The Vine Newsletter

Mrs Felicity Grima - Principal

The new student leaders were officially appointed at the Student Investiture Service on Thursday 27 July. This is the highest leadership honour we can bestow on students at the College. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise our outgoing Student Leadership team, ably led by our Captains – Francesca Pereira and Samuel Lucas. We had an opportunity to thank the team at a lunch last term, but I would like to acknowledge their contribution to the life of the College here.

As the new student leaders officially commence their roles, I want to take some time to think about the type of leader God calls each of us to be.

In 1 Samuel 16:1-13, the bible passage describes the anointing of David as the next King of Israel. God had sent the Prophet Samuel to anoint the new leader, and he went to Jesse's house, and one by one, Jesse's sons stood before him. They were all impressive in appearance, and Samuel assumed that one of them must be God's chosen one. 

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV)

And so, Samuel asks if there is anyone else, and Jesse remembers he has a young son out in the field tending the sheep. David, the youngest son, was just a shepherd boy of little significance. We get a sense of this because he was not considered worthy by his own father to stand before Samuel. Yet, we know he had been serving his family faithfully as a shepherd, tending to the flock with great care, protecting them from lions and bears. 

And from this first encounter with David, he is positioned as a man of character, chosen not because of his outward appearance but because of the qualities of his heart and the strength of his character.

We often think of leaders as those who are charismatic, confident, and have all the right qualities on the outside. But true leadership isn't just about appearances. The most important qualities of a leader lie within a leader’s heart or as we often talk about at PAC, the most important qualities of a leader are the strength of their character. 

I pray we will all remember throughout the coming year that leadership is not about our appearance or the positions we hold. It's about the qualities of our heart. Together, let’s encourage each other to fulfil our responsibilities faithfully, look for opportunities to show initiative, and trust God in all circumstances. May we all strive to be leaders who make a difference as we serve Christ and others at Penrith Anglican College.

Mrs Felicity Grima
Principal

A friendly reminder to families to be courteous and aware of our neighbours when dropping off and picking up students. There was an incident this week with a neighbour of the school trying to exit their driveway that almost resulted in an accident with one of our families.  We ask that you be mindful of the residents on Wentworth Rd and Homestead Rd by not parking or stopping across driveways, allowing space for residents to enter and exit driveways if traffic is lined up and observing the speed limit signs. It is our expectation that our parents and caregivers, as majority of our families do, would act in the same responsible and respectful manner we would expect from our students.

John Lambert Assembly will be held on Thursday 3 August. Invitations will be sent to families of students receiving awards.

Latimer House Charity Day will be held on Thursday 14 September and will be a whole College event. The Latimer House students will be raising funds for Take Love Charity (takelove.org.au). Students in Latimer House can wear their sports uniform on the day and further information will be distributed closer to the event. Keep an eye out on the school app.

All students will continue in their Winter Uniform until Father’s Day, with a reminder that the College bomber jacket (Primary) and the College blazer (Secondary) should be worn to school each day, unless they are in Sports Uniform. The rain jacket does not replace the bomber jacket or blazer and should be worn over the top.

During Term 2 we had a traffic consultant come out and observe the carpark. The current carpark arrangements will stay in place for the term and the recommendation from the consultant is that the one way traffic flow is the best way to accommodate the large number of cars we have moving in a short amount of time.

While we are constantly addressing this with students, I do ask that parents are mindful of pedestrians and seek to respect other parents/families who are seeking to pick up their children. If there are issues or feedback, please contact ([email protected]).

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

Please pray for:
New students to the College; that you will ease their nerves as they begin
and you will help them to build meaningful friendships.
Year 12 students as they begin their final term, their HSC Trial exams and final HSC submissions.
The new Student Leadership Team; bless them with clarity and strength as they lead the College.
Members of our community who are experiencing hardship.

Praise God for:
Our outgoing student leaders for their service.
The good work of the Dusty Boots 2023 Team.
Glorious weather during the school holidays.

