Read more to hear about what KG have been getting up to this week, as well as an update on Primary Encounter, our Year 8 Geography Excursion, Year 9 and 10 STEM Challenge, our special Secondary Assembly with Aduk Dau, and exciting results from the CSSA Soccer Gala Day and NSWCIS Swimming Championships.
Sentence Writing in KG with Mrs Grech
This term in KG, we have been focusing on our sentence writing. Students have been participating in modeled sentence writing lessons using the whiteboards. They have been focusing on using capital letters, full stops and finger spaces in their sentences.
KG students have also been looking at different types of words that are used to make a sentence. They thoroughly enjoyed going on a ‘noun hunt’ around the school identifying people, places and things that they could see.
Our KG students have had a big week engaging in other activities as well. They have been learning to make patterns using different shapes and colours, and they got to make Gruffalo headbands. They enjoyed watching the story of The Gruffalo as they completed this art activity. Lastly, KG students have thoroughly enjoyed music lessons with Mrs Neave. They love learning to play different musical instruments.
Primary Encounter
On Wednesday 24th May, almost 200 students from Kindergarten to Year 6 gathered together after school for our very first ‘Primary Encounter Afternoon’ - an optional afternoon for students to ‘encounter’ the presence of the God of the Bible. Students sang in praise to God, heard God speak through His Word in the Bible, and had the opportunity to respond to the God of the Bible in prayer.
Students excitedly gathered together to have afternoon tea and a run around on the field before coming into the new building to sing to the God of the Bible.
Students heard a powerful story of Jesus from the Bible found in Luke 5:12-13 where Jesus is both willing and able to cleanse and heal a man with leprosy, and responded by singing about how Jesus is both strong and kind. Students also gathered in small groups led by an adult to pray in thanks to the God of the Bible and had the chance to commit their lives to following Jesus.
We are so incredibly thankful for our partnership with a number of leaders from local churches and guests from CRU. We continue to praise God for the way His Spirit is working in the lives of our Primary students and staff.
Please enjoy a series of photos and videos from a successful afternoon! We are looking forward to our next Primary Encounter scheduled for Term 3!
See videos below:
Year 8 Geography Excursion
Our Year 8 students had a fantastic time on their Geography Fieldwork excursion today at Camp Kedron. This fieldwork excursion gave students the opportunity to study firsthand what they have been learning in class about landscapes and landforms. We are thankful for the expertise of an instructor from AUSECO in assisting with this fieldwork. The students completed activities in landscape observation, field sketching, reading topographic maps, collecting soil and water samples, and enjoyed a bushwalk.
Well done to all the students on their participation in the day, and for learning new skills.
Year 9 and 10 STEM Challenge
On the 12th of May, ACC students participated in the most prestigious and inspiring program hosted by the University of Newcastle College of Engineering, Science, and Environment, and held at Reddall High School in Campbelltown.
There were 30 students from Year 9 and Year 10 who took part in this challenge. Students were placed into teams to work together on eight different activities, outlined below:
An electricity activity was designed for students to determine how to provide the lowest-cost electricity to the city's infrastructure.
A ‘Confounding Communications’ activity involved creating functional codes to accurately and efficiently send secret messages using pulses of coloured light.
In the Job Juggle activity students learned to plan efficient transport networks to link towns in one real, modern world so no one is left behind.
Return to Mars is an activity where students construct a buggy with a basic suspension system to transport loads securely over undulating Martian terrain.
Stringways is a challenge designed for Scheduling officers. The students have solved a series of scheduling problems based on real-life scenarios by arranging coloured tiles into lanes on a board: the Scheduliser X1000.
Helter Skelter Shelter provides a challenge for students to design and refine their tower structure built using common materials and then tested for strength using small weights both static and seismic conditions.
In the Bridge design activity, students had to design and construct model bridges to support a trolley carrying 'gold' ingots across a gap in the tracks.
Grasping at Straws activity students applied themselves to design a medical bionic hand with cost-effective artificial fingers.
Mr. Roberts and Mrs. Ganta congratulate the teams for their participation and for demonstrating excellent collaboration during the entire challenge.
Secondary Assembly with Aduk Dau
On Monday 15th of May, we were able to hold a special assembly in the Secondary School, hearing from Aduk Dau, who founded the Lost Children of Jonglei Sponsorship Project after fleeing the Sudanese Civil War.
