Secondary School Update - 12 June 2026

SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATE Mr Jonathan Brayshaw

Stage 6 Parent Teacher Interviews I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the many parents and carers who generously gave up their time to attend the Stage 6 Parent/Teacher Interviews on Monday 1 June. It was a wonderful opportunity for our teachers to meet face-to-face with our senior students and their parents and carers. The partnerships forged during this event contribute greatly to the strength of our College community and the success of our students. If you were unable to attend, I encourage you to reach out directly to your child’s teachers to arrange a convenient alternative time to connect.  

Year 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews Our upcoming Years 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held on Friday 17 July. Recognising that evening sessions can sometimes be difficult for families to accommodate, this round of interviews will run throughout the day. We hope this approach provides greater flexibility for families to connect with their child’s teachers, either in person or via a scheduled phone call at a time that is suitable.

A booking link and further details will be emailed to Years 7-10 families shortly. We highly encourage students to attend these interviews alongside their parents and carers, as it is a valuable opportunity for them to take ownership of their learning journey and actively engage in meaningful conversations about their progress. 

Athletics Carnival The recent Athletics Carnival at Blacktown International Sportspark was a fantastic day that beautifully reflected the positive culture of our Secondary School. Throughout the event, there was a wonderful sense of energy, encouragement and enthusiasm from students as they participated in the track and field events, as well as the House war-cries. I would like to commend and thank all of our students for their incredible House spirit and exceptional behaviour throughout the day.  

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 10 FUTURE ASPIRATIONS PROGRAM Ms Lauren Kenny 

The College recently ran the Future Aspirations Program to support our Year 10 students as they prepare for Years 11 and 12 and begin exploring their post-school goals. The heart of this initiative is ensuring every student feels heard, encouraged, and equipped for the journey ahead.

The program began with presentations from our Careers, External Studies & VET Coordinator, Faculty Leaders, and other teachers. They shared insights into Stage 6 subject options, external studies, and how the Higher School Certificate (HSC) works. Students also spent time at the Careers Expo, exploring different pathways and post-school options.

Following these sessions, students completed a survey to reflect on what they genuinely enjoy, where their interests lie, and what their personal strengths are. This survey set the stage for the Future Aspirations Interviews held on Thursday 4 June.

During these 15-minute, one-on-one conversations, students sat down with a member of the College Leadership Team to discuss what is currently working well, what subjects they are passionate about, what their post-school goals are, and how we can best support them. These positive discussions help us tailor our care to match each student's unique personality and strengths.

Our staff were incredibly encouraged by the maturity and openness the students showed during these chats. Many students shared how much they value our supportive Christian community and the strong relationships they have built with teachers here at the College.

Please join us in lifting our Year 10 students up in prayer during this exciting season. We pray that they find clarity and joy in their choices, and that they feel deeply supported by their families, teachers, and peers as we take these next steps together.

HTA HSC STUDY DAYS Miss Shelby Mayo

On Friday 5 June and Saturday 6 June our Year 12 Ancient and Modern History students, along with their teachers, had the pleasure of attending the History Teachers’ Association (HTA) HSC Study Days at the University of Sydney. These days, consistently in high demand, are run by experienced teachers, HSC markers and leaders of the HTANSW, and see students from across the state gather each year to hear expert advice on how to best revise their topics and effectively prepare for their upcoming Trial and HSC History Examinations. 

During the event, our Ancient History students attended lectures on Sparta, Pompeii and Herculaneum, in line with their school topics, whilst our Modern History students participated in lectures on their units in Dictatorships and Nazi Germany, Russia and the Soviet Union, the Conflict in Indochina and the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Both groups also participated in skills based, interactive sessions which focused on improving essay writing and structure, forming and supporting arguments and analysing and evaluating sources. They were encouraged to reflect on their current achievement and set goals for improvement. In addition to the expertise shared, students were provided with digital study materials and samples of HSC responses by the lecturers and given opportunities to ask personalised questions about their own achievement and preparations for the HSC. 

It was a joy to see the dedication and enthusiasm in which each of our students attended the event and their preparedness and hard work in taking notes and discussing their learning with one another. Some even showed courage in sharing their knowledge and insights during lectures. Each student represented our College with responsibility, kindness, and respect in their interactions with the speakers and attendees. We could not be more proud of the way they conducted themselves and seized opportunities to show initiative and grow in their learning!

We are praying for all of our Ancient and Modern History students as they reflect on and apply their valuable learning from the HSC Study Days, and continue their preparations for their upcoming Trial and HSC Examinations.

YEAR 10 DRAMA PLAY Mr Liam Tomalaris 

We are almost halfway through the year and Drama at ACC is in full swing with productions and showcase evenings quickly approaching. We have such a dedicated Drama community here at ACC that are creating and producing quality work that we are looking forward to sharing with you all soon. 

Our Year 9 Drama class has been learning the conventions and techniques relevant to Melodrama. They have been practising their moustache twirling villains, their noble heroic heroes and their often helpless damsels. These students have been working hard to use their new skills to create their own Melodramatic performance, which include some dramatic sword fights and classic slapstick blunders. We are looking forward to seeing them continue to develop their skills in performance as the year progresses. 

