Palm Beach Currumbin State High eNewsletter

10 June 2014

Principal’s Report

I recently came across an article written by Rebecca Smith in The Telegraph, London UK and republished in the Sydney Morning Herald relating to growing understanding of the devastating effect that cannabis use has on the adolescent brain.

The article pulled together a number of highly credible sources and the message was very clear and needs to be understood by every parent and adolescent.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School in a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience carried out 3D scans on brains and reported “that young people who had only used cannabis once or twice a week for a matter of months were found to have changes in the brain that govern emotion, motivation and addiction.”

Student safety is our highest priority at PBC. We have a comprehensive approach to discouraging drug taking which includes:

Widely published clear statements of expected student behaviour which include likely consequences for any breaches
An induction program which ensures all students know these policies and consequences
A social emotional education curriculum which includes drug education
A network of health professionals who ensure students know about the consequences to their health on drug taking
Parent information sessions and regular updates in our newsletter
Actively discourage “after parties” following school events

Our school community must be ever vigilant in regards to our young people experimenting with illicit drugs or alcohol. It is critical that parents:

Discuss this information with your child
Enforce family routines that ensure you can always keep check of your child’s behaviours
Remember no matter how settled your child seems this is an issue that can affect any child
If you suspect that your child may be experimenting contact the school to discuss. It is much better to be dealing with possible experimenting rather than health issues, school disciplinary consequences or police action in the event of a drug taking incident

I have included a copy of the article for your information.

Stephen Loggie
Executive Principal

Senior School Update

Exam Stress

Exam anxiety is perfectly natural and common amongst most students.

To perform to your potentiat it must be controlled

a cool headed, businesslike approach is needed
use positive psych to your advantage; "I 've prepared well and therefore I'll do well ".

Following are some strategies to reduce exam anxiety

Leading up to the Exams

have adequate sleep: with intense study your eyes and brain require plenty of rest. Drink plenty of water
put a copy of the Exam Timetable on the fridge; it is important to have your family double-check dates and times.

On Exam Day

eat a wholesome breakfast; not too heavy briefly exercise to spark the mind and body wear loosely fitting and comfortable clothing take a bottle of water: water assists brain functioning avoid coffee: it affects concentration don't listen to "heavy" beat music beforehand; the songs may play on your mind during the exam

be careful about reviewing work with friends on exam day: it may heighten stress
allow time for unexpected delays In travelling to Exam Centre arrive 10 minutes before the exam
ensure that your equipment is in good working order

In the Exam Centre

choose a place away from friends
where you can see the clock
use reading time effectively
ensure that you fill in your personal details accurately
underline/highlight key words/phrases
do plans; do they address the questions? Do they make sense?
begin the exam by doing the questions you know, it builds self confidence and stimulates your memory storage tanks
don't panic if you forget some material: a positive attitude may prompt its return .
do a plan of essay questions you don't have time to complete
if you finish early check your work
if you begin to lose focus and daydream, take ten deep breaths to relax and refocus
never leave early
no white out: cross out an answer if it's unwanted
write neatly and legibly.

Remember you are in control of you.

The above is taken directly from the Senior planner from page 110.

Nigel Hughes
Director Senior School

Exam Preparation

By this time, all Senior School students should be heavily engaged in their homework and study programs in preparation for submitting assignments and Exam Shutdown.

Experience shows that successful students use task and criteria sheets carefully, and refer to the syllabus when preparing for assessment. Highlighting the key points on these sheets and clarifying points with teachers can help students better understand what it is they need to do to achieve a particular grade. Criteria sheets can also guide students to structure their responses, to ensure they address every aspect on which they are being graded. All QSA 11-12 syllabuses are available online and provide further information to help students understand tasks.

Students should now have finished writing their study notes. Top students reduce notes by 80% to focus on key words or ‘trigger words’. In these final weeks, students should be focussing on memorising, learning and practice questions.

Year 11 students in particular are reminded that if they wish to change subjects, they should come to Y Block during Shutdown or in Weeks 1 or 2 of next semester. Subject descriptions are available under Curriculum / Senior School on the PBC website. Reading these prior to making changes can help students make informed decisions.

Sharon Hillcoat
Deputy Principal Senior School

QCS

It was great to see so many students attend the Master class on Wednesday afternoon. These sessions help to increase the QCS averages of our Year 12 students which will then maximise every students OP. In Term 3, QCS students will have Master classes in weeks two, three, four and five in their final preparation for the QCS test on 2 and 3 September.

All QCS students will have their final practice exams for the Writing Task and Multiple Choice test on the last day of shutdown Friday 27 June.

Senior School Shutdown.

The end of Term 2 shutdown timetable has been available on the school website for a period of time. A reminder that Year 10 students have normal classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 10 whilst Year 11 and 12 students will only have to attend when they have an exam or VET catch up scheduled.

Parents are again reminded that students cannot sit exams before the rest of the class due to holidays.

Assessment Calendars

These are available on the school website under Curriculum / Testing and Assessment.

Diploma in Business

As per last year the school will offer a Diploma in Business course for Year 11 students to commence in July. This 18 month course will be conducted after school by an outside provider on two afternoons per week. The fee for this course is $2000.

Successful completion of a Diploma earns a QTAC rank of 82 which is equivalent to an OP of 9. It provides a pathway to University and up to a year’s credit in Business degrees. This may mean very significant future savings on the cost of University degrees.

Students who are enrolled in this course are able to apply for a spare so they can manage their workload. To register your interest or to obtain more information please contact Mr McDougall or Ms Halford in the Senior School

Mick McDougall
HOD Senior School

Middle School News

Year 6 and 7 School Visits

Over the last 2 weeks I have been conducting school visits to our local primary feeder schools to address their Year 6 and 7 student cohorts that are intending to enrol at Palm Beach Currumbin SHS. The primary schools that have been visited include:

Currumbin Valley State School
Coolangatta State School
Currumbin State School
Elanora State School
Palm Beach State School
Tallebudgera State School

As you will be aware 2015 is the inaugural year for Year 7 students to join our Middle School at PBC. As a result, on these visits I was greeted by a wide range of questions from the students in regards to our Middle School.

These visits will culminate in our Year 6 into Year 7 and our Year 7 into 8 General Enrolment evening to be held on Tuesday 10 June.

It has been a very interesting experience as I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive mindset of the Year 6 and 7 students and their interest in what we are creating in our Middle School. On these school visits I have been accompanied by Ms Cathy Clipson and a number of our Year 8 students who have given the Year 7 students an insight into “life at PBC”. I would like to publicly thank both Ms Clipson and our students for the wonderful job they did in representing our Middle School in such a positive way.

Assessment and Study Skills

The last few weeks of this semester will culminate in students completing their assessments for their current units. With that in mind please ensure that your student has:

Set a study timetable – please refer to the PBC website for the relevant assessment timetable
A study or learning method – the PBC Student Planner has a great deal of information on the best ways to study for success
A balanced approach – a balance between study, rest, exercise and sleep is required for success

Best of luck to all of our students as they demonstrate the skills they have learnt throughout the term.

Blair Hanna
Director of Middle School

Middle School Deputy Update

The PBC Optima Code covers the behaviour of students whilst at school, and when involved in activities that can affect school such as social media.

The Optima Code has three main organisers – “Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be a Learner”. These organisers are to help students reflect on what they are doing and compare it to being safe, respectful or a learner.

One of the biggest issues that we face is the inappropriate use of mobile devices and social media outside of school. At times, this inappropriate cyber interaction results in bullying and harassment that obviously interferes with behaviour and learning at school.

Parents can support the school in this area by monitoring your students and their activity on social media, enforcing curfews around the use of phones and having a place outside of their bedroom where devices are to remain overnight. The more structured supervision you place around your student’s use of mobile devices and social media when they are interacting with their peers, the less chance there is of issues occurring at school.

I would also encourage you to contact the school and alert us to incidents that occur that could have a negative impact on school behaviour and learning. Reinforce with your student the need to report incidents to the school when they happen.

Together we can help reduce the behaviours that occur as a result of inappropriate use of social media.

Peter O’Brien
Deputy Principal Middle School

Primary School Visits

The Director of Middle School, Blair Hanna, and myself have been visiting primary schools over the last two weeks to talk with Year 6 and 7 students who will be coming to PBC in 2015.

The purpose of the visits was to help ease the transition to high school and we were assisted in our job by excellent speeches about what life is really like at PBC from Year 8 students Myah Passmore, Hayley Masters, Morgan Houston, Maggie McCagh, Drew Younger,and Taj Van der Werff. The visits, some of which included afternoon tea with Q&A sessions helped to clarify any parental concerns and Japsper Garner, Olivia Ford, Macy Atkins and Tahli Gawler performed great dance routines.Ruby Allen, Charische Miller, Jakeb Knowles and Jethro Reed entertained with wonderful musical pieces. All students were fabulous ambassadors of the school.

Pictured are students and Mr Hanna at Currumbin State School on Thursday (Myah Passmore, Jakeb Knowles and Jethro Reed).

Cathy Clipson
Year 7 Coordinator

From the Dean’s Office

In their Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson this past week, the senior students have had an informed session on what healthy and unhealthy relationships are. These do not have to be partnered relationships, but could include relationships with bosses, parents, friends or others.

A healthy relationship is based on respect. Everyone has the right to feel safe, to be treated with fairness, to be valued and feel accepted for who they are.

Respectful relationships are important because they:

contribute to your growth, maturity and sense of self-confidence
promote healthy self-expression and awareness of yourself and others
enable you to feel accepted, positive and free to be yourself

Respectful relationships also help you feel:

safe
encouraged
trusted
comfortable
that you matter
OK to be honest and open
listened to
equal and treated fairly
valued
understood
accepted

Unfortunately, sometimes relationships are not healthy. Working out whether you’re in an abusive relationship isn’t always easy. Learning the signs of an abusive relationship can give some perspective. Thinking that abusive behaviour is your fault is a common feeling, but it’s important to know that you’re never to blame for another person’s behaviour. You might be in an abusive relationship if your partner:

tries to control your behaviour
gets jealous easily
insults you in public or private
makes you feel confused or like you are going 'crazy'
threatens violence against you, your pets, or people you love
makes you feel scared

You should not feel that you have to stay in a relationship if you are experiencing any type of abuse, from physical to emotional or verbal abuse. If you feel you are in danger, call emergency services immediately. If you need to know about what you can do and where you can go there are things you can do and people you can talk to.

Are you in immediate danger? If you are in danger of being hurt, or you are worried about your safety, contact police or emergency services (000) immediately

Do you have support? If possible, talk to someone you trust, like a friend, family member, counsellor or youth worker who understands domestic violence. You can also contact an organisation in your state or territory who can give you relevant information on seeking help.

Talk to the police: If you feel unsafe or scared, the police can be good people to talk to. If you or someone you know have been hurt, contact emergency services (000) immediately.

Trust yourself: If someone is hurting you or threatening to, it can be hard to maintain your self-confidence. Remember it is NEVER OK for someone to hurt or threaten to hurt you for any reason.

Know your rights: It may be a good idea to check out your legal rights. Laws vary from state to state. To find out about your rights check out the Lawstuff website

There are many sources of support for students with regards to their wellbeing. The information in this article was taken from the Reachout.com website, which is a valuable source of information for students’ emotional needs. Students are also able to contact Kids Helpline (phone: 1 800 55 1800, web: kidshelp.com.au) or Lifeline Australia (phone: 13 11 14) for immediate support.

Leoni Kent
Student Support

Guidance Officer News

Scholarships

Tertiary information including scholarships is on the school website!

Go to Support and Resources – Student Resources – Tertiary Scholarship Information

Australian Defence Force

Pre-enlistment fitness

Many applicants miss out on their ADF career opportunity because they do not meet the pre-enlistment fitness assessment. It is vital that applicants continue to maintain an appropriate level of fitness throughout their application process. A 'Get fit for the ADF in just four weeks' guide is available online from the defence jobs website.

The ADF Gap Year

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will reintroduce its gap year program in 2015. The program provides an opportunity for young Australians who have completed Year 12 and are aged between 17 and 24 years to experience military training and lifestyle while gaining new skills and pay over their Gap Year. Gap Year opportunities are available in the Army and Air Force only. For more information and to register your interest in this program, visit the defence jobs website. This is a very popular program; so if you are interested, register early.

Course and Institution Updates

News from the University of Queensland (UQ) Big Day In

UQ will host this event on Thursday 12 June 2014. It is a tech careers conference with a difference. It is organised, run and hosted by students for students. There is a fee for the event. Find out more from the ACS Foundation website.

Experience Science 2014 program registrations now open

This program is for students in Years 10 – 12. It provides an opportunity to find out what it is like to study science at UQ. The program will be held on 17, 18, 21, 22 and 23 July at UQ’s St Lucia campus and on 24 July at the Gatton Campus. You can read more about the program at the following UQ website. Group and individual registrations are available.

UQ Geography Day

This event will help you understand the relevance of studying geography, planning and environmental management and introduce you to the careers available in these areas. It is for Year 10 - 12 students and will be held on 25 July 2014. For more information see the following UQ website.

Ultimate Guide to Health Jobs

This is one of the resources on the UQ Health website. Other resources include ‘6 steps to getting subject selection right’ and ‘School vs Uni’. These resources can be accessed from the following UQ website.

Want to study engineering but don’t have the prerequisites?

Griffith University offers a pathway into its engineering courses through the Aptitude for Engineering Assessment (AEA) examination. Registrations to sit the exam opened mid-May and close in early September 2014. The exam will be held on 30 September 2014 in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. Exam dates differ for other test centres. To find out more visit the following GU website.

QTAC and Tertiary Entry

A reminder for Year 12 students about Tax File Numbers

Prospective university students are encouraged to apply early for a Tax File Number (TFN). Students who gain entry to a university course must have a TFN to be able to defer their fee payment through HECS-HELP (to pay later through the tax system). The easiest way for you to get a TFN is through your school. Talk to your guidance officer/counsellor about obtaining a TFN application form. More about TFN can be found at the following government website.

Online resources for Year 12 parents

Transitioning from high school to university can be a challenging journey for students and their parents. Several universities provide resources for parents to support them and their children through the transition. Some examples are:

Griffith University - ‘Parents’ at the GU website.
Queensland University of Technology - ‘Are you the parent of a school student’ at the QUT website.
The University of Queensland – ‘Information for parents of future UQ students’ at the UQ website.

Registration deadlines for UMAT

To meet the prerequisites for some medical/health science undergraduate courses applicants are required to sit for the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT). The 2014 UMAT information booklet can be downloaded from the UMAT website. The timeline for UMAT in 2014 is:

Friday 7 June – the on time registration due date
Friday 20 June – the late registration due date (a late fee applies)
Wednesday 30 July – UMAT test date
Late September – results released.

Schemes for medical students

The following schemes are Commonwealth Government initiatives to address doctor shortages in specific areas in Australia:

Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme

This scholarship provides 100 additional Commonwealth Supported Places each year for first year medical students. It is valued at $25,000 a year. Upon completion of their studies, students are required to work for six years in a rural or remote area. An information booklet can be downloaded at this website.

Bonded Medical Places Scheme

There is no scholarship associated with this scheme. However, it does provide funding for additional Commonwealth supported medical school places each year (25% of places come under this scheme). Recipients are required to work in medical skill shortage areas for a period equal to the length of their medical course. An information booklet can be downloaded at this website.

African Conservation Experience (ACE) for Gap Year students

ACE works with conservation projects in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. As conservation work takes many forms, students can join a project that matches their interests. Project options include working in a wildlife care centre, having a wildlife veterinary experience or becoming a marine conservation volunteer. For more information about this organisation and its projects, see http://www.conservationafrica.net/Gap-Year-Students.

Young People Without Borders> Scholarships are now open for current Year 12 students to apply for scholarships to volunteer in Asia in 2015!

Please share in your school network to connect your students to this amazing opportunity.

Bond University - RSL Youth Development Program

The Returned & Services League (RSL) of Australia (Queensland Branch) and Bond University are offering the RSL Youth Development Program again this year! The RSL Youth Development Program has been designed to recognise and reward the outstanding efforts of high-achieving Queensland students. The 2014 - 2015 program aims to once again award 200 grants to talented Year 10 and 11 students who have demonstrated success in the following categories:

Academic Achievement (inclusive of Arts, Drama, Dance and Media)
Sporting Achievement
Community Leadership and Civic Participation

Recipients of the RSL Youth Development Program will receive grants of $2,500 and the top 10% of the highest achieving Year 10 and 11 students receive a higher recognition via a $5,000 grant. Recipients will also have the exclusive opportunity to apply for a scholarship worth 50% of tuition fees to study either a single or combined degree at Bond University on the completion of high school.

Applications are open online now on the RSL website. Applications close on November 11. Download the RSL Youth Development Program information flyer from the RSL website.

Queensland Government Young Athlete Assistance Program

If your child has competed at a state or state school championships, national or national school championship or international championship you may be eligible to receive $200 financial assistance from the Queensland government. To find out if you are eligible go to: http://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/funding/overview/young athlete.html

Steve Jones
Senior School Guidance Officer

Dealing with Grief and Loss

Grief and loss can put people at risk of becoming depressed. While the signs and symptoms of grief and loss are similar, it’s important to recognise the differences so the affected person can receive the most appropriate help.

What is loss?

The death of a loved one is a common situation that causes grief. However, when there are big changes in a person’s life, it can sometimes feel as if something has been taken away. Losses can be large or small and the effect of multiple losses builds up.

Common experiences of loss:

Relationship changes – separation, divorce, death of a loved one
Job changes – unemployment, retrenchment, retirement or demotion
Change of role – e.g. children leaving home
Becoming a carer or being a parent, partner or sibling of a person with an illness/disability and having one’s freedom restricted
Loss of health through illness, disability and/or ageing
Miscarriage, infertility – disappointment at not being able to have a child
Separation from family and friends – e.g. moving interstate or overseas

What is grief?

When a person experiences a significant loss, it’s usually followed by a period of grief. Grief has no set pattern – the length and severity of each grief experience is different for everyone. There are however, common reactions and responses:

Shock, feeling of numbness
Disbelief – “It can’t be real.”
Confusion and trying to make sense of it – “Why has this happened to me?”
Anger – feeling deserted
Pining and yearning – wanting whatever was lost to be returned.
Guilt – “I wish I had done things differently.”
A sense of isolation and fear at facing the rest of life alone.

The experience of grief is normal, but it’s still painful and a person experiencing grief needs support. If grief is not recognised and acknowledged, it can fester and have a detrimental effect on a person’s health and wellbeing.

Getting through grief and loss

Although the pain of grief cannot be alleviated quickly, there are many things you can do to help yourself through a tough time.

Stay connected to friends and family, and use support groups (Grief Recovery Program: 0755391847, Lifeline: 131 114, Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 and Paradise Kids: 0755746853).
Because some friends may be inclined to stay away, let them know how often you’d like to see them.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Stay healthy – Eat healthy meals, exercise regularly, get a good night’s sleep and keep use of drugs and alcohol to a minimum.
Manage stress – Lighten your load by asking friends, family members or work colleagues to help you with some chores or commitments. Relaxation and gentle exercise can be helpful.
Make time to participate in enjoyable activities.

Anna Willis
Middle School Guidance Officer

Recreational Sport – Semester 2

It is compulsory for all students in Years 8-11 to participate in an activity during period 4 on Wednesdays. Year 12 students will be participating in an alternative program revolving around QCS.
If a student wishes to remain in their chosen activity from Semester 1 they do not need to select another activity, they will remain in that group for Semester 2.
If a student wishes to change their sport choice (depending on space available) they must see Mr Eggert in the Sport Office. Changes are only allowed to be made in Week 9 and 10 of Term 2.
Your choice will apply for the whole semester (Term 3 and 4) so please select carefully as no changes are allowed during Semester 2.
Please note: All activities are for 70 minutes (1.55-3.05pm) every Wednesday.
Please only select an activity you are sure you can afford every week. Students who fail to meet costs will be required to attend a non-sport group during sport time. For more information about an activity, see Mr Eggert (D-block).

Sports Excellence Lessons - Semester 2, 2014

The following Sports Excellence groups will be conducted during Wednesday sport. Students enrolled in these subjects will have an extra sport excellence class as their sport.

Please note: Sports Excellence Tennis students are required to select a recreational sport for Semester 2, 2014.

Sport	Age groups available
AFL (Boys)	Opens, U14
Basketball (Boys)	Opens A/B, U15,U14,U13
Basketball (Girls)	Opens A, U15, U14
Kayaking	All
Netball	Opens, U15, U14, U13
Rugby League (Boys)	Opens A/B/C, U15A, U14A, U13A
Soccer (Boys)	Opens, U15, U14, U13
Soccer (Girls)	Opens, U14
Surfing	All
Touch	13 mixed, 15 girls, Open Girls

School Photos for Collection

If you ordered school photos but have not collected them yet they are available at Student Services. We have many photos still left to be collected.

