In this issue

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.

Dear Parklands Community,

Although the start of the year has been a disrupted one, let me officially welcome you to the 2022 Academic Year.  I am proud to say that despite various restrictions and the impact of COVID-19 on our community, we are well and truly underway and there is much to be thankful for and to look forward to.

I am thankful for God’s provision of new teachers. I am thankful for a population of over 760 students.  And I am thankful for our engaging and ever improving curriculum and resources.

I am excited about our new building program. I can’t wait to see stage 1 of our Primary Precinct finished at the end of this year.  I am excited as I see both secondary and primary students using our mountain bike track.  And I am excited (although a little impatient), to see our sprinkler system installed on our 2 ovals.

I love the new sports uniform for representative sport, and I love seeing our students wearing their uniform well. I also really like the new staff uniform and providing our staff with more uniform options. I love seeing pictures of our students in classes.  I love seeing our students at play.  And I love being part of our community.

As the year progresses, there will be more great innovations that we can all appreciate, that will promote good communication and ease of interaction.  Stay tuned for more news about new and easier ways to pay fees, excursions, and special events.

There are so many good things happening on site, both inside classrooms and throughout our community.  During these disruptive times, it is important to focus on the great things that are happening in our community.  We have much to celebrate as we see our students grow and learn, and we all have a responsibility to provide an environment that is safe, and where our displeasure and frustrations are moderated wherever possible.

On the news and in social media, the complexities of this current season are broadcast for all to see, and our children are looking on.  The anxiety of our times are easily passed onto the developing minds of our children and young people, and while I am not in favour of shielding our children from the realities of our world, I do encourage moderation.

Moderation is the avoidance of excess or extremes, and our children’s exposure to excess and extremes can have lasting negative impacts.  At the risk of sounding old and out of date, I worry for the exposure our children have to pornography via personal devices, violence through gaming and the never-ending lure of consumerism through advertising.  I am also concerned for the impact of our societal anxiety about COVID-19, mandates and restrictions, vaccination, and more recently global military conflict and flooding.

Is it just me, or do you find people are easily agitated and upset these days?  I have seen some disgraceful adult tantrums of late in supermarkets, on the news and via message threads on social media.  And our children look on.  These are not behaviours our children and young people need to learn.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to see media reports that celebrate humanities beauty right now. It would be amazing to see a little more grace and kindness in the supermarkets and restaurants.  And it would be helpful if more thought was given to the words published on all forms of social and commercial media.  I call for a little moderation, perspective and empathy in the wider community.  I would encourage us all to be the champions of moderation and de-escalate the anxiety of our time.

Instead, let’s focus on what we can celebrate.  Let’s not shy away from the world around us, but together, we can be mindful of our behaviour, influence and impact.  Let’s practice kindness and celebrate the good things God has given us.  Let’s give thanks for when we are healthy, or when we are safe.  Let’s lend a hand, encourage and build one another up.  Let’s be a community that cares for our neighbours and responds with patience, generosity and grace. And let our children see us hold the tension of life’s disruptions and frustrations alongside the things we can celebrate.

Psalm 37: 3-9

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Gary Cully
Principal

College Promotional Video

College Captains 2022

Meet our College Captains of 2022, Maria Mariuta and Taimen Leau. Both captains are passionate leaders who hope to leave a positive impact on the college during their time in leadership, working alongside their Leadership Team.

Read more about their vision, below

https://parkridgenews.com.au/meet-pcc-2022-college-captains/

Exciting Opportunity for Sam Garlick

Year 10 Student, Sam Garlick will be living in Huesca, Spain for 10 months from September 2022 until July 2023. Sam has been invited to play football for the U16’s Escuela Huesca International Team for a season in the Spanish Football League. He has been playing football since age 3. For the last 3 years he has played in the National Premier League as well as being a member of an elite football academy (Centre of Development).  He has played in many national tournaments and has also been chosen to represent both Qld and Australia in Futsal.

