NewsBites - Term 3, Week 2, 2024
New Primary School for Faith Lutheran College!
As per previous communication this week, we are delighted to announce that Faith Lutheran College, Plainland has been granted accreditation for primary education by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB).
This significant milestone means that Faith will soon transform from a secondary-only institution into a full Prep to Year 12 Lutheran school!
The development of our new primary school will take place in a staged approach with Years 5 and 6 being the first primary year levels added to the College offering from 2027.
Our plan is for Years 3 and 4 to be added in 2028 and Prep to Year 2 in 2029.
We are extending our phased approach to learning into the primary school with the names as follows:
- Wonder Phase: Prep to Year 2
- Curiosity Phase: Years 3 and 4
- Discovery Phase: Years 5 and 6
The approval of our primary school marks a new chapter in the history of Faith Lutheran College, and it is a testament to our collective commitment to providing exceptional education.
As we expand to offer a comprehensive P-12 curriculum, we will continue to uphold the values and standards that make our college a beacon of inspiration and excellence.
We want to express our sincere appreciation to each member of our community for your ongoing support, prayers and understanding throughout this process.
Your support has been instrumental in bringing us to this point, and we are grateful for your continued belief in our shared vision of awakening potential and empowering learners for purposeful lives through Christ.
We will continue to update you as we move forward in the process and, once again, take this opportunity to thank you for your support in our journey here at Faith Lutheran College, Plainland.
Yours in Christ,
Doug Braiden
College Principal
Enrol now for Faith Primary School
We are delighted by the news that Faith will be expanding into the primary school years from 2027.
The primary school will be opened in a staged format as follows:
- Years 5 and 6: opening in 2027
- Years 3 and 4: opening in 2028
- Prep to Year 2: opening in 2029
For more information about Faith's primary school, please visit the following page on our website:
Faith Primary School
Please see the following link for information regarding primary school fees:
Indicative Fee Information
Enrolments for our primary school will open to the public on Thursday 1 August.
However, as a valued member of our College community, we invite you to submit an application for younger members of the family before it opens to the public.
How to apply
You are welcome to apply now by clicking on the following link:
There has been a significant amount of interest in Faith’s primary school offering, which is why we are providing our current families with early access.
We encourage you to submit an application for younger members of your family for primary school prior to Thursday 1 August.
If you have any questions regarding enrolment at Faith, please contact us at enrolment@faithlcs.qld.edu.au.
Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing
Dear Parents and Guardians
A warm hello from my desk to yours! My name is Pastor Nathan Glover and I was installed as College Pastor at Faith in the middle of Term 2.
I have previously served as a parish pastor in Queensland and Victoria, College Pastor on the Gold Coast and Assistant Bishop of the Queensland District.
What’s important to me in life and in my at work at Faith Lutheran College is that all students would know that we live and serve under a loving, gracious and forgiving God.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some members of the community so far and look forward to the opportunity to get to know more. Faith is a vibrant, innovative community that I am very pleased to be part of.
In Week 6 this term, the Christian Ministry team are trialing a choose-your-own-adventure chapel. Instead of the usual chapel service, students will be offered eight different ministry options including, a yarning circle, worship songs, creative art and Q&A to name a few.
I hope that you and yours are keeping warm and safe this winter. Please reach out if there is any way that I can help or assist you and your family.
God bless,
Nathan Glover
College Pastor
At Faith, we are incredibly blessed by the strong partnership we share with the vast majority of parents and carers, particularly as we work together to provide students with the best learning outcomes and the means to support these outcomes, both at school and at home. In the busyness of life and our many week-to-week commitments, it can sometimes feel challenging for families to stay connected with their children's learning goals and schooling commitments.
The College aims to support families with a range of strategies to help them feel connected and better equipped to support their children's education. This includes communication through the fortnightly NewsBites publication or, on alternate fortnights, through their child's relevant Phase Newsletter. Each of these communications aims to ensure families feel well-informed and knowledgeable about how to support their children in various ways, such as juggling assessment due dates, developing a sound homework routine, and strengthening the social and emotional capacity of young people as they progress through their teenage years.
