Dear Parents and Caregivers,

You are invited to participate in this year’s School Opinion Survey and have a say about schooling during the COVID-19 lockdown. You are also given the opportunity to provide feedback about our school more generally.

Participation in the survey is anonymous and you are encouraged to take this opportunity to have your say. The survey form has been designed so that it can easily be completed on a computer or smartphone. The online survey will be available until Friday 17 July 2020, and should take less than five minutes to complete.

To access the survey, please click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:  Parent survey – https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/form/Parents-HaveYourSay

Please contact the school if you have any questions about the survey.

With assessment items nearly complete, teachers are working on the summative assessment collation to determine report card marks. We aim to have report cards for Year 7 to 9 released over the school holidays.  Year 10 report cards will be released on Week 2 of Term 3. We anticipate that parent-teacher interviews will occur over the phone in Week 3 of Term 3. We were hoping to do face-to-face interviews next term however COVID 19 restrictions means that this is unlikely. 

School holidays commence this Friday with classes resuming on Monday 13 July.  It is also important to note that this year the Gold Coast Show Holiday has been moved to Friday 14 August to align with Brisbane for a one off long weekend. 

Chris Capra
Executive Principal

With the July school holidays fast approaching, the entire PBC community wish each student and family all the best over the break in what truly has been an unusual year thus far. Within Senior Secondary we look forward to COVID-19 restrictions continuing to ease in Term 3, allowing us to execute some key events impacting students across Years 10-12. With further information to come on these events, it is worth noting some key dates for your senior student:

• Year 12 Post-School Pathways Information Session - Tuesday 11 August
• Year 10 Subject Information Evening and Showcase - Tuesday 11 August
• Year 10 SET Plan Interviews – Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 August

All students and parents are to be reminded that there is an expectation across all students of 92% attendance, with any absence explained to our Absence Line via SMS and ongoing medical absences covered by a valid medical certificate returned to Y Block. Whilst a number of support measures have been put in place due to COVID disruptions, any relaxation of attendance expectations will cease in Term 3. If your student is having difficulty around attendance or assessment expectations, please contact the relevant Dean of Students in Sharon Hillcoat (Year 10) and Brad Dixon (Year 11 and 12).

Year 10 Exams and Assessment

Year 10 students will have timetabled exams in the last 3 days of school this term. This will be a shutdown timetable and students will only have to attend for timetabled exams. The Year 10 shutdown timetable will be published on the school website in the coming days. Year 10 students are again reminded that their academic performance in Semester 1 Year 10 will determine which pathway students will be allocated to in Years 11 and 12. Students must wear full school uniform to the upcoming exams or they will receive a detention.

Recently there has been some illness in our Senior Secondary community. You are reminded that should your student miss an exam or assessment deadline, they will require a medical certificate. Contact the school as early as possible. If a student cannot sit an exam during shutdown due to illness, they will be required to do it on the first day back at school. Students must take responsibility for making such arrangements.

Year 10 Semester 1 reports will be finalised and emailed home in the week commencing Monday 27 July.

Year 11 Assessment and Learning

Year 11 students have completed Unit 1 assessment and commenced Unit 2 work. They have timetabled classes up to the end of term Friday 26 June.

Any Year 11 student that is interested in a Certificate II in Electrotechnology or a Certificate II in Automotive at Gold Coast Trades College should register with Ms Ward in F block as soon as possible. Please note that these courses are only available for students that have not yet accessed their VET in Schools funding (VETis).

Year 11 Unit 1 reports should be emailed home on the last day of term, 26 June.

Year 12 Assessment & Learning

Year 12 students have commenced Unit 4 summative work. Due to the decrease in assessment items across Year 12 as a response to the COVID 19 crisis there is no Year 12 shutdown this term and students are expected to attend normal classes up to the end of term, Friday 26 June.

All Year 12 students should by now have logged onto their QCAA learning account in the QCAA student portal. This is accessed via the myQCE website https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/index.html. All students were sent emails regarding the details of logging into the account at the start of the year. Student results will be published by the QCAA directly into their learning account at the end of the year.

Over 50 Year 12 students successfully completed First Aid and Safety competencies recently. These competencies awarded the students 2 QCE points but more importantly will look great on their resumes as they apply for jobs in the future. Another course will be conducted early next term. To register students need to email Ms Whittaker in Y block  (ywhit0@eq.edu.au ). Students then compete 3 theory modules online and complete a practical training day. The fee for the course is $70 and is highly recommended for all students.

Year 12 students that attained their Surf Lifesaving Bronze Medallion at a Surf club please check their QCAA  Student portal to see if their club has added it to their QCAA learning account. The Bronze Medallion is worth 4 QCE points. Often clubs do not load this or they don't have the student’s LUI number. Any students in this situation should take a hard copy of their qualifications to Ms Ashby in Y block to get it loaded into their learning account.

Year 12 Unit 3 reports were finalised and emailed home earlier this month.

Subject Changes

A small number of Year 10 students are currently considering changing electives. The deadline for making changes is Friday 26 June. Forms are available at the E Block Office. As signatures are required, forms will need to be collected by 24 June at the latest.

Year 11 the End of Unit 1 Subject Changes have been closed.

Traineeships and Employment Opportunities

Parents and Year 10 Students are reminded that Traineeships and employment opportunities continue to be advertised in Y Block. Students may visit Mrs Sonia Shreeve in Y Block for further details. A successful traineeship is not only a way of earning money, but a Certificate III qualification, experience for the student's resume and contributes points towards the Queensland Certificate of Education qualification.

Uniform

PBC is proud to be a uniform school and most students wear the uniform well. Please make sure that in this cooler weather, your child is wearing a PBC jumper or jacket. Nose piercings should be clear or covered, and jewellery kept to one simple pair of earrings and a watch. Jewellery of important cultural or religious significance should be hidden by the uniform e.g. worn on a long chain that falls below the collar. 

Managing stress

At this time of year, it is common for students to experience stress. Maintaining routines, especially around diet, exercise and sleep, can help minimise stress. Should your student need support, be aware that our OPTIMA and Welfare Team are here to help. Please contact the Dean of Students in the first instance. We also encourage all of our students to keep the finish line in sight, knowing that from 26 June, they can enjoy a restful and restorative holiday. We encourage all students to plan to do at least one thing that they will really enjoy over the holidays – even something as simple as a walk on the beach with friends.

Junior Secondary Attendance

Every day counts is a state wide initiative that aims to assist in improving student attendance at school through a shared commitment by students, parents, caregivers, schools and the community.

To do this, Every day counts promotes four key messages:

• all children should be enrolled at school and attend on every school day
• schools should monitor, communicate and implement strategies to improve regular school attendance
• truanting can place a student in unsafe situations and impact on their future employability and life choices
• attendance at school is the responsibility of everyone in the community.

The PBC attendance target is 92% and the Junior Secondary Optima team is regularly monitoring attendance data for both explained and unexplained absences. Parent/caregivers may receive an invitation to attend a meeting with the Dean of Students or the Deputy Principal if the student is achieving below 85% attendance.

Term 3

Year 7/8 Optima staff – D Block

• Year 7 Coordinator - Ms Donna Condon
• Year 8 Coordinator - Mr Cameron Williams
• Year 7/8 Dean of Students – Ms Tracey Cardinal
• Year 7/8 Deputy Principal – Mrs Wendy Wise

Year 9 Optima staff – E Block

• Year 9 Coordiantor – Mr Ryan Jesser
• Year 9/10 Dean of Students – Mrs Sharon Hillcoat
• Year 9/10 Deputy Principal – Mr Peter Hughes

We wish all students a safe and happy June/July holiday!

New Gym Equipment - Synergy Fitness docation

A huge shout out to Soccer Sport Excellence alumnus Mark Conrad for his involvement in the extremely generous donation of brand-new gym equipment by Synergy Fitness. Overall, thirteen new weight machines, rollers, ladders, mats and resistance bands valued at well over $50,000 were delivered to PBC at the end of Term 1. This is the second occasion that Synergy have supported the school through the PBC Alliance having also donated 4 treadmills and exercise bikes in 2018. Their support is very much appreciated by the students and sports excellence coaches.

Gym Extension

Over the Easter break the finishing touches to the gym extension were completed. A new roof has been added to the gym to provide an all-weather work area. Another addition to the gym precinct has been the installation of a 20m artificial grass area that will allow teachers to conduct sled and slider sessions as part of the student’s fitness programs.

AFL Senior Boys

Congratulations to Jack Johnston, Charles Passmore, Zach Nussey, Jackson Straughan and Luke Cahill on being selected by their peers to be our 2020 Leadership Group. A big thank you to our program sponsors Southport Sharks and Fraser Financial Services for their continued support. As a result of their contributions, the senior playing group will hopefully be travelling to Melbourne in Term 3 to play Hallam College if COVID restictions allow.

Football (Soccer)

Mr Jason Culina has joined our program as a Junior Boys Coach on Tuesdays. Jason is one of the most decorated Australian players of Australia’s ‘Golden Generation’. Having spent a decade playing professionally in Europe as well as competing in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups for the Socceroos, the insight Jason will provide our players and coaches as to what is needed to become a professional footballer will be invaluable. 

We have had some exciting news from some ex-Reds. Cooper Skerry has been signed to the Leeds United Academy in England as a Goalkeeper. Jay Rich-Baghuelou has recently been signed to Crystal Palace’s U/23 team. Oskar Dillon has been signed to a professional contract by A-League club Western United. Jay and Oskar were 2016 graduates and winners of the SPL that year.

Prior to the suspension of competition the PBC SPL squads managed to complete Round 1 of the Schools Premier League competition vs Aspley State High. It was a dominant clean sweep for the Reds winning all four divisions across Junior Girls/Boys and Senior Girls/Boys.

The Year 9 Boys participated in the Term 1 Cluster Day at Coplicks Park playing and winning all three games on the day against SPL opposition. The style of play and effort put in by the players was exceptional.

Touch Football

One of the last sporting events to occur before the COVID-19 restrictions were implemented was the Inferno National Touch League held in Coffs Harbour from 11 to 14 March. This annual national competition takes place between regional representative teams to determine the best Open Mens, Womens, Mixed and Senior teams in Australia. The QLD and National teams are also selected from this tournament.

Despite this competition being an open aged competition, PBC had three girls from the Senior Sport Excellence Touch Football Program representing the Reds in the South Queensland Sharks team. The Sharks sent two Open Women teams to the Nationals with Hannah Glew, Emmasen Davis and Emily Phillips all playing in the development team. Malia Morgan was also selected but unfortunately had to pull out. This was a highly contested team and it was an outstanding effort to gain selection. Emily Phillips was also named as the Captain of this team which was extremely impressive considering she was one of the youngest girls on the team and in the entire tournament. 

It was a tough week for the girls, battling against the best female players in the country but they learned so much, fought extremely hard and represented all of the Reds with pride. They were competitive in a number of games and were not out of place in any way. There was one try in particular where all three of the PBC girls were involved which was very impressive. I have no doubt that their experience at this tournament and pushing themselves to compete against this level of opposition will put PBC in good shape when competition starts up again later in the year.

Well done Hannah, Emmasen and Emily!

There is a lot happening in sustainability at PBC at the moment. We are making the final preparations to our new waste management process which will see us aim to reduce waste to landfill by more than 70%. Thanks to the generous support of Bendigo Bank Tugun Community Branch, we have built a facility that will allow us to sort and separate waste streams including paper, co-mingled recyclables, organic waste and beverage containers eligible for the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), minimising the volume of waste we send to landfill.

Other grants have paid for the equipment that will be used to sort, separate and process different waste streams. A paper shredder will allow us to shred waste paper and sell it to a paper recycling company, turning what was previously a bill into an income stream.

Our new industrial composting machine has the capacity to process up to 100kg of organic waste per day, turning it into 10-20kg of garden-ready compost within 24 hours. To make use of the compost, in the next two weeks we are building the first stage of a new garden over near the hall. The new raised garden beds will be used to grow vegetables and herbs; these will be available for use in the canteen and by Hospitality students.

Separating and sorting our waste should also allow us to significantly increase the number of CDS-eligible bottles, cans and cartons we can collect a 10c refund on, generating even more income for sustainability-related projects here at PBC. To date, we have raised almost $11,000 from the CDS over the past eighteen months.

This new waste management process will begin in early Term 3 and we will post regular updates including photos, videos and statistics to let everyone know about the positive impact it will have on PBC’s environmental footprint.

#redsgogreen

Ms Benigno and Mr Pasley

Each afternoon Mr Flood, on crossing duty, asks the students what PBC staff have done to contribute to their week. Here are the responses from the last 2 weeks..

• Ms Maddocks - Great care lessons
• Mr Maccan - Focused sport ex training
• Ms Hart - Fun and positive sport ex, listens and implements feedback
• Ms Apanui - Very nice and helpful
• Ms Masia - Had a positive and uplifting conversation with student
• Ms Apanui - Makes class fun
• Ms Woodham - Makes science fun and easy to learn
• Mr Hamilton - Great care class
• Ms Parker - Happy and positive welcome to class
• Ms Hull - Caring and great lessons
• Mr Flood and Mr Dunn - Helping to cross safely in the morning
• Mr Hage - Great care class
• Mrs Hart - Makes lessons fun
• Mr Opie - Makes care fun and interesting
• Ms Joubert - Always nice and friendly 
• Tommy Hershall - Boys workshop - creating a safe space to talk
• Mrs Cairney - Help understanding how to get the best grade
• Ms Skyring - Always supportive and helpful
• Mr Bagnell - Taking extra time to help fix project
• Ms Davidson - Compassionate and helpful
• Ms Apanui - Supportive and helpful with work
• Mr Power - Awesome lessons
• Tuck shop Team - Awesome food and friendly
• Mr Jeffries - Enjoyable and fun lessons
• Ms Wahlin - Always happy and makes class fun
• Ms Gerber - Being flexible and patient
• Mr Walsh - Creating a safe and supportive space
• Mr Robb - Great help and breakdown of lessons
• Tutoring - Less anxious after help to finish work
• Mr Dixon - Helped with assignment
• Ms Benigno - So many options/paths to finish work and rewards
• Ms Wahlin - Supportive and understanding

School based traineeships available

New exciting traineeship opportunities are available in the Pathways Centre Y Block for year 10’s for Term 2. Job boards will be updated regularly with new positions. Students can collect a registration form and apply now. 

Get paid while gaining a qualification when doing a school based traineeship and earn up to 8 QCE points!! 

A variety of traineeships are on offer with a focus on business, hospitality, retail and tourism.

Enjoy the happy faces of PBC students that have recently completed traineeships...

Hospitality and Business Traineeships:

• Pool Maintenance Company Gold Coast
• Stones Throw Café Burleigh
• Hudson Coffee John Flynn
• Third Base Coffee
• Passiontree Velvet Robina and Pacific Fair
• Paperbark Burleigh
• Saiko Teppanyaki Robina
• Ari Thai The Kitchens Robina
• Café Biaggi Burleigh
• Zarraffas Tugun and 19th Ave, Reedy Creek, Worongary & Helensvale
• Portside Coffee Currumbin
• Alexander Holiday Apartments – Surfers Paradise
• Crema Espresso Coolangatta
• The Original Bakery Tugun
• Bakers Delight Robina
• F45 Gym Palm Beach
• Maries Pizza Tugun, Palm Beach and Mermaid Beach
• Guzmen Y Gomez Burleigh
• IGA Currumbin

