llalong Newsletter - 23 August 2024 | A.B. Paterson College

Preparing for Exams and Assessment – the role of perseverance and grit

As we approach the final weeks of term, our students are entering a crucial phase of their academic journey—assessment and exams. It is a time that requires focus, perseverance, and a strong work ethic, as true academic success is built on consistent effort and determination.

When it comes to the pursuit of academic excellence, grit—perseverance and passion for long-term goals— plays a crucial role in achieving your best. The most successful learners are the ones who show up every day, ready to tackle challenges head-on, and who understand that failure is a stepping stone to success. They keep going even when the going gets tough.

As students prepare for their exams and assessments, they are encouraged to strengthen their regular study and home learning routines. Here are a few strategies to help them prepare effectively:

Set specific goals - break down study material into manageable chunks and set clear, achievable goals for each session. This will help students to stay focused and make the task of studying less overwhelming.

Practice active learning - engage with the material actively—do not just passively read your notes. Quiz yourself, create mind maps, or explain concepts to a friend, parent or carer. The more students interact with the

content, the better they will understand and retain it.

Prioritise time management - plan your time wisely. Create a study timetable that balances study sessions with breaks and relaxation. Remember, quality study time is more important than the quantity of hours spent.

Stay healthy - physical and mental well-being is crucial during this time. Students must ensure they are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and finding time to relax and unwind. A healthy mind and body will help them to perform at their best.

Seek support - if students are struggling with a particular subject or concept, they are encouraged to seek help. Year level, subject and homeroom teachers are all available to offer assistance and guidance when it comes to assessment and exam preparation. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

As students enter this period of exams and assessments, know that hard work and determination will pay off. Believe in your ability to succeed, operate with a growth mindset and remember that learning is a journey, not a destination. Each step you take, no matter how challenging, is bringing you closer to your goals.

We wish all our students the very best for the weeks ahead.

Anna Whannell | Director of Teaching and Learning 7-12

$20 Boss Program at A.B. Paterson College

Empowering Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs Today

At A.B. Paterson College, we believe in the power of hands-on learning to prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow. This year, our Year 10 Business & Economics students once again participated in the Young Change Agents’ $20 Boss program, a transformative experience that equips young people with essential enterprise skills by turning them into entrepreneurs with a social purpose.

The $20 Boss program, managed by the not-for-profit social enterprise Young Change Agents, gives students a unique opportunity to launch a business with just $20 of start-up capital per person. However, this is not just any business program; it is one that focuses on developing a broad range of skills, including critical and creative thinking, digital literacy, teamwork, project management, and financial literacy. Most importantly, each business created must operate as a social enterprise, with 100% of profits supporting a chosen charity.

This year, our students have excelled in creating innovative businesses that not only meet the financial viability criteria but also contribute meaningfully to society. From sustainable products to stress-relieving services, their businesses reflect the creativity, dedication, and empathy of our young entrepreneurs.

Student Businesses

Bath & Glow Boutique: Specialising in calming candles and bath bombs, this business is all about promoting self-care while supporting mental health. With 100% of their profits going to Beyond Blue, they are helping to shine a light on the importance of mental well-being.
Bead Brothers: Offering a customisable bracelet-making experience, Bead Brothers aims to promote mental well-being through creative expression. Their hands-on approach allows customers to craft their own unique accessories while contributing to Beyond Blue.
Tidal Treasures: By repurposing discarded candles into beautiful seashell candles, Tidal Treasures raises awareness about ocean pollution. All profits from their sales are donated to Sea Shepherd Australia, an organisation dedicated to marine conservation.
AB YoYos: In a bid to promote environmental responsibility, AB YoYos creates yoyos from recycled bottle caps. Their initiative encourages students to engage in eco-friendly play, with all proceeds supporting YOYO charity.
Bracelet Boutique: Focused on timeless style and social impact, Bracelet Boutique crafts elegant bracelets and anklets, donating all profits to the Animal Welfare League (AWFL).
Bouncy Bandz: This business brings fun and stress relief to students through their range of bouncy balls, with profits supporting the Black Dog Institute, a leader in mental health research and treatment.
The Slime Hut: Targeting younger audiences, The Slime Hut sells slime to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House, an organisation that supports families with sick children.
Flicker & Flame: Selling fragrant candles, Flicker & Flame aims to light up lives while supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation, making each purchase a meaningful contribution.
Terrarium Treasures: With a focus on raising awareness about deforestation, Terrarium Treasures creates beautiful terrariums, with all profits going to Team Trees, an initiative to plant trees and restore forests.

Market Week

During Week 7, our student-led businesses successfully showcased their products during Market Week, with Junior School students (Years 1–3) enthusiastically pre-ordering items online and students from Years 4–12 making direct purchases from the bustling stalls between the Rickard Courtyard and the Tucker-bag at lunchtime. This initiative not only allowed our students to put their enterprise skills into practice but also rallied the entire school community in support of meaningful causes.

The entrepreneurial spirit of our Year 10 students was truly commendable, and the impact of their efforts has extended far beyond the classroom. We are proud to announce that all proceeds from Market Week will be donated to the respective charities chosen by each business, furthering the positive impact of the $20 Boss program. We thank all teachers, parents and students for their incredible support in making this initiative a resounding success. Together, we have helped our students make a real difference in the world while gaining invaluable experience in entrepreneurship.

Jonathan Albertini | HASS Teacher

Gold Coast Eisteddfod - Instrumental Achievements

The Arts Faculty at A.B. Paterson College is beaming with pride after another week of wonderful performance by our instrumental music students at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod! The dedication of our students, the support of their parents and friends, and the exceptional guidance of our ensemble directors, has led to some remarkable achievements.

The Senior Big Band's 2nd place and Platinum Award in a highly competitive A Grade competition, is a testament to their extraordinary musicianship and wonderful cohesiveness as a team. The Year 5 Band's 1st place and Gold award, along with the Intermediate Big Band's Gold award, further highlights the depth of talent within our junior and intermediate ensembles.

This year's innovative virtual sections have also proven to be a resounding success, fostering inclusivity and allowing participation from students who are away at camp or unable to attend the eisteddfod in person. The Clancy Strings' 2nd place and Platinum award, Intermediate Concert Band's 2nd place and Silver award, and Matilda Strings' 1st place and Gold award, are all incredible accomplishments in these virtual categories. Further congratulations must go to the Matilda Strings and their director Ms Cowdrey, who were also awarded the Pam Lowry Award for Outstanding Virtual Secondary School Band/Orchestra.

All of the wonderful instrumental music results over the past two weeks not only showcases the students' talents but also reflects the unwavering support and guidance of their dedicated teachers Mr Whitaker, Mr Montfroy, Ms Reynolds, and Ms Cowdrey. Their collective efforts have undoubtedly shaped an environment where musical excellence can thrive.

To our instrumental music students, please keep up your daily practice and regular attendance at rehearsals so we can find even more opportunities to see you shine!

We look forward to sharing our choral and dance results next week.

Sharyn Walker-Joyce | Head of The Arts

Year 3 Explore David Fleay Wildlife Park!

Greetings, wildlife enthusiasts! Our Year 3 students recently embarked on a fun excursion to David Fleay Wildlife Park, nestled in the heart of Burleigh Heads on the sunny Gold Coast. This unique park is not your ordinary zoo—it is a haven for Queensland’s native creatures, where they roam freely in habitats that mimic their natural environment.

As our curious explorers stepped into the park, they were greeted by a symphony of bird calls and the earthy scent of eucalyptus. The Australian bush unfolded before their eyes, revealing a tapestry of native flora and fauna. Here is a glimpse of their wildlife encounters:

As they strolled along winding paths, eyes wide with wonder. The emus strutted confidently, its long legs covering ground like seasoned sprinters. The koalas, perched in its gum tree, seemed to nod approvingly at our presence. And kangaroos—those bouncy icons of Down Under—hopped gracefully, their powerful hind legs propelling them effortlessly.
The amphitheatre buzzed with anticipation as our Year 3 crew settled in for the reptile and bird shows. First up: reptiles! A slithering parade of scaly wonders—snakes and lizards, held the audience spellbound. The children learned about venomous vs. non-venomous species, their adaptations, and the importance of conservation. Then came the birds—a riot of colours and personalities! A cheeky parrot perched on a handler’s hand, stealing the show with its playful antics of flying around nearly landing on some of the student’s heads. Not in the bird show but during our lunch time we had a very cheeky kookaburra who attempted to steal from the children’s lunch boxes!!

In the heart of the park, our budding environmentalists rolled up their sleeves. Armed with creativity and a dash of eco-consciousness, they designed habitats for some special residents:

Richmond Birdwing Butterfly: These striking butterflies, with their iridescent green and black wings, needed a cozy home. Our students remembered to add the special vines—the butterfly’s favourite food—creating a mini rainforest.
Kangaroo Country: The kangaroo environment became an outback with leaves and grasses and trees for shelter.
Platypus Paradise: The platypus needed large water areas where crayfish would be a plenty! Ah, the elusive platypus! The children were amazed at the fact that a platypus is classified differently from the rest. They are actually a monotreme.

One of our favourite animals to visit in the park was the platypus. With webbed feet and a bill like a Swiss Army knife, the platypus darted underwater, feasting on crayfish. Cheeky? Absolutely he was!! We laughed at its antics and for a usually very shy creature this one was absolutely cheeky.

We had a wonderful day of exploring and learning at David Fleay Wildlife Park.

Kylie Schumacher, Jana Kubaska, Emily Packenham and Taryn Hanley | Year 3 Teachers

Year 5 Students' Showcase Leadership in The Global Innovators Program

Our Year 5 students have demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities through this term’s learning in HASS and Technologies. Let us take you on a journey of real-world learning, deep thinking, entrepreneurial exploration, and design processes—all part of the integrated HASS and Technologies unit known as The Global Innovators Program.

Phase One: Connecting with the Real World and Building Empathy
We were honoured to welcome Dr. Dinesh, LIVIN, AWLQ, Baby Give Back, and Dr. Candace Kruger to speak with our Year 5 cohort across a 5 week period. These inspiring individuals and organisations shared their personal stories, the journeys that led to their creation, and the goals they have achieved—and continue to strive toward. Our students exhibited a love of learning, curiosity, and mature social intelligence as they engaged with the presentations and Q&A sessions.

Phase Two: Collaborating, Problem-Solving, Ideating, and Designing**
Students were grouped into teams based on their interest in one of the UN’s Global Goals. Over the course of a day, these teams worked collaboratively to identify a problem or challenge, brainstorm potential solutions, and then begin the process of prototyping and creating marketing and advertising materials to showcase their ideas.

Phase Three: Building, Creating, and Designing
Excitement filled the classrooms as students took charge of their projects. The atmosphere buzzed with quiet yet exhilarating energy as teams designed logos, created campaign merchandise, developed posters and flyers, and incorporated QR codes linked to websites, apps, and even Blooket games. This phase truly brought the magic of their ideas to life.

Phase Four: Pitching Our Hard Work
The program culminated in a Trade Show, where families, staff, and other classes were invited to browse the fruits of the students’ labour. Each team organised a pitch to effectively communicate their learning and solutions. 'Proud' is an understatement. As Year 5 teachers walked around the displays, we were beyond amazed at the talent, leadership, and the exceptional ability of these young students to become true change-makers for a better future. We are confident that the future is in safe hands with these remarkable individuals.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
— Steve Jobs

The Year 5 Students’ feedback from the Global Innovators Program:

“It was a fun opportunity to change the world. My favourite part was running a raffle draw on the Trade Show Day.” – Avarleen Makkar

“I will always remember when our first customer came to our display and got every question right on the quiz!” – Otis Murphy

“My favourite part was designing the board and marketing materials because I could be creative.” - Audrey Margetts

“That lots of people came to the Trade Show and I was really surprised that for my group (Renewable Energy Team) Max built an awesome invention that lots of people liked.” - Aiden Hsieh

“The thing that inspired me the most is how we can improve the Earth’s health and how we can improve our lives at the same time.” - Jake Lowry

“The guest speakers inspired us because they started out as small organisations and are now really successful.” - Apple Zhou

“It was fun, and I liked how you could collaborate with others. It was really inspiring getting to hear from Dr Dinesh and to meet real Global Innovators.” - Thomas Wu

“I loved how you could design your own stand, and use different ways to make things like paint, draw, 3D print and design games.” - Axel Doherty

Sophie Wager, Kate Hamilton, Hannah Caspen & Kiera Sutcliffe | Year 5 Teachers