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We are excitedly looking forward to seeing Stage 1 of the Master Plan go to tender this term as well as the detailed design stage for this component being completed with our architects and Project Manager. We will endeavour to again provide you with a detailed Term 3 community update in this process later in the term.

It is my pleasure to let you know that Concordia’s updated website will be launched next week on Monday. The new website looks fresh, relevant and easy to navigate one's way around. The updated content, photos and links now reflect the length and breadth of what Concordia offers its learners, families and the community at large. I need to acknowledge and thank our Marketing Team, led by Ms. Belinda Sanders and Mrs. Mariette van Vuuren, for the enormous amount of work done in this process.

Over the past few months, the Australian media and certain politicians have continued to provide biased and incorrect information on the distribution of school funding through a regular negative media campaign aimed at Independent Schools. As the Australian Government continues its negotiations around the new National School Reform Agreement, the public discussion regarding school funding across the country and in Queensland has naturally increased. To help you, as our school families, and the broader community understand the school funding environment, Independent Schools Queensland [ This webpage and video aim to break down school funding in the simplest terms to help dispel some myths and help people navigate its complexity, covering topics such as the Schooling Resource Standard and the Capacity to Contribute. I hope you find this information beneficial.

For our Year 12 students, Term 3 will be their last full term of school life. This cohort of senior students has brought a sense of calm, level-headedness, rich leadership and great maturity to the college. This is evident with a wonderful sense of calm very evident across the Stephen Street Campus. I would like to wish these young adults and their families every blessing as they begin to consider the journey of wrapping up this first major milestone of their lives. Please remember, as you embark on this closing journey, to keep the channels of communication open with the college over the coming term.

As the rest of the college also embarks on the learning and living journey at Concordia for the second half of the year, I would like to remind you again of the strong open-door policy that exists for my office, the Directors of Campus, all members of the Leadership Team and all our teachers. They are available to every family to ensure the best outcomes for all students in our care. This process is critical in our journey of every student being fully known and fully loved at Concordia. Please familiarise yourself with the many events on the College calendar for Term 3, as I look forward to seeing you at many of these throughout the term.

I would like to wish every family a safe a successful Term 3.

Yours in Christ

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

Quote of the week:

Being kind, compassionate and respectful doesn’t make you weak. More often, it’s the harder path to take. [L. Wiemer]

The last two days we had visitors from Together for Humanity helping students and staff at SSC reflect on how we can easily put people in a box. We were given an opportunity to reflect on how we can recognise and move beyond our natural biases and so be welcoming to all members of our diverse community. This fits well with our chapel theme for the term, which will focus on reflecting on the values we espouse at Concordia. If you look on the website, you find that our 6 key values are (ConcordiaLutheranCollege):

• Learning
• Compassion
• Courage
• Service
• Excellence
• Respect

These values grow out of our Christian beliefs and foundation and guide us in our relationships and work at Concordia. As I reflected on the presentations by the Together for Humanity team I thought that the values of compassion, respect, and courage stood behind them. Hopefully will have strengthened our students in their self-awareness and awareness of others as they move in the world, and how they can make a positive difference by reaching out and being curious about others rather than hiding behind various stereotypes presented by the wider culture.

Our world needs people who have empathy and who are willing to step out of their comfort zone (this requires courage) to establish positive relationships with others, even if they may be from different backgrounds. St Paul reminds us that

there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Our unity, our community is not founded on some personal characteristics, but ultimately is God’s gift to us and as we seek welcome and include everyone in our community, we reflect God’s love in this world.

May our Lord bless you this term.

Pastor Thomas.

Thank you!

A big thank you to all who supported our WalkMyWay Ukraine effort. We have been able to raise $2930, including $500 from the BBQ at SSC on the last day of Term 2. Overall Altus House came in first with $1105, Steadman second with $855 and Kessler third with $420 raised. Thank you again for your great effort and generosity - something we do together as a community. This fits well with our values of service and compassion. ALWS is very grateful and the overall effort for the WMW has raised nearly $ 190,000 going to support children and families affected by the war in Ukraine.

ALWS wrote this:

Thank you for changing the lives of refugee children through Walk My Way!
Your gift helps provide teachers, textbooks and tables for schools in refugee camps. School helps children who have suffered so much make friends, have a routine, and enjoy playing together. And of course, education is a gift that changes their lives forever!

More information can be found here:

Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

To start the school term, we have welcomed members from the Together for Humanity Project who have engaged with all students across Years 7 – 12 as part of their “Out of the Box” presentation. We were privileged to have five members from diverse cultural backgrounds join us to raise awareness of cultural diversity. During the workshop, they shared with the students their own personal experiences of discrimination and prejudice with the intent to explore how to be more empathetic toward others. As part of this process, students were invited to ask questions to each of the individuals to find out more about their story and expand their understanding of some of the challenges that face society.

Students walked away from this experience with a shared understanding that it is a normal human trait for people to sub-consciously categorise others and that this can spark curiosity within individuals. Students were also made aware of the significant impact that discrimination and prejudice can have on personal well-being including how this impacts our society. Overall, students learnt that the best way to enhance empathy toward others is to have meaningful conversations and understand to be more aware of our own personal values. �鶹��ý would like to thank all members from the Together for Humanity Project for their willingness to share their stories and guide our students on a path of compassion.

Starting a new term is an opportunity for new beginnings. To start afresh, set new goals and try new things. The best way to be able to start a new term is by ensuring that all the little things are done right. Achieving small, daily goals has a massive contribution toward the pursuit of success. At our opening assembly this week, I spoke to our students about the upcoming Olympic Games. No doubt many of you like me, will be glued to the TV each day to see how our Aussie athletes progress throughout the games. For these athletes, the difference between winning gold and finishing amongst the pack, can come down to mere centimetres or seconds. After hours of training and preparation, the difference between achieving goals or falling short often will come down to the little extra efforts spent in the lead up to the event.

For our athletes, it is the small, daily contributions that over time add up to make the biggest difference to achieving success. Do I sleep in a little longer, or will press the snooze button one more time? Will I train for that extra 30mins, or pull up short? Will I give my all to each session, or today will I just go through the motions? For our students, the little things they do on a daily basis all add up. Am I arriving at school on time? Am I completing my homework? Am I getting enough sleep at night? Am I making sure I am in the correct uniform each and every day? Each of these things makes a significant difference not only to being successful at school but also builds the character strengths needed to become a better person.

As we begin this new term, I encourage all our students and families to emphasise the importance of getting the little things right and being consistent. Together by doing this, we will be able to build a community that promotes high expectations and accountability that will contribute to a positive and rewarding schooling experience.

As always, please contact a member of our Pastoral Care Team if you or your family require any assistance as we progress into what will be a fantastic Semester 2 of learning.

Take care,

Mr Tony Manteufel
Director of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Launch of Our New Website

The much-anticipated relaunch of the �鶹��ý website is finally here! The platform is more user-friendly, visually appealing, and updated with all of the extra programs and opportunities that we give offer our students every day.

Whether you're seeking information, updates, or resources, our website supports the pledge that “learning is at the heart of everything we do”.

Make sure you visit and share the news with your friends!

'See You in September' Open Mornings

We are excited by the fast-approaching ‘See You in September' Open Mornings at �鶹��ý. These mornings are an opportunity for families to explore our classrooms, and beautiful grounds and meet our dedicated teaching staff.

Sessions are filling quickly, so if you know of anyone looking for a wonderful school or are considering options for younger children secure a spot by making a booking through our revamped website.

Expanding Our Agriculture Program

Concordia's Agriculture Program takes a leap forward this semester with the introduction of calves to both our Junior and Senior precincts. This expansion not only adds to the hands-on learning experiences for our students but also aligns with our theme for 2024, "Achieve the Possibilities." Our budding agricultural scientists can now work directly with these cute dairy calves, gaining invaluable insights into animal care and agricultural practices.

Welcoming International Exchange Students

This term, Concordia will welcome international exchange students from Japan. This cultural exchange brings fresh perspectives into our classrooms and opens up incredible avenues for intercultural understanding and friendships. It's an excellent opportunity for students from both countries to learn together, embracing new cultures and languages.

I look forward to keeping in touch on all the exciting events throughout this term. As always, thank you for your support and please continue to spread the word about what we offer at �鶹��ý.

Ms Belinda Sanders
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement

We know that encouraging our young people to read can be an uphill battle. Often, we are competing with friends, social media and computer games in trying to convince our young people to pick up a book. Recent research (Gagan-Spriggs, 2023) shows that one influencing factor in persuading young people to read is seeing people that they look up to read and take an interest in reading. This could be a parent. Older sibling, teacher or coach. Young people enjoy also the social aspects of reading, which we can see play out in the popularity of trends such as #booktok (book reviews on TikTok).

