As part of our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive school community, we are excited to announce the celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week from 22 – 27 July. This event highlights the importance of mental health, fostering a culture of understanding and support at the college.

The week will feature a series of engaging and uplifting activities designed to bring our community together, highlight the importance of mental health, and provide opportunities for everyone to participate and reflect.

Highlights of the Week:

• Daily Lifting Tunes: Each morning will start with an uplifting tune to set a positive tone for the day.
• Homeroom Activities: Students will engage in creating a Positivity Chain, a symbol of support and encouragement that will culminate in a special event on Friday.
• Special Guests: We are thrilled to welcome Tom from Youarenotalone and Abbie Williams from Letters of Hope, who will share their experiences and insights, inspiring our students to reach out and support one another.
• Fun Events: The week will include a Pyjama Fashion Show, Just Dance Competition, Teddy Bear Picnic, and various sports matches to foster togetherness and joy.
• Wellbeing Focus: Activities such as Groundsmen Appreciation Tea, Headspace's Wheel of Wellbeing Stall, and a special Wellbeing Assembly will emphasise the importance of mental health and gratitude.

Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity for our college community to come together, support each other, and recognise the importance of mental health in daily life. We encourage everyone to participate actively and take this chance to spread positivity, kindness, and support throughout our community. 

A big thank you to our Year 12 students for their outstanding organisation and leadership of this initiative.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to making our college a place where everyone feels valued and supported.

JACOB ELMS | HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOL

Year 5 and 6 students were recently treated to a wonderful performance of Hansel and Gretel in the Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre.

Opera Queensland, in creative collaboration with Shake & Stir Theatre Company, brought the magic of opera to our Junior School students with this fabulous and fun version of the Humperdinck classic. 

The students joined Hansel and Gretel on their journey into the forest as they hunted for fruit for the family table and learned the perils of stranger danger. The show enchanted our young opera enthusiasts as they were swept from the classroom into a contemporary world of magic, fairies and sweets in a story of survival and family bonds. 

This was a wonderful opportunity to introduce the students to the world of opera, whilst allowing them the experience of seeing how music, dance, drama, art and media can combine to create fun, magical and engaging performances.

SHARYN WALKER-JOYCE | HEAD OF THE ARTS

After a night to remember under the stars at their semi formal, our students have been exploring all things Winton and the outback have on offer!

A trip to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, exploration of the town with an amazing race adventure and putting their musical skills to the test at the musical fence.

They've rescued and cared for a joey before handing it over to the kangaroo rescue and have visited the Combo Waterhole, where it's believed the inspiration for Australia's unofficial anthem, Waltzing Matilda came from.

Back at Barty's they've stayed warm by the campfire under the stunning outback sky.

Commencing the journey toward home, they've said their farewells to Barty's Place. Currently in Longreach, they've visited the QANTAS Museum, before enjoying a day on the Thomson River, making damper and learning about the First Nations' use of the river systems and trees for tools and boats.

Wednesday afternoon was spent at Camden Station learning what life is like on a working sheep and cattle farm, before their final night in Longreach.

On their way out, they will visit the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre before making their way to Barcaldine and onwards toward the Gold Coast.

We look forward to welcoming them back to the college this Friday!

On 12 June, A.B. Paterson College proudly hosted the highly anticipated Hydrogen Challenge 2024. This endurance race brought together students, educators, Government representatives and industry professionals to celebrate and explore the potential of renewable technologies.

Participants from sixteen schools across southeast Queensland and as far as the Northern Territory showcased their innovative hydrogen-powered vehicles, competing in a four and a half endurance race designed to push the limits of sustainability and engineering. The event was not only a thrilling competition but also an educational experience, highlighting the importance of renewable energy in our future.

A standout moment of the event was the exceptional performance by A.B. Paterson College’s own team, the Banjo Battlers. Their dedication and innovation earned them first place among the Gold Coast-based teams and the prestigious Team Spirit award, voted by all the participating teams. This recognition is a testament to their hard work, ingenuity, and outstanding sportsmanship.

The Hydrogen Challenge also welcomed numerous industry professionals and representatives, as well as local and state government officials, who shared their insights and support for the event. The enthusiastic support from our community was palpable, making the event a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability.

Key highlights included the impressive performance of several teams, the inspiring talks from industry experts on advancements in hydrogen technology, and the collaborative spirit shown by all participants. The event concluded with a recognition ceremony, where top-performing teams were awarded for their creativity, engineering skills, and commitment to sustainability.

The Hydrogen Challenge 2024 was a resounding success, inspiring all attendees to continue exploring and advocating for renewable energy solutions. We cannot wait to see what our team accomplishes in the 2025 season.

The earliest recorded use of a drone dates back to the 1840s! Fast forward to today and drones have evolved into sophisticated devices with applications ranging from agriculture to filmmaking.

We are excited to share with you the innovative and engaging Year 6 Technologies unit that our students are currently immersed in, ‘Drones in Agriculture’. In this unit our students embark on a captivating journey into the realm of drones and their role in agriculture. The provocation to our unit began with a whole cohort workshop in the Elderslie Theatre, where students were immersed in the benefits and safety requirements of flying a drone.

Students will work collaboratively to explore the intricate components of drones, from rotor and sensors to flight controllers. They will also explore the digital systems that power these flying devices, whilst delving into their applications of agriculture. Students will also discover how drones collect data from aerial imagery and thus provide valuable insights for farmers.

The heart of our learning lies in designing flight paths for TelloEDU drones by collaborating in small groups, students will code and test their flight paths to ensuring precision and efficiency.

Summer: I’m really looking forward to using my drone explorer pass to test out my drone at lunch time.

Kobi: I enjoyed participating in the workshop by collecting the safety equipment required to fly a drone.

Jack: I’m looking forward to being more involved in the Metaverse and coding a flight path for my drone.

We look forward to sharing more updates about this exciting unit with you!

Samantha Middleton | Digital Literacy Co-ordinator Prep - Year 6

YOU'RE INVITED TO A SPECIAL PRESENTATION 

Growing up as an adolescent in the world today can be challenging and our young people are facing many complex issues unique to them and their generation. With this in mind we will be welcoming lawyer Adair Donaldson to the college to present his renowned workshop, 'Putting Youth in the Picture' to our secondary school next week.

Workshop Highlights:

• Understanding and respecting consent
• Staying safe online
• Being a responsible digital citizen
• Making good decisions
• Understanding legal implications

Adair Donaldson has over 10 years of experience delivering workshops to thousands of students, parents, and athletes. His expertise in consent, online safety, good decision-making, and the law has made a significant impact nationwide.

We are delighted to be able to offer a parent/guardian information session to enable our families to gain valuable insights on these crucial topics. We highly encourage all parents/guardians to attend!

Parent/Guardian Session:

• Speaker: Adair Donaldson
  
• Date: Monday, 22 July
  
• 4:45pm - 5:30pm
  
• Elderslie Theatre

Register for the Parent/Guardian Session HERE.

Join us in equipping our students with the tools they need to navigate adolescence confidently and responsibly!

Attention students and staff! The Sustainability Club are thrilled to announce the launch of the Poem Forest Competition at our college. This is a fantastic opportunity for all budding poets to showcase their creativity and passion for nature through verse.

Key Details:

• Submission Deadline: Monday, 2nd September (Week 9)
• Eligibility: Open to both students and staff
• Theme: Poems must be identifiably about nature
• Length: No more than 20 lines
• Multiple Entries: Yes, you can submit more than one poem!

There are two parts to this competition:

• School-Based Competition: Submit your poems via email to Kiana Sloane at ksloane@abpat.qld.edu.au.
• Online Competition: Submit your poems through the Poem Forest Competition website.

This is a unique opportunity to not only engage with the beauty of nature through your writing but also to have your work recognized and celebrated within our college community and beyond.

We encourage everyone to participate and look forward to reading your beautiful poems!

Happy writing!

Kiana Sloane | Science Teacher

Did you see our fabulous Preppies with the wonderful Ms Rachel Newcombe and Mrs Mackenzie in Gold Coast Bulletin on Friday 12 July?

We can't wait to see them perform their magic at this year's Gold Coast Eisteddfod. Check the calendar in A.B. Connect for details.

Congratulations to our Prep Choir!!

Congratulations to Riley Grimmer, Liam Grimmer and Samuel Longhurst who completed the 48km Schools Kokoda Challenge with Steve Jackson on Saturday 13 July,

They came in third place with a time of 7 hours 33 minutes - which is the fastest time for an A.B. team so far!

Well done Riley, Liam and Samuel!

NATHAN BURGESS | DIRECTOR OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Congratulations to Peter Ketchell of Year 10 who recently represented A.B. Paterson College at the Griffith University State Honours Ensemble Program. 

This is Peter’s fifth year of acceptance into the program, and this has allowed him once again to be mentored by expert musicians during the three-day event. This year was particularly exciting for Peter as he played Section Principal (double bass) and enjoyed group solo opportunities. 

The experienced gained from such a program is invaluable for our students' musical development and we thank Peter for his continued contribution and outstanding representation of the college at this annual event.

SHARYN WALKER-JOYCE | HEAD OF THE ARTS

Congratulations to Hugh Randall from Year 5 who recently participated in the 'Those Who Rock' program at HOTA. 

Over 200 guitarists aged from 8 to 80, from beginners to professional musicians, played in team workshops with industry professionals before combining in a group finale performed by all 200 guitarists! 

Celebrity guests performed vocals on the night and Hugh’s team 'Runaway Bay' had the pleasure of working with the amazing Kram from Spiderbait on drums and vocals, for their song Black Betty. Hugh was also privileged to be centre stage for the AC/DC finale, which featured Kram as well as Dave Gleeson from The Screaming Jets on vocals. 

Hugh, we hope you thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic community event!

SHARYN WALKER-JOYCE | HEAD OF THE ARTS

Congratulations to Amy Jang (Year 7) who won a silver medal in the under-13 girls singles at the National Table Tennis Tour, held in Mandurah in Perth, from 5-6 July.

Amy has since won the bronze medal in the under-13 mixed doubles with Jaden Cao (Brisbane) at the 2024 National Junior, Senior, Youth and Para Table Tennis Championships, held from 7 to 14 July.

Amy also advanced to the quarter finals in the 13 and 15 singles titles, but unfortunately withdrew on the last day due to a back injury.

Please give Amy a lot of encouragement and congratulations for working hard and achieving her goal.

Well done Amy!

NATHAN BURGESS | DIRECTOR OF CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

CLOSING ON 31 JULY SO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

There is just one week left to get your tickets to the night of nights! The A.B. Paterson College Foundation Ball will be a night to remember, and we don't want you to miss out.

All proceeds from the event will go towards raising funds for the incredible new Junior School ninja warrior playground course. This fully covered, ninja warrior course will be located at the front of the College by the Village Green, and available for our Years 3-6 students to enjoy.

Don’t miss this chance to make a difference and be a part of the College community's history whilst enjoying a spectacular evening of glamour and entertainment.

Presented by Saba Organic we are excited to welcome our college community to QT Gold Coast on Saturday 17th August.

To purchase Ball Tickets CLICK HERE.

Indulge in a lavish three course dinner with a 4.5-hour drinks package, live music and thrilling auctions and raffles.

RSVP now for an unforgettable night of glamour and giving, all proceeds from the evening going to the new Year 3-6 Ninja Warrior Course Playground.

Date: Saturday 17th August

Time: 6:30pm - midnight

Venue: QT Ballroom, QT Surfers Paradise

Price: $249 per person / $1,992 per table of eight. 

• Limited Platinum Tables available - Premium front row position, eight tickets and inclusive of 2 bottles of French champagne on the table.
• Limited Gold Tables available - Prime second row position, eight tickets.

We're very grateful to our event partners for their support in bringing this exciting event to life.

• Naming partner: Saba Organic 
• Audiovisual partner: The Advanced Group
• Entertainment partner: Hudor Cleaning Services
• Program partner: Integration Group
• Menu partner: Rothwells Commercial Painters
• Photobooth partner: Phillis Real Estate Queensland

Along with our corporate partners for their continued support throughout the year.

• Computer Alliance
• Community Bank Helensvale
• Bond University
• Ramen Danbo

All guests to the event are able to make use of the 20% QT accommodation discount provided:

Please use event code QTEVENT24 when making your accommodation booking.

This year A.B. Paterson College is proud to host The University of Queensland 2024 UQ Ready Gold Coast event. 

We invite you to attend UQ Ready on 1st August, 6pm to 7:30pm - an exceptional transition to university information night. 

This event is designed to empower Year 11 and 12 students as they embark on their higher education journey. 

Registration for the event can be completed through this link.