Illalong Newsletter - 18 February 2022

A Warm Welcome to Junior School Parents

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the families, and say a big thank you for all the kind words I have received this term after stepping into the position of Acting Head of Junior School. I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to work closely with the A.B. Paterson College community.

I started at the College in 2021 as the Deputy Head of Junior School: Pastoral. I thoroughly enjoyed working in this position and establishing connections with many families. I was also fortunate to have been given the opportunity to teach in the Languages Faculty. I currently teach Japanese in Secondary School, as a member of a diverse and multi-talented faculty who warmly welcomed me. I have a passion for learning and teaching Japanese, and during my career, many doors have opened because of my study of Japanese for which I am truly grateful. Japanese is my fifth spoken language. I began studying Japanese and French at university, and immediately knew that I wanted a career in education. I am also passionate about psychology. I am currently studying guidance counselling which I find tremendously rewarding.

In my current position, I work closely with Rebecca Taylor, Deputy Head of Junior School: Teaching and Learning and Liam Burke, Acting Deputy Head of Junior School: Pastoral. Rebecca, Liam and I look forward to strengthening our partnership with you. Whilst we have had an unusual start to the academic year, it has at the same time been a successful journey, filled with many opportunities for growth.

We hope that you enjoyed the Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, 16 February 2022, where you would have had the opportunity to meet Dr Judith Locke, a Clinical Psychologist and Author of The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student. We are fortunate to have had the benefit of Judith’s expertise and depth of knowledge at the College.

I wish you a wonderful term and look forward to meeting you all as the year progresses.

Warm Regards

Sara Bakanay
Acting Head of Junior School

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Mitchell Chen who was named in the Basketball Queensland (BQ) 2022 State Performance Program (SPP) after the recent open selection trials. SPP is BQ‘s second tier of the high performance program, with the aim of preparing U16 and U18 players to represent Queensland at the Australian Junior Championships across those age groups. The entry level tier of the high performance program is the Future Development Program (FDP) for the U14 age group which Mitchell successfully achieved last July.

Following his great efforts at the FDP, BQ U14 State Championship last September and the Emerging Team selection camp late November last year, he was selected in the 2022 BQ U15 State Emerging Team to compete in Adelaide Mid January 2022. Although the Adelaide trip was unfortunately cancelled due to the increased spread of COVID-19 variants at that time, BQ instead conducted an All State Camp in Brisbane from 10-12 January 2022, which assisted Mitchell to gain the experience he needed to compete against the U15 State Emerging Team North boys. Well done Mitchell!

With the current SQJBC season underway and BQ U16 State Championship occurring this April, we wish Mitchell and his representative team, the North Gold Coast Seahawks, all the best of luck!

A big congratulations to Summer Weiner, who competed at the BJJ Australian Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships 2022 held 13 February in Bryon Bay.

Summer won her division, receiving a Gold Medal for her achievement.

Congratulations Summer, we are so proud of you!

Congratulations to A.B. Students who competed in Fencing at the Inaugural Future Olympians Cup of the Gold Coast Fencing Academy.

This was a friendly competition for the Gold Coast Fencing Academy and to kick-off the 10-year goal of producing an Olympic Fencer for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The sword used was beginner’s Foil.

Our winning students are:
Champion/Gold medal - Sigrid Sofia Perez
1st Runner-up - Olivia Segui
2nd Runner-up - Javier Segui
3rd Runner-up - Benjamin Jiao
3rd Runner-up - Siegfried Dastan Perez

Well done to all our Fencers!

A huge congratulations to Natalie Albertini who was awarded the title of Acrobatic Age Champion at the Showcase National Championship held at Star Casino with competitors from all over Australia.

What a superstar! Please join with us in congratulating Natalie on her amazing achievement!

Taekwondo Success!

On 27 November 2021, five students from A.B. Paterson College attended a black belt grading at Edge Taekwondo. Charlotte Jeffries (Year 11), Henry Flesser-Ruck (Year 8) and Kobi Standbridge (Year 8) completed their First Dan black belt. Ally Zhou (Year 11) completed her Second Dan black belt and Agan Pillai (Year 9) completed his Third Dan black belt.

Pictured from left: Anmol (senior student), Kobi, Alan Harlick (Master Instructor), Henry and Agan.

Charlotte, Henry and Kobi all began their Edge Taekwondo journey in 2015, training 2/3 times a week with Master Instructor, Alan Harlick. Ally and Agan have been with the club for longer and have trained at Helensvale as well. Although many people start on this pathway, for males, one in every 500 makes it to become a black belt, and for females it is one in every 1000.

Black belt gradings take three hours to complete and include a wide range of requirements, all scrutinised by multiple instructors. To attain their black belts, students had to:

demonstrate complex taekwondo patterns (poomsa);
demonstrate knowledge and general history of taekwondo including understanding the terminology of the sport, respect for their instructor and other students;
perform strong self-defence skills against multiple opponents; and
show perseverance, focus and control of their skills.

All of these requirements must be completed to a high standard. In order to pass the black belt grading, students must achieve a mark of 80% or higher throughout the 12-point exam.

Achieving this milestone allows students to wear their black belt, which is embroidered with their name both in English and Korean script. This is coupled with a distinct uniform with a black collar.

Now that these students have moved into the senior ranks of the club, they are responsible for guiding the younger and newer students to the sport. They will be helping the next group of students to achieve their taekwondo goals, whether it be for fitness or to achieve a black belt as these students have.

Edge Taekwondo are conducting lessons at the College on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30pm to 4:40pm. To register, please contact Alan Harlick on 0421 566 447.