School Newsletter 17 August 2022

After a three-week break in July, we have hit the ground running for Term 3 at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School. Despite some inclement weather, we have already had multiple athletics carnivals, interschool sports, academic competitions including the Da Vinci Decathlon, assemblies, Chapels and of course our co-curricular programme is back in full swing. In addition, this week our Primary School students commenced their swimming lessons. These events and many more are detailed in the latest edition of our newsletter – happy reading!

BOOK WEEK

As is customary, the School celebrated Book Week with an assembly on Thursday 11 August. Book Week is one of the most special events on the School calendar, with students from Kindergarten to Year 6 dressing up in costumes linked to their favourite book. From wizards to Spiderman, fairy princesses to sports stars, the mix of costumes was both eclectic and inspired. Thank you to all parents for your energy in helping your child bring their favourite book to life. We all know that reading is so critical to learner success, and anything that encourages our students to further engage with reading is a wonderful thing. A particular highlight of the assembly was the themed costumes presented by the Year 6 classes. This has become an annual tradition at the School, with the 2022 cohort dressing as Snow White and the 64 Dwarves. Mr Pestell certainly got into the spirit of things with his costume! I extend my sincere thanks to all involved in coordinating such a wonderful event and to the students for their energy and enthusiasm which brought the event to life.

COVID-19 UPDATE

I have recently written to all school families with the latest Covid update. While no changes to the current mandates have been announced as yet by the WA Government, there has been a recent shift in rhetoric to encourage the wearing a face mask when indoors. Ultimately the decision currently rests with the individual as to whether they wear a face mask, unless of course they are a close contact. However, I have asked ask our community to be conscious of the increasing number of covid cases in the community and to consider taking appropriate measures to mitigate this risk. For example wearing a mask indoors, socially distancing and being extra vigilant with hygiene practices.

In case you have missed my earlier correspondence, please be advised that the WA Government has provided a further 20 free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for each student from Kindergarten to Year 12. With a surplus of RATs available, the School will also be able to provide Pre-Kindergarten families with RATs which were not accounted for by the Government. Please contact the relevant Reception at school should you require further details.

YEAR 12 SUNRISE EVENT

On Wednesday 27 July, the Year 12 cohort and teachers gathered at Quinns Beach to watch the sunrise. The activity was designed as a way for the Year 12’s to reflect on their school journey to date and to also reset before their final term. While relatively informal, the event included a quick address from the Principal, the Head of Year 12, and morning prayers from our Chapel Prefect. Students and staff were then treated to some light refreshments before heading back to school. I am extremely grateful for the work of Mrs Hiotis in coordinating this event and for the support of the staff in attendance. Feedback from the Year 12’s was very positive despite the very early start and chilly conditions!

As we move towards spring and hopefully some respite from the seemingly endless wet weather, I wish our community well for the weeks ahead and look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Every Blessing.
Benjamin Lomas
PRINCIPAL

 

After a three-week holiday break, the Peter Moyes Community has returned. And while the days are cold, and we have had already too many wet and windy days to add to the mix, students have adjusted well to this and have been provided with other opportunities for brain breaks when the weather has allowed.

Building strong foundations for life and learning are the foundations that last the distance, stand the test of time and enable our young people in the Primary School to really thrive. This takes teamwork and it takes dedication, expertise, leadership and courage. Every day, it is my aim to support the Primary Staff to contribute in this way to the lives and learning of the children in our school community.

On Friday, 5 August 2022, my staff and students helped me celebrate Australian Primary Principals Day. It was a massive surprise, and I was blown away and touched by the efforts of my staff and students to acknowledge my role in the Primary School and in what we are trying to create together. 
 
As the impact and uncertainty of COVID persists, alongside challenges of repeated natural disasters and changing economic times, each and every staff member in our School continue to be ready to step forward and be willing to take the responsibility in helping me run this awesome Primary School. I also have a remarkable Primary Leadership team and teaching staff who are all passionate about their roles in helping to grow our student community. I am very blessed and honoured to lead the Primary School and help grow and thrive our young community of students. I know we are not perfect, but I’d like to think we always have the best interests of our children at heart despite the complexities we might face each day.

Parent/Teacher Interviews
On Monday 8th August we had scheduled a Parent/Teacher interview evening. This is our mid-year cycle of Parent/Teacher interviews for week 3. I wish to express my thanks to you all for your participation in the process. The interviews, along with the end-of-semester report, form the foundation for goal-setting and aspirations for student learning for this coming semester.

Regrettably, we had a number of staff fall ill at this time and will be in contact with you to reconnect and set up a new appointment time. Unfortunately, interview appointments were not taken advantage of as much as I would have liked to see happen. Evenings like this are important to keep free so that you can be given information and feedback about the progress of your child and what has been set in place to support your child’s learning. It is also essential that your child understands and sees that you value events such as this and that, by attending, you are showing your support for the School and for the teachers that have your child in their care.

We see the partnership between home and school as paramount. Please do not hesitate to reach out to class or specialist teachers or the Head of Department in Lower or Upper Primary, the Head of Learning Diversity or myself if you ever need to clarify your child’s progress outside of our regular parent/teacher check-ins.

Book week Celebration
We have again, had another most successful Book Week Celebration all thanks to Mrs Mawby and Mrs McLeod in delivering another exciting week of Book Week activities and events. The theme this year was ‘Dreaming with eyes open…’ to allow for a fantastic week of events that promote the joy reading can bring to young minds. The Book Week Parade of course was one of the highlights and students and staff went all out to keep to the theme.

Some important dates for the next few weeks:
- State Cross Country – Friday 12 August
- Swimming Lessons – Monday 15 – Friday 26 August
- Year 6 Camp – Monday 29th – Wednesday 31 August
- Upper PS Inter-House Athletics (Years 2-6) – Thursday 1 September
- Father’s Day Stall – Friday 2 September
- 6.1 Assembly – Tuesday 6 September
- PS Instrumental Concert – Thursday 8 September
- Lower Primary Athletics Carnival – Friday 9 September
- Year 1 Assembly - Tuesday 13 September 

Swimming Lessons
We have received some expressions of concern about the timing of the swimming lessons coming up in Week 4 and 5 this term. Unfortunately, we have little say in regard to when we can stage our lessons. There are dozens of primary schools who all run the same swimming programme which means that there is a lot of competition for the most popular time of the year. When booking the swimming lessons, we are allowed to put forward three sets of dates and are allocated one. The Department of Education try to ensure that the same schools are not always allocated the same weeks every year. We have been assured by the staff at the HBF Arena that the water temperature is maintained to the same level no matter what time of the year it is. However, we do recommend that you make sure your child has something warm to get changed into after their lessons.

Primary School Awards Presented Recently
I am so proud to announce that the following students are the well-deserved recipients of the awards:

Honour Awards for End of Term 2:
Divan Viljoen - 5.1
Shannon Dyer - 6.2

Aussie of the Month August Award:
Leia Daugherty – 3.1

School Value Awards for Semester One:
Year 1 – Elsie Chalk - 1.1 and Myla Tointon – 1.2
Year 2 – Corlie Stander – 2.1 and Lily Wright – 2.1
Year 3 – Innes Allen – 3.3 and Kenzie Pedley - 3.2
Year 4 – Conner Dyer – 4.1 and James Banks – 4.2
Year 5 – Adela James – 5.2 and Chloe Ripsold – 5.1
Year 6 – Beccy Giddens – 6.1 and Isabelle Hughes- 6.2
 
Discover the Possibilities!
During the term, you will be invited by your child’s teacher to come to the class to view their classroom learning journey. Our classrooms will be opened to you so that you can see inside our beautiful environments and learn how we inspire, guide and encourage our students to flourish. Because of the limitations that COVID presented, we have realised that parents have had very little opportunity to visits classrooms. This will be an opportunity for you to now explore and see some of the learning taking place in your child’s classroom, and the skills the students are working through in their Inquiry Unit. The viewing time options will either be the first or last hour of the day.

We have a number of examples of excellence in all areas of the Primary School, where the growth and engagement in learning and how this is being encouraged by staff is a delight to see.

Roderick Wood
Associate Principal of Primary

It has been a busy few weeks for me as I catch up with staff and students after my leave in Term 2! However, it has given me an opportunity to review results of our students in their Mid-Year Examinations and course results in Years 12 and 11.These results are key to future performances and in particular their Secondary Graduation. 

At PMACS we often state the rule that all students should aim to improve on their rate of progress by 3% for each assessment in every course or subject. Sometimes this is easier said than done. The main strategy that a student should use is to reduce the gaps in their learning though acting on the feedback given by their teachers and taking an active role in their own education.

Acting on feedback is a powerful strategy.  The journey that the School has taken with Visible Learning has provided our staff from PK-12 with the knowledge and practice of building our students’ capacity to use prior knowledge and to understand where they are in their learning and their next steps. Parents are encouraged to join their child on their learning journey by having a regular dialogue with them on how they are putting in place the feedback given to them by their teachers. 

Part of my role is to visit classrooms from Year 7 to Year 12 to see the learning in action. It is always enjoyable to see our students at work. I hope to see your child in action!

Natalie Shaw
Associate Principal Teaching and Learning

A morning of reflection, inspiration, and refreshments 

Congratulations to the Golden Crew of 2022 who attended the inaugural Yr12 Senior Sunrise this morning embracing an opportunity of mindfulness. Today’s sunrise marks each student’s personal reset for their closing chapter of Year 12 at Peter Moyes Anglican School. The experience aimed to empower the students to narrate their pastoral and academic journey to thrive and achieve their goals, as well as to fulfil their own sense of purpose, for their final months of formal schooling.

When the sun rises, it marks the beginning of a day’s journey; they are beautiful to observe and to view in stillness. They remind us that every day is a day full of new opportunities to improve our lives, to energise, and to thrive. A sunrise may rouse reflection, heighten gratitude, or leave us in awe. Although symbolic of a fresh start or opportunities for the taking, each sunrise is created with uniqueness and difference, just the way each of you all are.
 
Opportunity is around us all – it is how we choose to respond and make the most of it that sets our journey apart from others. This sunrise marks the advent for greater opportunities that too, are yet to be discovered, however, above all else, we capture, together, this exact shared moment in time, as one cohort reflecting on what is yet to dawn.

Head of Year 12, Mrs Christine Hiotis

Early Morning Prayer
We come before you, oh Lord.
As the sun rises, may your hope rise up in us.
As the birds sing, may your love flow out of us.
As the light floods into this new day, may your joy shine through us.
We come before you, oh Lord, and drink in this moment of peace, that we may carry something of your hope, love, and joy today and the rest of the term in our hearts.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  Amen.

Closing sentiments to students:

“HEARTWORK
Each day is born with a sunrise
and ends in a sunset, the same way we
open our eyes to see the light,
and close them to hear the dark.
You have no control over
how your story begins or ends.
But by now, you should know that
all things have an ending.
Every spark returns to darkness.
Every sound returns to silence.
And every flower returns to sleep
with the earth.
The journey of the sun
and moon is predictable.
But yours, my friend
is your ultimate
ART.”
― Suzy Kassem

The final months of schooling for the Year 12 cohort have finally arrived as they optimise opportunities to fulfil their personal best, whether it be demonstrating excellence in a General or ATAR pathway. Students are busily continuing to invest in their academic journey of choice and for a growing number of students their due diligence have seen them in recent weeks, achieve peace of mind by successfully applying for early offers for university placements and scholarships. Currently, over 20% of our ATAR students have secured confirmation of a university placement in a variety of courses ranging from studying Commerce; Psychology; Biomedicine; Neuroscience; Computer Science Integration and Gender Studies. We are proud of our students’ commitment to their studies, determination, and motivation to pursue post-school opportunities as they spur on their effort and fulfil goals and targets. A selection of General and VET students are too eagerly awaiting news of offers securing pre-apprenticeships in Plumbing or Electrical Services. We wish our students continued luck with their studies in the weeks ahead.

Head of Year 12, Mrs Christine Hiotis

During term 3, the Kindy classes will be visited by our "Big Buddies" every Tuesday morning. The year 12 students are studying their Children, Family & Community unit, with many aspiring to become future teachers. What better way to experience the joys of Early Childhood!!!

