Issue 3 - 2026

This significant development represents an exciting step forward in providing contemporary learning environments that support collaboration, creativity, and connection. This beautiful space is already proving to be a valuable area for students and staff to enjoy throughout the day, whether for learning, reflection, or community gatherings.

From 2027, the School will be moving to a new school‑year model, which includes a three‑week break between Terms 2 and 3. In recent years, a growing number of independent schools have adopted a three‑week mid‑year break. This change has been influenced by increased rates of illness and fatigue among students and staff during the winter months. After careful consideration, we have decided to introduce a three‑week mid‑year break beginning in 2027.

This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to student and staff wellbeing, providing a valuable opportunity for rest, recovery, and renewal ahead of a busy second semester — without compromising academic outcomes.

It is important to note that this additional week in the mid‑year break will be balanced elsewhere in the school calendar. Students will not receive additional holiday time overall, as the School is required by law to maintain the same number of contact hours across the year. To accommodate this change, the Christmas break will be shortened by one week.

By way of context, Catholic Education Western Australia has also announced plans to introduce a three‑week mid‑year break across its schools from 2027.

We encourage families to review the 2027 Term Dates on our website and take these changes into account when planning for future years.

Of particular interest was hearing about their Prefect goals for 2026. Top of their list is interacting with other year groups, making connections and enhancing house spirit.

It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing Mothers and Carers in our school community. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child and are available to purchase via Flexischools: https://flexischools.com.au/parents

All family members are welcome to attend the event. RSVPs and ticket sales will close at 4:00pm on Monday 4 May. We look forward to seeing you all at the Friends of SVACS Mother’s Day Breakfast!

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air and can affect people who are not fully immunised. While there have been no confirmed cases at our school, we are sharing this information so families can remain informed and vigilant.

What to Look For

Early symptoms of measles may include:

• fever
• tiredness
• runny nose
• cough
• sore or red eyes

This is usually followed by a red blotchy rash that often starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

What Families Should Do

• If your child develops symptoms consistent with measles, please keep them at home and seek medical advice.
• Phone ahead before visiting a GP clinic or emergency department so appropriate precautions can be taken.
• Families are encouraged to check that vaccinations are up to date, as immunisation provides strong protection against measles.
• For the most current information, including exposure locations and advice, please refer to WA Health.

The health and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We continue to follow guidance from WA Health and will communicate any further updates should they arise.

We are delighted to celebrate Samuel Ball and Tory Dennis (both Year 12) on their selection in the ACC All Star Representative Cricket Team 2026. Earning a place in this prestigious team is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their talent, dedication, and commitment to the sport.

Samuel and Tory represented Swan Valley Anglican Community School with pride as members of the final team of 12, competing in the inter‑association match held at the iconic WACA. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the way they continue to uphold the values and sporting excellence of our school. Congratulations to both students on this outstanding accomplishment!

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)
• 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 22 April 2026 at 4.00pm.

Please note that interviews typically occur approximately 18 months prior to the year of entry, and a number of year groups are already full or close to capacity. Families who have not yet submitted an application for a future student are encouraged to contact our Registrar, Mrs Merri Corr, on 9297 9506 or via email at enrolments@svacs.wa.edu.au

If your child will be leaving SVACS, we would be grateful if you could notify us as early as possible. Timely communication helps us plan effectively, including offering positions to families on our waitlist.

Withdrawal Policy Reminder

• One full term’s notice in writing is required for all student withdrawals.
• This equates to at least 10 school weeks’ notice (school weeks refer to term time only, not holidays).
• Withdrawal notices should be addressed to the Principal, Ms Melissa Powell, and emailed to enrolments@svacs.wa.edu.au .

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Designed to streamline communication between the School and Parents/Carers, the app includes features such as push notifications, so you’ll never miss important news or upcoming events. To get started, please refer to the User Guide Instructions for step-by-step details on how to download and set up the app on your phone. We look forward to keeping you informed and connected through this new platform.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/swan-valley/id6738373306

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.edu.wa.svacs.schoolapp

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

Melissa Powell

Principal

This story is told in Lent as it speaks of the abundance of God’s mercy like streams in a desert. On Ash Wednesday we reflected on God’s capacity to turn what is dry and lifeless within us, like ash, into the fulness of life.

Jesus breaks social boundaries when he speaks to this woman, who is not accompanied by a man. Close to International Women’s Day, we compared this situation to that of some women today, who do not enjoy any more freedom than she did, around 2000 years ago. The woman at the well is a Samaritan: a race of people who were seen as enemies and outcasts by the Jewish leaders who stressed purity and strict adherence to their Law. Jesus crosses boundaries to engage with her and offer her inclusion in God’s kingdom. We reflected on this as a clear sign that it is not possible to be racist and a true disciple of Jesus.

Healing our Blindness: Miracles out of Mess

In Lent we hear the story of Jesus healing a man born blind, by mixing saliva with mud, and bathing in a pool. This is another sign from John’s Gospel of the power of Jesus, and a wonderful healing miracle.

Like most of the Gospel, this story has a meaning at a deeper level. Jesus challenges those with blind prejudice, those who are blind to the needs of others or to their own sin, those have been brought up since birth to ‘turn a blind eye,’ to be healed of their blindness. Jesus offers a new perspective, and encourages us to see the truth and the revelation of God.

This story links us back to Ash Wednesday, as Jesus uses dried out dirt to transform a person’s life. It is said that “God makes miracles out of messes.” We are invited to turn the ash and the dirt of life into something new and transformative for ourselves or others in this season of Lent.

We are over halfway through Lent, and looking forward eagerly to the excitement of the Easter Festival, with all the drama of sacrificial love that we remember in the days that lead to it.

Father Toby
School Chaplain

A Prayer for Lent

Lord Jesus, come to us with your healing power
and open the eyes of our hearts
that we may bear witness to you with courageous service to your people.
As we prepare for Easter,
grant us living water, to cleanse the dirt and the mess in our lives
that we may be ready to meet you in your risen life,
for you live and reign, now and for ever.

Amen

Recently, the students in 6C presented an assembly item exploring the meaning of commitment. This is their message:

C - choose to be accountable for our learning, behaviour, and the way we represent our school each day.

O – own your actions by making responsible choices and understanding your impact on others.

M - make the most of every opportunity to grow as learners by setting goals and striving to achieve them.

M – model the culture of Swan Valley Anglican Community School through your conduct and leadership.

I – invite different perspectives and recognize that diversity strengthens our learning.

T – take responsibility for our learning by engaging, asking questions and thinking critically.

M – motivate ourselves and others to stay focused and committed to share our goals.

E - empathise with others by offering support when learning or life feels difficult.

N - never give up when learning is complex, or progress feels slow.

T - together, we learn, reflect, and grow as accountable and resilient learners.

Thank you to 6C students for their wisdom about commitment!

Pre-Kindergarten children enjoyed a fun and refreshing sensory activity that was perfect for the hot weather. We froze small bugs and toys in blocks of ice and invited the children to become “bug rescuers.” Using warm water, droppers, spoons, and their hands, the children explored different ways to melt the ice and free the hidden treasures. Activities like this are wonderful for young learners as they encourage curiosity, experimentation, and problem-solving. As the children worked out how to rescue the toys, they were also strengthening their fine motor skills by squeezing droppers, scooping, and chipping at the ice. Sensory play such as this supports early scientific thinking and allows children to learn through hands-on discovery while having lots of fun and keeping cool!

Thank you to everyone for your support and partnership.

Mrs Shirley Steel
Head of Primary School

Students engaged enthusiastically in our Mathematics Week activities and challenges, they also enjoyed hands-on opportunities offered as part of Home Economics Week. We continued to deepen our partnership with families through the Year 7 Parent Information Evening and Parent–Teacher Interviews. Alongside this, our Peer Support and Buddy Program work continues to support a strong sense of belonging across year groups as we prepare to celebrate Harmony Week in Week 9.

Each day, students received a maths quiz filled with fun and thought‑provoking riddles. Those who completed the quiz went into the draw to win a Café voucher, with one winner from Years 7–9 and one from Years 10–12 each day.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Year 7 – 9: Raisa Pannu, Gurmann Thind, Javy Goyal, Vivaan Patel

Year 10 – 12: Sehaj Gill, Thomas Chin, Luke Callaway, Jack Madafferi, Abigail Dunnett

Lunchtime activities added to the excitement, with students enjoying origami, Minute to Win It, and other mathematical challenges throughout the week.

Maths Week would not be complete without our annual pi‑reciting competition — and this year, students rose to the challenge, finally reaching 300 digits of pi. Congratulations to Akshay Athreya on this outstanding achievement, and Princepreet Dandiwal and Savannah Standish who placed second and third respectively.

We ended the week with Have Sum Fun Face to Face at Guildford Grammar School. Two teams of Year 7 and 8 students, and two teams of Year 9 and 10 students competed in the East Metropolitan Heat.  I am pleased to announce that we were able to secure first place in the Year 9/10 division in a very close competition that came down to a tie breaker!  Congratulations to Noah Brown, William Fassett, Karanveer Dhaliwal, Akshay Athreya and Princepreet Dandiwal for their fantastic team work.  Thank you to all the students who sacrificed their Friday night to attend, as well as Mr White and Mrs du Plessis for attending.

Students got involved in both cooking and sewing sessions such as flipping pancakes, hairclip making and creating their own fabric key rings in the sewing workshop.

We also held a “Best Apron” teacher vote, where students brought in their favourite apron for a chance to win a canteen voucher.

A huge shoutout to our Year 12 FST class, who went above and beyond—baking over 500 cupcakes for the secondary school and preparing a delicious morning tea for all staff on Friday. 

It was a fantastic week full of creativity, teamwork and valuable life skills. Well done to everyone involved!

The evening provided families with a clear overview of how the first few weeks have gone, who to contact for different needs, and practical ways we can work together to support each student’s wellbeing, belonging and learning habits.

We thank families for their attendance and ongoing partnership in supporting our students. If you missed the evening and you would like a copy of the presentation, please reach out to the Head of Year 7, Christian Devellerez.

The Year 7 Parent–Teacher Interviews, held on Wednesday evening, provided an opportunity for families to meet classroom teachers, share insights into their child’s learning and wellbeing, celebrate strengths, and agree on one or two practical next steps to support continued growth throughout the year. We hope that this opportunity to partner with teachers was informative and constructive.

Last week our Year 11 students met with small groups of Year 7s to reconnect and to take stock of how their start to the year has been. This enabled peer mentors to identify where students were thriving but more importantly identifying challenges and where each student needed support. After sharing tips and tricks on how to manage locker storage more effectively, groups shared some other helpful hints to make the transition into secondary school a little smoother.  Everyone is looking forward to the ongoing opportunities to come together and continue to build connection and a sense of belonging.

SRC is a valued leadership opportunity that strengthens student voice and agency, ensuring students can contribute meaningfully to school improvement. Discussion focused on ways to enhance our outdoor spaces and seating, as well as building House spirit and community connection. Ava and Blake, our Head Prefects, chair each meeting and do an excellent job ensuring every student was heard. We look forward to seeing these ideas developed and brought to life throughout the year!

We celebrate Harmony Week in Week 9, taking time as a community to recognise and celebrate the many cultures, languages and stories represented at SVACS. Throughout the week, students will be invited to participate in activities that build understanding, encourage inclusion and strengthen our shared sense of belonging. Activities will include cultural music, a dance showcase, fun with flags, countries of origin displays, foods from various countries, and dedicated cultural dress and Buddy activities on Thursday 2 April.

On Thursday 2 April, students are encouraged to wear to school:

• Traditional cultural dress or
• The colour orange

This day will also mark our first Buddy Program activity, and students are looking forward to meeting their buddies and participating in a fun shared experience.

If you have questions regarding year‑level events, please contact your child’s Head of Year:

• Year 7: Christian Devellerez – christian.devellerez@svacs.wa.edu.au
• Year 8: Clare Lowndes – clare.lowndes@svacs.wa.edu.au
• Year 9: Tash Hague – tash.hague@svacs.wa.edu.au
• Year 10: Casey Willmore – casey.willmore@svacs.wa.edu.au
• Year 11: Emma Amson – emma.amson@svacs.wa.edu.au
• Year 12: Jacqueline Orecic – jacqueline.orecic@svacs.wa.edu.au

Students invited to various Sporting events (i.e., NEAS and ACC), subject specific academic excursions and co-curricular excursions will receive invites sent to parent emails through Consent2Go.

Term One Events:

All student from Pre-Kindy to Year 9 will soon begin visiting the library for regular reading lessons, where they can browse the growing collection, borrow books and enjoy dedicated time to immerse themselves in stories. These visits help students build strong reading habits and discover books they genuinely enjoy.

The Resource Centre has been thoughtfully designed with six dedicated learning zones, allowing classes to use the space for reading, research, collaboration and quiet study:

• Early Years Reading Nook (PK–Y2) – a warm and welcoming space where our youngest students can explore stories and begin developing a love of reading.
   
• Junior Students Reading Zone (Y3–Y6) – a comfortable area where students have easy access to a wide variety of books and resources as they grow in confidence and enjoyment as readers.
   
• Secondary Reading Lounge – an inviting space designed for sustained reading, literature lessons and quiet reflection with a good book.
   
• Two Collaborative Learning Zones– flexible, technology-enabled spaces where classes can work together on inquiry learning, research projects and discussions, while developing research, information and digital literacy skills with library staff.
   
• Year 12 Directed Study Room – a dedicated quiet study environment where senior students can focus, prepare for assessments and work independently.

A great school library is far more than shelves of books. It is a place where students learn how to locate reliable information, evaluate sources and think critically about the world around them. Students who regularly engage in reading are also more likely to become confident learners and achieve strong academic outcomes.

While reading lessons mark the first stage of opening the Resource Centre, many exciting initiatives are still to come. New books, digital resources, research programs and reading activities will continue to be introduced as the library grows into a vibrant hub for learning across the school.

We look forward to seeing this beautiful new space become a place where students read widely, think deeply and discover new possibilities.

Ms Jasmine Hayes
Head of Resource Centre