In this issue

Stories of SCOTS PGC | The history of our campus

Lexie Zerner | Publications Prefect

Welcome to the final week of Term 1! As we slowly (but surely) edge closer to the Easter holidays, assessments finally draw to a close and students’ excitement grows for the nearing break.

Rather than focusing on a specific event, like in the last edition of Stories of SCOTS PGC College, I have decided to focus on the school throughout the last century.

This idea first presented itself at the Past Students Lunch on 18 March. I had the privilege of sitting next to Alec Peden, the College Captain of Scots College in 1948. Alec was one of the few students who boarded at the College prior to the school’s evacuation during the war, boarded at Kingswood Homestead, boarded at Toolburra Station, and then returned to the College after the conclusion of World War II. As Alec reminisced about his time at the College, speaking of funny stories and his various adventures, he mentioned the changes in the campus throughout his time at Scots.

As we toured the Past Students through the College later that afternoon, we entered what I know as the ‘Breezeway’ in the Betty Crombie Middle School. I stood outside, admiring the building when I noticed the stained-glass window above the entrance. I honestly do not know if middle-school-me spotted this and chose to ignore it or was purely oblivious to her surroundings, but for the first time, the stained-glass thistle stood out to me. Then it sunk in, could it be possible that these middle school buildings were relocated from the PGC Campus?

As you adventure around the middle school campus, you might notice the distinct colour palette of green, white, and a splash of red. Along the verandas of each of these buildings, thistles are imprinted into the wood along the railings. PGC is known for its many thistles and strong presence of green throughout its campus on Locke Street. However, I am not sure if these buildings are originally from PGC or if they were simply built to replicate the buildings of the PGC campus.

We then toured Kingswood, a space of the arts, with various drama and music classrooms. Kingswood was once a boarding house for the boy boarders. Past students spoke of the many beds that filled the rooms during their time in boarding and how new walls had been added since the transformation of the building.

I then thought, what other secrets does our campus hide?

The Memorial Belfry, constructed in 1936, was once positioned in front of Deconlay House.

The Memorial Belfry was a bell tower built to honour Mrs Dorothy Ada Tait, the wife of the Scots Headmaster, Mr Alan Tait. The College community was devastated by her sudden passing and built this memorial to remember her. The Memorial Belfry no longer stands by the Deconlay House, but maybe Mr Keevers knows something about its disappearance?

The WALEC or ‘Wilf Arthur Learning Enrichment Centre’ was opened in 2011, when I first entered the College. Wilf Arthur was a past student at the College and his portrait hangs by the entrance of this building. A model of his aircraft, ‘Polly’, hangs from the ceiling, showcasing his time in the air force during World War II.

Many of the buildings are named after those who have left a legacy at the school, such as the Des Davey Dining Hall or the Peter Pickering Staff Room! Our College campus is full of secrets. I wonder what other tales lie within the walls of the SCOTS PGC College.

Thank you for an amazing first term. I hope you have an awesome (and safe) Easter holiday, and we cannot wait to see you back again next term!

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From Girls’ Boarding 

Makybe Edwards | Girls’ Boarding Captain & Alivia Sharples | Girls’ Boarding Vice Captain

We started with a very full house welcoming back new and old girls for the beginning of Term 1. With such large numbers, we introduced boarding family groups, where each senior girl was given the opportunity to lead a small group of girls across the different grades. With our families, we have been able to have a family night, sitting together at dinner, offering support and someone to chat to and we have plans to extend this to games nights and other activities throughout the year.

Throughout the course of this term, we have all been lucky enough to do many boarding activities such as the South East Queensland Boarding Schools Touch Football Competition at Marist College, going to the Warwick cinemas, a trip to Leslie Dam, ten pin bowling in Toowoomba, the Warwick Show, and many barbeques and activity days shared with the Boy Boarders. One of our main highlights of this term was watching everyone get involved with the Touch Football Competition in Brisbane which involved many boarding students – boys and girls – from different schools. It was a great opportunity to meet people from different schools and we hope to be able to do this again in the future.

To conclude this term, we celebrated Easter in-house with a variety of activities where the girls competed against other grades within the boarding house. Many laughs were had over the egg and spoon race and easter bonnet competition. We hope to continue the fun throughout this year, and we can’t wait to welcome the girls back in Term 2.

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From Boys’ Boarding

Adrian Titus | Boys’ Boarding Captain & Hank Zammit | Boys’ Boarding Vice Captain

Term 1 in Boys’ Boarding Houses has been eventful, to say the least, with lots of activities, sports and spending time with our friends – both on weekend leave and at combined activities with the girl boarders. We started the term well with a great bonding activity between both boys’ and girls’ boarding houses in Toowoomba, taking on ten-pin bowling – a game of skill and expertise that gave everyone the chance to have a laugh and relax.

In Week 5, we held our first ‘Adopt a boarder’ weekend where almost all of our boy boarders went on leave with different families and friends. These weekends are really important to boarding students, as they give us a short break from the boarding house and allow us to get to know our friends outside of the school context. While we love our time in boarding, it’s nice to get out and spend time in a family environment.

Just recently in Week 8, both boarding houses went down to Brisbane to participate in an inter-school touch competition.  This was great fun for all age groups, especially the Opens boys team who experienced great success throughout the day, winning over teams like Churchie, Brisbane Grammar and Marist College.  This was perhaps a highlight for all of us – it was really enjoyable to get outside and have fun for the day. Our local Warwick Show provided a great way to end the term, with both boarding houses getting a chance to get out and experience the Show and spend time in our community.

 

 

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Mr Tom Bradbury | Director of Co-Curricular Activities

Term 2 Sign up for Activities – Years 1-6  and Years 7-12

Next term will bring a range of new activities to be involved in for our little ones. Our survey will be sent out with options to enrol in our activities for the term. Please get in early as places will fill quickly and we have had to cap them this term, so as the saying goes ‘if you snooze, you lose’.

If after nominating, your child wishes to withdraw, please let us know as there are often people who would love to participate and could fill the vacated position.

The survey link will be emailed over the holiday break for parents and students to complete.

QCIS Swimming

On Friday 3 March, our intrepid Swimming Team headed off bright and early for the Annual QCIS Swimming Carnival in Dalby. Though small in numbers, we were big in heart and all those present put in a huge effort against significant competition from the other associated schools. Our best performing age groups were as follows…

• • U11 Girls – 2nd – Ella Hutchison, Millie Petersen, Tori Winters
  • U12 Girls – 3rd – Charlotte Stevens
  • U15 Boys – 1st – Bailey Harm, Axel Gamble

Bailey Harm was our most outstanding swimmer by far, breaking 4 records throughout the day. We congratulate Bailey on his new records in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and the 100m Butterfly.

Overall, the College placed 5th in the Aggregate and 4th in the Percentage Trophy. There were lots of positives from the day proving plenty of opportunities for us to build on for 2024.

Congratulations to all those who made the effort to represent the school so admirably throughout the day.  Thank you to Miss Carey and Miss Bradbury for their work on the day and to our Boys’ Swimming Captain, Paul Costello, for supporting them when he could.

Boys Futsal Report | Term 1 Fixtures

Term 1 Boys Futsal was a whirlwind affair and was disrupted by cancellation in Week 4. Our Under 13 Boys were our most successful team, making their way all the way to the Grand Final where they played Concordia. The final was a cracking end to the season with a 1-1 draw and ‘golden goal’ extra time. The ball hit the woodwork at both ends on several occasions until Concordia broke the deadlock to take the final.

The U15 team battled it out for 5th and 6th against Downlands where they overcame the Downlands boys with a handy win.

The Open boys struggled for numbers this year after several senior players departed in 2022. They played off for 5th and 6th against Highlands in quite a battle but were successful in holding off their onslaught to pull away for the win.

Girls Futsal Fixtures | Term 1 Fixtures

Term 1 has flown by, and six weeks of fixtures culminating in the SWQ Schools Futsal Titles was a big ask when we had to travel each week to Toowoomba. Regarding the fixtures, we truly had a mixed bag of results.

U13 Cardinal and Green both showed flashes of brilliance in this competition, but consistency was certainly not one of our strongest assets. The girls progressed and improved but it was not enough to trouble the opposition playing each other in the 5th/6th playoff.

Our U15 Team were our most successful throughout the contest suffering but one defeat along the way. This was the loss we had to have. The team bounced back and realised they were not unbeatable and pulled together nicely. They faced Downlands College in the Grand Final of the competition and after a tentative start raced away with a 10-5 win in a very tough competition.

The Open Girls were a bit up and down and despite having beaten both Glennie and Concordia in the rounds (who played off for 3rd and 4th), we found ourselves in a battle for 5th and 6th with TCC. This was a very physical encounter and resulted in a 3-3 draw.

SWQ Futsal Titles

These titles were conducted in Week 8 at The Glennie School and at USQ. We entered U12, U13 U14 and U16 teams into the boy’s divisions, and we entered our U12, U14, U16 and U19 teams into the girl’s divisions.

In 2023, the competition involved some 160 teams across the U10 to U19 divisions for girls and boys. The boys had some tough encounters and gained mixed results which saw them get as far as the quarter-finals in some cases.

The girl’s teams also had mixed results. Our U12 Girls were greatly improved and although they finished second in their pool, they were unable to progress to the semi-final stage. The U14 Girls were valiant and had a mixture of wins and losses which also resulted in them not making the finals rounds.

Our U16 and Open Girls Teams were without doubt our most successful and both made it through to the Semi-final stage of the tournament. At this point the U16 Girls bowed out suffering a 6-2 loss at the hands of a resurgent Downlands. The Open girls fought out a tense 1-1 draw with Mary Mackillop sending the game to shootouts. Here, Krystal Petersen held her nerve to save two vital attempts leaving Emma Bradbury to slot the final goal calmly to take the match and send the girls to the Grand Final of a 20-team competition against Harristown SHS.

The final was a very tough affair with end-to-end futsal the feature of the match. The game was a true spectacle, but the girls started to show signs of fatigue and Harristown utilised their full bench to great effect taking the final 4-2. The Open Girls have won themselves the right to attend the State Finals of the Champion of Champions because of their second placing and we look forward to supporting them through to this event in July.

Following this event several students have been selected to attend the National Championships in September holidays as members of the Queensland West Team these students include.

Boys:

• U11 Treshawne Achari
• U12 William Grayson
• U13 Harrison Grayson, Sijarne Miles
• U15 Oliver Swift
• U16 Matthew Howard

Girls:

• U11/12 Tori Winters, Ivy Stirling
• U13 Jodie Bergemann, Macey Mitchell, Brooke Roberts
• U14 Mylie Caldwell
• U15 Amelia Waller, Ellyse Kruger, Amira Duffy
• U16 Phoebe Sellick, Briana Groves
• U19 Emma Bradbury, Krystal Petersen

We congratulate all students on their selection to the Queensland West Team and wish them well for the National Championships should they choose to attend.

QCIS Futsal

Our last major tournament for the Futsal season was the QCIS Championships held on Monday 27 March in Toowoomba

We fielded U12, U14, U16 and Open Teams in both boys and girls divisions.

Our Girls teams were the most successful with the U12 and U14 Girls finishing second both to Downlands whilst our U16 and Open girls both followed on from their SWQ success with wins against Concordia and Downlands to take their respective pennants.

The boys finished 3^rd in the U12, U14 and Open divisions whilst the U16 boys made the final against TAS where they lost in a tense affair.

Congratulations to all teams on the spirit in which they contested the Championships and a huge thankyou to our staff in attendance – Mr Mascadri, Miss Carey, Miss Bradbury, Mr Charles and Miss Curtain who all have supported our teams throughout a very intense and demanding season.

 

 

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Junior School Disco 

Congratulations and a huge thank you to our P & F who hosted the Junior School Disco last week.  The event was well supported by our Junior School families and was the perfect way to celebrate the completion of a very busy first term and the end of NAPLAN testing for those in Years 3 and 5.  While our parents and carers mingled over drinks and refreshments, our students danced the night away.  One of the highlights from all aspects was the involvement of our Senior Leaders, who had fun dancing and entertaining their younger peers – this is definitely one of the great things about being a Prep to Year 12 school.

Our youngest students can look forward to the same sort of interactions with our senior students at the upcoming Masterplan Launch event early next term.

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Year 3 Geography Excursion

Ms Amanda Hall | Head of Junior School

This week our Year 3 students went on an exciting Geography and History excursion, exploring the Warwick CBD. They were given a map to follow and had the opportunity to visit a variety of historic buildings such as the Town Hall, Post Office, Uniting Church, Central School and Memorial Gates. During the excursion, the students observed and discussed the changes and similarities in the buildings over time. They also enjoyed informative presentations from Sue Campbell at the Uniting Church and a gentleman from the information centre at the Town Hall.

The students then made their way to Leslie Park where they were met by many Mums and Dads who had brought treats to share. Everyone found some shade and enjoyed a picnic lunch together. After lunch, both adults and children were divided into groups and given a challenge involving the use of compasses.

Then it was time to have fun where some students played touch football with Mr Clarke and others did some skipping with Mrs Brown. Everyone also had some time on the play equipment in the park. The picnic in the park was a great way to celebrate the end of NAPLAN. The students had worked hard and demonstrated a positive attitude and willingness to do the best they could. They certainly deserved a reward for their efforts. Mrs Brown spoke about how proud she was to be the Year 3 teacher and everyone agreed it had been a great day.

 

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Ms Amy Woodgate | Director of Girls’ Boarding and Head of Middle School

Term 1 of any year in Middle School is often a time of contradictions.  It is filled with equal parts opportunity and challenge.  Equal parts excitement and trepidation.  Equal parts energy and exhaustion.  It is a term that seems to fly by but also a term where we are definitely in need of a break after Week 10.

Whether entering the Middle School in Year 6, transitioning to the new expectations of Year 7 or stepping up as leaders of the Middle School in Year 8, all of our students have demonstrated growth academically, socially and emotionally.  They have navigated changing friendships, increased academic requirements and simply worked out their timetable and where they need to be and when.

Our Middle School staff have worked tirelessly with our students during this first term to assist them to feel connected to one another and to the College and lay the foundations for a rewarding year ahead.  Our students have engaged enthusiastically in the learning, tried a new sport or activity for the first time, gotten to know new friends and simply enjoyed their time at school, even if some days are tough every now and then.

I would like to congratulate all of our students on the positive way they have commenced the year.  I encourage them to use the feedback provided to them through their assessment tasks and Term 1 Interim Report to assist them to set goals for Term 2 and identify the actions they can put in place to achieve these goals.

Term 2 will be upon us before we know it, full of special events, co-curricular opportunities and academic expectations and I look forward to what our Middle School students will be able to achieve in the coming months after a well-deserved holiday break.

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Playing and Enjoying the game

Mr Richard Dobrenov | Deputy Principal & Head of Senior School

As we near the end of Term 1 and venture into the realm of team sports, the notion of playing for the love of the game is often overlooked by overzealous coaches, parents, and players. The phrase ‘it’s not about winning or losing, but how you play the game’ emphasises the importance of sportsmanship, fair play, and character development in sport, rather than solely focusing on the outcome of the game. It suggests that the way a player conducts themselves throughout each game and the season, is more important than whether they come out on top.  School sport is the perfect building block for life improving lessons around working hard for the team through commitment to training, discipline on the field, and attention to detail in your actions. One only has to look at the Queensland Reds to understand the importance of discipline in everything we do.  In 2022 the Qld Reds received the highest number of yellow cards and finished seventh in a 12-team competition, meaning that they played more than any other team with only 14 players on the field, rather than 15.  You can have a team of highly accomplished players, but without self-discipline, the referee becomes a determining factor in the outcome of the game, not the players.

This phrase can also be applied to other areas of life beyond sports, emphasising the importance of integrity, ethics, moral values, and growth. It suggests that how we approach challenges and interact with others, is just as important as achieving our goals. If at the end of the season, each player has achieved measurable growth in self-confidence and skill on the field, if they have shown pride in wearing the College jersey and most importantly, they have enjoyed the experience of playing with their friends, then that is all the fanatical coaches and parents need.  Ultimately, sport or any team activity for that matter encourages individuals to prioritise personal growth and development over simply seeking to come out on top at any cost.

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SDYC Representatives 2023 | Finley McRae & Phoebe Sellick

Mrs Estie Wiid | Head of Years 9 & 10

We are pleased to share with you that Finley McRae and Phoebe Sellick, two of our Year 10 students, have been selected as representatives of the Southern Downs Youth Council for 2023.

This is a notable accomplishment for Finley and Phoebe, and it demonstrates their leadership potential, their dedication to making a positive impact in the community, and their commitment to representing the voices of young people. The Southern Downs Youth Council provides a platform for young people to voice their opinions on issues that matter to them, and we are confident that Finley and Phoebe will be exemplary representatives for our school.

As representatives of the Southern Downs Youth Council, Finley and Phoebe will have the opportunity to contribute to their community and make a positive difference. Their selection is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and we are proud to have them represent our school on the Southern Downs Youth Council.

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Exam Preparation… made better with sweets!

Year 12 General Maths

Mrs Wiid’s Year 12 General Maths class went all out to prepare for their big exam. They didn’t just hit the books, they hit the kitchen… And what did they whip up, you ask? Only the most exquisite Peppermint Crisp Tart known to mankind. As soon as that sweet, minty aroma filled the classroom, the students were transported back to their Grandma’s kitchen – where calories didn’t count and life was just a little bit sweeter.  The tart gave us enough energy and motivation to work on practice questions to ready ourselves for the IA2 exam.

With every bite of that delectable tart, their brains were flooded with enough sugar and motivation to power them through even the most challenging practice questions.

And let’s just say, if this exam was on how to make the perfect Peppermint Crisp Tart, these students would have aced it with flying colours. But, alas, they were still going to have to use their math skills to pass the IA2 exam. At least they knew they had the power of pastry on their side!

 

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Mr Mark Richards | Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation

As I prepare to leave this school after six years, I have reflected on the time I have spent amongst the wide-open spaces of the SCOTS PGC campus.  It has been a wonderful journey, filled with moments of growth, learning, and joy. I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of this community and to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented and dedicated individuals.

In my last newsletter article, I would like to share three key learnings that have had a significant impact on me.

Pathways

The first learning is the importance of individual pathways.  Every student that I have had the pleasure of teaching here is unique, with their own set of interests, strengths, and challenges.  This school has always recognised that and has made a commitment to providing each student with an education that is tailored to their individual needs.  The past six years have seen the introduction of Maths Pathways, a blended approach to senior studies, and the increase in offerings in Middle and Senior Schools.  Coupled with the growth in apprenticeships, certificates, and traineeships, I am very proud of the plethora of opportunities available.  Education is about opening doors and developing the confidence to step through them, and I hope this approach has allowed students to explore their passions, discover new interests, and develop the skills and knowledge that they need to succeed. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the progress that each student has made and to be a part of their journey.

The Power of Community

The second learning is the power of community.  SCOTS PGC has a strong sense of community that is evident in everything that it does. From the way that students support one another to the way that families are involved in the life of the school, there is a sense of connectedness that is truly special.  This community has been a source of inspiration and support for me, and I have been continually impressed by the dedication and commitment of everyone involved.  Without the exceptional staff, I would not have been able to achieve anything.  It is this sense of community that has made this school such a special place to be a part of and why we have weathered challenges such as COVID and the new QCE system with such grace and fortitude.

Excellence

The third and final learning is the importance of excellence.  I have always had high expectations, and together, we have worked hard to ensure that students have the support and resources that they need to achieve their goals.  This commitment to excellence has been evident in everything that we do, from the quality of our teaching to the standards that we set for ourselves and our students. It has been inspiring to see how hard everyone works and how much pride they take in their accomplishments.

As I prepare to leave, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone in this community. To the students, thank you for being such a joy to teach and for reminding me every day why I love this profession. To my colleagues, thank you for your support, your collaboration, and your unwavering commitment to our students. And to the families, thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education and for being such an important part of our community.

I will miss the wide-open spaces, the smiles and laughter and all the wonderful people that I have had the pleasure of meeting and knowing.  I am excited to see where your individual pathways take you and to hear about the many ways in which you will continue to strive for excellence and enrich your local community.

Thank you

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