Principal’s Log

Our community enjoyed the opportunity to congratulate and farewell our Year 12 students through their Graduation, Final Chapel and Formal. Throughout these events, there was a mixture of joy, excitement and appreciation. As a community we expressed our appreciation for the contribution our Year 12s have made as individuals and as a cohort. The Year 12s valued the way staff, peers, families and the community had connected with them and then contributed to their growth. We congratulate the graduating class of 2024 on the warm, appreciative and dignified way in which they celebrated their time at the College. We thank Director of Students, Ms Leigh Finter, the Heads of House, Chaplain Mark Hauser and Mrs Jodi Nielsen for their leadership and organisation of the students’ final week at the College. Each of our graduates is well prepared for the very different paths that lay ahead. We wish our graduates every blessing for the adventures that await them.

We congratulate our Robotics teams who came first and second at the Regional First Lego League and now progress this weekend to the national titles in Gladstone. The teams performed well in all elements of the competition but particularly well with their innovative design which drew on their learnings from Information Technology and STEM. We congratulate the teams and wish them well for their competition this weekend and thank Mrs Nicole Schirippa and Mrs Janine Stone for their inspiring leadership.

The Year 4-12 Sports Awards celebrated the engagement and sporting achievements of our students and staff and the growth of our competitive sport program throughout this year. We were delighted to welcome guest speaker and presenter Ms Alicia Woods, Pacific Alumni and Brisbane Roar Soccer player, who this year was selected to represent the Young Matildas in the FIFA U20’s Women’s World Cup in Columbia. We enjoyed hearing Tish share her recent experience and that of balancing sport and education, having commenced her soccer career at Pacific in Year 7.  Special recognition was given to our Junior Sports Stars: Kyle Huxley and Scarlett van den Hurk as well as Year 12 student Jessica Lloyd, who were honoured for Excellence in Sport. We also celebrated Jess Lloyd’s selection as one of 25 young athletes chosen to go to Canberra as an Olympic Change-Maker. We congratulate and thank all students for their involvement and growth. We thank our teachers, parents, coaches and managers who have generously supported and developed our students and teams throughout the year. We thank our Head of Sport, Mr Cameron West-McInnes, Head of Junior Sport, Mr Darren Hooper and Sports Aide, Mrs Lisa Muir, for their leadership and organisation of an increasingly strong sport program.

This week we have emailed families the outcomes of the MMG Parent survey completed at the end of Term 3. We are pleased with the results and are very appreciative of the time spent and the feedback provided through the comprehensive survey. The feedback provided by parents, staff and students will be used by College Council, the Administration and Learning Executive, staff, students and parents to continue to enhance our community as a rich place of learning and engagement. Parents are encouraged to access the email which was sent on Wednesday.

We are excited to announce that Pastor Mark Winter will join us as College Pastor in Week 8 of Term 1 next year. Pastor Winter has had extensive experience in schools, congregations connected to schools and, more recently, at Hope Vale in North Queensland. Pastor Winter values building relationships, welcoming people and inviting people to learn more about God’s love for them. We look forward to welcoming Pastor Mark Winter and his wife Andrea into our community next year.

The College Council has set the fees for 2025 being mindful about keeping the balance between ongoing enhancement of opportunity and facilities and keeping fees as affordable as possible. I would encourage families to read the detailed communication from College Council Chair, Mr Phil Thamm, which follows this article.

This week we have really enjoyed the Pop Up Christmas performances by our music ensembles who have welcomed us in the mornings and brought joy into our breaks. Families also enjoyed the Junior Ensemble concert. We thank Head of Instrumental Music, Mrs Helen Williams, music staff, our instrumental music tutors and our music students for sharing their love of music and their considerable talent. We also thank parents for their continued support of students and the music program at the College.

As a College, we are very blessed to have a large contingent of volunteers who support increased opportunity and connection through the Friends of Pacific, Pacific FC and PLC Netball. It was a delight to connect with some of our volunteers on Wednesday afternoon for afternoon tea and through them express our deep appreciation for all that our families and volunteers contribute to this community. Thank you to our volunteers for their attendance and Mrs Rhana Holt and the Hospitality team for their catering.

Our Middle and Senior College students will be receiving assessment feedback via NAV. We encourage families to discuss this feedback with their young people over the coming week and identify one to three things they are going to improve to enhance their learning.

Important learning will occur throughout the coming week. We also look forward to a range of events, including the P-5 Carols, the End of Year Services where we celebrate the contribution and achievements of students, staff and parents, the Rite Journey Homecoming and the Year 9 and 10 leadership days. We look forward to a strong finish of learning and celebration.

We say a prayer of thanks for all the gifts God gives us daily and in particular the gifts our graduating students, staff and volunteers have given us. We pray that God would equip us to be people who bring hope and possibility into the lives of people we encounter.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal