2020 was always going to be a different year for our Year 12s. For the first time in a long time, the students were not going to be preparing for a QCS test and looking to attain an OP as they finished.  

Instead, this year’s Seniors are the first cohort of Queensland students to be sitting external exams, unseen by both students and their teachers until the day of the exam – the thought of which creates more than a few nerves in students and teachers alike. This year’s Seniors will also be the first Queensland cohort to attain an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) as their main method of gaining university entrance.   

On top of all of this change, COVID-19 entered their lives and everything changed again. Not only were students forced into online learning, but they were also faced with the real possibility that many of the things they expected to experience in their final year at the College would be taken from them too. 

Intimidating – yes! A little scary – absolutely! But did our Year 12s shy away from the challenge? Of course not!  

There is no doubt that many of our students have experienced disappointment and even some resentment at the events of this year. That is to be expected. What is impressive however, is how well they have faced these challenges head on, with a sense of purpose and determination not often seen in people so young.    

They have demonstrated ‘resilience’, one of the most important traits a person can have in our ever-changing world.   

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress”. 

Being resilient doesn’t mean that you don’t face challenges. It also doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to feel disappointment or get upset when things don’t go your way. Being resilient means that you can acknowledge that bad things happen but that these adverse events don’t have to dictate the outcome of your life. It means that you can move on, focus on the positives and look for solutions when things get tough.   

The American Psychological Association suggests resilience is something that you can learn and that anyone can increase their resilience. It takes time and dedication but focusing on four core components is a great place to start. They are:

• Building your connections (prioritising relationships)
• Fostering wellness (taking care of your body and mind)
• Finding purpose (helping others and being proactive)
• Embracing healthy thoughts (keeping things in perspective and maintaining a hopeful outlook)

https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience  

Our Year 12s have demonstrated these key ideas across a range of areas:   

While learning at home, they remained committed to staying in touch with their peers and teachers using technology to do so. Since returning to the campus, they have focused on ensuring that they are a cohesive unit, working together to keep everyone on track.  

Many of you will have seen the wonderful clips posted to our Facebook page, organised and created by our Year 12 Leaders, giving tips and hints on how to focus on wellness while at home. Since returning, the students have organised and participated in events such as the Year 12 dance activity, coordinated by Rose Hackett and Mia Burtenshaw. These kinds of activities not only allow the students to participate in some physical activity but also give them a laugh and allow them to relax and have a bit of fun.   

They have continued to participate in Mingling Mondays and the Junior Buddies Program. These programs get them out across the entire College providing a helping hand and extra guidance to students in all year levels.   

The students are now moving into the Term 3 exam block, where they will complete mock exams in preparation for the final external exams in Term 4. I couldn’t be prouder of how they have prepared for these exams. More importantly though, I am incredibly proud of how they have faced the challenges of this year and maintained a positive outlook through it all.   

Good luck next week Year 12, we are all wishing you the best!   

Melissa Presland Acting Dean of Senior School 

While reflecting on my own childhood, my thoughts turn to the work of well-known author, founder of Parenting Ideas and one of Australia’s leading experts on parenting - Michael Grose.

Often parents are asked about this choice, between talent or persistence. They will typically respond with ‘both’, but when pushed to select one, most parents choose talent, which according to Michael Grose, reflects the way society currently views achievement. 

Whether it is intelligence, sporting prowess or musical ability, Grose states that, “talent is purely potential. They need more than this to achieve sustained excellence in anything they do.” The real difference is made when the talent is harnessed and developed through the character traits of hard work and their ability to persist with a task. 

I can definitely attest to this in my childhood as I had talents in particular areas, but talent alone will not get you through!

American Psychologist, Angela Duckworth, through her research, found that, “character, not cognitive ability is the single most reliable determinant of how a person’s life will turn out.” Duckworth identifies three important traits in determining long term success. The first of these is grit, which she defines as the willingness to persist at a task, even when it is boring. The second is self-control which is the ability to delay gratification and the third is conscientiousness, which she identifies as the tendency to follow through with a plan. All three of these traits are invaluable in both a school and workplace setting. 

In his book Spoon-fed Generation, Grose highlights that when children continually experience easy success, we are essentially setting them up for failure because when they are actually faced with challenging and difficult situations, they will lack the capacity to actually persist and push through the tough times. The current trends of Participation Awards and ‘every child wins a prize’ in each layer of games such as Pass the Parcel, are testament to this trend of easy success and the expectation that, just by simply showing up, your efforts should be rewarded. One of the greatest challenges facing contemporary parents is encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones and to take learning and social risks. Grose states that, “overcoming setbacks and pushing through difficulties are how character is formed.”

Schools provide numerous learning opportunities and occasions for the development of character. Each week, during the Junior School’s online assembly, students’ musical abilities are demonstrated through musical items which have been recorded. To hear these students play so effortlessly and with increasing precision is a testament to the development of character. This is also intrinsically linked to the College focus of developing character strengths through the A.B. Paterson College Wellbeing Framework. The development of this framework is an ongoing process. It is a way of being and an environment of positive education in our College. It is learned and modelled by our caring and dedicated staff, embedded in all we do and lived through our actions.   

The various bands, choirs and troupes we have as part of the co-curricular program at our College is outstanding. To show dedication, persistence and perform in front of your peers can be particularly daunting. It is these experiences which develop that essential character strength, Perseverance (persistence). It is critical that we challenge children and young people to attempt activities where failure is a possible outcome. Through failure we learn and modify, and through persistence we succeed. I implore students to look for opportunities to become involved and challenged, so that growth learning opportunities are experienced.  

Simon Edgar – Head of Junior School 

References: Michael Grose’s parenting blog on parenting ideas https://www.parentingideas.com.au/parent-resources/parenting-books/spoonfed-generation A.B. Paterson College Wellbeing Framework

Year 12 student, Shannon has demonstrated not only talent but extraordinary courage to produce her dance film for assessment.

Shannon is happy to share with others snippets from her video, portraying the strength she has found through confronting obstacles to her learning over the years.

Dance teacher, Lana Milton says, “I am so proud of her… and to see Shannon so proud of herself is just so beautiful.”

“A beautifully honest piece, Shannon’s work highlights moments in her life where she has been faced with adversity, yet she rises above it all, choosing to hold her head high.”

Well done Shannon on your powerful message!

https://www.facebook.com/abpatersoncollege/videos/330677674646860/

Thank you to Theatre Manager, Alex Fox for sharing your skills and to Year 11 Dance students for this stunning collaboration.

Junior environmentalists from Ms Lucy's Year 1 Class had a blast working with the LPAC Theatre team to record their Science Week virtual assembly item!  Junior reporters introduced each assembly item.

Here is a snippet of their informative presentation: https://www.facebook.com/abpatersoncollege/videos/366712947654880/

Green Thumbs Gardening Club members are finding out that there’s 'mulch' to learn about plants in our new community garden!

Students in Years 4-9 can join Miss Ross and get their hands dirty every Tuesday lunchtime, while Years 2 & 3 students can join in the fun of the Busy Bees Gardening Club every Thursday lunchtime.

Ready set, grow!