21 July 2015

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

This week our school community celebrated NAIDOC Week with a variety of activities highlighted by a School Celebration Assembly on Wednesday 16 July. The Assembly was hosted by former student and staff member Selwyn Apanui, and Giselle Kilner-Parmenter (Year 11) and Brent Woolf (Year 12) two of our Indigenous student leaders. Local Elder Aunty Joyce and Cr Daphne McDonald were present as official guests.

Palm Beach Currumbin State High values our local history and the special contribution that Indigenous families past and present have made to PBC which has significantly influenced where we are today.

In any given year our student population consists of around 5% Indigenous students, many of whom participate in our Academic, Sports and Creative Arts Excellence programs.

The celebration was held in our new undercover area and all year levels participated wonderfully. The ceremony included:

• A traditional welcome to country by Aunty Joyce
• The national anthem sung in both Yugambeh and English by our choir
• Traditional dances from our very own Indigenous dance group Bpootharum Dancers
• Sally Treveton spoke eloquently about this year’s Naidoc theme
• Charlie Duke (Year 11) gave a moving account of what being Indigenous means to her which is attached as a PDF link at the bottom of this article.

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the following awards:

Academic

Ezra Hayes – Year 7
Charli Hart – Year 8
Kai Sampson – Year 9
Summa Mount – Year 10
Giselle Kilner-Parmenter – Year 11
Brent Woolf – Year 12

Top Achiever NAPLAN 2014

Jemma Macmillan Yr10

Sport

Brent Woolf – Year 12
Boden Bennett - Year 11
Charlie Duke – Year 11
Isaiah Barker – Year 11
Allan Lockwood – Year 11

Service Awards - Cadets

DJ Blake – Year 12

Service to Murri Jarjum

Bpootharum Dance Troupe 2014 & 2015 dancers:

Fletcher Harrold – Year 12
Blake Buxton – Year 12
Dominic Bryan-Thompson – Year 12
Tayte Lamos – Year 10
Stefanie Noffke – Year 10
Britney Noffke – Year 10
Stephanie Jurisich – Year 9

In my address I spoke to the students about the recently announced plan to hold a referendum in 2017 to formally acknowledge Indigenous Australians in our Constitution. I thought that appropriate given that almost 800 current students will be eligible voters by that stage.

On behalf of the school community, I would like to congratulate Mrs Wendy Wise, Mr Chris Patison, Mr Selwyn Apanui and Mr Errol McDonald for the fantastic job they did putting together such a meaningful and thought provoking Celebration.

Stephen Loggie
Executive Principal

Newsletter Articles

Senior School Update

It is with great pleasure that I welcome all students back to school for Term 3. I do hope all had a relaxing and enjoyable break.

Term 3 in the Senior School will bring a renewed focus on respectful positive behaviour which in turn delivers a more engaging and productive learning experience. To assist with this, the Senior School welcomes a new acting Dean of Students Mr Jarlath Scannell. Mr Scannell has had a wealth of experience coordinating the current Grade 10 students and will be an asset to the Y Block Team. I would also like to welcome Janine Watson to the Acting Year 10 Coordination Role, Nikki Howse to the VET Coordination Role, and Rebecca Griffith to the Youth Support Coordinator and Welfare Support role.

Reports

Reports will be emailed out to parents and carers next Friday 24 July. It is imperative that time is taken for both students and their support people to sit down and work through these reports. Consideration need not only focus on achievement grades but should also be given to effort and behaviour grades along with teacher comments. Reflecting on their reports, students should take the time to set goals for individual subjects that challenge themselves and provide motivation in the coming term. If there are any questions around the reports and their contents please keep in mind that all teachers are contactable via email, at the addresses listed on our school website, and also via the school phone line.

Alyce Cleary
Acting Director Senior School

Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be A Learner

The PBC school community is aware of the fundamental expectations for all students - Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner.

Last fortnight I wrote about the importance of safe behaviour, specifically related to riding bikes to and from school. We have been reminding students about wearing helmets. Police from local stations have confirmed that they will be present around the school zone at peak times in the coming week. Please continue to remind your child that they must be wearing a helmet if they are riding bikes on the road.

