the vine - d2oc0ihd6a5bt.cloudfront.net · the vine - issue no 17, 2018 the importance of...

Issue No 17, 2018Monday 28 November 2018

A fortnightly newsletter for Penrith Anglican College families Personal excellence through Christ

The Vine

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

Message from Director of Student Enrichment & Support

It's that time of year again! Exams, concerts, reports, preparing for 2019 and of course December and with it all the joys of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus and give thanks for the certainty of eternal life as Christians. We give thanks too for the rewards and the challenges this year has brought the College and look forward to continued growth next year.

The holidays are a wonderful time for rest, relaxation and family time but also the opportunity to keep learning in a less formal way. You can help foster a love of learning in your children over the holidays without them even knowing it!

Visit a museum! They are often tactile and interactive and offer a range of activities for children while developing problem solving and critical thinking skills. Young children learn through play and older children learn about art, history, culture, the environment, science and more outside of the school environment.

Make reading part of your holiday routine for both young and old. Reading improves literacy and language skills and fires the imagination. For older children reading supports writing skills and teaches about

topics of interest. Books are a great Christmas gift!

Take them shopping! Supermarkets can offer a myriad of literacy and numeracy activities: where does that chocolate come from? How does it get here? How much are…. and so on. These are all lessons in real life learning.

Encourage boredom. Children and adults alike need time to switch off from constant activity and from social media. One of the best types of boredom is to be found in exploring our natural environment- visit a local park, a national park, a river, the beach -imaginative play allows for the development of creativity. The best thing of all is that these visits are largely free or inexpensive.

Discuss current events with your child. Look at different perspectives. You are helping develop problem solving, critical thinking skills and empathy. Then there is cooking….

Mrs Sophia JonesDirector of Student Enrichment & Support P-12

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update

Student Enrichment & Support

Performing Arts News

Performing Arts News (cont’d)

Primary School Sports

Primary School Sports (cont’d)

Jump Rope for Heart 2018

Skating Onto The Ice In Mary Poppins

Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

Thanksgiving

The Vine - Issue No 17, 2018

Over the past few weeks at the College we have had many opportunities to stop and give thanks for the many blessings we have received as a College. It was wonderful to do so as a whole College on Friday 9 November as we had the 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service.

We remembered the sacrifices made by others that we now benefit from, the wonderful achievements and accomplishments of our students over the years, the dedicated care and professionalism of our staff and Council and the physical resources and facilities we have been blessed with as a College. We remember the families who have partnered with us and allowed us to be part of the education of their children. We remember the good times and the challenging times.

As we remembered these things, it is incredibly difficult not to be thankful. Thankful for the blessings of God on the College, His protection and His provision. Thankful for the opportunity it is to have an excellent Christian education and be part of a College where we can openly proclaim the gospel on a daily basis.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

In the same theme of thanks, we took time last week to recognise and thank the many volunteers who have generously given their time throughout the year with a morning tea. Volunteers have assisted in classrooms, on excursions, at carnivals and events as well as part of the P&F. We know in a time-poor society that it would be easy to find other ways to fill their time. I know that many of our volunteers were unable to attend the morning tea so on behalf of the College, I would like to thank all volunteers. The students and staff have truly appreciated your time, care and assistance. You have enriched our learning environment and for that we are very thankful.

We look forward to sharing our end of year events with you in the coming weeks and to seeing you all as we celebrate our year together.Mrs Felicity GrimaActing Head of College

Parent HelpersThank You Morning Tea

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

Student Wellbeing


The importance of self-regulation

Self-regulation involves people being able to control themselves and manage things such as emotions, mood and behaviour. People with good self-regulation can resist acting impulsively, keep their emotions in check. It involves a range of behaviours that are useful in a wide variety of situations.

For students, self-regulation is extremely helpful. It means that students can pay attention and listen to instructions. They can ignore distractions such as people talking, or their own anxieties, and do what needs to be done. In the playground, students with a good ability to self-regulate can interact positively with other, even when something appears to be unfair.Self-regulation can also be taught. Teaching students about emotional self-regulation begins with actually labelling emotions so that students have a name for that feeling. Overt role plays modelling things that can be done when you are angry or frustrated can help show students ways of reacting. Simple techniques such as taking 3 deep breaths before responding can help calm bodies and result in a calmer reaction.

Simple games such as Simon Says, can aid the process of teaching behavioural self-regulation – the idea that each person is in control of their own body. Making sure children have time and space to use their energy is also key. Even adults have trouble sitting still for long periods of time!

