School Newsletter 15 September 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of the School Newsletter!

This year, Term 3 at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School has been all about the Performing Arts. It started with the outstanding production of Aladdin Junior, with over 80 staff and students involved. Following this event, we hosted the Anglican Schools Commission (ASC) Piano Competition where PMACS students competed against students from 10 other ASC Schools. Next came the fabulous results achieved by our Dance and Drama students at the Act, Belong, Commit YOH Fest in Subiaco, with several groups proceeding to the finals in October. The final Performing Arts event for this term are the Primary and Secondary Instrumental Concerts, where students have the opportunity to showcase their musical talents through both solo and ensemble performances. There is no doubt that we have some very talented performers here at Peter Moyes and I encourage you to keep an eye on our socials and School App for details of upcoming performance events.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP
We had a very strong field of candidates to determine the 2024 Student Leadership Team. After an extensive process including three speeches, peer voting and an interview with members of the Executive Team, I am pleased to announce the 2024 Student Leadership Team as follows:

Head Girl – Sophie Byrne
Head Boy – Mitchell Bennett
Deputy Head Girl – Dana Harrison
Deputy Head Boy – Tommy Yang
Chapel Prefect – Anke Basson

These students are congratulated, and I also acknowledge every student who nominated for a position as they are all impressive individuals and natural leaders. The next stage of leadership recruitment is the appointment of House Captains and Student Representatives, with further announcements to be shared in due course.

MASTER PLAN
I am pleased to advise that the School has recently commenced work on a new Master Plan. Master planning is a comprehensive process that will out a roadmap for the development and enhancement of our school's physical infrastructure, academic programs, and overall educational experience. The School’s previous Master Plan was developed in 1999 and was officially completed in 2019 with the opening of St Gregory’s Chapel, a very significant moment in the School’s history. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant the next iteration of the School’s Mater Plan was put on hold after some preliminary discussions in 2020, however we are now ready to resume!

In the coming months, we will be seeking to engage with all key stakeholders, including students, staff, parents, and the broader community, to contribute towards our next Master Plan. This work commences in the final week of Term 3 with groups of students from across the School providing their views. Rest assured, there will be multiple opportunities for all key stakeholders to provide feedback and input, and we are very much looking forward to identifying the short, medium, and long-term priorities for our school. I will share further details with all families in due course.

R U OK DAY
A key event during Term 3 every year is R U OK Day. As you may already know RUOK is a suicide prevention charity in Australia, reminding people that having meaningful conversations with mates and loved ones could save lives. This year the event was celebrated on Thursday 14 September with a picnic on the North Oval. Fortunately the weather remained clear for the event, and it was great to see students get into the spirit of the day by dressing in yellow and participating in various activities. I thank the School Counsellors for their work in coordinating this important event and for the staff members who contributed to making the day a success. It is such an invaluable reminder that we all need to look out for each other, and checking in with friends and family should happen frequently.

EXAMS AND HOLIDAYS
As the end of term approaches, we turn our attention to the Year 12 mock exams that are about to commence. I encourage all year 12’s to maintain their focus as the finishing line is fast approaching and I want you to achieve to your potential during your last weeks at our school. Now is not the time to rest on your laurels; I promise you that the extra effort you apply now will pay handsome dividends later. So stay focussed and make sure you seek the support of teachers, family and friends as needed.

In concluding, I would like to wish all families a restful school holiday break, and hopefully some respite from the wet weather of the past few weeks. We are very much looking forward to an enjoyable Term 4 as we celebrate our Year 12 Valedictory and the outstanding achievements of our students at various end of year events.

Every Blessing.

Benjamin Lomas
PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Kaya and Wanju, to our Primary School Newsletter. I am pleased to share with you the latest news, stories and events from our school community. As we bid farewell to another term, it's time to reflect on the incredible achievements and memorable moments that have made Term 3 truly exceptional. 

As we embrace the Noongar season of Djilba, we eagerly anticipate the changes this transitional time brings and look forward to the upcoming summer months. 

Today, I am thrilled to shine a spotlight on some exciting news regarding our Primary Students who recently competed in the YOH FEST Primary Competition, which was won by Peter Moyes! Their performance of the song 'Soldier' was absolutely fantastic! Congratulations to Mrs. Leadon and her 17 dancers for this outstanding achievement! Here they are finding out that they won:

Yesterday, we had a lovely surprise visit from Mrs Amanda Chila who came to visit the school after a long absence from being unwell. It was a delight for all the students who were keen to have a Mrs Chila hug. 

Last night, we had the privilege of hosting the Primary Instrumental Music Concert at the Allan Shaw Centre. The growth and bravery displayed by our students, whether performing solo or in ensemble groups, on instruments like voice, strings, ukulele, guitar, drums, and piano, as well as in rock bands, was truly remarkable. Parents and our dedicated peripatetic teachers would have undoubtedly been immensely proud. The evening was expertly coordinated by our relieving Primary Music Teacher, Mr. Lucian Watkins. 

Our school community recently united for two fantastic Athletics Carnivals, expertly coordinated by the ever-energetic Mr Senior and Mr Hocking. What made these days even more special was the enthusiastic participation of students from Kindy to Year 6. These events fostered friendly competition and nurtured a strong sense of unity among our students. 

To all our recent participants in whether it was TOMS, in our Athletics, or Music or in the classroom receiving a Merit Certificate, Honour Award or Aussie of the Month Award, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for your tremendous efforts as part of your educational journey.  

Let's take a moment to celebrate some of the highlights of this term: 

• A wonderful NAIDOC Week celebration featuring amazing Season Murals soon to be put on display. 
• The Lower Primary School's 100 Days of School celebration. 
• Victory in winning the State Cross Country Carnival in early August! 
• A successful Book Week filled with engaging activities, including the Book Week parade. 
• Scoring two perfect days at both the Upper Primary and Lower Primary Athletic Carnivals, with strong family support. 
• The Primary Peter Moyes Day service and activities. 
• Swiftly resolving and finding a new venue for Swimming Lessons at short notice, thanks to Mr Senior and our super accommodating staff. 
• Triumph in being the winner of the (YOH) Festival. 
• Hosting an extraordinary Instrumental Music Concert. 

Best of luck to our athletes performing in the NIPSSA Athletics Carnival in the last week of the term. 

To fully understand and be prepared to find solutions for world problems, our students still need the basics, and it is important for us to ensure they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of Literacy and Numeracy; however, we aim to go much further than mere competence through explicit teaching and wish for our students to have the skills to master complex problems and then be able to apply these to real-life contexts. 

With this, we continue to look for and find opportunities for student agency and the ability to teach students about the capabilities they will need for life. Our commitment to student agency and developing questioning, curiosity, and problem-solving skills remains unwavering.  

You may wonder how NAPLAN fits into our primary school philosophy and plans. NAPLAN tests are here to stay, and we believe that the work we do complements these assessments. However, we aspire to provide our students with more than just a numerical score. Our goal is to equip them with a versatile toolbox of skills that they can carry with them, building upon them at each age and stage of their academic journey. 

It has indeed been a bustling term, and we acknowledge that there is still much work ahead. I hope that all our families will find time to enjoy the upcoming holidays, relishing moments of togetherness. I look forward to continuing our conversations in Term Four. 

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to Mr Ben Duff for his dedication and hard work during his time teaching 5.2 this term, filling in for Mr Pini on long service leave, and to Miss Megan Mech for her outstanding teaching in 3.1 on behalf of Mr Scott Horrigan. Both classes have thrived under their guidance, quickly establishing strong rapport and connections with their new teachers. Miss Mech will take the last term to finish the year in 3.2. 

Be sure to visit the Primary School and thank you for staying connected with us. 

Warm regards, 

Mr Roderick Wood
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL - PRIMARY SCHOOL 

Enjoy these photos of our dancers finding out they won YOHFEST, and Mrs Chila visiting her class.

During Week 3 of this term, our school was buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Book Week 2023. This year's Book Week was a resounding success, filled with captivating activities. One of the highlights of Book Week 2023 was our special guest, Dean Morris, an inspirational young man from WA. Dean is renowned for his remarkable efforts in raising millions of dollars for stray dogs, and he brought along his furry companion, Otis, a Shar Pei cross. Otis, was a pro at interacting with the children and they loved him. To learn more about Dean and Otis's incredible journey, you can visit www.gosac.info  

The Book Fair arrived in the Primary School Library for the entire week. Students had the opportunity to explore a wide array of books, from thrilling adventures to heartwarming tales. It was a book lover's paradise! The pinnacle of our Book Week was the much-anticipated Book Week Parade. The creativity of our students knew no bounds as they transformed into their favourite book characters. From Minecraft Steve to the elegant Frozen Elsa, and even a few Ronaldo’s, our school was teeming with a diverse cast of characters from the world of literature. However, the Year 6 cohort stole the show this year by turning the school into a mini Smurf village. Decked out in blue from head to toe, our Year 6 students brought the Smurfs to life with their infectious enthusiasm. Mr. Cowap, who dressed up as the infamous Gargamel, added an extra dose of humour as he tried to catch all the Smurfs in true Gargamel fashion. 