Daily program in Spain will include:

• Living with his team in a hotel apartment complex.
• Gym every morning with personal coach.
• Eating food with the team  prepared by the team nutritionist.
• Online schooling of Australian Curriculum.
• Spanish Classes.
• Daily team training.
• Individual training twice a week.
• Workshops with professional players.
• He will play games each weekend.

Sam is very excited about this opportunity and where it may lead. We wish Sam all the best for the exciting journey he has ahead.

Year 7A Cheeky Poke Bowl Incursion

Year 7 FTT students enjoyed themselves at a Cheeky Poke Bowl incursion earlier this term run by Mrs Brkic. The students experienced poke bowls first hand. Some students were pleasantly surprised how healthy and delicious poke bowls can be. The students in Year 7A will continue to learn about healthy food trends so they can prepare and present their own version of a poke bowl towards the end of the term as part of their assessment task.

Tuckshop ordering

Secondary Students please note all hot food purchased from the Tuckshop needs to be preordered online.

The start to this academic year has been an interesting one, with some staff changes due to the vaccine mandate, a delayed start due to COVID-19, and more recently some interruptions as a result of the significant weather event across Brisbane. At the time of this newsletter publication, there will still be some families continuing to clean up their homes and properties.

For each of these circumstances, we can see the work of our heavenly Father. It has been especially wonderful to see so many of our community come together to offer support and to help anyone in their time of need.

Despite any obstacles that have occurred, the seniors are ‘getting on with it’ and have settled and are largely focusing well on their studies. With an increase in enrolments, our classrooms and outside areas seem busier than ever. It has been particularly exciting to welcome a number of new senior students across Years 10-12 to the Parklands family and to see the transition of our triple stream of Year 10’s into the senior phase of learning.

Some focus areas have been:

Our students:

On wearing their school uniform correctly and with pride, on calm transitions and movement around the College, and on engagement in the classrooms.

Our relationships:

We do value right relationship and want every student to know they are loved and welcomed. Partnerships with families are essential and we continue to welcome parental involvement in your child’s learning journey.

Busy Days

We are heading towards the halfway point of the school term. The senior Pastoral Care teachers have been promoting study. Parents, please encourage your child to make study notes. In the new QCE system, it’s crucial that your child sets up and maintains effective routines for study habits to take place in their daily routines. QCAA recommends between 2-4 hours of study per subject, each week. On top of this is homework and assignment completion.

Many seniors may find themselves juggling school, work, family, church, and extra-curricular responsibilities so getting organised to use their time wisely and in a planned manner is key. Parents, thank you for continuing to check your child has a weekly study routine and a study area where they can withdraw to by habit, with minimal distractions, and where they can settle down quickly to organised and effective study.

Elevate Education Seminars – Study Sensei & Memory Mnemonics

Last week, Year 10 and Year 11 attended online presentations by Elevate Education. These seminars were timed to assist your child to maximise their study techniques leading into the busy assessment time. The strategies can help improve study techniques, increase motivation, build confidence, and lift exam performance

You are welcome to check out some of their study resources at: https://au.elevateeducation.com/

Diary Use

Senior students must use a personal diary on a daily basis, for keeping track of important dates. This can be a choice of electronic or paper-based, however, all students must have some form of personal diary (not just the Google calendar).

Other areas to assist with being organised include:

• Subject Websites

Weekly Overviews + Due Dates + Resources
Accessible through your child’s account, please ask them to log-in for you.

• Year level Assessment Schedules

A snapshot of due dates is emailed home by Mrs Degen early each term. Please note, this can be subject to change.

• Senior College Calendar

For live and up-to-date information on assessment and key dates, accessible through your child’s account.

A reminder, we have many before, during, and after school tutorial sessions – a variety of free programs run by secondary staff who are passionate about supporting student learning.

There are many other teachers across all subjects meeting their students at Zenith Club, often on request.

Senior Support

If your child is feeling unsure about their Senior pathway or if you have any concerns with how your child is managing the senior load, please make a time to talk with the following staff.

We have a great team of supporters so your child can work towards their God-given potential and have support, as needed. It is really important that there is a balance between academic demands, involvement in extra-curricular activities as well as time for relaxation and enjoyment.

Please find below key contacts for Senior College. You are always welcome to email the relevant staff member or contact the College office through Student Services.

Pastoral Care (PC) teachers:

Miss Julia Matthews:10a
Mr Phil Uren: 10b
Mrs Jenny Ludwig: 10c
Mrs Mercy Gunnampaty: 11a
Mr Geof Greentree: 11b
Mrs Kristie Schulz: 12a
Mr Josh Leembruggen: 12b

Other key contacts for Senior:

Ms Jess Grounds: Head of Secondary
Miss Abby Dixon: Year 10 Coordinator
Mrs Elizabeth Lenton: Careers & Vocational Coordinator
Mrs Joanne Anderson: Learning Enrichment Coordinator
Mrs Rebecca Wallis: Senior College Coordinator

We also have our wellbeing team, located in the RTC, who are available upon request.

If you have any questions or concerns about Senior College, please make contact through the College office or via email at: rwallis@parklands.qld.edu.au

Blessings,
Mrs Rebecca Wallis
Coordinator of Senior College

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

Please Note:

As from January 2022 we no longer accept any additional second hand items to sell. We will still be selling second hand uniforms that we have previously received. If you would like to sell your uniforms second hand, please sell them privately or through our parent managed and monitored Facebook page: Facebook Link

Uniform Shop Facebook Page/PCCUniforms

Purchase Uniforms Online

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

Welcome back, to what has been a different and delayed start to the year. I trust you and your child/ren have ‘settled 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.

Exciting Primary Building Plans News

As you would be aware, we are looking to start building a ‘purpose built’ Primary School starting at the end of this year. On that note, I am very excited to announce that the planning for ‘Stage 2’ of our new Primary School Building is almost complete.

Here is the amazing ‘Stage 2 fly through’ that depicts the 3 ‘high set’ buildings containing classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, an admin section with staffroom, toilet block, lift, connected verandahs, play area and gardens that was published to FaceBook and LinkedIn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9oaCQD0sQ8

We look forward to the day when we building fences go up and earth working machines come on site to start the build for our new purpose built Primary School.

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. Here 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 the playground before 3.10pm or from Prep to Yr. 6 Classrooms after 3.10pm. Students are asked to remain at their classroom 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 CHANGED 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. At 3.10pm, students return to class, where roll call will be taken and then all students/classes will be brought to the Undercover Area where they are to be collected by older siblings or guardians.

We ask that no student leave the Undercover Area without prior written permission, or a guardian or older sibling BEFORE 3.30pm.

Morning Tea and Lunch Procedures

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. We do not monitor what the students eat but do encourage them to eat something at both morning tea and lunch.

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 labelled with the student’s name?

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 behaviour, calendar events etc. that you 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. Werner,
Music – Mrs. Patane,
Art – Mrs. Bazley,
Library – Mrs. Emma Drover
Student Services — Mrs. Oxley or Mrs. Abolins
RTC & LE – Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Broughton, Mrs. Rerekura-Tamaiva or Mrs. Jo Anderson

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 Friday 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 minimising 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

Do you have a child in Prep 2023?

Year 1

Once again, we found ourselves adjusting to a slightly different start to our school year. Over the last few weeks we have been getting to know one another and settling into our Year One routine.

So far, we have really enjoyed our Science Unit. We are busy exploring all about Living Things and had fun learning about the parts of a plant, too!

We are looking forward to the next few weeks as we look at the differences between non fiction and fiction texts and use our knowledge to write Informative Reports. Our math focus is all about numbers as we count forwards, backwards and in 2s, 5s and 10s.

It’s been so lovely to meet all our families for 2022. We are looking forward to a wonderful year and can’t wait to be a part of your child’s learning journey!

the Year 1 Team

Tuckshop news

Great News! Your tuckshop has received a 5 STAR rating on the EAT SAFE LOGAN CERTIFICATE for the second year in a row. This is a great achievement and all credit to our wonderful Tuckshop convenor and staff.

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

Secondary Students please note all hot food purchased from the Tuckshop needs to be preordered online.

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 2022

Blue Jays Netball

blue-jays-netball-SIGN-ON-2022

Park Ridge Football Club

In Sync Kids OT have a satellite clinic within Parklands Christian College providing private Occupational Therapy Services specifically to students of the school. In Sync Kids Occupational Therapy specialises in sensory integration and neurodevelopment.  Kelsey Hackett is the Occupational Therapist and point of contact for the satellite clinic within Parklands Christian College.

Kelsey Hackett has experience working as a paediatric occupational therapist since 2015 in the United States and has relocated to Brisbane in 2021. She has her Bachelors of Psychology and Master of Occupational Therapy degree. She has worked in the clinic-based and school-based settings with children of all ages and a wide range of diagnoses for the past 7 years.

For any additional information regarding Occupational Therapy services, please contact Kelsey Hackett kelsey.hackett@insynckidsot.com  and feel free to look at the In Sync Kids OT website for more information http://www.insynckidsot.com

Free Dental Care

FREE DENTAL CARE

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.”

What a start to 2022! Despite the challenges so far, 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. We have sadly said farewell to Mr Barry Warden, our Brass teacher, and Mrs Simone Geurts, our Voice teacher, but we are pleased to welcome Mr Nathan Wallis as our new Brass teacher. We are currently seeking to appoint a new Voice teacher as soon as possible.

Lessons & Rehearsals

All instrumental lessons (except voice) have now begun, including those in the Give It A Go! Band Programme. All Choir & Ensemble rehearsals have also begun, with the exception of the Secondary Choir while we appoint a new Voice teacher & the Give It A Go! Band which will commence in Term 2.

Ensembles & Choirs include:

–       Primary Junior Choir (Year 2 & 3) – Wednesday, 7:50-8:20am in Mrs Patane’s room
–       Primary Senior Choir (Years 4-6) – Thursday, 2:30-3:10pm in Mrs Patane’s room
–       Secondary Choir (Years 7-12) – TBA
–       Wind Ensemble (Years 4-12, woodwind, brass & percussion students with minimum 12 months experience) – Tuesday, 7:30-8:15am in L5
–       College Worship Team (Years 7-12) – Tuesday, 3:20-4:45pm in the Church Auditorium

All Choirs are open to all 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. Wind, brass & percussion students continuing to have lessons at school will play in the Wind Ensemble, and anyone else who has lessons outside of school is also welcome to join this ensemble.

Give It A Go! Band Programme

We’re excited to be welcoming our next group of Give It A Go! students this year. Lessons have begun already, but if you or your child are interested in being a part of this programme, please check the details below.

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

–       Flute
–       Clarinet
–       Saxophone
–       Trumpet|
–       Trombone
–       Baritone/Euphonium
–       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 $33/30mins.

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 $20/30mins for a Group of 2 or $15/30mins for a Group of 3, pending availability.

Enrolment forms can be downloaded below, and are also available by emailing instruments@parklands.qld.edu.au

02 PCC Instrumental Tuition Program guidelines and enrolment

Term Dates 2022 final

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

Bus Pass Information for 2022

Bus Queensland is making a number of changes to schools runs for term 1 2022 that may impact your child’s travel arrangements. A list of these changes can be found at https://www.busqld.com.au/term-1-2022-changes. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact us at customers@busqld.com.au or 3802 1233.

PRT Term 1 2022 Notice of service changes

More Bus Services?

We have had a number of enquiries requesting if we could get our existing Bus Qld bus routes extended into more areas south of our College. For Bus Qld to consider this, they require you to email them directly. If the added service could be of benefit to you and your children, please email Bus Qld at reception@busqld.com.au

For bus travel in the Logan Reserve area, please call Logan Coaches on 5546 3077.