From the Executive Principal,

Now into Week 4 of the year, we are well truly up and running with Senior exams not too far away and the start of information nights for 2025 programs about to commence.  Schools are always dynamic places with the Plan/ Act/ Review cycle constantly in action.

• P&C date update. The first meeting of the year is Tuesday February 27.  This will include a presentation on our Code of Conduct including proactive strategies to enhance learning.
• I was in classes recently and went through the session of the Year 7 students setting up their new Laptops. I watched the excitement in the room and the enthusiasm to engage with the technology.  For some reason that triggered a flashback to 1999, now 25 years ago when the Y2K / Millennium Bug was a major concern whether we would have a global crash as the clocked ticked over to 2000.  Do you remember that time and the concern to be in a plane at midnight on NYE?
• All parents received information regarding consent for school photos. There are strict timelines on this process.  Only students whose parents have consented will have their photo taken by MSP photography.  It only takes a few seconds through the QParents App.
• I am looking forward to the Gold Coast student leaders’ presentation at Griffith University, where the 2024 student leaders of Gold Coast High Schools are presented. The next opportunity for these students is the Bond University run leadership learning day. 
• The Junior canteen construction has now begun with completion expected in Term 2. If you go to the markets on Saturday, it is the area fenced off in the south eastern corner at the end of the Trade Training Centre.

This week I have the opportunity of meeting families at the Senior Optima Awards, recognising the academic outcome of Semester 2, 2023

Best wishes, Chris.

Chris Kern
Executive Principal

Thankyou to all families for their support across the first month of school. All students are reminded that attendance in Senior Schooling is of the highest priority and in all instances to explain any absences as quick as you can. We look forward to celebrating with invited families at our OPTIMA Awards Ceremony recognising outstanding Semester 2 2023 achievement this coming Thursday. 

Assessment 

• Assessment Calendars for Years 10, 11 and 12 have been uploaded to the school website https://pbc-shs.eq.edu.au. Click on the curriculum tab and then under testing and assessment. This information will be useful for parents and students when planning their study timetable. 
• Please note that some Year 11 assessment will be finalised in Week 8 of Term 1 (March 11 onwards) and then occur after each 7-week block of teaching. All Year 10 and 12 assessment will be finalised in the last week of each term (week 10). 

Year 10  

Year 10s are also reminded that they can commence School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATS) in Year 10. These courses provide students with paid employment and work skills, 8 QCE points (equivalent of 2 subjects) and a Certificate 3 qualification which may provide tertiary options. 

Year 11 

Year 11 students will be very busy in 2024 as Units 1 and 2 are completed across the first 3 terms. Students than commence Unit 3 (Year 12 work) in term 4. 

In the QCE unit credits are banked into each student’s learning account at the end of each unit The implication for this is that students who are not engaged in learning and perform poorly in a number of subjects could find themselves ineligible for the QCE as early as week 5 term 2 (May 20). Students have been reminded of this and will need to ensure that they are actively engaged in all classes at all times. 

Many students will have completed traineeships and higher VET certificates before they sit external exams in November of 2025. This will provide students with extra QCE points and help ensure that they get the QCE even if they have a poor external exam. Please see Ms Shreeve in Y block to register for a traineeship. 

Year 12 

Year 12 students have completed their first summative assessment item from Unit 3 at the end of last term in most subjects.  

This is a very important term for Year 12s; by the end of this term they will have completed 50% of their Unit 3 and 4 assessment in all subjects except Maths and Sciences so it is important that they are prioritising their time appropriately. 

All ATAR eligible students are again reminded that they must pass their English subject at the end of Unit 3 and 4 to be eligible for an ATAR . 

Students are again reminded that all students need to be eligible to for a Queensland Certificate of Education to remain enrolled in Senior Schooling. For students in year 11 and 12 this means they must be passing at least 5 of their 6 subjects (regardless of whether or not they are completing a traineeship). All students who are doing VET subjects must be up to date at the end of each term. Time will be allocated during shutdown to ensure that these students are up to date. Students who do not complete their competencies will have their enrolment reviewed. 

Useful websites 

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority has a website specifically for students and parents. ( https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/index.html ). This is a great source of information on the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), Senior Education Training (SET) Plan, future pathways, subjects and assessment. 

Year 11 and 12 students have been emailed details on how to register for the Student Portal on the myQCE website. This is the portal where they can access their results and QCE. 

All Year 11 and 12 students should be in the process of completing an online QCAA Academic Integrity course via this student portal (htttps://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/). This is going to become a compulsory pre-requisite to attain the QCE. 

Study Skills 

There are a suite of resources available for students to access on the school student portal to support them in developing their skills of study and long-term retention of knowledge.  

A collection of these have also been added to the school website for parents to access in order to support the students. These can be found under Curriculum, Testing and assessment; Guides.  

OPTIMA ASSEMBLY

Last week we had the pleasure of gathering to celebrate the achievements of our Year 9 cohort, in our first OPTIMA Assembly of the year.  This Optima Assembly recognised outstanding application to school during Semester 2 of 2023, as well as academic, sporting, community and cultural achievements. We would like to further thank all families who were in attendance at this assembly and to all students another hearty congratulations on your achievements.

LIFECHANGER

The Year 8 Life Changer workshops will be held in Week 4.  The focus will be on life skills such as goal setting, problem solving, resilience and gratitude.  Resilience is the centrepiece of this workshop with students developing a better understanding of what to do when faced with a challenge.

Year 7 Camp 

Reminders the RSVP for the Noosa North Shore camp close 16 February 2024.   Please email events@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au.  Please state Year 7 Camp as the subject and provide your child's name in the body of the email. 

Year 7 2025 Excellence Information Evening

The Year 7 2025 Excellence Information Evening is being held on Wednesday 21 February.  Please see the attached flyer for further information.

NAPLAN 2024

In Weeks 8 and 9, Year 7 and Year 9 students will sit NAPLAN.

NAPLAN results help our English and Maths teachers to tailor programs that continue to improve students’ literacy and numeracy skills.

Teachers have carefully worked with students to prepare them for the test and we look forward to every student making their best effort. NAPLAN is now done online, with adaptive test so that every student can show what they can do, rather than what they cannot do.  A rehearsal is being held in Week 5, to help create supportive test environment.

NAPLAN Dates:

•  Week 5 - Thur 22 Feb – NAPLAN Rehearsals
• Week 8 – Wed 13th March – Writing Test
• Week 9 – Tue 19th March - Reading
• Week 9 – Thur 21 March - Language Conventions
• Week 9 – Fri 22nd March – Numeracy
• Year 9 tests will be held in CARE and Period 1 sessions, and Year 7 in Period 2 (and into lunch if needed)

Students will receive information at school about which room to attend for NAPLAN. All other scheduled lessons will run as usual during these days. Should your child be absent for a test, they will be provided with a catch-up session on Monday 25th March.

Participation

We encourage all of Year 7 and Year 9 to be part of NAPLAN, and we make special provisions for the inclusion of students with PLPs. If your child requires adjustments then please contact Kylie Gibson, Acting HOD of Inclusion via email:  kgibs68@eq.edu.au

PBC teachers frequently use NAPLAN data to make decisions about differentiation and targeted teaching in the classroom so knowing where each child is currently at in terms of their literacy and numeracy is very important to our planning. A standardised test like NAPLAN is a great tool to help us. The adaptive tests mean that every child can complete their NAPLAN with a sense of accomplishment.

NAPLAN Equipment

No special equipment is required. Students must bring their charged PBC laptop and a pen or pencil. Students using BYOD will be provided with a device at each test session.

Preparing for NAPLAN

Students cannot study for NAPLAN. You might support your child to visit the Public Access Site, where they can make sure that they know how to use the online tools and answer different styles of online questions. https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

Students are best off having a good night’s sleep and a decent breakfast to prepare for each day of the tests.

Concerns?

Contact our team in the Junior Secondary office if you have any further questions.

Pathways Centre News

School based traineeships available

Welcome back !!

New exciting traineeship opportunities are available for year 10 & 11’s in the Pathways Centre Y Block. 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!!

Already working!! Why not convert your job to a traineeship, gain QCE points, and gain a qualification in your current job

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

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: New traineeships at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Information session Tuesday March 5^th, see details attached

Garden of Vegan: Currumbin business specialising in events and catering, markets stalls etc online ordering, sales and social media. Great opportunity with a variety of tasks

Zarraffas Coffee: Tugun store, many positions available

Miami Pool City Venue Management, gain your CPR, first aid and pool life guarding while working at a local pool, Miami and Robina plus more locations… flyer attached, apply through the QR code

Hospitality and Business Traineeships:

• Zarraffas Tugun
• Brumbys Bakery The Pines
• Colores Coolangatta
• Huxley School of Makeup
• Garden of Vegan – Currumbin Waters
• Boost Juice the Pines
• The Pines News and Gifts
• Ground Coolangatta
• Burleigh Heads Surf Club
• The Paddock Bakery
• The Coffee Club Stocklands Burleigh
• Soul Origin Robina
• Southport Yacht Club
• Captain Hook Seafood Tugun
• Bakers Delight Robina
• BSKT Nobbys Beach
• Coming Home Co Robina
• Pizzeria Coolangatta
• Airport Retail Enterprises – Gold Coast Airport
• Third Base Coffee Palm Beach
• PRA Psychology Mermaid Beach – Mondays
• Kooco Espresso Bar & Kitchen Robina and Nerang
• Hi Poke Kirra
• The Shelf Café and Deli the Pines
• Wendys the Pines
• Pets Wonderland Currumbin
• Maries Pizza – Various locations
• KFC – Palm Beach, Mermaid Beach & Robina
• Surf Easy Currumbin
• Hairdressing – Robina
• Tallebudgera Surf Club - Cookery

Airport Retail Enterprises:

ARE manage many of the cafes, restaurants and fast-food outlets at Coolangatta Airport. They are looking for enthusiastic and energetic applicants for their traineeships. In this traineeship students will rotate through a range of outlets including fast food, cafe and retail. This is traineeship is ideal for students who are hospitality driven as the diverse experiences will equip the students with a vast range of skills and knowledge. Students must have availability to work weekends to apply for these traineeships

School based vacancies links:

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

First Choice College: Please visit their vacancy page https://fcc.edu.au/?s=traineeships

Ignite Education: https://ignite.edu.au/jobs/school-based-business-traineeships-hospitality-focus/

School Leavers should check the following links for fulltime employment opportunities

https://www.goldcoaststudentjobs.com.au/

https://www.busyatwork.com.au/support-jobseekers/jobs/

https://www.megt.com.au/job-board

https://novaskill.com.au/jobs-available

Looking for a Trade??  Tracy from Gold Coast Trades college has many opportunities available for school leavers looking for a trade eg: metal roofer, painting/decorating, carpentry, tiling, Automotive & plastering.

Please email your resume and industry of interest to Tracey Egan tracy@peopleperformance.com.au 

MEGT Vacancies: Visit the Career Hub job board for a variety of apprenticeships, Roof Plumbing, Landscaping Construction, Soil Technician, Engineering… just to name a few

Visit this link: https://www.megt.com.au/job-board

Mas National vacancies: visit this link https://mas.jobreadygateway.com.au/vacancies

OSMAC are seeking keen YEAR 12 students that want to secure an apprenticeship in the following trades only:

Air/Con & Electrical, Engineering Trade, Plumber, Carpentry, Plastering, Painting, Cabinet Making, Shopfitting, Tiling, Light & heavy vehicle & Panel beater/spray painting

Email resume to Kylie Lacey -  kylie@ogt.com.au & reception@ogt.com.au

Grill’d Stores: Hiring now. Send email to recruitment@grilld.com.au

McDonald’s casuals: apply via these links

• Tugun: https://smrtr.io/4LXdX
• Palm Beach: https://smrtr.io/4RX8W
• Elanora: https://smrtr.io/4LXbg
• Coolangatta and Burleigh Heads visit: https://careers.mcdonalds.com/australia

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

In Week 3 we hosted the Mario Kart interhouse competition, which was run on the Nintendo Switch platform. It was a great event with 137 students and 45 teachers in attendance to try their hand at becoming PBC’s Mario Kart champion for 2024. Heats were held on Thursday and the top competitors from each house were selected to participate in the knockout finals series held on Friday. There were some entertaining races, some very close finishes, and the crowd definitely got their money’s worth! The final race went down to the wire with Oliver Cowan and Will Miglioranza battling out the lead until the final winning post. Of course, there could only be one winner, with Will taking the prize. Final standings were Vikings 1^st, Spartans 2^nd, Athenians 3^rd, Phoenicians 4^th.

Cluster Day Trial – Wednesday 14^th February – Period 4

On Wednesday (week 4), during period 4, ALL students will go to their allocated sport/activity for GCSS Cluster Days 2024.

For some, it will just be a case of meeting the teacher/coach who they will be working with on cluster days and sharing key information, for others, it may be a chance for the coach to offer some training / trials, so students can be grouped into teams.

Student are encourgaed to wear their REDS for this lesson.

REMINDER

• All consent for Cluster Days will go through QParents this year, so please make sure you have registered online
• Those who still have outstanding invoices from last year, will be unable to participate in a activity/sport that require a payment in 2024, until the 2023 invoice is paid.

Junior Secondary Guidance Officer – Anna Willis

Back to school anxiety: six tips to help your teen

Going back to school after the holidays can be a big deal. For some children, it means moving into a new classroom with a new teacher. Others will be going to a new school altogether. Change can be exciting, but it’s often scary, too. If your child is feeling fearful and anxious about the return to school, you may be unsure how to help them. This can be an upsetting and challenging situation for you as a parent or carer, too. Here are some steps to take to help your teen with their return to the classroom.

1. Let your teen know you hear them

It might be tempting to dismiss your child’s fears with a quick reassurance that everything will be OK. But it is more helpful to let them know that you understand and believe them, and that you will work with them as they get back into the school routine and do whatever you can to support them. This can help your child move on from negative emotions and towards solving the problem with you.

2. Find out what’s worrying them

There are various reasons why your child might not want to go back to school. They might be trying to avoid something negative: bullying, a difficult environment created by teachers, struggles interacting with their classmates or academic pressure. They might have neurodevelopmental issues, such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia, that make school difficult, or a mental health issue such as anxiety. Finding out what in particular is worrying them will help you work out a solution – perhaps with the assistance of a teacher or other professional.

3. Let them know it’s OK to feel scared

If your family is experiencing back-to-school anxiety, both you and your child may be feeling a little bit inadequate and ashamed of these feelings. But this fear is not a sign of weakness. It’s an understandable challenge, with a genuine cause, that you and your child have the capacity to understand and overcome. By going through this challenge and facing it with the right support, you and your child can end up feeling more capable and more resilient.

4. Focus on sleep

Sleep routines probably went out the window over the holidays, and everyone at home will struggle to deal with earlier bedtimes and morning alarms. Teenagers, in particular, will find it difficult – a shift in sleep patterns from puberty can push the time they feel ready to sleep later by as much as two hours. Unfortunately, though, this doesn’t reduce the amount of sleep that they need (about nine hours a night). But sleep is important for mood and academic performance. Try to be kind and compassionate with yourself and everyone else in the house, and see if you can all get to bed at least 15 minutes early. If you can’t manage this or if it’s already too late, there are other ways to improve sleep. Exercise during the day, cutting caffeine intake, reducing evening screen time, and even missing some extracurricular activities at the start of the school year might be helpful.

5. Pay attention to your own mood

Try to reduce your own negative talk about the return to school. If you’re unhappy about going back to the school routine, then it’s likely your children will follow your lead. Try to avoid negative conversations, in real life or online, about going back to school. If you can’t manage to be positive, and there’s another adult in the house or family, you can ask them to support you by being positive and acting as a counterbalance to your anxiety or negative thoughts.

6. Encourage optimism

Practice thinking optimistically with your teen. Before going to bed each night, you could both write down three things you are looking forward to the following day – seeing friends, an after-school club, a favourite meal. This can help you both balance out the negative emotions you might be feeling about the day ahead.

Author’s-Trudy Meehan, Lecturer, Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Jolanta Burke, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Guidance Officer Anna Willis (Email : awill464@eq.edu.au)

Triathlon

The following PBC students competed in the QSS Triathlon over the weekend in Hervey Bay.

Piper Anderson (2nd - Junior Girls)

Siena Picton (3rd - Junior Girls)

Hunter Anderson (4th -Inter Boys)

Charlotte Hart (5th - Senior Girls)

Summer Murray (22nd - Junior Girls)

Chloe Kling McAuliffe (1st Girls Junior MC)

Congratulations to Piper, Siena, Hunter and Charlotte who have now qualified to represent QLD at the Australian Schools Triathlon in WA during week 8 of this term.

BMX

Congratulations to year 8 student Alirah. Alirah rides Freestyle BMX and recently achieved a gold medal in Under 15's Freestyle BMX at the Victoria State Championships on January 28. Alirah will now compete on Sunday 9th February at a National level in Melbourne for the National Under 15's Female Champion. Way to go Alirah, we wish you all the best for Sunday! 

Traineeship Award

Congratulations to year 11 student Luca Jensen. Luca has been crowned school-based trainee of the Quarter {oct-dec 2023} and being awarded a certificate and invited to the General Managers Luncheon held next month

Luca is currently doing a school based traineeship Cert 3 Business with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

CWS are searching for their next group of superstar trainees at an information session to be held 5^th March.

Come along to our next Business Networking Breakfast and find out what it is all about! Visit: https://www.pbc-alliance.com/events.html 

The PBC Alliance is a school initiative, offering local businesses, individuals and past students the opportunity to help PBC support students to achieve their potential. Being a part of the PBC Alliance family, you will contribute to a positive and community-focused local network of businesses, alumni and community-minded parents and individuals. 

We are seeking support and engagement in 2024 from local businesses and parents to ensure our area continues to evolve as an inspiring and supportive  community. Click here to find out how you can get involved. 

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT!

We are delighted to welcome Crellin Walters Financial Planning as new a 2024 PBC Alliance Gold partner.

At Crellin Walters Financial Planning we put PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS and ensure that our client's best interests are at theheart of every decision we make.
We specialise in advice for people pre-retirement or post-retirement, and weare experts in Centrelink advice.
We partner with our clients in attending all important meetings which caninclude Estate Planning solicitors, Accountants, Centrelink, financialinstitutions or support in extended family meetings.
This type of customised financial support ensures a holistic view of yourfinancial success and is unique to the market.
We are also unique in the market being a mobile service that can attend a meeting at your chosen location and due to less overhead costs we offer advice at reasonable and fair prices.

Contact Aaron on 0419 217 893 or David on 0478 480 284

email info@crellinwaltersfp.com.au

Website https://www.crellinwaltersfinancialplanning.com.au/

Thank you!

Thank you to our amazing partners that have already signed on to support our students in 2024!

PLATINUM

Aurora Training Institute

Bendigo Bank Tugun Community Bank

Eoghan Murphy - Kollosche

Find Ya Feet

Gold Coast Titans

Grip Star Socks

Stone Style

Tweed Sea Sports

GOLD

Bond Sport

Capital Pest Management

Prestige Services Training

Southport Sharks

MSP Photography

Palm Beach Physio and Sports Rehab

Crellin Walters Financial Planning

SILVER

99 Bikes Burleigh

Currumbin RSL

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Harrison & Harrison Financial

Inspiring Brighter Futures

Michael Hart MP, Member for Burleigh

Palm Beach Surf Club

PlayBk

RJ Beaufils & Sons

Summerland Bank

Trade Glass

BRONZE

Bidfood

City of Gold Coast

Fraser Financial Services

LD Total Landscaping

The Butchers Table The Pines

REDS SUPPORTERS

Balloonery Gold Coast

BOQ Elanora

City Venue Management

CVM Academy

Fight 4 Youth

Laura Gerber MP

Mighty Minds

PBC P&C

Signature Dance

VMA Promotional Products

Youth Music Venture

TERTIARY PARTNERS

Bond University

Griffith University

Gold Coast TAFE

Southern Cross University

PBC Alliance Business Directory – support our local businesses

PBC Alliance Business Directory

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 of our Partners and Member businesses are listed in this directory and are looking to help you whereever they can. All 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. 

Canteen News

The Canteen provides a wide range of everyday healthy food options made daily

Breakfast starts 8.00am to 9.00am – Egg & Bacon Wrap, toasted sandwiches, smoothies, yoghurt and granola, and fresh fruit.

Lunch Breaks operates on a self-serve system during lunch breaks Students can purchase sandwiches, salads, hot foods, snacks and drinks.

EFTPOS and cash accepted.

Pre-orders are welcome for special dietary needs.

Uniform Shop News

SESF Scholarships

SESF Scholarships are now open for 2024.

SESF Scholarhips are only for emerging athleteswhose families are experiencing fincial hardship. Eligible athletes will be competing in a National Championship for their state or country in 2024.  Sucessful scholarship recipients will be required to submit photos, videos and testimonial documenting their story at their National or International Champiomship.  Scholarships are in the amount of $1000.

To check your sports eligibility pease go to https://wwsportaus.gov.au/australian_sports_directory or https://www.schoolsportaustralia.edu.au.sports/