Welcome Back to Term 3
Welcome back to the College for Term 3! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break, filled with memorable experiences and plenty of time to recharge.
The holidays were a period of incredible achievements and remarkable events, showcasing the spirit and talent within our community. For our ten students who competed in the first NFL Flag Secondary Schools Tournament, securing an impressive fifth place was an outstanding accomplishment, especially considering they had only played the sport for six weeks. A heartfelt thank you to Mr Paul Dilkes for coaching and accompanying the students. Congratulations to all who trained diligently and to the ten students chosen to represent us at the competition. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring.
Additionally, sixteen of our students embarked on a life-changing 21-day expedition to Borneo in partnership with Camps International. They worked on key conservation and community projects aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals, making a significant and lasting contribution to the region’s most critical issues. Our students improved the local village’s drainage system, ensuring cleaner and healthier living conditions, and established a community farming program to enhance food security and encourage self-sufficiency. They also had the opportunity to learn about the Borneo jungle, the challenges it faces, and visited the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to understand conservation efforts for these species. This incredible experience would not have been possible without the support of our dedicated staff, especially Mr Anrew Sole and Ms Erin Keogh who accompanied the trip. Thank you for your unwavering commitment.
We also had the honour of hosting over 200 families for the first Asia-Pacific NFL Recruitment Combine on June 29. This historic event provided opportunities for students within our local and wider community to experience an NFL ‘try out.’ We were proud to welcome NFL players who supported the growth of our young people in their dream of achieving NFL success. Mack Hollins, who is a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, even helped lead the drills. What was most impressive were the 20 students who volunteered their time during the holidays to support this event. The enthusiasm and dedication to this event set a high standard for community involvement and the amount of positive feedback we received from the public and the companies we were working with on this day demonstrates the strength in character, the enthusiasm and motivation of students at A.B. Paterson College.
At the end of Week 2 we look forward to welcoming students and staff from our sister school in Japan, Honjo Higashi. This exchange program is a fantastic opportunity for cultural exchange and learning, and we are grateful to our host families for their support in making this possible.
We are part of something very special here at the College—a community that encourages all of us to be the best versions of ourselves. To seize opportunities, embrace challenges, and push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. For it is when we step outside our comfort zones that we truly learn, grow, and become better individuals.
I have shared just a snapshot of what has taken place over the break. As we embark on this new term, I urge our students to consider what opportunities they can embrace to achieve their goals and support their community. Whether they are a Year 11 student applying for a College Leadership position in 2025, or a Year 6 or Year 10 student preparing for their adventure to Winton, eager to help communities less privileged than our own, remember to take every opportunity available, you never know where it might lead!
CHARLOTTE BROOK | DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
