Compass No. 516 November 2018

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Shrek the Musical for a thoroughly entertaining, creative and well-crafted production. The audience laughed, smiled and enjoyed every moment. The students were fabulous - thanks to much time and effort to the adults behind the scenes!

A fantastic job by Kristy Astwick for her clever and creative input as Director, to Ceilidh King as Producer, Steven Lake as Musical Director, Tracey Hickey for so many parts along the way including incredible costumes, Damien Nolan for the fabulous set design and construction. A big thank you to Linda Sydes, Sarah Atkinson and Christine Doyle for assistance, supervision and support in all areas of the production.

Thank you to the families who came along and supported the production through their attendance.

A wonderful showcase of talent and an enjoyable way to spend time on a Saturday.

Mrs Sue Zweck, Acting Principal

A prayer for the thread this week of Interpersonal Competence…

Lord Jesus, you call us your friends. Give us the grace to make friends and be a good friend to others. Give us the competence to show empathy and sensitivity, appreciating that all people have needs and feelings that we can be aware of and respond. Give us the resilience to deal with friendship fires and the strength to ask for help with mean on purpose behaviour. Show us true friendship and help us to live it out in our relationships. Amen.

Ps Tim Jarick, College Pastor 

Margaret Thorsborne, a Restorative Practices consultant worked with our Pastoral Care Team last Friday. The meeting was a follow up to the work Margaret did with the whole College teaching team earlier in the year. At Pacific, one of our core values is respectful relationships and the Restorative process is a way of building, maintaining, restoring and sustaining relationships. Restorative Practices are dependent upon a social climate that is reparative rather than punitive.

Restorative Practices help Pacific put in action a philosophy that places respectful relationships at the heart of a student’s educational experience. Therefore, student wellbeing and student learning are inseparable from constructive relationships.

Margaret listened to individual team member’s experiences with restorative practices and challenged them to develop their practice in various ways. As a group we discussed maintaining the momentum around Restorative Practices and keeping standards topped up. Other important areas discussed were dealing with special needs students, working with parents and how we inform new teachers and students of our processes.

Thank you to all the staff who made Orientation Day such a wonderful experience for our new students and current Year Five students on Monday. It was a wonderful day full of smiles and positivity.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students

Year 3 Outdoor Education Camp

Last Thursday and Friday I had the pleasure of joining with Year 3 students and staff on their first Outdoor Education Camp at Luther Heights at Coolum. The students and their teachers left the college on Thursday morning and returned to the College excited if not a little tired on Friday afternoon. Whilst at Luther Heights they completed a variety of activities including low ropes, mini flying fox, a treasure hunt and a variety of activities aimed at developing cooperation, teamwork and confidence. The student’s behaviour was impeccable and they participated enthusiastically in all activities.  Thanks to the Year 3 class teachers - Mrs Atkinson, Mr Doran and Mr Healy, teacher aide – Mrs Rollings, Outdoor Education Aide - Tegan and Head of Outdoor Education Mr Tait, for the way that they cared for and supervised the children whilst at Luther Heights.

Junior School Chess  

Due to a variety of absences and activities the PLC Junior School Chess Tournament commences scheduled to begin this week will commence on Monday 12th November.  Many students from Years 2 - 5 have nominated to participate in this year’s event. Games will be played during lunch breaks.

Prep Orientation Night

Thanks to those new and returning parents who attended Wednesday night’s presentation. Starting school is always an exciting and often challenging time for all involved. Hopefully the information, suggestions and explanations of what happens at the College assists with the transition of both the children and their parents into school life.    

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

Whether it's going to school for the first time, making new friends or even going to school camp, children often experience difficulties that they need to overcome.
Children's resilience is fostered when they overcome problems and manage unpleasant social situations such as teasing or going into new situations. Protecting kids from challenging experiences robs them of chances to learn, develop and grow.

When children overcome problems and deal with unpleasant situations, they learn they are capable, which is the basis of self-esteem and confidence.

https://www.nbcs.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/insights_leapfrog.pdf

Mrs Annie Williams, School Counsellor

Coles Sports for Schools

Thank you to everyone who collected the Coles Sports for Schools vouchers earlier in the year and also to our FoP team who collated the vouchers. Our College has now received valuable sports equipment for the HPE department simply by participating in the program! Mr Darren Hooper showcased the gear at Junior assembly recently and the items will be utilised for sport in all year levels.

Annual General Meeting

We warmly invite all new and current families, together with College staff to attend our Annual General Meeting. Please join us for wine and cheese at 6.30pm on Tuesday 19^th November in the College Library. With planning already underway for our 2019 events, we look forward to welcoming many new faces to our volunteer committee!

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

ACU Scholarships

ACU offers a range of scholarships for commencing students that reward qualities ranging from academic achievement to supporting equality. There are nearly 400 scholarships on offer. Some scholarships contribute a one-off payment, while others provide support for each year of your degree. You can apply for as many scholarships as you want. View the scholarships available here.  Make sure you submit applications by the due date.

QUT Academic and sporting scholarships:

Apply by 16 November for QUT’s Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for academic merit and elite athletes. Scholarships range in value from $10,000–$30,000. Recipients are also eligible for membership of the College of Excellence, an experiential and immersive program offering opportunities to connect with other high-achievers, develop your personal and professional skills such as leadership and entrepreneurial thinking and enhance your global outlook.

QUT Scholarships and other opportunities in business and technology

Scholarships often provide advantages in addition to financial support, such as work experience and access to professional networks. Find out more about the broad opportunities with QUT business scholarships and the Westpac Young Technologists Scholarships.

UQ Kathy Hirschfeld Scholarship for Women in Engineering

The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and support a female student undertaking their first year of the B Engineering (Honours) program at the University of Queensland. The award is valued at $5,000 for one year. Applications opened 28 September 2018 and close on 11 March 2019. See the website for details.

UQ The Leeanne Bond Scholarship for Women in Engineering

This scholarship is for a female student undertaking her first year of the B Engineering (Honours) program at the University of Queensland (UQ). Applications opened 28 September 2018 and will close on 11 March 2019. See the UQ website for details.

Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships

The rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships are available to students considering tertiary study in STEM fields in 2019 who are from regional areas.  Links are: https://www.qtac.edu.au/scholarships and https://www.education.gov.au/rural-and-regional-enterprise-scholarships

Teaching Scholarships

The Department of Education’s 2019 scholarship and grant programs is open including the Aspiring teacher grants which support high-achieving secondary graduates from 2018 commencing their studies to become a teacher in 2019. Online applications close Friday 30 November 2018. Further information is available from the Teach Queensland website.

University information sessions after you receive your Year 12 results

Most universities hold information sessions in December for students who have received their Year 12 results and are reviewing their QTAC preferences and/or deciding on their future direction. The following are a selection of these sessions in 2018:

• Australian Catholic University – Know Your Options Information Session from 2 – 4 pm on Saturday 15 December 2018 at the Brisbane campus at 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo. Please register to attend.
• CQUniversity – Change of Preference Information Sessions from 9 am – 1 pm on Monday 17 December 2018 various CQU locations. Please register to keep up to date with new information about these events and to confirm your attendance.
• Queensland University of Technology – Real Decisions at the Gardens Point campus from 9 am – 1 pm on Tuesday 18 December 2018.
• University of Queensland – OP Results Advice Night from 3 – 6 pm on Monday 17 December 2018 at the St Lucia campus.

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor

Last Tuesday, a total of twenty students from Years 6 and 7 went to Kawana Community Centre to participate in the Sunshine Coast Mathematics Tournament annual inter-school quiz. The tournament involves around 30 schools from around the Sunshine Coast.

The students were tested over three rounds including Mentals, a Team Challenge and a Team relay. The aim of the quiz is to engage high achieving students in mathematics and encourages teamwork, co-operation and a sense of fun.

In a tightly contested tournament, the students performed very well, and the highlight of the day was the Year 6 and 7 teams finishing equal third in a variety of challenges.

As yet the official finishing placings have not been finalised, but Pacific appeared to have finished in the top five placings.

 

Term Four Gala Day

Last Thursday, students participated in their final Gala Day for 2018. Thankfully there were clear skies and good weather for the day. Students travelled to various venues from right here in Caloundra all the way up to Noosa to represent Pacific in their chosen sport.

From both teacher and student reports, it was a great day of competition between the SCISSA schools with Pacific lucky enough to claim three overall divisional wins at the end of the day. Congratulations to the following teams who won their division:

Boys 5/6 Div A Volleyball – PLC Team 2

Boys Year 4 Volleyball – PLC Team 1

Boys Year 4 Touch Football

A very big thank you to all teachers, teacher aides and external PLC coaches who coached a team during the year. Thank you for your patience and guidance to help develop sport with the 4 - 6 cohort.