Lynne Riley
Student Services

Lizen High School Visit

Lizen High School have been at PBC on a study tour for the last three weeks. All 34 students have participated in a full schedule of specialist lessons, including boomerang painting, cooking, Zumba, rugby and Indigenous education. Our buddies have taken them to integration lessons and learnt a lot about the Taiwanese culture. Our farewell and graduation ceremony was an exciting time but also an emotional time as many reciprocal friendships have been made. Thank you to our homestay families who have opened their homes. Without supportive homestays our program would not be the success that it is.

Kirsten Hague
A/International Student Coordinator

Creative Arts Update

PBC’s CAX students have had a wide range of professional and industry experiences of late, with CAX Music vocalists leading the charge, taking part in a “Voices in Paradise” workshop. The students were split into gender groups, had to learn three songs from scratch and were professionally coached to produce a live a capella concert performance that same evening. Students gained a deep understanding of vocal technique to build the foundations of a CAX vocal group, which will be starting in Term 3.

CAX vocalists involved in this year’s musical, Little Shop of Horrors, also were invited to an Opera Queensland workshop held at Palm Beach State School – one of our partner schools in the Musical. Students were individually critiqued by Jason Berry-Smith, (starring in the recent “Opera on the Beach” performance at Coolangatta), who helped the students overcome weaknesses and further develop strengths in not only their vocal quality, but also their performance presence.

Two of those involved in the Opera QLD workshop – Will Perrett and Keiarn Chesebro – recently appeared on Channel Ten’s “Toasted TV”, to promote this year’s Creative Generation showcase. Will and Keiarn are among a large group of over 80 featured performers in this year’s CGen, and their appearance on “Toasted TV” is available for view on Tenplay now.

Staying with CGen, our CAX Dance students have now completed their third rehearsal in preparation for their performance in the opening item of CGen, which will hit the stages of the Brisbane Convention Centre in July. This performance is a warm-up to CAX Dance students’ 2014 Gold Coast Eisteddfod campaign, which will also begin in Term 3.

CAX Visual Art students in Years 9 and 10 recently experienced the best that the Year 12 Art students south of the border have to offer, attending the “Art Express” exhibition at the Tweed River Gallery. The amazing works inspired the students, who sketched two of their favourites and gave them a wonderful insight into what their futures may hold.

CAX Drama students were treated to a workshop with PBC and CAX alumnus Tom Mann, who is currently undertaking internships with Channel 9 and ABC news. Tom trained the students in vocal technique in preparation for their own mock broadcast task and also gave them a valuable insight into industry pathways. This will also surely put these students in good stead for their entry into the 2014 Gold Coast Drama Festival in August, which will involve CAX Drama students of all year levels. 2013 saw runner-up placings in all sections of the festival, and the students will be keen to match or exceed that result this year. CAX Drama students in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 will also be competing in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, which last year resulted in PBC winning two out of the three sections entered. Once again, the bar has been set high but our 2014 cohort are looking forward to the challenge.

Our CAX Media students have been producing impressive bodies of work, and are now starting their new units of work, with Year 10s completing their horror films and moving onto an in-depth study of advertising. The Year 9s finished off their “NAPLAN Nightmare” parallel editing films, and now begin their partnership productions with the Swell Sculpture Festival, animating their own versions of the sculptures and creating narratives around them. This body of work will be seen later this year in an in-house film festival, so watch this space for more information!

And finally, a huge congratulations to the CAX staff and students involved in Little Shop of Horrors. The production has been one of the best presented at PBC and CAX staff and students have contributed the lion’s share, with every CAX staff member involved and the majority of Leads and Featured performers, being CAX students. The quality and success of Little Shop of Horrors is certainly a testament to the work of our CAX staff and the skill development of our CAX students and the results are clear to see.

Thanks must also go to the PBC Arts and general staff and students who have also invaluably contributed and participated – the production values and assistance that these staff, and the impact that the show’s 170 students provided, could not have been achieved without these contributions and the tightness and consistency of the show is a credit to these teachers and students.

PBC’s 2014 Musical - what a show!

The curtain has closed on PBC’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” for the final time, and what a show it was!

Leads, Year 12 students Jakab Bailey and Courtney Monsma, were simply outstanding, and impressive new-comers to the stage, Jake Ireland (Year 11) and Sheldon Hernandez (Year 10) certainly ensure that the future is in great hands. William Perrett once again showcased his incredible talent and charisma, wowing the audience with his performance without even stepping onto the stage as the voice of the plant, “Audrey II”.

These five lead actors were supported by a fantastic group of dancers and singers, a high school and primary school ensemble that has been possibly the most consistent we’ve ever had, and a creative and production team that produced the most complete musical – in terms of performance and production elements – that we have arguably ever had. A beautiful set, seamless scene changes, quality technical elements and smoothly-run event management were instrumental in making this year’s musical one to remember for a long time!

And none of this would have been possible without the dedication and passion of the PBC staff, alumni, parents and friends who have been instrumental in bringing Little Shop of Horrors to the stage. Special thanks must go to:

Choreographers

Abby Swanborough, Madonna Hall, Anna Johnson (Alumnus), Simon Tichelaar (Alumnus), Hayley and Macy Atkins (Students), Brianna Sloane (Student), Kira Stray (Student), Emily Monsma (Alumnus), Abby Marchwicki (Alumnus), Ashley Waterman (Alumnus)

Musical Director

Matt Pearson

Vocal Coaches

Krissy Van Dartel, Mitchell Kennedy

Assistant Vocal Coach

Bek Anson

Set Design, Construction and Painting

Jen Gorman, Simon Tanke, Michael Monsma, Aaron Chesebro, Lachlan Mitcherson (Alumnus), Michael Burke (Alumnus)

Costume Design, Making and Sourcing

Michelle Crawshaw, Natalie Hill, Karen Bailey, Angela Driscoll, Leanne Chesebro, Deborah Koy, Karen Mitcherson, Sue Thomas, Lisa Trim, Margaret Woodehouse

Plant Puppeteers

Lachlan Mitcherson (Alumnus), Michael Burke (Alumnus)

Production Assistant

Natalie Hill

Backstage Team

Kate Crews, Kyle Dean, Mats Gjone, Rhiannon McCormick, Teddii-Ann McGoldrick-Sinclair, Shaanii Mitchell

Tech Team

Peter Moore, Kye Anson, Isaac Graham, Jordan Johnson, Corey Parker

Photography

Abby Swanborough and Sharon Atkinson

Front of House

Debbie Atherton, Deborah Delaney, Angela Driscoll, Julie Ellis, Kylie Finlay, Julie Hendry, Michelle Crawshaw, Lana Macedone

Canteen

Sally Farrell, Rosie Whiteman, Rebecca Kennedy

Industry Supporters

Top Cut Meats, Burleigh
Daffodil shop, Palm Beach
Carnival Clothing
The Academy of Design
ED5 International

Congratulations to all involved!

Trent Ivett
CAX Coordinator

What’s Happening in the Arts

A note from the HOD…..

‘Laughter is no enemy to learning’ ~ Walt Disney

You will notice in the below articles the amazing work by the students and teachers, engaging the students in challenging and current units with lots of laughter. Being an elective allows The Arts faculty to have students who really want to be in the class and they often strive to achieve their very best therefore, The Arts staff, push their pedagogy to ensure they cater to all their student’s needs. I have been so impressed by the staff and student’s commitment to this Semester and congratulate them on their efforts.

A school musical is a very special and unique experience for all involved. It holds within a type of learning that is rarely captured in a classroom. Little Shop Of Horrors performed over the last two weeks is a showcase of our best performing artists and an opportunity for all PBC students to celebrate The Arts and share in the rewards it brings. On behalf of the Arts Faculty staff, students and parents we thank Mr Trent Ivett – Director and his team of amazing staff and students for this spectacular performance….. Nil Sed Optima!

Please enjoy the Term 2 articles from The Arts Faculty

Janine Gale
HOD The Arts

Dance and TAC

In Term 2, the Year 8B and 8F TAC (The Arts Combined) classes are doing two five-week units. The first unit is a Drama unit where they have to perform a scene from a play about Bullying. The second unit explores Youth Products such as skateboards, hoodies, Vans sneakers, basketball shoes, surf/skate clothing, iPhones etc. This unit is an ‘own choice’ unit where the students can choose which of the arts they will use to promote their Youth Product. They can choose to use one or a combination of the following Arts:- Dance, Drama, Music, Art, Film and Media or Graphic Design.

The two Year 9 Dance classes are studying ‘Dance Around the World’, performing traditional Irish and African dances. The students then present a multi-modal Oral presentation where they choose a country and discuss the cultural aspects of that country and choreograph a traditional dance from their chosen country.

Year 10 Dance has been studying a unit entitled ‘Men in Dance’. They have learnt about various male dancers and choreographers around the world and chosen their own person to research to present in a multi-modal presentation. Students then learnt an African dance from a male choreographer from Ghana, West Africa. This term culminates in an assessment of this African sequence.

Year 11 Dance students have taken a journey this term to understand how a thematic approach by utilising Focusing on ‘Landscapes’ they have developed knowledge, understanding of contemporary technique and skills from Stephen Page, a renounced indigenous choreographer & Artistic Director of the Bangarra Dance Company, through performing and choreography as a means of self- expression and interpretation.

For their repertoire performance task in Week 5 the Year 11 students had an opportunity to work with a Pre-service teacher Miss Julia Dillon, who taught them the intricate style from Page’s noted works: Ochres & Alchemy. Miss Dillon ensured that the students had every opportunity to succeed, rehearsing from 8am for four mornings over the last week.

To prepare the students for their choreography task which will be assessed in ‘Shutdown’ the Year 11 Dance and CAX students attended a performance at the Gold Coast Arts Centre on Tuesday evening, 13 May.

LAKE choreographed by Lisa Wilson, was bold in its vision and deeply evocative. Lake literally flooded the entire performance area of the Gold Coast Arts Centre to create a visually stunning and highly engaging dance theatre work.

A seamless fusion of visual design, video projection, an original score and Wilson’s acclaimed choreography, Lake explored our fascination with and fear of water, a medium that can be at turns breathtakingly beautiful and a force of indiscriminate destruction.

Serene, calm, haunting, and menacing, Lake took the Year 11 dance students on a journey through their primal response to sparkling reflection and murky depths; to intense beauty and chilling isolation; to utter wilderness and timeless myth…. giving them inspiration for their choreographic task!

Year 12 Dance students are continuing to explore two contrasting philosophies of Dance, focusing on choreographers such as Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. The students are currently working on a Choreography task that explores a personal event that evoked a strong emotion and is inspired by Martha Graham technique.

Madonna Hall, Abby Swanborough, Lynette Joubert and Janine Gale
Dance teachers

Drama

Term 2 has erupted into a busy and productive term for all Drama students!

Year 8 The Arts Combined (TAC) have immersed themselves into the land of fairy tale and have discovered the world of the fractured fairy tale. This has been a fun unit with the completion of wanted / missing posters for various characters in the fairy tales. Many very imaginative and entertaining posters were received. The students will continue with group work and present a performance of a scripted fairy tale to an audience at the end of this term.

“Our demands are simple, normal and therefore they are difficult to satisfy. All we ask is that an actor on stage lives in accordance with natural laws” ~ Constantin Stanislavski

Year 9 Drama students have been developing their performance skill through the unit “From page to stage”. This unit encompasses acting skill, characterisation, physicalisation and voice production, and results in group scene performances that will be presented in Week 9 and 10 in the Theatre.

“O, speak again, bright angel!”

Year 10 Drama classes have been busily applying their dramatic skills to the characters, stories and themes of William Shakespeare in performance. The tragic stories of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are a source of meaning and significance for every generation employing timeless themes and emotions that are forever relevant. Shakespeare’s language is both a model and a resource for students. Our students have enthusiastically embraced the challenging nature of the language, rhythm and nuances of the Elizabethan text with gusto, marrying the emotions and motivations of their own lives to the experiences of the characters in each story. Shakespeare does indeed develop an understanding heart and moving performances.

The Year 11 Drama class are in for a busy Term 2! Following their work on Realism performance and critique in Term 1, the students will be working in the creation of drama this term. Firstly, they will be directing a chosen scene using their peers as their cast, as well as writing their own original script. These are highly challenging tasks, demanding a range of common curriculum skills, including text interpretation, visualisation, synthesis of ideas and interrelating themes, issues and ideas. After the conclusion of the term, the students would have completed an assessment item from each assessable dimension of Drama and so will have a clear indication of their global achievement moving into Year 12.

The Year 12 Drama class have been looking at Political Theatre and Brechtian devices used in theatre; a style of theatre that informs, provokes and educates. Students are now working towards devising their own one-person show which deals with a contemporary social or political issue. Their Practical Forming Assessment will be a demonstration of their devised scripts.

Lynette Joubert, Suzanne Parker, Trent Ivett and Janine Gale
Drama Teachers

Year 9 ITM

Students are currently learning how to create games using Gamemaker. While they are having fun creating these games, they are learning how to problem solve, use structured programming language at an entry level, test and evaluate. They have to formulate a game idea which involves all the events and actions that they have learned.

Music

A few weeks ago the Year 12 music extension class performed as a part of the creative arts excellence festival. There were 11 students that performed at this concert as part of their assessment, and all students did a fantastic job at captivating the audience. Thank you to our audience for supporting the Year 12s with this performance.

Year 12 music students are finishing up their “Music of the Stage” unit with a composition task where they get to write their own song from their own concept musical. These compositions are coming along great and we are so excited to see the finished products! Our next unit will be commencing soon which is Innovators where the students get to learn about the innovative composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Year 11 Music have their compositions underway in the genre Music of the Screen – where they compose music to accompany all different genres like film, games television etc. They have also started practising their own performance tasks which will be due in shutdown later this term.

Bek Anson
Music Teacher

Visual Arts

The senior Visual Arts students visited the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah to see the travelling Art Express Exhibition. Art Express is composed of the best Year 12 student work in the NSW Higher School Certificate.

Our students were able to see the standard required for excellence and were inspired by the skill and conceptual premise of the artworks. While at the gallery students were able to visit the Margaret Olley house and see how this amazing Australian artist was inspired to paint by simple things that existed in her house.

Parents should be aware that while set nightly homework is not given in often in the Visual Arts it is an expectation that students are working consistently in their Art dairy as it is an assessable requirements for every Visual Art class in every year level.

Ms Paula Hall
Visual Art Subject Leader

Year 9 Art

Artworks of the Month

Last term, our Year 9 Visual Art students learnt how to achieve realism through careful application of tone and shading, as seen in these beautiful artworks by Charis Wilkinson, Madison Cutting and Lachlan Hamilton.

At present, our Year 9 Art students are learning about Aboriginal Art and applying this knowledge to create their own compositions, similar to Jack Norman’s exquisitely detailed “Turtle”.

10 Art

This term, students are undertaking landscape painting using acrylic paint on canvas. It’s a delight to watch the painting unfold and there are some really beautiful compositions under construction.

Year 11 OP

Students are currently completing their first written assignment in OP art which is due before 9am this Wednesday! They have independently begun their three dimensional clay sculptures and are developing ideas for their three dimensional assemblage sculpture.

Enthusiasm, dedication and teamwork is evident throughout every lesson; a very hard working group of practising artists!

11 Multi Art

This term, students are creating tribal masks out of clay which will fired in the kiln, painted and decorated. Students are encouraged to bring in items to decorate their masks like feathers, sticks, shells, wigs, leather, faux jewels etc.

Year 12 OP

Students have completed their first body of work this year around the topics of sense of place and journey. An extremely talented bunch of young practicing artists! This week students are finalising their artist statements, learning how to photograph their work and completing self and peer reflections.

They will begin their last written assignment in visual art in Week 7 and begin to research and develop ideas for their second and final body of work for their last year of school!

