The Week Ahead - Term 2, Week 5
Monday 17 May to Friday 21 May 2021
From the Head of College
The coming week will see schools around Australia celebrate National Boarding Week. Boarding remains as an important part of the educational environment in this country and Ā鶹“«Ć½ has a proud history of boarding spanning 75 years. While student numbers have waxed and waned during that time, the current residential program is a strong part of our College culture.
We have many reasons to join the celebration - our āLearning in Residenceā model came through the challenges of 2020 in a strong position, and we are looking to learn from this experience and build an even stronger residential program for students who come from rural and regional parts of Australia, as well as from overseas once the borders reopen. It is important to note that all six Lutheran boarding schools in Australia are co-educational, which is a core difference between our schools and other boarding institutions. Congratulations and well done to our staff, students, and supportive parents ā āLearning in Residenceā is to be celebrated at Ā鶹“«Ć½.
The Collegeās camping and outdoor programs are a unique part of the educational offerings at Concordia. This week we will farewell our Year 4 students as they enjoy the activities at Tallebudgera. I know that this is an exciting time for children from both campuses and I look forward to hearing all of the ātales from campā.
Kind regards
Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College
From the College Pastor
Community News
Farewell to Mr Adrian Wiles
Kokoda Challenge 2021
Concordia has been participating in the Kokoda Challenge since 2010. This year we have three teams participating who have already started their training.
The Kokoda Challenge is an endurance race which aims to develop the Kokoda virtues in its participants, qualities of mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice, while also raising money to help Australian teens reach their potential. Participants trek a 96km or 48km course nonstop that leads along fire trails, crosses 12 creeks and summits 5,000m of vertical elevation in teams of four students and one adult leader.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Junior College Choirs heading to the Eisteddfod
The Toowoomba Eisteddfod is back in action and this weekend we will be seeing our Junior College Choirs performing on the main stage at the Empire Theatre. The Toowoomba Eisteddfod is always a highlight for our Collegeās music performance program. It offers the opportunity to perform on the wonderful Empire theatre main stage, receive high quality feedback from guest adjudicators and build those all important performance skills. Our Choirs have been working very hard in rehearsals and are ready to perform.
The Junior College Senior and Junior Choirs will both be performing on Sunday 16 May, session commencing at 1.30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online $13 Adults, $7.50 secondary students, $3 12 years and younger (competitors are free and have allocated seating with their choirs). Come along and support these wonderful young musicians.
Under 8s Day - Lost Property
We have some lost property left at the Hume Street Campus from the Under 8s Day held on Tuesday 4 May. Please contact Carolyn Lynch on 4688 2700 (option 2) for more information.
We have a blue striped hoodie and a pair of blue glasses with coloured arms (see photos in gallery below).
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
From the Director
NAPLAN Wrap Up
Another year of NAPLAN has been completed and our first online. We can happily report that the system coped very well and that our students did an excellent job of trying their best. We love to remember that this is three days in the life of our little people and that each child has their own set of strengths. Our Track and Field Days give our sport people a chance to shine, NAPLAN give our academic students their moment to shine and this weekend, we get a chance to let our music shine at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. In saying that, we all enjoyed the moment when we got to celebrate the end of NAPLAN for this year!
HSC Disco
Disco and Parent Wine and Cheese Evening
Friday 28 May will be the exciting date for our Neon Disco. Our students always enjoy the disco and this year we are expecting it to be even more exciting.
To ensure that it is a COVID safe event, it will be run by our staff with a special Parent Wine and Cheese Evening being held in the Resource Centre. Parents are asked to register their attendance .
Our Preps this year love to sing and dance so we think that many of them would like to be part of the disco but to assist them they will meet in the Prep room and be able to choose whether to watch a movie or go up to the disco with one of our staff members.
Tuckshop Orders
At HSC, Tuckshop is held on a Thursday. All orders are to be completed online at by 3pm each Wednesday. Please notify Reception by 9am on Thursday if your child is absent and we will cancel their order. Tuckshop will finish in Week 8.
Warwick Street Campus
From the Director
NAPLAN - Wrap Up
Our Years 3 and 5 students can be proud of their efforts this week after participating in their first online NAPLAN. Apart from a few minor technical issues, all ran smoothly with students working calmly and carefully through each testing area. It always helps when there are a few motivational treats to get you through as well.
Parent Connect Meeting
It was wonderful to see so many parents at our Parent Connect meeting last Monday night. With a focus on friend-raising as well as fundraising, there are some exciting activities planned for the months ahead for the families of WSC. Please keep an eye out for the next meeting time.
As we move into Week 5, we wish our Year 4 students all the best as they head off for their turn at Tallebudgera for camp. After missing out last year, this will be the first time these students get to experience a school camp. I look forward to joining them on Thursday next week.
Tuckshop Orders
At WSC, Tuckshop is held on a Wednesday. All orders are to be completed online at by 3pm each Tuesday. Please notify Reception by 9am on Wednesday if your child is absent and we will cancel their order. Tuckshop will finish in Week 8.
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend āBeef 21ā in Rockhampton, an event that attracted over 100,000 visitors from across Australia. In many ways, Beef was like a Concordia family reunion of past and present students and parents. More broadly, it was an opportunity to catch up and connect with so many other people and stakeholders. My key take away was an even stronger appreciation of the opportunities within the agricultural sector. From agribusiness to the automation of on-farm tasks to genetics, genomics the consolidation of data and the utilisation of blockchain to ensure the security of paddock to plate traceability. Interestingly, Meat and Livestock Australia have set a target to be carbon neutral by 2030! This will be an interesting space to watch or be involved with, as research and investment seek to tackle this significant challenge.
SSC Photo Day - Thursday 27 May
SSC Photo Day is on Thursday 27 May. All students need to wear Formal Winter Uniform. Envelopes from MSP photography were distributed to all students during Home Class last week. If your child did not receive an envelope, please ask them to speak with their Home Class teacher or contact Student Reception on 4688 2789.
Parents are able to on or before photo day using their personalised Shoot Key (which is on the envelope). Parents can also order with cash on Photo Day. Please, do not send money in prior to photo day.
All orders received after photo day are subject to a $20 search fee.
If families would like family photos (sibling photos), please collect a Sibling Photo Envelope from Student Services.
Please contact Student Services on 4688 2789 if you have any concerns.
Sport News
Congratulations to the following students who have recently competed at the State Championships:
- Skye Arnold - Football
- Kaitlyn Zelinski - Rugby League
- Grace Webcke - Netball
Boarding
Boarding News
This week we would like to introduce our Learning in Residence Boarder Captains Carolyn Marschall and Jack Bolam. Please feel free to have a chat with both Carolyn and Jack about their time here on your next visit to the College as they are always around on travel day.
