Compass No 636 - February 2022

All who saw it began to grumble. Luke 19:6

That’s what the people did when they saw Jesus call out to Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector for a foreign government, and he happened to be a little man in stature. He had, in a sense, separated himself from his community by climbing a tree to see Jesus. He probably didn’t expect Jesus to speak to him, someone who may well have been seen as the town pariah. A small man who stole money to get fat from the taxes he collected for the Romans. Tax collectors were not that popular in Jesus’ time. That’s why the crowds grumbled that day. Jesus was talking and inviting himself into the home of a social outcast, a sinner, a thief, a cheat. Luke’s gospel tells us that all the people who saw this; began to grumble.

The crowds were pessimistic about what they saw. They were turned “inwards” on their preconceptions and negative attitudes, while Zacchaeus soon became very optimistic. The encounter of eating with Jesus in the tax collectors home changed his heart, giving him reason to repay his stolen money and sell his possessions to give to the poor. Through his gracious encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus turns “outwards” to help people. Zacchaeus is changed to see his future as an opportunity to use what he has to bless others.              

This story of Zacchaeus and Jesus is an excellent connection to the first part of the College’s theme for the year, “Inspiring Hope”. How do we encourage the children and young people in our lives to have a favourable view of their lives, an optimistic view of their futures? How can we inspire one another in our school community to see a hopeful future where we use all we have to bless others? It is a good thread to focus on now, when the media we consume speaks of war, pandemics, floods and natural disasters. Inspiring hope is always a challenge when humans tend to look around us and grumble at what we see.

However, Zacchaeus learns that life with Jesus can involve change. Change from old ways of being to hope-filled futures. The invitation of Jesus into his grace means that Zacchaeus can reach out in love towards others, and we can too. The way that Zacchaeus turns “outwards” to help people inspires us to see the opportunities we have and to bless others with our gifts and abilities.

Rev. Tim Jarick, College Pastor

I am excited to hear the enthusiasm of aspiring student leaders in Year 6 applying for a 2022 Year 6 Leaders badge across the seven Pacific Action Groups. These Pacific Actions Groups promote and instigate student led initiatives across P-12, in the areas of Academic, Environment, Culture, Spirituality and Service, Sport, Student Wellbeing, and Technology.  Appointed Year 6 Leaders and other interested Year 6 students are invited to meet with the Year 12 Pacific Action Group Captains every second Wednesday with a purpose of inspiring hope and enhancing student agency in their specific area of interest. 

A huge thank you to the Year 6 teachers who have led the leadership process and will continue to work with and grow each Year 6 student’s capacity to lead, regardless of receiving a badge or not.  Exciting times lay ahead for our Year 6 leaders in inspiring hope and making change.

Year 7 Cohort Connection, Culture and Community Building Culminative Program

Due to the postponement of the Year 7 Outdoor Education Program at the commencement of the school year, Year 7 students will engage in a range of exciting activities each Friday during their Personal Development lessons in their House groups. These activities will be commencing on Friday 25th February and continuing each Friday until 18th of March.  The program will conclude with a culminating day of connection, culture and community building activities led by Lutheran Youth Queensland (LYQ) and supervised by student’s core teachers on Tuesday 22nd March in the College gymnasium. Further information will be communicated to students and parents this week with details of this exciting program aimed at immersing our Year 7 students in a range of activities that promote development of their sense of purpose and belonging here at Pacific.

Year 10 and Year 12 Leadership Day Date Changes

Due to the postponement of the Year 12 Leadership Day at the commencement of the school year, this program has now been modified as a half day program, led by LYQ and will now take place on Friday 11th March from 10:45am-3:15pm in the College gymnasium.  Further information will be communicated to students and parents this week.

The Year 10 Leadership Day also postponed earlier this term, will take place early in Term Two.

Ms Leigh Finter, Acting Director of Students 

NAPLAN is the name of literacy and numeracy tests completed by students in Australia.

All students do NAPLAN tests when they are in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students are tested in the areas of Mathematics and English. In English they are assessed on their reading, writing and grammar and punctuation skills.

This year all students will complete all or parts of the assessment online.  The online components branch students into easier or more challenging questions depending on the level of success demonstrated by the individual student. Some of the questions are written and some of the questions are spoken.

After getting the results back in Term 3, schools will give parents and carers a report showing how their child performed. Parents and carers can talk to the teacher about these results. Teachers at Pacific use these results to review individual and cohort performance and plan for improvement in learning in these areas.

The information from the NAPLAN tests is used by people working in the Australian Government, your state or territory education authority and the school, to find out how students are progressing all over Australia.

For more information on NAPLAN, visit nap.edu.au

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

The Learning Enrichment Centre staff have had a busy week supporting students to plan and prepare for assessments. The energy in the LEC is palpable, and as staff, we are learning about different strengths and unique gifts that LEC students share.

I marvel at the uniqueness of our PLC students and the wonderful differences in how our students learn. The gift God gives us is our differences and differences are our strength.

The Bible says, “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So, we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.” Romans 12:4-5.

Learning is a core part of the LEC. In the next few LEC News updates, we will be looking at different ways people think and learn. We will be looking at neurodiverse learners and how exceptionally creative their thinking styles are.

Santuzzi says that when we see learning disabilities as neurodiversity, “it makes people take a few steps back to think more creatively about all the different ways work or school tasks can be done.” PLC teachers work hard to find different and creative ways for students to learn and as a teaching team we are learning to cater better to the neurodiverse learners in our community.

In 2013, Stephen Tonti shared his life journey living as a neurodiverse individual, who was diagnosed with what he and others call the ‘gift of ADHD’. He was a Senior Directing major at Carnegie Mellon and was also the President of Carnegie Mellon's Film Club.

I invite you to sit back and learn a little more about neurodiversity and the journey of hope for Tonti who has ADHD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU6o2_UFSEY

Mrs Chantal McAllister, Head of Learning Enrichment P-12

From 2nd to10th July 2022, 150 top science students from across Australia and around the world will gather online for nine days of inspiring, enthralling science. This event is run by the University of Sydney. If you are in Year 11 or 12, and you have a keen interest in science, further information and applications are now open here.

Junior Physics Odyssey (Year 10)

Do you have a passion for physics? Hear from researchers, meet with current physics students and explore diverse topics in physics such as quantum physics, relativity and astrophysics.

In this 3-day program during the June-July holidays, you'll meet like-minded people while participating in an exciting range of hands-on physics experiments and workshops. For Year 10 students only. Find out more here.

Interested in Medicine or Medical Research? (Years 10, 11 and 12)

The SPARQ-ed Research Immersion Program provides you with an opportunity to work alongside a dynamic group of scientists and likeminded peers on pressing biomedical problems facing society. The program is open to year 10, 11 and 12 students with an interest in STEM throughout Queensland.

Over the 5-day program you will

• Gain hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art PC2 biomedical research laboratory
• Attend cutting-edge biomedical science research seminars
• Learn valuable academic research skills, and
• Showcase your findings in a research forum

Working in a team on a real research project, you will use the latest technology to examine, test and analyse your results, then discuss your findings with world renowned university researchers based at the Translational Research Institute.

Programs are run during each school holiday during the year, and it is very competitive to get into this program, so students are advised to apply early. Get more information or apply here.

Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology (Years 11 and 12)

FEAST is a four-day residential program to inspire high school students about rewarding science careers in the agriculture, animal, plant and food industries.

It is open to students in Years 11 and 12 and is held each June/July at UQ Gatton.

The program runs during the June/July school holidays, and it is very competitive to get into the program, so students are advised to apply early.

By participating in FEAST, you’ll get to:

• Test-drive university and meet other students with similar interests
• Explore science disciplines through hands-on activities and workshops
• Meet UQ students and staff and attend industry-run sessions
• Experience living in the UQ Halls of Residence and take part in social and sporting activities
• Expand your knowledge of UQ Science study options and programs
• Learn about current challenges faced by scientists, including climate change, biosecurity, feeding the world and protecting endangered wildlife.

You can find more information here.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development 

Adolescence is the transitional stage of development that is usually associated with the teenage years. In 2018, the Australian Curriculum Assessment Authority redefined adolescence as affecting young people aged between 10-24 years. During this time, they experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth which affects how teenagers feel, think, make decisions, and interact with the world around them.

During adolescence, a child's brain can be considered as being “under-construction”. The rate of progress will vary depending on the individual and their gender. As a result, some parents may view adolescence as stressful or difficult. However, it does not need to be. Setting boundaries, implementing consistent monitoring and maintaining a strong and loving connection will help families adjust during this time.

It is also an important time to keep the communication lines open through clear and age-appropriate conversations. Speak openly about changes they are experiencing and be conscious of their mental health, as many of the conditions people confront in adulthood can begin to manifest in adolescence.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers can learn how to guide and best support their young person as they transition through adolescence. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this month's edition https://pacificlutheran.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/understanding-adolescence

Mrs Annie Williams College Counsellor

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Mrs Peta Griffin has been a valuable member of the library team for the last fourteen years. Today is her last day as she heads off to Grace Lutheran Primary School to run the library there. Mrs Griffin has been the friendly face behind the counter, who knows all the students and takes an interest in their well-being. Many students have enjoyed the lunch time craft activities and board games that she has run, and everyone has marvelled at the wonderful displays she has made around the library. Each year, Book Week became an extravaganza as Mrs Griffin unleashed her creativity on her costumes and displays, creating such things as a giant papier-mâché whale, a working lighthouse, a replica of Stone Henge and Willy Wonka’s factory.

Farewell, Mrs Griffin. You will be missed.

Lunchtime Activities This Week

Primary students had fun with papercraft this week, using their imagination to construct a dinosaur. Secondary students had a STEM activity where they constructed and flew an aeroplane using only straws and paper.

Ms Narelle Keen, Head of Library

Competitive Sport News

Trish Buckley Volleyball

Well done to the Year 11 PLC Girls Volleyball Team who competed in the Senior Trish Buckley competition on Friday night. The girls performed extremely well and won their first match against Matthew Flinders, two sets to nil. A fantastic effort to start the season in the leading volleyball competition on the coast. These girls have shown great commitment with both their training efforts and their enactment of rostered duties on the night.

SCISSA Volleyball

It was a shame that our fixtures were cancelled this week due to flooding and further predicted poor weather. We are very much looking forward to kicking off our season next Wednesday. Most Intermediate players have now come and collected their playing shirts, with a few teams to be sorted out early next week. Students will now be required to sign a register in the sport office when they collect and return their uniforms. As we end up missing numerous uniforms throughout the year, this process has been brought in to keep track of items. Students are to make sure they return their uniforms at the end of their volleyball commitments otherwise a $50 dollar fee will be incurred.

Basketball

Our Basketball Development sessions have begun on Monday and Friday mornings from 7am-8am. All students of all abilities are welcome. This is a great opportunity to gain skills in preparation for the 2022 All Schools’ Basketball season, as well as those who may be interested in further competitive basketball opportunities. Please contact Mr Mark Hauser or Mr Brad Burdon if your student is interested in attending.

Student accomplishments

Well done to Alex Monroe, Emily Lengenberg and Isabela Stammers for their selection into the 13-19yrs Independent District Swimming Team. These students will be competing in the Sunshine Coast Regional Swimming Trials on 2nd March.

Well done to Brooke Williams and Georgia Frohmuller for their selection into the 13-15yrs Independent District Netball Team. These students will compete in the Sunshine Coast Regional Netball Trials on the 1st March.

Junior Sport

Water Polo

The Sunshine Coast Primary Schools Water Polo competition started on Monday evening this week at St Andrews. PLC played St Andrews in their first round of the competition and recorded a strong 15-4 win over our opponents.

Well done to all players who represented the College and thanks to Mr Crompton for coaching the team on the night.

Run Club

It was great to see a huge turnout for the first Run Club session for 2022. Approximately 70 students from Years 3 to 10 arrived at school bright and early on Tuesday morning to complete a time trial to see their level of running ability at the beginning of the season. Students will aim to improve their time when they complete a second time trial towards the end of the term.

This year students will also have the opportunity to work with a specialised running coach through the University of the Sunshine Coast.

We look forward to next Tuesday’s session, with students working towards improving their distance running leading up to our PLC Cross Country Carnival this term and the Independent District Cross Country Carnival early next term.

4-6 SCISSA Training – Monday Afternoons

SCISSA afterschool training continues next Monday afternoon from 3:15 – 4:15pm. All students will select their Term One SCISSA sport at the end of Thursday’s training session and will commence training in these sports in preparation for their Gala Day in Week 9.

If your child is unable to attend training, could you please send an email to PLCJuniorCollege@pacluth.qld.edu.au

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 9.00am. We are thankful that we can meet together each week for worship. As we do this, there are still physical distancing, signing in, and hygiene requirements we need to follow 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)

28       SC Schools Netball Commences

March

1         Shrove Tuesday

2         Ash Wednesday

8         Year 12 Biology Excursion: Mooloolah River National Park and Peregian Beach

11       Year 12 Leadership Day

15       Prep Vision Screening

18       Fraser Coast Rugby 7’s: Year 7 – 10

19       Academic Scholarship Test