In a fast paced world, learning to take one step at a time is an important life skill. When faced with a myriad of choices it is important that we learn to calmly prioritise and give our full attention to the task at hand. Part of dealing with busy times in our lives is to set time limits for each of our priorities, stick to the commitments we have made to complete a task and not let the worry of future steps crowd our thinking. As Middle and Senior College students prepare for their end of year assessments, helping them to prioritise their preparation, focus on one step forward and learning to celebrate each step taken helps to maintain effective momentum.
In the Bible we are reminded that God walks with us and cares for us in our busy times. We are encouraged to trust that God will take care of us and not to worry about the future but to make the most of the present moment.
There was a great deal of energy as new Middle College students were welcomed into this next phase of their learning journey at the orientation day on Monday. The welcoming smiles and guidance of house members and pastoral care groups enabled parents and students to move smoothly into new experiences. These included pastoral care group time, a chapel led by the 2018 Captains with kindness as its theme, introductory activities and tours with Heads of House and different classes and activities in the afternoon. Welcoming messages hand written on morning tea wrappers provided by the College added an extra personal touch. In the evening, parents learnt about the Cultures of Thinking that embrace our approach to teaching and learning, our development of wellbeing and social and emotional capacities through the integration of Lutheran tradition with positive psychology and the range of co-curricular opportunities on offer. They then enjoyed the opportunity to connect with each other over light refreshments. Thank you to Mrs Rae Hall, Mr Brendan Delaney, Mrs Leanne Bevis and our Heads of House for their leadership of the day. We also thank our new students and families for the way they engaged and all of our staff and students who provided a warm welcome to our community.
After weeks of preparation designing and constructing a robot, our Year 10 team participated in the First Tech Challenge at Grace Lutheran College over the weekend. This was the first time the College had entered the competition and our team performed very well, coming sixth out of 13 teams, placing above teams who had experienced greater success in previous years. A great deal of learning took place and the team is already planning improvements for next year’s competition. Well done to Jackson Laverick, Joey Simpson, Charlie Nightingale, Jacob Cross-Pitcher, Laslo Martin, Nathan Heinz, Harrison Carde and Reuben Taverner who were variously involved in the construction, android development, programming and the competition day. Thank you to Mrs Janine Stone for her leadership of the team and to Mrs Emma Middleton for her assistance with coaching.
Congratulations to senior student Natasha Whiteley who was awarded the Young Sport Achiever of the Year at the Caloundra Community Awards last Friday. The annual awards aim to recognise the efforts of outstanding individuals and groups within the Caloundra Electorate. Natasha was recognised for her outstanding achievements in Judo, both nationally and internationally. Well done to Beau Blake, Kaylee McKeown and Haylie Powell who were also nominated for awards in this category and Mr Ian Barnes who was nominated for his very significant contribution to this community.
