2019 saw the first major change to senior schooling in Queensland in over thirty years. The state government has spent more than $70 million over the last three years researching and trialling new syllabuses for Years 11 and 12. New subjects such as Engineering and Psychology have been introduced and other subjects have been reviewed and refreshed to help prepare students to face the challenges of the future. 

One of the most significant changes in the new syllabuses is the change in assessment requirements. The number of summative assessment tasks in all subjects has been reduced to four. From next year, all Year 12 students will undertake three internal assessment tasks and an external exam in each of their subjects. For most subjects, this exam will contribute 25% of a student’s final grade but in Science subjects and Mathematics the exam will contribute 50% of the grade. The external assessment timetable for 2020 will be published in Term 4 this year so that students know well in advance what their exam schedule will look like.

In the coming week, all Year 10 and Year 11 students will be given a brochure to take home outlining for parents the requirements and processes of the Queensland Certificate of Education from 2020 onwards.

To further support students the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority have create the myQCE website https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au  which provides information about: 

• Senior subjects and courses
• Vocational education and training
• Study tips
• Assessment and results
• ATAR and tertiary entrance
• Jobs and careers

Both the brochure and the website are valuable resources for students and their parents as they plan their post-school pathways.
 
Cultural Diversity Day
On Tuesday, the Secondary School, for the first time, celebrated United Nations Cultural Diversity Day. This was an initiative of SET (Student Executive Team). On Assembly, representatives from all classes talked of the importance and nature of culture and the way in which the coming together and sharing of culture enriches all of us. At lunchtime, students performed songs and dances from their cultures, and throughout the day, students had the opportunity to share their understanding of culture by writing their thoughts on sticky notes and posting them on a whiteboard in The Hub. Congratulations to SET for their organisation and leadership of the day. The team hopes that this day will become a regular part of the school calendar and after the success of the inaugural event, I’m sure it will be.

Sue Grotherr
Head of Secondary School

At the busy time of term… that seems to be all the time, I wondered what it would be like if we slowed down – just for a while, – to consciously savour the moment. If we would learn to just live in the present moment; change the gear into slow motion. I wonder if we would be less stressed, because we would enjoy the journey. We might become less busy, because we do what needs to and can be done in just that moment. We may not feel that time has passed us too quickly, because we consciously walked the journey, step by step. We do not fear to have missed anything, because we did what needed attention – at the given time – right then, right now, at any given moment.

And along the way noticed the beauty of the flower, the rustling of the leaves caused by the silent wind, stopped to listen to the one who needed to share her/his story, were in the moment that was – while many others just seemed to rush by.

If we would just live in the moment, we may be able one day to look back and in hindsight be grateful for the life we were granted and acknowledge with gratitude that we lived well; we would have no regrets, because no moment had been lost, no time wasted.
Living – just in the present moment – frees us from worrying too much; what was captured in the image of the “birds of the air that do not reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them – and in the image of the lilies of the field, who do not labour or spin, yet are clothed. “Do not worry about your life. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

You are invited – like me – to slow down and observe; to pause and listen; to just be – and savour the moment that is. And you will realize that things will fall in place; a new perspective rises and worries ease, because we can do just now what can and needs to be done in just that moment.

Pause, listen and just be - and you may realize that life is a gift and you are enough. A biblical promise captures this, where God says:

“I AM” the Lord, your God, who leads you to green pastures.

Or in a different story, a wise teacher once said to his student:

“If I am hungry, I eat. If I am tired, I sleep”

To which the student responded: “Everyone does that”.

“No”, replied the teacher, “when they eat, they think about many different other things; when they sleep, they do not sleep but worry about many issues or dream about one thousand and one thing. When they sit, they already get up; when they walk, they already run; their minds are already engaged with what is to come; they never live just in the present moment – and in hindsight realize that they have failed to live.”

At the busy time of term… that seems to be all the time, pause, listen and just be - and you may realize that life is a gift and is lived well when we learn to live in the present, right now.

Silke Moolman
Pastor

St Peters Lutheran College Springfield Open Day
Date: 1 June 2019
Time: 9am – 12pm 

Register at www.stpeters.qld.edu.au

As the flu season is upon us, please find attached Influenza Fact Sheet. 

Please be aware of symptoms such as fever, sore throat, dry cough, headaches, muscle and joint pain, tiredness or extreme exhaustion. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should stay home and obtain medical advice as early medical intervention can assist in recovery.

More information can be found at http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/82/influenza-the-flu

In 2019, SPLC Springfield students Kaylee Neil, Minna Hood and Daniel Storey as well as Mr Brendan Wingett will be part of the Indigenous Immersion trip to Central Australia. On 20 May, a sausage sizzle was held to raise money to purchase items such as warm clothing, sleeping bags and activity books for young children in these Aboriginal communities. The remoteness of such communities means that such items are often inaccessible or very expensive; thus, the importance of donations cannot be underestimated.

In another example of the St Peters community coming together, $432 was raised. A special thank you is extended to the Storey family, who donated all items for the sausage sizzle. Thank you also to Pastor Matthew Wilksch and Lucy Owen; both of whom were integral in the preparation, running and clean-up of this event. Finally, all students who waited patiently for their sausages are commended for their excellent behaviour.

On the 16th of May, Year 10 Geography students went on an excursion to Sandgate’s foreshore to examine how coastal areas plan to mitigate the effects of climate change. Students used environmental, economic and social criteria to assess the best management strategies for both the natural and built environment. 

Thank you to the Brisbane Urban Education Environmental Education Centre for introducing our students to skills such as collecting data through dumpy level measures and house surveys.

Year 10 Geography students will use their excursion’s findings to write a report that offers recommendations to the local Sandgate area. 

Music, Drama and Visual Art students, Dance Troupe and Knitters are rehearsing hard to put the finishing touches to their performances and displays for the Soiree.  We are sharing this event with Aveo Springfield, and their residents and groups are also preparing performances and displays to share with spectators. The event is being held on THURSDAY 30 MAY, and runs from 3:30pm – 6:00pm. 

Food, coffee and drinks are available, and parking is available onsite at Aveo. Please come along for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment.

These recitals are being held on Thursday 6 June. Information letters for this event have been distributed via tutors, and parents are asked to return the permission slip to Ms Grennan as soon as possible.  There will be three recitals:  Prep – Yr 2 commences at 3:00pm, Yr 3 – Yr 6 commences at 4:45pm and Yr 7 – Yr 12 commences at 6:00pm.  All performances will take place in the Performing Arts Building.