Compass No. 603 March 2021

• Why Easter eggs? What do they symbolise?
• Why hot cross buns? What’s the significance and connection to Easter?
• Why do we celebrate Easter with chocolate? Why don’t we eat jellybeans? Is there are significance?
• Why is Easter represented by a bunny? How did it originate? Is it biblical?
• Why is Easter called Easter, where did the word come from?
• Where did Jesus die? Where is the cross today?
• Why do we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus?
• What proof is there to say that people weren’t ‘hallucinating’?

The first four questions centre around customs primarily around food, most of which have developed from European societies. Giving Easter eggs and eating hot cross buns have been around different cultures for a long time, but the Easter bunny image and having chocolate easter eggs are more recent practices that have developed. Beyond the chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies, Jerusalem's ancient city gets closer to the heart of Easter.

Jesus died in a place the gospels called Golgotha, which means ‘place of the skull’. In first-century Roman times, this was outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Today people can visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the site of the tomb where Jesus was buried and the spot where the cross stood. In this church is also relic of the ‘true cross’. If you were to visit Jerusalem today, you could also visit other churches which other Christian groups believe were the spots where Jesus died and rose again. However, people of faith don’t need proof of the exact spots where Jesus died or relics to believe that these events of Easter are true. Faith involves trust in what we do not see. This does not mean a blind faith in Jesus and the events of Easter. Thomas the doubter, one of Jesus’ disciples is proof of that. But it does mean that there is evidence that Jesus did do what the gospels report him doing, coming back to life. The witnesses of Jesus resurrection could have hallucinated but rarely does this happen beyond individuals. The New Testament reports that 500 people saw the risen Jesus. People who hallucinate rarely influence such life-changing transformation on others, especially the millions of people who have believed in Christ since.

These are some of the responses to these questions in chapel this week. Questioning our faith, being aware of our doubts and checking the Bible's validity are worthwhile things for us to do. May the Lord Jesus bless you as you ask questions about faith, life and Easter.       

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

Year 7 Physical Theatre

It was great to be able to visit Mrs Kristy Astwick’s Year 7 Drama class last week. Students were working in pairs to develop a short sequence of movements to music that involved quite a degree of physicality. Their capacity to simply use their bodies to express emotion and create a performance was great to see. The addition of a chair to incorporate into their performance added a degree of difficulty and flair. There is a significant body of research that reinforces the benefits to our overall wellbeing, of moving our bodies and being physically active each day. I encourage all students to find the time and space to engage in some form of physical activity or sport. I also thank Mrs Astwick for allowing me to watch the students as they learnt a creative way of performing.

ANZAC Day – Save the Date

Sunday 25th April will be our annual march for ANZAC Day. Those attending will be required to pre-register via QR code. Further details will be sent to families.

I wish all families a lovely Easter break at the end of next week following what has been a positive and purposeful term. I thank you all for the support you have given over the last few months as we continue to grow the hearts and minds of our young people.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students

The correlation between an ocean and a school may not be evident straight away, but when looking more closely, there are many similarities. There is enormous diversity within both, oceans and schools are ever changing and at times, both can become unpredictable and unknown. By acknowledging Pacific as a Peace Day last Friday, we recognise the part in which we all play in making the College a place of peace and tranquillity.

At assembly we have been looking at what characterises a community of care, that in turns build a place of peace. As we know, anything worth valuing is a sum of its parts. It takes support, recognising our mistakes and especially honesty and courage. It takes forgiveness and it takes empathy and understanding that we don’t always get it right the first time. It takes confidence, persistence and it takes teamwork. But most importantly, creating a peace place is a shared understanding that we are all small pieces of the puzzle. Together through our thoughts, actions and words, we can form the construct of a brighter and calm future.

Gawun and the Year 5 Leaders

One of the benefits resulting from last year was the ability to stop and reassess our processes and systems. One area identified for improvement was building stronger leadership skills within the Junior College, particularly among our Year 5 students. Through initial discussions with our current Year 5 cohort, students are very enthusiastic about getting more involved and adding value through service in our community.

The traditional custodians of the land, the Gubbi Gubbi people, have a name for care or care for, Gawun. It is hoped that through a concentrated focus, our Year 5 leaders can exhibit ‘Gawun’ for our College community and grow as leaders and people.

Through a process of consultation and feedback, the Year 5 students have developed a series of service-learning opportunities that aim to enhance the culture and provide our student leaders with tangible opportunities. Our plan involves starting small and identifying key areas in the College that would benefit from additional support. Roles such as leading assemblies and flag bearing will remain within the responsibilities of the Year 5 leaders.

From next term, students will be involved in a range of leadership activities such as, walking younger students in from the car park in the mornings, overseeing games and competition in the playground and working in small reading groups with younger students. They will be noticeable by their high-vis jackets and are here to care. We hope to grow our leadership model as the year progresses and the students are already brainstorming further experiences. Our students and teaching staff have been involved in the process from the start and it has been wonderful to see agency and teamwork in action.

Car Park and Shared Food

A reminder to our community that the Prep – Year 2 car park is only for parents with students in these year levels. Students in Year 3 and above are asked to use the senior drop off space. For our car park to perform at its optimum, we ask that you remain with your car when using the student set down area and vacate the area as quickly as possible. Your cooperation on this matter provides flow within the car park and allows many more cars to use the drop off zone.

With Easter approaching, many students may wish to bring in treats such as chocolate eggs to share with their class mates. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions remain in place at the College in regards to shared food among students. Any food that is brought in by students to be shared will be returned home. We thank you in advance for your understanding.

Shared birthday packs are now available for ordering through the tuckshop. These can be catered to specific class numbers. Please contact the tuckshop for further information: tuckshop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Take care and God bless.

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

Over the coming weeks, the Learning Team will be sharing 9 tips for parents about making thinking visible.

1. Name and Notice Thinking

Use the language of thinking to name and notice the thinking your child is using to make it more visible. The language of thinking helps to cue action. Noticing when and where students are thinking and specifically naming the thinking being demonstrated will develop awareness, direct attention and reinforce process. Instead of saying “great thinking”, we could say:

“I like how you have used what you already know to make connections. That is a perspective I hadn’t thought about.”

Being more specific in our use of language directs students to specific cognitive acts.

Ms Sue Arahill, Director of Learning

• “What is the best way to raise a wonderful human?” We want to prepare our children to be contributing, caring, successful individuals.
• “How can I keep my child safe?” We also want to keep our children protected from harm and danger.

Click here to learn more.

School Holiday Workshops

Mrs Annie Williams College Counsellor

Since discussions took place at our most recent FoP meeting, we have received feedback from our community regarding car park and traffic matters. All this feedback has been passed on and welcomed by the College who continue in their efforts to enhance efficiency and ensure child road safety.

Next Meeting

Friends of Pacific meets on the third Tuesday of each month with our next meeting to be held on 20th April, which is the first day of Term 2. We meet in the College Library at 6.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

Pacific Together

Pacific Together is a discreet helping-hand offered by Friends of Pacific, in conjunction with Pastor Tim, to College families in times of need.

If you or someone you know within our College community needs extra support anytime during the year, the Pacific Together care group may be able to help in some small way or offer a care package in times of need.

We invite you to contact Pastor Tim Jarick or Pacific Together via the FoP email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Quote of the Week

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Clay has continued to be a key language the children have planned for in our morning meetings. Over the past couple of weeks, the children had been exploring the clay in our outdoor environment, predominantly using their feet to explore its texture. We have recently observed a shift with the children making the decision to move their plans indoors, sitting at the table with clear ideas about how they would like to explore the clay. This is a great example of supporting the children to explore their thinking and understanding and reinforces the importance of the process rather than the product (clay). By exploring clay freely with their senses, the Studio Two children are able to develop their ideas and discover new possibilities as the children squeeze, roll, stomp and stack the clay. Each of these steps are important in building toward a gradual mastery of skills as the children learn how to form clay, roll balls and join pieces together to model and sculpt. We are now observing the children revisiting the pieces they have been working on. The children have been taking increasing responsibility and ownership of their learning, demonstrating their autonomy as they source the resources required to independently prepare their learning space (EYLF – Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity).

Children have also been exploring their ideas around construction in more depth as we have revisited the idea of think, say, plan, do. As a group, we’ve discussed our ideas, what play might look like as we engage with the construction learning area and what resources were available. The children were also introduced to new vocabulary and concepts as we discovered that builders don’t just turn up to a job and build a house or shop, there is a person or team of architects that first take the time to plan the construction before it is built. We wondered if we could become architects. We have seen some great plans so far! Our morning meetings provided us an opportunity to connect with construction through the lens of social responsibility as we discussed ways that we could be respectful learners in the space. The children have been demonstrating problem solving as they consider the size of their plans, resources needed, number of children involved and the physical space that they will need and what resources are available. (EYLF: Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners).

Studio Two Team, ELC

Lunchtime Activities in the Library

Students across the whole school had the opportunity to make Easter bags this week. Last week, our Middle and Senior College students created hologram viewers to display a hologram above their iPhone or iPad screen. Junior College students used teamwork and creativity to construct marble runs out of box lids, paddle pop sticks and straws, then had a go at getting the marble through their maze.

Ms Nell Keen, Head of Library

• 

  Emily’s results:

  • 200m Medley Relay – 6th
  • 200m Freestyle Relay – 14th
  • 100m Freestyle – 24th
  • 50m Butterfly – 17th
  • 50m Backstroke – 24th
  • 100m Backstroke – 27th

  Euan’s results:

  • 50m Backstroke – 20th
  • 100m Backstroke – 13th

  Year 5-6 Sunshine Coast Primary School Water Polo Competition

  Well done to our Year 5-6 water polo team who has been playing in the Sunshine Coast Primary Schools Water Polo Competition. On Monday night, they played their final two rounds, going down 5-8 to St Andrew’s Anglican College (SAAC) Team 6 before having a convincing win 11-4 over SAAC Team 7. With only one loss in the pool games, they finished on top of the ladder and now play off in the finals next Monday.

  Thank you to Mr Brett Jones who has been coaching the team. We wish them the best of luck for the finals next week.

  Year 3-6 Cross Country Carnival

  Next Thursday 1st April the Year 3-6 Cross Country Carnival will be held from 10.45am to 1.00pm at the Meridan sports fields, adjacent to the College.

  All students are to wear the house sports shirt for the race. Shoes must be worn at all times and hats should be worn when not racing. The course has the potential to be muddy after the recent rain and so we encourage students to wear old runners and bring a plastic bag, towel and a spare sports uniform to change into after the race. Students will also need to bring their own drink bottle.

  

  Order of Events

  Please note race times are only a guide and may vary on the day.

  • 10.45am            Students move over to Meridan Sports fields
  • 11.00am            8 years boys and girls (born 2013) 1km
  • 11.20am            9 years boys and girls (born 2012) 2km
  • 11.40am            10 years boys and girls (born 2011) 2km
  • 12.00pm            11 years boys and girls (born 2010) 3km
  • 12.20pm            12 years boys and girls (born 2000) 3km
  • 12.40pm            Presentations

  Spectators

  Parents and family members are able to come along and support their child but are to remain in the designated parent area. Spectators will be required to scan and check in on arrival and practice physical distancing whilst at the event.

  SCISSA Sport

  Congratulations to Intermediate Girls Volleyball Team 1 and Team 2 for their wins yesterday. The Intermediate Girls Team 1 only narrowly miss out on the grand final due to points difference. This is an incredible effort from the girls, considering the challenge of playing in the top pool. That now brings the SCISSA volleyball season to an end. Thank you to all students who have taken part in competitive volleyball this term!

  The Open Boys soccer finals are still to come. The Open Boys Team 1 will play next Wednesday, with the venue still to be decided. The Open Boys Team 2 finals match will be played in the first week of Term 2. Congratulations again to both teams for making the finals and we wish you all the best.

  Competitive SCISSA Sport – Term 2

  • SCSS Boys Rugby Union (Year 7-12)
  • SCSS Netball (Year 7-12)
  • Uhlsport and ISSA Soccer (Year 7-12)
  • SCISSA Volleyball (Year 11-12)

  Students have had the opportunity to sign up to these sport teams over the last few weeks. There is still an opportunity to be involved if they pass on their interest to Mr West-McInnes.

  Student Success

  Congratulations to the following students on their recent sporting success:

  • Emily Bryce for her efforts at the state level Lifesaving Championships. Her team received a bronze in U11 Cameron Relay.
  • Gemma Bryce for her efforts in State Little Athletics Championships, in which she received a bronze in the 700m walk.
  • Holly Targato for top 10 finishes in her age division in high jump and shot put in State Little Athletics Championships.

  

  Parents and students are encouraged to continue to pass on high level sporting achievements to Mr West-McInnes so we can celebrate our remarkable students as a community.

  Kayaking

  We are pleased to launch the 2021 PLC Kayaking program. Students in Years 5-12 are invited to join the program, which trains on Monday and Thursday afternoons at Lake Kawana. Students must be competent swimmers but do not need previous kayaking experience. All equipment is provided for students to train throughout Terms 2 and 3 as they prepare to compete at the Paddle Queensland Schools State Canoe Championships in Term 4. If your child is interested in joining the program, please contact our Kayaking Coordinator Mr Gary Graves (ggraves@pacluth.qld.edu.au) to receive further information.

  Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport and Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Sport

Sharing a common mission and ministry with Pacific Lutheran College

“Growing in faith and sharing God’s love with others”

Weekly worship services are held at 14 Bombala Terrace Caloundra at 8.30am and 9.30am. We are thankful that we are able to meet together each week for worship. As we do this, there are still physical distancing, signing in, and hygiene requirements we need to follow in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our community.

Our worship services are intergenerational with a blend of traditional and contemporary.

You’re welcome to follow us on Facebook and visit our Church webpage.

All are welcome at any of our services.

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church (0429 856 532 or lutherancaloundra@gmail.com)