This week we acknowledge Reformation Day. A very important event in the life of the Lutheran Church. Martin Luther (church reformer) had the courage to stand up for what he believed in and nailed his 95 theses to a church door for all to see. At the time (500 years ago) the Church suggested that you could pay for your sins (with indulgences) and therefore get into heaven.
To Martin Luther, this didn’t sound like the God he knew. He referred back to the scriptures which clearly stated that we are saved by faith through grace. Not by what we have done, but by what God has already done for us.
My question to you is, “What would you be willing to stand up for?” If you could nail to the door beliefs or ideas that are important to you for everyone to see, what would they be?
‘Here I Stand…’ Martin Luther
As Martin Luther once said,
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
World Staff Day
Today we celebrated all the outstanding work that our teaching and non- teaching do to ensure the very best for our students every day. Thanks to FOLS (Friends of LORDS) for a wonderful morning tea and gift.
We welcome to LORDS Mrs Selina Kinne in 2023 to take on the role of Head of Secondary School, as Ms Laura Robbins leaves LORDS to join Trinity Lutheran College as Deputy Principal / Head of Campus (Year 6-12).
Selina and her husband are moving back to Queensland after spending some time living in Tasmania. Her husband has a job at the Gold Coast University Hospital and her two adult children live in Brisbane.
Selina is an experienced educational leader, most recently working at Dominic College in Tasmania where she has taken on many roles including Acting Deputy Principal, Leader of Student Services and Administration, Director of Learning and Teaching, and Head of Technology and Applied Sciences.
During her time at Dominic, she led the development of their pedagogical framework, timetable development, and development of the school data plan, introduced the quality teaching program across the school, reviewed the Information Technology Services department, and developed the whole school writing and reading project.
Prior to working at Dominic College, Selina worked at the Russo Institute of Technology and Holland Park State High School. Her teaching areas are ICT, Robotics, Business, Mathematics, and Religious Education.
Selina is very much looking forward to joining the LORDS Community and makes the following reflection:
I am looking forward to being part of the LORDS community and working with staff, students and parents. Students are central to education and I highly value the partnership between school and home necessary for students to achieve their full potential. I am committed to working collaboratively with staff to ensure students become life-long learners, vital for achieving successful future pathways. I believe in educating the whole child with a faith based world view centred on Biblical principles and that students should be challenged to be creative and innovative problem solvers. I am looking forward to serving the LORDS community with’ hand, head and heart’ and working together with the leadership and staff to ensure students are engaged in quality education within a safe, nurturing and Christ centred environment.
I know that the LORDS community will make Selina feel welcome.
Student Leaders 2023
We wish the following students every blessing for 2023 as they step out in faith to lead the LORDS Community. We will formally install these leaders at the start of next year. Junior School Leaders will be announced toward the end of the year.
School Captains - Harrison Jaensch, Zahra Nejad, Alannah Eyerich, Allyson Armstrong
Cultural Captain – Olivia Quinn
Sport Captains – Jacob Rudowski & Santiago Cifuentes
Logan Captains – Claire McNeill & Tyson Sheppard
Pimpama Captains – Makalee Hathaway & Natalie Hill
Albert Captains – Mitchell Ludcke & Amity Maas
The Secondary School's Voice
WELCOME YEAR 7 2023
Welcome to our 2023 Year 7 crew! After a quick snack of pizza at LORDS, the teachers and students had a great night getting to know one another at Mt Warren Lanes, cheering each other on through strikes, spares, and gutterballs! New friends were met, names were memorised, and plans made for the first day of Year 7 – what a great atmosphere in which to connect with each other and feel more confident about the transition to high school!
Year 8 enjoyed Lawn Bowls as their sport rotation for this week- sweltering but fun! A big shout out to the Beenleigh Bowls Club volunteers who spent their afternoon with us!
BLESSINGS FOR YEAR 12
Let’s keep our young people in Year 12 in our prayers today as they start their external exams this week. Pray for calm, patience, insight, and confidence.
