Assemblies this half term are concentrating on turning our endings into new beginnings. We're talking specifically about the academic year coming to a close and looking to build on our successes into September for the new year; to do that requires facing up to areas we may have slipped in over the past year and see how else we can improve next time.
Much like a newer car model or the latest edition of a computer game, it's not doing away with what has already been; rather, it is using all the successes of before to make the next edition even more amazing. And so it is with school life: many students will undoubtedly have made naff decision over the past year. But, it doesn't have to define their future...in fact, they could harness those experiences by recreating a fresh new version (of them in school) in a couple of months' time.
Aside from all the analogies, we share how much God values us as new creations. And more importantly, the moment we apologise for things we've done we become like new - a new beginning. We also share how Jesus' death sparked a new beginning for many and how that opportunity is available to anyone wishing to ask Jesus into their lives.
So in short, it's an encouragement & challenge in one assembly, with the added assurance that a 'new beginning' can start immediately....no special dates required. Just us and God. That makes today special enough and the right time to begin again.