The College Council would like to extend a big thank you to all the people involved in the accreditation process and the panel meeting earlier this month, which was a reaffirming and positive experience for the College.

They also want to thank Mr Peter Cummings for the Senior School report that provided a good insight into the way Senior School operates, including different pathways the College offers, the rigour of Senior subjects, ATAR results and the academic tracking that takes place to ensure students are successful.

Kathy Close
College Council Chairperson

Dear parents and friends,

Every five years we, and all Independent schools, take part in a review process through the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board. It is an opportunity for schools to demonstrate compliance with accreditation criteria and a commitment to ongoing improvement and change processes.

This year, the five-year cycle was due to occur again, so early in 2021, a review committee was formed, consisting of a representative from Lutheran Education Queensland, a representative from the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District, an external validator from CQU, the College Council Chairperson, our Business Manager, two parent representatives and myself. Throughout this year we have collated information and evidence to demonstrate that we meet set criteria. On Wednesday, 8th September we had Panel Day, which is a culmination of the process and a day to celebrate the achievements and our ongoing commitment to strive for excellence in all that we do.

I feel very blessed to be part of this community. I am grateful for all the people who have contributed to the accreditation process in so many ways, and for all the people that help make Peace the community it is.

Every blessing for the school holidays. I pray for a refreshing and safe break for all. Term 4 begins on Tuesday, 5th October, as Monday, 4th October is the Queen’s Birthday public holiday.

Yours in Christ.

Elisabeth Fenske
Principal

Tuesday the 21st of September is World Gratitude Day. It is recognised each year as a day to show appreciation for all things, big and small. Living a grateful life, like any other habit, takes time to cultivate, but the rewards are plentiful.

Below are five suggestions to make World Gratitude Day count:

1. Take a Moment to Appreciate Your Family: Take a moment to pause and give thanks to your family members for all the good they bring into your life. Tell your siblings how much you appreciate the support they give you, tell your spouse how it feels to be connected and loved. Tell your kids how proud you are of them. Give the dog an extra treat and say thank you for the lessons of unconditional love that only an animal can give.

2. Appreciate the Positives of Being Connected: Social media has impacted how we communicate with each other. We often see the negatives; but just like anything in life, it is about choice. You can choose to have your social media forum be a voice of positivity. Start today. Compliment others, share links for local businesses that go the extra mile, post pictures of the beauty of nature, and make a choice to send out a positive ripple.

3. Be Thankful for Your Community: What if you made it a point to say a heartfelt thank you every time someone made a difference in your community? Give thanks to the volunteers and countless people who give of themselves with no expectation of recognition or thanks.

4. Practise Internal Gratitude: Let yourself look at your life with understanding and loving eyes. Give thanks for each breath, each heartbeat.

5. Give Your Life a Gratitude Makeover: What is the most significant way for you to celebrate World Gratitude Day? Recognise that you don’t have to wait another 364 days to celebrate it again! Make this a daily practice in your life. Begin and end each day with a deep cleansing breath and a prayer of thanks for life itself...make it a grateful day... 

Yours in Christ.

Elisabeth Fenske
Principal

This term we have been involved in extra sporting opportunities in the community with students participating in netball, soccer and tennis. Still to come is Futsal.

Thanks to Mr Dunsmuir for organising these events for us to participate, learn and have fun.

In this last week, Year 2, 4, 6, and 8 students participated in a School Readiness Test in preparation for NAPLAN Online in 2022.

Participating in this trial allows the school to ensure its network capabilities are ready for 2022 real-time tests and also allows students to have exposure and practice to what the tests will be like when they complete testing online next year. These tests are purely for administration and exposure purposes and as such are not personalised and no results are provided.

Students participated in the ABCSL on Tuesday, 7^th September.

Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson has been developed for children between the ages of 4 to 12 years. Our students experienced key personal safety concepts in a fun and interactive way. The content of the lesson is evidence-based and developmentally appropriate for early years to primary school children.

