ICS News 2026 – Term 3, Week 9

From the Principal

Every Child Matters

One of the greatest hopes every parent has is that their child will be known.

Not simply recognised by name, but genuinely known. Known for who they are, understood in their strengths and challenges, encouraged in their growth, and cared for as an individual.

In a world where schools can easily become large and impersonal, families are looking for more than an education. They are looking for a community where their child is seen, valued and nurtured.

At Illawarra Christian School, we believe this begins with a profound biblical truth: every child matters because every child matters to God.

From the very beginning of Scripture we are told that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This means every child possesses inherent worth and dignity, not because of what they achieve, but because of whose image they bear. Every child who walks through our gates is loved by God and has been entrusted to us with great care and responsibility.

The Psalmist celebrates God's intimate care for each person:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13–14)

Every child is wonderfully made. Every child has unique gifts, different ways of learning, individual personalities, and their own story. We do not expect every student to fit the same mould because God has not made them that way.

Because every child is different, we know that every child needs something different to flourish.

Some students thrive when they are stretched academically. Others need additional support to build confidence and discover their strengths. Some need encouragement to step outside their comfort zone, while others simply need a trusted adult who notices when they are having a difficult day.

Our goal has never been to treat every student exactly the same. Rather, it is to understand each child well enough to help them become the person God created them to be.

This belief shapes every aspect of life at ICS.

Our Wellbeing Framework reminds us that students flourish when they are supported socially, physically, emotionally, spiritually and cognitively. We recognise that learning and wellbeing are inseparable. Students learn best when they feel safe, valued, connected and hopeful. When students know they belong, they are far more likely to engage in learning, build healthy relationships and develop resilience for life's challenges.

This commitment is reflected in the many ways we intentionally care for our students. Every teacher has a pastoral responsibility, taking time to know the students in their care, while our Pastoral Care Coordinators, wellbeing staff and multidisciplinary team work closely with families to provide personalised support when it is needed. Our team includes counsellors, a psychologist and an occupational therapist, alongside dedicated teaching staff who work together to ensure students are supported to learn and grow.

Beyond the classroom, programs such as our buddy system, mentoring opportunities, year-level camps and leadership initiatives help students develop meaningful relationships, grow in confidence and experience a genuine sense of belonging within our community. These are not simply additional programs; they are practical expressions of our commitment to knowing each child well.

Our desire to know each child reflects the heart of God himself. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares:

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

Before a child is known by their teachers, classmates or friends, they are already fully known by God. As a school, we seek to reflect something of that same love and care by building relationships where students feel safe, valued and understood.

Our partnership with parents is central to this work. The Bible reminds us that parents hold the primary responsibility for raising and educating their children, and we are privileged to partner with families in that task. Together, we seek to provide an environment where children feel secure, supported and encouraged to become curious, courageous and compassionate young people who love God and serve others.

Ultimately, our vision extends beyond helping students succeed at school. The Apostle Paul reminds us:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

We believe every child has been uniquely gifted by God and has a purpose that extends far beyond the classroom. Our hope is that every student leaves ICS not only with knowledge and skills, but with wisdom, character and a growing understanding of how God can use their gifts to serve others.

That is why we invest so deeply in the wellbeing of every student. That is why relationships matter. That is why we work in close partnership with families. And that is why we seek to know every child as an individual.

At Illawarra Christian School, we don't simply educate students. We seek to know them, nurture them and help them flourish as the unique people God has created them to be.

Because every child matters.

Events

Musical tickets are now on sale!

Junior School

Primary Students Showcase their Creative Gifts

Kindergarten to Year 6 students took to the stage and gallery walls in Week 6, showcasing their musical, drama, dance and visual art talents at our Primary Creative and Performing Arts Evening.

It was a fantastic occasion, with students from Kindergarten to Year 6 displaying their creative gifts across musical, drama and dance performances, as well as through the display of various visual artworks.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to make it a memorable evening!

Secondary School

A Message to Our Year 12s and Their Families

Year 12, you've done it! This past week has been full of celebration, reflection, laughter, and a few tears as we've honoured your journey through 13 years of schooling at Illawarra Christian School.

After 13 years of schooling, your time in the classroom here at Illawarra Christian School has come to an end (well, technically last Friday!). It has been such a joy to hear about how you've grown over your years at ICS, and to see it firsthand this year. This past week has been full of celebration, reflection, laughter, and yes, a few tears as we've honoured your journey.

On Wednesday evening, our school community came together for the Year 12 Graduation Service. It was a special opportunity to give thanks to God for each student, celebrate all they have achieved, and pray for them as they enter the final stage of their school life. It was a truly memorable evening, and we are so grateful to the staff, families, and students who made it such a meaningful occasion.

I would also like to thank the many ICS staff who have poured into the lives of our Year 12 students over so many years. Whether in the classroom, on the sporting field, through co-curricular activities, or in countless everyday conversations, your investment has made a lasting difference and is deeply appreciated.

To our Year 12 students: as you turn your attention to the HSC, I encourage you to work hard, stay focused, and give it your very best. Take the time to thank those who have supported you along the way, and keep leaning on the Lord for strength, peace, and perspective in the weeks ahead.

Above all, my prayer is that you would know the love of your Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is in him, and him alone, that we find true meaning and purpose, and the perspective to hold on to what matters most. I'd love to leave you with one of my favourite passages of Scripture, 1 Peter 1:3-5:

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

We thank God for each one of you, Year 12, and we will continue to uphold you in prayer in the weeks to come.

I wish everyone a restful and refreshing holiday break, and we look forward to welcoming you all back for Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October.

Peter Richardson

Director of Secondary

Opportunities

Student success celebrated at the Gold Duke of Ed Dinner

Teaching and Learning

Let's Get Curious!

Mr David Russell - Director of Christian Pedagogy & Practice

At Illawarra Christian School, our vision is to be a dynamic, Christ-centred learning community where students are nurtured to be curious, courageous and compassionate lifelong learners who transform their communities. Curiosity sits right at the heart of that vision, and it's something you'll see come to life in classrooms across the school - a student following a question further than expected, a class pausing to explore an idea that's captured their imagination, a teacher saying, "I love that question, let's explore that a bit more!"

Curiosity is something every school values. It's easy to find in mission statements and syllabus documents alike, and NSW Education Minister Prue Car encouraged HSC students to "back yourself, be curious and be open to what comes next." So it's fair to ask: what's different about curiosity at ICS?

A better story for curiosity

Curiosity has been part of the human story from the very beginning. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were curious too. Genesis 3:6 tells us that when the woman saw the fruit was "good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it." Eve's curiosity wasn't wrong in itself - but it was misdirected. It was self-seeking, grounded in a desire to "be like God" (Genesis 3:5), rather than a desire to know God and his world more deeply.

That's why at ICS we don't simply teach curiosity for curiosity's sake. We want to ground it in a better story. God created us in his image and calls us to steward his world, using our minds and creativity to explore and understand it. We want our students to pair curiosity with critical thinking and discernment, and - more than that - to be curious in a way that draws them closer to God rather than feeding self-focused pride. Healthy curiosity should lead our students toward God's wisdom, not away from it.

As author Barnabas Piper puts it, "proper curiosity about the world opens our eyes to the wiles of the world and provides the discernment we need to fight against them. Curiosity about God anchors us in God's strength as we learn more, seek more, and see more of him."

What if curiosity led to worship?

This is the question we keep asking ourselves as a staff: what if the curiosity we nurture in our students didn't just make them better learners, but led them to wonder at God and his world?

One of our own teachers, Justin Cole, recently reflected: "...Rather than simply helping students become more curious, I want them to understand why God has made us curious in the first place and how he has designed curiosity to function. Curiosity is not an end in itself, it is a gift that draws us to explore, understand, and delight in the world God has created, ultimately leading us to know him more deeply."

Wow. So good!

Curiosity at home

You can help foster this same spirit at home. Next time your child asks an interesting question - about the world, about something they've learned, about anything at all - try asking them what it might reveal about God or the way he's made the world. You might be surprised where the conversation goes.

Foster curiosity → Ground it in God's purposes → Turn toward God in worship

Wellbeing

Supporting Every Student to Flourish

At Illawarra Christian School, we want every student to know that they are valued, known and cared for. We recognise that learning and wellbeing are closely connected. Students are more able to engage, learn and flourish when they feel safe, supported and connected to the people around them.

Our approach to student wellbeing is therefore not simply about responding when something goes wrong. It is about creating a community where students are encouraged to grow in confidence, resilience, relationships and independence, while knowing that there are trusted adults who will walk alongside them when they need additional support.

A team around each student

Our wellbeing support is strengthened by a multi-disciplinary team, bringing together a range of professional skills and perspectives. The team includes:

Psychologist - Mr Jair Graham provides professional assessment, support and advice around students' emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Counsellors – Mrs Jill English and Mrs Nada Appleby, provide students with a safe and confidential space to talk through challenges, relationships, emotions and experiences.
Occupational Therapists – Mrs Catherine Kroon supports students where sensory, emotional regulation, executive functioning or other factors may be affecting their participation and learning.
Wellbeing Officers – Miss Amelia Lainson and Mrs Jacqueline Vermeer, provide practical, relational support for students throughout the school day and help students develop strategies to navigate challenges.

Working together with classroom teachers, school leaders, learning support staff and families allows us to consider the whole child. Where appropriate, members of the team collaborate with parents and external professionals so that students experience consistency and continuity of care.

We believe parents are an essential part of supporting a child. When a student is experiencing ongoing challenges, we seek to work in partnership with parents to understand what is happening and consider how we can best support the student together.

Wellbeing Space - A place to pause and reset

Our Wellbeing Space provides another important part of our support for students.

School can sometimes feel overwhelming. A student may be experiencing strong emotions, finding it difficult to regulate, needing a quieter environment or simply needing some time away from the busyness of the playground or classroom.

The Wellbeing Space provides a calm and welcoming environment where students can take a break, particularly during recess and lunch, or access some time out during the school day when they need it.

This is not about removing students from learning or avoiding difficult situations. Rather, it provides an opportunity to pause, regulate and reset, with the support of caring adults.

For some students, accessing the Wellbeing Space may be a regular part of their support. For others, it may simply be somewhere they can go occasionally when they are having a particularly difficult day.

Known, supported and nurtured

Every student is different, and there is no single approach to wellbeing that works for everyone. That is why we value a team approach, strong relationships with teachers and families, and a range of supports that can be adapted to the needs of individual students.

At Illawarra Christian School, every child matters. We want each student to know that they are known by God, known by us and cared for as they grow.

Our hope is that, through strong relationships, thoughtful support and a Christ-centred community, students are equipped not simply to get through their school years, but to flourish within them.

Careers

Preparing Students for Life Beyond School

At Illawarra Christian School, we want our students to leave us well prepared for life beyond school. This includes helping them think carefully about the different pathways available to them; whether that involves university, TAFE, an apprenticeship, traineeship, employment, further training or another direction.

As a Christian school, we believe that thinking about the future is about more than simply choosing a job. God has made each of us uniquely, giving us different gifts, abilities, interests and strengths. As members of the body of Christ, we each have different opportunities to contribute and serve. We want our students to consider how they can faithfully use what God has given them, serving others and bringing glory to God through their work. This means recognising that every student is different and that there is no single pathway or definition of success.

We provide students with a range of opportunities throughout their secondary schooling to help them explore what life after school might look like. Careers Week exposes students to a wide range of occupations, industries and post-school options, helping them discover possibilities they may not have previously considered. Our Alumni Breakfast gives senior students the opportunity to hear directly from former ICS students about their experiences after school, the pathways they have taken and the lessons they have learned along the way.

Hayley and Peter from Tread Right Podiatry speaking with students

During Careers Week, and throughout the year, local industry speakers are invited onsite to present to students about pathways to various careers. Recently, Hayley and Peter from Tread Right Podiatry visited and shared with senior students the diverse career options within Podiatry. These instances are great opportunities for students to ask questions about industries of interest and connect with local employers.

Students are also supported by our dedicated careers staff, Mrs Bourke and Mrs Hancock, who provide individual guidance as students explore their options and make decisions about subjects, courses and post-school opportunities. Their support helps students think carefully about their interests, strengths and aspirations while navigating the many choices available to them.

In Year 12, students also have the opportunity to work with a mentor who can be another trusted person with whom they can talk through their hopes, questions and decisions about life beyond school. These conversations provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their options, seek wisdom and pray about how they might faithfully use the gifts God has given them.

Students engaging with a careers presentation

Our Year 10 Work Experience program provides another important opportunity for students to experience the world of work first-hand. Spending time in a workplace helps students develop an understanding of workplace expectations, discover areas of interest and begin to consider how their abilities and interests might be expressed in their future work.

Students also have opportunities to attend university discovery days, careers expos and other post-school pathway events, where they can explore courses, industries and training opportunities and speak directly with people working and studying in different fields.

What can success look like?

Success after ICS will look different for every student. For one student, it might be beginning a university degree; for another, an apprenticeship or traineeship; for another, entering the workforce, starting a business or pursuing further vocational training. The important question is not simply "What career will I have?" but "How can I faithfully use the gifts God has given me to serve others and glorify Him?" When starting conversations with students, they are prompted to consider the gifts God has given them and are encouraged to think about what they love and are skilled at in order to help them identify their gifts.

University: A student pursuing a degree and preparing for a profession such as teaching, medicine, engineering, law or business.
Trades and apprenticeships: A student developing practical skills through an apprenticeship and contributing through skilled work.
TAFE and vocational education: A student gaining qualifications and entering a specialised industry.
Direct employment: A student entering the workforce, developing skills and growing in responsibility and contribution.
Entrepreneurship: A student developing a business or pursuing an entrepreneurial opportunity using their particular strengths and interests.
Service-oriented careers: A student using their gifts in areas such as community services, ministry, education, health or social support.
Further exploration: A student who does not yet know exactly where they are heading but is taking a positive next step, gaining experience and continuing to develop their skills and understanding.

Ultimately, we want our students to leave ICS with more than a career plan. We want them to have a growing understanding of the gifts, abilities and interests God has given them and a desire to use these faithfully. Whatever pathway they pursue, our hope is that they will see their future work as more than personal achievement or financial security, but as an opportunity to serve others, contribute to their communities and glorify God.