Secondary School Update - 30 August 2024

HEAD OF SCHOOL UPDATE Jonathan Brayshaw

It has been wonderful to welcome our Year 12 students back into the classroom following the completion of their Trial HSC Examinations. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for these students as they complete their final weeks of schooling. We look forward to formally recognising these students with their families at the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony and Valedictory Dinner later this term. 

It was a joy to visit the Year 9 Camp last week at Cru Lake Macquarie. The Camp was designed to give students an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and build resilience. Students enjoyed a range of activities, such as canoeing, fishing, archery, rock climbing, and bivouac experience. Year 9 are commended for their participation, courage, teamwork and excellent behaviour, which helped make the Camp a wonderful experience for all involved. 

I would also like to thank all of our Year 9 Homeroom Teachers (Mrs Narae Son, Mrs Mahiera Kasumaputri, Mr Seung Yi, Mr Ron Raj, Mr Jono Skelly, Mr Alex Jacobi), as well as other staff who attended (Miss Miah Perry, Mr David Peters, Mr Ben Green, Mr Brett Thomson) for their dedication and care for our students throughout Camp. I would also like to acknowledge Mr Brad Adams (Stage 5 Coordinator) and Mrs Bec Mewjork (Year 9 Advisor) for their organisation and leadership of this Camp. 

With the unseasonably warm weather we are currently experiencing, we are providing a uniform update for our families. Until the end of Term 3, the following changes should assist our students to be more comfortable during the warmer weather. Students are permitted their summer uniform. Should students wish to continue wearing their winter uniform, they are able to do so. 

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and call Primary Student Hub or Secondary Student Hub.

YEAR 11 DE AND OC BIOLOGY EXCURSION TO LONGNECK LAGOON Saloom Aslam

Our Year 11 Distance Education and On Campus Biology students recently embarked on an exciting excursion to Longneck Lagoon, where they had the opportunity to explore and study the unique ecosystems of this beautiful natural reserve. The day was filled with hands-on learning experiences that brought the curriculum to life, allowing students to observe and interact with the environment in ways that were engaging and meaningful. 

Throughout the day, students were engaged in various activities led by the staff at the Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre. The staff-led sessions were designed to deepen their understanding of ecological relationships, biodiversity, and conservation. Our students conducted fieldwork; including water quality testing and sampling of flora and fauna, which provided them with valuable data to analyse the range and suitability of the condition for a range of species.  

The highlight of the day was the dip netting experience at the local creek, where students observed firsthand the delicate balance of life within this habitat. They learned about the critical role different species play in supporting biodiversity and providing habitat for numerous species. The experience of being in the field and witnessing these dynamics in action was an invaluable part of this excursion.

Overall, the excursion to Longneck Lagoon was a resounding success, leaving our Year 11 Biology students with a deeper understanding of the natural world and the impact of human activities on the environment. We are grateful to the staff and guides at Longneck Lagoon for providing such a rich learning experience, and we look forward to seeing how our students will apply what they've learned in their future studies and conservation efforts.

BSTREETSMART ROAD TRAUMA FORUM Bradley Whale

On Tuesday 20 August, our Year 10 students had the invaluable opportunity to attend the BStreetSmart Road Trauma Forum at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. This powerful and immersive event, spearheaded by the Trauma Service at Westmead Hospital, aimed to educate and empower young people about the critical importance of road safety.

The BStreetSmart Road Trauma Forum provided our students with a profound insight into the risks associated with road use. Throughout the day, they were exposed to the harsh realities of road trauma, hearing firsthand accounts from community members and emergency personnel who have faced these tragedies up close. These personal stories resonated deeply, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of dangerous and distracted driving.

One of the most impactful moments of the day was the live re-enactment of an emergency scene, where students witnessed the immediate response of emergency services to a simulated road accident. This demonstration underscored the importance of quick thinking, safe driving practices and the devastating outcomes that can result from poor decisions on the road.

In addition to the emotional presentations and re-enactments, students engaged with various organisations dedicated to road safety, including NSW SES, Ambulance Service, Fire and Rescue, and Police, as well as LTrent Driving School, NRMA, DonateLife, and Brain Injury Awareness. These interactions allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities as drivers and passengers and to learn strategies for avoiding serious injuries and fatalities. Topics such as distracted driving, inattention, speeding, drink and drug driving, and driver fatigue were all addressed, providing students with the knowledge and tools to reduce risky behaviour behind the wheel.

While some aspects of the BStreetSmart event were challenging for students to confront, the experience has undoubtedly sparked meaningful discussions in our PDHPE lessons. It has encouraged students to reflect on their own practices and consider how they can contribute to safer roads for everyone and be better equipped to make safe choices on the road, both now and in the future.

SECONDARY BOOK WEEK Emily van Bentum

Our Secondary School Book Week was an inspiring and lively celebration of literature, creativity, and the joy of reading. The week was filled with a variety of activities that brought our College community together in the shared love of books and storytelling.

One of the highlights of the week was the vibrant array of costumes worn by students. The enthusiasm was palpable as students transformed into their favourite literary characters, showcasing not just their creativity but also their deep connection to the stories and characters they love. Homerooms participated with great energy, bringing to life themes from books and creating an atmosphere that was both fun and educational. From classic heroes to modern icons, our hallways were filled with a myriad of characters that made the week truly memorable.

Adding to the excitement, we were honoured to have author Lynda Calder visit our school to speak with the Secondary students. Lynda shared her personal journey with reading, beginning with a confession that she once disliked reading. Her story resonated with many students, as she candidly discussed how she went from dreading reading to discovering a deep love for it. Her message was clear: the right book at the right time can change everything. Lynda’s honesty and passion for literature were infectious, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.

In addition to her inspiring talk, Lynda Calder conducted workshops for our Year 7 and 8 students, focusing on the art of ‘show, don't tell’ in writing. These sessions were particularly valuable as they gave students practical tools to enhance their storytelling skills. Lynda guided them through exercises that emphasised the importance of creating vivid, immersive scenes in their writing, helping to bring their stories to life in a way that engages readers more deeply.

Overall, our Secondary School Book Week was a tremendous success. It was a week that not only celebrated books but also encouraged students to explore and express their creativity. We are already looking forward to next year’s Book Week and the new stories it will inspire in our students. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the week such a success!

YEAR 8 INTO YEAR 9 ‘TASTER DAY’ STUDIO ARTS Elizabeth Oloaga

Year 8 students were offered a 30 minute ‘Taster Day’ workshop this week, facilitated by several Studio Arts Year 10 students, who offered to share their learnt skills. Mediums included oil, watercolour, acrylic paint and pottery. Such amazing talent in just 30 minutes!

VEGE GARDEN CLUB Andrew Wade and Sarah Allen

The new ACC Vegetable Garden has now well and truly begun and the Club members are really enjoying the inaugural planting season. The students started planting Winter veggies and herbs towards the end of last term and are now enjoying the fruit (or veggies) of their labour. The Garden Club was the recipient of a generous donation of plants from Bunnings Marsden Park which has enabled the seven raised beds to be quickly filled with a large variety of flowering plants as well as vegetables and herbs. Some of these have included Impatient, Kalanchoe, Lavender and Petunias in the aesthetic garden bed near the entrance, as well as a variety of vegetables (Spinach, Lettuce and Carrots) and herbs. Plans are in place to add a few more mature Citrus trees in the next few weeks. 

All Club members, including Alex M in Year 8 (pictured) have been demonstrating a great deal of passion and initiative in designing, planning and tending to the Vegetable Garden in these early days. This week there was also an interactive educational session run by Bunnings, who donated and assisted in setting up a compost bin and worm farm. A special thanks also to Dr Bill Rogers (pictured) and his daughter, Elizabeth McPherson, who have been instrumental in their advice for the many potential uses of this new space in a school context.

WELLBEING SEMINARS Natasha Collins

At ACC Marsden Park, we are committed to helping students recognise their unique worth and purpose in Christ. We believe in developing the ‘whole’ child, equipping them with all they need spiritually, academically, emotionally, physically and relationally, so they can be a success in whatever God has called them to. 

We recently had the privilege of hosting accredited dietician Meg McClintock and ex-Socceroos Captain Paul Wade, to speak to our students about targeted topics for their age and stage of development. 

Meg led an insightful seminar discussing the ‘perfect storm’ students find themselves in as adolescent teenagers. With so much change in hormones, growth spurts, and body image propaganda, Meg identified where these pressures are coming from and the effect these types of messages are having on young people today. Meg provided practical strategies for maintaining a healthy perspective on wellbeing, which will be reinforced in our upcoming Thrive Wellbeing lessons. 

Paul brought all the energy as he led our Stage 5 and 6 boys in some physical activity, connecting each experience with a lesson in resilience, team work and determination. His talk reflected his personal experience as a successful Socceroos Captain, stories around stress, his shortcomings, failures and navigating betrayal. As a successful sports reporter for the Channel 7 news, Paul was diagnosed with epilepsy that opened the door to a series of new challenges as he learnt to overcome his own feelings of hopelessness. His talk inspired our young students to take agency over their lives and embrace being a man of integrity and leadership. 

Both sessions offered valuable insights that contribute to the holistic development of our young people, equipping them with the tools to navigate their unique journeys with confidence and resilience.

YEAR 9 CAMP 2024 Brad Adams

Year 9 have been eagerly awaiting this camp all year! Set on the shore of Lake Macquarie it certainly sounded like a lovely place to be, especially with the wonderful weather we had during the time away from the classroom this year. The camp is run by Cru, a Christian camping organisation specialising in school camps. Young Cru leaders guide groups of students through a variety of activities, eat with the students and lead devotions. 

This camp was filled with many activities including archery, archery tag, canoeing, rock climbing, initiative team games, fishing, solving a Cave Maze, and bushwalking. Students also experienced a camping experience that included students cooking their meal for the night and finishing with roasting marshmallows over the fire.

Our Year 9 students enjoyed the activities, encouraging each other to get involved and cheering each other on, especially in tackling the rock climbing. The Cave Maze was a three dimensional maze that students needed to navigate through in the dark; it certainly tested the team work skills of our students!

Students also participated in Christian Discovery, in which they heard from different Cru leaders about the joy of following Christ, and had an opportunity to explore the Christian faith more deeply. The Cru leaders were very complimentary of our students and the way they conducted themselves throughout the camp. 

Below you will see some of the comments from students:.

I really enjoyed camp! The new experiences such as rock climbing, archery and canoeing helped me get out of my comfort zone, and all the games really instilled a sense of inclusivity and fun within us. I got to create new bonds with people in my class and with my tent partner, and overcame a few obstacles. Many funny and goofy memories were made within my friend group that we still can't stop giggling about- they will stay with us forever!  And I learned more about the relationship between us humans and our creator, God. I felt very safe in my conversations with the CRU leaders- they were so kind and cool. Overall, camp was awesome, and I would absolutely recommend it! (Aashna)

Year 9 camp was an incredibly fun experience for all of Year 9! It helped us strengthen friendships, make new friends and spend time in God's creation (whilst camping). We were able to try new things and get out of our comfort zone! It was amazing to see everyone giving challenging things such as rock climbing a go, and cheering each other on. Personally, I was able to get over my fear of heights! During our stay at the campsite, we sat around a campfire, singing songs, playing games and roasting marshmallows :). We also had the opportunity to go fishing and canoeing! Although we didn't catch any fish, we were able to relax near beautiful Lake Macquarie. The Christian discovery sessions were very encouraging and engaging as we were able to openly discuss/express our faith. We had a great time! Year 8 should look forward to it!  (Vincy)

SECONDARY SPORTMelanie Kewley

Term 3 Secondary Sport at ACC is off to a great start with many sporting events taking place over the last few weeks. 

On 6 August the Christian Schools Sporting Association (CSSA) Met-West Zone weekly Basketball competition began. The ACC teams are off to a fantastic start with the Open Girls team receiving a win in Round  1, while the Junior Girls, Junior Boys and Open Boys all achieved wins in Round 2. This competition will continue to be played until Week 8 this Term, when the Finals will take place. 

Many of our Secondary Students attended Blacktown International Sports Park on 9 August for the Met-West Zone Athletics Carnival. The weather held off and students participated eagerly in what was a fantastic carnival. ACC received 3rd place overall, with our Senior Girls Relay team taking out a win. A special congratulations to Ethan M (14), Jordyn D (15) and James U (16) for their fantastic performances, earning them the title of Age Champions. These students, alongside many of our other exceptional athletes, represented the School at the CSSA Secondary State Athletics Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park on 29 August (results to be reported soon!). 

The CSSA State OzTag Gala days also took place recently. Our ACC teams participated competitively in very difficult,  cold and wet conditions. Thank you to these students for the way you represented the school with courage, humility and resilience. 

We are extremely proud of the way our students represent our College and wish to thank so many for being eager to participate in Sport at ACC. We look forward to more exciting events throughout the term.