Principal’s Report
WAYNE KENNEDY
Dear Parents,
The concluding weeks of Term 1 have seen all assessment tasks, across all sectors, submitted to schedule, with all Year 11 & 12 internal assessments in line with QCAA timeframes. Teachers have completed the Term 1 Reports, which will be emailed to parents on Monday the 4th April 2022. Parents/Teacher Interviews will take place on Tuesday 3rd May (Week 3 of Term 2). The Parent/Teacher interview booking links will be forwarded following the Term 1 Reports.
The College’s annual Cross County event was successfully undertaken on Tuesday 29th March, in optimal weather conditions, with some quality race times recorded. Thank you to the large number of parents that attended the event; your presence created a great atmosphere for all competitors. The increase in student numbers within the College, was clearly visible on the oval, with the sea of blue sporting shirts, consistently moving for optimal locations to cheer on Sporting House members. I would like to acknowledge Mr Wearing, Mr Freudigmann, and Mr Smith for the quality planning that went into this Cross-Country event.
Sunshine Coast Schools Football
The College had an open male and open female team compete in the Sunshine Coast Schools Football competition on Wednesday 30th March; with our Senior Boys team victorious in Division 1. The Senior Boys winning a close encounter with St John’s College – 3-2, with the decisive goal being scored within extra time. The Senior Girls also made the final, however were unfortunately defeated in a penalty shootout, after the completion of extra time. Both teams were exceptional ambassadors for the College, with Sport Academy Coaching staff and the Teaching team in attendance very proud of the sportsmanship displayed throughout the contest.
Minds Program
In the last Emu Chronicle the Minds program (Minds programs objective: enhancement of student Literacy, Mathematic and Social Skills for all students in Year 2 – 10 in Periods 5 & 6 on Tuesday afternoons) had just been undertaken; with all families notified by the Teaching Team of their son/daughters Mind activity allocation. Student, parent, and teacher feedback on the initial weeks of the Minds program, has been very positive, with student engagement in the variety of activities (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) being well received. The Teaching Team are valuing the additional time to focus on Literacy, Mathematics and Social Skill within their specific projects.
Movement Program
In recent weeks the Administration Team have been working towards the finalisation of the Movement program, in preparation for the Week 2 commencement in Term 2. The Movement Program will be conducted on Thursday afternoon in Periods 5 & 6. The following Movement programs have been selected by Parents/students (with Box to the Beat and Lawn Bowls withdrawn from the programs due to the lack on student interest):
Junior School Years 1 – 4 (on site activities)
- Football (Sunshine Coast Fire instructor)
- Tennis (External provider – Ash Tennis)
- Junior 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
- Walking club – Middle School Teaching Team
Thank you for the time taken to complete the Movement program selection on the Try Booking site. It is anticipated that additional Movement activities will be incorporated into the program in Term 3 e.g. skateboarding, golf, and fishing have been proposed. Sporting Academy students (Elite Dance, Tennis & Football) will be involved in their Academy training programs during the Movement time allocation.
NAPLAN
The College’s Year 9 students participated in the NAPLAN national coordinated practice test, on Thursday 24th March at 10:30am. The practice test did encounter some initial technical issues, with our IT Manager succumbing to COVID in the days prior, however the Year 9 students worked diligently, to complete the 42 minute practice Writing task. The actual NAPLAN testing will take place from the 10th May 2022. The Kelly Library will be the location for the NAPLAN testing, with the Year 3 & 5 cohorts, and the Year 7 & 9 cohorts having tests conducted in morning and middle sessions within the nine-day NAPLAN test window. The test schedule will be forwarded to all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 parents at the commencement of Term 2. [All Year 3 students will complete the writing test on paper]. Within the NAPLAN guidelines for principals and coordinators, it states that ‘It is unacceptable to exert influence on parents/carers to withdraw their children from testing.’ (ACARA) However, ‘…students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parents/career. This is a matter for consideration by individual parent/carers in consultation with their child’s school. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.’ (ACARA) The relevant Record of parent/carer withdrawal: Form S2003 will be available through Administration.
eSmart
Throughout Term 1, the Teaching Team has been working through the eSmart program with all students. In Term 2, we will return to the You Can Do It program, having successfully completed the College’s eSmart goals. Can I please request that parents continue to restrict communication with their son/daughters to morning tea and lunch, as phone and email correspondence within lessons has increased, to the detriment of some student’s educational focus. It is preferred that student/parent correspondence be conducted through administration or Homeroom teachers.
Rare Disease Charity
Today’s, Rare Disease Charity Day, has added considerable colour and character into the final day. Thank you to all those parents that supported the lunchtime bake sale. We are very pleased to advise that in total we were able to raise $770 towards this very important cause.
