Welcome to Week 2 of the new school year. Students have made a tremendous start to College life, quickly settling back into their routines.

We have a number of events coming up in Senior School. I am very much looking forward to seeing our new parents and returning parents next Tuesday at the Parent Teacher Social Evening. We have a meet and greet with our Heads of House and Senior Leadership Team, followed by two external speakers. One on our Stymie program for Years 7 - 10 parents and another on road safety for our Years 11 and 12 parents and students. I am looking forward to seeing many of you on the night.

It has been wonderful seeing the College come alive with our students and below is a brief snapshot of some of the activities and events from our subject departments this week.

The English Faculty has been encouraging reading in our Years 7 – 9 students. All classes have visited The Homestead Library and all have borrowed books with help from the always enthusiastic Mrs Parkinson – many within the genre of the term's study. The students have been enjoying the silent reading time and we are going to maintain reading in class throughout the year.

“A good relationship starts with good communication.” (anon)

Students in their respective Language classes have been busy getting to know each other through new-found bravery in communicating in a foreign language. From our Preps to our seasoned Seniors, students were interactive in their quest to get to know one another in a different language. The opportunity to speak in a language other than one’s own is truly a unique, and sometimes challenging concept. The Languages Faculty strives to provide students with opportunities to improve their confidence, to step out of their comfort zone, embrace a range of situations requiring them to utilise higher-order thinking skills and to build resilience in knowing that it is okay to make a mistake. We encourage all families to embrace their child’s newly acquired vocabulary and hope you have fun practising new language skills at home!

The HaSS Faculty has reported that interest in the Bond University Year 12 Extension Business Program has been well received. The program offers six scholarships of 50% fees in a Business Degree. We are also seeking to collaborate with Bond’s Business and Economics teachers by inviting them to the College to speak on key topics throughout the year. Mrs Ellis is also in similar talks with UQ lecturers for her Senior Economics classes. Watch this space! 

The Year 11 Design students have watched and analysed the design techniques used by Tinker Hatfield, a renowned Nike shoe designer responsible for creating many well-known Nike sports shoes, including the Air Jordan range. The documentary, Abstract: The Art Of Design, gave students an insight into the working process that a top designer uses to gather information and translate it into a product. Students saw how Hatfield worked with Michael Jordan to identify his needs and wants and then interpret this into an innovative shoe that not only enhances the athletes playing ability, but also has enormous street appeal. Students saw how Hatfield identified a gap in the market which enabled him to not only create the shoe, but also market a range of products that appealed to a wider demographic.

We will take a look at the activities in all our subject areas over the coming term.

Have a great week.

Gary Smith
Head of Senior School

I would like to wish everyone a very warm welcome to the 2021 academic year. As always, the first week back after a long break is exciting and full of energy. The College Leaders were waiting in anticipation to welcome all new students to our community on the first day back and there has been a buzz around the Senior School as students shared tales of their holidays and welcomed new members of the homeroom during tutor group orientation.

The beginning of the academic year is a perfect opportunity to take time to consider what we want to achieve and set goals for the future. Our Year 12 students will certainly be reflecting on not only their academic results from Term 4 2020, but also what they hope to achieve as leaders of the College and how they can persevere in their goal of fostering an environment where collaboration, camaraderie and creativity can flourish within the A.B. As One initiative.

It is only Week 2 and we have already celebrated our Year 12s being inducted as leaders of the College and witnessed the outstanding production Once Upon a Mattress performed with zest and zeal by the Years 5 - 8 cast members. Congratulations on an incredible performance! Junior and Senior Swimming Carnivals take place in Week 3, the Dennis and Lawson Fundraiser later in the term and the Year 12 Formal – there are so many wonderful events to look forward to. 

With a myriad of opportunities available at the College, perhaps a supplementary goal for the year, in addition to your existing targets, is simply to take advantage of all the wonderful programs and initiatives offered. Whether you hope to improve your academic results or aim to take advantage of every opportunity, I wish you every success in achieving the goals you have set for yourself and I hope that you have a thoroughly enjoyable first term of the academic year.

With such an energetic and inspiring start to the year, 2021 promises to be one of the most rewarding and exciting yet at A.B. Paterson College. We have so much to look forward to; I encourage all members of our community to enjoy every moment and I wish you all a wonderful start to the year.

Charlotte Brook
Dean of Senior School

Next week, Tuesday 9 February is Safer Internet Day. As the official committee in Australia and a leader in the global effort, eSafety celebrates the day as one of the most important events of the year. This is supported by the Australian Government through the eSafety Commissioner. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the role we can all play in creating a better internet experience.

Safer Internet Day is a way of dealing with internet safety and is something parents, young people and the entire community need to commit to if we are to promote the positive use of technology in our communities. The internet can be an amazing resource! Used wisely, it can open up a world of information, connectedness and learning, but … with these benefits come serious and real dangers such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyber-bullying and the anxiety that can arise from constantly being connected.

Throughout Week 3 the whole College is going to be engaged in a variety of activities to raise awareness of how to use and navigate the internet in a safe manner. We will also learn ways in which students can identify dangers and what their rights and responsibilities are when they are online. Students will also be encouraged to report suspicious or inappropriate behaviours, and learn who they should speak to about such matters.

As a College we have a Cybersafety Committee which is comprised of a dedicated group of teachers from across the College. Throughout 2020 we worked on aligning practices across the College and also received feedback from staff, students and parents through targeted surveys. This feedback has led to a number of initiatives including a whole College focus on this upcoming Safer Internet Day and cybersafety lessons being incorporated into both the Junior School and Senior School student wellbeing programs.

Next week, we also have the Parent Teacher Social Evenings on Monday 8 February for Junior School parents and on Tuesday 9 February for Senior School parents. At both of these evenings we have Rachel Downie presenting developmentally appropriate internet safety information sessions. Rachel is the creator of the College Stymie program and is a community educator about issues of e-safety, cyber-wellness, internet navigation, trending Apps and technology boundaries. Rachel gives a wealth of practical advice regarding managing the challenges that parenting children and their technology use brings. This year we will see her discuss a range of pertinent issues including strategies for understanding the cyberworld in which our children now increasingly immerse themselves within. These are highly informative sessions which I would strongly encourage you to attend. 

As a College community we need to continue to work together to make every day a Safer Internet Day!

Simon Edgar
Head of Junior School

Last week in Prep, Mrs Lauder, Mrs Sutherland, Ms Barraclough and Mrs Muirhead welcomed 112 new Prep students to the College. There were some tears, but there were also loads of smiles and lots of fun, laughter, games and getting-to-know-you activities during their first week of formal schooling. We have enjoyed our first lessons with the specialist teachers for Health and Physical Education (HPE), Japanese, Music and Library. Our College is a big place and we are getting to know our way around.

This term we have begun discussing the importance of identifying our Character Strengths. We are learning that everyone has different character strengths which makes us unique but when we come together, we complement each other. In our first few weeks in Prep, we have negotiated class and playground rules while learning about school-based routines and expectations.

We are beginning to understand the importance of a growth mindset and challenging students to redirect their thinking from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. We are using phrases such as ‘I can’t do that yet…’, ‘I’ll give it a go’ and ‘mistakes are also a discovery’.

The Prep teachers have been discovering more about the students’ preferences and we are working towards introducing individual goal setting.

Prep this year holds many exciting experiences and we look forward to a rewarding adventure together. Most importantly, we have made many new friends and memories, some of which will last a lifetime.

Prep Teachers – Rebecca Barraclough, Jacinta Lauder, Joanna Muirhead and Elisa Sutherland

Thursday saw the Opening Night spectacular of Once Upon a Mattress. A joyous, colourful night of musical theatre, superbly performed by our amazingly talented Years 5 - 8 performers in the Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre.

With an early start time of 6.30pm and a running time of just over an hour, this show is perfect for the whole family. Don't miss out, a handful of tickets are still available for tonight and Saturday night (5 and 6 February). For tickets, go to A.B. Paterson College | DLPAC Event Bookings

See you there!

On Wednesday 3 February, our Junior School celebrated World Read Aloud Day to highlight the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories. Now in its 12th year, World Read Aloud Day promotes the importance of reading aloud to children in cultivating a love of reading and writing and developing strong literacy skills.

In classrooms, libraries, outdoors and in The Winton Centre our teachers and students celebrated the power of reading aloud, bringing books to life with wonderful, animated sessions. 

The First XV Rugby boys had a great hit out against a skilled outfit from St John's College last weekend. The team has been working hard over the break on fitness and team building and used the game as an opportunity to develop the team's structures and feel out their new positions for the 2021 season. 

The backs took great opportunity attacking the 22m zone with kicking behind the gain line and the forwards were also able to go direct with the ball in hand. Alex Cannen (Year 11) and Matthew Hickey (Year 12 – Rugby Captain) were awarded best back and best forward respectively by the St John's players. Both players have been instrumental in driving training over the break and it was great to them reap the rewards of their hard work. 

Despite a hard fought match, St John's won 20 - 5. We look forward to playing St John's again on the Sunshine Coast for the Rugby Tour in Week 4. It is set to be a great rematch. Go A.B.!

Matt Stopel
Assistant Head of HPE Faculty

Photo credit: College Vice Captain, Michael Beckton

What a great way to start the 2021 netball season at A.B. Paterson College! The girls may be questioning their current fitness levels after a long break from netball over the holidays, however every single one of them played exceptionally well. Even though they didn’t get a chance to train or play together as a team prior to the match, they definitely gave St John’s a run for their money. 

The Year 8/9 team battled it out on the Senior Courts in the hot sun, but unfortunately they were beaten by seven goals. A huge thank you to Mrs Amanda von Kanel who not only coached the girls for the game, but also umpired the entire court by herself. The Open B team against St John’s were up, and then down, and then up again. Unfortunately they ended up down by nine goals at the end of the match. The Open A’s game was a nail biter! After being five goals down coming into the last quarter, they pipped St John’s by one goal in the final five seconds of the game.

I would like to thank the Year 8/9 and Open girls, as well as their parents, for taking time out of their weekend to attend our annual match against St John’s College. I am really excited by the netball talent we have at A.B. Paterson College and I look forward to a strong and competitive APS Netball season.
 
Vanessa Baxter
Head of Netball

When Year 12 student, Haseeb Raza discovered a passion for weightlifting last year, he did not muck around.

Not only has he been awarded a medal for holding the Australian Schoolboy Bench Press Record of 82.5kg in the Under 62kg weight class, he managed it in his very first competition!

‘I entered the competition with ongoing guidance from Assistant Head of HPE and past powerlifter, Mr Stopel and achieved a 125kg squat, 82.5kg bench and 170kg deadlift,’ said Haseeb.

‘I instantly fell in love with the thrill of the sport, and now train at Ground ZeroW under the wing of one of the best powerlifting coaches in Australia by the name of Thomas Lilley.’

‘In my final year as a teenager, this year, I am aiming to squat 150kg, bench 100kg and also break the all-time U18 Australian deadlift record in my weight class with a lift of 200kg+ and am aiming to achieve it in my next competition in June.’

Hefty goals, indeed! Congratulations Haseeb and all the best for your upcoming competition.

This year, our College is making a conscious effort to reduce printing of unnecessary items. Any wasted paper is recycled through the bins provided at one of the many recycling stations located around the school, including The Homestead Library, Lilly Pilly Learning Centre, Administration and every Prep to Year 6 classroom. The Year 6 Leaders did a fantastic job last week dropping the recycling bins off to their various locations, ready for collection on Friday afternoon each week.

In addition, the Sustainability Club will begin bottle and can recycling every Tuesday morning from 7:45 – 8am in the Marble Arch car park. You can bring in any item from home that has the 10c logo on the back. Please rinse the items and bring them in via the drop-off-and-go system next to the big red bin. The items will be saved from landfill, recycled and the College will earn 10c per item for the recycling fund.

Another new initiative of the Sustainability Club is the recycling of bread clips with the #AussieBreadTag company. Keep your bread tags and bring them in to be sent off and recycled into new items which will be sold to help raise funds for people in South Africa needing wheelchairs. More information to follow on this, so keep collecting the bread tags and look out for more information via our Facebook page and Newsletters.

If you can knit or want to learn how to knit, then this is the lunch club for you! We provide all the equipment and materials, all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and teamwork. 

If you are in Year 4 or above and have Monday lunchtimes free, contact Mrs Hall (AHall@abpat.qld.edu.au).

We can't wait to see what you create!

Angie Hall
Prep Teacher