Congratulations to our Senior Class of 2021 who have now been formally inducted as leaders of the College at the Senior Induction Ceremony that took place on Friday 29 January in the DMPC. It was wonderful for our entire College to witness our Year 12 students accepting their Senior badges from Board Chair, Mr David Tanner, Chief Executive Officer Mr Brian Grimes and Principal and Head of College Ms Joanne Sheehy, and a very proud moment for each individual student as they crossed the stage. This important event in our calendar signifies the transition of our Year 12 cohort into their final year at the College and formally acknowledges them as leaders of our student body.

After our College Captain, Jodie Down, led her peers in the Senior Pledge, each student received their badge and signed the Senior Register. This register is the same one that all Year 12 students have signed at their Senior Induction Ceremony since the College’s inception in 1991 and represents each student’s acknowledgement of the duties and responsibilities they agree to undertake as a member of the Senior cohort. 

The Year 12 students and College community were captivated by the wonderful singing of the Boys’ Chorus. Their performance of Keep the Flame Alive was delightful and beautifully conducted by Nadia MacKenzie, accompanied by Inge Lass. 

In her College Captain’s address, Jodie Down announced the Year 12 quote from The Lion King: 

‘It’s important to always look where you’re headed rather than where you were.’

This is a clear message that the Class of 2021 are looking forward, and that potential challenges will not deter or diminish them from achieving their goals as individuals and as leaders. Jodie further explained that whilst everyone is extremely valuable and important as individuals, ‘we believe that when we are united and work together, we are even more powerful’. As a result of this, the Class of 2021’s vision is to create a community with strong relationships between all of its members, irrespective of age, thus fostering an environment where collaboration, camaraderie and creativity can flourish. We call this vision, A.B. As One.

In response, Year 11 student, Charles Morris, offered words of encouragement and support and how the interactions that each and every Senior has with younger students has a profound impact, all contributing to the legacy they leave as a cohort. Year 6 student, Sophia O’Brien, spoke of the close relationship that Seniors build with the Junior School and encouraged the newly inducted Seniors to take charge of the legacy they leave behind and embrace the opportunity for leadership this year.

The Year 12 cohort entered the DMPC on this morning as students of the College, and as they exited through the centre aisle, they left the DMPC as inducted Seniors of A.B. Paterson College. On behalf of the entire College community, we wish our newly inducted Seniors the very best on their journey this year. 

CHARLOTTE BROOK
DEAN OF SENIOR SCHOOL

It has been a considerably busy and exciting week in the Senior School at A.B. Paterson College. The long planning days of the last few weeks were realised with the return of our students breathing life back into our College. It was a great pleasure to see and hear the excitement of our young people returning and sharing their experiences of their holidays and the joy of returning to their friends and teachers.

Our returning and new Senior students began the week with meeting their Form Tutor, locker allocations and becoming familiar with the schedules and routines for the year ahead. It was wonderful to once again see our DMPC full of students for our Welcome Back Assembly. To finally come together as a College after the disruptions of last year was a great experience and one which sets us up as one, united for the year ahead. We now look forward to the many events and activities taking place over the term and school year ahead.

Our Senior Induction Assembly was our first major event of the year with both parents and students filling the DMPC. Then there is the Senior School Parents' Social Evening on 9 February, followed by the much anticipated Year 12 Formal on 27 February. A wonderful start to the year where we can celebrate and enjoy reconnecting with each other and across the College community.

I am looking forward to a great year ahead, one which will be as normal for all our staff, students and parents as possible.

Gary Smith
Head of Senior School

The first week in the Junior School for 2021 has got off to a flying start. I vividly remember my first days back in my primary years – what did you do on the holidays? Where did you go? You have grown so tall! I lost my two front teeth…

We commenced on Wednesday with new students being greeted outside The Winton Centre by our very proud Junior School House Captains. Their task was to ensure all new students were escorted to their classrooms and introduced to their classroom teacher. This initiative to escort Junior School students to their classrooms commenced last year and was very well received by both parents and students alike. In 2021, this initiative will be honed further and will include either Year 6 or Year 11 students being available to escort Junior School students to their classrooms from both the Main Drive drop off area and from Marble Arch Place.

We have seen an abundance of activity inside and outside the classrooms in the first days of Term 1 and it is truly exciting to see students back on College grounds again after a well-deserved break. These first few days have seen our new Prep students commence with half the cohort coming on Wednesday, the second half on Thursday and the full cohort on Friday. To celebrate the new Prep cohort commencing, the Friends of A.B. Paterson College (FAB) are hosting a Prep Parent's Morning Tea on Monday 1 February from 8.30am in The Winton Centre Staff Common Room. There are many ‘gorgeous’ photographs in this newsletter celebrating the first day for the Prep students, who have now started ‘big school’.