Year 10 has had the challenging opportunity to jump straight into the development of their class play this year. Some students having started Drama for the very first time are rising to the occasion and working diligently to be ready to showcase their production of George Orwell’s Animal farm in Week 10 of this Term. They are navigating the rehearsals, refining their characters and learning about the production process in all of its challenges and excitement. We are looking forward to showcasing their hard work in only a few weeks time, CLICK HERE to secure your tickets to the Class Play running in the evening on 24 and 25 June. 

Our Year 12 students are deep into their HSC Year, and are in the process of finalising their group performances and their Individual projects. Much time and effort has been put into these major work submissions, and the students have created some compelling and creative works that are the culmination of their time in Drama. These performances and projects showcase the variety of skills that they have acquired over the past four years in their study of Drama. They are gearing up to present and showcase their work to the wider school community at their HSC Trial Showcase evening in Week 1 of Term 3. We look forward to celebrating their hard work with you all then. 

Keep an eye out for further announcements and information about these upcoming events, we can’t wait for you all to see what we have been working on. 

TERM 2 INTERCRU EVENT Mr Alex Jacobi

What an incredible InterCRU event we had recently!

Over 200 students gathered together to hear God’s word, worship together and encourage one another in bible study. We couldn’t be more proud of the way our students stepped up and led so boldly. From leading worship, MC’ing the night, sharing testimonies, and facilitating small groups - we want to say how thankful we are for the way they created a space where others could encounter Jesus.

A huge thank you to the student setup team, worship team, main service team and pack up. Thank you for your willingness to help and serve. We are so grateful for what God is doing in and through our students.

STATE CROSS COUNTRY & SECONDARY ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Mr Jonathon Skelly

State Cross Country On Friday 29 May we were able to send forty of our top runners to compete at the CSSA State Cross Country. After multiple days of back-to-back rain the course was grueling and muddy, but we were blessed with a beautiful and sunny day at only 20 degrees. It was a great day to be outdoors supporting one another as each team of students raced, against over 120 other competitors. Many of our students were able to finish in the top 20 which is a fantastic accomplishment. Our 16 year boys winner from our ACC Secondary Carnival, Logan H, managed to win his race on the day as well, running with a pace of 3:41, which is extremely impressive. 

We wish Logan the best of luck at the CIS Cross Country later this year.

Secondary Athletics Carnival Week 7 of Term 2 was an eventful week, with our most notable event being the Secondary Athletics Carnival held at Blacktown International Sportspark. Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather across the day, and a fantastic level of attendance and engagement from our students. House spirit was incredible on the day, and I am always so thankful for how our students cheer each other on and encourage one another. A specific encouragement and blessing to witness was the willingness of students to serve and help with the running of events for the day. This year we ran three additional events, which simply would not have been possible without the help of the 80 plus students who put their hands up to help. We had students measuring distances, raking sand, cleaning up rubbish and even running marshalling sheets back and forth for hours (probably amounting more steps than our competitors). 

We are still finalising many results, however one notable accomplishment is the breaking of a record that has been held for the past 10 years. Cooper H managed to break this longstanding high jump record of 172cm, by clearing a whopping 175cm height. Well done Cooper!

We look forward to seeing our top competitors move onto the next stage of athletics - Zone in Term 3. 

YEAR 10 FILM MUSIC Mr Matt Woods

Year 10 Music students are currently immersed in an engaging unit of work exploring the world of film music. Through the study of film scores and soundtracks, students are developing their understanding of how music can enhance storytelling, create atmosphere and evoke emotion on screen.

As part of the unit, students are collaborating with their peers to rehearse and refine selected pieces from film scores and soundtracks. This process has encouraged teamwork, musical creativity and the development of ensemble performance skills as students work together towards a common goal.

The pieces students are preparing will form part of their assessment and will be showcased at a performance event in Term 3. We look forward to seeing the results of their hard work and dedication as they bring these iconic musical works to life.

Like Year 10 Music, many of our other elective Music classes also have upcoming performance events. These performances will provide students with valuable opportunities to demonstrate their learning and share their talents with the wider school community. Stay tuned for further information about these exciting events in the coming months.

YEAR 12 MOVIE NIGHT Mrs Sarah Aydin 

As our Year 12 students navigate the demands and milestones of their final year, opportunities to pause, connect, and enjoy fellowship together are incredibly valuable. That is why we transformed the Lumination Lab into a cosy cinema for our Year 12 Movie Night.

The evening began with pizza and popcorn, creating a relaxed atmosphere where students could enjoy one another’s company outside the pressures of the classroom. It was wonderful to see friendships strengthened and community deepened as students gathered together in fellowship.

The feature film, The LEGO Batman Movie, proved to be a crowd favourite. Beneath the humour was a meaningful message: we are not meant to do life alone. The story follows a hero who learns that true strength comes through the support and care of others - a reminder that God created us for community and encourages us to walk alongside one another.

The night was also marked by simple acts of kindness, from students making sure no one sat alone to those who stayed behind to help pack up. As our Year 12’s continue through this significant year, moments like these help build a strong sense of belonging and support. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they approach the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.