Last week, over 300 local churches across Australia came together to record a blessing for this country and its people. The song offers a message of peace and encouragement, based on a powerful message from scripture (Numbers 6:22-27) that has been spoken over people’s lives for thousands of years. The purpose of the project was to celebrate denominational unity, cultural and creative diversity, and intergenerational faith. It is a message of peace and hope for us all.

Unity is about bringing many different parts into one; something that is whole. This is an excellent description of the community at TIGS and how we come together to form something quite special – something that is bigger than the collection of its individual components. I have been reminded recently of the importance of unity and encouragement for our community. It is often during times of crisis that we see the best in people – in our students, parents and staff – coming together to support each other and to adapt. More than just survive, we’ve seen so many examples of wonderful ideas, creativity and innovation; new ways of doing things that have been forged through necessity. For example, during Term II we have been unable to undertake our usual Senior School Assembly and Chapel gatherings in the IGC. Instead, these key events in the school week are now comprised of video content that is submitted by a range of students and teachers. Week by week, I have seen the implementation of new learning, experimentation and innovation, and a growing confidence in the way in which we seek to celebrate, inspire, engage and encourage the school community through making the most of the new opportunities we have needed to adopt.

It is this attitude of unity and encouragement that gives us all a sense of hope and optimism about our future at TIGS. It has carried us through a period of isolation when we were physically apart and it is now helping us to come together again as a community who can once again meet together face-to-face. The phrase ‘new normal’ has become somewhat ubiquitous in recent months and as such it may be interpreted as mere empty rhetoric, and little more. But as we look ahead to Term III and the second half of this unprecedented year, I am keen that we take as many opportunities as possible to look at what ‘normal’ means for TIGS and explore what our new normal could be.

As we continue to experience uncertainty in our lives, I will close with an encouragement using the words of the Australian Blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).