Compass No 434 - September 2016

We congratulate Year 9 student Joseph Higginson who has successfully completed a Senior Astronomy Course through the University of Southern Queensland. Joseph is the youngest student to have completed this 12-month course. Well done to Joseph on this outstanding academic achievement.

Over the weekend, the KidsFORKids Concert was held at Aussie World to raise funds for two Sunshine Coast children undergoing cancer treatment, including our Year 10 student Declan Walker. Pacific student Sam Aitkin and his brother Tim, of Hoo8hoo, along with a number of their peers, initiated this successful community event. We are pleased to report that $20,060 was raised, which will be split equally between the Walker and Harry families. Thank you to our community for supporting this very worthwhile cause.

On Saturday, it was exciting to watch the PLC Fillies win their grand final match by taking the lead for the first time with three seconds remaining on the clock. It took great heart to come from six goals behind at half time. The girls can be proud of the good spirit and teamwork they showed and we thank coach and manager Mrs Dee-Anne Gorham for her support of this team. PLC Netball Club then celebrated their growth this season at the presentations on Sunday. We thank all of our netball parents for their support, the players and umpires and the committee of Mrs Julie Hoffman, Mrs Bianca Moffitt and Mrs Sophie McKenzie. It has been good to see the growth this year in our netball club.

It was exciting to hear that our Senior B Girls and Senior B Boys touch teams also won their grand finals last night. What pleased me most was the report that they played with great spirit and sportsmanship and represented themselves and the College well. Well done to our touch players and thank you to coaches Mr Darren Lawrence, Mr Andrew Block and Mr Kurt Jones.

As a College we also recognise the very significant contribution of Mr Ian Barnes who has been President of Pacific Soccer for the past six years. We thank Ian for his generosity of time and spirit and his calm, kind and good-humoured leadership of the soccer club, which has seen it grow from strength to strength. I encourage everyone to read the tribute from the Pacific Soccer Club at the lead of their article this week. We appreciate that Ian will remain as a support for the incoming President and Vice President as his son Isaac completes Year 12 next year.

Next term we will be welcoming returning teachers Mrs Wendy Wescombe and Mrs Shelley Hogan from maternity leave and Mr Darren Hooper, Mr Terry Clark and Mrs Amanda Empson from long service leave. We thank Mr Brian Ashley, Mr Kurt Jones, Mr Scott Massie, Mrs Lara Stiller and Mrs Belinda Vivash for their leadership of young people’s learning in their time at the College and wish them every blessing for the future. We also thank Mrs Natalie Campbell who has done an outstanding job in Mr Hooper’s absence as the Acting Head of Junior Sport in addition to her normal role.

Next term our Director of Teaching and Learning Ms Sue Arahill and Middle and Senior College Biology and Science Teacher Mrs Gisela Hohls will be taking long service leave. We thank both of these ladies for their very significant contribution as very capable leaders and teachers of learning and wish them a well-earned time of fun, rest and rejuvenation. Mrs Rae Hall will become the Acting Director of Teaching and Learning while retaining her current role of Head of Middle College Teaching and Learning. Ms Rebecca Ross who has worked with Ms Arahill in recent years to check and finalise the Year 12 certification processes will take on a new role of Acting Head of Senior College Studies while also retaining her role as Head of Science. Mr Jeff Goodwin will teach Ms Arahill’s Year 12 Maths C class and Mr Luke Dutney will be teaching Mrs Hohl’s classes.

Our Head of Humanities Mrs Elley Wood is taking maternity leave from the start of next term. We thank Mrs Wood for her professional and capable leadership of student learning and wish her and her partner John, God’s richest blessings as they move into this new exciting phase of their lives. Mrs Tina Cox will be the Acting Head of English and Humanities in Mrs Wood’s absence and Ms Alisha Janssen will be the Acting Head of Middle College Humanities. Mr Terry Rubesaame will be teaching Mrs Wood’s classes in Term 4. 

Our College Nurse Ms Sharon Dean is taking up the opportunity to take on a new role from the start of next term. We are delighted for Ms Dean that she has the opportunity to expand her career. We thank Ms Dean for her care of students, staff and their families in her time here as College Nurse and thank her for the leadership she provided in enhancing the policies and procedures for a very high quality health care space within our College. 

Over the holiday break families will be receiving a letter from me providing details about arrangements for next term and next year. It is important that families read this carefully. This will include details of changes to pedestrian movement as a result of roadworks being conducted by Main Roads near the College from the start of next term. Families are also encouraged to read the Upcoming Roadwork and Changes to Pedestrian Traffic Near the College notice in this newsletter and plan for the changes occurring next term.