School based vacancies links:

Ignite Education: https://www.ignite.edu.au/job-vacancies/

Aurora Training Institute please visit their vacancy page: http://www.aurora.edu.au/schools-program/

Prestige Training Services vacancies, please visit this link for more opportunities: https://pst.edu.au/job-board-gold-coast/

There are more opportunities on the job boards. Please come into Y Block to register

Love your current job? Would you like to turn it into a traineeship? Come to the Pathway centre and let’s see if we can create a traineeship for you in your current role.

The Pathway Centre is open before school and first break to apply for any of the above positions.

Sonia Shreeve - Industry Liaison Officer

We encourage parents/caregivers to let us know about your student’s excellent recent achievements and email the details to us. These achievements can be in the Arts, sporting, academic or community service. We would love to hear from you! Please email us at news@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au with details of your student’s achievement and include at least one photo, and/or any links to media articles that we can share via our Parent Newsletter, internal communications and social media.

Immunisations

2020 School Immunisation program: The delivery of the 2020 Gold Coast Health Schools immunisation program has been affected by COVID-19. As a result the Year 10 Immunisations have changed to Term 3 Week 1 Tuesday 14 July – CARE, Period 1, 2 and 3.

Parent/Caregivers

• Please contact Gold Coast Health goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au for further information
• Students can visit the Year 9/10 Student Services to collect a hard copy immunisation form if required prior to the immunisation date and return the signed consent form to Year 9/10 Student Services
• Students cannot be vaccinated without a valid consent form
• Free vaccines are also available at the GC Public Health Community Clinics or other medical immunisation providers such as a GP (there may be a consultation fee for a GP) 
  
  

Absences

Full Day

Parents/Caregivers must notify the school and provide an explanation of a student absence by 9.00am on the day of the absence. 

The priority for notification is:

1. TEXT MESSAGE – (0426305728) – provide student name, year level date and reason for absence e.g. Sick

OR

2. EMAIL – absences@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au – provide student name, date and reason for absence

Example Text/Email – “John Smith Y8 03/06/19 Sick”

Entertainment App - School Fundraising

Have you renewed your Entertainment App membership? The 2019/2020 memberships have expired so now is the time to renew. You can buy now but don’t need to register the app for up-to 3 months.

Let’s support our local community!

As restrictions start to ease we are excited to offer the new Entertainment Apps. Times have been tough the last few months so there is a heap of free stuff if you purchase before 13 July.

Follow us on Social Media

Instagram @pbcshs

www.facebook.com/palmbeachcurrumbinstatehigh

www.facebook.com/pbcalliance  

Dates to Remember

Partner Shout Outs!

Thank you to Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club from supporting our students by becoming a PBC Alliance Reds Supporter Partner. Voted Gold Coast's Best Surf Club in 2019! The club offers a Beachfront Restaurant, Cafe, Bar, Gaming and Entertainment. Go and enjoy spectacular views and delicious food! Members and visitors welcome. Supporting the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
  

PBC Alliance Business Directory

– support our local businesses

If you are looking to support our local businesses and local community when looking for a product or service look no further than the PBC Alliance Business Directory. All the listings are supporters of our students and local so please support those that support PBC. https://www.pbc-alliance.com/business-directory.html

Would your business like to support our students?

Become a Partner today. If you are interested in learning more about the PBC Alliance visit our website! www.pbc-alliance.com

Uniform Shop Trading Times during Term times

Monday to Thursday: 8:00am – 12:15pm

Sport Excellence, Dance & CAX Uniforms

All Sport Excellence, Dance & CAX uniforms are available to pick up from the uniform shop.

Bucket Hats

Small-Medium & large bucket hats are back in stock & available to purchase for $15

Reds Socks

XL, L, M, S socks are available to purchase for $4 pair.

Lost Property

The uniform shop is holding unnamed lost property including shoes, training gear and bags. If your child has lost something please have them take a look through the lost property bin located at the uniform shop. Please check at D, E & Y block for all named items. At the end of the term all unclaimed/unnamed lost property will be disposed of, so please check for your missing items before they disappear.

Student Welfare Pool

Parents/caregivers are welcome to donate PBC school uniforms back to the Uniform Shop at any time, as their children grow or they leave the school. All items of uniform clothing are welcome including shoes.  These donations will be passed on to the Student Welfare pool for students in need. 

Flexischools Orders

If you have placed an order for your child via Flexischools, please have your student come and pick it up from the Uniform Shop.

Payment methods available:

• Flexischools Online www.flexischools.com.au
• Credit Card
• Cash 
• Cheques not accepted

Please note: Payment by credit card can only be taken in person at the Payments window. Credit Cards can not be processed over the phone or in writing.

Get your Groms surfing now!

Afternoon and Weekend Surfing Programs

Walkin’ On Water Surf School is back open, running lessons and programs again at Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta. As a lot of other children’s sport cannot start, we are offering specifically designed after school surfing as well as weekend surfing programs for our local school children for all ages and all levels. * We have implemented several temporary changes in how we do things for the safety of everyone and so that we remain COVIDSafe, as seen on our website. * www.walkinonwater.com

Please contact us on 0418 780 311 or via email on surf@walkinonwater.com to book in or for more information

Tugun SLSC

Are you looking to join a Surf Club and try Surf boat rowing this season? We have some brilliant sweeps, and a new surf boat on order. Please don't hesitate to get in contact with Tugun SLSC to find out more. Ph: 5534 2888

Full Circle Formals

Formal season is coming up and we would like to give a shoutout to local charity Full Circle Formals. Full Circle Formals collects second hand formal wear through donations and thrift stores and then gives them to underprivileged Australian youth to wear for their high school formals.

Every child deserves to feel just as special as the next and through these donations FCF will be able to provide these children an opportunity that they never thought possible. Even though we are true believers in inner beauty, we just want to give these children the extra confidence and self appreciation we know they have inside by providing them an outfit that lets their personality shine.

If your family has any formal clothing no longer being used and you would like to donate towards this fantastic cause please drop it into PBC main reception.
https://fullcircleformals.com.au/

Domestic and family violence services

Challenging times can unfortunately result in relationship strain and abuse. Families and young people are encouraged to reach out for support. Domestic and family violence services are continuing to operate. In an emergency, always call the Police on triple zero (000). 

DVConnect provides crisis support for domestic and family violence issues. 1800RESPECT is available for 24/7 web and telephone counselling. Kids Helpline is available 24/7 for children and young people seeking counselling and support.
The Queensland Government’s Domestic and Family Violence portal provides useful information on local domestic and family violence services.

Film Festival

Film festival raises awareness of SE Queensland environmental issues

The Cicada Film Festival (CFF) is a short film competition open to South East Queensland youth, up to and including 24 years of age. Entrants have a chance to learn about environmental issues as they research projects, develop skills from writing, filming and editing their productions. The films are also intended to educate and influence. Schools and students both have the chance to win cash prizes. Submissions close 7 September, which coincides with Threatened Species Day, and an awards night is planned for 30 October. For more information or to enter, go to the CFF website.

Video competition focuses on Great Barrier Reef

Students aged 6 to 13 have the opportunity to combine their creativity and desire to protect the Great Barrier Reef and its marine life.

The Reef RADicals film competition welcomes 90-second videos addressing one of five challenges: marine pollution, climate change, habitat loss, food waste or explore ideas that activate.

The competition is presented by Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and James Cook University.

Entries close midnight 9 August. For more information, go to www.reefradicals.org.