Secondary School Update - 2 April 2026

SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATES

HSC PERFORMANCE NIGHT Mr Matt Woods

Our recent HSC Performance Night was a fantastic celebration of musical talent, showcasing the dedication and skill of our senior students. The evening featured a diverse range of performances across drums, guitar, vocals and piano, with students delivering confident and engaging pieces to a wonderfully supportive audience.

One of the standout moments of the night was the dynamic drum performance by Jesiah, joining us from our Distance Education program. His energy and precision on stage made for a truly memorable performance.

The event was a great success, with many students performing alongside the accompanying teacher band and utilising backing tracks to enhance their performances. This created a vibrant and professional atmosphere, highlighting the depth of talent within our Music program.

A special mention goes to Charlotte Kwok (Year 11), who not only accompanied a number of performances with skill and confidence but also co-hosted the evening.

Alongside Ben Thangamani (Year 10), the pair brought a wonderful sense of occasion to the event, engaging the audience with humour, professionalism and ease.

We would also like to acknowledge Sophie Robers, Micah Johnson and Don Thangamani (Year 10) for their excellent work as stagehands. Their organisation and support behind the scenes ensured the event ran smoothly from start to finish.

Congratulations to all students involved for their outstanding efforts and for representing the Music Department and ACC Marsden Park with such excellence.

CLUBS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 2026 Mr Eamon Marlow

Clubs and extracurricular activities have hit the ground running for 2026. Students have shown a deep appreciation and enthusiasm for the many wonderful Clubs and extracurricular activities offered by the College. Club offerings have grown substantially over the last year, with students now able to participate in the Card Game Club, Badminton Club, Public Speaking Club, Chess Club, Gardening Club, Coding Club, Cake Decorating Club and many more for each student's particular interest.

The College sees the offering of Clubs and extracurricular activities as an essential part of student formation, growing each student into unique individuals who can participate in the world around them with a diverse perspective on life. Whether that be growing a particular skill, like public speaking, or strengthening social connections in clubs like the Card Game Club, students receive enormous benefits from participating in a Club or extracurricular activity.

Character formation is an important part of a student's holistic education at our College. This is achieved through more than just the transferring of information in the classroom - but through the growth of the whole student into all the God intends them to be. Clubs and extracurricular activities form a critical part of this process, and we are happy as a College to promote them.

A number of students have taken personal accountability for their own interests and started their own Clubs. Several Year 11 students have recently proposed, scaffolded and implemented the new Coding Club, set to start in Term 2. This is a great example of how Clubs and extracurricular activities provide students with avenues to pursue personal growth for organisation, leadership and developing their own passions.

Teachers generously offer their lunch times to facilitate and arrange the activities for these students, with an unmistakable distinct impression of their students' needs being well known, well loved and well taught.

Please join the College in praying for the character formation of our students, and how the Clubs and extracurricular activities can play an important role in this part of their educational experience at Australian Christian College, Marsden Park.

YEAR 7 VEX ROBOTICS Mr Murray Garth

This term, our Year 7 students have been working through a practical robotics unit using VEX Robotics (a classroom system for building and controlling robots). The focus has been on getting students hands-on as quickly as possible - building, testing, and improving a simple Clawbot design while learning how mechanical, electronic and software systems work together.

Students worked in small teams to construct their robots and learn how to control them using a handheld controller and block code. Early lessons focused on the basics: how the drivetrain moves, how the claw and arm function, and how different design choices affect performance. From there, the emphasis shifted to control, accuracy, and efficiency - skills that became increasingly important as the unit progressed.

The classroom had a great working atmosphere throughout the term. There was a lot of trial and error, which is exactly what we want in a Technology subject. Students were constantly adjusting their builds, fixing small issues, and refining how they operated their robots. It was encouraging to see teams helping each other out and sharing practical solutions.

The unit finished with the ‘Up and Over’ Competition, which brought everything together in a fast-paced and highly engaging way. In this challenge, two teams competed head-to-head in each match. The objective was simple in theory but tricky in practice: collect cubes and lift them over a central barrier into the opposing team’s area, while also trying to stop your opponent from doing the same.

Matches were quick, competitive, and often unpredictable. Some teams focused on speed, others on control and accuracy, and many had to adapt their approach between rounds. Because the robots used manual remote control, driver skill became just as important as the robot design itself. Students quickly realised that smooth, controlled movements were far more effective than rushing.

While the competition added excitement, the main value was in what students learned along the way. They had to work as a team, communicate clearly, and stay focused under pressure. There were plenty of setbacks, but students showed persistence and a willingness to improve rather than give up.

From a Christian perspective, it has been pleasing to see students supporting one another and demonstrating patience and perseverance. As it says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good…”- a reminder that effort and persistence matter, even when things don’t work straight away.

Overall, this has been a highly successful unit. Students have gained a solid introduction to robotics and engineering concepts, while also developing practical skills and positive working habits. The level of engagement has been excellent, and we look forward to building on this foundation in future units.

STATIONS EXHIBITION AT DAYSPRING CHURCH Mr Alex Jacobi

This term, our Year 10 and 11 students had the opportunity to attend an immersive art exhibition called ‘Stations’ at Dayspring Church in Castle Hill.

Traditionally, Stations is a practice within the Catholic tradition of the Christian faith that traces the final moments of Jesus’ life leading up to His death and resurrection. Drawing on elements of this tradition, the exhibition invited students to step away from the busyness of daily life, slow down, and reflect on the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

It was powerful to see our students engage so thoughtfully and respectfully with the experience, representing the College so well.

For many, the exhibition had a meaningful and lasting impact. Here are a couple of reflections students shared:

“Just realising that Jesus loves me no matter what, he knows me and where my heart is at and he is aware of all the things I've done good and bad, yet he still loves me no matter what I've done.

“The Jesus dies station impacted me the most as it reinforced the fact that Jesus died for us and paid the price for our sins. It displayed Jesus' love for us.”

We are grateful to Dayspring Church for partnering with us to provide this experience, and for the opportunity it gave our students to reflect more deeply on the Easter story and its message of hope.

SECONDARY PI DAY COMPETITION: PI DIGIT RECITING CHALLENGE Mrs Esther Vemuri

On Monday 30 March, our Secondary students gathered to compete in the annual Pi Recitation Challenge, celebrating international Pi Day in honour of Albert Einstein and his contributions to discovery and innovation.

This year’s event marked a significant milestone, with students demonstrating exceptional memory, focus and enthusiasm for mathematics, surpassing previous records. Their achievements reflect both individual dedication and a growing excitement for numeracy across the school community.

Vihaan P, a Year 9 student, secured first place by reciting an impressive 719 digits of pi. Marcus LD, a Year 8 student, achieved second place with 681 digits, followed by Vibhansh S, Year 9, in third place with 301 digits. Fourth place was awarded to Anvitha N, a Year 7 student, who recited 251 digits.

Several students also rose to the challenge by successfully reciting over 100 digits of pi. These included Samanvi S, Christian C, Abhilash Y and Kavin KR, all of whom demonstrated commendable dedication and perseverance. The competition also saw enthusiastic participation from Year 7 students Varuni B, Caleb V, Vaiahnavi RV and Sidharth S, highlighting strong engagement and a positive attitude towards mathematics.

As a Christian school, we acknowledge that each student’s abilities are gifts from God, and we encourage students to use them faithfully while giving Him the glory. As expressed in the Book of James, every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of lights.

The event concluded on a joyful note, with students enjoying cake and ice cream together while cheering on their peers. The atmosphere was filled with encouragement, smiles and applause, creating a memorable experience for all involved. It was a meaningful opportunity for students to celebrate their efforts and enjoy a sense of community after their hard work.