We are living through increasingly troublesome times: the evolving Israel-Iran war, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, etc. How can we as adults best support our young people in times like these, and in ways that support them through whatever challenges they may face?

Being positive and thankful is a proven strategy, but perhaps a reminder that life is fragile and that sorrows are not far away from any of us is a good reality check. Just recently I heard of a forty-something year old husband and father who appeared to be fit and healthy who died of a stroke leaving behind a grieving wife and three children. How does anyone survive such trauma? In John 16:33 Jesus stated ‘ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” . So many, me included, treasure the peace that is to be found in a relationship with Jesus through prayer, reading Scripture, attending weekly worship services, and sharing faith. Jesus promises and delivers peace to the young and old amid life’s awful moments.

The Bible contains over 3500 promises of God’s care and love for us. Philippians 4: 6-7 states ‘ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus .’ Prayer is one of the greatest tools in life’s toolbox because it gives us access to ‘the boundless resources of Omnipotence’. Is there something that you or your child/ren are worried about? Why not pray and experience God’s peace? If you’re not the praying type, reach out to someone who is.

There are many online tools that provide great ideas and support like the FREE resource for parents: Thrive in 2025: Empowered Parents Summit 2025 from July 14-18. 40+ leading experts reveal their newest discoveries and advice on discipline without damage, screen addiction, preventing family disconnect, overcoming parental burnout, and helping your kids thrive in an overwhelming world. While I can’t verify or endorse Strategic Parenting , Trust Pilot ranks them as 4.7/5 from 430 reviews.

Be inspired by the wonderful range of items in our newsletter and all the best with your parenting journey.

God bless,

Craig Young

Principal

Dear School Families and community,

We are really looking forward to supporting our Home and School Movie Night on Saturday, 28th June. This exciting event is a fantastic opportunity to come together, enjoy a fun evening, and support a meaningful cause. Our Year 11 students will be leading fundraising efforts during the night to support their upcoming Fiji Mission Trip in September and October, where they’ll be making a difference at Vatuvonu Adventist School .

Movie Night Details

Join us for an evening filled with entertainment and delicious food! Our students will be serving up a variety of treats, including pizza, pasta, snacks, ice cream, and drinks . All profits from food and drink sales will directly fund the Fiji Mission Trip work on the ground, so every bite you take helps support this incredible initiative. Bring your family, friends, and appetite, and let’s make it a memorable night!

Fiji Mission Trip: Making a Difference

This year marks the third time our school is returning to Vatuvonu Adventist School in Fiji, and the needs are greater than ever. One of the most urgent priorities is repairing the school’s broken 25kva generator , which has left them without power for over 12 months . The generator powers essential school operations, running for just 2 hours daily during dinner due to budget constraints. Repairing it will cost $5,000 , and your support will help restore reliable power, which will significantly improve the living experience for staff and students at Vatuvonu.

The Primary School Athletics Carnival was a wonderful day filled with great sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and team spirit! A big thank you goes to the Year 6 parents for organizing and running the fundraiser — your kindness and generosity make a huge difference. We’re also truly appreciative of all the teachers who pitched in to help make the day a success. It was great to see everyone having such a fantastic time and making memories together!

Congratulations to Leighton E on her selection to represent the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) team at the 2025 NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) Girls Basketball Championships.

The CSSA Cross Country was a fantastic event! All of our students were fully engaged, putting in their best effort and demonstrating great sportsmanship along the way. It was a pleasure to see their enthusiasm, determination, and positive attitudes — a real reflection of their character and the values we celebrate.

The Primary School Athletics Carnival was a wonderful day filled with great sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and team spirit! A big thank you goes to the Year 6 parents for organizing and running the fundraiser — your kindness and generosity make a huge difference. We’re also truly appreciative of all the teachers who pitched in to help make the day a success. It was great to see everyone having such a fantastic time and making memories together!

At the Stage 3 Adventist Basketball Gala Day, both the boys and girls teams represented the school with outstanding effort and spirit. The boys had a fantastic run, playing with determination and skill to finish as runners-up in a close competition. The girls team went one step further, showing great teamwork and energy to take out the championship! Throughout the day, both teams displayed excellent sportsmanship, supporting each other and enjoying the experience on and off the court. It was a great day of basketball, and the students should be very proud of their achievements.

