The View

Friday, 28 Feb 2025

2025 Chapel Themes
This year, our Secondary Chapel theme is Mosaic. A mosaic is made up of different pieces, each unique in shape, colour, and size. When all the pieces are put together, they form a beautiful picture. In the same way, our lives are made up of different experiences, strengths, and people....
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Friday, 21 Feb 2025

Year 7 & 12: A Journey of Growth and Teamwork
Year 12 students first embarked on their journey at Crosslands as Year 7 students in 2020, and now, as they approach the end of their high school years, they returned to Crosslands to reflect on how they have grown. Meanwhile, the Year 7 cohort of 2025 attended their first camp...
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Friday, 14 Feb 2025

Creating Ripples
A teacher gave her students a simple task: she handed each of them a small pebble and asked them to drop it into a still pond. As the pebbles disappeared beneath the water, the students watched as ripples spread out, growing wider and wider until they reached the edges of...
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Thursday, 12 Dec 2024

Unexpected Places
As I watch the Kindy Concert each year I delight in the story of Jesus’ birth as it comes to life. We see a cast of adorable angels, shepherds, wisemen, Mary and Joseph and many more sharing the news that Jesus came to rescue His people. I love the surprise...
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Friday, 06 Dec 2024

Leaving a Legacy
The word legacy is often defined as "the long-lasting impact of particular events and actions". At Avondale School, one such legacy is our cherished tradition of the Kindy Concert, which has been one of our defining moments for students, staff, and families for over 20 years. This treasured event exemplifies...
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Friday, 29 Nov 2024

When You’re Hit by a Bus
When my youngest son was starting university we were well-prepared. We had planned, mapped and researched. However, on his first day, Newcastle experienced torrential rain. I worried about how my young driver would cope with not only navigating unfamiliar territory, but also dangerous conditions. He left with plenty of time...
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Friday, 22 Nov 2024

Welcome to the Countdown!
It’s that time of year when everyone is counting down, or perhaps panicking because others seem further along with their countdowns. Some of you were eager to put up your Christmas decorations and even beat the shops to it. Meanwhile, some of you can’t believe people are putting up their...
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Friday, 15 Nov 2024

Facing Life's Struggles
A few weeks ago, I experienced a small yet impactful lesson from an unexpected source. I looked at the mighty but regularly tamed hedge that needed trimming—a simple monthly task I usually tackle without a second thought. But this time, the hedge was to teach me a lesson: what should...
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Friday, 08 Nov 2024

Lessons in Letting Go
It started with a simple patch of grass: a pristine, well-manicured lawn I took pride in, convinced it represented beauty and order in our backyard. But my wife - a true gardener at heart - saw potential beyond the uniform green. She saw a canvas for diversity; a place where...
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