As I begin to write my final newsletter of the year, I reflect on all that has been achieved throughout 2023, as well as all the many wonderful people who came together to be part of our St Thomas community. In the lead up to Christmas it can be easy to focus or become misguided on the “reason for the season”, this is also true when we reflect on school life.

The two words that highlight this for me are happiness and joy. In modern life we are inundated with narrative and imagery that will give us happiness - this seems to be a goal for many, especially our young people. For me, happiness is a little bit like instant gratification - it is a moment in time, it passes and is usually associated to an experience or outcome.

In school life we inadvertently tend to celebrate achievements and outcomes. In this measure, 2023 has been one out of the box! The trophy cabinet is overflowing! When each of these trophies are presented, we smile, cheer and it makes us feel happy. After some time, the happiness fades and we can forget about the joy.

Christmas and advent are a fantastic reminder of the true, longer lasting feeling of joy. Joy is based on faith, connection, relationship, belonging and purpose. It is based on service of giving of ourselves, of lifting others.

When I think of achievements and outcomes, I am always drawn to what sits in behind the outcomes. It is the relationships between teammates, mentors and students, coaches and players, parents and sons. It is the hours of hard work practicing and failing repeatedly, it is the resilience of not giving up when the task gets boring or difficult, it is not giving up when fatigue or tiredness hits. It is committing to an activity and sticking to it when easier or more enjoyable options are present, it is being there for your mates when they rely on you - and finally, it is the realisation that the outcome isn’t about you, it is about the other people you have improved or impacted. Joy lives in your heart forever.

This quote from Pope Francis best describes our advent journey “In this season of Advent, we are called to expand the horizons of our hearts, to be amazed by the life which presents itself each day with newness. In order to do this, we must learn to not depend on our own certainties, on our own established strategies, because the Lord comes at a time that we do not imagine. He comes to bring us into a more beautiful and grand dimension.”

This advent lets aim for joy rather than happiness, lets spend time with our friends and family, lets reconnect with those we may have become distanced with, let’s serve those who don’t have. As we prepare and celebrate advent, Pope Francis reminds us this “time we are given to welcome the lord who comes to encounter us. And to verify our longing for God to look forward and prepare for the coming of Christ’s return.”

I wish you all a safe and joyful Christmas and look forward to 2024 and all that it will bring.

At the end of each year it is with sadness that we farewell staff who leave us to continue their journey in different areas. I would like to acknowledge and thank these wonderful educators who have given of themselves in developing our young men here at St Thomas:

Mrs June Chey – Riccarton High School

Mr Daniel Meng – Christchurch Adventist School

Mr Jamie Thompson – Australia and beyond!

Mrs Megan Heather- Rarotonga Ministry of Education

Mr Leuma Gali- Aviva Health

Ms Sophie Li- Returning to China to teach

Mrs Judeena Quinn-Maternity Leave

Mr Anton Smail- Teachers College (UC)

We wish all of our staff departing the very best on the next chapter of their journeys.

School Yearbook 2023