The group will be split between Kindy 1 and the 3 Pre-Primary classes. These year 12 students came to Kindy last year as Year 11 students and established lovely relationships with the children. The students are keen they are to maintain these relationships and see how their 'little buddies' are developing in Pre-Primary.

Liz Mellor - Primary School Kindergarten Teacher

Learning @ Home in Year 7

Further Learning @ Home workshops have been held in Year 7 to support new students in their transition to Peter Moyes ACS. As always, it is lovely to introduce the rationale for our home learning programme in Year 7 and to interact with parents and students while they practice working through the process using class materials and SEQTA as a guide.

The focus for Semester Two L@H is to work on increasing the quality of the RECALL and RELECT stages of the process. The RECALL stage is based on a technique called retrieval practice and involves a student actively testing themselves, in test conditions, on content that they have been introduced to in each Maths, Science, HaSS and English (MESH) lesson. This technique is highly effective in reinforcing new learning when implemented properly. 

Following this, students critique how they did in the RECALL stage by marking their work from class notes. This leads to the identification of gaps in content knowledge in the REFLECT stage. Encouraging students to be aware of individual gaps in content knowledge and to deal with same by reviewing notes or asking the teacher for help empowers students to be more proactive in their learning. When applied properly, these techniques can be highly effective in assisting a student to reach their full potential in assessments.

Year 9 Workshops

As part of the Peter Moyes ACS Executive Function Skills Programme, we continue to deliver sessions on the following areas with Year 9 students.

 
Term Two
Planning and Organisation
In Term Two, the focus of the sessions was on Planning and Organisation as evidence based research shows that effective organisation and planning is essential to achievement. Students created Independent Work Planners (IWP) to address the independent work components of MESH courses and a Term Two Planner to assist with managing deadlines, assessments and other commitments. Students are encouraged to continue implementing the IWPs as we move through Semester Two and develop Term Planning documents for Term Three and Four.
 
Term Three
Gap Analysis
In Week Three we had our first session on Gap Analysis. Gap Analysis is a systematic approach to preparing for assessments. With an end of semester assessment planned for Term Four, laying the foundations as we work through Term Three is vital in achieving results that reflect a student’s full potential. The gap analysis process was introduced in our initial session with students tasked with targets to work towards over Week Three and Four. Students are invited to further sessions in Week Four and Five to reinforce and assist with implementing the process. When the process is completed well, students will develop an individualised and personalised resource to draw upon for targeted revision in each subject.

Term Four
Exam Technique
With Year 9 students entering the realm of ‘multiple topic assessments’ (end of semester assessment, exam, etc), in Term Four we will introduce a variety of techniques and strategies that can be implemented on exam day to ensure students remain calm, confident and focused; and prepared to achieve their best result.

Year 11 and 12 Executive Function Intervention and Coaching
Pastoral and Teaching and Learning Teams continue to identify students in Year 11 and 12 to participate in our Executive Function Skills Intervention and Coaching Programme. This programme assists teachers, parents and students in developing an understanding of the challenges faced in managing executive functions at school.
As part of the programme, a student completes a self-assessment to determine challenges or strengths in the areas of Planning, Organisation, Task Initiation, Sustained Attention, Time Management, Working Memory, Metacognition, Goal-Directed Persistence, Flexibility and Response Inhibition. This is then used to set targets with the aim of developing executive function skills in areas of challenge and to guide explicit coaching sessions with the students to build student capacity and achievement.

Grainne Barber
Executive Function Coordinator

On Friday 12 August 2022 more than 450 high school students spent the night at Optus Stadium to show their support for young people experiencing homelessness.

Among them were 32 of our PMACS Year 10 and Year 11's with Reverend JP Schroeder and Mr Davies. Together, Team PMACS raised more than $3000 for the cause, a great contribution towards the $145,000 raised in total.

After spending a chilly evening in just a sleeping bag, everyone experienced a taste of what life can be like for vulnerable young people living on the streets of Perth.

Well done to students and staff for enduring a long, cold night for a very worthy cause.

During Term Two, the Year 11 General Health Studies students have been busy collecting second hand clothing for a Service Learning Project for a school in Alice Springs. Yipirinya is a school where 100% of the students are Indigenous and teaching and learning is done in their own language. Some of these students were from disadvantaged communities and were travelling up to 500 km a day just to get to and from school, often arriving hungry, no shoes or no warm clothes.

Over the past few months, the Health Studies class started collecting and sorting through the clothes and then were sent off to Alice Springs where they were distributed to Indigenous families in need. We have been overwhelmed with the amount of support we received from the Peter Moyes School Community and we thank you for all your kind donations. 

Year 10 Art Photography students have been busy learning about Food Photography; inspired by modern advertising they had to style and arrange their shots before using a range of camera angles and techniques to capture their images. It was great to see the initiative of some students who made French toast and tea before school to include in their photographs. After developing a portfolio of photographs, the students were inspired by ‘Pop Artists’ who work with bright colours and use celebrities, food, advertising, and the media as their subject matter. They created a digital artwork by manipulating their chosen images in the style of Pop Artist Andy Warhol and printed these onto tote bags to create a functional artwork. 

Photographs by:  Elijah Yates, Tyler Humpheries, Ben Kelsall, Aidan Manning

Our year 9 photography students have been out and about around the School with their cameras in hand. Here is a sample of some of their work.

I would like to share with you the Term 2 edition of our Year 8 publication, ‘Club ‘26’. The students listed in the email below have put a lot of work into this and I am sure you will agree, they should be very proud of what they have produced!

Please Click Here to read the latest edition.

Grainne Barber - Head of Year 8

Our Year 7 students have been in the kitchen! This was their first cooking class and by the looks of the photo their dishes were delicious.

META is a high school art and design exhibition held annually at the North Metropolitan TAFE's Gallery Central. META exhibits art, design, and photography from the next generation, providing a glimpse into the hearts and minds, hopes and fears of WA's talented Year 11 and 12 students. For the third year in a row, Peter Moyes will be represented. This year by Bianca Adma-Weda, an exceptional young creative in Year 11.

Bianca’s ceramic piece "The Guardian” has been chosen and will be on display from the opening night on Tuesday, August 2nd, through to the 19th of August. The sculpture depicts two outstretched hands cradling a boulder that is supported by a figure guarding a child. This depiction of strength and fragility is symbolic of humanity's compassion for others and readiness to sacrifice themselves in order to help the vulnerable. It also depicts a parent's devotion and desire to protect their children. In order to raise and safeguard the children and others who are vulnerable, a community must come together and help each other, as shown by the merging of the figure and the larger set of hands.

Well done, Bianca, and congratulations on your accomplishment! Keep on creating!

These budding barista's have been busy learning how to make the perfect cup of coffee, which is just what is needed on these cold mornings. Well done to you all.

On Thursday, 4 August, year 9-12 students studying Indonesian had the privilege of going on an excursion to the University of Western Australia (UWA). We experienced some Indonesian culture as well as learnt about amazing opportunities available in continuing Indonesian after high school.

We were first greeted, along with students from several other high schools, at UWA’s Wilsmore Lecture Theatre by Dr. David Bourchier. He gave us an introduction into the current and future benefits of studying Indonesian and information about the country’s fast-growing economy - evidently Indonesia is on its way to becoming the 4th largest economy in the world! We were also introduced to a UWA graduate speaker (who spoke to us about his opportunity to go on a spectacular trip in Indonesia through UWA), the Indonesian Consul General Ibu Listiana Operanata (who encouraged us to continue Indonesian) and Ms Daisy Aldam (who presented some opportunities to study in Indonesia). 

Following that, and some tasty Indonesian snacks, the ATAR Indonesian students gathered with UWA students to inquire more about studying Indonesian at UWA and their personal opinions and experiences with the language and subject. We then re-joined with the Peter Moyes group and were able to participate in an Indonesian Dance Workshop. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was intrigued by the intricate hand moves and steps of the dance. 

To end off the excursion, we took the bus down to the Tempayan Indonesian Restaurant ibn East Perth, where we ate a delicious combination of ayam goreng (fried chicken), nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles) and spring roll.

