Year 11 Chemistry students have recently had an assessment task on bonding and model making. They were asked to create their own models to illustrate a variety of bonding types (e.g. covalent network, metallic bonding, covalent molecular and ionic bonding) and then devise a way to show the forces between these molecules which explains the physical properties and uses of substances.

Their models were very detailed and creative. Some models included lollies, monkeys, lions, pins and plasticine to model electron configurations, relationships between atoms and mobility of ions. Understanding the link between bonding, properties and uses is important for chemistry students.

I am looking forward to marking these amazing models.

As most of you are probably aware, last year our theme for 2020 was Strive for the Highest.

While we were able to embed some of the language and intended actions to support this theme, COVID-19 certainly prevented us from letting the theme truly shape everything we wanted it to.

However, in discussion with the Board about the opportunities that exist to see the integrity of a statement such as this really be reflected at PCS, I proposed that we adopt Strive for the Highest as our School motto.

Congratulations to our two teams that competed at the recent CSSA State Volleyball Gala day. 

Our teams competed in the Mixed and Open boys divisions. Despite not making the finals our teams won many of their round matches and had close matches that could have gone either way. The members of both teams should be congratulated with how they represented the school. It is exciting to know that the interest and skill level of our students in Volleyball is growing.

Well done to all!

On Monday 8 March, eighteen of our Year 2-6 students represented PCS and Nepean Zone at the CSSA State Primary Swimming Carnival at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. Students represented our school community with excellence. They were extremely well behaved and competed to the best of their ability.

There were a number of incredibly impressive results across the day with four students successfully qualifying for the upcoming NSW CIS Swimming Carnival on Thursday 18 March 2021 at SOPAC:

Olivia G 

My Thursday did not begin like it normally does last week. In fact, it began with an 8.00 am Extension 1 Mathematics class, as I became a Year 12 student for the day. I sat with four students and Mr Jenner, who were all using a foreign language that was ‘Advanced Calculus’; far more advanced than my basic understanding. The students seemed to enjoy solving problems that left my head reeling, and their workbooks were just as mind blowing and confusing to me.

I followed three of them to double Chemistry, where the class were designing their own experiments through a depth study on Acids and Bases. They became Scientists in the classroom as they worked through their chosen hypotheses, recording results as they went.

I left the Scientists with their coats and goggles on and visited the Community and Family Studies class. They have been working on an Independent Research Project since last term, and were looking at Abstracts from past projects as models for their final paper. The topics they had chosen, such as the effect of divorce on young people, verbal abuse, and the effect of Social Media on body image sounded fascinating as they worked through some of the issues they encountered. 

Wow! We have certainly made an exciting start to our year in K-6 CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts). Students are zealously ‘Striving for The Highest’ in their creativity, God given talents, learning new skills, working as a team, appreciating diversity and confidently showcasing their designs and performances in the areas of Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts. 

Every day I look forward to teaching, getting to know, being inspired and blessed and glorifying God with the 540 odd students in my 26 classes. What a privilege. What a joy!

Kindergarten are brilliantly tapping to the Beat and Tempo of Percussion instruments. 

Last week, our Year 12 Standard English students welcomed a special guest, Mrs Jagger, into our classroom. Mrs Jagger brought her musical expertise to help us better analyse our prescribed text, an Australian musical film, ‘One Night the Moon’.

Our HSC students were doubly blessed as not only did Mrs Jagger bring her musical knowledge to our class, she also brought her extensive knowledge of Aboriginal Spirituality from her Studies of Religion subject, allowing us to gain a greater insight into our text.

We just love cross-curricular lessons. Thanks Mrs Jagger, for an amazing and insightful lesson. We truly are better when we work together!

Next Friday, the School Canteen will be closed. Lunch and Recess orders will NOT be available on the day.

Please send Recess and Lunch with your child/ren thist Friday or take advantage of our special Sausage Sizzle under the Café COLA for students wishing to purchase their lunch.

Students from K-6 are requested to pre-order using the form below.

Years 7-12 students will be able to purchase on the day (EFTPOS preferred or correct change)

Emails were sent to our K-12 families on Monday 8 March, with a link inviting your participation in the WHY PARENTS CHOOSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS survey being offered by Christian Schools Australia. The survey will be conducted until Thursday, 1 April and all responses are anonymous. Further details were included in the email, including the link to access the survey.

If you would like the survey link sent to you again, please email Sherilyn Freeburn at Sherilyn.freeburn@pcs.nsw.edu.au and the link will be forwarded to you.

The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’/caregivers’ choice of school, their satisfaction with their child/ren’s learning, their engagement in the school community, and their general background.

Existing PCS Year 6 families and prospective new families are invited to attend our Year 7 2022 Information Evening. A light supper will be prepared and served by our Hospitality students.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: www.trybooking.com/BPQSY

Thirty-nine Year 7-12 students had the opportunity to represent PCS at the CSSA Nepean Zone Secondary Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 3 March 2021 at Mt Druitt Pool. They represented our school community with excellence in all that they did.

Our students achieved some amazing results, both personal bests and a number of Age Champions. In addition to PCS winning the Nepean Zone overall, the following students achieved ZONE AGE CHAMPION:

12 Years Girls

What an amazing achievement by one of our younger PCS students, Amayah, who competed on the weekend at the NSW State Speedo Sprint Finals. She placed 10th in the 8 years Girls 50m Freestyle, which meant she was a State Finalist. You are a champion Amayah! Well done!

Well done to PCS student Olivia who raced at the State Speedo Sprint Finals last weekend. Olivia came 1st in 10 Year Girls 50m Freestyle, making her a NSW State Champion! She also placed 2nd in 50m Butterfly and 3rd in 50m Backstroke - a wonderful achievement!

These results are even more amazing when you consider that Olivia had 6 months out of the water last year, due to breaking her leg quite badly. A huge congratulations to Olivia, as well as her coaches and parents, for being so determined and hard working. Well done Olivia - we are so proud of you! 

Jonathan Walker graduated from PCS in 2018 and is currently studying Forensic Science at WSU Hawkesbury campus.

This week Jonathan came to speak to Year 10 students about this exciting science career and what it entails. He outlined the various types of forensics one can study which included: ballistics, arson investigation, criminalistics and trace evidence analysis. He also spoke about his motivation for taking forensic science being his passion to find out the truth and help people get justice.

Jonathan mentioned that his interest to pursue forensics was sparked in Year 9 when he did the Chemistry unit on Forensics. Year 10 students asked Jonathan excellent questions about life at university and this career path. Year 10 have an assessment task on Science careers due in Week 7.  

It has been wonderful to see the students returning to school this year and embracing change, committed to learning and growing in all aspects of their lives. Our Year 11 and 12 students have been involved with Seminar Week, which was an encouragement and helped build a foundation for future success in these important Year levels.

Years 9 and 10 were involved with challenging camps that built resilience, problem solving skills, and allowed for community building in their year levels.

Years 7 and 8 have settled into new routines and are looking forward to camps at the beginning of next term. Years K - 6 have started the year with a focus on being able to ‘Bounce Back’ when challenges come, and are enjoying new places to play and spend time with their friends in the breaks.

Year 11 Studies of Religion students celebrated a Jewish event, happening that very day around the world, called Purim, the story of Esther and the survival of the Jewish people during her time as Queen. They are researching the characteristics within a religion that keep it living and dynamic.

Here are some of their thoughts after a very fun celebration:

‘Religion is living and dynamic in Judaism, as evidenced by the ever evolving and lively holiday of Purim, which displays the interaction between Jewish beliefs, sacred texts, ethics, rituals and ceremonies. Every year at this time the story is read from the scroll of Esther, and when the name of the villain ‘Haman’ is read out, they boo and drown out his name with percussion instruments. This involves everyone keeping the story from the sacred text alive.

Year 5 have started 2021 with bang in Science! We are looking at ‘Earth’s Place in Space’ and we’ve been discussing some fascinating facts about our Solar System.

We also had some great fun planning, building and decorating an orrery. Group work is something this grade does so well. They collaborate, communicate and consider – just to name a few of their incredible skills!

It has been the most wonderful start to the year, and we are all looking forward to more great days to come.

Congratulations to Jessica Smith in Year 10 who has recently been selected in the CIS Secondary Open Girls Softball, and NSW U16s Softball team. Jessica has trained extremely hard and is the leading pitcher for her teams. 

What an incredible achievement this is and we wish her all the best in the upcoming tournaments.

Caroline Bartlett

We received a great write-up in local newspaper, The Western Weekender for our F1 in Schools teams recently. Thank you Western Weekender - and well done again to our amazing students and staff on your recent achievements!

CLICK HERE to read the Western Weekender article

Some changes have taken place in the Mathematics Department at PCS and we would like to keep the wider school community informed.

Firstly I would like to introduce myself as acting Head of Department. My name is Damien Jenner and I studied Engineering at UNSW and began my career as a Computer Programmer before exploring ministry opportunities working in Church and with Youth while completing a Theology degree. I then chose teaching as a way of being part of growing and developing young people. This is now my 13th year teaching Mathematics across all grade levels, and I have experience developing and resourcing programs across three school systems. I am also currently undertaking a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Assessment.

I am committed to working with all the teaching staff to develop excellent teaching and learning practices in Mathematics at PCS; and with four children attending our school from Years 6 to 11, have significant ‘skin in the game’.