Compass No 717 - March 2024 | Pacific Lutheran College

From the Principal

Let The Light Shine Brightly

I suspect that many of us have woken each morning over this past week and hoped that the day would bring some small moments of sunlight. We are typically blessed to live in a place that is regularly bathed in bright sunlight that brings the full colours of nature and life alive. Like the weather, our lives can also become greyed over with busyness and the rhythms of life. Holidays provide a time where we can slow down, connect with friends and family, laugh and have fun. Holidays provide an important time for us to rest, relax and rejuvenate. As we do so, light shines in and the abundance of our lives comes more fully into view.

Easter provides an important time for renewal as we reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is a bright light that brings hope into our lives. Over this Easter break we can turn to God and ask for forgiveness for all our mistakes and failings and in turn forgive others. God invites us to shed all the grey of the past and walk lightly in the bright light of God’s hope, love and forgiveness trusting that God will provide for all our needs.

Principal's Log

It was a delight to be part of the service at St Mark’s Lutheran Church last Sunday as our Year 9 and 12 House Wira Captains presented a cross that the Middle and Senior College Wira students had created, designed and painted. The bright light shining in the centre of the cross stands as a strong reminder of the hope that God’s love and grace has brought and continues to bring into our world. The morning provided an important time of intergenerational connection. We thank Wira House Captains, Head of House Mr Josh Cummins and Mrs Linda Sydes for leading this time of connection and hope sharing.

As our first Learning Hub for the year, staff, students and parents valued the cyber safety messages presented by cyber safety expert Mr Brett Lee. Brett presented simple but powerful messages to our community to assist people of all ages to engage online in a safe and respectful way. We will provide a summary of his 5 key points for staff, students and parents on NAV along with links to the eSafety Commission and other useful resources. Parents also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with each other over tasty canapes and beverages prepared by our Hospitality staff prior to the evening presentation. We thank Mr Brett Lee for his informative presentation, Ms Leigh Finter and Mr Brett Kersnovske for their leadership of the event, and Mr Steve Rattey, our hospitality team, grounds personnel and staff, students, and parents for their support of this important learning opportunity.

We congratulate our Pacific, Years 4-6 Water Polo Team 2 on winning the final in their division of the Sunshine Coast Primary School Water Polo Competition on Monday night. Students displayed exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the gold medal. We thank Coach, Mr Scott Crompton, Head of Junior Sport, Mr Darren Hooper and parents for supporting the students throughout the competition.

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed our Year 5 cohort back from their Outdoor Education Program where they undertook many activities which provided opportunity for growth in their understanding of themselves, their peers and the natural world. We thank Mr Paul Brace, Head of Outdoor Education, for planning and coordinating this experience and Mr Damian Davis, Mr Scott Crompton, Mrs Kim Kiernan, Mrs Lu Pollard, Mrs Sharon Middleton, Miss Rebekah Horsey, Mr Rob Belchamber, Mr Jacob Macgregor-Graham and Miss Zoe Brewer who attended the program and allowed the students to be involved in such a rich learning opportunity.

There was an air of purposeful learning as Senior students, their parents and teachers engaged in the student, parent and teacher conferences on Wednesday night. Review and reflection of the learning that had occurred through Term 1 led to discussion of ways to improve learning into the future. We thank our students, staff and parents for their thoughtful engagement with this valuable opportunity.

At the end of the term, we farewell and thank Middle and Senior College, Mathematics and Science Teacher, Mr Brian Thomas for his capable support of the learning of our students. We thank Mr Liam Jacka, Mrs Colleen Beattie and Mrs Marnie Whittaker who have very capably fulfilled the respective roles of Acting Head of Sport, Acting Head of Vocational Education and Training and Acting Head of Industrial Technology and Design. We also wish Mr Steve Healy all the best as he takes long service leave from the start of Term 2.

We look forward to welcoming Head of Industrial Technology and Design and Head of Vocational Education and Training Mr Ian Learoyd and Head of Sport Mr Cameron West-McInnes back from leave at the start of next term.

We thank all staff, parents and students for their significant contribution to the growth of our young people and community throughout Term 1. May God let the light shine brightly into our lives over the Easter period. We trust that all members of our community experience times of rejuvenation through the change of rhythm that school holidays provide.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

From the College Chaplain

The Good News about Easter

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

When we read about the events that transpired at Easter, it can be uncomfortable. It begins with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday where Jesus is heralded as a king, and somehow, turns into Jesus being beaten and crucified in the most humiliating and torturous way a few days later.

It would be a disastrous story if it were to end there. But even more so, it would probably be a story that we wouldn’t know about at all today, for it is the good news of the resurrection that is the basis for Easter.

The resurrection is the pivotal moment, the climax of the Easter story. It transforms what could have been a tragic ending into the ultimate triumph. Jesus' resurrection from the dead signifies victory over sin and death, and it brings hope, redemption, and new life to all who believe in Him.

Through Jesus' resurrection, we are offered the promise of eternal life and reconciliation with God. It is a demonstration of God's

power and love, revealing His plan to restore and renew all things. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith, confirming Jesus' identity as the Son of God and validating his teachings and promises.

So, while the events leading up to Easter may seem bleak, it is through the resurrection that we find hope, joy, and the assurance of salvation. It is a story of redemption, transformation, and the overwhelming love of God for humanity.

And THAT is the good news of Easter.

Jesus’s sacrifice was the ultimate demonstration of love for us. This act of unmerited love for each and every person is the cornerstone of our faith. It is through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection that we find forgiveness for our sins and the promise of eternal life, which is available to us all – even though we do not deserve it.

The message of Easter is one of hope and redemption, reminding us that no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God's love and grace are always present, ready to transform our lives and bring us into a relationship with Him.

So, as we celebrate Easter this year, we can reflect on the incredible love and sacrifice of Jesus, and may it inspire us to live lives of gratitude, love, and service to others. And remember; the good news of Easter is not just a story from the past, but a living reality that continues to change lives today and for eternity.

Mr Mark Hauser, College Chaplain

From the Director of Students

Pacific Learning Hub Community Presentation - Mr Brett Lee, Cyber Safety Expert

On Tuesday we welcomed Mr Brett Lee, leading cyber safety expert, to Pacific.

Throughout the day Mr Brett Lee presented to students from Years 3-12 and staff. The presentations were tailored appropriately for each year level on how to make clever digital choices and how to manage ourselves and others on an online platform. Students were presented with 5 key messages – 1. The internet is public and permanent. 2. My identity is paramount. 3. I’m careful when giving out trust. 4. Online rules and laws are real. 5. I take action when things go wrong. The staff presentation built on these messages and focused on how to support our young people in the digital space. We strongly encourage all students to continue the conversation surrounding these messages at home.

On Tuesday evening Mr Brett Lee presented to our parent community as part of the Pacific Learning Hub initiative. Over 250 parents registered to join us for the evening which provided those in attendance with strategies on how to manage technology use at home to help keep our young people safe online.

Parents seized the opportunity to connect with each other as they enjoyed the canapes and beverages provided by our talented hospitality team. Parents appreciated the opportunity to learn and be reassured as they reflected on the 5 key messages and actions for technology provided through Mr Brett Lee’s powerful and engaging presentation. Mr Brett Lee, drew upon his extensive career, knowledge and experience, having worked as a Queensland Police Officer for 22 years, with 16 of those as a detective predominantly in the field of child exploitation. He brought to life the possible dangers which are part of young people’s digital reality, explaining parental rights and responsibilities in the online world.

Mr Brett Lee is the creator of Internet Safe Education (ISE), which is endorsed by the eSafety Commission, Australia’s main government regulatory body. For more information, please visit these websites where you can access actionable tools and information on Internet Safety and Cyberbullying.

We thank Mr Brett Lee for visiting Pacific and sharing his extensive expert knowledge.

The College looks forward to holding our next Pacific Learning Hub presentation which connects and supports engagement through purposeful conversation and learning across the Pacific community.

Ms Leigh Finter, Director of Students

From the Head of Learning K-5

Why reading and comprehension are so important in the Early Years

Reading and comprehension are important in the early years of education for several reasons:

Foundation for Learning: Reading and comprehension skills form the foundation of learning. They are essential for success in all other academic subjects. By focusing on reading and comprehension in the early years, teachers ensure that students develop strong foundational skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey.
Language Development: Early childhood is a critical period for language development. Reading aloud to young children helps them develop vocabulary, understand sentence structure, and grasp the nuances of language. Comprehension activities further reinforce these skills by encouraging children to understand and interpret what they have read or heard.
Cognitive Development: Reading and comprehension activities stimulate cognitive development by challenging children to think critically, make connections between ideas, and solve problems. These activities promote cognitive skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, which are essential for academic success and lifelong learning.
Social and Emotional Development: Reading and comprehension activities provide opportunities for social interaction and emotional development. Group reading sessions encourage collaboration and communication among peers, while discussing stories can help children explore and understand their own emotions and those of others.
Preparation for Literacy: Developing strong reading and comprehension skills in the early years sets the stage for literacy development. By exposing children to a variety of texts and teaching them comprehension strategies, teachers help them become fluent readers who can effectively understand and engage with written material.
Promotion of a Lifelong Love of Reading: By fostering reading and comprehension skills from an early age, teachers aim to instill a lifelong love of reading in their students. Children who enjoy reading are more likely to continue reading independently and derive pleasure and satisfaction from it throughout their lives.

Overall, teachers prioritize reading and comprehension in the early years because these skills are fundamental to academic success, language development, cognitive growth, social interaction, emotional well-being, literacy development, and a lifelong love of reading.

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Learning K-5

From the Head of Career Development

Careers News

ANU Webinars

Across April and May there are number of webinars to explore programs at ANU and how they align with your interests and career goals.

All webinars are streamed virtually from 4:30-5:30pm (Canberra time). You can register for the webinars via the link Events | The Australian National University (anu.edu.au)

Career Guidance and Subject Selection for Year 10’s – Term 2 and 3

Year 10 is an exciting time, but with it comes some big decisions. You’ll have the freedom to choose which subjects to study in Years 11 and 12. And while the idea of choosing your subjects is great, the pressure can also feel huge.

First, take a breath – it’s OK if you don’t know what career you want yet. You still have plenty of time to decide and plan for your post-school options and pathways.

For our Year 10 students we start Term 2 with exploring Career Clusters during Week 1 and 2 of your Personal Development subject. Students and their Parent are then encouraged to book in for a Senior Education Training Plan (SET) consultation between week 3-9 to discuss the results of the Career Clusters Quiz and start exploring individual students’ values, interest and strengths and the importance of knowing yourself when it comes to selecting senior subjects and exploring future pathways. This is followed by the Year 11 Subject Expo in Week 1 of Term 3 to help you take a deeper dive into subjects offered at PLC and the different external study offerings that might form part of your Senior plan.

More tips to help our Year 10 student with subject selections will be provided across next term.

Have a safe and happy Easter break.

Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development

Food for Thought

A Guide to Rest, Relaxation, and Rejuvenation Over the Holiday Break

As we approach the holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts on how you can make the most of this time for yourselves and your children. The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with family, unwind from the stresses of everyday life, and create lasting memories together. However, amidst the festivities and excitement, it is important not to overlook the need for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation for both you and your children.

In today's fast-paced world, it's all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and other commitments, families often find themselves running from one thing to the next with little time to spare. This holiday break presents a unique opportunity to slow down, spend quality time together, and focus on what truly matters: each other.

One of the most important things you can do during this time is to prioritise rest. Encourage your children to take a break from their usual routines and schedules and allow them to recharge their batteries. This might mean sleeping in a little later, taking naps when needed, or simply lounging around the house in their pyjamas. Whatever form it takes, giving your children the opportunity to rest will not only benefit their physical health but also their mental and emotional wellbeing.

In addition to rest, it is also essential to make time for relaxation. Help your children find activities that allow them to unwind and de-stress, whether it's reading a book, listening to music, practicing mindfulness, or spending time outdoors in nature. Encourage them to engage in activities that bring them joy and help them feel relaxed and at ease.

Finally, don't forget the importance of rejuvenation. Use this time to reconnect as a family and create meaningful experiences together. Whether it's baking holiday treats, watching movies, playing games, or simply having heartfelt conversations, find ways to bond and strengthen your relationships with one another. These shared experiences will not only bring you closer together as a family but also create memories that will last a lifetime.

I encourage you to make the most of this holiday break by focusing on what truly matters: spending quality time with your children and ensuring that both them and yourselves have the opportunity to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Spending time with our children is the best investment we can make as parents.

Take care of yourself and those around you

Mr Brendan Macaulay, Head of Student Support

College News

Year 11 Hospitality - It doesn't get much more hands on than this...

All Antica

Year 11 Hospitality students ventured out to All Antica Italian Restaurant benefiting from the hands-on experience of crafting their very own Bespoke Pizza. This dynamic and interactive experience reinforced their theoretical based knowledge and applied it in a practical setting.

Students weighed, rolled and crafted their very own Pizza’s. With their increased motivation students were also able to facilitate an interview with Shane and Helen. Discussions focused on the inspiration behind their menu items, workplace health and safety, small business operations and qualities and attributes of their kitchen brigade.

Year 11 Hospitality students will continue to grow these positive connections inviting their peers to morning tea to celebrate and share their learning in week 10.

RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast

Embarking on a transformative journey into the vibrant world of hospitality, Year 11 students ventured into a three-day work experience at the prestigious RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast. Guided by the Food and Beverage Manager and Human Resource Manager, they explored the hotel's operations, from back to front of house.

At all times facing challenges with professionalism, students assisted with onsite set up and running of 2 large corporate events expos and dining experiences. Their afternoons were spent indulging in the life at a 5-star resort, and included experiencing Italian delights at Amici Pizzeria.

Day two featured students creating mocktail’s in the Pool Bar and packing down a dance floor with engineering on the 21st floor, overlooking the golf course and Surfers Paradise. Students learned to make a 'Virgin Mojito' and 'Sunrise', mastering the artistry of non-alcoholic beverages.

A visit to Teppanyaki restaurant Arakawa showcased Japanese cuisine during Cherry Blossom season. From teriyaki chicken to rib-eye fillet, each dish was prepared before them. The chef bid farewell with a salt inscription of 'thank-you', highlighting the skills and dedication to craft that was evident throughout our stay.

Leaving with newfound skills and a heightened passion for hospitality, students departed with a treasure trove of experiences to enrich their journey in the industry and wider afield.

Mrs Colleen Beattie, Head of Hospitality and Food Technology

Year 7 History Museum Exhibition

This term with the change to Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum, the Year 7 students have been involved in a new unit in History which involved the study of Ancient Australian history. The students have been learning about the ancient Australians who have been here for over 60,000 years. For their first assessment task, the students researched First Nations and Torres Strait Islander environmental practices. Last week the culminating activity for this unit was the presentation of museum exhibits and the participation in a Gallery Walk to view these amazing exhibits. We were very impressed with the models, posters, podcasts, and digital presentations that the students presented. We would like to congratulate the Year 7 students on the effort that they put into this assignment and look forward to furthering their development and understanding in Humanities this year.

