Compass No 645 - May 2022

Sunday May 15^th 12.30pm-3.30pm

Open Day provides an opportunity for new and continuing parents to learn more about the next phase of their children’s learning journey.  Families will have the opportunity to speak with teachers and students, learn more about the richness of learning at the College including unique opportunities accessed through Pacific Plus, interact with a variety of displays, be entertained by our musicians, and enjoy a sneak peek of our upcoming Dracula production.  Our hospitality students will be providing light snacks and the Friends of Pacific will be hosting a BBQ. 

The afternoon also provides an opportunity for us to come together as a community and for families to visit the new Year 3-5 Learning Space.  In keeping with our COVID-safe plan, all families are asked to register one adult family member through the Check In Qld app, sanitise on entry and exit to the College, maintain social distancing and observe the limitations of visitor numbers posted on classrooms.  People over 12 years of age are encouraged to consider wearing masks when indoors.

We look forward to connecting as a community on Sunday and celebrating the wonderful learning that our young people experience across all dimensions of life.

Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students successfully completed their NAPLAN testing in the online format this year.  The transition to the online format has required considerable work from our learning leaders and Information Technology Services team.  We thank our teachers for their preparation of the students, Mrs Sue Zweck and Mrs Jo Belchamber for their leadership, and our IT team for their professional and capable support.  We look forward to receiving the results and using the data in conjunction with other data to continue the improvement of learning at an individual and cohort level.

Our Year 8 IT students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Drone Fair at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  This experience complemented the students' learning in class where they have been programming micro Tello drones to complete mapping exercises. At the Drone Fair, students explored the role that drones play in industry and in the enhancement of our environment.  Thank you to Mrs Janine Stone for providing this enriching experience for our students.

We are pleased to be able to present complimentary house polo shirts to our founding Buran House members over this next fortnight.  Families of P-6 students are asked to provide the size of their children’s shirts via this link or as emailed to families on Wednesday afternoon. Year 7-12 students will advise of their size requirements in pastoral care group this week. 

We look forward to the upcoming performance of Dracula next weekend which promises to be an eloquent version with poetic devices woven throughout this classic story.  We wish Mrs Delaney and the cast and crew all the best as they complete the final preparations for the production.  Families are encouraged to invite friends to the performances of what promises to be another high-quality Pacific production.  Tickets can be purchased through the events centre.

We thank Mr Brad Burdon who has fulfilled the role of Acting Head of Sport very well while Mr Cameron West-McInnes has been on long service leave.  Mr Burdon is a highly skilled and passionate leader of sport and we thank him for his contribution.  We look forward to Mr Cameron West-McInnes’s return and Mr Burdon’s ongoing contribution to the enhancement of students’ sporting experience.  We welcome Mrs Sharon Hooper who will be teaching Prep while Mrs Anna Maher is on maternity leave.  We wish Mrs Maher and her family every blessing.

We give a prayer of thanks for the talent and generosity of spirit that enriches our community and the quality of opportunity that we provide to our young people.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

The bible reading for this week’s chapels and devotions is centred around what we bring to God in worship of Him.

We have been blessed with so much, however, we don’t always recognise how fortunate we really are. In a world where we constantly compare ourselves to others in terms of how we look and what we have, it’s no wonder that we often feel inadequate. But not once does God require us to have any of those things as a priority! Instead, he calls us to use what we do have to serve others.

Over the past two weeks, there have been two important events that our students have been involved in, that summarise how we can serve with justice, mercy, and humility.

Service through justice and mercy

On a recent visit to the Salvation Army Church, I was once again reminded of how fortunate I am in life. Although I am far from “rich” by worldly measures, I have an abundance of love, food, and clothing. Listening to the stories of those who are less fortunate than I am made me realise that our privilege can be reversed in an instant, just like many who need and rely on the services of the Salvation Army for support.

This month marks the start of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal. Once again, Pacific is encouraging families to “act justly and love mercy” and consider donating to this cause to help those who are in need. Each PCG and classroom has been provided with a collection basket where they can start to contribute non-perishable food items for the cause.

Service by walking humbly

At the moment, our Year 3, 5, 6, and 9 students have been busily preparing for and completing NAPLAN tests. It is easy for students and parents to get caught up in the pressure of these results and what a single point-in-time test might mean for us. However, we must also understand that these results have no bearing on who we are as people – as loved children of God. The results only tell you how you did that day, but they don’t tell us the full picture of who you are. They don’t show us how you’ve cared for a friend who was in need that day; or how you made someone’s day by just saying ‘hello’ to them with a smile.

God is not asking from us the same things as what the world asks from us. He sees us as we truly are and how we were made, by Him – as his wonderful creation. So, all we are required to do is to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. It’s as simple as that.

Mr Mark Hauser, College Chaplain

As we approach the middle of the term our Year 6 Leaders are excitedly awaiting their opportunity to connect, lead and inspire our Junior College students. The Year 6 Leaders will welcome Year 3 students as guests in lunchtime games and connection room and take on the role of a mentor and/or buddy as they take a moment to disengage from explicit learning and enjoy each other’s company. This is a wonderful initiative that has come at an excellent time of the term given the rainy weather that results in play areas being waterlogged and out of bounds. We look forward to these connections growing throughout the year and evolving the program to encompass other Junior College year levels.

Enhancing student wellbeing by encouraging student agency will form the center of a two-lesson workshop. Dr Bronwyn Dolling. College Principal and Ms Leigh Finter, Head of Senior College Students will run this workshop in the coming weeks, starting with our Year 7 and Year 8 students. The purpose of the workshop is to empower our students to engage in ‘courageous conversations’ with each other as they reflect on current processes of student referral and examine ways to grow in their collective responsibility, ensuring students feel safe and valued each day. Students will be presented with external organisational programs that are available to Pacific for safe and discreet referral, as well as ideating their own thoughts and working collaboratively to make decisions. This is an exciting initiative that we are thankful to Ms Leigh Finter for establishing.

I look forward to attending the Year 6 GRIP Leadership day this Thursday 12^th May at Venue 114 with 14 young, excited minds. This day will enable our leaders to connect, inspire, and be inspired by like-minded students on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Brett Kersnovske, Acting Head of Middle College 

The framework attached to the Pacific Way identifies the three themes of “Me”, “We”, and “See” as holistically combining to form a complete picture of the development of the whole child. This term, during assemblies, we will be looking in detail at the “We” component of individuals who relate to each other, how we learn together, what is a Christian community and how learning in the outdoors supports our relationships.

The “We” of The Pacific Way aims to build the attributes involved with collaboration. Humans are social beings, and as much as some of us relish a time to be alone, our connection with others helps us better understand ourselves, each other, and the world and opens broader opportunities.

One of the statements involved in the Pacific Way speaks of listening, valuing difference, and celebrating the potential of others. Every day across the college, I am privileged to witness interactions that, in some way, touch on these signposts. Conversations between students and staff allow the opportunity to listen and learn from each other and realise that the skills each of us possess is unique and enrich the lives of all around us.  It supports us to celebrate the learning and growth in each other and reminds us that our differences are things that unite us the most.

Gawun and Kids in Action

This term has seen the expansion of our service leadership model in Year 5. From continued discussion from our Leadership Day at the end of Term 1, our leaders have suggested ways they could be of assistance to others.  Our leaders are easily identifiable with their high-vis vests on and make a real impact in our College. Our leaders have been busy helping students enter the College from the Foundation carpark, supporting readers, and helping in the playground and the library spaces. Many have volunteered to lead tours this upcoming Open Day and they have taken the opportunity to support Chappy Hauser in supporting the Red Shield Appeal across the Junior College.

In addition to this, a group of students took part in the developmental project day of the council-run program Kids in Action. This year’s theme involves Catchment to Country-Mountains to the Sea. The students visited various areas across Kabi-Kabi Country to better understand the methods employed by First Nations in managing catchments and the resources associated with them. Their next steps are to work as a team to develop a plan about an identified issue from the day and present their project to other students later in the year. I thank the dedication and enthusiasm of the students as this requires significant extra work on their part. Their passion for service is making a significant impact on other Junior College students, and they are learning a lot about themselves in the process.

Outdoor Education

When the Pacific Way was being planned, there was an intentionality in involving the Outdoor Education department in the finished proposal. Through outdoor education, students learn how we assess risk and gain confidence to act in an unfamiliar setting. Taking a calculated risk and learning through acting takes many varied forms. How we value others and communicate when in the outdoors is addressed throughout the document.

I look forward to attending the Year 4 Outdoor Education this week. I thank Mr Paul Brace, the Year 4 teaching team, and the many staff involved in preparing this rich experience for our students. I look forward to witnessing the learning connection between the College and the outdoor classroom.

Chess

Congratulations to those Year 3, 4, and 5 students who represented the College at the SCIPHA Chess tournament, held at Suncoast Christian College on Friday 6^th May. The competition was open into two categories: Open and Novice. Our teams performed very well and, most importantly, had a great day mingling and learning from other chess enthusiasts. Thank you to Mrs Joanne Baily for her organisation and supervision on the day.

Take care, and God bless.

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

Residential Living Expo for students planning to move to Brisbane for university studies (Year 11 and 12)

If you are planning to move to Brisbane for university study after Year 12, the Residential Living Expo will help you find a place to live while you are studying. Representatives from almost all the student accommodation providers in Brisbane will be at the expo to answer your questions. The expo also includes a series of presentations by some of the providers. The event will be held at Sunshine Coast Grammar School on Monday 30^th May from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Registration is essential if you wish to attend any of the presentations. Please see the attached flyer for information and a registration link.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

The music department is back in full swing, with all ensembles up and running on a weekly basis. The ensembles have been busy preparing pieces for our Open Day on Sunday 15^th May. As well as music to greet guests at the front of the school, the ensembles will also be performing in the music rooms at the following times:

12.30pm - Primo String Ensemble

12.50pm - Senior Rock Band

1.10pm – Junior Rock Band

1.30pm – Senior String Ensemble

1.50pm – Jazz Ensemble

2.10pm – Intermediate Concert Band

2.30pm – Senior Concert Band

2.50pm – Pacific Orchestra

3.10pm – Junior String Ensemble

We are also looking ahead to our Ensembles Concert at the end of week 9 (Friday 17^th June) where all the ensembles will be showcased at an end-of-semester concert in the College Gym. Food and drinks will be available to purchase so it’s an evening not to be missed.

Last weekend 14 music students attended the annual Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra Camp in Mapleton. The students spent the weekend working in small tutorial groups and with their respective ensembles. They were able to showcase their hard work in an end-of-camp concert on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to all the students who represented the College beautifully and were able to strengthen their musical capabilities and connections with like-minded music students from around the Sunshine Coast.

Mrs Helen Williams, Head of Instrumental Music

On Thursday 28^th April, the Year 8 IT class participated in the Drone Fair at Sunshine Coast University, which was hosted by She Maps. She Maps is an educational online body aimed at removing gender bias in the teaching of STEM with a clear focus on engaging students in the world of spacial science. 

The students in Year 8 IT have been working throughout the year on programming the micro Tello drone. They have navigated obstacle courses, plotted shuttle journeys for goods delivery, and used geospatial maps, where the drone was programmed to take a series of photos which are later recovered and stitched to create a replication of the map.

During the afternoon students looked at how drones were being used in industry and were presented with some interesting studies being undertaken. One of these studies included mapping koalas in the environment using drones equipped with a thermal camera. The view through the camera showed koalas as they moved in the tree canopy.

Students also developed further understanding of their roles and responsibilities as micro drone pilots as well as refining their drone manoeuvring skills using a tablet as a controller.

At the conclusion of the day, all students in the group were awarded their She Map’s Junior Drone Pilot’s licence.

Well done Year 8 and many thanks to She Maps for organising the event.

Mrs Janine Stone, Head of Information Technology

As our children are spending more time connected to others via technology in the home, leading internet safety expert Brett Lee shares 5 key principles as a guide for parents to manage technology in the home environment.

Brett-Lee-5-Principles.pdf

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Mother’s Day Thanks 

We offer our warm thanks to all who supported Friends of Pacific last week with our Mother’s Day Stall. We trust the students enjoyed the opportunity to purchase a gift as an expression of the love and gratitude they have for their Mums, Grandma’s, and special women in their life.

Thank you to our registered volunteers from across the College, the grounds staff, and our wonderful teaching staff who helped make this such a success. Special thanks to Mrs Teena Thompson, Allyson Sarvari, and Mrs Borak for all their organisational support and to the Delarue Family and Grandma Wendy for again generously donating such beautiful, handcrafted gifts to the stall.

Volunteering at Pacific

Hosting events such as the Mother’s Day Stall and the upcoming Athletics and Gala Day BBQs is only possible thanks to the efforts of those in our College Community who give so generously of their time. Volunteering at Pacific Lutheran College has now become more streamlined, with recent changes in legislation pertaining to volunteers in schools. All volunteers must undertake mandatory training to volunteer at Pacific Lutheran College. If you are interested in volunteering with the College, induction sessions are run once a term and are marked on the College calendar, the next session being the 20th May at 9.00am. Please contact Kim Bonello at kbonello@pacluth.qld.edu.au to register your interest in attending this course.

Open Day BBQ

Friends of Pacific are supporting the upcoming Open Day with a BBQ and drink stall. Drop by and say hello on Sunday 15^th May.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting is 6.30pm on Tuesday 17^th May in the Pacific Lutheran College Library. All are welcome to attend.

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

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, 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)

11       Year 4 Outdoor Education Program commences

13       Year 4 Outdoor Education program concludes

15       Pacific Lutheran College Open Day

17       “Wear Red’ Casual Clothes Day to support Red Sheild Appeal

20       Senior College Production of ‘Dracula’

21       Senior College Production of ‘Dracula’ – last performance

24       P-12 Photo Day

27       Caloundra Show Day