The Vine Newsletter

Last week, we celebrated World Teachers' Day at the College. We are thankful for the work of teachers every day, World Teachers' Day is an important occasion to pause and reflect on the profound impact our teachers have on the lives of our children and the entire College community at Penrith Anglican College. Throughout the year, our dedicated educators inspire, nurture, and guide students through their academic journeys, fostering a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

This year, we extend our deepest gratitude to our remarkable teachers who go above and beyond to create a supportive and engaging environment. Their passion for teaching and commitment to each student's growth is exceptional. Whether it’s through dynamic lessons, thoughtful mentorship, or simply being a listening ear, our teachers play an invaluable role in shaping the future of our Nation.

Please join me in expressing thanks and appreciation to our wonderful teachers at the College.

Please pray for:

Our HSC students as the HSC continues.
Those families in the College community experiencing times of hardship and stress.
Preparations for end of year events.

Praise God for:

The John Lambert Assemblies held each term celebrating the involvement and efforts of so many of our students.
The wonderful experiences of those who were part of the Japan Trip in the holidays.
The College grounds which allow for plenty of active play outside.

Mrs Melinda Richardson - Deputy Principal (Primary)

It has been a wonderful start back to Term 4 and I have particularly enjoyed watching students reconnect with their friends and share stories of their holidays. I commend our students for the way they have quickly engaged in their learning for their final term of 2024.

For our Year Six students, this becomes a particularly poignant one, as they end their time as Primary students, and begin to transition to high school. We look forward to celebrating their journey so far later this term.

Today we have also celebrated World Teachers Day. Regardless of the day, we know our teachers are incredible, but I’d like to extend my appreciation for their dedication and passion to high quality education and care for students.

Education of a child is a partnership, and our team, alongside you as parents, have the potential to be incredibly powerful. I encourage you to keep walking alongside us, as we share a common goal of learning progress and enjoyment of days for your child.

On Friday 27 of September the Primary leadership team organised a fundraising Movie Day for students in Pre-K to Year 6. Students in Years 3 to 6 wore mufti clothes, while PreK to Year 2 students came dressed in their pyjamas and brought small soft toys to cuddle while watching the movie. Each movie session had intermission which allowed for students to enjoy a Zooper Dooper. Students were asked to bring a gold coin on the day, and a total of $1,000.50 was raised which was donated to Beyond Blue. It was a fun way to end Term 3.

- Emilija S (Year 6)

On Thursday, 17th October, two Year 6 teams represented our school at Macarthur Anglican in a day of spirited debate. The teams tackled two thought-provoking topics: "YouTube is better than TV" and "We should ban all pet shops in Australia." Each team argued both the affirmative and negative sides of the debates, showcasing their ability to think critically and adapt under pressure.

We are proud to announce that our two teams won three out of their four debates—a fantastic achievement! A huge congratulations to Oliver J, Aaleyah, Chloe, Marcus, Gavinu, Aaryan, Joel, and Oliver H for their hard work, dedication, and courage. Their preparation paid off as they spoke with confidence and quick thinking, successfully rebutting opposing arguments.

Well done to all involved!

A group of enthusiastic Year 5 & 6 students have been spending each Thursday lunchtime preparing for the 2024 NorthWest TASC STEM Event, diving into a world of innovation and creativity. Through their preparation they have undertaken LEGO Mindstorm EV3 robots, where they mastered the art of programming and problem-solving, tackling real-world challenges with their robotic creations. They have also explored Spike Prime’s vibrant bricks and intuitive coding platform, unleashing their engineering skills to build amazing robots that could perform various tasks. At the 2024 NorthWest TASC STEM Event they engaged with Dash and Dot robots, which allowed the students to explore robotics in a playful, interactive way. Meanwhile, Minecraft coding challenges pushed their skills to new heights, encouraging them to think critically and creatively while building virtual worlds. Throughout this journey, the event sparked their curiosity and inspired them to explore the endless possibilities of STEM. They tackled exciting projects, learned the importance of collaboration, and developed vital skills in a fun, tech-driven environment.

Term 4 in the library is a busy time as we keep our shelves up to date with some amazing new releases and prepare for the end of the school year.

Our final Book Club for 2024 will be Issue 7 and all orders will be due by Friday 8 November. Keep an eye out for the catalogue coming home any day now! Get an early start on Christmas shopping with some book bargains for all ages.

