The Vine Newsletter

Mrs Felicity Grima, Principal

On 3 September the College marked the official opening of the Exhibition Centre and C & D Block with a Thanksgiving Service and the unveiling of the building plaque.

This project, the first significant initiative identified in the College’s Master Plan, accommodates consistent enrolment growth, particularly as we transition to a 4-stream primary school and a 6-stream secondary school.

Construction officially began in July last year, and after numerous meetings, phone calls, and over 1,000 emails, the project has been completed ahead of schedule and approximately $700,000 under budget.

We extend our gratitude to the companies and individuals who played a significant role in bringing this remarkable $10 million project to life:

• Midsons - Project Managers
• GSA – Architects
• Steve Watt Construction
• Capital Works Manager for the Anglican School Corporation
• Teaching & Support Staff
• Students
• Rodney Cosier, Business Manager
• Property Team, led by Jason Arthur

We are genuinely thrilled that Mrs Sue Kennedy and Mrs Sharyn Jackson allowed us to honour them by dedicating this building to the continued work of God in this school.

Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Jackson have very different personalities, but are identical in their:

• love of the Lord
• commitment to their students
• support of the teachers in their grades
• and their loyalty to, and love for the College

In the years that they worked at the College:

• their dedication never waivered
• their commitment to their students and their teachers never faltered
• their loyalty to the College never came into question.

Mrs Jackson and Mrs Kennedy are outstanding educators and leaders who are held in such high regard by our community. It is a privilege to honour their significant contribution at the official opening of these buildings.

We look forward to watching our students learn and grow in these spaces in the years ahead.

During the official opening of the new Exhibition Centre and C and D Blocks, Penrith Anglican College proudly honoured two remarkable women who have been instrumental in shaping our school community: Mrs Sharyn Jackson and Mrs Sue Kennedy. The ceremony recognised their decades of dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the College’s growth, faith, and character.

Journey of Faith and Education

Mrs Sharyn Jackson joined the College in 1998 as our first kindergarten teacher, later becoming Stage Coordinator and Head of the Prep School. Reflecting on her first day, she says: "I had no intention of leaving my previous school but something inside kept telling me, ‘You’re meant to apply for this position.’ I believe it was God prompting me."

Mrs Sue Kennedy also began in 1998, starting as a classroom teacher and eventually becoming Head of Primary School. She recalls: "I was excited about a new Christian school and wanted to be part of Barry Roots’ team. Starting the College and watching it grow was an amazing experience."

Memories That Inspire

Mrs Jackson fondly remembers a moment from her first kindergarten class that perfectly captured the merging of her two passions, teaching and faith. One day the children were doing a construction activity while singing a song she had taught them about living forever and talking about God. A little five-year-old approached her and asked, "Is it true? Can you come and talk to us? I think it’s true." In that moment, Mrs Jackson realised she could express both her love for teaching and her faith at the College, and it became a defining experience in her career.

Mrs Kennedy shared a memory that has stayed with her for years. A young boy hugged her and said, "Mrs Kennedy, I love you because you smell like my nana." She recently attended his 21st birthday and reflected on the joy of seeing the young man he had become. “Reconnecting with him and other former students was beautiful - and it’s all thanks to Dior!”

These moments remind us that teaching is not just about lessons but about forming relationships, inspiring faith, and leaving a lasting impact on the lives of children.

A Community of Care

Both educators highlighted the College’s spirit of kindness. Mrs Jackson recalls: "We had a Year 2 girl whose mother passed away while expecting a baby, and a number of other parents from the school organised a trust to cover her school fees until Year 10. I just stood there thinking, this is a really great place."

Mrs Kennedy reflected on the everyday acts of care that define the College: "Students, parents, and staff demonstrated care and compassion naturally. That spirit truly captures the essence of the College."

Lessons for Life

Mrs Jackson encourages teachers: "This is your mission field. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Don’t forget to have fun, laugh, and do silly things sometimes. "Mrs Kennedy advises students and staff alike: "Find joy in all you do, work hard, be kind, and follow your dreams surrounded by God’s love."

Celebrating Their Legacy

Being recognised at the opening of the new building was deeply moving for both Mrs Jackson and Mrs Kennedy: "It’s touching and humbling. We were just part of an amazing team," says Mrs Jackson. "Extremely humbling and emotional. I feel blessed to have been part of the College’s journey," adds Mrs Kennedy.

We are grateful for their leadership, faith, and unwavering dedication. Their legacy continues to inspire students, staff, and the wider College community.

