The Week Ahead - Term 1, Week 2
Monday 3 February to Friday 8 February 2020
From the Head of College
Summer is really with us when the temperatures are high and the Australian Open tennis finals are looming. It is also a time to remember some of the safety fundamentals that include the wearing of a hat and sunscreen, drinking water and covering up where practical. I have been reflecting about our founding students who began their schooling at this time of the year some 74 years ago. We have celebrated the opening of the 2020 school year, and on 12 February we will recognise Founders' Day at Stephen Street Campus. Why am I mentioning this? Next year will be our 75th Anniversary and it is our intention to invite all past students, parents and staff to celebrate this important event with us. You will receive information in the coming months, and I would ask that you put the second week of February 2021 into your diary as a date claimer.
A reminder to parents that there will be several information sessions presented across the campuses next week. It is the best opportunity to engage with your son or daughterās teachers and importantly, to learn about the educational programs that are planned for 2020. I look forward to greeting you on these occasions and to hearing of the developments from Prep to Year 12.
In the coming weeks, our Marketing and Enrolments Department will be announcing the details of our 2020 presentations at the various country shows and internationally. We were fortunate enough to receive funding from the Commonwealth Government to support elements of our marketing program, and we will be broadening these undertakings throughout 2020. We look forward to catching up with current and past parents and students on location in Queensland, NSW and overseas, and to being able to renew friendships through sustainable connections.
Coronavirus update
The past week has seen the College issue several letters of advice about the global Coronavirus and the precautionary action that we have taken. Thank you to the many members of our community for your positive support and feedback and I look forward to moving forward in the knowledge that we have complied with all requests from authorities. I emphasise again that the actions taken are purely precautionary and in line with professional advice.
Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College
From the College Pastor
Community News
Inter-House Swimming Carnival
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Bus Routes
In 2020, we are operating a daily bus service to and from Highfields area, and to and from Hodgson Vale, Mt Rascal and Preston area.
These routes change annually to accommodate the needs of the students registered, so should you wish to avail yourself to this transport and reside in the general area that is currently serviced, please contact the Business Office to discuss requirements that could suit your family.
If you are currently living in an area that is not serviced by College buses, and would like to place an expression of interest to establish a new bus route, please contact us as well.
Mrs Marg Medill
Assistant Business Manager
Getting the most out of Parent Lounge
We are continuing to investigate ways to utilise Parent Lounge for effective communication between parents and the College. We have uploaded some short tutorial videos that have been created by TASS (Parent Lounge developer) to assist parents with becoming familiar with Parent Lounge. These videos can be found under School Links > Tutorial Videos ā Parents.
We will continue to add new videos as they become available. The following tutorial videos are currently available:
Media Consent, Intercampus Travel & ICT Policy
It is important that the College maintains accurate records of parentsā consent regarding media, intercampus travel and ICT (information communication technology). Existing families are reminded that consent from previous years carries over each year until graduation. If you would like to update your records, please complete the .
Parents of new students who have not completed the are asked to do by Friday 7 February.
Mrs Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing & Enrolments
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
A Note from the Junior College Library Assistant
Welcome to all our new families and welcome back to our continuing families. The first issue of Book Club is coming home over the next few days. The Junior College campuses will be continuing with LOOP (Linked Ordering and Online Payment). To order, hereās what you need to know:
LOOP enables parents to order and pay for their childās book club order online.
LOOP does NOT apply to those parents wishing to pay for their order with cash or cheque ā those orders will continue as before with the form being submitted to either Mrs Lynch or Mrs Paynter.
I will still give out the catalogues to class teachers and distribute the purchased books to the students.
Schools still receive the same Scholastic Rewards for all orders.
To order through LOOP, go to , register and set up an online profile with a password.
You can add your childās name and select their class and, by entering the 4350 postcode, you will be able to select their school from the drop down box.
The Junior College campuses are set up as Concordia Hume Street Campus and Concordia Warwick Street Campus.
It is so easy and straightforward that even I had no trouble with it (old dog, new trick).
Once your order is submitted, I will confirm the order at the cut-off date and the books will arrive at the school in due course. Please do be mindful of the cut-off date written on the front of each catalogue. After this time, on-line ordering will close.
