Message from the Principal, Middle School

Welcome back to a busy Semester 2, I hope you have had a lovely few weeks with your families. For the first 3 weeks of Term 3 we welcome Mr Brad Dixon to the Middle School Deputy Principal role. Mr Dixon is replacing Mrs Wise who is taking some very well deserved long service leave. Thank you, Mr Dixon for your enthusiasm and Senior School experience you are bringing to the Middle School Admin team.

At the start of a new Semester, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the way in which our Middle School students welcome new students beginning a quality education at PBC. This is a daunting moment for both parent and child, but our students are so accepting and welcoming and this is what sets PBC apart. Providing a quality education is not just about achieving the best possible results, but about fostering a caring and supportive environment as well. If you have a child who has started at PBC in our Middle School, I welcome you to our community.

Along with several of our Middle School leaders, I had the opportunity to attend a two day Professional Development seminar to listen and learn from a leader in Educational Research, Dr Lyn Sharratt.  Dr Sharratt addressed the changing dynamic of modern day education and learners as well as outlining the key factors needed for improvement in student outcomes. Dr Sharratt provided the detail, the theory and the practical application necessary for teacher clarity of purpose. Essentially, Dr Sharratt explained clearly and with precision the possibilities in improved outcomes when adults learn and work together to share the responsibility for student learning outcomes.

Parents are our learners' first teachers. They are hugely influential in the educational journey of each child. With this in mind please take the opportunity to review your child's progress at school and refresh their goals for Semester 2.  Please find below 5 Questions to kick start a discussion with your child about their learning:

• What did you learn today?
• How did you do?
• What did you do if you didn't understand?
• How can you improve on your learning?
• What are you most proud of?

Our teaching staff at PBC are always very keen to hear from and assist parents or caregivers. Please take the time to reach out to your child's teachers to ask about their progress and learning. Here are 5 questions to help you engage with your child's teachers.

• What is my child learning?
• How is he/she doing?
• How do you know?
• How can he/she improve?
• What support can I provide to help with improvement?

I encourage you to stay informed about your child's progress, growth and achievement.

Alison Fahlbusch, Principal Middle School

NAIDOC Celebrations

On Wednesday 26 June PBC held our annual NAIDOC Celebration Assembly. Due to the inclement weather we gathered in the hall with our Middle School Care Classes and the senior Murri Jarjum students.

This assembly was a special one for PBC, not only were we celebrating NAIDOC week but for the first time we inducted PBC’s first Murri Jarjum leaders – Shara Saunders, Harmony Conrades, Kieeshah Ainsley and Reef McKay.

NAIDOC Celebrations are held across Australia each July to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme is Voice Treaty Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future.

We were lucky enough to welcome the Bundjalung Kunjiel Dance Troupe, formed in 2009 by Stephen Larcombe, a graduate of PBC.

Uncle Graham Dillon, a traditional custodian and elder of the Kombumerri country, kindly gave up his time to speak on the value of celebrating NAIDOC week and the importance of carrying these ideals through everyday life.

Message from the Deputy Principal

Part of PBC’s decision to introduce the CARE program involved developing and strengthening the relational culture of our students. Throughout the year students have been, and will continue to work on understanding the benefits of creating positive peer relationships. These are critical to forming high standards of behaviour, though skills which are transferable, as they develop into adults in our local community. I would like to highlight the importance of these high standards of behaviour when visible in our local community. As our students make their way to and from school, they need to be mindful of the fact that they are representing PBC and influence our reputation. We receive numerous phone calls from members of our community throughout the school year to report student behaviours, and we would like to ensure these remain a positive experience for all involved. We encourage all students to wear their school uniform with pride and respect the values of what it means to be a PBC student. We have recently received concerns from members of the community around student behaviour on bikes. Please have a conversation with your child about the importance of wearing a helmet, abiding by road rules and riding with common sense when in and around pedestrians on footpaths.

With the half way mark of the school year here I would encourage all parents to regularly engage in conversations with their student about ‘How are they progressing/performing at school? This discussion may take lots of different twists from academic concerns and homework due, through to friendship issues and what events are coming up. All of the resulting conversations are positive in that it builds relationships with the student, parent and school community. If we can support you and your student in making school a positive experience and assist in them achieving their goals, then please contact PBC to engage the relevant support.

Education Queensland developed the ‘Everyday Counts’ initiative to highlight the importance of attending school every day. PBC recognises this, and will actively monitor the attendance of every student. You can assist by encouraging your student to attend school every day and be vigilant in contacting school when absences occur so our record keeping is up to date.

I wish you all the best for the Semester ahead.

Brad Dixon, Acting DP Middle School

Semester 1 reports

Every parent should now have read their Semester 1 report, which was emailed to you in late June. Should you have any concerns about your child’s report, do contact their teacher, by email in the first instance. All teacher emails are listed on the PBC website:

https://pbc-shs.eq.edu.au/Ourschool/Contactus/Pages/Staff-Contact-List.aspx

Conversations with students

We strongly encourage students, as well as their parents, to read school reports.

Reports can form the basis of positive, productive conversations between parents and their children. Look for the successes – perhaps an improvement in effort in a challenging subject, or attaining a grade that was previously not possible. Celebrate wins, large and small, in a way that suits your family culture. Even if your pre-teen or teen acts like they don’t really care about their successes, almost all will quietly appreciate the attention.

Setting goals for Term 3

Students are currently receiving feedback on last term’s assessment and should be setting goals for Term 3. These goals are recorded on the Optima Goal pages (p.4-5) of your student’s PBC Student Planner. Please know what your child is hoping to achieve this term and have conversations with them about how they might achieve their goals. Show their teachers that you have had this conversation by signing in the appropriate column in their Student Planner.

Students Leaving Early

While we know that the best place for students to learn is in class, we also understand that from time to time, students need to leave school early to attend medical or other important appointments. It is an expectation at PBC that students would do this no more than twice a term.

If you require your child to leave early, your child must:

Have the written permission (a note or email, not a text) of their parent/caregiver, which they present to Middle School Student Services before school. This enables the Dean or Deputy to give their permission for the student to leave early. Then they should sign out at Middle School Student Services at the appointed time.

Notes from Parents or Caregivers must state the:

• Date
• The specific reason for the student signing out
• If it is an appointment, the time, location and professional with whom the student has the appointment
• The time the student needs to leave school
• The signature of the parent/caregiver

Further details are provided in the PBC Student Planner. Remember, every day (and lesson) at school counts, so please make appointments outside of school time whenever possible.