Illalong Newsletter - 15 August 2025

Year 12 100 Days

Only 100 days left at the College for our amazing Year 12 students!

Your journey has been inspiring, and the best is yet to come.

Go shine in these final chapters- you’ve got this!

Growing Strong Oral Language Skills Within Our Early Years Classrooms

In the early years, oral language is the foundation for all learning. It’s how children share ideas, build friendships, develop vocabulary, and lay the groundwork for reading and writing. When children can clearly express themselves and understand others, they are better equipped to thrive both in the classroom and in life.

At A.B. Paterson College, we weave oral language into every part of the day: from sharing stories and participating in discussions to explaining problem-solving in Mathematics. At home, parents and carers can also play a powerful role in growing these skills through simple, everyday interactions.

One of the most effective ways to nurture oral language is by sharing stories together. Reading aloud each day, even if it’s just a short picture book, provides rich opportunities for conversation. Pause as you read to talk about the characters, wonder aloud about what might happen next, and explore how a character might be feeling. Encouraging your child to retell the story in their own words helps them practise sequencing and recall while strengthening their ability to express ideas clearly.

A key link between oral language and literacy is this: if a child cannot say it, they cannot write it (Wilson, 2012). Strong speaking and listening skills provide the structure and vocabulary that underpin successful writing. Fluent oral discussions, both at home and at school, give children the chance to practise expressing their thoughts, experiment with new words, and organise their ideas. When children are immersed in rich, back-and-forth conversations where every possibility for sharing and exploring ideas is embraced, they become more confident and capable communicators — and, in turn, more capable writers.

Real conversations are equally important. Asking open-ended questions such as, “what was the best part of your day?” instead of “did you have a good day?” invites your child to share more than a one-word answer. Give them time to think before responding and show genuine interest by following up on what they say. These small moments of attentive listening show children that their thoughts and opinions are valued.

Trent Davis | Junior School Curriculum and Wellbeing Coordinator

Playful word games are another excellent way to develop language skills. Games like “I Spy” with letter sounds (“I spy something beginning with /s/”), “Guess My Word” (where you give clues for a mystery word), or rhyming challenges encourage children to think about sounds, patterns, and meaning in a fun, low-pressure way.

Building vocabulary can happen naturally throughout the day. Introducing new words in context (for example: pointing to the sky and saying, “that cloud looks enormous; enormous means very, very big”) helps children connect new vocabulary to real experiences. Using rich, descriptive language when talking about places, objects, or events also provides valuable models for children to draw on in their own speech.

Role play is a wonderful tool for both language and imagination. Setting up a pretend shop, café, or post office at home and taking turns being the customer or shopkeeper allows children to use real-life language in playful settings. These scenarios also encourage problem-solving, turn-taking, and collaboration.

Finally, retelling real-life events is an excellent way to practise sequencing and narrative skills. After a family outing, ask your child to describe what happened from beginning to end, prompting them with sequencing words such as first, then, next, and finally. This helps children organise their thoughts and communicate them in a logical order.

By making oral language a natural part of everyday life, you are giving your child the confidence and skills to communicate effectively — a gift that will serve them well for years to come.

Trent Davis | P-2 Curriculum & Wellbeing Coordinator

Reference: Wilson, R. (2012). Big writing: Writing voice & basic skills. Oxford University Press.

Year 6 Winton Camp News

Enjoy reading the day-to-day exciting itinerary below of the Year 6 Winton camp from Day 1 to Day 3.

DAY 1 – THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Today marked the start of an incredible journey for our Year 6 students as we set off on an unforgettable adventure to the heart of Outback Queensland. Excitement filled the air early this morning as goodbyes were said and we began our journey.

Year 6 departed safely, and spirits were high as students settled in for the first leg of the trip. Laughter and chatter filled each of our three coaches as everyone shared their anticipation for the experiences ahead. The tour stopped at Gympie for morning tea, a quick stop at Childers and then onto Miriam Vale for lunch.

Along the way, we have already started spotting wide open landscapes and the iconic long stretches of road that define this part of the country.

Students have been encouraged to start their trip journals, noting their first impressions and the character strengths they hope to bring to this adventure. The sense of teamwork, friendship and curiosity is already shining through. The tour is now well on the way toward our first overnight stay in Emerald this evening. We look forward to updating you tomorrow with further highlights from the day’s travels and the exciting experiences that await us in the days ahead.

Watch this video.

Georgie Burrows | Director of Teaching & Learning - Prep to Year 6

DAY 2 - RUBYVALE TO LONGREACH

After a comfortable night’s sleep and good breakfast this morning, we are now on the road to Rubyvale where we are looking forward to visiting the Miner’s Heritage Walk-In Mine. Looking forward to updating you on our future adventures shortly.

After a restful night in Emerald, our tour set off this morning bound for Rubyvale and what an extraordinary day it has been for our Year 6 students! Their journey took them deep into the Queensland Sapphire Fields to explore the remarkable Miner’s Heritage Walk-In Mine.

Venturing underground, they discovered Australia’s largest walk-in sapphire mine tour. The tunnels offered a fascinating glimpse into the life of miners, complete with captivating stories of sapphire discoveries from years gone by.

A few of the mine’s resident microbats made a friendly appearance much to the delight of our Year 6 explorers. But the highlight for many was fossicking; sifting through gravel in search6t of their very own sapphires.

From there, the group continued onto Longreach, stopping in Barcaldine and now onto Longreach where we will settle for the evening. Spirits are high and anticipation continues to build for the adventures that await tomorrow.

Georgie Burrows | Director of Teaching & Learning - Prep to Year 6

DAY 3 - LONGREACH DARR RIVER ADVENTURES

Yesterday, our students pitched their tents along the peaceful banks of the Darr River at Longreach, sharing laughs and soaking in the outback atmosphere. This morning, they woke to a stunning sunrise and a hearty breakfast before heading off for the day's activities. First stop – Outback Aussie Tours, departing from the historic Longreach Railway Station.

DAY 3 CONTINUED - HERITAGE ON THE MOVE

Yesterday, the tour enjoyed the Great Darr River Rail Run experience. Students travelled aboard the rail motors, enjoying the gentle rhythm of the rails and seeing the country from a fresh perspective. Wildlife sightings, sweeping grasslands and rich cultural heritage made the ride truly special. At Darr River, everyone embraced the atmosphere learning fascinating historical tales, watching whip cracking and tucking into delicious homemade damper. There was also time to step off for a Mulga walk, discovering the secrets of the Leander sand ridge and exploring traditional bush medicines.

Students also visited the School of Distance Education, where they learned how lessons reach children living hundreds of kilometres from town. To finish, we enjoyed the Qantas Luminescent Longreach Show; a 20-minute night-time spectacular in the airpark enclosure. With light, sound and storytelling weaving together, the show brought Qantas’s rich aviation history to life under the stars, surrounded by the very aircraft that helped shape its story.

Georgie Burrows | Director of Teaching & Learning - Prep to Year 6

Junior Chess Club News

On Wednesday 13 August, our Junior Chess Club had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Gold Coast North Primary Inter-School Chess Tournament hosted by Arundel State School. The event brought together young chess enthusiasts from across the Gold Coast, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with strategy and sportsmanship.

Our College was proudly represented by sixteen players ranging from Years 2 to 5. For many of them, it was their first competitive experience outside our club meetings, and they rose to the challenge with confidence and focus.

Here are the highlights:

Oliver Model (2S) secured an impressive perfect score of 7 out of 7 games, showing remarkable composure under pressure!

Division B Results - Individual Awards

1st Place Gold Medal Recipient - Oliver Model (2S)
2nd Place Silver Medal Recipient – Arefa Mosenki (4L)

Division B Results - Team Medals

1st Place Gold Medal – Aalia Harvey (5C), Oliver Model (2S), Arefa Mosenki (4L) and Siegfried Perez (5C)

Division A Results - Individual Awards

Merit Ribbon – Nicholas Liew (5S)

Division A Results - Team Medals

3rd Place Bronze Medal Recipients – Alston Chen (5S), Nicholas Liew (5S), Max Wong (5S) and Alfie Yan (5S)

The tournament was not only a test of skill but also a celebration of learning and growth. Players demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, shaking hands after each match and supporting one another throughout the day. Between rounds, students exchanged tactics and even made a few new friends from other schools.

With this tournament behind us, our club is more motivated than ever. Weekly training will continue with a focus on endgame strategies and tournament preparation. We are already looking forward to the next challenge—and maybe a few rematches!

Lena White | Chess Club Coordinator