Compass No 683 - May 2023

Pacific Lutheran College presents “How to build resilience in your child” with Dr Justin Coulson.

Justin Coulson, parenting expert and co-host on Channel 9’s Parental Guidance will be visiting the College at 6.00pm on Tuesday 23rd May to present to our Parent community.

In this 90-minute presentation, we will learn what resilience is and what we can do proactively as parents to help our children thrive, flourish and be resilient.

This is a great opportunity to hear from a leading expert.

Pre-drinks and nibbles will be provided from 5.30pm.

Please register your attendance HERE or click on the image above to scan the QR code.

View Dr Justin Coulson's video here.

Welcome back to the Chaplain's Update; this week’s thread will explore Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd."

For the month of May, our community will be participating in the Red Shield Appeal by donating home goods and food items. Each classroom and PCG group will have a basket for the collection of these donations. There will also be fundraising events such as Crazy Sock Day for P-5 and Casual Clothes Day for 6-12 on Wednesday 24^th May.

The chapel update features a Mother's Day chapel led by the prep students, and everyone is invited to attend. It's great to see the community coming together for a good cause and celebrating important events such as Mother's Day.

Mrs Holly Gricks, College Chaplain

Student Leaders Act as Tour Guides at Pacific’s Open Day

Families visiting the College on Sunday experienced an abundance of high energy from the 96 student leaders from Year 5, Year 6, and Years 7-12, successfully leading tours across the Junior, Middle and Senior Colleges.

The student leaders’ knowledge of the College’s Four Pillars, learning and co-curricular opportunities and ability to answer ‘tough’ and ‘hard hitting’ questions by potential, new and existing families was impressive and demonstrated an authentic appreciation for their College community.  It was a lovely afternoon of observing student leadership through the tour guides, in hospitality areas, Science and other key learning spaces and at Pippin and music performances. Thank you to each student for serving the College community proudly.

Year 12 and 2 Mother’s Day Connection Activity

This week the Year 12 and Year 2 students had the opportunity to connect for the first time this term to celebrate Mother’s Day through a range of engaging activities.  These opportunities only exist due to the thoughtful thinking and planning of the Year 2 teachers and the support and facilitation of the Year 12 Personal Development and Christian Studies teachers. 

It was lovely to see connections deepen as the year progresses and the sense of community and belonging established heading into the final weeks of school for the Year 12 cohort. Thank you to both the Year 12 students and Year 2 students for their sense of occasion and a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and carers within our College community.

Ms Leigh Finter, Head of Senior College Students

At this week’s Middle College Assembly, the benefits of a strong learning focus were outlined, with an emphasis placed on three approaches students can incorporate into their learning cycle:

1.        Understanding Goals

Teachers at PLC design Understanding Goals to support students develop a deeper understanding of each subject. This can help Middle College students to better retain information and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Understanding Goals encourage a focus on the key aspects of a topic and promote meaningful learning; as students engage more deeply with the subject matter, they become more confident and motivated to learn.  Understanding Goals also support students to transfer their knowledge to new situations and contexts so they can apply their learning to real-life situations.

Understanding Goals for each subject are visible in the classrooms and on Nav unit pages for each subject.

2.        Four Pillars of Learning

The pursuit of personal excellence is promoted and valued by the Pacific community. Reports provide important guidance about areas of strength and skills to focus on so that students develop as learners through their education.  Reflection on progress against the Learning to Learn and Learning Together criteria is a valuable routine in the academic cycle for Middle College students, helping them to become better learners and preparing them for success beyond Middle College

The Learning to Learn and Learning Together criteria can be found on Middle College students’ Term One Academic Reports, with more detail about these skills provided on the inside cover page.

3.        Intellectual Standards

The Intellectual Standards provide a strong foundation for critical thinking, clear communication and creative problem-solving. By applying the standards of clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance and fairness, Middle College students develop the skills to express their ideas clearly and concisely across all subject areas. These universal standards help learners to understand and respond to complex concepts and arguments. Applying the Intellectual Standards in the classroom, and during the drafting process, can help prepare students to succeed in rigorous academic contexts in and beyond school as lifelong learners.

The Intellectual Standards can be found in classrooms, and on Middle College student and parent NAV pages under the Learning and Assessment tile.

Middle College learning represents the foundations for developing students’ academic approach and interdisciplinary skills. The provision of essential tools and clear signposts help them to take initiative, develop self-discipline and ultimately achieve their goals under the guidance of their teachers and parents working in co-agency. If you would like further information about where to find any of these resources please contact your child’s teachers or contact me directly.

Mrs Jo Belchamber, Head of Learning Middle College

The framework attached to the Pacific Way identifies the three themes of “Me”, “We”, and “See” as holistically combining to form a complete picture of the development of the whole child. This term, during assemblies, and in addition to achievement, we will be looking in detail at the “We” component of individuals who relate to each other, how we learn together, what is a Christian community and how learning in the outdoors supports our relationships.

