Newsletter

Important Dates - Pimpama

Always refer to the Compass Calendar for more events and the most up-to-date event information.

Christmas Blessings from King's Pimpama

Thank you to all of our families for another successful year of learning and fun together at King's! We really appreciate the involvement of our parents in the incredible learning journey we've shared at King's this year, as well as the time and support you have shown in our classrooms and at all of our school events. It was exciting to end the school year on such a high note with many special celebrations including our Award Presentation Nights, Year 6 Graduation, our Noah's Ark Little Star's Story and Lion Crossing Ceremony, our Annual Sports Awards, and many exciting activities that took place in Term 4. We wish every family a happy, healthy, and refreshing holiday break as we reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate the ultimate gift He gave us at Christmas.

Meet the Primary Leadership Team for 2024

Congratulations to the Primary Student Leaders for 2024 who were announced at the Year 5 Captains 2024 Confirmation Chapel on 8 November. The chapel was followed by a luncheon for the parents and students. 

Primary Captains | Sofia Hoatson and Zach Mutemererwa
Culture Captains | Mandy Lin and Callum Wilson
Chapel Captain | Chloe O'Brien
Arts Captain | Emma Lennie
Chess Captain | Byron Blatch
Debating Captain | Diego Allen-Piedrabuena 

The 2024 Primary House Captains are as follows:

Hjordis Aelvoet and Bailey Yiend |Finney House 
Macy Larmond and Lucus Toomey | Newton House 
Emily Walker and Alex Weeks | Raleigh House
Macy de la Mare and Bryn van Leuveren| Tyndale House

Noah's Ark students perform in Christmas Story

The King's Early Learning community experienced a heartwarming rendition of the Christmas story performed by our young talents from Noah's Ark in a charming show titled 'The Little Star's Story.' In the weeks leading up to the event, students and staff from all six early learning classes immersed themselves in learning songs, crafting imaginative costumes, and rehearsing on the 'big' stage. This enchanting spectacle unfolded in Week 6 of Term 4, featuring two delightful performances by our youngest King's kids. As families filled the auditorium, our brave youngsters took centre stage, showcasing remarkable focus throughout the show. The timeless Nativity story came to life through a captivating blend of song and dance, with some very courageous Pre-Prep students stepping into main character roles. Witnessing the joy and growing confidence of each child on stage was truly heartwarming, as they contributed to narrating the significant tale of the birth of our Lord Jesus. A special commendation goes to the Noah's Ark staff for orchestrating this exceptional event, creating a memorable showcase of talent and Christmas spirit.

Lion Crossing

King's Pre-Prep students embarked on a significant journey on Thursday, 23 November, as they participated in a heart-warming 'Lion Crossing' ceremony.

The ceremony was a poignant and celebratory moment as parents, Noah's Ark staff and Year 6 students lined the walkway, creating a supportive and cheering crowd. With excitement and curiosity, our little King's kids were greeted by our Primary Management staff and received a certificate and gift bag, symbolizing their step into the next chapter of their educational journey. 

The 'Lion Crossing Ceremony' not only brought smiles to the faces of the young participants but also created a sense of community as everyone came together to celebrate this special milestone. It served as a touching reminder of the growth and progress our Pre-Prep students have made, setting the stage for their future learning adventures at King's Christian College.

Primary Presentation Night Celebrates Success and Christmas Cheer

King's Pimpama Primary School Presentation Night continued with the tradition of including the Primary Christmas concert as part of the College's annual end-of-year awards event. Providing a family-friendly fun event, it was heart-warming to see so many members of our school community fill the back oval on Tuesday, 14 November, to enjoy all things King's. The exciting program of award presentations, and lively performances on stage by students and guest artist Danny Dyson, created a wonderful community fun atmosphere and ensured there was never a dull moment as we celebrated our Prep - Year 6 students across many aspects of school life. Thank you to our parents, students, extended family members, teachers, and friends, for helping create a wonderful atmosphere as we celebrated 2023 together. Congratulations to our student award winners for showing excellence through your outstanding achievements!

