Principal’s Report
SHANE DUPUY
The past 2 weeks have been particularly busy for our community. Students are working diligently to complete carefully planned, rigorous tasks and assessments, whilst a dark cloud hangs over teaching staff who are collating results with one eye on completing final grades and reporting comments for the end of semester. Admin staff are methodically ensuring systems are in place to cater for the overwhelming flurry of data required to populate reporting spreadsheets and templates, and support staff are helping in their typically professional manner, to keep the wheels rolling. The PBC ‘machine’ is powering ahead.
As if the day-to-day grind wasn’t enough, many of our students have been participating in extra-curricular activities and excursions all over the region. We’ve been represented at district cross country in Noosaville and Nambour, Basketball in Toowoomba and Futsal, Tennis and Dance in Caloundra. Our Year 2’s travelled to Pomona for an excursion and an enthusiastic team of senior students joined Ms. Freudigmann to participate in a 30km Kokoda Challenge through the Imbil State Forest. Where once we were the Sunshine Coast’s best kept secret, we are now very much out and about.
Senior School Camp
Final preparations have been made for our Senior School Camp which will take place next week. Personally, school camps were always one of the highlights of the year for me. Being able to take the students off-site and seeing them engage with each other to overcome personal fears or achieve team goals whilst strengthening the bonds they have with each other and their community, was always heart-warming. Living in such an amazing place only makes it better. Many thanks must go to all staff, who year after year, give up their own family time to ensure students are given the unique opportunities only a school camp can offer.
PIPS
Our hardworking PIPS group have once again been busy working for our students. This week, a plethora of treasures were on offer as part of their Mother’s Day Stall. All students were given the opportunity to purchase a lovely gift which I’m sure will be warmly received. The PIPS recent Easter raffle raised just over $3900, with the intention of purchasing more seating for the students. Well done to Angie and her amazing team who go above and beyond in support of the College. Your efforts are very much appreciated.
New Buildings
Last week, 4 new demountable classrooms arrived on site. Builder Damo and Maintenance Manager, Adam, have been busily organising trades to ensure the project moves ahead quickly. These new classrooms will allow some re-homing of classes in the second half of the year. It will also enable us to have a designated Japanese and Music rooms which I’m sure both Mrs. Williams and Ms. Ryan are very excited about.
Junior School
ALITA CARPENTER
Middle/Senior Coordinator
ASHLEIGH MORRISON
Under 8s Day
Next week we will be celebrating under eights day. Every year at this time, schools around the world celebrate what it means to be an early learner in educational settings. Our wonderful teachers have organised arrange activities for the children in P-3 to take part in next week, including a reptile incursion! All of the activities will take place during school time, on site.
When: Thursday 18th of May
Where: PBC playground and surrounds
Cost: Previously billed
What to wear: Free dress – the theme is based on playfulness. Please ensure that your child is wearing enclosed shoes and sun safe, appropriate clothing. They will still need to bring all of their belongings to school as always (including a hat, water bottle, and morning tea and lunch).
Mother’s Day
Thank you to all of the families who came along to our Mother’s Day Assembly on Tuesday. Prep families were invited to take part in a pamper session! What a wonderful opportunity for our beautiful mums to enjoy. I also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the families who came along to help with the Mother’s Day stall this week. And to the teachers who have been busy helping the students to prepare a little treat for some of the mums this weekend. So, to all the mums (and all of those who stand in for the mums in a number of ways) please enjoy your day on Sunday, from all of us!
We are looking forward to camp next week. All parents and students should have now registered via the link. Camp is always an unforgettable experience, where memories made last a lifetime.
Senior School Camp Preparation
A reminder to all Year 9-12 families, the camp will be held next week. Please ensure you have completed the relevant camp information that is required for participation. If you have not registered, please contact administration as a matter of urgency.
Representatives from our camp provider spoke to Year 9-12 students today during Homeroom, providing guidance on activities and expectations for the upcoming camp.
Non-attendees are expected to attend school each day of camp and will complete lessons with a substitute timetable.
Students are reminded NOT to bring their mobile phones. Should they bring their phones they will be collected by supervising staff. Contact can be made directly to camp should you need to make contact to your child whilst they are on camp.
Camps are an integral component of the pastoral care program here at PBC and offer students a range of benefits including;
Enhanced social skills: School camps provide opportunities for students to interact with their peers in a more relaxed environment, fostering teamwork, communication, and social skills.
Develop confidence: Through challenging activities and new experiences, students can develop a greater sense of self-confidence and self-esteem.
Improved physical health: Outdoor activities, such as hiking, swimming, and team sports, can promote physical health and fitness.
Learning new skills: Students can learn new skills and knowledge in a hands-on, experiential way, which can be particularly effective for those who learn best through doing.
Exposure to nature: School camps can provide opportunities for students to connect with and appreciate the natural environment, fostering a sense of stewardship and environmental awareness.
Cultural enrichment: Camps can provide opportunities for students to experience different cultures and ways of life, promoting cross-cultural understanding and respect.
Looking forward to sharing photos and experiences in our next newsletter.
Student Services
HAYLEY CLIFTON
Students in Prep – Year 2 have been busy “growing their minds” and it has been amazing to watch their enthusiasm and learning in this space!
On Kindness:
“Be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about” Unknown
By now, you may have heard your children talk about their Guard Dog. Grow Your Mind uses animal helpers to represent key parts of the brain. Our Guard Dog represents our amygdala, a really useful though slightly over reactive part of our brain!
Our students will soon be exploring how being kind and tolerant is a really simple way to shrink our Guard Dog. There is an important step before showing kindness and tolerance to others though. We need to feel connected to people around us. Saying hi, being friendly, laughing with others, are all ways to boost connection. When we feel connected to others, we can start being kind to ourselves.
and to people around us.
Grow Your Mind mental health tip #1
Be kind. It won’t cost you a cent.
Grow Your Mind mental health tip #2
Before your guard dog reacts, stop and breathe – give yourself some time to take some mindful breaths before taking action. This will help you to make a good decision. When you practice this, you are practicing impulse control and having good impulse control sets you up for academic and social success.
All families are encouraged to check out the Grow Your Mind content on Instagram, and watch this snippet from the Sunrise program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmfbO74oKLo
Library News
Hello Families
Scholastic Book Club was delivered this week and distributed to some very lucky children. It felt a little like Christmas for myself and for students, as the order was large! Thank you for supporting Book Club. As you know every purchase generates reward dollars for our school. This issue generated $83 which will purchase several new books for our library.
I had the pleasure of Amelia’s (from Year 3) company who has read Cookbook for Girls and would like to share her book review with you.
“I picked this book because I love to cook and I cook a lot.
I knew if I got a cooking book I could learn how to cook
and get good at it.
I made Blueberry Ice Cream and we dipped
wafers into it. It tasted delicious.
I think other kids should get cooking books
out of the library and learn to cook too.”
Yours in reading every day
Miss Tania, Librarian
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 8.10 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.
Sporting News
ALEC WAREING
Sporting Achievements
We are delighted to share some wonderful news about the sporting achievements of our students here at PBC. It’s a true testament to their hard work, dedication, and talent that they have excelled not only in their academic pursuits but also in sports.
Firstly, we would like to extend our congratulations to the 5 PBC students, Roman. C, Huddy. H, Carter. C, Blake. B, and Lauren. F, who made the Sunshine Coast under 12 football team in their respective genders. We are incredibly proud of their achievement and wish them all the best for their future matches.
We would also like to highlight the amazing achievement of Benny. N and Emma. L on making their senior football debuts for the Sunshine Coast Fire. This is a remarkable accomplishment at only 15 years of age. We are immensely proud of their talent and hard work, and we know that they will continue to excel on the field.
Next, we would like to congratulate Blake. K, Carter. K, Benny. N, Harry. R, Leo. R, Jeremy. S. Kai. H, Sean. C, Mitch. G, and Tom. A for their selection in the under 16 North District football team. This is a fantastic achievement, and we wish them the best of luck in the pursuit to qualify for the regional squad.
