Janelle Agius – Principal Dates to remember · Readings at Mass, Sunday 31 March 2019 – 4th Sunday of Lent . First Reading, Joshua 5:9-12 …. The Lord removes the reproach of

Janelle Agius – Principal Comedy Night Congratulations to all involved in the Comedy night held at the College last week. I wish to congratulate students on the standard of work produced and I would like to thank Mr Dean Andric, Mr Marcus McConnell and Ms Sarah Neivandt for enabling students to reach such a professional standard. It is also wonderful that many parents attended the night. Mocktail Friday 8 March, our Year 12 students along with those from other schools and colleges in the region celebrated Mocktail at the MECC. Students attending had a wonderful time. I wish to thank staff of the College who assisted with supervision on the night. The Mocktail is run by a community organisation for the benefit of all Year 12 students in the region. All schools in the region appreciate the efforts of the Mocktail committee. Profits made from this function are distributed to local charities and organisations. St Patrick’s Celebrations On Friday, 15 March we celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a Mass at St Patrick’s Church. Thank you to Fr Don White for presiding and celebrating this Mass for the College community. Thank you to Mr Stephen Mortimer, Mr Marcus McConnell and Mrs Sarah Rozenkrans for organising the Mass and also the activities held throughout the day. St Patrick is credited with the conversion of Ireland. The Church in Ireland, has had a huge impact on the Church worldwide, but particularly in Australia through the work of various missionary orders from Ireland. At St Patrick’s College. we celebrate the heritage of the Christian Brothers and the Mercy Sisters which were both founded in Ireland in the nineteenth century. The Mercy Sisters and the Christian Brothers have both conducted schools on our site. Saturday School On Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 12:00pm, the College library is open to any student wishing to attend to work on assessments, study or get help from the supervising teacher. I would like to encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to use the College facilities and complete work in a quiet environment. Thank you to the staff who volunteer to supervise and assist the students on Saturdays.

21 March 2019 Dates to remember

MARCH 2019

21 St Patrick’s Awards evening (for Year 12 students)

25 Industry Placement 2 week block

APRIL 2019

1-5 Year 12 exams

2 Rats of Tobruk Service

5 Industry Placement finishes

19 Good Friday

21 Easter Saturday

22 Easter Sunday

25 Anzac Day

29 Reports uploaded to Parent Lounge

29 ECSI survey closes

MAY 2019

1-3 Hamilton Island Leadership Camp

1-3 Year 12 QCS preparation

6 Labour Day Holiday

7-9 Year 12 Indigenous Camp

NEW PHONE NUMBER FOR THE COLLEGE

The phone number is

4994 8700

NUMBER FOR SMS

The number to send SMS Messages

regarding student absence is

0416 906 288

Page | 2

2019 Next Step survey The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2018. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12. Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year, can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey, or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate. Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2018. Further information on Next Step is available online at Next Step Survey or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587. International Women’s Day Business Lunch On Sunday 10 March the International Women’s Day Lunch was hosted by the Mackay Zonta Club, where the entrants, finalists and winners of the Young Women in Public Affairs Competition were announced. Zonta is an international and local women’s service organisation that seeks to empower women both locally and internationally. The Zonta Young Women in Public Affairs Awards recognises the service work of students throughout the Mackay region. The College has a proud history in this competition, as it encourages young women to play a full role in community service work, volunteering and supporting overseas aid programs. This work represents part of our wider ethos as a Catholic school community and our social justice work with organisations such as Caritas. This year, we acknowledge the extensive applications of Zodie Bolic, Phoenix Kretschmer and Jael Mezieres . We congratulate Jael Mezieres, who placed as one of four finalists, Zodie Bolic who placed as runner-up, and Phoenix Kretschmer who placed first in recognition of their truly outstanding service contributions in our community. On behalf of the students, their families and the College, we would like to thank the Zonta club of Mackay, the tireless volunteers, and all sponsors of this event for their continued support, including The Tax Store Mackay who kindly sponsor our student’s tickets to the event. Industry Placement We have a large number of vocational students in Year 12 attending work placement in the last two weeks of term. This is a vital component of their studies and is their first priority. Students should not be missing any days of work over this period. Students do not interrupt their work placement unless they are ill. We thank Mr Korneliussen and Mrs Preston for all their efforts with the students in organising the placements. We also thank KP Placements who act as the brokers for St Patrick’s College students and in fact for most work placements in the Mackay region.

Exams, Assignments and Study In this period leading up to the Year 12 exams which begin shortly, it is important that students begin to study at home more intensely than they may have done previously. Some students will struggle with this, but they should be studying about 2.5 hours per week for each OP subject and 1 to 1.5 hours per week for VET subjects. If students are having difficulty studying at home, they could make use of the library before and after school or on Saturday. Some students will need to do short intense bursts of study of around 20 to 30 minutes at a time. The problem with this can be the potential for long gaps in between bursts. They will most likely need encouragement to get back to their work. Doing this they can achieve quite a bit of study and over time increase the bursts and reduce the gaps. The exam timetable is available on the College website and on page five of this newsletter. Students need to pay close attention to the times of their exams and attend in full College uniform with appropriate equipment. Those students who are attending industry placement are required to attend their exams on the evening indicated in the exam timetable.

Just a reminder that Term One fees were due on Wednesday 6 March. If you have not received your account, or have any queries regarding

your account please contact the Finance Office on 4994 8723.

Page | 3

Fr Don White - Parish News 2019 Chrism Mass Bishop Michael McCarthy invites you all to join our Priests for the very special and solemn celebration of Chrism Mass which will be celebrated on Thursday, 28 March at 11:00 am at St Joseph’s Cathedral. The Mass will be live-streamed: https://www.youtube.com/user/StJosephsCathRton. All young people are invited to gather at 5:30pm on Sunday (before 6:00pm Mass) during Lent, to listen, meditate and pray together on the Sunday Gospel.

Stephen Mortimer – Assistant to the Principal: Religious Education Catholic Education Youth Pilgrimage To support the youth in the Diocese, Bishop Michael hosts a youth pilgrimage in Rockhampton each year. In the spirit of being a pilgrim, the students rough it for a weekend, joining with likeminded young people from Bundaberg to Mackay, and Yeppoon to Emerald. Over the course of the two days, the students take part in discussion groups, fun activities and get to meet some inspiration people. This year, the founders of the Orange Sky Laundry, Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, will join the students for the weekend to share their thoughts, experiences and aspirations for the future. If you don’t know what Orange Sky Laundry is, then just Google it and you will be amazed at the achievements of these young men. Friday, 17 May the students will travel to Rockhampton, stay at the Cathedral College and return to Mackay on Sunday 19 May. The weekend is open to all students in Year 10, 11 or 12 from the Catholic Colleges of the Rockhampton Diocese. If you are interested in attending, please collect a letter and form from the College office.

All forms must be returned by 3 April. Readings at Mass, Sunday 24 March 2019 – 3rd Sunday of Lent First Reading, Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15…. The Lord calls Moses from a burning bush. Psalm 102, The Lord is kind and merciful. Second Reading, 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12 …. We must learn from the example of our ancestors. Gospel, Luke 13:1-9 … The parable of the fig tree. Readings at Mass, Sunday 31 March 2019 – 4th Sunday of Lent First Reading, Joshua 5:9-12 …. The Lord removes the reproach of Egypt. Psalm 33, Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Second Reading, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 …. All is new in Christ. Gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 …. Parable of the prodigal son.

Weekend Masses

Southside Cluster Northside Cluster

Saturday Vigil Mass Saturday Vigil Mass 6:00 pm St Mary’s 6:00 pm St Joseph’s 6:00 pm St Francis Xavier 6:00 pm St Brigid’s

Sunday Sunday 7:00 am St Patrick’s 7:30 am St Brendan’s 7:00 pm St Therese, Alligator Creek 9:00 am St Joseph’s 9:00 am St Francis Xavier 9:00 am St Michael’s Sarina 6:00 pm St Patrick’s