My memories of Year 5 Camp by Jenson T 5W

The great food especially the dessert but sadly we couldn’t get seconds! Archery, I managed to get the arrow into the yellow section. The Waterslide was amazing. It was cold but I didn’t mind. The Talent Quest was full of great performances. Teddy Bear Parade was great too. I entered Duo the owl in nearly every category because he's cute and cuddly.

My memories from Year 5 Camp by Phoebe T 5W

My favourite memory of camp was the nature hike. I liked it because we got to see all sorts of nature all around us. We saw a river, small ponds, vines wrapped around trees, wildlife and clearings in amongst the trees. I also liked the Talent Quest. I liked it because my friends and I did The Duck Song and when the song started playing everyone laughed and so did we. I was the man running the stand, Stella was the duck, Immy was the grapes and Charlotte was the lemonade. There were also lots of other great acts on the show. Overall, camp was a blast!!

Camp Memories by Mika D 5W

Camp was so much fun! The activities included archery, billy-carting, canoeing, which we didn’t end up doing because it was too windy, orienteering, Christian Discovery, and- Oh yes, I can’t forget the most important thing: The Waterslide! This was by far the best one of all. In the cabin we had tons of good times as well. We even had a brushing teeth party! (everyone brushes their teeth at once) Also, the food was good too. It was like restaurant meals! We had Fish & Chips, Lasagne, chicken wraps, meat pies and lots of yummy cookies and cakes. On the second night, we had a Talent Quest and a Teddy Bear Competition, which were both lots of fun!

Kindergarten had an amazing day out at Sydney Zoo! We experienced both sunshine and rain, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. A highlight of the excursion was taking part in the Bungarribee Dreaming session, where we learned about Traditional Aboriginal Dance and Music and had special Aboriginal markings painted on our faces. The children were delighted to explore the animals throughout the day, with some of our favourites being the koalas, the crocodile, lions, tigers, snakes and meerkats. We sincerely thank the parents who volunteered their time to support us on this excursion - your assistance helped make the day such a success.

Mr Anthony Kelshaw - Head of Secondary

Class of 2025 – A Time of Change and Celebration

On Wednesday, 3 September our Year 10 History students had the Vietnam War Incursion. Vietnam Veteran Vin Cosgrove and his wife Nancy made their annual visit followed by a performance by an international performer Brett Hunt whose father served in Vietnam and was brought to national attention through the lyric ‘Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon’. The students really appreciated the first hand knowledge and experiences shared and it was a very valuable learning experience for all.

PAC student quotes about the day:

“…seeing the equipment as well as hearing from people who lived through the war was a great introduction to the Vietnam War”

“…the firsthand information from multiple primary sources about what actually happened in Vietnam and the reasoning behind it was very helpful.”

“…very informative and I learnt a lot about the Vietnam War itself…”

“It was super helpful to give us an intro to the Vietnam War”

“It was very helpful to hear from Vince and Nancy, as their first-hand experience of being on the War Front and what is was like for Nancy to be at home.”

At the beginning of the year, Miss Elias, our Year 9 Commerce teacher, told us that we’d be running a small business as a way to practise one of our future topics. In Term 1, we began brainstorming ideas for what we wanted to sell and how our business would work. After a lot of discussion (and a few friendly debates), we landed on chunky cookies, sliders, and lolly bags as our products. We then came up with our business name — Bun Believable Bites — and assigned roles within the group to help everything run smoothly.

Fast forward to the end of Term 2 and into Term 3, we started promoting our business by designing and putting up posters around the school. Each student got a chance to take pre-orders, and we ended up with a solid list of customers. Once we had our orders, we began collecting money to make sure everyone could receive their products on the day.

The week leading up to our business launch was full of preparation. We made name tags so we knew who was doing what, bought fresh ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, and lollies, and created signs. During this time, we quickly learned some important lessons — like not writing someone’s name down twice, because it meant going through everything again — and, most importantly, how to be patient and work as a team.

On the big day, we arrived at school bright and early at 7:30 am, ready to go. We jumped straight into action: setting up signs, making lolly bags, and preparing the food. Everyone had their own role — whether it was delivering cookies to classrooms, sorting sliders, serving customers, or taking orders to teachers. Even though it was a long and busy day, we all had fun. We got to try new things and had the chance to bond as a class while working hard.

At lunchtime, we set everything up and watched excitedly as students came to collect their food. We even got to enjoy some ourselves! Afterward, we all helped clean up, proud of how far we had come.

In the end, our experience running Bun Believable Bites taught us more than just how to run a small business. We learned about teamwork, organisation, communication, and problem-solving. Most of all, we learned how to support each other and have fun while working toward a shared goal — something we’ll all remember long after the cookies are gone!