Of course, modelling is very important. Children learn from the adults around them everyday. Are we people who respond instantly, in anger, to a text message or wait, and consider carefully how we best respond? Are we people who avoid situations which might make us nervous or do we take a deep breath to gather our thoughts and go ahead despite our nerves? Do we react impulsively to our children. I know that personally, some of my best parenting occurs when I can calm my instinctive reaction and act on the, usually more considered, second thought!

Self regulation is a skill that everyone needs to function effectively as a helpful part of society. Teaching these skills to our students is something we take very seriously at the College and aim to model and teach explicitly from Pre K to Year 12 through class teachers and our Mentor Groups.

Mrs Fiona WrightWellbeing Events & Tabitha Co-ordinator

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

Careers Update


Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 have been participating in Work Experience in the week of 19 - 23 November. Several students have also been doing an additional placement the week before or after the normal week, in addition to some earlier in the year, including school holidays. The range of careers being explored by our Year 10 students is extremely broad and covers a wide area with placements in some instances being overseas, interstate, in other parts of NSW and across the greater Metropolitan area of Sydney. The experience enables students to gain a more realistic understanding of the Workplace Environment, a greater awareness of what is involved in careers that are of interest to them and clarity in terms of the day to day issues associated with getting to and from work each day.

Students are required to not only attend Work Experience but also to submit upon their return to the College, an Attendance Sheet, Employer Feedback Form and Work Experience Journal in order to fulfil the requirements of our Work Experience Program. They will subsequently be

rewarded with an official ‘Certificate of Attainment’ to include in their Resume.

A huge thank you to the parents and carers of our Year 10 students for their ongoing support and encouragement of their children to not only complete the required documentation but also in motivating their children to choose wisely, make maximise use of this opportunity and to facilitate getting their children to their Work Experience placements in 2018.

Year 10 2019 Career Aptitude Testing

Following the great response to our new comprehensive Career Profiling Program for students in Year 10 last year, the opportunity is now being extended to our incoming Year 10 2019. It is a part of our Career Development Program for students at the College and we would like all students in Year 10 - 2019 to participate. The program is voluntary but we do however see this as a crucial activity for our students. The aim of the program is to stimulate student’s thinking about careers, and to help them identify some potentially compatible career pathways that suit their strengths, attributes, skills, interests and personal style, and to stimulate them to research areas they are interested in.

The other main advantage of such a program is that will enable students to more effectively nominate the course and subjects that they wish to choose for Years 11 and 12 and will also equip them to more effectively utilise the Work Experience opportunity that all Year 10 students participate in, from November 18 to 22, 2019.

Parents of Year 9 2018 are invited to access their recent emails from the College and then go to Edumate in order to opt in or out of the process by registering ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as to whether or not they wish for their child to participate in the program at the beginning of next year. For those students who have been approved to participate, they will, based on their responses to stimulus questions completed during Periods 1 to 4 on Thursday February 7, receive 2 weeks later, an individual Career Profile and attend a 30 minute interview with a professional Careers Counsellor to look at the types of careers that they may be suited to. Parents are welcomed to attend the interviews so they can listen to the outcomes of their child’s testing and the recommended career options that their child is considered to be suited to.

Mr Brian JonesCareers Advisor

Matia LackeyPre-K Teaching at Penrith Anglican College

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

Students gave the following feedback about the day:

• ‘It was an interesting day where we learned many helpful skills and had a lot of fun.’

• ‘I liked the Rubik’s cube activity as it was interesting how many possibilities for the cube could have been. The juggler was pretty cool as he was on TV.’

• We had a very fun day as we about the different programs that are offered at the university.’

• ‘The day was very useful as we saw the variety of subjects that you are able to take at the university that are directly linked with the subject of Maths.’



WSU Math IT Day

Ten students from Year 7 and 8 attended the 2018 WSU Math IT Day on Tuesday 6 November, as part of the College’s Enrichment Program. Approximately 200 students from Independent and State schools took up the opportunity of participating in the event held at WSU Kingswood campus.

Students listened to a keynote address by Dr Maree Skillen and participated in five rotational activities. Dr Skillen encouraged them to make greater use of a range of skills when completing mathematical tasks; skills such as analysis, creativity, critical thinking, experimentation, reasoning, problem solving and making mistakes. She reminded them that maths is all around them in the world and that they can apply what they learn at school to their future jobs.

The rotational activities gave students time to see the patterns and solutions of Rubik’s Cubes, to learn how to juggle numbers, to experience the 3D world, to be part of a Solar Car Challenge and to be active participants in the ‘Mathematics and Technology Campus Race’.

The students were focussed, interested, respectful and active participants in all aspects of the day and were a credit to the College.