Mrs Fiona Wright - Director of Students 10-12

It’s only Day Five of Term 3 and it feels like we are well underway! This week has seen Parent / Teacher / Student interviews for Years 7-10, an extended practice exam session for Year 12 followed by a barbeque dinner with parents and hearing from a visiting psychologist, some of our Year 9 and 10 students had the incredible opportunity of being involved in running drills and scenarios to help in the training of the FIFA Women’s World Cup referees, bands and choirs are rehearsing, chess competitions are being won and lost, our sporting and Tabitha programs have resumed and our new leadership team has been inducted. Our wonderful Year 12 students have experienced their last first day of term and have only eight weeks left of their school journey!

Flourishing schools are busy places. As a parent, the number of emails in my inbox from the College informing me of different opportunities or seeking permission for my children to participate reminds me of this regularly! But why are we committed to offering students these opportunities?

Research has shown that “participation in extracurricular activities has important benefits for adolescents’ mental wellbeing, with the largest benefits attributable to team sports.”^[1] Being involved in extra curricular activities allows for many positives for students. Students are able to move towards mastery in their activity whether that be sport or art or a musical pursuit, and this process of achieving mastery necessarily involves lessons in resilience and perseverance. Students also have the chance to meet with like minded students outside their cohort, developing and strengthening their relationships across the College and increasing their sense of belonging. They can also explore passions and interests and maybe even try something new and discover a passion or talent!

So for those parents with full inboxes who are regularly at the College by 7:30am or picking their children up at 4:30pm, our hope is that your children are growing in character, learning and mastering skills, and growing deep and strong relationships with others. A huge thank you too, to our staff who organise and run these opportunities for our students. The College is committed to developing our students as whole people and nurturing our students to become young men and women of strong character who have every opportunity to discover and follow their passions and giftings and our extra curricular activities contribute much to this endeavour.

Mr Philip McMurray - Acting Deputy Principal (Primary)

What do we want students to learn? It’s a good question and one that educators continue to ask in our ever-changing world. During our recent Professional Development days, Primary staff have had the opportunity to explore the new syllabuses for English and Mathematics that are being rolled out in NSW schools. During these days, they have had the opportunity to look at ways to encourage, strengthen and support learning right across the College.

If you asked me what we want students to learn, it would be too simplistic to focus on one subject area, one skill, or one attitude towards the process of learning. I want students to continue their learning in all aspects of what it means to be a member of this community. Because, if we are honest with ourselves, there are always things to learn about how to behave well under different circumstances, how to think carefully and critically about problems and potential solutions, or even how to respond to a variety of different expectations and situations.

Term 3 is certainly a busy one, and one that will provide a deep series of opportunities to build community, challenge norms, learn deeply, and even step out of, or into, the challenge or thrill of performing in front of others. It’s a term for camps – experiences both here and elsewhere that will develop resilience and relationships. It’s a term of performances – speaking and acting, singing and being part of an audience where different talents are showcased. It’s a term where we invite grandparents, dads and families to events designed to enrich inter-community relationships.

This rich buffet of learning opportunities will once again provide students with ways to enhance their learning – both in knowledge, character and even in the process of learning itself. It’ll be a busy term, but one I am confident will see all of us finding moments of joy and delight as students learn. I look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Mr Philip McMurray
Acting Deputy Principal (Primary)

• War of Words (WOW) commences Week 2. This provided all students with the opportunity to develop their public speaking skills.
• Pre-K to Year 2 Sport Day on Tuesday 1 August. Details were sent home at the end of last term.
• The Primary Disco on Friday 4 August. This event is always a highlight for the children.
• Grandparents Day on Tuesday 8 August. This day will be a great opportunity for grandparents to come and spend some time with their grandchildren, looking at their classrooms, having some entertainment, enjoying a morning tea, and being lured by grandchildren to “look” at the bookstall put on by our Library staff for books to buy.
• Year 5 Camp on 23-25 August.
• Father’s Day this year on Friday 1 September – is an opportunity for the dads to come, eat and compete against their children in a short series of competitions. We plan to have breakfast first and provide dads with the chance to check out classrooms before getting back to their days.
• A highlight of Term 3 is our Performing Arts Evenings. Tuesday 5 and Tuesday 12 September for K-2 and 3-6 respectively. These will be an opportunity for students to wow you with their talents in a completely new way.
• Year 3 Camp on 7 September.
• Year 4 Camp on 7-8 September.

