Secondary News

Welcome to Term 2! We are excited to have students back on campus and we look forward to an inspiring term. I trust that your families enjoyed the Easter period together and had a chance to reflect upon God’s incredible love for each of us. We ended Term 1 on a high note, with Faith Week, the Surf Lifesaving Carnival and Adventurous Journey all happening just before the Easter break. These occasions are invaluable opportunities for students to participate in our school community and to demonstrate growth in the character traits that are valued at ACC, such as resilience, teamwork and perseverance. I loved seeing the enthusiasm that our students showed in participating in the Surf Lifesaving Carnival, despite the wind and waves. It was a very enjoyable occasion! A huge congratulations to Mr Thomas and staff who made the day so successful. Thanks also to all of our parent volunteers who nourished our students with the P&F fundraising sausage sizzle.

Surf Lifesaving Carnival

Our third annual Surf Lifesaving Carnival was a great success. We love our Surf Lifesaving Carnival as it celebrates more than merely swimming. Our students develop skills in the surf, board skills, running, teamwork and strategy. The added bonus is that these skills can be useful for community service. We also love taking advantage of our amazing location as students walked from the campus down to the surf club at Binalup (Middleton Beach).

At our assembly on Monday, Mr Thomas announced our surf lifesaving champions for 2023. Our winning house from the day was Magpies - Go Magpies!

Cross Country

Our ACC cross country event has been moved forward to this Thursday 4th May. This is due to an earlier than usual inter-school cross country event at Great Southern Grammar. The ACC cross country event will take place during Period 3 and 4, with a start time of 12.30pm. Parents are most welcome to attend. The interschool cross country is on Monday 8th May.

Outdoor Education Expedition and Adventurous Journey

The Outdoor Education Expedition for Year 11 and 12 and the Adventurous Journey for Year 11 was a fantastic experience. This year, our Year 11 and 12 Outdoor Ed students partnered with Year 11s to complete their Adventurous Journey for their Duke of Edinburgh awards. They hiked out at Cheynes Beach and Waychinicup, braved the weather, and enjoyed both the sights and the company. Some highlights included spotting a pod of dolphins, Mr Sephton almost catching a salmon bare-handed, and some very interesting attempts at cooking pancakes! Year 12 practiced leadership strategies, including democratic and autocratic leadership styles as they directed and encouraged the team to reach their destinations safely.

Uniforms

With this cooler weather that has suddenly blown in, it has been lovely to see that most students have come to school dressed in their correct winter uniform. Our ACC uniform unifies our students, both here in Albany and across our national network of schools, and it is a source of pride for thousands of ACC students. Developing the skill to wear a uniform neatly is important for many contexts throughout life, from being a member of a sporting team to an employee or part of a community group. Uniform wearing demonstrates qualities such as responsibility, organisation, and respect. Unfortunately, a minority of students continue to make poor uniform choices. Some common areas of difficulty are:

• Formal and sport uniform cannot be mixed, ie. sports jackets cannot be worn with formal uniform.

• Correct socks must be worn

• Formal uniforms must be worn with black, leather school shoes

• Hair must be neatly tied back, a natural colour and no extreme styles are permitted

• Necklaces or chains, rings, bracelets, noserings, and multiple earrings are not permitted

• Boys’ shirts are to be tucked in

• Uniforms should fit correctly (not oversized or baggy, not too tight or short)

The winter rain jackets are very warm and can be a great addition to either the formal or sports uniform. Please note that they are quite large, so check the sizing before you order. Girls are permitted to wear plain navy or black tights (not leggings) with their formal skirt. Tights should not be worn with socks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To assist our students with developing the skills to wear their uniforms correctly, where students are incorrectly dressed we may require parents to deliver the correct uniform items before their student can participate in lessons OR parents may be required to collect their student from school. Where incorrect socks or other items are consistently worn, the College may issue the student with the correct uniform item and an invoice. Where additional jewelry is worn (eg. bracelets, necklaces, additional piercings, dangly earrings), students will be required to remove these items and submit these to the office for collection at the end of the day.

ANZAC Parade

Despite the cold, students and staff demonstrated their respect at this year’s ANZAC march. Numerous students represented our school or marched with their Cadets teams. We were most impressed with the maturity demonstrated by all of our students. Pippa and Marni, our Year 12 leaders, laid a wreath to show our College’s appreciation for the men and women who made incredible sacrifices so that we might live in peace. Thank you to Heather Jefferies for coordinating and leading our ANZAC march this year.

Year 8 Adventure Camp

We are very excited for our Year 8 Adventure Camp this week. Students will be staying in Katanning at the Kobeelya Accommodation Centre. They will be taking part in a range of fun activities, including archery tag and a treasure hunt, in addition to visiting the adult-sized playground. We are again teaming up with Cru-West for this camp. They have a team of young people who will be running activities and Christian discovery sessions with our students, and we are really looking forward to a joyful experience.

Examinations

Exams are approaching very quickly for most of our secondary students. Exams can be a great opportunity for students to demonstrate the depth of their learning over an extended period. For Junior Secondary students, exams are a good way to practice some of the skills and habits that are necessary for success in Senior Secondary studies, such as time management, exam technique, and study skills. Exams will cover content from Term One and Two and staff will be providing students with revision guides to assist them in their preparations.

To support students with their study, Pastoral Care teachers will be covering study skills and techniques in their Extended PC lessons. Year 7 students have already begun looking at ideas such as spaced practice, interleaved practice, and retrieval practice. In addition, students will be revising how to use Cornell note-taking, flashcards, and mind maps. It is really important that students establish a regular routine for study, and ensure that they maintain balance, ie. get a good sleep, eat healthy, regular meals, and keep up with exercise.

More detailed examination schedules will be distributed shortly.

Happening on Campus

Lunchtime clubs are underway. Clubs are a great way to get students involved and connected, plus they can learn new skills. Creative Club on Tuesdays is going well with students learning to crochet. A new addition is Dutch Blitz on Thursdays, where students will learn how to play this fast-paced and very fun game.

Cadets continue this term and Year 9 and 10 have been learning boxing. It was great to see them learning some essential skills in self-defence, while also improving their fitness.

Year 10 Life Essentials students are keen to support a couple of great causes this year. Firstly, they are hoping to raise $1400 to rescue a child from trafficking. Students have been working with Destiny Rescue and their work in rescuing children from slavery, trafficking and exploitation throughout the world and it costs Destiny Rescue $1400 to rescue a child who has been trafficked, so our Year 10s are aiming to sponsor one rescue. Secondly, they will be running a food drive and collecting donations for Food Bank. Year 10s will also be volunteering at Food Bank later this year. Look out for more details about how to donate to either of these causes.

There will be an opportunity later this term for Year 10 girls to apply to participate in the Wise Women camp. Participating students will visit Murdoch University to learn more about women in STEM (Science, Technologies, Engineering, Mathematics). There will be hands-on sessions in the labs, lectures from women leading their fields in research and technology plus a tour of the campus. More details will be sent to Year 10 girls soon.

Year 9 students are working hard to complete their Principal’s Exhibition project. This semester-long project gives students the opportunity to research a topic that they are passionate about, to create something linked with their product, and present their ideas to an audience. We have students researching soil types, motorbike jumps, sunflower growth, and even elephant conservation. I am really looking forward to seeing the culmination of their work toward the end of this term.

Plans are currently being finalised for the Year 7 Sydney and Canberra camp. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to see some of Australia’s major landmarks, in addition to learning more about the democratic system and our national capital. Experiences such as interstate camps can be a highlight of a child’s education. Learning to manage emotions, luggage, and travel can provide invaluable learning opportunities for our young people and we are confident that Year 7s will thrive with this experience.