Compass No. 574 June 2020

So, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

Jesus said these words to his disciples in the context of people worrying about whether we have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. But at this time of the school term, we sometimes have the anxiety of students who worry whether they have studied enough for exams. Do you remember getting worried about a big exam or test at school the night before? Deadlines of assignments and the pressure of exams can weigh heavily on the minds of students no matter what their age. It seems as humans, we are creatures who inherently worry about what’s going or what’s not going to happen to us.

For many in our world today the worry is what’s going to happen to us on the other side of the coronavirus? What will the world of the ‘new normal’ look like? Are we still going to be able to do the public things that we took for granted? Worry can easily creep into our emotional thinking when we are confronted with what we cannot control. And, if we have learnt anything in recent months, it is there are more things than we realise that we cannot control. Learning to cease from worrying begins with letting go of control, being aware of the present moment and relying on God for all things. As Jesus said; Worrying about the ‘what ifs’ of tomorrow will add more anxiety to us, why not pause, take a breath and name that worry to God. Letting go of our worries in prayer is an excellent way of beginning to deal with them.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

Last week, the Year 11 cohort engaged in their first leadership day with LYQ. As with most things so far this term, the structure of the day was a little different, with the program being delivered online. The session focussed on what leadership meant to the cohort and aimed to get students thinking about how leadership looks in the everyday patterns of school life. It was great to see students engaging with the LYQ facilitators and to hear their responses as they shared their thinking throughout the day.

As part of the Senior College, we encourage all Year 11 students to consider themselves as leaders and continue to set a positive example among their peers and other year levels. The formation of Pastoral House Groups this term has provided a great opportunity for this.

The Year 11 cohort will engage in another Leadership Day early in Term 3, just before leadership applications and interviews take place. I look forward to walking with this cohort as they continue to build on their leadership throughout the remainder of the year.

Senior College Defensive Driver Course

Next term, Pacific was scheduled to take part in a Defensive Driver Course through the RACQ in Brisbane. Last year the course proved to be a highly valuable opportunity for Senior College students. With current restrictions in place, we have put a hold on this year’s course for now. When we are able to offer this program again we will advertise to the student body. The practical course deals with defensive driving at speed (controlled), in wet conditions, course manoeuvring and theoretical applications and demonstrations as well. In order to join this program, students must have their L-plates as a minimum. Stay tuned for more information about this.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Senior College Students

During our virtual assemblies this term, Prep – Year 5 students have been revisiting the components of our You Can Do It Program. Over the last two weeks, we have been examining resilience.

Building resilience is essential to help us navigate our daily lives. Especially when we have confrontations with difficult people, make wrong choices, get bad results, encounter negative situations that are beyond our control or struggle with day to day things that are boring, difficult or what we consider a waste of time.

We all face such difficulties with varying levels of resilience. Teaching children the skills to support the development of resilience is an important facet of growth and development.

Some of our Year 5 students shared their thoughts about what it means to be resilient:

• To keep giving your best even if you’re in doubt – Amy
• Being resilient means that you bounce back, keep trying and try not let anything bring you down – Ben
• Resilience means getting back up again even if times get tough – Tilly

We are continually surrounded by examples of resilience and there are many figures throughout history who have demonstrated great resilience against all odds. This week at assembly, we acknowledged Mabo Day, which fell on 3rd June. Students were reminded of the resilience that Eddie Mabo showed during his campaign for Indigenous land rights to be recognised in Australia.

School Boundaries

Our College thread of school boundaries has served as a timely reminder as students have returned to the College with different guidelines to maintain our safety. Our pastoral care logo with the cross at its centre, reminds us that our boundaries are there to preserve the care, dignity and respect we have for each other. The crossing of these boundaries has the potential to impact the individual rights of others and we continue to remind our students of the importance of making good choices, in line with our College ethos.

We remind students and families to ensure they are presenting to the College in line with our uniform guidelines and thank families for the way they are supporting the College with the drop off and pick up of students in both car parks.

Mobile Device Use

Finally, a reminder about mobile use across the Foundation and Junior College. If students are in possession of a device capable of communication such as a phone or smart watch, it must be switched to standby whilst the student is at school. At no stage are students to contact parents directly via their device. All communication needs to be through the P-5 student reception.

Take care and God bless.

Mr Damian Davis, Head of Staff and Students P-5

Habits formed early in life will inform behaviours in adulthood. With mindfulness, we have the opportunity to give our children the habit of being peaceful, kind and accepting. For children, mindfulness can offer relief from whatever difficulties they might be encountering in life.

For more information, visit: https://www.nytimes.com/.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

As part of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students With Disability (NCCD), the College is required to provide the following information to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training on each student with a disability:

• The student’s year level;
• The student’s category of disability (i.e. physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional); and
• The student’s level of adjustment (i.e. support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive adjustment).

For further information about the NCCD, visit: https://www.nccd.edu.au/. If you have any questions, please contact our Head of Learning Enrichment, Mrs Jo Belchamber on 5436 7300 or jbelchamber@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Do you need care for your children or are you looking for entertainment options these holidays? Pacific's OSHC has a fantastic interactive vacation care program for school aged children. The days are full of fun, laughter and entertainment.

Some of the activities planned for these holidays include a Lego incursion, a Pirate Day and a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. To learn more about our service and view the full program, visit: https://www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au.

Mrs Natalie Sorbello, OSHC Service Leader

Telling Stories Writing Competition

Year 4-9 students are invited to submit a story with the title ‘I should have been more careful!’ for this competition. Entries, along with an entry form, must be submitted to Ms Nell Keen via email (nkeen@pacluth.qld.edu.au) by Friday 28th August. For more information, click here. The top prize is $150.

KYD School Writing Prize

For this competition, high school students are invited to submit entries of up to 1500 words (fiction or non-fiction), responding to a current social or political issue. Entries must be submitted to Ms Nell Keen via email (nkeen@pacluth.qld.edu.au) by Friday 28th August. The top prize is $500.

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award

Open to students from Prep – Year 12, up to three poems, no longer than 80 lines, may be submitted on the theme ‘We used to live there’. There is a small entry fee and the top prize is $500. Entries close on Tuesday 30th June. For more information, visit: https://dorothea.com.au/How-to-Enter-awards.

Ms Nell Keen, Head of Library

Universities are still working through their decisions on Open Days. Some have already made the decision to offer virtual events to replace their Open Day this year.

If you want to keep up with developments, the best place to start is the QTAC website (www.qtac.edu.au): go to the ‘Courses and Institutions’ menu and then to ‘Open Days and Expos’. There is a tab there for every institution, as well as tabs for all the expos. QTAC is trying to keep this as up to date as possible, but it’s best to check directly with each institution, so there is a link within each institution/expo tab. These links take you to institution website pages where the latest information will be posted. In many cases you can sign up on the institution’s Open Day web page to receive updates.

QCE and Beyond Careers Expo

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, InspirED are hosting a Virtual QCE and Beyond Careers Expo for all Year 10-12 students and parents from 17th to 21st June.

Visit virtual booths from more than 80 university and higher education providers and access faculty-specific information. Ask live questions or book a video chat with student advisors. Find out more and register here.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

The Interhouse Virtual Cross Country is well underway with students clocking up the kilometres for their house. Progressive kilometre totals for the first week are listed below. If we combined all the kilometres run so far, we would have travelled a total distance of approximately 2870km. To give you an idea of how far this is, we have plotted the distance on a map!

As you can see Wira are in front when all year levels are combined. Our primary and middle school students are clocking up some serious kilometres for their houses! There is still eight days left to participate so there is still plenty of time for you to add some kilometres to your house total.

Remember, students are required to screenshot their run summary and email it to PLCsport@pacluth.qld.edu.au in order to log their kilometres. Student safety is paramount and we ask all students to warm up correctly and have parent permission before completing any at home run sessions. Primary aged students will need to complete at home run sessions under parent supervision.

Virtual Surfing Challenge

The Pacific Boardriders are pleased to announce our inaugural Pacific Pulse Virtual Surfing Challenge. The challenge will be open to all students across Prep – 12, beginning on Friday 26th June (Week 10) and running through until Friday 31st July.

Contest Details

Competitors have five weeks to submit video footage of their two best waves surfed or bodyboarded during this time for judging. There is also a filming and editing section open to students who may not surf but film and edit their friends during the challenge.

Further details about the video submission format will be included in the CareMonkey permission and information email.

Your entries will be judged by our guest judging panel including:

• Surfing – Reef Hazelwood (Hurley Team Rider and Current WQS and WCT surfer) and Tim Just (Fluid Performance Surfing Coach)
• Bodyboarding – Michael ‘Eppo’ Eppelstun (1993 World Bodyboarding champion and inventor of the ARS manoeuvre) and Jake Stone (Two Time Australian Bodyboarding Champion and inventor of the Stone Flip manoeuvre).

Contest Requirements

Students who would like to enter need to email Mr Darren Hooper (dhooper@pacluth.qld.edu.au) to register their interest. Parents will then be sent a CareMonkey consent form which needs to completed prior to the contest starting on Friday 26th June. Submissions will not be accepted if you have not received parental consent.

Click here for the competition divisions and prizes up for grabs!

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Sport

Pastor Ray Morris 0429 856 532 ray.morris@lca.org.au www.stmarkslutherancaloundra.net

Pastor Ray, St Mark's Lutheran Church