We are also thrilled to announce that, Eli. M finished first in the walking event at the Little Athletics Qld meet, and then went on to finish 8th at Nationals. This is a fantastic achievement, and we congratulate him on his hard work and dedication. We can’t wait to see your achievements in 2032 Eli.
Lastly, we would like to congratulate the PBC under 13’s and PBC under 14’s futsal teams for winning the Sunshine Coast School Futsal Titles in their respective age
groups. This is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the talent and hard work of the players and their coaches.
These achievements are a true testament to the dedication, hard work, and passion of our students towards their respective sports. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments, and we wish them all the best for their upcoming games and competitions.
Exciting Weekend at Magic Round: Jack W-K’s Memorable Experience as Ball Boy
Last weekend, our very own Jack W-K had an extraordinary opportunity to be a ball boy at the NRL Magic Round. As a dedicated fan of the sport, Jack’s passion for the game and his encyclopaedic knowledge of the NRL made him the perfect candidate for this incredible role. Not only did he get to witness the thrilling matches up close, but he also had the chance to meet several players and collect flags from different teams, including his beloved Cowboys.
As a ball boy, Jack was right in the heart of the action, ensuring the smooth flow of the games by quickly retrieving balls and assisting the referees. One of the highlights of Jack’s experience was meeting some of his NRL idols. He had the chance to chat briefly with players from various teams, exchanging words of encouragement and admiration. It was an unforgettable moment for Jack, who couldn’t contain his excitement as he met his favourite players in person.
Below is a photo of Jack with Cowboy’s legend Johnathan Thurston.
Staff Profile
SAVANNAH DAVIS
Staff Profile
SHAE WATSON
| Staff Name: | Savannah Davis |
| Where did you go to school? | Coolum State High School |
| What was your favourite subject at school? | Geography and English |
| What is your favourite food? | Pasta and Pizza! |
| What are your hobbies? | Camping, travelling, shopping. |
| Fun fact about you? | In 2022, I visited 13 countries in 30 Days! |
| Staff Name: | Shae Watson |
| Where did you go to school? | Initially all over the place, then Coolum State Primary and Coolum State High School (a lot longer ago than Miss Davis!) |
| What was your favourite subject at school? | Drama and secretarial studies |
| What is your favourite food? | Italian |
| What are your hobbies? | Reading, fishing, camping |
| Fun fact about you? | In 2001 I was on an episode of Rex Hunt Fishing Adventures. I have also been on Fishing Downunder.TV and in fishing magazines. |
Year 3
SAVANNAH DAVIS, PETA GOLDING & EMMA BOURNE
Tewantin Excursion
In Term 2 History, the Year 3 classes have been investigating the causes and effects of changes to the local community over time. Students started the ‘Heritage Walk’ at Tewantin Terminal, and using the footpath, students were guided to the jetty. Along the way, the children learnt about changes to the local area and made their own sketches. They also had a play on the playground and ate some morning tea. It was such a beautiful walk along the Noosa River!
Sporting Academy
BEN WILKS
An exciting week for the Sunshine Coast Sporting Academy, our football program entered 5 teams for the ‘Sunshine Coast Schools Futsal Titles’. Day 1 was our U13’s and U14’s who both won the in their respective age groups and were crowned ‘Sunshine Coast Schools Titles Champions’.
Day 2 we had our U11 boys, U12 boys & U15 girls compete also. All teams competed really well, U12 boys & U15 girls lost in the finals and the U11 boys lost in the semi-finals.
U12 boys, U13 boys, U14 boys & U15 girls will all compete in the next stage of the Futsal Titles competing in the ‘Champions of Champions’ in Brisbane in July.
Well done to all players and coaches who competed over the two days.
Year 5
HEATH CAHALAN
Power of the Sun – Year 5 Science
Our Year 5 students have been learning about the power of the sun this Term in Science. For their first assignment, they were challenged to build a contraption to melt a marshmallow using only the power of the sun. With only tin foil and black paper at their disposal, the students had to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to design a solar cooker that could effectively focus the sun’s rays onto the marshmallow. Students learned about the principles of solar energy and gained hands-on experience in the design and construction process.
