Principal's Christmas message

By Mr Christopher Bradbury, Principal

Christmas is a special time of the year. Children always bring joy and happiness within a school context and it's hard not to share in their excitement for Christmas. As our world and lifestyles are becoming increasingly faster and busier, Christmas continues to take on more meaning in the importance of spending quality time with family and enjoying the celebratory nature of the festive season.

There are many valuable teaching moments around Christmas, and it is essential that we highlight the enormous value of this special time of the year.

Christmas teaches us about giving: We all like receiving gifts, however, Christmas is all about giving. There is a real sense of satisfaction in placing great thought into the appropriate gift for that special someone. Schools talk about care, generosity and commitment regularly throughout the year; however, Christmas is based on that generous spirit of supporting and helping others in need.

Christmas teaches us about the importance of family: Christmas is about bringing people together. We need to value family throughout the year; however, Christmas is one time in the year where we make the opportunity to get together and celebrate this special occasion. One of the great joys in life is watching and celebrating our children opening their presents and engaging in the excitement of the arrival of Santa. It should be a time for healthy conversation, love and cherishing heartfelt moments.

Christmas teaches us about joy: Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. The carols, the hymns, the decorations and the parties. Happiness and positivity are critical to our long-term wellbeing, and it serves to highlight the importance of developing that joyful spirit throughout the year.

Christmas teaches us about gratitude: We find more satisfaction in life when we are grateful and appreciate what we have in life. Christmas is the perfect time to be thankful for family, friends and opportunities. The holiday season provides us with the space to relax and enjoy the company of those we love.

Christmas teaches us about tradition and growth: Building positive memories and experiences is so important for our personal development and honouring traditions and building new ones is an important part of Christmas. It allows us to associate practices with this special time of year and build positive relationships. Furthermore, Christmas marks a time for reflection in appreciating our growth. With the end of the year, we can personally review the ups and downs, while setting positive goals for the New Year.

As this bustling school year draws to a close, we want to extend our warmest wishes and deepest gratitude to every member of our incredible school community – our students, staff and families.

May this festive season be filled with joy, peace and quality time with loved ones. We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy a well-deserved break.