Issue 10 - 2025

The first services were held in the Church by the Reverend William Mitchell who had guided the construction.  Although church services had been held in the area since around 1831, the foundation stone for All Saints’ was not laid until 31 October 1839. The church was built largely by local residents using donated materials, handmade bricks from local clay, and pit-sawn timber. The surrounding graveyard is the final resting place of many of the Swan Valley’s early European settlers.

Shirley Steel (Head of Primary) shared a personal reflection:

“On a personal level, this is an interesting pilgrimage for me. Reverend William Mitchell is my great, great, great grandfather. I have a book on the family history called ‘Mitchell Amen’ and a publication of the family tree showing Reverend William Mitchell’s descendants up until about 1999/2000. All Saints and St Mary’s in Upper Swan have been important churches in my family, and when I was a child, we used to have regular extended family gatherings there.”

This special event beautifully connected our students with the spiritual and historical roots of our community, making it a truly memorable experience.

ACC BASKETBALL TEAM SELECTIONS

Congratulations to Lewis Downing (Year 12) on being selected in the final team of 10 to compete in the inter-association matches on Sunday, 26 October at Bendat Basketball Centre. This marks Lewis’s second consecutive selection for the ACC Basketball All-Star Team—a fantastic achievement and a testament to his talent and dedication.

Well done, Lewis!

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Melissa Powell
Principal

After Chapel, Semesters 1 and 2 Class Reps and Primary Leaders set off from school on a Pilgrimage of Hope Walk, with our two visitors, Mrs Bushe-Jones, Mrs Crawshaw, Mrs Steel, Ms Powell and me.

Along the way, students were encouraged to think about what they hope for. If they spoke with the bishop, they were allowed to carry his ‘shepherd’s staff’ as they walked – a symbol of Jesus the Good Shepherd who guides and cares for us, the sheep of God’s pasture.

A pilgrimage is a journey with a purpose; all students used the time, and beautiful Swan Valley surroundings, to reflect on hope and how they might show compassion to bring hope to others.

Ms Powell has written in this newsletter about the destination of our pilgrimage, a sacred Christian church as well as a Noongar campsite. The traditional owners and Country were acknowledged by one of our First Nations students during our prayers in the church. Many students said how moving the service was in the intimate and hallowed space of the small church, built by hand with simple clay bricks.

Students explored some of the rich history of the site, read historic gravestones, listened to birds and the river running below, and even had a chance to greet our school mascot, Bertle the Turtle. Everyone enjoyed morning tea, delivered by Mrs Corr, and walking back to school full of hope-filled conversation.

Back in 2006, the first ever SVACS staff meeting was held in All Saints’ Church, following a eucharist that marked the beginning of our school’s history. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful Christian site so close to our school, and vines, fields, trees and views of the Perth Hills on our doorstep.

My thanks to our visitors and to all staff for this memorable event, and of course to the children who represented our school so well and made it such a special morning.

Fr Toby
Chaplain 

Our Year 6 Primary Leaders, Service Leaders, and Chapel Leaders were recently blessed with a very special opportunity to go on a guided tour of Parliament House led by Michelle Maynard.

The students engaged in meaningful discussion and gained valuable political insights into the daily work of our local minister, broadening their understanding of civic leadership and community service. A highlight of the visit was stepping into the historic Parliamentary Library, where students were privileged to view and even touch original records dating back to the 1800s.

This experience not only deepened their appreciation of Australia’s political system but also inspired them to reflect on their own roles as young leaders within our school community.

Term 3 concludes on Friday, 26 September. I wish everyone a safe, restful and enjoyable term break.  I look forward to welcoming students to Term 4 on Wednesday, 15 October.

Pre-Kindergarten students read ‘The Magic Hat’ and let their imaginations soar! Each student created their very own magical hat and shared what they would transform into if they had a real magic hat. From unicorns to bears, the ideas were as magical as the hats themselves! It was such a fun way to encourage creativity and self-expression.

Kindergarten - As part of their ‘Storytelling’ inquiry, the students in Kindy Red read the story ‘Not a Box’ by Antoinette Portis. The students were then shown an empty, plain box and asked to imagine what the box could be. Each student designed and created their own box as an object or character. All the students' creations were creative and spectacular!

Pre-Primary students had a wonderful time welcoming their families into the classroom for Open Morning. The children were so proud to share their amazing work, showcase their growing skills, and invite their parents to join in on their learning. It was also very special to celebrate R U OK? Day together, reminding everyone about the importance of kindness, checking in with others, and looking after our friends.

Year 1 - This term in Science, Year 1 students have been learning about light and sound. They have investigated how light and sound are made, where light and sound come from and examples of light and sound in the world around us. To support this learning, the students engaged in the ‘Science Alive!’ Incursion. Science Alive is an interactive incursion - Light and Sound Show. The students discovered the amazing energy of light, how it is created, and how it bounces to produce colour. They also investigated the mysteries of sound, discovered how sound travels, and even attempted to create music. 

Year 2 – To support our Biological Sciences learning this term, Year 2 students enjoyed an exciting excursion to Caversham Wildlife Park, where they explored how living things grow and change. Moving in small groups with the support of our wonderful parent helpers, students had the chance to observe a variety of Australian animals and learn about their unique life cycles, habitats, and features.

A significant highlight of the day was watching the Farm Show together, where students saw sheep being sheared, learned about farm life, and were thoroughly entertained as a brave parent volunteer gave the stock whip a go - sparking lots of cheers and laughter!

Another memorable moment was when many students showed incredible bravery and curiosity by choosing to hold a Black Headed Python, learning firsthand about reptiles and how they grow and adapt to their environment.

The day was filled with hands-on learning, real-life connections to our Science curriculum, and plenty of smiles. A big thank you to our parent helpers for making this adventure possible!

Year 3 students have been exploring the topic of light and how it helps us see the world around us. They investigated sources of light and discovered that light travels in straight lines but can be reflected and redirected. Using mirrors, the students worked in groups to create their own light maze, bouncing light rays to make a diamond sparkle. 

Year 4 – This term, Year 4 students have embarked on a magical journey into the world of ‘ology’ books—creative guides that explore mythical creatures in imaginative detail. Our adventure began with one inspiring model text: Goblinology, a quirky and captivating book all about goblins. It sparked curiosity, laughter, and a flood of ideas!

Using Goblinology as inspiration, each student selected their own mythical creature to research and write about. So far, they’ve crafted engaging introductions, detailed fact files, and informative reports. Most recently, they’ve designed clever “How to Trap Your Creature” guides—complete with tools, techniques, and a touch of magic!

Stay tuned next term as we continue building our ‘ology’ books with new chapters, deeper lore, and even more imaginative surprises. The mythical worlds of Year 4 are just getting started!

Year 5 - As part of the GIFTS program (Giving in Faith to Serve), the Year 5 students had the privilege of hosting residents from a local aged care facility. The students warmly welcomed their guests, served them afternoon tea, and enjoyed meaningful conversations together. It was an excellent opportunity for our students to practice the value of Service by showing kindness, respect, and hospitality. Both students and residents walked away with smiles, new connections, and a deeper understanding of the joy that comes from giving to others. 

Year 6 students have been developing their collaboration skills as they work in groups in Design and Technology. Linking back to previous learning in Science, their task involved researching a natural disaster of their choice and examining its destructive impact on humans. From floods to earthquakes and tsunamis, and anything in between, students then needed to think of a design idea, in their groups, that would minimise the impact of the natural disaster and therefore reduce the loss of human life from these destructive events. Then came the fun part: making and testing the models.

Visual Art – ‘Year 5 Bee Printing’

Printing bees and using Japanese water colours to create a honeycomb background is what the Year 5 students have been up to in the art room. The students’ focus artist was Matthew Willey. He paints bees all over the world to inspire people to reconnect and accept their role in nature. He also founded a company to raise awareness about the importance of bees. The students learned the skills to develop and create their own bee prints that have line, shape and texture. Then, when printed with foam, it left a positive print image that had the Year 5 students in awe of what they had achieved. After a visit from Reverend Peter Lawerance and our Principal, Ms Powell, to the art room to see the Year 5 students in action, Ms Powell then shared a story that her name, Melissa, means ‘honey bee’. Overall, the students thoroughly enjoyed this experience and project.

Dance – Students from Year 2 are very excited about their Humpty Dumpty Concert! They put in a great deal of effort learning their routines and practising their lines. The Year 3 students explored Indian Dance and taught some movements to their peers. Year 4 students continue storytelling through dance, while looking at the dance element ‘Energy’. They are using Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as inspiration, exploring different tempos, characters and settings. Year 5 students explored the dance they had learned over the term and selected music for their performance next term. Year 6 students incorporated Drama and Dance to create a theatrical routine, exploring the 1980s.

Italian - Year 5 students have been imagining life in Italy in the year 2050. They have been creating lots of entertaining sentences, which include the city they would live in, the type of house they would have and who they would live with. 

Thank you to everyone for supporting our Primary School throughout Term 3.  I look forward to seeing everyone in Term 4.

Mrs Shirley Steel
Head of Primary School

Dear Parents,

Please come and check lost property.  We have an abundance of sports jackets, water bottles and other items.  Please take a look as your child may be missing a part of their uniform.

Non SVACS uniform items not collected by the end of Term 3, will be donated to charity.

Thank you

Student Services Team