This fortnight I am focusing on "Be Respectful" - a fundamental expectation that students and staff engage in mutually respectful relationships. This covers a range of behaviour in and out of the classroom - how students speak to each other, how students speak in front of teachers, and how they respond to teacher instructions. Similarly, student behaviour in the playground should at all times demonstrate respect for school property as well as respect for the safety and wellbeing of other people around them.

We are reminding all students of these expectations. As young people are preparing to move away from school out into the world of work or further study, we need to be reinforcing attitudes and behaviours that are widely regarded as socially acceptable.

Our aim for these last two terms is to continue to highlight respectful behaviour as a priority, while recognising and acknowledging those students who speak and behave in a way that brings credit to themselves, their family and the PBC community.

Tracey Cardinal
Deputy Principal Senior School

QCS

Year 12 QCS classes are conducted on Wednesday during period 2 and 4 this term. This is the final preparation for the QCS test and it is critical that all students are engaged and active participants in this program. Students with a poor attendance will be removed from the QCS program. The QCS exam which will be conducted on 1-2 September 2015.

Year 11

The Year 11 Senior Schooling program also commences this Semester. All students will receive literacy and numeracy lessons during Wednesday Period 2 to assist them with their Senior Schooling.

Year 10

Year 10 students have commenced “taster” lessons during Period 2 on Wednesdays. These lessons are designed to assist students with their selection of subjects for Years 11 and 12 which will be conducted at the end of this term.

Predicted OPs

Predicted OPs will be calculated based on Semester 1 results. These should be mailed home in Week 3. Year 12 students with a predicted OP of 15 or higher will be interviewed. These students may be better suited moving to Selection Rank or completing a Certificate III to improve their likelihood of being offered a tertiary place in 2016. Please contact Mr McDougall for more information.

Certificate III in Business

Any Year 12 student interested in studying a Certificate III in Business to improve their tertiary pathways next year should contact Mr McDougall. This course can commence in Term 3 and will involve studying with an outside provider one day a week (cost $500).

Diploma in Business

Year 11 students interested in completing the Diploma in Business with Careers Australia after school are reminded that enrolment/application forms are due. Accepted students will commence the course in Week 3 on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Subject changes

Subject changes are open for the last two weeks and first two weeks of each term. Students need to collect subject change forms from Y block and then get permission signatures from relevant Heads of Departments and parents. Subject changes are only made if there is room in the timetable.

Mick McDougall
HOD Senior School

Middle School News

Our Beliefs and Values

As you would all be aware our Middle School has experienced significant change this year with the introduction of the inaugural Year 7 cohort. In effect this has meant over 800 ‘new’ students have joined our Middle School this year. With any significant change of this magnitude comes opportunities and challenges. There is also a need to continually communicate our core philosophy and values as a school community.

Our Middle School philosophy is:

“The Middle School is built around a caring, supportive environment enabling students a smooth transition both from Primary School and into Senior School. Students feel a sense of belonging and in such an environment strong relationships among students and staff are created. Shared decision-making and active participation along with a rigorous curriculum help to cultivate lifelong learners.”

We also have very explicit core values which guide our students towards achieving our school motto, ‘Nil Sed Optima’ (Nothing but the Best).

These values that give life to our Optima Code are:

• Be safe
• Be respectful
• Be a learner

As a Middle School we are very aware that if students (supported by our wider school community) are aware of these core values and their expectations to continuously ‘live’ them on a day to day basis, our school will continue to be a safe, respectful and learner focussed environment.

Every Day Counts

It is widely accepted that for student learning to be enhanced and developed over a unit, term and/or year, that their attendance at school and in class is a vital ingredient. Studies outline that high levels of student attendance at school is one of the greatest indicators of enhancing and improving a student’s enjoyment and achievement levels. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents and/or guardians for supporting the school in ensuring students are at school with purpose and readiness to learn. I would also like to put the challenge forward that further improvement is possible and required to support our culture of high expectations for all students.

Blair Hanna
Director of Middle School

Deputy Principal Report

I would like to introduce myself for those that I haven’t met. I have been working as a Deputy Principal at PBC since 2008 and have done a range of different roles in that time. Mr Peter O’Brien is on extended leave and so Stephen Loggie has asked me to work in the Middle School Deputy Principle role. I look forward to working with your family over this next period. We are also welcoming a second Dean of Students, Ms Sandi Mlinar, to the Middle School Leadership Team. Sandi has been a Middle School Year Coordinator for several years; she joins Mr Paul Bullpitt to look after our Year 9 cohort. Mr James McCullagh has begun as Year 9 Coordinator.