This incredible week of literary celebration wouldn't have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Mrs. Mawby and Ms. McLeod, so a big thank you to them.

We’re thrilled to announce that we have received a 2023 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant for our project, Merenj From Noongar Boodja (Food From Noongar Land).

Our school is one of 1,107 primary schools and early learning centres across Australia to receive a Woolworths Junior Landcare grant to help grow our next generation of environmental champions.

The Year 2 children and teachers are looking forward to getting their hands dirty and learning from this project, alongside their S.A.K.G project – we’ll keep you updated!

Click on the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant map to read more about our project and others.

On Friday 18th August after weeks of choir practises, our Y3-6 choir students represented Peter Moyes ACS in the One Big Voice concert at the RAC Arena, Perth.

It was an amazing experience for all involved! After a mass rehearsal with thousands of students from schools across WA it was time to open the arena doors for the concert to begin! PMACS took part in the matinee concert and had a fantastic position, right at the front near the stage. Throughout the day our students were superb ambassadors for our school, displaying exemplary behaviour and manners whilst performing the ten songs and choreography. A huge well done to all the students and a BIG thank you to Mrs Goosen and Mr Wood for accompanying us.

Kate Gair
Y1-6 choir teacher

Throughout Term 3, Mrs Pestel has led the teaching of programming and operating EV3 Lego Robots in Year 5 and 6.

Students have been learning how to identify and describe the functions of robotics motors and sensors. They were required to programme loop and switch commands towards operating the robot to complete simple and complex challenges.

Students had to apply troubleshooting steps to solve problems and work collaboratively with a mix of partners throughout the sessions.  Persistence, determination and resilience was certainly put to the test!  Whilst highly engaged, all these skills and opportunities continue to ensure our students are future ready!

Seven students from Year 6 Academic Extension worked incredibly hard this term in co-curricular and their lunchtimes to prepare for their entry in the Tournament of Minds Regional Finals Competition held at ECU Joondalup on Saturday 2nd September.

They worked collaboratively to perform a script and construct props and costumes towards a problem within the Social Sciences category called ‘Clash of the Ages’.  They named themselves the ‘ArTyFacTs’ and received outstanding feedback and recognition for their Long Term Challenge, achieving an additional Merit award above other interschool teams.

Huge congratulations to Thomas Fallan, Lola Vines, Charlotte Smyth, Imogen Young, Josh Whelan, Clarrie White and Lara Branford for their commitment and efforts.

Mrs Pestel.

5.1 recently spent time working out a scale to represent how far the planets are from the sun. We then went out on the oval to test our maths, and to see for ourselves how close / far away Earth is from other planets and the sun. If you squint, you can see the Pluto all the way in Nature Play. Students were very surprised with how ‘close’ the terrestrial planets were to each other, and then how quickly spread out the remaining planets were.

This years Lower Primary carnival took place on Friday, 25 September. It was perfect weather with beautiful sunshine for the entirety of the day. It was a terrific carnival with all students showing great team spirit and sportsmanship in all events. The parent race was a main highlight of the day. Thank you to the classroom teachers and parent helpers for their efforts on the day. Also a big thank you to all the Primary House and Student captains for taking control and running the team game events. A thoroughly enjoyable morning.

UniPrep Schools Five Year Anniversary

Earlier in September parents attended an information evening the process of introducing next year’s Year 12 cohort to the School’s UniPrep Schools program. Remarkably it is the 5-year anniversary since we started with the program in late 2019 – completed by 16 of our 2020 Leavers.
There continues to be growing interest in the ECU UniPrep Schools at PMACS. Since its inception with the School recognised by ECU as a Foundation School, nearly 100 students have benefited from the unique program that sets up a student for success in their tertiary studies.

