With less than three weeks to go we still have much to achieve to close out 2020 and be ready to begin the new school year.  We have finalised reviews of our key programs and are now entering a consultation phase with staff on any changes for next year.

The final two weeks of school will see students finalise their assessment and gain feedback by the end of Week 9. Week 10 begins with Transition Day for incoming Year 7’s and all others will participate in an alternate program starting on this same day. There will be no normal classes in this week with current teachers; however students will work on curriculum related activities with PBC CARE teachers. Our school values collaborative professional learning and this model of staffing our last week enables this to occur. This model allows us to release our Junior Secondary teachers to prepare and plan for 2021 in teams. Absences will be tracked as normal with rolls marked each day the usual sms message for absent students will be sent. Students will need to come in school uniform and should bring lunch as although the canteen will be open it will have reduced stock being the last days.

Finishing Well

At this time of the year, both parents and teachers can notice young people becoming tired and losing focus. We have been stressing the very small number of school days left this year, and the importance of finishing with the best possible outcomes. Attendance every day is crucial for maximising student learning and performance. Final assemblies in Week 9 will have special significance for the Year 9 students we will mark their transition to senior secondary with a special assembly awards, entertainment and a bbq.

Transition Day

On Monday 7 December, we will welcome close to 400 future Year 7s to PBC.

Textbook Return

Now is the time of year for students to dig out the textbooks and novels they are no longer using in the classroom, and return them to The Book Room in B Block. Any texts required through the exam period can be returned after the tests are completed. Please encourage students to search through their bedrooms and lockers for textbooks. Returning all books now means that students will be able to hire next year’s texts in a timely manner at the start of 2021, and they will have no bill issued for missing texts!

Lockers

In these final weeks, students should be cleaning out their lockers in preparation for the end of the year. Bringing home those items not used daily can save students having to transport too many things home in one trip. All lockers must be cleaned out by Friday 27 November. Lockers will be available again at the start of the school year, at which time students may go to Student Services and have a locker allocated to them. We do welcome any communication from parent/caregivers. If you do have a concern  please email parentsupport@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au. 

Optima team news

The Week 7 year level assemblies began with musical entertainment provided by the very talented Music Excellence students. The Year 11 Music Excellence students performed at the Year 7 assembly and both Ilai Commerford and Reuben Mills Year 8 provided an outstanding  performance for their own year level.

To recognise Term 4 student achievement each year level assembly identified students from the ‘Spinning Wheel’. Congratulations to our recipients!

Year 7

Optima Awards – Sari Bretagne, Madison Crabtree, Zaria James, Jayden Locher

100% attendance -  Jamey Bennedick, Chelsea Crossan, Annabelle Harvey, Maria Hlawatsch, Ebony Larman, Jackson Lawry, Bradley Munro   

Year 8

100% attendance - Uyiosa Usadolo, Kaden Robinson, Jaemon Turner, Alex Mitchell

92% attendance - Brock Tighe, Brianna Barrett, Danielle Mullen, Erin Gilltrap, Tahli Barends

100% Excellent Effort & Behaviour - Piper Blair, Paige Casley, Hamish McKenzie, Thomas Peachey, Emma Suttle