Principal's Reflection - 22 November

A Season of Celebrations

It seems like a long time ago, but it has been only five weeks since we kicked off the first of our Term 4 celebrations with Foundation Day, followed the next day by the Middle and Senior Schools Awards Evening. Since then we have farewelled our Year 12s with their Formal and their Graduation Service, Wednesday morning our ELC Junior room held their Christmas celebration, and last night we were treated to very cute performances by our Pre-Kindy and Kindy students. Tonight we will be amazed by our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students at their Christmas concerts, and then next week will cap off our celebrations with the Year 3 - 6 Celebration Evening, Year 6 Liturgy and Celebration Day, Exodus Week in the Middle School, and the Year 9 Social. What a busy and exciting time of the year! 

Of course there is a much more important celebration on the horizon, Christmas, the time of year when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Among all the presents, food, drink and other festivities, I encourage our students and families to consider the gift of Jesus, which was given to all mankind. It is a special and holy time of the year, and sometimes we tend to overlook its significance among all the other excitement. 

Farewell Mrs Hutchings and Mrs Peterson

Earlier in the year I announced via the newsletter that two stalwarts of the Performing Arts team, Mrs Leanne Hutchings and Mrs Neridah Peterson, were retiring at the end of 2024. At the time I said that it was not time for farewells. With this being the last newsletter of the year, the time for farewells has now come. It is impossible to describe the impact that Mrs Hutchings, in her 30 years at St Luke’s, and Mrs Peterson, in her 20 years at St Luke’s, have had on hundreds of staff, and thousands of students and families. They leave behind a significant legacy. We recently held a farewell concert which was attended by current and former students, staff and families. It was a wonderful celebration of the Performing Arts program that Mrs Hutchings and Mrs Petersen have had a significant hand in building. The presence of so many Old Saints, including some who joined our current bands and orchestras on stage, is a testament to the respect in which Mrs Hutchings and Mrs Peterson are held.

We also farewell a number of other staff from St Luke’s this year, and as per our tradition, will acknowledge them at our End of Year Worship Service. All members of the St Luke’s Community are welcome to join us for this Christmas-themed Service on Thursday 28 November, commencing at 1.30 pm in the Performance Centre.

Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Times

We wish to advise families that the Uniform Shop will be closed from Monday 9 December. 

The Uniform Shop will reopen on Monday 13 January 2025 at the following times:

• Monday 13 January to Friday 17 January - 7.45 am to 3.30 pm every day (Bookings only)
• Monday 20 January to Friday 24 January - 7.45 am to 3.30 pm every day

Normal Term time opening hours will resume on Monday 27 January 2025.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our School,

Matthew Hughes

Principal