The Vine Newsletter

30 November 2021 

Dear College Families 

We are almost at the end of 2021, having endured a second year living with COVID-19 and several months in lockdown.  Our hope is for a kinder 2022 as we look to the future.   

Our thoughts turn immediately to our strong and resilient Year 12 students doing their HSC exams under difficult circumstances. A large number of our students have received early entry offers to university and we have confidence the others will excel in whatever they do. We wish them well both now and into their futures. 

During this difficult year there have been many things for the College to celebrate: great times at camps, swimming and athletics carnivals, charity days which raised funds for worthy causes such as Compassion, Jump Rope for Heart and the McGrath Foundation.  Our student leaders introduced “PAC Spirit Day” as a way for students to express their pride in their College community. We expanded our service programs with new partnerships including our onsite regeneration project with Landcare and our service trip to Wellington in central western NSW.   

For a short window of time, we were able to welcome parents onto campus to celebrate events such as Easter, Mother’s Day chapel and our annual Book Parade.  Even during lockdown and Term 4 we have continued to meet and celebrate online in our regular chapel time and special occasions such as Remembrance Day.  We look forward to celebrating achievement at the end of this year with online events. 

In 2020 we introduced a new Teaching and Learning framework, which ironically was of immense benefit for our online learning this year – students, teachers and parents alike needed to ‘pivot’ and make sacrifices to both learn from home and work from home.  The College was able to provide support to some families experiencing financial distress via general fee relief and specific assistance.  Working together, we have all adapted and coped with great changes – we are proud of our whole College community: students, staff and our amazing families who have risen to the unexpected and unforeseen challenges we have all faced. 

With a bright future, we are growing and moving forward. In 2022 we will be commencing 5 Kindergarten classes and welcoming a larger number into Year 7.  We have begun master planning for new building in the coming few years. 

School fees in 2022 will increase just 2.5%, with this going to support increases in wages and other fixed costs.  The increase for Primary averages $55 per term, Secondary $70 per term. The College Council is mindful of the financial pressures the year has brought and has been careful to limit the increase to cover our costs alone. 

John Newton wrote the familiar hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ in 1779. In times of challenge, we can reflect on these words: 

“Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” 

These words have great meaning for us in 2021. Our great God has brought us through this year and will indeed lead us home. 

As we rapidly approach Christmas, may you know the peace of God who will never disappoint and will never leave you.   

May God bless you. 

Philip Bell OAM
Chair, Penrith Anglican College Council

It was a great joy to be able to hold a small assembly on Wednesday 1 December to present the College Student Leaders with their badges and certificates. It was a privilege to have the Leaders' parents join us in the Lighthouse Theatre. Please pray for the Captains, Vice-Captains, Prefects and House Captains as they serve the College at the same time as they manage their studies in their final year of schooling. Pray that they will be Godly, mature ambassadors for the College and role models to their peers. And that they will grow in their relationship with their Heavenly Father as they trust in Him for all things.

On Wednesday 8 December, we celebrated the end of an unusual but fantastic year, acknowledging the achievements of our students across the academic curriculum, sport and co-curricular activities for 2021.

James Hood (Year 6) was awarded Dux of Primary School. 

The highest awards from the College, Collegian of the Year for 2021, was awarded to Amelia Marland (Year 6) for Primary School, and Mia Kobus for Secondary School. 

Students also received John Lambert Awards (5 years and 10 years) for their ongoing participation in all aspects of College life and service activities.

Students in Pre-K to Year 12 performed to the song 'This is Amazing Grace' by Phil Wickham, Joshua Neil Farro and Jeremy Riddle, featuring Lecrae, which was shown during the Primary Presentation Morning. 

Congratulations to all our students on their wonderful achievements in 2021, and to everyone involved in the video production.  

We thank God for his protection, and wish all our families a blessed Christmas and a restful and safe holiday break. See you all in 2022 for another fantastic year.

'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.' Colossians 3:17 NIV

Isaiah 9:6 NIV

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 
Please pray for:

 Those members of the College community experiencing times of hardship and trial.

A safe and restful break for staff and students.

The true meaning of Christmas to be clear.

 
Praise God for:

 The chance to rest and be refreshed over the break.

Wonderful celebrations with Years 6, 10 and 12 over the last week.

Being able to include parents in events for Year 6 and 12.

Mr Mitchell Clarke - Director of Teaching and Learning

What is it that you value in education? When you think about the sort of person you want your child to become, how many of the things we want for them are assessed in exams?

One of the most compelling quotes on education I’ve read recently comes from American journalist and minister, Chris Hedges. It reads:

“We’ve bought into the idea that education is about training and “success”, defined monetarily, rather than learning to think critically and to challenge. We should not forget that the true purpose of education is to make minds, not careers. A culture that does not grasp the vital interplay between morality and power, which mistakes management techniques for wisdom, which fails to understand that the measure of a civilization is its compassion, not its speed or ability to consume, condemns itself to death.”

The reality is that what students, teachers and parents want from Australian schools has moved beyond simply marks and results. Schools like Penrith Anglican College are no longer simply in the business of teaching content, they need also to be in the business of building people. This is the drive behind what PAC continues to develop in the College Learning Culture.

As Hedges notes in his quote above, despite the clear need for academia to remain a key focus in any school environment, the rapid advancement of a 21st century world means schools can longer rely on academic outcomes alone.

The College Learning Culture continues to emphasise the value skills beyond the classroom. We want to value student improvement rather than simply achievement, we want our students to highlight mistakes as opportunities for students to grow, we want to promote the idea that the skills required to be a good learner are, in fact, learnable.

In this way, the College Learning Culture seeks to provide challenges, improve mindsets, encourage collaborative activity and create and reinforce positive messages about what it means to learn; developing students who will not only cope, but who will thrive in a rapidly changing, 21st Century world.

I look forward to seeing how God continues to work through both the staff and students of PAC in the coming years.

Mr Mitchell Clarke
Director of Teaching and Learning

The College Term Dates 2022 is attached. 

A reminder that the 2022 stationery lists for Years 3-12 are are now available on the College website.

Mrs Ljubica Mansell, Deputy Principal (Primary)

Dear Families

War of the Words

As with many events in 2021, our War of the Words public speaking competition was placed on hold, at a time when we should have been watching the finals. Fast forward to Term 4 and we were able to hold the finals, through the world of digital technologies.

I would like to congratulate all the students in Primary School for their efforts in presenting their chosen poem. It is not an easy task to stand in front of an audience and recite a poem, let alone in front of your peers. Honourable mention to the students who wrote and presented original poems.

Also, a special congratulations to the finalists who were faced with a lengthy pause to present their final presentations.

Our finalists for 2021

• Ruby Lamplough
• Lyle Murray
• Lilyana Peikos
• Charlotte Nicholls
• Milly Sturt
• Havana Williams
• Layla Atkinson
• Ethan Ward
• Ava Maurer
• Callan Kobus

War of the Words Winners 2021

• Mia Egglestone  
• Lucinda Mannix
• Harper Egglestone
• Caleb Ritchie
• Estelle Ferro  
• Sophia Hutton

All 2021 Finalists will be receiving their certificates very soon.

Congratulations

I wanted to acknowledge and congratulate all of the students in Primary School for all their achievements in 2021. It was a year that I will never forget. A year where students stepped out of their comfort zones and persevered with a new way of learning, spending a long time away from friends and loved ones and a time when so many unknowns were presented.

It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of the year and are about to embark on a holiday that many of us have longed for, for quite some time.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas. Thank you for your continued support and I pray that you are able to rest these holidays and I look forward to seeing you all in 2022.

Warm Regards and God Bless,

Mrs Ljubica Mansell
Deputy Principa (Primary)

During Term 3 Year Two learn about different places in Australia as part of our Geography unit. Students learnt about different cities, suburbs and rural areas. As part of their learning, they wrote letters to students in Leeton in New South Wales. Students asked about how they get to school, the weather, what they do and how Covid has affected them.

Later in Term 4, Year 2 were lucky to receive hand-written letters back from their new penpals! Year Two sent off Christmas cards and replies back. What a great chance to learn from students six hours away!

Miss Meg Anderson
Primary Teacher

Over the last few weeks, Year 3 have been investigating time through practical activities using individual clocks as well as engaging in matching activities and board games. Students have enjoyed the opportunity to learn how to read digital and analog time to the nearest 5 minutes, and interpret timetables.

Mrs Amanda Marshall
Primary Teacher

Mrs Wheatley’s Year 4 Maths class have been busy revising mathematical concepts through a series of games and activities. Students participated in an ‘Escape Room’ challenge, solving puzzles, riddles and clues to work out the final 4-digit combination. They loved the challenges and worked brilliantly as teams!

