HEAD OF SCHOOL UPDATE Melanie Woods
Please see below updates from our Head of Primary, Melanie Woods.
Parent Information Evening Thank you parents for supporting our College in attending our Parent Information Evening. There were hundreds of you streaming onto campus and enjoying the new shade sails and the new look MPC Forecourt! The night was filled with information on what is taught at ACC, what is expected of students' behaviour and uniform, and how we will support your child to have 12 months of growth in their overall learning in 2025.
Dedication Assembly What a wonderful time to be able to come together to dedicate our community to our heavenly Father. We enjoy the blessings of this event at the start of each school year. Students, staff, College leaders and you, our families, re-dedicate themselves to supporting the life of the College and continuing to build unity and trust.
Year 6 and Primary Leaders Assembly On the first Monday of term, the College commissioned our Year 6 students to be our Primary Leaders. They are our role models who strive to be all that God has created them to be, using their gifts, talents and learnings, to benefit the life of our ACC College and community. Our Primary Captains, Vice Captains, Sport House Leaders, Library Leaders and JOLT Ministry Leaders were presented to our community as representatives. We look forward to seeing them flourish and thrive as they continue to grow their skills and support our students and staff.
Assemblies and Chapels - every Monday We invite you to attend our weekly Assemblies and Chapels on Mondays. They are filled with awards, student performances, student participation, information and much more. Join us on Mondays at 9.00 am in the MPC. Please park off campus, walk in and be seated by 8.55 am. All families are welcome!
Kick-Off Last Thursday our Primary students were involved in the KICKOFF Kinder - Year 6 event. KICKOFF is a Word of Life children and youth ministry, who provide action-packed activities while sharing the Gospel message. I’m sure you have already heard about it and seen the amazing images on our social media pages! They have been coming to our College for the last couple of years and provide the most memorable event for our students. It was an opportunity for our students to enjoy team building activities in a fun, highly engaging and interactive environment. This time together was action-packed and has been the talk around the campus for the last week.
Gymnastics This is the fourth year our students have had the privilege of attending eight weeks of gymnastics with skilled trainers from the Sydney Gymnastics Centre in Rooty Hill. There were smiles all round when the children left on their buses and even when they returned from a very eventful practice session they were still beaming. We enjoy seeing their growth as they become more confident and up-skilled. Please keep an eye on your gymnastics roster as we progress through the term.
Code Camp and Robothink We are a technology-rich College and want to provide opportunities for our students to continue to hone their technology and science skills. Robothink and Code Camp are two external providers who run afternoon sessions at our College. Some of these lessons began last week. Please contact these companies if you are interested in enrolling your students for a technology-focussed afternoon activity!
Extra Curricular Music Lessons Our students have so many gifts and talents given by God. Our College provides the opportunity for you to help your students grow in their musical gifts. Please visit our Community Portal and browse the Music Tuition information. These lessons occur during school time and are a life long learning experience. I encourage you to have a look and enrol your child.
Swimming Carnival Last Tuesday was our Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival. We enjoyed seeing the parents and family members who came and watched this event at Blacktown Aquatic Centre. All our students particularly enjoyed the chanting, cheering loudly, getting wet and hanging out for the day displaying their house spirit. The Zone and State Swimming Carnivals will be in Week 5 and 6 for the swimmers who qualified to the next round - well done!
Technology for Primary Students I have linked our Stationary List as a refresher for our community regarding the technology requirements for our College:
Kinder to Year 4 are required to have an Apple iPad
Years 5 - 12 are required to have an Apple MacBook
Please note: students will require a Macbook for their Year 5 NAPLAN testing.
Uniform As we settle into our daily rhythms and routines, we wanted to remind our families about our College uniform. You will hear us speak about the importance of our dress code on a regular basis - in our fortnightly newsletters, during our school assemblies or at our ‘Meet the Teacher’ events. This is because as a College, we believe that the ‘little things’ such as manners, punctuality and our uniform, are important.
These small things matter because they reflect the big things - respect, responsibility, care.
In this spirit, we ask that you please ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform each day, including their shoes and socks, and has their school hat. We also remind you that pages 14 - 15 of our Uniform Guide outline accessories and jewellery that are not permitted.
Click here to view our College Uniform Guide.
‘I See You, Star’ Morning Tea Every Face has a Place at ACC and we continue to embed into the lives of all our students that we know them and that we see them. We want the students to know that we see their kindness, their respectful behaviour and their willingness to learn. We see when they 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 which is hosted by Mr Parsonage and myself (Mrs Woods). This is an opportunity to spend quality time with them, thank them, and congratulate them on their good work. Below are some photos of our students who have enjoyed the last two morning teas.
The following students joined us at our ‘I See You, Star’ morning tea. Thank you for all of your good work!
Aaradhya B, Adam B, Aditi A, Alayna C, Ananya A, Annika, Anvika K, Aurelia A, Caleb A, Cassandra B, Charlie A, Dev P, Dheeksha Z, Eleazar A, Elias S, Elijah K, Emmanuella A, Eva A, Evie N, Hallie P, Hunter A, Isabel D, Jaanvi A, Jacinta H, Jackson W, Jaden A, Jemma K, Jeremiah P, Joel M, Jonah R, Joshua F, Joshua R, Kaaya S P, Kylian A, Levi A, Lewis B, Lizette A, Maddison B, Malakai A, Nathan J, Noah K, Noah T, Ocean Q, Orna S, Ronith N, Samuel P, Seanna C, Shresta Y, Sophia D, Sophie W, Surya K, Tahlia L, Tiana A.
Thank You Thank you for entrusting your children in our care. We have included some photos of students on their first day at ACC Marsden Park. Enjoy!
4C STUDENT’S SUMO WINS! Judy Carlos
While most were having a restful and safe summer holiday break, Aleesha J of 3C, now in 4C, joyously won a bronze medal in Sumo in the Australian National Championship 8/9 Years Female Division! Organised by International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association (ISKA), this exclusive tournament was held at the Netball Centre in Olympic Park on 8 December, 2024. The event was for participants who have won Gold, Silver and Bronze in State Level Competitions held throughout the year.
Aleesha goes to Taekwondo training and participates regularly in tournaments. In one of the subdivisions within the tournaments, she won a medal for Sumo in the Australian National Championship, qualifying her to participate in the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in July. Aleesha's hard work is paying off!
Let us commit Aleesha in prayer as the family raises funds for this prestigious event. What an exciting 2025 God has in store for Aleesha as she prepares to also participate in the World Cup in Brisbane in October.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
EXPLORING AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS: JOURNEY Danny Somanader
Our Year 6 class is immersed in an exciting artistic adventure, exploring the creative collective, Mambo. The classroom buzzes with excitement and laughter as students examine how these artists blend humour with social commentary through iconic designs. Students have enjoyed learning about Reg Mombassa's contributions and how the brand's artwork made it to the Sydney Olympics. This exploration has inspired students to create their own Mambo-style designs, incorporating Australian themes with a humorous twist. Through their current work, students demonstrate remarkable creativity in developing designs that reflect their understanding of Mambo's style and artistic voice.
Following our Mambo exploration, the class has begun an interactive presentation showcasing Grace Cossington Smith's vibrant modernist works. Students practise Cossington Smith's technique by selecting ordinary objects from the classroom and reimagining them using bold, Post-Impressionist colours.
Following, the class will explore Ken Done's distinctive use of colour and pattern to celebrate Australian life. Students will analyse his iconic landmarks and ocean scene depictions, identifying his signature style and combining bright yellows, deep blues, and vibrant pinks, with students going on to create representations of their favourite Australian places.
The journey will continue with an exploration of Indigenous Australian art. Students will learn about the rich traditions, symbolism, and storytelling elements that make this art form unique. They will also explore how Indigenous artists connect with the Country through their work and learn about the importance of respecting and understanding these cultural expressions.
Throughout these projects, students maintain art journals, recording their observations, sketching ideas, and reflecting on their learning. The culminating activity involves students choosing their favourite artist's style to create a final artwork.
The project will conclude with a classroom gallery where students display their works alongside images of their inspiring artists. They will share their creative processes, explaining how they incorporated elements from their chosen artist's style while adding unique touches.
Through this hands-on exploration of Australian artists, students are discovering and will continue to learn that art can be both meaningful and playful and that every artist's unique perspective contributes to our cultural story!
