For Christmas 2024, the Junior School staff and students came together for a meaningful project, supporting Operation Christmas Child and bringing joy to children in need around the world.
The initiative began with a festive Christmas-themed mufti day, where students dressed in cheerful holiday outfits and embraced the spirit of giving. The event included the sale of Christmas-coloured slushies and cupcakes, adding a sweet and vibrant touch to the fundraising efforts for this meaningful cause.
Throughout the term, students worked tirelessly to pack and assemble over 100 shoeboxes, each filled with essential items, toys, and heartfelt notes. These special gifts will be delivered to children worldwide, sharing joy and hope in the name of God's love.
A highlight of the initiative was the involvement of Aero Logistics Helicopters – Hunter Valley, who assisted in a unique and memorable way. In November, they visited the campus to collect the shoeboxes, loading them onto a helicopter for their journey. Watching their gifts take flight was an unforgettable experience for the students, as they saw their efforts making a tangible impact.
As Operation Christmas Child shared on their social page:
"We’ve witnessed shoebox gifts traveling in all kinds of creative ways to reach children around the world—but this might just be an Aussie first! 🚁🎁 Earlier this month, Aero Logistics Helicopters - Hunter Valley visited St Philip's Christian College Cessnock to collect shoebox gifts packed by their junior school. The students were excited to help carefully load their gifts into the helicopter, knowing they were part of sharing the Great Joy of God's love to children in other countries."
We are immensely proud of our students’ efforts and the community’s overwhelming support for this global mission. As we reflect on this incredible achievement, we look forward to continuing our partnership with Operation Christmas Child in 2025, bringing even more smiles to children around the world.
