Compass No 708 - January 2024

Middle and Senior College Students and Mobile Phone and Earbud Use

Pacific’s E-Smart Policy recognises the educational potential of mobile phones as powerful learning tool.  In Years 6-12, teachers may incorporate mobile phones and use of earbuds/headphones into learning experiences when appropriate, enhancing the overall learning experience for students.  During the school day however, mobile phones and earbuds/headphones are not permitted for personal use during the school day.  Pacific’s approach to student use of mobile phones during the school day is aimed at minimising disruptions, fostering focused learning experiences, and promoting face-to-face connections and social interactions between students. It is important that parents, working in partnership with the College are communicating throughout the school day through Wellbeing Centre. This is particularly important where there are health issues or other concerns.

Middle College Students (Year 6 – 9)

• Mobile phones, earbuds/headphones are to be kept secure in locker or bag from 8.00am to 3.15pm. 

• Mobile phones and earbuds/headphones can be used as a learning tool if explicitly instructed by the teacher.

• Students ordering tuckshop will be required to utilise Flexischools or purchase a Flexischools pre-paid card Flexischools

Senior College Students (Year 10-12)

• Permitted to carry on person to check timetable, emails, student notices, make purchases from the tuckshop

• Not permitted to text, answer or make phone calls, scroll, take photos or videos during class or at break times.

• Mobile phones and earbuds/headphones can be used as a learning tool if explicitly instructed by the teacher.

• Not permitted to wear earbuds in class or during break times after 8.00am – 3.15pm

• Students who have signed a 2024 Independent Learning contract and are engaged in Vocational Education Training or external courses are permitted to use during spares for learning purposes.

At Pacific, where People are the Focus, relationships and walking with students as they learn, make choices and grow is important.  Providing students with the opportunity to have increased responsibility and care for their personal belongings, including their mobile phone and other devices while they are at school, and how they are used in harmony with other ways of connecting and interacting with each other is another opportunity for learning for life.

Pacific Learning Hub- Mr Brett Lee (Internet Safe Education) Tuesday 26^th March

With a focus on Learning the Purpose, the College has invited Mr Brett Lee, leading expert in Internet Safe Education to deliver student workshops across Year 3 – Year 12; a whole College staff professional learning seminar; and a parent information evening on Tuesday 26^th March, with a focus on the following age appropriate areas:

-          Responsible use of mobile phones

-          Social networking

-          The world of online gaming

-          The Law Online

-          Cyberbullying

-          Sexting and sexually inappropriate behaviour

-          Using the internet in the workplace

-          Protecting and cleaning up our digital reputation

-          Controlling and using the internet safely and effectively

Further information regarding student workshops and the parent information evening will be communicated soon.

The College thanks parents, students, and our community for their support of students and their responsible use of mobile phone, earbuds/headphones and other learning devices. 

Please do not hesitate to connect with me if you have any additional questions about the College’s E-Smart Policy and Procedures.

Ms Leigh Finter, Director of Students

Welcome to Pacific Lutheran College in 2024. It was lovely to unite with many continuing families and meet many new families during the week and at our P-5 Opening Service yesterday. We look forward to connecting as a P-5 College next Wednesday evening for our P-5 Parent Information session. We invite you to be part of refreshments from 5.30pm before the evening begins formally at 6.00 pm. The evening allows parents to hear wholistic aspects of college life before you hear from teaching teams relevant to their child’s teacher regarding the year ahead. Communication regarding this has been sent to families this week.

Parent engagement

A great strength of the Pacific community has always been the willingness of parents and families to support the College community by involvement in activities that strengthen relationships and foster opportunities for our students.

Parents and guardians also have the opportunity to be involved as parent connectors across the College. The role of a Parent Connector will be to serve as a link between the College and our community through a range of activities such as welcoming new families and providing social opportunities within year levels.

At times, Parent Connectors will also be called upon to support the various functions and events held by the College and Friends of Pacific. We are hoping that we may have several connectors per year level to provide support for each other and the wider community. An expression of interest will be emailed home next week.