It’s been wonderful to see students settle back into their classrooms so easily and classes are well and truly back in full swing. With report cards out soon it will be a good time to focus on Optima Goals for Semester 2. Back for Semester 2 also has us focusing on back to basics. Key messages and follow ups for these first few weeks will be to focus on uniform policy reinforcement, Optima Code reminders and litter.

Uniform Policy reinforcement

Across the whole school our three Deans of Students will check that teachers are following our processes and that students have come dressed in full school uniform. If your child is unable to be in uniform in some way please provide a note from home or a note in student planner that we can record an exemption form on the day. Students need to show this note to a Year Coordinator before school. By Week 3 we will have a central spot in E block where all students can go before class starts at 9.00am. The consequence for not following the policy and not having an exemption is a lunch detention.

Optima Code Reminders

We will spend time at year level parades explicitly teaching the students about what it means to Be Safe and Be Respectful in the classroom and in particular in the playground. Deans of Students and Year Coordinators will give specific examples of the types of behaviours we are looking for from students. We are confident this strategy will improve student’s understanding of the Optima Code. We have also adjusted play areas and increased the number of staff on playground duty to assist with supporting students to play safely and treat each other respectfully whilst on breaks. We have outlined to students potential consequences for unsafe and disrespectful behaviour such as removal from playground for their breaks, afterschool detentions up to suspensions.

Litter

The state of the playground has been a challenge for the Middle School in first semester. You can help with this environmental concern, given our proximity to beautiful Currumbin Creek, by sending lunches with a minimal amount of packaging. We have been working with our canteen staff to reduce packaging also and we welcome your support in this. Students who are littering will be given litter collection as a natural consequence.

We hope these adjustments and extra focus will bring all aspects of Middle School in line with our high expectations and our motto – Nothing but the best.

Anita Sgalippa
Deputy Principal Middle School

Welcome to Term 3

It has been inspiring to see the Middle School precinct return to life after the winter break. Students have returned to PBC reenergised and ready to learn.

Middle School Students have Unique Brains

On assemblies recently, I have been speaking with students about the development of the adolescent brain. Teenagers are very conscious of the changes occurring in their bodies, but they usually do not consider the changes occurring in their brains.

Early in adolescence, a section of the brain called the amygdala develops. The amygdala is responsible for instinctive behaviours, including fear and aggression. Much later, the frontal cortex matures. The frontal cortex is responsible for reasoning, for thinking ahead and foreseeing the consequences of our actions. It is this gap between the development of the amygdala and that of the frontal cortex that makes it challenging for Middle School students to avoid risky or silly behaviours.

These brain differences don’t mean that young people can’t make good decisions or tell the difference between right and wrong. Middle School students are responsible for their actions. Rather, we challenge them to stop, and carefully think before they act. If they pause to consider the potential consequences of their actions, then they can avoid poor choices and help maintain a safe, productive school environment.

Reports are coming

School reports will be issued on Friday 24 July, via email. Please ensure that PBC has your current email address. Should you not receive a report, first check your junk mail, then if need be, contact the school. Reports are most effective when they are shared with the student and discussed. It is always positive to see hard work rewarded in strong grades. Should you have any concerns about a report, do contact your child’s teacher; all teacher emails are listed on the PBC website.

Setting Goals for Term 3

Students are currently receiving feedback on last term’s assessment and setting goals for Term 3. These goals are recorded on the Optima Goal pages of your student’s PBC Diary. Take the time to review these goals and be part of your child’s learning journey.

Sharon Hillcoat
HOD Middle School

Semester 1 Middle School Attendance

As part of the approach toward improvement of attendance habits in the Middle School, there have been multiple cultural components embedded into daily practice in for Year 7, 8 and 9 students. Below is an outline of some of the ways attendance has culturally been embedded into the Middle School.

• Weekly year level assemblies offering students to reflect on their attendance habits and setting challenges to improve
• Weekly Year Coordinators follow up through provision of support for students whose attendance habits have room for improvement.
• Homeroom attendance trackers for each form class, monitored weekly by teachers
• Supportive and encouraging conversations between Middle School teachers and students
• “Outstanding Attendance” certificates for students with 100% attendance rate

The link between regular school attendance and successful outcomes for students is undeniable and well documented.