Page | 4

Sean Geoghegan – Deputy Principal Parenting I have always lamented the fact that children never come with any form of ‘operator’s manual.’ Lots of advice is available, but so much of it is devoid of any wisdom. I have spent thirty-five years as an educator and have come to see a world in which ‘common sense’ is a rare commodity indeed – especially when it comes to the rearing of children and boys in particular. Society sends lots of messages to young males about what it means to be a man. Most of those messages are about encouraging traits that are already innate in males. (I realise that some who believe these features are a consequence of societal conditioning will take umbrage, but that is ok, I have the weight of considerable reflective experience behind my words). Kent Nerburn said it best when he said, “Being male is part of our biological coding. It has to do with strength, domination, territoriality, competition and a host of other traits….. being a man is something different. It is taking these male traits and forming them into a life that meets the demands of the world around you, while serving the needs of others. Being male is not enough; being a man is a right to be earned and an honour to be cherished.” Sadly, the message we often send out to boys is that manhood is about physical strength and bicep girth, and that if these attributes are in any way perceived to be lacking, they must be bolstered by any means possible. Is it any wonder then, that when these attributes fade, as it must with age, many males lose their sense of self-worth? I believe in many respects the best way to understand Nerburn’s point is to think of it in the following way: Many males will father children, but not all those fathers learn to become dads. I think that children who have been adopted from an early age understand this best. Sometimes they seek out their biological father out of curiosity, but they rarely supplant the male who had taken on the role of supporting and nurturing a boy through his formative years - (and they are all formative years, from age one to age twenty-five). Becoming known as ‘dad’ is a title that is earned. I often wondered why the children of the English aristocracy, who were packed off to boarding schools from the very earliest years of their lives, maintained the convention of referring to their parents in social situations very formally as ‘mother’ and ‘father’. There can be little doubt that the time apart, raised not by their parents, but by wet-nurses and nanny’s, must have caused profound estrangement and alienation between parent and child. The Anglo-Saxons got it wrong and the southern Europeans, especially those around the rim of the Mediterranean got it right – familial bonds in the latter remain powerfully inter-generational. In closing, boys are incapable of bringing themselves up. They require structure, boundaries and more than ever role-models that are the true measure of manhood – honour, moral force and sacrifice. What is Saturday School? What is it? As a service to students, the College Library is made available outside school

hours.

When is it? Every Saturday, from 9:00 am until midday. Students can attend for all or part of this time, and may come and go during the time.

How is it supervised? Because it falls outside the regular duties of library staff, Saturday School is supervised on a voluntary roster basis by teaching staff.

Can students bring food/drinks? Yes

Must uniform be worn? No

What is its purpose? To provide a quiet, focused, academic environment for students to complete individual or group schoolwork, with all of the resources of the library at hand and immediate access to qualified teachers.

Students are encouraged to take up on this service, and build it into their study regime. Saturday School attendance is recognised on the students’ College reference at the end of Year 12.

Page | 5

QCS Equipment Kit A perennial issue that the College faces at the time of QCS is that there is an array of equipment that students are required to bring for these exams. Experience has shown us that students do not: a) procure the right equipment; and b) bring the appropriate equipment on the day. In order to remediate this issue, the College is providing an Equipment Kit at the price of $15.00. We urge all parents to order by completing the attached Order Form. The order form is at the end of this Newsletter.

Tracey McLeod– Assistant to the Principal: Welfare and Administration 2019 Term 1 Year 12 Exam Timetable Students are asked to note the exam timetable below and see Mrs McLeod for alternative times if they have an exam clash. All students are required to be in attendance at least 15 minutes before the start of the exam with all materials. Year 11 students will continue with normal classes.

Special Report from SchoolTV – Christchurch The Christchurch massacre is one of the most extreme acts of terrorism the world has seen in recent times. For New Zealand, it was a loss of innocence. SchoolTV was actually filming in Auckland when news broke of the harrowing events unfolding in Christchurch.

Page | 6

Unfortunately, this will impact on many kids throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some parents and care givers may struggle to explain this tragedy to their young people, many of whom are already struggling with high levels of anxiety about the state of their world. It is important to put this event into context for children of all ages. Although we cannot control what happens in our world, we can choose the way we respond. The distressing nature of this event will never be forgotten, but at the same time we should not allow it to permanently disturb or destroy our future generations. In this Special Report, parents and care givers will be provided with practical strategies on how to talk their children in a reassuring manner. It will also highlight the necessity to be aware of the signs of trauma, should a child be adversely affected. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the College for further information or seek medical or professional help. Here is the link to your special report https://stpats.qld.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/christchurch This month on SchoolTV - Grief & Loss Grief is a natural response to loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, relationship or even a pet. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief is likely to be. Children and adults grieve differently due to their developmental stage, and this can prove difficult for parents to understand. Young children fluctuate in and out of the stages of grief rapidly, as they may not comprehend the permanency of death. They express their grief more physically. Teens on the other hand may not know how to express their grief and will need some space to process their loss. Some may choose to grieve alone, not wanting to stand out or be seen as not coping. Whilst others, who may have a greater understanding, can start to question their own mortality. In this edition of SchoolTV, parents can learn how to acknowledge their child’s feelings and the best way to support them through their grief. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the College counsellor for further information. Here is the link to this month's edition https://stpats.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/grief-loss

Dean Andric – English Coordinator Comedy Night The annual St Patrick’s College Comedy Night was held last Tuesday night and a packed audience were treated to performances from our Year 11 and Year 12 Drama students. The students are to be commended on their hard work, dedication, and their ability to keep the audience in raptures. Both classes displayed a wonderful understanding of various comic styles and genres and completed work of an exceptional standard. A big thank you must go out the College community for supporting the night and also to my colleagues Mrs Sarah Neivandt, Mr Marcus McConnell and Mrs Rose Christensen for ensuring the smooth running of the event. Also congratulations to Cultural Chair, Murphee Foley, for doing a fantastic job in hosting the night.

Page | 7

Marcus McConnell – Music Coordinator 2019 has started off strong for the Cultural students of the College. With excellent numbers in Choir, Dance Squad, Stage Band, Percussion and Handbells, St Pat’s is ready to start a year full of rehearsals, new music and performances. Our first performance this year will be the Mackay Choral Festival. The Kodály Music Education Institute of Australia’s (KMEIA) 27th Regional Choral Festival is a regional non-competitive event, which gives 500 children, both secondary and primary, the opportunity to sing in a massed choir under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductors. Choristers have been rehearsing every Tuesday morning this term and are eager to perform with musicians from other schools.

The event takes place on Monday 25 August at 7:30 pm. Tickets for family and friends will be available at the MECC. A big thank you to Garle Nicole Copo, who performed a great rendition of ‘Stay’ by Rhianna at the Annual Mocktail evening. Achieving 4th place, Nicole was celebrated by her peers and we are very proud that she is so willing to share her talent with the community.

Dorota Cook - Science Coordinator UQ Science Ambassadors Our job as Science Ambassadors is to raise the profile of Science within St Patrick’s College by advertising different science events and holding National Science Week activities. The four University of Queensland Science Ambassadors selected for 2019 from St Patrick’s College are Ethan Hellwege, Alice Pattemore, Georgia Watt and Melanie Weston. The selected students have written about their love of Science.

Ethan Hellwege: I am thrilled and honoured to be one of this year’s four UQ Science Ambassadors. I am currently studying Physics and Biology as my two favourite subjects with a close second choice of Mathematics. I enjoy the challenge of Physics and applying mathematical principles in real-life scenarios, as well as exploring the diversity of life in Biology. My future is still unknown, but I hope my love for science is incorporated into my future occupation. Alice Pattemore: I am very excited to be a UQ Science Ambassador. This year, I am studying Physics and it is one of my favourite subjects. I love the challenge of understanding new concepts and applying Mathematical Concepts that explains them. My future is still uncertain, but I would love for Science or Physics to play a part in my future career. Georgia Watt: I am studying both Biology and Chemistry this year. I enjoy learning about the different ways Science is applied in real-life situations. In the future, I hope to study medicine. Melanie Weston: I am looking forward to what this year will bring for my fellow UQ Science Ambassadors and myself. I am currently studying Biology and Chemistry, as I find these two subjects very enjoyable and interesting. Although I am unsure of the exact occupation I wish to work towards, I am sure it will be one in the dynamic field of Science! Congratulations to these enthusiastic students on their exciting selection into the UQ Science Ambassador program.

Ethan Hellwege Alice Pattemore Georgia Watt Melanie Weston

Page | 8

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a ten day residential program in Canberra for students entering Year 12 who are passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). The NYSF program aims to show participants the wide variety of study and carrier options in STEM fields. The program will take place in January 2020, but you need to apply now! All previous attendees have returned with amazing stories of life changing experiences.

What will happen at the National Youth Science Forum? At the NYSF participants:

• Live on campus at university for ten days. • Visit laboratories in areas of interest to gain hands-on experience. • Learn how scientific collaboration works. • Go to industry sites to see science, technology, and engineering in practice. • Meet other like-minded students. • Talk to leading academic and industry researchers about their work and career development. • Discuss and debate emerging science and its impact on our community. • Form life-long friendships and begin to build professional networks. • Return to home communities and spread the message about the NYSF, its activities, and the importance of science in our everyday lives.

Students who are interested in Science and Technology are strongly encouraged to apply for the NYSF program. Year 11 students who are interested in Science and Technology are encouraged to apply. For more information, including how to apply, go to the NYSF website: https://www.nysf.edu.au. Applications close on 31 May 2019 - you need to register your interest with the Science Coordinator, Ms Cook, by 5 April 2019.

Phoenix Kretschmer – Student On Sunday 10 March, students Zodie Bolic, Jael Mezieres and myself, accompanied by Mrs Janelle Agius and Mrs Juliene Benson attended the UN themed ‘More Powerful Together’ International Women’s Day Business Luncheon held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. Many influential people from the Mackay region came together to commemorate a day of empowerment for women. The event saw a presentation from guest speaker and brain specialist, Dr Helena Popovic, who provided the steps to keeping a healthy and stimulated brain, and a live stream of Sydney’s event was broadcasted. The finalists of the Young Women in Public Affairs award were announced, wherein all three St Patrick’s students were selected. We would like to acknowledge and thank Jennifer Hickey from the Tax Store Mackay for providing the tickets for our representatives to attend. The day brought the female community of Mackay together and the students left feeling a sense of empowerment and a duty to increase the status of women all around the globe.

Guylaine Leduc – French Teacher

Year 11 French students will have an examination in Week 5 during the exam block in Term 2. This is a combination response including reading comprehension and writing composition with a hundred minutes allocation . The speaking part of the examination will be done in class in Week 4.

Page | 9

Simon Korneliussen – Vocational and Educational Training Coordinator Kynaston Engineering Excursion St Patrick’s College Prepare for Work students were lucky to receive an invitation from Kynaston Engineering’s manager Robbie and Steve Young to visit their premises on Thursday 7 March. Students visited the Engineering workshops and gained an understanding in the careers of Fitter and Turner, Machinist and Boiler Making. An impressive range of equipment was on show for our students to see in action. Robbie encouraged our students to take up the opportunity for work experience in the holidays, to gain more of an understanding of the apprenticeships on offer later in the year. He also emphasised the importance of safety in the work place and importance of a great work ethic that can impress prospective employers. A big thank you to Robbie and Steve for providing this opportunity and I look forward to our students applying for work experience and potential apprenticeships in the future.

Edward Keogh – Aerospace teacher

In Aerospace Systems, the Year 11 students must build and modify model aeroplanes. The Model Aeronautical Association of Australia generously donated these models for the students. The challenge is to maximise flight time of the rubber band powered aircraft. Students assembled their aeroplanes and then testing of their models began. After a few failed attempts with the occasional aeroplane flying into the large tree in the grounds, a successful flight path was established for most of the students. While students have been testing their models, they have had to overcome many obstacles including; crash landings, broken wings and buildings. While all this drama has occurred, there have also been some resounding successes, with the current record for flight time being over 30 seconds, which is very impressive! The Wright brothers only managed 12 seconds in their first flight!

Page | 10

Chad Buckby- Sports Coordinator Aaron Payne Cup Round 1 v Mackay State High School Tuesday night, the St Patrick’s College Rugby League team played their first game of the 2019 Rugby League season. The team played their local rivals, Mackay State High School in the Aaron Payne Cup. The game between the two teams is always physical for the boys, but usually exciting for the crowd and this clash was no different. The St Pat’s team have started the season off to a great start with a 24 – 18 win. St Pat’s dominated the first stanza scoring 4 tries to 1 going into halftime with a 24 to 6 lead. The second half saw Mackay State High dominate possession and close the gap to 24 -18 with ten minutes still remaining on the clock. After a very tense ten minutes and some fantastic try line defences, the Patty’s boys took victory and the game finished with the scores unchanged. Andrew Farrell made some great runs in attack, while Ethan Sweet saved the game a few times with some great reads in defence. Congratulations to the Patties boys for putting in a great effort and for playing tough in the second half of the game. Mackay and Capricornia Representatives We have had a big term with Mackay and Capricornia Sports trials and I would like to congratulate the following students on their achievements in being in representative teams. Basketball Hockey Netball Rugby League Rugby Union Soccer Justin Cameron Clair Colwell Molli Johnson Hugh Arthur Andrew Farrell Sidney Connor

Kye Medhurst Brayden Finn Tate Brodel (Capricornia) Toby Strecker Ethan Kerr

Beau Milburn Joshua Hinton Sidney Connor

Chloe Milburn Shellynah Willacy Kamiah Grigg

Kaitlin Plahn Keeley Walker Braydon Johns (Capricornia)

Lucinda Smith Cody Kynaston (Capricornia)

Kai Wesche Ryan Morris

Tygah Ness-Wilson Mackenzie Novosel Toby Thorburn (Capricornia)

Softball Squash Swimming Touch Football Volleyball Fabiolla Lourie (Capricornia) Kyle Hoani-Vincent (Capicornia) Adam Smit (Capricornia) Bridie Fenech Chloe Venz

Kiara Sinn

Kerry Braby – Food and Nutrition Teacher

Year 11 Food and Nutrition students have almost finished their Unit 1 theory, which lays the foundations for their first Project Folio assessment piece. In Unit 1, students have completed a basic study of food nutrients, and specific study of vitamins, minerals and proteins. Theory work was complemented by numerous practical food experiments and investigations. Most recently, students compared the properties of eggwhites and aquafaba (chickpea liquid) and their application to the process of aeration. Students also gained practical knowledge of best practice in relation to preparation of food products from eggwhite/aquafaba foams, specifically meringue. The students ate their products for sensory profiling. Mr Geoghegan was invited to witness the students working on their experiments.

Page | 11

Kylie Bowman – United Nations Coordinator

United Nations Youth Queensland United Nations (UN) Youth Queensland is pleased to announce the UN Youth National Conference for 2019. This incredible leadership opportunity, hosted in Melbourne in July of this year, is available to all Queensland students. If you are interested in international relations, history, debating, the social science, or politics, or if you would be interested in representing your College on a national level, you are invited to apply. Do you want to make a difference in Australia? Need something to do over the school holidays? The 2019 UN Youth National Conference might be for you! National Conference brings together over 100 exceptional young people from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, to discuss a diverse range of international and local issues. This week long camp, held during the Term 2 break, is an excellent opportunity for any aspiring future leaders.

Jodie Zahmel – Early Childcare Teacher

First Aid, Early Childcare and CPR Last week, Year 11 and 12 students who study Early Child Care and Recreation were fortunate to participate and become competent in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). For Year 12 students, they completed their CPR refresher, whilst the Year 11 Recreation students completed the full course. The students completing their Certificate III in Early Childcare completed the full course with a modified component incorporating infant care. Glen Bowman from First Aid Queensland was the presenter/provider for each session. He is an extremely experienced paramedic with over 30 years’ field service. It was excellent to witness his presentation as he displays such enthusiasm and expertise for his profession. The students obtained great insight into how to be an efficient First Aider, when and how to use CPR correctly and hear about real life experiences within the Health sector. The First Aid course that the students complete is nationally recognised and is valid for three years. The CPR component is valid for twelve months and students stay current by completing the CPR refresher course each year. The College has a vested interest in providing such opportunities and we thank all students for their excellent behaviour and engagement! Once again, I wish to thank all students for participating.

Apply now to be a part of the Queensland Delegation. Applications close 31 March. For more Information visit: https://unyouth.org.au/event/national-conference/

Page | 12

Jonathon Pace – Information Technology Manager Hi Everyone! I hope you have had a great start to the year. I would like to give some advice on student owned laptops. If you are considering buying a laptop, I can help you with the specifications and how to purchase a unit that will last up to 4 years (ideal if going onto university from Year 12). My preference would be: Intel i5 processor, 8gig of RAM, 256gig Solid state drive (SSD), Intel HD Graphics, good battery life (longer than 6 hours) and extended warranty. An internal 5ghz Wireless adapter is much faster and more compatible with our school network, so please let the salesperson know that it is required. Microsoft Office is available FREE from our student section on our webpage. The direct Link: https://tinyurl.com/jr87yl4 (Log in with google docs username/password). This also comes with 1TB of OneDrive space so those assignments aren’t lost due to a failed USB or a failed laptop. Students are welcome to come down to the IT department if they aren’t sure how to obtain it. We are happy to help. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me via email ([email protected]) or 4994 8700.

Community Notices Free English classes Free English classes for eligible* students at Central Queensland University. Are you a recently arrived adult migrant? Do you need to improve your English for social, work or study purposes? CQU offers ongoing English classes throughout the year and you may be eligible* to study for free. *eligibility is subject to visa status For more information, contact Gizelle on 07 49 403 306 or email: [email protected]

Page | 13

Mercy College pre-registration for Year 7 2020 The first step in enrolling your current Year 6 student at Mercy College for the 2020 school year is to complete the pre-registration form. The second step is to collect an enrolment pack from Mercy College during our Enrolment Evening on Tuesday 7 May from 4.30pm - 7.30pm. The pre-registration form can be found on our website https://www.mercymackay.qld.edu.au

Page | 14