What's Been Happening?
Talking Social Media: What Our Students Really Think
With Australia preparing to roll out strengthened social media regulations designed to give young people greater protection online, our students have had plenty to say, and we wanted to give them a voice.
Last week, we rallied a group of (almost willing) Year 7–9 students to hear their thoughts on how these new laws might affect them, their peers, and the way young people use social media in everyday life. From screen time habits to privacy concerns and digital wellbeing, their insights were thoughtful, honest and often surprising.
We shared a short video reel on Facebook today to give our community a snapshot of their conversations, but there’s much more to hear.
To read the full article and watch the extended interviews, head to our latest blog: Student Perspectives on Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Laws
It’s well worth a look, especially for parents and carers wanting to better understand how young people view the ever-changing digital world around them.
Celebrating our Lakes Learners
Moments that Mattered
By Mr Mathew Stein | Deputy Principal - Curriculum, Professional Practice & Transformation
For this final edition of Tidings, I asked our staff 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.
From Mrs Ha
I witnessed a moment in Kittabilla sport with Yr 7 and 8 boys. One team was dominating on the Futsal court, and someone needed to score to help eject a player and level the teams up. A Year 8 student booted the ball from half court and scored a truly remarkable ‘against-the-run-of-play’ goal. And for a moment in his life, he was a hero. Every student in his team, and those on the sideline that wanted to get on to play, rushed in to congratulate him for an awesome goal. A moment that mattered was the unlikely hero of Kittabilla Year 7 and 8 boys.
From Mr Hylton
The atmosphere and camaraderie of 9D’s science presentations were a beautiful thing to witness. There was such a sincere interest as they each shared their thinking on solving real-world problems using chemical science. Students spontaneously asked questions after each presentation to support and extend each other’s ideas, reflecting the genuine connectedness of the class.
From Mr Hosnell
In Year 8 Mathematics, when a hesitant student finally volunteered to share their solution on the board, it was a small but powerful act of confidence and growth that really mattered.
From the Maths faculty
Seeing junior secondary teachers reconnect with numeracy and problem solving through shared professional learning — a reminder that growth isn’t just for students. It was special to see our commitment to “encouraging risks and being willing to make mistakes”, come to life in classrooms and professional learning sessions.
From Ms Coffey
The moment that mattered was seeing so many of our students discovering new books through peer suggestions this year. One example, was when a Year 5 student discovered verse novels organically; a student picked up Kathryn Apel’s Bully on the Bus, enjoyed it, which led him to spontaneous reading sessions to a small group of other students during our library lessons in Term 3. Consequently, many verse novels have been taken home to read. Another came in our L.A.R.F.s (Laidback Association of Reading Friends) reading group, the weird and wonderful reading by the students, and especially the embracing of the classics by one keen reader, has led to both staff and students taking up some unexpected gems. I loved hearing the passionate description of The School for Good and Evil by one 7C student. The excitement of her discovery empowered her to speak to her peers during a library lesson and created a genuine buzz around this series amongst the Year 7 students.
From Ms Clarke
My moment to share is how the Year 1 teachers and students worked together during the House Spirit competition to create, learn and perform our House Song. It had so much emotion and was very special to be a part of.
From Ms Lowe
The moment that mattered for me was during Home Group with Nyani 8. One of the Year 10 students arrived saying, ‘Does anyone do Chemistry? I’m cooked’. Evidently, the student had an exam in the next lesson and was not confident with some of the concepts. Every single Year 11 and 12 student who had studied Year 10 Chemistry and/or were now in Year 11/12 Chemistry jumped in to support them. What followed was an outpouring of support and mad discussion about Chem concepts. It may not have made a great difference to the student’s outcome, but it certainly provided an additional layer of confidence for that student, and they went in knowing their HG was behind them.
From Mr Williams
My moment that mattered is with the Year 7 and 8 Girls Volleyball team. The students had been training all year, and despite playing against much bigger schools, TLC won the tournament. It was a testament to their hard work and perseverance. It was also special to so many families involved, too!
From Mrs Williamson
My moment that mattered was listening to my mum rave about the wonderful TLC students who volunteer at the Redcliffe Breakfast Club. She met College Captain Levi K and his family when he performed at the new hub opening.
From Ms Lane
A moment that mattered was when our students issued Ms Moore her first Responsible Reflection!
Mission & Service
This Christmas I invite you to come and see...
Over the course of the last couple of months my wife and I have taken to watching the series called “The Chosen”. It is depiction of the life of Jesus from what I would say is a first century lens with some embellishment. It is absolutely brilliant, and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone curious about the life of Christ.
What strikes me about the series is that the character of Jesus is so human and yet so NOT. He laughs with his mates, has a great sense of timing and humour, enjoys the company of people, loves his family, and has compassion to burn and at the same time turns water to wine and raises the dead. The religious and the powerful are on notice with this Jesus, he saves his harshest words for the religious and the powerful. Not for being powerful or religious but for exploiting the poor and having no mercy for the broken. Quite the compelling person. He sits with lepers and debates with scholars. I really like this guy and at the same time I really respect him.
