PCACS News - No 9 - 2024

Welcome back to Term 3

Returning from sabbatical has really felt like the old saying ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’. I thank everyone for the warm welcome back and I’ve loved hearing the stories of a busy and productive Term 2.

My time away included study, reflection and travel. The most impactful part of my journey was certainly the study tour I took through the battlefields of World War One, where the ANZAC legend was forged. Our PCACS community are very attuned to the significance of ANZAC Day and the ANZAC Spirit. I spent time in places across the Western Front including Pozieres, Fromelles, Ypres, Amiens, the Somme, including a moving ANZAC Day Service in Polygon Wood not far from the Menin Gate. It was humbling to stand in places where young Australians lost their lives over a century ago yet are still remembered by Australians and revered by the French people of the region, particularly in villages such as Villers Bretonneux, where Australian flags fly year-round in appreciation of the efforts of those brave soldiers.

From there I travelled to the UK, spending time exploring faith, myths and legends. Reverend Kim Thomas and I spent time in Yorkshire and back in her hometown, Lichfield, where she was ordained as a priest. Reflecting on our PCACS community in my time away and considering the deep meaning of our School Values of Spirituality, Excellence, Respect and Belonging, I am proud to step back in and see the lived experience of our staff and students. Now in my 8^th year as Principal, I return from sabbatical rested, energized and inspired. I thank the School Council for supporting me to take sabbatical to attend to matters of the heart, mind, body and spirit. Time away from the busy Principal’s Office allowed time for a change of pace, reflection and nourishment. I also had the opportunity to pause to appreciate the transformation of PCACS over the past 8 years and look forward to the future as we grow and evolve the School.

During my term away, a number of staff stepped into roles of responsibility. Thank you to Mr Steve Wynhorst for taking on the role of Acting Principal, Mrs Rachel Shotch who stepped into the role of Head of Senior School, Mrs Cara Barrett in the role of Deputy Head of Senior School and Mrs Joanne Rust filled the role of Learning Area Coordinator - Mathematics. It is a tribute to our school that we have such depth of leadership and I thank all of these able and accomplished leaders for their work whilst I was on sabbatical.

St George’s Art Awards

I was delightful to attend the opening of the St George’s Art Awards with Mrs Janine Lee. Artworks by PCACS students Breeanna, Kaili and Pauline were on display amongst artworks from schools across Perth and WA. Congratulations to Breanna who took out the prize for the 3D Artwork category. This is an incredible achievement.

New Staff and Students

We welcomed 10 new students at the start of this term along with the following staff:

Mrs Caress Watson – Administration Officer – Enrolments

Miss Emilee McDermott – Junior School Classroom Teacher

Mrs Santhy Manikam – Junior School Classroom Teacher

Ms Kate Kerridge – Music Teacher and Tutor

Mrs Kamal Kaur – Senior School Biology Teacher

God bless

Ms Felicity House
PRINCIPAL

NAIDOC Week

National NAIDOC Week celebrations fell during the Term 2 holidays, recognising the vital role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders play in the modern community and in the history of our country. Upon return to school in Term 3, Junior School students engaged in various activities for 2024 NAIDOC celebrations. While elements of Indigenous culture are embedded in our every day learning at Peter Carnley Anglican Community School, NAIDOC Week offers the students a chance to complete more focused projects.

At the Calista Campus, the Kindergarten classes learned about what the colours and symbols on the Aboriginal flag represent. They used words from the Noongar language in their classrooms and participated in a yarning circle. The Pre Primary students had provocations set up in their shared space where they experimented with natural materials to tell stories and explored symbols from Aboriginal Art. The Year 1 students studied the work of artist Bronwyn Bancroft (in particular her book 'Coming Home to Country') before creating a picture inspired by her work. They looked at colours, patterns and symbols and experimented with the element of space, using the foreground and background. The students also listened to the story of the Wagyl (Rainbow Serpent) at assembly and explored some pictures showing the winding shapes of the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River).

At the Wellard Campus the Year 3 classes talked about the importance of NAIDOC Week, relating their learning to the visible ways in which we pay respect to Indigenous Australians through Acknowledgement to Country and singing songs in Noongar language. The Year 4 students discussed Aboriginal storytelling and related to written and illustrated stories. They created illustrations that used Australian animals and wildlife to form the basis for a story. The Year 2 to 6 Art classes spent time talking about the importance of some significant elements of indigenous art and each student contributed a small element to a large collaboration piece, representing how the community comes together as one.

We are proud to share some pictures of the NAIDOC week journey with you.

God bless.

Ms Kierin Janes
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Year 9 and 10 Electives (2025)

This week, all current Year 8 and 9 students received an information pamphlet listing their possible elective choices for 2025 and instructions for completing their preferences. Students in Years 9 and 10 complete three electives with a time allocation of 3 periods per week for each elective. Please contact ssadmin@pcacs.wa.edu.au if you have any questions.

We are excited to offer a new elective course in 2025 for both Year 9 and 10: Outdoor Education.

Senior School Events and Competitions

Well done to the team of Year 10 and 12 students who participated in the Health Department Youth Innovation Think Tank last week and were successful against Emmanuel College in the Super Preliminary Round. A great effort.

Selected Year 11 students and our School Chapel Captain – Devine, attended an Anglican Schools Association Student Forum last week with other student leaders from across WA. The event was facilitated by world renown theologian The Reverend Dr Heischman and involved discussions about what matters to them, life, society, and school. How do student leaders see schooling ‘the Anglican way’? What can we learn from them? What messages do they have for those who lead our schools and our church? Well done to our engaging, insightful, and inspiring PCACS students!

This week PCACS also hosted a large contingent of excited year 6 students from both our Junior School and all our surrounding primary schools for the Voyager Day. We welcomed academically and musically talented students to the School for a day of fun and challenging activities as part of the entry selection process for our Voyager Academic Programme.

Next week on Friday, PCACS will be sending a team of students from Year 9 and 10 to Christ Church Grammar School to collaborate with their Robotics Club students. Both schools are building and programming REV robots for the First Tech Challenge Tournament. A trial competition has also been organised so the students can test the grabbing arms they have designed and programmed. Students will be able to view the playing field and get a real sense of the size of the tournament gear required. An exciting day and a great partnership.

PCACS has once again been selected to participate in the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Science Week Hackathon. This national competition takes place in Week 5 of this Term as a core part of National Science Week. The theme for National Science Week this year is Species survival – more than just sustainability. Good luck to the student teams.

Next week the Australian Mathematics Competition also takes place. Students involved in this prestigious national competition will receive information from the Maths teacher.

Excitement is also building for Operation Op Shop and the Anglicare Sleep Out (Friday 9 August): This is always a huge event, and PCACS is one of the best-represented and most effective fundraising Schools involved. Truly raising awareness of those in need beyond our gates.

What a fantastic start to the Term it has been. Some many engaged students taking full advantage of the wonderful opportunities at PCACS.

God bless,

Mr Steve Wynhorst
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

On Friday 9 August all students in Years 2 to 12 are invited to participate in the Operation Op Shop dress up day. Students must adhere to the School Policy on casual dress. All Students that participate donate $2 to come to school dressed up in Op Shop clothing. Students who do not wish to participate must wear their winter uniform as usual.

The Pop Up Op Shop will be open at Recess and Lunch, so don't forget to bring some money to purchase a pre loved item! Soup and rolls will be sold at lunch in the style of a soup van for the homeless.

The funds raised will go to support Anglicare’s WA Street Connect Bus.

Mrs Melanie Hunt
SERVICE LEARNING COORDINATOR

This term the Year 2’s have welcomed some new friends. The students will explore biology by hatching chicks from eggs in class! These new feathered friends will be observed at every stage from the incubator to their own pen, witnessing how chicks grow and learning what they need to thrive. 

Miss Tori D'Ulisse
YEAR 2 TEACHER

Biological Science

This term in Pre Primary students are exploring Biological Science and the big question "What is needed to survive?" We have begun learning about living and non living things and their needs and wants. We had great fun investigating what living and non living things we have in our nature playground and developing interesting wonder questions like "Do worms have lungs?" To help us explore our concept further we have welcomed some crawling critters into the class. Students are enjoying witnessing the lifecycle of a monarch butterfly before their eyes

100 Days of School!

On Tuesday 30 July, Pre Primary and Year 1 classes celebrated 100 days of school! Students dressed up as 100-year-olds or showed their creativity with decorated t-shirts. Throughout the day they engaged in educational challenges centered around the theme of 100. These included creative writing tasks, solving Mathematical problems by counting in tens or creating equations that equaled 100, and tackling STEM challenges by building with 100 objects. It was a day filled with creativity, learning, and lots of fun, marking a significant milestone in our school year!

Mrs Brooke Suckling
PRE PRIMARY TEACHER

Book Week is coming in Week 6

This year’s Book Week Theme is “Reading is Magic”

The week will include quizzes, competitions, a dress up as your favourite book character, a visiting author and a Staff vs. Students' Debate.

Calista Campus: Tuesday 20 August - Dress up Day, Assembly and Parade.

Wellard Campus: Wednesday 21 August - Junior and Senior School Dress up Day and Junior School Assembly and Parade.

Ms Melanie Hill
LIBRARY TECHNICIAN - PHYSICAL RESOURCES

The Maths Active School Programme enables Schools to demonstrate that they actively extend students and teachers beyond the normal Mathematics classroom. The scheme is recognised by the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers and is already in operation in two other states.

Recently, Peter Carnley Anglican Community School was recognised with a Bronze Award.

Mrs Cara Barrett
LEARNING AREA COORDINATOR - MATHEMATICS

Our PCACS Youth Think Tank Team 2024 had success in the Super Preliminary Round of the South Metro Health Services Youth Think Tank on Thursday 25 July at Emmanuel Catholic College.

This year's problem statement is:
"How might we improve the accessibility of mental health services for young people, ensuring that they can easily find, access and utilise the support they need, regardless of their location, background or financial status?"

Our PCACS team showed skills in teamwork and collaboration, as well as a thoughtful knowledge of the content, that allowed their final solution to stand out against the solid competition from Emmanuel.

The team is excited to develop the idea further and represent PCACS at the competition final in the months to come.

The judges for the event were:
• Tim Leen, Executive Director Mental Health and Transformation
• Dr Daniela Vecchio, Head of Service for Mental Health (FSH) and Psychiatrist
• Mr Psanoudakis, Head of eLearning, Emmanuel Catholic College

Student team members:
• Hayley (Year 10)
• Audrey (Year 10)
• Kirsten (Year 12)
• Sahej (Year 12)
• Yeushabelle  (Year 12)
• Claire (Year 12)
• Charlette (Year 12)

Ms Bev Wild
SENIOR SCHOOL TEACHER - TIDES

Capturing the Beauty of Kings Park

On a typical Winter's day, our Year 10 Digital Technologies students embarked on an exciting excursion to Kings Park in Perth. This outing was a pivotal part of their photography unit, designed to immerse students in the principles and techniques of digital photography, specifically focusing on landscapes and portraits. The aim was to enhance their skills in capturing and communicating ideas through imagery, which is essential for documenting artwork, schematics, and models effectively.

Kings Park, with its breathtaking diversity of flora, provided the perfect backdrop for our budding photographers. The students were encouraged to experiment with various photographic concepts such as focal length, image circle, angle of view, depth of focus, exposure time, and contrast range whilst learning about the Indigenous seasons and its unique flora.

The Year 10 Digital Technologies excursion to Kings Park was not just an educational experience but also an inspiring one. It allowed students to connect with nature, express their creativity, and refine their photographic skills. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and the stunning images they will undoubtedly produce in the future.

Mrs Natascha Clark
LEARNING AREA COORDINATOR - TECHNOLOGIES

The Governor's Prayer Breakfast took place this morning and Mrs Hunt attended this event in Burswood accompanied by Year 10 students, Sophie and Hannah, and Year 11 students, Izaiah and Nandita.

This is an annual event where state leaders join with the community in fellowship and prayer for Western Australia, displaying unity across the denominations. This year the guest speakers were His Excellency The Honourable Chris Dawson AMP and Michael Raiter.

Despite the early start, the students enjoyed the breakfast and atmosphere. It was an honour to be invited and involved in this community event.

Western Power will be recruiting four school-based trainees to commence in 2025, to complete the traineeship over years 11 and 12. The trainees will be required to attend the workshop one day a week and MTA WA Training will provide the training on site at the workshop. The students will however be required to complete a portion of written work during or out of school hours.

Picton Depot – Cert II Automotive Vehicle Servicing Technology (AUR20520)

Northam Depot - Cert II Automotive Vehicle Servicing Technology (AUR20520)

South Metro Depot (Forrestdale) – Cert II Automotive Electrical Technology (AUR20420) – please note that there is no public transport to this depot.

Kewdale Depot - Cert II Automotive Vehicle Servicing Technology (AUR20520)

Below are the links to submit applications: -

• Western Power – School Based Traineeship – Picton
• Western Power – School Based Traineeship – South Metro Depot
• Western Power – School Based Traineeship – Kewdale (Major Projects)
• Western Power – School Based Traineeship – Northam

Application for all the above positions will close on 30 August 2024. 

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