The Vine Newsletter

Mrs Felicity Grima, Principal

Last Friday, we celebrated the graduation of our Year 12 students. We honoured not just the completion of their schooling, but the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Over the past 13 years, our graduates have grown through many seasons, learning, laughing, persevering, and supporting one another. They have navigated a rapidly changing world, from technology and social media to global events that shaped our lives. Through it all, one truth has remained constant: God’s love.

As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and His faithfulness endures through every season. “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

The College has never aimed to prepare students for a career alone, but for a life of purpose, marked by service to Christ and others, lived with compassion, integrity, courage, humility, and perseverance.

To our Year 12 students, thank you for the energy, resilience, and character you have brought to our community. You have faced challenges with courage, supported one another through uncertainty, and shown what it means to live out our values.

As you walk out of these gates for the final time, carry this truth above all else:

• Your identity is not defined by your ATAR, career path, or achievements.
• Your worth is not measured by your popularity, possessions, or performance.
• Your future is not held in the hands of chance, but in the hands of a faithful God.

Carry the values you have developed here and embrace the seasons ahead with hope and confidence, trusting that “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Class of 2025, we are proud of you.

May God bless you richly as you step into the future, anchored in His love and truth.

Principal Felicity Grima was recently interviewed by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW to talk about child safety and how Penrith Anglican College embeds it into every meeting, interaction, and decision across the school.

She shared how the College is building strong systems that make it easier for staff to raise any concern – big or small – ensuring that no warning sign is overlooked and that child safety is championed at every level of the school community.Conversations and action around child safety don’t end with National Child Protection Week – every day is an opportunity for anyone working with children to turn positive conversations into actions that foster safety and flourishing

We hope all the special people in your lives enjoyed a wonderful Father’s Day! It was a delight to watch our  shoppers deliberate over the perfect gift at the Father’s Day Stall this month. The law of supply and demand was in full force and the smiles on the little faces said it all as we wrapped gifts and listened to their many stories. Thank you to our talented PAC family business owners Nisha’s Cakes & Dreams and Alycia Marie Biscuits who generously baked beautiful treats for our Father’s Day Stall. 

Shout out to all the incredible P&F volunteers who shopped up a storm, created an amazing and inviting stall, wrapped gifts and supported our little shoppers making those tough decisions. Cheers to our awesome Property Team for staging the Staff Common Room for us!  Thank you Mrs Nielsen and Mrs Salmon for hosting our pop-up stall in Reception for children who missed the big event, boosting our sales and putting a bow on our gift wrapping! We hope all our PAC families enjoyed 

Thinking of all our Year 12 students heading into exams one last time as their high school careers come to a close and wishing them all the very best!  We invite Year 12 students attending the Study Lounge during the school holidays to refuel with refreshments and grab n go snacks compliments of the P&F Pantry.  The P&F Pantry will be located in the Canteen foyer and all Year 12 students are welcome to enjoy!  You got this Year 12! 

We held the Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting on Monday, 22 September. All positions were declared vacant, nominations were called for and votes were cast. We are delighted to share your committee representatives who will continue to “friend-raise, fun-raise and fundraise” with the whole College community in 2025/2026:-

• President - Emily Ray
• Vice President - Amanda Swart
• Treasurer - Saro Alayan
• Secretary - Janelle Lupton
• Ordinary Member - Wendy Mackellow Barker
• Ordinary Member - Erin Johnson

On Wednesday, 24 September, the College community came together to celebrate Supporters Day, a special mufti day where students wore outfits representing the people, causes, and communities close to their hearts. From favourite sports teams to house colours and meaningful causes, the day was a vibrant display of the many things our students care about.

As part of the day, students were encouraged to donate a gold coin in support of the Year 10 Charity for 2025, Rare Cancers Australia. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised over $1200 for this important cause.

One particularly meaningful moment came from Kindy Silver, where a student wore a “Love Needs No Words” shirt in recognition of Auslan, inclusion, and acceptance. With her family proudly connected to the deaf community, her gesture was a timely reminder of the National Week of Deaf People (22–28 September) and the importance of celebrating diversity across our College.

Supporters Day was a wonderful opportunity for our students to stand together, show support in meaningful ways, and make a real difference through their contributions.

Our College community came together to pause, connect, and reflect on the power of a simple question: R U OK?

Led by our Mentor Representative Leadership Group, students participated in activities promoting conversations about mental health and peer support. Many students added a splash of yellow to their uniforms as a sign of solidarity.

The Library offered a special collection of wellbeing and self-help books, while students gathered to listen, support one another, and take part in activities such as painting smiley faces, making stress balls, crafting friendship bracelets, and more.

At PAC, we are committed to fostering a community where kindness, care, and courage are lived out every day, and where every voice is heard and valued. R U OK? Day reminds us that every conversation matters—checking in with a friend, teacher, or family member can make all the difference.