We give thanks to God for the rich blessings he provides to this community and for the people of Pacific. Over the school break, we trust that you all enjoy time with family and friends and for those who have holidays, a time of rejuvenation. Thank you for your gifts of time and support.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

Year 11 students (Year 12, 2017) are reminded of their upcoming leadership day, which will take place at the end of Week 1 next term. Students received a letter about this event last week. Please note this amendment to the date on the College Calendar: this will be on Friday 7^th October at Lake Kawana Community Centre.  

Lutheran Youth of Queensland (LYQ) Leadership Trainer Juliette Warne, LYQ facilitators and Pacific Lutheran College staff will lead students throughout the day. Students will have the opportunity to learn about teamwork, overcoming adversity, effective communication skills, role modelling, leadership qualities, emotional trust and validation as well as reflecting on personal and team leadership. The day will also provide opportunities for the cohort to grow connections as they continue their senior journey into their final school year. Students will engage in reflective conversation and participate in physical activities, as they learn and think about their own capacity to lead and work with others in their own unique way.

This week, Year 11 students finalised their senior jersey design. It has been positive to observe students lead and engage in conversations about this design process. Students received a letter last week and are invited to try on sizes for their senior jersey order in the Middle/Senior College office. Orders and payment are due by Friday 14^th October to the Middle/Senior College Administration.

We wish all families, staff and students a safe and relaxing holiday break.

Miss Kim Stone, Head of Senior College Students

On Tuesday, our Year 2 students were invited to attend Roald Dahl Day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Students were involved in a series of activities based on Roald Dahl’s books, The Twits, Fantastic Mr Fox, George’s Marvellous Medicine and The Enormous Crocodile. Students and staff then enjoyed a fabulous feast in Willy Wonka Land, provided by Mrs Colleen Beattie and the Year 12 Hospitality students. The library staff and Year 2 teachers were all in costume and many students came dressed as their favourite Roald Dahl character. Thank you to everyone for making the day a great success.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

Thank You Emi Sensei
As Term 3 comes to an end, we say goodbye to Emi Sensei who has been at Pacific for the past two terms, assisting in the Japanese classroom. Emi Sensei has provided great opportunities for our students to develop their cultural awareness and understanding of Japan. Thank you to the Hoffman family for hosting Emi Sensei. We wish Emi Sensei all the best for her future endeavours.

Are you interested in hosting a Japanese Teacher Assistant?
At Pacific, we have been fortunate to always have a Japanese Teacher Assistant (JTA) in our Japanese classroom to assist in our students’ learning and to share their diverse cultural knowledge and experiences with us. Students benefit greatly from having a native speaker in their lessons and even more so for the families who host.

We are currently seeking host families for potential JTAs for Term 4 of this year and throughout 2017. JTAs vary in their length of stay and can be either short-term (a few weeks) or long-term (a few terms). It is desirable for host families to have students attending the College.

The successful host families will be paid $150 a week to cover costs such as food and utilities. If you believe your family could make a JTA feel like a part of our community, please obtain an information pack and application form from Mrs Michiko Hauser (Toriyabe Sensei) in the S6 staffroom. Alternatively, please email: mtoriyabe@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Inbound and Outbound Exchange Programs
As the term ends, we say good-bye to Reina and Satomi who have spent the past seven weeks at Pacific as a part of the Inbound Exchange Program, which was established this year. It has been great to see the girls develop strong friendships with the Year 10 students and gain a deep understanding of what life is like in an Australian school. We thank the Petersen and Connors families for hosting Reina and Satomi, allowing this wonderful program to take place. Both girls will fly back to Japan on the first weekend of the upcoming holidays.

We also wish Mali Davis and Lauren Petersen all the best as they prepare to travel to Seishin to commence their one term exchange program. Mali and Lauren will be flying out of Australia in the second week of the upcoming holidays and will complete their Term 4 studies at Seishin.

Mrs Michiko Hauser, Head of 6-12 Japanese

The students from Pacific Lutheran College cordially invite you to celebrate the opening of an exhibition of student work in Visual Art, from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Date: Friday 21^st October                        

Time: 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Location: Pacific Art Gallery

The Good Food Fellas will be serving food on the night. Click here to download their menu.

Mrs Denise McMahon, Head of Visual Art

A netball development program for Prep – Year 3 students will run during Term 4. This program will be held during Wednesday lunchtimes. Further information regarding this program will be sent home in the first week of Term 4.

My sincere thanks to the Pacific staff from various departments across the College and to our coaches for their support of Junior Sport activities during Term 3.

Mrs Natalie Campbell, Acting Head of Junior Sport