As human beings on a journey of becoming we all see this life we have been gifted with in different ways.

Some of us see life’s journey as a series of beginnings and endings, while others of us experience a collection of moments - some we can control and others we can’t. Some of us may see ourselves as passengers on a smooth ride or perhaps our ride is twisting and turning, filled with mountain top vistas, challenging valleys, roadblocks and pitstops as we travel from destination to destination. My message to our most senior students is a message relevant to us all no matter our age.

Award criteria is outlined in the Parent & Carer Handbook that can be accessed HERE.

After 11 years at The Lakes College, this is my final Tidings article. And I am very pleased to say that I will not be writing about uniforms, car parking, events or the dreaded COVID.

Instead I want to leave you with a message – of admiration, of pride and of deep love for this community.

We lovingly refer to The Lakes College as TLC, an acronym which also stands for Tender Loving Care, a phrase which can be defined as looking after someone with kindness and love and this definition I believe is perfectly aligned with what we do at TLC.

Deep within us all is a need to care and to be cared for. We all have that right. Yet many people, in their attempt to build a life for themselves, lose touch with the sense of being part of something greater than themselves. They no longer believe they have the time or energy to give back to the community they live in, by helping those around them to build a happier life. Yet a community can only develop when individuals remember how dependant we all are on one another and reach out to those around them.

Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community and that is why what we do is so right here at TLC. We value the community we have built through the tender loving care we have given each other during the past 18 years. The response to assist our fellow man is nothing short of incredible. It has been timely and generous, creative and respectful and makes me shake my head in disbelief whenever I hear of the extraordinary lengths some members of our community go to ensure the wellbeing of our families.

Thank you for choosing The Lakes College as the place for your children to learn and grow and for trusting us to provide them with the best possible educational journey. Thank you also to all our volunteers, who have given their time willingly (and not so willingly) over the years, through the TLCCA or the CPR program or as a classroom helper. You have all helped to develop this supportive community and you epitomise the tender loving care that is TLC.  

I’ve worked in a range of schools during my long career and hand on heart, The Lakes College is one of a kind, because of the community we have here – the incredible staff, the amazing students and the supportive and generous parents and carers. I’m a much better person because of my time at TLC and I will miss it greatly.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and I hope you get the chance to relax with your loved ones.

God bless

Sharon Lollback
Deputy Principal

Some of our favourite "Mrs Lollback" moments:

For this final edition of Tidings, I asked our teachers what some of the moments that mattered to them had been. What follows is a collation of their reflections. To me, they put a spotlight on the small moments that are important to our community. We spend much of the last two weeks of school celebrating the significant moments – Valedictory, Graduation, Awards Evening – which is as it should be, but shining a light on the less public but equally important moments is a fitting tribute to the year.

I really enjoyed hearing Chris Anstey talk in his evening seminar. It is always great to see students, parents and community members get together for a shared experience. However, during Chris’ talk there was also a little interaction I enjoyed that I thought worth sharing: One of the Year 12 students plucked up the courage to ask Chris Anstey – high profile athlete with a history in the NBA, one of the richest competitions in the world – what sought of car he drove. The answer – a Kia Carnival, because (as Chris explained) like any other car it gets him where he is heading. Three of my favourite things in one sentence, basketball, students being inquisitive and sensible financial decision-making. (Mr Francis)

100% has to be Mt Binga. This seed of an idea was planted in 2019 and sprouted in 2021. 2022, after 12 months of planning, the deep impact this had on our students was palpable. The privilege of journeying the students home when tears of grief, joy and deep purpose and meaning were released as the bus traversed the tracks out of Mt Binga. This camp was the ultimate ‘resilience building’ experience which provided an opportunity to; (1) Build the student’s social identity, their ongoing creation, and recreation as a person, (2) Be fluid, flexible and have a space to live according to the deepest sense of who they are and (3) Have an opportunity to know that everything in life changes. (Helen Street, 2022) (Ms Potter)

