PCS will be administering the NAPLAN tests online this year. 

Students will have an opportunity to do a 45 min Practice Test this term on 22 March. The practice test will enable students to become familiar with the test environment and will have a variety of questions similar in style to the Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy tests. 

There will be no Writing questions in this test.  It is purely so that students will understand HOW torespond to different types of questions they will meet in the Online NAPLAN tests in Term 2.

Last Tuesday 27 February, PCS held the first of four Parent Seminars being run in 2018. Brett Murray from Make Bullying History presented his seminar, ‘Bully-proofing Your World’, to almost 100 parents and staff.

Brett’s presentation was both entertaining and very informative. He covered important issues such as defining bullying, identifying factors that cause bullying, the role parents play in preventing bullying behaviour in children, and also the science associated with adolescent brain development.

Brett is the founder of the Make Bullying History Foundation and has been involved in extensive research into the issue of bullying. Brett’s findings are the foundation for the information that he presented in his seminar.

Penrith Christian School's Year 7 Information Night is being held on Tuesday 20 March 2018, from 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm. This is a night for NEW families (not yet enrolled at PCS) who are interested in 2019 Year 7 enrolments.

At this event you will:

discover how our unique 'Middle School' structure supports your child's well-being and learning;

get a feel for the ethos and values of PCS and how this enhances your child's schooling

We all said goodbye to our Guide Dog, Rosie on Monday 26 February. It will be the last time we see her until graduation in a few months’ time.

Mackenzie Colbourn and Angelina Bounassif joined me, Elizabeth Weeks, to take Rosie to her induction ceremony. We had an hour’s drive to Richmond Guide Dog Centre where, when we arrived, two of her dog friends were already there and saying goodbye to their owners, and hello to their new friends and trainers.

Mr Pickworth met us there. When he came, he informed the staff that Rosie had Kennel Cough. Due to this Rosie was then sent back with us until she got better.

It has been a delight to come and work at PCS.

My husband James and I have found moving to Penrith really encouraging and a blessing from God. James grew up here in Penrith and the lower Blue Mountains, this is back home for him. We have been married for two years this month and are excited to see what God has in store for our lives here.

I grew up in Valla Beach on the mid coast of NSW, near Coffs Harbour. My Mum and Dad are still up there. I have grown up knowing God, in church and Christian education. I have an older sister and younger brother and we are all teaching in Christian Schools.

Welcome to the Year 2 adventure that is new classrooms, new friends and the countdown and expectation of new Year 2 Headquarters. 

We have had a fantastic start to the year; and we are having a brilliant, scientific time exploring Living Things in our Science curriculum.

We have watched, observed and documented the changes that we find in life cycles of several different animals, and can plot a timeline of their metamorphosis!

What a fantastic afternoon was had by the staff, students, families and friends of the PCS Year 1 classes.

Last Thursday, the Year 1 classes hosted a Past and Present History Afternoon. The afternoon was birthed out of the Christian perspective that God created people to live together and find support within a family unit. Parents are entrusted with the responsibility of raising children in a Godly way. Children are to honour and obey their parents. (Psalm 68:6)

With this focus, we wanted the students to demonstrate skills of historical enquiry and communication, and to understand that there is much change in family life. It was a pleasure to see the sheer intrigue on the children’s faces when they saw a typewriter and were amazed at the action of the levers coming up and down.

Junior School parents are welcome to attend any of our Friday Chapels. Each week a different Junior School class runs Chapel, which usually runs from 10.10am (see roster for more details).

CLICK HERE to view the Term1 2018 Chapel roster

At the 2017 NSW Combined Independent Schools Awards Night held on Friday 16 February 2018 in Homebush, Mr Andrew Hutchinson (Head of K-12 PDHPE and Sport) received very special recognition. He was presented with an Award for Outstanding Contribution to CIS Sport. This award is given to one staff member each year out of all the independent schools in NSW. The presentation included a tribute to Mr Hutchinson, highlighting all the amazing work he does in sport.

Most PCS students and staff would be aware of Mr Hutchinson's dedication and enthusiasm for PCS Sport, and his advocacy of the efforts and achievements of PCS students who excel outside of PCS sporting activities. Mr Hutchinson works very hard behind the scenes, with much of what he does going unnoticed.

Anyone who has spent time with Mr Hutchinson knows that he doesn't seek accolades for what he does - in fact, we found out about his CIS Award from someone else and had to hunt down a photo from the night!

Penrith Christian School would like to introduce and congratulate those who have received the title of Year 4 Leaders, for Semester 1, 2018. It is a true honour and we are proud that these Year 4 students have taken this role seriously and stepped up to the challenge.

Student Leadership roles are an important part of the program at Penrith Christian School as they provide opportunities for students to have a ‘voice’ in what happens throughout the School, as well as enabling students to develop their own leadership skills.