Taking all of this into account, we are introducing ‘Page Turner Packs!’ These are mini book clubs in a box and come with multiple copies of a book, discussion cards and activities related to the book that they whole family can enjoy together. You could even recruit extended family to join in! The idea being that you all read the same book and have conversations as a family and enjoy the activities together.

The books are aimed at years 4-9 but can be enjoyed by any age group.

Our Page Turner Packs will be available soon and can be borrowed from any campus- please get in touch with me (Heidi.edwards@concordia.qld.edu) to borrow your box

Books:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Tommy Bell Bushranger boy: Shoot Out at the Rock (by local author Jane Smith)

Two ways strong: Jaz’s story (written by Concordia Students)

The Silver Sword (recommended for years 6+)

In this novel, set in a world similar to ours – in every school around the world, there are “indie kids” who would normally be the protagonists of this sort of story: they fall in love with heartthrob, tragic vampires; or get told they are the Chosen One; and periodically, they blow up the school is some epic battle between good and evil. Then there are the ‘rest of us’: normal teenagers worried about nothing more or less than whatever kids are supposed to worry about – relationships, exams… and, presumably, the ‘indie kids’ rampages throughout the school.

Narrated by Mike, an eighteen-year-old living in the remote suburbs of a far-flung backwater somewhere in the US, we centre on his group of four friends: Jared, Mike’s best friend; Mel, his older sister; and Henna, Mel’s best friend and someone whom Mike has a massive – and positively unrequited – crush on.

The story opens with their prom just three weeks away, the four friends revising for their finals, and Mike wrestling with his complex and ambiguous feelings for Henna (and Jared). Mike has a lot more on his plate than most people, as we swiftly learn: his mum is planning to run for state governor – against none other than Jared’s likeable dad. Mike’s dad is an alcoholic, and yet still a constant presence in their lives. Mel is anorexic – and her condition almost caused her death when it was at its worst.

Mike himself? He suffers from crippling anxiety and OCD.

It’s safe to say that this book focuses on some heavy themes – all beautifully portrayed through Ness’s passionate and flowing writing style. His portrayal of Mike is simply fantastic, with his ability to paint a vibrant and so very alive character in a mere 100 pages so very important to the book. Mike (or Mikey, as he is affectionately known) carries this well-rounded and true-to-life arch, and his character’s development and growth speaks to the reader in a way that is deep and inspiring.

The book sparks question within the reader that provoke real thought in both context with the plot, and our real world: What if I’m not good enough? What do I bring to the table? How can I be loved if I’m not the best? Am I seen? Do I matter? What do I have to accomplish to be worthy of affection? Why is my life like this? How can I fix it?

The story is a refreshing take on YA Fantasy for youth and is a book I believe anyone who has ever struggled with their place in the world should read, because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week's end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Abigail Leslight - Year 10

The objective was to explore and express our interpretations of Indigenous culture and identity by harnessing the theme’s spirit of keeping the fire burning. We received a 60cm x 90cm canvas and were given the freedom to express our artistic flair through any medium, we chose paint and oil pastels.

Grand Central has created a space where ours along with other schools and community groups, will be on display during NAIDOC week (7^th – 14^th July) The display was officially opened on Tuesday afternoon 9^th July where we were presented a certificate and gift voucher and afternoon tea. Our students who created the artwork are very proud to showcase their work and we hope that you will be too!

The artwork is on display in between H & M and Rozzie’s Café, Level 1, if you happen to be shopping, please go check out our canvas, I’m sure you will be as proud as we are!

Term 3 promises to be a busy and exciting time with many events already scheduled. Camps are planned for our Year 3 and 6 classes with the Year 3s going on their very first camp and the Year 6s heading away on the annual trek to Cairns. Additionally, numerous excursions are scheduled across all year levels, offering a range of enriching experiences to complement our classroom learning.

Before taking a break over the recent holidays, our dedicated teaching team spent the Pupil Free days at the end of last term engaging in professional development that was focused on Project Based Learning (PBL). This training provided valuable insights and strategies to enhance our teaching practices and further enrich our students’ educational experiences.

