Huge congratulations to the Year 9/10 A.B. Brumbies on claiming the Bronze medal in Division 3 at the Champion Schools Basketball Queensland Tournament!
After an incredible performance, winning 6 out of 7 games, they have secured their spot in Division 2—placing them among the top 30 teams in Queensland!
This is a fantastic achievement, and the highest level our boy’s program has reached in the history of the college.
Thank you to everyone who came and supported, we're so proud of their hard work and dedication!
Go Brumbies!
Nathan Burgess | Director of Co-Curricular Activities
Golden Era of Volleyball at A.B.
It was an incredible showing at the Junior Volleyball Schools Cup, showing that we are truly in the golden era of volleyball for the A.B. Brumbies!
Across the three-day tournament. the Year 8 girls went undefeated, bringing home the gold medal!The Year 7 girls also clinched gold, with many of them playing competitively for the first time—what an amazing achievement! Not to be outdone, the Year 7 boys fought hard and secured a well-deserved silver medal in a tough final.
Over the past 24 months, the College has now won six gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals at Queensland Volleyball Schools Cup Tournaments, showing the growth and improvement of the Sport at the college.
A huge congratulations to all our athletes and coaches for their dedication and teamwork!
The future is bright for A.B. Brumbies volleyball!
Nathan Burgess | Director of Co-Curricular Activities
BASKETBALL - NEW PLAYERS ACADEMY
Calling all students who are interested in trying basketball for the first time!
We are excited to announce the Brumbies New Players Basketball Academy which is completely free for students in Year 2 - 6. A girls and boys session will be held weekly until the end of term.
Running Tuesdays after school (3:30pm - 4:30pm) on the Junior Ball Courts, the Academy aims to give students a chance to come along and try Basketball for free, with skills development from our Head Coach Josh Wolff. No experience required - all levels welcome.
We hope students who join will love basketball as much as us and consider playing for the Brumbies school basketball club in 2025 at a reduced fee for their first season.
Josh Wolff | Head Coach Nathan Burgess | Director of Co-curricular Activities
Year 2 Scientists in Action: Creating Crazy Concoctions!
This term, our Year 2 students embarked on an exciting journey through the world of mixtures and solutions. Through hands-on activities, they explored how different materials combine, interact, and change, fostering curiosity and teamwork.
One of the term’s highlights was creating fun concoctions like Crazy Cornflour, and Fun Fluids. These experiments allowed students to get creative while observing the fascinating properties of everyday materials. For example, Crazy Cornflour, a non-Newtonian fluid, amazed students by behaving as both a liquid and a solid, depending on how it was handled. Fun Fluids introduced them to mixtures that don’t blend easily, sparking curiosity about the properties of liquids.
Aligned with the Year 2 Science curriculum, the unit helped students understand how materials change when mixed and physically manipulated. It also encouraged collaboration, as students worked in groups to discuss their observations and share their findings.
Overall, this unit has been a fantastic blend of fun, creativity, and scientific learning, with students gaining valuable insights into the world of mixtures—all while enjoying the messy and memorable experiences along the way!
Jacinta Lauder, Donna Symms, Ashlee Lord & Deborah Brown | Year 2 Teachers
Old Collegians 10, 20 & 30 Year Reunion!
What an exciting time of year as our Old Collegians come together to celebrate milestone reunions for 10, 20, and 30 years!
It’s been absolutely wonderful attending these events, receiving photos, and sharing memories with our graduates from 1994, 2004, and 2014.
A highlight for many was flipping through their Banjo Yearbooks – sparking plenty of laughs and fond reflections.
Here’s to cherished friendships, great stories, and many more reunions to come!
Prep to Year 3 Vocal Festival
Congratulations to the winners of the 'Adjudicator's Choice Awards' at the recent Prep-Year 3 Vocal Festival!
These students were selected by our visiting adjudicators from the 279 young singers who performed on the day - Well done!
Prep - Sonny, Georgia, Oscar, Eli & Amalia (absent)
Year 1 - Charlotte G, Emilia, Teddy, Bella & Haadi
Year 2 - Luca, Miles, Srija, Annabelle & Evie
Year 3 - Asya, Kanon, Kai, Alex C & Isabelle
Congratulations to our Prep to Year 3 students who performed at the Prep to Year 3 Vocal Festival!
You showed outstanding bravery and sang beautifully - Well done!
Rachel Newcombe | Assistant Head of Performing Arts
Years 4-12 Vocal Festival
Congratulations to our Year 4-12 singers who performed wonderfully at the A.B. Paterson College Year 4-12 Vocal Festival.
Thank-you to College Alumni, Georgia Mercer for adjudicating on the day, Lexene Marquenie for her outstanding piano accompaniment and our incredible voice teachers, Sam Fiddes and Angela Bobbins for their support of the students.
Well done everyone!
