Embracing Harvard's Teaching for Understanding Framework
Preparing Our Students for Real-World Success
Last week, our dedicated teaching staff engaged in an enriching professional development session focused on the Teaching for Understanding (TfU) framework. This innovative approach, developed by Project Zero from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is at the heart of A.B. Paterson College’s pedagogy. It is designed to equip our students with the contemporary skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century.
This professional development session for teaching staff forms part of an ongoing series and builds on the amazing work that has already occurred over the years to establish Teaching for Understanding at the core of our teaching practice. This work supports our continuing dedication to ensuring that the very best teaching and learning occurs in every classroom at A.B. Paterson College. Underpinned by the TfU framework, teachers continue to carefully design and deliver learning experiences that support deep levels of understanding, setting students up for success both within and beyond the classroom.
The TfU framework provides a robust pedagogical structure to foster the development of critical skills such as collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Alongside these, problem-solving and innovation are also emphasised, ensuring our educational curriculum prepares students not only for success in the classroom, but also equips them with the skills to transfer this knowledge into new and unknown contexts in the real world.
This ongoing professional development series exemplifies our continuing commitment to ensuring that educational excellence remains front and centre in all that we do.
We are excited about the positive impact this will have on our educational environment and look forward to seeing our students thrive as they develop these crucial 21st-century skills.
ANNA WHANNELL | DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
Academic Academy: University of QLD 2024 Philosothon
"A.B. Paterson College Honours Program excels at critical, creative and collaborative thinking skills at the University of Queensland Philosothon 2024".
We are thrilled to announce that selected Honours Program students from Years 7-11 recently participated in the University of Queensland Philosothon 2024, held under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Peter Ellerton and Professor Deborah Brown. We are even prouder to share that our Honours students have successfully qualified for the 2024 Australasian Philosothon!
What is a Philosothon?
A Philosothon is an enriching event designed to develop students' critical analysis, argumentation skills, and collaborative exploration of philosophical issues. Over the years, the Philosothon has gained significant national and international recognition for its impact on educational outcomes. The event takes the form of a 'Community of Inquiry,' where students from diverse schools work together to answer complex philosophical questions. They engage with university-grade stimulus material provided by respected academics, exposing them to various philosophical disciplines such as epistemology, ethics, and metaphysics.
Our Students' Achievements:
Participating in this year's Philosothon, our Honours Program students displayed exceptional skills in inquiry-based learning, ethical reasoning, and reflective thinking. The event emphasised collaboration over competition, fostering a safe space for students to enrich each other's understanding. Each Community of Inquiry was facilitated by Philosophy teachers and judged by a panel of educators, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of students' abilities.
Looking Forward to the Australasian Philosothon:
The success at the University of Queensland Philosothon means our students will now advance to the Australasian Philosothon, where they will engage with peers from across Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and Asia) in further philosophical inquiries. This prestigious opportunity allows our students to continue developing their higher-order thinking and communication skills while fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.
About the Organisers:
Professor Deborah Brown is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland and Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and currently the President of the Australasian Association of Philosophy. Her expertise lies in applying critical thinking to education and leadership training.
Dr. Peter Ellerton is the Curriculum Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. He has a rich background in public reasoning, science communication, and argumentation. Dr. Ellerton has significantly contributed to the development of critical and creative thinking in education at both national and international levels. Notably, Dr. Ellerton is one of Australia's renowned academics, who developed V9.0 of ACARA's Critical and Creative Thinking General Capabilities. Currently, his latest research is focused on how the practical mechanisms of collaboration are an essential part of how we develop better critical and creative thinking, especially, considering how important collaboration is as a 21st century skill.
Congratulations to the following Honours students:
Miles Britton, Coby Calver, Jena Chai, Matilda Grant, Abigail Harrison, Emelia Wedemeyer, Finlay Canavan, Andrew Francesconi, Louise Lee, Naomi Menardo, Maya Phegan, George Habib, Shanaye Naidoo, Mimi Shen, Lana Francesconi, Jinyu Yan, Scarlett Fisher, Sophie Magee, James Riddle, Eric Zhang and Peter Zhu.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Honours Program students for their outstanding performance and look forward to our Honours students continued collaborative success at the Australasian Philosothon on September 6th and 7th, 2024.
CATHERINE RIDDLE | HEAD OF ACADEMIC ACADEMY
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Camp - 31 May to 1 June 2024
Last weekend, 27 Year 9 and Year 10 students took part in a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Practice Camp. Unlike the more traditional expedition orientated camps which have been based in the dense tropical rainforests surrounding the Gold Coast, this year’s Bronze camp took place on the Gold Coast as part of an Urban Exploration. The students were accompanied by Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Andrew Sole, Head of HPE Mr Steve Mikael and Year 6 Junior school teacher Miss Tahlia Dilkes.
Despite the forecast of heavy torrential rain, the wet weather held off long enough allowing students to explore the city environment working upon personal projects on urban related topics. These included studies of the Gold Coasts’ natural untouched parkland regions (contrasting bushland, coastline and urban landscapes). The impact of humans on the environment (e.g. litter, erosion, pollution, visitor pressure in national parks etc). Identifying opportunities based on the redesign or creation of a new feature within the natural parks environment that would make it more desirable for a younger clientele and public access issues: How do cycle paths, designated pathways, and footpaths etc impact on the natural features on the park?
The students explored several notable locations including Burleigh Headlands, Federation Walk, The Spit and Coombabah Wetlands. Students camped at the College where they cooked their evening meals and prepared their healthy and nutritional breakfasts and pack lunches.
ANDREW SOLE | HEAD OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION
IMPACT Youth Summit
On Friday, 31 May and Saturday. 1 June, five students attended the second annual IMPACT Youth Summit event held at the Sea World Resort Conference Centre. The Summit, an event for young people from all over the Gold Coast, was established to empower young people to recognise and harness the power and positive impact they can each have over their own lives and in their communities as emerging leaders.
Over the two days, students engaged in a variety of workshops and presentations, hearing from a range of esteemed speakers including Angie Bell MP Member for Moncrieff, Chang Po Ching (The Voice), Seamus Evans (TV and Radio Presenter), Marco Renai (Australian of the Year 2023) and Natalie Cook OAM.
Students also had the opportunity to visit Sea World Marine Park and hear about the conservation efforts of Sea World Foundation.
Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for students to network with a diverse range of young people. Year 12 students, Jahn and Jessica, and Year 11 students, Amber, Hayley and Phoebe, came away from the event with new ideas about demonstrating leadership, finding their passion and niche, embracing their own unique characteristics, seizing opportunities, and overcoming challenges.
These takeaways are bound to support our students as they explore their role as leaders in the College community and as they forge their pathways for life beyond the College.
These students should be commended for engaging in the summit with enthusiasm and for being outstanding representatives of the College.
JACQUI SHANNON | ASSISTANT HEAD OF HASS FACULTY
da Vinci Decathlon 2024
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our Honours Program students from Years 8 to 11, who recently participated in the da Vinci Decathlon 2024, at St Joseph's Nudgee College, in Brisbane.
Our talented students demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication, securing top positions in various categories and making us incredibly proud!
Overall Achievements:
1st Overall – Year 11
2nd Overall – Year 10
3rd Overall – Year 9
Year 11 Highlights:
1st Place – Code Breaking
1st Place – Mathematics and Chess
1st Place – English
2nd Place – Science
2nd Place – Legacy
3rd Place – Art and Poetry
Year 10 Highlights:
2nd Place – Mathematics and Chess
2nd Place – Science
2nd Place – English
2nd Place – Art and Poetry
3rd Place – Code Breaking
3rd Place – Ideation
Year 9 Highlights:
1st Place – Legacy
2nd Place – Arts and Poetry
3rd Place – English
Year 8 Highlights:
3rd Place - Code Breaking
Join us in congratulating the exceptional work of these students.
Year 11 Griffith University Business School Ambassadors Program
Year 11 Business students
Some of our Year 11 Business students got the opportunity this week to participate in the Griffith University Business School's Ambassadors Program.
The day was hosted by Griffith University program directors, lecturers and Business School Student Leaders who took our students on a journey of what day-to-day university life looks like, the various degrees and double degrees on offer within the Business School and how to get into the degree that interests them.
The students were also given an introductory lecture and completed various activities into the topic of Human Resources which discussed the minimum wage in Australia, how to ensure you are being paid correctly and the ramifications of businesses that are caught underpaying staff.
A special surprise for the students was having past College student, Soraya Abdel-Aal (2021 graduate) assist in the running of this event, as well as give our students a personal tour of the Gold Coast campus where our students were able to walk through lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, the Griffith Library, sports college and even watch a real live lecture!
Our students enjoyed speaking with Soraya and catching up on life after A.B. Paterson College. Soraya is studying a Double Bachelor Degree of Government and International Relations and Business at Griffith University. She is also a policy intern at the Multi-Cultural Community Centre and the President of the Government and International Relations Society, where she organises various events including Youth Panels that discuss the challenges youth face in our community.
ETHAN SHIELDS | HASS SECONDARY TEACHER
Year 12 Languages Excursion to JW Marriott Hotel
The languages excursion to the JW Marriott Hotel was an incredible experience that we as the Spanish class were so grateful to have. As the senior Spanish class, it marked the final excursion we would experience as a group before embarking on our life after school.
The Japanese and Spanish native speakers gave us invaluable insight on their careers in the hotel industry, providing personal stories and tips while answering all our questions about the Tourism industry. Most importantly, they demonstrated how their ability to speak multiple languages highly benefited their positions in the hospitality industry, providing them with better job opportunities around the world and allowing them to connect with a greater group of people. Their words inspired us to not only develop our Spanish speaking skills, but opened our eyes to a career many of us knew little about.
One of the most exciting parts of the day was undoubtedly the tour around the luxurious hotel, admiring the hotel rooms, wandering around the impressive pool area, and my personal favourite, enjoying the delicious gourmet meal. The buffet had a variety of delectable choices; seafood paella, beef brisket stew, salmon with vegetables, salads and many sweet treats to finish our lunch.
The day marked an experience that excited us for our journey beyond school whilst proving time to appreciate and cherish the remaining time we have left with our classmates and teachers, La Profesora Barriga and MacDonald Sensei.
ZOE CLACHER | YEAR 12 STUDENT
News from Year 5 Classrooms
This term in HaSS, Year 5 students have been exploring the Gold Rush and its impact on Australia's development as a nation. The Gold Rush era has come alive in our classrooms as students delved into the history, challenges, and opportunities that shaped Australia during this transformative period.
During Week 7, we were fortunate enough to participate in the Eureka Excursion, where students were immersed in life on the Gold Fields. It was fantastic to see everyone dressed up in period costumes, adding to the authenticity of the experience. The students participated in a variety of activities that provided hands-on learning and a deeper understanding of the era. They panned for gold, searched for bushrangers, built tents, and even had the opportunity to haggle with their friends at the General Store.
Here are some reflections from our Year 5 students about their favourite activities and experiences from the excursion:
Jake Lowry: "I enjoyed it so much! My favourite part was being the store manager and helping to give out licenses to all the gold miners, so that they could participate in the gold hunt. I charged them 30 shillings each but accepted a 20-cent coin. It was so much fun!”
Alexis Walmsley: "My favourite part was when the bushranger came in and stole Dominic’s apples! It was so hilarious when she fed them to the horse. The trooper had to come riding in on his horse just to stop her. Then she had to work for us for the whole day!”
Lyla Atkinson: "I really enjoyed getting to pan for gold with my friends. I found five pieces of gold and even got to keep one! Some people found big pieces of gold and I wanted to find some too. I want to go back again soon!”
Emery Ballantyne: "My favourite part was definitely the tent building because we got to build tents from scratch. It was a great teamwork exercise even though the sticks kept falling and it was challenging. While our tent ended up a little wonky, it was so much fun!”
Hudson Thiel: “My favourite part was finding gold. It was surprisingly fun and very messy, but it was definitely worth it! I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in what life was like in the 1800s.”
Georgia Elkington: “I enjoyed it so much! It was really interactive. I liked at the end when we went on the gold hunt, and we had to go trade it in at the shop and buy stuff to survive with the money. I had a great day!”
Marco Huang: “I liked panning for gold and getting my hands dirty! It was great to try to compete against everyone else and try to find the gold first like in the during the real Gold Rush.”
Amelia Bai: “I liked getting to run around and find the gold during the gold hunt! The nuggets were very big, and we got to earn money for them and trade them in. It was amazing!”
The Eureka Excursion was a highlight of our term, providing an engaging and educational experience that brought the Gold Rush to life. The students have gained a richer understanding of how this significant period influenced Australia's growth and development.
We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and effort our students have shown throughout this unit and look forward to more exciting learning adventures in the coming weeks.
KATE LAWRENCE, HANNAH CASPEN, SOPHIE WAGER & KIERA SUTCLIFFE | YEAR 5 TEACHERS
National Reconciliation Week
A.B. Paterson College is now a part of the Narragunnawali community, and we have begun our journey towards reconciliation as our Reconciliation Action Plan was reviewed, accepted and published on the Narragunnawali platform; the leading organisation for Reconciliation in Education throughout Australia earlier this year.
At A.B. Paterson College, we envision a future where reconciliation is at the heart of our community, fostering a profound understanding and respect for the histories, cultures, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We strive to create an inclusive and harmonious environment where all students, staff, and families unite in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledging the past, celebrating the present, and working collaboratively towards a brighter, more united future.
Through education, respect, and meaningful engagement, we aspire to build strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, embedding reconciliation into our daily College life and nurturing a generation of culturally aware, empowered, and empathetic leaders who are committed to listening to diverse perspectives.
As members of A.B. Paterson College, we commit to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of First Nation culture, histories, and perspectives.
Our staff and students took part in a number of activities throughout the week, including a special screening of Little J and Big Cuz, colouring competitions, Dadirri - a mindfulness activity encouraging students to reflect on what they can hear, see, feel and smell and our college bell rang through with the sounds of didgeridoo.
We hope you enjoy our very special Student Acknowledgement of Country.
Queensland School Library Week Secondary Short Story Contest Winner
Congratulations, Rose – Queensland School Library Week Secondary Short Story Contest Winner!
Please join us in congratulating Year 9 student, Rose D'Alisa for receiving first prize in the QSLA's Secondary Short Story Competition. Rose completed against students in Year 7-12 from across Queensland.
QSLA remarked that is was a tough job for the judges due to the standard of entries received this year. This is the judge’s feedback regarding the entry: This highly atmospheric and suspenseful short story contained sophisticated descriptive and figurative language which held readers spellbound from the very first paragraph. The story structure led the audience on a journey into another realm where all was not what it first seemed. The unexpected twist in the conclusion struck a powerful chord in everyone’s 'heart'.
We invite you to read Rose's powerful story by visiting the QSLA website.
Please congratulate Rose when you see her next!
STEPHANNE SIBERRY | HEAD OF LIBRARY SERVICES
A.B. Paterson College Girls' Tennis Team Triumphs in Regional Finals
We are thrilled to announce that the A.B. Paterson College girls' tennis team has emerged victorious in the regional finals of the Tennis Queensland Junior Schools Competition for Years 7-9! Despite a rocky start due to rain on the original competition date, which led to the event being rescheduled, our team displayed exceptional resilience and skill.
The rescheduled match took place on a beautiful day at KDV Sport in Carrara, providing the perfect conditions for our girls to showcase their talent. Competing fiercely, they secured a place in the state competition in Rockhampton, which will be held on the 12th and 13th of September. The matches were filled with strategic court work in singles tennis and outstanding teamwork in doubles tennis, and their dedication paid off, culminating in a well-deserved victory.
We are proud to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of Jinyu Yan, Kira Russell, Cyra Abedian, and Cassandra Chatham, whose efforts were instrumental in our success in winning the finals. A special mention also goes to Cassandra who stepped up in the absence of Tori Russell, who was participating in an ITF tournament in Darwin.
Additionally, we commend our other teams for their hard work and dedication throughout the competition including Constance Huang, Cara Cloete, Eva Vu, Hannah Foley, Ishaan Kapadia, Max Pastoors, Nicholas Arhanghelschi, and Tyler Wu.
This win has paved the way for our first girls' team to compete at the state level, and we are confident they will continue to make us proud. We eagerly anticipate their performance in Rockhampton and are confident they will continue to make us proud.
JONATHAN ALBERTINI | HEAD OF TENNIS
Fundraising for a New Junior School Playground
New Junior School Playground
We are thrilled to announce that the A.B. Paterson College Foundation and Friends of A.B. Paterson College (FAB) are teaming up to raise funds for an incredible new Junior School playground!
This fully covered, ninja warrior course will be located at the front of the College by the Village Green, and available for our Year 3 - 6 students to enjoy.
Join us for an unforgettable night of elegance and excitement at the inaugural Gala Ball, where all proceeds will support this amazing project. Don’t miss this chance to make a difference and have a spectacular evening!
Presented by Saba Organic, we are excited to welcome our College community to QT Gold Coast on Saturday 17th August.
Tickets are selling fast, so book now to avoid disappointment!
There are only days left until the opening of our college production of Disney's My Son Pinocchio. From fairies to villains, donkeys to perfect children, the show is full of delightful moments and quirky characters. This is one show NOT to be missed!
In Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale, the classic tale of toymaker, Geppetto's, little wooden puppet is given new life. This musical, which retells the classic Disney story from Geppetto's perspective, features the beloved classic songs, "When You Wish upon a Star" and "I've Got No Strings," alongside a host of songs by Oscar- and Grammy Award winner and master melodist, Stephen Schwartz, tackling timely issues about what it means to be "the perfect child" – and what it means to be "a real father."
Matinee Performance: Monday 10 June Time: 3.30pm – 6.00pm
Evening Performances: Wednesday 12 June to Friday 14 June 2024 Time: 7:00pm to 9:15pm Venue: Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre
To purchase your musical tickets, please click here.
Watch the video below to see what our musical team have been up to this week? We snuck behind the scenes to have a look! Shh!
Year 6 Bake Sale - THANK YOU!
The Year 6 team extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone involved in our Year 6 bake sale that we hosted in Week 6.
It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic support from both Junior and Secondary school students, all united in our effort to raise funds for the Save the Bilby Fund.
We are thrilled to announce that we raised an impressive $3,636—over $1,000 more than last year!
Your generosity and participation made this achievement possible. Once again, thank you to everyone who contributed and supported this cause.
SIMON EDGAR | HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
A.B. Paterson College Foundation Gala Ball, Presented by Saba Organic
CLOSING ON 31 JULY SO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!
There is just one week left to get your tickets to the night of nights! The A.B. Paterson College Foundation Ball will be a night to remember, and we don't want you to miss out.
All proceeds from the event will go towards raising funds for the incredible new Junior School ninja warrior playground course. This fully covered, ninja warrior course will be located at the front of the College by the Village Green, and available for our Years 3-6 students to enjoy.
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference and be a part of the College community's history whilst enjoying a spectacular evening of glamour and entertainment.
Presented by Saba Organic we are excited to welcome our college community to QT Gold Coast on Saturday 17th August.
All guests to the event are able to make use of the 20% QT accommodation discount provided:
Please use event code QTEVENT24 when making your accommodation booking.
Inspire Directory 2024-25
Last chance to book your ad space in our 2024/25 Inspire Business Directory!
This directory is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to over families within our college, whilst also supporting the A.B. Paterson College Foundation and wider college community.
This directory is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to over 1,100 families within our College, whilst also supporting the A.B. Paterson College Foundation and wider College community.
For all enquiries and/or to make your booking please contact:
Ben Ryan from ADV Collab. ben@advcollab.com.au 0432 545 995