Project Based Learning offers numerous benefits for our students. It encourages critical thinking, creativity and collaboration, while also providing opportunities for real world problem solving. Students become even more engaged and motivated as they see the relevance of their learning to everyday life. PBL also assists in fostering a life long love of learning. Several year levels have already begun their PBL units with exciting launch events. These events are designed to spark curiosity and set the stage for the projects ahead.

We are also looking forward to sharing our students’ work with our families when we open the classrooms at the end of the term at our Twilight Showcase. This is a special event where students will be able to present and celebrate all the work they have done throughout Term 3. Please add Wednesday 11 September to your calendars for this event. We hope you will join us to see the incredible projects and achievements from our students.

In addition to the exciting learning opportunities, we are delighted to share that the Junior College welcomed some friendly new arrivals this week - calves! These new additions have arrived at our Hume Street Campus and will travel to our Warwick Street Campus in two weeks time. These calves have already provided some fun and enjoyment for our students and will also provide a unique, hands on learning experience.

We look forward to a fantastic Term 3 filled with discovery, creativity and growth. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

to view HSC's Events for Term 3 2024, Week 2.
to view WSC's Events for Term 3 2024, Week 2.

Blessings for the week ahead.

Mrs Juanetta Priest - Director of Campus (Hume Street)
Mrs Jackie Minnikin - Director of Campus (Warwick Street)

By participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term, we're expecting to get our students moving. We’ll have ropes available on the school grounds and are encouraging everyone to help raise funds for lifesaving research and support programs.

Over the coming weeks your child will learn new skills, increase their physical activity, and learn about heart health. And the program will end with our school wide ‘Jump Off Day’ on Week 9 where your child gets to show off their new skipping skills to their friends.

When you register your child online, you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your child a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at jumprope.org.au/parents.

By signing up online, you and your child can:

• Easily raise funds online
• Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way
• Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress
• Access additional skipping resources

Your child should have a ‘fundraising guide’ flyer to take home, which includes further information on the program. If you didn’t receive this, visit jumprope.org.au/parents for all the information that you need.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Mr Darryl Fry.

Please read The Week Ahead each week for details of class and campus events.

Afternoon Drive Through will be divided across the following two locations:

Stedman - Afternoon pick up will be via The Shed Drive Through. - Please enter by turning left into The Shed Drive Through from Warwick Street and exiting by turning left onto Warwick Street again. - There will be no right turn.

Altus and Kessler - Students in Altus and Kessler will be in the Drive Through off Yaldwyn Street. - Please enter the Drive Through by turning left on Yaldwyn Street and exit by turning left onto Warwick Street.

Things to note: - Afternoon Drive Through will be supervised until 3.30pm each day. * If you have older students, and it fits with your after-school activities, please leave your afternoon pick up until at least 3.15pm to assist with congestion. If your children are not in the Drive Through when you arrive, you will be asked to do a lap so we can keep the flow of traffic moving. - If you are walking your students into the school grounds please do not walk through the Drive Through. For safety reasons, all pedestrians must walk alongside the Kindy fence to the top of the Drive Through and then use the crossing. - If you are a new family or have a new vehicle please use our Look Out Cards. These are helpful to staff in recognising vehicles in the Drive Through.

If you have any further questions about our Drive Through procedure, please don’t hesitate to contact Reception.

Here’s a preview of some key events happening this term:

Year 10 Senior Education and Training (SET) Plans:

In the coming weeks, our Year 10 students will participate in their SET Plan interviews. This is a critical opportunity for students and their parents/carers to discuss future aspirations and map out their senior educational pathways. Mrs. Leah Bowes will schedule interviews to guide families through this process. This will include making subject selections for Year 11 2025, so we encourage students and families to take time to carefully consider what the final two years of learning will look like.

Year 7 2025 Connect Sessions

We have developed afternoon sessions for current Year 6 parents and students to feel confident about the transition to high school. These one-hour events will take place from 4pm to 5pm on the dates below for continuing and new Concordia families.

• Connect Session 1, Thursday 25 July
• Connect Session 2, Thursday 29 August
• Connect Session 3, Thursday 7 November:

Camps:

Years 8, 10 and 11 will all be heading away on camps this term. Concordia has extended its camp program this year so that each year level in Years 7-12 has a camp experience, further highlighting the significant role we see that Outdoor Education is able to play in the holistic development of each student. We encourage students to make the most of these opportunities, pushing themselves to venture outside their comfort zone in activities and social connections.

Year 12 Mock Exams:

Weeks 6 and 7 will be dedicated to mock exams for our Year 12 students. These exams offer a valuable opportunity for students to prepare for the final external exams in Term 4. Teachers will use the results to identify areas for improvement and develop effective study strategies. The exam timetable will be released by Week 3.

Year 11 Exams:

Weeks 8 and 9 will see our Year 11 students engaged in their end-of-Unit 2 exams. These assessments are crucial for demonstrating their understanding of the subjects they’ve studied throughout the year. We wish them all the best during this important milestone before commencing Unit 3 (Year 12) studies in Term 4.

Grandparents Day:

A growing highlight of our calendar is Grandparents Day, which this year will be held Friday 6 September. This event is a great way for us to bring together the generations while also allowing students to show their achievements and further create treasured memories.

Year 12 Valedictory Dinner (formal):

The Year 12 Valedictory Dinner, a highly anticipated formal event, will take place on Friday 13 September. Students will make their grand arrival at the Redlands building and then travel by bus to Picnic Point for an exciting evening of celebration and reflection.

We eagerly anticipate what we know will be a remarkable Term 3 marked by academic progress, personal growth, and unforgettable experiences. As ever, we invite parents and guardians to remain active and engaged in their child's educational endeavours. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is any way we can support you.

Yours in faith

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus

Students in the Year 8 Food and Fibre (Technology rotation), Year 9, and Year 10 Agricultural Practices classes will have the unique opportunity to develop both technical expertise and transferrable skills through hands-on experience in raising a calf. They will also conduct research and participate in projects aligned with the curriculum. Additionally, they will meet industry advocates who will introduce them to the diverse career pathways available within the dairy industry.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in making this project possible. Special thanks to FNW Steeline Toowoomba for generously loaning the calf panels to the college, and to the Ballon and Zischke Families for lending us their precious calves. A special thanks to Mr. Becker for his contribution to building the shelters. We are also deeply appreciative of Maxcare for their generous donation of milk powder, ensuring our calves are well-nourished throughout this experience.

Results

Netball

Concordia A - 45 V Concordia B - 2

Special Mentions  

Caitlin Wiggins & Bayley Evans – QLD State Country Rugby Championships

Congratulations to Caitlin Wiggins and Bayley Evans who represented South Queensland at the State Country Rugby Championships, over the holidays. The girls team won the championships!

Caitlin was also selected for the Queensland Country team to compete against Queensland City, and Caitlin and her team were also victorious.

Leroy Malone – QLD School Sport Rugby League

Congratulations to Leroy Malone who competed as part of the QLD Schoolboys U15s Rugby League team over the holidays. Leroy was fortunate enough to experience a week camp in the Broncos facilities before heading south to Port Macquarie to play off against the other states. The rain that demolished the East Coast affected the tournament, however, Leroy and his QLD teammates still managed some good football, recording narrow losses against QLD Maroon and NSW CCC, and a win over ACT.

Upcoming Sport Opportunities

There are numerous Darling Downs trials happening across a variety of sports. If you would like to trial for one of these or need more information, please keep an eye on the notices or send Mr Biscoe an email Joshua.biscoe@concordia.qld.edu.au

Along with the extra efforts with schoolwork and study, TAFE and sporting commitments, Kerry and Khan are our Boarding Captains and always support fellow students and staff.I commend and thank you both for your positive start to this term.

Everyone is settling back into the routine, homework sessions started last night with Nick and Amaris overseeing that all students are attempting to make good use of their time management skills and planning the week out.

We are working on our Boarding activity plan for Term 3 and expect to have this out to you all in the coming days. Amaris and Nick have been chatting with students to get input and so far, it is starting to look very exciting and student friendly. Many of our activities are covered in your boarding costs, however, there may be some small group activities that will only be able to happen at a small cost to each student. Watch this space.

Congratulations to Evie Yeatman who played in the Australian Budgies team at the International Netball Festival on the coast during the break. Brilliant as usual has been the word. The team came 3^rd overall. The festival ended with watching the “Firebirds “and getting some pics.

Congratulations to Kara for her contribution to the Grand Central “Igniting Creativity Exhibition 2024’.

The dining room has been abuzz with table talk with everyone enjoying the meals and desserts from the kitchen. I have noticed that the fresh fruit has been very popular this week. We aim to promote healthy snacks in the afternoons.

Enjoy the pics

Till next week

Maureen and the Team