Pimlico State High School
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59-77 Fulham Road
Pimlico QLD 4812
Subscribe: https://pimlicoshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: principal@pimlicoshs.eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 4759 3444
Fax: 07 4759 3400

6 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Executive Principal’s Desk

Pimlico High’s recent Awards Night was a wonderful celebration of our students’ many and varied achievements across the 2017 school year. Seeing the remarkable accomplishments and performances of our students compressed into a few hours provided a powerful summary of students’ remarkable talents and successes. Congratulations again to all of our award recipients, in particular, Julia Ramsbotham, who was awarded Student of the Year.

Julia Ramsbotham was awarded Student of the Year

Our Awards Night was also a reminder of the dedication of the teachers, support staff, families and community members whose support is instrumental in our students’ achievements. Thank you to all the members of our community who have assisted and nurtured our students throughout 2017.

As well as acknowledging and celebrating the dedication and hard work of our students and our staff, this is the time of year when we also prepare to farewell members of our school community. In the coming week, we will farewell our 2017 Seniors. It has been a privilege to have this remarkable group of young men and women in our school community. I would like to thank them for their contribution to Pimlico High and wish them every success for their future lives and careers. I truly believe that our Year 12s are ready to go forward and make a positive and profound difference in our world.

As well as reflecting on the current school year as it rapidly draws to a close, these coming weeks are also an important time to plan for 2018 and the challenges, opportunities and priorities of the year ahead.

In my last newsletter article, I commended the reports prepared by the Foundation for Young Australians as excellent reading for parents and guardians. The disruptive impact of automation, globalisation and flexibility outlined in the FYA reports present both challenges and opportunities for how we prepare young people for their future lives and careers.

While trends and predictions around the rise of robots, off-shoring of jobs and under-employment feed into a negative narrative of the future challenges faced by our young people, it is the role of schools to assist students in tackling these and exploiting the many opportunities that are also created by these changing times.

In my address at our Awards Night, I referenced the research of Prof Yong Zhao, whose work closely aligns to the challenges and opportunities outlined in the Foundation for Young Australians reports.

Below is an excerpt from my Awards Night address in which I outline how Pimlico is seeking to harness the opportunities that Zhao identifies:

Best wishes

Joel Buchholz
Executive Principal

P&C Association

PSHS PAC Building

Our P&C Association needs your help in securing a much needed new PAC building for the school. With an election called for the 25th November, it would be timely to remind our local members of parliament of the school’s proposal and the need for an upgrade to our Performing Arts Facilities.

Please take a moment to read the letter below.

Just a couple of minutes of your time can make a big difference in ensuring our students have access to the facilities that they deserve.

The proposed PAC Building

Email Paula at pimlicopacbuilding@outlook.com if you would like more information on joining our PAC Building Working Group.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Mr Buchholz who is now officially the Executive Principal of our school.

Year 7 Enrolment

The queue for Year 7 enrolments again started the afternoon before, with parents camping out to ensure the best opportunity of enrolling their child into PSHS. For those parents camping out, the P&C again cooked a BBQ and delivered it, along with muffins, to those in the queue. Good Morning Coffee Trader also made coffee for the weary parents in the early hours of the morning. Thank you to all those who assisted with this event. The food and coffee were well received by those in line.

Our Executive Principal, Joel Buchholz, came by on his way to the airport early the next morning while our dedicated Deputy Principal, Denise Glasgow, stayed the night and regularly checked on those in the queue.

Symphony Annual Benefit Concert

The Annual Benefit Concert was held at George Kneipp Theatre, JCU on Friday 13 October. Well done to all those involved. Students, you did us proud once again with an outstanding performance. I am sure all who attended would agree with me - you would never expect such high standards from young people - WELL DONE. Special thanks to the hard working team that put the concert together. You did a fantastic job. All proceeds this year went to the charity, Street Swags.

Awards Night

Awards Night was held on Wednesday 25 October. It was a wonderful evening where we congratulated all those students who received awards. We have some very talented and high achieving students at Pimlico. With the dedicated support from both staff and family helping our students, they are on the right track to being the best they can be. Well done and thank you.

ARTSCAPE

ARTSCAPE was held again this year in the Art Block from Friday 20 October through to Sunday 22 October. The exhibition showcased the visual art and film student’s high achieving work. Well done to all those involved. Students - you did us proud, once again, with your outstanding work. I am sure all who attended the opening on Friday night would agree with me that it gets better and better each year Special thanks to the hard working team that put the exhibition together, you did a fantastic job.

Goodbye Seniors

A special thanks to all Year 12 parents who won't have any students continuing at Pimlico next year. Thank you for your support over the past 5 years. To the Year 12 students - we wish you all the very best for the future.

World Teachers Day

Friday 27 October was World Teachers' Day. Thank you, teachers, for all the hard work you put in and the dedication you show to our students so they can be the best they can be. World Teachers’ Day is a great reason for everyone to appreciate and thank for everything they do.

Tuckshop Day

On Friday 3 November, we celebrated Tuckshop Day. The P&C would like to acknowledge and thank the canteen staff and our tireless Canteen Convenor, Beverley Tomkins, for all their hard work and dedication. Without this amazing team, our tuckshop would not function as smoothly as it does. I would also like to thank all the volunteers that help every week at our tuckshop. Much of the fundraising the P&C does is through the canteen and all money raised by the canteen goes back to the school to make it a better and safer place for our students. Everyone is welcome to help at the canteen and no experience is required. It is great fun and a wonderful way to help support our school. Any queries can be directed to our Canteen Convenor, Bev Tomkins, on 4759 3432.

Calling for Volunteers

P&C Volunteering is a new venture the P&C is co-ordinating. If you would like to help, please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, John Skerratt, on 0421 874 002.

Position Vacancy

Fundraising Co-ordinator - Anyone who might be interested in considering this position, please email Debbie-Ann at pimlicopandcsecretary@outlook.com. A job description is available.

Pimlico Sailing

Pimlico Sailing recommenced this term for current members of the team. Sailing will be on selected Sunday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Information will be sent to team members by email. If you would like to be on the email list, please send a request to pimlicosailing@gmail.com.

For students who are new to Pimlico and would like to join the team, there will be recruitment and 'Discover Sailing' training at the start of Term 1 next year, ready for next year's inter-school competition

See you on the water!

Upcoming Meetings

Pimlico P&C:

The next P&C meeting will be our last meeting for the year. The next P&C Meeting will occur on Tuesday 21 November at 7:30pm in M-Block (beside PAC), so please come along. You are invited and welcome. If you have any specific topics that you would like to raise at the P&C meeting, would you please, in advance, email pandc@pimlicoshs.eq.edu.au so that the topic can be added to the meeting agenda.

Regards,

Margaret Secher
PSHS P&C President

Student Voice (Student Council)

$5 Formal

Written by Prabasha Thilakaratne – Student Council Vice-President

On the night of Wednesday 13 September, Student Council hosted our annual $5 Formal. Over 175 Year 12 students flooded into the PAC, dressed in the finest of Op-Shop fashion and a night of joy and laughter ensued. We danced, we sang and we watched in awe as Florence’s acapella group treated us to a spectacular performance. At one point, Damon and I even found ourselves on stage rapping love songs, yet again. The event raised significant funds for our digital noticeboard and more importantly, we gave back to our community by purchasing outfits from op-shops and then donating it back to the store after the night. By ‘opting for the op’, our grade has made a world of difference.

$5 Formal
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$5 Formal
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Earn & Learn

Written by the Junior Student Council

The Junior Student Council ran the Earn & Learn promotion for 2017, working tirelessly throughout the term to promote the program on year level parades, notices and care classes. During our lunch breaks, we collected stickers and ensured that the sticker sheets were filled in correctly. This year, the Junior Student Council were hoping to break the previous record of 12,000 stickers collected during the 2015 promotion. Thanks to the Pimlico community, we earned an impressive 18,660 stickers! We would sincerely like to thank the community for their support during this venture and we look forward to putting the points towards the purchase of school resources, such as stationery and sporting equipment.

18,660 stickers were collected as part of the Earn & Learn Program

BEST Breakfast

Mary and I had the opportunity to attend JCU’s BEST Breakfast, where the founders of Orange Sky Laundry, Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett shared the experiences of their journey as young entrepreneurs. We were inspired by their story of innovation and positivity and were moved by how ordinary people can make such a profound difference to the world. Their presentation taught us that, no matter how insignificant an idea may be and no matter how many obstacles you have to overcome, if you are passionate, you can make a difference. We hope they meet their goal of a mobile van to provide shower and laundry facilities for Townsville’s homeless by the end of this year.

Written by Diya Suresh, Year 12

Our Year 11 leaders, Matthew, Michelle and Neilin, also had the opportunity to attend a workshop led by Orange Sky Australia.

Our Year 11 leaders returned full of energy and passion to help those less fortunate. As Seniors in 2018, these students will be involved in various fundraising ventures and will have the opportunity to donate money to several worthy causes, such as Orange Sky Laundry.

Year 11 Captains with Ms Rimmer and the Orange Sky founders

Tours and Camps

USA & Canada Study Tour

Our group of forty students recently returned from the USA and Canada Study Tour. This was, by far, the busiest and most full-on tour we have ever done. We covered a huge number of activities and crammed much into our 16 day adventure.

The behaviour of all of the students was excellent. They were great ambassadors for their families and our school.

