Compass No 659 - September 2022

From the Principal

Celebrating Our Dads

There was considerable energy around the Friends of Pacific stall as young people focused on selecting just the right gift for their Dad. Sunday is a special day where we can remember and say thank you to our Dads for the love they give and all they do for us.  As a community, we say thank you for all that our Dads give to this community as staff members and as parents, grandparents and carers.  We are all enriched by the love our Dads have for their families and the love and care they show for the people of this community.

God is often described as a loving and gracious Father that we can all depend upon.  He is someone we can share our joys and worries and even have a laugh with.  As we remember and thank our Dads, we can also rest in and thank our Heavenly Dad for His unconditional love and care.

Principal’s Log

There was a tremendous buzz at the College this morning as over 600 people came together to celebrate the Dads and men of this community. People and particularly our Dads enjoyed the rare opportunity to come together and connect as community. The entertainment provided by our music students and food provided by our hospitality team was greatly appreciated and added to the ambience of the morning.  Thank you to our Friends of Pacific for supporting our Father’s Day stall on Wednesday, to our musicians and hospitality team for sharing their skills with us and to our community for your tremendous support.  Funds raised will be donated to Inclusive Kids and Sleepout For The Homeless.

After successful seasons the finals for the Pacific Football Club and PLC Netball Club are underway.  We thank the Executive Committees very capably led by Mrs Rita Williams and Mrs Donna Townsend and all the coaches and managers of the teams, referees and umpires and those who helped in making it possible for our teams to play.  The service of parents, students and friends of the College to our young people and this community are greatly appreciated.  We congratulate all the players on their season and wish the U14B Barracudas and U12B Pacific Razors all the best for their grand finals this weekend and also to the PLC Rebels and PLC Mavericks who play their preliminary finals, hoping to join the PLC Fireballs in the grand final on the 10th of September.

Students in Years Prep – 2 showed great enthusiasm and enjoyment on Wednesday during their athletics carnival, where they were able to demonstrate their sporting skills and fitness. The excitement, encouragement and House spirit were admirable, and we congratulate our new House, Buran who was victorious. Thank you to the large number of parents, friends and family members who came to support the students and thanks to Mr Darren Hooper for his skilful organisation of the event.

Our Year 6 staff and students are looking forward to their Canberra tour next week which includes visits to Parliament House, Questacom, War Memorial and the Australian Institute of Sport.  We wish them all the best as they enjoy this opportunity to grow as people and a deeper understanding of government, our history, science, sport, and life in our nation’s capital.

We say a prayer of thanks for our Dads and pray that they would know how much they are appreciated on a daily basis, within our families and our community.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

From the College Chaplain

A Father’s Day Devotion

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him."

(Luke 15:20)

The story of the prodigal son in Luke would have to be one of the most recognised parables in the bible. It tells the story of a son who separates himself from (or more accurately - turns his back on) his family to pursue his pleasures and desires. After a short time, he decides to return home and accept the consequences of his actions. And how does the father treat the son? With love, grace and forgiveness.

This parable has many nuances in its intended meaning, but in its simplest form, it shows the unconditional love of a father for his child. The actions of the father resulted in giving his son what he NEEDED, rather than what he DESERVED to repair their relationship. Parents are held in high regard in biblical writings, especially Fathers. And how amazing was the father in this parable? Perhaps the story should be renamed “The Parable of the Remarkable Father”!

The love shown to his lost son is reflective of the love that God has for us all. Even when we make bad choices, we know that there is still forgiveness and acceptance for us when we return. And that is the greatest message that we can all have.

So, as you celebrate Father’s Day this year, make sure you tell your Dad how remarkable he is!

Mr Mark Hauser, College Chaplain

From the Head of Learning K-5

Australian Literacy Educators Association - Little People’s Literacy Learning

Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA) has developed a series of modules to support parents and carers with activities that can be shared with children. The activities have been designed with an emphasis on learning through collaborative play and shared discovery.

There are 27 modules with ideas for supporting the literacy learning of young children developed by Anita Ayre and Professor Trevor Cairney OAM.

You can download the resources and share them with others. Find them in the Public Resources at

www.alea.edu.au or use the QR Code below.

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

From the Head of Career Development

Career News

UniSC Headstart Information Evenings (Year 10 and 11)

Moreton Bay: Tuesday 6th September 2022, 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Sunshine Coast: Thursday 8th September 2022, 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Online: Tuesday 13th September 2022, 5.30pm

Join us at our Headstart Information Evenings where we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the program.