Another rich opportunity the wider community can engage within the College is volunteering. There will be many chances to give service through schemes like parent reading, excursions, and helping in the tuckshop during the year.

Recently, legislation around volunteering changed, and all volunteers are required to undergo mandatory training once a year to comply with this change. Volunteers will be unable to engage with students unless this training has occurred.

The College is developing a more flexible platform for volunteer compliance within this area. Communication about volunteer accreditation will be distributed via email in the near future.

General Housekeeping

Communication with College Staff

Often parents need to communicate information to their child’s teachers regarding changes of routine and exemption from participation in sports, specialist lessons or activities due to injury or illness. To avoid confusion and ensure students are where they are meant to be, if changes should arise during the day, we ask this correspondence to be communicated through P-5 reception, not directly to teachers via email as teachers may not be in a position to attend to email during the day. Alternatively, students in Years 3-5 will also receive a student diary, which has space for notes of this nature.

Uniforms

A reminder that the College hat is an essential element of the school uniform. During breaks, students need to wear a hat, or they are required to stay out of the sun. Students should also wear their hats when traveling to and from the College.

Students are also required to follow the guidelines set out in the College uniform policy regarding hair and jewelry. These policies can be found via the parent handbook and also in the front of the Junior Handbook.

Students in Years 1-5 may only wear their sports uniforms to school on the days they have HPE. Years 4 and 5 students may also wear their HPE uniforms to school on Thursdays. There may also be occasions during the year when students are requested to wear their sports uniform to school for carnivals or excursions. On all other occasions, students should attend school in their formal uniform.

If, for some reason, your child is unable to wear the correct uniform to school, please send a note to your child’s class teacher. A uniform reminder letter will be forwarded to parents whose children are in the incorrect uniform without a note.

Car Parks

A reminder to all parents and students that they are to use the appropriate car park at the beginning and the end of the day. Prep-Year 2 students can use the front car park. Drop-off spaces require parents to remain with their cars. Students across Years 3-12 are to use the senior drop-off or car park at the western side of the College.

Families are reminded that there is access via Red Cedar Drive, and the Meridan Felds Car Park. These access points have supervision before and after school and provide accessibility for families living south of the College.

Additionally, parents are asked to use designated drop-off spots within the College as concerns have been raised within the community regarding the dropping off of students near Kawana Way. The lights that mark the intersection of Woodlands Blvd and Kawana way are particularly busy at the beginning and end of the days and in the interest of student safety, we ask that families use the P-2 carpark and 3-12 drop-off spaces during these times.

Take care, and God bless.

Damian

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

How to book a Careers Appointment

Senior College students can now access the Careers Bookings Calendar and manage their own careers appointment, including inviting parents to join a meeting, either in person or via zoom.

Simply select the type of career- related appointment you would like and as courtesy ensure you check with your teacher that it is OK before you miss all or part of lesson before you make a booking.

Book appointments via the link: //outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/PacificLutheranCareersSupport@pacluth.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/" target="_blank">Pacific Lutheran Careers Support (office365.com)

Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development

Welcome back to music at PLC. All instrumental lessons and ensembles will begin in Week 2. You should hear from your instrumental tutor shortly if you have requested lessons.

If there is anybody new to the school who requires lessons or would like to join an ensemble, then please let me know at helenw@pacluth.qld.edu.au

There have been some small changes to the ensemble rehearsal schedule, so please look carefully.

Rock band audition will be coming up soon, watch out for student notices as to how you can sign up to audition.

Music Information Evening

If you would like to know more about music at Pacific, including classroom, instrumental, ensembles, music camp, music tours etc, please come along to our music information evening on Tuesday 30^th January at 5.30 pm in the Music Room D1.1

Kind regards,

Helen

Mrs Helen Williams, Head of Instrumental Music (P-12)

Raising children is both a huge joy and a unique challenge. At the end of some days, you may high-five yourself for being the most amazing parent, while others you may sit on the couch, head in hands, wondering how things got to where they did today. Parenting is a journey that many of us are not prepared for, with our young people often throwing us new behaviours or challenges that we feel not equipped to manage. The truth is that many of us are just doing the best we can with the information and education we have from our own past experiences or from our family and friends.

This year I would like to provide our PLC parent and carer community with information about their young people; how they function, how they think, what we can do as parents to support and/or challenge them. I am by no means an expert in any of these topics, but each week I will source information that might be helpful for you as a parent/carer of our young people. To help me ensure that the information is what you would like, it would be great if you could take two minutes to complete the Microsoft Form below and let me know what topics you would like me to cover.

https://forms.office.com/r/Ec0D69QhCi

If you have expertise in any areas of adolescent development, behaviour management, disability, parenting, or you feel that some information you possess may be helpful to other parents, please email me directly (bmacaulay@pacluth.qld.edu.au).

I thank you for taking the time to complete the form and look forward to journeying through the 2024 school year with you.

Look after yourselves and those around you.

Brendan

Mr Brendan Macaulay, Head of Student Support

Friends of Pacific play a vital role in strengthening community. As a member, parents have a unique opportunity to grow our College culture and build connections with students and families. 

Throughout the year, Friends of Pacific support a variety of events and College initiatives including the annual PLC Open Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, sport carnivals, trivia nights, golf days, OCEANfest and much more. If you’re interested in joining Friends of Pacific, please get in touch. We’d love to have you!

Volunteering with Friends of Pacific

Hosting events is only possible thanks to the efforts of those in our College Community who give so generously of their time.  Opportunities to volunteer and complete the relevant induction training will be released in coming weeks.  

2024 AGM

We extend an invitation to all PLC Parents to attend the Friends of Pacific AGM and first general meeting for 2024 on Tuesday 20^th February at 6.30pm in the College Library.

Nominations for the following Office Bearers are being called:

• Chairperson
• Vice-Chairperson
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Foundation Executive (Prep-Year 2)
• Junior Executive (Year 3-5)
• Middle Executive (Year 6-9)
• Senior Executive (Year 10-12)
• Alumni Executive

If you would like to nominate for a position and/or attend the upcoming meeting, please RSVP by Friday 9th February via email to: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au .

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Ms Jan Watman, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Beyond the Book Literature Festival

Beyond the Book Literature Festival (formerly known as Voices on the Coast) is coming up very soon. This is an opportunity for students in Years 4-12 to meet authors, illustrators and poets and listen to them talking about their work, or work with them in writing workshops. Beyond the Book will be held at the University of the Sunshine Coast on Thursday, February 22^nd for Years 7-12 and on Friday, February 23^rd for Years 4-6.

Students who love books and reading and creative writing are invited to attend. There are only 28 places each day, so get in quickly if you would like to go. Workshops, in particular fill up fast. Information and nomination forms were emailed home last Friday. Paper copies of the form are also available in the library. Students must nominate which authors they would like to see and return the form to the library staff by the 5th of February. I will then send home a permission form for parents to sign in Parent Lounge.

Ms Narelle Keen, Teacher Librarian

26       Australia Day (Public Holiday)

29       Middle College Information Evening (5.30pm)

29       Year 8 Camp Departs

30       Scholars’ Assembly (8.25am)

30       Year 12 Leadership Day

30       Music Information Evening (5.30pm)

30       Year 11 Information Evening (6.00pm)

31       P-5 Information Night (5.30pm)

February

1         Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival

2         Year 8 Camp Returns

5         Year 9 Rite Journey Departure (5.00pm)

5         7-12 SCISSA Sports Starts

6         Year 10 Information Evening (6.00pm)

9         Music Camp Departs (3.30pm)

14       Year 7-12 Interhouse Swimming Carnival

20       Friends of Pacific AGM (6.30pm)

22       Year 6 Leadership day

22       9-19 Years District Swimming

22       Year 7-12 Voices on the Coast

23       Year 4-6 Voices on the Coast

26       Year 4-6 SCISSA Training (3.15pm – 4.15pm)

29       Year 10 Vaccinations