Mrs Melanie Wheatley
Primary Teacher

On Thursday 2 December, we celebrated our Year 6 students as they graduated Primary School. Mrs Grima presented students with their graduation packs at a formal Chapel in the morning which was attended by parents. Later in the evening students donned their best outfits and celebrated together with a dinner in the College hospitality area. We wish all our Year 6 students well as they move into high school in 2022.

(Photo credit:  The Wheatleys Photography)

Year 4 student Torah Kelly recent performed in the Equestrian Queensland Interschool competition. Due to Covid restrictions, the competition was run in an online capacity, where competitors prepared and recorded their competition piece at home, and submitted the same for judging.

Torah represented PAC in the Open Primary Preliminary Dressage, and placed 7^th across all primary school competitors, from all States and Territories.

In a year where Torah had qualified for her first NSW Interschool competition but had it cancelled due to Covid, she was very happy to be back competing, even if it was in a different format. All things going to plan, Torah will again represent PAC at the Berry Interschools over three big days at the end of December. We wish Torah the best and look forward to sharing her results with the College in 2022.

Jhon Carlos Sanchez Branez has been sponsored by Year 1 since they were in Pre K.

Jhon is 7 years old and lives in Bolivia with his parents and a sibling. His father occasionally works as a mason bricklayer.

He is not old enough to do any chores but has been going to school since last year.

His favourite activities are drawing and going to Sunday School.

Wishing our entire College community a Christmas filled with peace and love.

We look forward to sharing the joy of reading and the pursuit of knowledge with our staff and students in 2022.

‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it’ John 1:5 NIV

PAC Library Staff

The plants are loving all the recent rain that we've been having!  Here are a few updated pictures of the thriving Landcare Project.

As a great application of learning Illustrator, in the Illuminated Sign Project (Year 7 Technology Mandatory), Layla Giampietro created this design for a Christmas bauble using Adobe Illustrator.  Mrs Chambers then cut her design on the laser cutter.

Mrs Diane Catto
Head of Technologies

9 Food Technology – Iced Gingerbread
Students created their Iced Gingerbread over 3 lessons. One lesson to make the dough another to roll, cut and bake the biscuits and the last lesson to ice and decorate to show their individual style.’ 

They learnt 'it’s not as easy as it looks' and it’s time consuming. Their end results are very marketable and edible!

Mrs Diane Catto
Head of Technologies

9 Design & Technology 1 & 2 – Flat Pack Furniture Project. 
Furniture design is a big industry, especially flat packed furniture. Designing for ease of transportation and assembly has allowed many companies, including IKEA, to encourage a connection between the furniture piece and the owner as they get the satisfaction of constructing their purchased product. Students were tasked with designing and making a piece of furniture that is functional and appeals to an identified target market. The final product had to be manufactured from ONE piece of Plywood 600mm x 1200mm. The final product was to be assembled WITHOUT the need for fasteners like screws or nails and enhance the aesthetics of its intended environment.

Mrs Diane Catto
Head of Technologies

During Week 7 of this term, students in Year 10 participated in Australian Business Week, an initiative designed to give students a simulated business experience.

During the week students were tasked with creating a sports product, which they then needed to design and market, and make decisions that will affect their companies' performance in a computer simulation.

Students competed in groups to make the best trade display, video advertisement, business report and oral presentation.

Mrs Grima judged the displays and 'Burst' was declared the winning product.

Well done to all of our participants in Year 10!

Year 10 organised a ‘Pink’ themed event to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation as part of their Charity Ball fundraising efforts. On Thursday 24 November, the whole College was awashed in pink as students came to school dressed in mufti attire with a ‘touch of pink’, the colour of theMcGrath Foundation. 

Primary students were able to pre-purchase a paddle pop ice-cream, while Secondary school had the opportunity to pre-purchase a sausage sizzle lunch. In addition, students also had the chance to purchase pink merchandise.

Thank you to all staff, students and families for supporting this event. Over $2500 was raised.

After what must feel like the longest year for our Year 12 2021 cohort, the College had the opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2021 at their Graduation Service on Tuesday 7 December.

It was a wonderful time hearing recollections of some of their best memories of their time at the College and for the students to thank their teachers and parents. Parents were able to join in person and the rest of the College watched the live-stream. The whole College made a guard of honour around the campus to say farewell. There was much laughter and many tears!

To the Class of 2021, COVID-19 could not stop you! The whole College wishes you all the very best for your future plans.

'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' Jeremiah 29:11

Photo Credit: The Wheatleys Photography

On the evening of Wednesday 1 December, Year 10 gathered to enjoy their Charity Ball at the Crowne Plaza – Hawkesbury Valley. This night was a celebration of all that these students had achieved over the year, and also to acknowledge their efforts to raise a massive $8,500 for their Charity of choice, the McGrath Foundation.

There were various presentations during the night. Year 10 student Ethan Kambar gave a presentation to his cohort about the reflections of the year, his speech is included below.

“Tonight, I’m here to reflect and look back on what we’ve done as a year group this past year, and I have to say, we’ve been though quite a lot. We’ve had to cope with lockdown to lockdown, restrictions to even more restrictions, and due to this we didn’t get to do as much as we wanted to, but if we look past that, I'd say that in general, we had some good fun as a year group.

Earlier this year we had a chance to speak to the school’s alumni as part of CEP. This experience would have helped many of us decide what we want to do after we leave school, for others, including myself, it gave us a better understanding of the careers that we were thinking of being involved in in the future.

Then, after an excruciating lockdown that spanned the entirety of term 3 and almost half of term 4, we came back to school and got to be involved in Australian Business Week. For most of us, this week was a fun experience that helped develop team-building skills and other skills associated with running a business. Soon after this, we got to hear from various speakers on important topics such as financial literacy, the impact of drugs and respectful relationships. We also had opportunities to work on our team building skills.

Now we get to look forward. From what we’ve heard, these next two years will be frighteningly different to what we’re all used to. We’ll all be under so much pressure, not only relating to our exams but also relating to how our lives will play out over the coming years.

Let’s face it, our school life is quickly coming to an end, and for some of us it already has. For the people here who will not be returning to PAC next year, we want to thank you for being a part of this great year group and wish you all the best for next year with your plans. It feels like it was only yesterday that we were in year 6 watching BTN, and now, looking back, I've had a chance to admire the huge journey I've been through these past 4 years, what I've learnt, what mistakes I’ve made, and how I've overcome them.

Whether we like it or not, these past years have changed who we are, we have all grown, learnt and made mistakes. We have failed, persisted, and changed. We are not the same people we were when we walked through the school gates on the first day of Year 7.

I challenge everyone here to consider; How have I developed? How have my friendships changed? What have I learnt about myself? What have I learnt about others? What mistakes have I made and what have I done to overcome them? In summary, how have you, as a person, changed over these past years? And how can you take these lessons that you’ve learned, these values that you’ve gained and take them forward into year 11? I’m encouraging you to ask yourself these questions as you leave here tonight, and value the answers to them because I'm sure that I'm not the only one who believes that these values, lessons, experiences, and friendships are so precious to value now.”

Year 10 2022 have much to be proud of. They have learnt so much and will continue to do so over the next two years. I am looking forward to seeing them grow and mature through the opportunities and experience they will get to enjoy together during their senior years.

Miss Adele Crane
Director of Student Wellbeing

(Photo credit:  Ryan Wilco Photographer)

As Year 12 students completed their last exam, they rang the old church bell in front of the school to mark the end of their secondary schooling.

The tradition was started last year in response to COVID-19 restrictions but we are sure it will continue long into the future.

Families were able to gather outside and celebrate their children's hard work and perseverance. Well done to everyone for surviving a difficult year.

Here is a video compilation of some of the joyous moments of the ringing of the bell https://youtu.be/ddKC8NyU8mU

Please see attached letter from Perm A Pleat regarding extended opening hours.

As 2022 approaches, we look forward to collaborating with Penrith Anglican College to welcome new families. Starting school is a major milestone for them and this transition process can be both exciting and challenging for children – and we relish the opportunity to help families during this time. 

Helpful information to get families started 
To make this new experience as comfortable and positive as possible for families and children, we have attached our Parent Information Leaflet which includes information about OSHC, our tailored programs, and how to register. 

Bookings now open for 2022
Families can prepare for the new school year as 2022 bookings for Your OSHC program are now open. Registration is free for families. We recommend that all families register so if they ever need or want to attend, all they need to do is book their session as we'll already have all the documentation we need from them. They simply have to log in and register through our Parent Portal, also available as a smartphone app, and start booking. 