ECU has found that students who are beneficiaries of UniPrep Schools go on to have 85% success rate in the first year of their undergraduate studies – a much higher rate than students who have not completed the program. Part of this success comes from the delivery of the program. The teaching and learning resources are provided by ECU via the ECU Learning Management System.
UniPrep Schools students learn how the management system works, they are familiar with types of content and assessment requirements for units and the marking of assessments are at university standard. In addition, they learn that 20% of the assessment comes from the cover page and bibliography!

The 2022 Leavers who graduated with endorsed course grades from UniPrep Schools are studying a variety of courses. Those who applied for ECU are taking Education, Science, Commerce, Technology, Psychology, Media & Communication, Criminology & Justice, Health & Social Sciences, Marketing, and Exercise & Sports Science degrees, to name a few.
Another reason that our students benefit from UniPrep Schools program is for the transferable skills gained from their studies. These range from a deep knowledge about the nuances of the APA referencing system, use the Cornell note-taking method, practice email etiquette to organisation and time management skills.

Our 2024 Leavers will take the usual 4 units of the program – rebranded to adapt to the growing use of AI and the trend of broader tertiary intake of students from more than just direct entry via students who studied Year 12 on an ATAR Pathway.

Unit 1 – Future Ready Skills prepare our students for the knowledge skills and concepts to successfully complete assignments

Unit 2 – Academic Literacies further hone their skills in academic writing inquiry search synthesis, evaluation and annotated bibliographies.

Unit 3 – Society and Cultural Studies continues to scaffold learning in critical thinking covering a range of contemporary Australian social issues, including philosophy, immigration, politics & gender and epistemology.

Unit 4 – Mathematics reviews all aspects of mathematics including financial literacy, Pythagoras’ Theorem, Algebraic expressions Pi and order of operations.

The students complete UniPrep Schools as one of their six courses of study, usually on a General Pathway and demonstrating strong English grades in Year 11. However, as the landscape of tertiary entry becomes less traditional, we will see a student taking the program with a blended course-load of General courses, possibly with one ATAR and a school delivered Certificate.

Increasingly, tertiary institutions will want to see their undergraduates demonstrating resilience backed with a broad knowledge base, and who have demonstrated a social-conscious while at secondary school.

Peter Moyes ASC is well placed to provide such students. Teaching and learning is based on the School Values which underpin their secondary schooling from Year 7 through to Year 12.  It is the aspiration of our teachers to produce students who demonstrate the qualities of a student who is a Thinker, Resilient, Open-minded, Prepared for challenge, Interdependent and a skilled Communicator no matter their academic capabilities.

The current class of UniPrep Schools with 19 students has been expertly delivered by Mr Trevor Schubert. Two of the students were interviewed to give their view of the program – one will be studying an undergraduate degree in Nursing and the other is taking a Sports Business Management degree.

The first, when asked as to how UniPrep has enabled them to overcome a challenge which at the start of the course seemed to be daunting, replied;

“It has helped me manage my workload and learning how not to leave tasks to the last minute through better time management.”

The other student said that the benefit of learning UniPrep Schools is that;

“It has taught me things that will be helpful when I go to university. I already know what to expect.”

What is clear is that in the five years that we have delivered the UniPrep Schools program, all of these students have demonstrated the values of a Peter Moyes education. They are well-rounded, confident and prepared citizens who continue to shine in our community.

Natalie Shaw
Associate Principal Teaching and Learning

PMACS promotes good mental health through positive behaviours, and Term 3’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Day is the Nationally acknowledged R u OK? Day.

The message behind R U OK? Day is encouraging us all to check in on others to make sure they are doing okay and having those difficult conversations when they aren't.

We encourage you all to take the time to check-in with yourself...and if you have the capacity, others. We need to ASK, LISTEN, ENCOURAGE ACTION and CHECK IN.

This term we have focused on 'building relationships' and 'shared positive experiences'.  Across the term we enjoyed a number of different activities: Mindful Colouring Monday, Table Tennis Tournament Tuesday, Team Challenge and Toastie Tuesday, Workout Wednesday, Turn it Up Thursday, Fairy Bread Friday, and Friday friendly flicks, in addition to some House Connect time focusing on the messages behind R u OK? Day and becoming an ‘Ear to Listen’.  And not forgetting the many other relationship building  and positive activities the students were involved with this term such as the Chess Tournament, Service Learning, the Indonesian Day and many many more.

