For those with a discerning eye, you will recently have seen our new ‘Brighton’ beach hut designs now painted on the Adelaide Road facade of Lighthouse Early Learning. Along with the coloured designs paying homage to our College colours, there are a twin of coastal huts (a sunset hue and a blue sky with seagulls) and the white and red of a lighthouse.
Some of you may have also seen the four numbers adorning the beach huts, each with a nod to our history. The numbers and meanings are:
- 2001 – (The Brighton painted in our 3 school colours). The year Encounter was established.
- 78 – (The Brighton painted the colours of a Fleurieu sunrise/sunset). The number of students who started in 2001.
- 1517 – (The Brighton painted the colour of the sea complete with our iconic seagulls). A significant year for the Lutheran community– the year Martin Luther played an important part in what is known in History as the Reformation.
- 8:12 – (The Brighton painted in the colours of a traditional lighthouse). A reference to John 8:12, a verse in the Bible declaring ‘I am the light of the world’. This is a reminder that we can look to God for light, love and hope throughout our lives.
Now that Encounter is beyond its very formative years, we are now able to look both behind and forward. We look behind to give thanks to those who created and shaped what we now have. This has formed our identity and values and now helps to inform our decisions.
We look forward with excitement, enthusiasm and a desire to have our own legacy in what will be an even richer history in another decade, two or ten.
When I first arrived at Encounter, our current Year 12 students were in Foundation. Back then, we were still four years from having a graduating class. Next year will mark our tenth cohort of students who have left us having achieved their SACE, other qualifications and with futures shaped by our Encounter community.
As we continue to turn the pages of 2024, please know that each of your contributions are helping to shape the future, but also a past that will one day be reflected upon with gratitude.
What a privilege it is to be part of the journey.
Kelvin Grivell | Principal