Key learning objectives included:

• To RECOGNISE safe and unsafe situations and body clues
• To REACT to keep ourselves safe
• To REPORT unsafe situations
• To understand HELP SEEKING
• To know that it is adults’ responsibility to keep kids SAFE

For more information, visit Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson | Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

In Week 6 of this Term, one of our College parents, Andrew Kunst, visited Junior School students at assembly to teach us how to be Safety Hero’s. Check out our series of Safety Heroes videos here.

The children learnt about some important electrical safety messages to keep ourselves and your family safe, including:

• Mixing electricity and water can be extremely dangerous. To keep you and your family safe, make sure to always keep electrical bathroom and kitchen appliances away from water and out of reach from younger children.
• Having fun and playing outside with your family is the best! However, it’s important you keep safe while doing so. Powerlines can cause electric shocks and fires so remember to keep away when flying a kite or climbing trees.
• Electrical appliances and equipment need to be handled safely and correctly. If you see a damaged power point or cord, make sure you contact a licensed electrical contractor to replace it immediately. Attempting to do electrical work yourself is illegal and dangerous.
• Always remember to take care, stay line aware when working around your yard. Know where the powerlines are on your property and be aware when moving equipment like ladders and poles so that you do not come in contact with overhead powerlines.

More electrical safety information is available at ergon.com.au/safetyheroes.

On Tuesday, 12^th October we have our College Open Day. As a Junior School parent, there are two experiences you definitely don't want to miss.

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 School 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 Hospitality, Industrial Design & Technology, Science and the Performing Arts Centre.

For students, there is a Treasure Hunt. As they visit each area of the College they collect a stamp on their treasure map. At the end, they will be rewarded with their treasure treat!

In addition to the above Junior School specific activities, there will also be many other displays and activities set up around the campus for you to enjoy.

We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

Kind regards,

Sarah Rowan
Head of Junior School

It’s 1996 - I’m waiting patiently at our family computer for the chaotic hisses and beeps of the dial-up internet to silence and signal my successful connection to 'The World Wide Web'. I want to see whether the boy I met on holiday, with the cute Scottish accent, has emailed me back. The tone drops out and an error message in a drab grey box appears on the screen: Connection Failed. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, my mum has picked up the phone and is dialling the number of a friend to discuss the latest episode of Coronation Street. I would have to wait at least another 30 minutes for my answer!

How lucky are the teenagers of today to never have to suffer as I did 25 years ago?

Of course, while the rapid development of digital technology has brought with it many benefits, some may argue it has opened Pandora’s Box. Whatever your view, there is no doubt that these powerful technologies have brought with them the need for clear skills to be taught and mastered in order to ensure users engage with them in a manner that is safe, responsible and ethical. As adults, we need to be aware not only of the impacts digital technologies can have on our young people but also how and why they are using them as they do. In developing this understanding, we can better support our young people to use them appropriately and with self-efficacy.

‘Growing Up Digital Australia’ (GUAD) is a research project by the Gonski Institute for Education (UNSW) which is exploring the impact digital technologies are having on the minds and bodies of young Australians. The conclusions drawn from the first two phases have now been published and overwhelmingly the results show that parents and educators must work together to ensure we are raising responsible digital citizens. Banning technology completely or passing the buck of educating in this area onto someone else will ultimately do our young people no favours. They need to be digitally literate as these technologies are a part of our future.

So how can parents, caregivers and schools work together to share this responsibility?

While educators must work with young people to skill them in how to use digital spaces in a safe and appropriate manner, GUAD suggests that the initial responsibility lies with parents. Research shows children are accessing digital devices from a young age and therefore they often begin their schooling with deeply ingrained habits. A large proportion of parents who participated in the study acknowledged they were often negatively distracted by digital technology, and it’s worth considering how we can be either a positive or negative role model for children. Although limiting screen time can often seem like the most obvious solution, research suggests “the broader family environment and the extent to which they are involved in setting limits and actively engage in exploring the digital world with their child are significantly more impactful than screen time alone” (University of Oxford, 2017).

Certainly, with the changing curriculum and a push for greater focus on student wellbeing, schools are taking a more explicit approach in teaching digital citizenship; however, it’s important to note that most teachers, like parents, are not trained in how to manage many of the issues that arise from within this space. While we can, and do, participate in Professional Development relating to this area, the rapid development of digital technologies means it will always be a challenge. This is why it’s vital for schools and families to work together to support one another.

• Ask, what are children missing out on when spending time on devices? It is worth discussing this with children and getting them to voice their opinions too, rather than focusing solely on the negatives of screen-time
• Consider what boundaries you have in place around digital technologies? When and where do children use their devices? Do they go to bed with their devices? Are they able to self-regulate their use of devices in order to get a good night’s sleep? Are you able to place parental controls on devices to ensure safe browsing online?
• Learn about the platforms and apps children are using to better understand the impact they can have on them. Do they encourage cyberbullying, sharing of personal data or increase anxiety, depression or obesity? Do children understand how these work and can they control their privacy settings?
• Explore what children are doing online. Are they being passive consumers of content or using technology actively and creatively? What content are they viewing and how is it shaping their own identity and view of the world? How safe or age-appropriate is the content?

And finally,

Gentile and colleagues (2014) found that when parents monitored their kids’ media use through strategies like time restrictions; content restrictions or parental discussion about content, there were social, academic, and physical benefits. Children slept more, were less aggressive, had improved academic performance, and had lower body mass index.

The researchers noted that parents may not notice the immediate effect of restricting and monitoring screen time right away, just as they may not notice a child getting taller day-to-day, but there is what he calls a “ripple effect” where the impact is cumulative and increases over time.

- Growing Up Digital Australia – UNSW; Gonski Institute for Education

Further Reading:

There are many excellent resources for parents on the esafety.gov.au website. Here is a selection you may find useful:

• Online Safety Book
• App Checklist for Parents
• Getting Started - Parental Controls
• Parents' guide to Cyberbullying and Online Drama

Regards,

Kirsten Anderson
Head of Middle School

The College utilises a complex and fully featured firewall and filtering system on campus. Part of this system includes keyword monitoring which goes into regular reports that are sent to relevant staff (including our Heads of School and Student Welfare Officer). Our staff monitor these reports looking for anything that could warrant further investigation for concerning behaviour. Our welfare team are also diligently on the lookout for alerts about harm-based topics and follow up on these kinds of concerns as part of our duty of care.

For more information about our filtering policies, feel free to reach out to our IT department, managers of these systems.

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.

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.

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. We would really appreciate your support through donations for our Sustainable Fashion Market.

I have noticed a number of students with hair that is reaching a length where it either needs to be tied back or cut. In particular, I’m seeing a number of hairstyles and fringes which are sweeping over the eyes; if students choose to have longer styles, they must be clipped back with bobby pins, or similar, while at school.

Likewise, some students have been coming to school with holes in their hats and rips in their sports jackets. Given that Middle School is really focusing on Sustainable Fashion at the moment, I’ve encouraged students to look for a way to repair these uniforms so they look neat and tidy. However, if this cannot be done, we will be asking for students to replace these items. The College website has information about College Dress Standards.

Please use the term break to organise haircuts and replacement uniforms, where needed.

Thank you.

Kirsten Anderson
Head of Middle School

It has been encouraging to have seen a high level of industry in and around the College as students completed their final assessment. They can now all take a well-earned break.

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. The Peace Parent Portal continues to see high use and is an essential tool in making sure you are aware of events, due dates and expectations.

Have a great break and God bless.

Peter Cummings
Head of Senior School

Two Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC) Information Evenings have now taken place to provide advice and support for students applying to University this year. During these sessions, several staff members of the Year 12 Pastoral Care Team were available to provide individual support and answer questions about the application process.

I would like to thank Mrs Eime, Mr O’Mara and Mrs Cummings for their dedication in providing this exceptional level of support for our students and families. Our Pastoral Care Team remains available to both students and their parents to assist with any further queries you may have or information you may require.

Peter Cummings
Head of Senior School

Year 12 External Examinations

Year 12 students are entering the final phase of their studies and ATAR exam students will begin the External Assessment phase in Week 3 of Term 4. Due to COVID's impact in Brisbane, the Music Exam has been moved to the Friday of Week 3.

External examinations are scheduled over four weeks, which leads Year 12s 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.

In preparation for the September holidays and the final phase of revision, Year 12 students and parents will receive a report at the end of this term stating the results so far for internal assessments (IA1-3). This is aimed to clarify where a student is currently in each subject and provide some focus for their final revision for External Examinations. I encourage parents to discuss this with your child and set some clear goals for the days and weeks leading up to their examinations.

Block Mock Exams

General subject students also sat a mock examination in this last week of the term to identify any gaps and weaknesses in their revision so far, so that the remaining weeks are used effectively for students to achieve at their highest potential in the final examinations.

Thank you to our Boarding staff for allowing the Boarders Recreation Centre to be utilised for the ATAR testing throughout the year which has provided 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.

Peter Cummings
Head of Senior School

‘Public use’ sample external assessments: Sample 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 at: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/senior-subjects. They're 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.

As part of their PE class, Mrs Allan's Year 12 students have been analysing their badminton performance through video analysis and feedback to improve on gameplay. The students have been editing their footage to put together their highlight reel for performance assessment. Working together, they will devise a three-session micro-cycle training strategy as part of their IA3 task to evaluate energy systems, training and fitness.

From student ranking data the subject lines are now being finalised and an impressive 99% best-fit match has been achieved for students' preferred subjects. Final subject selections from these lines will take place via a web interface that students and parents can access in the coming weeks.

Parents and students currently in Year 10, will 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.

With much preparation from our Career and Pastoral Care Team, Year 10 students embarked on their work experience in this last week of the term. We are looking forward to hearing their individual experiences and stories. In previous years some students have secured ongoing paid employment and even offers of an apprenticeship through the positive impression they have given our industry partners.

Whatever the outcome, these experiences are formative and allow our students to make decisions about which direction to take, or not take, in subject selection and future career pathways.

As part of our Year 10 HPE program, students have been taking part in pre and post fitness testing to determine and evaluate personal goals. Students then devise and engage in a personal training program over four weeks to challenge themselves on many levels.

As part of this process, students go off campus for group training sessions, consisting of fitness circuits at Yorkey’s Knob and also taking part in a Body Pump session at Sportsworld gym. Mrs Allan (Head of HPE), Mrs Brooker and Mr Wilkinson have been very impressed with the Year 10s throughout the program and unit of work in this last term. Well done to everyone.

In Week 9 of this Term, our Year 11 and 12 Hospitality students prepared a High Tea event as part of their assessment for their Hospitality Practices subject.

Staff were treated to an afternoon of very attentive service, wonderfully tasty delights, served along with tea and coffee. We all felt very special.

Senior students are reminded that as we enter the final summer term the requirement to wear a tie is relaxed but a correct uniform (including an appropriate 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 and I thank you for your support.

Confused about choosing your subjects?

Students from Year 8 through to Year 10 are currently making subject selections for 2022. This can be a daunting and scary task for students, particularly if they are unclear about their future career goals or plans. At this stage in their school (and life) journey, it is normal for students to be unclear as to what their career aspirations or study pathway will be.

Here are some tips and suggestions which may help parents and students:

• Pick subjects you enjoy. If you have a keen interest in art, drama, or love playing an instrument, then choose those subjects. You are more likely to perform better in subjects you enjoy!

• Speak to an expert. The teachers who are teaching the subjects now are the best people to talk to if you want to find out more about what the subject is all about. Year Level Coordinators, Head of Senior School and the Careers Guidance Officer can also help senior students to determine if the combination of subjects on your shortlist will make you eligible for an ATAR or not.

• Be realistic. You might love animals but you’re not great at chemistry or maths and you’re scared of some animals. Looks like becoming a Veterinarian might not be a dream career for you, so think about other options from dog handling in Customs or the Police Force, to animal behavioural studies instead (Study Work Grow, 2021).

Subject Selection is important, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. The subjects you choose now won’t make or break your career success in the future. There will always be alternative pathways and Plan B’s, which we also discuss at school.

Invest time in thinking through your options, but don’t lose sleep over it.

Rebecca Bolton
Careers Guidance Officer

Students in years 10, 11 and 12 recently attended the BLA Careers and Employment Expo. This is attended annually by our entire senior school to enable them to find out more about training, university, career pathways and student accommodation. The event was the biggest yet, with an extensive range of interactive and engaging displays particularly from our local employers and universities.

Thank you to the Business Liaison Association for once again coordinating and organising this opportunity.

Book Week

The Learning Centre celebrated Book Week this term with the theme being 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'. Our students enjoyed participating in our Book Week activities and helped to decorate our Library. Miss Marcelle did an exceptional job making Terrie the T-Rex over two months, using cardboard and hot glue, and he was a big hit amongst our students.

Book Fair

Thank you to all of the families and staff who purchased a book, poster or trinkets from the Book Week Book Fair. We raised $2,000 to purchase new resources for our Learning Centre.

Students were encouraged to draw an illustration of an Old World, New World or Other World, or write a short story or poem. The winners of our Book Week Competitions are:

• Georgia, Paige and Chloe – Best illustration, lower Junior School
• Kara – Best illustration, upper Junior School
• Tekoa – Best illustration, Middle/Senior School
• Lilli – Best poem or short story

Year 5 students immersed themselves in all of the shortlisted Children’s Book Council Book of the Year nominations. Thank you to the following students who wrote, published and presented Book Week Reviews:

Iggy, Joshua, Sophie, Rachel, Eleanor, Kara & Noah

Term 3 has been very busy for the P&F. We have successfully hosted two events - the Junior School Disco and the Father’s Day Gift Stall.

Book Week culminated with the Peace Centre coming alive with children dancing in their beautiful Book Week costumes under the vibrant new disco lights, purchased by the P&F.

The Father’s Day Gift Stall is always very popular and the children enjoyed having the opportunity to purchase gifts.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful parent helpers who assisted at both of these events, and to our sponsors, The Red Beret Hotel, The Distributors, Woolworths and Bunnings. Without this support, it would not be possible for us to host successful events.

In Term 3, new water bubblers and drink bottle refill stations were installed around the College. This is the culmination of a project that the P&F has been working on with the College and we hope the students enjoy the chilled filtered water as we move towards the warmer months of the year.

We wish all College families a restful school holiday period

Kind regards,

P&F Committee

Thank you to our PNG students for their efforts in organising the celebration of PNG Independence Day and sharing their love for their culture with us all. And thank you also the friends and family who joined us on the day.

Our Middle School students are saying 'no' to fast fashion... and they need your help.

Did you know that 500,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfills in Australia every year? In an effort to recycle and be more sustainable, our Middle School Captains are organising a Sustainable Fashion Market and they would love to receive your donations in support of their initiative. All funds raised from the market will be used to purchase new recreational equipment for the school.

We would happily receive any clothing donations that are recently washed with no stains; are in good condition, e.g. no holes, broken zips, etc.; and are suitable for Middle and Senior School aged students and adults. We would also appreciate being able to loan clothes rails/racks and coat hangers if anyone has these items they would be happy to lend us for the event.

Drop off points are located at the Administration Office and Ms Anderson's office in Middle School. We thank you in advance for your support of this initiative of our Middle School Captains.

Earlier this term, the Year 10 Drama students spent time talking with Year 2s, getting to know them, their likes and dislikes, gathering information to help guide them in writing a script for their performance to be delivered to this very same audience.

Component 1 of the project required the Year 10 students to exam the information they had gathered and then pitch their ideas to their Drama teacher, Mr O'Mara. Component 2 of the project was the performance, which was all about 'The Power of Friendship'. The Year 10 Drama students certainly got the brief right, and, as result, delivered an engaging performance that had their audience gasping, laughing and interacting.

We are excited to introduce our new OSHC team members:

• Vanessa Gillam - OSHC Coordinator
• Courtney Foot - Lead Educator
• Brianna Lorne - Diploma qualified Educator
• Lauryn Sciacca - Inclusion Support Educator

Our OSHC team has a wealth of knowledge and experience that they put into practice through enhancing the learning environments to support and benefit children for the best outcomes. We are grateful for the warm welcome that we have experienced with our families and the school community.

Community and Family Connections

As a team we hope to get to know you all better, please feel free to approach any one of us and share any ideas or input that you may have. We do have a communication book on the front desk, this is for parent communication and any feedback that you may like to share.

Activities

We are really enjoying Spring and the glorious plants that are popping out to display their beauty, in particular the Ginger Torch which is quite unique to the Queensland climate. Our budding artists were so inspired by these flowers that they decided to paint them and make a wall display for all to admire.

We are looking forward to the end of term holidays where we join the vacation care program with lots of exciting adventures, excursions and activities. We are going to have a fantastic time. If you require a vacation care position for the coming holidays, don't forget to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Kind regards,

Vanessa and the OSHC Team

OSHC is in need of community donations such as off-cuts of timber to use for creative arts, construction and to design and create amazing architectural pieces. We would also appreciate donations of any furniture items such as chairs, couches, or cushions.

OSHC & Vacation Care Program Hours

• Before School Care: 6:30 am – 8:30 am
• After School Care: 2:45 pm – 6:00 pm
• Vacation Care: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

OSHC & Vacation Care Program Costs

• Before School Care:
  Permanent Bookings - $18 per child
  Casual Bookings - $20 per child
• After School Care:
  Permanent Bookings - $25 per child
  Casual Bookings - $28 per child
• Vacation Care:
  Permanent Bookings - $53 per child
  Casual Bookings - $60 per child

Tuesday, 12th October 2021 : 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Our Open Day will see the doors of our College open, providing a wonderful opportunity for our families and the wider community to venture into our beautiful grounds.

The afternoon will be full of informative sessions, activities and entertainment.

• Information sessions about Junior School, Middle School and Senior School
• Open classrooms
• College tours
• Interactive displays
• Stalls showcasing student work
• Student-led entertainment
• Meet the Principal
• Speak with teachers
• Meet our students
• Enjoy complimentary food

Open Day Program

• 2:30 pm - Junior School Learning Expo (currently enrolled families)
• 3:00 pm - Junior School tour of Middle & Senior School (currently enrolled families)
• 3:30 pm - Registration for all attendees
• 3:45 pm- Welcome to Country & Principal’s Welcome
• 3:50 pm - Science Presentation by Prof. Jamie Seymour
• 4:15 pm - Whole School Tours & Open Classrooms
• 5:00 pm - Principal’s Meet & Greet
• 5:15 pm - Whole School Tours & Open Classrooms
• 6:15 pm - Q& A Sessions

We encourage you to come along and venture into areas of the College that you perhaps have not seen before, or haven't visited for a while.

Registration is essential. In order to meet adhere to COVID safe measures, registration is required.

We look forward to seeing you on the day.

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.

Entertainment Membership has some great savings for school holiday periods. Your purchase of an Entertainment Membership contributes to our school's fundraising efforts. For a limited time, when you purchase a Single City Membership, you will receive a FREE Multi-City upgrade + an extra month FREE.

Roadway Upgrades

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has recently completed the Cairns Western Arterial Road – Harley Street intersection upgrade. The contractor is currently undertaking some final works to tidy up. TMR is investigating options to further improve the settings of the traffic signals at the upgraded intersection.

Walking Pathway Constructed for Safety

As part of the project's upgrades, a pathway from the intersection to Cowley Street was constructed. Students and parents can use this pathway to walk safely between the Harley Street intersection and Peace Lutheran College.

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.

Peace Lutheran College acknowledges the Yirrganydji & Djabugay People, Traditional Custodians of the land in which we live and work. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.