Principal’s Report
SHANE DUPUY
Grunt work
Contrary to popular belief, being a principal is not all ‘rainbows and butterflies.’ Don’t get me wrong, in my short time in the admin office, there have been some fantastic moments and achievements that I’m very proud of. However, there have also been days when I’ve been challenged beyond my areas of expertise and experience. At these times, I have lent on the knowledge and advice of my peers and the Board, who have supported me to resolve issues and make the appropriate decisions.
This Issue
One such challenge presently, is the preparation of the Cyclical Review. This document is a requirement from the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) and must be completed every 5 years. Simply put, it requires us to evidence what we have been doing since our last submission to continue to operate as a college. Whilst it’s a lengthy process, taking about a year to collate, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve done and, in many cases, highlights the successes we have achieved. It allows the leadership team to come together, in consultation with the Board, to refine, update or introduce new measures to ensure we are offering a holistic education program underpinned by professionalism and compliance. Furthermore, it stimulates conversation about who we are, what we stand for and where we want to go. These conversations allow us to not only meet governance but help direct our decision-making process moving forwards. By-products of such conversations include improved policies, accountability, collegiality, collaboration and strategic planning. At the core of every conversation is the question, how does this improve the quality of the experience for our students? Whilst this behind the scenes ‘grunt work’ isn’t the highlight of any administrator’s job description, it is hoped the end result is a well-structured college that offers an excellent program for its families.
New Inclusive Education Coordinator
The college has been able to secure the services of Mrs. Janine Olsen, who will fill the role of Inclusive Education Coordinator at the beginning of next term. Mrs. Olsen has a wealth of experience in a range of different settings including New Zealand, Japan, Queensland and New South Wales. She has a passion for supporting students with disabilities and training staff to ensure all students under her domain have access to the curriculum.
May I also take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Alita Carpenter and Mrs. Lisa Bell who have done an amazing job of filling the Inclusive Education Coordinator in the interim. Both ladies’ professionalism and efficiency is second to none and they have gone above and beyond to ensure that all students, teachers and parents have been supported whilst we have searched for a new coordinator. The many hours you have spent on top of your already busy schedules has been very much appreciated.
Junior School
ALITA CARPENTER
Middle/Senior School
ASHLEIGH MORRISON
Under 8s Day
Thank you to all of the students, teachers and families for you support on under 8s day last week. The day was a huge success and the students and teachers went home, suitably exhausted. It was lovely to have our Kindy students join in with the reptile show too and celebrate all things ‘under 8’ with us. Some of the secondary students attended the event and spent considerable time face painting for our littlies. All of the teachers were especially grateful for this assistance – they did a great job!
Lunch Box Happenings
School is a time when children start to make independent choices about their lifestyles. School aged children learn quickly and are influenced by friends and popular trends. This is an important time to talk about and encourage healthy food habits, particularly when they are also playing sports or involved in rigorous activities or extra-curricular sessions. Involving children in planning and preparing their own lunchboxes gives them the opportunity to learn about healthy eating, and also gives them a chance to make autonomous decisions about what they will be eating during the day.
- Healthy lunches and snacks help children concentrate and play throughout the day.
- Encourage your child to be involved in their own lunch preparation and discuss choices with them.
- Try to include a variety of foods from each of the 5 food groups.
Lunch box tips:
Please find this handy article below, that may assist with some ideas for healthy lunch box options (please note that even though I have provided this link, at PBC we don’t encourage nuts as there are students with severe allergies in a few year levels – please check with your child’s teacher if you are unsure).
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/healthy-eating-school-lunches
Altitude Day
Students in year 9 were presented with the opportunity to attend a leadership conference on Tuesday 23rd May. Four students took up this opportunity and gained skills in how to have a positive impact on their school community, step outside of their comfort zone, identify their current capacities and reflect on the kind of leader they would like to be.
