Secondary School Update - 11 September 2026
Updated: Sep 11
SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATE Mr Jonathan Brayshaw
Father’s Day Celebration A big thank you to the many fathers and father figures who were able to join us for our Father’s Day Celebration. Whether it was taking the opportunity to capture a special photo with your children, enjoying a coffee, or receiving a bacon and egg roll and small gift, we hope the morning provided a meaningful opportunity for us to recognise and acknowledge the many fathers and father figures who are part of our school community.
We are grateful for the important role you play in the lives of our students and were delighted to be able to celebrate you.
Year 11 Examinations I would like to commend our Year 11 cohort on the way they approached their examinations across Weeks 7 & 8. Throughout this period, students displayed tenacity and resilience. Thank you for supporting your children as they navigated this important stage in their academic journey.
Year 12 Finishing Well Our Year 12 students have just one more week of timetabled classes. Their last week of school will begin on Monday 21 September with special moments in Homeroom, running the Creative Assembly, Year 12 vs Staff sport at lunchtime, along with a fun day at Manly on Tuesday. We look forward to formally celebrating their achievements together with their families at the upcoming Graduation Ceremony and Valedictory Dinner in the final week of term.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all parents and carers for your continued support, commitment, and partnership in the education of our students.
YEAR 12 INCURSION: CLEVER COOKIE ACADEMY Mrs Emily Van Bentum
At the end of Week 7, our Year 12 English students had the opportunity to participate in a specialised HSC English incursion delivered by Clever Cookie Academy, a tutoring company based in Orange. Returning to the College for the second year in a row, Clever Cookie provided an engaging and practical day designed to equip students with key strategies and skills as they prepare for their HSC English examinations.
The first session focused on essay writing and exam preparation. Presenter, Peita, shared valuable advice about how students can effectively prepare for the range of essays they may encounter in the HSC, including what to include in study notes and how to practise purposefully in the lead-up to the exams. Students explored what makes a Band 6 response stand out, particularly the importance of moving beyond simply analysing the text to consider the composer’s broader purpose and the way audiences are positioned to respond. Students then participated in a “question attack” exercise, learning how to unpack the specific demands of an essay question and ensure that every part of their response answers it directly. Peita used the memorable analogy of an essay as a house: the thesis forms the roof, while each body paragraph acts as a wall supporting it. Without a strong thesis and clearly connected arguments, the structure cannot stand!
After a short break, students turned their attention to one of the most challenging sections of the HSC English examination: The Craft of Writing. Peita encouraged students to keep their preparation concise, recommending no more than one or two pages of purposeful notes. Rather than memorising entire imaginative or discursive pieces, students were encouraged to develop a bank of adaptable ideas, settings, characters and structures that can be shaped to suit different stimuli and questions. She also emphasised the importance of knowing the prescribed texts well so students can confidently draw upon their study when required.
The learning continued even after students had finished for the day! Peita met with our English teachers to deliver professional development on how to teach students to study effectively for HSC English. Unlike subjects where revision may centre on memorising content, studying for English requires students to practise a unique combination of textual knowledge, critical thinking, writing and adaptability. The session provided our teachers with further strategies and resources to support students as they approach their final examinations.
Overall, the incursion reflected our College’s continued commitment to pursuing academic excellence, equipping both students and teachers with practical tools to grow in confidence, skill and wisdom. As we encourage our Year 12 students through the final stages of their HSC journey, we are reminded that excellence is not simply about achieving a particular mark, but about faithfully developing the gifts God has given us and approaching every opportunity to learn with diligence, perseverance and purpose.
CSSA STATE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Mrs Melanie Kewley
On August 27, Australian Christian College Marsden Park had 30 Secondary Students attend the CSSA State Athletics Carnival, as a part of the WestMet Zone Team. These students competed in a range of track and field events, for which they had qualified for at the Zone Athletics Carnival. The students represented the College diligently, representing with both their athletic abilities and their positive attitudes, reflecting the ACC culture. After a superb effort, 8 students have now qualified for the CIS Athletics Carnival which will be held later this term. A special congratulations to Gloria A and Logan H who placed first in events and Nimrod Z who achieved the U14 boys Age Champion at both the Zone and State Carnivals.
YEAR 8 ‘TASTER DAYS’ Mrs Sharon Le Grange
In Year 9, students are able to choose two electives in addition to the five main compulsory subjects. This allows them to explore and develop knowledge and skills outside of the normal classroom subjects. As some of the elective subjects are different to ones the students have done in Years 7 and 8, ‘Taster Days’ were held in week six. The Year 8 students were given the chance to experience four electives that will be available for Year 9 2027 to ‘Taste’. This gives the students an opportunity to experience a lesson in the subject before making a decision on their electives for the next year.
The students spent about half an hour in each session hearing about the elective or completing activities that helped them to understand the subject. Activities varied between making a microwave cake in Food Technology, learning a dance routine or building a paper tower in Engineering Technology. In Money Matters the students were engaged in a ‘bean’ game that helped them understand the managing of a budget. There were great discussions in the groups about how to use their ‘money’. In Wood Technology students made a Key Wall Hanger. It was impressive to see the students being able to achieve so much in a short period of time.
Students were engaged in all of the ‘taster sessions’ and reported that having the chance to experience a lesson helped them decide on their choices for the following year. At the end of the week students submitted their final choices for their electives next year. 76 students submitted their forms within the first minute of the form being available! As soon as the timetables have been finalised, students will be informed on their electives for next year.