The Learning Pit

The Learning Pit by James Nottingham is one way to explain why more challenge leads to enhanced learning. In our rapidly developing world, it is essential that schools are developing in their students the ability to think. At the heart of facing a challenge is the Learning Pit - a visual representation of a process students can use to guide their way through problem solving, encouraging a deeper investigation of an issue. Learners are not in "the pit" when they have no idea, to be in the learning pit is to have many ideas that are as yet unsorted or understood. Learners must step out of their comfort zone so that they might discover insights that are meaningful and long-lasting. 

When a learner steps out of their comfort zone, they begin to wobble (just like when the training wheels came off). Learning and developing a growth mindset is all about, wobbling. If you are doing something that you can already do, then you are practicing, whereas learning requires you to step out of your comfort zone, to go beyond your current ability and try things that will make you wobble! Playing it safe by staying in your comfort zone and doing what you can already do will result in correct answers and completed work. So, encourage your children to take every opportunity to go beyond their current ability and be prepared to wobble. If your child is wobbling, then they are learning. If they are learning they will flourish!

Attendance

Congratulations to the 100 Middle School students who received Optima Cards for 100% attendance for Semester 1. In Week 5 we had the pleasure to celebrate success at our Year level assemblies with 2 Hoyts Cinema movie tickets being awarded to Year 7 – Shaun Hastie, Year 8 – Evan Mackenzie and Year 9 – Joseph Hayward! Any student attaining our school target 95% attendance will be in the draw for the end of term movie tickets.  

Parent notification - Unexplained absences for full day absence

Parents/caregivers must notify the school and provide an explanation of a student absence by 9:00am on the day of the absence.  You are only required to use ONE notification method.

The priority for notification is:

1. Text Message – 0447 100 239 – provide student name, date and reason for absence OR
2. Email – absences@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au – provide student name, date and reason for absence

Optima Team

The Middle School Optima team are responsible for your child’s wellbeing at PBC and our key priorities are student wellbeing, attendance, uniform compliance, positive behaviours and student case management. Please contact the relevant staff if you have any concerns with your child.

Parent Support

Adolescence can bring additional concerns for parent/caregivers. The following links can provide useful information for your child’s wellbeing.

Frenemies & toxic friendships: teenagers | Raising Children Network

• Frenemies and toxic friendships: what you need to know
• Avoiding frenemies and toxic friendships: how to help your child
• Dealing with frenemies and toxic friendships: how to help your child
• Dealing with bad behaviour from toxic friendships
• What not to do with toxic friendships
• Further help with toxic friendships and frenemies

Mindfulness for parents, kids and teens | Raising Children Network

• Mindfulness: the basics
• Everyday mindfulness
• Mindfulness meditation
• Mindfulness: the evidence

Year 9 Work Experience

Thanks to the many parents and students who attended the meeting about Work Experience in Week 5. We were delighted with the interest shown.

All Year 9 students are encouraged to organise Work Experience for Term 4, Week 10 – 9 to 13 December this year. All Work Experience must be arranged using the correct process and forms, so that students are covered by the school’s insurance. 

Students are also encouraged to consider using their Work Experience as an opportunity to trial for a Certificate III Traineeship. The advantages for students of completing a traineeship in Year 10 include: 

• 8 hours a week of paid employment
• Build up your resume
• Complete a traineeship without negatively impacting on valuable time at school during Year 11 or 12
• Accumulate 8 points for the QCE -Queensland Certificate of Education
• For those who hope to go to University, a Certificate III plus four General Subjects in Senior can be used as a VET Pathway to university.

Students considering a Traineeship should visit Mrs Sonia Shreeve in the Pathways Centre in Y Block to discuss employers who may be open to Work Experience and a 2020 Traineeship opportunity. The Pathways Centre is open every day before school and during Lunch 1.

All Year 9 students should: 

• Be sure to collect a Work Experience Pack from the Middle School Office
• Discuss options with their parents. Consider your contacts, your interests, future career options and opportunities.
• Have an initial discussion with a potential Work Experience employer to undertake Work Experience in Term 4 Week 10. If they are willing, complete the Expression of Interest form (found in the Work Experience Pack). The completed form should be returned to the Middle School Office by the end of Term 3.

PBC will then make contact with the employer and start the process of completing formal agreement paperwork.

With 450 students seeking work experience at the one time, positions will be in demand. Students are encouraged to start this process now.

Optima Awards

Recently, special assemblies were held to honour our OPTIMA Award recipients. At PBC, every child has the potential to earn an OPTIMA award, be it through excellence in their academics, sport or cultural pursuits, their participation in Community Service, their consistent high standards of effort and behaviour, or their improved results. Approximately 30% of students in the Middle School received acknowledgement through the OPTIMAs, and we hope to see further students aspire to awards throughout this term.

Middle School Rewards

We know that students respond well to positive acknowledgement, not only through major awards but for small successes and actions in the classroom and playground. At PBC, we have various informal ways of rewarding students. In the classroom, teachers may hand out small prizes. More formally, teachers distribute OPTIMA Rewards, small tickets to acknowledge students being safe, respectful or a learner. Teachers will sometimes send home OPTIMA postcards to let parents know that their children have had a special achievement or success. At least 550 of these more formal rewards have been distributed in the Middle School so far this year, helping to create a positive, productive learning environment.

Planning for Success

We have already reached the mid-point of Term 3 and students are currently receiving feedback on their first rounds of assessment. It is valuable to support children to look for ways to improve, so they might reach their OPTIMA goals, recorded in their Student Planners. Are they on track? If not, what is it that they might do differently in order to achieve their goals?

Assessment Calendards

Parents are reminded that the assessment calendar is now published on the PBC website:

https://pbc-shs.eq.edu.au/Curriculum/Testingandassessment/Pages/Testingandassessment.aspx

Students and parents should all make careful note of these important dates.