Compass No. 507 August 2018

Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.

 (Proverbs 4:6)

Teenagers are often portrayed as rebellious young people who are greatly influenced by peer pressure and do not listen to the advice of their parents. If we were to take “A Current Affair” and other similar portrayals in popular media as true, this would be our perception of all teenagers. But we know that this is a gross generalisation and not the truth for all young people.  Many teenagers do listen to their parents and are open to listening to their wisdom and advice. That’s the encouragement we receive from the fourth chapter of Proverbs. The writer of Proverbs says; Listen to your parents and elders, stay close to the wisdom they have to offer. Learn to seek after it, value, love and hold onto their knowledge and understanding. In Middle Senior Chapel this week, several parents from the PCG who lead chapel were present and involved in the service. The reason for this is that our thread these two weeks has been parental involvement in school and learning.

This term there have been some great and engaging times in Middle Senior Chapels and on Wednesday there was a different dynamic as parents were present and involved in the service. One thing that stood out to me and others was the Lord’s Prayer which was led by a Year 8 student and his Dad. Having a father and son stand together to lead our community in praying Jesus’ prayer to his Heavenly Father was a very apt example of this thread of parental involvement. Parents can give great encouragement, strength, wisdom and courage to their children. Parents can help their children to pray.

Parenting can sometimes be viewed as one of the toughest jobs in the world but parents who have the wisdom to stand beside their teenagers and accompany them through their journey to adulthood is what the world needs. Parents who are wisely involved in their children’s lives and teenagers who hold onto the wisdom and support of their parents is a real gift. A gift that comes from God. Let’s give thanks to God when it does happen and pray to God for it to happen.

Ps Tim Jarick, College Pastor

A casual clothes day will be held on Tuesday 28^th August in support of our Aussie Farmers who are at presently dealing with a long and very severe drought.  Students are asked to make a donation in support of all those on the land who are suffering at this time. All Students are reminded to wear clothing which is sun-safe and appropriate for any specialist lessons (such as HPE) that they are participating in.

P-2 Athletics

All P-2 Students are busily preparing for their Athletics Carnival which will be held on Monday 3rd September.  The Carnival will start at 9.00am and will be completed by 10.30am. Parents are most welcome at this exciting event.

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

We often forget that children aren’t born with a built-in sense of respect for others. While each child has a different personality, all children need to be taught to be respectful. From birth, children learn to manipulate their world to get their needs met—this is natural. But it’s our job as parents to teach them respectful ways of doing this.

https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/do-your-kids-respect-you-9-ways-to-change-their-attitude/

Mrs Annie Williams, School Counsellor

Oh, what a night! Thank you to EVERYONE who supported ALOHA OCEANfest 2018. Friday’s event was a major success, bringing together our college and community for an unforgettable evening of fun, food and festivities. We especially acknowledge our festival partner, Dr Peter Miles from Newwave Orthodontics for sharing our vision and journey.

Whilst our final tally is being calculated this week, we would like to take this opportunity to thank some very special people.

To Mrs Teena Thompson and family – we thank you for your countless hours of organisation, preparation, phone calls, emails and so much more over the past six months as festival coordinator. Your hard work continues post event and we cannot thank you enough for your time, energy, patience, professionalism and positive approach. You are amazing!

To Mrs Bron Butler – thank you for your vision in the master plan layout! We’ve had so many positive comments from guests who said it was so much more than a fete! Thank you also for your time, patience, hard work, thorough approach and quick problem-solving skills so everyone could enjoy a fun, safe and exceptionally well-planned event.

Thank you also to our incredible team of Parent/Class Representatives and helpers, led by Mrs Tracey Hindmarsh. Each and every stall added to the success of the event and we thank you for your leadership and coordination.  

Thank you to our many sponsors and donors without whom this event would not be possible. Your support has been invaluable and we greatly appreciate your generosity.  

Finally, thank you to all the parents and staff who bought items for the cent auction, or baked a cake, handmade treats, to those who donated time or money, who brought their children, grandparents, friends and neighbours along… and enjoyed an August night under the stars at PLC. 

To see all the highlights of Aloha OCEANfest 2018, click on the Facebook page OCEANfest 2018! A list of the Aloha Raffle winners, as well as the colouring in competition winners, will be published next week on the OCEANfest webpage.

We look forward to our next OCEANfest in 2020!!

But for now, heartfelt MAHALO from the 2018 OCEANfest Organising Committee xx

Father’s Day Stall: Wednesday 29 August

Friends of Pacific are hosting the Father’s Day Stall again this year.

All the fabulous gifts on offer are $5. If you would like your child to purchase a gift, please send your money in a named envelope on Wednesday and our wonderful educators will help your child choose a present. 

Prep – Year 5 students will visit the stall during class in the morning.

Older grades are welcome to visit the stall during morning tea. More information will be sent home with students in the coming days.  

You can also download the flyer here.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 18 September

Our next Friends of Pacific meeting will be held on Tuesday September 18 from 6.30pm in the College Library.

All welcome to attend!

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson 

The International Competition and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Science Competition assesses students’ skills in the key scientific areas of:  Interpreting data, including observing, measuring and interpreting diagrams and information, tables and graphs;  Applying data, including inferring, predicting and concluding;  And higher order skills, including investigating, reasoning and problem solving. 

Each year students who are enrolled in a Science subject at Pacific, in Years 3-12 sit this competition. 

In order for a student to be awarded a certificate of High Distinction, they need to be ranked in the top 1% of their year level in the whole of Australia.  This year we have two students who have achieved this outstanding ranking.  They are:  From Year 7 – Ben McCormac and from Year 8, Noah Winten. 

To achieve a certificate of Distinction, students are ranked in the top 11% of their year level in Australia.  This year we have 11 students in the middle and senior school who have achieved this outstanding ranking. 

Year 7:  Lucy Dimond, Joshua Turnbull, Callum Foley (top 4%);

Year 8:  Liam Russell, Varsh Surapaneni (top 3%);

Year 9:  Noah Beasley (top 5%), William Newton, Ella Hockam;

Year 11:  Joseph Higginson;

Year 12:  Ethan Hall, Rhett Ousley;

In order for a student to be awarded a certificate of Credit, they need to be ranked in the top 36% of their year level in the whole of Australia. 

Year 6: Will Rabnott, Oscar Milkins (top 21%), Cooper Kiernan, Charles Garland, Luca Buttrose, Cooper Whatham, Kirrily Petfield, Taylor Mikolic, Hudson Gear, Tamsyn Doyle, Jay Calter (top 17%), Olivia Boland;

Year 7: Amedy Buchanan (top 13%), Christian Schlotterbach, Beyonce Matthew, Katie Graves (top 19%), Sam Swan (top 22%), Gabby Rattey, Jasminder Daley (top 13%), Mya Boyall (top 22%), Hugo Winten, Mariah Stamm, Ella Jarick (top 19%);

Year 8: Charles Box (top 20%), Bailey Thiele, Jacob Salvesen (top 24%), Kai Randl, Jack Carmichael, Samantha Hutton, Ella Hansen, Jasmin Groves (top 17%), Sophie Dahl (top 17%), Matthew Stanton, Adelaide Howard (top 20%), Sebastian Box (top 24%), Deepal Maharaj (top 20%), Grace Garland (top 17%), Catalina Stylianou, Noah Smith (top 17%);

Year 9:    Holly Ubrihien, Jayda Lowe (top 13%), Nicola Hewitt (top 17%), Toby Easton (top 13%), Zoe Clewett, Lachie Buchanan (top 22%), Brooklyn Brown, Mitchell Barwick (top 22%), Ellie Dixon, Jason Wulff (top 13%), Yasmin Richters, Alessandro Papallo, Kate Monroe (top 22%);

Year 10: Pat Swindles, Georgia Barton, Jasmine Foley, John Redd (top 15%), Ryan Price (top 15%),

Year 11: Jackson Laverick (top 22%);

Year 12: Angus Singleton, Karlee Connors, Keaton Dines (top 16%), Zoe Lewis (top 22%), Karla Lowe, Lachlan Masson (top 19%), Olivia Papallo.

A huge congratulations is extended to all of these high achieving students.  As this is an international competition, the writers have identified these skills as being vitally important for Science students in over twenty countries.  So, as a department we continue to work on these skills in our students in order to develop their competencies and strengths.

Vibration Sensation

By Taylor, Kirrily and Kyla

The students of Year 6 have been learning about circuits in science this term. We have been experimenting with the different types or insulators and conductors. In our most recent experiment we have made robots that had the ability to create pictures. We interviewed some of the students and our teacher about the robots. We asked Maryanne how her group created it and was it successful. Her response was this. ‘The plastic cup already had a hole in it and then our teacher, Mrs Sydes said there was a little trick for putting the motor in. All we had to do was cut the hole a little bigger and push the motor in. We also had to put blue tack around it and attach the pens so that it could draw. Yes, it was successful because the robot was vibrating, and it drew a picture.’

When we asked Paige these same questions she said, ‘We cut some slits on the top of the cup and then we tried to stick the motor in the plastic cup, but it didn't go into the cup properly. Then we tried to stick the rubber in on the motor, but it didn't go on because the motor wasn’t in the middle. It was not successful because the motor wasn’t in the middle so then the rubber couldn't spin and vibrate the cup.’

Last of all we asked our Science teacher running the practical, Mrs Sydes, what did she have to do to set up the experiment and were the students as successful as she thought they would be. ‘I had to do a risk assessment to make sure everyone was safe, and we had the right equipment. I also had to make the robot first to see whether it was going to work. I was really impressed when the students persisted with the task and tried different ideas. They learnt and adapted as they went along,’ She said.

The Year 6 class also had their Year 1 buddies there to watch them. While the Year 6s was experimenting and trying to make their robots create a picture the buddies were watching in awe and asking questions.

Overall, it was a fun practical and all the Year 6s loved it. We enjoyed seeing our buddies and teaching them new skills, but we also enjoyed experimenting more with circuits and creating a robot that could draw.

Miss Rebecca Ross, Head of Science and Linda Sydes and Year 6 Teacher

Elizabeth Wegener competed in the piano section:

• Piano accompaniment u/18 with Eden Williams as the accompanist attained third place.
• U/11 sight reading – second place
• U/18 trio section (with her cousins who are twins) – first place
• Junior U/14 Solo Championship - no placing but the own choice piece that she played, 'Dance with Elves' by Grieg – ‘played superbly’ achieving an overall score of 85/100.

Mr Adrian King – Head of Instrumental 

Changes to the Non-Academic Entry Requirements for Teaching / Bachelor of Education

From August 2018, QTAC will discontinue their current Non-Academic Requirements for Teaching Entrance (NARTE) personal statement process and introduce an online tool to measure a student’s suitability for entering into the teaching profession.

The online tool will use several measurable exercises to replace the function of the two, 500-word NARTE statements, removing the focus on writing and placing it upon suitability to the profession.

The first exercise directly elicits the student's motivation to teach, with the second exercise measuring the student's commitment to benefiting young people and understanding the traits of a successful teacher.

When applying through QTAC, all students listing teacher education programs as a preference will receive correspondence with instructions directing them to the online tool. Students are required to complete the online tool by Friday 14 December in order to be considered in the January offer round.

Further details can be found here: https://www.qtac.edu.au/courses---institutions/teacher-entry

UQ Scholarships – Eligibility

 Applying to UQ next year? Here are some of the common eligibility criteria for their scholarships:

• Academic Achievement - Demonstrated by academic results, academic awards, and extracurricular academic activities such as conferences.
• Leadership - Leadership can be demonstrated through school-based leadership positions (such as school captain, sports captain, elected student representative) as well as leadership positions outside school (such as community organisations and sporting clubs) and participation in leadership development programs.
• Community Service - Demonstrated by significant, sustained community service and involvement, such as being an active volunteer for Surf Life Saving or a regular volunteer for Eddie’s Van.
• Sporting Excellence - Demonstrated by significant sporting achievements, as well as the applicant’s potential to perform in their chosen sport at a sufficiently high level.
• Financial Hardship or Disadvantage - Demonstrated by documented eligibility for means-tested income support payments (such as from Centrelink), documented financial situation and gross household income as evidenced by tax assessment notices.

Student Fees and Scholarships - scholarships.uq.edu.au ugscholarships@uq.edu.au (07) 3346 9872

Study in Europe with new international Engineering double degree

UQ has an incredible opportunity for high performing Engineering students to combine study with travel in a new European double degree. The first of its kind in Australia to focus upon Engineering, this program offers students the unique opportunity to spend at least three semesters studying in Europe, with one of UQ's premier partners in Germany, France or Sweden.

Students will gain an invaluable global perspective, international industry experience and will graduate with formal degrees from both UQ and their host university.

Further details can be found here: https://www.eait.uq.edu.au/european-double-degree

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor

4-6 SCISSA Sport

SCISSA training continues for Year 4-6 students with a trial game against Suncoast Christian College next Thursday during school time. Students need to make sure they bring their sport specific playing attire if required.

The Term Three SCISSA Gala Day is coming up on Thursday 13^th September (Week 9). All students will be participating in various sports and activities on this day. Further information about departure times and venues will be sent out in coming weeks. 

P-2 Athletics Carnival

Students have been training very hard in the lead up to the Prep – Year 2 Athletics carnival which is on Monday 3^rd September. The carnival will be held here at the College on the main oval and will start at 9:00am sharp. All students need to wear their coloured house shirts on the day and parents and friends are welcome to attend.

All students will receive a participation ribbon at the end of the carnival with the emphasis on student participation and house spirit.

Student Success

Well done to Zara Richters and Will Rabnott who were recently selected to represent the Independent District in their chosen sports.

Zara recently competed in the District 1500m track trials out at The University of the Sunshine Coast in the Under 12 girls age group. She finished in second place at these trials and has qualified to represent the district at the Sunshine coast Reginal Athletics Carnival. Well done, Zara.

Will also recently attended the Under 12 boys Independent Cricket trials which were held over two afternoons. There were 46 boys who attended these trials and Will was one of nine boys selected for the team. He will now progress through to the Sunshine Coast cricket trials next month.

Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport

Most Pacific FC team finished their games on the weekend so congratulations to all the children, families and helpers on another great season. The Pacific FC Seals have made the semi-finals, so it would be great for the Pacific FC family to come along and support them this Saturday if you can.  The U11C Pacific Seals are playing at 8.30am at Palmwoods. For more information please click here

Mr Matt Gigney, Pacific FC President

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 Peta King, Uniform Shop Convenor

Calling all parents, grandparents and friends of the Pacific community! If you can volunteer for only 45 minutes, (from 12.45 to 1.30pm) then we'd love to hear from you! We have volunteer positions available to serve at the front counter.  We would love to see some new faces at the Tuckshop this term! Your time and effort will be most appreciated by staff and students. If you are unsure about what is involved, please feel free to pop in, meet our Tuckshop Convenor and have a look around. There are jobs to suit everyone and it’s a great way to meet new people and lend a helping hand. Click here to download the Volunteer Form.

Ms Carrie Dickson, Tuckshop Convenor