Dear Parents and Friends,

First, I want to extend a very big thank you to our parents and community members for their patience during the roadworks on Harley and Cowley Streets. I know it was disruptive, caused delays and tested our patience. The works are now completed and we can enjoy the much-improved roads and line-markings that will help with the traffic flow as well as reduce the flooding of these roads during the wet season.

I also want to extend a huge thank you to Krystal Taylor for the amazing work she does with our Indigenous students and for another wonderful NAIDOC celebration. The students thoroughly enjoyed the activities and the performance at the whole school assembly was fantastic. Well done!

With the recent snap lockdown in Brisbane, we are reminded about how quickly our circumstances can change. COVID-19 is still very much a threat and it is important that we don’t become complacent. Please remind your children of the importance of:

• washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitiser when entering school, and at regular intervals throughout the day, particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet

• covering coughs and sneezes with one’s elbow or tissues

• placing used tissues straight into the bin

• avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose and mouth

• not sharing food or drink

We also ask that students stay at home if unwell. While some symptoms might be minor, possibly unrelated to COVID-19 and within the scope of usual attendance, we need to be more cautious in the current circumstance. If in doubt, please keep your child at home as children presenting as unwell will need to be taken home and remain at home until no longer exhibiting symptoms of illness.

**UPDATE** College Open Day Postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced very soon.

On Wednesday 18^th August we have our College Open Day. As a Junior School parent, there are two experiences for you to enjoy.

1. Starting at 2:45 pm the Junior School classrooms will have displays of student work. Your child/ren will be more than happy to show you and explain their learning. You can venture into the other junior classrooms as well to see what they have been learning.
2. At 3:30 pm there is an opportunity to join me on a campus tour. This will give you an opportunity to see the many different areas of the College, including the specialist areas such as the Hospitality Centre, Industrial Technology & Design Centre, Science Laboratories and the Performing Arts Centre.

Students can enjoy a Treasure Hunt, collecting a stamp on their treasure map from each area of the College that they visit. At the end of their hunt, each child will be rewarded with their treasure treat!

There will be many displays and activities set up around the College for you to enjoy.

We are all looking forward to seeing you there.

As per the recent communication from Mrs Fenske, we have re-established our lockdown plan to ensure we are ready to continue with education and allow continuity for student learning in the event of a snap lockdown. At the moment this means students are taking textbooks to and from school. Whilst I understand this can be heavy it is important that these books are accessible to students at the last moment if required.

It is great to see this area now nearing completion and the new road and signage is making a big difference to car movement through this drop off and pick up point. Thank you for your patience during this process.

The new pathways are making the dual stop-drop-go process much safer for the students. Please use the crossing, under the direction of the crossing supervisor, to exit the school grounds and then use the paths to move towards the road and cars.

This term in Christian Studies, Year 8 students have been exploring ways Christians interpret and act on their calling as stewards in God’s world. As a part of this unit, students participated in a sleepout challenge here at the College on Friday night of Week 3.

Year 8 student, Taya Dare, tells us all about their night...
“We decided to hold the sleepout to experience a little of what refugees might experience when fleeing from their homes, though we realise they go through a whole lot more. Despite having to give up the luxuries we take for granted, such as comfy beds, hearty meals and mobile phones, around 40 students came along.

We started off playing ball games in the MPC, while we waited for everyone to arrive. With us, were Miss Stout, Mrs Dare, Miss Anderson, Mr Bonser, Mr Cridland and Mr Dunsmuir. As it started getting dark, we sat down for dinner on the ground outside the MPC and ate two-minute noodles. Nothing fancy but at least we got to eat.

After dinner, when many would be grabbing their mobile phones, we grabbed our torches and headed onto the oval for a game of spotlight. We only had one game, because the teachers decided to play the more challenging game of lantern stalker. The teachers were hiding, guarding the fairy lights, and we had to try and get them without being seen. It was a fun way to try and outsmart the teachers. Before bedtime, we went to the Boarders Recreation Centre, where Mr Bonser had made a campfire and we got to share lots of interesting stories from our different backgrounds and cultures.

Mr Cridland, his daughter, and Miss Stout were smart and left when we started heading to bed. No sleeping on classroom floors for them! Mrs Dare and Miss Anderson stayed with the girls in M3 and M4, while the boys were in M6 and M7. Apparently, they only just managed to sleep through Mr Bonser’s snores!

