Primary School Update - 14 August 2026

PRIMARY SCHOOL UPDATE Miss Vivian Lee (Primary Community & Ministry Coordinator)

What a wonderfully filled first four weeks of Term 3! We are thankful to God for all that He has allowed our Primary students to experience, learn and enjoy together. From our Year 6 students spending three days on Canberra Camp to the many opportunities for learning, growth and community across our Primary School, it has been a joy to see our students thriving.

We were also encouraged to bring our Primary On Campus and Distance Education students together for Chapel via Google Meet. Together, we explored what putting faith into action looks like, including choosing to follow the one true God of the Bible, no matter what.

This connects beautifully with the encouragement of James 1:12 (NIV):

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

As we continue through Term 3, we pray that our students will not only grow in knowledge, but also in faith and character, learning what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus in every part of their lives.

PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT UPDATE Mr Shawn Parsonage (Assistant Head of Primary: Operations & Primary Sport Coordinator)

Term 3 sport is off to a great start in our Primary School. The weather has been very kind to us so far this term, allowing all classes to engage in their weekly sporting activities. 

Our Year 3-6 inter-school sport teams have been training hard in preparation for the Term 3 competition, which begins in Week 5. We look forward to following their progress as the term progresses.

Last week our Primary Athletics Team attended the Zone Athletics Carnival at Blacktown Sports Park. All of our ACC students competed well throughout the day, with a number of exceptional performances and even a new Zone Record! I am pleased to share that we have 14 students who have qualified to compete at the CSSA State Athletics Carnival on 21 August.

A special shout-out to Avantiga in Year 4, who recently won a gold medal in her division at the 2026 Australian Taekwondo NSW State Championships. This outstanding result will see her compete at the National Championships in October. Congratulations Avantiga!

MARSDEN BEAR’S ADVENTURES WITH KG Mrs Katherine Grech

KG has loved having Marsden Bear visit our classroom this past fortnight. Marsden Bear has joined us for many exciting lessons and adventures and has reminded us about the importance of showing kindness, compassion and a love for learning.

We have enjoyed learning about being bucket fillers and discovering kind words that bring a smile and brighten someone’s day. We also created special drawings for our compassion student, Geofrey, to let him know we are thinking about him and praying for him.

Marsden Bear has also been helping us become wonderful writers. We have been looking at different animals, how to label their body parts and looking at information about them. Marsden even shared some interesting facts about Koalas with us - Did you know that a Koala’s nose is like a human fingerprint? Unique and special.

Wednesday afternoons have been a big highlight with Marsden Bear joining us for Kindergarten Sport. He has loved watching everyone learn new dance moves and build their confidence. Marsden Bear especially enjoyed learning the Chicken Dance. 

Marsden Bear has had a wonderful time in KG. Thank you for visiting us Marsden Bear and teaching us new things! Enjoy your next adventure.

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MARSDEN BEAR’S ADVENTURES WITH 6R Mrs Billie Reid 

What an incredible three days our Year 6 students had exploring our nation’s capital! Canberra Camp was filled with learning, laughter, friendship and plenty of new experiences. Throughout the trip, students were encouraged to be open to learn, care for one another and approach each day with curiosity and gratitude. It was wonderful to see them growing in confidence and enjoying the many opportunities God placed before them.

Of course, we weren’t travelling alone! Our lovable primary school mascot, Marsden Bear the koala, packed his bags and joined Year 6 for the adventure. From the coach ride to sightseeing around Canberra, Marsden Bear was never too far away and quickly became one of our most enthusiastic little campers!

Wednesday: Science & Sport After an early start and an excited coach journey to Canberra, with Marsden Bear along for the ride, our first stop was the National Gallery of Australia, where students had the opportunity to explore an incredible collection of artworks and experience some of Australia’s creative and cultural stories firsthand. From there, we visited the National Museum of Australia, discovering fascinating stories, objects and exhibits that brought Australia’s history to life.

Our afternoon adventures continued at Questacon, where students loved exploring the interactive exhibits, experimenting, asking questions and discovering more about the fascinating world around us. After settling into our accommodation and enjoying dinner together, we headed to the Australian Institute of Sport, where students explored the Sportex exhibits, learnt about some of Australia’s incredible athletes and put their own skills to the test through a range of interactive activities.

Thursday: Democracy, Law & God’s Creation Thursday was our biggest day of sightseeing and learning, and Marsden Bear was ready for another busy day! Students visited the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, where they explored Australia’s political history and learnt more about the privilege and responsibility of democracy.

At Parliament House, our learning came to life as we had the incredible opportunity to sit in on a real parliamentary vote to amend a bill. We also learnt that the Prime Minister was in Parliament House at the same time as us! Although we didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of him, we did spot another Canberra celebrity, Shawn the Prawn! It certainly made for a memorable visit and gave students the chance to see the democratic processes they had been learning about happening right in front of them.

Our next stop was the High Court of Australia, where we were fortunate enough to sit in on a real court case hearing. Students were able to observe the courtroom in action and see firsthand how Australia’s legal system operates. These were incredibly special experiences that gave our students a glimpse behind the scenes of our nation’s democracy and justice system, making Thursday a day of learning we won’t soon forget!

Friday: Adventure, Courage & Remembrance Our final morning began at the National Arboretum Canberra, where students enjoyed orienteering and exploring the POD Playground. After lunch together at Black Mountain Peninsula, we made our final and particularly meaningful visit to the Australian War Memorial. Students participated in a special learning program and reflected on the courage, sacrifice and service of the men and women who have served our country. It was a powerful opportunity to consider the importance of gratitude, selflessness and honouring those who have given so much for others. Marsden Bear joined us for our final adventures before it was time to board the coach and head home. 

A Camp to Remember While we visited some incredible places, Canberra Camp was about much more than sightseeing. Some of the most special moments came through sharing cabins, eating meals together, laughing on the coach, encouraging friends and navigating new experiences as a team. We were incredibly proud of the way our Year 6 students represented our school and demonstrated kindness, courage and care for one another.

Our verse for camp was Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” It was wonderful to see this lived out as students embraced new experiences, supported their friends and discovered that they were capable of more than they may have realised. 

We are so thankful to God for a safe and memorable trip, for the friendships and learning that took place, and for the memories our students brought home with them. Canberra Camp 2026 was certainly one for the memory books, for Year 6 and for Marsden Bear!

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