2019 International Women’s Day Breakfast

This week our Dean of Students - Year 12, Jennifer Attard, had the pleasure of attending the International Women’s Day Youth Leadership Breakfast with five of our most outstanding Year 12 students. Our future leaders enjoyed listening to a diverse range of highly successful local women share their advice on how to dream big, work hard, and align yourself with successful people in order to achieve your goals. Abi Houston (School Captain), Grace Selby (Vice Captain) Kaitlyn Byrne (House Prefect Vikings) and Tiarne Hughes (House Prefect Phoenicians) were extremely proud of their peer, Year 12 student Lauren Alderton, who was awarded the 2019 Youth Leadership Award for her outstanding contribution to community service. Lauren volunteers her time at the Animal Welfare League in Coombabah. Since beginning in 2015, Lauren has accumulated 580 hours of community service!

We also congratulate Lauren on recently winning another award for the 2019 Youth Leadership Program. Secondary schools and colleges were invited to nominate an outstanding student who displays commitment and talent both in school and in the greater community. Congratulations to Lauren Alderton on winning the Youth Leadership Community Service Award.

"AWL has taught me a lot about myself and my passions and I have gained invaluable experience that has helped me with jobs and future pathways. I highly recommend volunteering at a cause close to your heart, it really does make a difference to the community."

National Day of Action Against Bullying

PBC is a proud supporter of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. On Friday 15 March, all students took a moment to identify, reflect and recognise the impact of bullying in our school and wider community. PBC is proud of the zero tolerance policy we have regarding identified bullying across our school and our proactive strategies to minimise this. Our Middle School Student Council created a scenario-driven video that was shown during CARE that continued to promote this positive anti-bullying message.

Students and community members are encouraged to continue using Stymie, www.Stymie.com.au as our anonymous reporting process for any student concerns.

Ride2School Day

Friday 22 March is National Ride2School Day – promoting the benefits of riding to work and school as well as safe riding practices. To celebrate this day, PBC is encouraging all students to get behind the initiative and ride their bikes to school. We will also be supported by our wonderful PBC Alliance Partner, StormCycles.

All students who ride their bike to school this Friday, wearing their helmet, will go in the draw to win a $100 StormCycles voucher, as well as plenty of other giveaways. StormCycles will also set up a free bike safety check for all students to drop in to and get their bike checked.

Hopefully we will see plenty of students cycling this Friday 22nd!

Elevate Education Study Skills Parent Information Seminar

Our Elevate Study Skills Parent Information Session was well attended by both parents and students. The presenter shared key strategies that can be utilised at home to support the work of the school in preparing our students for the new SATE system, and in particular, externally-set exams. The questions asked by parents made it highly evident that our students have great support at home. Elevate will return to the school over the course of the year to provide Year 10 and 11 students with sessions in note-taking, time management, reducing stress, working consistently, and practice exam questions.

Assessment

All students need to be aware of the date, room and time of their scheduled exam. During shutdown students only have to attend school for scheduled exams or study sessions. 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.

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 (HOD) on 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 HOD at least 48 hours before the due date.

Once shutdown is completed all classes will commence Term 2 work and students are required to attend school up to and including Friday 5 April.

Parents/caregivers and students are reminded that completing English OP (Year 12 2019) or General English or Literature (Year 12 2020) is a pre-requisite for the majority of Universities in Queensland.

Year 11 Assessment

Year 11 students are currently completing assessment for the new QCE. They do not have a shutdown and will have timetabled classes up to and including the last day of term Friday 5 April. Reports will be issued for Year 11s in the last week of term.

Students will finalise their Unit 1 assessment in Week 4/5 of Term 2 in mid-May this year. As per QCAA guidelines students cannot change subjects mid Unit so no subject changes are available to Year 11s until late May.

Year 10 & Year 12 Assessment

Year 10 and 12 students commence shutdown on 21 March (Year 12s) and 22 March (Year 10s). The Senior Assessment Timetable and the School Assessment Policy has been published on the school website.

Students can also down load a copy from the school’s K drive under Curriculum.

Year 10 students are reminded that their academic performance in Semester 1 will determine which pathway they can choose in Year 11. Students wishing to complete an ATAR pathway need to achieve Bs in English and Maths. Students wishing to study a senior science course in Year 11 and 12 also need to achieve a B in Year 10 Science.

VETis courses

All Senior students are eligible to receive VET in School (VETis) funding to complete a VET certificate that the government deems are in demand. Many students utilise this funding in timetabled classes for example Construction, Health Services, and Hospitality and Fitness classes. Other VETis courses are advertised in the student notices and school newsletter. These may include going to an outside college or provider 1 day per week (e.g. TAFE). Students who are not aiming for a tertiary pathway are particularly encouraged to complete a VETis funded course as this will increase their chance of gaining employment once they leave school. Please contact Ms McQueen in F block if you require more information.

Pathways Centre

Year 10s and 11s are encouraged to register for School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT) in Y block. A SAT will give students paid employment, work experience and a Certificate III qualification which gains extra QCE credits, but also opens up a tertiary pathway.

The Pathways Centre is open before school and at first break every day. Drop into Y Block and apply now for a wide variety of Traineeships and/or Job opportunities. The job boards are regularly updated, or speak with our Industry Liaison Officer about turning your current job into a traineeship. Please contact Ms Shreeve in Y block for more information.