From The Chaplain

From the Chaplain

Welcome back to the new school year to everyone in the SCEGGS community. I look forward to catching up with all of you or meeting you for the first time soon (even if it’s just a friendly wave at the gate in the morning). I hope and pray that this year will be one of fulfilment and joy in all that you do.

Harvest Festival

In Week 2 this year, we celebrate Harvest Festival, an event in the Christian calendar which focuses on what we have and what we can give. Each girl is asked to bring to school at least one non-perishable food item which will eventually be distributed to those in our city whose lives have been affected by misfortune. Here is a list of items that we would be suitable:

It is estimated that over two million Australians need food relief at the moment due to the cost of living crisis and other unpredictable circumstances. Unfortunately, that number is growing each day with  almost half of that number being children, as their parents struggle to put food on the table. Many of these children often go to school without breakfast, or to bed without dinner. The demand is urgent.

Harvest Festival recognises all of the good things that we have been given and the opportunity to give to those in need. We continue to pray for those affected and dealing with great loss and trauma. We will continue to consider ways that we as a community may be able to help in the process of restoration, particularly in light of the last few years.

Could you please have your daughter bring in her item(s) by Monday 5 February. Each year, the Chapel is decorated beautifully with these items and other produce. At the end of the week the food will be delivered to Vinnies Support Centre in Redfern for distribution. I appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness in these difficult times.

“Rough Edges” Cooking with love: A great opportunity that the whole community can be involved in.

SCEGGS has had a great connection to many of the local welfare agencies for a long period of time. One of those services that we are consistently working with is Rough Edges, another community centre for the poor, lonely and marginalised, located under the hall of St John’s Anglican Church, Darlinghurst. Throughout the week our staff take whatever leftover food we have at the end of the day from our cafeteria to Rough Edges so that they can provide it to those that attend this centre.

Unfortunately on Monday nights, food is difficult to come by for the centre. We began a program in 2022 where families and individuals were invited to make fully cooked meals, enough for about 6-10 people, to feed those in need. Each week, 8-10 families or individuals cook enough food to feed Monday nights clientele.  It is not a regular weekly commitment as we have a roster where most people cook no more than once a term. With the more people that we have involved, the more we can share the love around. The food gets dropped off to me at the Forbes St gate (or the Primary School office) on a Monday morning and I deliver it to Rough Edges later that day. If you would like to join our current team of generous volunteers or have further questions, please let me know via email (Garry Lee-Lindsay). I have a list of menu ideas, preparation requirements and other important information that I can send you. It has been a great thing for us as a school community to be involved in and a great thing for our local community as well.

The SCEGGS Podcast “Walk The Mile” Episode 49: New Beginnings  

I would like to invite all members of our community to have a listen to our school podcast “Walk The Mile”. The name comes from one of our popular chapel hymns that speaks about looking out for one another and sharing the load. The podcast began as an experiment during the COVID lockdowns and has continued to provide conversations that anyone can relate too. It’s a good way of getting a feel for our community both inside and beyond the Green Gate.

This episode addresses the issues that might occur when starting school: whether it be for the first time, a new school or a new year. Heidi Anderson (a very experienced Kindergarten teacher) and Ashleigh Smith (our current Year 7 Coordinator) talk about what is important when starting or returning to school. There are massive changes to consider and we know it can be overwhelming for some, students and parents alike. I hope you enjoy the conversation and find it to be helpful.

And a reminder that we are published on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcast and Deezer, so you can access it easier from your preferred device. I always welcome your feedback or any ideas you may have for further episodes. You will find each podcast as they are produced in this newsletter and on the other platforms as well as our website.

Rev. Garry Lee-Lindsay
School Chaplain