Adieu From Primary

Mr Ralf de la Mare has graduated from Primary to High School! The primary students of 2023 formed a tunnel to wish him well as he takes up his new role as Deputy Head of Culture of King's Pimpama High School from 2024. Well respected and with an abundance of humility and integrity, Mr de la Mare will be missed by the students and colleagues in the Primary School.  We are fortunate to have him just a few buildings away in the High School in 2024.  All the best in your new role, Mr de la Mare.

Year 6 Students Explore the Power Sources That Shape Our World

Year 6 students completed their final PBL for Primary school with a powerful and energising culminating event: an Energy Expo.

This term, Year 6 answered the driving question:
"Are we working towards a sustainable "Energy" future?”  They worked diligently on their final project, combining creativity and knowledge to present their findings on coal, gas, wind power, solar, nuclear, geothermal, and biomass energy.

The students engaged the audience with TED-type talks, energy source ads on the big screen, and exhibitions of their work. 

Their display and interactive exhibits showcased circuit-powered models, and hands-on activities related to each energy source. Parents and fellow students from lower grades had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion with the young experts.

Well done Year 6!

Year 6 Graduation 2023

King's Year 6 students traded their traditional Primary School uniforms for elegant evening attire on Wednesday, 22 November, gathering in King's Table forecourt and auditorium to commemorate their graduation. The students set the scene for a radiant event, as guests arrived with excited expectations for the special occasion. Countless photos were taken by parent paparazzi before the official ceremony began. Our Campus Principal, Mr Verreynne, and our Head of Primary, Mrs Malcolm, welcomed guests and then presented each student with a personalized bible and their graduation certificate. Families bid farewell to our Year 6 students who then enjoyed a two-course dinner. The evening unfolded with the baby photo presentation, highlights video from the Cairns trip, bingo, and spirited dancing. 

The night encapsulated many emotions – the delight of cherished memories, the anticipation of starting High School, and the bittersweet sentiment of leaving behind their primary school experiences. The growth exhibited by our students throughout their time at King's has been remarkable, and we take immense pride in the exceptional young men and women they've become. We thank our dedicated staff and parents for the remarkable journey we've shared at King's so far, and the collective contributions that went into orchestrating a memorable 90's themed graduation celebration for our Year 6 cohort. To our students: we express gratitude for your positive impact on our Primary School community and our prayers accompany you as you continue to flourish as High School students at King’s.

Learning About Yesteryear Adds Value to Young Students' Learning

The Year 2 students recently went on an excursion to the Beenleigh Historical Village & Museum. Our explorers had a fantastic time delving into the past and discovering what life was like in earlier days.

The Beenleigh Historical Village & Museum is like a time machine, dedicated to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the old Beenleigh region for generations to come. It's organised as a village, and it's chock-full of Early Australian memorabilia, collections of historic items, and beautifully restored buildings that tell the story of yesteryears.

One of the highlights of the excursion was visiting the Loganholme One Teacher School, which first opened its doors in 1873 and closed a century later in 1974. Our students stepped back in time to experience what school was like back in the day. They even got to sit in the same kind of desks their great-great-grandparents might have used.

Our young adventurers then had a blast climbing on a fire engine from the 1950s and dressing up like real firemen and firewomen. They even got to try their hand at squirting water out of a fire hose – talk about an unforgettable experience!

The students then visited the print shop, where our budding historians learned how things were printed in the olden days. Some of those printers date back a whopping 160 years! It's incredible to think about how far technology has come.

Another fascinating sight was the old-time crosscut pull sawing. Our Year 2 students were absolutely amazed to see how things were done in the days when technology was simpler but required a lot of hard work and skill.

We're sure the students left the Beenleigh Historical Village & Museum with a newfound appreciation for the way we live today. It's essential for our young ones to understand the history and heritage of our region, and this excursion provided them with a unique and engaging way to do just that.

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Year 3s visit David Fleay's Wildlife Park

Throughout week 6, the Year 3 students had the opportunity to bring their learning to life at David Fleay’s Wildlife Park. We started the day with a show to help us learn more about the characteristics of living and non-living things. We then put our learning into practice and created a wetlands habitat, identifying the living and non-living things and the role they play in the habitat. Our students loved walking around the park watching the crocodile and bird shows as well as exploring some of the amazing animals God has created. Some of the highlights included the platypus and the cassowary. 

Here is what some of our students had to say about the day:

“My favourite part was the barking owl because it kept flying through.” Allan 3PA

“Watching the birds fly across my head!” Peyton 3PC

“My favourite from Fleay’s was watching the platypus eating the worms!” Mirwais 3PC

Kindness Looks Good on You! Fundraiser

What a fun day the students had at Chapels for the 100% hOPE "Kindness Looks Good On You" event where students made a bright and bold statement about showing kindness to others while raising funds and giving hope for children in Uganda. The students had a great day being bright and bold for a good cause.  The funds raised across the three campuses will go towards building more facilities at the centre.

Write a Book in a Day Winners for 4th Year in a Row

Congratulations to the King's Pimpama Year 4, 5, and 6 Write a Book in Day teams for their outstanding achievements in the national Write a Book in a Day Competition 2024,  four years in a row! It's truly inspiring to see such dedication and talent. Not only have they excelled in their writing, but they are also making a positive impact by contributing to the Kids' Cancer Project. 

The King's Pimpama Year 4, 5, and 6 Write a Book in Day teams (The Four the Write, The Ferocious Fives, and the Year Six Scribes teams) walked away with Commended, Best Book Primary School Qld/NT division and Best Illustrated Primary School National Winner, respectively.

The book titles are "The Power of the Stones" written by Four the Write,  "The Quest for the Enchanting Ruby" written by The Ferocious Fives, and Best Illustrated Primary Book National Winner went to "Taxi to the Truth" by the Year 6 Scribes team.  These books will be published and sent to children's cancer wards for children to read around the country.

Furthermore, it's fantastic to hear that King's Pimpama has been consistently recognized for its excellence in the Primary divisions over the past four years. This is a testament to the hard work and passion of the students and the support of their teachers and mentors.

The fact that the National Write a Book in a Day raised over $900,000 for the Kids' Cancer Project in 2024 is a remarkable achievement by all the schools in Australia, and it shows the power of collective effort in making a meaningful difference. Kudos to everyone involved for their dedication and generosity.

This is a wonderful example of how learning can be pursued passionately and result in not only personal growth but also a positive impact on the community. Keep up the amazing work, King's Pimpama Primary students!

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High School Presentation Night Awards Ceremony

King's Pimpama High School 2023 Award Presentation Night exemplified our commitment to academic excellence as we recognised the outstanding achievements of our students from Years 7 to 11. This event holds a significant place in our school calendar, allowing us to bestow our prestigious annual awards upon students who have demonstrated remarkable academic success or shown exceptional character and leadership throughout the year. Our 2023 ceremony was held on Monday 13 November. Our Year 9 Food Technology students served delicious canapes to our parents and special guests on arrival in the forecourt.  These servant-hearted students had a practical, workplace experience as they served our guests with finesse, while the performing arts students performed an extract from this year's school musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to highlight the talent in our high school. After the presentations, our recipients had the opportunity to capture special moments with their teachers and family members at the photo booths. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed 2023 award winners for their dedication and commitment and for consistently demonstrating excellence in their various endeavours throughout the year.

Year 11 Biology Excursion

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Year 12 Biology students are currently studying Ecology within the unit Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of Life.  Recently students embarked on two excursions that enabled them to participate in scientific studies measuring ecosystems through data analysis, and hands-on research. 

Firstly we arrived at the Moreton Bay Environmental Research Centre and with skilled guidance, we delved into the art of data analysis, crafting the framework for our upcoming assessments. Afterwards, we boarded the research vessel and headed out into Moreton Bay's marine ecosystem. Our mission was to gather primary data, observe ecosystems in action, and even spot some aquatic critters up close. From water salinity tests to capturing pictures of the unique biodiversity of our local waterways using a Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV), we were able to gather abiotic and biotic data. These experiences were so fun and we definitely learnt a lot to go towards our assessments. 