For any parent or carer feeling unsure or overwhelmed about how to best support their school-aged children, I encourage you to reach out for support and attend important school events throughout each term. Some key events that take pace in Term 3 that I encourage families to engage with include:
- Exploration Phase (Year 10) Set Planning (Week 3)
- Foundation Phase (Year 8) Flight Plans (Week 5)
- Parent-Teacher Interviews (Thursday, 15 August)
There are many more events and activities each term that I highly recommend parents and carers participate in. Please continue to engage with information from the College, such as NewsBites and Phase Newsletters, to stay informed about how you can be involved in these important events and activities. Please also do not be shy about reaching out to your child’s Phase Coach if you ever need to discuss your child’s learning progress.
Research, such as that from the Australian Government-supported ‘Triple P Parenting Program’, underscores the many benefits of a strong partnership between schools and families, particularly in supporting students to achieve the best outcomes possible. I look forward to our College strengthening this partnership throughout the semester, including at one or more of the many events and activities that take place in Term 3.
Yours in Christ,
Tyson Kenny
Deputy Principal
Uniform Shop - Secondhand Trackpants
Our Uniform Shop is looking for secondhand trackpants. If you have some that are in good condition and you would like to either donate or sell them through the Uniform Shop, please bring them in or contact Jackie Davis at the Uniform Shop.
We need a revival. A revival is a time of renewing and refreshing in our faith. Peace Lutheran Church, Gatton is stepping out to do our bit to provide opportunity for revival in us, and for any who would like to share in this time.
Whether you have been going to church all your life, or you have no idea what it is about, a Revival can be great thing to attend. We need times dedicated to the Lord so that we can shift our own directions and desires from the centre of our lives and replace them with God and His Word. Spending time in the Word, with consecutive times of worship has the impact of recalibrating our lives with Christ at the centre.
A revival is a time where you go all out for mission. It can be a great time to bring a friend who may not know anything about the faith, but is open to listen, or ready to give it a try. With great times of lively worship, focussed prayer and quality, anointed preaching, these times can be life transforming, and well worth offering and invitation to your neighbour of friend, or your family members who may have left their faith behind in their lives.
Starting at 6pm and finishing about 8pm, we are offering coffee and nibblies afterwards, so that we can fellowship, and provide Prayer and a chat afterwards if required.
There will be an offering for those who would like to give, mainly to cover costs for the evening, but also as a thank you to God for what He is doing.
Beyond the Classroom
Our Foundation Phase students have had an eventful and enriching start to the term, with activities that have broadened their horizons, connected them with the community, and provided unique learning opportunities. Here are some highlights:
Paralympian Incursion
This week, the Year 8 cohort had the honour of meeting Monique Murphy, a recently retired silver medal Paralympian, who shared an incredibly encouraging story with us.
Monique spoke about her lifelong passion for swimming, a passion she only fully realised after a traumatic incident in her second year of university, which led to a below-knee amputation a surgery. Despite this challenge, Monique rediscovered her love for swimming during her rehabilitation journey, which ultimately led her to compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
During her visit, we played a game that allowed us to experience how visually impaired individuals might participate in ball games, using blindfolds to simulate their experience. Additionally, we had the unique opportunity to hold Monique's medal and prosthetic legs, learning firsthand that having a disability doesn't define you or mean you can’t live life to your very fullest. Monique's journey, from losing interest in swimming to embracing it again and achieving Paralympic success, left us all deeply inspired. - By Bodhi Passmore and Sophie McKerrow (Year 8)
South Bank Excursion
Last week, Year 7 students had the opportunity to go to South Bank in Brisbane to learn about good liveability such as good public transport, affordable food, easy access to health care and more. We walked around Southbank looking for these features. We went through Southbank Parklands, Griffith University, the boardwalk, and Queensland Museum. In the museum we walked around to observe classification for all the different animals. - By Lacey Kerle (Year 7)
Students will use this research to identify any areas for improvement in the local community in their upcoming Geography assessment.
Intergenerational Project
Our Year 7 students recently embarked on the first session of their Intergenerational Project. In this unique initiative, older community members visit the College each week to connect with small groups of students. Through the sharing of stories and experiences, this program fosters mutual growth and understanding.
The students will be writing memoirs about significant events in their buddies’ lives. Furthermore, they aim to discover shared values in order work together to address a need within the community, strengthening intergenerational bonds and contributing positively to society.
