Compass No 751- February 2025

On Tuesday 4th March, the Spirituality and Service Action Group will be selling pancakes outside of Coral Café to raise money for Australian Lutheran World Services. This is coinciding with Shrove (or Pancake) Tuesday, which marks the traditional feast day before the season of Lent begins in the Christian calendar. Historically, this day was a time to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before the 40 days of fasting during Lent. Today, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in many countries around the world as a time of community, generosity, and as preparation for Easter.

Students from Prep to Year 12 are able to purchase pancakes on the morning of Tuesday the 4th, outside the Coral Café between 7:55-8:20am, for $2. There will be cash and EFTPOS facilities available for use, supply is limited, while pancake stocks last.

Mr Mark Hauser, College Chaplain

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.

As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

Online NAPLAN tests provide precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive), which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. This helps students remain engaged with the assessment. Tailored testing allows a wide range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.

All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.

Pacific Lutheran College Year 7 & 9 NAPLAN Testing Timetable 2025

Please note that Middle College practice testing will take place on Friday the 7th of March. Please ensure that students have a charged laptop and headphones.

https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

The public demonstration tests show the types of questions students will answer and the functionalities that are available in NAPLAN tests.

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Learning K-5 and Mrs Jo Belchamber, Head of Learning Middle College

Meet the  Careers and VET Team

You can find the team spaces at the back of the library in the Careers and VET office. 

Left to Right: Mr Ian Learoyd, Head of Vocational Education and Training, Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development, and Mrs Colleen Beattie, Career Advisor.

How to book a Careers Appointment

Senior College students are encouraged to 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 a courtesy ensure you check with your teacher that it is OK before you miss all or part of a lesson when you make a booking.

Book appointments via this link or the QR Code.

Subject Variation

Senior students and families received a communication from Ms Anne-Marie Gerlach this week regarding Subject Variations. Please check the attached letter in this communication for important information.

Important Note on Timing: Subject changes beyond Week 4 of Unit 1 are generally not recommended. In these cases, students will typically be advised to complete the unit before considering further changes. This is to ensure that the student’s learning is not disrupted and to avoid any negative impact on Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) points and their future pathway.

To discuss your SET Plan and possible future changes beyond Unit 1, students are encouraged to book a 15 minute ‘Subject Variation’ appointment via the booking app.

Mrs Veronica Sanmarco, Head of Career Development

As parents and educators, one of our most important roles is guiding young people toward becoming independent thinkers and problem-solvers. While it's natural to want to step in and solve problems for our children, it is far more valuable to empower them to find their own solutions. This not only builds their confidence but also strengthens their critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are vital for success in life.

Here are some tips on how we can help our children explore problems and discover solutions on their own:

1. Encourage a Growth Mindset: Help your child understand that challenges are opportunities for growth, not obstacles to avoid. Remind them that mistakes are a natural part of learning, and that perseverance is key to overcoming difficulties. By framing problems as learning experiences, we can teach our children to approach challenges with curiosity and resilience.

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of offering immediate solutions, try to guide your child through the problem-solving process with thoughtful questions. Open-ended questions such as “What do you think might happen if you try this?” or “How could you approach this differently?” prompt your child to reflect on the situation and consider multiple perspectives. These types of questions encourage them to think critically and creatively.

3. Break Down the Problem: Help your child break larger problems into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes the task feel less overwhelming and allows them to see progress as they work through each part. Questions like “What’s the first thing we can do to start solving this?” or “What’s one small step that will get us closer to the solution?” can be helpful in this process.

4. Model Problem-Solving Strategies: Children learn by example. When faced with a challenge, verbalise your thought process out loud, showing them how you weigh options and make decisions. For example, you might say, “I’m thinking about how to handle this problem. First, I’m considering A because of X, but then there’s B, which might be easier because of Y.” This demonstrates critical thinking and shows them how to approach problems logically.

5. Provide Support, Not Solutions: Be there to listen, offer encouragement, and provide resources, but avoid giving away the answers. When you ask your child, “What do you think would work?” or “What are your options here?” you empower them to take ownership of the situation.

By encouraging our young people to explore problems and find their own solutions, we help them develop the skills they need to navigate challenges throughout their lives. Let’s continue to support them in becoming confident, independent thinkers who can tackle anything that comes their way.

Be kind to yourselves and each other.

PLC Counselling Team

Mr Brendan Macaulay, Head of Student Support, Mrs Kelsie Munroe, Middle Years Counsellor and Mrs Sara Taverner, Learning Enrichment P -5 & Counsellor

Upcoming Events:

Coffee Meet at the Coral Cafe - Friday 28th February - 8am -8:20am 

Date Claimer –OCEANfest- Friday 15th August 2025

Volunteering

We will be calling for volunteers in coming weeks and would encourage anyone who may be interested in volunteering this year to complete the induction training. Our volunteer induction training uses 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.  To access this link, you will require your PLC parent log in. This ensures transparency and accountability of volunteers intending to be involved. If you are unsure of how to access the Volunteer Handbook via Nav, please contact our IT department - ithelp@pacluth.qld.edu.au   

If you are unsure of the induction process or are a volunteer with an indirect link to the College, such as grandparents or past parents, we ask you to contact our Workplace Health and Safety Officer, Mrs Brooke Elsum belsum@pacluth.qld.edu.au  for further information on the induction process.