The following Monday we went to the prestigious University of Queensland in Brisbane, where the world of ecology unfolded before our eyes. Immersed in an Ecology Day event, we were treated to a masterclass by Dr. G, an expert in the field. His seminar was very informative, demonstrating the intricate methods to dissect and comprehend ecological data, and providing a compass for our future assessments. Following this, we conducted and evaluated some ecological sampling techniques around the UQ campus. 

Exploring the nuances of ecology, mastering data analysis, and participating in hands-on marine research, these excursions intertwined learning with adventure. They also provided valuable learning opportunities to prepare for our year 12 assessments next year. 

By Ella Toomey and Serena Eriepa

Year 9 UniSQ Discovery Day

On 16 November 2023, ten Year 9 students opted to attend the UniSQ Discovery Day in Springfield.  Activities included in the Discovery Day were fun and engaging ways for the students to discover the skills and talents they are good at and enjoy or to investigate options they may not have considered as a career pathway.  Sessions were hands-on and allowed students to discover what university life is about.  It also gave the students a chance to interact with other students from other schools and learn to collaborate with them.  A great day overall!

Some feedback from students about the day:

Chelsey Farcau commented “The UniSQ discovery day was amazing, and we learned so much. My favourite session was 'lights, camera, action' where we got to use film equipment and I got to direct a film scene. I would definitely recommend it to anyone unsure about their future career.”

“In my opinion, the flight simulator was the best part of the tour, the instructor really connected with me when talking about all things aviation, I am definitely considering going to UniSQ in the future." Jake Tablizo

Zach Emmonds stated “My favourite session was session 1. It was about the future of aviation and it was my favourite because we got to use the flight simulator and it was really interesting and fun. I also really enjoyed session 3 which was about constructing a paper tower.  This was a fun experience.  Overall, the day was really interesting and enjoyable. I would consider going to UniSQ in the future.”

“I found UniSQ Discovery Day really interesting and helped me figure out what I want to do for my career options.” Said Byron McFadden

Sienna Marshall thought the UniSQ day was an amazing opportunity to further understand our strengths and interests. It's a great way to have a glimpse into a future career. 

Arlette Divine rounded off the comments with “I had an incredible experience at UniSQ! We were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of hands-on activities designed to help us explore career paths for when we finish school. My favourite was the "Lights, Camera, Action" workshop. We were able to experience the behind-the-scenes of creating a film, which was completed with high-tech equipment and real roles.”

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Creative Way to Learn About History

The Year 7 Humanities teachers banded together to engage the students through a ‘Tableau Extravaganza’ challenge for the last week of school. Students captured and brought to life a significant time in Ancient Egypt by crafting a tableau. They enthusiastically took on the challenge and thoroughly engaged in preparing their work. The finale presentations were made in the auditorium on Tuesday to much laughter and enjoyment, shining through their captivating performances. A huge thank you to the 7 Humanities teachers for making the last week of school valuable and fun.

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Senior Honours Assembly

Wednesday 8 November saw the High School community come together to recognise the academic and cultural achievements of our senior students for the second semester of their academic year. It was wonderful to have so many parents able to join us in celebrating the hard work, commitment, and diligence of their children.

Our assembly started with a beautiful performance of ‘The Climb’ by some of our talented musicians -  Ella Jessop, Ashley Keil, Jessica Meade, Ryan Farcau, and Ethan Azzopardi. After which over 100 students received their honours awards from Mr Verreynne; these included recognition for academic achievement, contribution to the College performing arts community, as well as acknowledgment of those students who have gone over and above to serve others. Of particular note were the 16 Year 10 and 11 students who received Gold Honours in recognition of their mission trip to Bali in September this year. This was the first overseas mission trip for Pimpama campus students, and we are so proud of their contribution to the Bali Christian community.

We look forward to recognising the achievements of our middle school students at our semester 2 Honours Assembly to be held early in term 1 2024.

Mr Tattersall and Ms Winter
Deputy Heads of Secondary 

2023 Sports Award Ceremony

King’s Pimpama’s highly anticipated and first stand-alone Annual Sports Awards Evening for Primary and High School brought King's Table forecourt and Auditorium to life as it filled with student awardees and their parents on Thursday, 9 November. Honouring student success through a variety of sporting pursuits, the event showcased King's exceptional levels of talent, teamwork, and dedication to excellence that has shone across sports fields and courts this past season.

