Our morning could not have started any better, with all of our students from Prep to Year 12 gathered together for our Welcome Back Assembly to celebrate the achievements of our students, hear about the incredible Japan Tour that took place during the holidays and to announce our 2024 College Leaders!

Our Year 11 students are required to go through a rigorous application process to become a College Leader. This involves preparing a thorough written application, presenting a speech to their cohort and answering a range of questions from their peers, current College Leaders and the Senior Leadership Team. Feedback is also sought from these stakeholders with particular emphasis on how the applicant epitomises the College motto of ‘Excellence, Care and Commitment’. The 2023 Year 11 applicants were nothing short of exceptional making the appointment process incredibly challenging this year.

Leadership is not defined by titles or authority, but by the ability to inspire, empower, and uplift others. In the footsteps of great leaders, we find the power to overcome challenges, the courage to forge new paths and the determination to leave a lasting legacy of positive change. Leadership is not about standing at the front; its about ensuring that no one is left behind, and together, we rise to new heights. The collective strength of the Year 11 cohort, led by the exceptional group of young people who were announced on Tuesday, will no doubt achieve greatness in 2024, leaving a legacy that will be remember for years to come.

Please join our College Community in congratulating our College Leaders for 2024:

A very special thank you to our 2023 College Leaders for your Excellence, Care and Commitment – your passion, effort, hard work and legacy will live on through our students for years to come.

Charlotte Brook | Head of Senior School

Congratulations to our Year 9 Da Vinci Decathlon team who competed in the National Finals on the weekend in Sydney. 

The team had a wonderful time and walked away with some amazing results – 2nd in Australia in Creative Producers, 2nd in Art and Poetry and 2nd in Code Breaking!

We are so very proud of you all!

Belinda Pilgrim | Head of Academic Academy

A productive school holidays for Year 10 student Nevindu Dammannagoda as a Youth Member for Queensland Youth Parliament.

Sam O'Connor MP posted the following on his Facebook page:

Here’s what Queensland Parliament will look like all of this week - full of young people!

It’s the 28th YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament, an incredible program which teaches 15-25 year olds about our most important institution.

They’ll be debating bills they’ve put together over the last few months and making speeches on the issues they care about.

Our area’s Youth Member is Nevi from A.B. Paterson College. He’s been doing a great job tagging along with me to local events this year.

Queensland’s youngest MP Bryson Head also gave a great speech today on behalf of the Oppostion.

Congratulations to Nevindu!

More adventures below from the Japan Tour.

Day 9: Students began their journey to Tokyo, where in Odaiba, they gazed upon the 20 metre tall Gundam statue and got in some last minute shopping. A few brave adventurers even made it to 'Tokyo beach' and put their feet in the water to cool down in the Autumn heat! At the Team Lab Planets Art Museum, they immersed themselves in the array of colourful artworks. Tokyo wa nigiyaka desune! (Tokyo is lively, isn't it!)

Day 10: Our keen but somewhat weary adventurers loved being able to reconnect with their childhood at Tokyo Disneyland! The excitement was palpable as they entered the gates and stood in awe of the magical Cinderella Castle. Mickey and Minnie ears adorned many heads and as always, the Disney plushies were a big hit! The night time parades were spectacular, with beautiful lights illuminating the sky.  Mickey wa kakkoii desu! (Mickey is cool!)

Day 11: Our adventurers had cake to celebrate Ruby Hasted's (early) 14th birthday and travelled to Honjo Higashi High School, the College's sister school. Students received their first taste of Japanese school life, swapping their shoes for slippers. During the Matching Ceremony, students were filled with anticipation when meeting their host family.

It was entertaining to hear the gasp of the Japanese girls when our tall, blonde Ben stood to meet his family. We are sure that all students will greatly benefit from this amazing opportunity and look forward to learning of their incredible experiences!

Our intrepid travellers are savouring every moment of their wonderful adventures in Japan. From visits to historical sites, encounters with beautiful wildlife, breath taking views and immersive cultural experiences, this trip is truly one for the books!Please enjoy a few snaps of our students and staff exploring the incredible cities of Kyoto and Nara, including their visit to the beautiful island Miyajima.

Our A.B. Japan Tour Legends didn't let a relentless downpour dampen their spirits! They tackled the day with a quick buffet breakfast and adjusted their plans due to the weather. First stop: Himeji Castle via bullet train - "Himeji Castle is a samurai dude's old home," says Mrs. Walduck. They climbed, enjoyed the breeze, and admired the view like samurais! Next, some weaponry practice in the arcade! 

They wrapped up with a peaceful dinner at Hiroshima Station restaurants, then headed back to the hostel. What a day! P.S. Japan Tour FAQ: "Where's the bin?" (Gomibako wa doko desuka?) Response: "We're in Japan, good luck!" Despite the challenge, Japan stays impeccably clean!

Our group of adventurers is set to enjoy an immersive day with their welcoming host families and adorable pets!

They are buzzing with excitement about the diverse experiences waiting for them:

• Dressing in elegant kimonos to explore the myriad of shops!
• Discovering the charming cat cafes scattered around!
• Soaking in the vibrant sights and sounds of Tokyo!
• Experiencing the magical allure of Disney Sea!
• Witnessing the bustling energy at Shibuya, the world’s busiest crossing!
• And, of course, cherishing simple, joyful moments of hanging out and bonding!

The Japan Tour Legends thoroughly enjoyed having a home-cooked meal from their wonderful homestay families. The chance to stop and slow down was a welcome change to the students' busy sightseeing schedule! The Japan Tour Staff were graciously treated to an incredible tour of Hojo Higashi High School, where we met Principal Kobayashi, viewed the school's fantastic facilities and saw precious momentos from A.B., including photos and commemorative plaques. It was incredible to see the Memorandum of Understanding between Honjo and A.B., signed by our previous principal, Mrs Dawn Lang, signifying the commencement of the sister school relationship in 2000.

Students and teachers were treated as guests of honour during the Welcome Assembly and took great delight in the incredible performances from the Koto Club (Japanese harp), Chorus Club (Choir)and Calligraphy Club. Students graciously took part in a traditional tea ceremony and had the opportunity to serve their host brothers and sisters as well. With some trepidation and excitement, students attended classes throughout the day, finding the level of Japanese vocabulary used to be quite a challenge!

Honjo Higashi wa subarashi katta desu! Honjo Higashi was wonderful!

On behalf of A.B. Paterson College, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mark Itoh, the host families, and the staff of Honjo Higashi High School for their exceptional care of our students.

Thank you for warmly welcoming our students, for the unforgettable trips, and for sharing the beauty of city and cultural sites. The amazing photos in our group chat have garnered admiration back home. Our students have cherished these unique experiences, a testament to your generosity and kindness.

Special thanks to Mark Itoh, whose dedication ensured a memorable homestay.

We deeply appreciate how you treated our students like family. We look forward to hosting you at A.B. Paterson next year!

Please enjoy some highlights of the tour below.

Sue Walduck | Tour Coordinator & Director of Teacher Development & Effectiveness

Congratulations to our Open A Basketball team for their recent efforts at the Champion Schools Basketball Queensland (CBSQ) Tournament. 

As the first ever A.B. team to compete in this tournament, our boys did the College proud with their efforts over a long four days.

Our boys won six out of the seven games they played in the tournament, including finishing on top of their pool. A tight loss in the Quarter Final meant that our boys ended up fifth, which is an amazing effort for their first time. A special mention should go to our Year 12 boys who played their final tournament for the College, their ongoing leadership and commitment has played a huge role in the growth of our team.

We appreciate all the support throughout the tournament from parents students and staff, it was clear that A.B. consistently had the biggest crowd of supporters.

Well done to the boys and coaches involved, you should be very proud of your achievements.

Go Brumbies!

Nathan Burgess | Director of Activities

We are excited to share the fantastic achievements of our A.B. Paterson College Netball Club this season! Our dedicated teams of talented players, aged 7 to 16 years, have been giving it their all every Saturday at Runaway Bay during the netball season as part of the NGCNA Junior Saturday Winter Competition. 

This month, two of our teams made it through to the Grand Finals of the competition! The A.B. Waratahs, with our Year 7, Year 9 and Year 10 girls, emerged as Champions and claimed Gold in the Intermediate 14 - 16 yrs Division B.

Our Year 5 and 6 stars, the A.B. Acacias, also showcased their skills in the final and secured Silver in the Under 11s Division B.

Our netballers have also been busy this year competing in a range of carnivals, including the NetSetGo Hinterland Carnival in August where three teams achieved runners up!

We are so proud to see many of our young athletes also stepping up to become coaches and umpires, taking the opportunity to be leaders both on and off the court.

These incredible achievements reflect the commitment and talent of our players, coaches and supporters in the community. 

Go A.B. Netballers!

We had a wonderful Term 3 in our Prep to Year 3 Makerspace and a big thank you goes to all who were involved.

Our Term 3 group of students is led by our ‘Green Jackets’ – a group of Senior School and upper-Junior School volunteers who help run our Prep and Year 1 and Year 2 and Year 3 Makerspace programs. Our ‘Green Jackets’ exemplify the College motto: Excellence, Care and Commitment. Being the teacher organising the Prep to Year 3 Makerspace for several years now, I am consistently reminded of how incredible students are who volunteer their time to create and explore with our youngest students. Our Makerspace students and I thank them for their zest, kindness, and leadership.

In each session we aim to create something new. Being project based, we developed our fine motor skills while exploring the concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths. Creating slime and ice cream are two crowd favourites that have become tradition in our Makerspace program. This term we also worked on structural building with marshmallows and wooden skewers and stress balls made with balloons and water beads. To celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day and International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples in August, we learned how to make our own version of rain sticks. There were also some secret treasures made for Father’s Day, where students decorated clay pots and chose and planted their own herb to gift to a special person in their life. We hope these plants are centrepieces on tables and in backyards and adding to the deliciousness of many family meals.

Our Term 4 Makerspace program begins next week, in Week 2. Our Prep and Year 1 students meet on Tuesday afternoons in the Lilly Pilly Learning Centre and our Year 2 and Year 3 students meet on Wednesday afternoons for our Makerspace program. We look forward to another exciting term, creating and exploring together!

Stephanne Siberry | Head of Library Services

We are thrilled to once again be able to invite prospective families to experience the A.B. difference at our Open Day on Wednesday 11 October.

Open Day is a great opportunity to tour our magnificent learning precinct, The Winton Centre, visit the May Gibbs Prep Precinct and Lilly Pilly Learning Centre, and meet Principal, Ms Joanne Sheehy, members

of the Senior Leadership Team and Head of Admissions, Mrs Karen Milburn.

Bookings are essential and further information, including the booking link, can be found on the College website here - Open Days and College Tours.

To register for Open Day click here.

Please feel free to share this information with your friends and family. We look forward to welcoming them to our College!

Excitement is building! This time next week we'll be swaying to swing music at the Big Band Bash

A reminder that there will be performances by our Junior, Intermediate and Senior Big Bands, as well as a special appearance by Project Swing

Light refreshments and snacks will also be available to purchase!

Final ticket sales are happening over the next week.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

The FUSE Esports Festival brings together gaming and school-based esports in a family friendly festival right here on the Gold Coast.

The FUSE Esports Festival 2023 is Australia's largest live school esports gathering.

Events

• Live competitions
• Free to Play Zone
• Racing simulator competition
• VR competitions
• Retro gaming zone
• Loads of prizes – PS5, Xbox Series S, Oculus 2 and more
• Food trucks

If you love esports and gaming, bring the family to this free awesome event.

• Location: Emmanuel College, 17 Birmingham Dr Carrara 4217
• Date: 28 October 2023
• Time: 10am – 8:00pm (Free to Play Zone is open from 10am to 1:30pm with Prizes Drawn at 1:30pm)

More information – www.fusefestival.com.au