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Carving It Up at Perisher & Smiggins

Our Term 2 Secondary snow trip was a fantastic experience! We couldn’t have asked for better conditions, with our prayers for fresh snow well and truly answered. On arrival at Smiggins, we were greeted by a thick blanket of snow, setting the scene for an unforgettable few days on the slopes.

Students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm - from confident snowboarders carving it up to beginners finding their feet after the first few runs. They had the opportunity to board at both Perisher and Smiggins, making the most of the unusually high number of runs open so early in the season. There were plenty of laughs, a few tumbles, and constant encouragement as they cheered each other on.

Off the slopes, the fun continued with snowman building, card games, and spirited snowball fights. Evenings were spent gathered around the fire, sharing stories about the day and enjoying mugs of hot chocolate.

A huge thank you to Brian and Julie from Southern Cross Alpine Lodge for their warm hospitality, keeping us comfortable and well-fed throughout our stay. Thanks also to our staff team - and especially Mr Nicholls for driving the mini bus - for making the trip possible.

A special visit and bringing a smile...

On Tuesday 1T took Mrs Twitchen, Mr Longfield, Mr Green and Mrs Hudson across the road to visit the residents at Jean Ross House.

They had a lovely time together. The children started by singing the song “I am thankful”, using sign language to sign the words.

Afterwards, the boys and girls spent time chatting with the residents, introducing themselves, and asking the residents about themselves. They then worked with the residents, making a beautiful artwork together. There was a hive of activity, colouring and pasting to make a picture for the residents to keep, to brighten up their day.

This was a lovely opportunity for the children to serve others; they know that this visit was a highlight in the day for the residents. It was a very practical way for them to “love God, and love others”. As we left, we received encouraging feedback from the staff about our students – their behaviour and their readiness to engage with the residents was beautiful to see.

This is just the start of our visits to our friends at Jean Ross House. The other Year 1 and Year 2 classes will also go to spend time with them in the weeks to come. We are so excited!

Year 9 Multigenerational History Lessons

Recently Year 9 History students have begun a sequence of visits to Jean Ross House.

With the help of residents students are furthering their understanding of what life was like during times of war, with a particular focus on World War II.

During their most recent visit, students partnered with residents forming an unlikely and lively ‘megaclass’. In small groups Year 9 worked with their senior buddies to compete in musical trivia. They also worked together to analyse historical sources from World War II, gaining precious and first hand insight from residents. It turns out that when it comes to prizes and encouragement the Jean Ross House residents are just as enthusiastic for fairy stickers as their teenage friends. Year 9 are looking forward to their next multigenerational lesson on Monday 18 August.

Fiona Phillips Visit with Year 5

On Wednesday 13 August, Fiona Phillips, our Federal Member for Gilmore, visited Year 5 students. She took the time out of her busy schedule to spend with students answering their questions about her role supporting us here in Nowra. 

When Year 5 visited Canberra at the end of last term, Fiona Phillips was not in Parliament as it was not a Sitting Day so students enjoyed their time with her here at NCS.

Prior to Fiona's arrival, students came up with some fantastic questions about her role in Parliament and what she does to support us. Students learned that Fiona decided to become a politician to help upgrade the Nowra Pool along our river front. We learned that she grew up in Nowra, attending the local schools, so Nowra has a very important space in her heart which is why she told us that she will never become Prime Minister as she wants to continue supporting us here.

Students also learned how much Fiona loves the Shoalhaven Region, swimming and that she has met with our current Prime Minister several times. Mr. Albanese also has a little white dog named Toto and Fiona assured us that he is very playful and fluffy. Now all of Year 5 want to go back to Canberra to meet this famed pup!

Year 5 asked thoughtful questions about Fiona's job and asked about upcoming improvements to our area.

• What do you do during Sitting Days in Canberra? Laura H
• What was your most important campaign? Sawyer T
• Why did you choose this job? Savannah M
• What challenges have you faced being a politician? Audrey M
• Are you going to build more bike tracks? Connor H
• When will our bumpy roads get fixed properly? Jacob P

HSC Engineering Visits HARS Museum

The HSC Engineering Studies class took a recent trip to the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport, Albion Park. It was a thrilling dive into Australia’s aviation history, featuring over 50 meticulously restored aircraft, many still flyable, thanks to dedicated volunteers. 

We explored working hangars, climbed into cockpits, and learned from passionate guides about iconic planes like the Macchi MB-326, a sleek Italian jet trainer used by the RAAF; the Boeing AH-64 Apache, a high-tech attack helicopter; the Grumman S-2G Tracker, a naval anti-submarine aircraft with folding wings; the Lockheed P-2 Neptune, a maritime patrol plane with two flyable examples at HARS; and the de Havilland Tiger Moth, a WWII-era biplane trainer known for its open cockpit.

Our tour guide, Drew, showcased aviation’s evolution, from the Cold War-era MiG-15 Soviet jet to the Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina, Australia’s only flying boat. A class favourite was the 22 metre long General Dynamics F-111C, a supersonic swing-wing bomber pivotal to Australia’s defence. We were also able to go inside the Lockheed Super Constellation, the world’s only flying “Connie,” restored after a long journey from a U.S. desert; and the massive Boeing 747-438 “City of Canberra,” a record-setting Qantas jumbo passenger jet.

Having studied aviation history in Aeronautical Engineering last term, getting to see aircraft close up and first hand made our learning come alive.

Class comments:

Had a great time! Joseph

Crawling around the Neptune was fun! Jesse

I got to sit in the cockpit of the Apache helicopter - felt like being a real pilot! Aiden

The F-111 was bigger than I expected and the emergency eject was really fascinating. Ethan

Madagascar miracles

Thank you so much for praying for our Madagascar trip. It was an amazing experience and we were constantly aware of our supporters' prayers as we overcame obstacles and got most of the building constructed.

Some of the challenges included:

•  having the wrong plans and the desired width of the building was 7.5m instead of the 6m that we had planned for. Extra steel had to be bought and transported to the town (a 2 day drive), then cut into half metre lengths and welded on to every rafter, which we had cut to length to fit the original plans.
• digging foundations in sand that just kept collapsing in- electricity went off every day from 12 noon until 3pm
• 3 way translation challenges: English> French > Malagasy (and back!)

Answered prayers included:

• safe travel over very long distances and rough roads
• mostly good health
• no injuries
• good accommodation and delicious meals cooked by local women
• harmonious team work
• excellent relationships with the locals
• warm, sunny rain (and the occasional wet day when we needed rest)
• getting so much done

All you need is Luff!

K-7 students recently had the opportunity to hear from Children and Young Adult's author Nathan Luff. It was a joy to hear how Nathan takes the wild adventures and challenges of growing up regionally with four brothers and applies his imagination to create far-fetched tales that keep kids gasping and giggling. 

Nathan was generous in sharing personal anecdotes, explaining how reading and writing feed into the creative writing process, as well as relaying details about the world of publishing for some of our budding authors. 

Nathan has a number of published titles and heads up the Children's and YA section of the Sydney Writers Festival. It was a privilege to glean from an established industry professional.    

NCS Celebrates National Science Week: 'Decoding the Universe'

From 11–15 August, NCS celebrated National Science Week 2025, diving into this year’s exciting theme: 'Decoding the Universe.' Throughout the week, students and staff were encouraged to explore the wonders of science not just as a study of the natural world, but as a way to marvel at God’s creation. 

We reflected on the idea that science helps us see more of who God is—through the intricacies of the universe. How amazing is it that the Creator of such a vast and complex universe wants to be in relationship with us—and sent His Son to make that possible!

Our Years 7–9 students took on the challenge of space-themed escape rooms, working in teams to crack codes and 'avoid disaster in space.' Each day, students also raced to decode secret messages, uncovering quotes from famous scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the universe.

Throughout the week was the school-wide scavenger hunt, where students scoured the playground for hidden puzzles and clues—combining critical thinking with a sense of adventure.

On Wednesday, our staff enjoyed a well-earned Brain Break morning tea, complete with a science trivia showdown.

To wrap up the week, Mr Lee gave an exciting demonstration of his solar dish on Friday. The sun cooperated just long enough to show the impressive power of focused rays of light in action—reminding us once again of the awe-inspiring design behind our natural world.

Behind the Scenes at the SCG and Allianz Stadium

Stage 5 PASS students recently had the opportunity to visit two of Australia’s most iconic sporting venues - the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and Allianz Stadium - as part of their study of Australia’s Sporting Identity and Event Management.

Led by our enthusiastic tour guide, Peter, the day was filled with fascinating insights and behind-the-scenes access. At the SCG, students explored the historic Players’ Dressing Rooms, where sporting greats prepared for their biggest moments. They were fortunate to catch a glimpse of the Sydney Swans mid-training and even witnessed a live press conference. 

The visit also included a tour of the SCG Museum, home to treasured sporting memorabilia from cricket, AFL, and rugby. Next stop was Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium), where students stepped into the inner workings of a modern sports facility. The tour included the players’ change rooms (all set up for the Bulldogs vs Roosters match this weekend), media centre, warm-up areas, coaches’ and commentary boxes, the exclusive Legends Lounge, and VIP suites. 

Students gained valuable insight into the planning and operations that go into hosting major sporting events. It was an exciting, informative excursion that brought content to life and helped students connect theory with real-world sporting environments.

Fun and Informative day: Pathways in Education

Seven students enjoyed an informative and interactive day at University of Wollongong Shoalhaven Campus. Students learnt about different careers in education from early childhood through to secondary teaching. Information included scholarship opportunities and different TAFE and University courses. 

They also experienced a painting workshop, an outdoor sport activity and a lesson planning session.  Lunch was provided and included sandwiches, chips and drinks. After lunch students had an opportunity to talk to various education providers and ask specific and personal questions. All in all a very useful day for those considering a career in teaching.

Senior Biology Students Take Learning Beyond the Classroom

On Thursday 24 July, our Senior Biology class had the chance to visit the Graham's Dairy Farm. We were shown around by Sam, who explained how artificial insemination works and why it is such an important process. 

We learned not only how it benefits the animals but also how it helps farmers improve their herds. This connected really well to our biotechnology studies and gave us a real example of science in action.

Then, on Thursday 7 August, we headed to the Museum of Human Disease at UNSW. This was a fascinating (and eye-opening!) experience where we saw real preserved human organs affected by a range of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Seeing these first-hand made our classroom learning about disease much more real.

We also attended a presentation about the impacts of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption on the body. It was a powerful reminder of how lifestyle choices can affect long-term health.

Both excursions were not only engaging but also gave us the chance to connect what we’ve been learning in class with the real world.