Year 10 will continue their Charity Ball fundraising for Rare Cancers Australia, with a sausage sizzle to be held at the Primary Disco. We will be selling sausage sandwiches, drinks and lolly bags for students to enjoy before or after their Disco time and for the rest of the family to enjoy while students attend the disco. You will find us set up in the Primary Assembly area from 5 to 7.30pm. Year 10 would really appreciate your support. EFTPOS will be available on the night.

In Term 2 our Christian Lunchtime group for students in Years 3-6 led Chapel. They worked together to make props, rehearse scripts and make actions for songs. The students enjoyed sharing the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den from the Bible and reminding the Primary School that God is always with them.

Anyone is welcome to come along to BIG each Wednesday Lunch in C-Centre with their lunch to play games, sing songs, learn from the Bible and meet students in other grades.

Miss Meg Anderson
Primary Teacher

On Wednesday 26 July, Kindergarten had the opportunity to celebrate 100 days of learning.

We celebrated in style by dressing up, as if we were 100 years old. Children showed their enthusiasm as they put on a mini parade for the parents. As the day went on, Kindergarten shared lots of giggles and smiles when comparing and talking about outfits and walking sticks.

The day continued with all things 100: dancing to rock and roll songs, dice games, making rainbow ring necklaces, activity booklets, tower building with 100 blocks, the list goes on.

A memorable day to signify such an important milestone in Kindergarten. One they will hopefully treasure.

Mrs Lorraine Jones
Primary Teacher

Dear Families,  

On Tuesday 22 August, Year 3 will be holding a Popcorn and Poppers Stall for all the Primary School students to enjoy for a gold coin donation. 

Students in Primary can bring their gold coin donation on the day, and make their purchases at the following times:

Recess:           Pre-K – 2

Lunch 1:          Years 3-6

Money raised will go to Compassion for the children we sponsor from P-6. 

We thank you for your generosity as we raise money for our Compassion children.

Year 3 Staff and students 

Year 5 have been learning string instruments this year (Ukeleles, Cellos and Violins). On the last Thursday in Term 2, they performed two concerts for Kindergarten and Year 1 in the TLC.

The Ukelele groups played two popular songs 'Roar' and 'Thunder' with the younger students singing along.

The Cellos and Violins performed three pieces, 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' by Mozart, the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' theme and the popular song 'Geronimo' which had everyone clapping and smiling.

Mrs Lyn Jagger
Music Teacher

Our very popular annual Book Fair will be held on Tuesday 8 August in conjunction with Grandparents' Day at the College.

New location: The Fair will be set up in the Drama Room next door to the Hospitality Space to allow plenty of time for browsing during morning tea and will be open from 8am.

There will be lots of bargains available for all ages, and books can also be donated to the College library on behalf of families. We hope to see many familiar and new faces as we share in the joy of reading with our community.

Mr Mark Pullen
Head of Library Services

Mr Leighton Corr - Deputy Principal (Secondary)

On Monday morning when I stood in the Lighthouse Theatre before our start of term Assembly I noticed students walking in and taking their seats at 8:27am. This was 3 minutes earlier than they needed to be. For teenagers on the first day of school this impressed me greatly. Students were early and keen to come in, reconnect with friends and start the term ahead. While I do hope everyone had an excellent break, it was wonderful to see students back here and ready to re-engage in their learning.

