Kimberley College Newsletter - Term 2 2024

Principal's Update

Dear parents, carers and families

It was wonderful to see so many students on the first day of a new term arrive with smiling faces, excited to greet teachers, staff and fellow students with genuine enthusiasm and warm hearts. The KC pride expressed by our students - through their uniform and personal presentation standards - is also to be commended.

The term commenced with our biennial Invictus Wellbeing Conference in Week One. This involved setting two whole days aside and providing rich opportunities to nurture students’ holistic growth. This wellbeing event saw students at every year level participate in a series of age-appropriate workshops, experiences, and presentations with guest speakers and could not be timelier with both global and local events of late contributing to raising rates of stress and anxiety amongst communities worldwide.

As a school community it is not often that we can step outside of the everyday classroom lessons to partake in an event like this. An event that sparks ideas and self-reflection; builds self-awareness and capacity; strengthens connection with others; elevates and celebrates the importance of wellbeing for self, others and our whole College community. I would like to thank all staff members for their involvement in the success of Invictus 2024. However, special thanks to Mrs. Rigden, Ms. Pirlo, Ms. Damen and Mr. Scott who have worked particularly hard to create such a memorable two-day experience for our students.

This term sees our first Open Day for 2024, scheduled for Saturday 11 May and with over 350 registrations from prospective families to date, it looks like the ongoing community interest and support for the College continues to grow along with our reputation. Much of this is down to the positive word of mouth experiences from our families and students that are shared when meeting friends and parents, whether at playgroup, the neighborhood BBQ or local weekend sports competition. Thank you for being our greatest cheer squad and supporters!

We also have our Parents and Friends annual Trivia Night on Saturday 25 May coming up and I urge you to come along, join in the fun and meet some other members of the KC parent community.

Other events include the Cross Country, Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod, Athletics Carnival and Colour Run so another busy term ahead in addition to the classroom curriculum and activities.

Our College Principal, Mr. Johnson, is taking a well-earned rest to enjoy some time hiking and will return at the end of April. In the interim, if there is anything I or the Kimberley College staff can do, please do not hesitate to contact myself at Janine.parkinson@kimberley.college or the college at admin@kimberley.college for advice and assistance.

We can look forward to an action-packed term filled with an abundance of opportunity to develop and demonstrate our College Values and be a being for others – embracing our waffo spirit.

With Courage and Compassion 
Ms. Janine Parkinson 
Acting Principal

Our 2024 production of 'Annie' is fast approaching...

Term Two sees our wonderful cast continue to fine tune their talents in rehearsals before they take the stage on July 26 and 27 at SunPac.

Set in 1930s New York City, 'Annie' is a timeless show about a young orphan on her journey to find love, acceptance, and family.  It is a beloved family-friendly musical which highlights the value of community, the strength found in optimism, and the beauty of childlike wonder. Ticket sales are coming soon; we hope to see you there!

Parents & Friends News (P&F)

Trivia Night | Battle of the SUPERNERDS!

If you haven’t seen our Facebook posts already, we are excited to announce the theme of the annual P&F Trivia night for 2024 … Battle of the SUPERNERDS!  This year Trivia Night is being held on Saturday 25 May at Fitzy’s Loganholme.  We would love for you to join us! Trivia Night allows us to build the connection of the KC community while also having some fun and winning some awesome prizes. 

If you, or someone you know have something to donate to be used as a prize – send us an email to pandf@kimberley.college

Tickets for the night are on sale NOW! Head to Try Booking to purchase your table or individual ticket. https://www.trybooking.com/CQZYZ

For more information on Trivia Night | Battle of the SUPERNERDS: https://fb.me/e/gEfY28xlT

Mother’s Day Stall

The Mother’s Day stall will be held on Thursday 9 May between the hours of 8:30am and 2:00 pm.  A class schedule will come out soon – check our Facebook for updates! The stall will be open to ALL KC students.  We are always so excited for this time of year; we love seeing the beautiful smiling faces and manners of our KC students. 

If you would like to lend a hand on the day, be it a few hours or the whole day, we would love to hear from you.  Send us an email to pandf@kimberley.college

Mrs Christine Roberts
P & F President

Primary School Update

Welcome to Term Two. We are looking forward to a fun-filled term, which we kicked off with our Invictus Conference on Thursday and Friday of this week. The conference provided an opportunity to pause, reconnect with self and others, and strengthen our personal & social capabilities. The students in the primary school had the pleasure of participating in mindfulness lessons with 'Sound Off,' learning about 'Being Brave' with Brainstorm Productions, and letting their creative juices flow with RAW Art and sensory sessions. Overall, everyone had a wonderful time.

Our Invictus Conference is just one of many exciting events planned in primary school this term. We also look forward to our Mother's Day afternoon tea, Primary Athletics Carnival, and Colour Run. You will receive more details on these events as the term progresses.

Across the Primary School, we farewelled Miss Robinson. We wish her all the very best with her future endeavours and thank her for her time at the college. In her place, we welcome Mr Shelbach to the primary school teaching team. Mr Shelbach is our new Music teacher, and the students have already had a great time in his class this week. Please make him feel welcome if you see him out and about.

This term, we have many exciting themes across the Primary School. To outline these themes, we will send out Curriculum Overviews. These overviews provide a general idea of the term's learning experiences for you at home.

Kokomini: 'World Travellers'
In Kokomini, the students will explore the theme 'World Travellers.' The Preps have a very special friend called, Huggle Buggle Bear, who is venturing around the world. Each week, they will receive a package and activities from him about the country he is visiting. Kokominis are also very excited to start Bush School this term, where they will learn about the needs of living things and enjoy our beautiful natural environment at KC.

Kokowara: 'To Infinity and Beyond' 
This term, the Kokowaras will be learning about space. Throughout their Rich Task unit 'To Infinity and Beyond,' they will discover objects that can be found in space, like the planets, sun, moon and stars. Students will also explore the patterns and things they can observe during the different times of day and night, like the phases of the moon, star constellations, shadow movement, and the sun's position. In English, they will link their writing to the Rich Task by

learning to write a report. The end goal will be to write a report on the planet Earth. During Mathematics, learning will continue this term by focusing on shape, measurement, and time, not forgetting continued brainy work on numbers. Physical Education will focus on preparing for the athletics carnival, with weekly rotations to learn track and field skills. We cannot wait!

Waka Waka: 'I Still Call Australia Home' 
Waka Waka is embarking on an exciting journey to explore Australia's unique features and people. Students will investigate Australia's geography, including its states, territories, and major cities. They will explore the diverse landscapes and climates, the unique wildlife, and the iconic natural and man-made landmarks. Students will also explore the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians, including their Art, Dreamtime stories, and connection to the land. In Mathematics, students will engage with real-life scenarios involving money, including understanding the value and use of Australian currency, adding, calculating change, and budgeting for a weekend away to one of Australia's capital cities, including flights, accommodation, tours, and food. They will also be practising their times tables. To end the term, students will learn to recognise and describe 3-dimensional shapes, all within the context of Australian culture and landscapes. How exciting!

Gubbi Gubbi: 'What Lies Beneath' 
This term in Gubbi Gubbi, we are looking at 'What Lies Beneath.' English and HASS combine to delve into the workings of the Australian Government and our democratic process. Science sees us taking a peek behind the curtains of our police force as we investigate forensic science and solve crimes. In Mathematics, we ask ourselves, "What are the Odds?" as we look at fractions, percentages, chance, and probability. Our Passion Projects are being revitalised this term as we explore the hidden depths of those things we enjoy to create something that is uniquely us.

Primary Assemblies 
In the primary school, we hold our Primary assemblies fortnightly. This term, they will be held every even week, starting on 26th April, 9.00 am in the Koko Green area. We look forward to seeing you there.

Ms Kristy Damen
Primary School Coordinator 

Middle School Update

We hope you had an enjoyable break with your families and loved ones and are feeling refreshed and ready for school. As students prepare for school, it’s a good time to double- check uniforms and grooming. 

We know that the holidays are a great way to let your hair out and try something new, but please be aware that we have a uniform and grooming policy that must be followed and will be adhered to. We know that School Locker has been closed for maintenance and that some items are unavailable. Please contact your child’s teacher if you are having trouble accessing uniforms. 

This term, our students will delve into the theme “War and Peace”. This theme is very open, and the students will discover and question many aspects of the world around them, including ‘Peace of Mind’ through service. Take on the war of geometry and travel back to the Middle Ages by looking at the Crusades.

Information was sent home regarding the upcoming SRE “True Relationships” conference. There will be a parent evening on May 15th. Please book your seat through trybooking. If you would not like your child to participate in the classroom presentations, please contact your child’s teacher so alternative arrangements can be made for that session. Booking link https://www.trybooking.com/CQROD

This term electives will commence in week three due to Invictus and the Anzac public holiday. Electives will run for seven weeks this term. Students will make their selection this week, so please discuss what they might enjoy. There are a few changes to what is offered this term:

Photography
Film Study 
Trampolining – extra cost $25 per week
Beekeeping – extra cost $10 per week
StemPunks
Premier Sport - Netball / Basketball / Touch / Football
Dance performance Musical 
Golf 

Middle School Reports will be available on the Parent Portal – 21^st June. 

We look forward to another enjoyable term. 
Ms Margherite Ridgen
Middle School Coordinator 

Senior School Update

As we start Term 2, I would like to firstly look back on so of the highlights from Term 1 and our year 10 and year 11 camps were a great success.  It was really great to see year 10 students pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and overcoming fears on the challenge courses, while the year 11 students developed their leadership skills through taking part in a variety of team building activities.

In our SEL program, this term we are focusing on our futures program looking at careers and post schooling options, as well as our year 10’s starting to develop their SET plans.  For those families new to senior school, all year 10 students are required to complete a Senior Education and Training Plan (SET Plan).  These plans helps students work out their goals for when they finish school and plan what they need to do at school to achieve those goals. Every child is different and will have a different goal depending on their interests, the type of job they want to do later in life, and their personal situation. And some teens might not be sure what their goal is yet and that’s okay too. In that case it’s just about choosing school subjects or vocational pathways that allow them to keep options open.  For more information, please click on the following link What's a SET Plan And How Parents Can Be Involved | Spark their Future

As part of our SEL program, we engage the services of Elevate education.  As part of this, they offer parent Webinars for you to join.  Upcoming this term are the following:

• How to get (and keep!) your child motivates, 8 May
• Help you child prepare for exams, 22 May
• Help support your child during exams, 5 June
• Ask me anything (live Q & A), 19 June

These online sessions all start at 6.30pm and I will send out more information and links to join closer to these date.

Mr Jeff Scott
Dean of Students

Vocation and Education Training Thrives at Kimberley College

Namatjira Faculty has had a busy term 1, with many students starting new certificate courses and traineeships, providing them with valuable career pathways.

Tafe at School Courses: A Gateway to Excellence
Our students have embraced the opportunity to participate in TAFE at School certificate courses. These programs allow them to gain practical skills and industry-specific knowledge while still completing their high school education. Throughout the term, 43 grade 11 and 12 students started various TAFE courses. From hospitality and automotive to business and construction, our students are thriving in these hands-on learning experiences.

Trade Taster Courses: Nurturing for the Future 
In an exciting development, 50 percent of our Grade 10 students have been accepted into the Taster Courses at TAFE. These courses provide a sneak peek into different trades and other industry areas, allowing students to explore their interests and passions. Whether it’s nursing, hairdressing or electrical work, our students are gaining valuable insights and practical skills that will serve them well in their future careers. We’re proud to see our young learners taking these proactive steps toward building successful futures.

Diploma of Business at Kimberley College 
Our Diploma of Business program at Kimberley College has had 13 new enrolments from Grade 10 students who are keen to explore the intricacies of management, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, our 17 Grade 12 students who are currently enrolled in the course are on the cusp of graduation. They’ve honed their skills in financial analysis, strategic planning, and effective communication. We’re proud of their dedication and look forward to celebrating their achievements as they step into the dynamic world of business.

