Illalong Newsletter - 26 May 2023 | A.B. Paterson College

33rd Annual Founders' Day

This week, we celebrated 33 exceptional years of A.B. Paterson College at our annual Founders’ Day Assembly. We were fortunate to be able to gather together as a community for this event; all students from Prep to Year 12 and staff from all areas of the College joined together to celebrate. It was a joy to witness the Prep Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Big Band and Joe Dejima on piano delight us with their ensembles.

Principal, Ms Sheehy was joined by Board members, Jeff McDermid, Nicole Kelly, Terri McGuire and Alan Rickard patron and founding member. College Captain, Naia-Rae Fenton spoke on behalf of the student cohort.

Another wonderful aspect of Founders’ Day is celebrating the outstanding service of our staff with awards presented to staff members who have been at the College for 10, 15 and 20 years. These are truly exceptional achievements and we are so grateful for their service and for the many thousands of lives they have touched throughout their time at the College.

STAFF SERVICE AWARDS

A.B. Paterson College wishes to recognise and thank the following staff for their dedicated service and contribution to this community:

10 Years' Service Awardees:

Michelle Barriga, Nisha Dayaram, Kerrie Moore, Tina Readshaw, Cadmann Small, Matthew Stopel and Zoe Truss-Michaelis,

15 Years' Service Awardees:

Robyn Dewar, Paul Dilkes, Callie Hewitt and Tracey Kenny

20 Years' Service Awardees:

Steven Mikael

Congratulations!

News from the Year 5 Classrooms

This term in English, Year 5 students have been honing their creative writing skills and focusing on writing imaginative narratives.

They have learned how to write ‘Show Don’t Tell’ descriptions of characters that come alive in the readers’ minds. Students have also been highly motivated to explore figurative language and different language features such as similes and personification within the context of our narrative unit. They continue to showcase their creative writing skills each week through Big Write sessions where they put into practice these skills and language features in response to visual stimuli through writing stories that incorporate: Sizzling Starts, Tightening Tension and Endings with Impact.

I could hear the creaking noises coming from the house. Slowly, creeping up on me, a spine-chilling whoosh of wind went past me. At that point, I could feel my legs going unstable, knees wobbling and my frozen face with my eyes scanning the area, hoping to not spot something evil. The whoosh of wind seemed to follow me. It got louder, stronger and more direct. I crouched down in fear and suddenly heard a wail. - Terrena C.

As the blizzard roared outside, the children sat shivering near the flickering fire. They wanted to get out of this freezing place and go to somewhere warm. - Methula G.

Melting as fast as snow, the wooden house crumbled. Décor was burnt to crisp of air as the family of ants evacuated. “I told you we should have lived underground with grandma Diploma and grampa Pickleweed!” Joe, the father of the family of ants, quoted. - Chloe W.

The dark night paved over the town of Borderanga and the stars shone as bright as ivory. The night was humid. - Ayla A.

The heaviness of the light was weighing Astrid down. All of a sudden, the light became a leaf, as light as a feather and started to fly up but after a few seconds, the leaf would stop, then start again. - Liliana B.

Alice was waiting. An eerie silence, broken only by the occasional cicada but it seemed even they were too scared to make a noise. It almost felt like the whole forest was watching her, but of course, how would she know? It was pitch black. Then it started. A light broke in the darkness; a tiny pulsing light, flying around in all its tiny glory. Alice cupped it, and with trembling hands, put it inside the glass orb she had found earlier that day. Finally, a moveable light. The first light to break the darkness. – Summer W.

The dirt crunched between my shoes as I walked to a house with boarded windows. It looked deserted, but looks aren't everything, especially with creepy old mansions sitting on high hills. I felt uneasy. No wonder the bully dared me to go here. It really did live up to its name: The Unfun House. It definitely looked unfun. Suddenly, a distorted voice cried "HeElpPEmMee!" It was not normal. Nothing about this house was. Not the crunch of the dirt, or the light of the sun. My brain couldn’t even make sense of the house. It was like a paradox, with no beginning or end. - Maxim N.

The Year 5 students are also looking forward to their excursion to the Eureka goldfields later this week, and the many ideas and creative inspirations this will bring to their imaginative writing as they step back in time to the colonial period of history. Students will also continue to discover the use of figurative language as they explore poetry in the latter half of the term.

Georgina Burrows, Kristina Diaz, Kate Lawrence, Sophie Wager and Samantha Haddad | Year 5 Teachers

Busy Bees Garden

Get Ready to Buzz with Excitement for Busy Bees - Our Junior Student Gardening Initiative!

Nature is a wondrous playground that holds endless mysteries waiting to be discovered, and what better way to unlock its secrets than through gardening! Busy Bees, our junior student gardening initiative, is here to cultivate a love for nature and help our little kids gain a better understanding of the importance of gardening.

Gardening is not just about planting seeds and watching them grow; it's a holistic experience that nurtures young minds, bodies, and souls. Through Busy Bees, our young students are not only getting their hands dirty, but also learning valuable life skills that will benefit them for years to come.

One of the key aspects of Busy Bees is the hands-on learning opportunities it provides. Our little gardeners get to explore the different types of soil, learn about the importance of sunlight and water, and discover the lifecycle of plants from seed to fruit. They get to witness the magic of nature firsthand as they witness the miraculous transformation of tiny seeds into towering sunflowers or plump tomatoes. These hands-on experiences instil in them a sense of awe and wonder and deepen their appreciation for the natural world.

Busy Bees also fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership among our junior students. They learn to take care of their plants by watering them regularly, pulling out weeds, and protecting them from pests. This sense of ownership instils a sense of pride in our young gardeners, as they see their hard work paying off when their plants thrive and flourish.

Apart from the physical benefits of gardening, Busy Bees also promotes emotional well-being. Gardening has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall mental health. Our little gardeners get to connect with nature in a meaningful way, which helps them develop a sense of calm and tranquillity. Gardening also provides an outlet for creativity, as our young students experiment with different plant combinations.

In addition to the individual benefits, Busy Bees also promotes a sense of community among our junior students. Gardening is a collaborative effort that requires teamwork and cooperation. Our little gardeners work together, sharing tools, knowledge, and ideas, and learn the importance of working towards a common goal. They also develop a sense of empathy and respect for nature, as they learn about the delicate balance of ecosystems and the need to protect our environment.

Busy Bees also supports the school's sustainability initiatives. Our young gardeners learn about the importance of reducing waste, composting, and conserving resources. They learn about the concept of ‘farm-to-table’ as they harvest the produce they have grown and incorporate it into healthy meals in the school cafeteria. This promotes a culture of sustainability and encourages our junior students to be mindful of their environmental impact. In conclusion, Busy Bees is more than just a gardening initiative; it's a transformative experience that empowers our junior students with knowledge, skills, and values that will benefit them for a lifetime. It nurtures their connection with nature, fosters a sense of responsibility, promotes emotional well-being, encourages teamwork and cooperation, and supports sustainability. So, let us get ready to buzz with excitement as we watch our little gardeners bloom into environmentally conscious citizens who appreciate the wonders of nature through Busy Bees!

STUDENTS INVOLVED WERE:

Amity Fielding, Liam Condely, Jack Bender, Jake Calver, Beau Williams, James Lange, Zachary Karanos, Raakin Mia, Sam Lawson, Thomas Lindemann, Tia Pearson, Nicholas Forster, Olivia Williams, Kane Villero, Jacob Carr, Taylah Honey, Benjamin Lincoln, Luke Hadley and Ocean Tiesman

Project led by Megan Reibelt and run by Taryn Hanley at lunchtimes with Junior students