Compass No. 521 Feburary 2019

Empathy unlike sympathy grows connection. Empathy involves us understanding someone else’s perspective, putting ourselves in their shoes, and feeling with them.  When we are empathetic we are able to genuinely care for others.  Empathy involves the suspension of judgment and connecting with the emotion felt by another person. Jesus’ encouragement to “Love your neighbour as yourself”, requires this capacity for empathy.  It involves us being fully present with the person and responding with care.  

Reflection and conversation around the following youtube clip may open up greater insight into how we might grow a stronger habit of empathy in our lives and in our homes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

We grow habits of thinking in ourselves and our families.  We might reflect on how we respond to media stories which humiliate or reduce the dignity of a person.  Modelling empathy rather than with judgment could be a life changing gift.

Brown, B (2013, 10^th Dec 2013). Empathy Vs Compassion [youtube]. Retrieved from 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw  sighted 7/02/19.

Principal's Log

The Welcome Breakfast provided a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with each other.  The friendly and generous hospitality provided by the Friends of Pacific, our Hospitality department, staff and senior students added to the warm ambience as people enjoyed the opportunity to connect with each other.  Thank you to everyone who made the morning such a special time of connection.  Friday morning was capped off by the Junior College Commencement Service where we enjoyed the energy of our young people as we opened their school year and celebrated the role of our Year 5 students as leaders of the Junior College.

Early in the school year we invite parents and Senior College students to participate in a variety of information evenings.  The informed partnership between parents, students and teachers is an important element in student engagement and success.  Thank you to our staff who have led these sessions so well and to the parents who have availed themselves of this important opportunity to learn more about the next phase of learning for their children.  We look forward to connecting with families at next week’s Year 10 and Middle College Information evenings on Monday and Tuesday night respectively.

One of the important pieces of information shared at the P-5 evening was the implementation of an e-Smart Digital licence for students.  The licence requires young people to complete 11 modules that relate to the safe and effective use of their devices.  The course provided by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation will be trialled this year with Year 4-7 students and is an important initiative in growing young people’s capacity and safety in their use of digital devices.  The program which has a cost of $10 per student comes with great resources for parents, teachers and students and we look forward to sharing these with the community.

We also look forward to e-safety advocate Susan McLean sharing important information with our students and staff during the day on Monday 18^th February and then with parents at 6.00pm.  In this ever-changing arena of digital technology, Susan will provide some valuable insights and strategies for staff, students and parents to flourish within our highly connected world. 

May God grant us soft eyes and open hearts to be fully present with others.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

A lawyer once asked Jesus a question to trip him up. ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied with the words ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbour as yourself.’ Then Jesus went on to tell the lawyer the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a world-famous story about care. The parable has meanings at multiple levels, but the core image is seeing a need and abundantly addressing the need. It is easy to look past those in need and say, “It is none of my business”. That was shown in the two people who walked past the man who was beaten up. These two men had good reason to go about their business.

Jesus tells about the unlikely helper, the Samaritan, or “outsider”. He sees the need and gives care, even paying for the man’s stay in the inn, then following up by saying he will come back to pay anything else needed. Jesus finished the parable by asking the overall question, “Who proved themselves to be a neighbour?” Through the story, Jesus points us to the fact that neighbourly care is not simply words, but action that looks around and wonders, “Who needs my help today?” May we ask the same question in our college community as we love God with our heart, soul, strength and mind.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor 

Screen time is all about balance. It's sometimes more about what is being done on the screen than the amount of time spent. Too much screen time can mean that family members aren't really talking to each other or spending time in a productive way. If you're not sure if your family has got the right balance, consider these questions:

• How much screen time does your family use?
• How do you connect with your children away from digital devices and screens?
• How does your family start conversations where the children can contribute and let you into their world?

Sometimes families need to go without digital devices to see what else they might like to do. Here are some ideas for switching off:

• Make some agreements around not having phones/ipods at the dinner table.
• Set times for screen time and times for switching it off.
• Help your children find other things they like to do that don't rely on a screen.
• Suggest a screen diet - the whole family give up screens for a weekend to see what happens.

Screen time is not all bad! Children and families are enjoying interactive time together playing educational or strategy games, or when using their computer to create something. Keep an eye on what children are using their devices for, and learn about other things they can do on their devices and/or P.C that are creative. Here are some creative things that young people are doing on their devices:

• Creating movies, or stop motion animation.
• Drawing with a drawing tablet or drawing program on a tablet.
• Reading or working on photos creatively.
• Writing a story or creating a comic.
• Learning to code to create an app or a game.
• Building a blog.
• Collaborating with others on a project.

There are so many amazing creative pursuits you can do on a computer besides just homework, checking social media, and watching YouTube!

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Teaching and Learning K-Year 5

Joshua 1:9

"…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The start of 2019 has been dubbed the year of ‘adventure’. At the Commencement Service, Dr Dolling used the analogy of adventure to get us thinking about where we are heading and, more importantly, how we are heading into the year ahead. When I reflect on what ‘adventure’ meant to me, it conjured up images of excitement, new beginnings and different places. However, within that there is also an element of trepidation and uncertainty in going forward. How lucky it is that we have the words of Joshua with us!