Education Queensland website offers resources for parents seeking to engage in this space with their young person: www.education.qld.gov.au/everydaycounts

A key message, relevant to this final stage of the semester, as outlined by Education Queensland:

You are encouraged not to schedule holidays during school time. If your family holiday is during school time, let the school know in advance and talk about necessary exemption from schooling processes.

Sandi Mlinar
Middle School Attendance Coordinator

Uniform Compliance in the Middle School

Ensuring Middle School students maintain a high standard of conduct begins with uniform compliance. As there is a school wide focus on uniform compliance, parents are asked to support by familiarising themselves with the Uniform Policy in the Student Planner.

Whereby uniform infringements are picked up by teaching staff, students are required to complete a twenty minute lunch detention and make arrangements with their Year Level Coordinator to rectify the infringement.

In the Middle School, we pride ourselves on ‘sweating the small’ things because we know that this allows for less opportunity for non-compliant behaviours to escalate.

Parent support in this regard is greatly appreciated. Parents are also encouraged to make contact with Year Level Coordinators regarding significant uniform issues such that a solution can be arranged for the student.

Sandi Mlinar
Dean of Students Year 9

Setting Goals

As Term 3 starts, now is good chance to ask your kids how they are going at school. We all know that getting information from kids in the middle years can be a challenge, but we also know the benefits of keeping the lines of communication open with them.

All students have completed their OPTIMA goals. These goals are grades they wish to achieve in their subjects. They would make a good conversation starter for you. “How are you going with achieving your OPTIMA goals this semester?”

The goals should be listed in the student planner and can be found towards the first couple of pages.

Ask to have a look at them perhaps.

Setting goals is a useful skill not only at school, but in life, in a quest towards achieving our best results in any endeavour. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about subjects and subject goals.

E.G “What subjects are you enjoying?”, “What subjects are you struggling with?”, “What are you doing in ______ to get the best result?”, “Who can help you?”

As always please keep the lines of communication open with the school and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Paul Bullpitt
Dean of Students Year 7 and 8

NAIDOC

The 2015 PBC NAIDOC assembly was an exciting occasion for our Murri Jarjum community. Selwyn Apanui led the assembly and spoke about the significance of NAIDOC for the non-indigenous community. Aunty Joyce performed the Welcome to Country and highlighted this year’s theme ‘We stand on sacred ground; Learn, Respect and Celebrate’ and our local sacred sites.

Our first vocal group performed admirably to sing the National Anthem in both Yugambeh and English. Our Murri Jarjum students included Giselle Kilner-Parmenter (Year 11) and Brent (Year 12) as MC’s and student speakers Sally Treveton (Year 12) and Charlie Duke Woolf (Year 11). We are extremely proud of their role in exemplifying excellence to students.

We welcomed Dhinawan Baker as the didgeridoo player to accompany our ex-students Stephen Larcombe and Jay Thompson with our PBC Bpootharum dance members including Fletcher Harrold, Dominic Bryan-Thompson, Blake Roberts, Tayte Lamos, Tyreece Wood, Stefanie Noffke, Britney Noffke, Stephanie Jurisich, Jardi Knox, Ezekial Cora and a Currumbin SS student, Jaykeem Thompson.

Wendy Wise
HOD Education Access Centre

Health Education

Recently Year 12 Health Education students have investigated how community settings impact on the health of people within that community. Of interest to our group was food choices made by students who choose to utilise the school tuckshop for their meals. One component of their resolution was to propose a healthy burger option. We are fortunate in this school to have a number of people who are passionate about nutritional health, one of these being our Dean of Year 7 and 8, Mr Paul Bullpit.

Mr Bullpit conducted a class to demonstrate the simplicity of providing a healthy option. The healthy beef burger was a hit with the students in class, and will be proposed to the school tuckshop as an option to consider. Thank you to Mr Bullpitt for his assistance.

A second successful campaign involved the proposal of sexual health lessons for senior students. Thanks to the support of our Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator, Mr Brent Stockall, Year 12 Coordinator, Mr Mitchell Kennedy, and Year 11 Coordinator, Mr Tim Peach, for considering the proposals and materials developed.

Other groups have investigated a range of issues that have required the organisation of meetings with various members of administration and the submission of proposals for their consideration. In particular, our Business Services, Manager Mrs Marnie Loxton, has been welcoming of a number of groups and proposals.

This term the Year 12 Health Education students will work in partnership with Currumbin Community Special School, with up to two classroom visits each week. We thank them for their support in this unit.

Fitness

Throughout Term 2, our Certificate in Fitness students experienced a range of training regimes including marital arts. Exposure to these training types broadens their experiences as they prepare to become the next generation of personal trainers. Further training experiences are planned through Term 3.

Participation in HPE subjects:

Participation in HPE learning is expected as it is in any other subject. Any non-participation must be arranged with the teacher prior to the lesson. If non-participation is likely to occur for two or more consecutive lessons, a medical certificate must be provided to the Head of Department.

If you send your child to HPE with a note, teachers will adapt the learning for them but expect them to participate.

7 HPE

Year 7 students are studying the concept of movement sequences this term. They will do this through learning Yoga and Zuu. Both of these exercise regimes have a scientific background and highlight functional movement rather than strength or fitness building.

Shane Roberts
HOD Health and Physical Education

Creative Generation

Creative Generations (State Schools on Stage) is Queensland's largest youth performing arts event, and being held in Brisbane Friday and Saturday 17-18 July.

The event brings together the best performing arts students from more than 100 state schools to provide an opportunity for them to work with and learn from professional artists. Creative Generations is in its 11th year of production, you can learn more about the event from the site –

This year the students will work with acclaimed jazz artist James Morrison

Eight talented PBC students are featured in the 2015 Creative Generation. There are two dancers, Danielle Ackerman and Kyannah Stevens (Year 10), and six vocalists, Amon Hall and Chloe Finlay (Year 11), Jake Ireland, Tamieka Driscoll, Wes Ambler and Keiarn Chesebro (Year 12). We at PBC are very proud of their inclusion within the production.

Shane Roberts
HOD The Arts

Maths Department News

Like all sciences, Mathematics has its own special harmony and beauty. Our goal as maths teachers is to ensure this harmony is heard and the beauty enjoyed by our students.

At this point in the term, students have received their assessment items back and have had a chance to reflect on last semester. I encourage you to talk through these results with your young person and assist them in setting some goals for the semester ahead.

After school Maths/Science students in Year 7-10 are encouraged to regularly attend the Tuesday after school tutoring sessions in the library. This is a great opportunity to seek additional help in an effort to gain mastery of skills and concepts. Thank you to Miss Watson for organising the tutorials and for all the teachers who willingly give up their free time to help.

QAMT Quiz

This year we will be entering two teams (a mixture of Year 7/8 students) in the QAMT Quiz, to be held at Varsity College. Miss Fritzer will be organising and ‘coaching’ our two teams and I wish them all the best of luck! Go PBC!

Fiona Scannell
HOD Maths

Year 7 Science

Balloon Powered Vehicle Challenge

During Term 2, Year 7 science students investigated how force affects motion. Students studied such topics as friction, air resistance, gravity and vehicle design.

The assessment for the unit required students to design, construct and test a balloon powered vehicle to investigate how forces affected the motion of their vehicle.

In the last week of term, each class nominated a team to participate in the ‘Balloon Powered Vehicle Challenge’. The competition was well received by the students and many turned out to cheer on their class members and to see the Stig’s little brother who had flown over from Europe especially to oversee the competition (Not really – it was Mr Larter dressed up in his finest – even fooling a few students with his brilliant English accent).

Well done to the winning vehicle by Shimon Teale from 7O. Coming in second was 7K and third place was awarded to 7C. These winning teams were awarded prizes, presented by Director of Middle School Mr Hanna, which included a lolly bag, a pick from the prize box and a $5 tuckshop voucher. The winning and participating students will also presented with certificates at the Year 7 assembly. A big thank you must go to Year 7 Science Coordinator Ms Bianca Deague for organising the event; the PBC STEM students who hosted the event and even dressed up – Shelby Craik, Amelia Cody-Byfield, Elise Watkins, Amy Cooper and Annika Danielsen, along with STEM coordinator Ms Krista I’Anson; to Scientific Assistant Allison Goetze for preparing and assisting with the event; and to Corey Parker for setting up the audio.

Lee-Ann Bramley
HOD Science

Sporting Achievement

Westfield National Youth Football Championships

Congratulations to PBC student Lua Suero, part of Queensland's U13 Girls team who took out the championship in the Westfield National Youth Football Championships for Girls! A fantastic team effort.

World Junior Golfing Championships

Good luck to PBC student Becky Kay, representing Australia at the World Junior Golfing Championships at Torrey Pines!

Becky is currently in fourth place after the first round.

Geoff Eggert
Sports Coordinator

Pathways Centre News

School based traineeships available for Year 10 and 11 students in 2015

Swell Festival Volunteers – Applications open for Swell volunteers; pick up flyer in Pathway Centre. Registration is online. Festival runs August 5 – 11 2015.

Cert III Hairdressing – Richocet Hair Broadbeach. Email resume to info@richocethair.com.au

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – School based traineeships Hospitality, Tourism and Business Retail

Resort Surfers Paradise - Business Retail traineeship at family resort in Surfers Paradise.

Cert III Hospitality – California Tacos Burleigh, Café Caribou Tugun, Burleigh Surf Club, Olives Pizza and Pasta, Koffee Shack, Ocean Art Café and Gallery, Hard Rock Café, Crust Pizza Broadbeach, The Lake Café and Bar, Crema Espresso Robina and Pac Fair, and Dumpling Republic Robina.

Traineeships - Wendys The Pines, immediate start.

First National Real Estate – Cert III Business, must be able to work Saturdays for open houses. Traineeship could lead to long term career in real estate for the right person.

Pizza Hut The Pines - Cert III Hospitality

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

Please see Ms Shreeve to apply.

Sonia Shreeve
Industry Liaison Officer

Guidance Officer News

TAFE Queensland Scholarships

Please follow the PDF link below to find out how you can achieve your career goals with the help of a TAFE Queensland Scholarship.

TAFE Queensland Direct Entry

Please follow the PDF link below to find out how you can secure your place into a Queensland TAFE Diploma program.

TAFE Introduction to Veterinary Nursing

Please follow the PDF link below to read more about Veterinary Nursing at Queensland TAFE.

The Women’s College Information Session

Please follow the PDF link below to view information about The Women’s College Gold Coast Information Session for Year 11 and 12 students.

Steve Jones
Guidance Officer Senior School

Youth Suicide

Youth suicide is an immensely complex interplay of social, psychological, neurological, biological and cultural variables. The problem is that these variables carry unequal weights and no single one has been demonstrated to be necessary or sufficient to cause an individual to take their own life. This makes it very difficult to predict whether a young person is likely to die by suicide and therefore, is difficult for others to act in time to prevent it.

Despite all that has been done by successive governments, research shows that suicide remains the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24. Almost a third of young people have experienced suicidal ideation in their lifetime and in an average Year 12 classroom, one young person has made a suicide attempt.

In trying to fashion an answer to the question, I am reminded of a young woman I met a decade or so ago. She was just 15 and I'll call her Lucy. A few months before I met her, she had tried to take her own life. When she was asked in a public forum, why she made this decision, she told the gathering: "I thought I would never see, hear, or know anything ever again." So for her, this act seemed to be about problem-solving. Digging deeper, it seemed that her problems were not actually out of the ordinary, there was some conflict at home and a few problems with school and friends. The problem was that Lucy had undiagnosed depression.

A series of psychological autopsy studies over the last few decades, have identified several important risk factors and studies show that 90 per cent of young people who end their lives have a mental disorder at the time of their death, the most common being depression, psychosis and substance abuse disorders.

They say everyone is a genius in hindsight and looking back at her history, Lucy did show some signs of depression. In the previous weeks she had told her mother that she was feeling unwell and sad, she no longer participated in previously pleasurable activities such as cooking and helping around the house. She had trouble falling asleep, waking during the night and waking very early in the morning. She complained of being tired and having no energy.

Lucy became overly self-critical and developed a preoccupation with past failures and mistakes. Her depression distorted her moods, incited uncharacteristic behaviour, destroyed the basis of rational thought and finally eroded her desire to live.

She finally reached the point where she no longer found anything interesting, enjoyable or worthwhile. Everything that was once sparkling in her life, now seemed flat. Her depressed brain did little more than torment her with a litany of what she felt were her inadequacies and shortcomings, taunting her with the desperate hopelessness of it all. Without the reinforcements afforded by antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, exercise and dietary changes, thoughts of death became her constant companion. For Lucy, dying seemed the only release from the unbearable misery an overwhelming sense of inadequacy and blackness that surrounded her.