Some of the highlights on the tour included:

  • Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, where we spent time with a grizzly and black bear. We also watched a killer bird show and admired the amazing scenery in Canada.
  • Watching an ice hockey game, where we got to support the local team - the Langley Rivermen. We discovered that ice hockey consists of fighting, big hits and a little bit of ice skating.
  • Touring Seattle where we visited the Pacific Science Centre, the Pop Culture Museum and the Space Needle.
  • Spending a day at the Boeing Aviation Centre. We toured the Boeing factory where we saw a 777 and 787 being assembled. We also did a workshop on robotics and drones.
  • Visiting the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where we learnt about their programs to help the disadvantaged, inventing new health products and developing solutions to the world’s major health problems.
  • We were the first group to ever tour the Google X Complex. Google X is the secret research-and-development facility founded by Google. We saw the Waymo self-driving car project, including the latest top secret car which we saw later on the streets of Santa Clara.
  • Visiting all of the important Silicon Valley sites – Apple, Google and Facebook.
  • A tour of Stanford University. Many of our students are now keen to attend at the bargain price of $100,000 per year for any degree.
  • Visiting Los Gatos High School, where our students did a presentation on Australia and our Global Education programs to the US students. Our students then went out to dinner with the Los Gatos students and spent the next night at the Halloween Night at the Great America Theme Park.
  • Test driving the Tesla cars – or at least sitting in them. We can all dream about owning a $125,000 car.
  • A fun 4 hour bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, where some students applied their new found bike riding skills. We all survived.
  • A tour of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This facility assembles their various space vehicles such as Voyager I, Voyager II, the MARS Rovers and Cassini-Huygens. We visited the mission control centre which oversees the 17 spacecraft and 10 major instruments carrying out planetary, Earth science and space-based astronomy missions at the moment.
  • A visit to the Gnomon Academy of Visual Effects, Games and Animation. Gnomon specializes in computer graphics education for careers in the entertainment industry. Its graduates are in high demand and work on all of the major movies and the major game developments.

Of course, there were also the other aspects of the tour, including:

  • Shopping
  • The gift shop at the Space Shuttle display (we think some students didn’t actually see the space shuttle – it was the big white and black thing next to the gift shop).
  • Disneyland – the happiest place on earth - 11 hours of dodging mobility scooters, prams and lining up.
  • American food – orange cheese, burgers, burgers, burgers, fries, fries and humongous drinks.
  • Canada – it isn’t America
  • Canadian people – they are not American
  • Canadian lumberjacks – They are not Americans and carry axes, not guns
  • Most of us going to prison – Alcatraz
  • Numerous lost phones – two lost before we even left the country

A big thanks to Ms Smith, Mrs McCallum and Mrs Pontifex for looking after our forty students and ensuring they all returned home safely. A special mention to Ms Smith for doing the tour with a dodgy knee and often on crutches – she was still faster than the students.

Thank you to our students and parents for their support and ensuring the trip went so well. Our students really bonded together well, made new friends easily, looked after each other and ensured everyone was truly welcomed in our group.

USA & Canada Study Tour
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USA & Canada Study Tour
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Europe Study Tour 2018

Our USA and Canada Study Tour was such a success, we are going to do it all again.

The 2018 Study Tour will be a 17-day journey through Europe. There are a number of options we are looking at, country wise, including Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Spain. This tour will focus on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. There will also be a return to our original focus of our Study Tours, with a visit to the Western Front to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.

Highlights of the tour may include a tour of the BMW plant, a visit to the European Space Operations Centre, chocolate shops in Ypres, CERN – home of the Large Hadron Collider, the United Nations in Geneva, participation in the Menin Gate Service, a visit to Villers Bretonneux, a behind the scenes tour of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Disneyland plus tours of the major cities including Munich, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Paris.

Further details can be found in the Study Tour Booklet, which can be collected from M Block or the Front Office. The 2018 Study Tour Information Night will be held on Tuesday 7 November at 7pm in the PAC.

Planning is underway for the 2018 European Study Tour

Tasmania Music Tour

A group of our music students travelled to Tasmania over the September school holidays for Pimlico’s Annual Music Tour. The students and staff embraced the cold weather as they took in the sights of Tasmania and performed for captivated audiences. Their performances included singing at the famous Salamanca Markets, performing for East Launceston Primary School and concert performances at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and St David’s Cathedral. When the students weren’t performing or participating in workshops and masterclasses, they enjoyed some down time where they were able to explore Tasmania. Some of the places they visited included the Tasman Peninsular, Port Arthur, Isle of the Dead, Cataract Gorge, Richmond Historical Village, ZooDo and Mount Wellington. The group also made sure they tasted the best Tasmania had to offer, with visits to Federation Chocolate, Devils Kitchen, Ashgrove Cheese Factory and Anvers Chocolate Truffle Factory. Overall, it was a fantastic tour and the students represented the school exceptionally.

Thank you to the staff who gave up their school holidays to accompany the students. Thank you also to Irene Temple and her team for their fundraising efforts making and selling honey puffs!

Tasmania Music Tour
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Tasmania Music Tour
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Year 11 Leadership Camp

Written by Chase Pontifex, Year 11

To me, going on Leadership Camp was one of the best decisions I have made in Year 11. This trip to Magnetic Island lasted three days and has definitely become one of my fondest memories of high school. Whether it being the exciting, team building exercising such as the “Race around Picnic Bay” or the meritoriously planned games which pitted each colour team against one another, Leadership Camp has brought our cohort closer together - we all instantly became friends.

We learnt many life lessons and were taught about what it means to be a Leader of Pimlico State High School. We also realised that as the senior students of 2018, we will all be the leaders of our school, official position or not, and we all have the chance to have an impact - to make a world of difference - if we put our minds to it.

In summary, Leadership Camp, was a place to learn, make friendships and share fond memories, which will stay with us, the Year 11’s of 2017, forever.

Year 11 Leadership Camp
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Year 11 Leadership Camp
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Around the Grounds

Awards Night

Pimlico’s Annual Awards Night took place on Wednesday 25 October. The night is not only a wonderful celebration of our students’ achievements across academics, sport, citizenship and the arts, but an amazing and entertaining showcase of their diverse talents. Congratulations to all the students who received awards on the evening. Congratulations, in particular, to the following students who received Special Awards:

Vocational Education Award – Jesse Keating
School Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Michael Owens
AUSIMM Award – Chase Pontifex
JCU School of Engineering Award – Byron Ebenestelli and Jarrod Ginger
CQU Young Global Citizen of the Year – Zoe van de Wall
Pierre de Coubertin Award – Kirsty Stevens
Caltex All Rounder – Breiana Whitehead
Musician of the Year – Julia Ramsbotham
Aboriginal & Islander Cultural Award – Damon Johnson
ADF Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award – Drew Hinds & Julia Ramsbotham
Citizenship Awards – Damon Johnson, Emily Mills, Holly Radford, Vipra Singh, Perry Taylor, Prabasha Thilakaratne and Zoe van de Wall
Student of the Year – Julia Ramsbotham

2017 Awards Night
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2017 Awards Night
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Student Achievements

Sporting Achievements

Rowing State Championships

Following his winning streak at the recent All Schools Regatta, former International Student, Lorenzo Bianco, created history by representing Pimlico State High at the Rowing State Championship in Rockhampton on Friday 15 September.

Lorenzo finished a creditable 5th in the final of the Boys Open Single making him 5th fastest school boy in the state. What a legend! The State Championships is the largest rowing event on the Queensland Calendar and a great experience for all who compete.

The International Student Program are proud of Lorenzo’s outstanding achievements and wish him all the best with his future sporting success back home in Italy.

Lorenzo Bianco competing at All Schools Regatta

Athletics

Well done to all the students who represented Pimlico and Northern at the State Track and Field championships in early October.

Cricket

Congratulations to Shahzaib Farhan and Riley Miller who have been selected to represent North Queensland at the U14 Queensland State School Cricket championships.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected in the North Queensland club representative teams:

U13 - Wesley James and Jack Hunter
U14 - Shahzaib Farhan
U15 - Riley Miller (Shadow)

Swimming

Earlier this year, Jack Hendy competed at the Queensland State High School Championships. Jack received a silver medal in the 17-19 year age group for 50m Backstroke. Jack also made the finals in 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke. Well done, Jack.

Jack Hendy at the QLD State High School Championships

School Surf League

Congratulations to Riley de Rooy, who participated in the School Surf League on Thursday October 12. Riley placed 1st in the U15 age group.

Super Moto and Road Racing

Good luck to Ryan Moscardini who will be participating at the National Titles for Super Moto and Road Racing in Mid-November.

Australian National Chemistry Quiz

Earlier this year, 49 Pimlico students competed in this nation wide competition. 27 of our students received certificates. Results for the competition are shown below:

5 students received a High Distinction Certificate

  • Year 8 - Amy Kim
  • Year 9 – Max Robson
  • Year 10 – Rayan Bakker, Erin McConnell
  • Year 11 – Matthew Newell

10 students received a Distinction Certificate

  • Year 9 - Gianni Adcock, Madison Noseda
  • Year 10 – Drew Hinds
  • Year 11 – Sophie McGregor, Jeong Oh Park, Ayoka Wong
  • Year 12 – Byron Ebenestelli, Holly Radford, Chelsea Royan, Diya Suresh

12 students received a Credit Certificate

  • Year 8 – Bree Walker
  • Year 9 – Francesca Adcock, Sarah Fields, Sinali Fonseka
  • Year 10 – Georgia Jaworski, Kristin Renall, Amy Tomlinson
  • Year 11 – Aleena Biju, Emmanuel Lobis, Sarah Evans
  • Year 12 – Linda Mubamba, Prabasha Thilakaratne

Australian National Chemistry Quiz winners

Constitutional Convention

On Tuesday 31 October, the NQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Zone Schools Constitutional Convention took place at JCU. It was a clean sweep for Pimlico, as Victoria Blundell took out the Indigenous Constitutional Convention, and Neilin Combrinck won the non-indigenous competition. These students will join the team of Queensland delegates in Canberra next year at the National Convention. Well done to all the students who competed.

Since 1995, Constitutional Conventions have occurred across the nation to educate senior students about the Australian Constitution and how it guides our democracy.

Congratulations to all students who competed at the Constitutional Convention

French Speech Competition

Congratulations to the Pimlico students who competed in the Townsville French Speech Competition, organised by Alliance Francaise de Townsville on Thursday 12 October. Our senior students performed very well. Kirsten Dunk placed 2nd in the Year 11 competition, whilst Pimlico students took out every place in the Year 12 competition. Congratulations to Twisha Bokhoree who came 1st, as well as Macy Atkinson and Kirsty Stevens who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Year 12 French Speech Competition Winners

Japanese Immersion Programs

Congratulations to one of students, Erin McConnell, who has been selected to participate in the STEM Student Exchange Program to Hiroshima and Kyoto in December.

