Principal's Log

Welcome to the start of Term 4 for 2017. A particular welcome to our new families who have joined us this term and to Mrs Elley Wood who has returned from maternity leave. We are looking forward to a strong and purposeful term where young people optimise their learning opportunities. It may be helpful for parents to have a listening conversation with Middle and Senior College students to clarify their goals for the end of the year and identify the small steps that can be taken to enhance learning over the term. It is an important term for all students, including our Year 12 cohort, and we look forward to growing with all of our students and families.

In this year’s Compass Review, I discussed research that described the qualities young people will require to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This included good disciplinary knowledge, highly developed interpersonal capabilities as well as the ability to be flexible, creative, collaborative and to be highly effective as self-directed learners. As Mr Wes Warner and I toured various innovative schools and contemporary workplaces in California over the holidays, the importance of immersing staff, students and parents in a rich culture of thinking and learning was evident. There was a strong synergy between the practices and learning culture of the schools we visited and Pacific Lutheran College including the focus on students taking responsibility for their learning, rich generative questions that prompt inquiry and deep understanding, attention to developing strong disciplinary learning and restorative practices. We also witnessed different practices that we can bring into the learning conversation of our community as we reflect on ways to continually improve the educational experience of our young people. We look forward to sharing these reflections with the community in the coming weeks and months.

We congratulate the following students on their appointment as College and Pacific Action Group Captains for the 2018 school year: 

• College Captains: Harrison Dines and Mali Davis
• College Vice Captains: Ethan Hall, Cooper Pointon, Olivia Papallo and Sarah Gale
• Academic Pacific Action Group Captain: Rhett Ousley
• Cultural Pacific Action Group Captains: Ryan Smart and Mikaela Swan
• Environmental Pacific Action Group Captains: Scarlet Hopkins
• Pastoral Care Pacific Action Group Captain: Tara Wilkinson
• Spirituality and Service Pacific Action Group Captain: Karlee Connors
• Sport Pacific Action Group Captain: Charlotte Empson

These students will enjoy the opportunity to be mentored by the current Year 12 leaders over the coming weeks. We pray that God would guide them as they grow into these important roles within our community.

This Friday, we look forward to celebrating the opening of our new Early Learning Centre and the Hospitality and Science learning spaces, which all support innovative and contemporary approaches to learning. The service commences at 8.45am in the College gym.

May God guide and equip us as we imagine and co-create fulfilling and purposeful lives.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal