Compass No 412 - March 2016

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

Tomorrow is the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. At the base of this action is the need for each of us to have respect for the dignity and worth of every person. Our habits of conversation reflect how we think about the worth of all people. It is useful for us to listen carefully to our own words and hear the subtle and not so subtle messages we are sharing with our friends, family and colleagues. We are all influenced by the cultures we shape in our homes, social settings and work places. Young people will take on a culture of respect for people when they are immersed in it. We can make a significant difference for many people by taking action within our own circles. As students, staff and parents, we can discipline ourselves to speak well of others and insist on others doing the same. We can focus on identifying and building on the strengths of other people. Where these actions become a habit of life then we create a culture of inclusion and possibility that spreads well beyond us. People with these outlooks are the ones who lead and make a difference. We benefit from them everyday.

Parents across the Middle and Junior College have had or will have the opportunity to take advantage of enhancing their young people’s learning by participating in parent teacher conferences over the last two weeks of term. These are important conversations where the focus is on learning rather than judgment. Middle College students are expected to attend the conference with their parents so that they can be active participants in these ‘learningfull’ conversations. We thank staff, parents and students for making time for these important learning opportunities.

May God grant us insight and wisdom as we take the challenge to walk in another’s shoes.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

On Thursday 17^th March, the Year 2 and Year 12 students were invited to bring along a teddy bear and their lunch for a teddy bear's picnic. It was really positive to see connections made between different aged students and the Year 12 students taking the opportunity to lead a range of activities. 

Miss Kim Stone, Head of Senior College Students

As I entered the College yesterday, one of the students greeted me with a hearty “good morning” and held the gate open for me to enter. Often we undervalue the positive impact a small act of kindness can have on another person. A smile, speaking in a friendly voice, helping another or doing something thoughtful can brighten a dull day and invigorate our feelings and emotions. Acting kindly towards another not only makes the receiver feel good, but the person performing the actions can feel fulfilled and satisfied.

Are such behaviours innate or do they need to be learned? Recent scientific evidence has found that surprisingly, our brains are actually wired to be benevolent. Our social environment is often directed towards an ‘every man for himself attitude’ based upon success at the expense of others.

Like any skill, how to speak and act with kindness is something that can be taught. At the College, the development of social and emotional competencies in students is a major focus. Research regularly reaffirms the ideas that happy, confident and resilient children perform more successfully academically.

Each year, students study the You Can Do It program that includes lessons on Getting Along, Persistence, Confidence, Organisation and Emotional Resilience. Students work within the Restorative Practices frameworks and our Christian Studies and Devotion programs. In support of these programs this term, students will be trialling study in developing the concept of kindness.

The concepts translate easily from school to home. As parents, we all want our children to be happy, confident and resilient. We also want our children to act with thought and kindness without the need for extrinsic forms of motivation (prizes). A quick internet search reveals there is a great variety of interesting material available on the topic. The following site, which contains a program used successfully in the Colorado Schools District in the United States, acts as a great starting point if you are interested in the topic: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/.

Mr David Druery, Head of Staff and Students P-5

This Week Monday 14^th March

Persistence:    Will Fowler, Sasha Kopera, Joseph Modlin, Anna Lumkes and Mitchell Briese

Organisation:   Danica Cockburn 

As noted in previous newsletters, Apple has recalled the two prong wall plug adapters that were shipped between 2003 and 2015. The details of this recall are at: https://www.apple.com/au/support/ac-wallplug-adapter/.

As a service to students and staff at Pacific Lutheran College, we have arranged for a bulk supply of these replacement plugs to be available at school. Students with an iOS device that had these adapters were able to bring them into the IT Dept during lunchtimes this week to exchange them for the replacement units. Monday 21^st March during PCG will be the final time available to students to bring in their old adaptor and exchange it for the new one.

Please contact the IT department if you have any further questions.

Mrs Rae Hall, Head of Teaching and Learning Middle College

Another great way to support the Tuckshop is to contribute to the Home Bake Drive. You can do this by baking at home and dropping the goods off to us or donating items that we can use. The students and staff are very appreciative of the variety provided by our Home Bake Team! Please contact Carrie via the above methods for more details.

The College community appreciates all contributions of time and resources; we can’t thank you enough!

Ms Carrie Dickson, Tuckshop Convenor

To support students academically, the College offers Mathematics tutorials for students in Years 7-12. These tutorials are on Monday afternoons and are in rooms L13/L14 from 3.20pm to 4.20pm. Students are welcome to come along for a quiet place to complete class work, homework or seek assistance. The expectation is that they remain within the room until 4.20pm, unless picked up earlier by a parent.

Please note, next week’s tutorial will be the last one for the term.

Mr Adam Doyle, Head of Mathematics

Next term on Friday 15^th April, all Year 3-12 students will be participating in the Inter House Cross Country carnival. Students will compete in age groups from 8 years through to open boys/girls. The 8 years – 12 years events will take place from 10.45am to 1.00pm and the 13 years – open races will go from approximately 1.15pm to 3.00pm. Year 7 students who are turning 13 this year will need to race with the Secondary College students from 1.15pm.

The 13 years – Open age divisions will be run over two events on the day.

The Championship Event involves students who are serious runners who want to compete for Age Championship medallions, a spot in the school team and for extra house points. There are big points up for grabs to all who compete in this race. First place receives 30 points, second place receives 25 points, all the way down to sixth place and beyond receiving 11 points. Each house MUST field five runners from each age group and gender. This event will be run as one single race, but scored per age group.

The House Participation Event involves all other students who are not running in the Championship Event. It is a 3km course. The faster students complete this 3km course, the more points they can earn for their house. Therefore, it is important that all students participate and run to the best of their ability. Please remember it is compulsory for all students to attend and participate in the cross country event.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Sport