Here we are at the end of Semester One. It has been a challenging six months for the community and for families. I wish to thank everyone for handling the ever-present challenges of COVID with grace and agility. The impact on school through student and staff absence has been delicately managed and I am sure everyone is ready for the School holidays. I was speaking with our Year 12 Prefects this week and they are in awe, tinged with slight terror, that their school days are passing by so rapidly. Many will use these holidays to study and prepare for their final assessments. I wish them well as they prepare for their final full term at school. Thank you to all our teachers who have prepared reports across the School. Please spend time with your child over the holidays to read the reports and look at setting new personal bests for Semester 2.
Grace Chapel
On June 21 the Archbishop of Perth, the Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO dedicated the Grace Chapel and the small chapel inside called The Chapel of All Saints in honour of the local Anglican parish. The Service began with the Welcome to Country, delivered by Councillor Barry Winmar. It was a beautiful service where the Archbishop blessed the font, lectern and aumbry in preparation for services to be held. The Junior Dance troupe performed an inspiring dance ‘At the Cross’ accompanied by Year 12 singers, Yara Roaen and Danielle Poppen. The ASC CEO Reverend Peter Laurence OAM, our School Patron, Dr Peter Carnley AC together with our Chair, Mr Philip Goldsworthy, Mayor Carol Adams and a number of distinguished guests joined us for the occasion. The students were represented by the School Prefects, Student Council and Junior School Captains who joined community, church and school leaders from across Perth to be part of history. In building Grace Chapel we have created a place where our School community will gather for Chapel, celebrations, events and Valedictories. Through the use of timber, natural tones, coloured glass and large windows looking out across the oval and trees, the Chapel is peaceful and serene, a place to find sanctuary and stillness in a busy world.
“It is with great joy that, today the Archbishop will dedicate this wonderful and sacred space to the praise and glory of God; and to bless the Font where we enter into the Christian life, the Lectern where the Word of God is proclaimed, the Altar where we are fed by the Bread of Life, and finally the Memorial Garden”, Chair of Council Mr Philip Goldsworthy.
Hub Update
The Hub building is on track to be completed in Term 3. This is where our new café style canteen will be located with covered areas adjacent. The auditorium, IT help desk office, new classroom, refurbished bathrooms and large upstairs resource centre and reading room are all progressing well. There will be a lot of work go on during the holidays and it will look quite different when the students return next term. One of the areas the builders will work on is the old canteen. It will be necessary to close the canteen from the start of Term 3 so the builders can refurbish the space and make the transition to the new cafe. We ask all families who use the canteen for ordering to bring their lunch and recess until the new café is operational.
Colour Run
The weather on Founders’ Day was not conducive for an enjoyable Colour Run so we held the events at Calista and Wellard this week. Thank you to Mr James Morris and Mrs Donna Farmer for their organisation and to the students and staff who joined in with gusto.
In our 15th year, we have much to celebrate!
Staff News
As our term comes to a close, we have some staff to acknowledge. Mr Noel Reid our Facilities Manager is retiring after 9 years at PCACS and a long career in the building industry. We thank him for his care of the buildings and grounds and especially for his work overseeing the building programme including the Keith Lindbeck Centre, the Grace Chapel and the Hub. We wish Mr Noel Reid well as he retires and travels overseas to see his family. We farewell Miss Tori Watson. We wish Mrs Claire Barkman well as she takes parental leave and we wish Mrs Tamsin Taylor, Mr and Mrs Weddikkara and Mrs Amanda Hewson all the best as they enjoy well-earned long service leave.
Enjoy the holidays everyone and I look forward to seeing you again in Term 3.
God bless.
Ms Felicity House
PRINCIPAL