Welcome to 2022

2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ".

Although I am welcoming you to a very unusual commencement of a school year with a staggered physical start for students, my prayers for a positive and Christ-filled 2022 at the College are unphased. I am determined to not let the current circumstances define 2022 or take our focus off the ‘prize’ – for our young people to grow and flourish during 2022 in character, faith, skills and knowledge.

Pablo Casals was considered to be the preeminent Cellist of the first half of the 20th Century. When he was still playing his Cello in the middle of his tenth decade of life, a young reporter asked, “Mr. Casals, you are 95 years old and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice 6 hours a day? Mr. Casals answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.” Reflecting on Mr Casals’ response reminds me we are all a work in progress, not just our children. As we read in 2 Peter 3:18 there remains much growing for us all – we are all ‘works in progress’ as we seek to become more Christlike. As we continue to grow in Christ we are more able to “go and bear fruit” (John 15: 9-17). My prayer for 2022 is an abundant harvest!

As I type and look out of my office window I am reminded our children and ourselves are not the only ‘work in progress’ as we enter the 2022 school year (my office overlooks the new Nature Playground at South Plympton – certainly still a ‘work in progress’). Much construction has been underway over the holidays across the College and is still in progress (I am sure the wait will be worth it….).