Ms Jan Watman, Chairperson - Friends of Pacific

 

 

PLC Kayaking

The PLC Paddle Excellence program will commence Monday 3rd and Thursday 6th March of Week 6. Students are welcome to attend a trial session. All interested students need to sign up on Clipboard.  Parents will then receive a letter explaining the program and how to give consent through Parent Lounge. Students at PLC have a wonderful opportunity to participate in a unique and leading school aquatic program. All equipment and coaching is provided free of charge. Students will get the opportunity to participate in the School Marathon Championships on Tuesday 17th June  and the School Sprint Championships on Tuesday 9th September.

Please contact Mr Gary Graves at Pacific on ggraves@pacluth.qld.edu.au  or 0407370747

Mr Gary Graves, Head of HPE 10-12 (PLC Kayaking)

Basketball

While Semester 2 is truly “School Basketball” season here on the Sunshine Coast there are still many opportunities happening for keen students in Term 1.

The PLC Basketball Academy is in full swing. Athletes have completed their fitness assessments and are now on court building an aerobic base while also improving fundamental skills. The Academy is an invitation only group of selected players. If you are a student who aspires to be a part of the Academy in future years, please see Mr Brad Burdon in the S-Block staffroom for feedback.

We have also had numerous athletes successful in gaining selection into District teams to compete at upcoming Regional Championships. These trials and teams provide an excellent opportunity for athletes to test themselves against others and continue their improvement. This is a reminder that students need to nominate for these trials in advance, so students must ensure they are checking emails and notices vigilantly.

Mr Brad Burdon, Head of Department - HPE (P-9)

Competitive Sport News

Next week students will be able to sign up for a range of competitive and representative sporting options for Term 2. Students are encouraged to look at all options and consider how they may be able to represent PLC in sport this year. Multiple sports may be played if there are no clashes with the days in which fixtures are played.

Options for competitive sport sign-ups are as follows:

Term 2:

-          Yr 7-10 SCISSA Volleyball (Wednesday after school)

-          Yr 11-12 SCISSA Soccer (Wednesday after school)

-          Yr 7-12 Boys 15 aside Rugby (Wednesday after school)

-          Yr 7-9 Trish Buckley Volleyball (Friday after school)

-          Yr 7-10 Dance (Friday sport time)

-          Yr 7-10 Basketball Development (Friday sport time)

-          Yr 7- 10 Touch Football Development (Friday sport time)

SCISSA Junior and Intermediate Soccer

It was a strong round for many of our soccer teams this week with a number of teams going undefeated. Well done to Junior Girls and Intermediate Boys for their gritty draws. The Intermediate Boys won their second game in their tournament and the Intermediate Girls picked up a dominant away win. Our Junior B2 Boys did an incredible job to only be down 2-1 at half time despite being down a number of players. It was a tough day at the office for our Junior Boys B1 team and they will look to bounce back next week.

SCISSA Senior Volleyball

Well done to our Senior A Boys and Girls teams for their strong wins at home on Wednesday. This marks the 3rd win in a row for our boys and they are going from strength to strength in their game play. The Senior Girls had to fight for their win in a tiebreaker set and they should be proud of their efforts. Our Senior B teams played well against a spirited opposition and were unlucky not to walk away with a win. Students have lots to work in training and we look forward to seeing their progress next week.

Trish Buckley Senior Volleyball

Trish Buckley volleyball kicked off on Friday Week 4 (21st Feb) and it was evident that teams from all schools had come to play. All our College teams competed well and there were some very close matches, especially for the Year 10 Boys and the Year 12 Girls. Congratulations to the Year 12 Boys for their strong win in their first match of the night. These teams will continue to progress with most of them playing in both Wednesday night SCISSA and Trish Buckley competitions.

Team	Opponent	Score	Result
Year 12 Boys	MFAC GCC	2-0 0-2	Win Loss
Year 12 Girls	CCPS	1-1	Loss (by 1 point)
Year 10 Boys	GCC	0-2	Loss
Year 10 Girls	CCPS	0-2	Loss

Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Sport

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)

February

28       Senior Musical Camp

28       FoP Coffee Meet

 

March

1-2     Senior Musical Camp

4-7     Year 1 Outdoor Learning Days

7        International Women’s Day Breakfast

12-21  NAPLAN

13-14   Prep Vision Screening

14        FoP Coffee Meet

18        FoP Meeting

20        Installation of Pastor Mark Winter

25-27  P-5 Parent Conferences

25      PLC Learning Hub

26      Kids Lit Quiz

27      Yr 4-6 Gala Day

27-28  Yr 11 Retreat

31-2    Yr 5 Camp

 

April

31-2      Yr 5 Camp

2          Senior College Conferences

4          K-12 Chapel

4          Yr 3-12 Cross-Country

4          Term 1 Concludes