So what is the legacy of these school tragedies? It is that all schools and parents redouble their efforts to build the emotional literacy of students and that all know the difference between sadness and depression, that depression is treatable and that help is just a phone call or a click of a mouse away.

Support:

Headspace Tweed Heads 0755 898 700
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Beyondblue 1300 224 636
Lifeline 131114

Article by Michael Carr-Gregg is managing director of the Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre and a nationally registered child and adolescent psychologist.

Anna Willis
Guidance Officer Middle School

P&C Association Update

The next P&C Meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 July from 6.30pm – 7.30pm in the Main Administration Building. All parents and interested members of the community are invited attend.

Meetings provide parents and community members an opportunity to discuss school matters and allows parents to remain engaged with the school and upcoming events.

Uniform Shop Update

Uniform Shop Trading Times – Term 3 2015
Monday to Friday	8:15am to 10.30am
Closed 1st lunch break

Bucket hats/ PBC caps

Bucket hats and PBC caps are now available to purchase from Uniform Shop. These hats are a compulsory part of the uniform and are recommended for all outdoor activities. Cost is $15 each.

PBC school bags

PBC School Bags are now available from the uniform shop and selling fast.

Features include:

• Lifetime guarantee
• Padded laptop pocket
• Water resistant
• Ergonomic design
• Mesh drink bottle holder
• $70 each

Volunteers needed

If there are any volunteers who would love to spend a couple of hours each week in our very busy Uniform Shop and or Canteen we would love to hear from you!

Please contact Mandy on 07 5525 9331 for further details.

Lost property

Please visit the uniform shop to collect lost property; including school items and non-school items.

Payment methods available:

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

If you are unable to come into the Uniform Shop you are more than welcome to call on 07 5525 9331 and pay for any uniform item over the phone.

Mandy Webb
Uniform Shop Coordinator

Administration

For Internet banking please use the details below:

School’s Bank Account: PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS General A/C
BSB Number: 064-404 CBA Branch Burleigh Heads
Account Number: 00090303
Reference/Details: Record both Student ID AND the reference Code to ensure your payment can be recorded correctly. (Reference Code = ITEM BEING PAID FOR e.g.: 2015 SRS8 or 2015 ACEX10)

Resources and Activities Schedule

To assist parents with budgeting, detailed below are current fees and activities with due dates for payment (due to short timeframes some excursions may not be listed).

Student Fee Excursion/ Activity	Activity Details	Amount Due	Date Due
Course Fees
Student Resource Scheme	2015 Fees Year 7 to Year 12	$330	Overdue
Excellence Program Fees	Excellence program 2015 students	Various	Overdue
2015 Instrumental Music Program	Years 9-12	$75	Overdue
QCS 2015	Year 12 students	$50	Overdue
Advanced Surfing	Advanced Surfing students	$180	Overdue
Regional Surfing	All year levels	$30	Due now
Year 11 Cert II Public Safety	Year 11 students	$60	Overdue
New Zealand Ski Trip - Third instalment	Year 11 and 12 students	$1,000	Overdue
USA trip – Second instalment	Year 7-11 students	$1,200	Overdue
Please note that all students are requested to present their Student ID card when making any payments to Student Services.

Most excursions do not appear on student statements. If you have any queries please call Lynne Riley in Student Services on 07 5525 9308.

Lost Property

Please check with Student Services for items like pencil cases, lunch boxes, etc. If you have lost an article of clothing (jumpers, shoes, hat) please check with the Uniform Shop.

Student lockers available

Student lockers are available for hire at PBC.

• $6.00 for locker hire
• $24.00 for PBC approved combination lock (this will be the property of the student)
• Lockers available are located at G Block
• Payments can be made at Student Services

Please visit the facilities tab of the school website to read the

Second Hand Uniforms

If you are holding on to old or unwanted school uniforms, please donate them to student welfare.

If your uniforms are good condition, please drop them off to the Student Services.

PBC Alliance

Business Directory

Help us to create a local network for businesses within the PBC community by following the link below and supporting the businesses listed in the Alliance Business Directory:

Get involved

Being part of the PBC Alliance Business directory aims to connect your business with a network of friends, parents, and members of the PBC Alliance business community.

