Welcome to the first edition of our College newsletter for the 2026 academic year! 

The start of a new school year is always such an exciting time, and this year has been no exception. We have welcomed a number of new staff to the College and we feel blessed to have them as a part of our community. We especially welcome our new students to the College, and it has been encouraging to see how well our new students have settled, particularly our Prep students. Our theme for 2026 is "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" with Psalm 139:14 as the accompanying scripture:

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

This scripture speaks to God’s wonderful craftmanship and His intentional design for us individually. The Psalm also serves as a signpost that in everything, we should give God the glory. The Psalm focusses on God’s omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (ever-present), and omnipotence (all-powerful), and the instruction that I will praise you serves as a reminder of the glory we are to give God in how He has created us and what He has created us for. We use our 2026 theme as a prompt to reflect on what it looks like to know that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that this is reflective of God being a fearful and wonderful Maker.

It was wonderful to hear of the transformative experience that 9 students and 2 staff had in January as they embarked on our first Nepal Mission trip. Our students and staff were able to see firsthand the work of Transform the Nations and their ministry, and also see the fruit of the fundraising efforts of the St Andrews community over the past 12 months. We look forward to hearing more from our students about their experiences, and now set our eyes on the 2027 Nepal Mission trip.

Over the past few weeks, I have found myself reflecting deeply on the gift of joy—not the kind that comes only when everything is perfect, but the steady, grounded joy that grows from gratitude, connection, and God’s presence in our everyday lives.

This kind of joy has been woven through so many moments across our College in Term 1. It has been there in the laughter spilling out of classrooms, in Senior students looking after their Primary School buddies, in the simple warmth of staff greeting students by name each morning. These may seem like small things, but together they shape the kind of community we are becoming marked by belonging, kindness, and hope.

Our Visible Wellbeing (VWB) Framework, created by Professor Lea Waters, encourages us to intentionally notice, build, and embed wellbeing practices into the rhythm of school life. Joy is central to this work. It is both a sign of wellbeing and a strength that fuels learning, resilience, and authentic connection. Each day, our staff are finding meaningful ways to weave these practices into learning moments so that every child is supported to flourish. In this way, our College Pedagogical Framework and Wellbeing Framework work hand‑in‑hand, forming a strong foundation for both growth and learning.

As we move through this busy term, I want to gently encourage each of us to pause and notice moments of joy. They are often quiet and easily overlooked, but they renew us. Joy reminds us—especially in times of pressure or uncertainty—that God is at work, that we are surrounded by people who care, and that goodness can always be found in each day.

As you look back on Term 1, 2026 and read the many contributions in this newsletter, may you feel encouraged. May you find reasons to celebrate the learning, the growing, and the many moments—big and small—that have shaped this term. And above all, may you choose joy.

My prayer is that you and your family experience God’s peace and strength in every circumstance. I am deeply thankful for our students, staff, and families who together create the joyful, vibrant culture of our College.

With warm regards,