On Saturday 27 February the annual A.B. Paterson College Senior Formal was held at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. This venue has recently been renovated and with the finishing touches that the Formal Committee decided upon to celebrate the Year 12's, ‘Night with the Gods’, the space looked amazing.

After spending the day preparing for what was sure to be an unforgettable evening, students commenced arrivals at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. As the students exited their vehicles, there were cheers of excitement from their families as they made their way down the red carpet. The students looked incredible and were a vision of class and elegance as they made their way up the grand staircase to the Tamborine Foyer. As the students rounded the corner at the top of the staircase, they were not only greeted by their peers but a beautiful white flower wall complemented by 2021 helium balloons – a perfect opportunity to commence capturing memories of this unforgettable evening.

Once all students had arrived, the Year 12s lined up with their partners and introduced themselves to Board Chair Mr Tanner and Mrs Tanner and Principal and Head of College Ms Sheehy, before entering the venue for the evening. There were gasps of awe as the students entered and found their seats taking great delight in ‘APBC Year 12 Formal’ cookies each student received.

After the evening was opened by College Captain, Jodie Down, entrees were served and the students commenced their Formal Dance, expertly choreographed by Tylah Barakat to the song 'Tale as Old as Time' from Beauty and the Beast - a not so subtle nod to the cohort's theme for 2021, Disney. As the evening progressed, the students put in their requests to the DJ. The boys relived their Valentine’s Day performance serenading the girls to ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ and the evening ended with the entire cohort participating in a rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. An epic conclusion to a night that the cohort will remember forever.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the parents of our Year 12 students for following the COVID guidelines set out by the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. This ensured the evening ran smoothly which would not have been possible without your support.

Charlotte Brook
Head of Senior School

Week 6 commenced with a whole Junior School incursion throughout Monday hosted in the DMPC. The ‘Magic Words’ was a live theatre, educational performance which encourages values and respect at school, at home and online. Zanna is an alien whose planet is in danger because of the negative vibrations from Earth (people feeling bad about themselves and being unkind and not using the four magic words: thank you, please, sorry and excuse me). She needs Ralf’s help to change the vibrations. Ralf succeeds in finding happiness in himself and saving Zanna’s planet.

At the end of the performance the actors asked which part students enjoyed and why. They quizzed them about certain scenes (for example, how could Ralf have handled that differently?). They also took questions from the students. Some students were interested in the acting/performance side of the production (how do you change costumes so quickly, where does all the sound come from? etc). Some students wanted to stay after the show and inspect the props.

There was a very strong message about cyber safety and who to contact and inform if you are being bullied online or if you accidentally view clips that are upsetting. They emphasised that students have to be 13 years of age to have Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat and the reasons behind it.

Throughout this week it has been HPE week which has been celebrated by the HPE department putting on a variety of activities for students during lunchtime. One of the most enjoyable activities seemed to be the dancing! Many thanks to the HPE department for these activities which were planned to celebrate the important role Health and Physical Education plays in the College as well as in child development.

The Inter-house Cross Country Carnival occurred on Thursday afternoon and we saw some outstanding performances, both in achievement and effort. It was great to see all the cheering and House spirit throughout the afternoon.

We finished the week on a big high with the rescheduled Banjo’s Games (Friday 5 March), which always attracts a large number of students and parents. Thank you very much to the Year 12 students who run the games and Friends of A.B. Paterson College (FAB) for hosting the event and organising the BBQ and drinks.

Simon Edgar
Head of Junior School

While the beginning of Term 1 is extremely busy for our Year 4 students, it is also an opportunity to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the First Australians. Last week in particular was a buzz of excitement as the students enjoyed a few different experiences. On Wednesday they were provided the option to sample up to three of Australia’s native meats: kangaroo, emu and crocodile. Naturally, there was a level of uncertainty, although that was matched with excitement and an eagerness to search for the flavours in the meat. It didn’t take long for all three meat trays to be emptied! 