The next day, everyone woke to a cool morning. We couldn’t imagine what it must be like to sleep out in the middle of winter in colder climates. A few of the girls prepared toast for breakfast and afterwards, everyone hung out in the MPC, playing basketball, card games, or making bead bracelets.

The experience made me realise that there are many people who have it a lot harder than we have. Our dinner and breakfast were pretty simple and it helped me think about how lucky we are to normally have lots of good food to eat. Sleeping on the floor was quite uncomfortable and not everyone came because they didn’t like the idea of not getting a good night’s rest. It showed us that not everyone has a choice of where they get to sleep. It was really fun being able to socialise with people and get to know them without everyone being on their mobile phones. We definitely got to know each other better by being away from technology. The Year 8’s sleepout went very quickly but was definitely worth it.”

Stewardship and Sustainability

Students of Year 8 Christian Studies are currently exploring a unit called, “Caring for our World and Community”. Through inquiry, students are encouraged to explore what stewardship means in the context of God’s magnificent creation and to examine the ways in which we are called to serve others here on earth. Part of their research has been to look at the negative impacts we can have on our local environment and community and suggest ways in which we can make a positive difference as individuals and a collective.

It was timely then that our Middle School Captains turned our attention to the fashion industry and more specifically to “Fast Fashion” and its impact on our planet. Fast fashion is generally considered “disposable” because it is cheap, low-quality and mass-produced to satisfy a short-term trend. In highlighting some of the environmental and ethical issues associated with fast fashion, the Middle School Captains have definitely got us thinking about what changes we could make to ensure we’re being better stewards of our planet.

Did you know that fashion is the second-largest contributor to pollution in the world?

Each year Australians buy approximately 27kg of new clothes; however, statistics suggest that on average these items will only be worn 7 times before being discarded. Many of these garments end up being thrown in the rubbish and it’s estimated that 500,000 tonnes of clothing are disposed of in landfills, in Australia, each year. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it takes about 200 years for the clothing to break down leaving us wondering - where on earth this waste will end up in the future?

Now, also consider how textile production is responsible for the loss of 97 billion cubic litres of water (the equivalent of 37 million Olympic swimming pools) each year. Add to that the pollution of river systems and waterways in the manufacturing and dying process and you can begin to uncover the less glamorous side of fashion.

So, who is paying the price for our cheap clothing?

Looking at the ethical impact of fast fashion, we have to ask ourselves who is paying for the cheap fashion we consume? Sadly, it is often workers in third world countries who are exploited in order to keep us looking good on a budget. Their working conditions are often terrible and the wages they get are not enough to house, feed or clothe their own families, so they end up working up to 18 hours a day just to make ends meet.

Making a difference

As a Middle School, we saw an opportunity for us to be proactive and make a difference by promoting a more sustainable approach towards fashion.

How can you help?

Donations of good quality, clean clothing: On 2^nd September (Week 8), the Captains will be running a Thrifty Thursday Sustainable Fashion Market. We need donations of good quality, clean clothing for us to sell to Middle and Senior School students, and staff. Donations can be dropped into the Admin Building or to the Head of Middle School’s Office.

Donate prizes: We are also looking for prizes for our “From Trash to Fash” competition and wondering if anyone in our community would be interested in supporting us? If you think you could help, please contact Ms Anderson, Head of Middle School (kanderson@plc.qld.edu.au)

The competition is to encourage our Middle and Senior students to get creative and innovative while making a statement about sustainability. Entrants can enter one of two categories:

• Category 1: Upcycled Fashion (A piece of fashion that’s been transformed to give it a second life)
• Category 2: Best Wearable Art (A piece of fashion created from recycled materials)
  

Entries will be judged in Week 3 of Term 4.

Hello all. I hope you are having an enjoyable term so far.

Parent/Teacher interviews

It was a pleasure to hear so many positive comments about the Parent Teacher Interviews in Week 2 of this term.

Monitoring Student Success

After last term’s feedback and reporting, it should be clear to students what they need to do to achieve their potential in this semester’s assessment. I would like to thank all parents for the critical role they play in partnership with the College by supporting students at home, monitoring assessment due dates and maintaining our clear expectations on uniform and behaviour.

Peace Parent Portal

We continue to see high use of the Parent Portal and this is encouraging due to it being an essential tool in making sure you are aware of events, due dates and expectations.