Last week many of our Senior College students began the first uncertain steps of their new journey. The Year 10 cohort began the step-up to Senior College; the Year 11 group began a brand new curriculum; and the Year 12’s started the first day of their last year at the school. In all aspects of 2019, I encourage our students to walk boldly with the knowledge that “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.

The Year 12 group began their final year journey with a Leadership Day, run by Lutheran Youth of Queensland where they were challenged to think about how they would contribute to the PLC community in a positive way this year as leaders. All students were thoroughly engaged throughout the whole day and the highlight for all was when they were introduced to their Year 2 ‘buddy’s’ at the end of the day and having the Year 2’s present them with their Senior Jersey and Year 12 badge. I congratulate all Year 12 students on the way they have started the year and look forward to working with them all, to get the most out of the year ahead.

Date claimers for all to take note of over the next two weeks:

Monday 11^th February: Yr 10 information night from 6pm. All parents and students are invited to attend.

Thursday 14^th February: 7-12 Interhouse swimming carnival.

Tuesday 19^th February: Ecumenical service at Immanuel (College Captains) from 9.00am. Yr 12 information night from 6.00pm. All parents and students are invited to attend.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Senior College Students

Thank you to the families who attended the Welcome Breakfast last Friday morning in the Music Courtyard.  It was a wonderful way to round off the first week and a chance for students and parents to interact while sampling an array of delicious breakfast items served by our College leaders. Thank you to the both the hospitality and FoP teams who also supported the event.

Invitation – all welcome!

Our first FoP meeting for 2019 is fast approaching. Please join us on Tuesday 19th February at 6.30pm in the College Library. This is your opportunity to meet other parents within the College and also be kept in the loop with the events ahead.

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

Book Club order forms were sent home this week. Book Club is issued twice a term to students in Year P-7. Parents may order online or by sending the order forms to the library. Orders are due by this Monday, 11^th February.

Lunchtime Activities

The library is a hub of activity at lunchtimes. Every day students come to the library to read, work, and socialise but we also have a number of teacher-run activities as well. For middle and senior students there is the Virtual Reality Zone, as well as board games and adult colouring books. For students in P-6 we run the following activities:

• Monday – computer skills for Years 2-3
• Tuesday – each term we focus on a different technology such as animation, Osmo etc. This term we are doing Minecraft.
• Wednesday – theme-based activities. This week we focused on Chinese New Year.
• Thursday – craft skills such as crochet or knitting
• Friday – board games

Ms Nell Keen, Head of Library

2019 is most certainly going to be another very exciting year in sport. We have hit the ground running with before and after sports trainings happening in Netball, Touch, Rugby, Volleyball, Surfing and Running Club. Students are encouraged to touch base with the teacher in charge of these activities to see whether they are eligible to attend.

The Interhouse Swimming Carnival is being held on Thursday 14^th February at the Nambour Aquatic Centre. If 2018 is anything to go by, then students are in for a real treat in terms of participation, atmosphere, house spirit and elite performances in the pool. We look forward to having all students attend the carnival!

SCISSA Volleyball (yr7-10) and Soccer (Yr11/12) begin Wednesday 13^th February. Students need to collect their uniforms from Mrs Campbell’s office at morning tea on Friday this week. Buses will take students to and from games and parents need to collect their child from the school. A memo will be placed in the student notices and on schoology with details about game times, bus times etc.

I look forward to supporting all parents and students in the many sporting options offered by the college.

Congratulations again to the water polo players who competed at the Queensland State Titles in the holidays.

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

WOW what a fantastic response we have had to our New Menu click here to view. There has been a ‘buzz’ around the campus.

We will continue to develop new and exciting choices throughout the term, so please keep checking the Newsletter.

Don’t forget all the Chicken used in the Tuckshop is roasted fresh in-house.

Salads, Muffins and Slices are all made fresh daily in-house.

Gooey Choc Chip Muffins – baked daily $2.50

Slice of the Day – baked daily $1.00.

Friday Specials   Don’t Miss Out, Be sure to order.

Fresh Funky Wok Fried Rice Day, served in a Noodle Box $5.00. Lunch Only

BLT’s – Fresh cooked Crispy Bacon, Tomato & Lettuce on a Toasted Turkish Bread $5.00. Lunch Only

Raspberry White Choc Muffins –$2.50

Please note our new email address: tuckshop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Mrs Shea Moor, Tuckshop Convenor

4-8      Year 7 Camp (Lake Somerset)

5          Music Information Evening (5.30pm)

5          Yr 11 Information Evening (6.00pm)

6          Yr 11-12 SCISSA Soccer Begins

6          P-5 Information Evening (6.00pm)

7          Year 3-6 Swim Carnival Beerwah Pool (9.00am-2.30pm)

11        Yr 10 Information Evening (6.00pm)

12        Year 9 Rite Journey Departure (5.00pm)

12        Yr 9 Camp Information (5.30pm)

12        Middle College Information Evening (6.00pm)

13        Yr 7-10 SCISSA Volleyball begins

13        Yr 10-12 Drama Excursion

14        Yr 7-12 Swim Carnival Nambour Pool (8.30am-3.00pm)

15        No Sport Yr 7-12 (Thursday lessons)