Mrs Justine GormanSenior G&T Co-ordinator

Western Sydney University Math IT aims to build interest and capacity in science, technology, mathematics and engineering by:

• increasing awareness of the importance of mathematics in day-to-day life and as an essential foundation for a wide range of study and career options

• providing engaging academic enrichment opportunities for students talented/interested in maths and IT (known as ICT in the school sector) but not necessarily aware of the many real-world applications of these disciplines, and

• encouraging the study of maths and IT in senior high school and at university. It also aims to increase student interest in tertiary study by familiarising participants with the campus environment and giving them a positive experience of university.

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar



Primary Music

If any parent or caregiver of students in Years 3 to 6 did not receive the email about the new music program, please contact Steve Clark urgently by phone or email. The original communication contained an information note pertinent to each grade level and a link to a survey by which we are collecting information about instrument choices. There was also information for current Year 2 students but not a survey for this group.

At the end of this year we are farewelling Mr Justen Stoodley. Mr Stoodley has been a music tutor at Penrith Anglican College since halfway through 1998 – the first year of the school. He has contributed much to the College in private tuition, directing bands, and through the teaching of clarinet/saxophone in the Year 3 to 6 program. He has brought an experienced performer’s perspective to our students and we heartily thank him for his most significant contribution to Music at our College for such a long time. We wish him the best for future endeavours.

This week, Year 3 to 6 Music classes performed for each other in our usual wrap-up of the Term 4 program. Each instrument group was represented by a performance or two, many as a whole group. These were enjoyable sessions with a wide variety of music on show. A few photos are included here.

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

Give-Aways!

The Music department has been cleaning up as we prepare to move out of our demountable classrooms to the amazing new Performing Arts complex. We have a number of items looking for a good home. Please see the photos of these items. Students, parents or staff are invited to come to the Music staffroom and pick up any of these items that may be of use!

These include a number of each of the following:

1. Roland Midi keyboards.These have NO soundsof their own but are designed to be plugged into a computer. They are old, butstill work. They would suit a home application but are no longer suitable forconvenient classroom use. The software drivers are no longer supported byrecent Windows/Mac OS, but there is a work-around that requires a $20 pieceof additional hardware which we are happy to explain. These would be useful forGarageBand, SoundTrap etc.

2. Small backpacks and Jupiter branded satchels withmultiple pockets. These came as bonus inclusions withvarious purchases over the years and for which we do nothave a use.

3. Soft guitar cases suitingnylon string guitars.



Meet The Music

Fourteen Senior Music students recently attend a brilliant Sydney Symphony Orchestra concert at the Opera House. The program featured Beethoven’s beautiful Symphony No.7 in A as well as two fascinating contemporary Australian works by Brett Dean and James Macmillan. The students thoroughly enjoyed the concert and. although the Australian works were challenging listening, they occasioned much discussion!

Mr Steve ClarkHead of Performing Arts

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar



Sport has been moving full steam ahead in the Primary School with students in Years 2, 4 and 6 heading out to the Nepean Aquatic Centre for swimming lessons.

Students in Years 1, 3 and 5 have been enjoying gymnastics sessions run by YMCA in the gymnasium.

Above are students of Year 5 showing of their balancing and tuck jumping skills.

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar



Tuesday 11th of November William Watson of Year 5 certainly had an excellent day. As part of the MyGolfer Program William, 1 of 20 students in Australia, was selected to attend The Lakes Golf Course which was hosting The Australian Open.

William had a chance to meet is hero Cameron Smith, watch some of the PGA champions play their shots, ask players questions and receive coaching tips from some of the greats.

Congratulation to Halle Savage of Year 5 who recently competed at the NSWPSSA Girls State Cricket Championships as part of CIS. The Championships were held up at Maitland this year, hosted by CIS.

After a good start on the first day with wins in hot weather against Sydney East and North West the second day saw CIS lose to the ultimate winners Sydney North. The third day loomed much cooler and with threatening clouds which ultimately opened to cause a delay in play during CIS’s match against South Coast which they won in good form. Looking forward to the afternoon match against Western CIS batted first and managed a 100. After one over of Western batting the rain came causing abandonment of play much to the disappointment of CIS. This resulted in draw points.

Ultimately CIS placed 4th in their pool after a loss to Polding on the 4th Day. They won their playoff for 7th place against Sydney South West in the afternoon.

Halle played extremely well during a tough week of cricket trainings and matches. Well done Halle, we look forward to seeing your future endeavours in cricket.

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar


Thank you from Heart Foundation - Jump Rope for Heart

Kerry Doyle from the Heart Foundation sent a letter expressing heartfelt gratitude for our significant contribution to the Heart Foundation this year through our Jump Off Day. We were one of the national top fundraisers in 2018!