Millie Cooper (Year 7) reflected on her experience in the first session: "It was really interesting to meet older people. They told us what it was like to be at school when they were younger and they gave us advice for what to do in the future, and it was nice to meet different personalities. They were really shocked how much schooling has changed, the technology we use and how they teach now."
Andrea Blakely
Head of Wellbeing - Foundation Phase
As we embark on a new term, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all our families and share some exciting updates and reminders for the Exploration Phase.
Flight Plans Reminder
Firstly, a gentle reminder to all parents and students to review their Flight Plans for subject selection as soon as possible. Students would have received the Flight Plan documentation via email. Subject selection will occur through an online booking system in Week 5 (Friday first break). Final selection will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis due to limited availability of some subjects, so make sure your students have backup subjects ready just in case. Staff will be available in the InfoHub during this time to assist students should they need it.
Please be on the lookout for upcoming emails relating to this process, as further reminders and important details will be communicated. These plans are crucial for us to finalise timetables and ensure every student has the opportunity to engage in courses that align with their interests and future aspirations. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
The Dominos Challenge!
We are excited to announce the upcoming Dominos Challenge on Wednesday 31 July from 3pm to 5pm. This community event will be a Faith record attempt, aiming to surpass the 5,000 dominos record set by our Year 11 students in 2022. Parents, teachers, and students are all invited to participate and be part of the team. There will be free food and drinks on arrival, prizes up for grabs, and a chance to win a free pizza lunch! Click here to secure your free tickets now. Let's come together and make this event a huge success!
Project-Based Learning
Projects for our Project-Based Learning program will commence in Week 3. We encourage parents to ask their students about their chosen projects and engage in discussions about their progress and experiences. Additionally, we are looking for skilled and specialist parents who are interested in engaging with our projects as industry experts. If you have expertise in a particular field and would like to contribute, please reach out to us. Your involvement can provide valuable insights and enrich our students' learning experiences.
Finally, I want to thank all our families for their ongoing support and trust. Your involvement is integral to our students' success and the vibrant community we are building together. Let’s make this term another period of growth, learning, and achievement.
Rachel Watts
Head of Wellbeing - Exploration Phase
Year 12: Countdown to Graduation and Senior Formal
As we approach the midpoint of Term 3, we have some exciting events and important updates for our Years 11 and 12 students and their families.
100 Days Left Celebration
In Week 5, our Year 12 students will mark a significant milestone with the celebration of 100 days left of school. This celebration serves as both a moment of reflection and a reminder to stay focused and work diligently until the very end of Term 3.
Importance of Staying Focused in Term 3
For our Graduate Phase students, maintaining focus during Term 3 is crucial. Research shows that consistent effort and study habits throughout the school year can significantly impact academic performance and outcomes. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology in 2023 found that students who maintained consistent study routines and stayed engaged with their coursework performed better in their final exams compared to those who lost focus in the latter part of the school year.
Moreover, staying focused helps in managing stress and anxiety. By keeping up with assignments and preparing steadily for exams, students can avoid the last-minute rush and the associated stress. This not only improves academic results but also supports mental health and wellbeing.
In addition to academic benefits, maintaining a strong work ethic through the end of Year 12 prepares students for life beyond school. Whether they plan to attend university, enter the workforce, or pursue other opportunities, the habits they form now will serve them well in the future. Consistency, perseverance, and dedication are key traits that employers and higher education institutions look for in candidates.
Year 12 Formal
We are thrilled to announce the details of the Year 12 Formal. Invitations have been prepared and will be available for download shortly. Here are the key points:
Date: Thursday 12 September 2024
Venue: Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 34 Lake Apex Drive, Gatton QLD
Time:
- Arrivals and Pre-Formal Canapés: 4.00pm-6.30pm
- Formal Dinner and Celebration: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Please check your emails in the coming days for important information about tickets.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Year 12 Senior Formal Student Committee for their hard work in planning this memorable event.
Leadership Applications for 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, we invite current Year 11 students to apply for leadership positions within the College. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills and contribute to the school community. Applications must be submitted to Mr Miegel by Monday of Week 4.
We look forward to celebrating these special moments with our students and their families.
Josh Searchfield and Emma Saal
Heads of Wellbeing - Graduate Phase