Compass No. 541 July 2019

But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself. – Philippians 3:13-14

In recent weeks, I have been preparing for a 25km walk I am doing soon. I’ve completed a couple of 10km walks, a 15km last weekend and hopefully a 20km this weekend. Like Paul in the above Bible reading, I am pushing onwards to what is ahead of me, moving forward toward my final 25km goal. Motivating the body to achieve something like this takes time, effort and hard work, especially when you are unfit like me! Training my body to achieve this 25km goal is only one of my motivations though, the other goal is to raise awareness of children who have little access to education, to connect with staff and students of our Pacific community and other local Lutheran schools and churches. And of course, to support the education of children in African refugee camps. This walk is called ‘Walk my Way’ and is being organised by the Australian Lutheran World Service.

‘Walk my Way’ is happening next Sunday 4^th August. The 25km walk goes from Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Noosaville to Luther Heights Youth Camp in Coolum and there are also shorter alternatives available. Every $26 raised enables a refugee child in Africa to go to school. You can register for the walk, find out more information, set a fundraising goal, share your fundraising page on social media and donate to the Pacific team by visiting: https://walkmyway.org.au/groups/queensland-sunshine-coast. Alternatively, click here to download the ‘Walk my Way’ flyer.

Year 4 Bible Presentation

All Year 4 families are invited to a special intergenerational service at St Mark's @ Pacific this Sunday 28^th July. At this service, the College and church are introducing a new milestone of gifting an ‘Adventure Bible’ to all Year 4 students. The service is taking place at 9.30am in the Pacific music rooms; entry is via Red Cedar Drive. Please RSVP to the Year 4 teachers or myself (tjarick@pacluth.qld.edu.au).

Over the recent school holidays, I was privileged to be a part of the 2019 Japan Trip, where 20 Senior College students embarked on a two week cultural experience in Japan. This biennial trip, which has been going since 2005, has positively affected many lives (both in Australia and in Japan) through the sharing of cultures, traditions and experiences.

Although the students talk about the friendships formed, the visiting of different cities and the shopping and sight-seeing; there is more to the trip than what meets the eye. What most do not realise at the time, is the strength of connections formed between the two countries, across a range of different areas. The connections between staff and students are not just superficial, with many of the host families still in contact with Pacific staff and students long after the trip ends. In some cases, Pacific families travel back to Japan to spend more time with their host families, even years after the experience. Seishin students have also been known to do the same, visiting their Australian hosts in return. Past Japanese Teacher Assistants who have worked at Pacific, even for brief periods of time, are always eager to catch up with the Pacific travelling group due to the strong international bonds that have been formed through these partnerships.

In a world where globalisation is now the norm, the Pacific Japan Trip provides students with many great opportunities. Pacific greatly values the forging of international relationships, as also demonstrated by our engagement in various exchange programs. Recently, Camilla Barstad and Chloe Mear undertook a 12-month Rotary student exchange and the lessons that they learnt and taught us were invaluable. Similarly, this week we proudly welcomed our Seishin exchange students to Pacific for Term 3, Koki and Ikumi, and look forward to the experiences that we can all share. The opportunities that we are offered for building international relationships, as well as the tremendous benefits of them, are enormous. It is up to each one of us to make the most of them. We encourage all students and families to fully engage with these experiences to learn more about others in this global age.

Thank you to Mrs Michiko Hauser for her organisation and leadership of these important cultural experiences.

Over the next four weeks, all Year 7-12 students will have their photos taken in their Pastoral Care Groups for the College magazine. It is important to note that all must dressed in full formal winter uniform, with blazers (Senior College students) and ties. Please check carefully for the dates that each group is required for photos. Reminders will be in student notices in the lead up to each photo morning. All students will need to be on time to morning PCG in order to be in the photos.

• Bula: Bula 5-8 taken this week and Bula 1-4 TBA
• Wira: Week 4 and 5 – Wira 1-4 on Monday 5^th August and Wira 5-8 on Monday 12^th August
• Mumba: Week 6 – Mumba 1-4 on Monday 19^th August and Mumba 5-8 on Thursday 22^nd August

The Year 12 house photos will be taken on Thursday 1^st August during their Christian Studies lesson in Period 4.