The evening kicked off with our very own King’s students, Sarah Phipson and Ruben Verreynne, who performed musical items prior to each session.  Reedy Creek’s Director of Sport, Mr Jason Grady, was the special guest for the High School session.  Mr Grady shared how Reedy Creek built their sports programs over the years.

Congratulations to our individual awardees on the night who received:

• NGCAS Season (Primary competition), AGCC Season I (High School Competition), Most Improved & Best and Fairest Awards
  
• House Carnival Age Champion Awards
• Teal Medallions: presented to 82 students who represented in sport at a Hinterland District level
• Bronze Medallions: presented to 13 students who represented in sport at a Regional Level
• Silver Medallions: presented to 9 students who represented King's at State level
• Gold Medallions: presented to 1 student who qualified to represent King's at a National level.  Congratulations to Jalyn South for receiving this award.  In the recent Queensland All School Championships, Jalyn is the new record holder for Javelin Throwing 41.20 m and Hammer throwing with a distance of 46.24m
• Primary Premiership Teams across seasons 1 and 2 in 2024 = 19 
• Secondary Premiership Teams across seasons 1 and 2 in 2024 = 10

Sportspersons of the Year for 2023

Sportswoman of the Year award – Emily Clark

Sportsman of the Year award – Riley Mulford

Team of the Year 2023

The most prestigious Team of the Year Award went to the Under 9s Boys Futsal comprising Bentley Fitzgerald, Lincoln Francis, Jude Green, Manekam Sidhu, Amelia van Breeman, Hugh Warrell, Roman Wernham, and Fletcher Wormald.  This team was runners-up in the Gold Coast Titles, top of their pool, and made it to the Grand Final which resulted in runners-up in the Qld Champion of Champions, Champions of Winter Fest, Calvary Cup, and the Gold Coast Primary Schools Cup.  This team also qualified for the Australasian Champion of Champion held on 10 – 12 November 2023.

House Captains for 2024

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Parent Ambassadors Build Unity as Part of the School Journey

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Earlier in November, we thanked our wonderful Parent Ambassadors with a tabletop picnic breakfast. After another busy academic year, we wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support, dedication, and enthusiasm we've received from our School Parent Ambassadors in 2023 and the difference they make in building unity and are an essential part of the overall school journey for many or our families.

If any parents have been inspired by the positive impact of our Parent Ambassadors and would like to contribute to our school community in a similar way in 2024, watch out for the communication on Compass in the New Year on how to submit a nomination.

Putt Putt into Christmas at Parkwood Golf Club

Christmas is nearly upon us, and Parkwood Village is inviting budding mini golfers to celebrate with them as its Boulder’s and Badlands Mini Golf course is transformed into the ultimate Christmas wonderland.  This is the golfing venue that hosts the King's Golf Day each year in June.

Each hole has its own unique Christmas theme, with flashing lights, sparkly decorations, snow, bubbles, music and more.

General Manager Mel Bond, said mini golf is not only the ultimate night out to celebrate Christmas with the family but also the perfect team-building activity for office Christmas parties. 

“Fun for the whole family, families can get lost in our Christmas wonderland and enjoy a meal at The Club at the same time,” Mrs Bond said.

“Meanwhile, Parkwood Village is the ultimate Christmas party destination. Create some friendly competition on the mini golf course, before hiring one of our private Swing Suites and grabbing a meal.

“Make sure you play nice though… Santa’s elves could be hiding anywhere!”

Santa’s Putt Putt launches at The Club at Parkwood Village on the 10 November and will run through to 2 January 2024.

The Club at Parkwood Village is also giving away loads of great Christmas prizes including hampers, mini golf passes, a $1,000 food and beverage voucher, Topgolf Swing Suite passes, and more. To enter all you have to do is share a photo of your experience at Santa’s Putt Putt with the hashtag #santasputtputt.

For further information or photo opportunities, please contact Mel Bond on 0401 007 405 / melb@parkwoodgc.com.au.

Gold Coast Immunisation Clinics for Children