Welcome back to Term 4, the last term of what has been a very challenging year for many in our College and wider College community.
As I commence Term 4 and begin to look forward to the end of the academic year events (such as they are), I do so with a sense of achievement amidst adversity and change.
Approximately 12% of our College population was significantly impacted by COVID-19, either in job losses, or cutbacks.
Furthermore, countless other families have felt the effects of the economic downturn and the slow depression of the Australian economy. Yet, as our community grappled with these challenging times, generosity and care blossomed, and those who had the capacity to care did so in various beautiful and charitable ways.
Along the way, our students have shouldered change remarkably well and embraced this change with little fuss or fanfare. Sure, there were occasional tears, tantrums and frustrating moments, but overall I am incredibly proud of our students as they display resilience beyond their years and experience. In particular, I marvel at the steely determination of our Seniors as they traverse new QCAA expectations and the ever changing landscape of schooling during a pandemic.
Through isolation, then quarantine, our Year 11 & 12 students have studied hard and pressed toward their goal, taking change and uncertainty in their stride. For some students, learning online was easy, as they embraced independent learning naturally. For others, learning away from the familiarity of school and a teacher’s direction was more challenging, if not a little lonely. Still others struggled with technology issues, family difficulties and other genuine strains and stresses beyond their control.
Similar strains and stresses were felt right across our school, during crucial times of assessing and reporting. To this end, many of our usual processes for gathering equitable and timely data were extremely complex and downright difficult.
While our reporting was able to take place at the standard times during the year, we faced challenges when equitably calculating our end of year awards data, and as such, some of our usual end of year awards will not be bestowed in 2020. We sincerely hope that this will be a unique event for 2020, and look forward to returning to our familiar and routine academic processes in the New Year.
Throughout the year, we have all had to manage change and accommodated discomfort and disappointments. The circumstances and limitations of 2020 were certainly not the way I wanted to start my years as Principal, nor did our teachers wish to change large portions of their coursework and planned activities. Students new to Parklands this year have tasted only a portion of our usual culture and common events, and we all mourn the loss of some of our rich cultural and academic events and experiences. As we look to 2021, some inevitable inconveniences will continue, but we will do our best to return our usual programs.
I invite everyone in our community to stay focused on finishing the year positively, and as well as we are able. I can’t imagine the trials that our Victorian counterparts are facing at this moment and pray for the schools in our Southern States who face challenges greater than our own.
I would also invite you to spare a thought for our brothers and sisters in developing countries that have no way to care for their population as we can. As I communicate with our friends in Cebu, I struggle to reconcile the strain and tragedy they experience each day as they enter their 7th month of lockdown, which is by all reports yielding little success. While I don’t wish to diminish the trials of our own country, I do look at my own trials with a sobering sense of perspective when compared to the trials of my friends and colleagues in the Philippines.
And so as I venture into Term 4 and the changes to come, I do so with an attitude of gratitude, and acknowledge that I am part of a resilient community, in a great nation with a huge capacity to care. I appreciate great friends, healthy family, and engaged and learning students. The academic year of 2020 has indeed been difficult and full of challenges. Yet amidst adversity, generosity and charity have thrived. Our students have displayed remarkable endurance and resilience and, despite some disappointments, we all look forward to ending the year and celebrating our culture and academic successes to the best of our ability, because after all, we have much still to celebrate.
Gary Cully
Southern Stars Baseball Our training/come and try days are: Tuesday 5.30pm to 7.30pm for under 11 Wednesday 5.30pm to 7.30pm for 12yr old and over …
Our training/come and try days are:
Tuesday 5.30pm to 7.30pm for under 11
Wednesday 5.30pm to 7.30pm for 12yr old and over
Thursday 5.30pm to 7.30pm for Senior players
62-82 Regency Drive, Regents Park
We accept get in the game vouchers where families are eligible.
We are on facebook and our website is www.southernstarsbaseballclub@gmail.com
Karen Gallpen
Vice President/Secretary
Southern Stars Baseball Club
0421 773 768
Does your child experience difficulties in any of the following areas?
If so it may be the result of an underlying speech and language difficulty. Speech Pathologists study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering and using voice. Speech Pathologists assess and provide life improving treatment, support and care.
Michelle Sparg is an independent, mobile private certified practicing speech-Language Pathologist with 24 years of generalised and highly specialist experience having worked with Kindy, Primary and Secondary Students.
Michelle Sparg, a certified practicing Speech-Language Pathologist, is in her 9th year of working successfully at our school alongside students, parents, teachers and learning support staff to maximise learning potential within the classroom.
For further information on this highly valued service currently offered at our College, please contact Michelle Sparg on sparg4@bigpond.com or 0435492716.
Update from Park Ridge Transit From Tuesday the 6th of October 2020 Park Ridge Transit will change the way that we display school route numbers …
Update from Park Ridge Transit
From Tuesday the 6th of October 2020 Park Ridge Transit will change the way that we display school route numbers on the destination signs.
They will be displayed as per the route number on the TransLink website for TransLink services. This means, am school services will be prefixed with 60__ and pm school services will be prefixed with 61__for Translink services.
For example: Instead of displaying “School Bus 33” we will now display “School Bus 6033” for the am and “School Bus 6133” for the pm.
Services from Cedar Grove (W services) will now display a prefix of 53 in the am and 63 in the pm. There are no changes to the numbers on Greenbank services.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us on (07) 3802 1233
Regards
Park Ridge TransitSchool Bus Passes for Westside Bus Company and Park Ridge Transit
Students who have a bus pass for travel will be required to obtain a new pass for the 2020 school year. If you are changing schools in 2020 (this includes moving to grade 7) or address you will need to contact our reception on (07) 3802 1233 and we will advise you of how to update your details. To avoid delays in receiving your pass we kindly request that you contact us prior to the end of the school year.
If you have no changes to your details, you will receive your new bus pass in the mail in early January.
Please note that there are limited reception facilities available at our Redbank depot and you should call before attending the depot as we maybe able to assist over the phone.
Bus Routes for Parklands
Please find attached all of the Bus routes, that have been made available to Parklands families.
Bus Queensland now offer 3 pick ups in the afternoon outside Prep with various routes.
- Departing 3:22pm
- Departing 3:31pm
- Departing 3:45pm
As this is a service offered by Bus Queensland (not PCC) please direct all further enquires to Bus Queensland on 3802 1233 or email customers@busqld.com.au
Parklands Outside School Hours Care is situated within the school grounds of Parklands Christian College in the Prep Building Area. The service operates for before …
Parklands Outside School Hours Care is situated within the school grounds of Parklands Christian College in the Prep Building Area. The service operates for before school, after school and vacation care. Before and after school care offers a nutritious breakfast/afternoon tea and children are able to engage in a variety of activities based on their interests.
During the school term the service operates from 6:30-8:30am and 3:00-6:00pm (with office staff available from 2pm), and vacation care from 6:30am-6:00pm. Parklands OSHC have qualified educators and encourage parents and families to pop into the service to discuss any care needs, suggestions or ideas or alternatively via phone 3297 0577 or email: parklandsbookings@bigpond.com.
We currently have limited spots available for before and after school care and advise families that a current 2020 enrolment is required to accept all bookings including emergency care bookings.
We look forward to assisting with all your care needs.
AUSLAN for Parklands Families Hello Parklands Families. My name is Beth Tailby and I am teaching Auslan here at beautiful Parklands. We are offering families …
Hello Parklands Families.
My name is Beth Tailby and I am teaching Auslan here at beautiful Parklands. We are offering families who have Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, parents, siblings etc. a space to share language and learn on Thursday mornings at 8am.
All levels and ages are welcome so please don’t worry if you don’t know any Auslan as we are ready to learn together.
We have decided to utilise the kitchen, the sports fields and other activities so we can have fun in different ‘voice off’ environments. Children are welcome to bring a friend if this makes them feel safer.
Looking forward to meeting you all next term.
On Monday 14th September, Year 11 Visual Art students went to Currumbin Beach to view the Swell Sculpture Festival. Swell is an annual event that draws together a diverse range of artists to display work in a public setting. This experience will be the stimulus for the Year 11’s upcoming senior assessment and artworks throughout next year. A diverse range of sculptures were displayed along the beach and near the walkway. In addition to the main exhibition, students also viewed the pop-up exhibitions ‘Westerly Swell’ and ‘Northerly Swell’; where they had the opportunity to talk with artists as well as view more works. It was a perfect day for this outdoor event!
To celebrate National Science Week 2020, the secondary Science ambassadors and I hosted an Escape Room experience for Year 6-12 students during morning tea breaks. In the experience, students were in a submarine, in search of the fabled Giant Squid, when a power outage left them trapped at the bottom of the ocean! They had to complete a number of puzzles and activities in order to restore power and resurface the submarine. I’m very happy to report that only 1 group of students remain trapped at the bottom of the ocean, as all others were able to restore the power and resurface! A very special thanks to the Year 11 Science Ambassadors; Meagan Elvery, Matt Kent, Steffanie Pottinger and Maya Cully along with Mr Mathews; for their time and enthusiasm in creating this special experience for other students.
Mrs Schulz
AUSLAN for Parklands Families Hello Parklands Families. My name is Beth Tailby and I am teaching Auslan here at beautiful Parklands. We are offering families …
Hello Parklands Families.
My name is Beth Tailby and I am teaching Auslan here at beautiful Parklands. We are offering families who have Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, parents, siblings etc. a space to share language and learn on Thursday mornings at 8am.
All levels and ages are welcome so please don’t worry if you don’t know any Auslan as we are ready to learn together.
We have decided to utilise the kitchen, the sports fields and other activities so we can have fun in different ‘voice off’ environments. Children are welcome to bring a friend if this makes them feel safer.
Looking forward to meeting you all next term.
Ready, Set…here we go term 4!
Year 1 is looking forward to a fabulous term to end 2020! We will be learning all about Sound and Light in Science and during HASS lessons, we will be continuing on with our theme of Families, Past and Present.
Literacy and Numeracy will continue to be a major focus for us in Year 1. The students will participate in weekly whole class and group activities as they challenge themselves to reach their reading, writing and numeracy goals.
We look forward to sharing more with you as the term progresses. Please enjoy a few photos from the end of last term.
Take care!
Mrs Clausen, Mrs Davis and Mrs Marsh
Welcome back to the start of an exciting and very busy Term 4. I trust that you had an enjoyable, relaxing school holiday spent with …
Welcome back to the start of an exciting and very busy Term 4.
I trust that you had an enjoyable, relaxing school holiday spent with family and friends or just enjoyed having the children at home and not having to prepare lunches, do homework, stress to get them to school prepared and on time.
We are continuing to review our process and procedures in the Primary in order to ensure the school is one in which our CLEAR values of Christlikeness, Learning, Excellence, Attitude and Respect are presented and followed daily.
For the start of term 4, can you kindly check that ALL of your child’s Uniform Items and Lunch Boxes and Drink Bottles are clearly labelled with their FULL name? Can we also please ask that you assist us in ensuring the students are correctly dressed in the right uniform each day? We are experiencing students wearing their sport uniforms when not required and have also noticed that some students are starting to mix and match their uniforms/shoes. If unsure about uniform items or correct uniform requirements, please feel free to check the school’s website, contact your child’s teacher or the RTC.
Students may be collected anytime from 2.30pm but will unfortunately miss Structured Play time.
Students leaving in Structured Play need to be electronically signed out either in the Undercover Area or up at Student Services.
At the end of Structured Play (3.05pm), students go to class, line up for class roll call, collect their ports / bags and wait there to be collected by parents/guardian or older sibling. No student can leave the Undercover Area or classroom without any supervision. At 3.30pm those students that have not been collected, will be taken up to Student Services until collected.
Thank you for not requesting students to make their way ‘on their own’ and meet you at the car. If you need them before 3.10pm, please come up to the classrooms and collect them there.
Thank you for your support and assistance in this regard as we wish to keep all our students safe and accounted for!
In wishing to offer our senior Primary students every opportunity to use technology in class to assist with and improve their learning, we will continue to allow the Grade 5 and 6 students to make use of or bring iPads to school next year. This follows on with the trend in education to promote eLearning and the use of modern electronic devices in Senior Primary! Feedback from staff, parents and the Yr. 5 & 6 students about iPad use has been very positive.
We have organized a Yr. 4 and 5 iPad Informative Parent Evening on Tuesday 20th October in Student Service’s Function Room, where questions about iPad selection, process, security, resources, Apps, class use etc. will all be answered. Look forward to seeing the Yr. 4 and 5 parents in attendance on the night.
“I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:11)
We believe God has a destiny for every student in our school. He has already placed within them the skills, gifts and talents that they need so as to become the person God intended them to be. We are also blessed to have excellent teachers at Parklands because of God’s call on their life.
Class teachers, Aides, all specialist teachers, RTC, LE Staff and myself spend an enormous amount of time discussing, praying about and working through the issues involved with student & class teacher placements and in trying to ensure that classes are well balanced. The matters of learning style, academic ability, behavioural concerns, student & staff personality, friendships, as well as social and emotional needs are earnestly discussed in the whole class selection process!
A reminder, due to the fact that we know the children and teacher / class environment, we do not accommodate requests from parents to swap class placements. It is an extremely difficult task that is complicated by requests for and against staff and other students or friends. We ask that you would pray for wisdom and discernment for us as they look to care for and meet the needs of each student.
Thank you for your understanding and support in this regard and look forward to seeing a wonderful working relationship continue to develop between teacher, student and parent!
By: Michael Grose
The first habit from Stephen Covey’s wonderful book “The 7 habits of highly effective people” states that we should start every project or undertaking with the end in mind.
This principle holds true for any activity whether it’s planting your veggie patch; renovating a house or raising children. When you know what you are trying to achieve then choosing the right strategies becomes easy. The end game or goal for parents and teachers is Redundancy. Yep, you read it right. Your job is to make yourself redundant as an adult from the children you raise and teach at the earliest appropriate, possible age. When redundancy is your aim most of your time, effort and energy will go into promoting independence. You’ll stop doing things for kids and start giving them opportunities to do things themselves. You’ll spend most of your active parenting and teaching time teaching, explaining and prodding your child toward independence.
When independence becomes your priority then suddenly you’ve found a pathway to the development of other positive qualities and traits in your children including the key four – confidence, competence, creativity and character.
Here’s how:
Confidence comes from facing your fears and doing things for yourself.
Competence comes from the opportunity to develop self-mastery that independence offers.
Creativity is developed when kids solve problems themselves as opposed to someone solving them on their behalf, or worse, keeping kids safe. It’s amazing how resourceful kids can be when they are given the chance to resolve their own problems.
Character, which is essential for success, is forged under hardship and is needed if kids are to live a sturdy life. Kids need to be exposed to disappointment, failure and conflict if character strengths such as grit and perseverance are too be forged.
Independence takes many forms and adults are the gatekeepers for children’s independence.
Allowing kids to take responsibility and own their own problems builds confidence and competence. Start by expecting kids to help out at home and at school. Look for ways to develop self-help skills and don’t take their problems on as your problems.
It can be scary and also difficult developing independence in one big step. So smart adults intuitively develop junior versions of independence by breaking up big activities into digestible bits. Want your three year old to make the bed? Then start by arranging the teddies and the pillows (a junior version of making the bed) and let them work their way up from there. Similarly, want your ten year old to walk to school yet it’s currently out of their skillset? Then accompany them most of the way and let them walk the last 200 metres to school on his own. That’s a junior version of walking to school.
In all the noise and commotion about raising kids today it’s easy to forget that the job description for parents hasn’t changed since the dawn of time. Love them, bond with them, teach them and spend time with them. But also work like mad to develop their real independence so they become capable of handling what life will throw their way.
Trust you have a great term and rest of the year.
Welcome back to Term four! Attendance – Every Day Counts Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in a …
Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in a school academic year, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month. (“Attendance Matters,” 2018).
Regular school attendance allows your child to:
If your child is absent for a day, please ensure that Students Services is contacted. Encourage your child to contact the teachers for the subjects they missed that day so they can complete the classwork. Alternatively, they can check the subject websites (all students know how to do this) to see the content and lessons they missed.
A great way to help your child stay on top of their assessment and homework schedule, as well as develop independence for their senior years, is to make a weekly planner including family, sporting and extra-curricular commitments, building in time for actively working on homework and assessments and even some time to connect with siblings, pets and parents. Display this schedule in a prominent area and help you child stick to their plan. Ask, ‘What is on the schedule for today?’
I encourage my senior students to use the study schedule below and map out the term. It’s a great way to develop independence for senior school, further studies and work.
Welcome to Term 4! We are looking forward to an exciting and fulfilling end of the year with all the music students & we are …
Welcome to Term 4! We are looking forward to an exciting and fulfilling end of the year with all the music students & we are looking forward to sharing some of their performances with you later in the term. Of course Covid-19 has made that extra challenging, but this is also a great opportunity for us to show the students that we never stop learning & growing, and that we can adapt to unusual circumstances.
All music lessons commence in week 1, face-to-face on campus. Please be assured that appropriate cleaning & distancing measures are still in place. Students will be using their own instruments and it is the responsibility of students & parents to clean their equipment before & after home practice, lessons & rehearsals. For piano students, the piano is carefully cleaned between every lesson, as well as at the beginning & end of the day. Percussion students must bring their own sticks & mallets. Lesson timetables can be found on Mrs Patane’s window, or on the Instrumental Music website through the Secondary Directory.
Ensemble rehearsals also commence in week 1, as this is an integral & fun part of learning & playing music. As most of our Ensembles are quite small in number, we have sufficient space for appropriate distancing & will take all steps to ensure this is maintained. We also have a cleaning regime in place that the students are getting used to, so it’s great for the students to still be able to play & sing together safely. Details for weekly rehearsals are as follows:
Wind Ensemble: Wednesday 7:30am in Mrs Patane’s Music Room
Give It A Go Band: Wednesday 7:30am in the Student Services Function Room
Primary Junior Choir: Thursday 7:50am in Mrs Patane’s Music Room
Primary Senior Choir: Tuesday 2:30pm in Mrs Patane’s Music Room
Secondary Choir: Friday 7:30am in S1
While live performance opportunities are still not possible, we are making plans for recording as another way of sharing performances with the College family. More information to come.
It’s never too late to be part of our growing Instrumental Programme – here’s how your child can be involved:
This is a one year beginner programme for Year 4 students, giving them the opportunity to learn a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument in small groups during school time. The next Give It A Go! intake is in 2021 – offers have been sent home already & enrolments for Year 3 students are due by Friday 23rd October.
Private lessons are available for piano, guitar, drum kit, most woodwind & and all brass & stringed instruments. Lessons are scheduled mostly during school time, & fees are billed by & payable directly to the instrumental teachers at $30/30mins.
Shared lessons are available for all of the above instruments except piano. Lessons are again scheduled mostly during school time, & fees are also billed by & payable directly to the instrumental teachers at $18/30mins for a Group of 2 or $14/30mins for a Group of 3, pending availability.
Enrolment forms are available for download below, or by emailing instruments@parklands.qld.edu.au
__PCC Music Department Guidelines with form
School Days only For further information please contact Michelle Secretan Phone: (07) 3380 4256 Mobile: 0412 917 299 Email: uniforms@parklands.qld.edu.au Second Hand Uniforms available CASH ONLY …
| Monday | 8.00am - 10.00am |
| Tuesday | 2.00pm - 4.00pm |
| Thursday | 2.00pm - 4.00pm |
School Days only
For further information please contact Michelle Secretan
Phone: (07) 3380 4256
Mobile: 0412 917 299
Email: uniforms@parklands.qld.edu.au
Second Hand Uniforms available CASH ONLY (no refund or exchange)
For Second Hand Uniform Enquiries please email Alisha Mane amane@parklands.qld.edu.au
Also check our FB page for updates…
Uniform Shop Facebook Page
School Transport Assistance Scheme The Queensland Government offers financial assistance to parents of both state and non-state school students travelling to and from school daily …
The Queensland Government offers financial assistance to parents of both state and non-state school students travelling to and from school daily by private arrangement. This is known as STAS (School Transport Assistance Scheme).
Please phone the Gold Coast office on 5630 8857 to clarify your eligibility. Alternatively you can visit their website http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/schooltransport
School Fees Are deducted from your bank account on the 17th unless received by the 10th of each month. Please ensure funds are in your …
Are deducted from your bank account on the 17th unless received by the 10th of each month.
Please ensure funds are in your account one (1) business day before the 17th of the month.
Our Bank Account details are as follows:
BSB: 034115
Account Number: 169944
Please use your surname and initials as reference e.g. ‘J&C Smith’
Note: Direct Debits that reject from your account due to insufficient funds will incur a $10.00 fee and loss of discount. An additional late fee of $20 will apply to invoices outstanding at the end of the month.
Tuckshop in need of volunteers There is an opportunity for parents to contribute to the life of the school by volunteering their time in the …
There is an opportunity for parents to contribute to the life of the school by volunteering their time in the tuckshop.
The tuckshop has been growing since moving to the new facility and with growth in sales we would really love your help!
/PCCUniforms
