Our amazing Senior School staff have put together a video for students and parents, which explains how learning will be happening in Senior School at PCS from Mon 30 March. There's lots of great info, plus you get to see the happy, shiny faces of the Senior School staff!

The video was posted on the Senior School Instagram and PCS Facebook accounts. If you don't have an Instagram account, you can still view the video via the link below. However, we do recommend signing up to Instagram, as we will be posting more information via that platform in the future. It's free to join and you can remain private/anonymous.

CLICK HERE to view the video

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As you are aware, our online/remote teaching and learning will be fully engaged from tomorrow, Monday 30 March. We have spent time setting up remote digital classrooms and trialling the delivery; however, we know there still may be some challenges with technology and timely feedback. We will endeavour to be available to assist all parents and caregivers in this new space as we understand this will be an added pressure at home.  

There will not be a disadvantage for students who remain at home as all lessons will be conducted online via the digital platforms indicated by the teachers previously.  Please also keep your eyes out for emails from the relevant Heads of School for updates and communication.

This week we have unfortunately continued to see more and more people impacted financially. Please CLICK HERE to download a letter which communicates our position as a united community.

Thank you for your support this past week as we travel the road to implement our alternate learning delivery .

A reminder that we will be rolling out complete online/remote learning for all students (offsite and onsite) from Monday, 30 March.

We are anticipating going to fully online/remote learning from next Monday, 30 March. As per the NSW Government’s advice to keep students at home unless they are at risk, or a child of an essential worker, online/remote learning will mean that the lessons will be consistent for everyone and that even though students are not at school physically, their learning will not be impacted.

To this end, we would like you to complete a survey via the link below, and submit it so we can see that you are ready at home to facilitate the learning that we are providing.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SURVEY

Thank you for the support you have shown the School as we navigate the delivery of teaching and learning at PCS in the midst of our current world health crisis. We are in extraordinary times and appreciate the way you are pulling together as a community. However, it is important that we all keep vigilant.

As you will have seen from announcements in the media, there has been some communication from both the Federal and State governments regarding keeping schools open.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to read a detailed letter outlining what teaching and learning at PCS will look like moving forward.

The CSSA Primary State Swimming Championships were held at Blacktown Aquatic Centre on Monday 16 March. PCS sent a team of 20 students along on the day after a successful Zone Carnival for many of our students.

Throughout the day, PCS students gave their best and some students came very close to coming in the top three and qualifying for the CIS Primary Swimming Championships. Many of these students also swam some great times, improving on their times from the Zone Carnival.

A magnificent effort from our students, especially for Lily Jackson - Year 6, Tyler Brown - Year 5, Adam Marczak - Year 6, Ellyse Currall - Year 4, and Jake Kennedy - Year 5,  who had very full programs after qualifying for state in five to six events. Tyler came 4th overall in the 11 Year Boys 50m Backstroke

On Thursday 5 March at 10.00 am, our School participated in The Big Vegie Crunch as part of Vegetable Week.

Thank you for packing vegetables for your child/ren to crunch for the event. 

We joined 213 other schools across NSW in a ‘salad’ effort to break the record for the most children eating vegetables simultaneously.

Should parents continue to read to children once they can read to themselves?

As parents, we all lead such incredibly busy lives that it is understandable to prioritise listening to your child read their home reader but forsake the good old bedtime story that they enjoyed during their earlier years.

However, more and more I have come across intervention specialist reports that recommend positive shared reading experiences and modelled reading within both home and school contexts.

During uncertain times, it is not unusual to have feelings of worry and unease. However, as parents and caregivers, it is important that we learn to manage stress and worry before it turns to more severe anxiety and panic, which can affect the children in our care.

In your role as parent/caregiver, there are a number of things you can consider, to look after the emotional wellbeing of you and your family – starting with taking care of yourself!

As we know, children and adolescents, just like adults, absorb information from what they hear and see around them: from the news, social media, discussions at home, at school, at the shops and with their peers.

Dear PCS Community

You would be aware the Prime Minister announced Sunday afternoon, that all those arriving from overseas from midnight on 15 March will be required to self-isolate for two weeks. Isolation is also required for those who have had contact with somebody with COVID-19.

In light of the development of the outbreak, the Government has also stipulated that organised, non‑essential gatherings should be limited to 500 people.

With the COVID-19 situation continuing to evolve in NSW, it is important to keep up to date with the latest information and advice. School and route bus services are currently operating as normal, however, should this change unexpectedly, our school bus operator, Busways, advises it will post updates to school and route bus services to its website. Parents are encouraged to regularly check the Busways website at www.busways.com.au for updates and announcements regarding bus services for our school in case changes happen unexpectedly outside of school hours. Regular checks to the Busways website will ensure you have the most up to date information.

On Tuesday morning last week Team Unity arrived at the Bosch Head Office, Melbourne to drop off their trade display items in preparation for the opening of the F1 in Schools National Competition 2020. 

After a smooth two hour build in the afternoon and with a little time to spare at the end, the Team completed a fabulous, professional and competitive Trade Display, equal to the best in Australia.

Wednesday morning saw the official opening ceremony of F1 in Schools National Finals take place, with many industry experts and dignitaries present as either guests or judges. To kick off the schedule of events, Team Unity was competing in the Automatic Timed Racing with Round 1 being Team Unity (PCS) vs Awaken (Blue Mountains Grammar). Vaughan and Ella did a cracking job with the engineering, gaining a gross lap time of 1.293 sec, beating Awaken in three of the four races, with a false start being the first race. Team Unity placed 5th overall in the Automated Timed Races.

