Our Mother’s Day Stalls are an opportunity for PCS to bless our school community and for students to choose a special gift for their mums. If your child would like to purchase a Mother’s Day gift, please send in $5.00 on the day of the Stall with each Preschool to Year 6 child. We ask that students bring a carry bag so they can buy their Mother’s Day present at the Stall and then take their chosen gift home.

KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 6Friday 11 May 2018 from 9.30 am

Our traditional Mother’s Day Stall for Kindergarten to Year 6 students

Please note that the last trading day for Uniform Shop in Term 1 is tomorrow, 12 April 2018.

Extra trading day (By appointment only):

Monday 30th April – Hours 7.30am – 1.30pm

Regular trading days resume on Tuesday 1st May 2018

As an expression of our gratitude and desire to honour our PCS mums, we invite you to our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. There will be beautiful food prepared and served by our Hospitality students, as well as other special activities. All mums will be blessed - don’t miss this popular event!

WHEN: Friday 11 May, 2018

TIME: 8 am to 9 am

It has been a while since our last full report and there is a lot to report on!!

YEARS 7-12 SWIMMING CARNIVALS

PCS SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Since the beginning of Term 1, I have had the privilege to work with the children in Junior School and talk to them about MindUp. MindUp is a comprehensive, classroom tested, evidence-based curriculum that fosters social and emotional awareness, enhances psychological wellbeing, and promotes academic success.

The essential work of MindUp is accomplished through the lessons, which include the repetition of deep belly breathing (Core Practice) and attentive listening. This Core Practice makes mindful attention the foundation for learning and interacting.

MindUp has the capacity to alter the landscape of our classroom by letting children in on the workings of their own agile minds. Each MindUp lesson begins with background information of the brain, introducing a specific area of concentration with an activity where children can see concrete examples of how their brain functions.

Congratulations Mr Hutchinson on your wonderful achievement to be selected as the Tour Manager of a national touring team. Hutch has worked tirelessly in promoting sport, and in particular, NRL amongst our Christian Schools.

See below for more information about the Tour and Mr Hutchinson's role.

Mr Bruce Nevill

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.