I would like to wish all members of our College community a safe and well deserved holiday break. Term 1 has certainly been one that will be remembered. From our online learning within the first two weeks of the term, due to the Omicron wave, floods and ongoing management of the pandemic, the resilience and commitment of the Teaching Team has once again shone bright. I look forward to students returning on Wednesday 20th April (Easter Monday 18th April, Pupil free day 19th April 2022).
Happy Holiday!
Land for Wildlife
JENNY DU TOIT
Can anyone help with a nesting box?
Land for Wildlife is a conservation program, that helps landowners manage part of their property as native wildlife habitat. You may have seen, as you enter our college, that PBC is a Land for Wildlife property. With an abundance of native birds as well as kangaroos, possums and squirrel gliders our beautiful school grounds provide a habitat for wildlife under pressure from land development.
At PBC, we have we have 13 nesting boxes which are occupied by birds, possums and squirrel gliders. Nesting boxes provide valuable habitat for our native species that depend on tree hollows. It takes at least 100 years for a small hollow to form naturally in a tree and up to 400 years for a hollow large enough for a possum, cockatoo, or owl. When these trees are lost to land-clearing, they are not going to be replaced in our lifetime. Artificial hollows provide a good alternative for our hollow-dependent species.
Unfortunately, our original 10 nesting boxes are coming to the end of their lifespan and their bottoms and lids are rotting. I am hoping that there may be parents out there who are handy with a saw and would be willing and able to make a replacement nesting box (like the one this Lorikeet is peeking out of). If this sounds like you, please send me an email to j.dutoit@pbc.qld.edu.au. I can give you measurements, explain the requirements and show you examples of the different types of nesting boxes.
Many thanks!
Jenny du Toit
Year 2 Teacher and Wildlife Gardening Coordinator
Wildlife Gardening
Our Wildlife Gardening students have been hard at work the last couple of weeks! This semester we will be planting trees and shrubs along the western boundary of the new oval, to continue the planting that has been done along the original oval. The gardening students have re-potted plants into bigger pots so that they can continue to grow until we need them in Term 2. They’ve also been working on the bed alongside the library path and in the Bush Tucker Garden, weeding and mulching to keep the moisture in over the holidays – on the off chance it doesn’t rain!
Jenny du Toit
Year 2 Teacher and Wildlife Gardening Coordinator
Year 3
SAVANNAH DAVIS
Science
Is a seed a living thing?
Year 3D students conducted an experiment to identify whether a seed is a living or non-living thing. They wrote a scientific prediction, observations of the seed growing and a final explanation on how it’s classified as a living thing.
‘MRS GREN’ is an acronym used in class to help the students remember all the necessary features of living things: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion & Nutrition.
Year 5
HEATH CAHALAN
Sporting Achievements
Sunshine Coast School Football Competition
Congratulations to both the PBC Boy’s and Girl’s football teams. On Wednesday afternoon, both teams fought to earn their place in the Sunshine Coast School Football Competition grand final. Both teams were victorious in their semi-final, with the boys winning 2-1 and the girls 3-1.
After 60 minutes of play in the grand final, our boys were tied 2-2 with St John’s College. This meant the game went into 20 minutes of extra time. With 2 minutes remaining in extra time, a great run followed by a cross from Kai Holmes, found Benny Newcome in front of the goal. A perfectly executed header by Benny put PBC 3-2 ahead. This would be the final result, PBC boys 2022 champions!
The PBC girls found themselves in the same situation after 60 minutes, tied 2-2 with St Teresa’s Catholic College. After extra time, the teams could still not be separated. After some excellent goalkeeping by Matilda Quint and penalties taken by the team, the girls were unfortunately beaten in penalties. With such a young team put out on the park, I can’t wait to see the heights this team will reach.
Congratulations to Nate Mathews on another successful season representing the Sunshine Coast Phoenix under 16’s. The PBC community cannot wait to hear news of how you go at the upcoming State Championship in April. Good luck Nate!
Congratulations to Cullen Mann who competed at the Queensland Aquathlon trial recently. Aquathlon’s are a gruelling event where competitors must run 1km, swim 200m in the open water, all before completing the competition with another 1km run. Cullen completed the course in a time of 12 minutes and 51 seconds, finishing in 15th place. Considering Cullen’s recent Covid diagnosis, meaning he was unable to train in the weeks leading up to the event, this is an amazing result. Cullen has now been selected in the Queensland team which will compete again later in the year. Please congratulate Cullen on his recent achievement if you see him within the PBC community.