To round out the term, and to encourage us all to take a bit of time together and share in both building relationships and positive experiences we held our annual R U OK? Day  Secondary School Picnic on the oval. Students brought picnic blankets and picnic lunches and enjoyed picnic games, including hacky sack, bowling, corn holes, giant checkers, quoits and backyard tennis. The year 7 students surprised us all with a lovely flash mob to Pharrell’s ‘Happy’. Well done year 7’s it was a fabulous effort.

Yours in good mental health.

If you are struggling with your mental health or know someone who is the following places may provide you with support:

Lifeline 131114 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Kids Helpline https://kidshelpline.com.au/ 1800 55 1800
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service – Emergency Telehealth Service 1800 048 636
Headspace https://headspace.org.au/ online, in person and on the phone support.

In this age of prioritizing mental health and wellbeing, PMACS has taken a proactive approach to prioritize the mental health of its students and staff. Traditionally, the school acknowledges four Mental Health and Wellbeing Days each year, focusing on promoting good mental health through positive behaviours. However, this term, the school has embraced celebrating mental health and wellbeing throughout the entire term instead of just one day. The theme? "Positive shared experiences" and "building relationships."

This term, students and staff alike have witnessed a remarkable transformation within the school environment. Instead of confining discussions and activities related to mental health to a single day, the school decided to weave them into the fabric of everyday life. The overarching goal was to create a supportive, inclusive, and mentally healthy community.

One of the features of this term-long effort was the diverse range of activities. These activities not only fostered a sense of belonging but also encouraged open discussions about mental health.

Here are some of the term highlights:

1. Fairy Bread Friday- A delightful and colourful treat that tickled taste buds and provided a moment of shared happiness. Students gathered to enjoy this Australian delicacy, spreading joy and positivity.

2. Toastie Tuesday- Tuesdays took on a new meaning with Toastie Tuesday, where year 12s and teachers could indulge in grilled sandwiches while engaging in meaningful conversations about their mental health and watching the enthralling basketball game.

3. Year 12 vs. Year 8 Basketball Game- The school organized a friendly basketball match between Year 12 and Year 8 students, which promoted building bridges between different year groups, facilitating peer support and friendship. The 12s were the Peer Support Leaders to the 8s when they were in year 11 and 7 respectively.

4. Principal table tennis showdown- As Mr Lomas donned his table tennis bat and prepared to take on any willing adversary, students and teachers alike lined up to take him down, making a very enjoyable watch.

5. School Picnic- A grand finale to the term's activities, the school picnic brought everyone together to the oval to enjoy treats brought from home. Students and staff bonded over shared meals and games, solidifying the sense of community that had developed throughout the term. Congratulations on the Year 7s for their fabulous flash mob that surprised us all. Well done.

The term-long effort emphasized the importance of positive shared experiences and building relationships in promoting mental health and wellbeing. Students learned that it's not just about addressing mental health issues when they arise but also about cultivating a supportive environment that prevents them from occurring in the first place.

By dedicating an entire term to these activities, a powerful message that mental health matters every day, not just on designated occasions has been promoted. This approach to mental health and wellbeing has encouraged a more empathetic and caring community, where students and staff feel comfortable discussing their mental health and seeking help when needed.

We greatly thank and appreciate the Counselling Team, and all teachers who have taken part in making this term one of paramount importance in emphasizing the priority of mental health.

Thank you!
Abby Palmer-Smith

Year 10 Book Week Performance
To celebrate Book Week with the Primary Years, the Year 10 Drama class performed their annual Book Week Children’s Theatre piece. It was a colourful and creative way to share this year’s theme with the younger students and inspired many to explore the world through reading. It also gave the Primary students a lovely preview of the Whole School Production of Aladdin Jr.

Aladdin Jr.
The school was buzzing with anticipation in the lead up to the Snapshot Youth Company’s Production of Aladdin Jr. The students in Year 4-12 that were cast, dancers and crew worked so incredibly hard to pull together such a memorable and colourful interpretation of the Disney classic. We were so blown away from the audience’s reaction to the performances and could not be prouder of the efforts by everyone involved. A shout out to the teaching and technical staff that put in countless hours to make this happen for our students at PMACS.

