From the Principal
Welcome back to Term 4!
Mrs Felicity Grima, Principal
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I feel a sense of renewed energy, inspired by the recent international Study Tour I took part in during the recent holidays. This journey took me to Denmark, Germany, Romania, the UK, and Spain, where we explored innovative educational practices and environments that are shaping the future of learning.
Across all the schools we visited, several powerful themes emerged as schools worked to meet the needs of their learning communities within their unique social, economic and political contexts:
- Inclusion and Belonging: Schools such as Buddinge Skole in Denmark and Avenor College in Romania demonstrated how inclusive education is embedded into every aspect of school life. Students with diverse needs are supported through co-teaching models, flexible groupings, and strong community partnerships.
- Student Agency and Leadership: From TEDxYouth events in Bucharest to the “Crew” model at XP East Doncaster, students were empowered to lead, collaborate, and take ownership of their learning. These experiences highlighted the importance of autonomy, voice, and real-world engagement.
- Flexible Learning Environments: We saw inspiring examples of maker spaces, and adaptable learning hubs that support creativity, collaboration, and wellbeing. Schools like Ørestad Gymnasium and LearnLife in Barcelona are reimagining space to reflect the needs of modern learners.
- Wellbeing as a Cornerstone: Daily check-ins, mentoring programs, and relational approaches to discipline were common across all schools. The emphasis on emotional safety and connection was a powerful reminder that wellbeing is foundational to academic success.
- Technology with Purpose: While digital tools were widely used, their integration was thoughtful and purposeful—supporting inquiry, creativity, and personalised learning. Maker spaces and AI courses were often designed by teachers to ensure relevance and engagement.
- Teacher Collaboration and Professional Growth: Schools prioritised time for planning, reflection, and co-teaching. Whether through pedagogical partnerships in Denmark or strategic goal-setting in Bucharest, the value of collaboration was clear.
While I am not aiming to replicate everything I have seen, as I reflect on these insights, I am motivated to keep evolving our own practices to make sure every student feels recognised, listened to, and supported. Term 4 will be filled with chances to celebrate learning, strengthen connections, and prepare for what lies ahead. We look forward to a lively and meaningful term.
Save the Date: College Christmas Celebration Breakfast and Chapel. Friday, 5 December
Breakfast will be served from 7.30am with the Chapel commencing at 8.40am.
Our College community are warmly invited to share breakfast and a Christmas Chapel Service with us on the Oval.
The event will conclude by 9.40am. More information will be available shortly.
Whole College
Reception Closing Time Update
Important Dates for Term 4
Praise & Worship Festival
The PAC Praise & Worship Festival was a wonderful afternoon of fun, fellowship, and faith for our students. From 4pm, students gathered on the Basketball Court and Oval (North) to enjoy a range of games and friendly competition before coming together for an early dinner and a classic sausage sizzle.
The excitement continued in the Lighthouse Theatre, where students played Fly and The Waiter Game, filling the room with laughter and energy. This sense of joy carried beautifully into the next part of the evening as everyone joined in a time of praise and worship. Through music, prayer, and reflection, students were encouraged to express their faith and gratitude in a meaningful way.
A special thank you to Jeremy, our Ministry Intern, for delivering an inspiring message that encouraged reflection and faith in action.
The evening was a reminder of the power of community and the joy that comes from gathering together in worship. We are grateful to everyone who helped bring the event to life and to all who joined us in celebrating this special time of connection and praise.
From the Head of Primary
Mrs Melinda Richardson - Head of Primary
Welcome to Term 4!
We’re excited to welcome our students and families back for what is always a wonderful and busy term. It has been lovely to see the enthusiasm of our students as they return, ready to embrace new learning and experiences. Term 4 is filled with opportunities to celebrate the growth and achievements of every child as we reflect on their learning journey throughout the year.
This term also brings many special events and community celebrations as we approach the end of the school year. We encourage families to stay up to date with key dates through the College app and newsletters to ensure you don’t miss these memorable moments.
Grandparents’ Day will be held as an afternoon event this year, to allow appropriate space for HSC exams taking place in the morning. Grandparents will be warmly invited to take their grandchildren home at the conclusion of the event; however, students must be signed out directly with their classroom teacher before leaving.
To support this change, our Swim School program will conclude on Thursday, 6 November, ensuring all students can equally participate in this much-loved celebration.
We look forward to sharing a joyful and rewarding Term 4 together!
Lucia P Accepted into the Prestigious Australian Ballet School Program
We are delighted to share some wonderful news — Lucia P has been accepted into the Australian Ballet School’s Interstate Training Program, one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the world.
This remarkable achievement follows a highly competitive audition process, with thousands of talented dancers from across Australia applying for a limited number of places. Lucia’s exceptional dedication, skill, and passion for ballet have truly set her apart.
Her journey with the program will commence in 2026, and we can’t wait to see how her love of dance continues to flourish in the years ahead.