This was an extremely fun and informative experience, and I would like to thank Ibu Leong, Ibu Swailes and Ibu Hara for organizing and accompanying us on this excursion.

Tatum Ayers
Year 11 Accelerated Indonesian  

Murray Smith from Y3 came 2nd at the State Golf Championships. Congratulations to Murray and his team mates well done!

It was a pretty wet and cold start to the Golf WA Primary School Championship but we finished in the sun by the last hole. Murray played really well, but unfortunately his friend Harry was at the top of his game, putting in a near faultless round of 44 with Murray carding a 49. 

He really enjoyed the day and got runner up in the Year 2 to 3 age group. His friend Harry had the lowest round of all age groups with Murray carding the 3rd lowest in all age groups.

Bedbugs was our first Snapshot Youth Theatre Production for 2022. We saw our students take to the stage in what was a hilarious production. Bedbugs was directed my Mrs Flanigan. The students had the audience laughing from the very start. Congratulations to all the cast and our two PMACS Snapshot Alumni students, Taleisa Kuipers and Mia Nicholson who helped out with direction, lighting and sound.

The show will return by popular demand in Term Three for a matinee season.

Artistic Director Snapshot Youth Theatre Company - Peta Flanigan

The Department of Education will again provide an opportunity for Year 12 students to obtain accredited swimming instructor qualifications free of charge.

This will allow them to gain paid employment teaching VacSwim and Interm Swimming lessons.

Year 12 students who are at least 17 years of age by 1 December 2022, can register for a fully-funded course to obtain accredited swimming teacher and CPR qualifications.

Students do not require a minimum level of swimming stage to be eligible for the course, however they must be confident in the water. 

Ongoing support and mentoring will be provided to all participants. The Department will also support costs for other relevant requirements such as their Working with Children Check and Department of Education Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

On completion, students can then apply for swimming instructor positions across the State.
 
More information is available on our website

Primary School
Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays. VacSwim offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations. They are a great school holiday activity and they teach valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.

Enrol at education.wa.edu.au/vacswim

Secondary School
If your child has turned 14 years old, or will be turning 14 years in the same calendar year of the course, you can enrol them in VacSwim so they can get their Bronze Medallion during the summer school holidays. They’ll learn advanced survival, rescue and resuscitation skills to help keep them and others safe in the water. 

Enrolments are now open and families can enrol online. For October programs, please hurry, as enrolments close soon on 21 August, 2022.

Further information, details of locations and information on how to enrol is on our website.

Once again, the Annual SkillsWest Careers & Employment Expo will be held from 25 – 27 August 2022 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and will feature plenty of exciting opportunities to explore a huge range of careers. There will be loads of activities for students to try – each one connected to a skilled pathway. From construction to early childhood education and care, IT to engineering, students can get some hands on experiences and talk to the experts about future career and training pathways.

The expo is free to visit and is open Thursday and Friday (9 am to 3 pm) and on Saturday (9 am to 4 pm).

Register to attend the SkillsWest Careers & Employment Expo website

The Telethon Institute and Scitech are supporting Girls in Science! Join a panel of expert female scientist share their insights about their careers in science.

Thursday 18 August 2022. 

For more information Click Here

Inviting students interested in Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics to come and explore engineering and applied science concepts through a series of hands-on and engaging workshops during the school holidays. The activities are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) focused and have been designed and developed by ECU’s School of Engineering for their CREATE program. Through these workshops, students will have the opportunity to engage with multidisciplinary studies relating to a range of different engineering fields, the courses they are aligned to, and the diverse career opportunities they will have the potential to experience as engineers. Do not miss out on the opportunity to attend these workshops. 

Register your participation at https://www.trybooking.com/CBU..

For more information Click Here

Quinns Rocks Junior Cricket Club, a long-established club in the local area. 

We provide a place to play cricket for both boys and girls of all abilities. We have highly engaging and award winning Entry Level Programmes (Woolworths Junior Blast and Master Blast, suited to children aged 5 to 8) as well as a range of Junior Teams from Under 10s to Under 17s. In addition we have our inclusive Integrated Youth League and Star Blast for children who require more assistance.

For more information please Click here