As part of our Term 3 Compassion Fundraiser, Year 3 students hosted the much-loved Crazy Hair and Cookies Day. The Primary campus was filled with colourful, creative hairstyles, while recess and lunch were made sweeter with delicious cookies sold by our Year 3 students. We are especially grateful to the Year 3 families who generously donated the cookies.

Through their efforts, Year 3 raised an outstanding $1,746.70 for Compassion. These funds will go directly towards supporting our College’s Compassion Sponsor Children, making a real difference in their lives. This was Year 3’s very first time hosting a College charity day, and they did an excellent job with enthusiasm, kindness, and teamwork. We are also thankful for the generosity of our wider College community, whose support made the day such a success. When asked why they raise money for Compassion, a group of Year 3 students shared:

“We raise money for Compassion so that the children can have things like a better home, go to school, and have a better life. We have so much, so we can give some to them.”

This year, the competition’s focus shifted to the theme of Compassion. Students explored what it means to show kindness, empathy, and understanding towards others in both words and actions. In Kindergarten to Year 2, students embraced this theme by learning and reciting poems that highlighted the importance of caring for one another. Their performances not only celebrated the beauty of language but also encouraged them to reflect on how compassion can be practiced in their daily lives. Years 3-6 wrote their own speeches, and the competition was fierce, resulting in our finals day in Term 3. 

• Early Stage 1 Emilia Della Valle Kindergarten
• Stage 1 Isla Issa Year 2
• Stage 2 Akshera Ashwar Year 4
• Stage 3 Harper Egglestone Year 6

Congratulations to all our speakers and stage winners.

In September, a group of Year 6 students attended the HICES Gifted and Talented Camp at AGH Camps, Sydney. The camp ran for five days and was accompanied by Miss Prow.

This was a wonderful opportunity for students to collaborate in a range of challenging and stimulating activities beyond the day-to-day classroom. Students were able to engage with their passions and interests through enriching experiences in intensive, deep-learning sessions.

Chelsea - Gifted and Talented Camp was a blast from start to finish. We learned so much in both core and elective classes, such as Living in Space, Drama, and Archaeology. Everything was exciting—especially the gorge swing—but the cherry on top had to be the food! I highly recommend this experience to future Year Sixes. You’ll step out of your comfort zone and make new friends outside of PAC.

Aleksander -  Gifted and Talented Camp had so many interesting activities, such as Minecraft Coding, Mathematical Escape, and more. You learn lots of new things, like how to code in Minecraft and how to make new friends. My favourite part was the gorge swing—sitting in the seat and being swung off a massive cliff was amazing!

Joshua - G&T Camp was the best camp experience I have ever had. I made new friends and learned skills I didn’t know before. My highlight was playing soccer on the field and also taking part in Minecraft Coding.

Scarlett - G&T Camp was amazing—the food, the people, the staff, the activities, and the way it brought out different personalities in all the students. Many schools attended, such as Arndell Christian College and Broughton Anglican College. We had the chance to participate in one core class, like Archaeology or Secrets of Space, and four elective classes such as Sports Stats, Realism in Portraiture, and Outdoor Activities. Each night featured an evening activity: an icebreaker to get to know each other, a disco, a guest speaker, and trivia on the final night.

Miss Prow - G&T Camp is always one of the highlights of my year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see students challenged to make new friends, try new experiences and stretch their thinking through the different subjects offered. Each year I leave inspired by their growth and excited to see how these experiences shape their future learning and confidence.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our talented Year 12 students who have been nominated for possible inclusion in the 2026 HSC Showcase series — a collection of prestigious exhibitions and performances that highlight the very best work from across New South Wales.

As part of their final week of school celebrations, our Year 12 students gathered at 5:30 am for a Sunrise Breakfast. With eggs and bacon freshly prepared, they enjoyed a relaxed and fun morning alongside their Heads of Department, sharing laughs and creating lasting memories. A perfect way to celebrate their final days at school!

Auditions are coming! All students in Years 4–11 have received an email with the audition sign-up form for our 2026 College Musical, The Wizard of Oz. The Audition Pack and materials are linked within the form.

Auditions will take place next term, as outlined in the pack. We encourage students to use the upcoming holidays to prepare, especially as auditions will follow directly after the academic exam period. We’re excited to see your talent shine—we can’t wait to follow the yellow brick road with you!

Congratulations to the nearly 200 Performing Arts students and their dedicated staff who took to the stage for our inaugural Ensembles Showcase Concert on Thursday, September 25. The evening was a vibrant celebration of our Dance and Music ensembles, showcasing the skill, creativity, and teamwork developed through a year of committed weekly rehearsals.

Each performance was a reflection of the passion and perseverance our students bring to the Performing Arts, and the audience responded with heartfelt appreciation. A special thank you to our staff and tutors for the countless hours spent preparing both in rehearsals and behind the scenes—your guidance and support made the night truly memorable.