In Week 3 this term, Year 9 embarked on The Urban Challenge camp, where we aimed to give them  the ultimate real-world urban experience. In small teams, each with a teacher and an Urban Challenge Guide, students walked, caught trains, buses, light rail and more on a fast-paced unfolding adventure through Sydney and surrounds. Teams completed urban-flavoured activities, clue chases, meal preparation, money challenges and much more along the way, on a quest to be crowned champions.

Students get a taste of what it’s like to plan and travel around the streets of Sydney, prepare and eat in its restaurants, budget and spend their money, and enjoy some of the accommodation on offer.

They also competed in team challenges where they could earn valuable points; Dragon Boating, Cockatoo Island, 10-pin bowling were all crowd favourites. The students loved getting involved in this awesome experience which provided a slightly different flavour to a traditional camp. They learnt skills, overcame obstacles and built relationships that will leave a lasting impact. Year 9 took on Sydney, and they won; particularly Team 4, who were our Urban Challenge Champions for 2020.

Seminar Week saw Year 11 embark on their journey of the Higher School Certificate. Students were involved in a range of activities during this time to help encourage, motivate, organise and persevere through their final years of schooling. Each day came with a new challenge for them to face, to guide their learning and to build their understanding of the career-orientated society we all eventually must face.

Program for the four days:

Tuesday - Hope Accelerated with Glen Gerreyn

Wednesday - Cultural day in the city

Well, six weeks completed of Term 1 and I am slowly feeling like I am not drowning and getting used to how the school functions. I have enjoyed getting to know the PCS community here and looking forward to the year ahead. I have noticed the kind nature of the teachers here and everyone I have talked with has asked at some stage how I am settling in.

What is my story without writing a book you may ask? Born in Manly to a Congregational Minister and his wife, Clive and Helen Howe, who brought me up to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, along with my siblings Diana and Ross; very blessed indeed. Mum and Dad went to Sydney Missionary Bible College and started their ministry at Busby West in the 1980s, a housing commission area near Liverpool. Mum and Dad put their hand up to go there after college because no one else in the college wanted to work there.

We ended up in Campbelltown and I started an apprenticeship as Fitter and Machinist, moved into Height Safety Systems, and then went to University to become a teacher. During that time, I spent close to 10 years working as a youth leader in Claymore, a housing commission area in Campbelltown. We ran a successful team ministry there serving young teenagers through fellowship, Bible study and lots of food. I didn't know Mum and Dad volunteered to work at Busby West until many years after I started at Claymore; apple doesn’t fall too far I guess!

As we come in to the winter season, and with current concerns about the COVID-19, we would like to keep you informed and seek your assistance in keeping our school community healthy in the coming months.

We wish to advise that it is permissible for students to be provided with personal use (size) Hand Sanitisers to carry with them should you wish to do so, please seek advice on which is best for your child/ren.  Hand washing with soap is the most effective way to control infection and the spread of disease.  Soap in our bathrooms is always provided and as an additional measure we have installed the attached poster with proper handwashing instructions.

Vigilant hand washing with soap and water is the preferred and most effective method of stopping the spread of germs in our school.  Effective hand sanitiser must contain at least 60% alcohol and due to safety reasons, this cannot be kept in classrooms in large containers.

UPDATE: 

Middle School Boost is now up and running for 2020. We have had a good response from students eager to extend themselves and take on these challenges.

It has been particularly exciting to see some students new to the BOOST program coming along. Application forms can still be obtained and interested students can still put their names forward. Applications for this program close on Friday 20 March.

Last year many of the Kindergarten students took the time to write letters to our Australian farmers to cheer them up. One of our Kindy students recently received a response! It has been a wonderful experience for our students to understand the impact that a small gesture can have.

Here is the email from Priestley's mum:

As you know last year Priestley's class KA had the opportunity to write letters to our Australian Farmer's to cheer them up, well yesterday Priestley received a response!! Priestley was so happy and is wanting to write back which I will help her with.

The year has started off with a splash with four swimming carnivals over the past five weeks of Term 1. We have seen some great school spirit, awesome results, and a number of new records across these carnivals.

YEARS 3 TO 6 SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The 2020 Years 3-6 (and a few Year 2s) had their swimming carnival in Week 3 at Ripples St Marys. The forecast for the day was overcast with the chance of a storm. However, we started the day with clear weather and the students all turned up enthusiastic and ready for a great day. Despite a slightly later start, we got underway and it was great to see so many students having a crack at the early events. We saw some records go throughout the day, and it was awesome to see so many kids cheering each other on.

On Wednesday 4 March Junior School had a Missions Assembly to hear about our trip to Uganda in January and launch our Missions Vision for 2020. Middle School students Jake, Hamish, Elsie and Megan were able to demonstrate their Kiganda dancing and drumming skills that they learnt from Divine Junior School teachers and students. On Friday 6 March at Middle School Chapel, the same students were interviewed by Mr Daniel Favretti about their Missions experience in Uganda.

Thank you for your generous contributions to Missions in 2019. We raised $927.65 through Coins for Missions, $1,141 from Priestley Stauner’s family and $1,663.95 through selling cans of drinks and Zooper Doopers. Our total by the end of Term 3 was $3,732.60, pretty impressive! Throughout Term 4 we continued to receive generous donations from our school community for Divine Junior School bringing the total to over $10,000. 

Divine Junior School community were so grateful for Penrith Christian School’s generosity. They send their love, prayers and gratitude and they even wrote a song about ‘Coins for Missions’ which was posted on Penrith Christian School's Facebook account in January. (CLICK HERE to view)