An Interesting Month
It doesn’t feel like it’s been a few weeks, but it has indeed been a few weeks since our multiple weather interruptions. I know several staff and families have had significant and ongoing impacts from that event and I thank the community for their support where they can.
I do also want to thank you all for understanding the position the College found itself in several times during that week. The last thing I want is for our students, your children, to miss school. But, particularly with the announcement by the Premier on the Thursday that travel should be limited for school families, we needed to make the decision in the best interest of the safety of our students and staff, based on the advice from the Premier and government at the time.
The storm had different impacts on both campuses. The Junior Campus lost four classrooms to complete water ingress – though this only happened in the very last moments of the weekend. This ruined the carpets and the lower portions of the walls, and is being rectified as quickly as possible. Improvement works to the drainage and water flow behind that building is also being undertaken in order to hopefully never see that issue again. The carpark will need some longer-term significant work beyond filling in a number of impressive potholes that appeared. The Prep playspace is being re-based and surfaced, with some improvements to water flow as well. The larger playgrounds, being on the side of a hill, saw a fair movement of water and scouring of soft fall. Some of this has been easily rectifiable, some is more complicated. The Senior Campus faired better, with only a few rooms having minor water ingress and needing drying out for several days. The water output from the College, however, was deeply scoured and will need longer term rectification, as will some of our paths and dirt roadways.
I can’t thank our staff enough for all their hard work to get the school back to operational, to get children back learning again, in just two days. Particularly the team who were able to come in on the Monday and move four classrooms (really, closer to eight) around in such a short space of time.
Thank you all for the adjustments and changes to routines that have been required since the beginning of the year.
As a parent, I’ve enjoyed the additional information, marks and feedback, that students and families have been receiving about assessments and other various tasks that our children have been undertaking on the Middle and Senior Campus. For those families, I hope that you have been able to have short conversations with your child – encouraging or praising their progress, asking questions about the task. Perhaps touching base with a teacher early if something is out of the ordinary. Our Junior classes will begin to move towards this release of curriculum data throughout the year, beginning with a trial in Mathematics in Term Two.
In closing, we pray for those affected by the recent weather and flood events. We know that in times of uncertainty, we put our faith in God, and trust that He is watching over us. Further afield we pray for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Again, we feel helpless and our heart goes out to the hundreds of thousands of people now fleeing their homes. We pray for strength for these people, and the surrounding countries accepting these refugees.
Blessings,
Simon Hughes
Head of College
Spotlight on New Staff
In upcoming editions of POPCORN we will focus on our new staff who started in 2022, getting to know them a little better with a few quick-fire questions.
Coreta Lennon — Deputy Head of Junior Campus P-6
What have these weeks at PoP been like for you?
These first weeks at PoP have been wonderful! I have met new colleagues, students and their families and am looking forward to meeting many more. I just love the beautiful community spirit here at PoP.
What’s something most people would not guess about you?
That I am a massive NRL fan spending most weekends watching every game. I also attend most Broncos home games.
Who is your inspiration and why?
Mother Teresa is my inspiration as she dedicated her life to compassionately helping the poor. She inspired love and peace with her resilience and was such a humble woman of God. She had a deep drive to love, to care and to make the world a better place through prayer and her actions.
She worked hard with great love and helped those who others had neglected and ignored. In the Bible it states, “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). Mother Teresa was the epitome of this verse and lived her life with compassion and grace. A great leader is one who inspires others and builds people up to accomplish their dreams and aspirations. Mother Teresa was definitely a great leader who rose above her fears and limitations to achieve something extraordinary. She also stood at only 4 foot 11, which goes to show that little people can achieve great things.
Mark Rienecker — Business and Economics Teacher and Year 11 Coordinator at Middle & Senior Campus
What have the first weeks at PoP been like for you?
Given the crazy start to the year I don’t remember going through the ‘settling in’ phase. It was just full on from the start but the staff and students have been so welcoming and supportive. So many people went out of their way to encourage and support me that I felt part of the community quicker than I anticipated. However, at times I’ve felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz — “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
How do you start your day?
Small flat white with an extra shot whilst reading the Financial Review.
What is your favourite childhood memory?
Spending holidays with my cousins on their farms on the Darling Downs. Milking cows, driving tractors, riding motorbikes. It was such a simple but hard life that taught me about the ups and downs of working the land.
Summer or Winter? Why?
Summer because I have a passion for surfing and there’s more daylight hours to be in the water. But I also surf through winter because the waves are better so perhaps both.
Allison Blake — Relief Teacher, and Middle and Senior Campus Homework Club Coordinator
Just in case we haven’t met, let me introduce myself; I’m Allison Blake and I am running the Middle and Senior Campus Homework Club here are Pop! Some of you will already know me as I was the Year 7 coordinator here from 2015-2018.
