Principal's Log

This week there has been considerable commentary about NAPLAN results across the country. Many different factors impact on cohort and group results and simplistic interpretation of results can be misleading, particularly where there are different groups and percentages of groups completing the test. The data is most useful at a school and an individual level, where it is used as one piece of data along with other information to gauge the progress of a young person, where the characteristics of that person as a learner are known and understood. Pacific has a very high percentage of students completing the test each year and uses the data in conjunction with other data to review and enhance student learning on an individual and cohort level. In comparison to the preliminary state and national data that has been released, Pacific has performed above national and state means in all areas of the test for all cohorts, with the exception of Year 3 spelling where the mean was above the state and slightly below the national mean. Once we have received the hard copies of individual results, they will be posted to families with an accompanying letter. Families with questions are welcome to make contact with myself, Mrs Rae Hall as Head of Middle College Teaching and Learning and Mrs Sue Zweck as Head of Teaching Learning Prep – Year 5.

A letter from me, detailing the outcome of the external investigation into a phishing attack on 7^th June, has been emailed home today. Due to the very quick action of our IT Department, only a very small number of email accounts were breached. Families are asked to read this letter and take note of actions they can take to reduce the likelihood of their accounts being susceptible to future events.

It was a pleasure to listen to the Year 11 students as part of the inter-house public speaking competition yesterday. The quality and depth of thinking they presented as they shared their thoughts about ‘the greatest gift’ was uplifting for the audience to reflect upon. Well done to all the students and thank you to Mrs Tina Cox for her organisation.

Music filled with heart and feeling flowed from the music rooms yesterday afternoon as the Pacific Junior Strings Ensemble rehearsed with renowned strings and conducting expert Mr Mark Sullivan for a collaborative project. Students from Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Siena Catholic College, Buderim Mountain State School and the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra are also part of the project. The project will culminate on Sunday 8^th September, when all students will combine for a workshop and performance day. This is a great learning experience for our Junior Strings students and we thank Mrs Helen Williams for her coordination of this exciting opportunity.

We look forward to tomorrow morning’s Celebrating Dads’ Breakfast where we celebrate our dads as fathers and also as generous leaders within this community. May God give all the men of our community a strong sense of purpose and value in the important role they play in the growing of young people within their families and community. Happy Father’s Day to all of our dads.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal