Illalong Newsletter - 2 August 2024 | A.B. Paterson College

Prep’s 100 Days of School Celebrations

The 100 Days of School celebration is a special and cherished tradition at A.B Paterson College. It is not just a fun event for our students, but also a meaningful way to look back on how far each and every child has gone in their first formal year of schooling.

During this celebration, our students reach a significant milestone, and we take the time to acknowledge their achievements and hard work. By doing so, we encourage them to feel proud of their progress and inspire them to keep learning and exploring new things.

On Wednesday 24 July, all Prep students celebrated their 100th day of school. Our prep teachers and students came dressed as 100-year-olds! All students enjoyed participating in learning opportunities centred around the number 100. There were many laughs and excitement as the students participated in each activity and they enjoyed a well-deserved and delicious treat at lunchtime – a cupcake!

Our 100 Days of School celebration brings together our teachers, students, and parents, strengthening our college community. This supportive network creates an encouraging environment where children feel safe to ask questions, share their ideas, and seek help when needed.

Overall, the 100 Days of School celebration is a significant milestone that represents the progress our children make in their education.

Jade Lucy, Rebecca Tonkin, Ashlea McSweeney and Trent Davis | Prep Teaching Team

Borneo Camp - 17 June to 7 July 2024

Departure day had finally arrived for 16 intrepid students and two teachers, Andrew Sole, Head of Outdoor Education and Erin Keogh, Assistant Head of Mathematics which made up the AB Paterson Camps International team for 2024. Arriving at Brisbane airport on 17 July to catch a flight to Malaysia via Sydney, excitement quickly builds knowing the much-anticipated departure day had finally arrived. Student’s farewelled parents and close friends at the college before boarding a bus to the airport; the adventure really had started. Months of saving, doing odd jobs around the home and working part-time has come to fruition as we fly to Kuala Lumpa, the capital of Malaysia before transferring a flight to Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Borneo, to begin the Camps International adventure.

The first few days were spent in Camp Tinangol, nestled in a small village deep in the Borneo hinterland, approximately 3 hours from Kota Kinabalu. On arrival students were welcomed by the Camp Manger, students then enjoyed a traditional Malaysian meal before being entertained by a local dance group. After which they settled into two beautiful longhouses for a welcomed night’s sleep. During the next few days students worked on improving the facilities in the local village, digging ditches, building concrete drainage blocks at a community centre whilst refurbishing the interior and installing window shutters. Also, they learnt about how the community sustain themselves with cultivating and cooking local produce such as cassava.

On day four, after an early start, students headed to their second project site, Camp Bongkud, a 5-hour bus journey away. On route there were short stops at Pekan Nabalu and Kundasang War Memorial. Once more on arrival at camp students were greeted by the camp manager, before enjoying the local cuisine cooked by the camp’s staff. A traditional welcoming dance by the local community followed, entertaining all those involved. Students and staff enthusiastically joined in with the local music and dance recitals. Dancers and students alike danced in and around long bamboo poles rhythmically brought together to the beat of the music.

Camp Bongkud rests in the foothills of the impressive Mount Kinabalu and is the largest of all camps operated by Camps International in Borneo. The projects were varied and focused on improvements to the community facilities. During the day, students were engaged in building new drainage ditches and making concrete slabs, later installed as steps on Bongkud Hill for a potential tourism project. They learnt to cook Malaysian banana cakes and utilised their creative skills, engaging in local handicraft techniques making bead bracelets. The local primary school children visited the camp on two afternoons to attend lessons taught by A.B. Paterson College students. Basic English classes, art and games entertained the kids and local teachers alike.

After spending a week at Camp Bongkud, students prepared themselves for their trek, packing their camping gear before walking into the jungle to begin a 5-day expedition in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. Whilst on camp, they learnt to set up their own hammock, erect a mosquito net and tarp to protect their hammock from the rain at night, and cook and collect drinking water. During their time in the jungle, they encountered a range of animals and tropical birds, bathed in local streams and awoke to beautiful vistas of the Borneo rainforest.

After the trek, the students enjoyed a well-earned one night’s rest at the Sabah Tea Plantation, before the long journey to the second jungle camp at Batu Puteh. Upon arrival they were greeted at the jetty with two boats to take the students along the Kinabatangan River, deep into the Supu Forest reserve. The focus of the two-day camp was forest clearing and tree planting to replace native fauna removed as part of palm oil production. The jungle camp is a community run eco-tourism and jungle restoration project, where the village aim to maintain and re-establish the ecosystems of this important area.

Up at first light students embarked on a river cruise to view the native wildlife. Their early start to the day was rewarded with sightings of proboscis monkeys, large groups of macaque monkeys, hornbills, honeyeaters and kingfishers, together with a crocodile. At night, the wildlife encounters continued with a walking safari before dinner and bed. Snakes, large centipedes, various insects together with sleeping birds were all sighted by students.

The next day after an early breakfast, students headed to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary to watch the orangutans up close in their natural habitat. The antics of the juvenile orangutans entertained all concerned. A visit to the Bornean Sunbear Conservation Centre afterwards to learn about the smallest bears in the world complemented the orangutan antics.

After spending their last day in Kota Kinabalu shopping for last minute gifts and souvenirs, the students departed Borneo with many fond memories of an amazing three-week adventure.

Andrew Sole | Head of Outdoor Education

Techie Club - Exciting Adventures in Digital Literacy!

Every Wednesday morning, from 7:30am to 8:30 am, our Years 1-3 students have been diving into the fascinating world of technology in the Metaverse. Techie Club is the place to be!

Flying High with Drones

Our sessions kicked off with an exhilarating experience as students learned to fly drones! They mastered the basics of drone operation, navigation, and even performed some impressive aerial manoeuvres. The excitement and joy on their faces were truly priceless!

Creating with 3D Printing

Next, our budding engineers explored the wonders of 3D printing. Throughout the term they will design and print their own unique creations, bringing their imaginative ideas to life. From keychains to small figurines, the possibilities were endless.

Coding Adventures with Indi Robots

Our young coders then delved into the world of basic coding using Indi robots. They learned to program these adorable robots to follow paths and complete fun challenges. It was amazing to see their problem-solving skills and logical thinking in action!

Block Coding with Sphero Robots

This week, the students took on the challenge of block coding with Sphero robots. They programmed these spherical robots to navigate obstacle courses, perform tricks, and even create light shows. The sense of accomplishment and teamwork was evident as they collaborated and shared their coding triumphs.

We are incredibly proud of the progress and enthusiasm our students have shown in Techie Club. Their curiosity and eagerness to learn have been inspiring. We look forward to continuing this exciting journey and exploring even more technological wonders for the remainder of the term.

Samantha Middleton | Digital Literacy Coordinator

Queensland Athletics - 2024 Cross Country State Championships

Congratulations to the four A.B. Brumbies who represented the college at the Queensland Athletics 2024 Cross Country State Championships held in Victoria Park (Brisbane) on Saturday 27 July.

It was great to see a mix of our lower primary and secondary school students representing the college and extending their cross-country season at the event.

Summary of Results:

Student	Age Group	Place
Harper Rose Mundt	Under 8 Girls	3rd
Nolan Yu	Under 9 Boys	1st
Sunny Morphett	Under 9 Boys	9th
Lilyana Ozoux	Under 11 Girls	14th
Imogen Ozoux	Under 13 Girls	19th

As the competitive cross-country season comes to a close, we wish our students all the best for a successful 2025 season, built on the solid foundation provided by these additional competition opportunities.

Tennille Mitchell | Cross Country Co-ordinator