Compass No 698 - September 2023 | Pacific Lutheran College

From the Principal

Walking With

As part of a caring family, friendship group and community there are many times when we simply need to walk with and be present for each other. As we walk, we are attentive to the needs of the other person and share the journey. We are there to listen, share the joys and the challenges and at times help to carry the load.

The good news is that we do not journey alone but have God walking alongside us. We can find rest in His creation by pausing and immersing ourselves in nature. Simple things such as paying attention to bird calls as we wake up or seeing the colours of nature change at different times of the year can provide a simple reset. More immersive experiences such as being able to walk among trees, on the beach or surf or swim can provide a deeper recharge. God invites us to rest and find guidance in prayer and in God’s word. He promises to walk with us as an ever-present source of love and hope.

Principal’s Log

We were excited to learn that four of our Future Problem Solving teams and three individual students have been selected to attend the National Finals in Brisbane this year. We congratulate all students who participated in this year’s Future Problem Solving for the quality of research, critical and creative thinking and ethical leadership demonstrated through their responses. We particularly congratulate Emily Studiman, Samuel Roberts, Henry Dunn-Neill, Nate ter Bogt, Luke Mitchell, Charlie Dee, Joshua Allen, Hendricks Blanchard, Paris Pohlner, Cody Walker, Nicole Hodgett, Jessica Cronin, Grace Healey, Asha Rudes, Ariel Nowak, Zara Koebsch and Sabine Michel-Power and wish them all the best as they progress to the next level of competition. We thank the coaches Mrs. Linda Sydes, Miss Adelle Byerlee and Mr Rob Belchamber for their leadership and inspiration of students to embrace both the opportunities and challenges provided through the consideration of future scenarios.

It has been a pleasure to join with families and watch students compete in grand finals over this past week. We congratulate the U12C Marlins and U15 Barracuda teams for playing hard through both their finals and representing themselves and Pacific FC well. The players can be proud of their achievements over the season and the way they played in the final. We congratulate all players who have played for Pacific FC this year. We join with them in thanking the coaches and managers of our Pacific FC teams, parents for your support and particularly Rita Williams and the executive for their very capable leadership of Pacific FC throughout the year. We are deeply appreciative of the many hours given by parents to provide this much valued opportunity for our young people.

It was a delight to watch our U14 girls compete in the grand final of the Division 2 Sunshine Schools Rugby Competition. The girls defended strongly and played with good teamwork and skills to win the match against a talented St Johns team. The girls can be proud of their tenacity, skills, teamwork and spirit. Congratulations to the girls and thank you to coach Mr Josh Cummins for supporting great growth in our girls. Well done to all of our rugby teams and thank you to coaches and parents for your support.

As young people across Prep – Year 12 are receiving feedback from the assessment, we encourage parents to reflect with young people on the one thing they can take from the feedback to build on their future learning and performance. Language of we haven’t learnt it yet and focusing on small steps builds growth. For older students writing down specific, time related achievable goals and keeping them visible can then lead to conversations about progress and eventually celebrations of growth. Learning to set and keep to goals helps to grow efficacy and personal accountability. We wish our Year 11 students all the best as they complete their final exams next week.

We wish our PLC Fireballs all the best for their Division 1 grand final at 10.30am at the Nirmiba Sports Complex (next to Nirmiba State Primary School). We also look forward to the Senior Ensembles Concert on Thursday 14^th September, which will be performed on the grass area adjacent to Coral Café. We encourage students and families to come and support both events which showcase the wonderful talent of our young people.

May God give us joy, hope, courage and strength to be people who journey well with each other.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

From the Director of Students

Exams

Year 11 Examinations and Beating Exam Jitters

Year 11 students commenced their examinations this week, completing Essential Maths, General Maths, Math Methods, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Next week, Year 11 students will complete their examinations for their remaining subjects. It is important that students across the two weeks maintain momentum with their study habits and balance this well with exercise, socialising and rest. This important approach towards study is supported by leading psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg who stresses that “balance is key when it comes to getting the most out of the brain. Students need to take responsibility for when to study and when to socialise.”

There are a number of mobile apps available to Senior College students whilst engaging in their two-week examination block to assist them in achieving this balance. One of these apps includes Smiling Mind, a modern meditation app developed by psychologists and educators to help bring balance to people’s lives. Another app includes Headspace, which will help support students to get the most out of their day by upskilling with meditation and mindfulness and providing important skills to live a healthier, happier life.

In addition to these apps, students and parents are encouraged to access SchoolTv-Exam Jitters which includes videos by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, and fact sheets on how to use exam stress as a positive and to your advantage.

On behalf of all staff at Pacific, we wish the Year 11 cohort the very best in achieving academic success during their end of term examinations.

Year 12 Students Break Up Mock Exams

In keeping with the theme of balance, this week the Year 12 cohort were able to break away from their mock examinations to come together to film their Graduation Song Film Clip. What was an alternative solution to the traditional singing of the Graduation Song during their Final Chapel service in 2020, has now become an additional opportunity for connection and celebration for not only the Year 12 students but for the entire Pacific community.

During the filming, there were many laughs and a sense of joy as students watched each other’s choreography and varying singing capabilities. The break between examinations was very much welcomed by the cohort.

Thank you to Jayden and Lachie from Sunshine Coast Video for their positive film direction of our Year 12 students during this session. We cannot wait to view the finished product.

Ms Leigh Finter, Head of Senior College Students

From the Head of Staff and Students P-5

Becoming Emotionally Resilient

Emotional resilience is the ability to shape our interpretation of events and how we respond to them, as captured in William Shakespeare's famous quote "Things are neither good nor bad but thinking makes them so." While we cannot control the actions of others, we have control over our reactions. The You Can Do It program emphasises emotional resilience in children, teaching them to recognise how they can shape their encounters with events, words, and actions, leading to gratitude and a sense of belonging when relating to others.

Research shows that by age 6-8, children have developed the ability to reason about demanding and threatening events. Children can promote helpful and healthy emotions and behaviours by thinking logically and drawing accurate conclusions and predictions, leading to emotional control and relief. The Emotional Thermometer and the Catastrophe Scale are two tools utilised as part of the You Can Do It Program that assist with emotional regulation. These visual cues help children identify the intensity of their emotions and understand the significance of events or actions. Physical and mental changes accompany changes in emotional states such as anger, anxiety, or happiness. Recognising these signs allows children to focus on their emotions and engage the rational component of their thought processes. These tools provide an alternative to pessimistic or irrational thinking and encourage more optimistic reasoning among our students.

Brendan, Head of Student Support

At this week’s Junior Assembly, we were fortunate to have Brendan, Head of Student Support, talk to the students about his role. As a “professional problem solver,” Brendan spoke of his responsibility across Years 3 to 5 as being a support for a range of situations that young people may encounter. From dealing with stress, and worries planning for academic success, Brendan spoke of a solution-focused mindset around the problems we encounter daily. We plan to have Brendan regularly contribute to Junior Assemblies to provide strategies and coping mechanisms for our younger students to enact. Brendan also explained the process for connecting with him one-on-one, and we would encourage parents and guardians to contact their child’s teacher for further information should you think your child would benefit from this connection.

Sport

This week and last have seen major sporting events held here at the College. Last Wednesday, the P-2 Athletics Carnival was enthusiastically attended by our Foundation College. There was great participation and house spirit, and we congratulate Bula House for their success on the day. It was well attended by many families, and we thank you for the support shown to all our students on the day.

Thursday was the first of our Gala Days for Semester Two, with students from Years 4-6 attending various venues around the coast and having the opportunity to play many other Independent Schools on the Sunshine Coast.

The opportunities provided through the College further enhance the experiences that our students grow through. The elements of our You Can Do It programs, such as resilience and persistence, were on show for all to see. We thank the P.E. staff and especially the Head of Junior Sport, Mr Darren Hooper and College sports aide, Mrs Lisa Muir, for preparing both days.

Take care and God Bless.

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

From the Head of Career Development

Careers News

Coping with emotional challenges in career development – R U OK? Day 2023

Thursday 14^th September 2023, 1.00pm – 2.00pm

Recommended Audience: Year 10, 11 and 12 parents/ guardians/educators

Young people often feel enormous pressure to make the “right” career decisions to ensure success. Many typical career development tasks and situations can trigger or worsen stress and mental ill-health.

