On Wednesday 3 July,  31 students from Years 9 and 10 competed against seven other schools at Western Sydney University in the Science and Engineering Challenge.

Students were required to work in teams of four on tasks for four hours, designing, testing and problem solving in such areas as electronic communication, power management, bridge construction, building a model of a working hand, string puzzles, structure, load design and construction, earthquake proof tower construction and Mars rover construction. Students worked tenaciously and extremely co-operatively in their teams and were a credit to PCS. The highlight at the end of the day was the bridge testing in which our School bridge won easily by being able to carry the heaviest load without collapsing.

Our congratulations to the whole team and each student as we were the overall winner on the day. Many thanks to Mr Rob Moor for providing invaluable bridge design advice prior to the competition and for assisting on the day.

Boost Science started with each grade having a crash course using Scratch Junior on the iPads and then displaying their work to their peers on the Apple TV.

Year 3 kicked off by learning about different types of bridges. They found the five following types of bridges:

Arch

Beam

On Tuesday evening 2 July, we held our Senior School annual fundraising event ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’, raising funds to support Bali Projects, which includes an orphanage and housing for troubled teens. 

We have some amazingly talented and gifted students in our school and I am so proud and grateful that they have spent their evening putting others first, and having a great time whilst at it too.  It was standing room only for a while which was wonderful to see so many of our community turn up to support their children.

Our Junior School Classes, Middle and Senior School students, filled the auditorium with their joyous voices, dancers, singers, and groups performed at their best, and altogether raised a total of $6031.80. 

The sun shone warm, and the swelling chattering of excitement filled the air, as Year 8 students commenced their STEM Solar Car Challenge launch event on Thursday 1 August.

We were privileged this year to not only have, for the first time, Penrith Toyota presenting their hybrid technology, but also honoured to have a member of our school community generously come and share with students the terrific technology of the Tesla.

Students enthusiastically engaged with the Car Show, where they had the opportunity to see up close cars from the early 1900s, right through to current cutting edge technology of the innovative vehicle. The police generously brought four cars this year to our Car Show, including a new Chrysler Highway patrol vehicle and a Charger, which looked like it had driven straight out of a 70s movie.

Sarah has been playing piano for thirty years and has done her Grade 2 AMEB exams and her Grade 7 and 8 GUILD exams. She has a Certificate IV in Creative Arts Songwriting, a Bachelor of Music (majoring in composition) and a Diploma of Education. She is an incredibly qualified piano teacher and her students just love her.

She really enjoys teaching, she has been teaching piano for sixteen years and loves seeing students progress in their skills and passion for playing the piano.

In her spare time while she is not being a Mum or being involved in her church she loves reading, she likes to run for exercise with her dog and she also has a blog.

Leo Sharaf is one of our amazing teachers at Pernith Creative Academy. Here's some more information about Leo!

I love music and am studying a Bachelor of Music at University. I have been playing guitar for 7 years and have gigged professionally for 3 years. I also enjoy playing for my church music team and song writing. I have prior experience teaching guitar to many different ages.

Guitar is an instrument that anyone can learn. It just requires patience, a willingness to learn and a positive attitude, skills we could all use. I offer my services for anyone who is just beginning in guitar or who would like to progress further in their instrument.

Hi! My name is Sarah-Jane Elias and I’m the dance teacher at Penrith Creative Academy. I love teaching at the Academy for so many reasons. It is refreshing to teach students in an environment which is free from the pressures and restrictions of conventional dance studios. I believe the Academy Dance classes allow students with different abilities and backgrounds to flourish in dance. They learn good technique, safe dance practice, choreographic skills and group dances, in a safe, Christian environment.

I have been dancing since I was 5 years of age, and teaching dance in a variety of capacities for years. I’ve taught in Private studios, and in the State and Catholic Education System. I have had extensive training in Jazz, Ballet (RAD), Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Drama. My formal training includes a Bachelor of Arts (Dance and Drama), and a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary).

The thing I love most about teaching at the Academy is meeting new students and seeing them grow in confidence and ability; fostering creativity, and nurturing children and inspiring their love of dance is extremely important to me. So if you have a son or daughter who loves to dance, please consider the Academy Dance Program for your child.

One of our Academy teachers, Layla Marinos, has some new time slots available to teach singing (classical, contemporary/pop or music theatre), piano (classical or just for fun), violin and music theory.

Current time slots available (for any of the above classes) are from 12 noon until 3pm for group and private lessons, and then again at 6.30pm

Layla is an incredibly accomplished musician who has achieved AMEB grades in Pianoforte (8th), Classical Singing (7th), Violin (5th) and Musicianship (3rd). She teaches at other schools as well and runs her own business teaching music. In her spare time, when she isn’t studying or teaching all of these instruments, she also enjoys learning new instruments, horse riding, acting and performing and studying other languages.

You are invited to a PCS Parent Seminar: 'Selfies, Self-worth and Self-objectification: Helping teens navigate Social Media Culture' presented by Collett Smart.

Tuesday 27 August 2019

7.00 pm

$5 entry

In Term 3, Penrith Creative Academy will have some new group classes, and will be offering a discount for what we are calling an 'Afternoon of Creativity' (three group classes back to back). A student who signs up for an Afternoon of Creativity will be charged $40 instead of $45 a week.

The group classes that the students can choose from (depending on parent interest and actual registration numbers) include:

Dance

Photography

What a fantastic Open Day! We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the students, staff and parents who worked hard to provide a wonderful experience for all our guests. Many visitors commented on the friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and what a lovely community PCS is. 

Our Student Tour Guides did an amazing job, answering questions and showcasing the School from a student's perspective. This impressed many of our guests, as it was obvious their responses were genuine and a reflection of our School's environment.

Thank you to all our performers: the Student Showcase was once again a wonderful example of the breadth of talent across our whole school. Below is a selection of photos from the day!

Parent Teacher Interviews for Years 5-11 students will be Tuesday 6 August and Interviews for E-4 students will be Thursday 5 September.

Interview bookings are now OPEN. Emails were sent to families last week.

Assessment information for your child/ren is live data and available for viewing via the Parent Portal at any time. School Reports were emailed to E-11 families the last day of Term 2.

We are so proud of what our past students have been up to that we wanted to bring back some more stories. Below is an article from Alexandra Ryan, PCS 2013 Alumni.

I’m so honoured to be asked by Mrs Jagger and Mrs Shelley to write a piece about what I’ve been doing since leaving PCS (It feels so wrong to call them by their first names!!).

After graduating from PCS in 2013 I went off to university, endured four loooong years of stress and anxiety, and graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with First Class Honours from the University of New South Wales in 2018. In my third year of university,  I started a cadetship with FDC Construction and Fitout (a building company). I continued going to university and working part time with FDC for the next two years, and during that time I completed my first project, the Ronald McDonald House Westmead.

In Term 2 the topics for our Biblical Studies program, GodSpace, was Trusting God in Challenging Times and then Simon Peter, A Follower of Jesus.

The first unit focused on the extraordinary lives of four people who may have considered themselves very ordinary people. Each one was given a vital role to play in history which took incredible courage and faith in God to complete. The memory verse for the unit was ‘I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:9 (CEV)

Abraham and his wife Sarah were instructed by God to leave their homeland and that they would have more descendants than they could count, despite being very old and childless at the time. They made mistakes in their lives, but they put their trust in God and His promises to them were fulfilled.

We are very excited to introduce our Uganda Missions Team who will be visiting and serving at Divine Junior School in January 2020:  Richard and Jenny Mahoney, Cait and Hamish Burke, Peta and Elsie Wilson, Belinda and Megan Garratt, Christalle Champion and Jake Richards. This is a marvellous mix of teachers, parents and Middle School Students.

This our third year of partnering with Divine Junior School, Uganda Africa. Through Junior Missions we have exchanged letters with their students, fundraised annually through ‘Coins for Missions’ and now we have an exciting opportunity to go and visit. While visiting the school we will be helping in practical ways like painting and decorating the perimeter wall of the school. This is an exciting opportunity to experience another culture first hand, displaying God’s love and serving side by side with Divine Junior School students and teachers.

PURPOSE OF UGANDA MISSIONS TRIP          

On Thursday 13 June, twelve Year 11 Biology students visited Long Reef Rock Platform to investigate the complex ecosystems within the protected Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. This field study provided valuable experiences relating to outcomes in the new Biology Syllabus.

It was an early start, departing PCS at 6.50 am. We were blessed with an unusually warm and calm day at the coast. 

Students examined the distribution and abundance of tidal rockshelf organisms using quadrats and a transect. Laurie was our AUSECO Environmental Educator and she easily motivated students to participate in various written and practical activities. The highlight of the day was viewing and holding ‘Gerald’ the Gloomy Octopus. Other beautiful rock pool animals were carefully collected for observation and returned to their rock pool habitats.

Is your child interested in, or do you know of families who would like to enrol their children in, after school music classes? We currently have vacancies in the following classes:

Dance (primary school aged): $15 for group lessons

Vocals: $32 for private lessons

Piano: $32 for private lessons

Guitar or bass: $15 for group lessons

Get ready! Our annual PCS missions fundraising event is on Tuesday 2 July 2019. This fundraiser features talented PCS students from Kindergarten to Year 12, and raises much needed funds towards various Bali projects, enabling some children to receive the basic necessities like attending school and receiving food daily.

Since the inception of this event in 2012, we have raised close to $21,000 towards Bali Projects.

Thank you for the continuous support we receive from our community and we look forward to seeing you all there as we enjoy an array of items from our talented students and raise funds for Bali Projects.

Last Thursday evening 13 June, saw our Year 12 students take to the stage for their HSC Performance Night.  What a show and what an amazing and talented bunch of students we have in our school;  I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’ve put in to their performances. 

PCS is known for our community spirit and it was wonderful to have a crowd of family and friends, gathered together in support, to enjoy the performances of our students.

Thank you to our seven performers: Joel McCarthy, Alexandra Matos, Seth Atkinson, Julian Fernandez, Victoria Trevitt, Jess Dawkins and Matt Dawkins. 

During Terms 3 and 4, Year 8 students will be participating in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Solar Car Challenge, where students will design, construct and race their own solar cars.

STEM projects are designed to facilitate collaboration and integrated learning experiences between the Science, Technology and Mathematics faculties; providing students with rich learning experiences in developing knowledge and skills, and inspiring engagement in these learning areas.

We are in the process of organising our third Annual PCS Car Show to launch the Year 8 STEM Solar Car Project on Thursday 1 August 2019 from 1.30 pm.