The volleyball skills of our students have come on in leaps and bounds. It’s delightful to see this sport being played day-in and day-out, at the heart of our secondary school, and every time there is a game being played it has a real feeling of community and inclusion about it. (Mrs Allonby)

Throughout the year, the Strike team spent many hours, weekends, and afternoons in the rehearsal room preparing and perfecting their performance. However, when the time came to perform, on various occasions, illness and injury stopped someone from being able to attend. One time, the team had to re-block and re-structure the performance on the bus, another time, the team had just under one hour to complete the changes. Although their adaptability was admirable, the most impressive part was that they found ways to support their peer in need, send a supportive message to wish them good health, or remind them life happens and that it is not an issue. In a moment of pressure and stress, our young people handled their own emotions effectively and found the time to support the people around them. We can learn so much from them and their consistent compassion. (Ms Aleckson)

Enjoying a meal and watching the 2022 Federal election as a group of students and staff was a great moment that mattered. (Mr Francis)

The Year 11 Modern History class. At the end of the unit on National Experiences in the Modern World: China 1931-1967, the class organised an afternoon tea in honour of the Chinese tea culture. Students brought in a range of different teas (both hot and cold) that were brewed and sipped on as the class reflected on the key learnings from the term. Part of this process included a small investigation into the history of tea, including origin myths and its significance in history over time. Students not only walked away with an appreciation of tea but also a lived experience of Chinese tea culture. (Mrs Tilley)

The $20 Boss students donating $1,382.76 to wildlife warriors. (Ms Saayman)

Seeing the smiling faces of our students (young and old) when they see George. This year, I was asked if George is married, does he have children, and if is he a boy or a girl. George spreads so much joy around the school community. (Mandy)

The Year 10 Volunteering students diligently volunteer at Redcliffe Breakfast Club. Serving meals and contributing to a vital community service that supports the most vulnerable members of our community. (Mr Stanley)

Watching a Year 12 student who applied themselves in the criterion that they had previously struggled with, go from 16/20 to 20/20. It was all application to the one area that they really needed to apply their time and focus. (Mrs Johnston)

Jade, Vincy and Emily being nominated as finalists in the 2022 Teens in Business Awards (Ms Saayman)

Work experience was another amazing success this year with several students earning their first job because of the efforts they put into the week. (Mr Stanley)

I did enjoy seeing the Year 12 students working together over the October long weekend to prepare for the external exams – always exciting watching young adults paying the price to be better. (Mr Francis)

Watching TLC on national TV for Brain Eisteddfod (Mr Ridout)

The entire Year 11 camp was a powerful experience, but one moment that was special and made me so proud of our young people was ‘Dig In’. Their task was to ‘save’ a volunteer patient who was near the top of a hill. The cohort was under-resourced and outgunned. At first, the team tried every man for themselves, one at a time. Sure enough, one by one, they were defeated and sent back to base. The cohort then re-assessed and re-evaluated their strategy and found that no matter how many resources they or we had, if every student ran together, they would not be beaten. The team saved their patient in less than 1 minute and reminded everyone a team is more powerful than any individual can be. (Ms Aleckson)

As always, it’s a busy time in the life of our Secondary School; two weeks ago, the Valedictory and the Graduation of another outstanding group of departing Year 12 students. Last week, our annual Swimming Carnivals. This week we honour and recognise the academic achievements of our students at our Awards Evening.

As our year draws to a close, I’d like to sincerely thank you all for your support and encouragement through 2022. I’m grateful for your investment in our College and trust in our community of educators; ours is a place where your child can grow in confidence, build depth of character and shine throughout their life. I trust your family is able to have a holiday that is safe, restorative, and happy.

“The sky isn’t more beautiful if you have perfect skin. Music doesn’t sound more interesting if you have a six-pack. Dogs aren’t better company if you’re famous. Pizza tastes good regardless of your job title. The best of life exists beyond the things we are encouraged to crave” Matt Haig

Till next year, take care and stay safe.

Mathew Stein
Head of Secondary