Principal’s Log

Welcome to the start of the 2024 school year, with a particularly warm welcome to new staff and many new students and their families.  It has been inspiring to feel the energy and excitement as our community connected warmly with each other and very quickly moved into the rhythm of learning.

It was a delight to come together for our 6-12 and P-5 Commencement Services where we heard about the year ahead and inducted and celebrated our new staff and student leaders. These services provide an important celebration point for students as they transition into new year levels, particularly for our Preps, Year 5, Year 6 and Year 12 students who experience new phases of learning and leadership this year. We thank our parents, staff and students for their support of these important services. We express our appreciation to Pastor Ray Morris of St Mark’s Congregation, Mrs Michiko Hauser, Mr Mark Hauser, our music staff and students and support staff for their leadership and organisation.

In the week prior to students returning, we as a staff valued the opportunity to learn with Nicole Dyson, Founder and CEO of Future Anything. Nicole led us on a reflection of why the nurturing of wonder, curiosity, creativity, and discernment is critical for us all and how these dispositions can be enhanced for students. Teachers appreciated the opportunity to work collaboratively to enrich their planning to strengthen their dispositions. We look forward to growing capacity as staff, students and parents to enhance culture of thinking, filled with wonder, creativity and discernment.

Learning occurs best where staff, students and parents understand the purposes and processes of learning and work together to enhance experiences and opportunities. Pacific is very deliberate in supporting parents to understand the beliefs, values and ways of learning at the College so that parents can partner meaningfully in the learning process. Next week’s P-5, Year 6-9, Year 11 Information Evening and Music Parent Information Evenings provide important opportunities for parents to connect into community and to learn about how they can best support their child’s learning. Dates and times are listed at the back of the newsletter and further information has been emailed to families.

The College’s developmental Outdoor Education program provides important opportunities for growth. As students grow in their relationships with each other, nature and with God, important skills of collaboration, teamwork, problem solving, communication, creativity and critical thinking are enhanced. Social emotional capabilities such as resilience, self-awareness, and confidence also develop strongly through these experiences.

We wish our Year 8 students all the best as they embark on their 5 day Outdoor Education next week and thank Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Paul Brace and his team for their leadership and organisation of this rich program.

We congratulate Mrs Rita Williams who received the Sunshine Coast Sports Volunteer Award in recognition of her contribution to soccer in 2023. Mrs. Williams has provided outstanding service to this community through her role as the President of the Pacific Football Club over many years. We thank her for her generosity of time and heart to foster a community of volunteers who provide opportunities for students to enjoy and develop their soccer skills. We encourage families to consider the ways in which they can support our parent led groups including the Friends of Pacific, Pacific Football Club and the PC Netball Club which provide great opportunities for connection while enhancing student experience.

We look forward to a year of wonder and creativity where we grow in our connection with each other, the environment, and God, as we grow in our discernment and capacity to live lives of good purpose. May God bless us and enable us to flourish through the adventure of learning that awaits.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal