Principal’s Log

The Soiree provided a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a community of past and present staff, parents and College Council members and Alumni to celebrate 21 years of growing together as a powerful learning community.  Thank you to all those who helped to create and stage such a warm, dignified and celebratory event through their attendance and preparation.  There were so many people behind the scenes that helped to make the event such a great success. Pacific has always valued the support of local, state and national governments and we appreciated the presence of local member Jarrod Bleijie. A particular thank you to our hospitality team led by Mrs Colleen Beattie, Mrs Emma Lendrum and Mrs Rhana Holt for preparing and serving such culinary delights.  Thank you to our Friends of Pacific team so capably led by Mrs Jenny Lee, Mrs Teena Thompson, and Mrs Allyson Sarvari in leading preparations for the event and creating such a warm and welcoming ambience.  Thank you to our music team of Helen Williams and Paul Cusick and the Senior String Quartet of Eden Williams, Brooke Williams, Jack Shirley and Sebastian Box, and Phoebe Struckett on keyboard and the band for providing mood-setting and body-moving entertainment throughout the evening.  A special thank you to Samantha Barrass who through her eye for detail and heart for our community created an outstanding event for people to enjoy connecting and reconnecting.

We also had a wonderful afternoon with our 2011, and 2012 Alumni on Saturday. It was great to feel the energy as they connected with each other and staff as we toured the College and enjoyed a light lunch together.  They were amazed at how much the College had progressed since their departure.  We were delighted to hear of their journeys since leaving school, have a laugh as they reminisced and even enjoy the very deep discussions about a range of issues.  Thank you to Mrs Leigh Finter for her leadership, to Mr Mark Hauser, Mrs Michi Hauser, Mrs Janine Stone, Mr Duncan McNee, Mrs Kim Bonello and Mrs Leah Croke for their support of the afternoon and to our hospitality team for organising a light lunch for us all to enjoy. Jericho Sayson gave a very appreciative speech thanking the staff and the College for helping them to grow into the people they have and will continue to become.

The final preparations for “Elf” are well underway and we wish the Director Mrs Kristy Astwick and her cast and crew all the best as they complete their final rehearsals.  It is promising to be a wonderfully entertaining evening.  A small number of additional tickets have become available, including for Saturday night.  Tickets can be purchased via this link.

Over this past week, we have launched our new Youth Group.  We are excited about this new opportunity which is being provided by Chaplains Mr Mark Hauser and Mrs Holly Gricks and our senior students. We encourage families to read more details in the College Chaplains’ article later in the newsletter.

It was a delight to see so many parents and family members attend the Prep Information Afternoon on Wednesday of this week.  The afternoon provided important opportunities for people to begin to develop connections with each other as well as learn more about Prep.  We thank Mr Damian Davis, Mrs Shelley Hogan, Mrs Sharon Hooper and Mrs Grier Elliott for their leadership.

YACHTS is one of the College’s enrichment experiences for extending more highly able students in Years 4 and 5.  Last Friday, the YACHTS students were excited to showcase their learning to staff, parents and students.  The joy and high-quality learning, students experienced as they explored their choice of one of the classics of literature bubbled from our young people as they shared their understandings.  We thank Mrs Julie Darr for her inspiring leadership of this program.

We welcomed back our Year 3 staff and students from their Outdoor Education experience on Friday last week.  Staff and students reflected that they thoroughly enjoyed their time of growing a deeper understanding of themselves and strengthening their connections with each other and the environment.  We thank the Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Paul Brace and Mrs Sharon Middleton, Mrs Fiona Schefe, Mr Scott Massie, Mr Steven Healy, Mrs Michelle Bourne, Mr Rob Belchamber, Ms Georgie Snelling, Mrs Pia Henriksen, Ms Kate Burman, Mrs Leah Croke and Mrs Sara Taverner for their leadership of the camp.

We pray that God would provide the wisdom for us to find the third way and peace in all our relationships.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal