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.
Last week Year 5 went on their Wellbeing Day to Winmalee Christian Conference Centre. The weather was picture perfect and we were all very excited.
Throughout the day we all had a go at throwing boomerangs, and many of us were successful! We then discussed how just like a boomerang is thrown with a purpose, so are our words.
We then tried our hand at hilarious teamwork activities. Our favourite was the t-shirt game. It was so much fun trying to pull the shirt on and off each other in the fastest time possible.
As many of you would be aware Mrs de Villiers has gone on maternity leave and now has a beautiful baby girl; mother and baby are doing well.
Mrs de Villiers was overseeing the Educational Support programs at PCS and she was also teaching some of our students in small group settings. Whilst she is on maternity leave, Mrs Jenny Mahoney has taken on an additional role as Head of Educational Support. She has been meeting with teachers to discuss the needs of students, and how we can best support them. In addition, Mr Brian Cavanagh has taken on the face-to-face teaching role with Junior School students and he has quickly come to know the students that he is supporting during Reading groups.
Our students also receive support from our wonderful Education Support Assistants (ESAs): Mrs Nicole Colbourn works with students in Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Mrs Lisa Payne works with Stage 1 students (Years 1 and 2), and Mrs Vanessa Renny works with students in Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4). Our ESAs provide support to students in a variety of ways including running Minilit program sessions to boost Reading skills, sight word and phonics practice with students, and supporting students in class during Writing and Mathematics lessons. Another important role they fulfil is to support students in the playground. The ESA staff have a great understanding of student needs, and they work hard to build relationships with the students that give them a safe, understanding, and empathetic adult that they know they can go to when they are experiencing difficulties that may range from a learning need to a social/emotional need. They also watch out for students who may require assistance during school events such as carnivals.
A few weeks ago, all of Year 7 English took part in a workshop exploring how we ‘see, hear, taste, smell and feel’ the world around us. This term we have been studying how Shakespeare used his writing to convey feelings to his audiences, so during the workshop it was over to the students to use their writing to convey their feelings.
Students tasted popping candy and grapefruits and wrote using different language techniques to describe what they were tasting, including; ‘Have you ever imagined you were a taste bud, small and hidden away, but one day you soar like fireworks? Well this is what it’s like tasting popping candy’.
Students also got to smell a variety of smells ranging from the delightful to the dreadful, then they wrote a dialogue between two characters describing one of the smells:
Wesley graduated from Penrith Christian School in 2017. He showed incredible talent working with wood in Design and Technology with his amazing major work.
He started his own business, Wesley Inglis Custom Furniture, making beautifully crafted wooden items such as breadboards, boxes, toys, and coasters. At the same time he went to TAFE to gain his Certificate III in Cabinet Making. He currently runs his business and works for TTK Kitchens and Joinery.
Wesley admits that most of what he knows about hardwood solid timber is self-taught and from his dad.
We’ve all heard of bingeing, and the latest use of the term has been associated with describing our TV-watching habits. In this interesting article by Ben Dolnick entitled ‘Why you should start binge-reading right now’, the author advocates the notion of binge reading, suggesting that by adopting this kind of approach can serve to foster a greater love of reading, which we of the iCentre staff, and the overwhelming majority of PCS staff, would agree, is a great thing.
Within the article he states, ‘Now this may all seem a bit rich, coming from a fiction writer. You aren’t enjoying reading? Then read longer! Read faster! The problem is you! But the corollary to this way of reading — of taking books down in gulps rather than sips — is that you will discover much more quickly when a book isn’t for you, and you can then set it aside without the nagging suspicion that you might have sabotaged it by your method of ingestion.’
I would encourage you to follow the link below and read the short article to see what Ben has to say about reading habits and the effect that these have upon the love of reading. Enjoy.
Year 9 student, Elise Ginger, recently trialled at the AFL All Schools day, and was selected in the NSW All Schools U15 AFL Team to compete at the School Sport Australia AFL Championships. Elise will be competing in Tasmania for a week-long carnival (Friday 27 July to Friday 3 August) against other Australian states.
Elise loves her AFL and has been playing for four years, progressing each year as her skills get better and better. Elise played her best game yet at the AFL All Schools day, and she is tipped by her coaches to have the ability to play in the AFL womens competition in the future. This is an amazing opportunity for Elise to be recognised and maybe even be given a signed contract to progress to a National level.
Congratulations on an amazing achievement Elise!
Last week, Year 9 and Year 10 Physical Activity and Sports Studies classes had a visit from the Wheelchair Roadshow, an interactive session involving Wheelchair Basketball and some education about various sports for people with disabilities.
It was a great session with the students all participating in some games of Wheelchair Basketball, and Ava Edwards from Year 5 also joining the group to show her moves in her own chair. Students learnt of the various challenges facing people in wheelchairs as well as the increasing opportunities that are being developed for people to be involved in a wide range of sporting activities.
Some of the games were hard fought between the Year 9 and Year 10 teams and the games got faster and faster as they became used to moving in the wheelchairs.
Term 2 has been a whirlwind of learning and fun! The students built stamina and skill as they participated in NAPLAN preparation and testing. Upon reflection, some students said they enjoyed NAPLAN, while others were glad it was over.
Many thrived while performing a song for Mother’s Day, finding new air guitar talents, and storytelling in music.
History saw the students exploring their cultural backgrounds, and prompted them to be thankful for the many great things that others contribute to our community. What a blessing it was to have Nonno George come and tell them of his firsthand account of migrating from Italy to Australia. The homemade salami and olives were a real treat!
This year, PCS entered into two divisions of the da Vinci Decathlon, held at Knox Grammar School. On Tuesday 28 May (Years 7 and 8) and Thursday 30 May (Years 5 and 6), our teams braved the early morning to meet at Penrith Station to catch the 6.41 am train to the city; the first of three trains that our teams would catch both to and from Knox.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with the sight of approximately 1300 students, from many different schools, all eagerly awaiting to begin this year’s challenges. Over the course of each of the days, out teams completed tasks in the categories of English, Mathematics, Science, Art and Poetry, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography, Engineering, Code Breaking and General Knowledge.
Despite the immense challenge of the vast majority of the set challenges, Mr Gee, Mrs Brady and myself, along with our wonderful parent helpers, witnessed both of our teams actively engaged in all tasks, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and camaraderie. At each break, we were greeted with an enthusiastic re-telling of the challenges which they had just completed. The smiles (and chatter) remained all throughout the day, even until our return to Penrith Station at 5.30 pm.
One of our goals at PCS is to encourage our students to go out into the world to make a difference. Congratulations to these amazing Year 4 students on having a great heart for Missions:
Alicia ran 3km on the weekend, and with her family, helped to raise over $3,000 for 'Run to Cure Neuroblastoma'
Ethan was so moved by his Class Reader that he is doing his own fundraiser to ‘Help Restore Sight’ through the Fred Hollows Foundation
Elliott generously brought many small gifts to give to the students at Divine Junior School Uganda.
Last week, PCS had four students representing NSW at the National Christian Schools Games. The Games are held every two years (for Under 16 teams), and this year they were held on the Gold Coast. The students competing from PCS were:
Basketball - Jessica Harrison and Ella Edwards
Netball - Isabella Hall
Tennis - Thomas Nelson.
