Compass No 451 - March 2017

From the Principal

Pick Up Your Cross

We are immersed in communication that can have us believe that if only we earned and spent enough money, ate the right things, exercised the right amount, learned the right emotional management techniques, mixed with the right people, engaged in ongoing learning and worked hard enough on our faith that ongoing happiness would be ours. The theme being, that if we tried hard enough, perfection would be within our reach. The beauty of our humanity is that no one is perfect and it is often through our imperfections that strength, compassion and character can grow. Rather like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken cups are repaired with gold to create beauty and purpose, beauty and purpose can be created in our lives by accepting and growing through brokenness. Everyone has imperfections that can either become an excuse for inaction or something we accept as an integral part of who we are or where we. These imperfections are burdens we can grow through.

We often want to wish or pray our burdens away or have someone else carry them. There are times where this can happen and we can celebrate, but we also need to learn to grow through the burdens that life brings. Parents, family, friends and partners can want to rescue those they love from carrying burdens rather than guide and support the carrying and enable important growth to occur. Within the Bible we hear the encouragement of how to deal with our burdens. “Pick up your cross and follow Me.” Within this powerful statement we see God acknowledging that there will be tough stuff in our lives that we need to each learn to carry. Our lives will not be perfect, but we do not journey alone. By following Jesus and keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Him, we can grow in our journeying and find purpose as we carry our own individual crosses. As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the good news that Jesus is accompanying us on the journey, having already carried the Cross for each of us.

Principal's Log

Over the past week we have celebrated Pacific As A Peace Place and Harmony Day. Within both of these days there was the encouragement to value the richness and diversity of people. Within their pastoral care groups, the Year 7-12 students wrote messages on paper and then folded these pieces into paper cranes. The cranes, which are now hanging in our library, act as an encouragement for all of us to think of the ways in which we can create peaceful and safe relationships around us. Later this year on the biennial Japanese trip, our senior students will place the cranes at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The colour and excitement that flowed from our Prep to Year 5 students as they came to school in multicultural dress, highlighted the richness that has come into the Australian culture through people coming from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Our Middle and Senior College community enjoyed culinary delights produced by our Year 10 students as they ran a ‘Hawker’s Market’ for staff and students in the morning tea break. There was a powerful reminder of how much we benefit from foods and flavours brought by people from around the world. We thank Miss Kim Stone and the pastoral team for their leadership of the Pacific As A Peace Place activities, Mrs Jo Bailey for her initiative and planning of Harmony Day and our Year 10 students and the Hospitality staff for the very tasty food experience they provided. Thank you to all staff, students and parents who made these experiences powerful and enjoyable learning opportunities.

We thank all of the Prep – Year 5 teachers, staff and students who have taken the opportunity to participate in the parent, teacher and student conferences and look forward to the Middle College Conferences next week.

I am pleased to announce that Mrs Lara Stiller will be commencing as a Year 2 teacher next term. Mrs Stiller is working with Mr Fitzpatrick and his class over this fortnight to familiarise herself with the children and their learning progress.

It was great to watch our senior soccer boys play with skill and good sportsmanship last week to win a tightly contested match that guaranteed them a place in the final. We wish them all the best for their final game next week at Matthew Flinders Anglican College at 4.00pm.

As we encounter challenges, may God equip us to pick up our crosses and journey forward, encouraged by His constant guiding and loving presence.

Dr Bronwyn Dolling, Principal

From the College Pastor

Easter, Eggs and Chocolate

Easter is just around the corner now that we are close to finishing Term 1 and that means chocolate Easter eggs are with us. Eggs have long been associated with the festival of Easter, the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In fact, some Christian customs connected with Easter eggs are adaptations of older pagan spring practices in the northern hemisphere. However, the first chocolate Easter eggs were made in France and Germany in the early 19th Century. A type of eating chocolate had been invented a few years earlier but it could not be successfully moulded till some time later. So these first chocolate Easter eggs were solid while the production of the first hollow chocolate eggs came only later. It was not until 1875 that the first Cadbury Easter eggs were made.

Today Easter is synonymous with chocolate eggs. We overindulge on them, we give them away as presents, we hide them in our gardens for children to find or even put them in little boxes of straw for the Easter bunny to sit on. The Easter bilby also makes an appearance in Australian shops too. The holy days of Easter have certainly been commercialised by the selling of chocolate. Easter eggs start appearing on supermarket shelves soon after Christmas each year.

It is truly ironic though, that the main way many Australians celebrate Easter, the giving of chocolate, encourages the exploitation of people including children through the increased production of Cocoa. Cocoa, the raw product needed for the production of chocolate, comes from countries mainly in West Africa where unfortunately children are exploited, trafficked, and enslaved. How ironic that the very thing we buy to remind ourselves of Jesus’ death and rising, plays a part in the enslavement of children and others in third world countries. 

How would Jesus want us to remember the giving of his life and death for us? Certainly there is nothing wrong with celebrating it through the giving of chocolate. But when we know that chocolate is involved in the dehumanisation of people and in particular children, maybe we are being challenged to consider the impact of our choices on people around the globe. A very practical thing we could do is consider buying more ethical products like fair-trade chocolate. Or maybe for the sake of our own bodies and the environment, buying and consuming less chocolate is an option this Easter. That’s a real challenge, a supreme display of self-control. Picking up our cross and following Jesus by thinking of the needs of people around the world and eating less chocolate!

Pastor Tim Jarick, College Pastor

Important Notices

Hospital Bus Stop

In preparation for the opening of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct, we have scheduled a stop 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

From the Head of Senior Students

'Teddy Time'

This week, Teddy Bears visited the College for an introduction to Pacific.

 

The Year 2 and Year 12 students are invited to bring along a teddy bear and their lunch (as normal) for a teddy bear's picnic on Thursday 30th March, from 1.00pm to 1.30pm. At this lunchtime, Year 12 students will lead a range of activities and connect with the Year 2 students for an enjoyable event. We are looking forward it!

Pacific Lutheran Alumni

Are you a past student of Pacific Lutheran College? We are interested in hearing from and connecting with past students for our upcoming Compass Review publication. If you are able to contribute, please email sscarlett@pacluth.qld.edu.au for more information. We would like to particularly hear from the students who graduated in 2007.

Miss Kim Stone, Head of Senior College Students

From the Head of Learning K-5

Bring out the best in your child

Parents with children across Kindergarten to Year 5 are invited to an upcoming presentation about bringing out the best in your child. The presentation will be held in the College library on Tuesday 28th March from 2.00pm to 3.00pm.

Develop your child's growth mindset by fine-tuning key effective communication skills for everyday family life. Discover surprising roadblocks that hinder communication and damage relationships. Sometimes parents think they are being helpful with their child’s development yet the very opposite may be occurring. Offering refreshing, inspirational alternatives to avoid you and your child being driven to frustration, this workshop will be stimulating, fun and interactive using real life scenarios.

About the Presenter

Kathryn Tonges is a highly experienced parenting educator, author and teacher. She has taught from early childhood to tertiary level lecturing in child development and effective communication for over 30 years. Kathryn recently returned from living and working in Beijing for seven years where she taught parenting and personal empowerment courses to expatriates and wrote for an expatriate and a Chinese national parenting magazine. Find out more about Kathryn at her website: (http://theparentwithin.com).

Mrs Sue Zweck, Head of Teaching and Learning K-5

From the Head of Staff and Students P-5

Parent Teacher Conferences

It was wonderful to see the large numbers of parents attending the Prep – Year 5 parent teacher conferences this week. As the learning journey at Pacific is shared 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. 

Harmony Day

Thank you to Mrs Joanne Bailey and the P-5 Japanese Department who coordinated the Harmony Day free dress day on Tuesday. This year, Harmony Day’s message was ‘everyone belongs’. The vibrant multicultural nature of our society was clearly evident in the colourful costumes worn by many students. As Australians, multiculturalism is something we need to support, celebrate, appreciate and maintain.

  

National Ride2School Day

On Friday, a large number of students participated in the National Ride2School Day. Thanks to the many parents who supported their children’s participation on the day, it was great to see so many of you accompany your children by riding or walking with them.

  

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

Food for Thought

Mental Health – Tips for Teenagers

It is not uncommon for parents to wonder whether their child is acting like a normal teenager or behaving differently due to mental illness, drug use or behavioral difficulties. Normal teenagers are often moody due to hormonal and physical changes that happen during puberty. However, when mental illness is involved, it may be difficult to differentiate ‘normal teenage behavior’ from the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other emotional difficulties. The following link provides tips that help promote flourishing mental health in secondary school children: http://parentingideasschools.com.au/getattachment/6bf78a09-784f-4e63-8d79-2b26c788b5d9.

Ms Annie Williams, College Counsellor 

Friends of Pacific

Connecting College and Community

Barn Dance Wrap Up

Thank you to the Pacific community for your support of the Cat & Fiddle Barn Dance. We are pleased to announce that we raised $4,000 at the event! Thank you again to the following businesses:

  • Adentica Family Dentists
  • Slade Property Group
  • JRN Cleaning Services
  • Fowler Lawyers
  • Amazen Puzzles & Games
  • ColourPop Cosmetics
  • Swain Family Meats
  • Sunny Coast Baby & Kids Market

Trivia Night – Save the Date

Mrs Jenny Lee, Friends of Pacific Chairperson

Library News

Over Due Notices and Holiday Borrowing

This week over due notices were emailed home and given to your child’s class teacher or PCG teacher. Please ensure all over due books are returned by the end of term. Books that were due in February or earlier will be billed to your account if not returned.

Students in Years 3-12 may borrow up to 10 books for the holidays, once their over due items are returned.

Book Launch - Draekora

Author, Lynette Noni, will be launching her new book Draekora, the third in the Medoran Chronicles, next Tuesday 28th March. The launch will be held at Collins Bookstore on Bulcock Street, Caloundra, commencing from 5.00pm. Lynette will be one of our visiting authors this year and has a strong fan base amongst our students already. Any one interested is invited to attend.

Ms Nell Keen, Teacher Librarian

Junior College

YACHTS Inspiring Writers

With a flurry of pencil, paper and rainbow clipboards held at the ready, our brilliant young writers from Years 2-5 honed their creative writing skills! Our writers explored writing tools, techniques and built vocabulary as they enthusiastically embraced opportunities to express ideas, innovations and dreams. Students worked in small groups collaboratively and brainstormed from beautiful images of flying houses, abandoned places and mysterious green tunnels!

Great questions were framed and discussed as new learning was incorporated into schemas. High quality, masterfully written picture books and novel extracts were shared and enjoyed by all, with students eagerly adapting authors’ craft to their individual writing pieces. Great pleasure was taken in reading these with friends and giving feedback on writing goals while analysing big picture messages and concepts. YACHTS students enriched their writing by narrowing focus to one idea, adding detail, varying sentences and creating mind pictures. From the workshop flowed many excellent pieces of writing with ideas for many more noted down in our writer’s notebooks for future writing adventures! A most productive and rewarding day! We are all writers!

Writing snippets:

A bit of mystery goes a long way!

Inside the tree, water was rushing through the roots.

Over the field Tobias travelled spreading wonderment.

He is drawn to the happiness of children like a moth to a flame.

Children of the town are delighted with joy like a spark of light.

Tobias jumps down from his home tree to the soggy grass below.

I sat there screaming, the fence looming over me like it was teasing.

Can wind stay in one place?

Ms Anthea Brighton, Head of Learning Enrichment P-5

Secondary College

Mathematics – After School Tutorials

Please be advised there will be no after school Mathematics tutoring next week on Monday 27th March due to Middle College Parent/Teacher conferences.

Mr Adam Doyle, Head of Mathematics

From the Head of Career Development

Australian Defence Force Programs

Gap Year Program

Students can now apply for the 2018 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Gap Year, to experience life in the Navy, Army or Air Force. It’s an opportunity to experience military life, without committing to a longer period. An ADF Gap Year is a way to have an adventurous year, gain valuable skills and work experience and get paid for it. In 2018 there are 14 roles to choose from; ranging from admin to artillery, to flight crew. Applications are available for a short time. This is a very popular program, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Further information is available at: http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/education/gap-year/.

An information session will be held on Wednesday 29th March at 6.00pm. The session will be held at the Mooloolaba Yacht Club (Shop G14, The Wharf, 33-45 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba). Register online at: http://events.defencejobs.gov.au/event/YXNRWA/.

Work Experience Program

Work experience is one way to find out if a military life is for you. Visit the Defence Work Experience website (click on ‘Placements’ and ‘Qld’) for a list of work experience opportunities in the next few months. The following are examples:

  • Army Familiarisation and Field Experience at Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera from 29th – 31st May 2017
  • Air Force Introduction and Familiarisation at RAAF Amberley from 12th – 14th June 2017
  • Women in Air Force – Flight Camp at RAAF Amberley from 27th – 30th June 2017

Students will need to speak to Mr Ian Learoyd about applying. This is a popular program, so students are encouraged to start their applications early.

Subject Selection for STEM Careers

Find out which subjects in senior high school prepare you for successful studies at QUT in Science, IT, Engineering, Mathematics, Health and Education! A free careers information evening will be held on 27th April.

This evening provides excellent information for high school students who are considering university studies in STEM fields and want to get ahead in their career prospects. Information on STEM courses, QUT's admission processes, bonus points and degree-specific assumed knowledge is presented along with comprehensive subject selection information.

The evening will also include a mini careers fair with current QUT students from the faculties of Health, Science and Engineering, Education, Business, Law and Creative Industries available to answer questions on degree options and student life at QUT. Attendees will also be able to tour the $230m Science and Engineering Centre. Click here to register for this free event.

Upcoming Events

World Science Festival (WSF)

Festival events will be held between 22nd – 26th March in Brisbane and some regional locations. Visit the WSF website for a look at the exciting presentations and activities available (some of which are already booked out). An event not to miss is the Street Science to be held from 10.00am – 4.00pm on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March at the South Bank Parklands and the Queensland Museum.

University of Queensland (UQ) Robotics Workshops

The Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at UQ will offer the following workshops during the coming school holiday period.

  • 11th April  – Introduction to Robotics for students in Years 7-12
  • 13th April – UQ Robogals Workshop for girls in Years 4-8

Find out more at: https://www.eait.uq.edu.au/robotics-ict#introduction-robotics.

UQ Gatton – FEAST

Registrations are now open for FEAST. FEAST is a five-day residential program held at the UQ Gatton Campus for students in Years 10-12 who are interested in agriculture, animals, vet science, food and/or the environment. It will be held from 25th – 29th June (during the school holidays). This is a popular program, so students are encouraged to register early at: http://www.science.uq.edu.au/feast. Registrations close on 31st March.

Gap Year Program Events

Letzlive/Tutors Worldwide will hold the following information evenings in March. To register, visit: http://www.letzlive.org/information-evenings/.

  • Brisbane – Monday 27th March (more details will be provided on the website shortly).

Southern Cross Cultural Exchange will hold the following information sessions from 7.00pm – 9.00pm. To register, visit: http://www.scce.com.au/programs/information-sessions/.

  • 21st March at Ruth Fairfax House, 89-95 Gregory Terrace, Brisbane.
  • 27th March at Beach Club Resort, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast.

Cultural Care Au Pair will hold an information meeting on Saturday 18th March at 10.00am at EF International Language School, 164 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane. To register, visit: http://www.culturalcare.com.au/join-info-meeting/.

Mrs Natasha Purcell, Careers Counsellor 

Secondary Sport

SCISSA Volleyball and Soccer – Results

This was our last and best round of Term 1 SCISSA. We had five wins out of the eight games played! Congratulations to all our players and coaches for an awesome season. A special mention to Mr Brendan Delaney’s Open Boys soccer team who will be in the final next week against St Andrew’s Anglican College. We wish them all the best for this game at Mathew Flinders Anglican College next Wednesday at 4.00pm.

 

VOLLEYBALL

SOCCER

Team

Jr Girls 1

Jr Girls 2

Int Girls A

Int Girls B

Jr Boys

Int Boys

Snr Girls

Snr Boys

Opposition

ILC

SAAC

ILC

SAAC

GCC

ILC

MFAC

MFAC

Score

0-2

2-0

2-1

2-0

0-2

0-2

4-0

6-0

Result

Loss

Win

Win

Win

Loss

Loss

Win

Win

MVP

Sophie Dahl

Carys Mahoney

Brooklyn Graves

Lily Croke

Joshua Stevenson

Jackson Laverick

Jennah McAuliffe

Harry Turner

Student Success - Rugby League

Congratulations to senior student Riley Boaza who has been selected in the Sunshine Coast Regional Rugby League team. Riley will compete at the State Championships in May. We wish him all the best at the next level of competition.

Mr Brett Kersnovske, Head of Sport

Club Sport

Pacific Soccer
  • Pacific Soccer App
  • Round 4 Games
  • Wet Weather Cancellations 
  • Training and Games - Reminders
  • Brisbane Roar vs Victory Game
  • New Academy Program
  • Supporters and Sponsors
  • Pacific Soccer Jersey Sponsors
  • Involvement with Pacific Soccer
  • Pacific Soccer Contacts

Click here to download the Pacific Soccer newsletter for this week.

Mr Matt Gigney, Pacific Soccer Secretary 

PLC Netball Club

Well done to all teams on another awesome week. Seeing the girls competing and enjoying themselves is a great reminder of the importance of club sport.

Last Saturday morning, this year’s junior umpiring course commenced. PLC Netball has 10 girls from our Arabians, Fillies and Brumby teams attending the course. As the smallest club within the association, it was a proud moment to see our girls making up one third of the entire course. The course runs until June at which time the girls will begin to officiate the association’s junior games. Umpiring, the role of Club Captain and coaching opportunities are aimed at developing and fostering leadership opportunities for the senior girls. We wish the girls success in the course and their future umpiring endeavours.       

Over the weekend there were a number of fine performances across all of the teams and the girls continue to develop and warm to the season ahead. Once again it was difficult to select our players of the week, however this week the recipients are:

  • Unicorns – Emily Lengenberg for her enthusiasm and effort; 
  • Mustangs – Zoe Woods for an awesome display;
  • Ponies – Mia Hetherington for her all-round performance;
  • Brumbies – Gabrielle Rattey for her improved foot work;
  • Fillies – Jewel Jamison for her defensive play; and
  • Arabians – Tayla Gorham for her a well-rounded performance.

Mr Trevor Colton, President PLC Netball Club

Uniform Shop

Stock Update

Winter stock has now arrived, even if winter hasn’t! We have full stocks of formal jumpers (Years 1-12), sports jackets (P-12) and tracksuit pants (P-12). Please place your order online with Flexi-Schools or pop in to the shop and get ready for winter. Girls Middle College ties (Years 6-9) are also back in stock. The smallest size girls formal and sports socks (5-8 shoe size) are also back in stock.

Opening Hours and Online Ordering

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

St Mark’s Lutheran Church

Animal Blessing

This Sunday 26th March, the College community is invited to a ‘Blessing of Animals’ Service with St Mark’s Lutheran Church, as part of the Grow and Share initiative. The service will be held in the College gym at 9.30am and will be followed by a morning tea.

 

Weekly Service

 

Pastor Ray Morris, St Mark’s Lutheran Church Caloundra

Upcoming Dates

March
24 Year 11-12 HOSP Industry Day
25 Music Scholarship Test
26 St Mark's @ Pacific - Grow and Share (9.30am)
28-29 Middle College Conferences
30 Years 4-6 Foundation Cup
31 K-12 Chapel
  Year 3-12 Cross Country Carnival (10.00am-3.00pm)
  Term 1 Concludes