Act Belong Commit Youth on Health Festival
Fifty students recently represented the school beautifully at Act Belong Commit YOH Fest at the Subiaco Arts Theatre, performing pieces based around the 2023 Theme of ‘Respect’

All three groups achieved wonderful success receiving the following recognition:

Junior Dance Troupe: Certificate of Merit for Excellent Creation of Mood for “Soldier”
Senior Dance Troupe: Certificate of Merit for a Powerful Performance of “I am the Ocean” and WINNER: BEST DELIVERY OF THE HEALTH MESSAGE
Year 11 and 12 ATAR/GEN Drama students: Certificate of Merit for A Disciplined Last Cast Performance of “She is Woman” and RUNNER UP: BEST DELIVERY OF THE HEALTH MESSAGE.

We now wait until all the Heats are completed and will find out who will go forward to the Grand Finals!

We look forward to the upcoming Primary Performing Arts Festival, The Twilight Market performances and the SYTC Production of ‘A 21st Century Christmas Carol’!

Sophie Ashurst (Year 10) was chosen to participate in the Rotary Four Way Test earlier in the year. She was able to choose her own topic and decided to focus on ‘Why The Government Should Ban TikTok’.

Sophie has been working on her speech for many months, writing and rewriting to ensure that it was informative, engaging, precisely six minutes long and included the Rotary Four Way Test – is it the truth; is it fair to all concerned; will it build goodwill and better friendships; will it be beneficial to all concerned? 

The initial phase was to select the Rotary Club of Mindarie Finalist – Sophie was selected on the 26th of July after presenting her speech for the first time to Rotary Mindarie members. 

She then progressed to one of two semi-finals where, on the 7th of August, she was selected as the runner-up. This meant that Sophie would be one of four students speaking in the State Final!

She continued to work on perfecting her speech, and on Monday 4th September, Sophie presented at the Mt Lawley Golf Club against students from Perth Modern, St Georges Anglican Grammar School and Dianella Secondary College. Sophie spoke with passion and confidence, convincing the audience that TikTok absolutely should be banned in Australia!

After a very tough competition, Sophie placed 2nd in the State Final which is an absolutely fantastic achievement. She represented PMACS and Rotary Mindarie with such honour, and we are very proud of her achievements.

Congratulations Sophie!

On Tuesday the 29th of August, the Year 7 cohort were introduced to Sasha from World of Maths and issued a challenge: to solve as many puzzles and problems as possible in 90 minutes.

Students were shown 17 problems to solve, ranging from how to save people from a burning building to interesting puzzles and illusions, to even things as seemingly simple as unhooking two chains from each other. Students were split into teams, and worked together to solve these problems, giving themselves a great opportunity to extend their problem solving and teamwork skills. It was wonderful to see them working together and sharing ideas on how to think mathematically and logically.

At the end, students shared their ideas and discoveries, and realised how useful Maths can be in real life, as well as how many different ways they can use their maths prowess to solve the different problems. After all, Mathematics isn’t just about individual topics like trigonometry or algebra, but instead it’s about teaching students how to logically think outside the box in order to solve the world’s problems.

Throughout week 5 and 6, the Year 7 classes also dabbled in some ratios, and learned how to use and apply them, and their importance. Year 7s celebrated their learning by combining icing sugar, citric acid and bicarb soda in a particular ratio to create delicious sherbet! In small groups, they calculated how much was needed for each batch, and made some (mostly) enjoyable sherbet. Mr Lomas and Ivan McLean (the COO of the Anglican Schools Commission) even swung by to try some! The Maths department formally apologises for any sherbet-induced hyperactivity that was had by Year 7s after the fact. Not really, because we’re very glad they learnt some useful maths and enjoyed themselves while doing it.

Ethan Acott
Mathematics Teacher

Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts students recently had the valuable opportunity to work with Melissa Clements, an award winning portrait artist.

Melissa has been a finalist The Archibald (2023), Darling (2022) and Lester Prize (2021). At the age of 23, she was commissioned by the Supreme Court of Western Australia to paint the official portrait of the Chief Justice, Peter Quinlan.

Melissa worked with students to develop their understanding of colour theory and colour mixing. They spent the day creating portraits and applying their new skills and techniques to their individual painting projects.

It was inspirational for students to hear how Melissa has grown her career as a full time portraiture artist.

Weeks 7 and 8 see the Year 12s exhibit their final artworks in preparation for their Practical WACE Examinations.

Following the ‘by invitation’ Opening on Friday 8th September, artworks from the current graduating class, along with work from Year 11 Visual Arts students, will be displayed in the Visual Arts Studio Foyer. Artworks will be displayed for student and community viewing until Wednesday 13th September.

Some of the highlights from the exhibition are featured below.

The Year 10 girls have been incredibly lucky this term. Ms Shimmings, our Primary Dean of Students, is a 2nd Dan Black Belt who has won two gold medals at the Junior World Championships, one silver medal at the World Games, and holds 28 National Titles! 

She enjoys teaching karate to empower students to look after themselves and does this through teaching basic self defence techniques. When she offered to teach some of these techniques to the Year 10 girls, they jumped at the opportunity. A lot of the girls were a little nervous at first, but with the encouragement, enthusiasm and tenacity of Ms Shimmings, it didn’t take them long to participate and enjoy themselves! They learned so much in both sessions and have already asked for Ms Shimmings to teach them more in Term 4!

Thank you so much to Ms Shimmings for giving up her time – we really appreciate it!

In Week 3 of Term 3, a group of nine students and two staff took part in a Service Learning trip Down Under.

Nine students from Years 10 to 12 were given the amazing opportunity to fly to the Northern Territory and assist students at Yipirinya School in Alice Springs. This school is the only school in Australia where teaching and learning is done in their native language.

The trip consisted of countless fun activities and once in a lifetime experiences, ranging from hikes around some of the most sacred Indigenous sites, including Uluru, to helping at Yipirinya School. The base hike around Uluru at sunrise was both a spiritual and cultural experience which made the trip both educational and enjoyable. Learning about the Indigenous culture and heritage was extremely fascinating and we all felt so lucky to have been given the chance to do the hike whilst hearing the scared stories and seeing how life used to be lived at the rock. As many of us would agree though, the highlight of the trip was helping out at Yipirinya School.

Yipirinya is a two-way, bi-lingual and bi-cultural school which teaches students from Kindy through to Year 10. The school was founded by Aboriginal Elders and their aim was to provide an education that incorporated both Aboriginal and Western teachings, fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for all Aboriginal children. For almost 45 years, the school has been a place for Aboriginal children to access two-way learning, maintaining a connection to language and culture and aims to remove the barriers faced to accessing an education.

Yipirinya School students are from town camps and remote communities. Many live in lower standard housing in overcrowded environments which can lead to a number of disadvantages. Living conditions and home life can often create difficulties accessing education and Yipirinya School prioritises addressing these barriers.

One morning, we were given the opportunity to go on the school bus and pick the children up from their homes. It was a confronting but eye-opening experience which allowed us to understand the extreme poverty and unsafe living conditions that numerous Indigenous people have to struggle with, as we travelled into the remote communities and camps. It was this opportunity which further allowed us to appreciate the aim and purpose of the school, as they don't only offer an education to the children, but a safe environment. The school provides many other services to the students including meals such as breakfast, lunch and morning tea, a place to sleep or rest if needed, showers and transport to and from school.

Despite the hardships many of the students go through, they were always ready to learn and try their hardest in anything they did.

Overall, the Service Learning trip was a once in a lifetime experience. We gained so much cultural knowledge and we now have a great appreciation for the Indigenous People. Amazing bonds were made with the children and it was so rewarding to help them in the classroom.

The Year 8 students completed their sewing task (pillowcases) for the Technologies rotation, and the Year 10s have started of their last project for the woodwork course, the creation of the toolbox design.

Year 4 student Winter Ashley has had incredible success in dancing recently, including having to audition to join her elite professional dance program, then being one of the youngest to ever be accepted! 

Below are some of Winter’s recent achievements:

• Cecchetti WA State Medal Test: Runner up
• Leading role in Alice in Wonderland production at The Marist Auditorium in November.
• Winter was one of only 50 dancers in WA that spent three days being trained by Claudia Dean a former dancer from the Royal Ballet Company.
• 1st place in classical ballet at Born to Perform.
• 2nd place in classical ballet and an honourable mention in demi-character 
• 1st place in her classical ballet ensemble at Comdance Born to Perform Festival.
• Performed her classical ensemble at the Regal Theatre in Subiaco at The Concert for Ukraine, all the dancers donated their time and participated in fundraising for Ukraine. 

Well done Winter, we are all very proud of you! Keep shining.

Kyron Arthy (Year 9) has been selected to play in the 2023 NRL WA Rugby League Under 15 Schoolboys state team for WA.

The team will be participating in the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships in Port Macquarie, NSW from 23 - 29 September.

Congratulations and best of luck, Kyron!

Maisie (Year 7) competed in the National Karate Championships recently and had a great tournament. She won her first round of kata and narrowly lost out in the 2nd round to the eventual Bronze medallist. The standard was extremely high but Maisie was pleased with her efforts.

In her Kumite (fighting) she lost by the narrowest of margins. She then took on the role of cheer leader for the next few days and made sure the WA colours were seen loud and proud. 

Overall it was the most successful WA squad in history and although she didn’t medal Maisie certainly played her part. Well done Maisie!

Lani Kameron’s Semester One ATAR piece ‘Shattered Façade’ has earnt her a place as a finalist in the Ellenbrook Art Award 2023.

Due to high demand and an increase in entries, and to ensure a quality display, a Selection Panel was appointed this year who have pre-selected artworks. It was a competitive process, and we congratulate Lani on her success in gaining a place in this year’s award. Of note, this is Lani’s second entry in a Community Art Prize this year and we look forward to seeing further achievements as she endeavours to put her art out into the wider community.

The Exhibition will take place at Ellenbrook Gallery on 34 Main Street. The exhibition opening night is on 8 September from 6pm, where the winners will be announced, and the exhibition will run until 8 November.

Best of luck to Lani with her involvement in this prestigious event.

Year 4 student Kamika Pitout recently competed in the National Cross Country Championships in Canberra.

Kamika came 16th overall and 4th out of 6 WA girls in the race.

With the WA U10 Girls running a phenomenal race, the team won a much deserved Silver medal. Well done Kamika, you have done yourself and your school proud on the national stage!

Hayden Naicker (Year 4) competed in the WA Taekwondo state championships recently.

After a challenging semi-final that went into extended time, Hayden went on to win the final, earning him the title of U9 WA State Champion. Next up is Nationals in October, where Hayden will represent WA. Congratulations Hayden!

Connor represented Western Australia at the National Karate Championships in Perth on the 25 August. He was selected to compete in the individual kata, kumite and the team kata. Connor achieved a gold in the Team Kata and a bronze medal in his kumite division.

Connor is congratulated on his outstanding achievements.  

PMACS subscribes to ParentTV, an online parenting platform that includes hundreds of on-demand videos and courses to support the parenting of children from birth to teens.

Feel more confident and connected with access to reliable advice on a wide range of topics from Australia and the world’s leading parenting and educational experts. You can now access reliable advice on a wide range of topics from leading parenting and educational experts in Australia and beyond, all in one place. 

Please go to www.parenttv.com/membership and enter the school code ‘moyes’. From here you will be able to set up an account.

Recent topics include 'Helping build self esteem in our children' (https://parenttv.com/videos/he...) and Tik Tok: the good, bad & ugly (https://parenttv.com/videos/ti...)

Parents of teens may be interested in attending this FREE online event, presented by bestselling author and psychologist, Karen Young.

Interested Year 9 and 10 students can register to be part of the ‘ Be a Murdoch University Student for a Day' program. Students can select hands on engaging workshops in areas that interest them.

The program takes place during the school holidays on Wednesday 27th or Thursday the 28th of September with students to make their own arrangements for transport to and from the event at Murdoch’s South Street Campus. 

Following successful programs held in the previous school holidays, we are pleased to announce the ECU School of Engineering STEM School Holiday Program – CREATE will be offered in September 2023. The one day workshops will be held on 27, 28 & 29 September. This program is offered at no cost to participating students.

CREATE is designed to support the teaching and learning of STEM subjects for students interested in STEM studies, and is suitable for students who will be enrolled in Years 9 to 12 in 2023.

Enclosed is a flyer outlining the program details along with the link to Trybooking. We kindly request you pass this to parents and/or students who will find this program beneficial. Places are still available and registration closes on 15 September 2023.

More information about this program can be obtained from the Administration Team, School of Engineering by email at se-create@ecu.edu.au or by telephone on 6304 2924.

View brochure here

Quinns Beach Dental Therapy Centre is looking to establish better ways to communicate with your school community.

Please complete a 10-minute survey to tell us how you would prefer us to communicate with you.