Compass No 452 - March 2017

During the week, I read an Easter story to the children in the Early Learning Centre. It was about Peter denying that he knew Jesus before the rooster crowed. All of the Kindy children knew exactly how to make a rooster noise. The sound is unmistakable, even for little children, just as it was for Jesus’ friend Peter. Nothing wakes people or disturbs them as much as a rooster crowing early in the morning. A couple of years ago, I stayed overnight with a friend who had a rooster in his small backyard. Not surprisingly, he received a noise complaint from the local council. Each night my friend would take his rooster into the garage to sleep so it was a little less noisy. On the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus said to his disciple Peter, “before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times you do not know me” (Mark 14:72).

The sound of the rooster’s crow is piercing. Even for Peter who acted bravely at times, hearing the rooster crow made him feel frightened and accused. At that sound he knew exactly what he had done wrong. Like Peter, we too have times when we deny what we know, we are not always honest and we stand accused at the sound of what we have done. But just like Jesus did that night with Peter, He looks at us with love. He takes the accusing voice away from us so that it is not loud or deafening. He says to us like He said to Peter, “I heard the rooster too, but I love you. I forgive you. You may have denied me but I have not denied you. I want you back. I have work for you to do. You are my disciple.” This is exactly what Jesus said to Peter after the events of Easter day, when He appeared to him on Lake Galilee. These are words of hope that Jesus says to us when we hear our roosters’ crow and feel accused within ourselves. The risen Lord Jesus has a gracious word to say to us. 

May God bless you and give you the peace of Jesus over these Easter holidays.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital will be officially operation from 4^th April. Some services however have already opened to the public. Pacific has scheduled a stop in the precinct at the bus stop behind the private hospital. If you would like to take advantage of this stop, please contact the Business Office for further details.

Mr Mike Healy, Business Manager

As we approach the holidays it is important for students to think about how best to rest up and recover from the busy term. Sitting in front of a screen playing games or watching videos for hours on end is not a good way to relax our brains. Dr David Strayer, a cognitive psychologist and researcher from the University of Utah who specialises in attention, is in a unique position to understand what modern life does to us. “Our brains aren’t tireless, they’re easily fatigued.” However, according to Dr Strayer, the antidote to the stresses on our brains caused by modern living and screen time is simply nature.

Dr Strayer argues that, “when we slow down, stop the busywork and take in beautiful natural surroundings, not only do we feel restored but our mental performance improves too”. When we are in nature, the prefrontal cortex, the brains command centre, is allowed to dial down and rest, like an overused muscle. Research from the University of Exeter in England shows that people who live near green spaces reported less mental distress. This result has also been found by Dutch and Canadian studies.

As we live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, we have the opportunity to get out and enjoy all nature has to offer, from the beaches to the hinterland. We hope all our students have a healthy and restful holiday break.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students

Thank you to all parents and families for their support and involvement in the many and varied aspects of life in the Prep – Year 5 area of the College this term. Your support and involvement is greatly valued and welcomed by the children, staff and the entire College community. We wish you all a happy and holy Easter and a great holiday!

Mr David Druery, Head of Staff and Students P-5

Parenting is certainly one of the most rewarding aspects of life, but it is also one that requires great skill and finesse to do successfully. If we are able to raise great children, we are going to establish the foundation for a great future. Here are 10 things we can do to raise extraordinary human beings, who recognise their own strengths and know how to use them: http://www.heysigmund.com/10-ways-to-raise-extraordinary-humans/.

Ms Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Trivia Night – Save the Date

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Year 1, 2 and 3 classes are looking for Grandparents to read with our students. Each grandparent will read with one student at a time, sharing a love of stories together. The students may come from any class throughout Years 1, 2 and 3 and reading will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes with each student.

Any time our grandparents can offer will be greatly utilised, whether it is one hour per week or a whole morning block!

Each grandparent will require a Blue Card: https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/faqs/Do-I-need-a-bluecard/Grandparents-and-other-relatives.html. A brief orientation will also be provided before reading commences with students.

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.” – Dr Seuss.

Please contact Ms Anthea Brighton in the P-5 Learning Enrichment Centre on 5436 7362 or abrighton@pacluth.qld.edu.au to register your interest or make further enquiries.

Ms Anthea Brighton, Head of Learning Enrichment P-5

Hawker Hall

On Harmony Day this year, Hawker Hall came to life at Pacific Lutheran College. The Year 10 Hospitality students designed street food dishes that could be sold to staff and peers alike during morning tea. The dishes included crispy crumbed calamari, spicy chicken sliders, bangin’ buffalo wings, crispy churros with chocolate sauce and mean street waffles. In groups, students embraced the task and worked together to achieve a fabulous end result of cooking, presenting and selling their dishes in a shop front scenario. Well done to our Year 10 Hospitality students!

Year 12 Excursion

This term, our Year 12 Hospitality students visited Mooloolah Meats Butcher and Mooloolah Bakery for an insight into how these particular businesses work. Jacob Hume, a past student who acquired an apprentice with Mooloolah Meats, demonstrated his skills and highlighted the different cuts of meat and suggested cooking styles for each. This was a culminating experience allowing students to truly see farm to feast procedures on a commercial scale. Students also learnt about small business operation and the importance of hygiene in the workplace.

Students then ventured on to the bakery where they were shown how to make multiple flavours of pies from the meat that was supplied by the butcher. All students tasted the savoury and sweet pastries and thoroughly enjoyed the day out. In our post excursion discussion, we talked extensively about running a food business, including front and back of house operations. Thank you to Dean and Steve for allowing our students to experience this!

Mrs Colleen Beattie, Head of Food Technology and Hospitality

We are seeking photos of past students depicting their personal, academic or vocational achievements (great or small) since graduating from Pacific Lutheran College. Are you in contact with a past student? Please ask them to email our Careers Counsellor, Mrs Natasha Purcell (npurcell@pacluth.qld.edu.au), with a photo that depicts their achievement and a short blurb that includes their name, year of graduation and details of their achievement. The images will be collated and utilised in promotional materials for College Open Days and events.

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor 

Pacific kayaking commences in Term 2 with training taking place on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3.30pm – 5.00pm at Lake Kawana. All Year 4-12 students are invited to attend training after school. Year 4-6 students also have the option of participating in school time training during Thursday SCISSA sport.

Please check CareMonkey for more information and to sign up. You can train just to keep fit or aim to make the Olympic team! The College provides all equipment for students wishing to compete in the TK1, K1 and C1 sprint craft in both singles and doubles.

This year we also have a couple of interschool challenges as well as the normal state championships. Please see Mr Gary Graves for more information.

Mr Gary Graves, Kayaking Coordinator

Easter Services

Celebrate Easter with St Mark’s Lutheran Church. Click here to download the Easter Service times.

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church Caloundra

Pacific Lutheran College is fundraising with Entertainment™ again this year. Order your NEW 2017 | 2018 Entertainment™ Books and Entertainment™ Digital Memberships today and 20% of the proceeds will go towards Pacific Lutheran Early Learning Centre! To order your book or digital membership, visit: https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/230p536.