I challenged students in this Assembly to remember that they are ambassadors of our school. They are representing our College every time they are in uniform or at a College event. As a school, of course, we are big on learning and what happens in the classroom but we also care about the young men and women we have at our school. When we talk about ambassadors and representing our school we are challenging our students to consider their character. We want our students to be people who show integrity in their decisions and have the courage to do what is right even when it is hard.

One of the things that I would suggest sets us apart at PAC is our focus on both young people who learn to learn and love learning, but also caring just as much, if not more, about the character of our young people.

I look forward to seeing our students continue to be excited to be here at school as we invest in equipping them as learners and young people of great character.

Mr Leighton Corr
Deputy Principal (Secondary)

• Year 7-10 Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday 26 July and Monday 7 August. Booking online have closed. If you have not completed an online booking, and would like to book, please contact Mrs Kathryn Nott on (02) 4736 8100.
• HSC Major Projects Showcase on Wednesday 2 August. We welcome all members of our school community to attend and support our students at an evening to showcase the major works of our Year 12 Students. For catering purposes please indicate numbers attending to [email protected]
• Year 10 Vaccinations on Monday 14 August. Please complete the permission form before the day via the online link or contact Miss Nat is you need a paper form.
• Year 8 CEP Camp at Lake Macquarie on 6-8 September.
• Year 11 Exams commence 6-13 September. These are the Yearly Examinations as Year 11 conclude their Preliminary Studies.
• Year 12 HSC Trials 9-22 August. It will be Year 12’s last term at the College and they will have their Trial Exam period commencing in Week 3. This is an important time for them as they prepare for their HSC Exams in Term 4, and we ask other students to be mindful of the noise they make around the campus during the exam period. Details of this will be provided to students closer to the time.
• Year 12 Graduation Service and Valedictory Dinner on Thursday 21 September. Invitations and further information have been emailed to our Year 12 families.

The Dusty Boots Team for 2023 had the wonderful experience of travelling to Ridgecrest which sits on the top of a ridge overlooking Lake Burrendong during the June-July school holidays. The facilities were lovely and provided us with a comfortable and welcoming place to stay for the week. On the way out to Wellington, we stopped at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, located in Bathurst. Here we got to walk around and take in the beautiful crystals and fossils collected by Australian Geologist Warren Somerville. After arriving at Ridgecrest, on the second day of the trip the team was able to lend a helping hand around the Ridgecrest grounds, helping to clear trees which had fallen in the recent bushfires, and to clear their garden and improve the facilities. On the third day we were able to help in the Wellington community, visiting several houses where we were able to work hard to tidy their gardens and painting mailboxes. The next day we continued to help in the community by having a group assisting at the Wellington PCYC’s family day, and a group at the Yeoval community’s sport day, where we ran activities and had a great time playing games and having a great time with children from the community. While this day was impacted by the weather, we were still able to spend the afternoon at Ridgecrest, playing games as a team. We again helped in the community on the next day, where we were split into teams to do more gardening work at houses in Wellington. On the final day before we returned home, the team visited Taronga Western Plains Zoo, where we split of into groups and enjoyed our time travelling around the zoo. Each night we gathered in the Lakeview room to hear devotions from staff members, and to play fun games and build deeper connections with members of the team. On our final day we spent time on buses travelling home, reminiscing over all the fun and challenging experiences over the past week.

The week we were away in Wellington held challenging, but also rewarding experiences for the entire team. A small group of us went to Yeoval, a community west of Wellington, where we were able to help in the running of a community sports day. This was such a fun experience, being able to play mini golf with these young kids. Seeing the joy light up their faces when they score a hole in one, seeing how sport can bring a community together. Another wonderfully rewarding experience was being able to see members of our college community branching out of their comfort zone. On one day we visited this lady’s house which was completely overrun with vines and seeing so many members of the team come together to make a real difference in this lady’s life. The joy and relief on this lady’s face radiated through the whole team, making it a valuable experience for us all.

I believe that the most valuable aspect of the trip was being able to develop a connection with so many teachers and students that I never would have spoken to, but also to develop further connections with those teachers and students which I have known for years. Sharing the week with them all was the most wonderful, unforgettable experience - Erin O'Shannessy.

During our time on Dusty Boots, amazing new experiences were made. Confidently, I can say that almost everyone on our time made new friends and gained new skills. Highlights of Dusty Boots for me was definitely time spent at the PCYC sports day for little children. While the location of the sports day was moved last minute, and our team arrived at the wrong location and had a miscommunication about who was taking the sports equipment, we still had an amazing day. Getting to spend quality time with little kids from preschool to year six was amazing. We played a range of games including tug a war, rugby stuck in the mud, hockey, try scoring games, and more. We also helped the organisation serve lunch. Getting to watch the little kids have fun and engage with them in the games was the highlight of my experience. While it was a highlight it was also a testing experience. Our small team learnt new skills in communication and patience.

Another highlight from Dusty Boots was watching how our team engaged with the residents of Wellington. Our team got to run one trivia night at the local church. It was a gathering service where most of the church’s congregation would meet up for a free dinner and a chat. It was an amazing experience. Nicholas ran the trivia with his team of amazing people. We also had students sit at the tables and chat to everyone. We had members who cooked all the dinner. Getting to talk to everyone and seeing how everyone engaged showed the values our schools holds. Our school community respects and loves communication between all members of the College, and that was clearly reflected in Wellington - Ava Toland.

The week we spent serving the community at Wellington has quite possibly been one of the best weeks that I have spent at school. I got to know several people in the year group a whole lot better, despite knowing some of them for over 11 years, as well as teachers that came along with us. Personally, serving the community, ironically, felt like more of a blessing for us, than the people we were helping. I was able to see how other people in different situations to me lives their day to day life and how privileged I am to be able to come to a great school and have fabulous people surrounding me every day. We were given the opportunity to help those who couldn’t do what needed to be done, like fixing up gardens, cleaning windows and pulling down countless numbers of vines. Seeing the start of the project, and then the end product was always rewarding and satisfactory, showing us that when hard work is put in, the result is truly worth it. Despite the work we put in, the team still found time to much around, sitting in circles having deep conversations, playing cards creating inside jokes (flowers, diamonds, spades, hearts forever, Miss Kenny) and causing general chaos at the basketball hoops and jumping pillow.

A big thank you to the McClure family for letting us stay with them and serving us copious amounts of amazing food all week. They were incredible and we look forward to hopefully seeing them again sometime. To anyone in younger years who is thinking about potentially being a part of a Dusty Boots team or any other service trip, I could not recommend it highly enough. The memories formed will last a lifetime. I’m so grateful for the entirety of the 2023 Dusty Boots Team and all the time we were able to spend together - Ellie Ferguson.

The 2023 Dusty Boots trip to Wellington was a transformative experience as I was enabled to serve and grow over the week-long camp. My favourite experience on the trip was the day that we spent at the PCYC running activities and interacting with children for their holiday camp. As someone who genuinely enjoys spending time with and taking care of little kids, interacting with the kids at the PCYC was fruitful as they were so enthusiastic about the activities that ran throughout the day. Listening to the kids was also insightful, as they seemed to spend a lot of time together at the PCYC, since their parents worked through most of the holidays. It was heartwarming to listen to and watch the kids play, laugh and argue because it helped me to see the impact that trips like Dusty Boots have. Although the PCYC would have still run the Children’s Holiday Camp and these kids would still be meeting up every holiday, I wouldn’t usually have the chance to talk to and look after these kids, and I wouldn’t have been able to make such warm memories seeing the kids in their community, nor would I have had to experience the bittersweet heartbreak of the kids sitting on me so that I wouldn’t have to leave. Seeing the impact we had on the regional community, as well as each other, was the end reward of Dusty Boots. Whether it was raking acres of land, clearing an entire yard of vines, running games for children, or even just singing at church, it was so satisfying to know that as an individual and as a team we can make a difference. I will forever treasure the memories and connections I made with my peers on Dusty Boots, and I hope that future Dusty Boots teams will experience the same joy and satisfaction as they continue to serve regional communities - Ava Kobus.

Year 11 Chemistry and Year 12 Physics classes visited the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at the end of Term 2. Facilities visited were

• OPAL (Open Pool Australian Lightwater) Research Reactor
• Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering
• Centre for Accelerator Science
• ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Facility

This experience supported students' knowledge and understanding of nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics, and gave a glimpse into the real-world applications of what they have learnt in class. Below are some thoughts and reflections from two Year 11 students.

Mr Stephen Matthews
Head of Science

The Year 11 Chemistry along with Year 12 Physics class were taken to ANSTO, Australia's national multipurpose nuclear organisation. ANSTO stands for Australia's Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation and is a significant landmark and national infrastructure for research. We were given a wonderful tour and breakdown of their facilities, two of which were the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering and the Mo-99 Manufacturing Facility. Something I found interesting about these facilities was that in the Centre for Neutron Scattering, all of the machinery used was named after Australian animals, for example, The High-Intensity Powder Diffractometer was named Wombat and the Neutron Imaging machine was named Dingo. Meanwhile, in the Mo-99 facility, it was fascinating to see how Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is made to decay into Technetium-99 (Tc-99m), which is a beneficial radioisotope used in hospitals to conduct gamma scans (SPECT scans) on patients. Everything that we learnt at ANSTO was a great and incredibly valuable extension to our learning in class. Not only were we able to understand scientific concepts in greater depth but were also able to get a glimpse of how these are applied in day-to-day life. 

Vanshika Rathore
Year 11 Student

My Chemistry class and I were lucky enough to visit the ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation), where we got to explore their research facilities such as the Neutron Scatterers, OPAL Reactor via Camera and Particle Accelerators. I was fortunate enough to witness the cutting-edge technologies that ANSTO uses and their critical role in advancing scientific knowledge and innovation such as creating cancer diagnosing medicine and molecular decomposition. This experience further deepened my understanding of nuclear science, complementing the concepts I've learned in my Chemistry class and highlighting their practical applications in real-world research. 

Kostya Walton
Year 11 Student

Earlier this year, our Year 12 Hospitality students completed a week-long work placement program, which is a NESA practical requirement for their HSC. As you will see from their reflections below, our students not only acquired many valuable job-specific skills, but they also learnt interpersonal skills that are so important in any employment setting.

Mrs Diane Catto
Head of Technologies

The Blind Chef Cafe on High Street in Penrith was the venue for my work placement and it was a wonderful experience with great staff and opportunities. I worked both front and back of house, learning about how the hospitality industry works with exposure to different circumstances. During the week I crumbed chicken and arancini balls, made sixty plus fresh fruit skewers for a catering event, assembled a range of sandwiches, took customer orders, along with other tasks. The owner’s beautiful golden Labrador assistance dog was free to roam the main floor of the cafe which was a bonus. Towards the end of the week I was offered a job and I’d highly recommend this venue for a placement - Makaylah Carroll.

Nepean Private Hospital is where I had the opportunity to work for my Year 12 work placement. I really enjoyed my experiences there, meeting new people and building connections with nurses, doctors and patients throughout the week. I was given the opportunity to prepare, plate and serve meals to patients and doctors each day, improving on my hospitality and social skills. All employees I interacted with were extremely kind and patient as I began learning how the process of service worked inside of the hospital. The highlights of my placement involved the connections I made with employees and patients as I was given the opportunity to interact and check in on how they were feeling each day. Overall, I had an amazing experience at Nepean Private Hospital and would highly recommend it to other people who are looking for placement or potentially a job - Lachlan Schofield.

