Late last year, I went in a Zone Carnival for Long Jump, 60m Hurdles, 100m Hurdles and Discus. From Zone, I made it to Region for all four events which was held in February. I felt nervous but very excited to represent my club. The top two qualifiers for each event were selected for State.

State was held on Saturday 24 March and Sunday 25 March at the Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. I did the Long Jump and I came second which meant I was the first up for my event on Sunday morning at 8.00 am. I felt VERY nervous and AMAZED because I was one of the top 25 of NSW!!

I didn’t jump my usual jump because I was very nervous and I ended up in the 19th position. I am aiming high for next year as I know what to expect.

I have really enjoyed the start to 2018 at PCS. I have loved getting to know the staff and students who have been so welcoming.

I come to PCS with over 10 years teaching experience and 10 years’ experience in the profession of Nursing (Midwifery). For the last eight and a half years, I have taught at St George Christian School in Hurstville. It was at St George that I was shown how to teach with Christ at the centre of each lesson and to pastorally care for all students. I thoroughly enjoy watching students grow in their general knowledge but particularly in their relationship with God.

Outside of PCS, I am married to an extremely supportive man named Danny and we have two gorgeous daughters, Hannah and Elyssa. Hannah and Elyssa have also commenced at PCS this year. Together as a family we like to go on holiday adventures, watch the NRL and ‘eat out’ as often as we can.

Penrith Christian School is pleased to host an interesting and thought-provoking seminar for parents on Tuesday 22 May 2018, titled RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN, presented by Mrs Lyn Jagger (Head of Senior School at PCS).

This night, for parents only, is open to PCS families and anyone in our local community.

The seminar will present the concept of ‘GRIT’ for both adults and children:

Join us on 23 May 2018 for our annual OPEN DAY! We invite friends, family and anyone who would like to 'check out' Penrith Christian School to come along.

Activities include:

Student Showcase at 10.00 am

During our Easter week celebrations, our three Kindergarten classes had an Easter Hat Parade. The chairs were packed with family and friends, and the atmosphere was expectant and exciting. The children began with a parade where they got to share their marvellous creations with an Easter hat filled with feathers, glitter, chickens, biblical messages and Easter eggs. Some also carried a matching Easter basket filled with delicious Easter treats.

Children posed for photos, ate some morning tea with loved ones, then enjoyed working with their guests in the Kindergarten classrooms with many Easter themed Literacy and Maths activities.

Thank you to our Kindergarten Teachers who made this event memorable and successful, and to families who were able to attend this special event. 

Our Senior School Justice League interest group got busy this week making an Easter basket for the homeless soup kitchen and a women’s refuge.  The Justice League Interest Group supports and are passionate about causes such as: childhoood cancer, homelessness, domestic violence and abolishing slavery. The basket had Easter cards, Easter eggs, washer bunnies, bunny lollipops and fruit and nut bags for people that don’t like chocolate.

The students are an amazing group of young adults finding ways to best support those less fortunate in our community.

On Wednesday 28 March, sixteen students from Years 11 and 12 had the chance to visit Alphacrucis College in Parramatta. AC is a fast growing Christian college that is becoming a great place for our students to consider studying at in the future. 

The students are part of a Senior School Leadership Mentoring group. This group receives opportunities, like this one, through which they can serve and be trained in Leadership. The students were able to sit in on classes related to the music industry and New Testament theology, before taking part in the College Chapel service. Leo (Year 12) and Matthew (Year 11) were able to play in the band, while Zephaniah (Year 12) and Zoe (Year 11) shared testimonies about what Easter means to them. 

All the students were impacted by this opportunity to learn and to serve. 

The Entertainment Book is up and running again for 2018. Please click on the link below for information and to purchase your Book or Digital Copy of the Entertainment Book to receive the extra bonus Early Bird offers!

The Entertainment Book is a great fundraiser that raises money for our upcoming Tonga Missions Trip.

Hurry! It's your last chance to get the bonus Early Bird Offers before they're gone CLICK HERE to order

Our new play equipment that was ‘purchased’ with our Earn & Learn points last year has arrived. The attached photos display some of the equipment received and as you can see the children are enjoying the new activities for the Early Childhood Centre and Junior School play areas.

Thank you to all in our community who contributed to this fundraiser and a big shout out to Mrs Perrigo and her helpers who compiled the sticker sheets.

Miss Janice Roberts

I recently joined PCS at the beginning of this year in the TAS Department. Having come from William Clarke College Kellyville, a school of over 1500 students and 250 staff, I have experienced a very warm welcome from the smaller and more intimate PCS community.

