Welcome

Welcome to the start of 2021 at Prince of Peace Lutheran College.  While we don’t know what this year may bring or throw at us, we look forward eagerly and in anticipation of getting back to many of the day to day things that we would have taken for granted this time last year.  In particular, we look forward to getting our amazing volunteers back into classrooms and the College in general, along with more site access (although with social distancing restrictions for the foreseeable future) for our parents and families.  A very warm welcome to all of our many new families and students who have started with us in the past week also.  I pray that we all, as a community, can be a blessing and support to one another.

As we begin the year, we also welcome our new staff who have eagerly been preparing and getting ready over the past couple of weeks.  We are very excited to have all the below staff starting with us:

Settling in to School

For new students who have commenced at the College and, in fact for continuing students who may be undertaking new subjects or have different teachers, the new year always has the possibility of creating a degree of anxiety and uncertainty.  If you feel your child is experiencing difficulty with settling in this year, I encourage you to contact your child’s Class or Pastoral Care teacher early – even just to touch base.  The sooner we can respond to any concerns, the less anxious a child will be.  Over the next few weeks, we will be holding information evenings for all students and I really encourage you to come along to these sessions if you can.

SEQTA

Our new Learning Management System, SEQTA, is in the early stages of implementation.  Last week, an email was sent out to parents and caregivers asking them to set up an account.  Currently just under 50% of our parents and caregivers have activated their account which is fantastic.  That said, it is always when you start using old data for new activities that the hidden bugs appear.  One of those happens to be the way emails are being pulled through from our administration system, and some families are being shown with a duplicate email rather than two separate ones.  All approved caregivers are able to have separate accounts, so if you have only received a single email between two parents or caregivers, please let us know the email address you would like attributed to a parent or caregiver and we will endeavour to set that up quickly for you.

Once you have created your account, please use the website engage.princeofpeace.qld.edu.au to log back in, or one of the apps that remove this step.  We understand, also, that there are some android phones that have an error appearing with connection and SEQTA are aware of this – they have only recently created the android app.

Our goal for February is to just get as close to 100% of our families with an active account and then gradually we will be transitioning some communication into this system throughout the year.  For now, we will continue to use our current systems as required.

Blessings

Simon Hughes
Head of College

New Beginnings

Last Friday, I had the privilege of beginning our campus year in Worship. The resumption of Whole Chapel (Year 1 – 6) following the disruptions of 2020 was undoubtedly a very special time. It was an opportunity for us to gather together in praise as we celebrated the opportunities that new beginnings can give us.

The Bible reminds us in Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV), that God’s steadfast love for us never ceases. It is new every morning. What a promise to receive each day.

What a blessing it is to me that each day I am made new. Each day God’s love reaches depths of intensity for me which I cannot fathom. His faithfulness to me and you is new every single day. And that is wonderful news for me, a sinner.

Every one of us needs a new beginning in some way, a fresh start in some area of our life. This season, heading into the new year, is a perfect time to allow God to fill us with new life. This year I pray that you experience a deep sense of renewal and grace as we seek the heart of God together.

Junior Campus Traffic, Parking and Pick-up

I would like to take a moment to outline the parking, traffic and pick-up plans for the Junior Campus for 2021. We are currently undertaking a review of our processes, in line with government advice, to see what adjustments can be made as we move into the weeks ahead. We expect that at all times our community is interacting with each other in a respectful manner, upholding the core tenets of our Valuing Safe Communities expectations. For now, the following remains in place:

Prep Drop Off and Pick Up

1. Prep students will continue to be dropped to the Prep facility in the morning by their parents, anytime from 8am on. This is a quick hand over process at the playground gate, with parents moving back to their cars immediately after drop off.
2. Prep pick-up will be from the Prep Carpark.
3. Prep students may be picked up at 2:45pm as usual.
4. Prep Parents are asked to park and stand next to or near their car, wherever it is safe to do so.
5. Parents are not to congregate under the walkway shelter or in the fenced area.
6. The Prep A students and staff will wait in the blue fenced area at the entrance to the Prep Classrooms beginning at 2:45pm.
7. The Prep M students and staff will wait in the shaded alleyway between the Prep buildings, with the Prep students sitting on the bench seat.
8. The Prep staff will indicate to each parent when to come over and collect their child.
9. Parents are then asked to move back to their cars to fit their child into their car seat.

We ask all Prep families to be mindful that other families will be queuing up for a park. If parents are also collecting a sibling from Year 1 – 6, we would encourage you to return to your car with your Preppie and loop back around the Church to join the Kiss and Go Zone queue or the hardcourt queue. This will ensure that parks become available for other Prep parents to collect their little ones too. Your assistance with this is appreciated.

Hardcourt Ring Road

At drop off and pick up, the hardcourt will be a ring road.

• The hardcourt is a no parking zone.
• Cars entering the hardcourt will need to follow the signs around the ring road, and the directions of staff on duty.
• Parents are asked to remain in their cars. We have allocated staff members to assist students in accessing their cars safely.
• Please note that should your child or children not be ready when you pull up at the hardcourt pick up zone, then you will be asked to continue around the ring road, up past the church and back down again to allow for the flow of traffic to continue.

Please speak with your child/ren about moving promptly to the Green Room if that is your agreed pick-up location.

Walking to School

Families who choose to are always welcome to park offsite and walk their child to school. Many families avail themselves of this option, parking either on Queens Road or around the streets closest to the Campus. Parents are reminded that when parking on the street they are required to follow all parking restrictions and be courteous to our neighbours at all times.

Our neighbours work closely with us on a regular basis but understandably become frustrated if cars are parked across their driveways or gardens are trampled. Please be mindful of this and speak with your child about our expectations of behaviour, particularly if they are waiting in Single Street. Students are not to be climbing the trees.

Disabled Parking and Church Allocated Parking

As always, disabled car parks are for the use of those in our community with a disabled parking sticker, or in isolated cases, for those who are working with College Leadership around a temporary impairment, such as a broken leg etc.

The Church has two allocated carparks in the top carpark, closest to the entrance. These are to remain free and available at all times for visitors to the Church Office.

Rogers Parade Road Safety

The area just outside the Junior Campus grounds on Rogers Parade West is one of high congestion and, extreme caution and patience is required for all to remain safe. Please note this is a Brisbane City Council road and any reports relating to illegal activity will be directed to the police for follow-up by our neighbours or by the College.

One useful way to avoid the congestion is to stagger your arrival if possible. It is very common to have little to no traffic in the line by 3:15pm. Students are supervised in the pick-up zone until 3:20pm and are then supervised in Reception. Parents will be contacted at 3:25pm if the children have not been collected. If you are detained for any reason, please contact the Campus Reception so that we may reassure your child that you are on your way, just delayed.

As always there will be some exceptions to these processes where parents will require parking such as:

1. Accessing the Uniform Shop.
2. Special considerations worked in consultation with the Head of Junior Campus.
3. Parents who have a prearranged meeting with their child’s teacher.

Kindy Carpark

The Kindy carpark is strictly for the use of our Kindy families. This carpark is NOT for use by parents from Prep – Year 6 who do not have a child in Kindy.

NISSA – Northern Independent Schools Sporting Association

In 2021, Prince of Peace Lutheran College will be engaging in the NISSA sporting calendar. Our students will participate in the Gala Days (Year 4 – 6), the swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals and other unique events as available. Membership in this association now replaces our involvement in the Inter-Lutheran Carnivals, which became difficult due to the large distances required to travel, as far as Noosa.

We look forward to working with other schools in this association who share both our community values and a desire to extend our students in their sporting endeavours.

Junior Campus Swimming Lessons

Students in Year 2, 4, 5 and 6 begin their swimming lessons in Week 5 this term while students in Prep, Year 1, 3 will carry out their swimming lessons in Term 4.

The dates for this term are as follows:

WEEK 5 – Monday 22 Feb / Tuesday 23 Feb.
WEEK 6 – Tuesday 2 Mar / Wednesday 3 Mar. (* please note this is Tues/ Wed)
WEEK 7 – Monday 8 Mar / Tuesday 9 Mar.
WEEK 8 – Monday 15 Mar / Tuesday 16 Mar.

Students in Years 2, 4, 5 and 6 will need to bring togs, rashie, thongs, towel and a swimming cap.

Stay tuned to your classroom newsletters for further details, such as what to wear to school on these days.

Katrina Valencia 
Head of Junior Campus

Michelle Nisbet
Head of Senior Campus

Senior Campus Homework Club

From 3.30 to 5.00 on Monday to Thursday, we offer a Homework Club. In 2021 we are pleased to announce that we have a qualified teacher facilitating the Homework Club. Mrs Bev Meikle will be supporting student learning on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and Mrs Jill Hodge on a Tuesday. This is a great chance for students to be supported in their learning.

If this is something that you might be interested in, please peruse the information sheet and fill in the enrolment form. You can either email the form to homeworkclub@princeofpeace.qld.edu.au or hand into student reception.