Toongabbie Christian College

MICHAEL OCKERT (continued…)

To cut a long story short, this simple exchange set off a chain of events that ultimately led me to a real and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. There is simply no greater gift that anyone could receive and I am eternally grateful to this school and the believing staff members that so willingly modelled and shared that message with me.

HEATHER GREBERT

Twenty-one years of teaching at Toongabbie Christian College has created significant memories of life with students, colleagues and the parent community. I have chosen a few that people may fondly remember because I know I do. At the moment, I am watching a program on TV that involves building with ‘little bricks’. It reminds me of the lovely memory I have of organising a dual GOLD Group reward incursion. On one day we had a LEGO technic build afternoon in which we invited a pseudo ‘brick person’ to help the students expand their imaginations through LEGO technic robot creations. On the other day we had a very sophisticated high tea. The students decorated their own cupcakes, made invitations and beaded Christmas decorations and then invited the Assistant Principal Primary to a high tea celebration. We learnt how to hold a teacup with our little fingers sticking out and how to perfect the art of ‘small talk’. Moments in time when my class stopped… When the MPC was being built, there was an intriguing conveyor belt set up just outside my classroom window, that sent bricks and roof tiles up to the top of the building. Every time the workers cranked that machine up, we had to stop and watch. ‘RIGHT! Back to spelling!’ When the garbage was regularly being collected – again just outside my classroom window – we stopped to see the truck hook up the bins, tip them into the truck and then reverse so expertly and head off on its way. ‘RIGHT! Back to spelling!’ When a bird flew into the room and straight into the fans (which were on at the time!) and landed on a child’s desk. We stopped and got out of there… fast. ‘RIGHT! Back to spelling!’ I learnt that if something unusual is happening right outside your classroom window there is no point in trying to continue, just stop and look. And finally, the year the Library was being renovated, I set the students in my class the challenge of how to move the library books from their temporary home in what is now the Uniform Shop back to the library. Well, we had everything from conveyor belts to helicopters, to Kindergarten students carrying four books at a time across the playground to the library. Very creative! I was privileged to teach many beautiful, creative students over those years, whose hearts were soft to God and His work in their lives. This was the result of a partnership between parents and school. I honour all the godly parents who encouraged their children to trust, love and follow the Lord as their Friend and Saviour. They put their trust in me and prayed for me (through some tough times). When my husband underwent chemo for cancer, I had parents inform me that they were undertaking to faithfully pray for us, as was their Bible study group or connect group. I say today that the prayer support I received from these godly parents was like the hands of grace upholding me. Thank you, parents, for the support you give us to be the best teachers we can be. I pray that God will continue to bless TCC.

Parent 1998-2007 Teacher 1999-2020

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