I went to Cath’s Cakes, Jamisontown for my Year 12 work placement. I was shown how to make a variety of cakes and desserts, caramel slice, cookies, choc chip and apple and cinnamon muffins. I observed the detail and work that goes into creating customised cakes. I also used a commercial mixer to prepare 30kg of buttercream icing for custom cakes. Talking with the bakers and decorators I learnt about their experiences in creating elaborate cakes, including a Union Jack Flag cake, an aeroplane cake with a styrofoam base covered in fondant and a 5-tiered wedding cake. On the last day I was given the chance to create, ice and decorate my own cake, applying the skills I had learnt. Overall, it was a highly beneficial experience in learning how this sector of the hospitality industry operates, preparing me for the ‘real world’ when I graduate and move into further training or employment - Isabelle Luscombe

For my Year 12 work placement I went to Butternut Café, Springwood where I learnt skills in making juices, smoothies, coffees, sugar cookie dough and royal icing. I enjoyed helping the Butternut employees with the running of their busy cafe and getting to know the staff members. The tasks I did were varied throughout the week, but my favourite was making coffees and practicing milk texturing. Overall, I enjoyed my work experience at Butternut Café - Molly Carter.

For my Year 12 work placement I went to Coffee Club, Nepean Village. I experienced working back and front-of-house, learning to plate and serve sweet food from the display cabinet, how to make smoothies, milkshakes and frappes, according to their standard recipe cards. I also completed prep tasks such as folding cutlery in a serviette ready for service to customers. Working at the Coffee Club has helped me learn and develop my front-of-house skills - Jenna Isaacs

The Staff vs Year 12 Challenge series continues! On Friday 28 July, in front of a large crowd of secondary school students, Muhammed Jaffery, Spencer Ruggeri and Chess Club President Harry Ramsay challenged Mr Tim Pigot, Dr Sam Jackson and Mr Anil Thomas to a game of chess at lunchtime.

In game one, Harry took on Mr Thomas in a tight game. Harry eventually got the win with a checkmate after some good competition. In game two, Spencer played Dr Jackson in a game that literally went to the dying seconds, with Spencer taking the win after Dr Jackson ran out of time. The game was in the balance for quite a while. In the third game, Muhammad went up against Mr Pigot in a game that brought much excitement and laughter. It was a very energetic game with good moves both ways, before Mr Pigot got the win with a checkmate.

Students won 2 to 1.

Alexander Wright
Year 12 Student and Chess Enthusiast

This year as part of the College’s Enrichment Program, students have the opportunity to participate in one or all of the ICAS English, Mathematics and Science tests. ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment which recognises and rewards student academic achievement and requires students to think beyond the classroom. Each test is sat at the College and is invigilated by teachers under normal examination conditions.

The tests will be held on the following dates:

English Monday 14 August 2023
Science Monday 21 August 2023
Mathematics Monday 28 August 2023

Specific preparation for ICAS tests is not required as the assessments are skills based. The ICAS website has a section with practice papers.

Participation in English, Mathematics and Science test costs $19.25 inc GST per test. The tests are open to students from Years 3 to 10.

Parents need to register their child for any/all of the tests via the UNSW Global Parent Payment System. The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.

Registration and payment to be made by Monday 31 July 2023 through the UNSW Global Parent Payment System, https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps using the College’s unique access code that has been emailed to families.

Miss Debra Anderson and Mrs Shalom Lovin
Gifted & Talented Program Coordinators

At the end of Term 2, after the amazing Choral Festival performances, the Crotchet Crew and Quaver Crew Choirs had a celebration with Mrs Michelle Foreman to thank her for her dedication and enthusiasm for the two Junior School Choirs. Mrs Foreman has decided to focus on her private singing tuition at the College and in her private studios and will no longer be working with these choirs. Mrs Foreman has loved every moment with her special choirs and will miss working with such lovely singers.

Starting from Term 3, Mrs Lyn Jagger and Mrs Nerida Hext will be working with our choirs during lunch on Tuesday (Years 4 - 6 )and and Mrs Nerida Hext will be working with our choirs during lunch on Thursdays (Years 2 & 3 ).  If any students would like to join the choirs they can come along and join in in the Recital Room each week. 

Mr Nick Lane
Head of Performing Arts

The Dance Ensemble at Penrith Anglican College is an exciting program that offers students of all levels the opportunity to learn and grow as dancers. The workshop is held every Thursday afternoon from 3.30 – 4.30 in the school's Dance Studio and there is something for everyone who comes to the classes. Abbey and Sophie are experienced dancers who will make you feel comfortable and help you enjoy the classes.

The Dance Ensemble is a great way to make new friends, learn new skills, and have fun. If you are interested in dance, or if you are just looking for a new activity to try, the Dance Ensemble at Penrith Anglican College is the perfect place for you.

There are many benefits to joining the Dance Ensemble including:

• Learning new skills and techniques. The Dance Ensemble offers an opportunity to learn different techniques and dance styles. This is a great way to learn new skills and techniques, and to improve your overall dancing ability.
• Performing in front of an audience. 
• Making new friends. The Dance Ensemble is a great way to make new friends who share your interests. You will get to meet other students who are passionate about dance, and you will have the opportunity to build lasting friendships.

How to join the Dance Ensemble: If you are interested in joining the Dance Ensemble, you can contact Mrs Allan in the Performing Arts Department and she will be able to answer any questions you have about the program, and will help you get started.

The Dance Ensemble is a great way to learn new skills, have fun, and make new friends. If you are interested in dance, I encourage you to contact us today. I hope to see you there!

Mr Nick Lane
Head of Performing Arts

Huge congratulations to Klarissa Goodwin (Year 8) who finished 5th in the 400IM event at NSW All Schools Swimming Championships last month!  We are so proud of your amazing effort.

Klarissa was also recognised as part of the Western Sydney Academy of Sport and Lone Star program at Penrith City Council on 29 June 2023. 

Mrs Amanda Houison
Director of Sport

Photo credits: Bronwyn Goodwin and Penrith City Council.

At PAC, we strive to celebrate outstanding student achievements alongside those who are willing to 'give it a go'. As we begin a new school term, we hope you enjoy looking through more photos from the Primary Athletics Carnival that took place in June.

The latest version of our Community Business Directory is available for download.

The Community Business Directory acts as a link for business and families to support each other.  This initiative was created by the Parents & Friends Association for businesses of Penrith Anglican College families rather than a general advertising site to assist our College Community during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Each business in the Directory has a direct link with a College family.

Please note, the Parents & Friends Association, Penrith Anglican College and their staff will not be liable for any interactions or transactions that occur between any parties connected through this P&F Initiative. The Parents & Friends Association has not vetted the information, products or offerings provided by these businesses. 

We will continue to update this document and post a link to the updated version on the website and the College App.  If you would like your business to participate in the Community Business Directory, please fill out the form via this link. There is no cost involved.

We are excited to be able to support our College families in this way, and hope you find this Directory helpful.

Please find attached information from Their Care regarding some changes to the Child Care Subsidy.

The Australian Government Department of Education (the department) would like to advise all staff, parents and guardians that it will collect certain information about your school, its staff and student body as part of the 2023 Non-Government School Census collection (the Census).

A copy of the Notice is attached for families. It explains:

• what information the department collects in Census and Special Circumstances Applications
• why the department collects this information
• how the department can use the data

Please see the attached letter for information regarding the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).

The Uniform Shop will be closed on Tuesday 1 August and Wednesday 2 August, re-open on Friday 4 August from 8am to 11am.

Regular hours will resume from Tuesday 8 August as set out below until further notice: 

The Uniform Shop is located in M Block, next to Their Care.

Reminder: Long Sleeve Polo Shirts are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop. Prices range from $41 - $44.