Issue Three: Term Two 2022
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to all students and particularly the new students who have joined us in the second term of the school year. This term has certainly started on a real high note with the relaunch of our Invictus Wellbeing Conference.
We also held our ANZAC service which continues to build each year. Thank you to Flight Lieutenant Ashley McAlpine for their moving address during the service and to all the students and staff who contributed to the running of this significant event in our calendar.
We look forward now with excitement to the Colour Fun Run on Friday 13 May and to our College Musical: ‘Legally Blonde’ in August.
P and F Update
The Parents and Friends (P and F) held their meeting on Wednesday 20 April. Planning is underway for their Mother’s Day Stall and the Colour Fun Run. The revised date for the Trivia Night was also discussed with this event now occurring in Term Three with the date to be announced soon. The P and F have been successful in gaining $1000 for the purchase of shirts for the musical cast and are also donating $300 to the Kokoda teams to assist with their fundraising efforts.
Facilities Update
The new three classroom demountable was completed over the Easter term break and classes have commenced using this facility this term. Feedback has been very positive with this facility providing us another two classrooms for use by our Middle School and one for our Senior School.
Why do parents choose an Independent School?
What Parents Want – An Independent Schools Queensland Survey is the longest running survey in the country exploring why parents choose independent schools
The top 10 reasons why parents choose independent schools:
1. Preparation for student to fulfil potential in later life
2. School seemed right for child’s individual needs
3. The high-quality of teachers
4. Encouragement of responsible attitude to school- work
5. Teaching methods/philosophy
6. Reputation of school
7. Good discipline
8. Emphasis placed by school on developing student’s sense of community responsibility
9. Range of subjects offered
10.Prospects for school leavers
Parents most frequently cited “family, friends and colleagues” for information to help them decide which school to send their child. This is certainly the case for Kimberley College as this is the most commonly cited reason parents choose to enrol their child at KC.
Invictus Conference 2022
Kimberley College once again has been able to host its signature two-day Invictus Wellbeing Conference on the 21 – 22 April on campus.
This year’s conference theme ‘to Thrive & Flourish,’ saw over 750 students from prep to Year 12 participate in a wide range of wellbeing presentations, workshops and experiences delivered by external guest speakers or facilitated by Kimberley College teaching staff. The conference provided students with a unique all of school learning experience, whilst at the same time expanding knowledge, skills and allowing students to explore topical and thought-provoking issues in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
Deputy Principal, Janine Parkinson said “Given the challenges that we continue to face both locally and globally - our Invictus Wellbeing Conference provides a timely opportunity for students to pause, reconnect with self and others as well as strengthen personal & social capabilities.”
Sessions included St John’s Ambulance equipping younger students in prep to grade 2 with potentially lifesaving skills on how to stay calm, understanding big and small accidents and how to get help. Primary students unleashed their creativity with RAW Art and attended a session to understand just what is in your household waste.
Bayside Boxing and Balance provided a strength, resilience, and balance workshop for middle school students across years 7 to 9 and senior students attended sessions on mental health, how to deal with negative cultural messages on relationships, resisting the ‘bystander’ effect and challenging violence against women.
On the Thursday night, Kimberley College’s parents and members of the local community were invited to the school to hear keynote speaker, respected author, media commentator, blogger, and advocate for young people Melinda Tankard-Reist and her colleague Daniel Principe as they delivered a powerful presentation on how the media and pop culture is negatively influencing children to grow up too fast with an over awareness of their appearance and physical looks. With the bombardment of sexual imaginary surrounding us daily in advertising, video games, music videos and the accessibility of internet porn, it is impacting both the behaviour and attitudes of children in ways that are damaging and not conducive to positive healthy long-term relationships.
Logan City Councillor, Miriam Stemp who attended the presentation said ‘It was certainly an eye-opener and quite concerning. It made me aware of the need to be more conscious of the messaging our children encounter every day and take steps to protect them from it where possible.’ The session concluded with resources and practical tips from installing of software on computer devices, to modelling of healthy behaviours in the family home. Parents also need to respond calmly and honestly to situations as and when they arise and to keep the lines of communication open with children so that they can raise happy, healthy, and resilient young people.
The two-day school event culminated with a live DJ and food stalls to mark the close of the Invictus celebrations.
Senior School News
Mabo had the privilege of contributing to this year’s Invictus Conference in many ways, including lecturing on health and beauty, car maintenance and criminal laws. On top of this, our students got to participate in sessions about youth mental health, respect and self-defence along with a range of different well-being activities. One thing was very clear, we’re all part of a bigger community and we’re all here to support each other. The camaraderie amongst the Mabo students was inspiring and the Mabo teachers look forward to implementing Invictus lessons throughout 2022.
This term, literature students are in for an engaging unit as they get to act and recreate several famous and popular plays as students (and teachers) get into character. Legal students are preparing to face other schools throughout Australia while studying civil law and human rights. There are a broad range of topics being taught to humanities students this term including a focus on terrorism, the cradles of civilisation and a deep study of ancient individuals, particularly women in the ancient world. These topics provide our students with a grand understanding of where humanity comes from and the modern goals we are working towards and achieving.
Term 2 offers students an opportunity to cement their attitudes to positive education and engagement. It offers students a choice to try adapting and improving their study habits, and it offers students the choice to grow and follow feedback to improve. Good luck for term 2, remember that your Mabo teachers are here for your support.
Middle School News
Welcome back to an action-packed and adventurous Term Two. This term, our Middle School students are focusing on the ‘Small Things’. In Science, they are exploring the expanse of space and our place in it. English will make students ponder the fountain of youth and whether staying young forever is a gift or a curse. Throughout HASS, the students will focus on their impact on making the world a better place by getting involved in the community around them. Mathematics will give students the opportunity to design a tiny house and find happiness in small things. You never know; they may actually build it. Our electives program changes this term so students can experience something new and exciting. They might like to take a dance class, harvest some honey, work on their engineering skills in STEM or create masterpieces in Visual Art. Not to mention get active in premier sports or work on their fitness in the gym.
If our classroom lessons weren’t enough to keep the students busy, they could be involved in Kokoda, Dance Eisteddfods, Futsal Tournaments, Athletics and Musical rehearsals. It couldn’t be a better term for the students to be involved in something extra-curricula.
Our Invictus Wellbeing Conference was held last week, allowing the students to participate in a Mental Health workshop, Self-defense, Bayside Boxing and Yoga run by local professionals, and other team-building activities run by their teachers. The two-day conference was a successful and insightful way to start the term by all accounts. As our term progresses we are going to hold onto the wealth of knowledge that our presenters have given our students and continue those messages in our classrooms and in our playground.
We look forward to a smooth term.
Margherite Rigden - Head of Middle School
Primary School News
This term the Kokomini's will be learning about Fairy Tales in their theme of 'Once Upon a Time'. The students looked at different pictures and props from around the class to guess what their theme might be, and of course they guessed it. They were able to discuss different characters and name many familiar Fairy Tales. So far we have enjoyed 'The Frog Prince' and created some gorgeous frog Prince's of our own and loved the classic Fairytale of 'Cinderella', with a focus on retell and sequencing. Goldilocks was a lot of fun as we role-played the characters and played 'hot seat', a student becoming the character of a story while the class asked questions.
Some highlights from Invictus included ' Yoga using headphones' where we explored different poses and used the words' I am kind' I am brave and 'I am '. Hairy Maclary, being a favourite story for many, was the focus of a printmaking art workshop where the Minis used recycled materials to make their very own dogs. As always the Kokomini teachers are so proud of the Minis for giving everything a 'red hot go'.
We have only just begun our adventures into the term and look forward to sharing more news and great photos at the end of term.
Kindest regards, Mrs T and Mrs Tribs
This term in Kokowara we are taking a journey into space, where we explore all things planets, solar systems and beyond. In our Hook for this Unit, the children took part in an Invictus lesson with our presenters from RAW ART. Students created solar system lanterns by using vibrant colours against a dark background to resemble the atmosphere.
We commenced Term 2 with our Invictus Wellbeing Convention at the end of week one, which they enjoyed participating in moving their bodies in a yoga lesson, developing our first aide skills, learnt about recycling and sorting rubbish with EnvroCom, and in celebrating our You Can Do It program we created posters for the Koko Area relating to Penny Persistence and Charlie Confidence.
The students and teachers are all looking forward to beginning Bush School in the coming weeks. Bring in your gumboots to get ready for a Bush School adventure!
From Mrs P, Mrs M and Mrs Brushe
We are loving having all of our Gubbi children back after holidays. How lucky we were to start the first week back with Invictus. I think all students would agree that it was a very enjoyable two days. The children absolutely loved chilling out with their noise cancelling headphones, and zoning out in our beautiful grounds for their yoga session. Gubbi children were fortunate to also sit in on a session with Melinda Tankard-Reist, participated in Raw Art and some classroom art around our You Can Do It program, learnt and practiced some first aid, and of course had a ball at the whole school disco.
This term is an exciting one, with lots of events and exciting learning activities planned. We are especially looking forward to the FUN RUN on Friday 13th May. We are a competitive bunch in Gubbi and are keen to raise as much money as possible!
Our theme this term is “What Lies Beneath”. See below for a brief outline of some of these thrilling learning opportunities. A full curriculum overview has been emailed. Please feel free to use these as talking points with your children throughout the term.
Our Science unit this term is titled, “Change Detectives”. This engaging Chemical Sciences unit will transform our students into crime scene investigators to identify and explain the physical and chemical changes to everyday materials.
“Vote for Me!” is the name of our English unit, and an appropriately timed unit given our upcoming federal election. Students will analyse and explore the language features that politicians use in their campaigns. They will then use their new persuasive techniques in a mock “Gubbi Election”.
This term, Health and Media Arts are nicely intertwined, with our “Fabulously Famous” and “Gubbi TVs (GTVs) Hottest 100!” units. The final product of these units will be the creation of a music video that portrays positive messages.
Here’s to a fabulous Term 2!! We hope you enjoy our photos that show a snippet of what we have been up to so far.
Sport News
Kimberley College will be holding the School Fun Run as our major school wide fundraising event this year! The event will be held on Friday 13 May.
To get involved, please go to schoolfunrun.com.au to create your profile page. Take your time to familiarise yourself with the page by watching the video, creating your avatar and most importantly sharing your link!
The best way to share your link is to pick five people you think will donate, write a personal message to them and either call, text or email them. Currently we have raised $6,915.00, so there is a way to go and I hope you’ll keep supporting us!
Remember, for creating a page and getting at least one donation, you’ll automatically be in the draw to win a $20,000 prize!
We’re looking for all students to participate and we’re organising a great day for our community.
PIMP YOUR PROFILE CHALLENGE
The classes who have pushed to the top for our PIMP YOUR PROFILE competition are:
Primary - WAKA WAKA
Middle - LAMA LAMA
Senior - YUNUPINGU
Students in these boats were awarded a PIZZA PARTY on Friday 29 April for being the top class in each sub-school.
THE $20 CHALLENGE
Our second challenge will be for all students to create their profile and raise $20.
Winners will be announced on Wednesday 4th May (Week 3). All students who raise $20 will receive an ice-block.
Thanks for supporting the school and we hope to see you at the event!
Carnivals and Representative Sport
Pacific District Cross Country
The Pacific District Cross Country carnival will be held on Wednesday 4 May at Rivermount College. Competitor choices were based on student’s performances at the College’s cross country selection event in Term 1. Those who qualify at this district event will go on to compete at the regional level.
Students who have qualified will have received further information in regards to this event from sport@kimberley.college.
We look forward to seeing how our athletes compete on the day and wish them the very best of luck!
Middle and Senior School Athletics
We’re happy to announce our Kimberley College Middle and Senior Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 1 June at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. Further information will be available closer to the date.
Yunupingu News
Art
For their first Module of Unit 1, our Year 11 Visual Art in Practice students created an artwork to advertise a concert of a local or international artist. They used the characteristics and conventions of Pop Art as well as the elements and principles of design to create meaning for a specific audience. Their attention to details and colour selections are commendable.
Congratulations to our Yunupingu faculty for winning the first challenge for this year's School Fun Run fundraiser event! Students and staff were awarded a PIZZA PARTY on Friday 29 April.
Drama
Our senior Drama students have been working hard rehearsing for their performance at the end of the term. Our play ‘‘Sinderreller Goes Rong’ will take place on Thursday evening 23rd June in the auditorium. More information about the event will be released mid-term.
Dance Program
Term 2 Eisteddfods
Eisteddfod season commences in Week 3 of Term 2 for our Kimberley College dance teams. The Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod will be held over two days, with our junior performance team competing on Thursday 5 May and our senior performance team competing on Friday 6 May at The Events Centre Caloundra.
Our junior and senior teams with the addition of the primary performance team will then be looking ahead to Week 9, where they are set to compete in two eisteddfods consecutively - The Ipswich Eisteddfod and BPAC Eisteddfod. Further information about these eisteddfods will be disclosed closer to the date.
Please direct any questions in regards to these eisteddfods to dance@kimberley.college. We are looking forward to seeing the students perform and wish them the very best at these competitions.
Instrumental Music
Meet our new guitar teacher, Jacob Smith
We’re happy to introduce our new guitar teacher to Kimberley College, Jacob Smith. Jacob is a guitar and bass teacher who excels at getting his students excited about learning and playing music by combining strong fundamentals in guitar with fun and approachable lessons to provide the best learning environment possible.
Jacob has 16 years of playing experience, and some of his achievements and accreditations include a Bachelor of Popular Music (Studied Music Production, Songwriting and Engineering at Griffith University Conservatorium), Cert III in Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Operations) and over a decade of teaching experience.
If you are interested in instrumental music lessons for piano, guitar, bass, strings, drums or vocals, please contact music@kimberley.college for further information.
Legally Blonde The Musical Update
Holiday Rehearsals
During the first week of the holidays our musical cast participated in two full days of rehearsals. It was lovely to see our cast so committed and excited about what we have achieved so far. Musical rehearsals will continue throughout the term ending with a full day cast rehearsal on the last day of term 2. We will be sending out an expression of interest for our primary school students this term.
Our musical Legally Blonde will be held at Ormiston College Lingo Lin Performing Arts Theatre on August 20th and 21st.
KCFA
Queensland Football Schools League (QFSL)
Earlier this week our junior boys and girls team competed against Pacific Pines SHS in this round 3 competition match. After unforeseen circumstances during term 1, we finally got this campaign underway.The junior boys came away with a draw 
and our junior girls came away with a win after coming back from 3 goals down Well done to all involved! 
Thank you to Bethania Rams FC for hosting this match for us.
P&F
Thank you to all of those that supported the Freedom Property Fundraiser. We were successful in that bid and are now able to provide crew shirts for our musical team.
Mother's Day is just around the corner. P&F is running our annual mother's day stall. For ONE DAY ONLY, on Friday 6th of May, from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm. BOTH cash and card will be accepted, we are open to all age groups.
The schedule for student classes is as follows: 9am - Prep; 9.30 - Kokowara; 10.00 - Waka; 10.30 - Gubbi; Session Three (11:50) - Middle School Students; Senior School Students - before school and during lunch breaks.
If you have any free time on the 6th of May and would like to help out at the stall, please send us an email to pandf@kimberley.college with the subject line "P&F MOTHER'S DAY HELP".
Thank you for your continued support throughout 2022
This Week in the Library
Whodunnit?
A pop-up display of mystery and spy books encouraged our students to choose a book from given clues.
This display emptied frequently and we had to continually restock – luckily we have lots of spy, detective and mystery books!
Kimberley College Bus Services
As we enter Term 2 we would like to remind all families utilising the Kimberley College bus service to allocate their child to the correct route in the Roll Call app. You can allocate up to 10 days in advance. If you are a term traveller please contact us at transport@kimberley.college so we can allocate the full term on your behalf.
It is important that all children are allocated and are using their student ID cards to tap on and off the bus. If your child has lost their student ID card, a replacement student ID can be obtained by making payment of $5.00 through the College Finance Office.
For any further enquiries please contact transport@kimberley.college.
From our Counsellor
Just Breathe
If you're managing higher levels of stress these days, there's a tool we all have immediate access to: breathing.
It might sound simple, but when done properly, breathing can make the difference between panic and resilience. Research shows that different emotions are associated with different forms of breathing.
For example, when you feel anxious or angry, your breathing becomes irregular, short, and fast. When you feel joy or relaxation, your breathing will be regular, deep, and slow. And believe it or not, when you follow breathing patterns associated with different emotions, you begin to feel those corresponding emotions.
So next time you're feeling stress start to bubble up, try changing the ratio of your inhale to exhale. When you inhale, your heart rate speeds up. When you exhale, it slows down. Take a few minutes and breathe in for a count of four and out for a count of eight — this will calm your nervous system and keep stress at bay. By tweaking your breathing, you'll start to feel a bit better.
SKY Breath Meditation is an effective technique that produces the greatest mental health, social connectedness, positive emotions, stress levels, depression, and mindfulness benefits.
Read more here:
Let’s plan ahead for the next school holidays!
Having something to look forward to is ever so important for our mental health. If you are looking for some inexpensive day experiences for your children aged 5/17 years old next school holidays, check out KRANK.
All KRANK experiences need to be booked early so please ensure you are ready to book on Monday June 13 at 9 am. The spots fill up fast.
All things Admin
Dates for 2022 Newsletters - 18 February, 1 April, 29 April, 24 June, 22 July, 16 Sept, 14 October and 25 November
KC Bus - It is the responsibility of students catching the school bus to be at the stop 5 minutes prior to its departure time. Buses will not be sent back for students who have missed the bus due to arriving late to the bus stop.
Absences and Early Collections - details pertaining to a students absence or an early collection can be sent via:
- our school App,
- a call to 3209 0300 and select the Student Absences option or
- an email to student.absences@
kimberley.college .
There is a link within the Rollcall app, however this is not linked to the school.
When sending an email to class teachers to advise them, please ensure that you also cc in the Student Absences email.
If you are aware of an upcoming appointment, those details can be sent through ahead of time.
When picking up students early please come to the Student Hub to collect them.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow students to sign out and leave without a parent / carer or an emergency contact person being sighted.
Late Arrivals - All students arriving after the first bell (8.40) must go to the Hub and sign in late.
Parking - Please remember that the top carpark is for staff only, the main carpark at the front of the school is for parents.