  4-6 Sports Awards

With the Junior SCISSA sport program now finished for the year we will celebrate the achievements of 2018 next Tuesday at our Junior Sports Awards. The awards will be held in the school gymnasium from 12.00 – 1.00pm. This year Stephanie Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning and Australian Diamonds Netball player) will be our guest speaker and presenter. We look forward to hearing Stephanie’s story next Tuesday.

Parents are more than welcome to attend these awards.

Prep – 2 Swim Lessons

During Week 7 and 8 students in Prep, Year One and Year Two will participate in a two-week swim program run at Kawana Aquatic Centre. During the two-week program students will participate in four lessons under the supervision of qualified swim instructors provided by the pool.

The dates for the program are as follows:

Week 7, Monday 19^th November and Wednesday 21^st November                       

Week 8 Monday 26^th November and Thursday 29^th November

Students are required to wear rash shirts during each lesson and goggles are strongly recommended.

Detailed information was sent out earlier this term via Care Monkey.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport

Congratulations Carys!

 Carys Mahoney was selected to play in the Sunshine Coast Regional Cricket team at the State Championships which were held at Maroochydore Cricket Club over the 28th, 29^th and 30th October. The Sunshine Coast won all their pool matches against Metropolitan East, Metropolitan North and Wide Bay to finish top of their pool.

Unfortunately, due to rain, playoff matches had to be abandoned and it was agreed that the winner of Pool A would play off against the winner of Pool B in a final game.

In this final game Carys’ Sunshine Coast team finished 9/166 and bowled out Metropolitan West for 83 to win the carnival and be named State Champions.

Well done to Carys!

Sports Awards

The 2018 Sports Awards will take place at PLC next Tuesday 13^th November 2018.  We are pleased to announce Australia Diamond and Sunshine Coast Lightning netball player Stephanie Wood as our guest speaker. 

Throughout the year coaches and support staff have nominated MVP and Coaches Awards for each of sporting teams across these year levels.  We also acknowledge our premiership teams.

Senior Awards will commence at 2pm.  Students will need to wear their sports uniform on Tuesday for the day.

Uniforms

All sports jerseys and uniforms are now required to be returned to Mrs Campbell, except for Jnr/Int Soccer who are continuing their season.

SCISSA Soccer

Blessed with good weather for another week! 

Next week’s draw is:

Congratulations to all the students who participated and assisted in another fantastic 3-on-3 Basketball competition last Friday night.  These competitions are always a lot of fun for the students and we thank Mr Hauser for his continued time in running these throughout the year.

Mrs Natalie Campbell, Acting Head of Sport

Online registrations for the 2019 soccer season will open shortly via SCCSA, with teams open for both boys and girls in U6 to U16.

Look out for communication regarding the fabulous offers Pacific FC are running next season and how your family can be involved.

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.

This year the Uniform shop will be closing for stocktake on Friday 23^rd November.  Please ensure that, if you are in Year 9, that you have purchased your Blazer and Trousers (for male students) and Blazer (for female students) before this date. 

We will reopen on Monday 21^st January 2018.  For appointments please contact the main office on 5436 7300.

If your child is commencing Year One, please see the below pictures for formal uniform requirements.  All of these items are available from the uniform shop.  Formal shoes for Year One are black leather lace ups.

Foundation and Junior College Formal Uniform

If your child is commencing Year 6, please see the below pictures for formal uniform requirements.  Year Six students require a formal hat to be worn with their formal uniform. The bucket hat continues to be worn with their sports uniform.  All of these items are available for purchase in the Uniform Shop.  Formal shoes are black leather lace ups. 

Middle College Formal Uniform

Mrs Peta King, Uniform Shop Convenor

Book Club

The order forms for our last Book Club of the year have gone out this week. Orders are due in to the library or online by Monday 12^th November.

LibGuides Password

LibGuides is now password-protected. To access these materials, students need the password “plc”.Library Monitors

Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to apply for the position of Library Monitor in 2019. Library Monitors assist the library staff, learn to use the circulation system to lend and return books, work on displays, shelve books and help out with events such as Book Week. Application forms are available from the library and must be returned by Monday 19^th November.

Ms Nell Keen, Head of Library

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