15 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,
Sport at PBC

Making sure students understand the importance and develop the skills to maintain physical fitness and healthy habits is important at PBC.

Our innovative Sports Excellence Program plays a key role in this endeavour and has a proud tradition of nurturing the talents of some of Queensland’s leading sports professionals including Mick Fanning, Nicky Hudson, Darius Boyd, Shane Smeltz and Ben Hannant to name just a few.

However, our commitment to sport goes well beyond developing elite athletes. PBC has a large contingent of students participating in a comprehensive range of competitive interschool sports on a weekly basis. The success of this endeavour is profound. Last year we had 17 national representatives, 71 state representatives, and 1 State Champion Team.

These results are first class but they are not our most significant achievement in the sports arena.

Representing the “Reds” is seen as an honour at PBC and our athletes become part of a tradition which imposes a high expectation of personal conduct where fair play and good sportsmanship are valued above all else.

Coaches at PBC drill into their teams that we are more concerned with how they play rather than the result, and readily leave students out of teams if they will not commit to this ethos.

It is important that parents understand the Reds’ ethos and support it through spectating appropriately and pointing out that being a Red is a much bigger achievement than last week’s score.

I am really looking forward to this season. Despite inclement weather, our athletes and teams have prepared well and I encourage you to come along and support our school as the opportunities arise.

Every Day Counts

At PBC we program assessments as close to the holiday periods as possible. The major benefit of this approach is that we maximise the teaching time available to students which in turn gives them the best opportunity for success.

Parents are asked to support this approach by ensuring that their young person attends school each and every day right up until the school holidays. I realise that the tourism industry offers many incentives for families to holiday out of season however this has a significant effect on student learning and demonstrable impact on their report cards.

Stephen Loggie
Executive Principal

Senior School Update

Bullying

Next week is Harmony Week (14 – 18 March). At our school, through our OPTIMA Code we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone. Sometimes, it can be difficult for parents or carers to know what to do when their child talks to them about bullying. You are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively if it happens. Stopping bullying involves everyone.

If your child talks to you about bullying:

1. Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation. After they’ve told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need to: who, what, where, when.
2. Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse. You could say things like, ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that’s not fair at all’.
3. Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem. While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option. It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.
4. Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations. One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child feel more confident.
5. Contact the school. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help.
6. Check in regularly with your child. Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings. Your ongoing support is important.

If your child is being bullied or has any problems at all they can speak to any of our staff that your child feels comfortable talking to, alternatively below is a list of key staff who can help:

• Dean of Students Year 11/12: Mitch Kennedy – Y Block
• Dean of Students 9/10: Zoe Williamson – Y Block
• Dean of Students 7/8: Paul Bullpitt – D Block
• Senior School Guidance Officer: Steve Jones - J Block
• Middle School Guidance Officer: Anna Willis – J Block

After Parties

The upcoming Year 11 Semi Formal is the highlight of the Year 11 social calendar, and we encourage all our Year 11 students to be a part of this event as it is a great way to build a positive culture within the cohort.

Each year we educate our parents and students on the dangers of ‘after parties’. PBC neither supports nor promotes ‘after parties’. We are aware that some of the companies targeting our young people do so in a manner that may place them at risk of harm. I urge you to ensure that your young person is not put at risk by allowing them to attend.

Our school community does not condone after parties and their message of underage drinking and drug taking. We want our students to enjoy socialising safely, which is why we offer events such as the Semi-Formal and Formal.

The Next Step Survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual state-wide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in the previous year. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2016.

Further information on Next Step is available online at the link below, or toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

Senior School Team

HOD of Senior School Report

Shutdown exams

The timetable for end of term exams has been loaded on the school website under curriculum/ testing and assessment .

Students can also download a copy on the school’s K drive under curriculum.

Interschool sport is on as per usual during Week 9 as teams will be involved in competitions. Recreational Sport is optional on Wednesday 23 March for Years 10, 11 and 12.

Students must be in full school uniform to sit exams. Students who are studying VET subjects and are not up to date with their competencies will be required to attend school during VET catch up sessions to complete their competencies. Parents of VET students who need to attend during shutdown will be contacted by email.

All assessment tasks are due at 9:00am on the due date, not during class time. Students who are absent for an exam will need to provide a medical certificate and apply for a change of date with their Head of Department the next day they are at school. Similarly, students who are applying for an extension or special consideration will need to download an extension/change of date form from the school website and submit to their relevant Head of Department at least 48 hours before the due date.

QCS Masterclass

Year 12 QCS students had their first after school Master Class with Steve McCabe from Mighty Minds on Wednesday. It was great to see so many of our top performing students involved and striving to improve their OP and tertiary outcomes. The next Master Class is on Thursday 19 May.

OP predictions

Year 12 OP predictions will be calculated early in Term 2. Students who have a high OP above 18 may be better served changing to selection rank or completing a Certificate III course and using the rank from that course as a pathway for tertiary entrance.

Year 11 OP predictions will be calculated in Term 3. Students are reminded that OPs are calculated based on the students position in the subject and getting low Cs will not secure a pathway into university. Students need to be striving to maximise their results and not doing "just enough” to pass.

RSA and Microsoft courses

Year 12 students wishing to complete the Responsible Service of Alcohol course next term should register with Ms Shreeve in The Pathways Centre. This course cost $50. Another opportunity to complete this course will be available later in the year.

Any students wishing to gain Microsoft accreditation (free) should also register in The Pathways Centre. Each Microsoft course is credited with 1 QCE point and the certification will be a useful addition to any resume.

Other Senior Schooling news

• Subject changes will be available at the end of Term 1, and the first two weeks of Term 2, depending on availability of places in classes.
• Parents and students are reminded that completing English OP is a pre-requisite for the majority of Universities in Queensland.
• All senior students should be busy revising for exams and completing assignments at the moment and I’d like to wish all students well in their upcoming assessments.

Mick McDougall
HOD – Senior School

Year 9-10 Dean of Students Report

We have a proud OPTIMA tradition at PBC; this needs to also extend into our local community. Parents, carers and the wider community have an important role to play in working with our students to reinforce the expectations of the behaviour code. The OPTIMA code is still relevant when students travel to and from School. Disciplinary consequences will still occur for unacceptable behaviour to and from school. This is a friendly reminder of our OPTIMA code with respect to the community:

To be safe in the community involves:

• I act and interact safely with the community
• I obey laws and rules in the community

To be respectful in the community involves:

• I am respectful to people and property
• I speak politely and offer assistance to community members

A gentle reminder to students who catch a bus to and or from School that they need to either have a valid bus pass or money for the bus each day. This is not a free service, fares for most areas are only 70c.

Zoe Williamson – Acting Dean of Students Year 9 and 10
Mitch Kennedy – Dean of Students Year 11 and 12

Middle School Update

Our students and teachers have reached the tough end of the term. It’s going to be all about hard work, working smart and consistency to get through the last two weeks and all those assessment items. We have been talking to the students about what it means to work hard and show industry in the classroom.

I am really encouraged by the work that I am seeing occurring in classrooms and the level of detailed feedback that students are receiving from their teachers. This feedback and responding to it is a vital step in improvement of an individual task.

Please encourage your young person to read any feedback on drafts very carefully and ask them if they understand what the teacher is telling them about their attempts.

The other challenging step for Middle Schoolers is being organised enough to meet those timelines. This is all about the ‘working smarter’ idea. As a parent, staying connected to your young person’s deadlines and coaching them to meet these is one way we can work together in their education. Please discuss with them when their deadlines are and work with them to achieve this around their other at home commitments. It was great to see over 50 parents come along to our study skills night last week where teacher and Study Skills Coordinator Courtney Underwood talked about developing skills to assist this. Resources from the workshop are available on the school website under the Support and Resources tab .

The final way you can help is by talking to your young person about anything in particular that they may need to complete a task, whether it’s some cardboard, or access to library resources.

All these things will allow you to extend your support role in their learning, which as a school, we are grateful for and value the role you play in this as parents.

The last day of term one is Thursday 24 March. We have assessments right to the end of term so I will expect high attendance for that week, as usual. Our Year 7 students are leading the way with attendance this year with almost five classes with perfect attendance over the last two weeks.

Anita Sgalippa
Head of School - Middle School

Middle School Deputy Report

The term is flying by and the students are busy preparing for the submission of assessments. Especially for our younger students new to high school, this can be a very challenging time if they have not planned or managed their time well. Several subjects have assignments due in a relatively short time, so class time needs to be used effectively and out of school time spent on assignments needs to be "timetabled" into their routine. We find that students who have established these routines early seem to cope better with the demands of secondary schooling.

Messages on assemblies this week have focused on the value of "industry"- the effort, hard work and perseverance needed to succeed. I have been really impressed with the evidence of this industry in the Middle School throughout the whole term, particularly with the Year 7s - an amazing group of students.

Other reminders given to students recently include parts of our Optima Code - working to the best of their ability, respecting the learning of others in the classroom, being prepared for class and submitting all assessments. These messages are particularly relevant at this stage of the term.

Lastly, I need to remind students and their parents that while travelling to and from school students must behave in a way that complies with our Responsible Behaviour Plan. This includes behaviour on the buses or at bus stops away from the school (i.e The Pines). We expect our students to behave at all times in a safe and respectful manner.

Keep up the good work Middle School students!

Tracey Cardinal
Acting Deputy of Middle School

From the HOD Middle School

Assessment

Students are now counting down to the holidays and ticking off end of term assessment items. It is a very busy time, and it is important for families to remember that students may be assessed up to and including the final day of term. Attendance every day is critical to maximise learning and academic performance.

NAPLAN

Palm Beach Currumbin State High is committed to maximising every student’s learning and ensuring they are adequately equipped with the literacy and numeracy skills necessary for success.

The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be held this year between 10-12 May, for students in Years 7 and 9. This series of five examinations is undertaken over three days. Rigorous test conditions are maintained throughout the period. PBC teachers use NAPLAN data to identify students’ strengths and gaps in their learning, and to develop lessons that support learning. The tests also provide parents with a snapshot of their child’s literacy and numeracy skills, compared with national benchmarks.

If you have a philosophical objection to NAPLAN, such as you believe your child may suffer excessive stress or other adverse effects to this testing, and believe it is in your child’s best interest not to participate, then you have the right as a parent to withdraw your child. Withdrawn students will be provided with a complete supervision program at PBC, to further develop their literacy and numeracy skills. Please contact the Middle School office (phone 5525 9340) for a Withdrawal Form should you require one. This form must be completed and returned to PBC by the end of term.

If you require additional information regarding NAPLAN, please contact the Middle School Head of Department, Sharon Hillcoat on 5525 9333.

National Day of Action against Bullying

PBC State High School is planning a series of initiatives in the lead up to and for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence 2016. Our Middle School leaders are conducting a series of assembly presentations, incorporating short films they have found online, in the weeks leading up to the day. Senior School student leaders are also formulating plans. We will be displaying coloured National Day of Action posters around the school in the fortnight prior to the day.

We hope that our education of students about bullying will contribute to a school culture more resistant than ever of bullying and violence. Should you or your child ever become aware of bullying at PBC, please report it immediately to the Dean of Students.

Sharon Hillcoat
HOD Middle School

Art Department News

Current students connecting with alumni:

At the recent PBC Alliance breakfast, a select number of students from The Arts were invited to attend. This provided them with the unique opportunity for them to listen to Drew Anthony, guest speaker and alumni, about career development in the Performing Arts industry. He shared a wealth of knowledge in a short period of time with a clear message of “share you talents with the world.”

The students also had the opportunity to talk with another PBC alumni, Anna Johnston. Both Anna and Drew were taught by Madonna Hall in their time at PBC.

Opportunities in Media and Dance

Students in media and dance have been provided with a number of extra-curricular opportunities in Term 1. These opportunities are designed to expand the capability and skills of the students in their chosen performance area.

Sharon Atkinson (Media Teacher) has designed and conducted a Film and Media experience day. This day was held at PBC, challenging students to refine their storyboarding, filming and editing skills.

Madonna Hall (Dance Teacher) is working with the organisers of Bleach Festival where a selection of PBC dancers will perform a feature piece in Currumbin Creek.

Abby Swanborough (Dance Teacher) with Madonna Hall has networked with the organisers of Creative Generations to implement a standalone performance item featuring dancers from PBC and Southport State High.

The Arts Department

EAC Department News

Murri Jarjum

The Murri Jarjum group have begun well and are working hard to extend themselves in the classroom, to achieve their Optima goals. In Week 5, the Murri Jarjum Breakfast Award Assembly was held to recognise and celebrate the special achievements accomplished by the students in both the Middle and Senior Schools. We take pride in our wider community partnerships and were pleased to welcome QATSIF Narelle Mullins, AIME Karl Black and Oscar Davis and Queensland Education South East Region Karla Thompson as special guests. It was great to see so many family members, friends and staff supporting the students on their academic endeavours.

High expectations lead our ‘Closing the Gap’ commitment so attendance, achievement and retention are the priorities. Outstanding leadership from the 2015 Year 12 students was evident with Fletcher Harrold, our 2015 School Vice-Captain; and Brent Woolf, who received a $5000 scholarship, in conjunction with his prestigious Peter O’Doherty award, for the Queensland ATSI student for Excellence in Science, Engineering and Mathematics. 2015 graduate Year 12 Sally Treveton also received a full indigenous scholarship to Bond University.

Narelle Mullins travelled from Brisbane to present Charlie Duke with a QATSIF leader’s badge. This is a new initiative to acknowledge all QATSIF school leaders in Queensland. Narelle also presented the ‘QATSIF’ story to PBC which will be embedded in Year 10 History. We are extremely proud of Charlie and she is a great role model to all students at PBC.

Congratulations to our 2016 QATSIF scholarship recipients:

Year 12

Emily Burn, Charlie Duke, Jackson Fisher, Ritchie George, Cooper Harris, Giselle Kilner-Parmenter, Nyree O’Connor, Mathew Morrow, Dylan Nelson, Angel Weatherall.

Year 11

Donella Boler-Johnson, Tillylah Boler-Johnson, Lachlan Hamilton, James Harris, Tayte Lamos, Isabella Lewis, Jemma Macmillan, Summa Mount, Natasha Najjar, Britney Noffke, Stefanie Noffke, Blake Roberts, Tyreece Wood.

2015 Semester 2 results

Top achievers (left to right - Braith, Charli, Ezra, Britney, Giselle and Head of School - Senior School Mr Hanna)

Finally, a number of students have been visited by Selwyn or Chris in the last week regarding the need for improvement in a subject. It is important that these students and any others needing support attend the Homework Club in the Library, in the afternoons or the Mibunn group, with Selwyn, on Wednesday mornings in B Block. All families and students should have a copy of the Semester 1 Murri Jarjum calendar.

AIME

Each year our Year 7-12 Murri Jarjum have the opportunity to participate in the Australian Mentoring Experience (AIME) at Bond University.

Year 9 student, Kalani Anderson was selected from the entire Bond AIME cohort late last year for the best game design from the Year 8 session. She was selected to attend the three day Year 8 Advanced Workshop held in Sydney recently. This was an exciting leadership opportunity for Kalani to develop a student-created game concept for STEM-based learning and be supported by mentors from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment – Australia’s premier gaming school to develop a concept and pitch for their game design.

The culmination was to visit LinkedIn followed by Google to present their idea to a panel of judges. For anyone wanting a future in game design, Kalani said it takes between 4-7 years to create a game!

National Schools Constitutional Convention

At the end of 2015, Giselle Kilner-Parmenter attended the Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention in Brisbane and delivered a speech ‘citizen initiated referendum’. Giselle was subsequently nominated to represent Queensland at the 2016 National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra. She is keen to meet like-minded students from around Australia and attend Parliament. Giselle’s goal is to pursue a Degree in Law at the end of Year 12.

PBC Students in NSW Under 16s Indigenous Rugby League Squad

Well done to PBC students Brock Styles, William Lockwood and Blake Roberts who played for the NSW Under 16s Indigenous Rugby League Squad as the curtain-raiser to the All Stars match at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 13 February.

Keep up to date

To keep up to date with PBC Semester 1 - Murri Jarjum parents can

• Visit the PBC website www.pbc-shs.eq.edu.au
• Like PBC on Facebook www.facebook.com/PalmBeachCurrumbinStateHigh/
• Register for Q parents https://qparents.qld.edu.au

Deadly Choices

Our Year 8 Murri Jarjum are participating each Wednesday in Term 1 in the Deadly Choices ‘Youth Tobacco’ program. The program looks specifically on the effects that smoking has on the body, while empowering our people to make the choice to not smoke, regardless of the situations they face. The aim of the program is to give the students the knowledge to go back to their communities and teach their family members and friends about these same effects and dangers.

Learning Support - “Focus on Year 7” 7O – English and SOSE

7O students have been working really hard during English and SOSE lessons this term and have transitioned smoothly into high school. In English, students have been writing their first draft, a 2-3 minute persuasive motivational speech, due in Week 7. The final draft is due Week 8 on Friday 18 March.

7O students will also begin working on their drafts with Academic Excellence students in class this week as part of the ‘Peer 2 Peer’ mentoring program, which aims to provide additional support in the completion of assessment.

In SOSE, students recently completed their first ‘Water of the World’ exam and I am extremely pleased with their results. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for supporting your student with homework and ensuring they are prepared for lessons. This goes a long way to being successful at high school. I am excited to see the progression of 7O throughout the year.

Jack Ford
Year 7O English and SOSE Teacher

7O – Maths and Science

In 7O Maths this term we have studied square numbers, index notation, fractions and positive and negative integers. The students have enjoyed the hands on activities whilst learning these concepts and have demonstrated improved understanding and skills.

Throughout the term, we have played fraction dominos, used pegs and string to display number lines, and introduced the students to a new way to revise for exams using Kahoot. The last weeks of term will see us moving to geometry and differentiating between different types of quadrilaterals and triangles.

Science has also been an eventful affair with the students enjoying creating dichotomous keys and classifying animals. The exam results were positive and demonstrated a fantastic improvement of skills and understanding. The next few weeks will see 7O studying the Patagonian Toothfish and the Antarctic food web. The assignment will focus on the effect of fishing, both legal and illegal, how bycatch influences the marine ecosystem, and how the removal of one animal would affect the Antarctic food web.

Jessica Haidley 7O Maths/Science teacher

7P – English and SOSE

What a blazing start 7P and I have had to 2016! Every day I walk into our classroom they have smiles on their faces, are positive and extremely eager to learn and be involved in lessons. You can imagine how much enjoyment and positive energy I gain from this. No matter what sort of day I am having, once I step into that room they always make me smile, take a breath, and remind me why I became a teacher.

I would like to extend a huge congratulations to my students and ask that they continue to approach their learning with an ‘I can do it attitude’. It really does make all the difference to not only their learning, but their overall well-being and growth as a person.

In 7P we are a team, continually supporting each other, congratulating the wins, assisting our team when we face challenges, being respectful, well-mannered and overall determined learners, aiming to give our all in every lesson, every day.

In regards to assessment tasks, we have a persuasive motivational speech and a Water in the World Exam (Part 2) to take us into a well-deserved holiday. I ask that we keep working as a team and attending school every day. If we want to be successful learners and be the best that we can be, we need our whole team to be on board. Turning up to our lessons is a bit like training. In order to perform to your best, you need to first turn up and then once you are here, give a 100% to everything you do.

I ask that you continue to come along on this learning journey with me. Attend school, complete regular reading and homework tasks, stay positive, be respectful and determined and let’s do this together. In 7P we are a team and for a team to be complete we need all our members. I am looking forward to finishing our Term 1 with energy, enthusiasm and a lot of ‘I can do it’ moments. Let’s do this.

Abbey Bryant 7O English/SOSE teacher

Year 7 Maths and Science

Year 7 Math and Science students have had an amazing start to their first year of high school. Classes are now well and truly settled in with positive friendships being formed aided by the Year 7 Team Building day in Week 3.

Students have been enjoying learning about fractions, positive and negative integers, index notation and square numbers in Maths classes. In Science, students have just finished a unit on classification and learning how to use and construct dichotomous keys.

Bianca Deague 7P Maths/Science teacher

Literacy and Numeracy – Year 7, 8 and 9

During LAN Literacy lessons the students have been working on increasing their vocabulary and spelling knowledge and understanding. They have been improving their ability to plan for writing using a prescribed stimulus and improve their writing stamina by having a limited amount of time to produce their text. The students in all classes are engaged and focussed on making progress and full use of this opportunity.

In LAN Numeracy this year, students have been fortunate to be enrolled in the IXL Maths program. This program covers the Australian Curriculum in Mathematics and is excellent revision for mandated testing like NAPLAN and PAT tests whilst also providing an interactive resource for practice, consolidation and mastery of concepts. All students enrolled also have the advantage of being able to access the program both at school and at home for revision.

Elizabeth Gill LAN Literacy Coordinator
Kim O’Kane LAN Numeracy Coordinator

QuickSmart - Literacy and Numeracy Intervention Programs

QuickSmart lessons are up and running after weeks of identifying and testing students and preparing resources. 2016 has seen the introduction of Numeracy to the program with new staff member Dane Clarke coming on board.

Students are selected from the Middle School Year 7 and 8 for these programs. We have 48 students participating in Literacy and 48 students in Numeracy with 25 students participating in both programs.

A big thank you to all classroom teachers for their ongoing support of QuickSmart. We will be inviting parents to observe your child during their QuickSmart lesson in Term 2.

The EAC Department

PBC Leo Club News

Supporting the community

The PBC Leo club welcomed four new members this week; new members range from Year 7 to 12; students and the club would encourage other students to join.

The Leo club of PBC have volunteered their time to support a local area as part of the Beach Care project. As well as providing students to volunteer to work on the project the Leo club and the Palm Beach Lions and Lioness clubs also donated $1500 to the Beach Care project. The new site is located at Tallebudgera.

Clean-up Australia Day

The Leo club also supported Clean-Up Australia Day and Leo volunteers collected litter from around the boundaries of PBC. They were very happy to announce that the boundaries around the school and along the board had a reduced amount of litter from last year. The Palm Beach Lions and Lioness clubs provided a barbeque for the Leos who collected litter.

Many thanks to the Lions and Lioness clubs for their continued support of the Leo Club and to those Leo members who gave up their own time to support such a worthy cause.

Leos Car Wash

PBC Leo Club

Maths Department News

Lifelong learners in Maths

This week Senior School Maths teachers Mary Tsai, Craig Peters, Trent Hage, Ashleigh Hage, Allison Lovesey, Matt Larter and myself travelled to Windaroo Valley after school to attend an excellent PD to help us prepare for the introduction of the Casio fx-CG20AU Graphical Calculator.

Students in Year 11 and 12 Maths B and C use a graphical calculator as part of the course. The new calculator has a number of additional exciting features, my favourite being the fact that you can add photographs and then use them in the graphing function to determine the equation of lines within the photographs. We looked at identifying the equation that matched the curve of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the course. The course was run by Barry Kissane, Emeritus Associate Professor at Murdoch University. His approach to Maths education was inspiring. I am sure that the Year 11 students will see the benefits of this in their lessons in the coming year. Students in Year 11 Maths B have received a letter advising them to purchase a graphical calculator by term 2. If they can afford the slightly more expensive Casio fx-CG20AU I highly recommend it.

The pictures show Mary Tsai, Cathy Clipson and Craig Peters having some fun exploring the functions and capability of the calculator.

Numeracy Bites

Students in year 7, 8 and 9 have been doing 5 quick questions at the start of each lesson to support their numeracy development. I thought you might like to have a go instead of the puzzle I usually put in my newsletter.

Have fun! NO CALCULATORS ALLOWED!

5 quick questions:

1. Find the sum of 211126 and 215126.
2. If it costs $2.50 for 6 apples, find the cost of 15 apples.
3. Find the number midway between 2.8 and 4.9
4. What percentage is 16 of 25?
5. Find the perimeter of an equilateral with sides length 6cm.

Answers at the end of the newsletter.

Cathy Clipson
HOD Maths

Study Skills – The Science of Effective Study

Bluma Wulfovna Zeigarnik was a Lithuanian born psychologist and psychiatrist who wrote a thesis in 1927 describing what is now known as the ‘Zeigarnik effect’. The original thesis idea came from the observation of waiters. It was found that they could easily recall complex orders up until the point that the order was completed and paid for, at which time the details of the order were completely forgotten. Zeigarnik researched this further by giving 138 children simple puzzles and tasks to do. She allowed half of the children to complete the set task but interrupted the other half of the children mid-task. When questioned 1 hour later only 12% of the children who completed the task could recall the details, while 80% of the children who were interrupted remembered the task clearly.

This research indicates that the rate of information recall will be higher in students who temporarily stop their studies and take a break, compared to those students who complete study sessions without taking short breaks.

In 1982, Kenneth McGraw and his colleagues carried out new research on the Zeigarnik effect. In this new series of tests participants were again asked to complete a series of tricky puzzles and were interrupted before they could finish. This time though, they were told the study was over and they were able to leave the task unfinished. Despite this almost 90% of participants completed the puzzle anyway.

The study showed that in most cases human nature compels people to finish what they start, if it is not finished the person experiences tension. Examples of the Zeigarnik effect being utilised can be found everywhere, especially in media and advertising. This is why ending a book chapter on a cliffhanger works so well in compelling people to keep reading or why it can be so difficult to stop watching ‘just one more episode’ of a Netflix series.

The Zeigarnik effect provides an excellent technique for beating procrastination, which is start somewhere…anywhere. Start with something easy first, just to get the task underway, and the rest will tend to follow. Starting a task ensures that it will stay in the short term memory and niggle away at the back of the mind until the task is completed.

Please follow link to PDF below to view article references:

Courtney Underwood
Study Skills Coordinator

The Pines Elanora Discovery Den Opening at Currumbin Sanctuary

Year 11 Tourism students were given the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Currumbin Sanctuary as they were filmed and photographed with the Mayor Tom Tate.

We met a python, phasmid (stick insect), a baby crocodile and a barking owl.

The interactive experience focuses on animal adaptations, diet, habitat and conservation.

Students also had the opportunity to discover the interactive zone where they handled artefacts, explored life under the microscope and touched feathers, bones, snake skins and more.

After the formalities, students were able to enjoy a morning tea with the gathered dignitaries before a walk back to school.

Trevor Foers
Hospitality, Home Economics and Tourism Teacher

‘Talking Adolescence’ Parent Connect Forum

You are invited to attend ‘Talking Adolescence’, with Paul Bullpitt, Dean of Students

Date: Tuesday 22 March 2016
Time: 7:30 - 8:30am
Location: PBC Trade Training Centre

Paul Bullpitt, Dean of Year 7 and 8 students, will be discussing issues that most affect teens and their relationship with their parents

A light breakfast will be provided.

Please RSVP to events@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au by Friday 18 March 2015.

This Breakfast is for Parents/Guardians only.

Michaela Halberstater
Family Liaison Officer

School Council Successful parent nominations

IMPORTANT: School Council successful parent nominations

Please follow the link to the PDF below to view the declaration of results for the 2016 School Council parent representatives

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 10 student Thomas Carvalho who took out third place in the Under 16's division of the recent Volcom TCT 2016 series in Jan Juc, Victoria. Thomas had the highest scoring wave of the event.

A fantastic achievement by Year 9 student Taylah Agius who won Junior Performance Champion in the 2016 Combined Districts Kart Club Ladies Pink Plate Event. This event raised funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Well done to Year 11 Tennis Excellence students Brody Green and Brody Luc for their achievements at the Tennis Gold Coast 2016 Annual Secondary Inter-school Challenge at Queens Park Tennis Centre Southport.

Representing PBC, the boys won their round robin pool defeating teams from TSS, Brisbane School of Distance Education and the No1 seeds from St Stephens College. The duo finished as runner-up in the semi-final 4-2 against Southport High.

Year 8 Sport Excellence student Mackenzey Ormiston competed this week in Perth at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships. She represented Queensland in the 3000m and came home with a Silver Medal and a Personal Best time of 9 mins 57 secs. Well done Mackenzey!

PBC Surfing Excellence students Pacha and Yani Luque-Light, Kiani Dobbyn and Shaye Leeuwendal have been actively involved in supporting the successful bid for a Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve (GCWSR) - the 8th dedicated reserve of its kind in the world.

Students Pacha and Yani Luque-Light were lucky enough to attend the dedication ceremony last week at Point Danger. The photo below includes GCWSR board member Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew.

Well done to these students for their support and involvement in such a fantastic initiative!

Congratulations to Year 9 and 10 Sport Excellence students Carter Brodhurst-Hill, and Jamie Cox, for their achievements in receiving a number of placings at the National Kayaking championships in Perth last week.

Carter also won the ‘Most Outstanding Junior Paddler’ award for his paddling, sportsmanship, and chivalry when he and his K2 partner saved a young boy from drowning as they paddled back after a race on the warm up track.

Senior School Guidance Officer Report

QCS Special Provision – Year 12

Any Year 12 student affected by a medical condition, impairment, or exceptional circumstance that may affect their access to the test or their demonstration of achievement in the test may be entitled to special provisions.

Medical conditions, impairments and exceptional circumstances and the documentation required can be found in here.

Obtaining documentation

Documentation is required for most applications. Students are responsible for obtaining current documentation to support their application (e.g. medical certificate).

Please note: A student may submit an application directly to the QCAA if they have a reason for not submitting their application through their school (e.g. if they have a medical condition they do not wish to disclose to school staff). In this case, the student or their parent/carer should phone (07) 3864 0227 for information and an application form.

Please make sure you check the 2016 Special Provision Handbook link provided to see if you qualify for special provisions.

For all applications or enquiries please contact Steve Jones (Guidance Officer - Senior School) via email sjone79@eq.edu.au

ADF Gap Year applications are now open!