My family moved away in 2019 for my husband’s work. While we were away I was the Learning Centre Coordinator for the Fassifern Community Centre. I specialised is helping disadvantaged teens in the local area.
My passion is to help teens stretch and achieve their goals—no matter what the subject area. I believe failure is only fatal if we let it be. My subject specialties are English, Psychology, History & Geography.
I have good working relationships with staff, and will network with teachers to best help students with their work.
2021 Year 12 Cohort’s 2022 Next Step Survey
The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2021. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.
Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2022.
Further information on Next Step, including results from previous years, is available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.
Congratulations Student Leaders
Last Friday, our new group of student leaders were installed into their positions on the Junior Campus. I am thankful that we were able to share this special event with Year 6 parents and carers, siblings of Year 6 students and the Year 5 cohort.
Our Year 6 Leaders have led in various ways on the Junior Campus. In the past they have been involved in organsing and running extra activities such as art club, lunchtime games, recycling, dance club, DJ club, activities for special days and much much more. I believe it is a strength of our program that each year our Year 6 students can be involved in a variety of different ways to develop their own unique strengths and abilities as they commit to serving in the College. While some students hold special titles, the opportunity for all to be involved and hone their skills is an essential part of the learning journey for all Year 6 students.
I am sure you will join me in supporting these wonderful young people and the entire Year 6 cohort.
Junior Campus Leadership Team for 2022
CAPTAINS: Georgia Gardner, Finn Garrad, Monte Morse, Oscar Thomas
MINSITRY AND OUTREACH CAPTAINS: Thea Muduioa and Lachlan Larder
BRADMAN CAPTAINS: Henry Bird, Matthew Labuschagne, Thi Boyle and Sophie Griffin
FRASER CAPTAINS: Charlotte Cook, Isaac Nielsen, Ethan Reid and Oliver Spargo
JACKSON CAPTAINS: Nathaniel Christison, Kirra Harvey, Noah Jorgensen and Abbey Watts
LAVER CAPTAINS: Ted Drinkwater, Bailey Lampe, Izabella Lee and Severin Deverell
Traffic Update
Thank you to all of our wonderful families who have been negotiating the drop off and pick up arrangements on the Junior Campus. A big shout out to the Prep children who proudly say, “I’m going to the Green Room” as they wave goodbye to their parents in the morning. The growth in their independence is amazing.
The end of day pick up arrangements with the Hard Court being available for Prep pick up, siblings and others who choose to use it, certainly helps with the traffic flow. Some key reminders are:
- Pull to the front of the pickup line/close to the car in front. This enables more cars to file in behind you.
- Be prepared to loop around the church should your child not be ready.
- If you need to walk your child to class, please use a car park, not the Kiss and Go Zone.
- Follow road rules if parking and waiting off site. There have been some concerns from Single Street residents and I’ve been told that authorities are monitoring this issue.
These drop off and pick up arrangements will remain in place until the issues in the Prep Car Park can addressed.
Anne-Marie Schmidt
Head of Junior Campus
Supporting our Children to Grow, Learn and Thrive
There is no doubt that children are an absolute joy. They bring life, love, vitality, curiosity, laughter, play and so much more to our lives. There are also times when the parenting journey is difficult and filled with challenges.
When those challenging times occur, we can spend a lot of time thinking, worrying, feeling stressed, blaming, or worse, as we work to ease those challenges. If those challenges are based around behaviour, what are some simple and effective ideas that can help?
- Focus on reinforcing the desired behaviour rather than what not to do
- Teach, discuss role play and explain desired behaviours
- Be consistent
Here are a few specific points that have been taken from Dr Anthea Rhodes, a practising developmental and behavioural paediatrician at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
Keeping rules simple and easy to understand
Discuss rules with children, write them down and repeat them. Considering children’s suggestions for rules is also effective. A few simple rules that work well with children include:
- Help each other
- Take care of our belongings
- Say please and thank you
- Be kind to each other
Remind them of reasons for rules and discuss, role play what they can do differently.
Say what you mean
Use “do” instead of “don’t” whenever possible. Choose your words carefully, especially when you are guiding children’s behaviour. Keep sentences short and simple. Focus on what to do rather than what not to do.
- Try saying, “Slow down and walk” instead of “stop running”
- Try saying, “Hold my hand” instead of “don’t touch anything”
- Try saying, “Keep your feet on the floor” instead of “don’t climb on the table”
- Try saying, “Use a quiet voice inside” instead of “stop shouting”
Catch children being good
All children want attention. It is better to give them positive attention for good behaviour than negative attention for misbehaviour. Comment on something positive about each child, each day. Better yet, strive for several times a day and share the good news. When children have done something positive acknowledge it in front of other people.
Encourage like a good coach instead of a cheerleader
A cheerleader shouts general praise, “What a great job!” or “What a beautiful picture.” A good coach tells you what you’re doing right, uses praise as a teaching tool, and lets you know why they are proud of you. If a child sets the table, you might say, “When you played in the park, I saw you sharing the toys in the sandpit with Tom. You used your words to explain what you wanted!”
Use play activities to teach social skills
Become a character in your child’s pretend play and show them how to use good manners and be kind. Read children’s books that show how they resolve problems. Play “what if” games and encourage them to act out ways to work together.
Teach children how to resolve conflict and solve problems
Help children to recognise and name feelings, identify problems clearly, come up with ideas for solving the problem, and try possible solutions. Sometimes it will be important to not only have a Plan A to solve a problem, but also a Plan B, C, D.
Teach children how to correct their misbehaviour
If a child throws food onto the floor give them a broom and show them how to clean it up. If they draw on the wall, give them a wet cloth to clean the wall. Even if they cannot successfully clean up the entire mess alone, participating in clean-up teaches them that their actions have consequences. Over time, experiencing consequences helps children learn self-control.
“Children’s brains are wired for attention. The best type of attention to give a child is a positive response to desired behaviour as it encourages them to behave that way,” she said.
There are many ways to work with children and help them to interact safely in community and these are just a few good reminders.
Coreta Lennon
Deputy Head of Junior Campus
Junior Campus Recycling Scheme
Prince of Peace is excited to be partnering with The Exchange Shed Jimboomba for the second year.
By partnering with them, and Containers for Change, we have been able to reduce container litter, increase recycling efforts and raise much needed funds for community groups.
In Term 1 of 2022 we will be supporting Kids Helpline.
How it works
Collect a bag from the small blue bin at the Prep carpark, fill the bag with eligible containers and drop the bag back in front of your child’s class sign at the Prep carpark.
The class who recycles the most containers this term will receive a pizza party thanks to Megan from the Exchange Shed.
The Courage to be Your Authentic Self
As I have been involved in Middle School Captain and House Captain interviews the last fortnight, a few students have asked at the end of the interview what characteristics would we like to see in a leader. My response was to be your authentic self.
When, as leaders we can model to others that we have the courage to be our authentic self and take a stand on what matters, it encourages and empowers others to do the same.
Therefore, this is why we focus on the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence each year at Prince of Peace. It reminds us all that we have a responsibility to stand up to bullying as bystanders and upstanders in saying ‘no to bullying’. The theme in 2022 is ‘Kindness Culture’. We have encouraged our students to make a real pledge in what they will do in creating a ‘Kindness Culture at PoP’ in our face to face and online community we live in.
We encourage parents with their children to explore resources at https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/ this week and take the courage to be your authentic self in building respectful relationships with others.
To Lead is to Serve
It was a delight to be able to share with Year 12 and 1 students in the Jersey and Backpack Gift Tag Presentation this last week. After many times of having to postpone due to wet weather, we were able to have parents present to witness this significant rite of passage with their children. The jersey for our Year 12 students is a symbol of the 13 years of education that our young adults have experienced. In exchange our Year 12s give Year 1s a gift tag for their school bag that blesses the beginning of their educational journey which they are embarking upon.
It is an invitation for our young people to reflect on each year of their education and how each of these years have shaped them into the person they are today. The teachers and peers they have met along the way have taught them so much and enriched their lives.
Each one of our Year 12 students is a leader and becomes a buddy to a Year 1 student in their final year of education at Prince of Peace. What a special gift of service that our young adults give back to the future generation of Prince of Peace. It reminds us that in the way of Jesus to lead is to serve.
Continuous Feedback (Progressive Reporting) Term 1 2022
One of the areas we are focusing on this year is progressive reporting and continuous feedback to students and parents on learning. What this means is twice a term for each subject students and parents will receive feedback on SEQTA on assessment for learning in real time. As parents you will gain a notification through SEQTA that feedback has been updated and you can check the feedback teachers have given.
This is our mode of reporting for this term and there will be two pieces of feedback by the end of Week 10 before Parent Teacher Interviews in Term 2. An end of Semester 1 report will be issued in Week 10 Term 2 that will report on overall grade for the semester, work habits for success and a pastoral care teacher comment.
This mode of reporting was shared with parents on the Middle and Senior School Parent Information Online Night. PowerPoints from this night can be accessed via the MyPoP Parent Portal on our College’s website, or via this link (using the normal password).
At any time, you wish to communicate with teachers about your child’s learning please do not hesitate to contact individual subject teachers.
Wellbeing Support
Each edition of POPCORN we will be able to share some wellbeing support for parents to assist their young person. This edition we continue to hear from Maggie Dent who is one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators.
The article linked below focuses on when we feel overwhelmed as parents and what we can do in filling up our own cups. We are thankful for what you do as parents and how you are supporting your young person through the challenges of living in a pandemic and recovering from the floods. Maggie speaks to us here on the importance of self-care and compassion and recognising the signs in ourselves when we are stressed and overwhelmed. Please access the article here »
Final Thoughts
Our thoughts and prayers remain with all our families as we keep encouraging our children to be their authentic selves and have the courage to speak up and make a difference in the lives of others.
May these words from Deuteronomy 31:6 stay with you
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’
Sarah Hoff-Zweck
Head of Middle and Senior Campus
Careers @ PoP
Over the next few months I intend to highlight some students that have been doing some amazing work with their external studies.
This is Ella Bunn of Year 11. She has completed a Certificate II in Health Support Services at Brisbane North West Trade Training College and a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance at MATER Education. To take on Certificate courses is not easy. Ella gave up one full day a week to go the Trade Centre and then to the MATER to concentrate on the respective courses.
Because Ella has successfully completed these courses early, she has been able to acquire employment at Ramsay Health. Ella is an example of how hard work, commitment and organization can get you started in your future career.
Kind regards,
Mrs Julie Grosas
Careers and VET Leader
Junior Campus Sport
Congratulations Thomas Forbes-Schutz
A massive congratulations to Thomas Forbes-Schutz who produced some exceptional performances at the recent Queensland State Athletic Championships. Thomas placed 3rd in the 800m event and 7th in the 1500m race. We are so proud of your achievement!
Matthew Barben
Junior Campus HPE and Sport
Senior Campus Sport
Athletics news
Congratulations to Dylan Turley (Yr 10) who placed 3rd in the 100m sprint and 4th in the 200m sprint in the Met North Regional Championships.
We also had a number of students participate in the QLD State Athletics Championships this past week. Jonas Forbes-Schutz (Yr 11) was able to equal his PB (and claim 6th place) in the 2000m steeplechase. Freya Forbes-Schutz (Yr 10) also competed in the 2000m steeplechase and came in 9th place. Hannes Forbes-Schutz (Yr 9) came 6th in the 800m, running a two second PB. Hannes also raced in the 1500m, achieving an eight second PB and claiming 9th place.
Heidi Noon (Yr 12) competed in the 800m and achieved a bronze medal with 3rd place.
Best of luck to Finn Sorpassa (Yr 7) who this weekend will compete at the Little Athletics State Championships in the 1500m event.
QLD Cricket State Championships
Congratulations to Elijah Walsh (Yr 10) who recently participated in the Qld Cricket State Championships. The team achieved one win, four losses and one draw throughout the tournament. Well done Elijah!
Futsal
The Senior Boys Futsal team have earned a spot in the grand final, being played this Sunday at 5.20pm. This team consists of a number of recently graduated students as well as a number of our current year 11 and 12 boys, with Michelle Nisbet the coach/manager of the team. We wish the boys the best of luck for the weekend and encourage anyone who is free to head down to the Arana United Futsal Club (Olearia St W, Everton Hills) to help cheer on our boys.
Gabby Collman
Sports Coordinator
HPE, Science and Mathematics Teacher
Senior Campus Music News
‘Soloists on Show’ performances will be on Wednesday 16 March, 6.30pm in M1.
This recital will feature some of the best of our individual performers as well as some amazingly beautiful duets, trios and compositions! Congratulations to all who are performing. The standards are delightfully high and it is certainly a worthwhile evening out.
Preparation is well under way for our first ensemble concert in over a year, Rhythms Riffs and Refrains which will be held on Wednesday 25 May 6 – 8pm. Put this date in your diary, as it will be a great night out with over 100 students performing in a variety of styles and genre. All of our tutors will be there and several new ensembles will be presenting for the first time. Jazz, rock, classical, folk, pop… whatever your style, there will be a special performance for you! Plus you will be supporting the wonderful students who have dedicated so much time and love to the preparation of this material week after week.
Please ensure that your children have organised their Music Uniforms so that they will look as good as they sound!
Lights Camera Action! We are going to hear the Queensland Symphony Orchestra play music from the stage and screen. Students from the elective music classroom and Extra Curricular Ensembles Program will soon get an invitation to join us on an excursion to QPAC Concert Hall to hear the orchestra play LIVE! This is a great opportunity for any music enthusiast but especially for students who are learning an instrument or playing in an ensemble. The excursion is during school time and being invited is one of the benefits of being a part of this vibrant program. YAY!
Let’s make music!
Linda Brady
Senior Campus Curriculum Leader of Music and Coordinator of Extra-Curricular Music
Worship
20 March
9am Worship
3:00pm Youth@PoP Questions? Email youth@princeofpeace.org.au
5pm Together@5
Please keep an eye on the Prince of Peace Church Facebook page for service updates.
OSHC – April Vacation Care
Download the information program for April 2022 Vacation Care »
