Leanne Champness, a mother with three children attending Sydney Adventist School Auburn, recently shared how the school community was one that could lend support when it was needed most.

In an interview, Leanne explained how the kindness of the staff and students helped her family through the hardship of her sister dying of cancer.

“Of course it was a very emotional time for us and for the children. The class decided – well, I’m sure the teacher had a lot to do with the decision – to write cards. And each of the students took time to write a special card and to illustrate it. Also, the two boys in the class had the opportunity to write a card to me as well to tell me how they felt. It was a really important thing for them, working through their grief, and it was a really special thing for all those cards to come home and feel that the class had talked about it, thought about it, and cared enough to draw the beautiful cards with real feelings; they really expressed their sympathy and thoughtfulness. That was a very special thing for us.” 

Leanne and her family continue to be an active part in the Sydney Adventist School Auburn’s community and are assured that they can count on their school. Says Mrs. Champness, “I love the way that the school and the staff work with the families, whatever we’re going through.”