16 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

I am thrilled with the start we have made to the 2016 school year. Despite the complexities associated with having over 2471 students (520 of whom are new to PBC) I am pleased to report that our students have in general made excellent starts to their studies.

The classrooms that I have visited over the past few weeks have been busy and productive places where student conduct has been exemplary. I am exceedingly grateful for the way families have embraced and supported the uniform. I have been contacted by a number of community members who have complimented me on how wonderful the students look and how they wear their uniform with pride.

The challenge we face is to maintain these high standards especially as the novelty of the new school year fades.

To maintain the momentum it is important that school and parents work together to ensure that every student:

• Knows and continues to comply with the behaviour and dress standards of the school. Parents please run your eye over your child’s dress and support the code
• Has re-established a positive peer group. It is important that parents know the names of friends and are comfortable they bring out the best in their child
• Is spending appropriate time completing homework and studying what they have learnt in class. I am an advocate for publishing a study timetable on the fridge and all family members working to support each young person to develop the skills necessary to stick with it. The schedule should include assessment dates
• Is attending school regularly. Missing school has a major affect on learning achievement and as the term continues students who experience difficulty can also experience anxiety which is often confused with illness. As a general rule of thumb it’s my belief that a student should only be ill as often during a school term as they are when they are on holidays.

I also ask that you actively support the school’s commitment to zero tolerance to bullying. If your child experiences or witnesses any incident that they believe may be bullying make sure that they talk to their form teacher or year coordinator. Alternately you can relay your concerns directly to the school by using the special email address reports@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au or alternatively phoning student administration.

Similarly if you have a welfare concern or would like to alert us that you are concerned someone may be experimenting with drug or alcohol usage, please follow the same steps. Your communications will be treated as confidential and our initial concern is always the wellbeing of students.

I feel confident that if we stay ever alert to these issues we will all be rewarded through strong student achievement at report card time with happy and healthy students along the way.

Stephen Loggie
Executive Principal

Senior School

Senior School Update

I have been extremely impressed with the start to the year from our Senior School students. Throughout my interactions with students via assemblies, classrooms walkthroughs and the playground I have witnessed a positive attitude to learning and a strong desire to do well. If you are yet to do so, please make the time now, to have discussions with your son/daughter in regards to their academic goals for this term and beyond. Our way of mapping our students’ goals, both short term and long term, is through our OPTIMA Plan in the Student Planner. Please use this document to aid your discussion.

Year 11 Senior School Information Night

On Wednesday 10 February the Year 11 Senior School Information Evening was held. I was extremely pleased with the large number of parents who attended this evening. The purpose of this evening was to share vital information about what it takes for a student to be successful as they enter the final two years of their secondary schooling journey. Parents in attendance also had the opportunity to meet with the key members of the Senior School administration team, faculty Head of Departments and teachers. For those parents who were unable to attend the powerpoint and handouts from this evening are now will be available on the PBC website.

Communication

Please be aware that the PBC website has the contact details of every staff member at our school. To nurture the potential of our PBC student, parents and teachers need to work closely together. If you have any queries about your son/daughters schooling please contact the school sooner rather than later so that open lines of communication can occur.

I would hope that you all look at your young person’s timetable this week and make some email contact with their teachers so that you can begin the partnership early in Term1.

Music Festivals

In the past, we have had attendance issues from students who have chosen to attend music festivals during school time. The school will not approve any absence to attend a music festival and any truancy due to this reason will result in a formal consequence. Please support the school in ensuring your son/daughter is in full attendance at all times.

Study vs Homework

Students in the senior phase need to be doing between 10-15 hours of homework/study per week which include weekends. This is approximately two hours per subject, per week.

Your student should now be organising their study schedules to ensure they allocate enough time to be successful in the senior phase of learning. Students will receive homework from teachers, however, they also need to ensure that they complete their own study. Study differs from set homework and would include activities like rearranging notes, rewriting notes, practicing questions and revising content from previous lessons.

Blair Hanna
Head of School – Senior School

Dean of Students Report

We are pleased to report that the senior students are continuing to work well. The vast majority of students are arriving at school at an appropriate time, wearing the full and correct uniform and engaging in the learning activities in the classroom. In short, they are meeting basic expectations for all of our students.

During assemblies this week, students were reminded about the process for signing in or out of school for approved appointments. For those students who are late because of dental/medical appointments (for example), they must go to Student Services with a note signed by a parent explaining their lateness. The office staff will issue the student with a "late pass". There are no detentions issued for this type of approved lateness.

When signing out of school early for the same type of appointments, the student reports to the Dean of Students in Y block before school to have their note signed. This note will identify the reason for the absence and the time the student needs to leave.

At the appointed time, the student reports to Student Services with their note and a "leave pass" will be issued.

The attendance of all students is monitored closely by the Year Coordinators and the Deans, who will make contact with parents if there are any concerns.

Thank you for supporting the school with these processes. It is important that students have minimal disruption to their learning throughout the day, so where possible we appreciate appointments being scheduled outside of school hours.

Mitchell Kennedy - Dean of Students Year 11 and 12
Tracey Cardinal - Dean of Students Year 9 and 10

Information for Senior Students

Subject changes

Subject changes have been finalised since the end of Week 2. Students will have the opportunity to change at the end of this term however availability may be limited.

Assessment calendars

Assessment calendars for Years 10, 11 and 12 have been uploaded to the school website. Click on the curriculum tab and then under testing and assessment. Students can also download this information from the K drive on the school’s network. This information will be useful for parents and students when planning their study timetable.

Shutdown timetables

Shutdown timetables are currently being collated and will be placed on the school website in the next two weeks. Parents are again reminded that exams will be scheduled up to and including the last day of term.

QCE

Students are again reminded that all students need to be eligible 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 five of their six 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.

OP predictions

OP students whose predicted OP is above 15 may have to review their pathway. This may include moving to selection rank, which generally improves a student’s tertiary pathway. If your student is in this position they need to improve their results and position in their class this term and if their OP prediction does not improve; they will need to make an appointment with the Senior Schooling department to discuss further options.

Mick McDougall
HOD Senior School

Middle School

Middle School Update

With several weeks now under our belt we are well into our school routines. I am pleased to say how well our new Year 7 cohort have settled into their high school education. Classes when I visit them are focused and getting on with the job at hand. New teachers have been welcomed warmly by the Middle School team and supported well by their colleagues which has been wonderful to see.

These first few weeks have been a crucial time in our trust and relationships building phase with our new staff and students. We have spoken at assemblies about building trust and what it means to trust someone, to be able to rely on them and in some cases depend on them. We help to create trust through consistency in our actions, behaviours and words. Trust building behaviours include:

• Listening first
• Righting wrongs
• Keeping commitments
• Demonstrating respect
• Talking straight

Our Year 7 students have had a special day which we call a ‘Team Building Day’ – to create a team you need to build relationships and trust. These days really hit the mark on this goal. These days are an investment in the building of these values set within our school community. The Year 7 students have actively participated and I know we will see the benefits of taking the time to do this type of work with our students for the years ahead.

Next week we will have our Year 7 Parent Night and a large focus of that will be on detailing the activities and behaviours that you as parents can rely on the staff in the Middle School team to deliver for your young person and how you can be actively involved in their education. It is through a strong relationship between school and home that the best outcomes will be achieved for all. There will also be an opportunity to start the relationship building with your son or daughter’s teachers. I look forward to seeing you then.

Anita Sgalippa
Head of School - Middle School

Deputy Principal Report

This has been a busy week!

This week has seen the Year 7 students engaging in team building activities and the Middle School nominate for the swimming trials.

The team building activities help to reinforce the OPTIMA code of Being Safe, Being Respectful and Being a Learner in different environments and helps students explore the theme of trust.

Students have had a great time as they work with their core learning group and a core teacher, building relationships and trust.

Building trust starts with being respectful. The use of manners, saying please and thank you, asking respectfully and using polite language is an important part of building trust. There is truth in the adage “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. The use of courtesy, the building of trust and a respectful attitude is more likely to get a positive result to a request.

You can assist your student to be respectful by asking them about the OPTIMA messages that were given this week on assembly and talking about respectful language.

Peter O’Brien
Deputy Principal Middle school

From the HOD Middle School

Homework happens!

By now, all Middle School students should be established in their homework routines. Students are given more responsibility for their learning than in primary school. They are required to engage in independent learning to compliment class activities. All homework should be recorded in the Student Planner.

In Year 7, homework is up to but generally not more than 3-4 hours per week while in Years 8 and 9, homework is up to but generally not more than 5 hours per week. Homework may include set tasks, extension of class work, projects, assignments and research.

Read for pleasure

Students are also encouraged to read for pleasure, to broaden their literacy and their general knowledge. Even as little as ten minutes a day will accumulate to over one hour a week, and over 50 hours in a year.

OPTIMA Goals

By now, all students should have set their OPTIMA Goals for the term, in their Student Planners. Discuss your child’s goals with them. Are they realistic? Do they provide some challenge? Your initials in the Planner will tell your child and their teachers of your support for the student’s goals.

Parent Night

We look forward to meeting Year 7 parents at the Middle School Information Night on Wednesday, 17 February, from 6:30pm, in the Hall. This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s Year 7 teachers, as well as hearing more about PBC and supporting your child through the year.

Middle School Student Leadership

The 2015 Student Leaders have organised a Suggestion Box which now sits on the front desk in the Middle School office. If your son or daughter has an idea of how we could do things better at PBC, have them write a note and drop it into the box. Suggestions can be anonymous.

In addition to promoting use of the Suggestion Box, 2016 Middle School student leaders have been busy planning events for the year. Ideas include a Short Film competition and, much later in the year, Santagrams. They will be ushering at the Middle School Information Night and leading tours at the forthcoming Excellence Information Evening.

Sharon Hillcoat
HOD Middle School

Excellence Program Information Evening

If you have a child currently in Year 6 and are interested in maximising their opportunities for success in high school, please come along to our Excellence Program information session.

When: Wednesday 24 February 2016 at 6:30pm. (School tours from 5.30pm)
Where: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School Hall
Contact: exenrolments@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au or call 07 5525 9418 to reserve your place. Limited seating available, bookings essential.

For more information regarding PBC’s Excellence programs please visit our website.

Tara Gonzales-Judd
Excellence Enrolments Officer

Middle School English News

It’s been a fantastic start for Year 7 students, who have smoothly transitioned to life in High School, with their first English assessment, analysing persuasion in news media texts, completed in class next Week.

Year 8 students are also enjoying Term 1, as they are exploring representation of teenagers in literature, producing a series of journal entries due in Week 6 (draft) and Week 7 (final).

Year 9 has also hit the ground running with the novel study ‘Worldshaker’, handing in drafts due Week 4 and finals Week 5.

We have also received positive feedback from Middle School students, teachers and parents regarding the successful implementation reading logs to support comprehension across all subject areas. In addition, to further support your child we will again implement the ‘Peer 2 Peer Program’, providing opportunities for Year 7 and 8 students to receive one-on-one peer support with English drafts and final assessment. This program will be held during lunchtimes, with information and enrolment forms sent to parents during this week.

May Christiansen
HOD English

PBC Archaeologists

On Friday 5 February the Year 11 and 12 Ancient History classes travelled to the Abby Museum of Art and Archaeology to participate in a reconstruction of an excavation of a Roman villa. This was a very unique opportunity that allowed the students to glimpse the world of archaeology and to experience the hands-on side of history, while putting their knowledge of Roman history to the test.

The students donned the hats of archaeologists for the day and not only excavated the site but also theorised about the lives of the two former inhabitants of the villa. During the day the students excavated the site with great precision and care discovering the remains of forged weapons, jewellery, pottery, sacred statues, fragments of a tile floor and the skeletal remains of the former inhabitants of the house. From the evidence that they discovered, the students were then able to conclude that they had discovered the remains of a former Roman soldier turned blacksmith and his wife that had likely died when their villa caught fire.

The students proved to be excellent archaeologists and were praised by the staff of the museum for not only their attention to detail in their excavation but the sophistication of their conclusions and their depth of historical knowledge.

Overall it was a fantastic day that was greatly enjoyed by all those that attended.

Kirrin Timbs
Ancient History Teacher

Year 8 Academic Excellence Leadership Day

Excellence Leadership Day was a great learning experience for our Year 8 up-and-coming leaders, who were invited to attend the Currumbin RSL to expand their leadership skills for their roles as Academic Mentors in the Peer 2 Peer Program. They engaged with experienced presenters such as: Paul Bullpitt (Dean of Students), Neil Mackay (HOD of SOSE/LOTE/Business), Ty Russell (Academic Excellence teacher), Adam Power (Year 7 Coordinator) and Jenna Moore (Assistant English HOD), who provided knowledge about what it means to be an effective leader and opportunities to apply these skills. Students reported that they not only had a fun day, but they recognised the practical application of these leadership skills.

Sally Farrell
HOD Academic Excellence

Study Skills – Organisation applications

The start of a new year brings with it enthusiasm and a chance to change our bad habits. The following apps are all free to download (or at least offer a free version) and could offer your student a new way to approach their organisation.

Courtney Underwood
Study Skills Coordinator

School Council Calling for Nominations

What is the School Council?

In 2013 PBC became an Independent Public School affording the local community more input into school directing and decision making. As an IPS school the school council was established. The purpose of the school council is to provide strategic advice to the Executive Principal including approving the strategic planning.

Under this initiative, the school council must consist of elected parents, staff and student members. The Principal and P&C President are official members of the council. The council may also appoint a maximum of two industry/community members that have knowledge and experience that assist the council to perform its functions and reflect the local community context.

Nominations

PBC is wanting to expand the current School Council and is calling for nominations to the following school council positions in 2016:

• Parent members (2 year tenure)
• Teaching members (2 year tenure)
• Non-Teaching members (2 year tenure)

Interested school community members are asked to self-nominate for the election by completing the self-nomination form and submitting it to the Returning Officer by email, mail or fax. This form, election procedures and a role description are available under the School Council page.

Please mark nominations private and confidential.
Michaela Halberstater – Returning Officer
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS
Thrower Dr
Palm Beach Qld 4221
mhalb0@eq.edu.au
Fax 55259300

Nominations close at 4pm on 2 March 2016.

Parent elections will be conducted at the following time and venue:

5.30pm to 6.30pm Tuesday 15 March in the Trade Training Centre at PBC

Staff elections will be conducted at the following time and venue:

4.15pm to 5.00pm Tuesday 15 March in the Trade Training Centre at PBC

Gold Coast Suns visit PBC

As part of the AFL’s Community Week, the Gold Coast Suns sent four players to conduct a session with PBC’s Junior (Year7-9) AFL Sports Excellence group.

The players, Aaron Hall, Brandon Matera, Keegan Brooksby and Former PBC AFL Excellence student Jesse Joyce led the 45 players in a football training session passing on their knowledge of the game and performing activities and games that the Suns do on a daily basis.

At the conclusion of the session the players answered some questions from the boys, such as “What they value most in a teammate”…to which all four players said trust and honesty.

All four players were a credit to the Gold Coast Suns and the AFL in their respect for the game and its biggest supporters.

Peter Hill
PBC AFL Excellence Coach

Valentines at PBC

Valentines Day came early to PBC with our Senior School Leaders selling roses and or ‘a rose and a song’ in the Middle and Senior School lunch areas during breaks.

The Student Leaders donned their red, white and rosed outfits to deliver the roses and serenades to a few lucky students during class. Money raised from the sale of roses and songs will be put towards a local charity, endorsed by the Student Council.

Student Achievements

PBC would like to encourage parents to email us with any great recent achievements from your student. 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, photos, and/or any links to media articles that we can share.

Congratulations to Year 7 student Tynan Neveceral who ran the fastest time of 12.02 seconds for the under 12 boys in the Primary Schools National championships in Canberra late last year. Tynan's time was achieved in the semi-final and won a bronze medal in the final.

Lawn bowl champions Jessie and Jayden Cottell represented QLD in the U18 Trans Tasman “Across the Ditch” lawn bowls tests in Auckland. Jessie won all 7 match games and was selected to attend the U18 Australian Junior Jackaroo lawn bowls squad training camp.

Well done to Year 8 students Zoe Jenner and Tayla Moryta for their achievements in athletics:

Tayla Moryta won 2nd place in the 1500m run and 3rd place in the 800m run at the Gold Coast regional Little Athletics qualifying for state championships in March.

Zoe Jenner won 2nd place in the 800m run and 2nd place in the 1500m walk. Zoe also qualified for the 1500m run at the Gold Coast regional for Little Athletics qualifying for state championships in March.

Congratulations to Year 11 Sport Excellence student Brock Styles who has been selected to play for the New South Wales Under 16's Indigenous side in Rugby League. Brock played the curtain raiser at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 13 February against Queensland before the Indigenous and All-stars game, televised live on NITV.

A fantastic effort by Year 8 sport Excellence student Mackenzey Ormiston who competed at the Queensland Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane this week, winning a gold medal for the U15 Girls 3000m. Mackenzey is now the Queensland champion in this event and will travel to Perth in March to compete at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.

Senior School Guidance Officer Report

Careers in the Defence Force

If you are interested in a career in the Defence Force, please follow the links to the PDF below and visit Australian Defence Force Job Finder.

2019 Job Projections

Each year, the Department of Employment produces employment projections by industry, occupation, skill level and region for the following five-year period. These employment projections are designed to provide a guide to the future direction of the labour market, however, like all such exercises, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty.

Please see link below to find out more:

GAP Year Information session

Defence Force Recruiting Office at Robina will be conducting a Gap Year Information Session next Monday 15 February at 6pm. This Information Session will highlight the application process and jobs available in the Navy, Army and Air Force for Gap Year 2017 entry.

Year 12 students can register an expression of interest on the following web page:

By registering, they will automatically receive an email advising them when applications for the Gap Year are open (which will be 9am on Friday 4 March).

Steve Jones
Guidance Officer Senior School

Middle School Guidance Officer Report

6 Ways to Build bonds with your children

It seems that the older children get the further away from you they become both emotionally and physically. This is the experience of many parents and developing and maintaining a deep and healthy connection as they grow is a balancing act that requires constant nurturing.

Psychologists refer to this bonding process as ‘attunement’. It is the way parents respond to their child’s emotional needs that add to a child’s sense of being understood and valued. Many factors depend on the success of attunement, including the personalities of both child and parent and outside factors such as job, money and life pressures as well as marital conflicts that impact on family life.

Research has shown that a child’s feeling of ‘safety’ at home is fundamental to emotional health and is integral to the bonding process.

6 ways to build secure relationships with your children:

Acceptance: Every child is different and their temperament reflects this. So it is important to adjust to a child’s personality. A child who feels accepted for who they are feels secure and at ease with themselves.

Time: This is the greatest investment a parent can make in developing a lasting bond with their child. If a child feels you always have time for them then as teenagers they will feel they can come to you with a worrying problem at any time and you will make the time to listen and help them work through it. Time spent does not have to be entertainment filled. It is the small ordinary day to day time spent with a child that makes all the difference.

Life lessons: Teaching children life lessons is vital if they are to be equipped for life later on. It is important to acknowledge both your child’s negative and positive emotions. Teaching them to manage difficult emotions such as anger and disappointment as well as celebrating successes will help them manage themselves in life. The best way to do this is by having them see us live out the principles and guidelines we are sharing with them. Remember, they are constantly watching and learning.

Resilient families: Keeping the lines of communication open and setting clear boundaries helps make a stable secure home. How we handle the stresses of life also helps teach resilience. It is important to see things through and keep going in the tough times. It is OK for children to see that everyone faces things they find difficult in their life. The trick is to resolve them rather than ignore them.

Patience: This is a great quality for kids to learn as early as possible. A parent’s patience towards a child allows them to work through issues at their own pace and still feel loved and valued no matter how frustrating situations can be.

Family rituals: These are important in bringing the family together and giving them a sense of being part of something, a sense of belonging. They can be as small as having regular evening meals together or a family outing on a Sunday afternoon. Make it a time of fun and relaxation where you can catch up with what is going on in each other’s lives.

Clinical psychologist and Generation Next speaker, Andrew Fuller says a sense of belonging “is the most powerful protective factor. It is the most powerful remedy for loneliness, hopelessness and loss of meaning in all our lives. In research on Australian young people three forms of belonging dominate: belonging to and feeling loved by your family; belonging to a diversity of friendship groups; and belonging to and fitting in at school.”

Writer Helen Splarn.

Anna Willis
Guidance Officer Middle School

School Based Youth Health Nurse Report

What teenage friendships look like

During the early teenage years, friendships become more intense, close and supportive. The amount that teenagers communicate with their friends increases. Teenage friendships tend to be based on personal similarity, acceptance and sharing. Same-sex friendships are the norm during the early high school years. As they get older, though, many teenagers also make friends with the opposite sex. In general, girls tend to build closeness through conversation. Boys prefer to share activities particularly sport. The internet lets teenagers build friendships through social networking. These friendships are different from real-life relationships. In the best cases, they offer teenagers a way to connect easily and a chance to talk about sensitive issues without fear of being judged, and a chance to experiment with identity in a more or less anonymous way. This will need close monitoring by a parent.

Why teenage friendships are important:

For teenagers, good friends can be like a personal support group. They can provide: a sense of belonging, a feeling of being valued and help with developing confidence, a sense of security and comfort in being with others going through the same experiences, a source of information about the changes that puberty brings, and what’s going on physically and emotionally, a way to experiment with different values, roles, identities and ideas, experience in getting along with people of the opposite sex (friendships before the teenage years are often single sex) and sometimes a chance to experience early romantic and sexual relationships.

Helping your child build friendship skills:

Teenagers are usually focused on their friends, but they still need your help and support to build and maintain positive and supportive friendships. Good parent-child relationships tend to lead to positive relationships with peers. So being warm and supportive, staying connected and actively listening to your child can help with the development of friendship skills. You’ll also be better able to support your child if friendship problems come up. Being a good role model is important too. Parents who are keen to spend time with their own friends are more likely to have children with lots of healthy friendships. It’s also important for your child to see you looking out for your friends, and showing that friendship is a two-way thing. Praising teenagers when you see them being fair, trusting and supportive of others encourages them to keep working on those positive social traits. Getting to know your child’s friends shows your child you understand how important these friendships are. You can do this by encouraging your child to have friends over and giving them a space in your home, or transporting your child’s friends’ home after social outings.

(Ref: Raising Children Network, Reachout)

Judy Nunn
School Based Youth Health Nurse

Pathways Centre News

School based traineeships available for Year 10 and 11 students in 2016

We have many exciting opportunities to start the term in the Pathway Centre Y Block.

Gold Coast Convention Centre – Looking for six school based trainees Cert III Hospitality, new opportunity, first time offered to school based trainees.

Hospitality Traineeships – Tugun Surf Lifesaving Club, Finders Keepers Burleigh, Grill’d Coolangatta, Zarraffas Pacific Fair and Palm Beach, Crema Espresso The Pines and Robina, Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, Surfers Paradise Beach Café, Crust Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, Woodbox Café Burleigh, Noodle Box Robina, and Fiery Deli Burleigh.

Cert III Business – Blooms the Chemist the Pines, Aurora Institute of Training, Intersport The Pines, Subway Stores – various locations and Foodworks Burleigh.

Robina Hospital work placements – Interested in nursing or physiotherapy? Robina Hospital are hosting one day workshops, placements will fill fast so get in early.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – Traineeships are available in Hospitality and Business.

Cert III Sport and Recreation – Miami and Burleigh Pools, get your Bronze Medallion, Pool lifeguarding and CPR as part of your traineeship.

Currently taking expressions of interest for the following programs: Jupiters (cookery) Von Bibra (Year 10 only) and Aged Care.

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

Uniform Shop Update

Uniform Shop Trading Hours

Lost Property

The uniform shop is holding a large amount of named and unnamed lost property if your child has lost something can you please ask that they come and have a look through the lost property bin.

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.

Flexischools Orders

If you have made an order for your child via Flexischools can you please ask that they come and pick it up from the Uniform Shop.

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.: 2016 SRS8 or 2016 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).

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 locker hire agreement.

Second Hand Uniforms

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

If your uniforms are in good condition, please drop them off at Student Services.

PBC Alliance

2016 Membership and Partnership opportunities

Give your business some visibility in the local community by becoming part of the PBC Alliance through membership or partnership in 2016.

The PBC Alliance is an initiative that has been developed to:

• Create opportunities for business promotion and networking
• Support and promote local businesses through the PBC Alliance Business Directory
• Enrich opportunities and resources for PBC students through local business support
• Attract work, apprenticeships and work placement opportunities for students
• Connect local businesses with a network of friends, parents, and the PBC Alliance business community

Please follow link to PDF below for more information about becoming a member or partner of the Alliance and the benefits this entails.

If you would like to become a member of the Alliance in 2016 and list your business in our Business Directory, simply fill out the attached forms and return to alliance@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au

Please visit our website for more information, or email alliance@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au

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:

PBC Alliance Breakfast

If you a part of a local business or organisation, a past student of PBC, or just looking to get involved in your local business community, come along to the PBC Alliance Breakfast on Friday 4 March.

The event will feature guest speakers Drew Anthony, a PBC past student turned performer, director, choreographer, and producer; and Peter Doggett, CEO of Connecting Southern Gold Coast.

Please follow the link to the invitation below for more information:

Like the PBC Alliance on Facebook!

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 www.qparents.qld.edu.au to register today!

Sunday Funday

Bleach Festival – Feast Fiesta

Please follow the link to the PDF below for Bleach Festival Feast Fiesta event details:

Police Community Meeting

You're invited!

Come and meet your local senior police.

6pm Tuesday 16 February at the Currumbin RSL.

The combined Burleigh, Palm Beach and Elanora (Police) Community Consultative Committees were established to develop a partnership between the Police and the community and meet every three months in an open forum:-

• To update the public on law and order matters in the community
• And to give everyone the opportunity to meet the senior Police at the Palm Beach and Elanora Police stations – whose responsibility is also Burleigh.

Everyone likes to feel safe in their community and this is a great opportunity for the public to share information and air any concerns, fears or grievances they may have, so the Police are able to act accordingly. Also, to develop a close relationship with their local police and initiate ongoing cooperative communication.

So, we invite everyone to come along 6pm on Tuesday 16 February at the Currumbin RSL, to do their bit for the community and see what a great job our police are doing!

Saver Plus

Palm Beach Soccer Club – Female players needed

Palm Beach Soccer Club requires girls in the following age groups for their upcoming 2016 season:

• U/13 GIRLS Turning 12 or 13 in 2016 Play Saturdays
• U/14 GIRLS Turning 14 in 2016 Play Saturdays
• U/15 GIRLS Turning 15 in 2016 Play Friday evenings
• U/16 GIRLS Turning 16 in 2016 Play Friday evenings

Palm Beach Soccer Club has qualified coaches for all girls teams as well only one of 10 clubs on the coast with a Womens Hub license for our Premier.

Reserves and Div 1 Womens teams

For more information please email juniors@palmbeachsoccerclub.com.au or call Junior girls coordinator Pam on 0415 897 389.

‘Below Average’ Comic Strip

About the Comic

High school. It's a daunting place, especially when you're at the bottom of the social ladder… where we find four friends trying to survive their final days of senior year. Join

Marina, Maddison, Amy and Olivia as they embrace adolescence with a refreshing and humorous approach to daily life in this new addition to the Palm Beach Currumbin High School Newsletter.

Below Average is a fortnightly webcomic created by cartoonist Nicholas Cleaver in mid-2010. It follows the day-to-day adventures of four not-so average teenagers: Marina, an inventor suffering with obsessive-compulsive disorder; Maddison, a blissfully ignorant foodaholic; Amy, a sarky game fanatic; and Olivia, the kookiest member of the group.

The strip’s primary theme is humour, and focuses largely on friendship, school and the four girls’ incompatibility with established society.