Issue 2 - 2025

Our 2024 Alumni, who returned for our recent WACE Assembly, were among the first to be photographed with our new letters!

Doug’s specialty as an educator was Chemistry, a subject that he is still very passionate about, and he was a wonderful teacher. As announced at the end of 2024, Building 6 is now known as the Doug Swingler Centre for Science and Mathematics. During the summer holidays, this building saw a number of improvements, including a new office for Secondary Heads of Year, a bathroom renovation for staff, and a new Meeting Room upstairs.

Special congratulations were given to Tara Jones who was awarded a VET Certificate of Excellence: Business & Financial Services; Information & Communications Technology. This is an outstanding achievement.

Students who achieved an ATAR over 90 were also awarded membership of SVACS 90+ Club. In addition, we recognised Year 12 2024 VET students who were awarded the University of Melbourne Australian Learner Competency Credential.

It was wonderful to hear from our Alumni as they shared their plans for their future and offered valuable advice to current students on achieving personal success at school.

After years of strong interest and outstanding performances, we are very excited to be introducing a Specialist Volleyball Program in 2025. Our highly credentialed coaches from the Northern Stars Volleyball Club will be working with us to develop our students’ skills. We look forward to growing this very popular sport at SVACS and utilising our new purpose-built Volleyball Courts.

We are delighted to announce that this program is doubling in size this year, with all squad members competing for the school. All squads have now been finalised and we look forward to a successful and competitive year of interschool Basketball in 2025.

ALL-ROUNDER SCHOLARSHIPS

• Doug Swingler All-Rounder Scholarship (Years 7-12)
• Jaye Radisich Memorial All-Rounder Scholarship (Year 7-12)

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

• Dawn Lindsay Exceptional Ability (Academic) Scholarships (Years 5-12)
• SVACS Academic Scholarships (Year 7)
• SVACS Academic Scholarships (Year 11)

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

• Ian MacGregor Exceptional Ability (Co-curricular) Scholarships (Years 5-12)
• Endeavour Scholarships (Year 7)
• Endeavour Scholarships (Year 11)
• Diversity Scholarships (Years 7-12)

Categories include:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students
• Students from a refugee family
• Students from a non-English speaking background
• Students with a disability.

All scholarship applicants are required to sit a scholarship test.

For further details, please see our website: https://www.svacs.wa.edu.au/enrolments/scholarships/ or contact our Registrar, Mrs Merri Corr, on (08) 9297 9506 or email enrolments@svacs.wa.edu.au

Applications close on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 4.00pm.

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Melissa Powell

Principal

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 5 March, and all students from Year 3 to Year 12 will attend liturgies during which they can choose to receive the imposition of blessed ashes, or a blessing. This significant day is an opportunity to commit to making changes in our lives, whether they are physical, mental or spiritual, to repent of sins and to keeping Lent as a time of fasting, prayer and acts of charity. In these ways we can remember and join with Jesus. You may want to discuss whether your child/ren will want ashes on their forehead or the back of their hand, or to receive a blessing. As we are inclusive school, welcoming students of any faith or of none, these options are available to everyone.

Holy Baptism

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, and traditionally for those preparing to be baptised. I would be pleased to hear from families seeking baptism for their children and can make arrangements for this to take place in our School Chapel. Baptism can happen at any age, and is the principal initiation into the Christian faith.

Confirmation

Confirmation is offered to students and staff wishing to make a further step forward in their Christian journey. Candidates confirm their faith to God and the bishop; they are confirmed as God’s children, and receive the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the laying-on of hands and anointing. This completes their baptism and makes them a full member of the Church.

We expect to celebrate Confirmation after Easter, for students from Year 7 and above. Please contact me to discuss whether this might be suitable for your child/ren.

Compassion in the Gospel according to St Luke

Following the end of the Christmas season on 2 February, we are now in a short period of ‘ordinary’ time – when we count down towards Lent and hear the teachings of Jesus. The Good Samaritan and the Beatitudes have been the focus of Chapel recently, as we reflect on Compassion. The Good Samaritan crosses boundaries to show compassion, and the Beatitudes teach us that under God’s rule, those who most need compassion will be blessed. We are invited to be ruled by God and practice Kingdom values.

Religion and Peace

We continue to pray for peace in the world, and for safety and inclusion for all people of faith, as we see religious hatred apparently on the rise in our own country. Let us pray that Australia’s celebrated values of a fair go and opportunity might be accessible, especially at this time for those suffering persecution because of their faith or cultural heritage.

Father Toby
School Chaplain

A Prayer for Peace

Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed,
kindle in the hearts of all the true love of peace,
and guide with Your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who make decisions for the nations of the earth;
that in tranquility Your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth be filled with the knowledge of Your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Wow! What a wonderful start to the Pre-Kindergarten children’s school journey! The students enjoyed dancing, listening to stories, painting and playing this week. All the teachers are so pleased with how the students have entered the classroom each day and have been incredibly brave when saying goodbye to their carers. We are so excited to see how much the children will grow together this year. It’s going to be wonderful.

Kindergarten children have had a great start to the school year as they settle into the routines. The students have engaged in various activities to get to know one another. It has been lovely to observe the children developing new friendships and sharing their likes and interests with each other. Their teachers look forward to seeing many more friendships established over the coming weeks.

Pre-Primary teachers are excited to begin the wonderful learning journey with the children. Pre-primary is a year filled with growth, exploration, and discovery, and the teachers can’t wait to share it with the students and families.

Pre-Primary has been focusing on practising their fine motor skills to start the year. Developing strong fine motor skills sets the foundation for confident writing and drawing, and children are encouraged to continue this practice at home too. Simple activities such as using pegs, building with small blocks, or even helping in the kitchen with stirring and pouring can make a big difference!

Beyond fine motor development, Pre-Primary teachers are creating a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. The days are filled with hands-on experiences, storytelling, and playful exploration that help build curiosity, independence, and a love of learning. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Year 1 children have had a wonderful start to the year. They have spent time reflecting on their holidays and setting goals for the new year. Year 1 students have made new friends and strengthened their established friendships. They have practised new routines and got to know their teachers and classroom peers. 

During lessons, Year 1 students reviewed concepts taught in Pre-Primary and introduced some newer topics that will be learnt this year. Year 1 students are so excited to explore new ideas and challenge themselves in and out of the classroom. 

Beyond the curriculum, they have been practising our whole school value, Compassion, by including new students in our friendship groups, helping others on the big new playground and supporting each other in the exciting transition of Year

‘Growing Kindness in Year 2!’ In these first few weeks, Year 2 students have been exploring what kindness looks like in their classroom and beyond. As part of this, they have created a Kindness Garden, where each child decorated a colourful flower with words and drawings of kind actions. This beautiful display reminds us daily that small gestures—like a smile or a helping hand—can brighten someone’s day. Through stories, discussions, and reflection, they build a classroom where kindness is at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to watching it grow!

Year 3 students have had a fantastic start to the year, settling well into Junior Years as they embrace new routines and expectations. They have shown great enthusiasm for their learning activities and are thriving in their classroom environment. They have enjoyed learning in areas such as Mathematics, Inquiry, and Social-Emotional Learning, which have sparked their curiosity and engagement. They were excited to dive into swimming lessons this week after eagerly anticipating a fun-filled week of learning and adventure!

The Year 4 cohort has hit the ground running! They were very excited to collect their laptops during the first week of term. All the students have demonstrated maturity and resilience when navigating the world of SEQTA and Microsoft. In Week 2, the students participated in their swimming lessons; this was a fun time as students were able to refine their swimming skills. The Year 4 teachers look forward to a fantastic year with all the students!

Year 5 students have had a fantastic start to the school year! They have settled into the classrooms, getting to know each other and becoming familiar with the routines and high expectations. A highlight of Week 2 was the swimming lessons, where students enjoyed developing their water confidence and stroke techniques. They showed great enthusiasm and resilience throughout the swimming sessions. It has been a positive and productive beginning, and we look forward to an exciting term ahead!

The Year 6 students were full of excitement when reconnecting with and making new friends at the start of the year. They have now begun the exciting task of voting for their Celebration shirt design. We look forward to seeing all Year 6 students leading the Primary School this year. 

Italian - This week the Junior Years students received their Italian cartellina, including il quaderno d`Italiano and il libretto delle attivita`. The students will use these resources during our Italian lessons all year round.

Digital Technology - This week, the Year 2 students have learnt their new passwords for the year. It has been pleasing to see the enthusiasm shown by the new Year 1 students about digital technology. The Year 1 students have been introduced to ‘what is digital technology and what is not.’

Visual Art - This week the wonderful Pre-Primary students successfully transitioned into specialist art. They have been learning all about lines. They followed the story “Larry the Line” and carefully drew their own vertical, diagonal, horizontal, zigzag, loopy, curvy and spiral lines. Well done Pre-Primary! 

Key Dates for Term 1

As outlined below, there are some important dates for Term 1 that you may wish to add to your calendars.

I thank everyone for a wonderful start to 2025 and look forward to seeing more amazing things happen over this term.

Mrs Shirley Steel
Head of Primary School

eRideables

With the increase in students using eRideables and other electric rideable devices for travel and recreation, we would like to share some important rules to help keep our children safe. Please take a minute to visit https://www.wa.gov.au/…/road-safety-commission/erideables for all the rules and regulations surrounding eRideables in WA.

At the present time, only Year 11s and 12s may ride an eRideable to School.

Year 7 Camp and Information Evening

The 2025 Year 7 Camp, at Kerem Adventure Camp, will take place from March 24th to March 28th (week 8)

All Year 7 Parents/Carers are encouraged to attend the Year 7 Parent/Carer Information Evening on Monday February 24th in the Theatre when we will be presenting information about the Year 7 Camp and other information related to Year 7.

Year 7 and 10 Immunisations

The Department of Health is offering a free immunisation program for Year 10 and Year 7 students. The 2025 Immunisation schedule is as follows:

Year 10:  Monday 12 May: Meningococcal ACWY vaccine

Year 7:  Wednesday 3 September: HPV (human papilloma virus) dTpa (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)

All students require parent/carer consent before they receive any immunisations at school. 

Please find attached the link for parents/carers to register and provide consent:

Login - VaccinateWA (health.wa.gov.au)

For further information on the vaccines please visit the following website:

School-based immunisation program healthywa.wa.gov.au

Open Parachute

The new 2024 timetable has provided the opportunity for the Secondary School to run a new program which will support students and their mental wellbeing.

The Open Parachute Program provides practical support to students through the stories of real students who have faced struggles and overcome them. These video stories will encourage our own students to tell their own personal stories.

These practical mental health skills will support students through their own struggles so that they thrive. This program aims to build a strong foundation of resilience so that your child can learn to trust in their own abilities, relate to their own feelings in a healthy way, and change any unhelpful patterns that may hold them back at any point in their lives.

Formal shoes in the Secondary School

A reminder to parents/carers that all students are to wear formal black leather Shoes for school as shown below:

Please note that black leather sport shoes are not part of our School uniform at Swan Valley Anglican Community School.

More details can be found on the School website: Uniforms - Swan Valley Anglican Community School

Debbie Davies
Head of Secondary (Pastoral Care)

Cheerleaders

Recently, students from all year levels auditioned for a place on the 2025 cheerleading team, building on the success of the 2024 squad. The 2024 team had an impressive first year, culminating in a performance at the Dance Showcase in November. Now, exciting things are in store for the 2025 group as the team will debut brand-new cheer uniforms and participate in specialised workshops focusing on stunting and tumbling. They’ll also perform at upcoming carnival events, showcasing their talent and enthusiasm. Additionally, new stunt signs will be introduced to add even more flair and energy to their routines.

Mica Matthewman
Teacher

Careerlink

The CareerLink Student Induction took place on February 4th, 2025, at Edith Cowan University (ECU), where Jeff Fullelove, Lynn Betts, and the CareerLink team warmly welcomed the 2025 intake. Students enrolled in a variety of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Workplace Learning courses were encouraged to attend this important event. The induction served as an orientation to the program, helping students prepare for upcoming out-of-school activities.

Guest speaker Monica Beazley from Monarch Management delivered an insightful presentation on empowering elite female athletes with the confidence and leadership skills necessary to become influential ambassadors for their clubs. She shared her approach to developing a leader’s mindset and offered strategies for fast-tracking individual career success. Monica also discussed leadership coaching, emphasising the importance of creating cohesive teams where individuals are deeply connected to their roles and the purpose behind them.

As always, the students were a true credit to the School.

Lee Barnes-Roberts
Careers Coordinator

CFC Domains of Development

All Year 11 students have officially started their new 2025 courses with the two classes of Children Family and Community students beginning to explore the ‘Domains of Development’ and the biological and environmental factors that influence growth and development. In a hands-on activity, students worked together to create fridge magnet hearts, while also identifying the various developmental areas—such as gross and fine motor skills, social, emotional, moral, and cognitive development—fostered through play activities. They also examined how these areas are influenced by the interactions and nurturing provided by caregivers and educators. The session was both enjoyable and insightful, allowing students to engage with serious content in a fun, interactive way.

Year 11 CFC Visit Kindy Yellow

Kindy Yellow students and their teacher Miss Alana Butcher were a buzz and warmly welcomed our Year 11 CFC students to their class. They enjoyed and shared a wide range of activities including, macrame necklace making, painting, colouring photo frames, building shapes and sharing play tea. The Year 11s were able to put into practice their learning on the ‘Domains of Development’ and nurtured students as they shared experiences. It was very rewarding to see the warm interactions and fun shared by the Kindergarten students. We are grateful to Kindy Yellow who are a highly valued partner in the delivery of the Year 11 Children Family and Community course.

Sue-Ellen Bull
Teacher: Technologies

Also taking part in the orchestra are two SVACS students, Sophia Sherring (Year 12) on violin and Cerys Rhys-Rogers (Year 7) on percussion.

The concert will showcase hits from artists such as Robbie Williams, ABBA, Dua Lipa, Spice Girls, Adele, Bee Gees, ACDC, Whitney Houston, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus & more.

Bring your family, friends and a picnic (or pop over to the food trucks if you prefer) and enjoy a spectacular evening of pop music at Symphony Under the Stars!

Date: Saturday 22 February 2025
Location: Kingsway Regional Sporting Complex, 130 Kingsway, Madeley
Time: From 5:00pm
Cost: FREE

For more information visit:
https://www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/events/event/834/symphony_under_the_stars