Primary School Update - 11 September 2026
Updated: 20 hours ago
PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATE Mrs Katy Brierley (Head of Primary)
Thank you for the warm welcome you have extended to me as I begin my journey with the ACC community. These first few weeks have been a wonderful opportunity to get to know our students, staff and families and to experience the vibrant life of our school. I have loved seeing our students engaged and curious in their classrooms, enjoying the energy and friendship of the playground, and participating enthusiastically in school events. I have also been encouraged by the wonderful support of our parents and grateful for the hard work, dedication and care demonstrated by our teachers and staff in every setting. I am truly thankful to God for the opportunity to be part of such a vibrant school community—one that is committed to providing uncommon connection, care and excellence. I look forward with great anticipation to all that God has in store for ACC as we continue to grow, learn and flourish together.
It was wonderful to welcome our dads and father-figures to our recent ACC Breakfast. Seeing families gathering together, sharing conversation and capturing special moments on the grass was a real highlight. What a privilege it is to create opportunities for our community to connect, build relationships and celebrate the important people in the lives of our students.
This week, we have launched Service Week with our Year 5 students. Service Week provides an opportunity for students who are interested in pursuing a formal leadership role next year to demonstrate what it means to serve within our school community. Throughout the week, our Year 5 students have been wearing lanyards during recess and lunch, making themselves visible and approachable as they actively look for ways to assist and support other students. This allows students across our school to get to know their names while also giving our Year 5 students the opportunity to put servant leadership into practice.
At ACC, we believe that leadership begins with a servant heart. It is demonstrated through humility, a willingness to help others and a readiness to take on a variety of responsibilities. True leadership is not simply about having a title; it is about being willing to serve others and make a positive difference in our community. We look forward to seeing our Year 5 students continue to embrace this opportunity next week before submitting their formal leadership applications in Week 10. We are excited to see the ways in which they will continue to grow in confidence, character and their understanding of what it means to lead through service.
Finally, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Michelle Niles, who has been awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award for the CBBA 2026 Representative Basketball season. This was Michelle’s first season playing representative basketball for CBBA (City of Blacktown Basketball Association), where she represented the U12 Girls Division 3 team. This wonderful achievement is a reflection of her hard work, dedication, teamwork, perseverance, commitment and sportsmanship throughout the season, both on and off the court. Michelle, we are very proud of you and celebrate this well-deserved recognition!
MARSDEN BEAR’S ADVENTURES WITH 5R IN WEEK 8 Mrs Shae Dethan
Week 8 was an extra special one for 5R, as we welcomed a very important visitor into our classroom: Marsden Bear! Throughout the week, Marsden Bear joined us for lessons, activities and even sport, becoming an enthusiastic member of our class.
Marsden Bear certainly had a busy week. In Art, he joined us as we explored Australian native flora and created beautiful artworks inspired by the unique plants and flowers found across our country. He watched on as students experimented with colour, shape and different artistic techniques, appreciating the creativity and beauty God has given us in His creation.
In Mathematics, Marsden Bear helped us tackle some big ideas, including seven-digit numbers, volume and angles. He even lent a paw during our lesson on using protractors, helping us practise measuring and identifying angles accurately. There was certainly no shortage of mathematical thinking in 5R.
Marsden Bear also joined us for Bible Studies, where he proved that he was a very thoughtful little bear. He asked an amazing question about how we can show God’s love to others through our words and actions, which led to a wonderful class discussion. We talked about how our faith is not just something we learn about, but something we can live out each day through kindness, forgiveness, encouragement and the way we treat those around us. Marsden Bear certainly gave us plenty to think about.
Of course, Marsden Bear also joined us for Sport, where he showed his true team spirit. He cheered us on, encouraged us to do our best and made sure everyone knew he was proudly supporting 5R from the sidelines.
Having Marsden Bear with us throughout Week 8 was a wonderful way to bring some extra joy, excitement and reflection to our learning. It was lovely to see students sharing their classroom experiences with him and including him in so many aspects of our school day.
Thank you, Marsden Bear, for being such a wonderful member of 5R. We hope you enjoyed your busy week with us as much as we did. We are so thankful for the opportunity to learn, grow and have a little fun together!
MARSDEN BEAR’S ADVENTURES WITH KB Mrs Rebecca Branson
KB has been waiting with much anticipation for Marsden Bear to visit our classroom. Finally, the day has arrived - and he is here!
KB has been learning how to be Christ-like learners and has loved helping keep our College clean and tidy. The students are always eager to pick up any rubbish they see in the playground. This week was extra special as Marsden Bear joined KB and Mr Messenger to help keep the grounds looking their best. Marsden Bear had lots of fun using the leaf blower, helping with the lawn mower and riding in the buggy. He also made sure the sprinklers were working properly!
Marsden Bear then joined us for some learning. In Mathematics, we have been learning all about teen numbers and the different ways we can represent them using pictures, words, tallies, number lines and ten frames. We loved using our whiteboards to represent the numbers 14, 16 and 17. The children were very creative, drawing different pictures and symbols, as well as using tallies and words. We love using our God-given brains to do our best learning!
In Writing, Marsden Bear learnt how to write an information report all about cows. First, we watched a video about cows and discussed the interesting facts we discovered. We then used a mind map to record our ideas before turning them into an information report. One interesting fact we learnt was that cows have friends, just like we do!
Finally, Marsden Bear had a great time learning all about habitats and shelters in Geography. We thought about what habitat and shelter would be best for Marsden Bear and discussed why shelters are so important. We then created our own books about where different farm animals live.
Thank you for visiting us, Marsden Bear! We had great fun growing and learning with you!
CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS IN 4G Mrs Amy Gruszka
It has been a wonderful time for our Year 4G students, with several of them achieving fantastic things both in and outside the classroom. We love celebrating the dedication, hard work and talents of our students. Here are a couple of recent achievements we’re excited to share!
Brayden Samaan Brayden recently competed at the NSW Intermediate State Championships, achieving an outstanding 2nd place in the Double Mini Trampoline event.
This fantastic result has qualified Brayden to compete at the 2026 Gymnastics Australia National Clubs Carnival on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Brayden is a High Performance Pathway athlete in Trampoline Gymnastics, and we congratulate him on this wonderful achievement and wish him all the best as he prepares to compete at the national level.
Yuna Cho Congratulations to Yuna, who recently received a Commended Award in the 2026 Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Student Achievement – Community Languages Schools, recognising her achievement in learning Korean.
Yuna was presented with her award at a special ceremony held at UNSW. We congratulate Yuna on this wonderful recognition of her dedication and achievement in Korean language learning.