Compass No. 562 February 2020

Pacific recognises that protecting students from harm and the risk of harm is fundamental to maximising their personal and academic potential. The welfare and best interests of the children within our College will always be a primary consideration.

We expect our students to show respect to our staff and volunteers and to comply with safe practices. We expect all employees to ensure that their behaviour and relationships with students reflects proper professional standards of care and are not unlawful. The College will respond diligently to a report of suspected or actual harm, or risk of harm to a student resulting from either within the College or from outside of the College.

What does the College mean by harm?

Queensland legislation defines harm as:

• Any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing. It is immaterial how the harm is caused. Harm can be caused by:
  • Physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect;
  • Sexual abuse or exploitation; or
  • Domestic or family violence.

How does the College protect students from harm?

The College has a comprehensive Child Protection Policy, which outlines the actions to be taken if a member of staff or a parent of the College becomes aware or reasonably suspects that harm has been done to a student by other staff, people outside the College or by other students.

What should you do if you become aware or reasonably suspect that harm has been caused to a student of the College by a member of staff, someone outside of the College or by other students?

You should report your concerns to the Principal or member of the Administration and Learning Executive or to any other member of College staff.

What will happen next?

If you report your concerns to a member of staff other than the Principal, the member of staff will report it to the Principal immediately. If the subject of the complaint is the Principal then the member of staff will report to the Chairperson of the College Council.

Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Every student has the right to feel safe and free from harm while at Pacific Lutheran College. We expect students to respect their teachers and other students and we expect that they will receive the same respect in return. Students should never allow themselves to feel unsafe without reporting it to someone they trust.

Who should a student tell if they do not feel safe at school or at home?

Any member of staff, including the Pastor. If a student does not feel comfortable talking to a member of staff, they may like to write him or her a letter. If a student would prefer to talk to somebody outside of the College on a confidential basis, they can also call Kids Help Line which is a free call – 1800 551 800.

What will happen if a student reports what is happening to a member of staff?

If the concern is worrying the student but not causing them immediate harm, then the member of staff will discuss ways to solve their problem. If the concern is serious and the member of staff believes that the student is being harmed or is in danger of being harmed, he or she will report it to the Principal.

What if the student does not want the member of staff to tell the Principal?

The member of staff will aim to keep the student’s concerns confidential as much as possible. However, if the member of staff is aware or reasonably suspects that harm has been caused to a student of the College, the law states that the matter must be reported to the Principal and it may have to be reported to the Police. If the staff member has no choice about reporting what the student has told them, he or she will explain exactly what will happen next.

The most important thing is that the student feels safe and free from harm. Students must tell someone if they are being harmed or afraid that they will be harmed.

Pacific has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that students, staff and members of the College community are not subjected to behaviours, practices or processes that may constitute harassment, discrimination, vilification, or victimisation and is therefore committed to developing an environment which promotes respect for a person’s integrity, equitable treatment and natural justice.

Taking and publishing photos, and recordings of school-based activities

Recording of school-based activities should only be for personal use and should not be published in a public manner without the permission of the College. This would include social networking sites such as Facebook or You Tube. Publishing images without permission of those in the image contravenes the College’s privacy policy. Copyright permissions are also infringed upon if music from public performances is broadcasted or duplicated.

One of the things I love doing in my garden is composting. After several months with a bit of patience, I can make rich compost from my kitchen scraps, garden trimmings and lawn clippings. Then I have the pleasure of digging the earthy humus back into my vegetable beds or flowerpots. It is extremely satisfying to reuse organic material from my household and with the help of decomposition, re-enter it into the environment through more fertile soil. This enriched soil then helps me to grow more flourishing flowers, plants and vegetables. Soil and compost are so important for our environment, our care of creation, our food supply and it is also important in teaching us how God acts in the world.

This week, our Pacific community celebrated the beginning of Lent with a focus on Ash Wednesday in chapels. Students and staff had the opportunity to have ash put on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. This ritual act was accompanied by the words; “remember you are dust and to dust you will return”. Ash, dust, dirt, these elements all remind us of how vitally connected we are with the soil and how all life created by God will eventually decompose and return to the soil. This was God’s message to Adam in Genesis 3:19, that he would return to the ground where God had made him. Composting is part of God’s plan for the world and shows us that new life, new growth, is coming.

The American poet and farmer Wendell Berry says that soil is Christ-like. Christ-like because it constantly welcomes death and turns it into new life. That was God’s point in sending Jesus to us, to show us that His pattern for the world is to work through death to bring us resurrection. New life and hope can sprout and flourish from what was decaying and dying. One soil scientist, after years of research, concluded that our soil is unexplainably mysterious in how it keeps on turning matter into new life and feeds and nourishes the world. Composting and connecting with the ground we live on is good for our gardens, our environment and for us spiritually. Getting our hands and heads dirty is not such a bad thing. In fact, it can be a God thing when it connects us with Christ who grows new life in us.

Have a blessed Lent and enjoy a garden and composting if you can.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

Last week I took great delight in watching several short video clips that focused on the elements of plant and animal cells. There is something quite special about being able to ‘see’ what can only been seen under a microscope. Our Year 8 scientists continue to dive deep into some challenging concepts in a manner that evokes curiosity, collaboration and focused questioning. As Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is to never stop questioning”. As a place of learning, my hope is that all students at Pacific continue to ask questions to quench their thirst for new information and ways of doing things.

You may recall Dr Bronwyn Dolling’s explanation of this year’s theme, excellence through student agency and efficacy. Additionally, it is the attention we will continue to give to student voice that will support the foundations for building students’ agency and efficacy. Significantly, there has been a renewed focus on student leadership at the College and the microscope has been well and truly placed over this domain at Pacific. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of leadership at any level is to listen. Consequently, this message of listening to student voice will permeate across the College as our leaders settle into their respective roles. I encourage all students to channel their voices with purpose through the various leadership teams, including the Pacific Action Groups and Connect and Empower spiritual collectives.

Middle College Leadership

Recently the Year 6 leaders attended the GRIP Primary Leadership Conference at Venue 114. They spent the day with Year 6 leaders from 30 other schools learning about leadership, showing generosity and bringing leadership ideas to life. It was a fantastic interactive day with lots of fun activities and ideas about ways leaders can support their peers. Thank you to Mrs Linda Sydes for her leadership and organisation of this day and I look forward to working with a dynamic group of young people. Year 9 Student Leaders also had the privilege of attending an Ecumenical Service at Good Shepherd Lutheran College. The students represented the College with distinction and together prayed, sang, listened and connected with a broad range of student leaders from across the region.

Mission Australia Youth Survey 2019

The largest of its kind in Australia, the Mission Australia Youth Survey unpacks the responses of 15-19-year-old students across a range of areas. Mission Australia has placed the students’ responses under the microscope and determined that mental health was the most important issue in Australia. I encourage you all to take a look at the outcomes of the survey in more detail at (Mission Australia Youth Survey 2019). At Pacific, we also seek to understand what our student community is thinking across a range of areas and as such will conduct the Pacific as a Peace Place Survey towards the end of Term 1. The data we collect informs how we respond and educate key stakeholders in ensuring Pacific continues to be a place where students feel safe and included and can thrive.

Prep – Year 9 Disco

Please save the date for our upcoming Prep – Year 9 Disco on Friday 27^th March. Last year we attracted more than 400 students to the disco and this year should be just as popular. More details will be made available in the coming weeks.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students

Melbourne researchers have proven what parents have intuitively known all along – the more often you read to your children from an early age, the greater the positive effect on their reading and thinking skills.

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research has not only proven a causal effect between the frequency of reading to a child and his or her development, but have also measured the benefits for the first time.

Four to five year old children who are read to three to five times a week have the same reading ability as children six months older (who are read to only twice or less a week).

Reading to children six to seven days a week puts them almost a year ahead of those who are not being read to. It was also found that reading to small children has a positive effect on the development of numeracy skills.

The research, which was funded by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, found the positive outcomes occurred in children regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background. That is, children with poor backgrounds or parents of limited education or ability have the same benefit of being read to frequently.

Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell said the research was ''an exciting step forward'' in understanding the importance of reading to young children.

Mr Sue Zweck, Head of Learning K-5

A 2-Minute Action Plan for Parents

Awareness: Every day notice something your child does with a good intention or with a concerted effort – especially when it doesn’t go according to plan. Make it about their character and personal qualities instead of their actions.

Acceptance: Start to notice when you feel the need to correct your child. Is it necessary, does it matter and will it help them?

For more information, visit: https://afineparent.com/.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Shop Earn Grow

Help plant a greener future for our school! Simply shop at Currimundi Markets to vote for Pacific to WIN 1 of 2 Sustainable Garden Prize Packs! From 9^th March – 3^rd April 2020. Learn more at: www.currimundimarkets.com.au.

Look out for further information at Currimundi Marketplace and on the junior assembly next week.

Upcoming Events

• Mooloolaba Tri – Sunday 15^th March
• College Dance – Friday 27^th March; and
• One World OCEANfest 2020 Planning Meeting – Date TBA.

If you would like to be involved in any of the events above, please contact us via email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Mooloolaba Tri Volunteering Opportunity

Pacific is volunteering at the Mooloolaba Tri on Sunday 15^th March and we are looking for 20 parents and Middle / Senior College helpers who would like to join the Pacific / FoP volunteer team. It’s a six-hour commitment at Mooloolaba and promises to be a rewarding experience. Volunteers receive a t-shirt and food. Pacific will receive a donation for every volunteer we provide on the day.

• Sunday 15^th March – 4.45am start till 11.00am (we need another 11 volunteers).

If you would like more information or can commit to helping out, please contact Mrs Allyson Sarvari on 0402 276 988 or email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17^th March in the College Library at 6.30pm. Please join us for wine, cheese and a chat.

Quote of the Week

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Dr Wayne Dyer

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

For the second year running, the annual University Showcase tour is visiting Pacific. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Year 12 students to get information about university, vocational education and training (VET) and Defence Force options available to them next year. All Year 12 students will attend this event, in the gym, on Wednesday 11^th March from 2.15pm to 3.00pm. There will be 13 exhibitors here for the event and they are keen to meet our students and answer their questions. We would also like to invite interested Year 12 parents to come along as well.

Defence Force Recruiting Events

The Maroochydore office of Defence Force Recruiting holds information events throughout the year. The following events are coming up in March. There is a linked information flyer for each event below. If you are interested in attending any of these events, please click on the link to register, or contact Defence Force Recruiting, using the contact details on the event flyer.

• Monday 2^nd March from 6.00pm – 8.00pm: GAP Year (Maroochydore RSL)
• Wednesday 11^th March from 6.00pm – 8.00pm: Commando Careers (Maroochydore RSL)
• Wednesday 25^th March from 6.00pm – 8.00pm: Defence Careers (Oaks Oasis Caloundra)

 Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

Last Friday, our primary swim team travelled to St Andrew’s Anglican College to compete in the 2020 District Swim Carnival.

Strong participation and spirit were on display throughout the carnival and it was pleasing to see a number of excellent individual and team performances. Well done to everyone who participated and congratulations to the following teams and students who placed in the top three positions.

At the end of the carnival, an age champion from each division was announced. Congratulations to the following students who were placed in the top three places for their age group:

• Catherine Wegener – 3^rd place
• Emily Lengenberg – runner up

Overall, Pacific placed fourth in the percentage trophy and sixth in the aggregate trophy.

From these carnival results, the following students have been selected to represent the district at the Regional Swim Carnival next week.

• Thomas Wegener
• Charlie Schefe
• Emily Lengenberg
• Evie Richters

Well done and good luck at next week’s carnival.

Kawana Park Eagles AFL Club

The Kawana Park Eagles AFL Club are looking for players to join the 2020 season in the following age groups:

• 8.5’s (Year 2 and 3) 9 per side - $235 for season
• 10.5’s (Year 4 and 5) 12 per side - $275 for season

The club is located adjacent to Pacific at the recently developed AFL fields. Games are played in zones to reduce crowding on the field and training is from 4.00pm – 5.00pm on Thursdays.

If you would like to register your child, please visit: https://membership.sportstg.com.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport

Mr Brett Kersnovske, 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

Sunday Worship Times St Mark’s Church @ Pacific 9.30am Pacific Lutheran College (Entry via Red Cedar Drive, Meridan Plains) Google Maps St Mark's Lutheran @ Pacific   Are you looking for a friendly church where young people, old people, children, families and singles are appreciated, empowered and encouraged to grow as Christians? Everyone is welcome! Get in touch: Pastor Ray Morris 0429 856 532 ray.morris@lca.org.au www.stmarkslutherancaloundra.net

Pastor Ray, St Mark’s Lutheran Church

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

4                       10-19yrs Regional Swim Carnival

5                       Year 4-6 SCISSA Trial Game – SCC

6                       International Women’s Day Breakfast (7.00am)

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

12                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Trial Game – NCC

14                    Music Scholarship Test

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

17                    Friends of Pacific (6.30pm)

20                    Pacific as a Peace Place

21                    Academic Scholarship Test

24-26              Prep – Year 5 Parent Conferences

26                    Year 4-6 SCISSA Gala Day 1

27                    Prep – Year 9 College Dance