Sometimes we know that our children need support but we aren’t quite sure where to go or what to do to get help. Grace Psychology’s onsite service is all about bringing that help to you.
This year, our College has partnered with Grace Psychology to offer onsite psychology services for children in Prep-Year 12. The service exists to offer practical, evidence based solutions which assist young people overcome a wide range of difficulties and makes a tailor-made plan for each registered and eligible student with clear outcomes. This is done by working closely with you as the parent/guardian, as well as your child and their teachers to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Meet Gayle Moore
I am Gayle Moore. Since 2008 I have been involved in counselling people who have reached a crisis in their life journey.
I’d like to join with you to turn your low points into highlights in a way that develops character and coping capacity for future challenges. You may have ways of doing ‘life’ that have stopped working for you: I see my role as facilitating you to find a different perspective on yourself and your situation that makes you feel whole and strong. My style is person-centered, with a focus on how to re-align thoughts, feelings and behaviours to support your goals in life. I want to help you tell your story, and make sense of what has happened to you in the past so you can use these insights to shape your future. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults from all walks of life, grappling with issues from anxiety, body image, couple therapy, depression… to zoophobia and everything in between.
I am Christian in my worldview, and my goal is to follow the example Jesus set in accepting everyone for who and where they are in their lives. The idea of grace- God’s acceptance of us, and the forgiveness we extend to ourselves for our past mistakes- is a central focus of my psychology practice and my life.
I completed a Masters in Applied Psychology (Counselling) in 2013, and am registered as a Counselling Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Gayle is offering her psychological services onsite during term time and over the holidays at her springwood clinic. Parents can access Grace Psychology through the Medicare Scheme. Due to the limited spaces available, it is necessary to complete the application process as soon as possible in order to be eligible for the service. To be eligible for this, your child must obtain a Mental Health Care Plan from the GP and other documentation must be completed and submitted.
For more information
For further information around the service or how to organize this for your child, please contact Laura Robinson via email at lrobinson@parklands.qld.edu.au
Gayle Moore www.grace-psychology.com.au
Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a normal part of life. Teaching our kids how to resolve some of these friendship conflicts at school can be as simple as trying these 8 steps:
How can you help your child resolve friendship concerns?
Encourage them to try the ‘friendship 8’
Ask them to let you know how they went and praise them for successfully putting these strategies into practice
Remind your child about the importance of forgiveness and moving on.
Encourage your child to talk to their teacher if they have tried these friendship steps and still have been unable to resolve it
If your child has been through these steps OR the seriousness warrants, encourage your child to report to the RTC
The Silent Signals are a way for our primary students to silently communicate with their classmates and teachers during class, without disrupting the lesson. Students may ask their teacher a question using the rocket hand, ask to go to the toilet or ask their neighbour to please be silent so they can listen. We encourage our students to try these out and you may even like to practice these at home.
Snippets
Throughout the term teachers send the RTP Facilitators positive feedback about students via our Operation Snippet initiative. They have already started rolling in and we have had some fantastic comments from teachers. Staff members can also be sent snippets from other staff, students and parents.If you would like to honour any staff member in the school for their hard work please send a snippet to rtc-staff@parklands.qld.edu.au and we will make sure that it is passed on.
Here are some great snippets we have had the privilege of giving to a student and staff member.
“This student did an excellent job reading this morning during a reading comprehension assessment. I am proud of the effort he gave to both his reading and to trying words he did not recognise.”
“Thank you for all of the time and effort you give to your staff. I feel grateful for the support that you give to me personally and I’m sure that many others feel the same. Thank you for your kindness and for seeing the best in people. It’s a pleasure working with you.”
Thank you for supporting this initiative and for helping us build each other up.
Interhouse competition forms a big part of sport at Parklands. Joshua verse Samuel rivalry is ongoing through the year with Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics carnivals. There are also other competitions, particularly during HPE week. On events like this it is great to see our students supporting their house team by wearing their colours. House Polo shirts can be purchased from the uniform shop and worn on these days. It would be great to see heaps of colour at our Cross Country Carnival later in Term 1.
Swimming Carnival
Joshua and Samuel houses started the year with the 9-18yrs swimming carnival, held on the 31st of January. In the pool there were some great racing while out of the pool everyone was dancing, cheering and supporting their houses. The results started out close but as the day progressed there was clearly a stronger team. With the majority of the Age Champions coming from Joshua House, it was no surprise which team came out on top. Final scores were Samuel – 2367 and Joshua – 3037.
Thank you to all the parents, students and staff for making it such a great day.
From this carnival the CSSA and SDS District swimming teams will be picked to represent the college, more information for those selected students will be coming out over the next few weeks.
Primary
Auskick is here again, starting on the 12th of February. For more info please contact Mr Lewis.
We are also starting cross country training Monday’s and Friday’s from 7.30-8.15, starting in week 4. If you wish to attend please let Mr Lewis know.
Upcoming Sporting Dates
– 14/2 – District Swimming Carnival
– 9/3 – BCS Touch (Snr and Int boys)
– 16/3 – BCS Touch (Int Girls and Jnr)
– 12/3 – CSSA Swimming Carnival
– 27/3 – PCC XC Carnival
Thank you to those families who returned the Database Check Form. If you have not done so as yet, it is important to us that we have your current information and emergency contact details for us to provide the best of care for your child/ren.
Grade 1
Students have all settled in well in the past 2 weeks, have renewed old friendships and made new ones as well. The children are beginning to understand the different routines and how everything is done differently in “big school” now. The children are very excited about all of the new things that they are learning and are involved in including music, art, swimming and soccer. They have many questions and we are enjoying finding the answers to their questions together.
Thank You to all those that attended our Parent Information evening on Thursday. We hope that the information provided is helpful as we begin the journey together with you and your child through Grade 1.
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).
It was lovely to catch up with some existing families and have the opportunity to meet new families at the Back to School BBQ. We pray you have all settled back into school and are enjoying our school community. The Friendlies first activity for 2018 is the “Coles Sports for Schools Promotion”. Simply shop at Coles Supermarkets and they will give you vouchers. Your child can then pass onto their class teacher, or drop into the collection box located in Student Services.
The Friendlies meetings are always open and welcoming to any families within our Parklands community. If you are not available to come to meetings but would love to stay updated, or help out at our different events just email friendlies@parklands.qld.edu.au and it will be our pleasure to add you to our list.
Have your child’s school memories captured forever on 24 April 2018
Your photo order envelopes will be sent home via your child in the last week of Term 1. Please start planning your purchases and payment options.
Remember these helpful points:
Read all relevant instructions for your preferred payment method. All payments are due on photo day.
You may pay by cash, or place your order online using your child’s individual ‘shootkey’ listed on their envelope and pay with your credit card.
Please enclose correct money as no change will be given.
Sibling photo envelopes are available at Student Services upon request. SIBLING PHOTOS WILL BE TAKEN BEFORE SCHOOL, ON PHOTO DAY AT 7:45AM IN THE FUNCTION ROOM. – Please instruct siblings to attend the photo studio at this time. Photographers are unable to search for students who do not attend.
Do not seal envelopes inside each other. You may include payment for all children in one envelope, however please indicate on this envelope the names of all the children you are paying for.
All students are to wear their CORRECT AND COMPLETE ACADEMIC UNIFORM. Students who arrive in sport uniform will not appear in their class photo.
Grade 10-12 students are to wear their correct winter academic uniform (blazers for all and males to wear long pants and their tie).
Grade 12 students must bring their senior jersey.
For any enquiries, please feel free to contact MSP Photography
Thank you to those families who returned the Database Check Form. If you have not done so as yet, it is important to us that we have your current information and emergency contact details for us to provide the best of care for your child/ren.
Days for Girls
Days for Girls has started up once again on a Monday afternoon in the Home Ec sewing room. You are welcome to come along just once, or every now and then, or every week. We would love to see you any time! This year, I am pleased to welcome three new girls from Years 6 & 7 who are impacting those less fortunate in a positive way!
On Saturday, the 24th of February, PCC is hosting an afternoon tea for those who are interested in contributing to Days for Girls on a one-off basis. Please RSVP to Student Services for catering purposes. We will have stations set up around the Function Room for each of the many steps involved in preparing a Days for Girls kit. You may choose to trace, cut, sew, create shield sandwiches, pack or prepare fabrics. We will be very appreciative of any assistance to make the lives of girls in Cambodia a little easier and give them back days in school or work. If you are able, a $5 donation is suggested, but not mandatory.
As always, your contribution of prayer and the sharing of our information is truly appreciated. We are currently on the lookout for 100% cotton fabrics in bright, pretty colours. Perhaps you, or Nanna, have a “roundtoit” stash, hiding secretly in the cupboard or the shed? If you’re not going to use it, we will! Last year a relief teacher gave us a big bag of quilting offcuts and we are just now finishing making shields with that treasure trove. What else is hidden away, awaiting a purpose?
New in 2018, Create and Upcycle offers students (and adults) opportunities to reuse items that would otherwise become landfill. We are not talking about your average pencil holder from toilet rolls either (although that could also happen!). We are teaming up with Mr Cunningham’s Design Club to investigate the possibilities of reusing plastic waste and turning it into something functional and environmentally helpful.
Have you ever considered how grey plastic shopping bags could be used to keep people who are sleeping rough off the ground?
What about towing your car with a cola bottle?
How could artists become more environmentally aware?
These are the sorts of questions and projects we will tackle in Create and Upcycle. I encourage you to come and have fun while we look into the many uses of the ubiquitous milk bottle!
When: Thursday afternoons 3.30pm -4.45pm
Where: Art Room or Home Ec Sewing Room
What to bring: Yourself, any afternoon tea you require and a willing spirit. If you’d like to collect large soft drink bottles, milk bottles and plastic shopping bags to bring in, that would also be helpful, but not necessary.
The TAFE year commenced this week with various Parklands students embarking on their vocational education journey.
If you are a year 11 or 12 student you are eligible to participate in the TAFE at School program. You can choose from a number of exciting and varied certificate II and certificate III courses. Best of all, a TAFE at School course can be achieved in conjunction with your senior studies and can count towards your Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
We wish our students every success with their studies!
It has been wonderful to see everyone return for another exciting year of school. Recently, Senior College students have been challenged to think about their goals for the year and to make some practical applications to start off strongly.
Utilise planners and diaries
It is expected that your child use a diary on a daily basis, for important dates; electronic or paper based is acceptable. This is an essential step in ensuring good organisation and time management at the start of the academic year.
Study skills and routines need to be established. Having a weekly time to plan out a weekly study schedule can be most beneficial. There are free online study planners or printed ones may be purchased through stationary stores. Alternatively, your child’s PC teacher can assist with this.
Set up a study space
There are a variety of ways to be organized and to implement effective study habits. As parents, a common element for all school aged children is the need to have an organised study space to withdraw to by habit, where your child can sit down to study. Your child may need some help to establish a space for effective study.
Be organised
Organisation is key in helping to achieve success. Senior students have been encouraged to use the following areas to assist with being organised:
Term Overviews
(For every subject, except CLS)
Subject Websites Resources
(Accessed by student email – PCC Google Docs)
Assessment Schedules
(Outline of due dates, sent to families & students)
Senior College Calendar
(For up-to-date information on due dates & special events)
Teachers as a resource
The secondary staff are passionate about your child’s education and will support students in achieving their individual goals. We encourage seniors to talk to us and let us know what their dreams and goals are. Seniors are also encouraged to meet with their teachers outside of class time, for extra support. Many teachers are running free extra tutorials and workshops before/during/after school on a weekly basis. Details are on the College Calendar and a home communication has been emailed home.
I trust that your child has the goal of working to their fullest ability by setting up sound study habits and routines that assist with finding a pace that is beneficial for them. We also encourage your child to seek God’s will for their lives; He is good. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans”. Proverbs 16:3
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via Student Services or direct via email at: rwallis@parklands.qld.edu.au
I trust you took the opportunity to meet the Primary teachers at the Back to School BBQ, to ‘settle in’ and become accustomed to Parkland’s processes and procedures.
A special ‘Welcome’ to all our new parents and students. If unsure about anything, please feel free to ask a teacher, TA, Student Services, RTC or myself.
Rosia Rd Carpark and Drop Off Areas
In wishing to keep all our students safe, here is a reminder of what we do to make the “Drop Off”’ process easier, quicker and more practical for parents:
In order to speed up the PREP drop off & sign in, we ask parents to pull into the ‘drop off bays’ just in front of the Prep classes, where staff and Grade 6 leaders will be present to assist ‘Preppies’ get bags out and then escort them directly into class. A teacher at the stairs, with class lists will sign in your prep child without you even having to get out of the car! The Prep student will then follow their day’s procedure once ‘signed in’ and in the classroom!
