Reading Aloud to your Children is Important

One of the most important things parents can do is to read with them. That means starting when they are new-borns and continuing well beyond the years that they can read by themselves. Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world.

It’s so important to start reading from Day One. The sound of your voice, the lyrical quality of younger books, the poetry of language, are magical and even at eight weeks old they can focus. As children begin to grow, make sure books are available everywhere in the home and keep reading to them even when they begin to read on their own. As they become independent readers, even kids in older age groups love nothing more than that time with their parents. Many children say the most special time they recall spending with a parent is reading together.

Make reading fun and be playful. Use the opportunity to ham it up and perhaps create different character voices to really engage the child. Don’t be shy about not perfecting the read aloud — especially with little ones. Don’t feel discouraged if a younger child gets distracted or interrupts story time with questions. That’s all part of the learning journey and reading process.

Be a resource to your kids for book ideas — even if they don’t ask — especially for infrequent readers. Scholastic’s research shows that parents underestimate that kids need help finding books. Research shows kids of all ages want books that “make me laugh.” Parents can also get in on the fun with silly books.

Add books to your home library that showcase diverse story lines and characters.  Look for stories that showcase different experiences, backgrounds, religions, identities and more to help your children find themselves in books — as well as learn about other people’s lives. This will help teach children the importance of empathy and kindness.

Teachers, librarians and friends and family will all be able to give you book suggestions.  Ask a teacher what books help even the most reluctant reader stay engaged. Librarians always have their finger on what is the most popular with every age group, and visits to the library are a special part of family life.

Choice rules when kids read for fun. Most children say their favourite books are the ones that they have picked out for themselves. Even from an early age, children will have their favourites and want the same books read over and over again. Remember that book series are a great way to get kids hooked on story lines and characters.

Make books accessible.  Make sure your bookshelves are low enough for kids to reach the book that they want to read. Keep books by your children’s bedside and all over the house. Bring books with you on car trips and to wherever there is likely to be some waiting time. Rather than handing them a device, hand them a book they love. The more accessible you make books, the more you’ll see their reading frequency grow. Always give a book or book token for birthdays and Christmas so books become part of the fun and pleasure of opening a parcel.

Children’s choices will change day to day and month to month, so be open and ready to grow and change along with your budding lifelong reader.

 Acknowledgement: Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report

Simon Hughes
Head of College

Interviews for Prep 2021 to Commence Shortly

Interviews for all Prep 2021 students will commence next month. If you have not already registered your younger child, please fill in the Online Enrolment Form (you can find a link on our website home page). If you have any friends who are interested in learning about the College, they can also fill in an application or attend our next Junior Campus Open Morning on Thursday 12 March at 8:45am.  If you have any questions, please contact our Marketing and Enrolments Manager Donna Cook on 3872 5710 or via email enrolments@princeofpeace.qld.edu.au.

Congratulations Student Leaders

This Friday, 21 February 2020 at 8:40am will see a new group of student leaders installed into their positions on the Junior Campus. Following our Junior Campus Captain speeches in Term 4 of 2019, and House Captain Speeches earlier this year, we are delighted to present these new leaders to their community as they commit to serving our College. At this time, we will also be installing all students into their role as Junior Campus Leaders.

Our Year 6 Leaders provide a range of activities to our students throughout the year including such things as art club, lunchtime games, dance club, DJ club and many more. I believe it is a strength of our program that each year our Year 6 students are involved in the selection and formation of these groups, allowing them to be tailored to their unique strengths and abilities.

All families are invited to join us as we install and bless these wonderful children.

Formal Photo Day

Monday 9 March is our Junior Campus Formal Photo Day. Students will soon receive their photo envelope from their classroom teacher. Please complete this as soon as possible and return to the office. Please note that the Senior Campus Photo day is happening the week before the Junior Campus. As such the Senior Campus envelopes will be sent out before the Junior Campus envelopes.

Year 3 Together@5 Service

All families are invited to our Together@5 service on Sunday 8 March at 5pm, as our awesome Year 3 students lead us in a time of community worship and fellowship. They will be speaking to us on the topic of Love, and in particular how we can live our lives with a heart for God.

If you are new to Prince of Peace I encourage you to come along. The service begins at 5pm and usually takes approximately 40 minutes. Immediately following the service all families are invited to join us in the Green Room for a sausage sizzle and time of fellowship. These services are always so much fun and the students really get a kick out of being involved and having their family there with them. All students are asked to participate in their cohort service on one Sunday each year.

The Food was Divine and they Put a Little Love in our Hearts!

