Compass No. 552 October 2019

Usually, when we think of this thread of safety in a school context, we think of things like stranger danger for little children, cyber safety for teenagers and protecting young people generally from unwanted dangers. If we genuinely admit it, much of life is dangerous and full of risk. If we are to believe everything the media and our politicians tell us, we would live in constant fear. Fear of dangerous drivers, the threat of terrorism, an uncertain future for our planet, amongst other things. How do we educate, grow and encourage children to feel safe in such a seemingly unsafe world?

One way parents can react to this is to overprotect their children to the point of bubble wrapping them, so they don’t have to face any danger or adversity. Clearing a path for them in life, so they don’t fully experience the challenge of knock backs, difficult relationships, conflict or independence. We know though, that this doesn’t fully help young people grow in character and resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back and cope emotionally, socially and physically after setbacks. Yes, parents and any responsible adult’s job is to protect children from unnecessary danger. But equally important as the desire and need for safety in our world, is the need for young people to learn from their mistakes and take calculated risks. To step out and take that little risk in a sometimes scary world but know that there is a safe place with their family, their home, their teachers, their school, their community.

This is what this thread of safety involves; resilience, learning from adversity, growth in character, as well as trust in God. Our identity in God is an ultimate source of safety throughout our life, with all its potential ups and downs. Psalm 18 puts it this way; ‘I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold’. May God bless you and your loved ones with a deep sense of security and safety as you stay resilient.

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

I am sure that we can all think of at least one example in our lives where we have been so engrossed by an activity that we have lost all track of time. Research tells us when we experience stretch and challenge on our existing skills, combined with clear goals and receiving immediate feedback on progress, we experience what may be referred to as being in flow. In other words, being in ‘the zone’. There is clear intent at Pacific to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to engage in. We are incredibly committed to forming the whole person before they finish their journey with us. We are incredibly lucky too, in having so many students who are engaging in a variety of domains, finding their passion and sharing their God-given gifts.

Last weekend, I was fortunate to attend the Queensland State Kayak Championships where students from Year 3-12 competed against a number of schools. Their months of dedicated training in the lead up to the event was evidence enough of flow, and for the vast majority this was rewarded with placing in the top three of their events. Thank you to staff members Mr Brett Kersnovske, Mrs Leah Croke, parent Mr Brendan Casement and all families who supported the event on the day. Thank you also to Mrs Natalie Campbell for her support in the lead up to the competition. Finally thank you to Mr Gary Graves, who has been the driving force of this program for many years through hard work and dedication.

This Friday I encourage you to all attend Viva La Arts from 5.00pm at the College to enjoy a showcase of the creative and performing arts. As a student inspired event, you are certain to witness fully engaged students doing what they love. It is also incredibly positive to see such energy and passion from Middle College students as they compete in the lunchtime touch football competition. Once again, the engagement of all students has been impressive. Mr Joshua Danzey has superbly planned and led this competition, allowing further examples of students in flow to be on display.

Finally, it was only recently that several students from Middle College represented Pacific at the National Future Problem-Solving Competition. A prestigious event, the competition involves both individual and team-based complex problem solving. Once more, these students have found a passion they can engage and experience flow in. Congratulations to all students who took part, with the support of Mrs Jo Belchamber and Mrs Rae Hall. I especially acknowledge Charles Box who was crowned National Champion in the individual competition he was a part of. I cannot think of a clearer example of flow when describing the way Charles committed to this timed event. Long may we continue to guide and support our young people as they unearth the passions they can commit to and stay engaged with.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students

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Year 3 Camp

Next week on Thursday 31^st October, Year 3 students will depart the College to attend their first Outdoor Education camp at Alexandra Park. All medical and consent forms need to be returned as soon as possible.

SchoolTV – Resilience

Resilience is one of those skills that all children need and should have. It refers to their ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. It is a skill that can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model. In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will gain an understanding of how to support their child’s brave behaviour to help them adapt and build resilience. For further information and resources, visit: https://pacificlutheran.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/resilience.

Day for Daniel

This Friday 25^th October is Day for Daniel. As parents, we are all familiar with Daniel’s story and appreciate the great work his parents have done through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. At the Prep – Year 5 Assembly next week, I will be reminding students of the need to be safe when travelling to and from school. There are numerous excellent resources available online to support this important message of child safety.

• https://danielmorcombefoundation.com.au/
• http://www.napcan.org.au/

Parents are encouraged to discuss and reinforce this important message with their children. The single most important thing to remember when teaching your children about stranger danger is to instil confidence, rather than fear.

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

Resilience is one of those skills that all children need and should have. It refers to their ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. It is essential to their mental health and wellbeing as part of their journey to adulthood. It is a skill that can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model.

Being resilient does not mean your child won't experience any difficulties, but it will better equip them to manage those situations. Over-protective parenting can be viewed as being unhelpful towards the building of resilience. Although this may be a natural instinct, potentially experiencing failure is all part of the process. Encouraging children to take healthy risks will help them trust their capacity to deal with uncomfortable situations and increase their capacity for courage.

<>In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will gain an understanding of how to support their child’s brave behaviour to help them adapt and build resilience. For more information and resources, visit: https://pacificlutheran.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/resilience.

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Career Conversations with our Resident Dreamweaver

We were extremely privileged to have Head of Career Development Mrs Wanda Hayes share her passion and vision for Pacific students at our meeting on Tuesday night. Wanda, a highly regarded educator, spoke about how career conversations happen every day from a very young age, often without us even knowing. She shared research that indicates parents are the greatest influencers in a child’s future career choice and sees the role of parents as encouraging supporters. At Pacific, students are urged to dream big and challenge gender-stereotyped roles in the workplace. We thank Wanda for taking the time to share these insights with us during her busy schedule.

Volunteering Opportunities

We are looking forward to supporting the All Schools Triathlon this Sunday at Lake Kawana. If parents and/or Middle and Senior College helpers (Year 6-12 students) are able to help out at this event and/or the Noosa Triathlon in November, please make contact with Allyson Sarvari on 0402 276 988 or email: fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

• All Schools Triathlon – Sunday 27^th October from 6.00am – 11.00am at Lake Kawana
• Noosa Triathlon – Sunday 3^rd November from 9.30am – 2.00pm
   

Volunteers receive a t-shirt and a cap and will generally be helping on drink stations. Pacific will receive a donation for every volunteer we provide, which will help us raise funds for the installation of additional water coolers at the College.

Car Park Winner

At our recent Blockbuster Trivia Night, the Wilke family won the live auction bid for the Pacific car park space. We ask all families respect the generosity of the Wilke’s and refrain from parking in their clearly designated parking bay.

Next Meeting

The Friends of Pacific Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 19^th November at 6.30pm in the College Boardroom. We encourage you to consider supporting Friends of Pacific by nominating or expressing your interest for the 2020 volunteer committee. It’s a wonderful way to connect with fellow parents and staff, learn more about what is happening on campus and support events that bring much joy to our student body. The AGM nomination form is available here.

The next Friends of Pacific General Meeting will be held at Pacific Lutheran College on Tuesday 19^th November, commencing straight after the AGM. Please join us for Christmas drinks afterwards.

Mrs Jenny Lee, FoP Chairperson

Each Tuesday during practical lessons, the Year 11 Fitness students participate in work placement at EZYFIT Health and Fitness Club at Kawana. EZYFIT owner Mrs Joey Mogg has kindly offered our students use of the facility. Our fitness students learn how to instruct classes, participate in administration duties and observe other fitness staff instructing clients. A huge thank you to the EZYFIT team for mentoring our students. 

Mr Gary Graves, Head of Health and Physical Education

Vocational Education and Training (VET) offers opportunities to gain work-ready skills while still at school and also provides credits towards student’s QCE (Qld Certificate of Education). VET courses are available in almost any field you can imagine, and in many cases school students can access VET in schools funding to cover the cost of the course. Many courses are available in online, self-paced format, and so can be commenced any time. If you are interested in finding out more about how to include VET options in your program of study please make an appointment to meet with Mrs Wanda Hayes, or speak with our VET Coordinator, Ms Paula Willis.

Maths Summer School – Year 10 Students

The Queensland Mathematics Summer School (QMSS) at UQ is a five day program from 20^th-24^th January 2020 for mathematically talented Year 10 students planning to study Year 11 Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics in 2020. QMSS is an exciting opportunity for students to meet a wide variety of people who share a common love of learning and passion for mathematics. Students will learn about advanced mathematical ideas and be exposed to new ways of thinking. At QMSS, students can explore undergraduate and even graduate-level topics while building problem-solving skills that will help

CAS Hawker Scholarships

The Charles Allan Seymour (CAS) Hawker Scholarship commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected statesmen. Selection for this scholarship is based on personal qualities, demonstrated leadership as well as academic ability. A full CAS Hawker Scholarship is valued at up to $60,000 over three years and normally covers all college fees and university HECS fees. Successful applicants can choose to study at one of the following institutions:

• Australian National University – Burgmann College (ACT)
• Flinders University of South Australia – St Mark’s College (SA)
• University of Adelaide – St Mark’s College & Roseworthy Campus (SA)
• University of New England – Robb College (NSW)
• University of South Australia – St Mark’s College (SA)
• Marcus Oldham College (VIC)
• University of Cambridge – Trinity College (UK)

Applications for the 2020 CAS Hawker Scholarships open on 9^th December 2019 and will close on 8^th January 2020. Learn more at: http://www.hawkerscholarship.org/.

Applying for a Teaching Course at University?

Students applying for entry into Education degrees for 2020 must submit written statements through an online questionnaire to address suitability criteria for the course. These form part of their QTAC application. These statements must be submitted before the QTAC documentation due dates (see key dates on the QTAC website). You must have submitted your statements by 6^th December 2019 for the 23^rd December 2019 and the 13^th December 2019 for the 15^th January 2020 offer rounds. To view a Fact Sheet explaining what is required in the written statements, visit: https://www.qtac.edu.au/courses---institutions/teacher-entry.

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

Next Wednesday, we will host our annual inter-primary school surfing contest, The Pacific Pulse. The contest has been running for the last 14 years and provides a great opportunity for young students to ride waves and represent their school. This year we have 48 surfers registered from the following schools:

• Pacific Lutheran College
• Good Shepherd Lutheran College
• Caloundra State School
• Our Lady of the Rosary
• Buddina State School
• Talara State College

The contest will be held at Kings Beach or Currimundi Beach (conditions dependent) with first heat in the water at 7.00am. Surfers will have the chance to surf in two individual heats as well as a school tag team heat.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the following sponsors who have kindly supported our event this year. Without their generous support, our contest would not be able to go ahead.

Monday Afternoon SCISSA Training

A reminder that afterschool SCISSA training for Year 4-6 students is on again next Monday 28^th October. Students train from 3.15pm – 4.15pm. If your child is unable to attend training for any reason, please notify admin prior to training.

Prep – Year 2 Swimming

Information regarding the Prep – Year 2 Learn to Swim Program has been sent out via CareMonkey. Students will be required to participate in two weeks of Learn to Swim classes, which are held at the Kawana Aquatic Centre on the following days:

Week 7

• Monday 18^th November  
• Wednesday 20^th November
• Thursday 21^st November

Week 8

• Monday 25^th November    
• Wednesday 27^th November

Students will travel with class teachers to and from the pool by College bus for the two-week program. Further information is outlined on CareMonkey and parents will also need to provide their consent via CareMonkey.

Mr Darren Hooper, Head of Junior 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.

This year the Uniform shop will be closing for stocktake on Tuesday 26^th November. Please ensure that, if you are in Year 9, that you have purchased your blazer, tie and trousers (for male students) and blazer and senior tie (for female students) before this date. 

If your student is commencing Year 1 in 2020, please see the below pictures for formal uniform requirements. All of these items are available in the Uniform Shop. Formal shoes for Year 1 are black leather lace ups. Skate shoes, high tops and Mary-Jane style shoes are not part of the uniform.

If your student is commencing Year 6 in 2020, please see the below pictures for formal uniform requirements. Year 6 students require a formal hat to be worn with their formal uniform. The bucket hat continues to be worn with their sports uniform. All of these items are available for purchase in the Uniform Shop. Formal Shoes are black leather lace ups. Skate shoes, high tops and Mary-Jane style shoes are not part of the uniform.

As the new year is always busy with new students, existing families are encouraged to make their purchases before the end of this term. Swimming trials are also in the first couple of weeks of school resuming next and all students in Year 3-12 are required to have school swimwear (or approved race swimwear) for both the trials and carnival. It is advisable to try swimwear on to get the correct fit. A full range of sizes will be in store from the beginning of November for both styles.

The Uniform Shop will be reopening on Monday 20^th January 2020 for new student fittings. For appointments, please contact the Main Reception on 5436 7300.

Mrs Peta King, Uniform Shop Convenor