Primary News

We are at the halfway point of Term 3 and Spring is hinting it is around the corner. We know it is Term Three when the discussion in the playground is what one will wear to the Book Week parade. Teachers and children keenly prepared their costumes and put on a fantastic display!

Olympics

Across the school we have enjoyed watching the Olympics, learning more about the sports and the athletes. Ollie in Year 2 brought a real Olympic torch from the Sydney 2000 Olympics. His Mum was specially chosen to carry the torch. The 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay was the transferral of the Olympic Flame to Sydney, Australia, that built up to the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Track Tuesday

The mountain bike track is growing in popularity. Mr Pirga, Mr De Lucia, Mr Pitman and Mr Ellis developed some more jumps and tracks.  The students, both high school and primary school are keenly helping out, designing, constructing and testing their plans. It is a real life Design and Technology lesson, at lunchtimes. Just don’t let them know or it might take the fun out of it.

Ties

 At ACC we want our students looking and feeling great. We are proud of our uniform and thank you for your help in sending your children to school looking smart.

The most forgotten part of the uniform at the moment is the boy’s ties. I understand that at times they are hard to find. Many parents have a system of hooks inside the front door to hang the ties on as the boys enter the house. 

We have also heard parents' feedback about the small ties with the elastic catches breaking easily. A tip is to attach the tie to some elastic from Spotlight. 

If you have any other tips to share about uniforms, please let me know as I can share with our community in the newsletter.

I now have two ties to lend for the day in my office, at uniform check in the morning. If a child needs a tie, they can borrow one and return it that day.

Mandarin

In Mandarin, Min-Ju Ollis and the students made jiaozi or Chinese dumplings. Jiaozi typically consists of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped into a thinly rolled piece of dough, which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. The students then keenly lined up and used their Mandarin manners to thank Min-ju. There is nothing like food to suddenly help the language memory. This week the students are practising using chopsticks in Mr Findlay’s and Min-Ju Ollis’s class.

Learning From the Past

Our Year 4 students recently enjoyed a special history excursion to Patrick Taylor Cottage, the Albany Convict Gaol Museum, and the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial. It was a fun and engaging experience where they not only had a great time but also learned about Albany's rich history. At the Albany Convict Gaol Museum, students explored the stark living conditions of early prisoners and learned about the challenges faced by those incarcerated there. At Patrick Taylor Cottage, the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia, students were fascinated by the authentic 1800s household items and gained insight into the daily lives of Albany’s early settlers. Our final visit was to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial, where students played and enjoyed the stunning statues and breathtaking views. This excursion provided a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of our local heritage.

State Cross Country

State Cross Country - an experience like no other. Despite the event being canceled three hours into the drive, we charged ahead and continued to Perth. Embracing an Olympic theme inspired by the teachings of the book of Daniel, the team engaged in various activities: bouncing, diving, preparing food, and running.

After a run along the beach and a rattly, stormy night, we headed out early for a session at Bounce. The students enjoyed trampolining and rock climbing. Some students challenged their fear of heights, supported by their peers. I love seeing how proud they are of themselves when they overcome a challenge. They grow in confidence every time this happens. For some on camp, it is the worry of being away from home, eating different food, or just being out of their comfort zone.

We reflected on the life of Daniel and how God’s plan for his life built him up in challenges of courage. Daniel survived a night with hungry lions with God’s protection when he was quite an old man. We thought about how he was a great friend, faithful to God in a strange land with different cultures, and humble even though he had great talents.

Each member reflected on attributes they wanted to improve in themselves and uplifted their teammates with affirmations. I would like to show appreciation for Rachel Bresanello, our sport teacher, who developed this yearly camp and who also ran the Run Club in preparation for the race.

On reflection, despite the disappointment of not racing, this was a rewarding and growth opportunity for all and it will make us appreciate events in the future.

Kindergarten 2025

We are now taking enrollments for 2025 in Kindergarten and Pre Primary. Kindergarten will be three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Kindergarten has limited places so please complete an enrolment online and let any interested friends know of this opportunity. Please share the news.