Compass No 702 - October 2023

Over the past fortnight, Year 12 students have had the opportunity to study from home and access their Year 12 teachers through face-to-face tutorials in preparation for their External Examinations, commencing Monday 23^rd October, Week 4. 

It is an exciting time for our Year 12 cohort as they find themselves on the brink of another significant milestone of their journey as a Pacific student.  This crucial period in their academic journey demands not only strategic preparation but also a keen focus on prioritising their mental health and overall wellbeing through maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

Pacific is excited to partner with School TV, a resource for parents and our students to access support for academic, emotional and societal challenges that young people face.  Parents and students can access practical resources, including videos by leading psychologists such as Dr. Michael Carr-Greg, who is renowned for offering realistic advice for teenagers, supporting and enhancing their mental health, wellbeing, and in this case, invaluable insights on assisting Year 12 students in their exam preparation.  His advice includes academic strategies as well as mental and emotional resilience during this challenging period.  I encourage our Year 12 and all students and families to access School TV and in particular this week’s focus on preparing for external examinations through accessing the following link https://pacificlutheran.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/exam-jitters

We are looking forward to see our Year 12 students back on campus next week and I wish each student the very best in their preparations and completion of their exams.

Take care and God bless.

Ms Leigh Finter, Head of Senior College Students

This week’s P-2 assembly was enlivened by the appearance of a Bluey clip that energised our students with its humour-infused message.  Recently, I read figures that related Bluey’s reach into 60 different countries, and numerous languages and it was streamed for more than 20 billion hours in the USA alone, phenomenal figures any production company would aspire to achieve.

But what is it that makes this particular show so loved? Yes, it is engaging for children, but I also would argue that it is a wonderful parental resource for families and their guidance of young people. The episode shown on assembly, “Bike” centres on Bluey learning to ride her bike. When frustrated enough to give up, she observes several of her friends dealing with their own set of challenges in and around the playground.

What struck me is the approach taken by Bandit, Bluey's dad.  Bluey's first response is to leave her own challenge and help her friends, but Bandit asks her to sit and observe. Slowly, each of her friends finds a way, through tenacity and persistence, to solve their problem, and all the while Dad has remained in his seat. This observation is enough for Bluey to give her bike riding another try.

Our children are our most prized possession. It is natural to hurt when we see them struggle in any situation. However, too often our eagerness to solve problems denies children a powerful learning moment, and often one that becomes hardwired for future situations. By saving children from the struggle, we are passively signaling that we don’t think they are capable, and it is hard to know how this affects individuals and their mindsets. Struggles don’t need to be huge or unattainable. Caring for your belongings, carrying your own bag, and making your own bed are small achievable wins that silently say, “I believe in you.” As parents, allowing them space and opportunity to achieve these wins assists in growing the capacity and self-worth of our children.

Every day I am witness to this process undertaken by adults and students in our learning spaces. During our assembly, the students were shown the “Learning Pit”. This visual clearly shows that learning and growth is not a linear process. It is full of challenges and self-talk. If it is easy, are we really learning new content, concepts or skills? But the rewards are almost always more than worth the effort. Regularly, I am excitedly approached by students who have created something new or accomplished a new skill. Their sense of agency is clear, regardless of their age.  We even relish this feeling as adults, particularly when working outside of our comfort zone or in areas that we are unfamiliar with.

Raising children can be challenging, but it can also be unbelievably rewarding. A wonderful resource to support parenting and to explore this concept further is the “Resilience” resources within School TV. This resource includes many quick and easy-to-digest videos that speak to the importance of resilience, the connection between vulnerability and resilience, and what role forgiveness has in the development of resilience.

Prep Information Evening

On the 1^st of November, we invite all new families of students commencing in 2024 to attend the Prep Information Evening. This year we commence with light refreshments from 4.30pm before the evening begins at 5.00pm. An invitation was sent directly to families this week with details.

Take care and God Bless.

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

University Scholarships for 2024

Scholarships generally fit into two categories – one based on your personal achievements, and one that helps people who may have been disadvantaged.  There are also scholarships for special interest groups, such as for the children of veterans, or agricultural industry scholarships.

Crafting a personal statement for scholarship and university applications

If you’ve been looking for scholarships or preparing university applications, you might have been asked for something called a personal statement. But what exactly is it, and how can you make yours stand out? In this blog, we’re going to break it down step by step, giving you tips on crafting a personal statement that showcases your unique qualities and aspirations.

If you’re ready to apply, you should go to the university website to search their scholarship database: UniSC, QUT, GU, UQ, JCU, UniSQ, CQU, Bond.

Understanding the personal statement

Think of a personal statement as your chance to introduce yourself beyond numbers and grades – almost like your personal highlight reel, where you get to shine a light on who you are, what you’re passionate about, and why you’re a perfect fit for that scholarship or university program.

Top tips for crafting a great personal statement

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of crafting a standout personal statement. These five tips will guide you through the process and hopefully leave you feel more confident about your applications.

1.   Be authentic

Your personal statement should be, well, personal! Don’t try to be someone you’re not or just write what you think people want to hear. Be true to yourself. Share your experiences, interests, and dreams in your own voice – this is your chance to let your personality shine through.

2.   Tell your story

Your personal statement should be a mini-story about you. Start with a compelling opening that grabs the reader’s attention and take them on a journey through your experiences, challenges, and achievements. Show them how these moments have shaped you and led you to where you are    now.

3.   Highlight your achievements and goals

This is your time to brag a bit (but in a humble way, of course!). Talk about your accomplishments, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it’s winning a debate competition, leading a community service project, or overcoming a difficult situation, let your achievements speak for themselves. Don’t forget to share your future goals and how this scholarship or program could help you achieve them.

4.   Be specific and concise

Avoid being too vague or generic. Provide concrete examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. Paint a vivid picture of who you are and why you’re a great fit. On the other hand, remember to keep it concise. Admissions officers can have a lot of statements to read and sometimes there are strict word limits, so you need to make every word count.

5.    Edit, edit, edit

Once you’ve poured your heart onto the page, it’s time to polish it up. Check for spelling and grammar errors (and don’t just rely on Word to point them out for you). Read it aloud to make sure it flows smoothly. Have someone you trust, like a teacher or parent, read it and give feedback. A well-edited statement shows that you care about the details and are serious about your application.

Final thoughts and next steps

Crafting a standout personal statement might seem like a daunting task, but with these tips, you’re well on your way. Take every opportunity, whether successful or not, as a chance to learn and grow. Even if you apply but aren’t accepted, you might receive some feedback that can make your next application even better.

Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development

Term 4 Events

If you have completed your volunteer induction and have a couple of hours to spare for our Term 4 BBQ events, we’d love to have you! Save the dates now and keep eye on your email for more details soon. If you’re available, we’d love to hear from you - please email fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au – we promise you’ll have fun!

· Term 4 SCISSA Gala Day at Meridan Fields - set up from 8.00am – Thursday 2^nd November (Week 5)

· K-5 Christmas Carols at PLC - set up from 3.30pm – Friday 24^th November (Week 8)

 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. 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

If you’re turning 13yrs to 16yrs in 2024, you’re invited to join us, to see if the Australian Air Force Cadets is for you.

If you’re interested in joining the Team, please register your “expression of interest” on the following link:

223 Squadron - Caloundra | Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC)

Air Force Cadets are a youth development organisation aimed at developing:

•          Teamwork

•          Leadership

•          Field knowledge

•          Aviation

•          Drill & Ceremonial

•          Plus so much more

223 Squadron operates from the aviation precinct in Caloundra with purpose-built facilities at 21 Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra.  Parade Nights are held every Monday (during school terms), from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

If you have any queries, reach out via email on 223SQN@airforcecadets.gov.au

Junior Secondary Champion Schools’ Basketball

On Thursday, a group of Year 9 and 10 students travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in the Junior Secondary Championship Schools’ Basketball Tournament. This was the first tournament for most of our students and it was great to see our players lock in from the start, recording a narrow one-point win over the eventual top of the pool team. Our boys were competitive throughout the pool stages but were challenged at times to maintain consistency in their game play. The team lifted when they needed to and recorded a win in the critical match to ensure they avoided relegation and maintained their place in the competition. Their final game on the last day was one of their best with their tough defense and improved attack leading them to take a redemption win back on a team that defeated them in the pool rounds. Thank you to Mr Brad Burdon for the considerable amount of time and energy he invested into preparing the students for this tournament and guiding them through all their games across a big 4 days of game play.

SCISSA Tennis

Well done to our Team 1 players on winning their away game on Wednesday afternoon. They were strong in both the doubles and singles fixtures within their game. Team 2 played against a very strong team in their home game and while they did not walk away with a victory, they have gained valuable experience from this round to take into next week.

SCISSA Rubgy 7s

Well done to our U14s Boys and Girls teams for their strong performances across their first round of SCISSA Rugby 7’s fixtures. Each team picked up 2 wins and 1 draw across the evening which has meant a remarkable undefeated start to their campaign. Our players stepped up and played with great determination in each game, despite the challenging weather conditions. One of the highlights was the U14 Girls playing a redemption match against last year’s grand final opposition and fighting out a tough draw. Special mention goes to our boys’ teams for playing under strength and still coming out on top for most of their games. We wish our players and coaches all the best for next week.

SCSS Water Polo

Congratulations to both of our Water Polo teams for recording wins in their fixtures on Monday. The Junior Boys recorded a commanding win in their fixture and the Intermediate Girls led by 3 before the game was called off due to stormy conditions. At this stage in the season the Intermediate Girls sit in 1^st place and the Junior Boys sit in 2^nd. This is a fantastic effort from our players and coaches, and we wish them all the best for their remaining fixtures.

Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Sport

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Junior Sport

10 – 12 Years State Athletics Championships

Recently a number of our students represented the Sunshine Coast Region at the annual 10 -12 years Queensland Schools State Athletics Championships held in Brisbane.

Simply getting to this level of competition is an outstanding achievement, with our PLC students competing against many of the top athletes from around Queensland.

Congratulations to the following students on their results:

Emma Duddridge – 10 Girls Discus (15^th place)

Bailee Kiernan – 11 Girls Shot Put (17^th place)

Ashlan Hill – 11 Girls Discus (13^th place)

Zara Koebsch – 12 Girls High Jump (20^th place)

Hudson Smith – 10 Boys Shot Put (24^th place)

Student Success

Over weekend, Jessica and Jayden Murphy, competed at the Australian National Taekwondo Championships held in Perth.

Congratulations to Jayden who won the NATIONAL CHAMPION in his age group, a remarkable achievement that showcases his dedication to his sport.

Jessica's performance was equally impressive, securing 6th place in Australia among 24 participants.

Congratulations to both students on their success.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport P-6

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)

20       Pacific Pulse Surf Contest

20       Year 9 Camp Returns

23       Year 12 External Assessment Commences

24       Friends of Pacific (6.30pm)

27       Day for Daniel