Year 5 Canberra Camp

For the last three days of Term 2 Year 5 woke up well before the sun, donned rain coats and dashed through the rain coming in sideways ready for an adventure. Farewells were called from the bus as we departed in the dark at 6am excited to end the term in this way. But it came to a sudden halt. Our journey was blocked by raging flood waters a metre deep at Nerriga and it was no mean feat finding a spot to turn around and continue our adventure. Spirits were still high and we found a path through via Bateman's Bay taking the scenic route.

We had to delay our parliament visit and went straight into the Australian War Memorial tour. We were blessed to see the majority of the renovations completed and witnessed our nation's history come alive. The Wall of Remembrance and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were revered greatly by all of Year 5. Afterwards we threw ourselves into an epic Ten Pin Bowling game with epic results and fantastic memories! We made it to our accommodation nearing dark and desperate for dinner.

The excitement was still high and most of Year 5 were up by 6am on day two ready to continue our camp. We got to visit Old Parliament House and see how democracy has shaped our nation and how it supports our citizens to have a voice. Next, we visited the National Library for a behind the scenes tour seeing how robots are in charge of moving millions of books around underground. Impressive!

Because of our detour on Day 1, we had to cut away our National Gallery tour but didn't miss out on visiting Parliament House. Everyone was impressed by the giant Lego model!

Our final stop for our second day was to the National Zoo and Aquarium. There were lions and tigers and bears, oh my!! So many stunning animals and sea creatures we were blessed to see. A camp fire and marshmallows was amazing to end our day.

Our final day still had Year 5 up at 6am (do they ever tire??) where we got to have a go at whip cracking and feeding farm animals. Today the weather was well below zero so we headed to the National Arboretum to warm up during some orienteering. In the fog at 11am!

Before heading home we visited Questacon and got to experience science in action. It was a thrill to see lightning up close, experience earthquakes and play 4-way air hockey. Some were brave enough to drop themselves and experience true weightlessness.

Joy, excitement and a thrilling adventure with our friends is the best way to sum our time together.

Cross Country Success for Noah K

Congratulations to Year 9 student Noah K, who proudly represented both NCS and NSWCIS at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships during the July school holidays.

Competing in the Boys 15–16 Years Multi-Class event, Noah’s hard work and commitment to training were evident as he gave it everything he had, finishing in 15th place with a time of 28:15:4.

Reflecting on the race, Noah shared, “I ran my hardest and I’m proud of myself.

”Well done, Noah - your school community is proud of you too!

Year 3 Heat It Up!

Our Year 3 students recently took part in a thrilling science incursion all about heat and the states of matter—solids, liquids and gases. With a full day of hands-on learning, students explored how materials change when heated or cooled through exciting experiments and demonstrations.

The day kicked off with a balloon race, where students blew up balloons and released them across the room to see how air pressure and gas affect movement. We then watched in awe as liquid nitrogen was used to shrink a balloon, showing how extreme cold affects gases. It was a powerful moment that reminded us just how amazing God’s creation is—how even invisible gases can behave in surprising ways under different temperatures.

Students then headed outside and investigated baking soda and vinegar eruptions, learning how gases form in chemical reactions. After that, it was time to get messy making slime, exploring changes in materials and texture. We explored oobleck, and it's in-between state of both liquid and solid.

Next, students worked at making a small paper rocket using a PVC pipe and were able to launch the gas-pressure rockets, seeing firsthand how expanding gases can create powerful movement. Some of the rockets even landed on top of the surrounding classroom roofs!

Finally, we ended with a suspenseful round of pass-the-parcel-style soda water bag popping, which gave everyone a fizzy surprise!

Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, we gathered for the grand finale: over 1000 ping pong balls exploding into the air using liquid nitrogen! It was a joyful and jaw-dropping moment—one that reminded us again of the power and wonder in the world God has made. As we explored the wonders of His world, we gave thanks for a God who not only made it all but invites us to explore it with joy and curiosity.

State of Origin III: A Night to Remember

On Wednesday 9 July, over 80,000 fans packed into Accor Stadium to witness the fierce rivalry of State of Origin come to life in Game 3 of the 2025 series. Among them were 17 excited NCS students and 5 staff, hoping to see a NSW victory on home turf.

We arrived just in time for the end of the pre-game entertainment, which featured an incredible light show and music that set the stage for a dramatic player introduction. The atmosphere was electric as the Queensland players were loudly booed, while the Blues received thunderous cheers from their home crowd.

Queensland came out firing and dominated the first half, surging to a 20–0 lead by halftime. Despite a spirited second-half effort from the Blues, including a couple of tries, the Maroons proved too strong. Queensland ultimately claimed a 24–12 win, securing the 2025 State of Origin series.

A huge thank you to Ben and Jayden (maintenance staff) for driving the mini buses, and to the staff who generously gave up their holidays to make this experience possible for our students. We’re also incredibly grateful to NRL Schools for providing access to the tickets and the opportunity to be part of such an iconic sporting event.

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