NewsBites - Term 1, Week 10, 2024

Risk Management Sub-Committee

Become part of a team of committed parents who are keen to help explore and strengthen the College’s processes and responses to the risk management landscape.

Faith Lutheran College’s Council is committed to providing the College with effective school governance to ensure that Faith can continue to maintain sustained success as a leading independent school in South East Queensland. This includes College Council providing governance oversight regarding a range of key areas. This oversight is either executed by Council itself or one of Council’s subcommittees on behalf of Council: Finance, Property, Uniform and Risk.

An important aspect of the Risk Management Subcommittee is to ensure that the College maintains a robust and effective process of risk management. This includes a cyclic review of 10 key areas of risk, which ensures the College identifies, assesses, evaluates, and then treats these areas of risk in an effective manner. Each key area of risk is reviewed on a biennial basis, with five areas being reviewed each year, and the other five the following year. From each review, an action plan is developed by the Senior Leadership Team in consultation with Council, which is enacted and monitored over a two-year period.

College Council has ultimate oversight for the College’s risk management processes, including its Risk Appetite Statement, Risk Management Policy, and Risk Management Framework. Council’s subcommittees, working with the College’s Senior Leadership Team, ensure that effective risk management processes are enacted regarding the 10 identified areas of risk.

At a recent Risk Management Subcommittee meeting, it was agreed that Council would seek input from parents/carers who have professional experience and/or qualifications regarding certain areas that align with some of the key risk areas that the College addresses. While the majority of risk areas are addressed by Council itself, the decision was made to engage parents/carers who have professional experience and/or training in one or more of the below areas to help support the College with reviewing its risk management processes regarding the following areas:

• Child Protection 
• Human Resources 
• Lutheran Identity and Formation

While the College confidently feels it addresses the above areas of risk effectively, it was decided that a further layer of review through engaging with parents/carers with certain professional experience and/or qualifications would further strengthen the College’s risk management processes.

If you believe you are a parent/carer with such professional experience and/or qualifications that aligns with one or more of the three risk areas above, and you are interested in supporting the College with reviewing its risk management processes, please complete the below ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) online form.

Future Year 7 Applications

As you may have read in our Principal Doug Braiden's article, we are now waitlisting new applications for Year 7, 2025. This is a great result for our College and signifies a strong reputation in our local community. 

However, this will come with disappointment for those people who have missed out on securing a place.

The message is loud and clear - submit an enrolment application as early as possible if you have younger children who you would like to enrol at Faith in the future. Our recommendation is to apply at least 26 months prior to commencing, which means you should have your application in prior to the end of Year 4.

We anticipate that we will commence processing 2026 applications in Term 3, 2024. We have already received a significant level of interest through enrolment applications for this year level.

If you have a member of the family who is currently in Year 5, and you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to submit an application over the Easter holiday break.

Open Day Recap

We had an outstanding response to our recent Open Day on Saturday 16 March, with more than 550 guests visiting us on the day.

This year, we tried something different by holding a mini-timetable of interactive activities that children could participate in. This was a resounding success and our Open Day survey to guests has received an overall rating of 9.23 out of 10! Many thanks to all the staff and students who helped to ensure our guests had a wonderful time at our Open Day.

I would also like to highlight the exceptional number of students who volunteered their help at Open Day. Their pride and enthusiasm certainly impressed our guests and many commented on our wonderful students and their efforts on the day.

Thank you to everyone who is spreading the good news about the tremendous work that is being done here at Faith Lutheran College. 

Have a safe and blessed Easter.

Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing

Important Information: NCCD Reporting

Please click the below button to read a letter from Principal Doug Braiden regarding the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability (NCCD).

Shave for a Cure

We held our annual Shave for a Cure event on Wednesday 27 March. Congratulations to our brave students and staff who "braved the shave" to help raise more than $6,000 to help find a cure for blood cancer.

You can still donate or check out how the team is going with fundraising by using the button below.

Term 1 Foundation Phase Student Reflections

It’s hard to believe we have already reached the end of Term 1! It has been a jam packed first term and I’m sure everyone is ready for a little break. But before we go on holiday, here’s what some of our students had to say about the opening term of 2024. 

“This term was full of excitement, enjoyment, and experiences. We had a thrilling school camp, our first math test, and then NAPLAN. All in all, it was a massive term!” --Levi & Lachlan (Year 7)

“My favourite part of being a part of the Faith community this term was the fact that everyone is so supportive of each other. It is amazing to see that people from different schools across Queensland have bonded so well in the short amount of time. Most students would have found themselves in primary school saying ‘Oh no, I can’t do this. I can’t go to high school. I’m not going to make any friends.’ I was one of those kids. But as the term went on, I found that those words were just a stereotype our minds told us so many times. It was so easy to make friends after our Year 7 camp. I can't wait to see where our story goes throughout the year and I wish all my peers amazing luck going on this journey together as a team.” -- Tiyarnah (Year 7)

“My favourite memory of this year so far is when we made ice cream. It was a lot of fun and we got to learn something new that most of us had not learned before. I got to learn something with my friends, have fun and taste something new! It was a little salty but it’s my favourite memory so far.” --Tash (Year 8)