Jump Rope for Heart is celebrating its 35th birthday this year and they couldn’t have reached this milestone without the incredible generosity of students and their families, particularly here at Penrith Anglican College. We have held Jump Off Days in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 raising a staggering $125 960.72 for the Heart Foundation’s vital research.

By being a part of The Jump Rope for Heart program, students will hopefully gain lifelong, positive attitudes towards exercise, healthy eating and heart health.

I would like to join Kerry Doyle in saying thank you again for your generosity for this amazing program and for our students who wholeheartedly join in the fun on our Jump Off Days.

Mrs Sue MunceJump Rope for Heart Coordinator

Seona Thorton (Year 6) and Hannah Kemp-Burrows (Year 9) have been ice skating since they were in early Primary school and this year they will be performing in Sydney Ice Theatre’s Christmas production of Mary Poppins on Ice.

Both girls have been ice skating competitively for a number of years. They recently represented Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club at the NSW State Championships. Hannah placed 4th at Elementary level and Seona placed 3rd out of a huge field of 33 skaters at Preliminary level. They have also been part of the junior skating team (Stage Left) and Hannah has competed with the Senior team, the Sydney Ice Theatre (SIT). Hannah is very excited to be competing with SIT in France in 2019.

The girls thoroughly enjoy the experience ice skating has given them. “I love doing a sport that’s a little bit different” Seona said, “It has a lot of dance and gracefulness, but you need to be really strong too. I really enjoy learning new jumps and spins and I love dressing up for competitions... actually I love everything about Figure Skating”.

For Hannah, ice skating is about the freedom and powers she feels when skating, “I like the buzz you get when you land a difficult jump or get a tricky spin and that everybody has a slightly different style and that you can bring your own personality to your skating.”

In the Sydney Ice Theatre’s Christmas production of Mary Poppins on Ice being performed in Penrith in December, Seona will be playing the role of Jane Banks and Hannah is playing a number of different roles including the featured chimney sweep, a nanny, a maid as well as a number of other group pieces.

Both girls have enjoyed being part of the production as they get to learn new routines which are less technical than competition skating and have lots of fun performing. We look forward to seeing both girls perform in the production.

Mary Poppins on Ice will be on Saturday 8 December at 3pm at Penrith Ice Palace, and Sunday 9 December at 3pm at Pattys Place Jamisontown. All tickets $15 each of $50 for a family of four. To purchase tickets visit [email protected] or call 4733 2611. Tickets will be available at the door.



In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

mailto:sydneyicetheaturesit%40gmail.com?subject=

Compassion Child

Prayer & Praise

Ndayishimiye Moise is 14 and lives in Rwanda with his parents. His parents are farmers but don’t work very often. There are four other children in the family.

His duties include running errands, cleaning and carrying water. Ndayishimiye’s favourite activities are soccer, running, going to church and bible study.

Ndayishimiye has been sponsored by Junior Latimer since 2016.

Please pray for:

• Teachers, students and families atthis busy time of year.

• Families experiencing hardship,stress and illness.

• Those preparing for the College’send of year events.

Praise God for:

• The conclusion of IB and HSCexams!

• The generosity of our families ingiving to the Anglicare Toys ’n’Tucker appeal.

• The 20th anniversary celebrationsat the College.

Compassion Competition DatesTerm 4

Tuesday November 27th

“I like to bring my Compassion money in because I like to make people happy. A few years ago, my family and I went to Africa. We gave stationery and lollies to the African children and they were

so grateful and so happy. I really like to make people happy.”

Tara Kalantar 5Red


The child sponsorship program through Compassion Australia is run entirely by local Christian churches in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. Local churches are experts on their community's needs. Compassion equips them with resources and training to help them release children from poverty in Jesus' name. Ndayishimiye is being given amazing opportunities to grow into a healthy young man who is full of dreams for his future thanks to the sponsorship program.

Mrs Sue MuncePrimary Teacher

Ndayishimiye Moise

In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

School Calendar

December

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT1

2 3 Primus Year 10

4 Year 6 Graduation Assembly

Lego Robotics Club

5 6 Pre-K Presentation Afternoon

(4.30pm LHT) Chapel Band

7 Whole College Christmas Chapel

Concert Band Rehearsal

8

9 10 11 Christ Church at the College Christmas

Wreath Event

12 K - Year 2 Presentation Day

(1.30pm LHT)

13 End of Term 4 (1pm)

Years 3 - 12 Presentation Evening (7pm Homebush)

14 Staff Day

15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 Christmas Day

26 Boxing Day

27 28 29


In This Issue


Thanksgiving

Student Wellbeing

Careers Update








Prayer & Praise

Compassion Child

School Calendar

the vine - d2oc0ihd6a5bt.cloudfront.net · the vine - issue no 17, 2018 the importance of...

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