CITY OF GOLD COAST JUNIOR COUNCIL
Our Senior students participated in the Gold Coast Junior Council Meeting last week. City of Gold Coast's Junior Council is a two–year civic leadership program aimed at students in Years 10 and 11 from Gold Coast high schools. It enables students to learn about the role of local government and develop skills to become engaged young leaders who actively participate in their local community.
Established in 1993, the program now has more than 120 students from over 30 local schools engaged each year. This is the largest leadership program of its kind in South East Queensland.
Our LORDS representatives are Allyson A, Megha A, Harrison J, and Noah S.
The program provides students with the opportunity to actively participate in their local community, by:
* developing an understanding of local government
* discussing and raising awareness of current, local community issues
* developing skills including communication, public speaking, consultation, leadership and program development, and
* providing a platform to meet new people, have a voice, and exchange ideas through workshops and volunteer opportunities.
We hope our students enjoy their time with the Junior Council.
YEAR 7 HPE GET FIT
Year 7 HPE this term is all about fitness! We've put our young people through their paces with a beep test and a series of circuit exercises designed to strengthen muscles, improve agility and get the heart pumping.
Our Year 7 Japanese students enjoyed visiting the Japanese Garden at Mt Coot-tha in the second week of term, learning about the importance of creating a place of relaxation and meditation outside of the bustling big cities that Japan is known for.
The students immersed themselves in their peaceful surroundings, writing haiku poetry and creating ink paintings of their impressions of the garden. To finish off the day, the students enjoyed a Japanese bento lunch supplied by a local Japanese restaurant.
Here are some haiku poems written by the students that capture the atmosphere of the Japanese garden:
Earlier this month, a small group of senior students set off to Sea World to learn more about Marine Science. There is always a subject or vocational course to cater to all interests. Many pathways toward many passions!
The Junior School's Voice
YEAR 4 GARDEN TO PLATE
FROM GARDEN TO PLATE! Our Year 4 students are currently engaged in a Project Based Learning unit supported by Oz Harvest. They are exploring the concept of food waste & healthy eating, while also honing their cooking skills along the way. Last week they made fritters using vegetables and herbs grown by the LORDS Gardening Club. Over the next few weeks, they will be designing their own recipe with food items that are often thrown out and making their own class recipe book to sell at our FOLS Christmas Market. Watch this space!
On Tuesday, 11th October our Year 5 and 6 Public speakers represented LORDS at the A.B. Paterson Public Speaking competition. All the girls did exceptionally well, and all received Participation Certificates. They were well-prepared, articulate, and Effective Communicators. Thank you to Mrs Voorhoeve who supported the Year 5’s and Miss Allan who adjudicated for the Year 6’s.
4 girls represented Year 5 and they were: Ellie H, Emily M, Amelia W, and Estayah S.
4 girls represented Year 6 and they were: Olivia H, Seerat S, Ekampreet K, and Amy P.
Well done, girls, we are very proud of you.
YEAR 5 GETTING READY FOR THEIR MARKETPLACE
It's great to see our Year 5 students in full production mode! They are currently making the products that they will sell at the annual marketplace. So much learning has happened along the way including financial planning and budgeting, creating and presenting a pitch, refining design ideas, and market research. Not to mention all the skills the students have had to develop to help navigate working in a group to achieve a goal! Such rich learning that can be applied to the world beyond school.
We are delighted to announce changes to our LORDS Little Wonders Kindergarten for 2023. For further information, please visit our website page: LORDS LITTLE WONDERS
The Sporting Voice
FUTSAL NEWS!
On Wednesday the 26th October, LORDS participated in the Primary Schools Cup Futsal Tournament. We had 7 teams entered from Years 3-6 with 6 boys teams and an all-girls team. LORDS showed just how strong we are in Futsal by having an outstanding tournament with 4 of the teams making the Grand Finals. Our 9 years boys and 11 years boys teams won their grand finals both winning 6-0. The 10 years boys team and 11 years girls team lost their grand final but put in a tremendous effort and were unlucky to go down. Both our 12 years boys teams ended up 3rd and 4th, which shows just how great of a day the school had. GO TEAM LORDS!!
AMAZING SPORTSPERSON IN YEAR 4
We are so proud of Year 4 student Jada and her amazing achievements in Gymnastics. Jada competed this year in level 5 in both the Womens Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) and the Tumbling teams for Gold Coast Gymnastics.
In WAG, Jada was recently crowned Gold Coast Regional Champion at the Gold Coast Regionals, competed in the State Championships, and then came 7th with her team at the National Clubs Gymnastics Carnival out of 50 teams across Australia. To top it off she was also selected for the Queensland State Team in Tumbling!
She showed massive amounts of determination and courage in coming back from a broken finger that required surgery back in May. Jada's parents are so proud of how she focused on the goals she set, put in the hard work in her intensive 16 hours of training each week, and still had a smile on her face at the end of it all!
Well done Jada!! You're an incredible sportsperson.
Aidan represented the Pacific District cricket team in Rockhampton last week. It’s a massive accomplishment just to make it to this level and spend a week competing with the State’s best in the sport he loves. In his first game, he came in to bat when the team was in trouble needing over 30 runs to seal the victory. Aidan and his batting partner put on a 50 run partnership for the victory. Although his team suffered a heartbreaking defeat, Aidan came away with the man of the match.
Congratulations, Aidan!
TOUCH FOOTBALL TRIUMPH
LORDS entered into the Year 6 Kings Touch Football Tournament on 18th October. The competition was tough, but the boys were up to the task, being competitive in every game and coming away with one victory. They represented LORDS well.
The Community's Voice
MUSIC STUDENTS VISIT COMMERA STATE SPECIAL SCHOOL
We love visiting our friends at Coomera State Special School. We are so glad to be able to share and spread our musical joy. Please check out the video below. Our Co-curricular Arts Coordinator, Steven Days, JS Music Teacher, Kerryn Vezos, and Music Tutor, Melinda Coles, have taken our music students on several visits now. It's a wonderful part of Service Learning at LORDS.
Bethlehem (Stapylton-Jacobs Well Rd, Woongoolba): 8.00am
Bethesda Lutheran Church Divine Service
Phone: (07) 3807 6600
(81 City Rd, Beenleigh)
8:30am HC every Sunday
Pastor David Haak
Bethania Lutheran Church
Phone: (07) 3200 5357
(5-17 Church Rd, Bethania): 9am
Pastor Peter Laihia
PASTOR GEOFF REFLECTS
‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 1:6b
I attended the General Pastors’ Conference for the Lutheran Church of Australia earlier this month. This was in preparation for our LCA Synod (grand gathering) in Melbourne next year. Pastors met to discuss any proposals which may appear on the Agenda. Collectively, we offer theological advice to Synod (hopefully with a degree of consensus). Pastors at conferences are probably much like teachers… some obsessing about definitions; some agitating for rapid change; some leveraging influence where they can; many simply observing and taking note.
On the positive, I left the conference with much admiration for my colleagues who have weathered ministry well. They are greyer for sure, but still very gracious as human beings with a twinkle in their eyes – the twinkle of optimism and hope. We meet teachers and co-workers like this as well. It is a reminder that most things need to mature over time, without becoming jaded and tired, much like a good red wine (we were in the Barossa!).
God has begun something in us and is bringing it to completion. That’s a lovely thought to take with us as we navigate our way through the term.
Peace, Pastor Geoff
IMPORTANT DATES
FRIENDS OF LORDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 2022 Friends of LORDS (FOLS) AGM will be held on Wednesday, November 9 at 7.00 pm in the Administration Building.
FOLS needs your support.
There are so many reasons to join FOLS.....
"... the many great friendships I have made, the wonderful feeling you get watching the students enjoying the events we run..."
"...put simply, I do it for my kids."
"...The response of the kids is the greatest reward for the time you put in."
"...It’s so important that communities have a voice and you can only do that if you have an organised group."
"...It’s great to be part of that progressive education movement... you can see that you’re making progress."
Do any of those reasons speak to you? FOLS would love to see you on Wednesday, November 9.
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