Students watched a video depicting the challenges of life in South Sudan and the Kakuma refugee camp, before three of our students performed a traditional dance, combining elements of Sudanese and Ethiopian culture.
Ms Bromhead then interviewed Aduk about her life, her faith and her passion for education. Students were amazed as she spoke of walking from Jonglei in South Sudan to Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya, the equivalent of walking from Marsden Park to Brisbane. Images from her life were displayed as the story developed for the students.
At the end of the presentation, Aduk spoke of her scholarship program, allowing students in the Kakuma refugee camp to go to boarding school from Year 9 to Year 12 and receive an education prior to gaining humanitarian visas and beginning lives overseas. This unique and valued program allows students to enter the next stage of their lives with an education and opportunities for their future. ACC Marsden Park will host a fundraising event in the weeks ahead to hopefully provide a scholarship for another student to experience the value of education.
If you would like to know more about this project or support students, check out the link to the Anglicare page here.
Below are two powerful reflections from Year 11 students, Vivian Dokolo and Dhurvi Maru, about the assembly.
Having Aduk Dau, the founder of the Lost Children of Jonglei Scholarships, come and speak to us impacted students in numerous ways, encouraging gratitude, courage and resilience.
I was deeply saddened as I listened to her speak about her life at the Kakuma refugee camp, and the hardships she went through when coming to Australia. It was very upsetting but it touched my heart, in the sense that she was such a resilient woman who overcame every challenge.
Adding to that, every challenge she overcame was given a positive light, as she cared for orphaned children and other residents. This experience has taught me to be grateful for my lifestyle and the many aspects of it such as shelter, showers, transportation, education, safety etc., as many people do not have the privileges I have.
Through the interview I saw the way in which God has been working through Aduk’s life, blessing her and the many people she has come across during her time in Africa and Australia. Aduk has inspired me to be resilient in every situation, and to appreciate life by showing gratitude for even the little things.
- Vivian
Aduk Dau came to our school yesterday to share her story, describing how she built her life from scratch after losing everything. Initially, I did not expect such a heart-wrenching personal story, but after hearing about her challenges I have nothing but pride and respect for her.
As I was listening to what she had to say, I could see a lot of students around me looking saddened - focusing on her words, wanting to know more. I aspire to be someone so full of courage like her - to be able to still keep going after losing all of her family, her village; her entire life.
Instead of living the life she had before, she chose to come to Australia and create a foundation for the children who do not get any chance to succeed in education. I believe God helped her through her troubles, being a guiding hand to her when she most needed it and picking her up if she fell down. I thank Ms Bromhead for inviting her to Australian Christian College for a wonderful talk with the secondary students. It has opened up my eyes to how much I truly have.
- Dhruvi
Soccer Gala Day
On Tuesday 23rd May, two of our girls soccer teams attended the Met West CSSA Girls Gala Day held at Harvey Park. Throughout the day, they displayed unwavering determination, participating in consecutive games that left them understandably fatigued.
A special acknowledgement goes to our 15&U team, who showcased exceptional skill and teamwork, ultimately securing the position of runners-up in a tightly contested Grand Final. Their outstanding performance is a testament to their hard work and commitment.
We extend our gratitude to Mr. Thomson and Miss Kunz for their invaluable coaching and guidance provided to our teams on the day. Their expertise played an integral role in the girls' accomplishments, and we are sincerely appreciative of their efforts.
Congratulations to all students who attended the day!
Celebrating Excellence in the Pool
We are thrilled to share some exciting news out of the recent NSWCIS Swimming Championships, where three of our Distance Education students represented the College in the pool. Please join us in congratulating Rafaela Kopellou (Year 10), Asha Ring (Year 9), and Bonnie Norton (Year 8) for their outstanding achievements in this event. Results below:
Rafaela Kopellou:
200m Individual Medley - Gold
50m Butterfly - Gold
200m Butterfly - Gold. A special mention of Rafaela’s performance in the 200m Butterfly, setting a new CIS record.
Asha Ring:
50m Freestyle - Silver
50m Breaststroke - Silver
100m Freestyle events - 4th place
Bonnie Norton:
200m Individual Medley - 6th
200m Breaststroke - 5th
50m Butterfly - 14th
200m Freestyle - 12th
50m Breaststroke - 6th
100m Freestyle - 14th
Competing at this level requires an impressive level of discipline and commitment, and the College commends these three athletes on their achievements in this sport. Congratulations Rafaela, Asha and Bonnie - the ACC community is extremely proud!
