Vol 22 No 3
4th March 2015
Peace Lutheran College
Profiles at Peace
Phone: 4039 9000
www.plc.qld.edu.au
Our mission is to develop informed, active, resilient and
compassionate citizens within a Christian community.
(Quality Education....Christian Nurture....Community Service)
Vol 21 No 12
5 March
20152008
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents and Friends,
Being a parent, and also being a teacher, carries with it a lot of responsibility. We do recognise the importance
of parents as partners in their children’s education. By working together, for the benefit of the students, we can
achieve so much more. Below are some ideas on how you can support your child achieve more at school.
1. Let your child see you make mistakes.
Making mistakes is part of life and presents great opportunities to learn and develop. The important part is how
we deal with making mistakes. Let your child see that you can make mistakes and deal with it so that they will
understand it’s not a big deal and can learn how to cope when they trip up.
2. Keep in touch with the teacher/s.
E-mail is a great way to reach your child’s teacher without having to play phone tag. If you hear what your
children are struggling with, please feel comfortable talking to the teacher about it. We want to know that they
need help. Also, communication needn’t be limited to when there’s a problem.
3. Check their homework, and then have them explain it to you.
It’s not enough to just get the answers right. To make sure your children aren’t guessing, sometimes ask them
to explain what they did and why. This lets you know that the child has completed the task and for the child to
actually explain their work helps their learning.
4. Don’t compare your child with others.
Don’t put pressure on children to be just like others. There’s no such thing as the child that’s like every other
child. They are all different. They all have strengths and weaknesses, they all have talents and challenges.
5. Middle School and Senior School is not the time to take a more hands-off approach.
Just because your children are getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to put them on autopilot. This is the point in
their lives when they’re trying to sort out who they are. Peer pressure is intense and their connectedness to
school can wane. Senior school students have this air about them that they don’t need their parents anymore,
but they really do.
6. Don’t do everything for your child.
Sometimes it’s faster to do things yourself than wait for your children to complete a task. But having everything
done for them means they don’t learn to take care of themselves. Empower your children to think for themselves
and be more responsible for themselves.
7. Ask about your child’s day.
Stay involved in your child’s education, beyond helping with homework. Even small things, like asking a child
what happened at school, can be the difference between a child who unplugs at the end of the day and one who
continues thinking about what they learned. Give them the kind of feedback that acknowledges and respects
their feelings so they know you are really hearing them.
Acknowledgement: Mari-Jane Williams
Working together through Christ,
Elisabeth Fenske
Principal
What is on this fortnight?
Inside this issue
COMING EVENTS
March
23rd-27th
26th
April
1st
Easter Book Fair
Week
RACQ Yr 12 talk
23-27 March
Easter Book
Fair Week
Mid/Sen Cross
Country
Last Day Term 1
2nd
Absentees
If your child is absent from school,
please ring Administration on
4039 9000 and follow the prompts.
If you need to phone before
8.00 am please leave a message on
4039 9000. Alternatively, you can
email: [email protected]
Students must report to Home
Group teachers between 8.30 –
8.45 am. If students arrive after
8.30 am they must sign in at
Reception, otherwise they will be
marked absent.
Visitors
Visitors including parents need to
sign in at the office during the
hours of 9 am – 2.30 pm.
1 April
Mid/Sen Cross
Country
2
3
4
4
4
5
6
7
8
9
9
9
10
11
News from Mrs Fenske
What is on this fortnight
Health Clinic News
Prep Enrolments 2016
Desks For Sale
Junior School News
Year 5 Camp
Middle School News
Sign on Days
Senior School News
2015 Peninsular Schools
Constitutional
Convention
QLD Government
Statewide Survey
Sports News
Stop Drop Go
Procedures
Contact Details
Please ensure your contact details
are up to date. We are pushing for
communication to be electronic to
reduce paper use and our carbon
footprint.
Please see Claire on reception for
an Update Family Details form or
email [email protected] with
any changes.
School Saving @ Peace
Would you like to open a savings
account for your child? To teach
them how to save before they learn
how to spend? Please see Claire at
reception to get an application
form.
Thank you.
Lutheran Church Worship Times
Sunday Service Times
8.00 am and 10.00 am
“The ultimate goal of a family
is to allow each person to
become the person God
intended them to be.”
