Principal’s Report
WAYNE KENNEDY
Dear Parents,
It was extremely pleasing to welcome students, parents and teachers to our first Middle and Senior School assembly for 2022. For this Student Leadership Induction assembly to be taking place in Week 8, reflected not only the uncertainty of the time, but also the flexibility and adaptability that has been needed by all, in the initial weeks of Term 1. As an educational community we have and are successfully navigating the obstacles of COVID-19 and the effects of hazardous weather conditions; however, what remains paramount is the commitment by the College Leadership and Teaching Team to ensure education has remained steadfast, with no compromises in delivering an exceptional educational program.
This Issue
The Student Leadership Induction Ceremony saw our 2022 College Captains – Kyan Bryant and Nash Watt and Sporting House Captains (Emu House: Zoe Turner, Curlew House: Harry Thomas and Jabiru House: Kyan Bryant) and Emu House Vice-captains (Joley Slater and Harry McDowall) presented with their college blazer and captaincy badges. Kyan and Nash confidently addressed the assembly and delivered personalised speeches that conveyed their individualised connectedness to the College and their collaborative goals as 2022 captains, to support and advance the student body through positive actions.
I look forward to next weeks (Tuesday 22nd March – 1:15pm) Junior School assembly.
Mind Program
Directly, after the assembly, all students (Year 2 – 10) were able to commence our first full Minds program for 2022. As was reported at the conclusion of 2021, the objective of the Minds program is to enhance specific student learning needs (Literacy, Mathematics and Social skills) that cannot always be easily consolidated or enhanced within the classroom. The Teaching Team have held consultations to identify the optimal Mind programs to be implemented, based on the identified skill development needs [The skills identified included: time management, organisation, oral language skills, mathematic problem solving, public speaking, editing, study, note taking, spelling strategies, written communication, social cues, targeted maths concepts, reading, targeted grammar skills, writing, and referencing] within our student body.
The Mind programs (Years 2 – 10) being implemented throughout Semester 1 include: movie making, College newspaper, creative writing, games and social skills, drama/public speaking, Tournament of the Mind, enrichment games, environment/gardening, and inclusive education, and study support initiatives. The Teaching Team will be corresponding with families regarding project selection for each student next week. There will be no costs associated with the Minds program.
Please note, whilst the Mind (Tuesday Period 5 & 6) and Movement programs (Thursday Periods 5 & 6) are being undertaken, Sporting Academy students (Dance, Tennis & Football) will be involved in their training programs. The Mind and Movement programs and all Elite & Development Sporting Academy programs will all be undertaken on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (with the exception of Development Dance who will participate in the Movement activities), therefore ensuring that all academic programs remain accessible and uninterrupted to every student. Year 11 & 12 students are involved in the Elevate study program and focusing on QCAA objectives.
Movement Program
In addition, to the Tuesday Mind program, a Movement program will be implemented on Thursday afternoons – commencing in Week 2 of Term 2 (Thursday 28th April 2022). [Please note, we have been running an internal Movement program, that has met Queensland Government COVID-19 directives in Term 1].
The Term 2 Movement program will enable students access to a specialised sporting, movement, and fitness opportunity, including:
Junior School Years 2 – 4 (on site activities) [Prep and Year 1 to join this program in Semester 2]
- Box to the Beat (External provider)
- Football (External provider Sunshine Coast Fire)
- Tennis (External provider – Ash Tennis)
- Sporting Games – PBC Junior School Teachers
Middle & Senior School (Years 5 – 10)
- Surf Lifesaving – Noosa Surf Lifesaving Club
- Gymnastics – Noosa Gymnastics
- Yoga – Samantha Williams
- Learn to Surf – Coolum Beach
- Lawn Bowls – Coolum Bowls Club
- Walking Club – Middle School Teaching Team
Parent (student) selection of the Movement program activities will take place online, using TryBooking. The various activities within the Movement program will incur their own costs (instructor & transportation). All payments will be undertaken within the TryBooking site. All Movement activities have a student number cap, with a ‘first-in’ principle applying. The TryBooking site is scheduled to open at 7:00pm on Wednesday 23rd March 2022. Once activities have been selected and paid for, waivers will be provided (where required).
NAPLAN
The College has commenced our readiness activities for NAPLAN (test window for actual NAPLAN online assessment 10th – 13th May). The practice test window is March 21st– 22nd April. The College goal is for our students to be familiar with the online test display and functionality before they sit the May examinations. Each year there is a national coordinated practice test, and this year our Year 9 students will be involved in the writing test (42 minutes) on Thursday 24th March at 10:30am. No results for the national coordinated practice test are recorded. In the next issue of the Emu Chronicle additional NAPLAN information and the College’s testing timetable will be conveyed.
Public Holidays
In preparation for Term 2, it has been identified that we will have three Mondays that will be public holidays (Easter Monday 18th April, ANZAC Day 25th April and Labour Day 2nd May). The College will be running the Monday timetable on Wednesday 27th April, to ensure that our Senior students are not disadvantage in certain classes that fall on the Monday. The Teaching Team will provide students with additional information in coming weeks.
