Communities for Growth
““And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” ”
With the first semester done and dusted, this is always a great time to reflect on our success and growth across the year. Emmanuel is a fantastic school community with enormous potential. We are truly starting to see this potential. Our students are being challenged in their learning like never before, with curiosity and enquiry at the heart of everything we do. Another major focus has been placed on the student’s mindset and desire for growth. Academic growth is the measurable progress a student makes in their learning and is traceable across the year. This growth begins in the classroom with engaging curriculum and is partnered with effective relationships with the teaching staff. This sets a strong foundation for a child’s learning and enables them to feel a sense of belonging.
It often takes time for schools to settle into their routines. Time for students to understand their subjects, time for teachers to know their students, and time for the school community to understand the direction a school is heading. In essence, a roadmap. Once this roadmap is ironed out, it is far clearer to know the direction we are heading in together and what role we all play in achieving our desired goals. With one foot in front of the other, progress is made. Often these steps are small and incremental, we sometimes do not even notice them until we reflect on how far we have come.
All through the Bible we can find many examples of growing together. God wills us the ability to love one another and share in each other’s blessings. We are blessed every day with opportunities to share in His Word and use these as motivation to keep working, to keep moving forward together. ‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ Hebrews 10:24-25. 1 Thessalonians also says: ‘Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’
But, sometimes growth cannot be measured. It does not appear as numbers in charts or on spreadsheets, but is seen and felt in our relationships with the people around us. This growth can be acknowledged as the love we have for one another and the excitement we share in our collective success. Growth is all around us, as is Jesus and His love He has for our school community. This is perhaps the greatest form of growth we can have.
Brad Pharaoh - Principal