At Christmas we are invited all over again to pull back the layers and peer into the life and person of Jesus Christ. When we do, we find fire, Fire that heals and fire that burns. We find power, power that lifts up and power that tears down. We find hope, hope that inspires us forward and hope that moves us beyond what is to what can be.
This little babe of Bethlehem who was a refugee, who had a “hit” placed on him by a tetrarch, who was laid in a food trough AKA manger, who grew up in ignominy, who lived in Egypt as an illegal alien, who knew poverty and subsistence, this Jesus who worked on the tools, voted with his taxes and took responsibility as the oldest son over the family once his abba Joseph passed away, it turns out this is God with us, the saviour of the world.
This is a compelling story to tell; it is life changing to know. This Christmas I invite you to come and see. Maybe there is a gift just for you in this story, the story of the God/man who still changes lives.
Tim McMenamin | Director of Mission
Community
From the TLCCA President
What a whirlwind of a month it has been! The TLCCA team has truly hit the ground running, and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our volunteers and TLC families.
In November, we proudly delivered a range of events that brought our community together:
- Showcasing the Second Hand Uniform Shop to new Prep families during Orientation mornings
- Providing Zooper Doopers for our students and spectators alike at the Prep-3 Swimming showcase and the Year 3–6 Swimming Carnival
- Hosting a festive Prep–Year 3 Christmas Celebration for nearly 400 TLC families until we were literally swept away!
Even when Mother Nature threw us a curveball with a storm that impacted our Prep to Year 3 Christmas BBQ plans, our community spirit shone through. It was a reminder that while we can’t control the weather, we can always count on each other!
SHUS Achievements:
Our Second Hand Uniform Shop had a fantastic month, helping dozens of families get through the end of 2025 and prepare for 2026 with affordable, sustainable uniform options. Thanks to your generous donations and the hard work of our volunteers, we’ve kept quality uniforms in circulation and supported TLC families in reducing costs. Every purchase makes a difference—thank you for being part of this success!
As we head into the festive season, the TLCCA Executive Team - Rob, Keira, Mike, Renee and Amy wish you all a joyful Christmas and a safe, happy New Year. May your holidays be filled with laughter, love, and maybe just a few less storms!
Save the Date!
Our first TLCCA meeting for 2026 will be held in the TLC Boardroom on Wednesday 25 February 2026, 6.30pm.
Want to make a difference in 2026?
We’re always looking for fresh ideas and helping hands! Whether you can volunteer for an event, join us online for a general meeting, or simply share your thoughts, your involvement matters. Come along to a TLCCA meeting and see how you can be part of creating memorable experiences for our TLC community.
Interested in joining or learning more?
📧 Email us at [email protected]
📱 Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/TLCCA
Or simply chat with one of our friendly committee members at any school event!
Proud Partners
Thank You to our TLC Sponsors 2026
The Lakes College extends sincere thanks to our TLC Sponsors, whose steadfast support plays a vital role in fostering the overall development and wellbeing of our students. We acknowledge and value the dedication of the businesses listed below, whose investments directly enrich the educational journey of our students. Their contributions provide invaluable resources and open doors to opportunities that might not have been accessible otherwise. We are truly grateful for their commitment to enhancing the educational experiences at The Lakes College.
Gold Sponsor: Luxury Lifestyle Homes
Luxury Lifestyle Homes exemplifies unparalleled excellence in the design and construction of dream homes in Brisbane. With meticulous attention to detail, they are dedicated to transforming visions into reality. What sets Luxury Lifestyle Homes apart is their fusion of precise workmanship and proven processes, ensuring clients receive a home that is not only tailored to their exact specifications but is also completed on time, within budget and without stress. The team at Luxury Lifestyle Homes takes pride in bringing dream homes to life, creating a delightful and stress-free experience for their clients throughout the entire process. https://luxlifehomes.com.au
Gold Sponsor: Family First Care
Quality in-home nursing services that put you and your family first. We don’t just focus on quality nursing services. We’re committed to helping you lead a healthier, active, more fulfilling life. Our focus is YOU. Our focus is our partners and their FAMILY. We want the best outcome for you. https://www.familyfirstcare.co...
Community Sponsor: North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical
Since 2004, North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical have been the local electrician serving the North Lakes community. As a family-owned and locally operated electrical contracting business, they have successfully contributed to the growth and development of the Moreton Bay Region. When you choose their services, you are not just hiring an electrician; you are investing in a relationship built on trust and expertise. North Lakes Electrician | North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical (northlakeselectrical.com)
Community Sponsor: Pizza Hut Mango Hill
Got a craving for a delicious pizza in Mango Hill? Us too! What you should do is make haste to the Mango Hill Pizza Hut store at Shop 2, 2 Halpine Drive, serving up piping hot pizza for lunch and dinner every day of the week! https://www.pizzahut.com.au/st...
Community Sponsor: AIM Retirement Planning
AIM Retirement Planning is an owner-operated Financial Planning business founded with a clear purpose: to enhance the financial well-being of everyday Australians through affordable and cost-effective solutions. http://aimrp.com.au