School Photos
For everyone that has pre-registered, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the webshop.
If you have not registered, please contact the school administration or Just Photography to obtain the student’s individual photo code.
Photo orders will be returned to school in term 2.
Please watch this video on how to order photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjY71QyOxs
Any queries please contact the studio, we are happy to help.
With our best regards
From the Just Photography team
Phone: 0412 732 797
Address: PO Box 532, Yandina QLD 4561
Website: www.justphotography.com.au
Housekeeping
School Administration Housekeeping.
- The email address to use for all correspondence relating to student absences is admin@pbc.qld.edu.au, this email address is accessed by all administration staff. Please add admin@pbc.qld.edu.au to your address books so that our emails to you don’t go to your junk email folder.
You can also lodge an absence via the form on the website located here. - Don’t forget to order canteen through the My School Connect app – orders are to be placed no later than 8:40 am.
- When signing students in late or signing them out early please ensure to put a reason in the text box for College records.
- Please ensure students are in their correct uniform, we are going to be checking to make sure that the uniform policy guidelines are being followed, this includes correct footwear with formal uniforms.
Prep
AMBER GARRATT
Prep Explorers
The Prep Explorers loved making fruit kebabs when exploring patterns in Maths. They enjoyed selecting their favourite fruits, creating their pattern, counting the amount of fruit they used and then counting backwards as they ate!
Year 3
PETA GOLDING & SAVANNAH DAVIS
Living Things Scavenger Hunt!
In Term 1, the Year 3 students have been learning about living and non-living things in Science. Year 3D & 3G students were given a task to search around the school for living things and record their findings.
All students enjoyed being outside for this activity!
Taxonomists
The Year 3G class had a mysterious treasure map delivered to their classroom last week! Of course, we had to follow it, and we ended up discovering a wooden chest with a secret letter in the Junior Playground. The letter was from the SSS (Secret Scientific Society) and it detailed topics of study that we are required to complete in order to become members of the SSS. Wearing our SSS Training Badges which were also supplied to us, we started our studies in biology and taxonomy, which we have since learnt is the science of classifying and grouping animals. To help the students apply their new understandings we recently welcomed a class pet for the term: mealworms! We’ll be observing the mealworms as they undergo a metamorphosis, eventually changing into darkling beetles. We’ll keep you updated on our progress with the SSS!
Year 5
HEATH CAHALAN & JEANNETTE TOLOMEO
History
Music News
SAMANTHA RYAN
Year 6
In Music class we like to keep it ‘real’ and study a range of music from Medieval Madrigals to Rock, Hip Hop and yes, even Rap! This week it was awesome to see the Year 6’s really getting into our lesson and learning how to beatbox with their peers! Check out our video! We will be learning how to rap in rhyme and set lyrics to rhythm over the coming weeks. Watch this space!!!
SENIOR MUSIC
LOTE NEWS
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS
Konnichi wa!
Hello! My name is Samantha Williams! I am so excited to be teaching your students Japanese this year! Although we have had a few ups and downs with starting the school year (Covid and flooding) the students are loving learning a new language!
Prep – Year 2
Preps, Year Ones and Two’s have been learning the Japanese greetings through song. The Preps have been making animal origami and displaying them outside the Japanese room, located in building 5.
They sing their greetings song very enthusiastically each lesson. They have also been learning about family members and counting in Japanese! The students have also learnt to draw some Kanji numbers and started learning the Hiragana alphabet!
Year 3-6
The Year Three’s, Four’s, Fives and Six’s have been learning all about Japanese schools. They have been looking for similarities and differences between our two cultures. They have also learnt to introduce themselves, follow some basic class instructions in Japanese and recognise class items in Japanese.
It has been encouraging to see the students embracing another language and culture with such enthusiasm. They really are doing an amazing job!
Sporting Achievements
Swim Squad
Congratulations to Claudia Koitka on her selection in the Sunshine Coast Regional Swim Squad. Since my time at PBC, Claudia is the first student to attain a position in this squad, proving it is no easy feat. Further to this, Claudia has managed to qualify for 3 seperate events, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.
Please congratulate Claudia and wish her luck at the state trials.
Jui Jitsu Championships
Congratulations to year 6 student Adam Barry. Adam competed in the the South East Qld Jui Jitsu Championships held at Runaway Bay last week. Adam competed in two divisions, first round with Gi (full uniform) and one no-Gi. Adam came away with a silver in Gi competition and took out the gold in the no-Gi. Adam’s next competition is on April 3rd in Caloundra. Please congratulate Adam on his recent achievements and wish him luck moving forward.
10-12 Football Academy Students
Well done to the ten 10-12 year old boys who attended the Noosa District Football Trials last week. Football is one of the largest trials, with over 60 students attending on the day. Congratulations to the 9 PBC boys who were selected in the side. A special mention must go to Bodi Ahfock, who while only 10 years of age was selected as a shadow for the side.