Mrs Glenda Rickert
Junior College Library Assistant
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
From the HSC Director of Campus
Our week began with a lovely afternoon tea catered for by Platter of Fact. Teryl created a masterpiece that was as delicious as it was beautiful. The afternoon was enjoyed by many as they played on the latest addition to our playground. We also celebrated the mosaic designed and created by Anne Cramb. Dr John McVeigh let us know we had been successful in gaining a grant to put sunshades over the grandstand seating on the Hume Street Campus Oval, which we are both very excited about and grateful for.
The following days found students quickly settling in and engaging in the learning. Check out your classroom Seesaw accounts and the Ā鶹“«Ć½ (Official) Facebook for photo stories of this learning.
Click on Expand Article to see important updates for Hume Street Campus.
Year 4 Cycle Safety
Please note, the dates of this event have been postponed to Thursday 20 and 27 February. We are looking forward to it being cooler at this time.
Years 3 to 6 Parent Information Sessions
Two sessions will be held on Tuesday 4 February, 5pm to 5.45pm and 6pm to 6.45pm. Important information regarding each year level will be presented in the various classrooms. Choose the session or sessions that suit you best.
Chess Coaching with Les Lord
Chess lessons begin this week and will be held during first break, 10.45am to 11.30am. If you would like more information about these lessons please contact the Hume Street Campus Reception. If your child/ren would like to attend please click on the following link.
JC Inter-House Swimming Carnival
Come along and join in the spirit of supporting your house. Please remember drop off and pick up for Years 3 to 6 will be at our Stephen Street Campus. Staff will be there between 8am and 3.30pm.
Extra Note about our HSC Drop Off and Pick Up Zones
For the safety of our students, to see the attached document explaining these guidelines. In the morning, we ask that you do not park and leave your car in the drop off zone as this stops other families from dropping their children off through this area.
Mrs Juanetta Priest
Director of Campus
The First Week of Hume Street Kindy for 2020
What an amazing first week of Kindergarten we have had. The children across all three kindergarten classes have spent their first week forming new friendships, learning routines and becoming familiar with their new kindergarten and school environment.
The best part of the week was searching for the missing 'Green Sheep' which was hiding somewhere on our campus. We ventured all over the school grounds in search of the green sheep, including the oval, Resource Centre, Reception, playgrounds and Prep classroom. We love going for big adventures in kindergarten.
Mrs Melissa Giles
Service Leader & Teacher
Warwick Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
What a week it has been at WSC this week. It was wonderful to welcome back our students on Tuesday afternoon for Ready, Set, Go and to chat with you all at our Welcome Afternoon Tea. A special welcome again must go to the new families at WSC and also to all of our new Prep students who I know were all excited to finally get those uniforms on and get to school.
It has been a short but smooth start to the year this week and we look forward to our first full week starting next Monday.
Click on Expand Article to see important updates for Warwick Street Campus.
Positive Partnerships
Research clearly demonstrates that when parents are involved in their childās education and the teacher/parent relationship is positive, children perform better and display much more positivity towards their schooling.
The staff at WSC are looking forward to working in partnership with you this year to provide a learning environment for all children that is safe, inclusive and most of all, a place where children feel part of a welcoming community. If we can achieve this, then we are setting up an environment where children will have the opportunity to reach their learning potential.
Parent Information Sessions
The Prep to Year 2 classes have already had their information sessions this year but if you were unable to attend, please contact your childās teacher so they can pass on any important information.
Years 3 to 6 Parent Information Sessions will be held on Monday 3 February in classrooms. To enable as many parents as possible to attend, we will be running a session from 5pm to 5.45pm and then another from 5.45pm to 6.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there.
Morning Drive Through
Always drive to the top of the Drive Through before letting your children out. This will avoid people being delayed behind you.
Afternoon Drive Through
We are fortunate to have our Drive Through at Warwick Street Campus for morning and afternoon drop off and pick up. When using the Drive Through please be mindful of the following:
- No overtaking permitted in the Drive Through
- No parking permitted in the Drive Through
- Students must be able to put on their own seatbelt to use the Drive Through
- Do not walk through the Drive Through
We appreciate your assistance in keeping our Drive Through safe.
Supervision Before School
Please note there is no supervision for students who arrive before 8am and it is not safe for them to be left at the campus unattended before this time.
Students are required to be seated in the undercroft area on arrival until teachers are present to supervise at 8am. Classrooms are open from 8.20am for children to prepare for their day. Classes start promptly at 8.30am.
Encouraging Cup Coffee Van
Each Tuesday, morning WSC Staff begin their day at 8am with a coffee from The Encouraging Cup Coffee Van. Wayne Logan, the proprietor of the Encouraging Cup, will be parked on the top oval near the Resource Centre and all parents are invited to join the staff for a coffee and a chat.
Chess Lessons
Chess lessons will begin with begin with Mr Les Lord on Thursday 6 February at 7.45am in the Resource Centre. If your child would like to attend, please click on the following link.
Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Director of Campus
Warwick Street Kindy - Welcome Back Families!
Welcome to your first month of kindy! We hope all our kindy friends and families have settled in. As we get right into the year, we support our kinder education program with weighted child interest, we will be programming in line with our Kinder Theme of āNature Playā and āAustraliaā but respond with gusto to our childrenās interest throughout the remainder of this term. This is a time for our teachers and educators to build positive relationships, learn about their interests and strengths, and plan accordingly.
Staffing Updates:
By now you would have met your wonderful new teachers for 2020, Mrs Gillam and Mrs Thomson and the wonderful educators supporting our program.
Hannah Fowkes is on personal leave until 27 February. Stephanie Sheldon will be stepping up as Acting Service Leader in her absence. Any queries or concerns can be addressed to Stephanie.
GENERAL REMINDERS:
- Uniforms are currently being handed out. If your name is not on the list when we initially ordered our uniforms, you are welcome to purchase your uniform at the Ā鶹“«Ć½ Uniform Shop located on Stephen Street Campus. All children have been assigned a House color which is represented on the t-shirts.
- Please remember if your child comes to kindergarten with an insulated lunchbox, it is stored on the table/shelving next to the fridge or is kept in the fridge with the zipper opened.
- Keep an eye out on your Xplor app for āHappy Snapsā and observations made on the children throughout the day. Our Facebook page is also used to showcase our fantastic adventures.
This year we have a private Facebook page āConcordia Kindy - Warwick St Parent Group 2020ā that you are welcome to join. It is strictly for parents/carers.
Upcoming Kindergarten Event
Naming Ceremony/Parent Information Evening
4 February, 5.30pm-6.30pm (invitations have been sent out)
At Ā鶹“«Ć½ Warwick Street Campus, Resource Centre/Library
(this will be a child-free night)
Mrs Stephanie Sheldon
Acting Service Leader
Word on the Street
How did you feel about the first week back?
Coming back to school is like wearing a bright, new pair of sport shoes. Hannah, Year 6
Catching up with all my friends is as exciting as opening all my presents on Christmas morning. Ava, Year 6
I really loved my first week. People are very kind and everyone greets you. Ben, Year 5
I like how everyone plays together nicely. Tom, Year 5
My first couple of days were awesome. My teacher is really nice and I love Year 4. Connor, Year 4
I have loved school the last few days. School is the place where I feel safe and can have fun! Ivy, Year 4
I have loved doing writing at our desks. Sonya, Year 1
Making our Yertle the Turtle in Christian Studies. Emily, Year 1
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
On Stephen Street Campus, we started our term with our Senior Tie Presentation and Leadership Service. It is appropriate that at the start of the year we recognise and honour our senior students and student leaders.
As we launched the year, I drew our students' attention to some of the amazing examples of human endeavour that we have witnessed over the Christmas break. Countless fire and emergency service personnel, countless volunteers and neighbours helping neighbours; our most recent Australian of the Year, Dr James Meuke; Young Australian of the Year, Ash Barty and our scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute who have made a world-leading breakthrough in the global efforts to find a vaccine for Coronavirus.
In all these examples we find extraordinarily normal people doing extraordinary things for others while seldom seeking the attention they rightly deserve. So with these thoughts in mind, we push off into the year of learning and endeavour with the hope that we to may collectively achieve extraordinary things as a community.
Coming up next week we have our Parent Information Evening on Monday night at 6.30pm in the Function Centre. Here you will have the opportunity to be introduced to our staff and your student's Home Class teacher. Following on from this we will break out into year level groups to find out more about the year ahead.
Next week finishes off with our Inter-House Swimming Carnival on Friday. The carnival starts at 2.30pm and will run into the early evening. Hopefully, this twighlight meet will allow parents who are usually unable to pop in due to work commitments to attend.
Our Student Council will be running a barbecue and selling drinks and chocolates so please bring along some money to support the work that they are doing in our community. Hope to see you there.
Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus
Parent Information Session
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Peer Support Program
Over the next semester students will be involved in the Peer Support Program. We have chosen the unit āBehaving with Integrityā to focus on. Each week groups of 10 students will meet with two Peer Leaders and work through a range of activities that focus on values. It is hoped that through these sessions, each student will clarify their personal values, respect themselves and others, recognise the importance of integrity and discuss ways of serving their school community.
A definition of Values
Values are our personal beliefs guiding our decisions and behaviour. They influence our interactions and relationships with others. Our values define who we are and are reflected in our thoughts, words and actions.
Respect
Students learn that respect involves showing care and consideration for yourself and others. They discuss the many ways they can show respect. Students are encouraged to realise others feel valued and accepted when they are being respected.
Responsibility
Students learn that behaving responsibly means doing your best to meet your commitments. They discuss the different responsibilities they have in many areas of their lives. Students are encouraged to recognise as they get older their responsibilities change. This is often a result of the trust others place in them.
Diversity
Diversity is the variety of experiences and backgrounds in the community. Students discuss the similarities and differences within their Peer Support group. They are encouraged to embrace diversity as a means by which they can improve the quality of their relationships and enrich their experiences.
Inclusion
Inclusion is treating everyone with respect. Students are encouraged to show others they are important by including and encouraging them. They practice supporting each other and learn they can achieve more when they recognise the value of working together.
Integrity
Students learn they are acting with integrity when their choices consistently reflect their values. Sometimes the choices they make are influenced by the people who are important to them. They need to decide to what extent these influences are supporting their values. Students are encouraged to realise what they say and do is a reflection of who they are.
Mrs Carissa Jaworska
Senior College Coordinator
Representative Sport 2020 Dates
Throughout the year, Toowoomba Secondary School Sport and Darling Downs School Sport run trials in a variety of sports to choose representative teams. In some cases, students are required to participate in a Toowoomba Trial to be eligible for a Darling Downs Trial. These teams will then travel away to Regional and State Championships.
For a student to be eligible for nomination he/she must meet the following criteria:
- Have had a reasonable amount of experience in his/her chosen sport.
- Have a high level of skill in their chosen sport.
In some cases, like football where there are a number of interested candidates, the College will conduct in-house trials to choose players to be nominated for these trials. This is important for a number of reasons: 1) the players who the College nominates need to meet the required selection criteria, 2) be of a suitable standard to trial and 3) schools are limited to a certain number of students at these trials.
It is also important to note, that only students who are available to attend both the Regional and State Championships will be eligible for nomination. All nominations for these trials need to go through the College and decisions on which students are nominated is at the sole discretion of the College. Please note that the dates below are subject to change. .
Please see the College website for the dates for the Inter-House, Darling Downs, Queensland State, TSSS and QCIS events.
. These dates are subject to change, so please check updates via the .
Mrs Jana Anderson
MC & SC Sports Coordinator
Peak 2 Park
The Peak2Park is great community event which encourages all to be active within our community. Two courses are available - 4km or 10km and are open to walkers, recreational runners and serious athletes. For more information, .
If you are interested in participating, . Don't forget to include Ā鶹“«Ć½ as your school group.
Boarding
Weekly Update
Hello and welcome to our first Boarding segment in The Week Ahead for 2020. We hope that the adults, as well as the students, enjoyed a great holiday! We are happy to say that the boarding staff enjoyed the break ā and of course we feel refreshed to be our best in 2020.
Believe it or not, most of the Boarding staff were waiting with bubbling excitement to see the boarders return to Concordia this week. This included our wonderful new addition to the Boarding team, our new Girls Houseparent, Ms Tosca Grainger-Dee.
We are very impressed and humbled with the energy taken by the
boarders ā and many of their families ā to travel long distances to get to the
school. We have students from far distances such as Japan and Hong Kong, but
many of the ālocalsā travel almost the same amount of time within the country
to get to Concordia.
This effort is a great example of one of the aims for Concordia boarding, that is to facilitate within the boarders the goals of āResilience, confidence, and personal organisationā.
Another highlight this week was the Year 12 Leadership Ceremony. After very inspiring words from Mr Wiles and Mr Smith, we were delighted to witness the Year 12 students acknowledged as aspiring leaders, and they were presented with their Year 12 Ties and Pins.
Please enjoy a few of the pictures we amateur photographers took of the Year 12 leaders from Boarding.
Maureen, Ross and Tosca and the boarding staff