12 Multi Art

This term, students are creating a retro style painting based on the art styles of the 1960’s and 70’s. Some really amazing designs have been created already and I look forward to seeing the finished results at the end of this term.

Jen Gorman, Belinda Henderson, Simone Tanke and Paula Hall
Visual Art Teachers

Community Service

This year at PBC we are assisting Foodbank in a can drive along with three other Gold Coast High Schools. Our aim is to support this a non-denominational, non-profit organisation which acts as a pantry to the charities and community groups who feed the hungry. Food bank was first established in 1992 in NSW and now has a presence in every state. Foodbank is a conduit between the food industry’s surplus food and the welfare sector’s need. 1in 7people worldwide live with hunger. In Australia alone 2.5 million people experience hunger each day. Many of these people are not homeless but they are struggling to feed themselves and their families. 1- 3 kilos of all food produced is wasted. Foodbank operates with manufactures and farmers to eliminate this waste and make food accessible to the hungry.

This term we will be lending a hand with a can drive. On the dates below we would ask your son or daughter to bring in a can of food to their year level assembly to contribute to our donation to Foodbank. Help us reach our goal of 2000 cans!

Wednesday 18 June Year 10
Thursday 19 June Year 11
Friday 20 June Year 12
Monday 23 June Year 8 and Year 9

Coordinated by Ms Jacqui Hollis in G block staffroom.

National Reconciliation Week: 27 May – 3 June 3 2014

Reconciliation is about unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders and non-indigenous Australians. It is about respect for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders heritage and valuing justice and equity for all Australians.

This year’s theme ‘Lets walk the talk’ marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history. The 1967 Referendum saw 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the national census.

3 June is Mabo Day. On this day in 1992, the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision which overturned the notion of ‘terra nullius’ and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Straight peoples connection to their country, a connection that existed prior to colonisation and continues today. This recognition paved the for the ‘Native Title’ system.

As an Indigenous Australian, I feel Reconciliation Week is about acknowledging the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history and the contributions this has made to Australia’s Identity as well as awareness of past injustices.

‘Utopia’, a documentary recently aired on the SBS, provides an insight into contemporary Indigenous perspectives. I recommend this documentary as part of our ‘Close the Gap’ initiatives. You can also find more information about Reconciliation at www.reconciliation.org.au

Errol McDonald
Indigenous Liaison/Teacher Aide

Uniform Shop Update

CAX Shirts

If you ordered a CAX shirt they are now available for collection from the Uniform shop.

Sports Excellence

Parents, if you placed an order for Sports Excellence uniforms in Term 1, they are now available for collection from the Uniform Shop by your child during the hours listed below.

Bucket Hats and PBC Caps

Hats are a compulsory part of the uniform and are recommended for all outdoor activities. Both the bucket hats and caps are now available to purchase from Uniform Shop for $15.

Jumpers

Jumpers are now available and are selling FAST! You can purchase a warm knitted jumper from the uniform shop with samples available to try on for sizing, all sizes available for $48.

Trading Times

Monday to Friday 8:15am to 9:30am and again during the first lunch break

If you are unable to come into the Uniform Shop you are more than welcome to give me a call on 07 55259331 and pay for any uniform item over the phone.

Uniform Shop payment methods are:

Flexischools Online (www.flexischools.com.au)
Credit card
Cash
Cheques NOT accepted

Extra Sport Excellence Stock

The Uniform Shop currently has some extra Sport Ex stock available for purchase. Please feel free to pop in and see our friendly staff who can assist you with sizing.

Please note not all sizes are available but we will do our best to assist you and your child in that regard.

Please contact myself between the hours of 8am-2pm Monday - Friday if you have any questions or would like to see if your child’s size is available. Also remember you can make your payments with me over the phone.

Mandy Webb
Uniform Shop Convenor

Administration

Cashier Window Operating Hours

Please be advised that the operating hours for the cashier/payment window at the school are strictly 8am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.

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 eg: 2014 SRS8 or 2014 ACEX10)

Resources and Activities Schedule

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

Student Fee Excursion/ Activity	Activity Details	Amount Due	Date Due
Asia Tour	Various students	Balance $1,715	Overdue
Ski Trip	Year 11 students	2nd Instalment $500	Overdue
Student Resource Scheme Fees 2014 (whole payment)	Various students	$330	Overdue
Student Resource Scheme Fees 2014 (second instalment)	Various students	$165	Overdue
Excellence Program Fees	Excellence program students	Various	Overdue
Course Fees
Instrumental Music	Enrolled students	$50	Overdue
QCS	Year 12 students	$50	Overdue
Certificate I – Furnishing	Enrolled Year 11 and 12 students	Year 11 - $200 Year 12 - $100	Overdue
Certificate I - Engineering	Enrolled Year 11 and 12 students	Year 11 - $200 Year 12 - $100	Overdue
Certificate I - Construction	Enrolled Year 11 and 12 students	Year 11 - $200 Year 12 - $100	Overdue
Excursions
C Generation Show	Various students	$35	27 June
Xtreme Karting	Various Students	$100	13 June
Cross-country trials	Various students	$15	Now
Surfing Trials	Various students	$30	Now
Please note that all students are requested to present their Student ID card when making any payments to Student Services.

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

Lost Property – Student Services

Please check with Student Services if you have lost any items at school (towels, lunch packs, uniforms, shoes, etc…)