Transition Day 2019

Monday 9 December will see PBC welcome over 400 enrolled students to the PBC Community. Transition Day is designed to support the 2020 Year 7s as they move from their primary schools to secondary school. Last year, we had students enrol from close to 40 different primary schools, each with its own school culture and expectations. On Transition Day, we welcome students, assign them to their core classes, have them experience some lessons with next year’s teachers and introduce them to their Houses. The Middle School Head Prefects and a large team of teachers and support staff are part of this day.

Transition Day also welcomes parents to the PBC family. A Parent Meeting and morning tea will present ideas for supporting young students through the change to high school, and introduce key staff who can assist in the process.

End of Year Program

The Middle School End of Year Program begins in Week 9. There are many activities for students beginning with Academic Excellence Australian Business Week, the House/Care Carnival Wednesday 4 December and the faculty rotations beginning Thursday 5 December. 

In Week 10 faculty rotations continue. Additional activities include 150 students participating in the 3 day camps for Year 7 and 8 and Year 9 Work Experience.

Year 7 Camp

On 9 December, a group of PBC’s most adventurous Year 7 students will head to the base of scenic Mt Warning for the school’s first ever Year 7 camp. Midginbil Hill Camp will play host to both staff and students for 2 nights as they hike, build, climb and explore through the picturesque, World Heritage Listed Nightcap National Park. Students attending are afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test themselves, make new friends and soak up the serenity of their beautiful surrounds.

Year 8 Camp

In Week 10 a group of Year 8 students will be attending Camp Warrawee from Monday to Wednesday. The students will participate in a Survivor themed camp designed to test their physical, mental and emotional capacity and provide an opportunity for them and their class mates to excel.

Activities are themed in different categories including:

Trail – activities to promote communication and cooperation

Extreme – activities to push physical limits and overcome fears

Adventure – activities requiring team work and creativity

Mission – activities requiring group unity and working to individual strengths

This unique opportunity is full of new experiences that will test these adventurous students in a different environment. They will gain skills in communication and team building working as one to determine which Tribe will be the ultimate survivor?

Work Experience

In Week 10, nearly 200 Year 9 students will be participating in Work Experience. Many thanks to parents and caregivers who have supported their young people to set up these experiences, and to the fabulous local employers who have provided positions this week. Students not participating in the program will be supervised at school.

Uniform

As we are nearing the end of year it is important Middle School students are focussed on positive behaviours each day both at school and in the wider community. All students are expected to wear the correct uniform, see the Middle School Planner Optima Code page 10.

A reminder to parent/caregivers:

• Jewellery is one earring small and discreet in each ear
• Black polishable shoes to be worn with the formal uniform

In 2020 the PBC school socks are compulsory for all students.

Term 4 Reports

Term 4 reports will be emailed or posted home on Friday 13 December. This is a full report with detailed comments. Please be sure to share the report with your child, so that they can receive important feedback on their work this year and set goals for 2020.

2020 Core Classes

The 2019 timetable has been constructed to provide maximum opportunities for students across PBC to study courses of choice, in our large and diverse school. We are also at maximum enrolments. For these reasons, there is less flexibility for students to swap core classes.

Coping with changes such as these are important for building resilience – a significant quality for success in life. Parents should be aware that their child will be with a very different group of students next year, and prepare to support them through this change. While there is no opportunity to swap classes due to friendships, the usual range of support will be available to all students and their parents to help them through this change.