Principal’s Report
SHANE DUPUY
There’s nothing like a school fete to bring out all manner of emotions for those involved. Most likely, by the time you are reading this, the revitalised PBC Fete will be done and dusted.
When I first flagged the idea of re-introducing the event to a small band of PIPS members late last year, and then again at our inaugural meeting this year, I was met with some trepidation and concerns, most focusing on the enormity of the task and relatively short timeframes. However, the opportunity to organise an event for our PBC families and wider community to come together and celebrate our successes in a fun and festive environment, was enough incentive to make it a reality.
A small team of dedicated and passionate parents, expertly led by Mr. Alec Wareing and Mrs. Angie Stinton, have spent countless hours liaising with external vendors and communicating with local businesses, to ensure our students and families have been treated to a fun-filled afternoon of stalls, activities, music, dance, raffles and entertainment. Teachers and students have also played their part. Each class was asked to contribute to the fete by operating a stall to ensure visitors were spoilt for choice when visiting our beautiful college; the result has been outstanding! I’m so appreciative to those who contributed prizes to their child’s stall or the raffle.
May I take this opportunity to thank the many hands that helped make the 2024 PBC Fete come to fruition. From the organising committee, our admin team, our hard-working grounds crew, dedicated teaching team and support staff, local businesses, and students and families. You have all done an amazing job and it is with a great deal of pride that such a successful, community focused event has been achieved.
In the year to come, expect to see more shade and seating for our students as per the original goal for all our fundraising events during 2024.
College Coordinator Report
ALEC WAREING
Busy with Fete preparations, hope to see you there. 🎉🎈
Student Services
A WHAT?
YES, A BUCKET-FILLER!
We all carry around an invisible bucket, which is how we feel about ourselves. When our bucket is full, we feel confident and happy. When our bucket is empty, we feel sad and maybe insecure. The easiest way to fill your own bucket is to fill someone else’s bucket. Some examples for our young people include, drawing a picture for your friend, holding the door open for someone, or including someone in a game. The cool thing is, kindness is contagious – just like a cold. Do something kind for someone and they may feel like doing something kind for someone else. But it works the other way too: If you are unkind this is called “bucket dipping’. When you “dip” you also end up emptying your own bucket. A bonus: Kindness is good for the heart. This is because the body releases a hormone called oxytocin when you are kind, which helps protect and strengthen your heart. If you have a few spare moments, visit the following clips with Your young person: Bucket Filler Story (Prep-Year 6), Kindness Boomerang (Prep-Year 12), and So make a plan: “How can you be a bucket-filler today?”
Fete Sponsor Shoutout!
SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY AND CAREERS
Spotlight on Community and Careers
Axial Training – RSA, Barista and Food Safety Short Courses
Over the September holidays, we ran our inaugural Barista and RSA Short Courses., with trainer, Jill Milne, from Axial Training. Thirteen students across Years 9-12 completed the Short Course. These students completed four Modules of Competency from the Certificate III in Hospitality: Prepare & Serve Espresso Coffee; Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety; Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol; Participate in Safe Food Handling Practice. The course included some prep work by the students, self-directed, online, pre-course learning. As well as this, the students completed a two-day practical block, delivered at school. This provides students with the knowledge and gain the essential skills necessary to work within the hospitality industry and students also bank 2 QCE points.
Unpacking VET: a webinar for parents
Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) ran a bespoke and FREE VET webinar for parents of Queensland high school students last month. This webinar was hosted by the Queensland Joint Parent Committee and focussed on linking vocational education and training (VET) to skills shortages and planning for your child whilst in senior school. This introductory webinar brought together experts in curriculum, VET and industry, parents of VET students, to help unpack the opportunities and the advantages of combining academic studies with job-ready VET subjects and to set young people up for success in the workplace. If you missed out on this webinar, you can access the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WK3f6s9CWE
Inscope Training – Helping students with a pathway to an apprenticeship.
Below are a list of current vacancies, for high-school students, with Inscope Training. Please come and see Mrs Hagemann if you are interested in further information.
CERTIFICATE 3 IN CARPENTRY CPC30220
Carpentry (Brad Hart) – Accepting resumes now for a possible start late this year but more inclined for a mid-January start next year. Vehicle and licence essential. Work is in Caloundra -Gympie.
Simon Brown Carpentry – Central Sunshine Coast. Simon is looking for fulltime apprentices, suitable for school-leavers, but may look at school base later this year.
Coast Side Building (Brad) are seeking a full-time apprentice; They would prefer someone with a drivers’ licence and car (suitable for school-leavers).
RPRO Building (Reece) are seeking a full-time apprentice; They would prefer someone with a drivers’ licence and car (suitable for school-leavers).
Strucbuild (Jack) has work in Nirimba, Western Brisbane and Northern end Gold Coast
CERTIFICATE 3 WALL AND FLOOR TILING CPC 31320
Quality Tiler (Nathan Lock) are seeking a school-based apprentice who can move into full time after they finish Year 12. They will consider a student with no drivers’ licence or car, if they are centrally located on Coast.
CERTIFICATE 3 PAINTING AND DECORATING CPC30620
Innovative Painting (Baden) Central Coast is looking for an apprentice at the end of year 12 to apply now.
Jack Carmine of Vamos Painters wants an apprentice. They would prefer someone with a drivers’ licence and car (suitable for school-leavers).
