On Wednesday 23 October Kindergarten went on their very first excursion to The Sydney Observatory. This was part of our Science unit, Weather and Me.

Travelling to the city on the ‘big’ school buses created as much excitement as visiting the actual Observatory. Before we began our session in The Observatory, the children had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the scenery and practise their developing artistic skills to draw what they could see from the spectacular view on Observatory Hill. The highlight was definitely the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The program, led by the staff of The Sydney Observatory, was fantastic. The children used their investigation skills and various weather measuring tools to determine the weather conditions for the day. In the little theatre, we watched how the weather and seasons are connected and how this can impact what we do and wear. The most exciting aspect of the session was launching the water rockets. We even made a cloud in one of the rocket bottles.

With Christmas soon approaching, it brings me great joy to extend an invitation to Middle School students and families to partner with WestCare in their annual Christmas Appeal.

The WestCare Christmas Appeal aims to provide a little Christmas cheer to people who perhaps otherwise would not have much of a Christmas experience. WestCare achieves this largely through partnering with a range of organisations to connect with local people and families that we might not otherwise have contact with. This includes local schools, domestic violence organisations, hospital social workers and other services.

Items for donation can be dropped off to Mr Wallace’s classroom (P1) up to Friday 29 November 2019.

In Term 3, our Junior School Boost Drama group worked hard to perform a play called ‘Mum For Sale’ at the Book Day Parade. 

Our Boost Drama students practised for weeks, and were very lucky to have a whole day drama workshop with our very own Mrs O’Mara, who was very impressed with our talented Drama students. We were very fortunate to have the author of the book, Zanni Louise, at the Parade so she got to see the students perform her story. She was so excited to see one of her books turned into a play and she was very impressed with their performance.

Well done to all of our Boost Drama students!

All our 2019 volunteer helpers are warmly invited to attend Penrith Christian School’s special ‘Parent Thank You Morning Tea’ event, to let you know how much we appreciate your support and willingness to work as part of our team.

When: Friday 22 November 2019

Where: Auditorium

Time: 10.10 am – 11.30 am (Junior School Chapel at 10.10 am)

Last week, Junior School were thrilled to welcome Mrs Tracey Deal at our Morning Assembly. The students were so excited and the parents had been invited to come and welcome our new Principal as well. 

Our Year 4s handed ‘The PCS Key to the Community’ to Mrs Deal. The children were explained that when a city or a community hand out a ‘Key to the City/Community’, that special person is given full access to their community. It only gets given to someone loved, respected and to be honoured. 

Junior School also presented a montage of Junior School student photos so Mrs Deal could gaze upon their faces during school days, as well as some cheery flowers to enjoy. Assembly ended with Mrs Deal addressing Junior School and the Year 4s praying for Mrs Deal. 

Last term, Junior School completed our annual fundraiser ‘Coins for Missions’. Many thanks to the generous support of students and families for getting behind this great cause.

Children did jobs at home to earn their coins, blessing their families in the process. Zooper Dooper and cans of drinks were also sold in Junior and Middle school respectively on the last three days of Term 3 as a fun way to bring our international fundraiser to a close. On top of that, Priestley Stauner’s family generously contributed a donation of $1,141 that they raised at a local Missions event.

Our final total raised for our sister school in Uganda, Divine Junior School, was $3,732.60!!! This money will be used to provide paint equipment for repainting parts of the school, laptops, school resources and a music keyboard.

Come and enjoy an interactive experience of the creative work of PCS students through Technology, Design, Art, Multimedia, Music and Drama.

When: Thursday 31 October 2019

Time: 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm (drop in any time)

Where: C Block Classrooms

Showcasing the Year 12 Body of Work and introducing the emerging Year 12 Visual Arts class of 2020, you are invited to Penrith Christian School’s ‘Art With Punch’.

Date: Thursday 21 November 2019

Time: 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

Venue: PCS Meeting Rooms 1 and 2

Recently, PCS Middle School students, Isaac Cavanagh (Year 8), David Quinn (Year 7), and Xavier Cavanagh (Year 6), played in the Ice Hockey NSW State Grand Final for under 14s. The three boys have been playing for the Flyers Ice Hockey Under 14s PeeWee Team during the 2019 season, and after a long season of training and battling hard every week, they played in the State Grand Final claiming the Silver Medal. 

The Flyers team was coached this year by PCS teacher Mr Cavanagh. Despite losing 2-1 in the Grand Final, all three boys played hard and met new personal goals. This has led to Isaac, David and Xavier being selected to the NSA Selects Team to compete in an International Ice Hockey Tournament held in Melbourne in November 2019. 

Congratulations to Isaac, David and Xavier and best of luck in Melbourne!!

I am pleased to write to you about our recent NAPLAN results. This year we have seen some improvement in our NAPLAN averages as a result of some intentional intervention over the last few years. 

As you may be aware, the School has implemented a 5-Year Strategic Plan (available on our website). We are currently completing the fourth year of implementing this Plan.

In 2017, Mr Philip, our Head of Informatic Pedagogy, presented a detailed analysis of our NAPLAN results over a 10-year period, identifying key areas for targeted intervention. From this, our Senior Executive staff developed a Numeracy and Literacy improvement plan.

At the recent Pacific 2019 Conference, in conjunction with the Naval Shipbuilding College, PCS students from our F1 in Schools team, Ascension, met the Minister for Defence, The Hon Melissa Price MP. The students also had the opportunity for a tour of major navel companies from around the world.

[Meet the Ascension team HERE in an introduction video that has been sent to London in preparation for the World Final in Abu Dhabi]

REA partners with the Department of Defence through the Schools Pathways Program to support an increase in the pool of STEM-educated students and to inform Australia’s youth about employment opportunities and pathways into the defence industry, including in the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise.

Hi PCS Community - I have begun my role as Principal here at the School and I am super excited to join you all!

Taking the wheel after the amazing Mr Nevill is a big task, but I am very thankful to God for his abundant grace and blessings and I am very privileged to have been given the honour of being the next Principal of Penrith Christian School.

For the past five years I have been Deputy Principal at Medowie Christian School in Port Stephens, and although I am sad to leave the beautiful beaches and semi-rural setting that I have known as home, I am returning to the city where I have spent most of my life.

You are invited to a PCS Parent Seminar, Too Much Too Young: the sexualisation of children and what we can do about it, presented by Melinda Tankard Reist. This parents only event is open to PCS families and anyone in our local community. Please invite friends and family to attend.

WHEN: Thursday 14 November 2019

TIME: 7.00 pm

COST: Free ($5 suggested donation at the door)

Penrith Christian School uniforms can be purchased from our onsite Uniform Shop. The shop is run by the School’s uniform supplier, Ranier Design Group.

NEW TRIAL OPENING HOURS:

Terms 1 and 4

We are celebrating all our grandparents (and grandfriends) by extending an invitation to visit your grandchildren at PCS on Friday 25 October. You are welcome to join us for any/all of the following:

EARLY CHILDHOOD, MIDDLE SCHOOL (Years 5-8) and SENIOR SCHOOL (Years 9-12)9.30 am - Open Classrooms 11.00 am - VIP Morning Tea (under Canteen COLA)

JUNIOR SCHOOL (Kindy-Year 4)8.30 am - Morning Assembly in Quad 8.35 am - Open Classrooms and Grandparent Interviews on the ‘Olden Days’10.10 am - Special Chapel Service in Sports Centre (All Welcome)11.00 am - VIP Morning Tea (under Canteen COLA)

All students from Penrith Christian School in our Junior School had been busily warming up their vocals and treading the boards as they presented a Musical Variety Show. Our aim was to bring an array of musical items that have come from Musicals and famous bands that took the audience on a journey through the musical ages. There were songs from the 1920s to numbers that were at the top of the charts in the 1950s, to songs that have been performed by 21st Century artists.

As each student learnt about Musicals and were immersed in all things creative, one of the children asked what is a Variety Show and the answer that was given helped Junior School to understand this performance they were embarking upon. A Variety Show was likened to a box of chocolates with many different varieties inside, some flavoured, some crunchy, some oozing with caramel, some filled with zing.

Our Year 4 students did a marvellous job as official MCs informing the audience about the historical context of each musical item with interesting facts. 

The Annual Year 8 Drama Olympics was held on Monday 16 September. This is the 13th year PCS has run this competition, with all Year 8 students participating.

There were a total of 15 teams. After four knockout rounds, first place was awarded to 5 Shots, with Backstreet Spice as runners up. Ooga Booga Boogas won the prize for the best dressed team (pictured).

Marnie O’MaraDrama Teacher

Last Thursday, students from Year 10 who are interested in medical careers, visited the Nepean Clinical School. They listened to cutting edge research from prominent doctors and professors, had a hands-on experience of using ultrasound and a heart monitoring machine, then went on a tour of Nepean Hospital.

This is what they had to say:

It was great to explore a medical career such as paediatrics. I hope to be a paediatrician after attending university. I enjoyed visiting the neonatal ward at Nepean Hospital. Kyla Martin

Year 5 had a lovely time going down and visiting Prep last week! The Prep class had been working on a unit all about things that go. They showed us their cars which had been kindly made by the DT Department, for them to decorate! We talked all about ramps and tested out some ideas. It was a hive of activity and the students had a wonderful time!

Danielle BlightYear 5 Teacher, Years 5 and 6 Wellbeing Mentor

Emotional awareness and self-regulation is an essential skill in building resilience. It is the ability to identify emotional experiences and to control emotional responses to external events.

Emotional Awareness:

being resilient is not about keeping things inside, but expressing how you feel and moving forward

expressing and understanding your own emotions is a key ingredient to resilience