Week 2 will commence with the Prep Parent's Morning Tea as the first significant event to promote parent engagement and celebrate our College community. This will continue in Week 3 with the first Junior School Assembly when we will induct the Junior School leaders. The Junior School Parent Teacher Social Evening will be held on Monday 8 February. This will be immediately followed by the Years 4 – 6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 9 February. Further information regarding these events will be communicated soon.

These are excellent opportunities to engage with the College community and I look forward to seeing you there.

Simon Edgar
Head of Junior School

The Junior School is very proud to begin the implementation of the SELF Program (Social Emotional Learning Fundamentals). This program is developed to enhance the executive function of the learner. Executive function is a set of mechanisms that dictate social regulation.  It plays an integral role in social emotional development, awareness and interaction.  

What makes this program unique is that it is designed by our teachers who know the students and their specific needs. The program has direct links to Personal and Social Capabilities outlined in the Australian Curriculum. The objective of the program is to achieve self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social management.  Students will learn to recognise emotions, achievements and personal qualities. They will be able to set goals, communicate effectively and work collaboratively. The ability to understand diverse perspectives will lead to quality relationships, strong conflict resolution skills and learning to be an effective leader. This also draws on the character strengths of the students and how they can be developed further to achieve their goals. 

Each week, the teaching of the SELF Program is kickstarted by a focus question followed by series of activities, discussions and reflections culminating in achieving the objectives. For example, in Prep this term, students will begin learning about emotional regulation and resilience and how to enjoy their new surroundings. 

As parents and guardians, you may wish to discuss the SELF lessons with your child each week and share your observations and success stories with the classroom teacher. I would like to thank all the teachers who contributed to the development of the Term 1 program and commend their commitment to the ongoing development of the SELF Program. 

Sara Bakanay
Deputy Head of Junior School: Pastoral

The smiles were as brilliant as the sunshine that greeted our Preppies on Day 1 of the 2021 school year!

We look forward to getting to know everyone at the Prep Parents' Morning Tea on Monday 1st February, 8.30am - 10.00am in The Winton Centre, proudly brought to you by FAB (Friends of A.B. Paterson College).

A very big welcome to our new families across all year levels!

Proud, protective parents of three adorable plover hatchlings have survived a dramatic first day of school at A.B. Paterson College. 

The legends within our College Grounds and Maintenance team had been keeping a close eye on the anxious plover parents, aware they had already lost two sets of eggs during storms. Mum had laid her new eggs next to a carpark boom gate and had been furiously reprimanding anyone who dared go near.

The Grounds team was on high alert after the first two chicks hatched. They knew as soon as baby bird number three came along, the young family would be on the move… but their re-location journey would put them on a collision course with school traffic! Hundreds of families were arriving for the College’s computer rollout day, ahead of the new school year.

So began the daring rescue mission that has become a television news and social media sensation with half a million social media views in just one week!

The mission began during peak hour to help the distressed mum and dad safely relocate their tiny family across two lanes of traffic, gutters and garden beds onto the oval. Staff devised a makeshift cardboard ramp to help the chicks mount the gutters… only to find the chicks hiding underneath the ramp.

Fearing the chicks would toddle into the path of delivery vans, a Rugby training squad, staff and parent cars, staff made the bold decision to swiftly scoop the chicks into a hat and risk the ire (and beak) of Dad, who was now frantic.

There was just one problem… where had Baby No.3 gone! 

As the two strongest siblings wandered off on their epic adventure across the College oval, a panicked search of garden beds was underway to find the third, helpless bird.

Finally, success! Covered in ants, Baby No. 3 was quickly scooped up and delivered safely to Mum and Dad. The adorable siblings – let’s call them Banjo, Matilda & Patty – then began the long march with Mum and Dad across the expansive oval.

Sensibly, they have now set up home in a far corner of the oval, away from the hustle and bustle of thousands of students who returned to the College on Wednesday, 27 January 2021.

Thank you to our caring wildlife rescue heroes, Georgie and Jaron from our Grounds and Maintenance team! 

Well done to our Years 11 and 12 Rugby players who kept up their gruelling beach sessions throughout the holidays and returned to our College a week early for a punishing morning of training with Mr Stopel!

The Rugby players, along with our equally dedicated Open A, B and Year 9 Netballers, are preparing for games against the Sunshine Coast’s St John’s College tomorrow 30 January at our Arundel campus, as well as a Rugby trip to the Sunshine Coast late next month.

Mr Stopel remarked on the wonderful commitment and enthusiasm of his players – look out St John’s!

We are excited to welcome families back to the College to cheer on our teams this Saturday (30 January) from 9.30am. Any students attending games to support their friends must wear formal uniform. 

The First XV will be playing on the Peter Sippel Playing Field coached by Mr Stopel, Mr Templar, Mr Mikael and Mr Webb, with the Open A & B Netballers playing in the DMPC coached by Mrs Baxter and the Year 9 Netball team on the Senior Courts coached by Mrs Von Kanel. 

Go A.B!

Come and join the fun! 

It’s not too late to join the A.B. Paterson College Swimming Club, or to come to one of our Swimming Club Nights. 

The emphasis for Club Nights is to have fun, perform a personal best and prepare for competitive swim meets. During Club Nights, times are recorded with points allocated for participation, equalling personal best times and improvement on times. Successful Swimming Club Nights are when a child does a personal best, it’s not about the winner or the best on the night.

There are five more Friday Club Nights this season. The dates are:

Friday 29 January
Friday 12 February
Friday 26 February
Friday 5 March
Friday 26 March

Participants must be at least six years old and be able to swim 25 metres and at least one stroke competently and without assistance. 

Club Nights start at 3.30pm with a warm-up, followed by races around 4pm with the schedule concluding at 5.15pm. 

The A.B. Paterson College Swimming Club caters for all ages and abilities from recreational swimmers through to swimmers competing at national levels. Our ASCTA qualified coaches have a goal to help every swimmer achieve their full potential, and to provide a friendly and supportive environment.

Have a chat to Peter Gee (Pool Manager, Squad Coach and Swimming Club President) or Ric Cashman (PE Teacher and Squad Coach) if you would like to find out more - or just come along to a Club Night and chat to one of the committee members. 

For further information, please email us at swimclub@abpat.qld.edu.au or call Peter Gee (07) 5561 4167.

A.B. Paterson College Netball Club was established in 2015 with a vision to build a proud, team-spirited and sustainable netball club for College students to play, or simply be involved, in netball. Over the past 6 years we have organically grown, now representing 11 teams and we are excited to embark upon our next chapter focussing on the continued growth and development of our club. 

A.B. Paterson College Netball Club supports the NetSetGO program specifically designed for junior players U7 to U10. Our training program extends from the very basic skills and drills for beginners to high level training programs for the competitive player wishing to pursue representative netball at an elite level. 

We are also excited to have Jodie Fewkes continue as our Club Coach mentor. Jodie will also head APS Netball for the College in 2021. Development training programs, focussing on strengthening individual players and teams, plays an integral role in our season and together with guest coaches and netball specialists, programs scheduled this year will include the NSG training program, shooting and defensive clinics, coach the coach clinics, development programs and skills assessments. 

In 2021 we are focussed on increasing player registrations by extending our numbers to two teams per age group and facilitating a team selection program all players U11 to U18 to allow us to form cohesive teams with similar skills set and player ability rather than focussing on conventional age groups.

If you are interested in joining A.B. Paterson College Netball Club, please contact our Registrar, Renee Crispe at netballclubregistrar@abpat.qld.edu.au. 

Season 2021 will commence with trials for senior teams on Tuesday 9th February. Training is held Tuesday afternoons at the College and will commence on Tuesday 23 February for Senior teams (U11 – U18) and from Tuesday 16th March for Juniors (U7-U10).

Luisa Davidson
President
A.B. Paterson College Netball Club

Does your son or daughter love to dance?  Dance tutor, Keya Stevens, offers private dance tuition in all genres to students in all year levels - from Prep to Year 12.

Group lessons occur after school each Wednesday at the following times:

3.20pm - 4.35pm Prep - Year 3
4.35pm - 5.20pm Years 4  - 12

Solo dance lessons are available in any genre during school time for students in all year levels. Solo lessons are for 30 minutes.

Classes culminate in an end of year dance tuition concert, performed in the Dawn Lang Performing Arts Centre.

For enquiries and further information, please contact Keya Stevens on 0411 305 605.

If you can knit or want to learn how to knit, then this is the lunch club for you! We provide all the equipment and materials, all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and teamwork. 

If you are in Year 4 or above and have Monday lunchtimes free, contact Mrs Hall (AHall@abpat.qld.edu.au).

We can't wait to see what you create!

Angie Hall
Prep Teacher