NewsBites - Term 4, Week 6, 2024
A Tribute to Faith's Graduating Class of 2024
As the Principal of Faith Lutheran College, I am humbled to reflect on the tremendous accomplishments of our Year 12 students who will be graduating from the College next week.
Their dedication and hard work have been truly commendable, and I am filled with pride as we approach the culmination of their journey here at Faith.
The 2024 Presentation Night and Valedictory Service, both taking place next week, will be special occasions to recognise the personal growth of our graduating class.
The Class of 2024 has shown resilience, determination and a commitment to their learning that will undoubtedly serve them well in their future endeavours.
Over the coming years, they will explore diverse paths including university studies, apprenticeships, traineeships, work opportunities, and perhaps even travel.
To the graduating class of 2024: you have left an important mark on Faith’s history.
As you step into the next phase of your lives, remember the values and knowledge gained during your time here.
We hope that you’ll look back fondly on your time here at Faith and will stay connected to us as alumni.
Congratulations on your achievements - may the future hold boundless opportunities for success and fulfillment!
Yours in Christ,
Doug Braiden
College Principal
Foundational Habits for Learning
As we reach the end of Term 4, it's natural to view this time as approaching a finish line, with thoughts of reward or rest.
While we prepare to celebrate with our Year 12s in the coming days, they stand at the starting line of the next sprint in their lives.
Our Year 11 students are beginning their summative assessments, Exploration students are advancing into a new year of their coursework, Foundation 8s are gaining increased voice and choice in their learning, and Foundation 7s are getting ready to take on leadership roles as they welcome a new group into our community.
Regardless of the phase of learning, we work each day to support our students in uncovering their strengths, setting purposeful goals, and embodying the resilience and adaptability needed to meet the demands of an unknowable and exciting future.
From Year 7 to Year 12, our curriculum is built around instilling essential learning habits that we hope will serve students well.
This past fortnight, Foundation students held a ‘Healthy Habits Festival,’ featuring healthy food initiatives, mindfulness and focus groups, and informative sessions.
Exploration Phase Food Technology students have been preserving food and working on creating sustainable, shelf-stable products.
In History 1B, 20th Century German History, and Community Agriculture, students engaged in significant off-site learning experiences.
Meanwhile, as of this publication ‘going to print’, the Year 12 students have completed 31 of their 33 scheduled external exams, reflecting two years of dedicated study alongside numerous VET qualifications earned.
This snapshot highlights how our students across all phases—Foundation, Exploration, and Graduate—are encouraged to engage actively in their education. This means not only attending classes but fully engaging, bringing a positive mindset, and contributing to collective learning. We hope these daily interactions and their commitment to each lesson reinforce qualities that will serve them well whatever their path.
My encouragement to students is to finish the year well. Consider the small things that, when done right, set us up for success. Attending school 90% if the time, arriving prepared with materials, and fully engaging in learning and assessment all help students thrive.
By fostering these habits, we aim to build a culture of excellence and personal accountability that will support our students long after they leave the College. For Year 12 students moving forward, these habits will be the foundation of their lifelong learning.
As families, we thank you for partnering with our teachers and staff to support your young people. By upholding these learning principles at home, you help your young person manage their studies, and your encouragement to persevere is invaluable.
Lisbeth Goldston
Director of Teaching and Learning (Acting)
My Favourite Subject
We have recently released a series of videos featuring Exploration Phase students sharing their favourite subjects.
The students were selected on their entries into a competition earlier in the year asking, "What's your favourite cross-curricular subject?"
Congratulations to the following students who were selected:
- Ethan Hutson (CO2 Drag Racing)
- Olivia Baker (Community Theatre)
- Annalyce Jackwitz (Conspiracy Theories)
- Maya McLeod (Dinosaurs & Megafauna)
- Banele Harbour (Game of Life)
- Oliver Thompson (Show me the money)
Click here to watch all the videos.
Please help us to spread the word about the amazing subjects on offer here at Faith by sharing videos with your friends and family when you see them online. These subjects can only be studied at Faith as they were written by Faith staff members and rigorously mapped to the Australian curriculum to ensure the highest learning outcomes.
We plan to make more of these videos in 2025 - students entering Exploration Phase next year are encouraged to enter the competition when it is announced to tell us what their favourite cross-curricular subject is!
Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing
Free Parent Webinar: Helping Your Child to Alleviate Stress
We’re excited to announce that Elevate Education will be hosting a free webinar for our parents on stress and wellbeing on 13 November.
Elevate works with our students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you’ll learn how you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they’re learning at school.
Sign up for the session below to learn how you can help your child to manage their stress levels in the run-up to exams.
Live Parent Webinar: How to Help Your Child Alleviate Stress
Wednesday 13 November 6.30pm-7.30pm (AEDT)
Click here to register for free
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
✅ How you can identify early signs of stress in your child
✅ Practical techniques to help your child manage their stress levels
✅ How you can maintain a dialogue with your child about their mental wellbeing
We hope to see you there!
Last week, Foundation students took part in our inaugural Healthy Habits Festival, a lively and educational event celebrating wellness and positive lifestyle choices. In this issue of NewsBites, we’re thrilled to share Year 7 student Celine Schulz's personal reflection on the festival, where she highlights her favourite activities and key takeaways.
""Healthy Habits was an amazing experience! There was a huge variety of food options. Grandparents, parents, carers, teachers, and students all joined in to explore different foods, view projects centred around creating healthy habits and support our showcase. We interviewed a student from another project who told us, ‘You excelled in making healthy brownies taste nice!’ We also got feedback from a teacher who said, ‘The atmosphere was buzzing, with people everywhere talking and enjoying the experience.’ Everyone had a lot of fun and stepped out of their comfort zones to support us. A key thing that we had learnt from this experience is that you can still enjoy yummy foods, but you can enjoy it in a healthy way.”"
— Celine Schulz
Engaging in the Project-Based Learning (PBL) process is essential for developing critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.
Through PBL, students actively explore real-world problems, apply knowledge meaningfully, and strengthen problem-solving skills. This approach empowers students to take ownership of their learning, preparing them for success beyond the classroom.
The Healthy Habits Festival was a memorable experience for students and staff alike, providing an incredible opportunity for students to share their learning with the wider community.
On Friday of Week 9, we are excited to host our annual Foundation Festival, a celebration of the incredible projects students have completed throughout the year.
This festival gives students the chance to share their project journeys, reflections, and achievements with pride. We warmly invite you to attend and engage with the outstanding learning experiences students have undertaken. For RSVP details, please see the flyer below.
Kate Manthey
Head of Wellbeing - Foundation Phase
Spotlight on the Classroom: Rocket Science
This week’s classroom spotlight rightfully goes to Rocket Science, one of the alternate sciences offered this term that encompasses both Physics and Chemistry.
Over the last semester, students learned the fundamentals of how different rockets operate and gained hands-on experience in building and launching them.
This approach has engaged students in developing problem-solving skills as they worked to improve their prototypes by experimenting with various elements, such as the number and size of fins. It also encourages students to tap into their creativity and collaborate effectively in groups.
Assessment has focused on reports detailing the modifications made to their rockets. Some prototypes emphasise flight times, while others concentrate on launch height. Overall, this subject provides a practical and immersive experience, making it much more than just a physics course.
Project Spotlight: Public Art
This group of kind-hearted souls are creating a public art piece for the Laidley Community Centre in the form of a giant Snakes and Ladders game.
It is designed to be easily packed up and stored, allowing the community centre to provide children with a fun activity while their parents seek support. The original idea was to paint the board game on the concrete, but after visiting the centre, the concept of a portable game came to life.
The students have painted 64 foam squares that will snap together in a lively collection of colours.
The overall theme encompasses nature, replacing ladders with vines and kites and snakes are alternated with waterfalls and leaves. The group has designed the game to incorporate a number of activities and games as an added twist on an old favourite.
It is a genuine team effort; with all hands-on deck, the group hopes to deliver the finished product by the end of the term.
Lou Bruce
Head of Learning - Exploration Phase
We are at the end of week 6, and how did we get here? This year and term have gone so fast.
We have almost reached the end of the external exam block with 31/33 of the external exams completed. Generally, the exam block has gone extremely well with very few issues.
Thank you to everyone who has studied and done the best they can. The Graduate Phase Leaders hope that you have done well enough to get the results you require for the path that you are heading.
For our first-year Graduate Phase students, you are in the middle of an assessment cycle with drafts due in the coming two weeks leading up to your own exam block.
Presentation Night
Awards presentation night is this Tuesday night 12 November for the students that have received an invitation.
For those that are coming, a reminder that you are required to be wearing formal uniform.
We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Graduate Phase students at this very special event.
Year 12 Retreat
The Year 12 Retreat is on Wednesday 13 November, starting at 8.30am. We have a fun packed day.
We will be leaving for Wet'n'Wild at 8.30am, returning around 6.30pm, then a Valedictory entry and exit practise before a pizza dinner and drive-in/outdoor movie at the College 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Remember, you are outside all day and need to be sun smart. The next day is Valedictory - you do not want to be sunburnt for your last day at the College.
If you have not responded to Mrs Saal or Mr Searchfield’s email regarding retreat with your permission, please do so with a matter of urgency.
Valedictory Service
Finally, the last event for our Year 12 students will be the Valedictory Service on Thursday 14 November.
This is a time to celebrate our current Year 12 students who are graduating after 13 years of education.
This is your last chance to wear your formal uniform with pride. Let's do it well.
Kevin Abraham
Head of Learning - Graduate Phase