Primary News

I appreciate this time of year. All the hard work that has been happening across the primary is reaching fruition. Our school's sporting programs are reaching their culmination with vibrant carnivals that showcase the growth in fitness and endurance among our primary school children. Academically, testing is underway to provide evidence of reading, writing, and numeracy progress. The students' Visual Art skills are evident in their finished compositions, and the earlier instrumental lessons are now producing coherent notes and recognisable songs.

The Open Night displayed the learning journey our students have taken since the beginning of the year.

As teachers, we take this time to reflect on the progress made, the lessons we've taught, and the enjoyable moments with our students. It's also a bittersweet period as we prepare to bid farewell to the students we've helped shape into a learning culture, as they move on to the next phase.

This is the life of a teacher – you care for your students, and eventually, they move on. Fortunately, at ACC, we can still catch up with our Year 6 students in the high school hallways or playground, offering continuity and reassurance for everyone involved.

Year 6 Leavers Shirts

We're thrilled to share some exciting news with you! Our 2024 Year 6 students at ACC Southlands will not only be a cherished group but will also have the opportunity to express their uniqueness. We are introducing specially crafted leavers shirts for this special class. The Aboriginal inspired design respects the Indigenous custodians of the land.

These shirts will feature the individual names of each student on the back and proudly display our school logo on the front. These shirts will serve as a beautiful keepsake to commemorate your child's final year in Primary school.

Beach Clean Up

The Year 4 to 6 students embraced their roles as citizen scientists during a collaborative effort between the Keep Australia Beautiful and Tangaroa Blue foundations, as they embarked on a roadshow across the South West. This educational endeavour was spearheaded by engaging presentations from Casey and Sam, who not only captivated the students but also guided them through a meaningful microplastic cleanup initiative.

Observing the remarkable cleanliness of Middleton Beach, our designated Adopt a Spot location, served as a testament to the dedication of local individuals consistently clearing debris. The students were reminded that their school's efforts played a crucial role in maintaining this pristine environment. Recently, Casey and Sam visited Walpole, Busselton, and Denmark, where a discernible surge in debris was evident, highlighting the pressing need for community involvement in environmental stewardship.

In the afternoon, the dynamic team took the Year 4 class through an insightful audit of the collected debris. This hands-on activity involved categorising and recording data, contributing valuable information to a global research project. The students, brimming with enthusiasm, actively participated in this scientific endeavour, demonstrating a genuine interest in understanding and addressing environmental challenges.

As we reflect on this empowering experience, it is clear that our school is making significant strides in fostering active citizenship and environmental custodianship. The commitment of our students to contribute to the global research project underscores the importance of instilling a sense of responsibility for our environment. With this foundation, we are poised to continue our impactful work in creating a sustainable and cleaner world for future generations. At ACC, we take this responsibility further with our understanding that God wants us to care for his gifts to us and that we honour him in our care for the world.

Jumps and Throws Day

Terrific weather and impressive results were the highlights of the 2023 Primary Jumps and Throws Day. We started our day early at Collingwood Oval for the 400 and 800 metre races, with all our students participating. Even though a medium-length run might not be everyone's strong suit, our students exhibited remarkable perseverance and determination. What was particularly heartening was how they encouraged and cheered each other on, showing great teamwork and support.

Later in the day, we moved back to the school grounds, where the weather remained favourable. As the day came to a close, Magpies were leading the way as we looked forward to the upcoming athletics carnival.

Athletics Carnival

The primary school had a terrific day out at the Albany athletics field on Friday the 3rd of November.

I was very pleased to witness the teamsmanship displayed by the students. Leading up to the carnival we have modelled and taught; congratulating competitors and encouraging others, including all, cheering on our team and students who are not place getters and representing our school in public.

We will continue these foci as we head into the Interschool carnival on Wednesday the15th.

Highlights of the day included the Kindergarten Preprimary Horse race. The class had been practising leading up to the event in their Fundamental Movement Skills program led by Mrs Burns. Jockey, Matthew Zemunik, won by a length on a horse that was in fine form.

Vicky Thorne, Jas Abrahams, Paul Reddington, Brownwyn Pitman, Tara Mitchell, Brinkley Houghton, Sarah Nash and Raegan Watson proved the talent gene pool by entering the mixed relay race against the students. Maturity won in the end with the parents teams taking out first and third place. Keep fit and training parents because I feel it will be hotly contested in 2025 and your children are only getting faster.

While all the students tried their best, a few students stood out in overall points throughout the day.

The Championships for the day were as follows;

Champion Pre Primary - Matthew Zemunik

Champion Pre Primary - Shay Dejager

Champion Year 1 Girl - Taleah Petavanik

Champion Year 1 Boy - Ollie Larson

Champion Year 2 Girl - Alba Souness and Jada Ford

Champion Year 2 Boy - Daniel Bresanello

Champion Year 3 Girl - Madison Brouwer

Champion Year 3 Boy - Jian Noquerra

Champion Year 4 Girls - Jordan Enslin

Champion Year 4 Boys - LJ Smit

Champion Year 5 Girls - Harmony Randell

Champion Year 5 Boys - Jed Abrahams Harche Macquinto

Champion Year 6 Girls - Shelby Burns

Champion Year 6 Boys - Malachi Bresanello

The Magpies retained their lead throughout the day and took the shield for 2023 convincingly.

Kangaroos - 284

Magpies - 339

From the results Mrs Bresanello has chosen a team to represent ACC at the Albany District Schools Sporting Association Interschool carnival on the 15th of November. All parents are welcome to come down on the day and cheer our team on. ACC is regarded as a small team who punch above their weight in athletics and that behaves beautifully.

I look forward to attending with the students and pray that the weather is kind.

Celebration of Learning Preparation

Classes are keenly practising carefully chosen Christmas carols, acting in Nativities and polishing up dancing skills in preparation for our Celebration of Learning assembly at Living Water Church on the 24th of November. At this assembly the students will be honoured with their final year report. Awards will be presented to worthy recipients. This year we have added a special award sponsored by Christian Schools Australia. This award will be called the Community Character Award. This will be awarded to a student who displays the principles that Jesus Christ holds as important.

A great description of these values comes from the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Living History with Years 1 and 2.

The Year One and Two students have been studying how family life has changed or remained the same over time, along with developing their historical understanding through exploring the history of their local area and the lessons we can learn from remembering the past. To enhance their learning the Year 1 and 2 students went on an excursion to Strawberry Hill Farm - the oldest colonial farm in Western Australia, the Mokare statue and the forts at Mount Adelaide. They had a great day out touring the old buildings, drawing the sites and playing old-fashioned games.