Compass No 405 - January 2016

Welcome back to all our returning and new students for 2016. We were fortunate with the weather over the summer break and students returned to school on Wednesday looking relaxed and well rested.

This year in Pastoral Care across the College, we are going to focus on Dr Martin Seligman’s research on the elements of wellbeing. This theory is made up of five elements: Positive emotion, Engagement, positive Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment; or PERMA.

It is important to note that wellbeing is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment. The way we choose our course in life should be to maximise all five of these elements. This will then enable us to flourish as individuals and as community members.

In Term 1 we will focus on the first element, positive emotion. Positive emotion is about increasing the duration of our positive emotions and reducing the duration and intensity of our negative emotions. It is not about being happy all the time or removing all negative emotions. It is about being aware of our thinking and developing the skills to see situations in a more positive light.

A good place to begin a reflection on positive emotion is to think of one good thing that happened over the holidays. Then reflecting on the term ahead, write down some positive goals.

As well as exploring positive emotions, students need to organise themselves for the year of study ahead. An important part of this is for students to have a defined study area. Students should not lie on their bed to study, instead their study area should be:

• Well lit;
• Well ventilated;
• Comfortable;
• Away from distractions;
• Neat and tidy; and
• Quiet, with no loud music.

Students should also aim to study in the same place, as it will create a pattern in their brains.

Little things make the difference. - Anon

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students

Parenting can be one of the most exhausting, challenging, and frustrating tasks that we will ever undertake. Yet it can also be the most rewarding and satisfying challenge we ever take on. It is also a task that we can feel least prepared for. As a parent, you can feel pushed and pulled in many directions so it can be complicated trying to find the space to think and be calm.

Mindful parenting provides the chance for you to do things with your child without having your attention drawn away from what is happening right then and there. Mindful parenting is like a pause to take a small breath. It is a pause that allows you to know what you are feeling and lets you recognise how your children are feeling and what they might need from you in that moment.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/compassion-matters/201311/the-rewards-mindful-parenting

Ms Annie Williams, College Counsellor

The library home page contains a wealth of resources to assist your students with research and reading. From this page you can access eBooks, LibGuides, research skills, databases, online encyclopaedias and recommended reading lists.

Please bookmark the library home page so that you can access it easily:

http://library.pacluth.qld.edu.au/oliver/libraryHome.do (Middle and Senior College)

http://library.pacluth.qld.edu.au/oliver/junior.do (Junior College)

Our first Book Club order forms went out to Prep to Year 7 students this week. Orders need to be placed online or returned to the library by Friday 5^th February.

I look forward to meeting some of you at the upcoming parent information evenings.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

みなさん　こんにちは！Welcome back to a new school year. This year, Japanese tutorials will take place in S5 during Thursday lunch time (not after school). A member of the Japanese Department will supervise these sessions. Students can come to the tutorials to catch up on missed work, work on assignments and get extra help. Students are asked to see their Japanese teacher if they would like to attend.

Mrs Michiko Hauser, Head of 6-12 Japanese

I am very excited to be joining the Pacific Lutheran College community in the role of Careers Counsellor, taking over from the wonderful work of Mrs Ainslie Reid. I have worked in the Secondary School system for 15 years, assisting students with their post-schooling pathways and have recently completed further post-graduate study in Career Development and Education. It is a very dynamic field of teaching and it’s always very gratifying seeing students’ strive to reach their aspirations. I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks at the Senior Information Evenings and working more closely with your students throughout the year. Keep an eye on this section of the newsletter for careers information and important dates related to University Expos and Open Days or application submission deadlines. Wishing all of our students a successful start to 2016.

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor

The Uniform Shop is open from 8.00am to 9.30am every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Orders can be placed online via www.flexischools.com.au and will be delivered to your child the following day.

Mrs Donna Hollindale, Uniform Shop Coordinator

The College is seeking the services of a Uniform Shop Convenor. This is a permanent part-time (term time) position of 12 hours per week. Applications close on Friday 5^th February.

See the College website for further details: http://www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/index.php/about_plc/vacancies/uniform_shop_convenor/.