Another of our students, Kyaw Za Min, has also been selected for the Tokyo Immersion Program, which will also run during December.

Erin and Kyaw will travel to Tokyo in December

Opti-Minds

On Friday 13 October, thirteen Pimlico SHS students had the privilege of travelling to Brisbane for the Opti-Minds State Finals. Opti-Minds is a creative problem-solving challenge, with students working in teams to produce solutions in the areas of Language/Literature, Science/Engineering and Social Sciences. After a spectacular effort at the Opti-Minds Townsville Regional Challenge in August, our school was given the opportunity to field three teams at the State Finals – two in the Science/Engineering division and one in the Social Science division. Schools from across the state were represented, with more than 800 students in attendance at the State Finals.

The weekend kicked off with the non-competitive “Opti-Vision Forum” - an opportunity for students to interact with others from across the state and discuss ideas for how they, as the future change-makers of our country, could improve our communities. Two of our Pimlico teams were honoured to have their ideas voted as being of particular value to all of the students in attendance.

The following day, the beginning of the challenge was greeted with nervous anticipation by our teams. All three teams put in remarkable performances and we have received much positive feedback from other schools and teachers about the teamwork and positivity our students displayed. Our Social Sciences team won first place in their age division and are now proud holders of the State Title for 2017. Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work in Opti-Minds 2017 and most particularly to our winning team: Emily, Vipra, Jake, Rowena, Michael and Jacob.

Opti-Minds State Finals

Lions Youth of the Year

On Tuesday 17 October, eleven Year 11 students entered Lions' Youth of the Year. Congratulations to Casey Feltham, Elena James, Matthew Newell, Flony Anjilivelil, Latina Bire, Zhane Walker, Sarah Wright, Neilin Combrinck, Ayoka Wong, Emily Robson and Annabel Wright who entered the competition. Matthew Newell won the Public Speaking Section and Emily Robson was the overall winner. The students had to complete a 20 minute individual interview, 2 impromptu orals on no notice of topic and a 5 minute prepared speech. Thanks to Debra Backer, Joanne Keune and Alice Bartholomew from the National Bank who were our judges.

The judges commented on the high calibre of the students involved. Emily Robson will now go onto the next round of the competition.

Lions Youth of the Year
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Lions Youth of the Year
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Pimlico Sport

Awards Night

Congratulations to all those who received Sporting Awards at our Annual Awards Night. The following students received Full Blue and Half Blue Awards for their sporting achievements in 2017.

Full Blue

Half Blue

AFL

Madison Goodwin

AFL

Isaac Gillett

Taekwondo

Madison Goodwin

AFL

Jesse Quilliam

Athletics

Shahzaib Farhan

Athletics

Emily Robson

Athletics

Portia Reeson

Athletics

Harry Drovandi

Cricket

Shahzaib Farhan

Athletics

Talithia Gilbert

Basketball

Hayden Edmonds

Athletics

Paris Leahy

Football

James Newell

Athletics

Lachlan Mills

Futsal

Brendan Ridep-Morris

Athletics

Madison Noseda

Grid Iron

Grant Bisson

Athletics

Ayoka Wong

Grid Iron

Gill Ellicott

Basketball

Max Norton

Hockey

Emily Robson

Cricket

Alex Maher

Road Racing

Jack Pemberton

Cross Country

Harry Drovandi

Sailing

Chelseann Osborne

Cross Country

Elena James

Sailing

Jamie Torpelund

Cross Country

Lara Skerratt

Sailing

Breiana Whitehead

Cross Country

Baiey Sloman

Sailing

Scott Whitehead

Football

Talithia Gilbert

Swimming

Jack Hendy

Football

Sarah Evans

Football

Harrison Linning

Football

Hayden Mellish

Football

Isabella Taylor

Golf

Brock Carnes

Golf

William Hunter

Golf

Tahnee Marshall

Hockey

Gypsy Aston

Hockey

Angus Shephard

Netball

Corrine Hiller

Rugby League

Otis Flomo

Sailing

Priyanka Bakker

Sailing

Kiara Dawson

Sailing

Jacob Mills

Tennis

Saskia Anindita

Touch

Connor Wheeler

Triathlon

Riley Smithers

Water Polo

Emily de Rooy

Water Polo

Emma Wootton

Water Polo

Ayoka Wong

Congratulations to Royal House who took out House Champions for 2017.

Royal House Captains accepting the House Champions Trophy

Finally, a huge congratulations to Emily de Rooy, who was named Sportswoman of the Year, and Max Norton, who was named Sportsman of the Year.

Emily & Max accepting their awards for Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year

Pimlico Music

Primary Schools Concert

Thank you to all the students who performed at the end of term 'Primary Schools Concert'. This has become an annual event which students in the primary schools talk about for years to come. The inspiration they receive is a credit to our students and staff.

QSO Workshop

During Week 1 of Term, our String, Woodwind and Brass students were invited to participate in workshops with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, as part of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Tour. The students had a great time working with different musicians and conductors, concluding with a small concert to showcase what they had learnt.

Symphony Annual Benefit Concert

What an amazing evening of music. Students from Pimlico Symphony Orchestra and Pimlico Voices presented a beautiful evening of music, which included music from King Kong, Beethoven, Mozart and Star Trek, just to name a few. Thank you to Florence and Julia for their beautiful solos and to all the performers of the night. We raised over $6,500 which, this year, will go to the charity Street Swags. Street Swags is an organisation who make and provide swags and sanitary items for the less fortunate people doing it tough on the streets.

Pimlico Symphony Orchestra Benefit Concert
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Pimlico Symphony Orchestra Benefit Concert
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Spotlight On – ‘Visual Art’

ARTSCAPE

Pimlico’s annual exhibition of the works of our Visual Art and Film, Television and New Media students was a great success. Each year, the exhibition showcases the remarkable creativity, skill and hard work of our arts students and the dedication and commitment of our arts teachers.

The grand opening of the ARTSCAPE Exhibition took place on the evening of Friday 20 October. Guests were treated to refreshments and entertainment, including students dressed as everyone’s favourite Disney characters – which was this year’s theme. The awards for most outstanding art works in each year level were then presented. Finally the winners of the prestigious Kerrie James Prize were awarded. Congratulations to the following students:

Most Outstanding Year 7 Art

Maggie Stephens

Most Outstanding Year 8 Art

Elora Phillis

Most Outstanding Year 9 Art

Emily McDonald

Most Outstanding Year 10 Art

Madalyn Mears

Most Outstanding Year 11 Art

Georgia Badoino

Most Outstanding Year 11 VAP

Sienn Dorrick

Most Outstanding Year 12 Art

Alison Cowan

Most Outstanding Year 12 VAP

Layla Bengoa

Kerrie James Prize

Eden Newcombe

Kerrie James Prize

Jade Pagan

ARTSCAPE Winners 2017
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ARTSCAPE Winners 2017
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Year 12 Visual Art

During Term 3, the Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice students worked with local artist Claudia Williams to produce wearable art garments which formed part of their assessment. The students were highly motivated and enjoyed working alongside Claudia to produce their work. Claudia shared her knowledge of industry standard skills, resources and ideas in using recyclable materials. Examples can be seen below which explore contemporary issues affecting society and the environment.

Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice work

Spotlight On – ‘Languages’

Hermit Park Transition Day

Written by Lindsay Brinkman, Year 9

On Wednesday 4 October, Pimlico hosted a Global Studies Enrichment Day with Year 6 students from Hermit Park State School. We worked with 3 different groups over the course of the afternoon. At first, the Hermit Park students were bewildered by the TFS kitchens, before realising that they would be cooking! Each group was split into 2 and spread throughout the kitchens. The students were delighted to find out that they would be preparing temaki-zushi and Belgian waffles. My peers and I assisted the students to prepare the food, under the instruction and watchful eyes of Madamoiselle McConochie, Frau Von Mellenthin and Wright Sensei. After the Year 6’s prepared their lunch banquet, they shared the French/German inspired waffles and signature Japanese temaki-zushi (some with a fair amount of wasabi!). There was no doubt that they enjoyed the session, with gleaming eyes and full bellies! We look forward to seeing some of the students as our new Year 7’s next year. Thank you to our Year 7 ex Hermit Park SS students who supported the Year 6s during their visit to the school.

Year 6 Students from Hermit Park SS enjoy a Global Studies Enrichment Day at Pimlico

Japan Study Tour

Written by Maya Baxter, Year 10

Over the September holidays, I spent 14 days experiencing an amazing cultural immersion study tour in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. I was one of three Queensland students selected for this incredible opportunity and while we travelled as a group to and from Japan, upon arrival we said our goodbyes and didn’t see each other for the entirety of the trip. I stayed with a wonderfully welcoming family, the Takasakis, the loveliest people you could ever meet. My family (mother, father, host sister and brother) immediately accepted me and treated me like I was a part of their family. I was very surprised to find that my host father, Javid, was Turkish. Even though the family all spoke fluent Japanese, my host sister Sara was often misjudged by her community, who mistook her for a tourist and she seemed to surprise cashiers and shop assistants by communicating in untainted Japanese. Sara was the only person in the household who spoke any English and often Javid decided to switch languages to Turkish when I didn’t understand what they were saying in Japanese, because he thought that I might understand that better! Sara and I managed to communicate very well through ‘Japlish’, a little Japanese and a little English to meet each other half way.

Over the two weeks, I attended Urawa Gakuin High School, a prestigious school in the prefectures capital city. As my host family lived in a different city, we had to wake up at 5am every morning to leave the house at 6am, catch our first train at 6.10am, change trains constantly, then walk to a bus stop at 8.00am to finally arrive at school at 8.30am. While school technically finishes at 4pm, after all students complete their cleaning duties, each student is then involved in their own ‘club’ activity until 6pm. The clubs ranged from tennis club, baseball, dance, cheerleading, tea ceremony club, etc. Sara, along with many other students in our class, attended an extra 1.5 hour long class run by a Japanese English Professor that prepared them for their big English exam at the end of the year. I was very surprised that they went to this class, as they already study two separate English subjects each day.

