Dear Parklands Family,

Congratulations for making it through to the end of the 2020 Academic Year.  As you start your holiday break, and head toward Christmas, I pray that your family find the time to re-connect and wind down.  I love this time of year, and I love spending Christmas with my family.  Our last few Christmases were spent on one island or another in the Philippines, soaking up the sun and the sand.  While I loved having Christmas in a different and somewhat exotic location, what made it special was having my wife and kids (and a few good friends) with me, enjoying their company and sharing the adventure.

Having family close by makes any location “home”, and even though families can’t always spend Christmas together, I think most of us are always thinking about loved ones near and far during the festive season. This year I get to have most of my family come to me.  My house will be a busy mess as I attempt to house, feed and entertain my siblings and parents, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

During this Christmas Break, please know that I will be thinking of our College Family as well.  This year, I have re-appreciated the value of belonging to an extended school family, and have loved my interactions within the school.  At the end of this year we said goodbye to our Year 12 students, and sent them into the world as prepared as we could possible make them.  Feeling like pseudo parents, we watched them go with great expectation for an exciting future, a little sadness and anxiety, and our prayers and best wishes.

This year we also welcomed new members to our College Family, and I have loved watching our staff embrace our newest members with love and care.  I was touched to see more than a few tears as students and teachers parted at the end of the year, with promises that they would see each other soon, and to stay safe! I suspect that even the most determined and grumpy teen will be looking forward to re-connecting with staff and fellow students in the New Year.

No matter your plans for this season, I pray you find the time to really appreciate your family and friends.  May your Christmas celebration in 2020 be a blessing to you all, and may God grant you peace and rest despite the sometimes hectic nature of the holiday season.   On Christmas Day, please stop and pause and consider the miracle of Christmas, and the giving of God’s greatest gift to humanity, Jesus.

Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Whatever tradition or routine you follow, God calls you to celebrate His love for us this Christmas, and welcomes you into His family.  He is our great, Heavenly Father and His love is unending.

I trust you will have a great Christmas, and I look forward to welcoming you back in late January.  May God bless you and keep you these holidays.

Gary Cully
Principal