Year 7 HASS teachers

St Mark's Church Visit

Last Sunday the Wira Year 9 and Year 12 House Captains enjoyed connecting with the St Mark's Lutheran Church community at their Palm Sunday service. Students presented a cross that had been created, designed and hand-painted through a collaborative effort of Wira staff and students. The cross contained many symbols representing the Wira community and was gifted with some Easter cards made by each PCG. The Captains enjoyed connecting with Pastor Ray and Church members while also learning about the importance of Palm Sunday and the week leading into Easter.

We thank Kendall, Matthew, Matthew, Eloise and Emmanuel for being fantastic representatives of our College and for supporting this valuable connection that we have with the St Mark's community.

Mr Josh Cummins and Mrs Linda Sydes

Senior Drama Production 2024

‘SENSE and SENSIBILITY’ – Jane Austen Re-Wired!

TICKETS ON SALE FROM 10AM TUESDAY 16TH APRIL

www.theeventscentre.com.au

COME AND EXPERIENCE PLC’S HILARIOUS ‘MUST-SEE’ SENIOR PRODUCTION!

DON’T MISS OUT - BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Mrs Janine Delaney, Director

Library News

Last Monday, Pacific hosted the Sunshine Coast heat of Kids’ Lit Quiz, a competition for keen readers to test their knowledge of books. Pacific Lutheran College entered two teams against teams from St Luke’s Anglican College and Glasshouse Christian College. Students had to answer ten rounds of ten questions with book prizes and cash prizes up for grabs. Our students did extremely well and had a lot of fun. Congratulations to Vivienne, Ayla, Callan, Ian, Willow, Lily, Isabella and Imogen for a spirited competition.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

Uniform Shop

The weather may not be cold just yet, but Winter is coming. The Uniform Shop stocks all the College’s Winter Uniform requirements.

Years 10 - 12 students are required to wear the Formal Blazer during Winter. Male students are required to be dressed in trousers and tie. A trouser and blouse option is available for female students if they prefer to wear pants. Microfibre tights are also available at the Uniform Shop and an option for female students to wear in addition to the College dress.

Years 6 – 9 male students are also required to wear the College tie when the winter uniform begins.

Junior College students can purchase the College V-neck knitted jumper to wear with their Formal Uniform. Trousers are available for male and female students as well as ribbed tights for girls to wear with the College dress. Sports jackets and tracksuit pants are available to purchase to wear with the sports uniform only.

Sports jackets and tracksuit pants are available to purchase for those students in Prep. The tracksuit jacket and pants can be worn with the sports uniform from Prep to Year 12.

Please see the College Uniform Guide here for more information.

If you have any questions regarding the Winter Uniform requirements, please contact Peta King at the Uniform Shop.

The Uniform opening hours are -

Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 10.30am
Tuesday Afternoon from 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Please contact the College’s Main Reception on 5436 7300 to make an appointment.

Flexischools orders are also available for your Uniform needs. These orders are completed Monday - Thursday and delivered to the students’ classrooms in the Foundation and Junior College and to the PCG pigeonholes in the Wellbeing Centre for Middle and Senior College students. Please ensure ordered uniforms are collected promptly to ensure that they do not go missing.

Mrs Peta King, Uniform Convenor

Pacific Early Learning - Entertainment Fundraising

We’re Fundraising with Entertainment and right now you can bag a free Membership upgrade saving you up to $110 when you purchase a Membership in support of our cause.

The Entertainment App is jam-packed with offers on cafes, restaurants, attractions and things to do with the average family saving upwards of $1000 a year. But the best part is that 20% of your Membership fee will be donated to us to directly support our fundraising for our school!

Experience unbeatable value across Australia and New Zealand with this epic offer! A Multi City Membership to The Entertainment App gives you access to thousands of exclusive offers in 20 cities and right now you can unlock access for as little as $69.99!

Purchase a 12 or 24 month Single City Membership to The Entertainment App by Wednesday 1st May and your new Membership purchase will be automatically upgraded to a Multi City Membership for free.   

Get ready to play, dine and save with a Membership to The Entertainment App and support our fundraiser today!

ORDER HERE TODAY! Thank you for your continued support.

Pacific Lutheran Kindergarten & Early Learning Service

Friends of Pacific

Connecting College and Community

WINNERS

Easter Egg Competition

Thank-you to everyone who participated in the Easter Egg Guessing Competition. This was enjoyed by students and a bit of fun to end the term, which raised $293.50 for Pacific Together. The exact number of 173 was not guessed. Two students, Emily, Year 4 and Henry, Year 6, both guessed 172. A name was then drawn from these two students, with the lucky winner being Emily. Henry will receive a small jar of chocolate eggs as the runner up.

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 Chaplain Mr Mark Hauser mhauser@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

If you would like to support the continuation of the care-based service through a financial contribution, we invite you to contact Pacific Together via email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Car Park Raffle

Thanks to everyone who entered for their chance to win the car space in the P-2 Car park – we raised $1,083 and the lucky winner was Karen Chandwani. The car space is all yours for Term 2.

Friday Coffee and Chat – 8.00am-8.20am, Friday 19th March at Coral Cafe

Got a spare 10 mins? Come for a coffee!

If you would like to hear more about Friends of Pacific and what is involved in volunteering, we will have a couple of members at the Coral Café having a coffee so would love you to drop by and say Hi.

NEXT Friends of Pacific Monthly Meeting

Date: Tuesday 23rd April

Time: Nibbles from 6.00pm | Meeting from 6.30pm

Location: College Library

Calling for Volunteers for Open Day BBQ – 21st April @ 11.00am – 4.00pm

Friends of Pacific would like to invite those who have successfully completed the volunteer registration process to support them in our Open Day BBQ.

Volunteers can help set up the BBQ, cook the sausages, and serve the parents and students as they visit the school. These days are an excellent opportunity for fellowship between volunteers and a rewarding way to support our Pacific community.

If you are interested, please register on below link and the team will be in touch to provide further details.

Registration Link: https://volunteersignup.org/4X8M8

Volunteering at Pacific

This year, the College is streamlining the induction process by using a flexible delivery platform where volunteers work through the Volunteer Handbook, complete an electronic form, and upload relevant documentation. The Volunteer Handbook is accessible via the parent portal in Nav - Nav Community Links.

Volunteering has many benefits. You can make new friends, learn something new, and contribute to the community and your kids love to see you helping around the College. If you have ever thought about volunteering or becoming a part of Friends of Pacific, now is the time. There are so many exciting events on the 2024 calendar and the more people who are available to volunteer and support these events will ensure their success.

Hosting events is only possible thanks to the efforts of those in our College community who give so generously of their time.

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Ms Jan Watman, Friends of Pacific Acting Chairperson

Sport News

Year 7 - 12 Sport

Competitive Sport News

We encourage students to consider participating in Pacific Representative sport options available this year. These are separate activities to Competitive Sport options as they are either short tournaments or one-off carnivals. Please note that some representative options such as CBSQ Basketball, Senior Schools Cup Volleyball, Vicki Wilson Netball and Sunshine Coast Secondary Indoor Netball are not included in this list as students will be invited from inside current competitive sport groups.

If any students have questions about opportunities, they are encouraged to contact ljacka@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Monday Night Netball

It has been wonderful to see all Pacific teams develop their netball skill and work as a team this term. Overall, all teams are sitting in very promising positions in their respective competitions. We wish all the players and coaches a relaxing break and look forward to seeing the teams continue their good form next term.

Monday Night Netball

Information regarding the 7–12 Cross Country Carnival was sent out via email to families last week. A reminder that the event is on the first Friday back in Term Two – Friday 19th April. See details below.

Date: Friday 19th April 2024.

Time: 1:30pm.

Venue: Pacific Lutheran College and Meridan Plains Sports Fields.

Uniform: House sports uniform and hat. Hats are required to be worn whilst cheering but are not required when running. Students must also wear suitable running shoes and not bare feet.

Required: Water bottle, spare shoes / uniform to change into after event if conditions are wet.

From the weather we have had this term the course has a high potential to be muddy and I would encourage students to wear old runners and bring a plastic bag, towel and a spare sports uniform to change in to after the race.

Spectators are welcome to come along and support at the carnival.

Term Overview

Well done to all students who engaged in competitive sport this term. There were some fantastic results amongst the SCISSA Soccer and Volleyball competitions, along with the Monday Night Netball and Trish Buckley Competitions. I would also like to thank all the parents for supporting and encouraging Pacific students to get involved in sport. Sport is a fantastic way to strengthen friendships and form new ones. Student engagement in sport is currently at its highest, and we thank Pacific parents for your valuable encouragement in making this happen.

I would also like to thank all our sport coaches for their commitment to training and games and for supporting students through their skill development and general passion for sport.

Acting as Head of Sport in Mr Cameron West-McInnes’s absence has been a fantastic experience. This opportunity has continued to illustrate the importance of providing avenues for students to be involved in sport. Please continue to encourage your children to be involved in sport at Pacific. Sport provides our young people with the opportunity to experience all Pacific has to offer. It allows students to continue to develop a sense of personal wellbeing, physical prowess and confidence as they become young men and women.

Student Achievement

We congratulate Gemma Bryce, Year 7 student, who was elected in the Sunshine Coast Regional Touch team who will compete in Rockhampton this June. Gemma also recently competed in the QLD Surf Lifesaving titles over the weekend in the Ironwoman, Sprint, All Aged Relay, U12 Mixed Relay, Board Rescue and Cameron Relay events, finishing with some great results. Gemma, best result however, was in the U12 Swim Team event where she claimed 2nd place. Fantastic effort Gemma.

Mr Liam Jacka, Acting Head of Sport

Sunshine Coast Primary Schools Water Polo Competition

The Sunshine Coast Primary Schools Water Polo Competition wrapped up on Monday night at St Andrews with our PLC Team 2 taking out a nail-biting win in their grand final match against St Andrews. Pacific trailed 5-3 at halftime with St Andrews dominating most of the first half. Pacific fought back with a few early quick goals in the second half to lock up the scores at the end of the third quarter. During the final quarter both teams traded goals with scores locked with less than a minute to play. Pacific managed to move the ball wide and down the pool, scoring the winning goal with less than 20 seconds remaining to take win the grand final game 8 -7.

Team members who played in the grand final - Ayla Robson, Indie Hooper, Cooper Fry, Harvey Fry, Charlie Taylor, Leah van den Hurk and Layla Jackson. Special mention to Scarlett van den Hurk who jumped in the pool for the second half of the final after the team were a player down for a short period of time. Charli Guinea and Louise Greene were part of the team but were unable to play in the final game of the season.

Our other Pacific team - PLC Team 1 finished their season last week, finishing in 6th position in a very strong A Division competition.

A big thank you to all families from both Pacific teams who made the commitment to travel to St Andrews each week for games as well as Mr Scott Crompton and Mr Sam Irwin for coaching these teams each week. Commitment from Pacific families and coaches was greatly appreciated.

3-6 Interhouse Cross Country

Information regarding the 3-6 Cross Country Carnival was sent out via email to families last week. A reminder that the event is on the first Friday back in Term 2 – Friday 19th April. See details below:

Date: Friday 19th April 2024.

Time: 10:45am.

Venue: Pacific Lutheran College and Meridan Plains Sports Fields.

Uniform: House sports uniform and hat. Hats are required to be worn whilst cheering but are not required when running. Students must also wear suitable running shoes and not bare feet.

Required: Water bottle, spare shoes / uniform to change into after event if conditions are wet.

Spectators are welcome to come along and support at the carnival.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior Sport P-6

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

Our teams had some promising results in their first full game of the season last weekend. Thank you to our players, coaches, managers, and supporters for your energy and participation over the past few weekends during the grading process.

Netball now takes a break for the Easter Holidays. The next game will be Saturday 20th April, with training recommencing the first week of Term 2 (Tuesday 16th April). CDNA will upload all games into the Netball Connect app by April. Please download the Netball Connect app to access court details, game results, and ladders for each team and Division.

The Netball Queensland Senior State Age competition (U15 – U18) is being held from Saturday 6th to Tuesday 9th April at the Western Districts Netball Association in Brisbane. PLC has many players representing CDNA at the State titles and we wish all our players the best of luck!!

PLC Netball Club wishes all families a blessed Easter holiday filled with happiness, love, and faith.

Kind regards

Your PLC Netball Club Committee

President – Donna Watkins | netballpresident@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Secretary – Peta King | netballsecretary@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Registrar – Karen Costa | netballregister@pacluth.qld.edu.au

Facebook: PLC Netball Club
Instagram: PLC Netball Club

Mrs Donna Watkins, PLC Netball Club President

Pacific FC

The wet weather of last week closed fields across the Sunshine Coast and therefore Round 4 was cancelled.

We now break for the Easter holidays and games resume with Round 5 on Saturday, 20th April.

Our next home game is on Saturday, 11th May, and we look forward to also having our competitive teams back at PLC.

Representative Players

Congratulations to the following players on their selection in 2024 SCCSA representative teams:

Ashlan Hill - Girls (Under 13)

Chase McKinnon - South (Under 13)

Cash Cartwright - Central (Under 13)

Players will represent the Sunshine Coast at the following tournaments during the season:

Mini Representative Carnival - 13 April 2024
State Titles - 4 to 6 May 2024
Sunshine Coast Challenge Cup - 6th July 2024
Country Challenge Cup– 14 September 2024 (U10-U13)

Congratulations

Congratulations to former Pacific Lutheran College student, Josh Nisbet on his recent selection with the Subway Socceroo’s and his debut for the team on Tuesday night. The Socceroo’s secured a berth in the next stage of World Cup qualifying with their 5-0 win over Lebanon.

Happy Easter

Wishing all our families a safe and relaxing Easter break and hopefully some sunshine so we can all get out on the pitch again soon.

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

March

28 Term 1 Concludes

April

15 Staff Day

16 Term 2 Begins

16-17 Years 6-7 Conferences

19 Years 3-12 Cross Country Carnival

21 PLC Open Day

23 Friends of Pacific Meeting

24 Year 7-12 SCISSA Sports Commences

24 Year 11 Leadership Day

25 ANZAC Day

30 9-19yrs District Cross Country

May

6 Labour Day

7 Trimester 2 Commences

7 Friends of Pacific Mather’s Day Stall

14 Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival

14 Year 9 Leadership Day

15-18 Senior Drama Production – Sense and Sensibility

15-17 Year 4 Camp

21 P-12 Photo Day

21 Friends of Pacific Meeting

22 National Simultaneous Story Time

23 Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival

28 Instrumental Tutor’s Concert

29-30 District Secondary Athletics

30 District Primary Athletics

30 Instrumental Tutor’s Concert

31 Caloundra Show Day

31 Intermediate Schools Cup Volleyball

June

3-5 Year 8-9 Middle College Exams

3-7 Year 10 Exams

6 Years 4 – 6 SCISSA Gala Day 2

11 Year 11 2025 QCE Information Evening

14-16 Year 12 Retreat

18 K-3 Colour Splash

18 Friends of Pacific Meeting

19 K-12 Chapel

19 P-2 Cross Country

19 Ensembles Concert

19 Term 2 Concludes

Compass No 717 - March 2024

LEARNING JOURNEY

ENROLMENTS

NEWS

MY PLC

Growing people to make a difference