Our students are required to help and support events that take place during the day-to-day activities of our school life. Leaders are chosen to represent the student body in the following ways:

Our new website has been launched TODAY! It is a more streamlined site, intended to give prospective families an overview of PCS. Some of the information previously on the website, relevant to current families, has been moved (or is in the process of being moved) to various 'portals'. Below is a description of where you can find relevant information relating to our PCS community:

Our PARENT PORTAL contains access to your family data, including medical information, current contact information, Parent Teacher Interview bookings, policies relevant to current families and more. This will soon be updated with additional information that previously existed on the PCS website. (Login required - see below)

Our STUDENT PORTAL provides access to a student’s progress, timetables, assessments, attendance, compliance record and a link to connect with teaching staff. Parents may also access the Student Portal using their ‘Parent Portal’ login. (Login required - see below)

Canteen Helpers Needed

Can you help in the Canteen? We are looking for helpers mainly on a Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm to assist.

If you are available, please see Anne in the Canteen if you would like to help out – on any day/s that suits you – or if you have any questions.

Bounce Back! is a wellbeing and resilience program written by Helen McGrath and Toni Noble.

The program is taught in K-4 classes in Term 1 as part of our Personal Heath and Development Curriculum (PDH). Resilience helps us to cope with adversity and hardship when life throws us challenges. We also want to help our students to ‘look on the bright side’ and celebrate the many wonderful highlights of their lives. We have added Christian perspectives to the program and have found that the activities are meaningful and helpful for our students.

The program contains nine units and a selection of these units is taught each year. The concepts are then reinforced and referred to during the year when appropriate. An example of this would be the concept that there are good and bad ways to disagree.

Crunch&Sip® is a K-8 program that encourages healthy snacking and the drinking of water in the classroom environment. Teaching and learning continues whilst students are refuelling on fruit and/or vegetables, and rehydrate on water.

Crunch&Sip® gives students the opportunity to eat the piece of fruit or vegetable that might otherwise be left in their lunchbox. We find that students are more likely to eat their healthy snack and drink their water if friends and peers are doing it too.

Please make sure your K-8 child has a piece of fruit or vegetable and a small bottle of water each day.

Year 1 has started the year well with a range of literacy-based learning activities.

We are learning about ‘What’s in a Picture?’ in Literacy lessons, enjoying a range of books including The Chimpanzees from Happytown and Postcards from Crabby Spit.

We are finding out that pictures contain interesting details that may not be in the writing in a book. SpotWhat, Where’s Wally and other find-a books are extremely popular for quiet reading time too. Students are also using pictures to sequence stories and engage in writing tasks.

Senior School had an amazing second week with students being encouraged, pushing past their fears, meeting challenges head on and enjoying the company of their peers during Camp and Seminar Week.  

Years 9 and 10: The boys went to Camp and experienced the great outdoors whilst the girls experienced an urban challenge in and around the City.

Here are some quotes from students for Camp Week:

It has been a whirlwind start to 2018 at PCS, and I have loved every minute of getting to know the staff and students of this wonderful school. I come to PCS with 14 years of teaching experience behind me and a career as a tradesman before that. I have a passion for seeing young people excitedly developing into all that God has prepared them to be.

Over my time as a classroom teacher I have taught across all grades and subjects. I have taught as a permanent member of staff and a casual teacher in public and private schools. Whilst the role of Teacher Librarian is a new direction for me, there are many fundamentals to teaching that I continue to adhere to. I believe that education is about getting to know your students, meeting their needs and helping them to achieve their potential. In my role within the iCentre, I will be seeking to continue to do these things.

As a librarian, I love seeing the wonder that a good piece of literature can give a reader or listener. Junior School students can attest to my love of picture books. I also love it when that vital information resource is found that allows someone to progress in their studies effectively. 

On Sunday 18 February 2018, PCS staff members, Mr Steve Grice (Assistant Principal - Operations and Student Learning) and Mr Adam Petherick (Group Finance Manager) competed in the Husky Triathlon Festival.

They entered, and completed, the 'Ultimate Husky', which includes a 2 km swim, 83 km cycle, and a 20 km run. These distances roughly constitute a 'half Ironman'.

Congratulations to Mr Grice and Mr Petherick on an amazing effort - what a great example to all our students of grit, determination and hard work!

Parents and Guardians of K-4 children are invited to join us each week at our Monday morning Assembly, in the Junior School COLA area, at 8.30 am. The Assembly only lasts about 10 minutes, but it is a wonderful opportunity for us all to gather together, share what the week brings and then end praying together.

All are welcome.

Mrs Melanie WoodsHead of Junior School

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. 

If you think your child might qualify to have adjustments granted, please contact Jenni de Villiers via email to discuss this further jenni.devilliers@pcs.nsw.edu.au.