today

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the hospitalisation of Mr Korocz and Mrs Doak has seen some changes. These changes require adjustment both to ourselves and to those around us.

Students have replaced their normal routines with NAPLAN assessments for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and Mid-Year Exams for Years 8-11.

Part of our mandate at School is to help our students prepare to face a world of constant change. I recently met with a prospective new parent to the School who had faced a major career change – from Scientist to Dentist. Career pathways are changing and tomorrow’s business person will need to be able to adapt to change and wisely assess the market trends and creatively make adjustments accordingly.

As humans, we so often see the need for change but don’t feel comfortable when change happens. It’s so much easier to stick to what one has grown accustomed to, whether positive or negative.

A good Biblical illustration of this is seen in the book of Exodus where the Israelites, who had been in slavery to the Egyptians for hundreds of years, had been praying for freedom. However, once they were freed, they quickly turned to whinging when they faced some hardship. Some even expressed their desire to return to slavery back in Egypt.

We can sometimes revert to the same mindset when a need for change is envisaged. We, as the Israelites did, need to see a vision for the new and see the positives and speak them out. When we step into change we often realise it is not as difficult as we had feared.

With imposed change we have to accept and resiliently face it. But personal change requires each of us to own and drive it, just like we do when we drive our cars – hands on the steering wheel and foot on the accelerator.

As God was with the Israelites through the process, He promises to be with each of us through all our changes.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Deut 31:8

Barry Southwell
Acting Headmaster