Secondary School
From the Head of Secondary
Mr Anthony Kelshaw - Head of Secondary
The start of term offers students and staff an opportunity to be challenged and set personal goals for the term. At the Term 4 assembly, I challenged the Secondary school to consider the impact of their words. Below is a version of that challenge, shared here to continue the conversation beyond the school gates. It would be valuable to reflect on this at home:
How are words used in your house?
How do you model communication with your adolescent?
The Power of Our Words: A Challenge for Term 4
At the beginning of last term, I gave you a challenge: try something new. Hands up if you gave something new a go! Whether it was a new subject, sport, friendship, or mindset—well done for stepping outside your comfort zone.
This term, I want to challenge us in a different way: to reflect on the power of our words, both online and offline.
In a video we just watched, Mohammed Qahtani (first 3 min) speaks about how words can either spread falsehoods—like misleading facts about smoking—or breathe life into someone, like his young son who had made a mistake. It reminded me how deeply our words can impact others.
Think About This...
Has someone ever:
- Encouraged you?
- Made you feel capable of something you didn’t think you could do?
- Stopped you from doing something you felt ready for?
- Made you feel worse about a situation?
- Comforted you?
- Torn you down?
- Embarrassed you?
- Built you up?
- Our words matter. They reveal who we are and what we believe. They are a window into our hearts.
The Bible speaks powerfully about this in James 3:3–6:
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire,
A Personal Story
Let me share a moment I’m not proud of.
It was the first day of a new sports program I was responsible for. A student, Chris, wanted to switch sports last-minute to be with his friends. I was stressed, and his request was persistent. I responded by berating him publicly.
In that moment, my words were a spark—and I set Chris’s world on fire.
How do you think he felt?
Did I build him up or tear him down?
I tore him down. And I knew I had to fix it.
Later, I found Chris and talked it through. I explained why I reacted the way I did, acknowledged that my response was wrong, and apologised. Even though Chris had made a poor choice in requesting a change in sports on the morning of the event, it didn’t justify my poor response.
I made a conscious decision to use my words to build him up and restore our relationship. We moved forward with a stronger connection—and we’re still in touch today.
Your Challenge for Term 4
You have a choice with your words.
Will you use them to build or to tear down?
Think about the people you enjoy being around. How do they speak to you?
How can you use your words to build up your friends, your parents, your teachers, and the people you meet in the community?
Let’s make Term 4 a time where Secondary chooses words that build.
We’re human—we’ll get it wrong sometimes. But even then, our words can help. Be humble. Apologise. Restore.
Your challenge today is simple but powerful: Use your words to build others up.
How will you respond?
Young Artists Shine at Penrith Regional Gallery
We’re delighted to celebrate the achievements of two of our talented Year 8 Visual Arts students, Piper L and Imogen O, whose artworks are currently on display at the Lewers Penrith Regional Art Gallery as part of the exhibition Organised Chaos.
The exhibition showcases the creative work of young artists who participated in the Penrith Open Studio Program, an initiative that encourages students to explore new mediums, develop their artistic voice, and connect with the wider art community.
Piper shared, “I have loved being involved in the Penrith Open Studio Program and being part of the lovely community of artists. I had so much fun experimenting with different mediums and creating unique artworks.”
Imogen added, “The Penrith Art Studio Program has opened many possibilities to expand and explore my understanding of art. Not only has this program helped me grow, but I have made many new relationships with people who love art.”
You can view Piper and Imogen’s artworks at the Lewers Penrith Regional Art Gallery (adjacent to the Gift Shop) until 9 November.
Annual PAC Study Lounge
Sports
CASA Primary Cricket
On Thursday 16 October students from Stage 3 represented the College at the CASA Cricket Gala Day. Despite the warm weather the team was eager to take the field and showcase their cricketing skills. They played several tough matches throughout the day, remaining undefeated in their pool and advancing to the Grand Final, where they delivered a dominant performance to take out day. The students displayed excellent sportsmanship and represented Penrith Anglican College with pride and enthusiasm throughout the day.
Jaxson W Shines at CIS
Jaxson W had an impressive day at the CIS Championships. He finished 2nd in the 110m Hurdles, 2nd in the Triple Jump, setting a new personal best of 12.35m (an improvement of 69cm!), and came 4th in the High Jump, also achieving a personal best of 1.76m. Congratulations to Jaxson on these fantastic achievements!
Community Notices
Scholastic Book Fair
Term 4 is warming up as a busy and exciting time in our library spaces.
The hottest event will be our Scholastic Book Fair, now being held on Friday, 7 November (Week 4) during Grandparents’ Day festivities.
Please come and visit the 2025 Book Fair for some sizzling bargains and get a jump on your Christmas shopping. There will be books, kits in all shapes and sizes, diaries and journals plus a cornucopia of stationery items.
The 2025 Book Fair will be open from noon to 4 p.m. and every purchase contributes to valuable new library resources. See you there!
Term Dates 2026
Please see the attached Term Dates for 2026 for your reference.
