Compass No. 525 March 2019

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. Have you heard these words before? They are words from the Bible and you might have heard them spoken at the end of a funeral. In Genesis chapters two and three, we learn of Adam’s creation from the dust of the earth and then when he disobeys God, God tells him that he will eventually die and return to the earth; “Dust you are, to dust you will return” (Gen 3:19). These words were said over students and staff at the College this week on Ash Wednesday. In chapels, at kindy and in some offices, staff and students were invited to have an ash cross smudged on their foreheads as they heard these primordial words; “remember you are dust and to dust you will return”.

Why would a school want to remind students and staff they are going to die? Why would Christians develop this practice of being reminded of death and their mortality on Ash Wednesday? It’s not really a positive view of the future, is it? A more positive view of the future would be to say something like; remember you are alive, live life to the fullest. Jesus even said this at one point; “I have come to bring life to people that they may experience it to the fullest” (John 10:10). As a school, we definitely want children and teenagers to grow and develop a healthy, positive, hope-filled view of their future. Parents, teachers and schools want students to discover their potential, their talents and place, purpose and meaning in the world. This is important for students and indeed all people to discover.

But these words and the practice of the “imposition of ashes” have been developed by the Christian Church because of the events of Easter. Christians know that to truly live life abundantly and to its fullest, we need to die. We will all physically die one day, our life on earth is limited but we also need to die to ourselves. Each day we need the selfishness and pride we have as part of our human nature to die. Like Adam in the garden, we rebel against God and what we know we should do. We all have the unfortunate propensity to stuff things up in our relationships, in our expectations, in our lives. We put ourselves before others. But on one day a year, people have the opportunity to wear ashes and be reminded of a death that saves us. The ash smudged on our foreheads is in the shape of a cross, the cross that gives us hope and new life.

Just as Jesus died on the cross and was raised to new life, we need God to kill the things that need to die in our lives so that we can experience the freedom, forgiveness and new beginnings He offers us. As we continue to plough through the term to the Easter holidays, may we have moments to pause, be still and reflect on the meaning of the ashes, Lent and the cross.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor 

Next Friday 19^th March is the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, which coincides with Pacific as a Peace Place. This is an important day on our calendar, as it reinforces our stance that bullying and violence are not to be tolerated. Everything we do at Pacific should reflect our core principles of Care, Dignity and Respect:

• Care for ourselves and each other;
• Dignity in how we act and interact; and
• Respect for each other.

Even though these days are only on the calendar once a year, the principles of our Pacific community extend far beyond just one day. Around this time of year, I am often reminded of the words from the Gospel of Luke (chapter 6, verses 27-28), “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”.

To many, it would seem counter-cultural to align ourselves with this line of thinking. The world tells us that we should only love those who love us and hate those who hate us. It isn’t always in our nature to “pray for those who mistreat” us! However, Jesus has called us to a higher level of thinking when interacting with each other.

There are so many positive interactions and achievements each and every day throughout the College and it is important to celebrate these. It is also important to remember how Jesus calls us to act when relationships break down. So, as we approach this significant day on the calendar next Friday, my prayer is that we all remember how to treat each other with care, dignity and respect.

For more information about the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, please visit https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/nationalday.

The journey through Senior College provides students with a range of leadership opportunities. I encourage all students to get involved in the many and varied aspects of service and leadership at the College. A great way of doing so is to join a Pacific Action Group. We have groups for Academic, Culture, Spirituality and Service, Sport, Pastoral Care and Environment. The groups are led by a student captain and are overseen by staff members. These groups meet every fortnight during lunchtime on Wednesdays. If you would like more information on these groups, please speak to me directly.

We are also privileged to have access to the Lutheran Youth of Queensland (LYQ) who run leadership days for our senior students. The Year 10 cohort will have their first LYQ Leadership Day in Term 2 and we look forward to hearing of their experiences. The Year 11 and 12 students have had sessions with LYQ previously and enjoyed the days immensely. I encourage all students to start to thinking about areas in the College where they can lead, regardless of whether they would like to pursue a formal leadership position.

God bless.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Senior College Students

For children today, reading books for pleasure has a lot of competition from many other pursuits. Television doesn’t require them to visualise scenarios or use their imagination as much and a video game has all the bells and whistles to be immediately absorbing. But books continue to form the cornerstone of childhood education and development, says Julie Wells, president of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), and there is a large body of research to back this up.

“Nothing can fire up a child’s vivid imagination more than reading a book, or having one read to them, because it is their imagination that is creating the images from the words they’re reading,” she says.

“The academic and social benefits that come with enjoying reading have also been well documented. But for children it is the absolute joy they can find in reading that is so important.”

Quantity or Quality?

Educators, authors and government bodies have all enjoyed putting a figure on how many books children should be reading, or how many a parent should be reading with their younger child each day. In Australia, figures have been debated that parents should read five books a day to their little children, or at least for 10 minutes a day.

Well-known children’s author Mem Fox wrote in her book, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud To Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever (Mariner Books), that children need to hear 1000 stories read aloud before they learn to read themselves.

“That sounds daunting. But when we do the sums, it isn’t as bad as we might think,” she writes. “Three stories a day will deliver us a thousand stories in one year alone, let alone in the four or five years prior to school.”

“Reading aloud and talking about what we’re reading sharpens children’s brains. It helps develop their ability to concentrate at length, to solve problems logically and to express themselves more easily and clearly.”

The benefits of reading have been shown over and over again in research. A German review of 146 international studies and 10,000 students found that children who read a lot end up higher on the social ladder. An analysis of the research found that avid readers score higher not only on language and reading skills but also on success at school and intelligence.

Ideas for Parents

• Set aside a regular reading time to do at home. “This is a great habit to get into,” Wells says. “Turn off the screens and encourage your children to read, or read to them. They will soon love the chance to escape into their favourite books.”
• Join your local library and visit as regularly as possible. This way you can peruse and devour a vast number of books, without the financial demand, while also having the chance to sample different genres and authors.
• Get an idea of the better books from school librarians and staff at the local children’s bookshop.
• Talk about books with your children. “Many children know what they like reading and at a young age know what authors they enjoy,” Wells says. “Otherwise, talk to them about their interests and find books to match.”
• Model good reading habits. Wells says research shows that children who come from homes where reading material is easily accessible and whose parents read often are more likely to read for pleasure. “Maybe you’re just reading a paper or your favourite magazine, but let your children see you read.”

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

Pouting, whining and sulking are some of the ways that children communicate their displeasure, anger or frustration with a situation. This behaviour is not just limited to young children either, teens do it because they haven’t always learned the skills to express their frustration in an appropriate way. The behaviour will continue as long as you continue to react to it.

For more information, visit: https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/moody-kids-how-to-respond-to-pouting-whining-and-sulking/.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Save the Dates

The PLC Golf Day will be held on Sunday 9^th June at the Pelican Waters Golf Club! Stay tuned for more information.

The Trivia Night will also be held this year on Saturday 17^th August in the Pacific gym! More information on this event will follow later in the year, however please mark the date in your calendars.

Event Planners and Helpers – We Need You!

If you love organising events, or are keen to join in the fun and learn more about the big day, then please join Erin Carter and the team at our Golf Day planning session on Monday 11^th March at 2.00pm in the College Library. This is a wonderful opportunity for new parents to get involved.

March Meeting

Our next Friends of Pacific meeting will be held on Tuesday 19^th March at 6.30pm in the College Library. All families and staff of the College are welcome to attend. We encourage you to come along and connect!

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

Kick Off – This Saturday!

We look forward to hosting the U6 and U7 Rooball Carnivals at Pacific this weekend where we will welcome the many new families from right across the Coast. The draws for the U6-U10 Carnivals and U11+ grading games are available on both the Pacific FC Team App and the SCCSA website. It is good to double-check the draws in case of any field changes or wet weather. A friendly reminder that all SCCSA venues are dog and alcohol free.

Rooball Canteen Roster

Thank you to the parents from the U6 Sharks and U6 Orcas as well as the U7 Lions and U7 Bears for assisting in the canteen this weekend. Your help is very much appreciated. Parent rosters are posted in the Pacific FC Team App for easy reference. Canteen sales enable us to fund additional fitness and coaching programs for our players.

Additional Canteen and Field Set-Up / Pack-Up Help

If any other parents or players from our U11+ teams can help at the carnival, even for one hour, please email us or let your team manager know. We will be running a Rooball ribbon table as well so will need some extra help from players. Please email your availability to: PacificFC@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Bakers

Calling all bakers! If you would like to make and donate cupcakes, a slice or any healthy treat for the home game canteen this Saturday, we’d love to hear from you. Simply send us a message on Facebook or email: PacificPF@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Pacific FC Committee

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

8                       International Women’s Day Breakfast (7am)

11                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Training (3.15 – 4.15pm)

12                    Primary Lutheran Swimming Carnival

14                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Trial Game

15                    Pacific as a Peace Place

16                    Music Scholarship Test

18                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Training (3.15 – 4.15pm)

19                    Friends of Pacific (6.30pm)

21                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Trial Game

23                    Academic Scholarship Test

25                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Training (3.15 – 4.15pm)

26-28              Prep – Year 5 Conferences

27-29              Year 12 Hospitality RACV Work Experience

28                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Gala Day