Week 4 this term is NAPLAN testing week across Australia and without fail the media frenzy will commence with significant haste.  What is NAPLAN, what is it all about, what is its purpose and what do we get out of it?

Importantly NAPLAN is an acronym which stands for National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and it is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. Due to COVID-19 it was cancelled in 2020. All students in these year levels are expected to participate in tests in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

Over the past 40 years, international and national testing has increased substantially. While early implementation assisted selection of students for higher education, more recent national assessments are used to evaluate curriculum implementation. As different curricula operate internationally, benchmarking has been developed to facilitate comparisons between countries or specific groups of students and identify strengths and weaknesses.

NAPLAN claims to achieve this by collecting a breadth of information that cannot be obtained from classroom assessment. Government benefits from analysis on such large data samples: outcomes for groups including males/females, Indigenous and low socio-economic status students provide an evidence-base to inform policy development, targeted funding and resource allocation.

Comparing individual students to others in their state, and national benchmarks provides detailed information for teachers to inform future learning. Individual students can also be 'mapped' over time, to identify areas of improvement or those requiring intervention. This mapping can occur biannually between Year 3 and 9. In addition, national testing assists students moving schools in that it allows immediate identification of their learning level by their new school.

A disadvantage of NAPLAN is that this rational perspective of benchmarking students nationally is lost in the significant impacts the results can have in influencing government funding; providing data that allows schools to be ranked and influencing teacher selection of content – ‘known as teaching to the test!’ Is the snapshot information obtained from NAPLAN in its current format substantial enough to justify the effects? Assessment for and of learning needs to encompass more than multiple choice tests. Observations, analysing, evaluating, questioning, problem-solving and collaborative tasks are examples that cannot be incorporated into NAPLAN in its current format.

Assessment is a complex and often controversial area of education in Australia. In this context, standardised tests are just one of the assessment modes that teachers and schools can use. They are easy to administer and the ‘standardisation’ means that students’ performance can be compared to that of the wider population to help answer the question ‘how is she/ he going?’.

But the key to effective assessment that supports learning needs to directly inform teachers’ planning for their students.  Utilising multiple sources of internal and external data and mapping longitudinal data sets over time is paramount. Data from standardised testing can contribute, but needs to be complemented by information from other sources - NAPLAN, school based testing, analysis of work samples, formative assessment practices and teacher observation that contribute to the teacher’s full picture of a student’s learning path.

Please note below is the College’s timetable for the NAPLAN tests during Week 4 which run from Tuesday 11th – Thursday 13th May with catch up testing scheduled on Friday 14th May. This has been communicated previously by Mr Leighton Morgan – Head of Learning Analytics.

Although federal, state and territory education ministers have agreed to transitioning to online assessments over the next few years, A.B. Paterson College will be conducting these in paper form for 2021. 

Simon Edgar
Head of Junior School

Week 3 has been another eventful week at the College with a range of activities and events taking place. The Year 7 – 12 Parent Teacher Interviews concluded this week and were a huge success with meetings taking place via Teams. Tuesday 4 May was also our first Open Day for the year and we had over 50 students from Years 10, 11 and 12 meeting with prospective parents and students, taking tours with Year 6 students across the campus. This Open Day was the first that has taken place in The Winton Centre and, after tours concluded, we welcomed prospective families to the Learning Deck for refreshments and morning tea and an opportunity to meet with members of our Senior Leadership Team, Admissions Team as well as Performing Arts and AEGD Faculties. Thank you to all students who volunteered their time to take tours.

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day and the Friends of A.B. Paterson College (F.A.B.) have been running the Mother’s Day Stalls providing our students with an opportunity to purchase a thoughtful gift. Our College Foundation is also holding a Mother’s Day High Tea at Links Hope Island on Saturday and I look forward to seeing our College families and friends at this event.

Our runners endured a challenging course at the Year 4 – 12 APS Cross Country Carnival on Wednesday. They are to be commended for braving not only the long distances but the torrential rain throughout the day! Despite the challenging circumstances, there were some fantastic results from the event. You can read all about them in the APS Cross Country article in this week's newsletter. Well done to all students who participated and thank you to our staff for supporting this event. 

On Thursday 6 May, our Year 9 students continued their careers education attending the Gold Coast Careers Festival at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Our students took full advantage of the opportunity to talk to prospective universities, TAFE, and the Armed Forces. Thank you to Mrs Maxwell, Head of Pathways, for organising this event and to the staff in attendance for providing our students with this opportunity. This excursion is part of the Year 9 careers program in the lead up to their subject selection meetings and SET planning that takes place in Term 3. 

Charlotte Brook
Head of Senior School

On Wednesday 5 May, 140 students braved the wet conditions to represent the College at the 2021 APS Cross Country Carnival. In true ‘Cross Country style', the track was muddy and slippery thanks to the 25mm of rain that fell, but that did not deter our students, with our overall placings being the best in several years for both the Seniors and Juniors.

Whilst Cross Country is an individual event, the team nature of the carnival was apparent with strong finishes across the age groups and a total of five Champion Age Group awards received:

9 year girls
10 Year boys
11 Year boys
16 Year girls
16 year boys

A special mention should be made to the 9 - 12 year old boys whose combined scores led them to being the Champion Boys team. Congratulations!

Overall, the Junior Team placed 5th and Senior Team placed 6th in both the Percentage and Aggregate awards.

On the individual stage, we had 7 students who placed in the Top 3, receiving an Age Champion award, an outstanding result given the extremely high standard of competition at the carnival.

Further to our Age Champion recipients, congratulations to the following students who placed in the Top 10 for their age group:

We wish all students the best in their preparation for the Regional Cross Country Carnival in June - qualifiers will be announced soon.

Thank you to all our Running Club coaches for their time and dedication across the season including Mr Taylor, Mr Bradford, Mrs Mitchell, Mr Burke and Mrs Mackenzie. Collectively, the coaches offered five sessions per week during the season and our results would not be possible without their ongoing support.

We now move our focus to Athletics with the Inter-house Carnivals in Week 9 of this term. A detailed training timetable will be available shortly.

Matt Stopel
Assistant Head of HPE Faculty

“When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.” - American Author, Mitch Albom

Our College was a busy place over the past few days with our Mother's Day Stalls & Mother's Day Breakfast as we celebrated all of our wonderful A.B.P.C. mothers.

On behalf of the Friends of A.B. Paterson College, I would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time to help out - we could not have done it without your support.

Thank you to parents:

Emma Dell; Joanna Duggan; Kristin Higgins; Kristin Randal; Sarah Weston; Naomi Favero; Zoe Garnett-Lepelaar; Emma Dalziel; Rebecca Delacy; Melanie McAndrew; Nan Clark; Furie Chapman; Lauren Thiel; Golab Arian; Kythe O’Dwyer; Fabienne Tillot; Andrea Bambrick and Michelle McColl.

Thank you to Old Collegians:

Catherine Massa and Zoe O'Dwyer

Thank you to students:

William Piddington; Eden Harder; Piper Sock; Lauren Woods; Jessica Williams; Stella Davis; Zack Jennings; Robyn Paskell; Griffin McKinnon; Grace Jones; Anika Khawaja; Misrabah Hasan and Abbie Briant.  

Thank you to staff:

Nikki Ward; Tamara Hamilton; Alex Dean & Grounds staff; Alex Fox & Tech Crew; Sharyn Walker-Joyce

And last, but by no means least, Clancy & Carol from Catering By Clancy.

I hope you are all thoroughly spoilt on Sunday.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Lisa Lang
Chair, Friends of A.B. Paterson College

Year 1 has had an enjoyable start to the term, with ANZAC activities being the highlight for many students.

At the beginning of the term, Year 1 students were provided the opportunity to partake in various learning experiences that, in turn, enabled them to develop an understanding of the importance and significance of the commemorative day.

In order to initially support their developing awareness of ANZAC Day, it was essential discussions took place in the classroom. Tied into our HaSS unit, we reflected on past events that took place during World War I and how this part of Australian history has shaped the society we live in presently. It was within these discussions that many students were able to acknowledge that ANZAC Day does not celebrate war, but celebrates human spirit and the character strengths shown by the brave men and women in the war. As Yara Elghobashi, 1L, explained, “The people in the war showed leadership, bravery and perseverance.”

The Year 1s watched the captivating story of ANZAC Ted and wrote interesting descriptive sentences about the old and worn bear using ‘Vinny Vocabulary’ and ‘Connie Connective’ from our VCOP program, to help them up-level their sentences. Several of the Year 1 students were thrilled when their “WOW” word was chosen to be displayed on their classroom’s VCOP word wall. Furthermore, students were introduced to the concept of procedures, a text structure they will be learning this term, as they created an ANZAC Biscuit recipe. They were given the option to take the recipe home and make ANZAC Biscuits with their families, which Zachariah Joy, 1H, thoroughly enjoyed; “I made ANZAC biscuits with my mum. There were some crispy and tasty biscuits and the soft ones could break easily but they were soft for my teeth.”

To commence our creative ANZAC activities, the Year 1 classes watched the Australian War Memorial’s insightful video on the significance of poppy flowers in relation to the ANZAC soldiers, which allowed students to understand their symbolism of life and hope in the destroyed and muddy battlefields in Europe. Students then created their own poppy flowers and wreaths with newly gained knowledge and understanding of the meaning of their incorporation in ANZAC Day. Within their art lessons, the Year 1s also recreated a colourful dawn sky by using warm and cool colours around the silhouette of a soldier playing the bugle.

Finally, Year 1 attended the ANZAC assembly with the Prep to Year 12 students. Annie Yang, 1H, and Archer Lochowicz, 1F, respectfully laid the wreath on behalf of the Year 1 cohort.

It is through these various learning experiences and discussions that many students were able to form respect and appreciation for those who served our country, as well as develop their understanding of ANZAC Day, which commemorates such an important part of Australian history.

Jana Kubaska, Steve Farmer, Angie Hall, Jade Lucy and Kim Kemp
Year 1 Teachers and Learning Assistant

May is Scholastic Family Reading Month and the A.B. Paterson College libraries are getting involved in a BIG WAY this year!

This year marks the 25th year of National Family Reading Month which celebrates and encourages families to read more together. Families are encouraged to take the 31 Day Family Reading Challenge. Through the Challenge, Scholastic hopes to inspire us to make reading together for at least 10 minutes every day a focus; which will encourage positive, long lasting reading habits and lifelong readers! To find out more about the Challenge, get helpful tips on how to encourage reading at home, or print off a reading log, please visit: https://www.scholastic.com.au/scholastic-in-the-community/national-family-reading-month-2021/  The reading logs will also be available in our A.B. Paterson College Libraries.

Scholastic Book Fair – Monday 17 May to Friday 21 May – 8am to 4pm

After a year without, due to COVID restrictions, our first Scholastic Book Fair of the year is set to kick off in Week 5 in The Winton Centre on the first floor. Open May 17 May until Friday 21 May from 8am to 4pm, students and their families are invited to attend the Fair and see the gorgeous books and stationery on offer. Students will also have an opportunity to visit the Fair either during their scheduled library time or before school and at break times for our older students.

Families are encouraged to visit the Fair as well; and we request that families scan the QR code found outside the doors to The Winton Centre using the Check In QLD app on their personal devices. A hand sanitation station will also be available at the front doors. For more information on the Scholastic Book Fair, please contact Stephanne Siberry, Library Coordinator in the Lilly Pilly Learning Centre (ssiberry@abpat.qld.edu.au).

Queensland Premier’s Reading Challenge

Beginning on Monday 10 May, Prep to Year 9 students will be encouraged to take part in the Queensland Premier's Reading Challenge. This challenge is an annual state-wide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children (aged up to 5 years) enrolled in an early childhood centre. The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.

To get involved, students must track their reading following the guidelines listed on the Reading Log. The Challenge runs between Monday 10 May and Friday 27 August. Families do not need to register individually; the College will register all students who return a Reading Log to one of our libraries before the closing date. For more information about the Queensland Premier's Reading Challenge or to print off a reading log please click on https://readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au/ The reading logs will also be available in our A.B. Paterson College libraries. Our College Library team would be happy to answer any additional questions concerning the challenge.

National Simultaneous Storytime – Wednesday 19 May

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is a favourite on the A.B. Paterson College Junior School Libraries’ calendar – and this year is sure to be Out of This World!

NSS is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read across the nation. This year, the story “Give Me Some Space”, written and illustrated by Philip Bunting, is being read from the International Space Station and our Junior School students will become astronauts-in-training for this spectacular event.

There are many interesting and fun ways that you can extend this College experience at home and we invite you to look at the ALIA’s website to learn more about this incredible event - https://www.alia.org.au/nss

If you have any questions or want to learn more about any of the A.B. Paterson College Libraries' programs we encourage you to stop by our spaces or get in touch!

Stephanne Siberry – Library Coordinator, Lilly Pilly Learning Centre
ssiberry@abpat.qld.edu.au

Melinda Parkinson – Library Coordinator, The Homestead
mparkinson@abpat.qld.edu.au

Samuel Rides to Victory

Last weekend, Samuel Blanc (2S) proudly represented A.B. Paterson College at the South East Qld Interschool Regional Championships in Caboolture. Despite the very wet conditions, Sam had a great time competing, winning overall Champion Mini Show Horse, riding his Shetland pony Kristamoor Lodge Kieran and Reserve Champion Show Hunter riding Rhaeadr Park Oscar.

Congratulations Samuel! And thank you for representing our College so proudly!

Mackenzie Scores State Selection

Mackenzie Fenton (Year 6) has been selected in the South Coast Regional 10 – 12 Years Girls Football Team to play in the State Championships in Toowoomba from the 22nd of July – 25th  of July.

Good luck to Mackenzie in her preparations for the State Championships and congratulations 

These will be the hottest tickets in town - don't miss out!

Head over to DLPAC Event Bookings to secure your seats now for the Senior Musical, Guys & Dolls, to be performed at Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre from 15-17 July, 2021.

Congratulations to our Week 3, Term 2 Bumper Sticker Winners!

Lisa Brown

Phillip Mooney

Just a reminder that your vehicle has to be registered to be in the running for our weekly bumper sticker draw. Get your 2021 bumper sticker from College Reception and enter here:

collegebumperstickercompetition@abpat.qld.edu.au

Our lucky winners each receive $100 off their school fee invoice for the following term! At the end of Term 3, all of our weekly winners will be invited to an afternoon tea where one family will be drawn to receive FREE* tuition for their eldest child for Term 4 2021 (*tuition fee only).

Refer to the flyer attached for more information regarding the 2021 Bumper Sticker competition.

On Friday 30 April we celebrated World Pilates Day at A.B. Paterson College. 

World Pilates Day is an annual celebration to appreciate John and Clara Pilate’s work in creating this exercise form, which improves strength, balance and flexibility. They opened a body conditioning gym in 1926 in New York, which gained attraction due to the benefits it provided in improving technique and recovering from injury.

In support of this event, a session was run for students in the DMPC by Katie Harders from Gold Coast Physio & Sports Health.  Katie took us through a basic Pilates class which was great and really well received – I think it is safe to say that the event was a great success!

Pilates is a great way to improve your performance in sport due to its tailored exercises on strength and balance, hence the reason why I wanted to make this opportunity available for students at the College. Thank you to everyone who attended to support the initiative.

Fun fact; Pilates was originally called 'Contrology' and got its name today from creators John and Clara Pilates when they passed away. Today more than 12 million people practise Pilates all over the world!

Georgia Charnley
Year 12 Student