Mr Tony Kelshaw - Acting Deputy Principal (Secondary)

As a secondary school, we are well and truly into Term 4 learning. HSC students have been preparing for their final exams and making the most of the new senior study centre, which has been relocated to the hospitality space. The HSC exams are a significant undertaking for our senior students and represent the culmination of 13 years of schooling. We had our first bell ringing of the season on Tuesday afternoon. The tradition at the college is for students to ring the bell (located to the left of the entrance to reception) after their final HSC exam to signify the end of their schooling journey. Whilst it is not the end of learning for our students, there is a substantial shift in how learning is undertaken at this point in our young people's lives.

Last week, the PDHPE department ran the inaugural PAC PDHPE Day. Students had the opportunity to participate in a range of different activities that promote lifelong physical activity. Before school, about 40 students arrived early to join Run Club, where they ran for about 30 minutes before enjoying a cooked breakfast. Just Dance, touch football, table tennis, the beep test, volleyball, and a push-up challenge were held throughout recess and lunch. All activities were well attended, and the music selection gave the day a positive, active vibe. The PDHPE department is thanked for its organisation and initiative in getting this event up and running. Plans are already underway for 2025 to enhance the day and further engage students in being healthy and active.

Last Tuesday, 22 October, we invited students and their parents to a Peripatetic Music Concert, which commenced in the Light House Theatre with our Intermediate Band led by Mr David Thurlow. Five of the amazing music tutors at the college held mini concerts with their students across all areas of the Performing Arts, with their families proudly watching. Across the afternoon, we heard flautists, drummers, saxophone players, vocalists, and an amazing group of young pianists. We also had a group of up-and-coming violin players. There was a very supportive audience for every student who braved the stage. For many students, it was their very first time performing to an audience and they should be commended for their bravery and professionalism.

At the secondary staff meeting on Monday, staff spent time exploring pressures on teens by discussing the Common Sense Media report, “Unpacking Grind Culture in American Teens: Pressure, Burnout, and the Role of Social Media.” Staff developed an understanding of the significant pressures impacting young people and explored the issue in an Australian context. This has helped us as a staff to better understand our students and the pressures they face, so that we are able to provide guidance and care when pressure turns to distress. For parents, https://www.commonsense.org/ is an exceptional website that provides helpful reviews of media content such as TV shows, movies, games, apps, and other digital media. I use it in my family when my children ask to engage with certain types of media, that I am unfamiliar with, as it provides a balanced assessment of the media and makes suggestions about the appropriate age group. Much of their work is in advocating for digital media content creators to consider the needs of children in their designs. I encourage families to take the time to explore this resource and see if it would be helpful for them.

In September/October of this year, I and a handful of other Senior School students had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Japan for the Japan Cultural Trip. This was the first time the trip has occurred in six years, since before the 2020 Covid pandemic. The trip included a three-day stay in the city of Hiroshima, a school-week experience as a student in Kumamoto Marist High School, and finally a three day stay in Osaka with a daytrip to Kyoto.

While in Japan, the team had the opportunity to explore the magnificent and culturally significant sites of Japan – including various castles in Hiroshima, Kumamoto Osaka and Kyoto, the Golden Temple in Osaka, the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima Island, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum, and the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima. We experienced the bustling city life in Hiroshima and Osaka and learned about the various public transport systems in Japan, including the Shinkansen, the famous bullet trains of Japan. Overall the trip was the perfect mix of sightseeing activities, rest and replenishment, and, as our families can attest, we had just enough shopping time.

Most importantly, however, was the 5-day long stay at Kumamoto Marist High School, our sister school for over 20 years. Here we were fully immersed in the culture of Japan by living in the school dorms with Japanese students, participating in school classes with our buddies, and engaging in other activities such as calligraphy and tea ceremonies. This stay at Kumamoto Marist proved to be the most exciting and challenging part of the trip. We developed strong friendships with our Japanese buddies in such a short time and new experiences that we engaged in made it unforgettable, and worth every second. It was quite a challenge for us and for our buddies when it came time for us to leave. But we resolved to keep in touch and we were encouraged that they are now planning to send a group to PAC in 2025.

Personally, this trip altogether has been the best and most significant experience of my life to date. The team and I would like to extend our most sincere and appreciative thanks to Mr Kobus, Mrs Boulden, Mrs Grima, Mr Thurlow and Ms Oakley, for the unwavering care and enthusiasm on this trip. We would also like to thank our friends at Kumamoto Marist for their amazing hospitality and for the opportunity to make forever friends within their community. And, above all, we would love to thank Mr Moses Fonua for his expertise, humour and reliability as a tour guide through, what for us, were crazy and unfamiliar surroundings.

I am looking forward to Kumamoto Marist’s visit next year, and if you are considering the Japan Cultural Trip in the future I would one-hundred-percent recommend it to anyone – you will have the experience of a lifetime and you will not regret it.

- Colby C (Year 11)

On Wednesday 23rd October PAC students had the opportunity to participate in PDHPE Day. The day was aimed at encouraging students to be active, providing a range of opportunities for students throughout the day to celebrate movement in many forms. The day started with 40 students on a 7:30am run through the PAC grounds, with students completing a 3km, 4km or 5km run depending on their preference. This was followed by a delicious breakfast of granola and fruit plus bacon and egg rolls. Recess saw the debut of the new 9 square volleyball apparatus along with around 100 students participating in a selection of Just Dance routines in the gym. Touch Football also featured with games across Recess and Lunch. Table Tennis matches were held in the gym at lunch, as well as a Push-Up challenge, and an inaugural Beep Test competition.

It was excellent to see so many students involved, taking opportunities to engage in a range of physical activities. A special shout out to Mr Bingham for all his organisation of the event, it was greatly appreciated by all who participated. We are looking forward to the 2025 edition!

Congratulations to Bailey N (Year 10) and Sam W (Year 11) who have been selected in the NWSRC First XV division All Stars Team. Bailey was selected in the Starting Lineup, and Sam in the Reinforcements. The All Stars team is a selection of players from the entire senior division, a huge achievement for Bailey as one of the youngest players in the competition. This team is made up of the best of the best who dominated their positions all season long, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication from our boys through a tough season. Well done Bailey and Sam!

On Thursday 17th October students from Stage 3 represented the College at the CASA Cricket Gala Day. The day turned out to be a great day for cricket and the students were eager to get out on the pitch and show off their cricketing skills. The team played some tough games throughout the day and were undefeated in their pool making it to the Grand Final. Unfortunately, they fell short of the victory finishing runners up on the day. These students showed great sportsmanship and represented Penrith Anglican College very well throughout the day.

Congratulations to Sabella W (Year 6) and Jake F (Year 5) who recently competed at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships. Sabella placed 11th overall in the 11 Years Girls Long Jump and Jake placed 2nd overall in the 11 Years Boys Discus. Jake has now qualified to compete at Nationals at the end of November. Well Done Jake, we will be cheering you on!

During Term 3, we had a number of students represent the College at a fencing tournament for high school students from the Western Suburbs and Blue Mountains. For many of our students, it was their first ever fencing competition and they demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, enthusiasm and strong performances, yielding fantastic results. Well done to all involved!

Penrith Academy of Fencing
School Challenge Fencing Tournament 2024

Girls Foil - Placings

6. Lillyava Brenner – Year 9
9. Arni Mankotia – Year 11
15. Ainsley Ferguson – Year 9

Boys Foil - Placing

5. Dario Lorenzotti – Year 10
9. Neil Singhal – Year 11
21. Daniel Xu – Year 11

Torah and Estelle competed at Berry Interschools Equestrian Championships over the long weekend. Both girls had very successful days, and enjoyed the competition.

Torah competed in the dressage events and won the year 7 competition with a new personal best score. Estelle competed in the show ring events in the kindergarten to year 4 age group. She came away with 2 x second place, 3 x third place and 1 x fourth place. She was awarded the overall Reserve Champion Kindergarten rider for the entire event.

Well done on outstanding results!

Recently Caleb R (Year 7) represented PAC at the NSW All Schools Athletics Championships in the 13 Years Boys Long Jump and Shot Put. Caleb finished in the top 6 for Long Jump (his jump at school would have given him the Bronze Medal) and 11th/17 in the Shot Put beside some fierce competition. The winners of both events are national champions in these events! Great experience for Caleb to compete with top Australian athletes and seeing how close he was to a medal finish in Long Jump.

You are warmly invited to join the next PAC Parents & Friends meeting on Monday 4 November at 7:00pm in the Staff Common Room.

All are welcome!

We want all children and young people who attend Penrith Anglican College to feel and be safe. We are committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where children and young people are safe and feel safe and are able to participate in decisions that affect their lives.

We have a zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to doing what we can to keep students safe from harm.

The College regards its child safety responsibilities with the utmost importance and is committed to providing the resources required to ensure compliance with all relevant child protection laws and regulations and maintaining a child safe culture. Each member of the College community has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of students is at the forefront of all that they do and every decision that they make.

Child Safe Policy: Download

If you have any questions or concerns with regards to a Child Safety matter, please email Felicity Grima, Principal via childsafe@pac.nsw.edu.au.

Key Assets Australia is a Foster Care Agency with offices in Botany, Blacktown, and Wallsend. If you would like to learn more about foster care and how you can be involved, follow the Link for more details.