From the Principal
Mrs Felicity Grima - Principal
Orchard Hills is alive with the sounds of a new school year at Penrith Anglican College commencing. It has been wonderful to have students back on campus after a long break, hear stories of their holiday adventures and be amazed by how much they have grown. Our College is growing and we commence this year with over 1,300 students across P-12 and I would particularly like to welcome new families. You are joining a wonderful community, and I know you will settle in quickly and be made to feel welcome.
This week, along with Visual Arts staff, I had the pleasure of joining Ava Kobus and her family at the opening of ARTEXPRESS at the Art Gallery of NSW. Ava’s artwork, ‘Family folklore: tales of earth, sea and fire’ was selected as part of the ARTEXPRESS 2025 Exhibition and will be on display until 27 April. Congratulations once again to Ava on an outstanding achievement. https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/art/insideartexpress/2025/ava-nguyen-kobus/
Master Planning Newsletter
You will have seen the building happening around the campus. We will have a Master Planning Newsletter out next week to share with you our great progress.
Staffing Updates
Mobile Phones
Travelling on Buses
Uniforms
Address Collection
Prayer and Praise
From the Head of Primary
Mrs Melinda Richardson - Head of Primary
Welcome back!
I know I likely said this last year, but it's true - our College is not complete until we have our students back onsite. It has been really wonderful to visit classrooms this week and see our students reconnecting with their peers, learning about their new teachers and expectations, and thinking about the year ahead. It has been a very settled start and I commend all learners for their commitment. I hope that this is continued through the school year.
We have two events approaching quickly, for you as parents to connect as we commence 2025.
- Our Primary Information Evening next Wednesday is an opportunity for families to hear about the expectations for the new grades children enter. There are two grade sessions running, to help families choose a time that works best for them - Session 1 (5pm - 5:30pm) and Session 2 (6:30pm - 7:00pm). In between these sessions is a general information session, that will be of benefit particularly for new families, but also a good reminder for all. This will commence at 5:45pm. All sessions will take place up in our Performing Arts Precinct. Please note that these sessions are a presentation of information collective for all families, and there is not an opportunity for conversations about individual students at this time.
- Our Meet the Teacher Evening (Tuesday 18 February, W3) is the opportunity for parents to meet with their child's teacher, to share goals for the new year. Families will be asked to complete a questionnaire prior to the evening, to help set a clear agenda for discussion. This will be sent early next week and your support in completing this promptly is greatly appreciated. All interviews will take place in G Block, closer to the back of the College.
Whilst it seems quite far off we know time has a way of creeping up on us, please ensure that you note the date of our Easter Hat Parade / Cross Country - Wednesday 9 April (Week 10). We acknowledge that time off work can be tricky to navigate, but this is certainly a highlight for Term 1 that we would love for you to be a part of.
Sport
Secondary School
From the Head of Secondary
Mr Anthony Kelshaw - Head of Secondary
The first week of school is always a significant moment. It's a joy to watch new students being welcomed into our community, see friends reconnecting, and admire how sharp everyone looks in their uniforms. These seemingly small moments serve as powerful reminders of who we are—a school focused on bringing people together to learn and grow.
This week, I've been impressed with how students have begun the year. For Years 7, 11, and 12, their journey started on Monday, and they’ve quickly adapted, settling into their classes and engaging with their learning. Our Year 7s have also spent some time this week reflecting on the values of our College and our Learning Culture. By the end of this week, I hope they have a clearer sense of who we are and what we stand for. I’ve also been heartened by the way our senior students have stepped up as role models for the younger year groups, showing they are ready to lead and help shape our school’s culture.
On Tuesday, we were joined by Years 8-10.
The first few weeks back in 2025 are a busy period for our College, starting with the Secondary Swimming Carnival, Year 7 Information Evening, Year 7 CEP Camp, Year 11 Information Evening and Year 11 CEP Camp, Prefect Commissioning Assembly, and finally, our 2024 Alumni Thanksgiving Service at the start of Week 3. These are the first of many events that will highlight how we are more than just a school—we are a thriving community.
I hope the first week has been a positive experience for all of our students!
Setting up good habits and learning routines at the start of the year will serve students well. Having a conversation with your young person about how they want to approach the start of the year and what they want to achieve across a year’s worth of learning will be helpful. I will often point parents and students to the work of Andrew Fuller (Educational Psychologist). He has provided a series of clear and helpful fact sheets that focus on important aspects of student and educational issues. His fact sheet entitled Set Yourself Up for a Great Year outlines 12 things that might spark a conversation in your home about starting the year well.
- Make friends with everyone you know
- Acknowledge your inner genius
- Know that geniuses make mistakes
- Liven up your life and get enough sleep
- Be healthy – eat breakfast
- Do the most important things first
- Use your time well
- From little things, big things grow
- Focus and immerse yourself
- Don’t try to predict the future
- Be curious
- Play more
- Decide to be happy
I encourage families of both big and little learners to make this a priority over the next few weeks.
In the secondary school, we have a focus on the little things, as they matter greatly. Uniform is one of these little things. The College has a standard that has been clearly articulated to parents and students. Teachers greatly appreciate your support in these matters. When students are in the correct uniform, it means that conversations are focused on student wellbeing and learning rather than uniform infractions and maintaining a community standard. Parents have a significant role in this. Please partner with us by checking your child's uniform before they leave home or get out of the car. This enables teachers to focus solely on conversations that support student learning and wellbeing.
Another little thing we are focused on is requiring students to say “Good morning,” “Thank you,” “Sorry,” and “Please.” As a community, when we can respectfully engage with each other, it changes the tone and climate of our interactions. Modelling this in your family by engaging with your teens in a similar way and not letting them get away with a grunt or an eye roll sets them up well for interactions outside the home. It is hard to hold this line in the midst of busy lives, but these small things are a mark of our respect and care for others and support students in positively engaging with people regardless of where life takes them.
I hope that the start of the year has been smooth for your family. Your child's teachers will be reaching out via email over the next few weeks to introduce themselves. If there are ways that we can support the transition back to school, please reach out to your child's mentor teacher for broader pastoral issues or their classroom teacher for subject-specific concerns.