Principal's Log

We congratulate Charles Box on representing Australia in the Future Problem Solving Virtual International Conference last week. Charles was selected as the Australian flag bearer and enjoyed the opportunity to compete and to interact with like-minded young people from around the world. This was a tremendous achievement and opportunity and we thank Mrs Jo Belchamber for her leadership. We look forward to ongoing opportunity for our students as they prepare for the National Future Problem Solving competition later in the year.

We continue to see new ideas being trialled with students across the College being invited to participate in a Virtual Cross Country and a Virtual Surfing Competition. The Virtual Surfing Competition also provides the opportunity for young film makers to grow and share their skills as they compete for the filming and editing section of the competition. We thank Mr Darren Hooper and Mrs Natalie Campbell for their creativity and leadership.

The College continues to build on its environmental focus through a recent addition in our Industrial Technology Centre. One of the environmental challenges currently facing Australia is our disposal of plastics. The College has purchased a plastics shredder which reduces plastics down to granule size which allows remolding and reusing different types of plastics. The machine had to be purchased from Europe as no similar product exists in Australia. Perhaps use of this machine might inspire one of our young people to lead the way in solving Australia’s recycling problems on a larger scale. We thank Mr Learoyd and his team for their ongoing innovation in the area of Industrial Technology.

Lutheran Education Queensland has announced a moratorium on building within schools until at least September of this year while there remains some uncertainty about the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the broader community. This will mean that at this time we are unable to go to tender as expected for the Year 3-5 building, which we had hoped would commence at the start of next term. The College Council remains committed to the ongoing enhancement of facilities while being mindful of the financial needs and capacity of our community. We will work with Lutheran Education Queensland to develop a plan for the timing of this construction, which is ready to go to tender, taking our local school context into account which appears to be very positive.

As restrictions have eased, staff and students have enjoyed the return to broader co-curricular experiences with modified ways of operating to maximise social distancing and hygiene. Instrumental teachers have returned to the College and our Year 3-5 strings and Year 5-6 bands have also restarted. We look forward to more of our ensemble groups being able to rehearse next week. Friday sport for Year 7-10 students got underway last week and we are planning for further expansion of sport at the start of next term in line with restrictions being lifted further in the broader community. Planning for the Year 8 Outdoor Education experience is also underway with our provider and the College making significant adjustments to be COVID-19 safe, in line with the expected move to Stage 3 by the start of next term. Year 8 parents will receive communication about this in the coming days.

In all circumstances, we pray that God would give us the capacity to trust in Him, to be still and focus on the long view.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal