In this issue

Free Dental Care

FREE DENTAL CARE

Dear Parklands Family,

I know I write about this every year, but I just love our Back to School BBQ and events like it.  For those who didn’t attend, on Monday afternoon we had almost 200 parents plus children descend on the College to connect with our community and catch-up with staff.  Our student leaders and volunteers served food and drinks while staff caught up with parents for an unhurried chat outdoors. We don’t often get chances like these to just socialize, and I appreciate these relaxed moments to simply get to know people better.

Toward the end of every year, I conduct many, many enrolment interviews and welcome dozens of new students to Parklands. During these interviews I get a brief snapshot into the lives of our prospective students and their families. It’s wonderful to be able to re-connect with these families in the New Year and see their children in our uniform happily playing with new friends. And it’s also nice to see our new families finding new friends and connecting with our culture.

This year, we are cautiously planning to conduct all of our favorite events that our community have grown to love.  These events are designed to connect staff, students and parents as well as promote friendships between long term and new families.  An increasing number of our students study at Parklands for up to 13 years, representing a solid amount of time in which to invest in relationships and belong to our community. I invite all of our families to come to as many events as you can and find a place at Parklands.

2021 has already come with its share of challenges.  A COVID-19 vaccine is just around the corner, but it may be a while yet before we see our nation safely vaccinated.  To this end, I invite us all to be vigilant, stay safe and keep healthy.  Please be mindful of restriction in our community, and play your part to keep us and our school safe.  Parents, whenever you are on site, please keep socially distanced and wash your hands.  Drop and go as much as possible, and if you or your children are sick, please stay home.

I look forward to seeing you all throughout the year.  If you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email me or make an appointment.  I am out and about most mornings, welcoming students as they start their day.  Feel free to find me as I wonder around, I welcome the connection.

Gary Cully
Principal

National Day of Action

eSafety are offering a new parent webinar series in 2021 – eSafety’s guide to cyberbullying and online drama. We are encouraging parents in our school community to join one of the free webinars to learn how we can help young people develop the skills to be safer online.

esafety.gov.au/sid

National Day of Action

eSafety are offering a new parent webinar series in 2021 – eSafety’s guide to cyberbullying and online drama. We are encouraging parents in our school community to join one of the free webinars to learn how we can help young people develop the skills to be safer online.

esafety.gov.au/sid

Year One

Welcome to our 2021 school year!

Eph 5:18b-19 “Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms & hymns & spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.”

Welcome again to 2021! This year promises to be another year of growth & excitement in the Parklands Instrumental Music Programme as we welcome our new Give It A Go! students and continue to encourage our existing students to continue to learn & grow. There are lots of ways for your child to be involved in music at Parklands, and our prayer is that they would learn not only the technical skills of playing instruments & singing, but that they would also come to do what the above verse says, making music in their hearts to the Lord. What better way to live!

Lessons & Rehearsals

Most Instrumental music lessons have commenced in week 2 of Term 1, with the exception of Give It A Go! lessons which will commence in week 3. Choir & Ensemble rehearsals are also beginning in the first few weeks of Term 1, again with the exception of the Give It A Go! Band which will commence in Term 2. Primary Choirs & Wind Ensemble will commence in week 3, while Secondary Choir is scheduled to begin in week 2.

Ensembles & Choirs include:

–       Primary Junior Choir (Year 2 & 3)
–       Primary Senior Choir (Years 4-6)
–       Secondary Choir (Years 7-12)
–       Wind Ensemble (Years 4-12, woodwind, brass & percussion students with minimum 12 months experience)
–       Give It A Go! Band (Year 4, beginner band for woodwind, brass & percussion students in the GIAG programme)

All Choirs are open to students regardless of whether or not they’re having lessons, and no experience is necessary. The Give It A Go! Band is generally reserved for students in the Give It A Go! Programme as it caters for beginner students. Students wanting to play in the Wind Ensemble should consider having lessons either at school or outside of school to improve their skills.

Give It A Go! Band Programme

We’re excited to be welcoming our next group of Give It A Go! students this year. Emails will be going home to Year 4 students in the next few weeks with more information, but this is an exciting development in our Give It A Go! Band Programme. If you or your child are interested in being a part of this programme, please read the point 1 below regarding costs & inclusions.

Instruments on offer in the Give It A Go! Band Programme include:

–       Flute
–       Clarinet
–       Saxophone
–       Trumpet
–       Trombone
–       Percussion (includes drums, auxiliary & mallet percussion)

There are a number of ways to be part of our growing Instrumental Programme – here’s how your child can be involved:

1. Give It A Go! Band Programme – Year 4 students only

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. There is a one-off $400 levy for the year which covers all lessons & band rehearsals, a tuition book & use of a school instrument for one year. Many places for this are currently filled, however we do have a number of vacancies across most instruments. If your child is in Year 4 & would like to be involved, please contact us at instruments@parklands.qld.edu.au

2. Private lessons

Private lessons are available for piano, guitar, drum kit, voice, 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.

3. Shared lessons

Shared lessons are available for all of the above instruments except piano, guitar & voice. 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 can be downloaded below, and are also available by emailing instruments@parklands.qld.edu.au

__PCC Music Department Guidelines with form

Year 7 have officially started the academic year!

This year as a part of orientation, students, their Pastoral Care teachers, Mr. Elvery, Mrs. Braun, as well as the student’s main subject teachers had two days of connection, learning about Secondary school and fun.

The students, in their Pastoral Care classes participated in activities designed to form connections and bond as a class and cohort, as well as establish powerful relationships with their teachers. They went on a scavenger hunt around the college with Mr. Elvery, played games and bonded with their Pastoral Care teacher and discussed their goals for the year and received their Year 7 wristband with Mrs. Braun.

The students were also immersed in the setting up of iPads, learning to use their new college diary and the processes and daily organisation needed in Secondary.

Being organised and prepared for class can be a struggle for many Year 7 students. Previously, they may have had a tidy tray or place in a single classroom to keep their belongings. Whereas, now they are moving around classrooms, carrying materials required for a morning, middle and afternoon session, and remembering different subject requirements for different days.

Some ideas to help organise your child are to:

• Have an area set aside for school items
• Only pack for what is needed for the day
• Have a separate box for books and texts not used that day
• Label all items
• Have the timetable and booklist on display
• Pack the night before
• Talk to your child about how being organised is a healthy habit and skill that can be transferred to their sport team, music lesson, part-time job and life in the coming years. Not just a chore you use for school.

Being organised is a skill and healthy habit that takes time and a lot of practice. You child will need a lot of help, a lot of reminders and a lot of love to develop this skill.

Thank you to the many parents and students who attended the annual Back to School Barbeque on Monday night. It was wonderful to meet and connect with so many families within our college.

If you have any queries, you may contact us via the College office on 3380 4200 or via email at: abraun@parklands.qld.edu.au

Mrs. Alanah Braun
Year 7 Coordinator

Welcome back to a great year. All students are now on site and working through timetabled lessons after our orientation programs have been completed. It is great to see year 9 back after their camp, which was a great success.

Year 9 Camp

Camp was a great experience for the students. We had 76 students enjoying the fun and challenge of the Bornhoffen Camp grounds for three days – great way to spend the first three days of Year 9.

Students got to experience Abseiling, High Ropes, Team Building activities, Low Ropes course, and a Creek Walk activity through rocks and rapids. Students were challenged to push themselves past fears of heights, and to work together to successfully navigate various obstacles and challenges.

Alongside this were the evening games of Spotlight and Sardines, and the creation and cooking of damper through the middle of intermittent rain. (A massive thank you to Mr Braun for braving the rain to save the fire and the damper). The cook-up was a great success in the end.

A special thanks to the staff who assisted with the camp. Mrs Folcher, Mrs Harder, Mrs Crook, Mr Prevett, and especially Mr Braun for leading the camp. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Communication with Teachers

It is important to keep open lines of communication regarding the learning journeys of your children. We, as a college, are here to assist your child’s learning to the best of our ability. But it is a team effort. You know your child best, and we are here to work with you for the best outcomes.

If you need to contact a teacher, the best method is an email directly to them. If you have questions or concerns regarding homework, assessment, or student progress, please feel free to email and our teachers will be only too happy to answer.

There will be two sessions this year to be able to connect with your child’s teachers in person: beginning of term 2 and term 3. I would encourage you to take the time when this occurs to meet with the teachers and discuss together the pathway to success that you can help us to create.

Year 9 Subjects

Our year 9 students start the journey of elective subjects this year – subjects which they have chosen to suit their own personal learning journey. Sometimes these selections can be made incorrectly, and a realisation comes that ‘I wish I was in a different subject’. Students have until the end of week 3 (Feb 12) to submit a change-of-subject form and talk with me about their change of subject. This form requires a parent signature also, so they will talk with you about it.

Students will be notified of the approval via email, and will be free to attend the new subject from that point onwards. Past the cut-off date, students are committing to a full semester of study, with the next opportunity for change available in the beginning of term 3 (July).

It was fantastic being able to see so many families last week as they dropped their kids back to school. Such a great way to start the year having a 3-day week to ease the kids back into those early wake-up calls! They all seemed to settle quickly back into the school routine.

I love how our community really is able to connect together at events like the “Back to School BBQ”. There were so many new families and heaps of familiar faces there that we were able to say hello and have a chat with. Having a strong connection with each other is what our school is all about. Apart from learning of course!

 The Friendlies meetings are always open and welcoming to any families within our Parklands community. If you would like to be kept updated on all things Friendlies just email friendlies@parklands.qld.edu.au

Keep Smiling
The Friendlies Team

Welcome back, 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 ‘Prep drop off bays’ just in front of the Prep classes, where staff and Year 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 to Yr. 6 Classrooms or Playground. Students are asked to remain in the Undercover Area until 3.30pm 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.

In the afternoon students can be collected, signed out on the iPads from 2.30pm onwards in the Undercover Area.

We ask that no students leave the Undercover Area on their own, without a guardian or older sibling BEFORE 3.30pm.

Morning Tea and Lunch Procedures

In wishing to give students the opportunity to eat and play through their day, we’ve extended the morning break time to match lunch, being 30 minutes. Students will sit and eat their food in the Undercover Area for 15 minutes before being released to go and play for the remainder of both breaks.

Uniforms

Can we please ask that you assist us in ensuring the 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 to mix and match their academic with sport 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.

Would you please be so kind as to ensure that ALL uniform items, lunch and water bottles are clearly labeled with the student’s name?

Communication

Can I please take this time to remind you of important information about Primary School communication procedures?

1. Teachers ask that IF you have a concern or question about class work, assignments, class process or procedure, class bahaviour, calendar events etc. that you please contact the teachers directly. They are your first port of call!
2. If you require information about specialist lessons, please contact the following specific staff members directly:
   HPE – Mr. Werner,
   Music – Mrs. Patane,
   Art – Mrs. Bazley,
   Library – Mrs. Jill Kerr
   Student Services – Mrs. Oxley or Mrs. Abolins
   RTC & LE – Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Broughton, or Mrs. Jo Anderson
3. If you wish to discuss a matter further after having spoken to the relevant teacher, would you kindly then contact me through Student Services?

AUSLAN (LOTE – Language other than English)

We are very excited to announce the continuation of AUSLAN (sign language) in Years 5 to 8 at Parklands. Dr. Beth Tailby, a completely DEAF, very accomplished Auslan teacher will be presenting lessons to the Primary Yr. 5 & 6 students on a Thursday for a semester each.

Students will learn the alphabet, numbers etc. and the basic art of being able to sign!

 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 IF possible, you kindly avoid sending in:
• Any fresh nuts
• Muesli bars or biscuits that list nuts as an ingredient
• Packages of mixed fruit that contain nuts
• 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 just 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!

Thank you

Bus Pass Information for 2022

Bus letter to parents back to school

Bus QLD Schools_

Bus Queensland Pty Ltd, in partnership with TransLink has bus runs that run to and from Parklands Christian College – information can be found on the website https://www.busqld.com.au/school )

Route 6013 (AM)

Route 6042 (AM)

Route 6055 (PM)

Route 6113 (PM)

Route 6142 (PM)

Route 6155 (PM)

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 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

Parklands OSHC will be open for bookings for the upcoming September Vacation Care School Holidays.  If you would like a booking form please don’t hesitate to contact us on:  3297 0577 or email: parklandsbookings@bigpond.com or pop on down to the service to see our friendly staff situated in the prep building area.

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 2021 enrolment is required to accept all bookings including emergency care bookings.

We look forward to assisting with all your care needs.

Term Dates 2022 final

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 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’

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.

Discounts Available

• Monthly 2%
• Term 5%
• Annual 8%

Tuckshop news

The tuckshop will be open EVERY day this year, Monday-Friday!

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!

Please contact our Tuckshop Convenor, Marie Rushin, on 0422 637 370 or email tuckshop@parklands.qld.edu.au

Tuckshop Menu 2021

Back to School Appointments 2022

WEEK 1: MONDAY 10/1/22 10.00am – 4.30pm, TUESDAY 11/1/22 10.00am – 4.30pm and THURSDAY 13/1/22 10.00am – 4.30pm.

WEEK 2: MONDAY 17/1/22 10.00am – 4.30pm, TUESDAY 18/1/22 10.00m – 4.30pm, WEDNESDAY 19/1/22 10.00m – 4.30pm  and THURSDAY 20/1/22 10.00am – 4.30pm.

To book an appointment please go to:

https://calendly.com/uniforms/uniform-back-to-school-appointments

1. Choose your date and time then click Confirm.
Please do not book more than 3 appointment time slots per family.

2. Enter your name, email address and contact phone number then click Schedule Event.

3. Your appointment time will be emailed to you automatically.
(Check your junk mail folder if you do not receive your email).

4. To Schedule another Event for additional times, repeat process

5. To Cancel or Reschedule appointments –  click on the link in your confirmation email.  .

Uniform Shop location and parking: 24 Hillcrest Rd, Park Ridge
(located on the left hand side, at the end of Hillcrest Road)

Also check our FB page for updates…
Uniform Shop Facebook Page/PCCUniforms

Purchase Uniforms Online
Uniforms can now be purchased online through QuickCliq.com.au