Friday saw the Year 4 students bus their way to Burleigh and attend the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. At the Centre, students were greeted with a Welcome to Country and witnessed a number of celebration dances accompanied by the didgeridoo. They learnt about the Gold Coast and Tweed coastline and its significance to the First Australians. After the education they embarked on a guided walk around the Burleigh Headland. The guides took them on a journey to understand how the First Australians used the land and water through this area. Students looked at Indigenous art, how to create and use ochre (Aboriginal body paint), the creation of fishing nets that stretched the Tallebudgera Creek and different ways food was sourced on the land. Students sat and listened to the Dreamtime story on the creation of the rocks on the headland, ocean and cliff edge, as well as the how the rocks were formed at the top of the mountain! 

Well done to all students who embraced all of the experiences with the utmost respect!

Year 4 Teachers
Liam Burke, Kathleen Richardson, Zoe Truss-Michaelis and Tiffany Henry.

“I loved listening to the song and dance because I’ve never seen a didgeridoo be played before.” - Max  

“I liked when we went to the mountain and heard the Dreamtime story about the giant and how the rocks were created.” - Rachel 

“My favourite part of the excursion was when we were walking and we went to the beach at Jellurgal. Our tour guide told us a story about Gawada. He was a man that turned into a dolphin. My favourite part of the BQQ was the crocodile, it tasted like chicken and was really good, and I liked the kangaroo too. It just tasted like steak and was chewy and delicious, the emu was my least favourite. The emu did not really taste good but I still ate it and tried it.” Airene 

“The meats were yum, the kangaroo was my favourite.” - Tristan 

“It was awesome to try new things, it was the first time that I’ve tried Australian meats. It’s been fun learning about how Indigenous people lived.” - Taj 

“My favourite part of the excursion was when we were doing the walk because we got to wear ochre which is a soft rock. We also got to learn some more Aboriginal stories. I also enjoyed the Aboriginal dancing. My favourite meat of the Aboriginal BBQ was the crocodile because it tasted exactly like chicken I also enjoyed kangaroo because it tasted exactly like steak.” - Clarisa 

This week all students across our campus have been busy and active during lunch break to celebrate HPE Week. Activities have included a dance party in the Prep playground, touch football, a soccer shootout, a table tennis tournament and a staff V student volleyball showdown!

HPE Week celebrates the role of Health & Physical Education in schools and communities, promotes the importance of HPE in the Australian Curriculum, and highlights the importance of HPE to the learning and development of children and young people. 

The end of the 2021 HPE Week culminated with the Junior and Senior Cross Country events. Be sure to check out all the Cross Country results and terrific photos from these events in Illalong newsletter over the next couple of weeks!

On Thursday afternoon, the College grounds were buzzing with anticipation for the Years 4 - 6 Cross Country Carnival. The students  enthusiastically cheered for each other during the gruelling races, encouraging all participants, regardless of their House. There was some fantastic athleticism and determination on display across all year levels. Congratulations to everyone who ran, and to our podium finishers on a fantastic effort.

Congratulations to Wright House for winning the 2021 Junior Cross Country Carnival!

We will have all the results from the Years 4 - 6 and Senior School Carnivals in a future edition of Illalong.

Our Busy Bees and Green Thumbs Gardening Clubs have been hard at work tending to their bumper crop of herbs and vegetables, under the guidance of Year 2 teacher, Miss Ross.

Now it’s time for our families to reap the rewards!

A.B. families are welcome to pick up a free bunch of fresh herbs during Friday school pick-up at the Community Garden next to the Marble Arch entrance.

The Clubs will aim to offer fresh herbs every Friday afternoon during term.

So, what’s for dinner at your home tonight?

Busy Bees and Green Thumbs Gardening Clubs are part of the A.B. Paterson College Sustainability Club. 

Remember – The Power is Yours!

Bumper sticker competition is back for 2021!

Each week, two lucky winners will receive $100 off their school fee invoice for the following Term. At the end of Term 3, the 40 lucky weekly winners will be invited to an exclusive afternoon tea where one lucky family will win free tuition for their eldest child for Term 4!

Hurry! Competition starts Week 1 of Term 2! All you need to do is collect your bumper sticker from College Reception, put it on the back of your car and then register your vehicle details at collegebumperstickercompetition@abpat.qld.edu.au

More information available in the flyer below.

Good luck!