This listing is included as a link in the fortnightly PBC parent newsletter (as shown above), PBC Alliance Facebook page and the school website.

To list your business in the PBC Alliance Business Directory please complete a PBC Alliance membership formand Business Directory form and return these to the email address listed below.

If you would like more information please contact Caitlin Lea on 07 5525 9333 or email alliance@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PBCAlliance

QParents

The QParents web and mobile application provides a more convenient, easier way for parents and legal guardians to interact with the school. Parents will have secure, online access to their child’s student information, anytime, anywhere, through a smartphone, tablet or computer.

QParents enables parents to access and manage student:

• Attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Behaviour details
• Academic report cards
• Class timetables
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history, and making payments online
• Viewing and updating student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details

If you haven’t yet registered, visit qparents.qld.edu.au/ to register today!

Survey reminder for schools using online Parent/Caregiver Survey

If you have already completed your Parent/Caregiver Survey, thank you and please disregard this notice. If not already completed, the online surveys will remain open until 31 July 2015. This is your opportunity to have a say about what this school does well and how this school can improve.

If you haven’t received any survey access details yet, please contact Tracey Veale on telephone 07 5525 9333 or email tveal7@eq.edu.au.

2015 Early School Leavers Survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual state-wide survey of students who left school in Years 10, 11 and prior to completing Year 12 during 2014. The Early School Leavers survey is a short, confidential survey that collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The information from the survey helps our schools to understand the pathways young people follow after leaving school and to plan services to support transitions into study or employment for our students.

Between July and August, our students who left school in Years 10, 11 and prior to completing Year 12 last year can expect to receive an invitation to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please encourage early school leavers to take part.

For more information, telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

Reminder – PBC is a non-smoking campus

Please accept this article as a reminder that our school is a non-smoking campus.

In January, new legislation was introduced which banned persons smoking on a school’s property, or within an area five metres from the boundary of a school’s property.

Should you observe anyone smoking within the school campus, or inside the five metre boundary zone, you are invited to report the incident to school administration.

Many thanks for your cooperation in upholding this legislation on behalf of our school community.

Completion of Oral Health (Dental) Services

Gold Coast Oral Health Services will commence offering free oral health (dental) services to eligible students enrolled at Palm Beach Currumbin High School from 26 May 2015. This service will be provided Onsite by Mobile Dental Van 185.

To arrange an appointment for your child telephone:

The Oral Health Client Service Centre
1300 300 850
Monday – Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Excluding Public Holidays

Child Dental Benefit Schedule Vouchers are accepted. When your child’s $1000 cap is reached, there will be no out-of-pocket expenses provided your child meets *eligibility criteria.

* Eligibility – All Queensland resident children aged four years or older who have not completed year 10 of secondary school.

Further information on public funded oral health services can be accessed via URL:

Neighbourhood Watch

Thanks to the support of Elanora Police Beat we now have the beginnings of a Neighbourhood Watch in southern Palm Beach.

Neighbourhood Watch is both a philosophy and an approach to working together as a community to reduce crime and enhance community safety. Neighbourhood Watch has been active in Queensland since 1988.

We have a Facebook page called Palm Beach Gold Coast Neighbourhood Watch covering all Palm Beach and we are asking all parents and your friends living in the Palm Beach area to "like" this page. The link to the page is below:

By liking our page, you are helping to increase community awareness not only for the new Neighbourhood Watch but for all Palm Beach, to keep our community safer for residents, businesses and visitors alike to enjoy in work and play.

For southern Palm Beach residents, please watch this space for the development of a meeting and newsletter based Neighbourhood Watch to compliment this social media initiative.

We are very grateful for your support and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Senior Constable Kurt Foessel at Elanora Police Beat.

Elisabeth Bradley
Palm Beach Division Neighbourhood Watch

Griffith University – Free Physiotherapy treatment for whiplash

Griffith University is currently running various whiplash research programs in conjunction with the University of Queensland. We are looking for individuals over 18 years of age who have suffered a whiplash injury and are still experiencing pain.

Follow the link to the PDF below for more information:

FMX Monster Truck Spectacular

Follow the link to the PDF below for more information about the FMX Monster Truck Spectacular, raising funds for Childs Vision.

PCYC Junior Basketball

Follow the link to the PDF below for more information about PCYC Tweed Heads Junior Basketball.