In this issue

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2019 Year 3-12 Academic Awards night on Wednesday 13 November. It was an evening where student achievement was celebrated and the evening highlighted the enormity of opportunities that Calamvale Community College has to offer.

With special guests, Dr Jim Chalmers, Honourable Leanne Enoch, Councillor Angela Owen, Mr Alan Jones, Mr Stephens Biggs  all in attendance, it was evident that CCC holds a special place in the heart of many highly regarded community members.

Executive Principal – Lisa Starmer, Mike Butler – Council Chair and Lisa Mason – Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association President and gave rousing presentations about how spectacular 2019 has been. Special thanks must be given to our Council members (who have led the strategic direction of the school), P&C members (who have raised a phenomenal $80 000 for the College this year), our teachers and our staff members, for providing so many opportunities for our students.

Congratulations to all of our students who received awards on the night. Our special award winners for 2019 are as follows:

Over 4 weeks, 10 Year 5 students each from Algester Primary School, Sunnybank Hills Primary School and Calamvale Community College (CCC), participated in a Design Challenge. Students used the design process to re-design a product that meet the features of their design brief. In teams of 5 students unpacked the design brief and found themselves tasked with:

• re-designing a product: either it’s function, appearance, materials or content,
• appealing to target audience of 8-15 year olds of any context,
• environmental friendly through: materials, manufacturing, transportation, endo of life disposal,
• creating a prototype.

Students worked hard during each of the four, ninety minute workshops and back at school, in order to be able to demonstrate: the originality of their idea, creativity- through their idea, prototype and presentation, their collaboration and how their idea helped others (global competence).

The Design Challenge culminated in each team pitching their idea in both an informal and formal context to parents and teachers with informal conversations, demonstrations and a short presentation to the whole audience. The Design Challenge was facilitated by teachers from the Technology Faculty of CCC.

Calamvale C.C. Year Prep Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 1 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 2 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 3 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 4 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 5 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 6 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 7 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 8 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 9 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 10 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 11 Booklist 2019

Calamvale C.C. Year 12 Booklist 2019

After an extensive nomination process that involved an application form, a presentation to their peers on assembly plus an interview and vote, our 2020 College and International Captains were announced a few weeks ago.  Congratulations to the following students:

Secondary College Captains: Kayla Tafe, Eunice Oyet, Patrick Brian-Nillson and Jack Semini

Kayla Tafe

Eunice Oyet

Patrick Brian-Nillson

Jack Semini

Junior School Captains: Brendan Sander and Batoul Soliman

Brandan Sander

Batoul Soliman

Junior School Vice Captains: Laura Braitling and Hannah Marsden

Laura Braitling

Hannah Marsden

Junior School International Captain: Jasbaani Dhillon

Jasbaani Dhillon

We look forward to your leadership, projects and legacy in 2020.

2019 was another big year for the International team, increasing numbers of International students and international study tour groups and visitors. This included visiting culinary chefs from Indonesia which was a highlight.

Many thanks to the staff of CCC who assisted the many programs and supported the international students.

Happy Holidays!

Felices Fiestas!

Selamat Hari Raya!

Tanoshii Kurisumaso Wo!

Meri Kirihimete!

Ji Ri Yu Kuai!

Sawadee Pee Mai!

Jeulgeoun Hyuil!

Ngay Le Vui Ve!

DARE to Ignite – an opportunity for students to share their learning journey and actions they have taken to extend their learning beyond the classroom and a simple assessment task.  This was a calendar highlight for this term with students from Year 2 to 11 showcasing various aspects of their projects for the year.

Students spoke passionately, proudly and articulately to a wide audience in an interactive manner, demonstrating their confidence and knowledge and reflections.  There were groups demonstrating solar powered toy cars, recycling, simulated games, art from plastic, robots fighting, environmental advocacy projects and fundraisers, mental health awareness, art experimenting, a high tea and even a 4D dystopian experience (not for the faint-hearted!) based on the novel 1984.

This was an initiative for students to demonstrate their curriculum learning in PYP and APEX, EDGE and iTime projects, CAS and student leadership.  Thank you to the teachers, coordinators, HoPs and Deputy Principals who helped put this event together and the staff and families who attended and interacted with our students.   These young people are to be commended for being risk-takers, principled communicators.

Graduation Day is a rite of passage for our Year 6 students, marking the end of a phase of learning and opening the door to another. It is always a proud day for students and families. The ceremony was filled with music and smiles, and the occasional tears of pride and accomplishment. We are very proud of our 2019 Year 6 cohort.

As a P-12 College, our graduation ceremony is an important marker in the journey through the College over time. Straight after the graduation, Year 6 students become Year 7 students and participate in a Welcoming Ceremony organised by the Secondary School. This ceremony brings together Year 6 students from CCC and the many students who will be attending the College from other Primary Schools in 2020.

House culture is a strong feature of the Welcoming Ceremony, with students coming into the College being allocated a House and welcomed into the College Community.

CCC’s Year 5 Taster Day took place on Friday of Week 8. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to have access to the resources and expertise of teachers in the Secondary School. We are very lucky being a P-12 College! Students engaged in a selection of activities, namely:

• Science
• Hospitality
• Philosophy
• Visual Art
• Drone Racing
• Virtual Reality
• Design-thinking Challenge

The goal of the activity is to give students a taste of some of the many pathways the College has to offer as students progress through their years here. And being a Secondary School student for the day is something memorable as well.

We look forward to giving more Junior School students the opportunity to participate in Taster Days in 2020.

On Wednesday 20 November, the APEX team were very proud to celebrate our graduating class of Year 9 students. Throughout the three year program, students have proven to be curious, creative and reflective thinkers who are ready to take on the challenges of senior. The audience enjoyed viewing a photo montage highlighting many fond memories of our APEX students’ journey together including excursions, incursions, inquiry opportunities and learning that extended beyond the classroom. It was evident that during their time together the students have formed close friendships, something which has provided a supportive network of like-minded peers.

Parents and students also enjoyed the DARE to Ignite displays showcasing classroom work as well as entrepreneurial ventures the students designed. This exemplified the students’ capacity to apply higher order thinking skills and reflect upon how they can make a difference in their community locally and globally. Following their graduation, students and teachers enjoyed a delicious Italian dinner at De Sette Soldi. The dinner had a wonderful ambiance and it was certainly special to be able to celebrate at one of our APEX student’s family-run business.

We wish our students the very best of luck in their senior studies and have no doubt that they will continue to achieve outstanding results. We are proud to report that in 2020 we will have two new Year 7 APEX classes beginning. Our current Year 9 students have set an exceptional example and maintained high standards of achievement throughout their studies. This has proven to be very motivating for our younger students striving for academic excellence.

On the 18-20 November Students from the College’s Athlete Development Program participated in a Sports Leadership Camp facilitated by the BLK Performance Centre located at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.
The group of year 7- 9 ADP students left the College after a sequence of Fitness Tests and headed down to participate in a variety of Physical and Sporting Challenges.

Whether it was the early start for an aerobic run, stepping up to compete in a Aquathon race, having fun at the night games, working hard at Group Fitness training or a simple message of motivation to inspire and reframe beliefs… Our Students Stepped Up!
A big thank you to the ADP Staff who supported the students over the three days of Camp.
Some Quotes from Camp…
“I learned Camp wasn’t just about Sport, but what it does to us as a whole. Not only physically improving myself, but also improving my friendships along the way too”- Year 8 ADP Student Sophiea Loquias

“The food was mint” – Year 8 ADP student Zeke Byrne
“Camp not only helped improve our physical skills but also helped develop and strengthen our mindset and social awareness/skills. It helped grow you, not just as a developing athlete but also as a human being”. – Year 8 ADP student Casey Meadow
Camp was the highlight of the year. It was amazing experience that improved my physical and mental state. I really enjoyed it and I truly hope that we can do it again”. – Year 7 ADP Student Jordan Anthony
…”Lots of Opportunities to show Leadership”. – Year 9 ADP Student Ryan Butler
“Camp was good I liked riding the bike”. Year 9 ADP Student William France.

Our Sports Awards evening was held on 14 November and certainly did not disappoint. Guest speaker for the evening was paralympian Monique Murphy who shared her extraordinary journey which included some powerful messages of resilience, determination and gratitude for our students to take away with them in their individual sporting pursuits. A bumper crowd was entertained by a Q and A session with Monique which was facilitated by Year 12 students; Claire Durrington and Caitlyn Kercher who also did a magnificent job in hosting the evening. Major award winners for the evening were as follows:

• Junior School MVP: Nikeisha Ngaru
• Junior Secondary MVP: Macy Hauser
• Senior Secondary MVP: Claire Durrington
• Junior School Coach of the Year: Mr Ben Vine
• Secondary School Coach of the Year: Mrs Emma Stott-Leggat
• House of Year: Cobar

I would like to congratulate all of our award winners on the evening and would also like to extend my gratitude for the organisation of this magnificent evening led by Director of Sport: Ms Vicki Goodall and College Publicity/Events Officer: Mrs Nicole Kedacic as well as our dedicated team of sound technicians for making this such a successful event.

On Monday 18 November we acknowledged the youngest members of our College and celebrated their fine achievements at The P-2 Awards Night. Below is a transcript of my speech to our young achievers.

‘These young people are our leaders of the future. They amaze me every single day with their curiosity, their questions and how they are realising that their teachers, their parents and the other adults in their lives don’t always the answers to their questions. And do you know what? That’s ok.

They are thirsty for knowledge, they have grand ideas and plans and they are passionate about learning and about how they can solve big problems.  They care! They will be world changers…..no, they are world changers!

Too young you say? I don’t agree. I truly believe that age simply doesn’t matter if you want to create a huge impact on the environment or on other people’s lives. And to prove this point, I want to share and inspire you all some examples of young children who have successfully made a huge difference through their remarkable actions.

Kelvin Doe

One of Sierra Leone’s most famous inventors got started when he began looking for ways to fix local problems with technology as an 11-year-old, just five years after the country’s volatile civil war ended. By 13, he was powering neighbourhood houses with batteries made out of acid, soda and metal in a tin cup. He went on to build a community radio station out of recycled parts that he powered with a generator also made out of reused material.

Melati and Isabel Wijsen

Melati and Isabel were only 10 and 12, when they started on a course of activism that has drastically decreased the global usage of single-use plastic. These young women were inspired by the country of Rwanda’s ban of plastic bags in 2008, and decided to try to get their native Bali to do the same. Their homegrown initiative of beach cleanups and government petitions graduated to an organizations advocating for reduced plastic use in 15 different countries. Bali is officially plastic bag free, and Indonesia will be by 2021.

Jahkil Jackson

After 9-year-old Jahkil helped his aunt distribute food at a local homeless shelter in his native Chicago, Jahkil decided he wanted to do more to help his community. This is how Project Am I was founded. Here, Jakhil distributes “Blessing Bags” full of snacks, toiletries, a towel, and socks to people experiencing homelessness. Over 3,000 Blessing Bags have been given out in Chicago communities

Ryan Hickman

When Ryan Hickman was 3 years old, he took a visit to the rePlanet recycling centre in California. Here, he found his calling. At 7, Ryan started Ryan’s Recycling. What started out as collecting cans and bottles from his neighbours as recycling has risen to over 50 customers and over 200,000 bottles and cans.

Sound Familiar?

Preeya Sundar

One 7 year old girl….Preeya Sundar. Had an idea. Saw an opportunity to support our own P&C and help save the planet, she got a group of friends together, she spoke to her teachers and this small group of students are now taking action by talking to their peers each and every day advocating for how they can not only reduce waste, but also help air condition classrooms across the school by just recycling their poppers and water bottles –making a difference- 10 cents at a time. The 10cent crew was formed and has quickly become part of the fabric of our school. Who knows what they will do next and where this small act will take them in the future. They care and they are principled and they are making a difference to our College community and we thank them.

I hope you are inspired and moved by these innocent and hopeful young people who have made an impressive and exceptional mark in their community. They come from different backgrounds and they all are good role models to humanity. They have brave hearts, they speak their minds, they fight for what they think is right. Their simple acts only reminds us that no one is ever too young or old to make a difference. Their stories and accomplishments will surely change your outlook in life.

To all of our young students tonight, I want to thank you for the enthusiasm you have shown towards your learning this year.

Don’t ever lose your thirst for knowledge, continue to question and ponder big thoughts and ideas. You are citizens who inquire, who reflect and who care about each other, the environment and the world you live in.

You have big hearts, and you too can make a difference, and you can make a difference now, all it just takes one small action. Pick a dream, strive for something and then ….just go for it!’

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome into your dynamic community.  It has been my privilege to fill in for Principal Starmer while she is on leave these last three weeks.  I am impressed with the quality of work happening here at Calamvale and the innovative thinking across P-12 that is so characteristic of the approach you value.  Final OP information is yet to be released for our year 12 students, which will be shared early in the new year.  The College continues to grow in size with strong enrolments for 2020 on our books and exciting plans for the continued growth of our signature programs.  As the end of term rapidly approaches I want to thank parents and carers for your support of the College and our staff for your commitment.  I wish all of the students a safe and happy time over the break.  One of our enterprising Calamvale students,  Taylah Anthony, has been collecting second-hand childrens’ books for the annual appeal at my permanent school, Crestmead State School in Logan City.

If there are any further donations of suitable literature or reading material for young readers aged between 0 and 15, please leave them at the office before Friday afternoon and I will ensure they get to Crestmead where they will assist the school’s work immensely.    Sincere thanks to everyone who has made a contribution – our Crestmead kids will be truly grateful.  Take the time this Christmas-New Year season to relax and re-energize, spend time with loved ones and doing the things that bring joy to your life.

I am delighted to announce to the community that the College will be a busy place over the Christmas-New Year break.  Principal Lisa Starmer was able to negotiate some significant developments for the College before commencing her leave, and I have been involved in project start-up meetings over the past fortnight in order to get things moving.  The following has been approved for action:

• Refurbishment of the current Platypus (resources and Junior School Music) into a new Prep space.
• Installation of three new demountables at the back of Kookaburra which will contain four new secondary classrooms and a new primary music space.
• Major air conditioning installations to complete the school following the Minister’s recent announcement.  This should be ready early in the new year
• In addition, Principal Lisa Starmer should be in a position to announce details of a new permanent building in the new year as a response to College growth and our burgeoning facilities needs.

This is a good outcome for the College and I am delighted to assist in these final weeks with getting these projects moving.  We are grateful to our P&C  Association President Leesa Mason, and School Council chair Mike Butler, who provided critical support in achieving this outcome.