Learning Together

Every Monday morning, our Junior College assembles hear about what has been and is happening around our College. This connection time allows for holistic messaging that reflects the thread for the week as well as expanding on key teachings of our College ethos and “You Can Do It” lessons. Our alternating split assemblies in Foundation and Junior College cohorts, allow us to better tailor our messages to a more specific audience. New audio equipment under our Junior College buildings has supported our split assemblies effectively.

This year we have expanded the implementation of the Pacific Way across the Junior College. Our intentional focus including developing a sense of self, managing interactions with others and deepening connections with spirituality, service and the environment is now included in our Junior Diaries as an expanded message for the week. As a Junior College, we have expanded on what it means to be independent and reflective.

Our theme of Purpose, Engagement and Co-Agency sits seamlessly into our philosophy regarding the Pacific Way. The structure is gentle and hopeful. It aims to increase co-agency in our students, staff and the broader community by providing clear and precise signposts that we grow towards. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to what is valued and reword what our over-arching statements will mean to individual year levels. Student voice allows this document to evolve and provide the touchstones and certainty as we support our students now and into the future.

This term’s theme for “You Can Do It” surrounds relationships and connects seamlessly to our “Learning Together” Pillar. At our assembly last week, Mrs Atkinson shared what students wanted in a friendship and what kind of friend they would be together. Amongst the traits desired were honesty, trust and respect. After an initial discussion, Mrs Atkinson connected with students in the playground and when asked to elaborate on their understanding of a genuine friend, they identified true friendship as:

• Not fair-weather, true friends are around for the good and bad times

• Having the freedom to be yourself and not be nervous

• Taking responsibility for their actions, and

• True friends don’t sacrifice things about themselves to fit in.

These observations have come directly from our students and show the levels of self-reflection and awareness they possess in understanding the sometimes-complex world of maintaining relationships. All of us are human and err from time to time but what this does provide is that as individuals, we all have thoughtful awareness from which to navigate. 

We look forward to supporting our students when working with each other across all areas of the College and thank Mrs Atkinson for her leadership.

Parent connectors and volunteering

Thank you to the many parents and guardians who have completed their volunteer training during the past week. Your service to the College community is greatly appreciated and we look forward to sharing the opportunities with you during the year. 

Thank you to those within the community who have registered their interest as Parent Connectors. Your willingness to volunteer as a connector, will strengthen relationships across the College and support the Friends of Pacific in their work in the wider community. If you would like to volunteer, expressions of interest are still open via the online form.  

Food and celebrations 

An important part of a school community is celebrating milestones amongst our students. Traditionally, this may have involved students bringing food or treats onto the campus to help with the celebrations. Obviously, our landscape has changed due to COVID-19 and this is no longer possible. Safe and appropriate storage of food as well as keeping track of known allergens also play an important part in keeping our students safe and limiting the bringing of food items onto campus. 

However, through the tuck shop, the College has widened its availability of birthday packs by now offering frozen Quelch ice blocks for birthdays, priced at 0.70c per student and easily ordered through the FlexiSchools Service. Alternatively, cookie packs at $1.00 a student are also available through the cooler months. 

These can be accessed via the following link https://www.flexischools.com.au/ or by contacting Shea Moor at tuckshop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.   

Take care and God bless,

Mr Damian Davis, Head of Staff and Students P-5