Secondary School Update - 6 November 2026
Updated: 12 hours ago
SECONDARY SCHOOL UPDATE Mr Jonathan Brayshaw (Head of Secondary)
HSC Exams Over the past four weeks, our Year 12 Graduating Class of 2026 has been completing their Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations. I would like to commend our Year 12 students on the mature, dedicated and resilient manner in which they approached their HSC Examinations. It has been a privilege to witness their growth, perseverance and commitment throughout their Secondary journey.
Thank you to our families and College community for your ongoing prayers, encouragement and support of these students throughout this significant season. As our Year 12 students conclude their time at ACC Marsden Park, we are grateful for the contribution they have made to our College and the legacy they leave behind. We pray that God will continue to guide them in their future decisions, strengthen them in the opportunities and challenges ahead, and equip them to use their God-given gifts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We look forward to seeing all that God has in store for each of them.
World Teachers’ Day World Teachers’ Day, celebrated on Friday 30 October, provided an opportunity to reflect on the significant role our teachers play in the lives of our students. We are deeply grateful for the dedication, care and commitment of our teaching staff, who invest not only in the academic development of students but also in their character, wellbeing and faith.
We believe education is a shared partnership between the College and families. We are privileged to work alongside parents and carers as we encourage each student to grow in confidence, discover their God-given gifts and develop a strong foundation for the future. The influence of a teacher often extends well beyond the classroom, through the relationships they build, the encouragement they provide and the example they set.
We thank our teachers for the many ways they contribute to the life of our College and for their ongoing commitment to helping each student flourish. We are grateful for the privilege of partnering with our families as we continue building a Biblical foundation in the life of every student.
Operation Christmas Child & Christmas Shirt Day BBQ Over the past few weeks, our students have been actively involved in supporting Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. Their mission is to share God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Homerooms across Secondary School have been generously filling shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies and fun gifts. In Week 7, many of our Year 10 students will be involved in community service at the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse, delivering and helping organise these shoeboxes.
On Friday 13 November, all students K-12 also have the opportunity to support Operation Christmas Child by coming to school in their favourite Christmas shirt or sweater, with a monetary donation. This is not a mufti day, and regular sports uniform expectations for Friday will be in place with the exception of a Christmas shirt or sweater.
Secondary students will also have the opportunity to purchase food items at lunch. All items will be under $10.00, with a simple combination of food and drink offered. Tokens will be used by students to make their purchase at the BBQ. These tokens will be available for pre-purchase from Monday 9 - Thursday 12 November, in the Void at the back of A Block during the first half of lunch. All proceeds will go towards funding the delivery of the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
Prices:
Sausage: $5.00
Drink: $2.00
Combo (sausage & drink): $6.50
We would like to invite the wider ACC Community to partner with us as we support the work of Samaritan’s Purse. If you would like to come alongside us as we make a difference in our global community this Christmas, please consider finding out more, and making a donation via our Go Fund Me page, with all proceeds going towards Operation Christmas Child.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support as we bless other children who may not otherwise receive a gift this Christmas.
YEAR 12 LAUNCH EVENING Miss Tamara Kunz
On Thursday night of Week 2, ACC hosted the Year 12 Launch Evening—an event designed to support both students and parents as they transition into Year 12, ensuring our final-year cohort steps into this crucial stage with clarity and confidence.
The evening provided the opportunity for parents and students to engage in personal interviews with their subject teachers. Being at the start of their Year 12 journey, this was a pivotal moment for students to be able to reflect on Year 11 and allow for their subject teachers to provide support, advice and strategies on how best to make a strong start and maintain it throughout Year 12.
The evening provided a valuable opportunity for parents and students to meet individually with subject teachers. Occurring right at the start of the Year 12 journey, this was a pivotal moment for students to reflect on their Year 11 progress and receive tailored advice, strategies, and support to build—and maintain—strong momentum throughout the year ahead.
The night also provided a number of short presentations as an information session for parents and students which included:
HSC Assessment schedules, policies & regulations by Mrs Trudi Mowll (Academic Coordinator: Internal Assessments)
HSC Provisions by Mrs Pamela Baker (Secondary Learning Support Coordinator)
Key study tips & planning for success by Miss Tamara Kunz (Year 11 Coordinator)
These presentations effectively fostered collaboration between parents, students, and staff at ACC, ensuring that the best possible avenues of support and guidance were established right from the start.
Overall, the Year 12 Launch Evening was a successful night that set a positive tone for the year ahead, equipping our graduating class with the clarity, tools, and confidence needed to navigate Year 12.
YEAR 7 MATHEMATICS Mrs Mahiera Kurniahu
This week, our Year 7 Mathematics class discovered different angle relationships on parallel lines using painters’ tape, tracing paper, and colourful star stickers.
Rather than simply memorising the rules for angles in parallel lines, students constructed their own parallel line systems directly on a big poster. By physically sliding and rotating tracing paper along a transversal line, students actively tested how angles moved across intersections. The classroom was buzzing with energy as students made their own discoveries, spotting the "F-shapes" of corresponding angles, the "Z-shapes" of alternate angles, and the "C-shapes" of co-interior angles.
Using a two-colour sticker system, students quickly uncovered a key pattern: despite having eight different angles at their intersection, only two angle measurements actually existed across the whole grid. Students also used their protractors to prove that co-interior angles are supplementary.
The engagement in the room was fantastic. By physically manipulating the shapes, our Year 7 mathematicians didn't just memorise geometric definitions; they proved why they work. It was wonderful to watch them connect abstract concepts to tangible visual evidence with such confidence and enthusiasm. Keep an eye out at home to see if your child can show you the "F, Z, and C" angle shapes in everyday design!
YEAR 12 LEGAL STUDIES INCURSION Miss Tamara Kunz
On Tuesday 3 November in periods 2 and 3, the Year 12 Legal Studies class had the opportunity to be visited by Dr Vincent Hurley, a Lecturer in Criminology at Macquarie University. Dr Hurley specialises in the contemporary role of police and policing in society. Prior to this position he served for 29 years as an operational police officer with the NSW Police Force working across a variety of areas including; crime reduction policy, domestic violence, drug crime and as a police hostage negotiator.
Students had the opportunity to hear Dr Hurley deliver a lecture followed by Q&A time. The incursion provided students the opportunity to gain further understanding into key elements of the Legal Studies curriculum, specifically the ‘Criminal Investigation Process’ and ‘Sentencing & Punishment’ process within the criminal justice system.
Dr Hurley brought his range of experiences and vast array of knowledge to this presentation, offering invaluable real-world insights into the operational realities of law enforcements and the broader criminal justice system to enrich our students’ HSC preparation.
Overall students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and left with a deeper, more practical perspective on how legal theory applies outside the classroom.