The Week Ahead - Term 3, Week 7
Monday 23 August to Friday 27 August 2021
From the Head of College
Dear Parents and Caregivers
The upcoming Year 12 Mock Exams over the next fortnight is a clear indicator that we have begun to enter the business end of the school year. Please keep our Senior cohort of students and their families in your prayers as they begin this journey of preparing for their external exams early in Term 4. A highlight for our Year 12 students will be the Year 12 Boarders’ Recognition Dinner and the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner at the end of Term 3. Thank you to the all the staff who continue to work tirelessly with our Year 12 students every day to ensure that they complete their schooling journey successfully.
Next week on Thursday, will see Concordia celebrate Book Week. All students and staff will be encouraged to join in these celebrations by dressing as their favourite book character. What will your family’s dress up theme be? Reading and literacy in all its formats is the cornerstone of primary school learning and remains the single most important link between accessing and understanding information and learning content as the students move through their schooling experiences. Thank you to those staff who are responsible for organising Book Week and reminding us about the importance of reading.
The Arts Captains, Student Council and Sound Crew must be acknowledged and congratulated on hosting a wonderful “Battle of the Musicians” at the Stephen Street Campus last Friday. What a great way it was to wrap up the week as well as celebrating an array of musical talents at Concordia. Hopefully, this will become a regular feature with many more students sharing their various musical and artistic skills with us. Thank you to those staff members who supported, planned for and with the students to make this event possible.
Congratulations to the Year 3 students on attending their first overnight camp away from home and school. What a wonderful opportunity for these young learners to begin growing a greater sense of self-awareness, sharing with others, learning to look after themselves while looking out for others and growing their resilience. Concordia sees our Outdoor Education Program as an important way to help grow the whole child as we together add layers to their life experiences which will stand them in good stead as adults one day. Thank you to the staff from our junior campuses who made this experience possible as well as supporting these students over the two days - and sleep well tonight!
Saturday 4 September will see Â鶹´«Ă˝ come together to celebrate the College’s 75th Anniversary. To date, almost 600 people have already registered to attend this community and family focused event as we acknowledge the many traditions, lifelong friendships and rich history which has made Concordia the place of learning and living which it is today. We look forward to the coming together of the past, present and future and warmly invite every school family to engage in these celebrations and festivities.
Thank you for your ongoing support, loyalty and commitment to our College every day.
Yours in Christ
Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College
Quote of the Week: You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself, they don’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.” [Laurence Peter]
From the College Pastor
Better together….
In my role as College Pastor I have the privilege to attend meetings of a variety of groups across our three campuses, including leadership team, pastoral care meetings, staff meetings, College Council and also occasionally the Parent Connect meetings. Some might see this as a chore, but actually attending these meetings gives me insight into how our community operates, where our challenges and strengths lie, and also helps me get to know the members of our community. One thing that stands out to me as I reflect on my first six weeks at Concordia, is how many people are deeply engaged and freely give of themselves in service of our Concordia community (and also beyond). People are at the heart of our community and it is though the engagement, care and work of so many that our College functions well and we are able to provide a holistic, well rounded educational experience in a caring Christian setting to our students.
We all come with different gifts, strengths and weaknesses – but God has placed us together in this community so that together we can make a difference in our community and world, and inspire our students to grow to their potential and in turn also make a positive difference in our world. St Paul has given us the beautiful picture of a body, each part fulfilling its role, each part of importance, working together under the direction of the head, Jesus Christ (you can read about that in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26). That is what we seek to live out.
I was further reminded of this through another image shared by the Year 5 led chapel at HSC, exploring the Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16) as part of the armour of God. Mrs Stacey Warrener had put a picture of the whole community on the PowerPoint, and then added a row of interlocking shields, protecting the community. A great image, reminding us that as we work and learn together, as we care for one another, we draw on God’s gifts (his shield) to protect one another – standing as a community to work through the various challenges life throws at us – both individually and communally. And I have certainly seen that at work in the last few weeks.
My prayer is that we can continue to grow in working together, strengthened and encouraged by God’s limitless love, and sharing that love as we interact with one another.
Thank you to all of you as you contribute to our community and may the Lord strengthen you and protect you always!
Pastor Thomas
College Pastor
Community News
75th Anniversary Celebration - You're Invited!
We are planning a very exciting day on the Stephen Street ovals on Saturday 4 September to celebrate our 75th anniversary!
There will be a real festival atmosphere with the athletics oval being laid out with picnic blankets, tables and chairs along with marquees, food trucks and more. The opposite oval to the east will house a dedicated kids zone.
For planning purposes (and to keep compliant with COVID planning), please register your interest in attending this event. There is no entry fee to attend. Click the below button to register:
Sports News and Updates
Central Zone Track & Field Carnival 2021
It is pleasing to say that our Central Zone Track and Field Representatives had a great day at O'Quinn St last Wednesday after a 2020 hiatus due to last year’s COVID cancellation. We had 10 students going on to be selected to compete at the Darling Downs trials, although unfortunately these have been cancelled due to Queensland Health directives and recent Covid restrictions. A number of other students narrowly missed out on selection as only the top two competitors proceed through to the next level. This is the "nature of the beast" but these carnivals teach our students so much, such as being able to perform on the day, and is a great lesson in resilience when put in the "pressure cooker" so to speak.
On another note, it was a pity that some of our students who had been training hard in the lead up were not allowed to compete on the day due to restrictions incurring with the LGA lockdowns recently. Some of their times and distances from their various events from training and Inter-House carnival would have made them very competitive and right in the mix with placings on the day I believe.
One of the highlights of the day to conclude the carnival was watching both our Boys and Girls take out convincingly the much anticipated sprint Relays which capped of a remarkable team effort for our athletes, well done!
Well done to all, and a big thank you to the people who helped get our students ready for these carnivals, ranging from office staff, getting paperwork out to parents, right through to our sports coaches from SSC Mr John Mathews and Mr Col Anderton who assisted, and parents who have helped in getting students to training, before and after school for the past 6 weeks in the lead up.
Our staff on the day were magnificent in looking after the team with a big thankyou to Mrs Stacey Warrener, Mrs Jana Anderson and Ms Tiarna Jericho. It was also really nice to see so many parents there on the day to cheer on our team in their events over the duration of day.
Special mention to the following athletes who gained selection in the “Honorary” Central Zone team for 2021:
Daisy Combo Gadd, Jahaarn Harrigan, Atoor Jok, Arabella Knopke, Austin Knopke, Lily Pietsch, Zoe Pietsch, James Rice and Emma Walkington.
Hopefully in 2022, fingers crossed, things will be back to “normal” and our students will have the opportunity to go and compete for Darling Downs selection and possibly higher honours.
See below for overview of individual top three placings from carnival in various events:
Name | Events | Place |
---|---|---|
Daisy Combo- Gadd | Girls 12 Yrs 100m | 1st |
Girls 12 Yrs 800m | 3rd | |
Lily Pietsch | Girls 12 Yrs 200m | 1st |
Girls 12 Yrs High Jump | 1st | |
Girls 12 Yrs High Jump | 3rd | |
Zoe Pietsch | Girls 12 Yrs High Jump | 3rd |
Girls 12 Yrs 800m | 2nd | |
Jahaarn Harrigan | Boys 12 Yrs 100m | 2nd |
Boys 12 Yrs 200m | 2nd | |
Austin Knopke | Boys 12 Yrs Combined Event | 2nd |
Chloe Bertram | Girls 11 Yrs Shot Put | 3rd |
Girls 11 Yrs Long Jump | 2nd | |
Girls 11 Yrs Combined Event | 3rd | |
James Rice | Boys 11 Yrs 100m | 3rd |
Boys 11 Yrs 200m | 3rd | |
Boys 11 Yrs Long Jump | 2nd | |
Boys 11 Yrs High Jump | 3rd | |
Ben Watson | Boys 11 Yrs Shot Put | 3rd |
Emma Walkington | Girls 10 Yrs 100m | 2nd |
Girls 10 Yrs 200m | 3rd | |
Girls 10 Yrs Long Jump | 1st | |
Girls 10 Yrs Combined Event | 1st | |
Arabella Knopke | Girls 10 Yrs Shot Put | 2nd |
Girls 10 Yrs Discus | 1st | |
Isaac Warrener | Boys 10 Yrs Shot Put | 2nd |
Boys 10 Yrs Discus | 3rd | |
Evi Purchase | Boys 10 Yrs High Jump | 2nd |
Charlie Lowis | Boys 10 Yrs Long Jump | 3rd |
Boys 10 Yrs Discus | 2nd | |
Emily Evans | Girls 9 Yrs 800m | 2nd |
Battle of Meewah Commemoration
The Friends of Multuggerah are holding a commemoration ceremony at Bill Gould’s Lookout on 13 September, 2021 beginning at 12pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be food and drinks available at the site on the day. .
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
From the Directors
Â鶹´«Ă˝… where Learning is at the Heart of Everything we Do.
It is important to acknowledge that all students learn in different ways and at different rates, and therefore our methods of teaching and learning must also vary.
Everyday our students are engaged in learning - it might be:
- cognitive learning – taking learning from surface learning to deeper learning
- interpersonal learning – teamwork, negotiation, friendships, empathy, conflict resolution
- intrapersonal learning – persistence, resilience, grit.
We believe that learning must be challenging, active and engaging. Through the course of our day, you will see our students engaged in productive work - applying, analysing, evaluating, and/or creating. They are not simply remembering or regurgitating textbook answers.
Check out our Concordia facebook page for photos from this week’s challenging, active and engaging learning.
to view HSC's Events for Term 3, Week 7
to view WSC's Events for Term 3, Week 7
Have a lovely weekend and enjoy time together.
Mrs Juanetta Priest and Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Directors of Campus
New Date - Year 1 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Excursion 30 August
We can now confirm the new date for the JC Year 1 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Excursion as Monday 30 August 2021. The excursion will enhance the students’ knowledge and understanding of our studies and research of Australian animals as set out in the Australian Curriculum for Year 1 students. Teachers in Charge attending will be Lee-Anne Millett and Angela Norley.
Travel Arrangements
WSC students – we ask that you arrive at WSC at 7am for a 7.15am departure.
HSC students – arrive at HSC at 7.10am for a 7.30am departure.
We will leave Lone Pine at 1pm and arrive at Hume Street Campus at around 3pm. Any student who attends OSHC from Warwick Street Campus can depart at HSC.
WSC students should arrive back at their own campus by 3.20pm to 3.30pm.
Parent Participation and Cost We will require parent volunteers to help supervise a small group of children for the day. You will need to organise your own transport to and from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The cost for parents will be $37.80 and this is payable on entry at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. *To be eligible to participate in this excursion, parents must have completed Â鶹´«Ă˝â€™s Volunteer Compliance Requirements by the date of the excursion.
Please contact your Campus Reception if you would like to help on the excursion.
Dress Code: Students will be required to wear the College Sports Uniform and College Hat.
What to Bring: Students are required to bring their Morning Tea, Lunch and Water Bottle, which should be kept in a small backpack they are able to carry for the day.
Parental Permission Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission by Friday 6 August 2021:
- Login to >
- click on Events & Payments >
- click on JC 2021 Year 1 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Excursion >
- Accept >
- Save
IMPORTANT NOTE: After submitting your permission, please check and ensure your Parent Lounge portal is up-to-date regarding your child’s Emergency Contact Info, Medical Conditions.
Should you require any further information, please contact your child’s teacher/s.
Junior College Book Week Dress Up Parade - Thursday 26 August
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
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 9.
Parent Connect Meeting - 29 October
Our next Parent Connect meeting is on Friday 29 October at 1.30pm. Please find below the Zoom meeting details if you want to attend but can't come in.
We look forward to meeting together next Friday.
Topic: HSC Parent Connect Zoom
Time: Aug 27, 2021, 1:30pm Brisbane
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 717 5105 2205
Passcode: wDqr7m
HSC Prep to Year 2 Swimming Lessons
On Friday 20 August, Prep to Year 2 students will commence their swimming lessons at the Concordia Aquatic Centre. Each of these classes will participate in eight lessons over the last few weeks of Term 3. There will certainly be some tired little swimmers by the end of Term. for the swimming timetable.
Please ensure that students have the following:
- Dressing gown - this is great for the students to wear to and from the pool as we don't know what the weather is going to be like;
- Thongs
- Swimming togs - Prep students please wear your togs to school and pack underwear
- Goggles
- House swimming cap
- Towel
To avoid any lost items, please clearly label all of your child's items including their shoes, underwear and uniform.
HSC Kindy to Year 2 PJ Storytime
HSC Grandparents Day - 8 September
We would love to invite our special Grandparents to come and spend the morning with our students on Wednesday 8 September. The morning will follow:
8.30am Chapel Service
9.15am Classroom visits
10.15am Shared morning tea in the Junior Playground.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions please use the link below to register your attendance by Friday 3 September. Please check in via the Check in QLD app on the day.
We look forward to welcoming as many Grandparents as can join us this year.
HSC Parent Connect - Father's Day Gift Stall
The HSC Parent Connect are holding a Father's Day Gift Stall on Thursday 2 September. Gifts will be $5 each. If you would like to order any gifts please fill out the form via the link attached.
All orders and money is due by Friday 27 August.
HSC Father's Day Breakfast - 2 September
We would love to invite our Dad's or significant male relatives to join us at our Father's Day breakfast and activity with your child/ren.
Due to Covid-19 Restrictions please register your attendance via the link below by Friday 27 August. Please check in via the Check in QLD app on the day.
Festival of Learning
7 September will be an evening of celebrating the learning of our students this term. We had to miss this event last year but are looking forward to an evening of sharing this again. It will be like a Festival where you can enjoy something to eat in the junior playground while listening to students playing instrumental music. You can then move through the classrooms and be amazed by the students' learning for the term.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions please register your attendance by Monday 6 September via the link below. Please check in via the Check in QLD app on the night.
Book Week Parade - Thursday 26 August
Your child/ren may dress up in a costume from any book to do with olden worlds, new worlds, or other worlds. It would be great if they have a matching book that they can share with a buddy at the end of their parade.
Parents are welcome to come and join us in the hall for our parade in the hall at 8.30am. Please ensure that you sign in with our Sine App.
HSC Formal and Sport Uniform Days
Currently, our Years 2-6 students wear formal uniform Monday and Thursdays. We would like to continue having our formal uniform on Mondays, but Thursdays will become an optional day - students may wear formal or sport. Preps and Year 1 can continue wearing sport uniform five days.
Warwick Street Campus
WSC Kindy to Year 2 PJ Storytime
WSC Disco - Out of this World
WSC Parent Connect Wine & Cheese Evening
Father's Day Sausage Sizzle - Thursday 2 September
We would love to invite our Dad's or significant male relatives to join us at our Father's Day Sausage Sizzle and a Hand Ball Competition with your child/ren.
Due to Covid-19 Restrictions please register your attendance via the link below by Monday 30 August. Please check in via the Check in QLD app on the day.
Father’s Day Stall
The Parent Connect will be running our annual Father’s Day Stall on Thursday 2 September. This year there will be both $5.00 and $10.00 gifts available to purchase.
Gifts - Your child/ren may like to purchase a present for Dads, Grandads or any other special Fatherly role models. Money will need to be brought to school on Thursday 2 September. If you would like your child to purchase more than one gift (maybe for Grandad?), there may be an opportunity for them to do so.
Please place the money in an envelope marked with:
- Child’s name
- Amount in envelope
- Number of gifts to be purchased
WSC Prep to Year 2 Swimming Lessons
On Tuesday 7 September, Prep to Year 2 will commence their swimming lessons at the Concordia Aquatic Centre. Each of these classes will participate in seven (7) lessons over the last two weeks of Term 3.
Please ensure that students have the following items:
- Warm clothing - this would be great for the students to wear to and from the pool as we don't know what the weather is going to be like
- Swimming togs
- Goggles
- House swimming cap
- Towel
To avoid any lost items, please clearly label all of your child's items including their shoes, underwear and uniform.
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 9.
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
Happy National Science Week. The 2021 theme is Food: Different by Design. Students have enjoyed different activities each day - including the watermelon and rubber band test!
For the next two weeks, our Year 12 students will begin their “Mock Block”. Mock Block is simply an opportunity for the Year 12s to sit practice exams for each of the subjects that have an external exam scheduled as the final piece of assessment. With Mock Block being conducted under the same conditions as their External Exams, it provides a valuable opportunity for students to receive targeted feedback as they make their final preparations for the External Exams.
The next round of the Staff versus Students competition happened during lunch today. Dodgeball provided the perfect format for the healthy rivalry to continue. I am pleased to say that our rigorous staff recruiting processes are paying off, with the staff taking out another win!
Next Friday our athletes are heading off to the QCIS track and Field Carnival. It is fantastic that this event has been rescheduled and we look forward to hearing how the team perform on the day.
Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus
Grandparents' Day
Bridge Award Completion
Congratulations to Claire Welsh on completing the Level 1 and 2 Bridge Award. The Bridge Award is a positive youth development program that is both fun and challenging. It offers young people the opportunity to gain new skills, improve their physical fitness, participate in community service, and develop a spirit of adventure. Well done, Claire, on this excellent achievement.
Mr John Mathews
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator
Save the Date!
Friday 3 September - normal school day
Parents, please note Friday 3 September is NOT a pupil free day at Concordia. This is a normal learning and teaching day for ALL of our students.
(Youth) Alpha
This is your final chance to register for this amazing course in exploring the basics of the Christian faith. If you have doubts, questions, are curious, want to know more – this is for you.
We are offering this course on Tuesday nights, term time, starting next week, 24 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm, and finishing on Sunday 21/11 with a special celebration. Students of Year 7 or older and their parents are welcome. We meet in the quadrangle, next to the Open Door.
We will start with a light meal, and then run an Alpha course for parents in one location on College grounds (Stephen Street Campus) parallel to the Youth Alpha series for students in another room, which includes video presentations and discussion times.
Please talk to or email pastor Thomas ASAP: Thomas.bohmert@concordia.qld.edu.au.
For those interested in confirmation, this would be the first step of that journey.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
God bless,
Pastor Thomas
Farewell to Winter Concert
Next Friday 27 August we are having our annual Farewell to Winter Concert. This concert will feature our Stephen Street Campus ensembles, including our Choirs, String ensemble, Concert Band, Big Band, Dance and other small ensembles.
The concert starts at 6pm on the dance studio stage in the gym. Hope to see you all there.
Sport News
QCIS Track and Field
QCIS is returning 27 August. Due to the new date clashing with Year 12s Mock Block exams, our Senior students will be unable to attend. for the team list. The program is available - to access.
Mountain Biking Inter School Competition
If you would like to compete, please email Jana.anderson@concordia.qld.edu.au
An interschool mountain biking competition on 15 and 16 October at Mt Peel. The Toowoomba Mountain Bike club is keen to organise the event which would consist of a cross country event on the Saturday and a gravity enduro event on the Sunday.
Rugby 7s and Touch come and try/ sign on day – 25 August
Upcoming Finals
Good luck to all students who may be competing in finals in the coming weeks! Be sure to share your sporting moments with the Sports Department.
Boarding
Boarding News
Week 6, done and dusted!
Mock exams for our Year 12 students commence on Monday.
All afternoon sports and selected activities are back on the afternoon travel list.
Skirmish has been the talk of this week among our students after the great day they all had last Sunday. The activity was a huge success and our boarders got right into the swing of it. Two hours of non-stop running around the campus, hiding in every crook and cranny to get an unsuspecting body come around a corner, or to creep up on someone who thought they were well hidden. They really enjoyed it!
Thank you to our church community and Pastor Thomas for reaching out to us and asking our students to become involved in the church service. Kerry and Nadia did a wonderful job of the Bible readings.
The Book Week dress up for Year 12 was held on Thursday and the Ghostbusters were out in full gear. Carolyn, Kaitlyn and Sarah put a huge amount of thought and effort into their costumes. Well done!
On a more general note, could we please ask that you encourage your children to continue being respectful to each other and to the staff. This is so that everyone in boarding is treated nicely and respectfully.
Most students will be off to the NRL game in Toowoomba on Sunday afternoon. If you’re watching the Roosters vs Dragons we will all be on the bank.
Stay safe and keep well. Enjoy this week’s photos.
Blessings to all,
Mrs Maureen Taurima and Mr Pat Rudd
Houseparents