The Year 7-12 Athletics Carnival will be held this Friday 26^th July. We wish all students the very best on the day. It is sure to be a fun and exciting carnival once again and we all look forward to the comradery, house spirit and quality of competition.

Mr Mark Hauser, Head of Senior College Students

Congratulations to the Year 5 leaders for this term who were presented with their leadership badges at Monday’s assembly.

Thank you to those parents who attended the Prep – Year 5 conferences this week. As the learning journey at Pacific is a shared one between parents, staff and students, these conferences play an important role in enabling parents to be a part of their child’s growth and development.

As I entered the College yesterday, one of the students greeted me with a hearty good morning and held the gate open for me to enter. Often, we undervalue the positive impact that small acts of kindness can have on another person. A smile, speaking in a friendly voice, helping another or doing something thoughtful or generous for others can brighten a dull day and invigorate our feelings and emotions. Acting kindly towards another not only makes the receiver feel good, but the person performing the actions finds their endeavours fulfilling and satisfying.

Are such behaviours innate or do they need to be learnt? Recent scientific evidence has found that surprisingly, our brains are actually wired to be benevolent. Our social environment is often directed towards an ‘every man for himself attitude’, based upon success at the expense of others.

Like any skill, how to speak and act with kindness is something that can be taught. At the College, the development of social and emotional competencies in students is a major focus. Research regularly reaffirms that happy, confident and resilient children perform more successfully academically.

Each year, students study the You Can Do It program, which includes lessons on Getting Along, Persistence, Confidence, Organisation and Emotional Resilience. Students work within the framework of Restorative Practices and the Christian Studies and devotions program. In support of these programs this term, students will be trialling study in developing the concept of kindness.

The concepts translate easily from school to home. As a parent, we all want our children to be happy, confident and resilient. We also want our children to act with thought and kindness without the need for extrinsic forms of motivation (prizes). A quick internet search reveals there is a great variety of interesting material available on the topic. The following site, which contains a program used successfully in the Colorado Schools District in the United States, acts as a great starting point if you are interested in the topic: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/.

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

Blockbuster Trivia Night

The Pacific Blockbuster Trivia Night is shaping up to be bigger than Ben-Hur. Tables are selling faster than tickets to the Star Wars Trilogy or Bohemian Rhapsody. We’re now at 85% capacity, so don’t delay in booking your table. This event will sell out!

Gather your team of 8-10 for a night of fun and laughter on Saturday 17^th August. We welcome back our quiz scribe, Mrs Leah Croke and MC, Mr Russell Ousley and wait in anticipation to see which team will be crowned champions. Kicking off at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start, tickets are $10 per person. There will be a fully stocked Blockbuster Bar and you’re invited to BYO food and table decorations. There will also be some amazing prizes up for grabs for the trivia winners and round winners, table challengers, best-dressed themed tables and individuals. Don’t miss our Blockbuster Live Auction, which will include the famous Pacific car park space and an F45 training package.

Plus…come dressed as a character from your favourite movie for more laughs. If you're stuck for dress up ideas, here are a few tips: Go Back to the Future with Game of Thrones. Call on the Ghostbusters or Mrs Doubtfire and bring along your friends from Madagascar. It might be Mission Impossible to find an Incredibles outfit but it will be worth seeing the School of Rock.

Don’t forget…. there will be loads of prizes, games and challenges on offer so you can act Seventeen Again!

To book…

1. Get your team together and appoint a captain. No need to worry if you don't have a full team, we can place you with others (adults, alumni and Year 11 and 12 students).

2. Click here to download the booking form. Complete the details and return via email to: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au">fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au before tables sell out!

3. Look out for clues. The earlier you book your table, the more chances you’ll be given to gather hints.

4. The best-dressed Blockbuster-themed tables and individuals will win prizes!

Year 7-12 Athletics Carnival – BBQ Stall

FoP will once again host the BBQ stall at the Year 7-12 Athletics Carnival this Friday 26^th July at USC. We will have a sausage sizzle, drinks and muffins available for purchase throughout the day. Thank you to Mrs Allyson Sarvari for once again coordinating the stall. If parents have time to help on the day for an hour or so, please send a quick email to: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Next Meeting

Please join us for our next meeting at 6.30pm on Tuesday 30^th July in the College Library.

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

Last week, 55 students attended the Voices on the Coast Literature Festival. Students heard from a range of authors, saw performances, listened to poets and learnt how illustrators create their art. During their free time students enjoyed meeting authors and getting their books signed, exploring the University of the Sunshine Coast campus and socialising in the cafeteria. It was a highly enjoyable and thought-provoking day.

We’ve received some great entries for our Book Week activities. Each week a new activity is posted on our Book Week page: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/home/bookweek (password is plc). All entries go in the draw for a gift card to Event Cinemas and anyone who completes all five activities will be invited to a pizza party later this term.

Some LibGuides have been added or updated over the holidays. If your child has assignments coming up, check the LibGuides for information to assist with research. The password is plc.

Year 4 HASS

• First Contacts: https://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/first_contact
• First Fleet: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/firstfleet
• Indigenous Australians: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/indigenous
• Explorers: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/explorers

Year 7 Biology

• Research Investigation: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/home/7biology

Year 11 Chemistry

• Molecular Interactions and Reactions: http://libguides.pacluth.qld.edu.au/home/chem_unit2

Book Club orders are due in to the library by this Monday 29^th July.

Ms Nell Keen, Head of Library

Earlier this year, primary school students were urged to get creative and produce videos to encourage the community to be disaster ready as part of the Sunshine Coast’s Get Ready Schools Competition. As part of the Get Ready Queensland program, council developed the school competition so that young people are part of the conversation when it comes to disaster preparedness.

Students across Prep – Year 6 were encouraged to enter the competition and three of our students were announced as finalists. In May, their videos were played at the Sunshine Coast Emergency Services Community Expo. Congratulations to Alex Hentschel, Annie Hentschel and Isabella Lee!

Well done to the Foundation and Junior College who have raised just under $1000 for our water cooler, simply by cashing in our empty containers from our Containers for Change program. Following are some things we hope to action this term. Our container numbers have dropped so far this term. Which means we are making better consumer choices. So, to continue raising money, we will conduct a Community Collection of cans on the last Friday of each month. Just bring in your empty plastic bottles and aluminum cans and we will recycle them for you. Please keep an ear out for more information regarding what to do. We ask that NO glass be brought in. We want to encourage the Waste Warriors, all those kids who like us, believe that we need to keep all our rubbish in the bins and NOT on the ground. We will be providing gloves, hats and bags for students to use during lunchtimes. Nude lunches. This term we would like to trial nude lunches. Where you either pack your lunches using zero packaging or you take home all the packaging you produce. This will get us one step closer towards our goal of a BINLESS Junior College and a cleaner environment.

So, you just need to remember these three things:

1. Containers for collection, the last Friday of each month – the first one will be tomorrow, Friday 26^th July. No glass please. Click here to download our flyer.
2. Waste Warriors – can collect gloves and bags from outside the Learning Enrichment room.
3. Nude lunches – officially for the month of August, but why not start changing your habits, today!

Summer, Orly and Honey, Year 5 Champions for Change

At the end of last term, 20 students and three staff members embarked on the biennial 15-day trip to Japan. After taking the scenic route to Narita International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, students arrived to the front gates of our sister school, Seishin Gakuen. During their one week stay here, students participated in activities such as shodo (traditional calligraphy), kendo (Japanese fencing), sado (tea ceremony) and kyudo (Japanese archery). The Pacific students also taught netball to Seishin’s Year 10 HPE class! The biggest highlight however, was the lifelong friendships that were forged between the Pacific students and their host families and shadow students.

After farewelling Seishin, the students travelled to Asakusa, Kyoto and Hiroshima. During the three day stop at Kyoto, students enjoyed a day at Universal Studios Japan, followed by a day touring the shrine and temples of Kyoto, including Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu Temple. At Hiroshima, students learned about the tragic past of the now rebuilt city by visiting the Peace Memorial Museum and prayed for world peace at the Flame of Peace.

This trip has no doubt allowed students to develop a stronger cultural understanding of Japan and what it means to be an international citizen, highlighting the importance of fostering international connections, particularly with our sister school, Seishin Gakuen.

Following the Japan Trip, this week, we welcomed the Inbound Exchange students from Seishin, Ikumi and Koki. Ikumi and Koki will spend the remainder of Term 3 at Pacific. The Inbound Exchange provides valuable opportunities for both Pacific and Seishin students to build authentic connections, form lifelong friendships and develop intercultural understandings, all of which are crucial skills in today’s modern world. We thank Ella Ousley, Patrick Swindles and Lachlan Buchanan and their families for hosting Ikumi and Koki. We hope Ikumi and Koki enjoy their adventure at Pacific!

Term 3 is definitely Open Day and Expo season. There are events on every weekend right through July and August. To check dates and see what’s on, please check our Careers Events Calendar at: https://www.pacificlutherancareers.com/?page=calendar-of-events.

Term 3 is also a busy time for student appointments. Students in Year 12 and Year 10 will receive invitations to meetings with Mrs Wanda Hayes during this term and into the early part of Term 4. Many invitations have already gone out and the rest will go out in the coming weeks. If you are concerned that you might have missed out, please contact Mrs Wanda Hayes or Mrs Ann Barwick at the Main Reception.

A reminder to Year 10 students: please make sure you complete all sections of ‘About me’, ‘Jobs’, ‘Next Steps’ and ‘Bulls-Eye’ on Career Central, before coming to your meeting.

The Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre will host an information evening for parents and students on Thursday 15^th August. Information on various courses and opportunities will be presented. For more information, click here to download the event flyer.

QTAC Essentials for Parents

On Tuesday 6^th August, Mrs Wanda Hayes will host a webinar for parents of Year 12 students, to explain how the university application process works. This is a great opportunity to bust some common myths and get a better understanding of what you and your Year 12 student can expect over the coming months, if they are intending to apply to university. This webinar will be broadcast live from 5.00 – 5.30pm on Tuesday 6^th August. This presentation will also be recorded and made available to interested people who are unable to attend. Please click here to register.

International Study

On Monday 19^th August, Mrs Wanda Hayes will host a webinar for parents and students who are interested in exploring their options for university study overseas. This will include information about how to access scholarship options. The webinar will be broadcast live from 5.00 – 5.30pm on Monday 19^th August. The presentation will also be recorded and made available to interested people who are unable to attend. Please click here to register.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

On Tuesday, 100 students across Years 4-12 participated in an exclusive training session with a former Wallaby, Adam Freier. They participated in a variety of skill-based drills and were given tips and tricks to better their performance on-field. They also had the opportunity to hold the real rugby world cup that the Wallabies won in 1999. This was a great opportunity for students to get a taste of what rugby is about and engage with a player that has competed on the world stage.

Coming up on the calendar is Years 4-6 training during Monday lunchtimes, starting in Week 4. We also have the Sunshine Coast Rugby 7s tournament coming up in August. In Term 4 we will have the preliminary training starting up for the 2020 U12 Armidale Schools Rugby Tournament. We look forward to more players engaging with rugby and participating in the variety of opportunities we offer at Pacific.

Mr Josh Cummins, Rugby Coordinator

Every Tuesday morning, Mr Stuart Pohlner leads a dedicated group of teachers and students from Years 2-8 for the PLC Running Club. The group’s original focus was our Cross Country Carnivals and the Caloundra Foreshore Run. But with these events now complete, the last run on the calendar is the upcoming Sunshine Coast Marathon on Sunday 4^th August.

Pacific currently has 35 runners entered in either the 2km, 5km or 10km events and is ranked in fourth place for the school event nominations.

Event brochures were distributed to students this week. If your child is interested in participating, it is not too late to enter. Parents will need to transport their child to and from the event and provide supervision on the day. Pacific will have a tent set up near the start line. Runners can meet and leave their gear at this tent prior to their race.

Mr Brett Kersnovske, Head of Sport 

The Uniform Shop is open from 8.00am to 9.30am every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Orders can be placed online via www.flexischools.com.au and will be delivered to your child the following day.

Mrs Peta King, Uniform Shop Convenor

Sunday Worship Times St Mark’s Church @ Pacific 9.30am Pacific Lutheran College (Entry via Red Cedar Drive, Meridan Plains) Google Maps St Mark's Lutheran @ Pacific   Are you looking for a friendly church where young people, old people, children, families and singles are appreciated, empowered and encouraged to grow as Christians? Everyone is welcome! Get in touch: Pastor Ray Morris 0429 856 532 ray.morris@lca.org.au www.stmarkslutherancaloundra.net

Pastor Ray, St Mark’s Lutheran Church