Industrial Technology Skills returns to Kimberley College
We’re thrilled to announce the reintroduction of Industrial Technology Skills as a subject here at our school. This dynamic program focuses on the practices and processes required to manufacture products across various industries. Whether it’s woodworking or digital design, our students will gain practical skills that prepare them for real-world challenges.

Meet Our New Teacher: Mr. Patrick Hammond 
We extend a warm welcome to our new Industrial Technology Skills teacher, Mr. Patrick Hammond. Not only is he an experienced educator, but he’s also a proud Redland Bay resident. With his expertise and passion, Mr. Hammond is committed to nurturing our students’ creativity and technical abilities - Welcome Pat. 

Namatjira, the Vocational Education and Training faculty, remains committed to empowering our students with the tools they need to thrive beyond the classroom. Congratulations to all our students who have embraced these opportunities, and we look forward to celebrating your achievements!

Mr Terry Elliott 
Head of VET and Namatjira 
terry.elliott@kimberley.college

The Arts

Welcome to term 2! The senior arts faculty – Yunupingu, would like to welcome Mrs Tamara Turner to our faculty staff. Mrs Turner is replacing Mr Daniel Pearton and will be teaching senior Drama. We welcome Mrs Turner into our faculty and the senior space. We would also like to welcome our new college music teacher Mr Jai Schelbach who will be working in our primary school space to teach classroom music. Jai comes to us with a wealth of experience in music and we are excited to see our students extend themselves in the classroom.

This term kicks off our eisteddfod season with all our dance performance teams travelling to different competitions to compete. All our dancers have been working extremely hard during rehearsals and they can’t wait to hit the stage with their dazzling smiles. Our first eisteddfod is in week 4 at the Sunshine Coast for middle and senior performance teams. Information for this eisteddfod has already been sent out. Our primary dancers will compete in week 7, more info to come! Our dance development teams will commence routines this term for our end of year showcase in term 3. If you have any questions about our dance program, please don’t hesitate to contact us at dance@kimberley.college

Our instrumental music program continues this term with individual and group piano, guitar, vocal, strings and drum lessons. Please check your emails for communication about times and requirements for your child’s lessons. If you are interested in signing your child up for instrumental music lessons, please email music@kimberley.college

Our art students will be working hard in the studio this term to produce artworks for assessment. These students will have the opportunity to attend art excursions this term to The Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery.

Our musical rehearsals are in full swing this term to prepare for our college musical “Annie”. Our musical will be showing at SUNPAC on Friday 26^th and Saturday 27^th July. We officially welcome Miss Hannah Larkin into the director’s chair and look forward to sharing our production with you. Please mark this date in your diaries to come and support our wonderful cast and crew. If your child is involved in this production, please keep an eye out for emails from Miss Bridget Bunker with important information. If you have any questions about the musical, please direct them to bridget.bunker@kimberley.college

Ms Elizabeth Wagenknecht 
Head of the Arts and Yunupingu Faculty 

On the Sports Field

A number of exciting sports events will take place across Term Two. 

Cross Country - Week 2. This is a serious competitors only event, any entrants in this event should be aiming to qualify for Districts and plan to attend that event if selected. Schedules and sign-ups will be sent to Boats and Faculties at the beginning of Week 2. 

Colour Run - Week 10. This is a fabulous chance for all our students to have a great time running in a non-competitive course, whilst being covered in colours. Our launch for this event will take place in the coming weeks and more details will be available then.

AGCC - Kicking off in Week 3. Our high school teams will again take to the fields and courts. We wish them all the best for the remainder of this season and look forward to more wonderful results and performance from our students.

Athletics Carnival- Week 7. KC high school students will travel to Runaway Bay for our annual Athletics Carnival. More information will be sent to families in the coming weeks regarding the details of this event.
Congratulations to William and Oliver Scott on their selection in the South Coast team for squash. We wish you all the best for your upcoming matches.

Please keep us in the loop with your children's amazing performance in sport outside of school. You can reach us at sport@kimberley.college. We really appreciate knowing about all the things students are doing in the wider community.  

A jam packed term of sport ahead. Go Kookaburras'!   

KCFA News
Term 2 sees KCFA students enter the competitions phase after mainly training and preparing throughout Term 1. Parents and carers are encouraged to keep an eye out for emails sent by Mr. Shepherd with more details regarding the events following competitions.

• U14 Girls Always Veto Knockout Cup Futsal team won their Quarter Final match for the South Coast region and look forward to playing their Semi Final match in the upcoming weeks. 
  
• U15 Boys (Bill Turner Cup) and U15 Girls (Bill Turner Trophy) teams compete in a gala day at Redlands United FC on Wednesday, Week 1. 
• U16 Girls Schools Futsal League team have their 3^rd gala day (last round before finals) on Wednesday, week 2 and are currently in 4^th position out of 10 teams. 
• The following KCFA age groups will compete in the Australian Futsal Association (AFA) Gold Coast Futsal Titles U9 Boys, U10 Boys, U11 Boys, U12 Boys, U12 Girls, U13 Boys, U13 Girls, U15 Girls, U19 Girls and U19 Boys. These are scheduled to be played during week 4 and 5. 

The following competition teams are played during the school week, after school. 

• U14 Boys ISSA Cup Football team kick off their campaign in Week 2 against John Paul College. We will host the game at Kimberley College. This team will also play against A.B Patterson College, Chisholm CC and Livingstone CC scheduled throughout term 2.
• U14 Girls ISSA Cup Football team kick off their campaign this term. We are still finalising details for their first match. This team will play against Stretton SC and John Paul College scheduled throughout term 2.
• U19 Girls UHLSPORTS Cup Football team kick off their campaign. We are excited to have a senior girls team represent Kimberley College again. We are still finalising details for their first match. This team will play against Mansfield SHS, Livingstone CC and John Paul College scheduled throughout term 2.

We would like to recognise some high-level achievements from our KCFA students so far this year.
School Based Pathway
U15 South Coast Regional Football 
Willow Ramsay (Year 9)

U15 Pacific District Football team
Willow Ramsay (Year 9)
Zalia Peterson (Year 8)

External Pathways
Football Queensland Academy League 1 players:
Hunter Fisher - U12 Boys Logan Lightning
Zahra Ahmed - U14 Girls Queensland Academy of Sports
Willow Ramsay - U15 Girls Logan Lightning
Poppy Carter - U15 Girls Logan Lightning

Ms Caitlin Seary 
Head of Sport and HPE

Counsellor's Corner

Focused and Meaningful Conversations

Having a conversation with each other is an art that requires practicing. However, with so many demands fighting for our attention, meaningful conversations can be forgotten. Research, carried out through La Trobe University, suggests the teaching of reflection and, self-reflection in particular, contributes to successful development as adolescents and strengthens family ties when offered in conversations with family members.

Reflective conversations can assist people in learning from their experiences, improving relationships and skills and, assist people in developing strategies to overcome life’s obstacles and lead to goal attainment. Families can encourage conversations based on daily reflections where each member discusses reflections of their day possibly around what they have learnt, experienced or felt. These conversations can then be expanded to personal and global reflections based on what is going on individually or globally. One of the best skills developed from self-reflections is the learning of responsibility – where a person becomes aware of their part in their experiences. Below is a list of 5 questions that could be used as reflective family conversation prompts.

1. What is one piece of advice (given to you by a teacher) that you really appreciate?

2. Who looks up to you and why do you think they look up to you?

3. How do you enrich your friends’ lives?

4. What is your best personality trait and why?

5. How is your behaviour reflective of a good role model to those looking up to you?

Ms Klynton Kelly-Bolt
College Counsellor

New Tuckshop Menus on offer

From Tuesday 16 April (Day 2, Term 2) we launched the trial of our breakfast menu available before school. No need to pre-order, students can just grab their order and pay directly at the tuckshop from 8.00am to 8.35am daily. This is in addition to our weekly special's menu available during the day.  

Useful Parent links

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