Everyone is welcome to worship with us
Visit www.cairnslutheran.org.au
Anon
Trinity Lutheran Church
Severin Street, Cairns
General Notices
Health Clinic News
Our first immunisation clinic is fast
approaching for students in Grade
8 and 10. The due date for the
completed consent forms is this
Friday, 6 March, but if you have
any questions please contact the
Health Clinic or the information
phone number on the forms.
On the day of the vaccinations,
Wednesday, 11 March, please
ensure that your child has a good
breakfast and plenty of water.
They may need Panadol or ice for
a day or two for discomfort at the
immunisation site.
Head Lice are a continuing
problem
for
our
school
community. It is important to
check your child's hair for these
annoying little creatures regularly.
Tea tree shampoos may help
discourage them from taking up
residence in your child’s hair or
there are other spray on
treatments which may act as
deterrents.
If your child is found to be needing
treatment for head lice, please can
this happen before the next school
day. There are some very good
treatments available like Moov or
KP24. The treatment then needs
repeating in a week and
sometimes even after two
weeks. It is also important that
hats, brushes and combs aren’t
shared so please can you
discourage this practice.
Thank you for your help in this
matter.
Regards,
Carolyn and Mel
Enrolments for PREP Students, 2016
Students eligible for Prep in 2016 have birthdates falling between, 01 July 2010
and 30 June 2011. Enrolment consideration is given at the Principal’s discretion
for students born in July 2011.
Our Prep classes are filling fast so if you have a child who is eligible please
ensure you have completed the necessary components of the application
(Application for Enrolment Form and paid a $55 application fee).
Alternatively, if you know of a child who is ready for Prep, please encourage
them to contact our College.
All applications can be made through Mrs Anna Rosendale, Enrolments Officer,
Ph: 4039 9021.
We look forward to welcoming 2 full classes of Prep students to our College in
2016.
Junior School News
Year 5 Camp – Mungalli Falls
The Year 5 students spent 2 days at Mungalli Falls Outdoor Education Centre last week. This was a great opportunity
for them to develop a sense of team and leadership. They abseiled, built a raft, did an army style commando course,
saw glow worms, got muddy and dirty and generally had fun together. Enjoy reading some of the student’s writing
about camp and abseiling below.
ABSEILING…
“Arghhhh”! I stood on the green mat of fear. It was my turn to do the terrifying Abseiling. It was a slippery, smooth
rock wall. Before I went down I stood, frozen for a couple of minutes. Finally I went, it was so scary that I felt like my
heart was in my mouth. “Here I go”! I Went down I was hooked onto the rope. I kept on knocking into the rock wall
but I just kept on going down. I let out a sigh. I went back for more.
Written by Mikaela Archer
“GO Arime!” “GO Talarah!” As we tried to stop being edgy. “I can do this!”, I tried to tell myself as I took the most
SHUDDERING step back. This was it. I had taken that step. I was bouncing off the cliff, it felt like I was a bird in the sky!
I was nearly at the bottom, the waterfall drowning out all other sound.
By Talarah Henseleit
“Whoever hasn’t had a go, put your hand up.” I was horror stricken I wasn’t moving I was glued to my spot. I was
shaking like a leaf, then at that moment Chaplain Elise was going to get a drink with some other students, so I leapt
to my chance. I had escaped!
By Hannah Nelson
‘Here it goes!’ I stepped on to the green mat of FEARS! I was hooked and harnessed to lots of ropes. I took two steps
back and looked down. I saw Mrs Jacobsen at the very bottom, she looked like an ant. I stood at the edge of an 11
metre cliff face. I am ‘ON TOP OF THE WORLD!’ “Are you ready?” Matt the instructor interrupted my thoughts. I gulped
down the lump that was stuck in my throat. I took one step back…OH HELP! I am dangling in mid-air, after having a
quick slip off the edge. My heart was racing. I concentrated hard while I was going down. I soon was bouncing off the
rock walls. When I reached the bottom I was so delighted. I looked up, & couldn’t believe it was SOOOO, high! I turned
my head & saw the rushing, roaring waterfall. Abseiling was an amazing experience for me & I hope I can do it again
soon
Written by Shakira Byl
Peace Award Winners – “P for Perseverance”
Congratulations to the following students who were
recognised for demonstrating Perseverance in classroom
tasks.
Prep – Samuel and Amber
Year 1 – Elolah and Sophie
Year 2 – Jack and Liam
Year 3 – Matthew and Alara
Year 4 – Noah and Max
Year 5 – Ava and Daisy
Working together, through Christ,
Sarah Rowan, BEd (ECE), GradDipThEd, MEdSt
Head of Junior School
[email protected]
You Can Do It – Weekly Winners
Week 5:
Samuel, Prep B - Pete Persistent,
Mason, 2RM - Ricky Resilient
Tyne, 3HKM - Gabby Get Along
Week 6:
Amy, Prep B - Pete Persistent,
Ashley, 2WS - Ricky Resilient
Bailey, 4SS - Pete Persistent
The trip of a lifetime to Mungalli Falls
“Are we there yet?” I asked my friend. She glanced down at her watch and said “No not yet, still ten minutes to go.”
Those ten minutes seemed to go on forever, but finally we arrived at our destination- Mungalli Falls. We got out of
our bus and unloaded our luggage, then we met Matt the instructor who explained which cabins were ours. The girls
were given the cabin named `Wallabies’ and the boys were given the `Ulysses’.
After checking out our cabins we made our way to the café by the waterfall. For lunch we had hot dogs. When we had
devoured our delicious meal our instructor explained what activities followed after lunch. The two classes separated
into two groups- group one and group two. Our group did raft building first. We made our way down to the dam and
were divided into two teams, each team had to build a raft that floated out of one tube, four pipes, four containers
and two ropes.
Afterwards we went to afternoon tea where we had biscuits, fruit and juice. Next we went and met Rocko the abseiling
instructor who showed us how to wear our equipment and explained to us how to be safe. Next we walked up the
hill to the abseiling site and made two lines in which we waited for our turn to go down the cliff next to the waterfall.
In line my mouth went dry, my knees were knocking together like a hammer on a nail but I felt a feeling of satisfaction
when I watched my fellow classmates come up from the bottom of the cliff with a smile on their faces.
When it finally came to my turn my heart was beating in my ear as if someone was playing a drum. Matt assured me
I would be fine if I believed in myself and trusted the protective gear. I finally gave myself enough confidence to go
over the edge, one step at a time I gave myself a little bit of rope. My face went pale with fear but luckily the waterfall
beside me gave me a sigh of relief to abseil the rest of the way down. Half way down my foot got caught in the opening
of a rock.
When I had pulled out my foot, I took a few more little jumps until I landed on a ledge about two meters from the
ground. I looked up to see how much I had gone and thought the cliff would never end, my fellow classmates cheers’
encouraged me to go the rest of the way down. Also my teacher said I`m almost there. When I had finally
accomplished my task I felt like I was on top of the world, my heart swelled up with pride and my cheeks got sore
from smiling too much. I walked up to the top of the cliff just in time to see my friend go down the cliff.
After everyone had had a go, we made our way back to the cabins for showers, had some free time then headed down
to the café for dinner. We had steak, sausages, and quiche. For desert we had ice-cream with sprinkles and chocolate
sauce. After we gulped down our delicious desert we headed down to the campfire where our teacher started handing
out marshmallows for us to roast. During the campfire a student demonstrated to show us some cool liquid that
makes the fire different colours-blue and green.
Then when we had seen enough our teacher told us a little bit about the glow worms that lie here and that Mungalli
Falls is one of the few places where you can have an opportunity to see glow worms. So we went for a walk to see the
glow worms in some trees. After going sightseeing we were all very tired and decided to go back to the cabins to have
showers then go to bed.
The next day we woke up and got dressed and headed down to breakfast. For breakfast we had bacon and eggs, jam
and toast and hash browns. After breakfast we got ready for our next activity- The obstacle course. We made our way
down to the obstacle course area and were explained the rules. After we knew the rules we ran through the course.
Then we made two teams and did a race through the whole course. When we had finished we were muddy and very
hot, not to mention very wet. We had now had a drink and were ready to do the flying fox which is a jump on a line
into the water. After this we were too tired, we headed back to our cabins and packed up our luggage ready to depart.
We loaded our luggage into the bus which had now arrived and headed down for lunch. We had burgers with tons of
delicious fillings. By now it was time to leave. We all thanked our instructors and teachers and got onto the bus.
As the bus headed towards our school I kept thinking that this whole experience had been a dream come true and a
trip of a life time that I would never ever forget.
Year 5
Middle School News
Max Lucado describes a prison of pride as filled with self-made men and women determined to pull themselves up
by their own bootstraps even if they land on their rear ends. It doesn’t matter what they did or to whom they did it
or where they will end up; it only matters that “I did it my way”. In schools there are many examples of such prisoners,
the student who won’t admit his/her behavioural problem, the child who refuses to talk to anyone about his/her
fears, the high-achieving teacher or student who adamantly rejects help, despite the risk of things falling apart. The
hard truth is that to see such a prisoner all you have to do is look in the mirror. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just” (1 John 1:9). The biggest word in Scripture just might be that two-letter one, if. For confessing sins viz.
admitting failure, is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do…Many adamantly deny their weakness. Many know
they are wrong, yet pretend they are right. As a result, they never taste the exquisite sorrow of repentance. Of all the
paths to joy, this one has to be the strangest. True blessedness, Jesus says, begins with deep sadness. “Blessed are
those who know they are in trouble and have enough sense to admit it.”
iPad Information Evening
This Wednesday 4 March from 6-7 pm parents are offered an opportunity to familiarise themselves with how Year 7
students will use their College-allocated devices for the purpose of learning. Topics discussed will include the use of
digital texts, learning technologies and considerations for parenting.
Uniforms and Tardiness
As it is early in the school year, I am reinforcing the standards for uniform that is outlined in the College Dress and
Appearance policy. I have addressed a small group of students for wearing sports hats or sports socks with their
formal uniform, boys without a belt, unsuitable jewellery worn by girls. There has also been many students late for
school. While there are always rare circumstances that may delay travel to school on occasion, repeated late arrivals
will result in the need for a meeting so ongoing lateness may be curbed. Parental support with maintaining College
standards is imperative if we are to have a consistent approach.
Communication
For 2015, the College has migrated to Office365 as a platform for both iPad use in Middle School and BYOD in Senior
School. As such, class communication will take place using Microsoft Yammer, which replaces Edmodo. If parents
have received automated emails for Edmodo, please ignore. Yammer will be used for lesson outlines, homework and
distributing class files. If students are absent for a day, or a prolonged period, they are to refer to their class Yammer
page to identify work they may have missed.
Kudos: This year, a small team of staff will be undertaking the Teachers as Researchers project, which is facilitated
and funded by Independent Schools Queensland. The focus is 21st Century Learning and particularly, how the
adoption of a new online learning environment will benefit students and improve teacher practice. This week, I had
the pleasure of travelling to Brisbane with Mrs Fitch, Mr Hincks and Mr Webb to develop our action research project
and seek support from the facilitators. I will share the progress and outcomes of this project as the year develops.
Upcoming Events:
Year 9 Leadership Day: Due to our guest panel being unavailable on the advertised date, Wednesday 11 March, this
event has been postponed until the first Wednesday of Term 2. I will provide more information closer to the date.
However, the day is set aside for current Year 9 students to develop their leadership skills. This age group does not
have a camp during the year, rather we invite a group of distinguished leaders, in the field of business, politics, military
and education to field prepared questions from students. Home Group teachers are currently exploring the concept
of leadership with students and assist them draft questions for the panel. Also, the Middle School Captains and Vice
Captains are planning activities that require specific leadership skills for a successful completion.
Yours in Christ,
Nick Cheyne
Head of Middle School
Twitter: @PLCMiddle
[email protected]
BEARS JUNIOR AND CUBS BASEBALL
CLUB
Season:
Train At:
Contact:
Email:
Website:
April – Sept 2015
Loridan Dr Junior Sporting Reserve
Brinsmead/Kamerunga Rd
Brinsmead
Kendra Fuller- 0408154760
Toni Behrendorff- 0412248192
[email protected]
www.bearscubs.baseball.com.au
Senior School News
The swimming carnival was a wonderful event last Friday with students giving it their all in the swimming events and
in the War Cry Competition. The newly elected house captains have been doing a great job building house spirit and
engaging their team in the three weeks running up to the Carnival. Fortunately we had a fine day and students did a
great job organising themselves in the hot humid conditions. The competition was very fierce and it gives me great
pleasure to announce that The Blue Dolphins were victorious.
There are a number of new projects underway this term with a new drive to improve the efficiency of our recycling
and minimize the difficulties of sorting uncontaminated bins. Mrs Cummings has been speaking in Assembly over the
last couple of weeks to try and make sure that students know exactly what can and cannot be recycled here in Cairns.
Plans are also afoot to get a Chess Club happening on Fridays and the school captains are even talking about the return
of the Ukulele Club.
Have a great two weeks and God Bless
Peter Cummings
Head of Senior School
2015 Peninsula Schools Constitutional Convention
On Friday, 20 February I had the privilege of accompanying four of our students to the Peninsula Schools
Constitutional Convention. The topic to be considered for this year’s convention was “Australian Federalism: State
rights versus National Priorities. The Case for and against the Commonwealth assuming full powers over Water and
Health”. To assist students in their arguments and discussions we heard from Professor Alan Dale, Professor of
Tropical and Regional Development and JCU and Dr Felicity Croker, Senior Lecturers and Advisor for Dentistry, Nursing
and Health at JCU, with their views and experience on these topics presenting both for and against arguments for
these topics. From these presentations and their prior research a representative student from schools then presented
a four minute speech with their view on these topics. Students had been divided in to States and Territories in which
to discuss these issues. Representatives from the Australian Electoral Commission then explained the referendum
process to students and the students then participated in a referendum to find out if a change would be carried or
not. A referendum under the constitution requires the majority of voters, as well as the majority of states for a change
to be successful. On the day the student’s votes passes the referendum for both these issues voting to give power
for water and health to the Commonwealth. Supreme Court Judge, Justice Henry and Member for Leichhardt, Warren
Entsch MP also attended and participated in discussions with students on various topics of interest. Students from
all the schools were amazing in their application and interest in issues that many adults often don’t understand or
discuss, it was inspirational to attend as a teacher and see this.
My thanks to Jade O’Dowd-Barrett who represented the college as our speaker, and to Ffion Olearczyk, Claire Chittick
and Jacob Mahler for their outstanding efforts in representing our College.
Sandra Stocker
QLD Government Statewide Survey
The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2014.
The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and
life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.
Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to
complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete
the survey. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer
with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2015. Further information on Next Step is available online at
www.education.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.
Sports News
Swimming Carnival
The Inter-house swimming carnival went off with a splash!
Blue house maintained their firm grip on the trophy although Green closed the gap to a 70 point difference this
year.
Gold and Green engaged in a huge war cry competition during the coveted Individual medley race and Red
dominated the novelty events.
Special congratulations to our age champions:
11 years and under
Male
Matthew Riches
Female
Hannah Riches
12 years
Male
Jarod Bayer
Female
Tia Rivett
13 years
Male
Ethan Culliton
Female
Anthea Todman
14 years
Male
Angus Southwood
Female
Harriet Grant
15 years
Male
Colin Kepple
Female
Martha Marsh
16 years
Male
Simon Moore
Female
Rhiannon Randall
17years and over
Male
Daniel Rosendale
Female
Eliza Marsh
Open
Male
Simon Moore
Female
Harriet Grant
Sport this week
 Inter-school swimming carnival at Trinity Anglican School
 T20 Inter-school cricket at Endeavour Park
 Regional Championships/Peninsula trials for Rugby League, Volleyball and Netball
 TCN (Trinity Coast North - our district) trials for Basketball, AFL, Soccer, Touch Football and Hockey.
 CISSA: PLC versus Woree. Last week we played Redlynch State College and won 8 games, drew one and lost
only one! Great work CISSA teams.
Surf Life saver of the Year
A special congratulations to Harriet Grant who was selected
as the regional under 14 surf lifesaver of the year by the North
Queensland surf lifesaving branch. Harriet will travel to
Maroochydore in March to compete at the State Championships.
Belinda Marsh
Sports Coordinator
STOP DROP GO! Procedures
Staff members have been assigned to look after our Stop Drop & Go area, they will be
wearing yellow fluorescent vests. Their instructions are to be FOLLOWED AT ALL TIMES. They
have been given detailed instructions on keeping the traffic flowing smoothly and safely.
This includes ensuring that you:







Remember the Stop, Drop and Go area is not a parking area, if your child is not
waiting for you then please drive around
Do not leave the car
Ensure you are not stopped for more than 2 minutes
Do not try and get your child into the car unless you are in the designated area
Move to the front of the stop drop go zone
Do not obstruct the driveway, buses still need access to the college grounds
Drive away carefully, giving way where appropriate
We want this stop, drop, go area to be fully utilised by as many parents as possible and in
the safest way possible for all members of our school community.
Please adhere to the safe speed limit of 10km / hour when
travelling through the carpark.
If everyone does the right thing it will provide a safer
environment for all parties.