Welcome to Episode 3 of PCS Video News - our last one for the time being! View this week's Video News for updates from Assistant Principal, Mr Grice, on current happenings, including a quick view of everyone back on site today, and Kindergarten recently entering their new rooms in the Junior School building for the first time (very cute!).
A message from Busways:
With the recent announcement of social distancing on bus services, Busways wants to clarify that school services are not affected and will not have limited capacity.
Service operations School services will continue to operate as normal, with no student to be left behind. NSW Health advice is that children are at lower risk of contracting COVID-19. Transport for NSW and Busways have increased cleaning measures on board bus services and will continue to monitor transport usage to support students travelling safely to and from school.
Thank you to PCS parent Kelly Tonna, who today organised a morning tea for staff as a welcome back to on site learning, and a thank you from her family for the hard work of PCS staff over the past few months. CLICK HERE to read Kelly's thank you letter.
Thank you Kelly!
Dear Parents and Caregivers
I hope you are all going well navigating the many changed situations to life we have all found ourselves in.
As you know, last week we sent communication with a plan outlined for the remaining students to return to School. This morning there was an official announcement from the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, that all NSW State schools would be returning all of their remaining students next Monday, 25 May.
We welcomed Year 12 back on Monday 11 May as the first class in Senior School to return onsite full time. It is so good to have them here again. We started with a ‘socially distanced’ assembly on their first day.
During Biblical Studies on Wednesday, we enjoyed breakfast with them before we got into the Word; a way for us to let them know that they are appreciated and have missed their smiling faces.
Lyn Jagger
School Counselling is still available for students remotely, as appropriate, via Zoom (online conferencing program). This is an audio only option where we can confidentially discuss your concerns and complete a ‘check in’ with you.
Sessions are offered within the School’s normal hours of operation.
Existing Clients/Students who already see a Counsellor may be contacted by the Counsellors to check in and see how they are going via email and offer an appointment time.
Our Food Technology Support Teacher, Mrs Susan Gorman, has put together a little video on a simple, yet tasty homemade pasta recipe, to practise and enjoy during this season.
TAS Department
Each year PCS endeavours to bless our mums and grandmums. Although this year we needed to do things a little different, it was still a huge success.
The students who visited the Mother’s Day Pop-Up stall had a fabulous time picking out special gifts to show their love for their wonderful mums, grandmums and even aunts. Our virtual Mother’s Day event was also well received so a huge thank you to all those who participated.
My heart’s desire is for you all to treasure and value your contribution to your children and to our PCS family.
Although we were unable to hold a Mother’s Day event onsite this year, we still wanted to bless our mums and grandmums with a special ‘virtual event’. The video below was posted live on Facebook via 3 sessions (7.00 am, 10.00 am and 2.00 pm), with many people joining the sessions and interacting via comments.
A big thank you to all the students who participated (at short notice!) in the making of this video (Noah, Asha, Kohen, Aria, Riley, Amy-lee, Henry, Briarna, Isaac, Olivia, Oscar and Rachel). Thank you to our Principal, Tracey Deal, for her lovely message to mums. And thank you to staff members Sherilyn Freeburn (for a beautiful prayer), Sharon Tuft (for coordinating the event) and Jarrad Meney (for video producing and editing).
We are blessed with a wonderful community of people at PCS, and we hope this 'virtual event' has been a blessing to all our mums and grandmums. Happy Mother's Day!
Welcome to Episode 2 of PCS Video News! View this weeks Video News for updates from Assistant Principal, Mr Grice on current happenings, including roadworks, Mother's Day activities and an interview with Mr Favs.
At the end of Term 1, Year 4 wrote brief letters of encouragement as part of their daily devotions. Every student from Kindy to Year 4 still on-site on the last day of Term 1 received a copy of one of these letters with a ‘Jesus Loves Me’ balloon.
In the school holidays, these letters were also sent to two local Nursing Homes (one set via email and one set of 100 delivered in person to the front door of a nursing home for the staff and residents with a bunch of flowers). In addition, they were emailed to Divine Junior School Uganda.
These letters are short but powerful, heartfelt words of encouragement.
Are you looking for Mother's Day gifts? We have compiled a list of businesses owned by PCS families (as well as a few charity organisations) from which you can purchase a gift for mum. Consider supporting our School community businesses!
Paint and Sip Studios
A gift voucher for the arty mums - they are even running virtual painting sessions at present. Paint and Sip Studios Australia runs time limited accessible Art classes for everyone from children to adults.
As many students have now been learning offsite for quite a few weeks, we thought you would like an update about what's been happening onsite. View the video below to hear from Assistant Principal, Mr Grice and get a virtual tour of our new Junior School building (that is very close to completion!).
Sadly, we are unable to hold a Mother’s Day event onsite this year. Instead, we are putting together a special ‘virtual event’, which we invite ALL our mums and grandmums to join.
The ‘virtual event’ will be broadcast via ‘Watch Parties’ on our Facebook page throughout the day (with a duration of approximately 15 minutes). Choose the time that best suits you around work, child care, or schooling at home, and join us!
FRIDAY 8 MAY, 20207.00 am, 10.00 am or 2.00 pmJoin us at: www.facebook.com/penrithchristianschool
Due to the current pandemic, our traditional Mother’s Day Stall looks a bit different this year! We will be operating a ‘Pop-Up’ Mother’s Day Stall located in front School Reception, for students schooling off site. All gifts are $5.00 each, and your child can drop in on:
Thursday 7 May OR Friday 8 May, 202010.00 am - 12 noon
In order to minimise the number of visitors onsite, please adhere to the following:
Our traditional Mother’s Day Stall will be operating for our Early Learning Centre students on Wednesday 6 May AND Friday 8 May 2020. The stall is 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 your Preschool or Prep 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.
With a view to students returning onsite at some stage in Term 2, the Uniform Shop will reopen in Week 1, Term 2.
The Uniform Shop will open normal Term 2 trading hours (see below). Please also note:
Online purchases preferred.
Please observe social distancing when visiting the shop.
Only one (1) family is permitted in the Shop at a time – longer waiting times are to be expected.
PCS would like to remember and pay tribute to the men and women, both past and present who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of conflict and crisis. Although we can’t gather physically, we wish to take time to reflect upon their selfless sacrifice and honour their memory.
And beyond that, we give praise and thanks to our Living God, by whose grace, alongside their sacrifice, we can live in a free and peaceful country. Lest we forget.
As you know, this week there have been further announcements and advice about the delivery of education both at a Commonwealth and State level moving into Term 2.
We appreciate the complexity of this situation and for you, as parents, the need for clarity as you plan what your days may look like too.
As I mentioned in my video message last Sunday, we are looking forward to the time when we can all safely connect physically again and have all our wonderful students back onsite. In the meantime; however, we have heeded the advice of the Premier and Minister for Education, along with the Health Authorities, and have come up with a plan of what we see Term 2 looking like at this moment.
Tracey Deal, PCS Principal, with a message for our whole School community, including updates on latest Government announcements for schools in general, and expected learning arrangements in Term 2.