I have also been enjoying the reduced travel time as a resident of the mid-Blue Mountains where I live with my wife and three daughters (aged 6, 4 and 2). We are expecting our fourth baby later this year and if it turns out to be a girl, I’ll get a male dog to console myself!

This is the part where I tell you I enjoy rock climbing, snowboarding, skydiving and just chilling at home with a cup of tea.  But anyone who has ever had three or more young children will spot that for a lie. I don’t do any of those things, life is far too crazy. Our home is hectic and noisy. It is filled with singing, crying, laughing, shouting, running, playing, screaming, dancing, and more singing (probably the theme song from ‘Frozen’). I don’t ‘chill’ and looking after three girls when my wife goes out is as close as I ever get to extreme sports.

Year 3 had a great Science afternoon with parents where we made Grassheads, observed preserved insects with a magnifying glass, and created procedure posters with our friends and family.

The afternoon was very well attended by our school community and the students really enjoyed their time with our Year 3 Families.

Thank you for all who could attend and included all the students in our fun activities. It was a testament to the great school community we have.

Please note the following correction for logging into your Premier’s Reading Challenge account.

To access your account, you need to visit https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html and log in from there.

Please disregard the web address supplied on the previous note and my apologies if you have tried unsuccessfully to access this website before now.

The NAPLAN exams for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take place during a nine-day window between 15 – 25 May 2018. The NAPLAN exams will be completed online this year.

In accordance with the Disability Standards for Education (2005) equity principles, some students who have a learning or physical disability may qualify for adjustments or for exemption from sitting these NAPLAN exams.

The aim of any adjustment is to facilitate access to all of the tests for the student. 

On Thursday afternoon 15 March 2018, under clear warm  skies, Year 5 families met for a BBQ outside the School Sports Centre for an informal event. Parents were able to meet and connect with staff who teach this Year group.

The children played a variety of games on the grass and the adults enjoyed the conversation and the delicious food contributed by all.

Rosie, the guide dog, was present for her last official event and behaved in an excellent manner for a hungry labrador. She oversaw the proceedings and consumed a minimum number of sausages (with a lot of dribbling) cooked by Mr Pickworth.

The Australian Government’s new Child Care Package commences on 2 July 2018.

It is important that all families accessing early childhood services or before and after school care are registered with myGov and have Centrelink linked to their account. 

Further details about the new Child Care Package can be found here https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/child_care_package_6pp_dl_final.pdf

You are welcome to join us for our Combined School Easter Chapel on Thursday 29 March 2018 (1.45 pm - 2.45 pm).

Kindergarten to Year 12 students will be meeting together to celebrate the Easter message.

We hope to see you there!

One of my favourite activities from when I was teaching Year 2 in our Bounce Back lessons a few years ago was writing on paper, screwing up the paper and throwing it in the bin.

The purpose of the activity was learning that we don’t have to accept ‘put-downs’ and hurtful words spoken to us. We wrote down unkind words that have been said and then put them in the bin where they belong! It’s a powerful exercise and very liberating.

The Bible tells us: Proverbs 18:21a (CEV) ‘Words can bring death or life!’

We warmly invite you to join us for our Easter Family Fun afternoons for our Prep classes:

Mon - Wed Class: Wednesday 28 March

CLICK HERE for full details.

Recently, I have joined the PCS Mathematics department and am enjoying the process of teaching collaboratively and meeting many staff and students. Learning hundreds of names though is a challenge, and so I am thinking of assigning people numbers!

Historically, having grown up in northern NSW and south east Queensland, I made my way back to NSW, Sydney, for university and my early engineering career (and to avoid argument over State of Origin matches). I then spent several years working for a church and exploring paid Christian ministry before settling on teaching Mathematics.

Personally, I am married to Justine and we have four boys aged between 8 and 14. We live in the mid mountains and our weekends are often full of activities including soccer, skateparks, movie nights, church, bush walks and catching our breath. I love playing sports including soccer and touch football, and I am attempting to rekindle my fitness by training for a half marathon in April.

Our children are hardwired to look at our faces thousands of times each day. It gives them information about who they are, what they are worth, if they are loved, if they are a priority. Eye contact, delight and responsiveness create brains that are primed for security, confidence and optimism. 

When our children don’t have access to our real-time, live, in-person face, they will make do with technology. They will turn to phones, computers and tablets to fill the gap that is missing from a present and interactive relationship. Technology doesn’t fill the void completely … kids need at least ten minutes of daily connect time with at least one adult to feel safe, connected and loved.  During this time, your child needs to have your full attention, and to get really connected, your full engagement.

That means PLAY!