Last Friday, I was greeted by one very happy daughter at afternoon pick up—and it wasn’t because it was the weekend. She was in awe of the amazing food she had received for tuckshop that day. Her description made my mouth water, and helped me quickly forgive her assessment that the spaghetti bolognaise was even better than mine 🙂

I think it is very important to note the extraordinary efforts our parents make to organise, cook and serve our students with a healthy and delicious tuckshop service. These meals are cooked from scratch, filled with hidden goodness and lovingly packed and served to our children. I know this take a great deal of effort and care and I want to take this opportunity to thank Annette Jacobs and her team for continuing this food ministry to our students. As a parent I am always very grateful for the ‘day off’ lunches. Here’s to you team!

Katrina Valencia
Head of Junior Campus

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

This well known bible quote—potentially your wedding verse—captures the very essence of what love is, and how we can best share that love with those around us.  With Valentine’s Day celebrations last week, it has become a campus tradition that our Year 12 students demonstrate a “heart” for their peers, spreading love and cheer by delivering roses, lollipops and serenades.  These special moments help to shape our community.

While on duty last week, I saw several demonstrations of simple gestures that made my heart sing.  A student with an injury was struggling to manage the crutches on her way into school, when an older student offered to carry her bag. At other times I observed students slow their pace of walking, to walk side-by-side with younger students just to check in on them.  The Swimming Carnival was filled with practical demonstrations of love, students supporting each other and their house, and was a wonderful opportunity to develop connections—we were grateful that the rain stayed away to allow the carnival to happen. Congratulations to all the students who embraced the opportunity to celebrate what it means to be part of a community.

The rain was not so kind for the Information Evenings, which made for some wet travelling. These evenings provided an opportunity for information, fellowship, and building new connections. We are committed to developing powerful partnerships between students, parents and staff—in 2020 we have 369 students on the Senior Campus, including 38 new students from 25 new families. Presentations from the Information Evenings can be found on the College Website in the Parent Portal.

Another practical demonstration of love, was the genuine interactions I observed between our Year 7 and Year 12 buddies last week.  Conversations were had, games were played, and special moments shared. We are grateful for all students who are prepared to demonstrate care and concern for each other on a daily basis.

Finally the Ubuntu Calling Ceremony on Tuesday night was call to be courageous, and to be in genuine community with one another, acknowledging that when one member hurts, we should all feel the pain, and when one member achieves, we can all celebrate. The call required an open mind that is willing to listen and learn, and an open heart that recognises that we all need love and respect to grow.

The perfect love that God has for us allows individuals to demonstrate active love to each other.  This is what it means to live in community and to display this perfect love on a daily basis. No material object, no sentimental card or serenade can ever replace the simple gestures of God’s love expressed to us every day.

Helpful Resources

Parenting is a challenging role.  Here are some suggested websites that you may find useful.

Michelle Nisbet
Head of Senior Campus

Resilience

Resilience is about increasing our children to be more able to deal with the possible ‘stressors’ that arise.​ Building  resilience ensures that our children believe in themselves that they are able to overcome challenges,  and are strengthened through adversity.​ Resilience is a process not a trait.​

As teachers we aim to help all students develop a culture of positive self talk. We want to empower them with skills and competence as they navigate the school setting. We also want to support parents and carers to develop students as genuine adults who care about others and have meaningful and powerful involvement in our world.

We live in a world saturated by social media. Our children are more attuned to their social relationships via the many devices that have one or more social media apps.

It is always important to ensure that your child first uses technology for their education, and then secondly as a form of recreation and leisure.

During 2020, we will all work towards building resilient students who can address any challenge that comes their way.  Teachers walk in front of their students, with them—and sometimes behind them.

God bless

Linda Perrett
Acting Deputy Head of Campus

Day 7 Eats

Year 12 Hospitality is taking over Day 7 Eats and giving Ms Nisbet and Mrs Churchill a well-deserved break. This is a major part of our Year 12 fundraising.  To help with planning we have moved it to Day 3. We will be selling beef pies, garlic bread, lasagne, sausage rolls and vegan rolls. Please support us, order forms can be found on Edmodo or at student reception, and must be returned to reception with full payment by each Day 1.  

Junior Campus Sport

District Basketball Representatives–Monday 10 February

Huge congratulations to Oliver and Isabelle Hastie, who were successful in gaining selection in the Northern District 12yrs Basketball Teams. This event was contested by the 20 district schools. A tremendous effort by them both.

District Swimming–Thursday 13 February

Prince of Peace was represented by 11 swimmers aged 10 -12yrs at this year’s North by Northwest District Trials at Lawnton Pool. This was a very tough competition. We are delighted to celebrate with Georgia Bean, Hannes Forbes-Schutz, Oliver Hastie and Piper Hastie who were each successful in being selected for the district team. All five of these students will now progress to the Met North Regional Trials.

Inter-Lutheran Swimming–Friday 14 February

The very next day, 30 Prince of Peace swimmers travelled to Sunshine Coast Grammar School for the annual Inter-Lutheran Swimming Carnival. After holding on to fourth place almost all day, we finished a very close fifth. Congratulations to our highest point scorers—Georgia Bean and Hannes Forbes-Schutz.

Darren Lawrance
PE Teacher and Coordinator

Senior Campus Sport

Swimming Carnival

District Swimming Carnival 2020

The District Swimming Carnival was held at Lawnton Aquatic Centre on Monday 17 February. Twenty three students attended, of which seven were selected to attend the Metropolitan North Trials on 26–27 February. Congratulations to Sam Short who was the U17 Age Champion. Many thanks to all those who attended and best of luck to those who are swimming next week.

Bruce Hardy
Senior Campus Sport Coordinator

Worship

Sunday 23 February

Worship Service 9am, led by Pastor Michael Grosas

Together@5pm, led by Pastor Michael Grosas

Thought for the Week

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Tae Kwon Do at Prince of Peace

Tae Kwon Do at Prince of Peace resumes this Thursday afternoon in the undercroft area outside the uniform shop.

Peace Tae Kwon Do has been at PoP for about 15 years with many students achieving a 1st Dan Black Belt or above.

Classes are focussed on each student’s development in an open, friendly and supportive environment. Students are taught the skills of Tae Kwon Do to give them the confidence and physical ability to defend themselves and others. Students also learn self defence skills of Hapkido which involves wrist locks and other defensive techniques.  The class has students from the College and wider community attending, we also have many families training together.

Classes are every Thursday from 4:30 to 6pm. Class costs are $10 per individual lesson or $7 if you pay the term up front. Contact David Dennent on 0418730264 for further information or turn up at one of the classes to have a look. Your first lesson with us is free.

Uniform Shop News

Welcome to Prince of Peace!  Jenny and Wendy are your Campus Uniform Shop assistants.  Orders can be placed by phone or email through the College website using the link on the Uniform Shop Page or on the Home Page, or at anytime from The School Locker Website. We are happy to deliver online orders to class at no charge—please select “Pick up” option for Prince of Peace Campus and send us an email with your order and child’s name and class.  Shop hours and our email contacts on are on the Prince of Peace website the Uniform Shop Page.

What to Wear: If your child is starting Prep, Year 1, Year 7 or Year 10 this year and you’re not sure what items they need, you can see all the options at The School Locker Website. Search by school – enter “Prince” and select “Prince of Peace” > then shop by “Uniforms” > you can then filter by year level (on the right of the web page).  This will show all items relevant for that year level.

Name It, so you an Claim It: We have two types of name labels.  Stikin Name Labels (limited qty) can be handwritten then simply pressed in (no need for ironing or sewing)—they will stay put even on stretch-knit items eg socks and pullovers (for at least 40 machine washes) and are great for plastic lunch boxes and drink bottles (dishwasher and microwave safe).  Pack of 60 Stikins with pen is $29.95.  We also have write and iron on labels, packet of 40, on Special for $4.87!

Please ensure that your child’s track jackets, pants, senior ties and pullovers are named—large handwriting on the white lining is recommended, and press in white name labels on dark fabrics eg pullovers are easy to read.  Winter items are often removed during the middle of the day and can easily be misplaced—clear labelling makes it possible to return items to the correct owner.

Junior School: Out of Stock—medium and large brim hats – due by Thursday 27 Feb.  Stationery: We now have pencil grips, pencils, glue sticks and erasers.

Wet Weather Options: Please note that we have great looking PoP golf umbrellas for parents at $25, and durable Team brand clear raincoats for students at $19.95.  Both available in the Campus Shop, you can also find the Team raincoats online using the general search on The School Locker Website.

Senior School: Out of stock—medium and large brim hats—due by Thursday 27 Feb.

Second Hand: If you wish to buy or sell second hand uniforms there are two options:

1. For private sales: please visit our very active PoP Second Hand Uniform Buy & Sell Facebook group
2. Donated second hand uniforms are now managed by PoP P&F – please check with Reception as to upcoming stall dates.  Donations are welcome at either Campus Reception, bagged and labelled as “donation uniforms”.

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