All Year 1-6 students and parents will follow the “normal” drop off or parking procedures where students can individually walk up or be escorted up to the undercover area by parents once they have parked in the lower car park bays. If using the Drop Off Area just past the Pedestrian Crossing, please don’t leave your car or park in any of these Drop Off bays. Parents are reminded not to drop off students on the bend near the top exit gate of the Rosia Rd Car Park. If crossing the internal road, please only cross at the Pedestrian Crossing!
ALL student pick up is as per the usual procedure, where parents may park in any available bay and go and collect students from Prep, the Undercover Area or Playground. Students are asked to remain in the Undercover Area unless collected by a guardian or older sibling. Please drive slowly (20klm) and carefully through the school car parks, especially vigilant around the pedestrian crossing! Remind students to be careful with bags while moving between cars so as not to cause any marks or damage!
Morning and afternoon procedures
On arrival in the morning, students are to put their bags in the port racks outside their classroom and then make their way to the supervised, Undercover Area where they can play games and be ready for the start of day and assembly.
In the afternoon students can be collected, signed out from 2.30pm onwards in the Undercover Area.
We ask that no students leave the Undercover Area without a guardian or older sibling BEFORE 3.30pm.
Uniforms
Can we please ask that you assist us in ensuring that students are correctly dressed in the right uniform each day? We don’t wish to experience students wearing their sport uniforms when not required or mix and match their uniforms. If unsure about uniform items or correct uniform requirements, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher, TA, the RTC or check the school’s website.
Please ensure that ALL uniform items are clearly labeled with the student’s name?
Support-A-Reader Program
It gives me great pleasure to announce that we are continuing to provide the wonderful Support -a- Reader Program again this term. Students will be invited to attend a one on one and or very small group reading sessions with a qualified instructor. Students will be taught the basics of reading, phonics, letter recognition and reading techniques will also be worked on so as to improve the students reading level and comprehension. Can we please ask that students not be taken home early on the day they have Support -a- Reader during Structured play time?
Communication
Can I please take this time to remind you of important information about Primary School communication procedures? Teachers ask that IF you have a concern or question about class work, assignments, class process or procedure, class bahaviour, calendar events etc, please contact the teachers directly. They are your first port of call!
If you require information about specialist lessons, please contact the following specific staff members directly:
HPE – Mr. Lewis,
Music – Mrs. Patane,
Art – Mrs. Bazley,
Resource Room/Library – Mrs. Bayer
Student Services — Mrs. Oxley or Mrs. Degen
RTC – Ms. Godwin, Mrs. Broughton, Miss. Robinson or Mr. Crawford
If you wish to discuss a matter further after having spoken to the relevant teacher, please contact me through Student Services.
Protecting our Anaphylactic Students
‘Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction which is potentially life threatening. It should always be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment! Most cases of anaphylaxis occur after a person with a severe allergy is exposed to the allergen to which they are allergic – usually a food, insect sting or medication’.
The intent of this article is to assist in preventing anaphylaxis and to provide advice for minimizing the risk of anaphylaxis at Parklands, including our “Before and After School Hours Care facility”.
On advice from Anaphylaxis Australia, we do not have a ‘total Nut-Free school’ because there are so many different allergens such as dairy and some fruits, the total focus cannot only be on nuts.
Of course we wish to do all we can to protect those students who could have an Anaphylactic reaction so we at school have put in steps / measures to protect them and this is what we ask parents to do to assist us. We ask that you avoid sending in:
Any fresh nuts
Spreads containing nuts (e.g. peanut butter and Nutella)
Muesli bars or biscuits that list nuts as an ingredient
Packages of mixed fruit that contain nuts
Chocolate bars that contain nuts (e.g. picnic, snickers)
Talk to the teacher before sending food to school for parties.
If your child eats peanut butter before school, please make sure they wash their hands before coming to school.
Products with a “may contain traces of nuts” warning is ok to bring to school but should not be shared. In this instance, also remind students to wash their hands after eating such products! Thank you for your understanding, patience, flexibility and support in this regard.
Please don’t hesitate to ask a teacher or staff member if there is ANYTHING you need clarified!
Looking forward to a great year of working together!
There is a funny TED talk about procrastination (watch it here). It’s a humorous depiction of those of us who work best under a little bit of pressure (aka the panic monster). I admit to it: I’m one of those people. A healthy amount of pressure keeps me productive and focused on the important things rather than just dealing with the things that I would like to do right now. I’m not too fond of being wired like this, but I’ve come to accept it.
Every one of us has experienced the pressures that occur within the education system. Don’t we all have warm memories of assignment deadlines and exam preparations! Although every student has different levels of tolerance toward these stresses and might require individual encouragement and support from parents and teachers, I think healthy levels of pressure have a purpose in spurring us on to develop our full potential.
If you’re anything like me, you may also have experienced times in your life where the pressure kept on mounting, turning into unhealthy stress and maybe even levels of anxiety that do not at all increase productivity. Instead, this kind of anxiety has the power to stop us in our tracks and incapacitate us altogether for some time.
One area in which anxiety can easily tip over into becoming unhealthy is in the area of relationships. When fear is introduced into a relationship, the connection starts to break. We then start protecting ourselves from the other person, creating distance and defences. That disconnection opens us up to anxiety that is at least unproductive, or worse.
At Parklands, we pay a lot of attention to our relationships with each other. We believe that the pressures of academic learning are best embedded within loving relationships that are free from fear and punishment.
The best model for relationships is given to us by God himself. He desires connection with us. His love is beautifully described in 1 John 4:18:
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
We experience the benefits of working on our connections with students every day. We also believe that we continuously need inspiration, encouragement and support to continue on this journey. This is why we are excited to be hosting our Loving on Purpose conference with Danny and Sheri Silk in August this year. Danny is the author of the Loving our Kids on Purpose program that we have been implementing at our school for years.
The event is not only open to our staff. We will also have educators from other schools in attendance, but most importantly, we would also love to invite you to come along. Only if school and family are both purposeful in ‘keeping our love on’ in all situations, will this approach truly come to life. Registrations are now open, so please head to our website to register.
Our Secondary College is off to a smooth start, and I thank each of our teachers, support staff, and parents for their efforts in ensuring this occurs. Our students have had much to manage in these early weeks – a new timetable, new textbooks, online learning, camps for most year levels, the back to school bbq – and they’ve done a great job of settling in and aligning with our College values. Our Year 12 students have experienced these many times before, while our new students and Year 7s are adjusting to the newness, challenge, and hopefully excitement that these features bring. Despite all this newness and adjustment, there is cheerfulness and calm across our campus, as our Parklands community unites to help with this transition. Our swimming carnival brought an element of fun for our students as we celebrated those who are particularly talented in the field of swimming, and it was wonderful to see our Parklands’ ‘have a go’ approach apply not just to the regular races and the enthusiastic cheering, but also to our comical novelty races! I trust that each student will continue to enjoy their experience this year, and I look forward to continuing to partner with each family in your child’s learning and schooling journey.
Student Leadership
Our student leaders have made a strong start to the year, already demonstrating dedication and a heart to serve our student body. We welcome 16 students into leadership, and several of us staff will work alongside them to help them develop as leaders through weekly meetings, a leadership development program, the Compass Schools Conference in Canberra, the sports captains’ camp in Burleigh and various opportunities across the College throughout the year.
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
Term Direct Debit Deduction Dates
17th February
17th April
17th July
17th September
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.
A new season of Hot Shots Tennis Coaching is starting soon, a free trial lesson is available so anyone can come and have a go.
All new pupils receive a Free Racquet; Hot Shots T-Shirt on sign up. We have lessons that run every afternoon, for all ages & levels.
Mini Hotshots for 4-7 year olds, Hot Shot programs for 7-12 year olds; advanced groups for 12-17yr olds. For adults we have Cardio Tennis, Social comps every week night and Lesson; now a new Fast 4 comp for players starting or getting back into tennis, the Fast 4 format goes for just over an hour.
To book in or to arrange a free trial phone Paul or Steph on 32000354.
Jimboomba Netball
Interested in Hosting an Overseas Student?
World Education Program (WEP) Australia is a not-for-profit student exchange organisation. We are now looking for volunteer host families for overseas students arriving in Australia in July 2018.
Hosting promotes an exchange of cultures, languages and traditions. Many of our host families have primary-school aged children and find the effect of having an overseas student in their home, an extremely positive one.
“Our daughter has a big sister now, someone to talk to other than mum or dad. Hosting is the most rewarding and fun experience for your family. It’s amazing!” Three-time host mum, Nicole.
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…
/PCCUniforms