Student Reflection:
Altitude day was a day, which the student representatives from Perigean Beach College attended. The day was located, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, in the suburb of Sippy Downs. Four students, from the year nine cohort, attended the day, on behalf of the representation of the College. The day was a fun day, which encourage students to get out of their comfort zone, and to meet others. The day also included many different speakers. They expressed some important issues that our society faces today, may of these included mental health awareness, and environmental exploitation. In conclusion, the day was highly significant to us, as we leant new things from it.
Alcohol Education: Smashed
Students in Year 9 through 11 participated in an interactive experience aimed at informing them on the impacts of alcohol consumption particularly when underage. The students were exposed to themes such as consent, legal consequences of supply to minors and impaired decision making when under the influence.
Bite Back- Pastoral Care Program Yr 7-9
This week in our Pastoral Program students began the Mental Fitness Challenge. In our first week students built upon their understanding of Gratitude with activities that promoted ways to be grateful by noticing the little things and also way we can express gratitude. Ways to reinforce this learning at home maybe to share what you are grateful for or asking your child what they are grateful for each day perhaps as part of the dinner time conversation or in the car whilst travelling to and from school.
Here is a short clip that was used to introduce the idea of Gratitude today: https://youtu.be/6sgu2wXCOPg
For further information on the Mental Health Challenge check out Bite back https://www.biteback.org.au/
Student Services
HAYLEY CLIFTON
Self Care
Self-care basics can make all the difference! See the three-part series below from Kids Helpline which could be printed and used as a handy family checkpoint on the fridge or another central location:
- Reminder: If a student has engaged with an external specialist and the specialist requires information to be provided by our school, this request should be initiated via the front office to ensure an efficient and appropriate response.
Sporting News
ALEC WAREING
Congratulations to Duante M. on making the Open Boys QLD Basketball Team! Duante was one of two Sunshine Coast Basketball players who made the QLD team. Your hard work, dedication, and talent have paid off, and this achievement is well-deserved. Wishing you all the best as you represent your team and showcase your skills on the court. Go Duante! 🏀🎉
Staff Profile
LISA BELL
| Staff Name: | Lisa Bell |
| Where did you go to school? | Somerset College – Gold Coast |
| What was your favourite subject at school? | Italian and Music |
| What is your favourite food? | Italian |
| What are your hobbies? | Playing the violin and reading. |
| Fun fact about you? | My husband and I are building a house! |
Sporting Academy
DANCE
On Friday 12th May our Dance Academy students travelled to the Caloundra events centre to compete as a team for the first time. Our dancers performed in both Open Lyrical and Open Contemporary sections, placing in both categories. It was absolutely beautiful to watch their talented bodies perform so effortlessly in such large sections, they really were a standout! Our dancers were commended on their high technical ability in both sections and we are extremely proud of each of them. Special thanks to our world class choreographers Megan West and Jessica Jane Dick.
Japanese News
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS
Hiragana Alphabet
Konnichi wa! What a busy term we have had already in the language department! Over the past term and a half, Years 4,5,6 and 7 have been learning the Japanese Hiragana alphabet. They have been practising how to read and write this beautiful language. As part of this practice, the students have learnt to use traditional Japanese Fude (calligraphy brushes) to practise their writing skills. This was an invaluable learning experience whereby the children were able to understand the connection of the language to its cultural heritage. And they also made comparisons between English and other languages. Here are some of Year 4.1 having an amazing time doing their Japanese calligraphy! Well done everyone!
Japanese Language Legends Speech Competition
Over the past month language legends from Years 5,6 and 7 have been tirelessly practising their Japanese speeches for PBC’s first ever, Language Legend’s Comp on Monday 5th June. Prizes include tickets to Aussie World, Tree Tops Adventure Park and Timezone. We will also have the lovely Kiyo Ono from Lexis English adjudicating the competition.
Well done to these very studious legends for taking their Japanese and public speaking skills to the next level!
Year 4G
AMBER GARRATT
In Science, 4G has been learning about non-contact forces. In this experiment we explored magnetism.
Our key tasks were to:
- Make the car move without touching it.
- Find out how to change the speed and direction of our car.
We discovered that if we could increase the magnetic force and reduce friction that our cars were very quick!
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.