Headstart gives Year 11 and 12 students a real university experience and sets you up for your future, allowing you to study first-year university subjects and receive credit to take time off your degree.

UniSC will cover the cost of the first course and additional courses are only $400, so you’ll also save money on your full degree!

We’ll take you through some of the key changes to Headstart for 2023 and answer all your questions so you’re ready to apply!

You’ll also hear from Headstart students who will talk about their experience and provide tips for what to expect.

Find out more here.

QUT Corporate Partners in Excellence (CPIE) Scholarship (Year 12)

Value: $36,000 AUD

Open/Closing Dates: 1st July, 2022 – 30th September, 2022

The Corporate Partners in Excellence (CPIE) program is a unique industry-linked program for students who aspire to be future business leaders. As a CPIE scholar, you will complete two semesters interning in your major business discipline with one of our prestigious corporate partners.

Find out more here.

Young ChangeMakers – Applications Open (Year 11)

Dates: Sunday 27th November – Wednesday 30th November

Cost: $460 (Fee waivers and travel bursaries available for eligible students)

Location: UQ St Lucia campus

Applications close: Sunday 25th September

Year 11 students are invited to apply for the 2022 Young ChangeMakers Program, a 4-day on-campus experience that provides a unique and inspiring opportunity for students to discover, learn and engage with UQ’s academic community and like-minded students.

Students will have the opportunity to experience university life through interactive sessions centred around igniting their passions for leadership, academic achievement, and community development in today’s global society.

Discover more here.

Griffith University South Bank Campus Experience Day (Year 9 and 10)

South Bank campus

Wednesday 28th September, 9.00am–3.00pm  

Griffith’s South Bank Campus Experience Day event will offer Year 9 and 10 students the opportunity to come on campus and immerse themselves in a specific study area of interest for the day. The events will offer hands-on activities and experiences to get a feel for what it’s like to study in that field at Griffith.

Register here.

Virtual work experience opportunities (Year 10 and 11)

Technology provides new options for work exposure and work-integrated learning for students. There is now a range of virtual work experience platforms that allows students to

•          tour workplaces,

•          observe people in action in those workplaces,

•          complete real work tasks tied to a particular occupation, and/or

•          get feedback on their work-related skills.

We have three platforms available at PLC that provide virtual work experience options for Year 10 and 11 students.

Work Window is an immersive virtual reality tool that takes students into workplaces with a work experience host, to observe the kinds of things people do there, and ask questions about a particular profession. Students can preview the list of currently available work experience options here. If you are interested in using Work Window, you can book a lunchtime session by emailing Mrs Wanda Hayes (whayes@pacluth.qld.edu.au).

Forage is an online platform that hosts free virtual experiences designed and delivered by leading national and international companies. By completing self-paced modules that simulate work undertaken during a traditional internship, students can develop their skills and gain a real understanding of work in practice. We have our own Forage page here, available to all PLC Senior College students.

Grandshake is a virtual work experience and upskilling platform that provides opportunities to develop capabilities in a range of work-related skill areas, as well as a limited range of virtual work experience activities. Students can create a login and choose their activities here. Students who complete an upskilling program receive a micro-credential for their work.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

From the Head of Music

Impact of Music on the Brain

Recently, there has been much discussion at information evenings regarding the impact of music on brain development and how learning music can enhance cognitive function. Dr Anita Collins, a renowned music educator, recently published an article on the impact of music on our cognitive function and how music can support a student’s ability in all areas of academia.

Dr Collins explains how students use different parts of their brain when learning music, whether it be in the classroom or learning an instrument, “One of the areas that get a great workout is the prefrontal cortex, where our executive functions live — the area where we very slowly, through our entire school career, learn how to manage ourselves.” Other skills like non-verbal social skills, collaboration, and creative thinking are also developed. These transferrable skills are becoming more important in the workplace with many employers looking for these when fulfilling job positions.

Furthermore, the emotional benefits for students who study a performing or creative arts subject are also well documented. Mental health issues are regularly spoken of in society and the impact that studying music, dance, drama, or visual art can have on helping students overcome and express themselves supports their emotional development and mental wellbeing.

If you would like to read more about the impact music has on cognitive function and brain development, check out this article and video explanation below:

Article: Link

Video: Link

Mrs Carlie Purkis, Head of Department - Music

Food for Thought

Sunshine Coast Child Protection Week – Family Fun Day Event

This year the Family Fun Day Event will be hosted by Australia Zoo. It will be held on Saturday 10th of September from 9.00am-1.00pm.

The annual Child Protection Week Event aims to provide parents and families with the opportunity to seek advice and access various information regarding services and support for families. These include therapeutic services, early intervention, and community and parenting support programs to enhance family wellbeing. The day will also involve a variety of fun entertainment and activities for families, such as face painting, games, giveaways and much more.

Please also find more information about this year’s Family Fun Day Event and accompanying Child Protection Week Campaign, which is located on the Sunshine Coast Families website.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Friends of Pacific

Connecting College and Community

Father’s Day Shopping Experience

Our Father’s Day stall on Wednesday provided our students with an opportunity to select gifts for their loved ones. It was wonderful to see the big smiles when the students were making their choices. We thank Mrs Teena Thompson for her fabulous organisation of the gifts and the running of the event. Thanks also to Mrs Allyson Sarvari, Mrs Jane Hill and the parents who kindly gave their time to ensure students were able to personalise their shopping experience. Happy Father’s Day on Sunday!

Gala Day next Thursday

Friends of Pacific are running a Gala Day sausage sizzle, drinks and snack stall at Meridian Fields next Thursday 8th September. The stall will accept cash or EFTPOS. AFL and Touch Football matches will be held at the venue.

If you have completed the volunteer induction course and can help on the day anytime between 8.00am-1.00pm, please email fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Pacific Lutheran College Soiree – Amongst the Stars

Saturday 29th October – 5.30pm at Pacific Lutheran College

This is a ticketed, gala-cocktail event celebrating our 21 years for College parents, staff, alumni, and guests, hosted by Pacific Lutheran College, College Council, and Friends of Pacific.

Be greeted at the main entrance of the College with a glass of bubbles and strings of warm lights as you walk the red carpet to our open-air Soiree. Throughout the evening, enjoy a range of delicious canapes prepared by our talented Hospitality department. Under a starry sky, you’ll be treated to a range of musical performances and photo displays, whilst sharing memories and experiences with past and current friends. There will also be space for those who enjoy a dance or two.  The dress is cocktail attire. This is an 18+ event.

Purchase your ticket here.

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

College News

Buzby of the Buffalo Play: Monday 12th September 3.30pm

Save the Date! The Speech and Drama students are putting on a full-length play in the College gym on Monday 12th September (Week 10) at 3.30pm.

Buzby of the Buffalo is the true story of a sailor named Ned and his adventures on board the sailing ship HMS Buffalo in the 1830s. It stars all 48 Speech and Drama students ranging from Years 1 to 12.

Stay tuned for ticketing information.

Have a closer look at the details here.

Mrs Lisa McKibben, Speech and Drama Teacher

Library News

What's Happening in the Library?

Competition Winners for Book Week

We had a lot of creative and beautiful entries in our colouring competition for Book Week. All entries received a Chup-a-chup and the following prize winners received a prize pack:

Year 1    Mikayla M.

Year 2    Leah V.

Year 3    Noah M.

Year 4    Emilia R.

Year 5   Georgina P. and Bailee K. (joint winners)

Year 6    Matilda L.

Our competition to match the eyes of the teacher drew lots of entries and lots of spirited discussion from people gathered around the board. Our winners were:

Evie and Sophie – Year 12 – 30/30

Zoe W. – Year 8 – 29/30

Vivian and Scarlett – Year 4 – 29/30

Visiting Author, Deb Abela

Deb Abela, the award-winning author of books such as Grimsdon, Max Remy, and Ghost Club, visited the College this week to speak to the Year 6 and 7 students. Deb was very entertaining and talked to students about her books and her journey as an author. She hoped to inspire students to see themselves as writers.

Telling Stories Writing Competition

Entries for the Telling Stories writing competition close soon on the 12th of September. The competition is open for students from Year 4 and over. The title of the story must be “I wonder why”. For more details see the attached entry form.

Ms Narelle Keen, Head of Library

Sport News

Year 7-12 Sport

Competitive Sport News

All Schools’ Basketball

We are now at the halfway point of the basketball season. The Junior and Intermediate teams have all begun their seasons and last week was the final round of the Senior competition. We start by congratulating the Senior B Girls who are our only Senior team to make it into the semifinals this season. They take on number two ranked St Teresa’s and all families are invited to come along and support the girls. Congratulations to all the girls and their coach – Brooklyn Graves – for a successful season so far. We wish them all the best this week.

The Senior B Boys had a good win over GSLC and only narrowly missed out on a top-four finish. The boys have improved greatly throughout the season and their preparations for CBSQ in three weeks are looking good. Well done to all the boys and Mr Brad Burdon for his work so far. The Senior C Girls and Senior D Girls both had wins this week to finish off their seasons. The Senior D Girls have been close to winning several games and it was great to see them defeat a much higher-ranked team in their last game (on home soil). The Senior C Girls also finished with a good win and have improved tremendously throughout the season. They showed great teamwork and played every game with spirit and intensity. Well done to both Girl’s teams and a big thank you to their coaches Caity O’Keefe and Mrs Ruth Douglas.

The Senior E Boys had an inconsistent season with player availability but came together well in every game. Despite losing their final game, the boys did an exceptional job throughout the season and were probably one of the most improved teams in terms of skill and potential. I look forward to seeing them continue to improve and play again in 2023 for their final year. In other results, the Junior C Girls played a fantastic game. They were down by 12 points and managed to draw level with two minutes to go in the game, with one of the most spectacular comebacks of the season! Unfortunately, they weren’t able to hold on, but it was a great effort by all.

The Intermediate B Boys had another big win and are looking like one of the dominant teams in the competition. This is great news for the boys as it will provide excellent preparation for their CBSQ tournament early in Term 4 at the Gold Coast. Our Intermediate A Girls also had a big win and similarly are looking very strong in their division.

Unfortunately, our Junior D Boys, Junior E Boys and Intermediate C Girls teams had tough losses, but it was great to have them playing on the court. It is a long season, and the end scores don’t reflect how well our teams are playing.

SCISSA Touch Football Results

Our touch football teams competed in their last games for the regular season on Wednesday. Our Senior Girls team had the benefit of a week off to prepare for finals, while our Junior and Intermediate teams all competed well in their games. The Junior Boys came out on top in a high scoring game at home, which ensures their place in the Semi Finals next week.

The Junior Girls had a double header at Peregian, with the results being critical to securing a spot in the finals. They went down by 1 try in the first match against Matthew Flinders, who were right behind them on the table. They didn’t take let this impact them and they went on to beat ladder leading St Andrew’s 3-2. A fantastic effort and one that may have kept them in the finals mix. Our Intermediate Boys unfortunately weren’t in the mix for a final berth this season, but they demonstrated improvement in their last game with committed defence and stronger rucking.

SSCRU Girls Rugby Results

Congratulations to our U14 Girls who celebrated a win in the Division 3 Grand Final on Wednesday evening. The girls have shown tremendous improvement across the season and celebrated a hard-earned win against Coolum SHS, scoring 24 points to 12. The team continued to build confidence in their attack and defence, and their hard work has set them up well for the upcoming Rugby 7’s season.

Term 4 Competitive Kayaking

This year the School Sprint Kayaking Championships will be held in conjunction with the Open Canoe Sprint Championships held at Kawana Lake in the last week of Term 4, from Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th of December.

Canoe Sprint Championships (Kawana)

Friday 2nd December – 1000m

Saturday 3rd December – 500m

Sunday 4th December – 200m

Although the Championships will be combined, there will still be numerous students from around the state competing in beginner divisions for the TK1 and TK2 events. This is a fantastic opportunity for new PLC students who have not been involved in the program before to try the sport. Students will be able to use a range of different craft, depending on their ability, such as C1, C2, TK1, TK2, Surf Ski, K1, K2 and K4 boats. Students can either paddle single boats or team boats over the sprint distance of their choice.

The College has a wide variety of boats, paddles and equipment. Our College is near a world-class venue (Lake Kawana). Participation and use of the equipment are free. We have several experienced coaches, and we are currently employing Mark Rantel, who has represented Australia, as a specialist technique coach.

To be involved in the Term 4 kayaking program students will need to attend training each Monday and Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm – 5.00pm at Lake Kawana. Students need to email expressions of interest to Mr Graves (ggraves@pacluth.qld.edu.au).

Key Sports Dates Term 3

  • Friday 9th September: Term 2 and 3 Sports Group Photos Year 7-11 (Netball/Basketball/ Catch up from the previous session)
  • Monday 12th September: Year 12 Netball and Catch Up Basketball Photos
  • Friday 16th September: 7-12 Interhouse Swimming Carnival
  • Wednesday 14th – Sunday 18th September: Champion Schools Basketball Queensland.

Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Sport

Junior Sport

Prep – 2 Athletics Carnival

Budding PLC athletics superstars were on display yesterday at the Prep – Year 2 Inter-House Athletics Carnival. The clouds cleared during the morning with warm sunshine highlighting great team spirit and sportsmanship by all houses.

Students had been practicing all term during PE lessons and were excited to participate in the following events:

60m Sprint, javelin throw, tunnel ball, sack races, shuttle relays, long jump and high jump.

Well done to all students who gave their best on the day for their house. In the end, there can only be one winning house and this year’s top place went to Buran. The final scores for the day were:

1st place – Buran

2nd place – Bula

3rd place – Wira

4th place – Mumba

Rescheduled 3-6 Swim Carnival

A reminder that the rescheduled 3-6 swimming carnival will be held on Wednesday 14th September (Week 10) out at Beerwah Aquatic Centre. A carnival information letter was sent home to parents last week with details regarding the day.

We look forward to students having the opportunity to swim for their house at this carnival.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport

Club Sport

Club Sport

Pacific Lutheran College has several sports development programs outside of school hours. These programs encourage participation, allowing students to be part of a team, and learn basic skills of the game.

The parent-led Pacific FC Soccer and PLC Netball Clubs compete on Saturdays in community competitions throughout the Sunshine Coast.

PLC Netball Club

It’s finals time! Last week was our semi-finals round and PLC had four out of our six eligible teams play in these finals, and from those, we had three wins.

Congratulations to our PLC Fireballs who have made it to the grand final on the 10th of September. These girls are still undefeated which is an awesome effort!

Our PLC Rebels and PLC Mavericks also had awesome wins and have advanced to the preliminary finals this Saturday at 8.00am. We hope to see you there cheering our teams on!

Unfortunately, the PLC Avengers lost their semi-final but played their hardest through the tough game.

We also congratulate our junior umpires who have been working hard this season. A big congratulations go to Amelia Pike, Kayla Sanderson, Ana-Belle Mogg and Chloe Mitchell who have all received their level 2 umpiring badges this season. Many thanks go to Gabby Gorham for all her amazing work in assisting our umpires and to all our PLC umpiring mentors as well.

Email: netballpresident@pacluth.qld.edu.au
Facebook: PLC Netball Club
Instagram: PLC Netball Club

Mrs Donna Townsend, PLC Netball Club President

Pacific FC

Upcoming

•          Saturday 3rd September - U14B Barracudas – Grand Final 12.10pm at Chancellor Park SC - Palmview Sporting Fields

•          Saturday 3rd September – U12B Pacific Razors – Grand Final 3.00pm Chancellor Park SC - Palmview Sporting Fields

Come along and support the players.

Match Report

Our U14 Barracudas are through to the Grand Final! 1-0 over Noosa at Bli Bli. I’m so proud of these young people who make up the Barracudas.

They had to dig deep in a right tussle (once again) and hung in there (once again) and kept the clean sheet for the third game in a row against tough opposition. They rose above any niggle and positioned themselves for the good fortune that so often comes when you stay focused on the job. 0-0 at half time. 0-0 at (regular) full time. 0-0 after the first half of extra time and then…a counterattack opportunity with a determined Kai going low and getting it through the goalkeeper’s defences. 1-0 to Barracudas, including a frantic last 5 minutes when the opposition threw everything at us. Looking forward to going up against Mooloolaba this Saturday. ~Coach Sheldon

Contact: The Registrar
Email: PacificFC@pacluth.qld.edu.au
Website: https://www.pacificsoccerfc.com/
Facebook: Pacific Soccer FC 

Mrs Rita Williams, Pacific FC President

St Mark’s Lutheran Church

Worship @ St Mark's

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)

Upcoming Dates

September

2         Pupil Free Day

4         Year 6 Canberra Tour (returning Friday 9th)

8         Year 4-6 SCISSA Gala Day

9         Sleepover for the Homeless (Years 11 & 12)

14       Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival

15       Senior Ensembles Concert

16       Years 7-12 Swimming Carnival

16       Term 3 Concludes