This week, our school was excited to welcome the Healthy Harold Life Education Van! Students from Prep to Year 6 had the opportunity to step inside the van and take part in engaging, age-appropriate lessons about making safe and healthy choices. Guided by the ever-popular giraffe, Healthy Harold, students explored topics such as personal safety, healthy friendships, making positive decisions, and the importance of looking after their bodies and minds. The interactive sessions were a highlight for all year levels, helping to build essential life skills in a fun, memorable way.

Last Friday, the Year 7 Chinese students visited the city for an immersive cultural experience. They explored Chinatown, visited the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and enjoyed a Yum Cha lunch.

At Yum Cha, the students practised using chopsticks and tried a range of traditional Chinese dishes. They also spoke to the waiter and waitress in Chinese, using the opportunity to improve their language skills in a real-life setting.

In the Chinese Garden, the students admired the pavilions, waterfall, dragon wall, and the statues of the Zodiac animals. A special highlight was discovering a portrait of a Chinese Emperor.

It was a wonderful excursion, and the students thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the day.

The year 12 cohort spent two days over June 10th & 11th at CRU Galston for the annual study retreat. The CRU venue is an excellent setting for our students to spend time engaged in HSC preparation and to enjoy some down time in the outdoors. On Tuesday, students were equipped with exam preparation and response strategies from our English, Maths and HSIE staff, while Wednesday involved visits from our PDHPE, Visual Arts, Business and Science HSC teachers. All of our HSC teachers provided an array of subject specific resources for the two days. The sessions are a great opportunity for our students to prepare specifically for what lies ahead in the HSC exams. On Tuesday afternoon students enjoyed time in the sun playing football, basketball and volleyball, with an evening worship led by Pr Nick Kross. Thanks to our students for their engagement in the program, and to our staff for their time and expertise.

Can you assist in hosting Vittorio from Italy or Martin from Spain for 5 months. Both the boys are due to arrive in Australia on the 12th of July for their exchange.

You will be provided a weekly stipend to support with meals and utility bills

You don’t have to commit to hosting for the full 5 months, the boys can have two families across their 5 month exchanges.

Any assistance would be much appreciated. Please reach out directly to the Director of Students of the World, Sandeep at [email protected] to discuss further.

Congratulations to Willa C (KD), Ishika K (3K) and Gemma S (6A) who have all completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Keep up the great reading!

The Premier’s Reading Challenge does not finish until September 19, so why not give it a go? Please contact Mrs Savage if you need your username and password. Happy Reading!

The Library WebAPP is a great place to keep up with library news, search the catalogue, check your child’s borrowing details and view their borrowing history. Go to bit.ly/waslibrary ( Wahroonga Adventist School (accessit.online) ) and follow the instructions on the Guest page to log-in to your child’s records.

This week is the last week of borrowing for Prep students for this term. Please make sure all library books are returned to the library before the school holidays.

Borrowing continues up to the holidays for all other students. If you would like your child to have extra books for holiday reading (maximum of 10 books), please email me your request ([email protected]) and these books can be collected in the last week of term.

August 14: P-4 Book Week Performance ‘Treasure Hunt’

August 18: P-6 Book Week dress up day

August 18-22: CBCA Book Week ‘Book an Adventure!’

September 19: Premier’s Reading Challenge entries due

Term 3: Library Bag Podcasts (Years 5-6)

Last week the library received a very special book donation from Elijah K in 1B. Elijah, along with his Year 1 and 2 classmates, have been enjoying listening to Madeline stories during library class this term. When he told his Granny about the Madeline stories, she decided to donate her 65-year-old copy of ‘Madeline’s Rescue’, gifted to her in 1960, to our library to be enjoyed by many more children for years to come. Thank you for your kind donation, Glynis.

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 8:20 - 9:30 AM

Thursday 2.30 - 3:30 PM

Friday CLOSED

Please order through Flexischools for any orders where you know your sizing and what you may need. Flexischool orders will be collected from the office for High School and dropped to classes for Primary school on Thursdays and Fridays.