As part of Graduation Week, our Year 12 students had the opportunity to go “back to Kindergarten” for a heartwarming morning with our youngest learners.

They played games, answered questions, and joined in singing and dancing, creating special moments of connection across the year levels.Our Year 12 cohort also showed leadership and service by cooking and serving breakfast for their fellow students at the Sunrise Breakfast—a wonderful demonstration of care, initiative, and teamwork.

These activities are a beautiful reminder of the journey our students have taken at Penrith Anglican College, from their first steps in the classroom to now, as compassionate, capable young adults ready to make a difference in the world.We are incredibly proud of our graduates and the positive example they continue to set for our younger students.

Well done to all our athletes who attended the CIS Athletics Carnival on 5 September. The day turned out to be great conditions for running, jumping and throwing. Our students competed with great determination and grit and represented our College proudly.

Congratulations to Jake F (Year 6) who was 3rd in the 12 Years Boys Discus and Jacob K (Year 4) who place 1st in the both the 8-10 Years Boys 1500m and 800m events. Jacob ran the 1500m in 4:50.77 breaking the CIS record by 8 seconds and his 800m time was 2:21.99 breaking the CIS record which has stood for 12 years by 5 seconds.

Both students have qualified for the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships in Term 4. Well done on your achievements, we will be cheering for you!

AFL

Our Stage 2 and Stage 3 teams showed outstanding commitment on the field, proudly representing the College with determination and teamwork.

Our teams were fantastic in showcasing their goal scoring, hand passing and marking skills with teams taking out the day as winners. Well done to everyone involved for making the College proud! 

Netball

Students from Years 3–6 headed to Jamison Park to take part in the Nepean Shield Netball Gala Day. The event was a wonderful showcase of teamwork, skill, and school spirit, with every player enjoying a full day of exciting matches. There were plenty of intercepts, goals, and strong defensive plays, with students making their coaches proud as they represented the College. Congratulations to our netballers on a fantastic and successful day!

Soccer

The Nepean Shield Boys and Girls Soccer teams had a great day on Friday for the Term 3 Gala Days. Both Junior and Senior teams showing outstanding skill and determination. Throughout the day, they faced strong opposition and seized every opportunity to showcase their soccer talents. The matches were fast-paced and competitive, with students demonstrating impressive teamwork and perseverance. Congratulations to all involved for their sportsmanship and for representing the College so proudly.

Congratulations to the Senior Girls team for their outstanding achievement at the NSW State Primary Futsal School Championships. The team displayed an impressive understanding of the game’s strategies, adapting to the fast-paced format and style. The girls quickly transitioned their traditional soccer skills to suit the quicker gameplay, showcasing agility, sharp decision-making, and teamwork. They managed to win a tight contest in the quarter finals before bowing out of the tournament in the semis. What an amazing achievement!

The Junior Boys team displayed great courage at the NSW State Primary Futsal School Championships. The competition on display was of a high standard and our students performed well on the day. Well done to both teams for representing the College proudly!

State Interschools Snowsports Championships

Congratulations to Ava H (Year 6) who competed at the NSW/ACT/QLD State Interschools Snowsports Championships in both Snowboard GS and Snowboard Cross. The conditions were perfect for boarding a complete contrast to her previous event in July.

In Snowboard GS, her first run placed her 4th, and after a tense wait she finished 8th overall, securing a spot at Nationals.

In Snowboard Cross, her first run was steady, for her second she went all in, flying down the course before a spectacular crash! Luckily, her first run kept her in the top rankings, finishing 13th and earning another Nationals ticket.

Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships

Ava H (Year 6) recently competed at the Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships at Mt Buller, Victoria, where she proudly represented PAC in both Snowboard GS and Snowboard Cross.

Ava showed determination and resilience even after a tough first run, she kept her cool, focused on bouncing back, and gave it her very best.

In an environment filled with high emotions, Ava remained calm, composed, and ready to go again.

Against more than 40 competitors in her division, Ava placed an impressive 18th in Snowboard GS and 26th in Snowboard Cross—an outstanding result in her very first year competing.

Congratulations Ava on a remarkable achievement. We are so proud of the way you represented the College on the national stage!

Congratulations to Jacob K (Year 4) who represented NSW at the Sports School Australia Cross-Country Championships and achieved an impressive 6th place overall.

Jacob started the race strongly, but on the day the hills and sharp turns proved challenging, with the top six competitors finishing within just eight seconds of each other.

Adding to the excitement, the NSW 10 Boys team also secured two gold medals—placing 1st in both the teams event and the relay.

Well done Jacob on a wonderful achievement and for proudly representing both NSW and the College!

We are seeking volunteers to support students during HSC exams as readers and writers. This role helps students with additional support needs access their exams fairly by reading the paper aloud or scribing answers as needed

HSC Exam Dates: Thursday 16 October – Thursday 7 November (flexible days available)

If you’re interested, sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/KVTVWJyPR2?origin=lprLink.

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.