Primary School Update - 19 September 2025

HEAD OF SCHOOL UPDATE Melanie Woods

Dear Parents and Carers

The sunshine and warmth have been a lovely change and a well needed resource to replenish and freshen our College play areas and gardens. Our students have a wonderful time playing during break times and it is a joy to see all their creativity as they design and make games to play and use their imaginations in their play. Play is very important for their growth as they negotiate, take turns and communicate. Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people. Through play, children learn about the world and themselves. They also learn skills they need for study, work and relationships.

Over the holidays, as you have some time to think about uniform, please ensure that if a student is wearing a garment under their clothing, it is only a white singlet. No other colours or long sleeve shirts are permitted. For girls, the Mary-Jane buckle style shoe is not a permissible shoe choice in the uniform guidelines - leather lace up shoes are preferred for all students. School sport joggers should be white with no bright colours (a small extra side colour is permissible).

Blazers are not worn in Term 4 - the ACC woollen jumper or vest can be worn on cooler mornings. In order to keep our students safe, no form of bracelet, bangle or wrist ties, anklet or necklace is to be worn. Our students look so smart in their uniforms and we thank you for all you do to keep them looking well presented with polished shoes and tucked in shirts.

We will be sending an updated letter in the last week of the holidays about Term 4 activities and reminders. In the meantime, please complete the Swim School forms as soon as possible, as our students will be starting their weekly swim lessons in Week 1. Learning to swim is a skill for life: it reduces fear of the water, improves fitness and is life saving. We have experienced swim instructors who do a wonderful job in sharing the necessary skills of swimming to our students while they laugh and have fun.

Please continue to use primaryhubmp@acc.edu.au for ALL correspondence for Primary Student Hub. You can also utilise the teacher’s email if you have specific questions for the class teacher.

Year 12 Prayer Buddies and Graduation Throughout the year, our students from K-6 have been visited by a Year 12 student buddy. Our students have prayed for peace in the Year 12 students' hearts, that they have clarity of mind and that they end their time well here at ACC.

Next week, our Primary students will be a part of the Guard of Honour, as they join our whole school in creating an arch for the Year 12 students to walk through. This is a wonderful tradition and a joyous way to commemorate their final celebration. We are excited to be part of this special time for our Year 12 students.

Market Day for K-6: Learning in Action This week our Secondary students held a Market Day. An exciting hands-on learning experience where classrooms transform into mini businesses! Market Day is more than just buying and selling—it’s a way for students to put their learning into practice. They plan, design, and create products or services, then manage pricing, marketing, and sales on the day. Through this process, students apply skills from Business Studies, Mathematics, STEM, and English, while also developing teamwork, leadership, and creativity. As a Christian school, we also encourage students to think about stewardship and generosity, with many Market Days supporting mission projects or local charities. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to see how classroom learning connects to real life—and to discover that they, too, can make a difference. Our Primary students certainly enjoyed the experience of attending stalls with products that they had pre-ordered. Thank you to the Secondary students and teachers for providing this opportunity for all students in K-6.

Every Day Matters: Encouraging Strong School Attendance At ACC, we believe every child deserves every opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive—and that starts with being present. In Australia, missing just one day of school a fortnight equates to a whole month of lost learning across the year. As the NSW Department of Education says, “It’s not okay to be away.” Regular attendance is not only essential for academic progress, but also helps children build friendships, confidence, and strong routines that support lifelong success. Let’s work together to make every school day count—for learning, connection, and your child’s future.

Before and After School Supervision for K-6 Primary Students A friendly reminder that students should not be at school before 8.00 am or after 3.30 pm, as staff supervision is not available outside these times. For the safety and wellbeing of all children, we ask families to ensure drop-off and pick-up are within these hours. If you require care outside of these times, our SmartPlay Before and After School program provides a safe, engaging, and supervised environment for students. Thank you for supporting us in keeping every child safe and cared for.

Term 4 Events - Kinder Experience and Explore - 2026 Kinder Orientation One of our Primary School mottos is ‘Love and Nurture’. We believe that it is critical that each child has opportunities to maximise their potential, in order to provide the key building blocks and the start that will underpin their success.

As part of the Integration Program for our future Kindergarten 2026 students, we will enjoy two onsite Orientation events welcoming our 2026 Kindergarten students and families in Term 4:

• Event 1 - Kinder in the Classroom and Parent Morning Tea Tuesday 21 October, 2025 - 9.00 am to 10.30am

• Event 2 - Kinder in the Classroom and Parent Seminar Tuesday 4 November, 2025 - 9.00 am to 11.00 am

I See You, Star Morning Tea Every Face has a Place at ACC! We continue to encourage students that we know them and that we see them. We want the students to know that we see when they are kind, showing respect, being willing to learn, make Christ-like decisions and when they make wise and safe choices. To celebrate their hard work and efforts, select students are invited to attend an I See You, Star Morning Tea each week, hosted by Mr Parsonage, the Stage Coordinators and myself (Mrs Woods). This is an opportunity to spend quality time with them, thank them, and congratulate them for their good work!

The following students have been given an I See You, Star award and attended the Morning Tea over the last two weeks:

Aadhya K, Aaryan P, Abigail H, Abigail S, Advik G, Aiden G, Alaria S, Amreen K, Anahya P, Anshi P, Ari V, Aryan B, Audrey M, Austin, Caleb V, Chelsea W, Chloe L, Dheeksha Z, Ekamveer S, Eleanor M, Emaanvir S, Emelia P, Emily C, Eshon W, Ethen C, Evan N, Evelyn L, Ezekiel V, Gabriella M, George N, Gideon GC, Hannah P, Hayaan M, Hayven J, Isaac T, Ivana T, Jasmine S, Jeron B, Kaaya S, Kaia R, Kedansh A, Kevin L, Krish K, Krisha P, Kunj K, Lavina S, Malakia J, Mayan A, Mikhail P. 

EXPLORING THE PAST WITH 4G Tess Graham-Chubb

This fortnight, 4G has been engaging in some exciting and meaningful learning adventures that have helped us to grow both academically and in faith. From researching child convicts, to presenting on famous explorers, and even sharing time with Marsden Bear, we have seen God’s hand guiding our learning and reminding us of the importance of courage, resilience, and community.

As part of our English studies, students have been working on informative texts, in particular biographies, about child convicts. Through reading and research, they have discovered the remarkable stories of children who, despite their mistakes and hardships, demonstrated resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges. Students were amazed to learn how children as young as nine years old were transported across the seas and forced to begin new lives in Australia. While these stories are difficult, they remind us of the importance of compassion and justice – values that reflect God’s call for us to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly” (Micah 6:8). By writing these biographies, students not only practised their writing skills but also reflected on how faith can guide us when life feels overwhelming.

In History, 4G also prepared and delivered presentations on an explorer of their choice from the 1400-1700s. Each student chose an explorer, researched their journeys, and then shared their findings with the class. Presentations included maps, creative visuals, and thoughtful reflections about how exploration shaped the world we live in today. Many students highlighted the courage it took for explorers to set out into the unknown, which led to wonderful discussions about how God calls us to be bold in our own lives. Just as The Word says, “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9), our students were able to connect the bravery of explorers to their own faith journeys.

Another exciting moment for Year 4G was heading up to the Lumination Lab to record our Assembly item for Week 9. As part of our focus on the student attribute of compassion, the students prepared a heartfelt representation of this theme through the song ‘Jesus Strong and Kind’. They used their signing skills to select the Auslan (Australian Sign Language) signs for the chorus, ensuring the message of compassion could be communicated in an inclusive and meaningful way. In addition, students planned the silhouette scenes in groups and then worked collaboratively to sequence them, showing both creativity and teamwork. All with Marsden Bear too! The recording experience was not only a chance to practise for our upcoming Assembly performance but also an opportunity to reflect on how we can share Jesus’ love and compassion with others in our daily lives.

Year 4G is growing not just in knowledge, but also in character and faith. Whether writing about child convicts, presenting on explorers, or learning alongside Marsden Bear, students are recognising that God is with us in every part of our journey. We are thankful for the opportunities to learn from the past, to celebrate the courage of others, and to be reminded of how God continues to work in and through us today.

5N ARTICLE Grace Nassar 

Drama This term, our 5N students have had such a fun time immersing themselves in the world of Drama! With joyful enthusiasm and growing confidence, they’ve been exploring the elements of Drama through freeze frames, improvisation, role play and a variety of engaging drama games.

Each week, students have been challenged to think creatively, work collaboratively, and express themselves in new and exciting ways. Whether it’s stepping into the shoes of a character from a story, solving problems through improvisation, or using body language and facial expressions to communicate a scene, the classroom has been buzzing with energy, laughter, and imagination. Take a look at the following photos and see if you can guess what famous landmark the students are portraying!

Year 12 Buddy Visit 5N really look forward to visits from our Year 12 Buddy. They enjoy asking him questions and learning more about what high school is like. During the most recent visit, the students checked in to see how his HSC Trials went and asked what he was most excited or worried about for the next chapter. Afterwards, the class went outside with our Buddy and had fun playing some running games. 5N are praying for our Buddy and all the Year 12s as they prepare to graduate and complete their HSC exams next term.

DRAMA WITH 6S Sarah Thompson

This term in Drama, 6S students have explored the power of storytelling through movement, voice, character, and collaboration. They’ve been encouraged to step into the shoes of different characters, create believable situations, and bring stories to life using a range of expressive techniques.

6S students have experimented with still images (tableaux) to freeze dramatic moments, using positioning and focus to communicate meaning without words. They’ve also explored the power of voice as a storytelling tool, developing greater confidence in their ability to engage an audience. It has been a joy to watch them support one another, take creative risks, and step boldly into improvisation.

6S students have also crafted their own original scenes with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. This has involved brainstorming, rehearsing, and refining their ideas to make their stories more engaging.

Throughout the term, students have been reminded that our creativity reflects the nature of our Creator. As Genesis 1:27 tells us, we are made in the image of God—the ultimate Creator. Drama has provided a space for students to explore this God-given creativity, using their bodies, voices, and imaginations to express ideas and emotions.

It has been a blessing to witness their growth in confidence and to see them collaborate with such energy, commitment, and joy in performance.