The “We” of The Pacific Way aims to build the attributes involved with collaboration. Humans are social beings, and as much as some of us relish a time to be alone, our connection with others helps us better understand ourselves.

One of the statements involved in the Pacific Way speaks of listening, valuing difference and celebrating the potential of others. Every day across the College, I am privileged to witness interactions that touch on these signposts. Conversations between students and staff allow the opportunity to listen and learn from each other and realise that the skills each of us possess are unique and enrich the lives of all around us.  It supports us in celebrating the learning and growth in each other and reminds us that our differences often unite us the most.

Gawun and Kids in Action

This term has seen the continued expansion of our service leadership model in Year 5. Our leaders have suggested ways to assist others from continued discussions from our Leadership Day at the end of Term One.  Our leaders are easily identifiable through the high-vis vests they wear and make a real impact in our College. Our leaders have been busy helping students enter the College from the Foundation car park, supporting readers, and helping in the playground and the library spaces. Many volunteered to lead tours during our recent Open Day and have taken the opportunity to support the Junior College by tailoring events such as Minecraft challenges for students to partake in.

In addition to this, a group of students took part in the developmental project day of the council-run program Kids in Action. This year’s theme involves biospHEROES, connecting caring and co-creating the future. The students visited the University of the Sunshine Coast and undertook a range of workshops designed to highlight the connected nature of systems and interwoven links within our local biospheres. Their next steps are to work as a team to develop a plan about an identified issue from the day and present their work to other students in the project later in the year. I thank the dedication and enthusiasm of the students, as this requires significant extra work on their part. Their passion for service significantly impacts other Junior Students, and they learn a lot about themselves in the process.

These opportunities don’t happen without a significant commitment from our Year Five teaching team, particularly Mrs Luanne Pollard, who is the driving force behind the Kids in Action Initiative.

Outdoor Education

When the Pacific Way was being planned, there was an intentionality in involving the Outdoor Education department in the finished proposal. How we access risk and what achievement looks like in an unfamiliar setting. Taking a calculated risk and that feeling of success take many varied forms. How we value others and communicate when outdoors is addressed throughout the document.

This week, our Year Four students will attend their component; when students return, I look forward to hearing about their experiences and growth within themselves. I thank Mr Paul Brace, the Year Four Teaching Team and the many staff involved in preparing this rich experience for our students. I look forward to witnessing the learning connection between the College and the outdoor classroom.

Chess

Congratulations to those Years Four and Five students who represented the College at the SCIPHA Chess tournament, held at Suncoast Christian College on Friday 5^th May. The competition was opened into two categories; Open and Novice. Our teams performed very well and, most importantly, had a great day mingling and learning from other chess enthusiasts.

Take care, and God bless.

Mr Damian Davis, Head of Staff and Students P-5

Career Clusters in focus (Years 10-12)

For the next 6 weeks, I will be overviewing one of the 6 Career Clusters each week. Senior College students have access to information about the Career Clusters on the PLC Careers Hub and will have an opportunity to learn about the Clusters in their PD lessons.

This week’s focus cluster is Makers.

Makers work with their hands and use their skills to fix, mend, create, inspect, maintain, grow, and move. Makers are skilled at using tools and equipment and have a responsibility for maintaining the safety of their work site for themselves and others.

They work in a variety of locations, depending on their industry, which may include industrial and commercial sites, large building projects, farms in agricultural settings, or as tradespeople in residential homes.

In addition to their technical skills, important transferable skills for Makers include Teamwork, Attention to Detail, and Planning and Organisation. Does this sound like you? What jobs do you know that fit within this cluster?

 

Core skills for Beyond Pacific (Years 10-12)

Are you thinking about applying for Beyond Pacific points, but you’re not sure how to link your activities to skills that are valuable in the world beyond high school? Check out the Core Skills page on the PLC Careers Hub. It gives descriptions for all of the transferable skills that will be used to assess your Beyond Pacific Award applications. The core skills are Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Innovation, Planning and Organisation, Entrepreneurial Skills, Collaboration and Teamwork, Communication, Initiative, Resilience, and Adaptability. Start thinking about what opportunities you have to develop your skills in each of these 10 areas. If you wish, you can even do a Skills Report on the PLC Careers Hub, which will give you some tips about where your strengths are and where are your opportunities for further development.

The PLC Careers Hub is run by Study Work Grow and is a treasure trove of information and resources – spend some time exploring it! If you haven’t yet signed up for the PLC Careers Hub, you can do so using the link in the attached flyer.

 

Electrical Apprentice Information Session (Year 12)

Ergon Energy Network and Energex would like to invite you to attend the 2023 Apprentice Information WebEx Sessions. These sessions are for anyone who is considering an apprenticeship with them in 2024. You can choose to attend one of the three sessions on offer but if the dates or times are unsuitable, they can provide you with a copy of the recorded session.

To Register:

1. Please send an email to apprenticerecruitment@energyq.com.au  

Your email should include your name and email address and the date and time of the session you will be attending.

Session options are:

•        Tuesday 20^th June – 6.00pm to 7.00pm

•        Thursday 22^nd June – 3.30pm to 4.30pm

•        Monday 26^th June – 12.00pm to 1.00pm

2. The week before the session, you will receive an email with the WebEx dial-in details.  

The information session will include:

o         Information on the trades/apprenticeships that Ergon Energy Network/Energex offer

o         Locations of the 2024 apprenticeships

o         Opportunity to hear from our Apprentices and Tradespeople

o         Overview of our recruitment process including testing requirements

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Apprentice Team on 1800 262 353 Option 3.

 

Griffith Creative Arts Open Day 2023 (Years 10-12)

Sunday 21^st May 2023

Designed for those thinking of a creative career, the Creative Arts Open Day is the best way to discover the variety of degree options from design, visual and creative arts, music and performing arts, film and animation, industrial design and architecture.

Find out more here.

 

UQ Career Pulse (Years 10-12)

Wednesday 31^st May 2023

Explore the exciting career paths open to you at UQ’s free, career-focused event for high school students.

You’re invited to participate in our engaging and interactive career-focused sessions run by our academic staff.

You’ll have the chance to identify your strengths and interests and find out how to turn these into a fulfilling career. It’s also the perfect opportunity to see UQ’s beautiful St Lucia campus and check out our state-of-the-art facilities too.

Find out more here.

 

JMC Academy May Open Day, Brisbane (Years 10-12)

Saturday 27^th May 2023

Register for our Free Open Day! This is your chance to see our multi-million dollar world-class facilities.

Things to do at Open Day:

•          Tour our world-class facilities and tech

•          Explore your creative future in our hands-on workshops

•          Meet our current students and industry expert lecturers

•          Check out live student performances

•          See creativity come to life with course demonstrations

•          Build your creative network

Find out more here.

 

QSFT Career Pathway Information Session (Years 11 and 12)

Saturday 13^th May 2023

Are you looking to change or kick-start your career in the screen & media industry? Want to discover more about the industry and the opportunities?

Come along to the Queensland School of Film and Television’s (QSFT) next Career Pathway Information Session.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to gain knowledge about the Screen & Media industry and career pathway options. You will hear from industry professionals & QSFT trainers for the most up-to-date insights.

Find out more here.

 

ADF Gap Year Information Session, Maroochydore (Year 12)

Wednesday 17^th May 2023

Wondering what to do with your time after finishing school? Consider doing a Gap Year with the Australian Defence Force (ADF)!

Spend 12 months with the best of the best as you get paid to experience life in the Navy, Army or Air Force, having unique life experiences and making lifelong friends along the way.

Come along to an upcoming info session where you can speak to military personnel about what an ADF Gap Year has to offer you.

Find out more here.

 

ADF | ADFA Careers Information Session (Years 11 and 12)

Wednesday 17^th May 2023

Would you like the opportunity to undertake military training in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) while earning a degree? All without debt – in fact, we’ll pay you!

You will earn a salary while learning and step into a guaranteed role upon graduation as an Officer in the ADF.

Head to the upcoming info session to speak with current serving military personnel and learn more about the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Find out more here.

 

The Hotel School Open Campus (Years 10-12)

You are invited to experience life as a student at The Hotel School at their Open Campus event in Brisbane on 10^th June.

•          Meet faculty team members and the Head of Campus

•          Discuss career opportunities with the Work Integrated Learning team

•          Find out about our courses and the application process

•          Chat with our current students

•          Enjoy Barista coffee and light refreshments

Date: Saturday, 10^th June 2023

Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm (Local Standard Time)

Location: The Hotel School Brisbane; Level 13, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane.

You also have the opportunity to attend a Masterclass in Sustainable Business during the event.

To register, click here.

 

Work at a Summer Camp in the USA or Canada (Years 11 and 12)

Become part of the Aussie tradition and work at a summer camp in the USA or Canada with CCUSA.

Looking to take a gap year between high school and university? Our summer camp counselor program is the perfect option. We work with over 1000 amazing summer camps throughout America and Canada. Our camp program includes support from start to finish, camp placement, insurance, visa, food accommodation, and earning over US$2000/ CA$2000, PLUS SO MUCH MORE!

Join us for an exciting Zoom session where we’ll discuss how you can work abroad at summer camps in 2024. This is your chance to discover all the benefits of gaining international work experience, meet new people, and explore new cultures while working at summer camp.

Head to our Facebook page to find all the information about our upcoming Zoom! The Zoom will be held on the 16^th of May 6-6.30pm AEST.

Find out more here.

 

Student accommodation rental support for 2023 school leavers (Year 12)

Finding the ideal place to live while you study is just as important as selecting the right place to study. At Iglu, we want every student to have access to the best possible student living experience.

We understand this may pose a challenge for some families so in 2020, we established the Iglu Regional Scholarship to help students transition from regional Australia and New Zealand to university life in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The scholarship provides significant rental assistance during the student's first 12 months living with us.

Since 2020, we have welcomed more than 740 scholarship recipients to live with us and are pleased to continue to support this program in 2024.

Students can register their interest for 2024 now and be the first to know when applications open in August.

Scholarship rooms will be available in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

 

Mrs Wanda Hayes, Head of Career Development

It is important to keep in mind that in some moments, children rarely mean exactly what they say. They could be in a highly-charged state, flooded with big emotions that are difficult to experience and process. What they are struggling with may not be readily apparent to us or even to them. But it’s important that we seek to understand the underlying issues, and, most importantly, identify what the child needs in order to work through the distress the proclamations represent. Click on the link below for more information.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/zero-six/202204/why-kids-engage-in-negative-self-talk-and-what-you-can-do

Mrs Annie Williams, College Counsellor

Thank you to our amazing volunteers         
We have been incredibly blessed by the amazing support of many volunteers this week – at our Open Day BBQ on Sunday and at the Mother’s Day Stall on Tuesday.

Huge thanks to the volunteers who came to help at the Open Day BBQ, giving up their Sunday to provide sausages and drinks to the staff and students who were helping at Open Day and to the wider community visiting the College. Your enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in ensured everyone had fun!

The volunteers who helped at our Mother’s Day Stall on Tuesday enjoyed being part of the shopping experience for the students, who loved browsing the items to find that special something for their mum, grandma or special person. Thank you for making time to be part of this wonderful experience for the students. Special thanks to Teena Thompson for her organisation of the stall, purchasing the beautiful gifts and ensuring that everyone enjoyed a wonderful shopping experience.

Thanks again to Grandma Wendy and the Delarue Family for their generous donation of beautiful, handcrafted gifts to the Mother’s Day Stall. The clever handcrafted designs were very popular with our students. To our wonderful friends at Shine Beauty, thank you for spreading joy around the College with your generous gift donations. We value your long-standing support.

Pacific Together
Pacific Together is a care-based service offered by Friends of Pacific to College families in times of need. If you, or someone you know within our College community, needs extra support during the year, the Pacific Together care group may be able to help in some small way or offer a care package. Please contact PLC Chaplain Mrs Holly Gricks - hgricks@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

We were never meant to do life alone. We need the love and care of others, especially in times of need. If you would like to support the continuation of this care-based service through a financial contribution, we invite you to contact Pacific Together via email: (fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au). Your contributions ensure that we can provide a care package for those in our community when the need arises.

Volunteers for Sports Carnivals and Gala Day
If you have done your volunteer induction and have a couple of hours to spare for the upcoming Athletics Carnivals on Wednesday 31^st May and Thursday 1^st June, and the next SCISSA Gala Day on Thursday 8^th June, we’d love your help at the FoP BBQ at these events. Keep an eye on your email for more details, but if you’re available, we’d love to hear from you - please email fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au – we promise you’ll have fun!

Next FoP Meeting
We’d love to see you at our next meeting, on Tuesday 16^th May at 6.30pm in the College Library. You can RSVP by emailing fop@pacluth.qld.edu.au. Come along, meet some new people and find out how you can help connect our community.

Happy Mother’s Day from Friends of Pacific
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mums, grandmothers and mum figures in our community. We hope you know how loved and appreciated you are. Thank you for all you do for your families and our community. Have a wonderful day on Sunday!

Click here to follow our Friends of Pacific Facebook page.

Mrs Carly Lovell, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Sharing a common mission and ministry with Pacific Lutheran College

“Growing in faith and sharing God’s love with others”

Weekly worship services are held at 14 Bombala Terrace Caloundra at 9.00am. We are thankful that we can meet together each week for worship. As we do this, there are still physical distancing, and hygiene requirements we need to follow to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our community.

Our worship services are intergenerational with a blend of traditional and contemporary.

You’re welcome to follow us on Facebook and visit our Church webpage.

All are welcome at any of our services.

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church (0429 856 532 or lutherancaloundra@gmail.com)

12       Year 4 Camp returning

15       Year 4-6 SCISSA Training (3.15pm-4.15pm)

16       Friends of Pacific (6.30pm)

17       Year 7 and 10 Immunisations

19       ‘PIPPIN’ Senior Musical (19th and 20th)

23       School Photo Day

31       Years 7-12 Athletics Carnival