In this webinar, the teams from the Student Wellbeing Hub and the myfuture career information service will discuss how career development influences, and is influenced by, wellbeing and emotional resilience.

Coinciding with R U OK? Day 2023, they will share practical tips and resources for educators and parents to help young people cope with the emotional challenges that are so central to career development learning.

JCU | Virtual Open Day 2023

Tuesday 12^th September 2023, between 3.00pm – 7.00pm

Recommended Audience: Year 12 students/parents/guardians

JCU’s Virtual Open Day is the perfect opportunity to explore student life, undertake a virtual campus tour, get information on courses and support services in a relaxed and convenient environment and have your questions answered via live chat with JCU advisors, current students, academics and alumni.

QUT | Advice Night

Tuesday 12^th September 2023, between 5.30pm – 7.00pm

Recommended Audience: Year 12 students/parents/ guardians

Hear from real students about their uni experience and have a chance to ask questions about their course, why they chose QUT, the QTAC process and uni life. You will hear about:

• Entry requirements

• Year 12 Early Offer Scheme (for Queensland QCE students only)

• Adjustment schemes / upgrading pathways /scholarships

ACU | Talk with Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists and Physiotherapists

Tuesday 12^th September 2023, 6.00pm – 6.45pm

Recommended Audience: Year 10, 11 and 12 students/parents/guardians

Join online to hear from Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists and Physiotherapists about their experiences improving people’s quality of life. Take part in a Q&A session with ACU graduates and learn about the rewarding and challenging careers.

Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development

Friends of Pacific

Connecting College and Community

Gala Day BBQ – Thank you!

Thank you to our small, but mighty, volunteer crew who helped out at today’s SCISSA Gala Day at Meridan Fields. It was a wonderful day of laughter and community building. Thank you for giving up your time to ensure that many children could enjoy a sausage in bread, some cool drinks and snacks today. You are very appreciated.

Pacific Together

Pacific Together is a care-based service offered by Friends of Pacific to College families in times of need. If you, or someone you know within our College community, needs extra support during the year, the Pacific Together care group may be able to help in some small way or offer a care package. Please contact PLC Chaplain Mr Mark Hauser - mhauser@pacluth.qld.edu.au

We were never meant to do life alone. We need the love and care of others, especially in times of need. If you would like to support the continuation of this care-based service through a financial contribution, we invite you to contact Pacific Together via email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Your contributions ensure that we can provide a care package for those in our community when the need arises.

Our next FoP meeting is on Tuesday 24^th October at 6.30pm in the College Library. You can RSVP by emailing fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au

All agenda items should be submitted via email by Friday 13^th October. Come along, meet some new people and find out how you can help connect our community.

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Carly Lovell, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

College News

Year 6 Canberra Trip

We are excited to share with you the incredible journey our students recently embarked on to the heart of our nation's capital, Canberra. This educational expedition was a unique opportunity for our students to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, witness the inner workings of Parliament House, and pay tribute to the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom at the Australian War Memorial.

The heart of our nation's democracy beats strongly within the walls of Parliament House, and our students had the privilege of stepping inside this iconic building. As they walked through the halls of power, they observed the democratic process in action. From the House of Representatives to the Senate chambers, our students learned about the complex and dynamic world of Australian politics. They witnessed lively debates and discussions, gaining a firsthand glimpse into the workings of our government. This experience allowed our students to see the importance of active participation in our democratic system, emphasising that they, too, can play a role in shaping the future of our nation.

A visit to the Australian War Memorial was a deeply moving experience for our students. As they explored the memorial's exhibits and learned about the sacrifices made by Australian servicemen and women in conflicts throughout history, our students gained a newfound appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy today. They participated in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, paying their respects to those who gave their lives for our country. This poignant moment left a lasting impression on our students, reminding them of the importance of peace and the value of remembrance.

The Canberra excursion was not only a memorable experience but also an educational one. Our students were able to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, making their studies of civics, history, and democracy come alive. They engaged with knowledgeable guides who provided them with valuable insights, fostering a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Overall, the Canberra excursion was a transformative experience for our students, fostering a deeper appreciation for our democracy, the institutions that uphold it, and the sacrifices made to protect it. We are confident that the lessons learned during this trip will stay with our students as they grow into responsible and informed citizens of our great nation.

Mr Stuart Pohlner, Mrs Melanie Percival, Ms Sophia Rule and Mr Scott Crompton – Year 6 Teachers

We appreciate the Australian Government's support of this experience.

Our Grade 6 students had an education tour of the national capital In August. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. The Australian Government is contributing funding of $90 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program. The rebate is paid directly to the school.

Future Problem-Solving Competition Results

In 2023, Middle and Senior College students embraced a wide range of Future Problem Solving divisions, with representatives from Years 6 to 10 in the Community Problem Solving, Scenario Performance, and Global Issues Problem Solving competitions. All divisions required research, critical and creative thinking, and ethical leadership skills. The students’ ability to respond to challenges faced by local and global communities was outstanding. To see such innovative action planning for a rapidly changing future inspires hope and optimism and all participants are congratulated for their collaborative and individual efforts.

Well done to the expanding panel of coaches, Mrs Linda Sydes, Miss Adelle Byerlee, and Mr Rob Belchamber, who guided the students through the structure and expectations of the program and inspired them to meet the challenges posed in future scenarios.

We are excited to announce the individuals and teams who have qualified and been invited to attend the National Finals in Brisbane this year in both the Global Problem Solving and Community Problem Solving Sections.

Global Problem Solving Section

Emily Studiman and Samuel Roberts

Scenario Performance Section

Henry Dunn-Neill

Community Problem Solving Section

Active Classrooms group - Nate ter Bogt, Luke Mitchell, Charlie Dee, Joshua Allen and Hendricks Blanchard

Homeless Donations group - Paris Pohlner, Cody Walker, Nicole Hodgett, Jessica Cronin and Grace Healey

We Walk Together group - Ashsa Rudes and Ariel Nowak

Mental Health group - Zara Koebsch and Sabine Michel-Power

Mrs Linda Sydes, Teacher – English, Humanities

Library News

Overdue Books and Holiday Borrowing

This Friday, library overdue notices will be sent home via email. Please check and ensure that all overdue items are returned before the end of the term. Once overdue items are returned, students may borrow as many books as they like for the holidays.

Don’t forget, we also have an ebook collection for Middle and Senior College students. They’re a great alternative if you are travelling over the holidays. You can access our collection here https://plcs.wheelers.co/

Ms Narelle Keen, Teacher Librarian

Sport News

Year 7-12 Sport

Competitive Sport News

SCISSA Touch Football

Well done to all 6 teams that competed in the SCISSA Touch Football Semi Finals on Wednesday afternoon. Our Senior Girls kicked off proceedings at home with a tough match against Matthew Flinders. While the results didn’t go their way, the girls should be proud of all the work they have put in over the last few years to be competitive at this level. Congratulations to our Junior Boys Teams 1 and 2 who won their matches and will be competing in the Grand Finals. A special mention goes to the Junior Boys Team 2, who won their match in extra time. Our Junior A Girls and Intermediate Girls travelled to St Andrew’s for their fixtures and played some well-versed teams for their place in the Grand Final. Our Junior Girls fought valiantly but were outplayed in their game. The Intermediate Girls had their opportunities and were very close to a spot in the ultimate game but went down 3-2. Well done to our Senior Boys who played possibly their best game of the year to win their Semi Final against Matthew Flinders and book their showdown with St Andrew’s next Wednesday. We wish all our boys' teams the best for the Grand Final games.

SCRSS Girls Rugby

Congratulations to our U14 Girls team who wont the SCSSRU Division 2 Grand Final on Wednesday night!

The girls started the evening playing against Victory College in what was a tight contest. The girls were down by 4 points with 20 seconds left on the clock, when one of our PLC players broke free down the sideline to score the game winning try, taking the girls to the Grand Final, with a final score of 20-19. The girls then played St Johns in the final, where they continued to build on their performance in their previous game, taking out the shield with a 22-7 win!

It has been an absolute pleasure watching the girls improve and grow in confidence every week and to see their skill culminate in two spectacles of games was fantastic. Thank you to both the players and parents for their support and commitment throughout the season and I look forward to continuing to grow on the success of PLC girls Rugby in the coming seasons.

Sunshine Coast Secondary Schools’ Water Polo

It was the first fixture for our Junior Boys Water Polo team and they put a great effort into competing against a well versed opposition. With some students being unavailable for training, it was a slightly slower start for the team and they had to work hard to build cohesion. They finished off the game strong and while it was a narrow loss, the boys should be proud of their efforts. Both Intermediate Girls and Junior Boys will have games at Sunshine Coast Grammar next week and we look forward to another strong performance.

Champion Schools Queensland Basketball

We wish our Senior Boys and Girls CBSQ teams all the best in their final preparations before their State Title tournament next week. It is fantastic that we are able to field our first Girl's team at this competition and we hope that they relish the challenge of competing against some of the best teams from around the state. Our Senior Boys will have a chance again to step up after a challenging campaign the previous year. They have set themselves up for success through their hard work at training and through another strong campaign in Sunshine Coast Secondary Schools Basketball. Thank you to Mr Brad Burdon, Mr Mark Hauser, Ms Georgina Snelling and Ms Brooklyn Graves for giving their time to work with these teams at CBSQ this year.

Student Acknowledgements

Congratulations to our 13-19yr PLC athletes who competed at the Sunshine Coast Regional Athletics Carnival last week. We had a strong number of students attending this carnival and a number of these students achieved outstanding results. A number of students have been competing in their events over a number of years, so it is great to see their hard work paying off with pleasing results.

Thank you to the students and parents for passing on these results for us to share in the community.

Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Sport

Club Sport

Pacific Lutheran College has several sports development programs outside of school hours. These programs encourage participation, giving students the opportunity 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

Preliminary finals last Saturday saw PLC teams Fury, Mavericks, and Avengers battle for a place in the Grand Final. All teams played extremely well but unfortunately did not get the results they wanted. Congratulations to all girls for a great season!!

PLC Fireballs play in the Division 1 Grand Final this Saturday 9^th September. Please come along and support the Fireballs as they hope to take out back-to-back premierships.

AGM and Season review: The PLC Netball Club Annual General meeting will be held Saturday 9^thSeptember, (after the Grand Final games), at Moffat Beach Brewery Co, Production House, 51 Caloundra Road, Caloundra from 12.30. All Team coaches and managers can return their kit bags and dresses on the day. All parents and supporters are encouraged to attend and provide the PLC Netball Committee with feedback on the 2023 season and contribute to changes and improvements for 2024.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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

Mrs Donna Townsend, PLC Netball Club President

Pacific FC

Grand Final Runners-Up

U12C Pacific Marlins

We are incredibly proud of our U12 Pacific Marlins who played their very first Grand Final on Saturday. While Stella took the Championship honours this time 2-0, we were pleased to be crowned U12C Premiers for 2023. What a team effort! We thank Coach Doug and Managers Amanda and Peter for their time and effort. Thanks also to the boys from K3 Coaching who trained and mentored the players this season.

Grand Final Plate Runners-Up

U15 Pacific Barracudas

We are also tremendously proud of our U15 Pacific Barracudas who played their Grand Final on Saturday. Pacific had multiple shots on goal throughout the game but to no avail, thanks to superb goalkeeping from Noosa. At full time, the score was nil all so the match headed into extra time. In the dying minutes of extra time, Noosa scored a breakaway goal to go 1-0 up as the final whistle blew. We thank Coach Sheldon, Coach Jarrod and Manager Rod for their mentorship over the season. Well played team!

2024 SCCSA U9-U18 Representative Trials

Dates 7^th, 14^th and 21^stOctober. Venue: Chancellor Park Soccer Club. Registrations open shortly. Register your interest via: PacificFC@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Female Divisions in 2024

Pacific has a long history of supporting girls in soccer, both in mixed teams and in all-girls teams. In 2024, SCCSA will provide more opportunities for girls with U7 and U9 Female Divisions. Register your interest via: PacificFC@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Girls are welcome to participate in other mixed-age groups as well.

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

8 Year 12 Mock Exams Conclude

15 Term 3 Concludes

October

2 King’s Birthday

3 Term 4 Commences

9 Year 9 Camp Depart (Return 20th October)

Compass No 698 - September 2023

LEARNING JOURNEY

ENROLMENTS

NEWS

MY PLC

Growing people to make a difference