My 2 weeks were extremely busy and the days were very long, as we usually arrived home from school at 8pm, then prepared for dinner. However, I had an amazing time and gained a thorough understanding of daily life as a Japanese teenager. There was the same humour and sneaky mucking about in class too and they all made me laugh quite a bit! My family took me to temple, shopping districts and Disneyland and were anxious I didn’t miss seeing anything they could possibly show me. We were quite sad to say goodbye, but I look forward to seeing them again in Australia and hopefully again one day in Japan.

Otsukimi Party

The Australia Japan Society Townsville (AJST) reformed recently and hosted its first event for 2017 - the Otsukimi Party. ‘Tsukimi’ or ‘Otsukimi’ translates to mean ‘moon-viewing’ and refers to the Japanese festival of honouring the autumn moon. When the festival was introduced to Japan from China about 1,000 years ago, the custom of appreciating the moon whilst holding a party formed, and was named appropriately as the ‘Moon Appreciation Party’.

Festivals dedicated to the moon have a long history in Japan. During the Heian period, elements of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival were introduced to Japan. The custom is thought to have originated with Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period, who would gather to recite poetry under the full moon and hold moon-viewing events aboard boats in order to view the moon’s reflection on the surface of the water.

On the evening of the full moon, it is traditional to gather in a place where the moon can be seen clearly, decorate the scene with festive lanterns and serve white round rice dumplings (known as Tsukimi dango and made in the shape of the full moon) with other seasonal foods. Offerings to the moon were also made for an abundant harvest.

In Townsville, we celebrated on the Strand and it was a chance for friends, family and students to meet and mingle, have something to eat, watch taiko (drumming performances), try the mochi Moon cake, wear a yukata and try a variety of popular children’s games.

Townsville Otsukimi Party

‘A Trip to Japan’

Written by Jasmine Mahony, Year 10

During June 2017, I was given the incredible opportunity to live in Tokyo, Japan for two weeks as part of the Global Citizens of the Future Tokyo Study Tour. I was gifted with a family who were incredibly kind and generous! I quickly became attached to my family of four - my gentle, yet bold, host sister, my outgoing, youthful host mother, my wise, studious host father and the shy and listless housecat. Everyone swiftly accepted me as a member of the household, introducing me to extended family and friends and introducing me to the Japanese culture they held so dear to them.

For the first week I travelled to school with my host sister, Himari, either by foot, or chasing the bus down. My family had little knowledge of the English language, so I had to adapt quickly when it came to communication. Before school, I would meet up with the other selected Australian students and bask in the English language before heading to class where we were educated on different STEM subjects such as Maths, Physics and Technology in the Japanese language.

On certain days, our class would go on field trips that aligned with Japanese culture and STEM education, such as various shrines, the Japanese space station and Softbank. During these trips, the full extent of technology was pushed to the limits, especially when it came to robots.

On our final day, many of us burst into tears when we said our farewell to our buddies. This was an incredible experience that I will remember forever.

Student Health, Wellbeing & Development

From the School Based Youth Health Nurse

Stressing out…

We all are stressed at one time or another. It’s a natural response when we face a dangerous or difficult situation. Stress can make us feel overwhelmed and can negatively impact our health and wellbeing. You may have noticed the stress levels in your young person rising as assessments are due, exams loom and the end of year rapidly approaches. Seeing your young person stressed can, in turn, make you stressed too! So what can you do about it? First, identify the cause of the stress. Then, look at management options which deal directly with the source of the stress. Inspirational (and fun!) ideas for stress-busting techniques are available from

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Stress-busters

If stress is negatively affecting the life of your young person, I encourage them to come and see me at school, or alternatively see your GP.

Melissa, School Based Youth Health Nurse.
Working days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, alternate Thursdays.

From the Guidance Officer

Changing Subjects for 2018

Students in Years 9 & 11 wishing to change subjects for Years 10 and 11 should contact the Guidance Office. Year 9 students require a note from parents/guardians, while students in Year 11 are required to obtain a ‘subject change form’ from the Guidance Office. This must be done before the end of the year to maximise the chance of gaining a place for the beginning of the new school year. Forms need to be signed by the appropriate teachers and parent/guardian before requests are considered.

Tertiary Entrance

To date, a large percentage of the Year 12 cohort have applied for a place at a tertiary institute, including TAFE, through the QTAC website. Applications are still open. View page 21 of the Year 12 QTAC Guide for KEY DATES FOR OFFER ROUNDS, DOCUMENTATION AND CHANGE OF PREFERENCES. Please consider ‘PATHWAY COURSES’ as 5th and 6th preferences. These are courses that will help you to upgrade into a course you really want. See page 8 of the QTAC guide and visit the following link for application information.

http://www.qtac.edu.au

Bursary

For Year 10 students going into Year 11, 2018. The RSL will be awarding two bursaries on the results obtained in Year 10 for the 2018 school year to children and/or grandchildren of financial service or club members of the RSL Townsville branch. See the Guidance Office for an application form. Applications close 18 December, 2017.

Scholarships

Australian National University (ANU) Tuckwell Scholarships close March 2018 for the 2018 Year 12 cohort of students. The Tuckwell Scholarship allows students to study in any discipline offered at ANU for up to five years. As part of the program, scholars also received a wide range of academic and emotional support from the Fellows, their peers and the staff of the program. See the following link for application details.

https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/scholarship

Scartwater Education Trust and Scartwater and Cunningham Scholarships are awarded to the children and grandchildren of eligible returned service men and women who have overseas wartime service with the Australian armed forces. Immediately prior to enlistment, the residential address must be between Proserpine and Innisfail and back to the Western border, or returned servicemen and women who have permanently resided in the Scartwater area for not less than 15 years. Eligible students in Year 12 may apply for tertiary scholarships valued at approximately $2,000pa. The closing date is November 30, 2017. Further information and copies of the application can be made at the Townsville RSL on 47599511 or visiting the Guidance Office at school.

Scholarships are not just for high achievers. There are scholarships for all circumstances. An extensive list is available at the following link. Go to the awards and scholarships section.

http://www.myfuture.edu.au

The Good Universities Guide highlights scholarships available in Australia. Visit the following link to investigate.

http://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/scholarships

The Hawker Scholarships valued at up to $50,000 over three years, perpetuates the memory of scholar, soldier and pastoralist Charles Allen Seymour Hawker and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected statesmen. Selection is largely based on personal qualities and demonstrated leadership, as well as educational ability. Applications open 4 December and close 5 January, 2018. Information and application form are available at:

http://www.hawkerscholarship.org

The ACS Foundation also offers a full array of scholarships across industry sectors.

http://www.acsfoundation.com.au

www.graduatecareers.com.au offers a superb overview of research and statistics of graduate destinations provided by the graduate careers council of Australia.

http://www.graduatecareers.com.au

There are also a number of scholarships available through JCU:

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/arrow-energy-jcu-go-further-indigenous-tertiary-scholarships

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/commonwealth-scholarships-for-indigenous-students

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/hugh-alexander-grierson-trust-scholarship

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/morey-scholarship

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/richard-hays-foundation-dean-of-medicine-australian-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-bursary

https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships-@-jcu/search/the-wood-scholarship

Apprenticeships

Townsville City Council

Protech Townsville

Protech are seeking candidates for local trade apprenticeships commencing in early 2018. There are a variety of apprenticeships available including:

Boilermakers - Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication) (4 years)
Electrician - Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (4 years)
Diesel Fitter - Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology (4 years)
Fitter & Turner - Certificate III in Engineering Mechanical Trade (Fitting & Turning) (4 years)
HCV Mechanic - Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology (4 years)
Successful candidates must have the right to work in Australia, complete a pre-employment medical and pass a DRUG AND ALCOHOL screen.

Early school leavers, disadvantaged job seekers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are encouraged to apply.

Should you be interested in the above positions, please forward your current resume with two contactable references by clicking the APPLY NOW button.

https://www.seek.com.au/job-apply/34742127

Pacific Marine Group

About PMG - Based in Townsville, Pacific Marine Group (PMG) is a marine contractor at the forefront of the Maritime Industry in Northern Australia and the Pacific Rim. With approximately 120 employees working in the main divisions of Marine, Diving and Construction, PMG prides itself on its ability to efficiently undertake work in each of these areas as well as complete larger projects integrating all divisions of the business.

PMG was recently awarded the 2017 NQ Medium Employer of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards!

About the role - Pacific Marine Group are calling for applications from those seeking an apprenticeship in the following fields:

Certificate III – Engineering (Fitter)
Certificate III – Fabrication (Boilermaker)

Our competency based program consists of on the job practical learning and off-site training with TAFE Queensland North. You will be exposed to a variety of environments as we rotate you throughout our operations to develop your skills and offer the best possible learning outcomes of your trade.

The above positions will report to the respective supervisors of each division and are for a fixed term of the apprenticeship only. Successful applications will be required to undertake practical tasks required to obtain their apprenticeship and participate on projects when and if required.

About the candidate - We are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals committed to gaining a nationally recognised qualification whilst being provided the right skills, guidance and professional development that can lead to exciting career opportunities.

The right candidate will possess a great work ethic, be punctual and reliable and have a genuine interest in completing their apprenticeship term in a fantastic and supportive working environment.

Application Process - Send us a complete resume and a cover letter with personal details, school and work experience to date. Please ensure you include any extracurricular achievements and added relevant information. Your cover letter will need to outline why undertaking either a Certificate III – Engineering (Fitter) or Certificate III – Fabrication (Boilermaker) appeals to you.

Send your resume and cover letter directly to our email at hr@pacificmarinegroup.com.au before 5pm, Sunday 19th November 2017.

Further Useful Career Information Websites

http://www.joboutlook.gov.au

http://www.studyassist.gov.au

http://www.trainandemploy.qld.gov.au

http://www.myuniversity.gov.au

http://www.humanservices.gov.au

Bromwyn Lawry
Guidance Officer