Dear Peace Community,

It has been an exciting period of discovery and wonder since my appointment as Principal here at PLC a little over 6 months ago. I have been blessed with the opportunity to experience the daily rhythms of college life through the eyes of students, parents, and staff. I have listened, discussed, observed, and reflected on the ways PLC thrives as a community, as well as the speed humps and potholes which sometimes get in the way.

As a result of these reflections, and in consultation with the College Council, the College Leadership Team, and staff, we are looking to make some adjustments to our general operation. These adjustments are designed to give alignment to our values and strategic intentions, address points of clarity for our community, and give reassurance to the direction the college is taking to support students and their families.

College Timetable

The College timetable has undergone several changes in recent years to accommodate requirements for changes to the Lutheran Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) for working hours, Non-State School Accreditation Board (NSSAB) and Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) subject time requirements, and Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) teaching expectations. Each time, we have had to make modifications to the timetable which has led to confusion and uncertainty.

However, following an extensive consultation period with staff and external providers, we have harmonized all the requirements from these three areas to produce a consistent, simple, and cohesive timetable to suit the needs of both primary and secondary students.

The benefits, including meeting the needs of the external stakeholders (EBA, NSSAB, QCAA, LEA), include:

• Consistency - same start and finish times every day for students, with Primary School starting five minutes later and finishing five minutes earlier than Secondary School.
• Simplicity – same times and structure every day for every student, with Secondary having a Home Group every morning, 45-minute lessons, and 30-minute break times every week.
• Cohesion – allows staff and students from both Primary and Secondary to interact.

The new timetable will commence operations at the beginning of 2024.

Programs to Enhance Student Learning

As a part of the College’s commitment to excellence in learning, it is investing in a range of learning experiences designed to support all students to be enriched and extended. Some of these 2024 initiatives include:

• 2-hour literacy block every morning for Prep-Year 5 students;
• The introduction of a 2-year transition program from Primary into Secondary for all Year 6 and 7 students, focusing on increased learning time for literacy and numeracy skills development, access to specialist teachers for Science and Languages, and access to Secondary facilities in Industrial Technology and the Performing Arts;
• Increased Learning Assistant time for all Year 1-5 classes to assist classroom teachers in differentiating learning experiences for students;
• All Year 8 students undertaking the Accelium program in Semester 1 which develops higher-order cognitive, social, and emotional skills using strategy games;
• Additional learning time to be provided for Careers and Health in Year 10;
• The introduction of Psychology and Literature as ATAR pathway options for Year 11 students;
• Increasing the provision for flexible learning options for Year 11 and 12 students, both on and off-campus;
• Providing English as Additional Language and Dialect (EALD) support, including classes and teachers, from Prep through to Year 10 to assist the growing number of international and indigenous students.

Capital Investment for the Future

To support the initiatives above, the College is embarking on an ambitious capital works program over the next 18 months. These include:

• The installation of a new senior primary playground space below the existing structure to increase the play space for students;
• The installation of air-conditioning in the Peace Centre, with Stage 1 to commence in Term 4 and Stage 2 to be completed before the commencement of Term 1, 2024;
• The construction of a three-room Kindergarten located in front of the existing Primary stop-drop-go to increase student numbers at Primary. Work is set to commence in Term 4 with completion set for the end of Term 1, 2024;
• The existing OSHC will be relocated into the existing Kindergarten building following some modifications to the building to help increase the capacity to support working families during the Term 1 holidays;
• The current OSHC building will be renovated to incorporate a new space for Primary Japanese and add additional staff space for professional learning;
• The construction of two external basketball/netball courts to enhance the PE and Sports programs of the college and increase play space for primary students;
• Renovation of current Year 6/7 learning spaces to accommodate the new transition program;
• The installation of two portable classrooms, one for digital technologies and the other for the Year 8/9 Applied Learning classes to ensure enough learning spaces for students;
• The installation of new office space to accommodate the Directors of Culture, Teaching, Learning, and Educational Operations between the existing Hub and Secondary Building to improve communication accessibility; and
• The conversion of an existing classroom into a Science lab to accommodate Year 6 lessons.

The next 12-18 months promise to be an exciting time of innovation as the College continues to build on its legacy as a place of Christian faith and excellence in learning.

Shane Jurecky
Principal

The rains have stopped, for the time being, and the sun is back out. The mornings are crisp and afternoons warm with temperatures slowly beginning to rise. The end of the term is in sight and although the intensity of school doesn’t seem to ease, the load feels a bit lighter.

I find that Term 3 is always one of the busiest times of the school year, but also one of the most rewarding. Students are comfortable in their classes and the months of hard work become evident with the tangible progress made in their learning.

Read on to find out more about what our students have been up to in Term 3.

Kind regards,

Laura Robinson and Christina Jacobsen
Directors of Primary

Term 3 started off strong with PLC celebrating NAIDOC week in style. The Primary School held a Deadly Door Competition, with the Year 5s winning by a small margin. They had very close competition from the Year 6s and Prep A classes. Well done to all our competitors.

In addition, we had the Mornington Island Dancers pop in for an impromptu performance. We were treated to some beautiful island dancing with many of our staff and students getting in on the action.

Of course, we also held our whole school NAIDOC chapel showcasing our own homegrown talent on stage. Many of our students proudly displayed their national heritage as they shared their culture with our community.

Year 1 celebrated 100 days of learning by dressing up as if they were 100 years old. They participated in an incursion from the Cairns Museum where they could see how household items and toys had evolved from the ‘olden days’. They churned milk to make butter and got to sample it. The children created clothespin dolls and played some games that were popular in their grandparents’ day such as ‘knuckles’ which have evolved into our modern-day ‘jacks’.

Vintage Day

The Year 2 students have investigated how technology has changed our lives over time and also explored a significant local place. As part of this learning, they held a ‘Vintage Day’ where teachers set half of the classroom up as an olden-day classroom. Students dressed up in costumes from long ago wrote on chalkboards, addressed each other by last names, and played some games such as marbles, hoops, croquet, pick-up sticks, and elastics. The students had a great time, asked lots of questions, and held a wonderful discussion about the use of the cane and how school was so different back then.

View all the photos from this fun day on our College Facebook page.

Kuranda Scenic Railway Excursion

Year 2 also embarked on an excursion on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Students completed an information report on the railway as part of their significant local site unit. Everyone seemed to have a great time on the train, the class had a carriage to themselves, and it was an absolutely gorgeous day for an excursion. Students later used their experience to think about why it is significant, some important facts about the train, and to think of ways in which the community can protect it for future generations.

The Year 3s have had a very busy term of learning as well. They started the term off with a PBL unit which had a focus on Australian geography.

Living Historians

As part of their PBL Unit “Who are Australia’s Neighbours?” Year 3 welcomed five kind adults into the classroom to talk about countries that they knew well. Students were able to quiz Evalyn about New Zealand, Daphne about India, Jonathan about Papua New Guinea, Mindi about Vanuatu, and Priya about Fiji. Thank you to all volunteers for your wonderful contributions – your memories and expert knowledge really brought these places to life for our students.

Hartley's Crocodile Farm

Toward the end of Term 2, Year 3 went on an exciting excursion to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. They travelled by bus to Hartley’s, anticipating the adventure awaiting them. Upon our arrival, students ate morning tea in the picnic area to fuel them for the day ahead. They then went crocodile spotting on their own private boat tour and watched fascinated as the crocodiles leaped from the water to eat the treats offered by our guides. This was followed by a crocodile feeding show and a private reptile show, with opportunities to pat snakes and lizards.

After lunch, the students went on a scavenger hunt to locate animals matching specific criteria on their scavenger hunt sheet. The excursion was voted as “brilliant”, “the best ever” and “excellent”, and the final comment goes to one student, “This is the best day ever, I got to pat a kangaroo!”.

Book Week was a fun-filled extravaganza this year. Students dressed in their favourite characters and paraded down the aisle to the beat of some cool Disney songs. Mr Biancotti and Mr Brown were the MCs of the event and, as always, had the audience giggling with their antics. Afterward, we enjoyed a relaxing morning tea on the Peace Green together as a community.

See the full photo album of all the wonderfully creative dress-ups on our Facebook page.

Science Week is always a popular time of the year. Students in Prep to Year 2 conducted experiments with Mrs. Evered who visited each year level with her white lab coat and clipboard ready to investigate.

Year 1 made Lava lamps and learned about the chemical reaction.

When the Alka-Selzer tablet dropped in the oil and water, it sunk to the bottom because it was more dense than oil and more dense than water. In the water layer, the tablet began to dissolve and the chemicals in the tablet reacted with each other creating bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

The children loved watching the coloured bubbles rising to the top!

Years 3-6 held a science carousel where they visited each other’s classrooms to investigate and trial various experiments.

Mrs Cummings held her annual Science Fair and invited the students from upper primary to join in the fun. She assembled a crew of budding scientists from Secondary School to lead demonstrations for Years 3-6, where they were able to participate in experiments and deduce answers to set questions from what they had seen and experienced.

The Primary School also held a homework competition during the week, inviting students to research a famous scientist and present their findings in a creative way. Each year level had students enter and Mrs Cummings, as our resident scientist, picked the winners from each year level. The level of enthusiasm and the creativity of our students were evident in the many entries received. Here are a few of our Year 3 students proudly displaying their work.

Our Year 6 students spent the week in the Secondary Science labs. The focus in Year 6 for Science in Term 3 was Chemistry, which is the study of matter and the ways in which it changes. Students learned that knowing what 'matter' is, matters. In preparation for this unit and their transition into Secondary School, they also engaged in a Laboratory Safety Induction. The students have learned how to work safely within the Science labs, how to light a Bunsen Burner, and how to participate in a number of experiments.

Preps participated in their very first colour run this term! They warmed up with Mrs. Kingsley doing a bit of Zumba stretching and then were paired with Year 12s who led them around the school oval. There were squeals of laughter, bright splashes of colour, and big smiles everywhere.

Our Primary School Concert Band participated in Eisteddfod again this year. Under the supervision of Ms Hannah Trotter, the band performed the piece, ‘Funky Town’ which won them 2^nd Place in this prestigious competition. A fabulous result again this year!

Here are a few Term 4 dates for your calendar. There are also several Year-level activities planned, and teachers will be in touch about these nearer the time.

Term 4 will be a busy 9 weeks!

With September now upon us, it has been encouraging to see a high level of industry in and around the college with students completing their final assessment and looking towards 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.

Secondary students are reminded that as we enter the final summer term the requirement to wear a tie is relaxed but the 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.

Have a great break and God Bless.

Peter Cummings
Director of Secondary School

Year 12 Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) Information Pack

Date: Week commencing 4th September 2023

An information pack will be distributed to Year 12 students during this week. This pack will provide detailed information about university applications through QTAC and the application processes involved with studying beyond school. The information is relevant for all students and families, including those who are considering studying at TAFE, deferring study, or having a gap year, and will cover key dates, how to apply, how to decide which study preference to put first, and how to reorder preferences later.

Year 12 QTAC Application Evening

Date: Thursday, 5th October 2023, 6 pm to 7:15 pm

Experienced teachers will be available, on a drop-in basis, to provide 1:1 personalised support for each Year 12 student and their family to submit a QTAC application.

From student ranking data the subject lines are now being finalised. 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 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.

The preparations are now complete for Year 10 students to embark on their work experience in Week 10. 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. All the best Year 10!

Year 12 students are entering the final phase of their studies and ATAR exam 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.

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 at clarifying where a student is currently in each subject and providing some focus for their final revision for external examinations. I encourage parents to discuss this with their child and set some clear goals for the days and weeks leading up to their examinations.

General subject students will sit a mock examination in Week 9 to identify any gaps and weaknesses in their revision so far so that the remaining weeks are used effectively for students to achieve their highest potential in the final examinations.

Thank you again to Boarding for allowing the Boarders Recreation Centre to be used 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 2023 Year 12 students and their efforts to navigate through the challenges of their final year.

‘Public use’ sample external assessments - sample papers were developed to help schools and students prepare for external assessment in 2023.

Preparing students for external assessment in 2023

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.

In addition to the regular recycling activities, the Environmental Group has been very busy beautifying the grounds with some extensive planting this term. It is only with the valuable time, input, and advice from teaching and ground staff, that our students enjoy these opportunities to give back to the community.

The Secondary School Environmental group is always looking for volunteers to help with continuing their recycling efforts. As the end of the Year 12 student’s studies approaches we need students to take up the torch and continue this effort which is now in its 14^th year. The group does a fantastic job of mulching, planting, and pruning. Many students are currently seeking references for their University place applications and accommodation. Participation in community efforts such as this reflects very favourably on our participating students and makes for an interesting resume.

We’ve had a full and fun term in Boarding so far. It’s been wonderful to celebrate our boarders’ successes in academic, sporting, and extra-curricular fields, and to see how they grow and change.

Quite a few of our boarders participate in club sports and casual employment, and it’s fulfilling to see them get involved in the wider community.

Our boarding houses operate like busy, full households: Together, we navigate the challenges of living in close quarters long after the school bells stop ringing. We take our hats off to these young people who are so far from family and home. Thankfully we’ve built a strong team of boarding supervisors who support and nurture our boarders.

We also thank our superb team of gap year workers: Charlize, Taya, Daniel, and Eleanor. These four organise a wide range of activities to keep our boarders busy and engaged every afternoon and weekend. Some of the Term 3 highlights have been:

• Cairns Show
• Ice skating
• Painting canvases
• Rabbitohs vs. Dragons NRL Game
• Kuranda Koala Gardens
• Shaylee’s Strawberry Farm
• Lake Tinaroo

As the weather is warming up, we have a lot more exciting excursions and activities planned.

One highlight of Term 3 is always the College NAIDOC celebration. This year, the activities and ceremony were outstanding, reflecting the culture, community, and spirit of many of our boarders. It was a joy to welcome some of their families to PLC to celebrate with us.

Our boarding community often expands to welcome visitors to the College. In Week 3, we hosted a large group of students and staff from Gulf Christian College, Normanton. We were thrilled to see them playing and laughing with our boarders, and they were grateful for our hospitality. In the coming weeks, we will have visits from students from Doomadgee and Pormpuraaw, adding to our bustling Term 3 calendar.

Suzanne Connelly
Head of Girls Boarding

The importance of reading.

Reading to children is something we do from the time our children are born. It is essential that as parents and teachers, we continue to read aloud to our children; picture books, novels, newspapers, and online articles on current events.

By reading aloud to children, adults model fluency and accuracy, and this improves their understanding or comprehension of what is being read. When listening to someone read, children experience the rhythm and flow of the language and the language patterns, structures, and vocabulary of the story. Reading aloud to your children helps build prior knowledge of concepts, vocabulary, and language patterns which all vary depending on the type of written materials being read.

10 reasons to read aloud to children:

• Improves listening skills.
• Becomes something they enjoy and look forward to.
• Creates a community – at home and in the classroom.
• Develops expression and inflection.
• Increases vocabulary across all learning areas.
• Improves comprehension across all learning areas.
• Builds connections and starts conversations.
• Develops imagination.
• Improves general knowledge.
• It is a skill for lifelong learning.

At PLC, all staff encourage students to read. In particular, the Learning Centre promotes reading events such as the Reader's Cup and the Premier's Reading Challenge. The College has just celebrated Book Week and held a book fair. If you have not had a chance to read about or would like to know more about these events, please contact the College.

As mentioned in the last College newsletter, the College has a legal responsibility to ensure students are able to access their educational opportunities. We ask all parents and caregivers to support your child to attend school as often as possible. If your child is unwell for more than three days in a row, please send any medical certificates through to your child’s Home Group teacher to be placed on file. Attendance below 90% is of concern and the Heads of House and Home Group teachers have been asked to follow up with students who have missed a significant amount of school.

Why does attendance at school matter? You may like to view this short clip:

The message of this clip is powerful: Presence + Participation = Success.

Image source: https://coomeraspringsss.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news/news/every-day-counts

Image source: https://www.hartschool.org.uk/main/parents/attendance

Image source: https://www.hartschool.org.uk/main/parents/attendance

A range of resources are available from Education Queensland to support parents and families:

https://education.qld.gov.au/initiatives-and-strategies/initiatives/every-day-counts/for-parents-and-community and https://education.qld.gov.au/initiativesstrategies/Documents/infographic-parents.pdf

During August, Kirsty Lush visited the College to provide further in-class support sessions. Kirsty also toured the Boarding facilities and provided a specific professional development session for Boarding staff. We recognise that Boarding is a home away from home, and we are excited to embed language and expectations, and a deep sense of care for our Boarding students. We continue to explore how to empower staff and students with language to express how another person’s words and actions impact us. We hold ourselves and one another accountable for the impact of our own behaviour in a respectful manner.

The use of restorative practices equips students with the ability to engage in and learn from honest and sometimes difficult conversations.

Teachers are now exploring the use of circles as a way to check in, check out, or explain ideas about a topic, prepare groups for events and outings, set up for new learning, or restore a broken situation. Secondary School teachers are considering how their classrooms can be rearranged to include a circle or U-shape occasionally. Have you heard your child speak about the use of circles at school? In a circle, each person is equal and respected, and a valuable member of the group.

To explore more about restorative practices, you may like to view this short clip:

Image source: http://downeastrestorativejustice.org/?p=72

We are currently working on the Student Engagement Plan (SEP), with Kirsty Lush, to provide a brief overview of our intentions as a College in the space of restorative practices. We will have a dedicated place on the College website when this is ready – watch this space!

How can parents, families, and caregivers work positively with the College for great outcomes for their children? We encourage parents, families, and caregivers to come in and see us when they have questions because we value working in partnership with you to benefit your child.

The key cultural celebrations of the College have been a highlight of the Term 3 calendar. We were excited to join our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families, and friends to celebrate NAIDOC on Wednesday 26th of July.

View all the photos from our NAIDOC celebrations on the College's Facebook page.

On Monday, 4th September, the College welcomed families and friends to the College to celebrate PNG Independence Day. Thank you to Serah Merrick, College Captain, for organising this event in the background.

View all the photos from our PNG Independence Day celebrations on the College's Facebook page.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in helping to organise and present these special moments. We look forward to further opportunities in the future to celebrate special moments and strengthen our partnership with family and friends of all cultures who attend the College.

We are already planning the 2024 calendar and will earmark key cultural dates and events to reduce disruptions to learning time.

We were also blessed this term to have had the opportunity to spend time with students from Japan who visited the College on a cultural exchange program. The students attended half days and were supported by their PLC buddies from Years 8, 9, and 10. The students were also able to join us for our annual NAIDOC ceremonial chapel which they thoroughly enjoyed. And within the short space of the week, they learned John Williamson's, "Home Among the Gum Trees" and sang it for us at their farewell. These cultural exchanges are a highlight and show that Peace Lutheran College is reaching out into the world beyond us. We provide a first-class English immersion experience, which is supported by dedicated staff.

The Year 11 students have been investigating a social justice issue of choice within a small group. This past week, students began presenting their research and ideas to the cohort. One topic was world hunger, and it was fantastic to know that people had been inspired by this session to go out and help volunteer at Rosies – Friends on the Street soon after.

Learning about social justice issues has helped the Year 11 students to think more about the world beyond themselves, and how they are encouraged to use their head, heart, and hands in service to others. We have looked at globalisation, which is the way the world is interconnected and one part of the world can have an impact on another.

Please ask your Year 11 child which topic their group researched. Some common questions we are asking as the groups present are:

• What is the most surprising or challenging thing you have found out?
• Why should we care about this topic?
• In what ways could this social justice issue be present in Australia?

After last week’s Religion and Ethics lesson on world hunger, the Year 11 students were inspired and challenged to begin volunteering at Rosies – Friends on the Street. Thank you to those students and families who have completed the required forms to enable students to volunteer for this program.

Your generosity in donating small items is much appreciated on behalf of those who receive items from Rosies. If you want to be involved, small items can be dropped off at College Administration for our student volunteer teams to pass onto Rosies. See the image below for some suggestions of donation items needed.

These items can be dropped off to the College Administration for the attention of Pastor Adam, Mrs. Juanita Eime, or Mrs. Johnston.

At the end of Term 3, we have block exams for Year 12 and mock exams for Year 11. An appropriate ‘dad joke’ at this point is to say, “It will be a testing time”. Jokes aside, exam time is stressful for many and we pray that our students will be at peace and be rewarded for their study and hard work with good results.

Outside of school and the educational setting, tests are pretty common in life. Commercial products and medications are tested before they are released to the public. Infrastructure is tested so that we can go about daily life trusting that we are safe. People, too, are tested. They must pass driver's license tests, physical exams, workplace health and safety checks, and ‘tests’ for skills and proficiency at work.

In the Bible, we read of times when God gave tests. He subjected Abraham's faith to a severe test when He told him to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise. Jesus was tested three times in the wilderness by the devil. As a teacher, He gave an oral test to Philip when He asked, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (John 6:5). The Bible tells us, "He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do" (John 6:6). Jesus tested the faith of the Canaanite mother when for a while He seemingly ignored her pleas for her sick daughter. She passed the test with flying colours, for Jesus said, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted" (Matthew 15:28).

And we all know from experience the test of temptation – to do the wrong thing. Even Jesus faced this temptation in the wilderness, as told in Matthew chapter 4. Of course, Jesus does not give in to temptation. There is also the test of our faith and trust in God in the face of adversity and difficulties. This is also an experience that Jesus shared, as seen in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus prays, “Lord, take this cup of suffering from me” and then places his trust in our Heavenly Father (Mark 14:36).

Temptation, and tests of our faith, will come our way. What do we do when this happens? We do what Jesus did: adhere to the Word of God. We seek to grow stronger in our faith by frequent participation in the Lord's Supper. God gives us strength when we ask Him for it. We become more frequent in prayer, asking God to strengthen us. We apply ourselves to our work with diligence. Through these activities, God will give us peace in anxious moments, and strengthen our faith.

Dear Lord Jesus, give us strength enough to meet every test of faith. Amen.

God bless,

Pastor Adam

Chapel for Secondary School is regularly on Wednesday mornings at 8:15 am, and for Primary School at 2:30 pm on Friday afternoons. Parents and friends are always welcome to attend, and as usual, we have had Pastor Greg Schiller from Trinity Lutheran church as a regular visitor to the Primary chapel. Pastor Greg has since retired, but he visited the College for one more Primary School chapel on the last day of Term 2.

I would also like to thank the staff and students who assisted with a chapel for both Secondary and Primary Schools while I was on long service leave.

I became a student of PLC two weeks before the Solo Right Journey. We went to Woodleigh Station and tried to survive alone for 24 hours. This allowed me to disconnect from devices and other people while experiencing nature and taking a break from everything. I enjoyed my camping because of all the animals, little rivers, and trees, especially at night time seeing shooting stars and experiencing the silence. This helped me realize that if I ever had to be alone, I would be responsible enough to do so and I would be alright.

Well, another term has flown by, and this one was not just busy, but also a successful term in school sport. The term was jam-packed with several interschool competitions taking place. Whilst our carnivals for 2023 have been run and won, it is great to see so many of our students involved in school sports throughout the year and into Term 3, with so many of our teams being competitive.

Once again, congratulations to all of our students who have represented our college, district, or region in Term 3. Thank you to our staff who continue to support our students in their sporting endeavours.

As always, if you have any questions regarding school sports, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Read on to find out about how our students performed in the opener for the JSS season; how our athletes went in the TCN Athletics Carnival; and the results of our inter-school sports competitions.

Yours in sport,

Alex Collins
Secondary School Sports Coordinator

As Semester 2 commenced, so did our JSS season for 2023. An expanded competition this year resulted in a North Pool (Peace Lutheran College, St Andrew’s, Cairns State High School, and St Augustine’s) and a South Pool (Woree State High School, Bentley Park College, St Mary’s, and MacKillop), the level of competition was expected to go up a notch.

Our season got underway with an away game against St. Augustine’s/St. Monica’s in Week 1. Saints prove to be very hard to beat at the best of times and it was no different this time around. Although we were unable to win any fixtures, our students still brought the same energy as they always do, in particular our Year 7 students who were playing JSS for the very first time. The rounds that then followed against Cairns State High School, Saints (boys only), and St. Andrew’s proved to be very disruptive due to inclement weather, the TCN Athletics Carnival, and other factors out of our control. However, our best round yet was our most recent one in Week 8 against St Andrew’s, where we came away with three draws and two wins, a great way to finish JSS for Term 3.

JSS will re-commence in Week 1 of Term 4 with a home game against Saints (girls only). Some catch-up games will also be played for those teams whose fixtures were affected in Term 3.

Keep up the great work everyone, and thank you as always to our Coaches for all of their hard work and extra effort they put in.

The major interschool sporting event in Term 3 was the TCN Athletics Carnival, which took place at Barlow Park on Wednesday 2^nd, and Thursday 3^rd of August. Despite at times some adverse and cyclonic weather conditions, our 41-strong team of athletes represented themselves and our college with pride. Of these 41, 14 students were selected for the TCN Athletics team to compete at the Peninsula Trials. Our students achieved some outstanding results with many of them securing a place on the podium across several events and some even finishing in the Top 5 of their age group. A huge congratulations must go to all of the students who competed. Once again, you have done an outstanding job.

As I mentioned previously, 14 students went on to represent TCN at the Peninsula Trials, also held at Barlow Park. From these 14, three gained selection in the Peninsula Track and Field Team to compete at the state championships in Brisbane later in the year. Congratulations to Marjorie A., Joel M., and Dallas P. for their selection! We wish you all the very best as you prepare to compete at the state championships.

Week 6 and 7 proved to be the busiest weeks of the term with three different interschool sporting competitions being held. Firstly, on Friday 25^th August, both the Fowler’s Cup Netball and Northern 7’s Rugby Union competition took place. This proved to be a very busy and challenging day in terms of staffing and logistics. However, without the support of our Administration, Transport and Catering teams, and Mrs Brooker, our Relief Coordinator, it would not have been possible to have in excess of 60 students attend both events.

All three of our Fowler’s Cup Netball teams were extremely competitive all day, winning several games. Well done girls - your attitude and commitment were impressive. Thank you to Mrs Allan, Miss Stout, and Mrs Beattie for supporting our teams on the day with your coaching and umpiring expertise.

The three teams that competed at the Northern 7’s Rugby Union competition also achieved some fantastic results. Our Under 15s and Open teams both topped their pools to progress to their respective semi-finals before going down in close encounters. Our Under 13s team though was the highlight of the day making the Grand Final, despite only having seven players, before unfortunately going down by only one try. Thank you to Mr Kirkwood and Daniel for attending the tournament and helping with coaching and refereeing.

Tuesday 29^th August saw our Year 10 boys Rugby League 9’s team play in the FNQ Secondary Schools Rugby League 9’s tournament, held at Stan Williams Park. In our pool games, we came up against Djarrgun College, Woree State High School, Atherton State High School, and Babinda/Yarrabah, coming away with two wins and two defeats. Unfortunately, our results meant that we did not progress through to the Grand Final, but all of the boys played outstandingly. Competitions like these are a great way to see students in another environment and often bring out the best in them.

Thank you once again to all of the students who, without fail, do a great job in representing our great college.

It has been a busy term with many of the students wanting to participate in a variety of competitions and tournaments.

FNQ Futsal

We started the term with the FNQ Futsal Titles. We entered teams in the U10 and U12 girls' competition. As well as, U10, U11, and U12 boys teams. All of the teams tried their best and it was wonderful to see each team work together and display great camaraderie and team spirit. A special mention to the U12 girls who finished their tournament as champions.

JGFA School Soccer

Recently we entered the Jamie Gosling Football Academy School Soccer tournaments. These were played over two days and the Holloways Beach Sporting Complex was saturated with girls and boys from across Cairns playing for their school. Of the four teams that entered, our U12 boys had the most success, finishing as runners–up in their competition. The team narrowly lost to Holy Cross in the final. All four teams were great ambassadors for PLC and we received many nice comments about our new school sporting uniforms.

Fowler's Cup Netball

We had four mixed netball teams participate in the Fowlers Cup. The U10 and U12 tournaments were an opportunity for our students to experience playing netball against other schools in a non-competitive environment. Though no official scores were kept, I am sure if you ask the players of the four teams, they will happily explain that we played very well and managed to score a number of goals in most of their games.

Cricket Blast

The knockout Cricket Blast competition was played again at the Trinity Beach Sporting Complex. This is an 8-aside variation for younger players to expose them to the exactment of T20 cricket. Everyone must take turns bowling, batting, wicketkeeping, and fielding. Our two teams had three matches over the event. Peace Team 1, won two of their three matches and Peace Team 2 won all three. Congratulations to Peace Team 2 who now qualify for the regional finals on October 6.

TCN Track & Field

The Trinity Coast North sporting calendar is almost complete for the year. The biggest of these events, the TCN Track and Field was held mid-way through the term. Thank you to all the parents and families for helping with the logistical challenges of transporting the children to Barlow Park. After the two days of competition, Rodney S., Levi S., and Luanna G. qualified for the Peninsula trails. Luanna has gone on to be selected for the Peninsula Track and Field team after winning the U11 100m and placing 3^rd in the 200m. Luanna will now travel to Brisbane in October for the State Championships and we wish her the best of luck for her races.

Term 3 in schools is always action-packed, and here at PLC, we are certainly on trend.

We kicked off after the holidays with our presence at the Cairns Show. Locals and tourists alike came out to enjoy the humidity-less sunshine and wander the exhibits. We greeted many new faces making lasting connections and chatted with current students and families, all of whom loved our new exhibit background.

PLC welcomed another excited group of Japanese students as part of our cultural enrichment program with Banora International. Students from Years 9 and 10 doing Japanese studies were buddies for the week, sharing their classrooms with our visitors and providing them with a valuable experience of life at an Australian school, one that is vastly different from their own. There was a lovely lunch on the last day where the students shared stories, photos, dance moves, and Instagram handles as they said goodbye to new lasting friendships.

Next stop, College Open Day! The weeks of rain stopped just in time for the sun to shine on one of the most fun-filled mornings of our calendar year. Some quick statistics will prove what a day was had….

Nine enrolment applications were received; six personal tours were booked; 45 families collected prizes after taking the Primary School Discovery Trail; more than 60 ice-creams were served at the Tuckshop; 120 cupcakes were decorated in the Hospitality kitchen; 300 sausages were cooked - going through three gas bottles at the barbeque; and 400+ coffees and hot chocolates were served out of Café Garna!

There were so many positive interactions between staff and visitors which supported our vision of being a relational and transformational Christian learning community.

Term 4 will take no back seat to this term with a huge calendar of events before we break for Christmas.

Be sure to check in with our College App daily, and set your phone to allow notifications so you do not miss out on any of the communication and updates for the remainder of the year.

The College's uniform supplier, Uniform Link is now operating from their new premises at 2A, 110 Scott Street, Cairns (between Ryan's Radiators and Refuge Barbers).

The friendly staff at Uniform Link are looking forward to welcoming our College families at their new showroom.

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 or School App  for the most up-to-date calendar information.

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.