Uniform

Senior students are reminded that they should still be wearing ties this term and that a hat is required at all times. The support of parents in achieving correct school uniforms is essential in achieving a school that we can be proud of.

Thank you for your support.

God bless.

Peter Cummings
Head of Senior School

Year 12 students are entering the final phase of their studies and ATAR exams. Students will begin the External Assessment phase in Week 4 of Term 4. External examinations are scheduled over three weeks, which leads them up to the final week (Week 7) of graduation. With the significant contribution of the External exams (25-50%) to final grades, it is essential that students work hard on their revision to maximise their contribution towards their ATAR.

Year 12 students are now beginning to enter the revision phase as Unit 4 theory is completed. A program of study and tutorials is in place during the six periods of Sport and Religion & Ethics (course now completed). Careful monitoring and support of students have been initiated to ensure that students obtain their QCE and quality ATAR results. Curriculum and Pastoral Care staff have been working tirelessly to provide supplementary tutorials, courses, support and advice.

I would like to thank these staff for their continued and unwavering dedication to supporting our senior students.

Thank you to Boarding for allowing the Boarders Recreation Centre to be used for the ATAR testing throughout the year, which provides students with authentic exam conditions to maintain assessment integrity and prepare them for QCAA External Assessment.

We should be very proud of our 2021 Year 12 students and their efforts to navigate through such turbulent times.

QCAA ATAR Student Resources 2021

‘Public use’ sample external assessment papers were developed to help schools and students prepare for external assessment in 2021.

Preparing students for external assessment in 2021

The introduction of external assessment in General subjects is a key feature of the new QCE system. To give school communities a sense of what external assessment will be like, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has published sample papers on its website. You will find the documents located in the Assessment tab on each syllabus page.

We will incorporate these sample resources in our teaching and learning program to help our students prepare for next year. In the meantime, students and parents are encouraged to view the sample papers.

Year 12 QTAC Information Evening – Tuesday, 10^th August 2021

The QTAC Information Evening will run from 6:00 pm. During this session, members of the Year 12 Pastoral Care Team will be available to answer questions and will present detailed information about the application process.

Year 12 QTAC Application Evening – Wednesday, 18^th August 2021

The QTAC Application Evening will run from 6:30 pm in the Peace Centre. Year 12 students and families are encouraged to attend with a suitable BYO device.

Experienced teachers will be available to work with you and your child to successfully order and apply with QTAC. This evening is also relevant to students who wish to undertake further study with TAFE or are interested in deferring study for a year. Please note that a method of payment (credit/debit card) for $46.00 will be necessary to complete the application.

Year 11 2022 Subject Selection (for our current Year 10 students and parents)

Mrs Wright, Mrs Bolton and Subject Leaders have been talking to all of our Year 10 students in the weeks leading up to the subject selection event to give them advice and guidance on the suitable study and career pathways and I have presented information on the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) to Year 10 Home Groups. Links to these and other resources will be provided with our individual subject recommendation advice. I strongly encourage parents to review these documents with their child, to build an understanding of what is involved and to make sound subject choices.

Parents and students in Year 10 need to consider career aspirations, subject requirements, prerequisites and performance in these subject areas so far so that students can make informed decisions and maximise their chances of obtaining their QCE by the end of Year 12. For students who are looking towards University entry after school, this is critical to ensure the best ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) for entry into courses.

Year 10 Work Experience (Week 10)

We are looking forward to students returning with many stories. In the past many have been incredibly positive, some have been less so, but all of these experiences are formative and allow our students to make decisions about which direction to take in subject selection and future career pathways.

Year 10 Business and Legal Studies and Senior Legal Studies students were grateful to have Senior Prosecutor, Megan Howard from Queensland Police visit the College recently.

Senior Prosecutor Howard talked about her career journey as well as some of the legal principles our students had been covering in class. Students had the opportunity to ask lots of questions and find out about some of the more interesting cases she has been involved with.

We are very grateful for the opportunity to have guest speakers who are experts in their fields, such as Senior Prosecutor Howard, come and talk with our students. Their knowledge and experience is always such a valuable contribution to our students' learning.

CEVA (Creating Extraordinary Visual Artists) has revealed its first piece of Visual Art with an unveiling on the wall of the Art Room. The piece, first designed by Year 11 student, Isabelle McCullough was a collaborative effort from the group. Each student painted a section of the work and further designed the work to feature harmonious colours alternating throughout.

The students participating in CEVA are in Years 9 to 12 and they are now working on an exhibition of their own work, with the date for the event to be announced later this term.

The Year 11 Visual Arts In Practice students have been busy working on four art pieces to adorn the walls of Cafe Garna. On Tuesday, 27^th August the students presented the pieces to the Hospitality teacher, Mrs Anderson.

The artworks are based on the islands of the Torres Strait and are the four islands from which most of our Torres Strait Islander students come - Darnley, Badu, St. Pauls and Saibai. Each work represents one of the islands and features animals for which each island is recognised. The works also feature colours relevant to each island, as well as the abbreviated names which are found on boats to distinguish which island each boat is from, as the island people are closely tied to the sea. Lastly, each piece contains the postcode of the Torres Straits which combines them all as one.

The Senior Environmental group are looking for volunteers to help with continuing their recycling efforts. As the end of the Year 12 students’ studies approach, we need students to take up the torch and continue this effort which is now in its 12^th year.

The group does a fantastic job of mulching, planting and sorting our collected recycling to make sure that none of the bins is contaminated with food or non-recyclable materials. Any other recycling ideas or initiatives are always welcomed.

Many students are currently seeking references for their University place applications and accommodation. Participation in community efforts such as service in the Environment Group reflects very favourably on our participating students and make for an interesting resume.

Here’s a photo of our Year 12 PE class. We are blessed in Cairns to have so many opportunities to stay fit and healthy. The students in PE are great role models for us. They encourage us to think of ways to move, enjoy the outdoors and consider ways to connect with others through sport and physical activity.

As part of the Year 12 Sport sessions, we are pleased that many of our Year 12 students have stepped up to be coaches and mentors for the JSS Sport competition (Middle School sport). Other Year 12 students who remain on campus have the option of playing a game of volleyball together, taking a walk to Lake Placid, walking around the College to be ‘Litter Warriors’, playing handball competitions, or completing some study if necessary. The Pastoral Care Team have a focus this year on encouraging physical activity and movement as part of a healthy approach to study and learning.

Congratulations to all the Duke of Edinburgh students for successfully completing their Qualifying Journey. This final journey started at Speewah campground where students participated in first aid scenarios and investigated the different ways of how to contact emergency services if an emergency situation arose. Students then read maps, learnt how to use a compass and used Naismith’s rule to make a decision on where to hike and how long it would take the group. We all then headed out on a 3-hour journey, planned and lead by the students.

The day ended with some very intense games of spotlight and murder in the dark with many laughs had by all. The next morning everyone was up early, ready for the hike down the Douglas Track towards home.

All the students who have participated in the Duke of Ed this year should be very proud of their ability to work as a team and learn new skills in unfamiliar environments. Students will now start to focus on completing their Physical Activity, Volunteer and Skills domains of the award.

Well done to you all.

Mrs Brooker, Mr Fernandez, Pastor Adam, Annabelle and Connor

In preparation for their hikes, our Duke of Ed students first had to learn how to cook on trangias!

The Year 12 students have undertaken study in Religion & Ethics within Social Justice and Meaning and Purpose modules during the past six months. Students have researched issues and considered ways to serve our local community. In particular, students have explored what it means to extend to all people a sense of innate dignity, provide hope, and a sense of meaning and purpose.

Homelessness is a genuine issue that affects many people in our local community. The Year 12 students have decided to raise awareness of homelessness, directly linked with their learning and experiences of volunteering with Rosies – Friends on the Street, on a regular basis. Through their volunteer work, students have become more aware of people's actual needs who experience homelessness in our local community.

The Year 12 Sleep Out is a special event that raises awareness of an ongoing sustainable community partnership between Peace Lutheran College and Rosies – Friends on the Street. We were blessed to have Major Ben from The Salvation Army speak with us about ways to support homeless people. We have realised that people become homeless for a variety of reasons and it is hard to tell if someone is homeless or not simply by looking at them.

Year 12 students have now begun to advertise an ongoing community drive to collect a range of items that will be donated to both Rosies – Friends on the Street and Ruth's Hub. As a community, we are blessed to have the opportunity to help others. This is an ongoing initiative and partnership. We will collect items during the year.

Some of the 'Rosies Crew' from Peace

Rosies - Friends on the Street... How can you help during the year?

Ruth's Women's Shelter... How can you help during the year?

Year 12s enjoyed a social evening towards the end of Term 2. Thank you to Brodie O’Mara, Elizabeth Hill, Peter Cummings, Pastor Adam Eime and Juanita Eime for attending. The Year 12s challenged the teachers to several games of beach volleyball, which was enjoyable for all. The BBQ dinner was a time to reconnect and share some laughter together. It was a great break after the madness of a peak assessment period for the Year 12 students.

As part of our final stages of learning related to Meaning and Purpose, the Year 12s were given access to copies of the old College Yearbooks. This session included much laughter, mixed with ooohs and aaahs as students discovered old photos of themselves when they were very young. Students also realised how much the College has grown and developed since they first started at Peace.

Thank you, Mrs Costa and Mrs Mortley for allowing us to have access to these very precious books.

We had a fantastic Year 11 social event in Term 2. Thank you to Steven White, Carl Johnson, Elizabeth Hill, Claudia Johnson, Pastor Adam Eime and Juanita Eime for attending. Mrs Fenske also briefly popped in! Students gathered together for an informal evening of fun activities at the Cairns Esplanade and a BBQ dinner. There was a special time when students received the PEACE affirmation cards that the Year 11s had written for each other both at camp and at school. Those who were not able to attend the event received their PEACE affirmation cards at school.

We have a great group of Year 11 students who demonstrate the ability to work together and support each other. The Year 11s are in the process of considering what leadership looks like and whether they will respond to a nomination to be part of the College leadership team.

One of the big events in the world at present, and a welcome distraction for many from the bad news we hear a lot, is the Olympics. Even though the year is 2021, it’s the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and this is a testament to the impact Covid-19 has had all over the world.

One of the interesting things about the Olympics is that you get to see athletes compete in sports that most people nearly forget exist every four years, such as fencing and synchro. But the people competing never forget. They work tirelessly with singular and steadfast devotion, sacrificing so much for a glimpse of glory. They have a goal and they press on toward it.

In running the race of life, goals can provide encouragement and perspective. For students, it is good to set goals throughout the term to help them focus and use their time well. As Christians, we also have a goal that gives encouragement and perspective.

Paul writes to the Philippian Christians, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” He knew that Jesus had run the race before him to die on the cross for the world’s sin. Forgiven by Christ’s sacrifice, Paul now strains ahead to live for Christ by serving others every day. He lives with purpose – sharing Christ’s salvation and love with others.

We join with other Christians to press on toward the goal for which God has called us in Christ Jesus. By grace, He will lead us to heaven. In the meanwhile, we live with purpose each day, sharing Christ’s love with others on the path of life.

In this new Semester, our chapel services have continued to be on Mondays, combined with assembly for Middle and Senior School, and on Fridays for Junior School.

When family and friends are again permitted to come onto the College campus, you are welcome to attend chapel. In the event of returning to offsite learning as has happened in other areas of Australia, we will resume with live-streaming and pre-recorded chapels.

In Week 2 of Term 3 we had a NAIDOC focus in chapel and assembly that week, and also for our service for the Boarding students on Sunday. College families are invited to attend services with the Boarders at Peace, held in the Peace Centre, usually on the 3^rd and 5^th Sundays of the month during term time. Dates and times will be advertised through the College App and social media.

God bless.

Pastor Adam

It was a blessing to have the Peace Centre decorated so beautifully for our NAIDOC Celebrations during Week 2. Thanks to Krystal Taylor, we could keep the decorations and use them on a Sunday morning for a worship service held at Peace for the Boarding and the wider community.

Pastor Adam Eime spoke about how stories are important to all people and cultures. He linked the concept of each person’s story to God’s big story. Part of the story of Christianity in Australia includes the Coming of the Light in the Torres Strait and the influence of Martin Luther and subsequent German missionaries travelling to Australia, including Hopevale. It was interesting to learn how our history at Peace is intertwined with this story.

The end of Term 2 saw the conclusion of another successful CISSA competition for our Senior students. Both our Girls Volleyball and Girls Soccer teams won Division 1. Congratulations ladies!

Term 3 sees the start of the JSS competition. This is the ‘Junior Secondary Sport’ competition in Cairns for our Year 7 - 9 Middle School students. We play home and away games against Saints (St Monica’s and St Augustine’s combined), St Andrew’s Catholic College, Cairns State High School and St Mary’s Catholic College. We compete in the same sports as CISSA – Volleyball for girls and boys, Basketball for girls and boys, Soccer for girls and boys, Touch Football for girls and boys, Netball for girls only, and Australian Rules Football for boys only. The students are very keen and selection to a team is very competitive each week. Students that are not selected each week remain at the College and undertake skill development for the JSS sports. We are looking forward to a very challenging and rewarding competition this semester.

On Thursday and Friday of Week 3 this term, Mr Dunsmuir and Mr Atkins took a team of 85 students to the TCN (Trinity Coast North) District Athletics Carnival at Barlow Park. Our students were amazing. Their effort and performances were fantastic and as a result, Peace Lutheran College came in 4th Place overall; nine of our students placed in Age Championships; and 36 students were selected to represent TCN at the upcoming Peninsula Region Athletics Carnival at Barlow Park on Sunday 22 August and Monday 23 August.

Students placing in Age Championship

• Atalia Turner - 13Y Girls Age Champion
• Saffryn Turner - 11Y Girls, 2^nd
• Joshua Goodall - 13Y Boys, 3rd
• Saxon Toyne - 13Y boys, 5th
• Ella Nulley - 14Y Girls, 3rd
• Lili May Gaudion - 16Y Girls, 5th
• Tali Hoye - 17Y Girls, 3rd
• Elly May Mitchell - 18Y Girls, 3rd
• Victor Kepa - 18Y Boys, 3rd

Students selected to represent TCN

We wish each of these students all the best in their efforts.

Yours in Sport.

Jason Atkins
Sports Coordinator

As we approach the end of Term 3, students in Year 10 will be making their subject selection choices for 2022 over the coming weeks.

Aside from the traditional academic pathway that many of our students will follow, some of our students will also be considering careers where vocational education and training courses will be of more interest to them, and in line with their career aspirations.

Once again, in partnership with a range of service providers including TAFE North, Aviation Australia, and CQUniversity, we will be offering students the opportunity to enrol in a range of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses as part of their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). The VET in Schools Program provides our students with the opportunity to experience competency-based adult-style learning whilst obtaining practical skills in readiness for life after school.

Why VET?

A recent study by social researchers McCrindle (Perceptions Are Not Reality: Myths, Realities & The Critical Role of Vocational Education & Training in Australia, May 2017), report the trends currently influencing the Australian workforce. It outlines the key role VET is playing in developing our emerging workforce by delivering training directly correlated to the skills demanded by industry and employers.

Most importantly, all of the VET courses offered to our students whilst still at school will also contribute to the attainment of their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). The majority of courses attract four (4) QCE points.

What courses are on offer?

Many of the VET courses on offer will provide students with a study pathway directly into Diploma or higher certificate courses at the completion of Year 12. This is a great option for students if they:

• Have a keen interest in working in a trade (e.g. electrical, hairdressing, plumbing, carpentry, healthcare, or aviation)
• Are considering an apprenticeship or traineeship
• Are not considering university studies in the near future
• Unclear about what they would like to do after Year 12
• Have decided to pursue a non-ATAR pathway

Courses available to students under the VET in Schools program also align with the expected skill shortages predicted in our region over the coming years. This means, their skills will be in demand by employers across Queensland.

Please access the following links for further information

• TAFE VET in Schools Program
• Certificate II Aircraft Line Maintenance

For more information, encourage your child to visit the careers page on Yammer or make an appointment.

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) provides school leavers with the opportunity to kick-start their career with a fully paid world-class UNSW Sydney degree at ADFA. Not only do students receive military training, but they earn a salary while studying. Upon graduation, students will walk straight into a job without any university debt.

Visit Defence Jobs for more information.

Students are regularly notified of any upcoming Defence Force information sessions in Cairns through the College’s Careers Yammer page.

You may wish to visit the Defence Force Recruiting events page to find out when the next information session is coming up.

Middle school students have been learning how to write and publish a book review on the Library website. Year 2 students are becoming experts on searching for books, finding out if they are on loan and locating them on the library map before going to the shelves.

Our Prep students' author focus was Mem Fox. They learned some interesting facts about Mem, such as growing up in Zimbabwe and being a teacher of teachers. They made comparisons between the illustrations in her books and listened to Mem Fox read "Hello Baby" on YouTube.

We will be celebrating Book Week during the week of 23^rd August. This year’s theme is “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds”. The week of festivities will include:

Book Week Book Fair

Visit the Learning Centre to purchase books, novelties and posters to help raise funds for the College. All proceeds will go towards purchasing resources for the Learning Centre. We are also inviting families to purchase books to donate to the Library. All donated books will contain a 'thank you' bookplate.

The Book Fair will be open from 7:30 am - 8:30 am and 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm each day during book week.

Book Week Parade & Disco

The Book Week Parade will be held on Friday 27^th August, along with the Junior School Disco.

CBCA Book of the Year Announcements and Book Reviews

The Children’s Book Council of Australia will announce the winners of the “Book of the Year” in several categories. Our Year 5 students will be presenting book reviews during library lessons to celebrate the winners.

Premier’s Reading Challenge Closes

The 2021 Premier’s Reading Challenge closes on Friday 27^th August. All students are required to hand reading logs to their teacher or library staff. Certificates will arrive from the Premier in Term 4. The class who has read the most books will win a fabulous book prize for their classroom.

Book Week Competitions

• Drawing competition – Students are asked to draw a picture of their favourite place in the world, real or imaginary.
• Writing competition – Write a short story or poem about their favourite place in the world, real or imaginary. Extra points will be given for decorations.

There will be four age categories:

• Prep to Year 2
• Years 3 - 5
• Year 6 - 9
• Years 10 - 12

The Parents & Friends of Peace has two events planned for Term 3. We will be hosting our very popular Junior School Book Week Disco and will also have another Father's Day gift stall this term.

Planning is underway for a Trivia Night in Term 4 (Friday night of Week 2). We are now seeking assistance from parents in our school community to ensure this night is a success. If you are able to spare some time to assist, we would love to hear from you.

Help Needed!

Are you able to provide an hour or two of your time? We are seeking volunteer helpers to assist us behind the scenes.

Skills we could utilise are varied and include Excel, administration skills, a bookkeeper or accountant, an exceptional organiser, a stocktaker, an event planning assistant.

No large or regular time commitment is required.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us.

We ask that all members of our community become aware of the important Child Protection Policy available on the College website. It is important to note that Child Protection is everyone’s business, and any inappropriate behaviour that relates to Child Protection will be dealt with by the College using the stated guidelines. Any questions that relate to such matters should be directed in the first instance to the Principal.

PLEASE NOTE: In the event of unforeseen circumstances the above events and associated dates may be subject to change. Please check the Peace Lutheran College website for the most up to date calendar information.

We encourage you to support our school's fundraising efforts through the purchase of an Entertainment Membership which includes lots of benefits that are available in our local area.

All Member offers are subject to terms and conditions. Check individual offers on the Entertainment Membership App or at the Entertainment website for more information.

Saver Plus is a free 10month matched savings and financial management program for parents. Participants make regular deposits into a savings account over 10 months and attend financial skills workshops. At the end of the program, their savings are matched by ANZ up to $500, to be used for education costs such as school uniforms, stationery, excursions, sports uniforms/ fees and laptops.

To find out more about the program and to check your eligibility, please email or call your local Saver Plus Coordinator, Rachel at cairnsSP@thesmithfamily.com.au or 0435 266 284 or visit the website.

The College has a team of dedicated staff who, together, look out for the pastoral care needs of our students. The Student Welfare Officer may provide support to students over a designated period of time, however, if a student requires ongoing and extensive support, the Student Welfare Officer will liaise with external agencies for further assistance as necessary. It should be clarified that the role of our Student Welfare Officer is not one of a ‘School Counsellor’ and that as a College, we are unable to provide ongoing counselling support.

Meeting with the Student Welfare Officer is via appointment or in emergency situations as the need arises. Our preferred referral process is for parents to please make contact with their child’s Home Group or Classroom Teacher as the initial point of contact. This allows us to consider ways we can best provide appropriate support as a school.

There are a number of community organisations we would recommend as services that may be able to assist you further:

General Practitioner – In many cases, speaking with a GP is the most beneficial first step. Your family GP will be able to assist with advice or appropriate referral avenues and support.

• Family and Child Connect (Ph: 13 32 64)
• Headspace Cairns (Ph: 4041 3780) – Youth Mental Health Centre & Services
• Centacare FNQ (Ph: 4044 0130)
• Relationships Australia (Ph: 1300 364 277)
• Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)
• Beyond Blue – Anxiety, depression and suicide prevention support
• eSafety Commissioner

We strive to keep you informed through open, efficient communication. The Peace Lutheran College School App, Facebook and Instagram pages are regularly updated with news, events and important notices.