It is our A.B. community who make up the key ingredients of our amazing A.B. Difference!
We thank you for your time celebrating with us, during the A.B. Paterson College Foundation High Tea at the magnificent HOTA.
Foundation Board Chair, Mr Ed Klimowicz, Principal, Joanne Sheehy and her team of Senior Leaders welcomed back past staff, many Old Collegians and our fabulous current families for a beautiful morning of all things sweet and savory.
We enjoyed the talent of our Senior Boys' and Girls' A Capella Choirs with special guest performers Cornerstone Chorus, led by A.B.'s very own Mr Jonathan Albertini.
With raffle and lucky door prizes a plenty, there were many fun moments to be shared.
We look forward to connecting with you all again - it's moments like these, that we treasure.
Stephanie Bryan Head of Foundation and Alumni
News from Year 6 Students
Student Leadership and Prep Buddies
We, as Year 6 students have many responsibilities. We help with lunch duties and equipment, in the Lilly Pilly Library, put up and take down the school flags, do recycling for the school and we play games with younger students on the Village Green. But the highlight for most of us is making connections with our Prep Buddies. Calvin Liu
Spending time with our Prep buddies is great, unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we have only been able to visit them twice this year. Last time we visited them we made a ‘Get to Know You’ poster. We traced around our hands and wrote five of our favourite things onto the fingers and then decorated our posters. This helped us to identify things we have in common with our buddies and we learned a lot about each other by doing so. Lucy Niebling
HaSS Migrant Showcase
For HaSS this term, we are investigating our past and our own migration stories. Although we all think of ourselves as Australians and, unless we are a First Nations person, we are ultimately all migrants or refugees who came to Australia for a variety of reasons. We spent time discovering migrant stories to understand why Australia is a multicultural melting pot of people from all over the world.
For our Migrant Showcase, I was Freya Grace Fullerton. I discovered that my family is from Northern Ireland. I was born in 1813 on 27 April. I left Ireland because my husband, James, stole a bread cart and a horse to feed his family. The soldiers arrested him, and we all were forced onto the Third Fleet sailing for Australia. It was called the Albemarle. Casey Fullerton
Art and Technology
In Art, last term, we learned about the Elements of Art and how to include them in our work. We experimented with each element and then used them in our designs. Our designs were based on our names and each letter needed to demonstrate our understanding of the elements of Art.
In Technology, we worked on our coding skills to create Scratch animations using our Art names. It was tricky to use the Elements of Art as well as coding to make the Scratch components. For Technology this term, we are learning to create Podcasts using the RODE Podcasting equipment. In workshops with Ms Claydon, we have been learning how to present information using digital literacies. We are going to create podcasts to listen to on the bus during our Outback Safari to Winton.
Science in Year 6
We are currently learning about the Earth and its structure in Science this term. Did you know that the Earth used to have just one giant land mass called Pangea? Did you know that the land we are standing on is moving about one centimetre per year? The reason the Earth moves is due to the shifting of tectonic plates – these are like puzzle pieces that move slowly because of the pressure deep down under the Earth’s surface. These changes and movements on the surface of the Earth and in the atmosphere cause a variety of natural phenomenon, or Natural Disasters. Tectonic plates moving together cause earthquakes, volcanos and even tsunamis. We are learning about how natural disasters are caused, where and why they happen and then for our STEAM unit we are working on a design to lessen the impact of these disasters to keep us safe.
In Year 6, we are lucky enough to visit the Senior Science Labs to conduct experiments for our Science Units. Last term, we were learning about reversible and irreversible changes in States of Matter. Dr Thomas inspired us with his scientific ‘magic’, and it was great to learn how to be safe in the lab in preparation for Senior School. Zainab Junaid
Character Builder
In Week 2 of this term, the Year 6 students had a Character Builders incursion. We participated in three activities throughout the day. The first activity involved a scavenger hunt around the school. We had to take photos of different objects and even emotions. We then completed a series of riddles. We also participated in a communication circle, where two circles face each other and rotate around. This allowed us to talk to different people in the circle. Finally, we gave each other ‘Big-ups!’, which are compliments about kind things other people have done and character strengths they have shown.
As you can tell, life in Year 6 is a busy balancing act where we work hard and support others to work well. We are eagerly awaiting our Outback Safari and are looking forward to sharing our experiences when we get back.
Year 6 Students
HPE Week - 23-27 May
We are excited to announce that HPE Week will take place next week (Week 6 – May 23-27).
Lunch times will be packed with physical activities to get you active and enjoying movement in a fun and relaxed environment. Physical activity has many health benefits and we want to see as many students out enjoying what is on offer.
The sessions will be staffed with HPE Staff and Year 12 Leaders, and everyone is welcomed to, and encouraged to attend!
Running club sessions on Monday and Wednesday will also be tracking the total distance run during the week, using a QR-based App. All students are invited and welcome to attend and participate. How far can we run collectively? From School to Brisbane – 66km! From School to Sydney – 846km! From School to Cairns – 1746km! Lets see how far we can run as a College on these two days!
You can participate in any uniform that you are in on the day so you don’t need to get changed specifically for these activities.
Please click on the link below to view the timetable and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible!
Matt Stopel Assistant Head of Health & Physical Education
Congratulations to Year 6 student, Sienna Pilkington, whose beautiful artwork was selected as the first place winner in the Queensland School Library Association’s School Library Week Years 3-6 Primary Competition. Sienna’s masterpiece was competing against entries from other schools across Queensland, so the honour is quite an accomplishment.
The theme of the QSLA's School Library Week was ‘School Libraries – the Heart of Learning’. The QSLA mentioned that it was a difficult job for the judges to choose, due to the standard of entries received this year. This is the judge’s feedback regarding the entry included: "This carefully resolved artwork, is a creative response to the brief which makes use of symbolism to communicate ideas about the library being at the heart of learning".
Sienna received a $50 QBD voucher – and the school also received a QBD voucher for $100, thanks to Sienna’s efforts.
A copy of Sienna's artwork is on display in The Homestead. Please stop by our space to have a look at the work of a very talented young artist.
Stephanne Siberry Head of Library Services
Student Achievements
National Gymnastics
Congratulations to Kiara Lowman (Year 6) who competed at the Australian National Gymnastics Championships recently achieved success after her hard work and training!
3rd place in U13Junior international in Tumbling
3rd place in U13Junior international in DMT (Double Mini Trampoline)
Best of all, Kiara managed to Qualify for 2022 World Championships. If Kiara is selected she will represent Australia in Sofia (Bulgaria) in November 2022.
Kiara was also selected to represent the Queensland Team in Tumbling and they finished in 2nd place with the Queensland International Team in Tumbling. So Kiara was versing females from U17, U22 and senior women.
Well done Kiara and good luck with selections for the World Championships!
Future Stars Dance Competition
Congratulations to Natalie Albertini (Year 3) who competed at Future Stars Dance Competition on the weekend and came away as the U8 Age Champion and highest scoring routine of the competition.
Well done Natalie!
A.B.'s Busy Bees Gardening Club
The sun was out and so were the secateurs this week, at A.B.'s Busy Bees Gardening Club.
Our students picked papayas and pruned the plants as they picnicked on the fruits of their labour.
Before School Reading Club
Before School Reading Club – Lilly Pilly Learning Centre – Tuesdays and Thursdays @8am
Attention Prep to Year 3 students and your families! The Lilly Pilly Learning Centre has a new club for students who arrive at school early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Come to the Lilly Pilly Learning Centre to read with our Senior Students – or bring your reading folder, and you can read to them!
From the initiative of Year 9 student and Duke of Edinburgh participant, Matilda Grant, Senior School students are available in the Lilly Pilly Learning Centre every Tuesday and Thursday morning during term time. It is beautiful to see the relationships blossoming between our youngest and oldest students as they sit and share a laugh or adventure together through a delightful book. The Lilly Pilly Learning Centre is a buzz of activity in the mornings – and a lovely warm and cozy place to start students’ days.
For those students who would benefit from a bit more practice reading, we encourage students to bring their home reading folder to the Lilly Pilly Learning Centre on Tuesday and Thursday morning to practice with one of our eager, but patient, Senior School volunteers.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms Stephanne Siberry in our A.B. Paterson College Libraries. Ms Siberry and Matilda also welcome additional Senior School reading volunteers – so please get in touch if this interests you.
A gracious thank you goes to Matilda for her entrepreneurial and organised concept, and to all students who have been supporting the program to date.
Happy Reading!
Stephanne Siberry Head of Library Services ssiberry@abpat.qld.edu.au
The College is seeking Camp Stretchers!
Dear Parents and Guardians of Years 7-12 students
The College is seeking camp stretchers that have been used by students who have attended the Winton Tour in their respective years when in Year 6.
The stretchers that students have used in previous years are no longer available and a variety of alternatives are currently unsuitable.
2022 is a particularly exciting Tour, with the opening of Barty’s Place, a project that the College has worked incredibly hard on turning into a reality. With the camp coming up in July, the College is conducting a drive to accumulate the appropriate resources to serve this year and many years to come. They are an integral equipment item for throughout the camp and Barty’s Place, as we work in conjunction with the local community of Winton.
We are putting a call out to families who would consider a donation of their used camp stretcher (see below) or a buy back, with a purchase price of $20. If you can support us, it is much appreciated.
Stretchers must be in suitable condition and can be dropped off to Student Services as soon as possible.
If you would like $20 credited on your fee account, please let our administration staff know when delivering the stretcher.
Sara Bakanay Acting Head of Junior School
News from our Friends of A.B.
This week was National Volunteer Week. This year the theme was Better Together, referring to the strength volunteering has in bringing people together, building communities and creating a better society for everyone.
As the proverb says - It takes a village, and this is particularly true here at our College. Whenever we reach out for volunteers, we are always so very thankful for the response to help from our amazing community.
On behalf of the Friends of A.B. Paterson College I would like to say - Thank You, Arigato, Gracias, Merci, Shukran, Xie Xie, Do Jeh, Toda, Terima Kasih, Kamsa Hamnida, Spasibo, Mihi ki a koe and Dhanyavaad.
Your vehicle MUST be registered in the competition to be eligible for our weekly bumper sticker draw.
Our lucky winners each receive $100 off their school fee invoice for the following term! At the end of Term 3, all of our weekly winners will be invited to an afternoon tea where one family will be drawn to receive FREE* tuition for their eldest child for Term 4 2022 (*tuition fee only).
Click here for more information regarding the 2022 Bumper Sticker competition.
