Compass No 482 - February 2018

Final offers are soon to be made to the Year 12 cohort of 2017, for the start of 2018. We congratulate and celebrate with each of them on their achievements, including Olivia McCluskey, Alli Whitmore and Paige Layfield who each attained an OP 1. As a cohort they performed very well, with 62 of the 80 students (77.5%) being OP eligible, compared to the state average of approximately 50%. Of the Pacific cohort, 99% completed QCE, VET or SAT qualifications. The performance across OP 1-5 was particularly strong with 29% of our OP eligible students achieving this result, compared to the state average of 22%. 

Students have been successful in moving into diverse pathways. These include Olivia McCluskey gaining entry into the highly competitive course in medicine offered for the first time on the Sunshine Coast. Olivia is one of five Sunshine Coast students to be accepted into the group of 20. Other students were accepted into physiotherapy, veterinary science, fine arts, highly competitive theatre performance courses, business and economics, psychology, creative arts, law, health and apprenticeships in electro-technology and construction. Some of these stories have been featured on our Facebook page. As well as being well equipped with academic and vocational skills and understandings, each of these young men and women takes forward important learnings about values and social emotional capacities that will stand them in good stead to make a difference in their various vocations. We look forward to hearing about each of their onward journeys.

Year 7 students have been enjoying their time away on camp and will appreciate the forecast cooler weather towards the end of the week. This is an important time for students from different backgrounds to get to know each other and form new connections. Time is also spent on helping young people to get to know themselves better, including who they are in relationship to others and to God and to appreciate their natural surrounds. Experiencing different types of outdoor leisure activities also enriches young people. We look forward to hearing great stories on their return and thank Mr Andrew Block, Mrs Leah Croke, Miss Alisha Janssen, Mr Nick Tait and Dr Peter McMahon, along with past students who have acted as leaders on this experience.

The Year 7 camp is the final outdoor experience organised by Dr Peter McMahon before our new Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Nick Tait takes over this responsibility. Dr Peter McMahon’s tremendous passion and generosity of spirit has enabled him to develop a unique outdoor education program that has enriched the lives of both adults and students since he joined the College in 2004. We celebrate with him what he has achieved and thank him for his service to the people of this community as Head of Outdoor Education. We all look forward to the benefits he will continue to bring to many in his continuing role as Head of Bula House.

We thank Year 11 and Prep – Year 5 parents and students who took the opportunity to learn more about their next phase of learning through attendance at the parent information evenings this week. The valuable information shared, helps strengthen the partnership between teachers, parents and students in optimising young people’s learning outcomes across all dimensions of their lives. We thank our staff for their leadership of these evenings.

Congratulations to all Year 3-6 students who participated very well in their Swim Carnival today. Their enthusiasm and house spirit was not dampened by the weather as they engaged in healthy, spirited competition. We thank Mr Darren Hooper and Mrs Natalie Campbell for their organisation and adaptability in staging a successful carnival in changing conditions. Thank you to all parents who attended and to staff for fulfilling their roles well and contributing to the success of the carnival.

The installation of large fans in the gym this week has been greatly appreciated by staff and students. This was the final phase of the College’s temperature control strategy for our existing spaces. We thank the Friends of Pacific for their contribution to the purchase of the fans. Smiling faces emerging from the gym have told a great story.

We pray for God’s guidance in helping each of us to respond thoughtfully to the situations we encounter.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

Thank you to Year 11 parents and students who attended the parent information evening this week. It is pleasing to have parents continued support and connectedness during their student’s journey through senior school.

Following are some key links from the presentation that we encourage families to view:

• Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner – Parent information about being cyber-smart https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent
• Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Student Connect – https://studentconnect.qcaa.qld.edu.au
• Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test information – https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/27797.html
• Pacific Lutheran College Student Café – http://www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au/index.php/my_plc/student_cafe-1/
• Road Safety Education Day (28^th February 2018) – Further information http://www.rse.org.au/programs/ryda/

If you were unable to attend the evening and would like more information about careers or student pathways post-secondary schooling, please make contact with our Careers Counsellor, Mrs Natasha Purcell on: npurcell@pacluth.qld.edu.au or 5436 7310.

Parents and students in Year 12 are invited to attend the parent information evening on 13^th February at 6.00pm. This will be an informative night as students begin their final year of schooling.

Miss Kim Stone, Head of Senior College Students

This term the focus of the Prep – Year 5 You Can Do It program is ‘getting along’. Getting along is when students work cooperatively together, resolve conflicts by discussion rather than fights, manage their anger, show tolerance of others and follow class rules. Getting along aims to develop four Habits of Mind in children including being tolerant of others, playing by the rules, thinking first and acting in a socially responsible manner.

At assembly on Monday I will look at the first of these habits of mind, being tolerant of others, which is primarily about accepting differences. Physiologically, the way we respond to a ‘happening’, both emotionally and physically, relates to how we think when faced with challenges. Below is an example.

The You Can Do It program strives to develop positive thinking in a practical sense, building children’s emotional resilience and self-belief. Parents can support their children in being tolerant of others through discussion and praising tolerant behaviours. 

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

As we begin 2018, we welcome senior students Austin Beasley and Tamika Cheney back to Pacific. Austin and Tamika attended our sister school in Japan, Seishin Gakuen, for a one term exchange in Term 4 last year. Both students have reflected on their experience below.

“My time in Japan was an unforgettable experience. Every day was full of amazing things to learn and people to meet. I am now proud to call myself an international citizen. The people who I stayed with and the friends I made were amazing and kind. Even though there were times when we couldn’t understand each other, we would always eventually come to an acceptance. School life in Japan was very different for me coming from an Australian school. There are so many afterschool activities including Japanese archery, Kung-Fu, music, tennis and tea-making. Japan has so many things to see and do. My time visiting Tokyo and the Tokyo Sky Tree was fantastic. Visiting Asakusa and its iconic ‘Thunder Gate’ was breathtaking. I will never forget my trip to Japan and I would highly recommend it. It’s a life changing experience that you will never regret.” – Austin Beasley

“During my stay in Japan, I learnt many different things that didn’t all relate to the language. I built lifelong relationships that I will keep forever. I grew my outlook on life and how I viewed myself. I also became a more responsible person as I had to do many things for myself. I experienced tremendous growth in so many aspects of my life. I had many friends at school and before I attended Seishin, I noticed that at lunch times, the boys and girls were segregated. Eventually however, everyone sat together and began having fun. I feel I was able to bring in a bit of ‘PLC’ to Seishin. My Seishin friends now show more of an interest in the English subject and as my Japanese improved, I noticed that their English became so much better also. We all became a team and helped each other throughout my stay. I was sad to leave Japan and my new friends, however, I still video call my best friends and I have made friendships I will keep forever. I highly recommend this exchange to anyone who chooses to study Japanese. You grow, see and do amazing new things, bond with a different culture and learn to understand one another.” – Tamika Cheney

The Outbound Exchange program is open to Year 10 students studying Japanese. Information about the program will be distributed later this term.

Mrs Michiko Hauser, Head of Japanese 6-12

Welcome back to 2018 with the netball season already in full swing.

The club motto this year is ‘come join our team!’ The motto brings together our goal of engaging with the community to develop a sustainable netball club and our team naming convention, which are horse breeds (a group of horses is call ‘a team’).  

On Tuesday night our ladies team, the PLC Mighty Mares, took to the court for the first time. For many of the players it was the first time they had met and in one case, their first ever game of competitive netball. The Mighty Mares represents a major milestone for the club as it brings together staff, parents, students and friends from across our College community. It was a highly enjoyable evening and the final score was a very respectable 23-12 against a well-drilled and established team. For anybody who would like to join the PLC Mighty Mares, there are still opportunities available.  

Preseason training also commenced on Tuesday for our U12 teams and above, which will run each Tuesday until 13^th February. The training was well attended, which provided Head Coach Michelle Dufy the opportunity to meet the girls and begin the process of assessing their skills.

Concurrently, a ‘come and try’ session was provided for Year 3 students who are beginning their netball careers this year. It was difficult to determine who had the most fun, the coach or the girls! The participation and enthusiasm was a delight to watch.

Registrations are now open via the My Netball PLC Registration Page (PLC Portal). For those who would like to register in person, sign-on will occur at Caloundra Indoor Sports Stadium from 9.00am – 11.00am on Saturday 3^rd and 10^th February.

Finally, a reminder that all team training commences on Saturday 17^th February at 4.00pm. The training will be followed by a BBQ and an open-air movie screening of ‘Night at the Museum’.

Mr Trevor Colton, PLC Netball Club President