Your students can now apply to experience their Gap Year in the Navy, Army or Air Force.

In one action-packed year they will:

• Gain valuable skills and work experience,
• Enjoy a good salary package plus free healthcare,
• Live a varied, active and healthy lifestyle,
• Make friends with like-minded people.

The ADF Gap Year program is an excellent way for your students to experience military life and to gain a greater understanding of what's involved. On completion they can continue serving in the Navy, Army or Air Force, or offer the skills and experience they've acquired to an alternative career path.

In 2017 there are 11 roles to choose from ranging from admin to artillery, and flight crew to logistics. Places are strictly limited and will only be open for a limited time so make sure your students are informed of this opportunity.

Things to know:

• Details of all the Gap Year roles are available at defencejobs.gov.au/gapyear Employment commences early 2017
• Applicants must have completed Year 12 and be aged between 18 and 24 as of 1 April 2017 (Navy), 31 May 2017 (Army), or 7 April 2017 (Air Force).

Steve Jones
Guidance Officer Senior School

Middle School Guidance Officer Report

10 Strategies to help kids develop resilience

Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’ from life’s difficulties. For many young people it is vital to help them develop resilience strategies that promote well-being and develop coping mechanisms. Many resilient teenagers are seen as resourceful and are emotionally and mentally balanced.

Andrew Fuller is a clinical psychologist and Generation Next speaker, he describes resilience as “the happy knack of being able to bungy jump through the pitfalls of life – to rise above adversity and obstacles.”

Tips for building resilience in children:

1. Make connections: Teach teens how to make friends and develop empathy. Encourage them to be a friend in order to get friends. At school, watch to make sure that one child is not being isolated. Connecting with people provides social support and strengthens resilience.
2. Teach children to help others: Teens who may feel helpless can be empowered by helping others. Ask for help with a task they can master.
3. Daily routine: Following a routine can be comforting to teens, especially younger children who crave structure in their lives. Encourage children to develop their own routines.
4. Take a break: Although it is important to stick to routines, endlessly worrying can be counter-productive. Show children how to focus on something besides what’s worrying them.
5. Self-care: Teach the importance of making time to eat properly, groom themselves, exercise and rest. Teens need ‘down time’ to relax, so make sure that not all free time is filled with a scheduled activity.
6. Goals: Teach children to set reasonable goals and move toward them one step at a time. Moving toward that goal and receiving praise for doing so will focus children on what they have accomplished.
7. Nurture a positive self-view: Help your teen remember ways that they have successfully handled hardships in the past and how this can help them handle future challenges. Help children learn to trust themselves to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.
8. Be optimistic: Even when children are facing very painful events, help them look at the situation in a broader context. A positive outlook enables children to see the good things in life and keep going even in the hardest times.
9. Self-discovery: Change and tough times are often when children learn the most about themselves. Help children to see that this is a good time to find out “what they are made of.” Change can be scary for young people, help them to see that change is part of life.
10. Make home a safe haven: home should be a haven, especially as your teen encounters more freedoms and choices and looks to home to be a constant, safe and emotionally secure place in his or her life.

Anna Willis
Guidance Officer Middle School

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.

Hospitality Traineeships - Zarraffas Burleigh, Barefoot Barista Palm Beach, Crema Espresso Robina, Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, Surfers Paradise Beach Café, Noodle Box Robina, Zarraffas Coolangatta and Fiery Deli Burleigh.

Cert III Business - Angus and Coote Robina, Blooms the Chemist the Pines, Aurora Institute of Training, Subway Stores – various locations.

First National Real Estate - Palm Beach and Burleigh. Cert III Business traineeships. Duties include reception and property management

Von Bibra Work Experience Year 10 only – Do you have passion for cars? Want to work in the motor industry? Von Bibra Robina Auto Mall are offer work experience to Year 10 students in April. Collect expression of interest form.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Traineeships in Hospitality and Business and IT.

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

Kmart Stores - Taking application for Indigenous students in Year 10-11. Positions available at The Pines, Robina and Tweed Heads

Currently taking expression 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 currently out of stock, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

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:

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!

Student notice – bus passes

A reminder that students will need to show their bus pass or GOCARD to get on the bus. Please ensure your student has their bus pass/Go Card or money to pay the fare.

‘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.

Answer to maths puzzle

1. 426252
2. $6.25
3. 3.85
4. 64%
5. 18cm