The Week Ahead - Term 4, Week 3
Monday 18 October to Friday 22 October 2021
From the Head of College
Dear Parents and Caregivers
What a busy but significant week we have just had at Concordia, as we stepped our Year 12 students through the closing chapter of their high school journey. Last Monday night’s Year 12 Recognition and Valedictory Service afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate these fine young adults while at the same time listening to their experiences, memories and celebrations of their time at Concordia. The Closing Chapel service this Friday has also afforded them the opportunity to acknowledge our journey with them and theirs with us as a Christian Community. Our prayer is that God will bless, strengthen and keep these students safe as they enter SWOTVAC to begin preparing for their external exams. Thank you to all the staff who have worked tirelessly in supporting these students up to this point as well as those staff who have been at the coal face of leading the planning and organisation of these events – Mrs Bianca Coleborn, Mrs Sonya Herndon, Mr Jason Smith, Mrs Natalie Houston and Ms Wendy Bowen.
Next week will see our Year 11 students step up as our Senior cohort of students on campus and begin to prepare for their role as the next group of leaders and role models on Stephen Street Campus and throughout the College. The Year 11 students will also be attending a Leadership Camp in Week 5 as part of their preparation for the 2022 school year.
This coming Monday is Orientation Day on all campuses, for all those students who will be new to our College in 2022. We look forward to welcoming the new Prep, Year 7, Boarding and other year level students to our College. For many of these students this will be their second or third visit to the College already as we continue to build on our reputation and philosophy of every student being fully known and loved at Concordia. Thank you to our Directors of Campus, Pastoral Care and Year Level Coordinators and all the staff involved for the work done behind the scenes to make this event possible.
Next week I will be visiting our Year 9 students at Googa which will include an overnight stay too. It’s hard to believe that these students are already halfway through their four week stay at Googa. I have also made personal contact with the Googa Director this week, who has informed me that the group is keeping well and has settled in well to the routines, challenges, many adventures as well as the change of lifestyle which the Googa experience has been designed for.
We look forward to hosting our final Grandparents’ Day for 2021 at our Warwick Street Campus next Friday. This is always an exciting time for both students and grandparents as the importance of family time and more memory making are built into the day.
I hope that you have also enjoyed the much-needed rain this week, as rain water tanks have filled up and our beautiful city remains green and lush.
Stay safe and keep well.
Yours in Christ
Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College
Quote of the Week [especially for our Year 12 families]: “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” [Socrates]
From the College Pastor
Walk My Way
At the moment students in their home groups are walking 2kms around campus and seeking to raise some funds to sponsor refugee children to be able to access education in the camps in Africa.
This Walk my Way is an initiative of ALWS (Australian Lutheran World Service - ), who have been working in these camps for many decades, their personnel often staying involved and on the ground even in dangerous and difficult situations.
Our involvement in this initiative developed out of a previous Reformation Walk that had been facilitated at SSC campus in the past. The Reformation of the 16th century, which brought many religious, social and societal changes, and of which Martin Luther (1483-1546) was major leader, was also a movement very interested in education. Martin Luther and his co-worker Philip Melanchthon both lectured at the University of Wittenberg, which became one of the key education centres in Europe in this period, and both were very involved in educational reform, working to allow all children, no matter of social-economic background or gender, equal access to education. Their key interest was to enable all to read the bible for themselves and learn about God’s amazing grace and love for them. In some ways we can draw a direct line from these early days to the existence of our College as a co-educational Lutheran school.
Therefore, it seems appropriate that we seek to support the education of children in places where that access is not universal. It is one gift that can never be taken away from them and that can change the trajectory of their lives. Apparently, it only costs $26 to allow a refugee child to attend school for a whole year – hence the symbolic length of the walk of 26km (13 homegroups x 2km, and since the Year 9 students are away, the two primary campuses are covering for them – a great collaborative across the college effort!). The walk aims to give students a taste of the fact that many of these children have had to walk long distances through often dangerous territory to reach the relative safety of a camp.
Please support your child’s walk and talk to them about this and perhaps you see fit to make a donation (electronically via the website, and yes they are tax deductable) to support his cause. We are having a house competition to see which house can send the most children to school. The results will be shared in Week 4. Here are the links again:
Jesus once told a story and noted: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:40). I think that is a good reminder why we do things like this and how these acts can help spread and share God’s incredible love across the world.
Thank you for your support.
Pastor Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor
Community News
Barefoot Bowls
Thank you to all those who have registered for this fun event. We look forward to a wonderful afternoon!
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Junior College Music Showcase - Friday 12 November
Parents of Years 3-6 students have been emailed detailed information regarding the Music Showcase and are requested to acknowledge your child's attendance via Parent Lounge > Events & Payments > Junior College Yr 3-6 Music Showcase 2021.
Please to register your attendance. Thank you
JC Sport News
Friday Sport
We are looking forward to our Term 4 sporting involvements.
鶹ý has entered teams in Friday Inter-School Sport in a host of sports at a variety of venues. These will include girls AFL and Hockey, boys Touch and Mixed Tennis. Good luck to all these teams in this highly anticipated student activity.
Touch football
Concordia will also enter a Junior College mixed team in the 2021 SWQ Primary All Schools Touch Carnival, which will see them compete against the best schools from Southwest QLD at Kearneys Spring Touch Fields this Sunday 17 October. The team has been training over the public holidays, weekends, during and after school. We wish this team all the best in this experience.
'Commit to be fit' program
Starting Week 3 at both Junior College campuses, we will be starting our 'Commit to be Fit!' program before school to any interested students from 7.30am–8am. This program will run for four weeks.
'Commit to be Fit!' is a program that will be run on Tuesdays, 7.30am-8am at HSC on the grassed area between the hall and tennis courts, and Wednesdays at WSC from 7.30am–8am in The Shed. There will be a variety of fitness activities each morning, so come along and have some fun with your friends while being active. Students are to meet at these areas with a water bottle at 7.30am.
Swimming
Swimming nominations have been emailed out to parents to complete and return via JotForm. This is for students who wish to compete in a variety of events for the annual Inter-House 8-12 years, Junior College Swimming Carnival held at the Concordia Aquatic Centre on Thursday the 11 November.
Students have been involved in swimming lessons already in Term 4, with TJ’s Swim team in preparation for this event. Once nominations are received, they will be collated, and the program will be prepared for the carnival. More information will be forthcoming in the upcoming weeks in relation to this action-packed fun day which will see our students participating against each other for their House supremacy.
Mr Darryl Fry
JC Sport Coordinator
JC Year 5 St Helena Island Excursion
We can now confirm the new date for the JC Year 5 St Helena Island Excursion will be on Thursday 4 November 2021.
As part of our Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum, we have organised an excursion to St Helena Island for our Year 5 students to develop their knowledge and understanding of prison life experiences. Please click on the for more information.JC Year 5 Leadership Day
Junior College Year 5 students participated in a Leadership Day at Koojarewon last Friday. Throughout the day, students to worked together and took risks to achieve challenges. It was an excellent opportunity for all students to refine their leadership skills.
I really enjoyed all of the activities at Koojarewon. The activity I found most challenging to complete was when I was blindfold and another person directed me through the obstacle course. Zarah
The activities were great fun and I enjoyed working with others to achieve the task. My favourite activity was the hula-hoop challenge. Divy
I learnt how to communicate better as a team to achieve the challenges. I enjoyed the climbing memory challenge as we all needed to work together. Rhia
Thank you to the Koojarewon team for orgainsing a great day of cooperative learning.
JC Christmas for the Bush - Chapel Service 28 October
On Thursday 28 October we will be celebrating with Care Outreach a special Chapel Service lead by the Year 1 students. Everyone is welcome to come along. Please .
Care Outreach has been supporting Outback families for over 25 years. Many rural and remote families are in their tenth year of drought. These families need us more than ever this Christmas.
In Term 4, the Junior College will be again supporting Care Outreach with their Christmas for the Bush appeal. You can help by donating:
- Non-perishable food and Christmas treats
- Toys and family gifts
- Toiletries
- Pre-paid visa cards
Donation baskets will be placed in every classroom. 100% goes to our farmers! For other specific needs, please visit and click on the 'Christmas for the Bush' tab.
JC Inter-House Swimming Carnival - 11 November
We are now seeking nominations from students to compete in the Junior College Inter-House Swimming Carnival on Thursday 11 November at the Concordia Aquatic Centre, SSC.
This carnival is an optional event for the 8 year old students in Year 2. If you have a child in Year 2 who is 8 years old, they are eligible to participate in the carnival.
How to Nominate
If you would like your child to compete in the 2021 JC Inter-House Swimming Carnival, please click on the link below, select the events for nomination, then submit the Nomination Form before Monday 25 October 2021.
Please submit a separate nomination form for each eligible child participating.
Should you have any further queries, please contact Mr Darryl Fry at darryl.fry@concordia.qld.edu.au
JC Rugby League Sporting Schools Program
In Term 4, we will be holding a Sporting Schools Rugby League Program at HSC. The Rugby League Program introduces students to the fundamental skills of this sport across a range of fun and engaging game-based activities. It is a truly inclusive sport and provides the opportunity for persons of all ages, genders and abilities. Program sessions use principles of the 'Play for Life' philosophy and align with Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabus, ensuring curriculum outcomes are met.
Term 4 - Rugby League Sporting Schools Program
Eligible students: JC Years 1-4 students (both HSC and WSC)
Teacher in Charge: Mr Darryl Fry
Coaching: NRL Development Staff
Cost: Nil - funded by Sporting Schools Program
Participation: Limit of 25 students (first in basis)
Venue/Time/Dates: Hume Street Campus - Oval 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Session 1 - Week 4 - Tuesday 26 October
Session 2 - Week 5 - Tuesday 2 November
Session 3 - Week 6 - Tuesday 9 November
Session 4 - Week 7 - Tuesday 16 November
Additional Important Information
- Parents are responsible for collecting their child/ren from HSC after the session concludes.
- WSC Students are able to catch a College bus over to HSC if required (subject to seat availability). To make the bus booking please click on the link -
Permission
If you would like your child to participate in the Hockey Sporting Schools Program, you are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission by Thursday 21 October (Limit 25 students)
- Login to >
- click on Events & Payments >
- click on JC Rugby League Sporting School Program >
- Accept
- Save
Confirmation of Participation
A confirmation email will be sent to parents confirming their child’s participation.
Should you have any queries, please contact Mr Darryl Fry at darryl.fry@concordia.qld.edu.au
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
From the Director
What beautiful rain we have been having and we won’t complain as the earth around us was beginning to really need it again but so that we can really enjoy our movie night we have postponed until Friday 5 November.
I think we have missed our social community so much over the last 18 months, we are going to have a whole term of socialising opportunities. The following are the events you will have the opportunity to attend … HSC Movie Night, JC Art Exhibition, JC Christmas for the Bush Chapel Service, JC Swimming Carnival, JC Music Showcase and HSC Year 6 Celebration Dinner (for Year 6 parents only). We should all be caught up with each other after all of these amazing events.
Monday 18 October is a very special day for our Year 6 students and 2022 Preps. It is their Orientation Day and they will be attending SSC or HSC for this event. We will be welcoming some new 2022 students into other year levels as well. For all other students, we will save our Stepping Up Day until later in the term once we have our 2022 staffing in place. We welcome our new students and hope the Year 6 class has a fabulous time on Monday.
to view HSC's Events for Term 4, Week 3.
Have a lovely weekend and enjoy time together.
Mrs Juanetta Priest
Director of Campus
HSC 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.
Please note: This will be the last tuckshop for the year.
HSC Prep to Year 2 The Gruffalo Excursion
On Wednesday 20 October, our Prep to Year 2 students will be going on excursion to The Empire Theatre to watch The Gruffalo.
Please see further information in the attached letter.
Parent Permission Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission by Tuesday 19 October 2021.
- Login to >
- Click on Events & Payments >
- Click on - HSC Prep to Year 2 The Gruffalo Performance 2021 >
- Accept >
- