Primary School Update - 20 March 2026

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

Heritage Day & Mission Awareness Week This fortnight, Primary School has been learning that Jesus did not come only for one nation or one group of people, but for the whole world. The Bible reminds us of this in Matthew 28:19–20, where Jesus tells His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations.” 

Through our Heritage Day Assembly and Mission Awareness Week, Primary classes have explored how the God of the Bible’s heart extends to every language, tribe and people group, and how we too can respond by prayerfully loving and caring for others around the world.

Our Heritage Day Assembly was a joyful celebration of the many cultures represented within our College community. Students were blessed by vibrant cultural performances from our Secondary students representing the Philippines, Polynesian nations and India. As part of this special gathering, Primary students also spent time praying that people in these nations would come to know and love Jesus. We are deeply thankful for the many nations and languages that the God of the Bible has created and gathered so beautifully in our ACC Marsden Park community.

Through our Gold Coin Fundraiser, Primary School raised a total of $567 for Compassion, an organisation that aims to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. We thank families for their generosity and partnership in helping us grow students who are aware of and responsive to the needs of others globally.

As this term draws to a close, our prayerful hope extends beyond this fortnight. The Bible gives us a wonderful picture of the future in Revelation 7:9:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

We anticipate that day with joy, and we thank the God of the Bible for the opportunity now to celebrate the diversity of cultures He created.

We look forward to seeing families join us for our Primary Easter Chapel Service on Monday 30 March, 9.00 am - 9.45 am.

3M’s ADVENTURES WITH MARSDEN BEAR Mrs Ashleigh McGowan

Over the last few weeks, 3M has had a special visitor join us during an important time of learning. Marsden Bear came along to see what it is like for Year 3 students to complete NAPLAN. 

Marsden Bear quickly discovered that NAPLAN week looks a little different in our classroom. Before each test, our students carefully moved their desks further apart so that everyone had their own quiet space to concentrate. He was very impressed by how calm and focused 3M students were as they prepared to do their best.

One of the most special parts of our preparation happened before every test began. As a class, we took time to pray together and ask God to help us. We asked the Holy Spirit to fill us with peace so that we could feel calm and confident as we worked. 3M students know the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 by heart - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - and we spoke together about how the fruit of 'peace' can help us when we feel nervous or unsure.

Marsden Bear watched as students completed four different assessments: Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy. He learned that during NAPLAN, the classroom becomes a very quiet place. Students work silently and independently, showing perseverance and responsibility as they complete each task. He was especially encouraged to see how every student tried their best, even when the questions were challenging. 

As a Christian community, I often remind 3M students that God asks us to faithfully use the gifts and abilities He has given us. NAPLAN was one opportunity for this. I am so proud of how the students focused on doing their best and supported one another with kindness and encouragement throughout. Marsden Bear certainly enjoyed his visit and was able to see firsthand the focus and resilience shown by our Year 3’s.

YEAR 1A CLASS UPDATES Mrs Lorna Agda

Class 1A were thrilled to welcome Marsden Bear for his very first visit! He arrived to find a classroom buzzing with wonderful learning experiences, both inside and out. Marsden Bear was delighted to see how quickly our students have settled into their daily routines and how enthusiastically they participate in all activities.

At the heart of 1A's day are our morning devotions, which take place before academic lessons begin. We believe that putting God first each day is one of the most important habits we can nurture in our students. This term, we have been journeying through the book of Genesis, exploring who God is as He reveals Himself through His Word. Students have marvelled at the greatness of God's power displayed in the creation story, reflected on the sobering account of man's fall and its consequences, and been captivated by the story of Noah and the flood. We are now exploring the call of Abraham and God's remarkable promise to him. Each session closes with class prayer, a precious time when we praise and thank God for His goodness, and bring our petitions to Him - trusting in His daily provision, protection, wisdom and strength.

There is no shortage of learning happening in 1A! In Writing, students have been developing their recount skills, drawing on both personal experiences and short story books. In Reading, we are exploring long vowel phonemes. We go to the library every Wednesday to listen to a story read to us by Mrs Jones and borrow books to take home. In Maths, students are working with two-digit numbers and discovering how to make groups of ten to count larger collections of objects.

Our Visual Arts lessons have been a highlight for 1A - and for Marsden Bear, too, after he got over the initial shock of the mess! Students have thrown themselves into a rich variety of hands-on projects, including landscape artworks created with pencil sketches, oil pastels and coloured pencils; foam tile prints using paint; and natural sculptures made from leaves, sticks, feathers and tree bark. The results have been truly impressive, and the creativity and joy in the room have been wonderful to see.

Thursdays are eagerly anticipated in 1A - it's Gymnastics day! Marsden Bear was full of admiration for the students' exemplary behaviour on the bus. They travel so quietly and respectfully that even the bus drivers have taken the time to compliment them on being such wonderful passengers. Mrs Agda couldn't be more proud!

Thank you, God, for the many opportunities you are opening up for our students. May they grow to become the people you have purposed them to be