Issue 10 - 2024

• Work on Building 10A (7 classroom block) is progressing according to plan. The roof is now on the building, and the external walls are completed. Wiring inside the building is almost complete.
• Concrete columns have started to be poured for Building 10.
• Designs for the new Secondary Basketball and Volleyball courts are now complete and work should begin in the coming weeks (weather permitting).
• Furniture in the Building 6 Open Area will all be replaced during the upcoming school holidays with colourful, easy-to-move tables and chairs that will be ideal for small group work.
• Bright acoustic panels will be fitted to the ceiling of our new Dance Studio to complete this wonderful new facility. This will also be completed during the upcoming school holidays.

It was a great way to start the day and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the amazing Fathers and Carers in our school community.

Overall, SVACS finished 5th out of the 8 schools. Our Junior Boys (Years 7-9) won their shield, having achieved more points than any other school.

Individually, SVACS had 3 Year Group Champions: U/13 Boys Champion Zayne Bayiwa, U/16 Boys Champion Nic Mangan and U/19 Boys Champion Brock Johnson. Rhani Taylor (U/13 Girls) and Leo Clampett (U/14 Boys) were Runner-up Age Group Champions.

We also had 4 students break SVACS athletics records on the day. Zayne Bayiwa broke the records for the U/13 Boys 100m (12.50), 200m (24.98), 400m (1.01.24) and the Long Jump (5.65m*). Nic Mangan broke the U/16 Boys Discus record with a throw of 36.51m. Samuel Ball broke the record for the U/16 Boys Javelin with a throw of 38.45m. Brock Johnson broke U/19 Boys records in the 100m (11.77), 200m (22.84), 400m (53.03), Long Jump (6.22m) and the Hurdles (15.73).

Zayne Bayiwa’s effort in the Long Jump was amazing! He set a new ACC record (for all schools) in the Boys U/13 Long Jump with his leap of 5.65m. This is a truly remarkable achievement for Zayne.  Congratulations!

Special congratulations to our three SVACS finalists: Megan Corr was 3rd in the Faith category; James Broadhurst and Leonjohn Nyabaro came 3rd with their duet in the Inclusion category.

We have now uploaded a short video showcasing all of the fabulous costumes worn by our students and staff for this really fun and creative event that promotes a love of reading. You can watch the video here.

The competition this year saw students from Primary and Secondary performing in a variety of categories, including Dance, Instrumental, Drama (Stand-up Comedy) and Song.

Audience members were guided through eight different performance spaces in and around the Performing Arts Centre. In each space, they encountered characters from diverse backgrounds, offering a glimpse into their inner thoughts and worlds.

Despite the few rain showers that came through, our students and staff remained enthusiastic and gave of their best throughout! I hope you enjoy these two short videos: Primary Interhouse Athletics Carnival; Primary Interhouse Athletics Carnival Extras Reel

Details: Thursday 24 October 11am-12:30pm No cost. Please RSVP to: Merri.Corr@svacs.wa.edu.au or ring our Registrar Merri Corr on 9297 9506. We look forward to welcoming you back for this very special occasion!

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Melissa Powell

Principal

Interviews for future applications occur approximately 18 months prior to the year of entry. Some year groups are already full or very close to being full.

If you have not already done so, please submit application forms for future students by contacting our Registrar, Mrs Merri Corr on 9297 9506 or by email enrolments@svacs.wa.edu.au.

We understand that this is also a time of year when some families may be considering moving out of the area as job opportunities arise, or other family circumstances change.

To assist with our planning for 2025, we would appreciate families advising us as soon as possible of any future student withdrawals. This will also enable us to offer any available places to families on our waitlist.

Please also take into consideration the school policy for student withdrawals:

One full term’s notice in writing is required of your intention to withdraw a student.

This means that you must give at least 10 school weeks’ notice of any withdrawals (a school week is defined as a week during school term time—not school holidays).

If you do not give sufficient notice, you are required to pay a term’s fees in lieu of notice.

We receive many requests from parents leaving the school to waive the late withdrawal fee, which is a standard charge and standard practice in independent schools in Western Australia. To be fair to all our parents, and to keep our fees as low as possible, we must adhere to the policy of enforcing the late withdrawal fee for all students.

Addressed to the Principal (Ms Melissa Powell), a withdrawal notice should be sent via email to enrolments@svacs.wa.edu.au .

If any of your children will not be returning to SVACS in 2025, the school must receive written notice of your intention before Wednesday 9 October 2024.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us with our planning for 2025.

All schools strive for excellence in the academic area, and all schools have values. In an Anglican school, our values are more than commonly agreed, popular virtues. We strive to hold them in relation to the whole person – including, but beyond, teaching and learning, and in relation to our Anglican Identity. There is so much more to a student (or member of staff) than our knowledge and skills.

The Christian scriptures encourage excellence. The first Christians were in constant danger of persecution and were mocked and scorned by their peers. But St Paul and others, who teach and encourage them, recognize that, despite these major challenges, excellence is still possible.

Paul writes to the Philippian Christians:

Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)

In today’s language, it’s a bit like saying ‘focus on the positive’, as we might suggest to someone facing challenges in school or at home. We value excellence, in the sense that we look for individual versions of excellence and try to celebrate them.

In Middle Years Chapel we recently used this Bible reading to consider different ways of being excellent, and to concentrate on what is good and right and true in the world and in our lives, based on the teaching of Jesus and the example of Paul, an early Christian leader. 8A were on duty that week and organized themselves for their roles with the expected excellence. The attached photo shows them being recognized for each of their individual excellence, and for working together to support Chapel.

Fr Toby
School Chaplain

A prayer based on Philippians 4:8

Heavenly Father, keep us from anxious thoughts. Help us to build our lives on all that is commendable and good, with the eyes of our hearts fixed on Jesus. May we dwell on those things that are excellent and worthy of praise, in Jesus' name. Amen

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Philippians/4

Our Primary School team recently competed in the WACSSA Inter-School Cross Country. They did very well by finishing in third place, which was a great improvement on eighth place last year. We also had four students who were medal winners in the Cross Country. Congratulations to our team!

Primary School Open Morning and RU OK? Day: Thursday 12 September

• 8.45am to 9.45am for Open Classrooms
• 9.45am to 10.15am for the Psychologist’s Wellbeing Talk
• Students should wear sports clothes with yellow embellishments and/or a yellow T-shirt.

Concerts: Monday 16 September.

• Year 1 Concert: drop students to their classroom at 4pm. The concert commences at 4.15pm in the Chapel.
• Year 2 Concert: drop students at the classroom at 4.45pm. The concert commences at 5pm in the Chapel.

Last Day of Term Three and Casual Dress Day: Friday 20 September

• Junior Years: Dress in Your House Colours for a gold coin donation
• Early Years students may choose to dress in their favourite colour instead of their House colours for a gold coin donation.

Thank you to everyone for supporting our Primary School. I wish you a wonderful end to Term Three.

Mrs Shirley Steel

Head of Primary School

CASUAL FOR THE CAUSE DAY: Friday 20th September

Early next term, four SVACS staff members including two members of the Pastoral Care Team: Head of Year 8, Casey Willmore and School Psychologist, David la Galia will take part in this year’s Central Park Plunge.  

This will involve abseiling 130m down Central Park Tower in the Perth CBD, while raising funds and awareness for Anglicare WA. This thrilling abseil will showcase possibly the best view in Perth (from the 33rd floor of Central Park Tower) and is officially Australia’s tallest charity abseil.

On Friday 20th September (the last day of Term 3) all Secondary Students are invited to wear their House Colours for a gold coin donation. Students can just wear their House shirts, but it would be great to see students wearing their House colours from head to toe!  

Students will be given opportunities at recess and lunchtime to be involved in Inter-House activities.

Debbie Davies

Head of Secondary: Pastoral