Principal Joanne Sheehy welcomes to our A.B. Paterson College community Director of Activities, Mr Nathan Burgess.

Mr Burgess has been kind enough to share with us his background, what he hopes to bring to his new role, give some insight into his personality - and, share some adorable snaps of his sweet pup, Hercules!

Welcome Nathan!

As Director of Teacher Development & Effectiveness, I am delighted to welcome to our community some familiar faces who will be joining our team in 2022.

Some of our new staff members already know A.B. Paterson College campus extremely well, having been students here. It is so special to be able to welcome Old Collegians, Ms Michelle Newgrosh (Class of 2008) and Ms Kelly Harker (Class of 2012) to our Junior School academic staff.

Ms Newgrosh will be teaching Year 6 in 2022 and is so excited to be back, having started her A.B. Paterson College journey in 1995 – a lot has changed on campus since then! Michelle is committed to ensuring all students have the same wonderful schooling experience that she was fortunate to enjoy. If Michelle is not in the classroom, she will be out on the netball court! Netball fans will certainly know Michelle’s name.

Year 4 teacher, Ms Harker recalls her years as a student here with great fondness. She plans to encourage her students to try their hand at a whole range of co-curricular activities to enjoy the full A.B. experience as she once did.

We have several teachers returning to A.B. – it seems they just couldn’t stay away! Welcome back to HASS Teacher, Mr James Spargo who taught here from 2016-2018. James is an avid sportsman and is very much looking forward to immersing himself in College life again. He hit the sporting headlines while at A.B. -  learn all about his sporting achievements here and here!

Another familiar face is Science teacher, Mr Warwick Ford who is returning to the College having taught at A.B. from 2008-2015. Warwick loves spending time with his family and patrolling the Miami Surf Beach as a volunteer surf lifesaver. He loves A.B. Paterson College and is very much looking forward to working within the College community this year.

Please make our Old Collegians and returning teachers feel very welcome.

Sue Walduck
Director of Teacher Development & Effectiveness

Along with our returning teachers and Old Collegians-turned-staff (introduced in the previous article), we also welcome a host of new faces to the A.B. Paterson College community.

Our students, and parents, may have already been introduced to some new staff via online check-ins and lessons, but all of our new team members are certainly looking forward to meeting our students and families in person when we are all back on campus.

We are fortunate to have Beth Claydon joining our Middle Management Team as the new Head of Digital Literacy & STEAM. Beth loves to see students really thinking. She believes, ‘it is our responsibility to teach children how to think, to create opportunities for them to engage with various technologies and develop solutions. This should be at the heart of everything we do.’

Ms Sara Eade brings a wealth of experience within the APS and Hinterland Sports arena to the new role of Assistant Director of Activities, working with new Director of Activities, Mr Nathan Burgess. Sara is keen to ‘help further develop the opportunities and experiences for the students at A.B. Paterson College in all co-curricular activities.’

Joining our Prep team this year is Ms Kayla McNaught. Kayla says, ‘I strive to create a love for learning in my classroom and my favourite part of teaching is the ‘light bulb’ moments when the students feel success.’ Welcome Kayla!

Ms Ashlee Lord will be teaching Year 2 in 2022. Ashlee says, ‘I always put the children first, and am so looking forward to getting to know them all.’

Another new face in Year 4 is Ms Samantha Aplin. Samantha believes ‘your character is a trait that students can determine. I love the Harry Potter quote, “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”.’

Year 5 teacher Ms Kate Lawrence has travelled from New Zealand to live the dream on the Gold Coast. Kate loves the Queensland climate and is really looking forward to APS season and getting involved with sport with our students.

You will find a new smiling face at the front desk in Student Services during the first part of the year. Make sure you say hello to Mrs Vanessa Vanderveen. Vanessa loves the Nelson Mandela quote – Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world. She says, ‘This well-known quote resonates with me and I am sure with many others here at A. B. Paterson College. I look forward to working with the wonderful staff and doing my best to support the College community.’

Mrs Renee Grosser goes from our parent community to our staff, joining the Learning Enhancement team. Renee says she is ‘very keen to join the community more actively in a teaching role. I love inspiring learners to be risk takers, building their love of learning and embracing their individuality.’ A beautiful message – thank you Renee!

Joining Mrs Grosser in Learning Enhancement is Mrs Deanne Elliott. Deanne says, ‘creativity develops your thinking. My favourite quote is, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.’ A great thought – welcome Deanne!

We have two new team members in the English faculty. Please give a warm A.B. welcome to Mr Robert Dryden, and Ms Kelly Whiteway.

Since moving up from Melbourne four years ago, Robert has had the pleasure of teaching in schools in Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and now the Gold Coast. He is looking forward to teaching at A.B. Paterson College and meeting lots of great people!

Kelly Whiteway is enthusiastic about all areas of teaching and learning, and especially loves being part of a community. She is looking forward to meeting all the students and their families, so she can recommend books to them – and see pictures of their pets!

Our Mathematics faculty welcomes Ms Clare Keegan-Ward. Clare feels that the most important thing is ‘to develop positive relationships with all my students as this sets them up for success to achieve their best.’ She is interested in sport and is looking forward to the Rugby season.

Our Performing Arts faculty also welcomes two new team members, the first is Music teacher, Ms Mitali Dayaram. Mitali is a recent graduate teacher and is enthusiastic to work alongside the staff and students of A.B., especially in Music.

Also joining Performing Arts is Drama teacher, Jill Roach-Ellis. Jill feels fortunate to have taught in a variety of educational contexts and enjoys establishing a classroom culture where students feel equally safe and challenged. Jill values collaboration and creativity and empowers her students to take ownership of their learning.

How fortunate we are to have such a wealth of talent and experience joining us this year. If you spot any of our new team members on campus, please give a wave and offer support if they’re trying to navigate their way around our beautiful campus.

Welcome everyone!

Sue Walduck
Director of Teacher Development & Effectiveness

Ivy Sprints to the Podium!

A.B. Paterson College Swimming Club members enjoyed a fantastic day of Personal Best times and heroic efforts in the pool at the 2022 Swimming Gold Coast Sprint Championships last weekend.

A special mention must go to the mighty effort by Year 3 student, Ivy Sun who came away from the Championships with a silver medal and two bronze medals across the 50 Metre Butterfly, 50 Metre Backstroke and 50 Metre Freestyle 8 Year old Girls events!

Ivy - your Coach, Mr Gee, your family, teachers and class are all so proud of you! Well done! And well done to all Club participants who gave it their all on the day.