In this issue

The SCOTS PGC College Southern Downs Youth Council Members together with 18 other student representatives, participated and attended the Induction Day held at the Stanthorpe Civic Centre at the end of February this year.

Congratulations to Sophie Brennan, Alex Naughten and Lelia Stiles, who were commended for their views on the many topics discussed. Their participation, enthusiasm and sharing of ideas made the day a huge success.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the session and the demonstration, ‘Leading a Legacy’, presented by PEER POWER.

The goals of the session were to enable students to:

• Develop their capacity to lead a legacy
• Understand the difference between an ‘A List’ and ‘Rectitude’ approach to leadership
• Practice the skills of adding value to those they don’t know through learning name recall techniques and exploring the interest of others through face to face conversations
• Explore skills to add value to those they do know by creating openness in their relationships via appropriate disclosure and certain types of feedback

All of the above are valuable objectives and skills to encourage and help students to understand respectful relationships and good behaviour when communicating with each other.

 

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By Madison Kane

Cameras rolling. Slate it. Action!

The scene opens in room 23 on a seemingly normal Thursday morning. The date: 25th of March. The year: 2021 PC (Post COVID). After a bizarre previous day, with the Condamine River encroaching into people’s yards and flowing over bridges, Years 10-12 Drama students were given an amazing opportunity to be a part of a workshop run by the Noosa Film Academy. Oscar-winning cinematographer Greg Huglin and his astoundingly positive, organisational wonder of a wife, Andrea, came into our school with nothing less than a movie making vision. And we wanted to deliver. The short film would become a part of a project that has been in the works for 5 years, with the power couple visiting schools all over Queensland. The dramatic mini-movies all revolve around one object. One symbol. One… black umbrella.

Well, there is a bit more to it than that.

Basically, every short story begins with the umbrella entering the classroom and finishes with it being carried out. The part in the middle? Well, that’s where the magic happens. Greg encouraged complete creative freedom, allowing groups to come up with weird, wacky and most definitely wonderful ways for the action to circulate around the room. It really allowed people to shine and to also try out new things in a judgement-free zone.

The constant positive affirmations from Andrea were a massive contributing factor to making the atmosphere more comfortable, which in turn had a positive effect on the students’ acting. Combined with Greg’s vast experience and dry American humour, the film was nothing short of a complete success (with an added bonus of being a lot of fun).

Greg’s overall message was an important one, especially because of the crucial decisions most of us have to make soon, career-wise. He explained that because of his passion for photography, it feels like he hasn’t worked a day in his life. He has flown “first-class from Perth to the Caribbean” and then gotten paid $2000 a day to “film people surfing”. Put simply, he is living his dream. Pursuing a creative career pathway, or finding something you enjoy, is in the long term possibly the best decision you can make. Even though the hours may be long, the tests may be hard, the money sometimes not great, as long as you are doing what you love good things will come. As Greg declared on Noosa Film Academy’s website, “I love what I do and look forward to assisting students realize their own course and career goals.” And assist he did.

We were so lucky to be a part of this workshop, and I know every student that was involved are already looking forward to next year. Thank you to Miss Woodbine for organising it, the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund, and of course Andrea and Greg for allowing us to take part in this once in a lifetime experience. SCOTS PGC hopes to see you next year!

Feel free to take a look at the finished product here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6QQIZ3vpQ0

 

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Mrs Christine Peterson | Head of Library Services

This year in the WALEC, our themes are based on the Book Week theme of ‘Old World, New World, Other World’.  This term, we have focussed on the ‘Old World’ and have been studying ancient cultures with students in Years 2-6, with them creating their own artefacts for our museum.

Year 2

Our Year 2 students didn’t go back far in time compared to other classes, but went back in time for dinner!  Together, we watched and discussed the ABC series, ‘Further Back in Time for Dinner’; the students loved this series and were extremely engaged in learning how things involving food and clothes had changed since 1900, where the dish of the day, was mock turtle soup and the ingredient involved boiling a cow’s head – not something they wanted for dinner.

They had many discussions about how the food and clothing had changed and they were happy to be eating what they are and not having to dress in frills and suits to go and play. They weren’t too fussed on outside toilets and no ‘real’ toilet paper.  They also couldn’t bare the thought of not having electricity or refrigerators.

Year 3

Year 3 has been learning about the Egyptians; they enjoyed learning about how mummies were created and why they built pyramids.  They then created their own pharaoh headdress, Eye of Horus or Pyramid.

Year 4

Students in Year 4 have been investigating the Ancient Roman civilisation. They then went on to create their own versions of a variety of Roman buildings and artefacts including; mosaics, the Pantheon Roof, the Pont de Gard, the Colosseum and Mt Vesuvius.  The students enjoyed learning about how the Romans built using concrete and that buildings that are 2000 years old are still standing today.

Year 5

In Year 5, we were introduced to the Greek gods and mythology and went on to investigate their culture which included the original Olympic games.  The students were fascinated by the facts they found out about the games; only males could compete and they often didn’t wear clothes! Did you know the ‘marathon’ is the length it is because it is the distance between Olympus and Marathon?  To finish, they then created a variety of posters or PowerPoints on something that was of particular interest to them.  For some of the boys this was the marble head of a horse that was found at the Temple of Athena.

Year 6

The key questions for our Year 6 students this term were, “Were the Vikings really that aggressive? Did they wear helmets with horns? What is the thing with dragons?  How did they build their boats?”

To start the term, we watched an excellent documentary from the British Museum, on their Viking collection which discussed a huge boat found in a Dutch harbour.  The students were fascinated by what they learnt about the Vikings and their way of life.  A point of note, was that Viking was not a culture, but more a term to describe a career which has changed over time. Their creations for the display are something to behold and includes a sword, shields, boats and a beautifully created axe made by Brandon.

Next term, we take a break from our theme and focus on the CWA country of the year, Malaysia.  Students will create reports on this country which will be entered to the CWA’s competition for judging.

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The College Uniform Shop will remain open throughout the school holidays on the usual days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday – excluding public holidays).

In Term 2, all students will be required to dress in the winter uniform, so families are encouraged to use the holiday period to organise uniform purchases.

Appointments can be arranged by calling the Uniform Shop on 07 4666 9892.

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Mr Kyle Thompson | Principal

The words of a stanza from Dorothea Mackellar’s poem ‘My Country’ burn strongly in my mind as Term 1 comes to a close:

I love a sunburnt country

A land of sweeping plains

Of rugged mountain ranges

Of drought and flooding rains

I love her far horizons

I love her jewel-sea

Her beauty and her terror

The wide brown land for me

The one thing I have learnt over the last few years is that you think you are prepared for the Term, the weeks, the days that are coming up, but in reality, you will still be surprised by what presents itself.

In recent times, we have seen drought, fires and COVID 19. Just when you think you have ‘clear air’ we then see flooding and the Condamine breaking its banks in town, not to mention the flooding in other rural areas and COVID rearing its head once more.

When I accepted the position as Principal at SCOTS PGC, a Colleague who had worked in rural communities before tried to explain to me what it would be like. He talked about a ‘depth’. A depth to the experience, a depth to the people from regional and remote settings, a depth to the community. Whilst you think you understand what is being spoken about, it is not until you experience it that you truly do.

With the disruptions to the final two weeks of term, I have again seen the staff, students and parents demonstrate what a strong and supportive community we have. People just do what needs to be done to make things work or to adjust to a changing landscape. Our parents show great faith in supporting the College. Similarly, the staff at SCOTS act professionally but with a connection that is stronger than just being in a workplace. They adjust, they do, they support. And, our students, well they just get on with it as well. To varying degrees at times, but again their tenacity is obvious and real.

So as the term ends, I want to thank our parents for their ongoing support of the College. I wish all our families a safe and enjoyable Easter period. I also acknowledge and thank our staff for their incredible efforts and commitment to the young men and women of our school and our community in general. Together, we do great things – we raise children and we do so in an environment where their depth of character and sense of community is true to our rural and country values.

Core of my heart, my Country

Land of rainbow gold,

The flood and fire and famine,

She pays us back threefold –

Over the thirsty paddocks,

Watch, after many days,

The filmy veil of greenness

That thickens as we gaze.

 

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During Term 1, the Year 10 cohort completed a series of career profiling tests with Dr Marian Kratzing from Career Avenues. While it was an intense session for the students, the outcome of the tests will provide each individual with a fairly accurate picture of who they are as a person as far as their personality type goes, along with a number of industry areas and career options, which would best suit them in the future. Please be aware that the career options suggested in the report are just that, suggestions, and are there to invite further investigation.

Each student will receive a full and detailed report outlining the findings from the tests. This will be given to them when they have their group feedback session with Dr Kratzing on Tuesday 20 April 2021. An electronic copy of this report will also be emailed home to parents and carers.

 

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Thank you to all of the volunteers who have offered their time to help out already with our cross country event in the first week of Term 2.

I am now seeking support for the following week, when we host the Southern Downs and Border Districts Cross Country Carnival on 29 April.

Please click the link to register your interest in helping.

Southern Downs Border Districts Carnival | 29 April 2021.

volunteersignup.org/Y7MHQ

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