Camp Australia

Code Camp will be back on 13-14 January 2022.  Please see attached letter regarding program details.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation.

Please see the attached letter from Transport NSW for more details.

The latest version of our Community Business Directory is now available for download.

The Community Business Directory acts as a link for business and families to support each other.  This initiative has been created by the Parents & Friends Association for businesses of Penrith Anglican College families rather than a general advertising site to assist our College Community during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Each business in the Directory has a direct link with a College family.

With the impact of Covid-19 and Off Campus Learning in Term 3, the ICAS assessments were changed to ICAS@home assessments this year, where students completed the tests via Zoom at the beginning of Term 4. The College was involved in testing student’s abilities in Years 3-10 across English, Maths and Science. Students were registered by their parents/carers and sat these tests in Week 1 of this term. With the added technical difficulties due to the change in delivery mode of the tests, it was encouraging to see students rise to the extra challenges they faced in order to complete these assessments. A special congratulations to all students and parents involved.

ICAS assesses the higher order thinking and problem-solving skills needed for success in English, Mathematics and Science. Students who ranked in the top 1% were awarded a High Distinction, the next 10% were awarded Distinctions, the next 25% were awarded Credits, the next 10% were awarded Merits and the rest of the participants were awarded Participation Certificates. The College’s most outstanding results are listed below:

ICAS Science:

• Distinction – Paul Andrawis (Year 3), Gavinu Wijayarathna (Year 3), James Hood (Year 6), Elliott Witten (Year 6), Isabella Stewart (Year 9)
• Credit – Mahie Kehal (Year 3), Aaleyah Hassan (Year 3), Chloe Turner (Year 3), Spencer Witten (Year 4), Anneka Peeters (Year 6), Amelia Sarwar (Year 6), Lucas Turner (Year 6), Christopher Oliver (Year 7)

ICAS English:

• Distinction – Aaryan Angrish (Year 3), Aaleyah Hassan (Year 3), James Hood (Year 6), Anneka Peeters (Year 6)
• Credit – Paul Andrawis (Year 3), Oliver Johnson (Year 3), Chloe Turner (Year 3), Spencer Witten (Year 4), Andrew Hood (Year 5), Amelia Sarwar (Year 6), Akshaj Sharma (Year 6), Lucas Turner (Year 6), Elliott Witten (Year 6), Christopher Oliver (Year 7), Aryan Patial (Year 7), Alexander Southern-Gale (Year 10)

ICAS Maths:

•  High Distinction - James Hood (Year 6)
•  Distinction – Paul Andrawis (Year 3), Mahsilan Shantharajah (Year 6)
•  Credit – Aaryan Angrish (Year 3), Aaleyah Hassan (Year 3), Gavinu Wijayarathna (Year 3), Chace Linford (Year 4), Anneka Peeters (Year 6), Amelia   Sarwar (Year 6), Akshaj Sharma (Year 6), Christopher Oliver (Year 7), Aryan Patial (Year 7), Ranveer Dhaliwal (Year 8), Isabella Stewart (Year 9)

A Principal’s Award for students who deserve special recognition for their efforts in ICAS was also awarded to:

• Science – Isabella Stewart (Year 9)
• English – Aaleyah Hassan (Year 3)
• Maths – James Hood (Year 6)

Congratulations to these students and all students who participated in these tests. We are hoping that the tests will return to a face-to-face format in 2022 where the College will again offer Maths, Science and English testing for students in Years 3-10.

Mrs Kathryn Clarke
Secondary Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator

This year, College families were invited to join via Livestream to celebrate Christmas as a College community on Friday 3 December. Click on this link to view the recording.

On Monday 22 November, Timothy Batcheldor, Toby Gange, Ava Kobus, Anne Oliver and Vanshika Rathore participated in the Middle School Ethics Olympiad. The Ethics Olympiad provides students the opportunity to engage with other students in a Zoom format that promotes civil, critical and collaborative discourse. Our students prepared well for the various cases and presented some well thought out critiques of 8 different ethical cases.

The team placed 10th overall and were given various honourable mentions from the judges on the day for how they presented themselves and for the cases they presented. 

Congratulations to these five students.

Mrs Kathryn Clark
Secondary Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator

Although 2021 threw many curved balls at us, our students still managed to keep their creative juices flowing. Here are a sample of some of the many artworks our talented students made throughout the year, even during Off Campus Learning.

Mr Chris Commerford
Head of Visual Arts