Anna & Alexis (Year 9)

During Terms 1 and 2, some of our secondary students entered the Inter-school Chess Challenge local heats where each student completed 7 games of chess that day. As a result of these competitions, PAC was able to send a team to the Semi-Finals held at Greystanes in week 6. In their final games of the tournament, Daniel X and Neil S had to playoff against each other. Each of the players performed well with Daniel X (Yr 12) placing 6th, Neil S (Yr 12) placing 15th, Edison N (Yr 12) placing 20th and Adam W (Yr 11) placing 26th.   

On Tuesday, 9 September, a group of PAC athletes proudly represented the College at the AICES Athletics Carnival— a significant achievement for all who were selected. Thirty-one students attended, with 12 qualifying for the next stage at CIS. Out of 76 schools, PAC achieved an impressive 9th place overall.

Highlights included our boys’ team placing 5th and finishing as the top CASA school on the day. We also placed 10th on the medal tally, securing 6 Gold, 6 Silver, and 7 Bronze medals. Congratulations to our Gold Medal winners: Tim H. (Year 9), Ire O. (Year 9), Connor O’S. (Year 12), Isla P. (Year 11), Caleb R. (Year 8), and Sam S. (Year 12). Special mentions go to Tim H., who set a new record in the 12–14 Boys Triple Jump with a distance of 11.93m—breaking the record by 48cm—and to Caleb R. (14 Boys Age Champion) and Tim H. (14 Boys Runner-up Age Champion). We congratulate all students who participated in this outstanding day of competition.

Harrison Southern-Gale (Class of 2019)

From PAC to the Royal Australian Navy

At just 24 years old, he has already led a life filled with growth, challenges, service, and purpose. Since graduating from PAC in 2019, Harrison’s journey has taken unexpected turns, eventually leading him to serve as a Combat Systems Operator in the Royal Australian Navy, currently based in Canberra.

An Unexpected Path

When Harrison left PAC his plan was to head to the USA to work with Camp America and, on returning home, begin an apprenticeship. But like so many plans made in 2019, COVID-19 had other ideas. After some time working at McDonald's, Harrison realised a trade might not be the right fit. Instead, he took a chance on a career path he'd previously set aside: joining the Australian Defence Force.

"Getting sick of where I was pushed me to look at something I’d sidelined. The Navy offered structure, challenge, and a way to serve—something I didn’t even realise I was missing," Harrison shares.

After enlisting, Harrison spent three months at Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, followed by six months of specialised training at HMAS Watson in Sydney. He now works as a Combat Systems Operator. He’s also trained as an Amphibious Boat Controller and Joint Interface Control Cell Operator, roles that have taken him across the region and allowed him to contribute to important humanitarian missions.

Some of Harrison’s proudest accomplishments haven’t come from personal accolades, but from service to others. He played a role in Operation Tonga Assist after the 2022 volcanic eruption, COVID and Aged Care Assist efforts in Tasmania, and helped communities during the Queensland and NSW floods.

“There’s so much you can do, and so much that needs doing. I’m grateful to be in a role where I can help people,” he reflects.

Facing Challenges & Finding Strength

Moving states, navigating intense training, and spending long periods away from loved ones were among the biggest challenges he has faced. But he credits his success to having strong support networks, and a good sense of humour.

Family Life & New Chapters

Harrison’s life changed again when he met his wife, Zahra, during his time in the Navy. Last year, they welcomed their daughter, Lily. Balancing the demands of military life with family life is no small feat, but it’s one he embraces fully.

Looking Back at PAC

Some of Harrison’s most cherished memories come from his final year at PAC—particularly the sports and swimming carnivals, and the emotional farewell at graduation. “I can’t nail down one specific moment, but I loved my time at the College. From the teachers who went above and beyond, to the mates I still talk to daily—it was a wild, yet incredibly enjoyable time.”

His advice to current students?

“Don’t stress about test scores or HSC marks. Try your best, and if you can honestly say you have, that’s enough. The Navy hasn’t asked me about my essay on George Orwell’s 1984... yet.”

“Time moves fast,maybe because I’m a dad now, or maybe because of long days and big workloads. Probably both. But I know this: there’s a world of opportunities out there, and you don’t have to have it all figured out at 18.”

CRU Rush is back at Penrith Anglican from 29th September - 3rd October! Your child will have the week of their lives and get a great opportunity to make new friends and build self-confidence during their school holidays! They'll enjoy the experience of camp, with the chance to participate in exciting outdoor activities including ezyrollers, inflatables and making and decorating their own kite, all while exploring a Christian worldview, whilst still going home to sleep in the comfort of their own bed.

To find out more information and register, please follow the link https://crucamps.com.au/day-camp/crurush25/

Please see the attached Term Dates for 2026 for your reference.