An early start on Monday 10 February for our College Principal, Ms Joanne Sheehy, and our NFL student-athletes as they crossed live to Sunrise on Channel 7!
The NFL’s partnership with A.B. Paterson College is a testament to the College’s position on the global stage.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NFL ACADEMY AMBASSADOR, JORDAN MAILATA, on becoming a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles!
Introducing our newly appointed Year 6 student leaders!
House Captains 2025
Performing Arts Captains:
The Banjo Battlers have officially begun their 2025 season of the Hydrogen Grand Prix, with a renewed focus on improving the fundamentals of engineering and performance. This year, the team is starting from the ground up, rebuilding the chassis and running gear of their hydrogen-powered vehicle.
Following a competitive 2024 season, hosted at A B Paterson College, the team is returning to foundational engineering principles to enhance the car’s efficiency, durability, and overall performance. The focus is on optimizing aerodynamics, refining weight distribution, and improving the efficiency of their energy systems.
An essential aspect of this season’s approach is the complete redesign of the platform the car runs on. The team is experimenting with advanced materials such as carbon fibre to enhance handling and durability on the track. This iterative process will ensure that the Banjo Battlers remain competitive.
The Banjo Battlers will provide updates throughout the season on their progress, challenges, and key achievements. Stay tuned as the team works tirelessly to take their performance to new heights.
If you would like to contribute to the teams growth, please reach out to Mr Lawson Colquhoun.
Lawson Colquhoun | Teacher - Design and Technologies.
Year 11 Legal Studies students dived into a virtual courtroom this week, exploring a difficult youth justice criminal matter.
The class welcomed the Director of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, Ms April Chrzanowski, who facilitated this exciting and engaging learning session.
Presently our Year 11 students are completing their criminal law unit, with a special focus on youth justice for their research assignment. This is a very timely research topic which is appearing regularly in the Queensland media. To assist our students, Ms Chrzanowski skilfully helped them to navigate the legal complexities of a criminal trial involving a child.
Having considered the relevant criminal law and process, a practical digital simulation of a trial began. Students examined video evidence of the alleged offence, considered media reports, and watched the simulated prosecution and defence teams deliver their cases. Students then weighed up possible outcomes and sentencing options, before hearing the judge deliver her verdict.
Many thanks to Ms Chrzanowski for bringing this practical legal simulation to life for our students, as well as to Year 11 students, Dinuki Indiketiya and Kaleb Beattie
for helping to host our visitor. The Year 11 Legal Studies cohort as a whole should also be commended for their insightful observations and questions during
the session.
Dr Rod Pails | HASS Faculty Teacher
This week students had Mr Adair Donaldson who is a highly accomplished lawyer with a passion for educating young people regarding the law present informative sessions to them.
After experiencing far too many young lives ruined, he has also moved into the area of educational consultancy, in the hope to aid teens and parents with a better understanding of the key concerns that are affecting young people today. By equipping them with the understanding of the law, and more specifically what the consequences can be, Adair is aiming to reduce the number of young lives affected or ruined by poor decisions.
During these sessions, Adair covered topics and potential concerns pertaining to social media, AI and technology, and aims to create awareness of current trends in the digital world. He also presented these topics in a parent session, so that they too were aware of the pitfalls in order for parents to support their children at home.
It was a wonderful day for students, and for parents who also met with Homeroom teachers and subject teachers throughout the afternoon. Thank you to all who attended.
Stephanie Andronikos | Head of Secondary School
On Tuesday 11 February we had Safer Internet Day. As the official committee in Australia and a leader in the global effort, eSafety celebrates the day as one of the most important events of the year and this the 22nd year. This is supported by the Australian Government through the eSafety Commissioner. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the role we can all play in creating a better internet and how to utilise it in a safe manner.
Safer Internet Day is a way of dealing with internet safety and is something parents, young people and the entire community need to commit to if we are to promote the positive use of technology in our communities. The internet can be an amazing resource! Used wisely, it can open up a world of information, connectedness and learning, but… with these benefits come serious and real dangers such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyber-bullying, and the anxiety that can arise from constantly being connected.
Throughout this week the College has been engaged with a variety of age-appropriate activities to raise awareness of how to use and navigate the internet in a safe manner. We will also encounter ways in which students can identify dangers and what their rights and responsibilities are. Students have been encouraged to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviours and who they are able to speak to about this.
During our parent information evenings for Junior School parents on Monday, and Secondary School parents on Tuesday, we had a guest speaker – Adair Donaldson (watch video below) who addressed current trends and issues and what we can do. Adair is a lawyer and educator and quite prolific in the area of student and teacher education. Adair focuses his expertise on assisting people to move from the challenges of the past to opportunities of the future. He covered some really pertinent societal issues for parents raising children and their progression into their adolescent years, including some of the dangers to be aware of. Topics were smart phone usage, social media, the use of AI for the wrong reasons, real life scenarios and the consequences which can result with misuse. The purpose of these parent information sessions was to create awareness to current trends in the digital world.
Therefore, across the College our focus is not only on the specific ‘Safer Internet Day’ but ensuring we have aligned contemporary practices across the College which cater for our student needs and offer opportunities for parents to be informed of how they can also help, which was addressed by our guest speaker at our parent information evenings on Monday and Tuesday.
As a college community, we need to continue to work together to make every day a Safer Internet Day! That is why the Safer Internet Day’s theme in 2025 is ‘Together for a better Internet’.
Safer Internet Day Media Release
Simon Edgar | Head of Junior School
This year, our Junior School students from Prep to Year 6 celebrated Safer Internet Day with a series of engaging and educational activities designed to promote online safety and global awareness.
One of the highlights of the day was a special Zoom call with Ms. Siberry and her students at Dwight International School in South Korea. During this virtual exchange, our students shared tips on how to stay safe online while also learning about the culture and daily life of their peers in South Korea. The discussion was lively and informative, with students from both schools exchanging ideas on how to navigate the digital world responsibly.
In addition to the Zoom call, our classes participated in interactive lessons in the A.B. Metaverse. These lessons provided a unique and immersive experience, allowing students to explore various scenarios and learn practical strategies for staying safe on the internet. The Metaverse environment made the learning process fun and memorable, reinforcing the importance of digital safety in a dynamic way.
To further emphasise the significance of Safer Internet Day, our students completed a survey on their internet usage and safety practices. The survey results will help us understand our students’ online habits better and tailor future lessons to address any areas of concern.
Throughout the week, our college devices displayed the Safer Internet Day logo, sparking conversations among students and staff about the importance of being safe online. This visual reminder served as a constant prompt for everyone to reflect on their digital behaviours and commit to safer internet practices.
Overall, Safer Internet Day was a resounding success, bringing our college community together to celebrate the importance of online safety and fostering a sense of global citizenship among our students. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and activities throughout the year.
Samantha Middleton | Digital Literacy Coordinator Prep-Year 6
This week was Library Lovers' week, so students and staff headed over to The Homestead to join in on some fun activities to celebrate our libraries, librarians and the joy we can find in reading.
The Queensland School Library Association is running a state-wide competition this term, and we want our students to get involved! As we can only send one entry per category away to this competition, we will have an in-school competition, which all students are welcome to enter. There will be various prizes, including book vouchers and rewards from the prize box.
Here are the details:
The primary competition has two categories, Prep to Year 2 and Year 3 to Year 6.
Prep to Year 2: What is your favourite story? Draw or paint a picture to illustrate this. Your picture should be on an A4 sheet. Add a caption if you like.
Year 3 to Year 6: The theme is Window to the World. Produce an artwork to reflect the theme Window to the World.
Secondary students (Year 7 to Year 12): Window to the World.
Produce an artwork or take a photograph to reflect the theme Window to the World.
Please submit your entry to the Homestead Library or Lilly Pilly Learning Centre, or email the file to librarystaff@abpat.qld.edu.au by Monday 24 February, 2025.
Kelly Whiteway | Head of Library Services
Department of Transport and Main Roads is seeking a high performing and innovative School Crossing Supervisor for A.B. Paterson College to assist pedestrians to cross the road safely and direct vehicles within the crossing environment to ensure the safe operation of approved school crossings.
If you are interested email: southportroadsafety@tmr.qld.gov.au – Attention: Ros Naude
Further information and Employment Application is attached below:
School Crossing Supervisor - Role Description
Queensland Transport - School Crossing Supervisor Employment Application
Matilda's Cafe is open to the greater College community to enjoy barista made coffee and a selection of delicious sweets and savouries, all made on site.
Matilda's Cafe is open 7.30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, during term time.
Matilda's Cafe Full Menu for 2025
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