“My first term of Year 7 at Faith was fun and exciting. I enjoyed meeting all the teachers and learning new stuff with my peers. I also enjoyed the extra-curricular activities such as E-sports.” --Rose (Year 7)

“My experience of Term 1 was a journey of growth and overcoming many challenges such as adapting to the new curriculum and growing to know and love our new classes. But Term 1 has been full of supporting peers and inspiring teachers. I am sure the rest of the year is only going to be better.” --Zander (Year 8)

“Year 8 at Faith has been full of challenges! I love seeing everyone succeeding and accomplishing goals. I am surrounded by students who are encouraging and empowering. My favourite memory of Term 1 was when my friends and I were having a dance battle at lunchtime, even the teachers got into it!” --Mia (Year 8)

“This term there have been ups and downs some of which include NAPLAN, camp, getting used to the surroundings, and trying to remember our locker code. We’ve enjoyed a lot this term like camp, meeting new friends, having such great teachers, not having to carry our stuff around thanks to the lockers, and having such great fun and enjoyable lessons. We can’t wait for the Easter holidays but can’t wait to return to school to have another awesome school term.” --Lacey & Adeline (Year 7)

Term 1 was filled with growth and adventures for our Foundation Phase students. But at the end of the day, building positive relationships is the core of everything we do. Our incredible Foundation Phase staff have developed wonderful connections with students and helped foster relationships within their classes too.

 I look forward to more exciting experiences in Term 2!

Eunize Mallari
Head of Learning - Foundation Phase

A term of thriving discovery!

This term, we saw the exciting beginning of our Exploration Phase subjects, and it's safe to say it's been a transformative experience for our students! From tackling essential life skills to delving into exciting new subjects, the phase has been a vibrant journey of discovery and growth.

Building Essential Tools

The Exploration Phase wasn't just about exploring cool new subjects (although, let's be honest, those were a big hit!). 

It was also about equipping students with invaluable life skills they can carry forward. Early in the term, they tackled the often-underrated skill of help-seeking through the engaging "Lost Teddy" activity. Here, students learned the importance of clear communication and perseverance in getting the help they need.

Another key focus was understanding their own strengths. By exploring character strengths, students gained valuable self-awareness. This not only empowers them but also helps them navigate challenges and play to their unique strengths in all aspects of life.

Our commitment to student safety extended beyond the classroom. The Exploration Phase featured a Road Safety Workshop led by our dedicated Graduate Phase students. This interactive session equipped everyone with essential skills and knowledge to navigate the roads safely, fostering a culture of responsibility and awareness within our school community.

Prioritising Mental Wellbeing

We believe that mental wellbeing is just as important as academic achievement. Students had the privilege of hearing a profound message from Mick from the LIVIN group. This impactful session shed light on mental health, promoting strategies for emotional well-being and encouraging students to seek help when needed.

A World of Exploration Awaits

Now, let's talk about the exciting world of subjects offered in the Exploration Phase! These innovative courses are designed to spark curiosity, ignite passions, and help students discover hidden talents.

We offered a diverse range of subjects, catering to a wide variety of interests. From understanding the agricultural world in "Birds and the Bees" to exploring the cutting-edge world of technology in "Send in the Drones!" students were able to delve into areas that truly captivated them.

In "Game of Life" they used math to make strategic decisions, guiding their avatar's life choices and tackling real-world problems like budgeting, and tax preparation. Every two weeks, students shared the stories of their avatar's "life," complete with the triumphs and challenges encountered. This engaging format fostered critical thinking. 

“Show me the Money” is another practical course that equipped students with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate their own financial future, considering investing and maximising systems such as superannuation.

For the budding engineers, "Remote Control Model Building" offered a hands-on opportunity to explore engineering principles and problem-solving skills. If leadership was their calling, students could have participated in "The Business of Rugby Leadership", which offered a fascinating glimpse into the world of leadership, decision making and tactics within the context of a popular sport.

These are just a few examples of the incredible Exploration Phase subjects offered this term. By providing such a diverse range of options, we aimed to cater to every student's unique interest and help them cultivate new skills.

The launch of the Exploration Phase subjects has been a resounding success. Students have emerged with a newfound sense of self-awareness, valuable life skills, and a passion for exploring new areas of knowledge. 

We're incredibly excited to see where this exploration journey takes them in the rest of the academic year and beyond!

Sam Loxley
Head of Wellbeing - Exploration Phase

Graduate Phase - End of Term 1

As we wrap up another dynamic term within the Graduate Phase, it's time to reflect on our achievements and look forward to a well-deserved break. It's been a hectic term filled with learning, growth and exciting milestones.

One notable highlight was the completion of our first exam block for the year, which took place at our new location. Despite the changes, our students adapted remarkably well, showcasing their resilience and dedication to their studies. We're delighted to report that the exams went smoothly, thanks to the hard work and preparation of both students and staff.

As we head into the Easter break, the Heads of Graduate Phase extend their warmest wishes to all our students. May this holiday be a time of joy, relaxation and renewal. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, enjoy the company of friends and, most importantly, indulge in some well-deserved rest.

From all of us at Faith Lutheran College - Plainland, we wish you a happy Easter and a rejuvenating break. Let's return refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities that the next term will bring.

Kevin Abraham
Heads of Learning - Graduate Phase