CERTIFICATE 3 IN WALL AND CEILING LINING CPC31220
Kyall Urch Tiler. He is based in Caboolture and works to Caloundra. Seeking apprentice.
Headstart applications are closing soon
There’s still time to get a jump on Uni while you’re still in high school. With over 90 courses across different study areas and the option to study online, you can pick what works best for you. Applications for Headstart in Semester 1, 2025, close on 31 October, so we don’t want you to miss out! Visit the UniSC website and go to the Headstart page.
Introducing NextGen UniSC – a new high school athletic and wellbeing program
UniSC are excited to launch their new High School Athletic and Wellbeing Program, NextGen UniSC! This 10-week initiative, aligned with school terms, is designed to enhance students’ physical and mental wellbeing through supervised sports and exercise training.
Students will train in small groups of 12, with two sessions per week led by our highly skilled staff. The program offers two levels: Grades 7-9 and Grades 10-12. The cost is $20 per week, with an upfront payment of $200 per term, and a special offer—pay for two terms and get the third free! Days and times will be confirmed based on availability via an expression of interest questionnaire. Click here for more information: Express your interest or email me to arrange a time to chat. This information has also been emailed out to all parents of students currently in Grades 9-11.
Careers and Pathways Term 4 – Self- Reflection and planning for 2025
In Term 4, students undertaking the Grade 11/12 Mind and Movement workshops will be presented with several age-appropriate opportunities activities which explore the academic and psycho-social aspects of Careers, Pathways, and Wellbeing.
Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA)
This commenced last week, partnering with students and staff from St Andrew’s College, participating in 6 interactive and educational workshops. These workshops aim to educating high school students about road safety and responsible driving. These workshops focus on providing practical and theoretical knowledge, helping students understand the dangers of unsafe driving behaviours.
Speed and Stopping demonstrating the impact of speed on stopping distances, showing how the car’s speed affects a driver’s ability to avoid accidents.
Drive S.O.S (Drive Safe on Site) which encourages students to develop personal strategies for safe driving and managing distractions while driving, such as mobile phone use.
The ‘I’ in Drive aims to help students understand how their personality, behaviour, and emotions can affect their driving performance, encouraging self-awareness on the road.
Crash Investigators workshop that investigates the causes of car crashes, helping students understand how different factors, such as fatigue and alcohol, contribute to accidents.
Mind Matters focuses on the mental challenges of driving, such as concentration and decision-making, to help students manage stress and avoid risky behaviours.
Genevieve’s Story is an emotional session where students hear the story of Genevieve, a young girl who lost her life in a preventable car accident, reinforcing the importance of road safety.
Road Choices is a workshop that deals with the legal and moral responsibilities of drivers, including discussions on peer pressure and the consequences of reckless driving.
The RYDA workshops are delivered in collaboration with schools, local councils, and road safety organisations, and they include hands-on activities, presentations, and real-life stories to leave a lasting impact on young drivers.
The French
Students will also attend the popular in school tutorial “Beautiful Skin starts from within” this term. Bronwyn Whitaker, the Engagement Specialist for The French, will take students on a self-discovery journey about skin, wellbeing and nutrition. The tutorial takes approx. an hour and will include an avocado, banana and honey face mask, following a presentation on the future of beauty and self-care.
Self-reflection
Mind and Movement this term for 11& 12 non-Academy students includes Self-reflection activities, looking back on their year, their goals, their academic pathway and their achievements. Self-reflection will also be an element of the discussions during the Year 11 Academic Progress meetings I will be co-facilitating, later this term. Self-reflection is essential for high school students because it promotes personal growth, self-awareness, and accountability. It helps students to better understand their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions, leading to better decision-making, academic improvement, and emotional intelligence. By critically analysing their actions and experiences, students can develop problem-solving skills, resilience, and a growth mindset, which prepares them for the challenges of adulthood and success in their future.
“Empower your journey, explore your potential, and pave your path to success! Keep striving, keep learning, and keep reaching for your dreams. Your future awaits!”
Mrs Heather Hagemann
Careers & VET Pathways Coordinator
Year 11 & 12 Advisor
Year 2 Camp
On the last day of school last term, Year 2 excitedly set off to join the Year 3 and 4 students at Maranatha Camp in Yandina. When we arrived, we were shown all the different areas of the camp and had some free time on the oval while Year 3 and 4 finished their breakfast. Our first group activity was Tower of Tremble where students worked in pairs to construct and climb to the top of the tallest milk crate tower!! This required problem-solving skills, patience, communication, trust, and lots of teamwork!! We had morning tea and then went to our next activity which was Team Skills. We enjoyed working with our friends across both classes and played lots of fun games focusing on using our communication and teamwork skills. Next, we had lunch together with the Year 3 and 4 students and all the teachers. We had nachos and many of us had seconds!!! Our final activity for the day was Bush Skills where we made damper and attempted to build a shelter in the bush using minimal resources – this proved challenging, but we still had some creative and innovative ideas and used our Grow Your Mind character strength of perseverance! We finished with afternoon tea on the deck before we got on the bus to come back to school. We all had lots of fun and it was a great way to end Term 3 together.
Japan Week
Under 8’s Day – connecting to culture through play
Kindy Vacancies
Staff Accomplishment
Housekeeping
School Administration Housekeeping.
- The email address to use for all correspondence relating to student absences is absentees@pbc.qld.edu.au. You can also lodge an absence via the form on the website located here.
- Correspondence from the College will generally be sent out from admin@pbc.qld.edu.au. 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.