Compass No. 549 September 2019

Earlier this year, in keeping with the College being a leader of contemporary approaches to education and the changing community expectations in regard to hair styles, the College Council has revised Pacific’s hair guidelines as shown below. The focus will be on ensuring that all of our students present neatly. The policy will take effect from the start of Term 4. We envisage that through this implementation phase, there will need to be clarification as the community develops a common understanding of this new standard which we expect will lead to a higher standard of presentation. 

Parents or students who have questions in regard to this are welcome to contact the Principal Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Director of Students Mr Ben Ryan, Head of Senior College Students Mr Mark Hauser or Head of Staff and Students P-5 Mr David Druery.

Hair Guidelines – All Students

As part of the Pacific Lutheran College uniform, student hair should be maintained to reflect care, dignity and respect for self, the College and the community. Hair must be neat, clean and tidy at all times. Hair longer than collar length, falls forward onto the face or is untidy must be tied back. 

Selected styles should facilitate appropriate wearing of College hats and should not draw attention to the individual student. All styles must comply with safety requirements of all College learning spaces. 

Colouring

Colour treatments should be subtle and be a single, naturally occurring hair colour.

Products

Hair styling products should be applied in a subtle manner and be colour-free or naturally coloured. Hair management products such as hair ties, scrunchies, combs, clips or pins should be yellow, teal, navy or white and purchased from the College Uniform Shop. Plain, navy or black elastic bands and plain or clear hair clips and combs are also acceptable. All management products should be subtle, preserve dignity and be in keeping with the uniform.

Students are to remain clean-shaven whilst enrolled at the College.

When styles or colours do not meet the guidelines, students and families will be required to address the issue as indicated by the College. Please note the following are examples that would not meet the College’s student hair guidelines.

• Cuts / styles: mohawks, rat tails, undercuts, track or similar, haircuts shorter than a number 2 cut.
• Colours: stark colours out of alignment with the students’ natural colouring. Hair products which are fluorescent, sparkly or used to excess.

Mrs Ruth Zerner, College Council Chair

At the final assembly for the term, it was great to hear the Captains’ Address. In his reflection, College Vice-Captain Jackson Laverick highlighted the successes that we as a College have accomplished so far, both curricular and co-curricular. The list was staggering! In amongst the exams, assignments and general classroom learning, there were also sport carnivals, academic challenges, musical feats, artistic venture and drama performances. It is sometimes easy to get caught up in the busyness of school life, but it’s important to pause and reflect on how far we have come. In discussion with the Year 12 cohort this week, one theme that was common as they near the end of their schooling life, is how quickly the year has flown by (as cliché as it sounds). Jackson’s reflection serves as a great reminder to us all that, as we approach the final term of the year, we have achieved so much already in 2019. Term 3 was a busy one and I congratulate you all on your successes throughout. Over the holidays, take time to reflect on what you have accomplished and how you can continue to grow next term. I wish you all a very safe and blessed holiday break.

Last Friday, 43 Senior College students gave of their time to participate in Pacific’s first ever ‘sleepout for the homeless’ in the College gym. This was an initiative from the Year 12 cohort, driven primarily by the College Captains as one of their major events for senior students. It was great to witness the enthusiasm and generosity of students, with $280 raised along with seven boxes of blankets and pillows also donated to The Salvation Army, Caloundra for distribution to those who need these items most. It was a long night for those involved, however all students enjoyed coming together for this worthy cause. All those involved in the night took away a valuable lesson and I thank Mrs Tina Cox, Mr Ben Ryan, Mrs Leah Croke, Ms Angela Hill and Mrs Michiko Hauser for their time and efforts. Well done to all who participated.

On Saturday 19^th October, we invite the Graduating Class of 2009 back to the College to celebrate their 10 year reunion. The celebration provides a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with past classmates, teachers and the school. For more information, please contact the College or visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1121886804682552/. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with the Class of 2009.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Senior College Students

Thank you to all parents and families for their continued support and involvement in the many and varied aspects of schooling in the Prep – Year 5 area of the College this term. It is greatly valued and welcomed by students, staff and the entire College community. After such a long term, I wish all students and families a relaxing, enjoyable break. Term 4 commences on Tuesday 8^th October.

Chess classes will re-commence next term on Tuesday afternoons. As previously advised, these classes are run by Chess Mates. If your child is interested in participating, please contact the P-5 Student Administration (during term time) to collect the relevant documentation.

Next term, on Friday 25^th October, we welcome grandparents and special friends of students to the College. The morning offers students the opportunity to show and involve their extended families in their daily experiences at school. Visitors will spend time in learning spaces before attending morning tea and enjoying a variety of musical performances. 

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

Parents who spend a lot of time on their phones or watching television during family activities such as meals, playtime and bedtime could influence their long-term relationships with their children. To learn more about the impact of your screen time, click here.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

FOP September Meeting

We welcomed new and regular members to our meeting this week and were blessed to have one of our 2019 College Captains, Rebekah Pierce, provide an amazing insight into her time at Pacific, including how it has prepared her for life outside of the College. Rebekah’s journey with Pacific started in Year 8 and she hasn’t looked back. Her takeaway message was threefold; have faith – believe in yourself; develop a support network – lean on others around you, including teachers, friends and family; and take opportunities – be open-minded to growth in unexpected areas. We wish Rebekah well on her journey ahead. We also thank Head of Senior College Students Mr Mark Hauser for his encouragement and mentorship of our young people during this time.     

“It’s because of teacher’s faith in me that I’ve thought myself capable enough to pursue a career in medicine and really go for gold. I’m currently waiting to find out if I’ll be accepted and where I’ll be off to next year. The opportunities I’ve received here at Pacific have been life changing. From being nominated for awards like ADF’s Long Tan Youth Leadership to participating in events like Lions Youth of the Year, I have realised my own potential. Without these opportunities, I wouldn’t be aspiring for a career in medicine. My future dreams and hopes wouldn’t have been possible without the support and amazing letters of recommendations from staff.” – Rebekah Pierce

Trivia Night Wrap-Up

We are very pleased to announce the Blockbuster Trivia Night was a great financial success, bringing in a profit of $9 000. We thank all who were involved in the planning of the event and also those who attended and supported the night. We are already looking forward to the 2021 Battle of the Bands Trivia Night.

Volunteering Opportunities

Following on from our successful IRONMAN 70.3 volunteering stint, Pacific has been approached to help out at two upcoming sporting events. We are looking for parents and/or Middle and Senior College helpers for the All Schools Triathlon on Sunday 27^th October and the Noosa Triathlon on Sunday 3^rd November. The Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival is five-day event, celebrating sports, healthy lifestyles, fitness and fun.

Volunteers receive a t-shirt and a cap and will generally be helping on drink stations. Pacific will receive a donation for every volunteer we provide, which will help us raise funds for the installation of more water coolers at the College. If you would like more information or can commit to helping out, please contact Allyson Sarvari on 0402 276 988 or email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Next Meeting

Please join us for our next meeting at 6.30pm on Tuesday 22^nd October in the Main Reception.

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

Well done to Middle College student, Bridgette Cooper, who has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Telling Stories competition, which is organised by Mooloolaba Rotary in partnership with the Creative Writing Program, USC and Voices on the Coast. Bridgette wrote a story titled ‘I Should Have Listened’. To read her story in full, click here. In October, Bridgette will attend an awards ceremony where the winners will be announced. We wish Bridgette well as she progresses in the competition.

Ms Sue Warren, Teacher Librarian

Reading is one of the most important areas you can support your child with. For early primary aged children, the opportunity to read aloud to a parent daily will go a long way in improving reading skills. In fact, the biggest gains can be made when families commit to daily reading. This does not have to be a long, drawn out process. Even five minutes a night is a great help. I often encourage children to “read to the 'staples' the first night, finish the story the second night and reread the text on the third night". Research continues to indicate that repeated reading of familiar texts builds fluency. Helping children to engage with the text by encouraging them to make connections and predictions will benefit comprehension. For example, 'what do you think the puppy will do next?’ It doesn't matter if the prediction is wrong, rather, it is about thinking what an appropriate response might be. Making comments like ‘that reminds me of when we went to visit grandma and saw the chickens’ will help children understand how good readers process information and make sense of what they read by connecting it to known experiences. Asking a quick question before turning the page will help with factual recall. If reading is a struggle, it is important to talk with your child's teacher. It is only natural that we avoid things that are difficult, so acknowledging this with your child can help. If you would like further information, please don't hesitate to contact your child's class teacher or myself.

Ms Sara Taverner, Head of Learning Enrichment P-5

Year 11 and 12 students studying Certificates II and III in Health Support Services also gain other nationally accredited qualifications in first aid, which are incorporated into their Health studies. Students complete HLTAID001 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, HLTAID003 Provide First Aid, HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting and HLTAID005 Provide first aid in remote situations. These courses are delivered and accredited through Allens Training at Birtinya. Pacific’s partnership with Allens Training doesn’t end with training as we also have members of the Allens family enrolled at the College. We would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Allens Training for their generous donation of resuscitation training manikins and other first aid supplies to bolster our Health course resources. Our senior students will rely on these resources to complete their certifications and were keen to test out their skills as soon as the new manikins arrived!

Last weekend, the Primary Schools Cup Netball Carnival was held in Maroochydore with 160 teams from all over Queensland competing. The courts at Fishermans Road were a sea of players, umpires, supporters, tents, food stalls and a big screen, which broadcast the Suncorp Super Netball final with the Sunshine Coast Lightning vs Sydney Swifts on Sunday afternoon.

The two day carnival provided an opportunity for players to experience competitive netball in a Championship Division and a Development Division. Pacific entered a team in each of these divisions.

• PLC Navy – Championship Division: Amber Hetherington, Evie Sillar, Freya Mulholland, Grace Cawley, Holly King, Kahlia Taylor, Kirra Burdett-Cluer, Mia Locke and Zoe Woods.
• PLC Teal – Development Division: Ana-Belle Mogg, Amelia Holmes, Cayley Slevin, Kayla Sanderson, Leila Osborne, Lucinda Whight, Maya Dean-Meredith, Mia Beilken, Mia Wilkie and Orly Sillar.

Both teams played very well and all players displayed great sportsmanship both on and off the court.

On Saturday, the grading rounds were held with both PLC Navy and PLC Teal qualifying for Division 3. On Sunday, PLC Navy played four games, winning three and drawing one. As a result, they qualified for the finals and finished runners up to Eaton Hills out of the 20 teams in their division. PLC Teal played 12 games over the weekend and finished fifth in their division.

Coaches, Mrs Michelle Dufty and Mrs Amanda Empson, were very proud of all students and their development and growth in the short time they have been training and playing together.

A very big thank you to Gabby Gorham and Tayla Gorham for umpiring and to all the parents for their support during the girls’ netball journey. We look forward to improving our results in 2020!

Pacific will once again offer its four-week Learn to Surf program in Term 4. The program will cover a range of topics including reading ocean conditions, board handling and developing fundamental movements such as balance, agility and coordination.

The program will be held at Kings Beach, Happy Valley or Dicky Beach, depending on conditions. It will be administered by Russell Hoffman, owner of North Caloundra Surf School, in conjunction with Pacific staff. Parents will be notified of the location via CareMonkey prior to each session.

Sessions are one hour in length and are due to begin on Monday 28^th October. Participants will be required at the beach by 6.00am for a 6.15am start. Parents and guardians will be responsible for transport to and from the venue. The program is open to students in Years 2-7 and the cost is $56.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in this program, please email Mrs Natalie Campbell (ncampbell@pacluth.qld.edu.au) to register your interest. As numbers are limited to 24, positions will be filled on a first in basis.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport 

Mr Brett Kernovske, Head of Sport

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