Rachel Newcombe | Assistant Head of Performing Arts
Celebrating Our Commitment to Deep Understanding in Learning
At A.B. Paterson College, we are dedicated to equipping students with essential 21st-century skills that prepare them for both academic success and future careers. Our 2024 staff professional development has focused on continuing to strengthen our wonderful culture of learning, grounded in Harvard’s Teaching for Understanding framework, while also enhancing digital literacy, social and emotional skills, and real-world problem-solving.
This week, staff gathered for our Celebration of Practice, a professional development session to share and reflect on strategies that promote deep understanding and student engagement. Teachers presented approaches that combine the Teaching for Understanding framework with best practices, such as Visible Thinking Routines, to foster critical thinking, meaningful connections, and lasting understanding in students. These strategies help students move beyond rote learning to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.
A key success for 2024 highlighted in our celebration of practice was the innovative integration of technology into the classroom. Staff shared how AI tools have been used in the Secondary School to support inquiry-based learning, allowing students to explore diverse perspectives and engage in complex problem-solving. By embracing inquiry-based learning models, our teachers empower students to explore meaningful topics, ask questions, and make connections to real-world issues.
Our Celebration of Practice highlighted our teachers’ dedication to creating vibrant, innovative classrooms that inspire students and strengthen our culture of deep thinking and understanding. We are excited to continue this journey next year, building on the momentum and insights gained.
Thank you for your continued support as we nurture lifelong learners ready to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Anna Whannell | Director of Teaching and Learning
Mackellar Wright Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER - ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO!
The wait is almost over! Get ready to run, play and get colourful at the Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun!
Thank you so much for supporting our College to be the best it can be, especially through fundraising. This semester we are fundraising for the new Junior School Ninja Warrior Playground located on the Village Green with a Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun with Australian Fundraising!
If would like your child to participate in the Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun, please accept the Terms and Conditions via Parent Lounge and create your child’s online profile page to start fundraising.
The Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun will be on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 from 1:30 pm to 3:10 pm.
Entry fee of $15 (Initial Donation via child’s online profile page)
Students will be given free sunglasses, shower cap and a rainbow headband for the event.
Please make sure students wear a WHITE t-shirt and closed in shoes.
Students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable colour powder from head to toe.
Colour Powder is made of high-quality corn starch and permitted food colours. Safety data sheet is available upon request.
Some families may recall that previously we have run this event as a Colour Run, unfortunately, even though the powder used in the event is non-toxic, biodegradable and environmentally friendly we found that in some instances, the coloured powder stained clothing and hair. Please ensure that all clothing items worn during the event including shoes can get dirty.
How Do We Fundraise?
Fundraising for our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun is entirely online. Follow the instructions in your child’s sponsorship booklet to create a cybersafe, online profile page at www.australianfundraising.com.au or follow the instructions on the attached registration PDF file. At the end of the fundraiser, student’s incentive prizes are ordered automatically based on their fundraising total and golden coins. Students can earn up to 15 unique prizes!
Please note: The fundraising portal opens on Friday, 6 September. All cash donations must be converted to online donations before Tuesday, 12th o November. We cannot accept any cash donations for this fundraiser.
Monty Incentive Prizes!
Online Golden Coins – complete fun online tasks to redeem an extra $75 towards your prize credit.
Monty Hatching Egg: Achieve all virtual badges on online platform
Monty Backpack: Highest fundraising student in each class will go into the draw to win
Monty Scented Pencil: Every student who creates a profile page in first 7 days
Monty Pencil Case: Raise $200 or more online30cm Monty Plush + Champions Medallion: Highest fundraising student in each school
The 34th Annual Speech Night will be held on Wednesday, 13 November at 5:30pm in the Dunlop Multi-Purpose Centre.
Parents please note, Speech Night is a compulsory event for all students in Years 4 to 12.
Please ensure your child arrives promptly at 5:00pm to have their name marked from the roll. The evening is expected to end at 8.00pm.
Further information, detailing where students are to go for roll call at 5pm and where parents can pick them up at the conclusion of Speech Night will be available in the coming weeks.
The Speech Night program will be electronic, but can be obtained from Reception after the event.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the night!
2024/2025 Inspire Business Directory
Don't forget to take a look at the 2024/2025 Inspire Business Directory!
The Inspire Business Directory allows the College to support parents, caregivers, and members of the broader school community, with the opportunity to promote their business.
Please take the time to have a look, you might be pleasantly surprised with some special discount offers, or the opportunity to find a new service provider from within the College community.
Once again, a big thank you to all of the family businesses who have supported the A.B. Paterson College Foundation and advertised in this year's edition.
We look forward to supporting you and your families.
Tegan Parker | Head of Community Engagement & Marketing
Cornerstone Chorus Showcase 2024
Fresh off the competition stage, Cornerstone Chorus bring another spectacular night of musical exhilaration! They are thrilled to present the Cornerstone Chorus Showcase!
Saturday 9 November 2024 at 7:00pm at A.B. Paterson College - Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre
Featuring special guests - Mixed Signals - as well as the incredibly talented Blindside. Also featuring: the gifted voices of the A.B. Paterson College Senior Choir, The melodious Overcast, and our very own Insight.
Book now to be amazed by a brand-new sound and secure your spot at this unforgettable event!
