Primary News

Building the Foundation for a Great Year of Learning

2026 is well and truly underway, and our Primary School classrooms are already buzzing with concentrated energy.

During these first few weeks, our main focus has been establishing clear behavioral expectations and daily routines. We believe that setting these habits early is essential to creating a calm, focused, and supportive learning environment for every student.

Our Bi-Weekly Focus

At ACC, we utilise "Classroom Norms"—common expectations shared across every grade level. To help students master these, we introduce a new focus every fortnight.

Our first focus was Entry Expectations. We’ve been practicing exactly how students transition into the classroom, ensuring they arrive ready to learn with a positive mindset.

We are incredibly pleased with how quickly our students have embraced these routines. Seeing the classes settle so smoothly into their daily rhythms has been a highlight of the term so far.

Thank you for your continued support in reinforcing these positive habits at home!

Growth Camp

The Year 6 Growth Camp is a three-day camp at the Kennedy Camping Centre (Torbay) where students are given the opportunity to face challenges and experience growth. The Year 6 students  enjoyed activities from swimming at Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks, and hiking the Point Possession trail and Bibbleman track, where they absorbed the beauty of their surroundings. They were then inspired by King David and his psalms to create their own works of wonder.

Our 2026 Leaders

The Year 6 students will prepare in the coming weeks to run for Primary Leadership positions. Students and staff will vote for 4 leaders from our current leading class. Our Year 6 Leaders will be positive role models who guide and support our school community. They will be trusted members of the student body, chosen for their demonstration of strong leadership qualities, including:

Courage, Humility, Respect, Initiative, Self-control, and Trust – the values we call C.H.R.I.S.T.

I can’t wait to hear their speeches.

Surf Life Saving: Making a Splash

The new term has kicked off with a splash as our Upper Primary students began their weekly Surf Life Saving classes, led by the wonderful Mrs Rachel Bresanello and Mr Matt Lambe. We have been blessed with beautifully warm conditions, and the water clarity has improved significantly over the past few weeks, providing the perfect environment for our ocean sessions.

So far, we have focused on assessing each student's swimming ability and water safety skills. I have been deeply impressed by the grit and determination shown by all Year 5 and 6 students. It has been a joy to watch many of our students step outside their comfort zones, taking positive risks and building their confidence in the surf.

These lessons are about more than just swimming; they are about developing courage and respect for the incredible natural environment we enjoy here in Albany.

2026 ADPSSA Interschool Swimming Carnival

Following our successful debut at the ADPSSA Interschool Swimming Competition last year, we are thrilled to be preparing our 2026 ACC Swim Team!

Building on last year's fantastic results, we are expanding our squad this year. For the first time, we are excited to include our Year 4 students alongside our Year 5 and 6 competitors. This is a wonderful opportunity for our younger athletes to experience the excitement of interschool sport and represent our school community.

Event Details

• Date: Monday, 23rd March 2026

• Location: Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre (A.L.A.C.)

• Participants: Selected students from Years 4, 5, and 6.

We Need Your Help!

Events of this scale are only possible through the generous support of our community. We are currently seeking parent volunteers to assist on the day with:

• Lane Timing: Keeping track of our athletes' personal bests.

• Marshaling: Helping students get to their races on time.

If you are available to help and have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC), please email Mrs Rachel Bresanello to register your interest. Thank you for supporting our students as they dive into this year's competition!

Pre-Primary Marching Orders

Our Pre-Primary students have been very busy developing their "out and about" skills! To prepare for future excursions, the children have been practicing walking safely in lines and learning to respond instantly to whistle commands.

These foundational skills were put to the test this week during a special visit to our school’s permaculture garden and our famous mulberry tree. It was a joy to see the students exploring the natural world right here on our campus.

Mrs Jensen shared how incredibly proud she is of the class. Their responsiveness to instructions and their growing maturity while moving through the school grounds have been a highlight of the week. Well done, Pre-Primary!

A Journey Through Music at ACC

Our Music Program continues to be a vibrant part of school life, offering a seamless journey for students as they discover their creative gifts. We are blessed with a dedicated team that nurtures our students at every stage:

The Foundational Years

The journey begins in Lower Primary with Mrs Louise Shenfield, who introduces our youngest students to foundational musical concepts. These building blocks are then expertly extended by Mrs Liz Cooper, creating a smooth transition as students move into Upper Primary and begin exploring instrumental music with Mrs Tammy Goetz.

Our Growing School Band

The Instrumental Program flows naturally into our School Band, specifically designed for students who are new to music. This ensemble provides a supportive environment where students can:

• Pick up their very first instrument.

• Learn the fundamentals of reading sheet music.

• Build confidence alongside their peers.

Mrs Goetz’s expertise and dedication shine through as she nurtures these budding talents, ensuring every student has a strong musical foundation to stand on.

Join the Choir: Lift Your Voice!

One of the standout features of our program is the Primary Choir, led by Mrs Cooper. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to experience the joy of performing together.

• When: Every Friday morning, starting at 8:00am.

• Who: Open to all students in Years 3–6.

• Performance Highlights: The choir performs at various assemblies throughout the year and takes center stage at the Albany Entertainment Centre for the combined Primary Schools Music Festival.

• Upcoming Highlight: The Choir is currently working hard on a very special song for our Faith Week Assembly. We would love to see as many voices as possible joining us for this meaningful performance!

Performing at the Music Festival is a highlight for our students; they are consistently inspired and motivated by seeing the talents of students from other schools across the region.

Note: We still have a few spaces available! If your child enjoys singing, we encourage them to come along this Friday and give it a try.