Secondary School Update - 29 May 2026

SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATE Mr Jonathan Brayshaw

Parent/Teacher Interviews On Monday 1 June, we are holding Stage 6 Parent Teacher Interviews. This event is for parents who have students in Years 11 or 12, and will run from 3.30 pm until 8.00 pm in A Block. To arrange a booking with your child’s teachers, please refer to the link sent in an email from Secondary Hub on Friday 22 May. These interviews are in-person and students are also required to attend as they will have a level of involvement in the interview through reflecting on their academic progress and learning goals.

Additionally, we will be holding the Years 7-10 Parent/Teacher Interviews on Friday 17 July during the day. We recognise it can be challenging to accommodate all parents and carers in one evening. This approach allows greater flexibility for families to connect with their child’s teachers, either in person or via phone call, at a time that suits them throughout the day. A booking link will soon be sent to parents and carers of Years 7-10 students. We encourage you to take this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about your child’s progress and learning journey. More information will be sent to families regarding this event soon.

Athletics Carnival The Secondary Athletics Carnival will be held next Wednesday 3 June at Blacktown International Sportspark Athletics Centre. The Carnival provides students with an opportunity to encourage one another, build friendships, community and connections, and demonstrate teamwork through participation. We look forward to seeing students display courage, respect and enthusiasm as we come together as a school community.

Arriving at School On Time Establishing consistent routines is crucial for nurturing discipline and responsibility in our students. Arriving at school by 8.25 am ensures students are present for Homeroom and Year Meetings. This is an important point of connection where students are able to check-in with teachers and peers, hear important announcements and be involved in discussions and daily activities. This part of the day helps shape a student’s sense of belonging.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and wellbeing of your children.

MONEY MATTERS EXCURSION Mr Daniel McGowan

As part of their current topic on the Australian legal system, Year 10 Money Matters students visited the NSW Police and Justice Museum. During the excursion, students toured the historic holding cells and courtroom to learn about the history of policing and crime in New South Wales. They also participated in a hands-on mock trial, taking on roles such as legal counsel, witnesses, and jurors. This experience allowed students to apply their classroom knowledge to a realistic court scenario and better understand how the justice system operates.

The excursion also included an educational tour of NSW Parliament House to complement the focus on governance and law-making. Students explored both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council chambers, learning about the history of the Westminster system in Australia. Parliamentary staff explained the formal process of how bills are debated and passed into law. The visit provided students with a clear, practical look at the state political system and the role of elected representatives.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY CAREERS EXPO Mrs Kaylie Neave

On Thursday 21 May, our Year 10 students attended the Greater Western Sydney Careers Expo, where they had the opportunity to explore a wide range of future pathways and career opportunities. Students represented the College exceptionally well, arriving dressed professionally in their formal uniform and demonstrating a mature and positive attitude throughout the day.

In the lead-up to the excursion, students participated in weekly year meetings where faculty leaders and subject teachers presented valuable information about what their courses and subjects will involve in Years 11 and 12. Our Careers Advisor, Mrs Judi Harvey, also provided students with guidance regarding external studies, TAFE pathways and how to navigate senior schooling options. As a result, students attended the expo well prepared and ready to engage with exhibitors.

It was especially pleasing to see many students walking through the expo with notebooks in hand and prepared questions ready to ask vendors. The event featured three large halls filled with representatives from universities, colleges, TAFE providers, trade organisations and even overseas travel and study opportunities. Students made excellent use of the two-hour visit, taking the opportunity to speak with as many exhibitors as possible and gather valuable information for their future pathways.

The excursion was a worthwhile and insightful experience that encouraged students to think carefully about their interests, goals and post-school opportunities.

There will be further opportunities for career discussions at our upcoming ACC Careers Expo Night on 11 June. Parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend the evening, listen to the lecture on the HSC, and visit subject displays, teachers and external vendors to continue important conversations surrounding future pathways and career planning.

YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK EXCURSION Mr Brad Adams

On a grey overcast Monday, the Year 9 cohort boarded the school buses to investigate the changing city of Parramatta. The students have been learning about a variety of urban dynamics such as urban sprawl, urban decay, urban renewal and urban consolidation. Now it was time to see if Parramatta could show evidence of any or all of these dynamics. 

The classes were led by a guide from AUSECO and the class Geography teacher. The classes moved around Parramatta Square and then to the Parramatta River area. Students found lots of evidence of urban renewal as they examined the many new renovation and building projects around central Parramatta. Surprisingly there was still evidence of unoccupied buildings in a state of disrepair, the telltale signs of urban decay! 

Students were able to use a variety of equipment to measure the effects of urban development on the environment - measuring noise level, light, temperature and the height of the surrounding structures to quantify the environmental effects of the many building works that had taken place in Parramatta Square and contrast this with an area closer to the river.

Alongside this students observed and were taught about the variety of sustainability projects that had been undertaken in Parramatta, including the six star environmental rated Town Hall restoration project. This project is fully sustainable, featuring the use of solar power to run electrics, catching rain water to be used as grey water in the bathrooms and other design features to reduce the need for cooling or heating.

The students worked hard throughout the day, despite the rain, making observations, listening to the guides and taking a variety of fieldwork measurements.  

Despite a bleak day the students had a wonderful time seeing the urban dynamics they had heard about in class and measuring in the field for a better understanding of sustainability.

YEAR 11 BUSINESS STUDIES SPOTLIGHT Mr Daniel McGowan

This term Year 11 Business Studies students have been diving deep into the world of entrepreneurship, focusing on the vital role of Business Planning. They have explored how a well-structured plan serves as a roadmap for success, investigating key components such as organising resources, situational awareness, and financial forecasting. Students have gained a real-world understanding of why meticulous planning is the difference between a business that thrives and one that falters.

To put these concepts into practice, students have been busy refining their Business Report writing ability. This has involved learning how to structure reports appropriately, integrate contemporary business issues and utilise business terminology. It has been fantastic to see the students’ analytical skills sharpen as they transform their ideas into reports, preparing them for both their upcoming assessments and future careers in the corporate world.

ACC'S GARDEN CLUB Anji Smith & Sarah Allen

There was a distinct buzz of excitement today as the Garden Club gathered. After months of patient tending, weeding, and watering, our Secondary students finally saw the fruits of their labour - quite literally!

The sight was nothing short of glorious. Students filled baskets with an impressive array of fresh produce, ranging from deep leafy greens and to crunchy but twisted carrots. There is something profoundly satisfying about pulling a carrot from the earth or clipping a bunch of herbs and realising that this "fast food" took a slow, steady miracle to create.

Beyond the practical skills of agriculture, the Garden Club offers our students a quiet space to reconnect with the world around them. It serves as a living reminder of God’s incredible provision. In a world of fluorescent lights and digital screens, getting one's hands in the dirt is a grounding experience that highlights the intricate design of our ecosystem.

We don't just grow food; we cultivate gratitude. Seeing a tiny seed transform into a nourishing meal is a powerful testament to the blessings hidden within the natural world.

As we celebrated our haul today, we were reminded of the spiritual parallels of the harvest. Just as we must prepare the soil and wait on the rain, we are called to be patient and faithful in our own lives.

The Bible speaks beautifully of this cycle in Galatians 6:9:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

A huge thank you to all the students who dedicated their lunch breaks to making our garden thrive. We look forward to seeing these fresh ingredients make their way into our upcoming cooking projects!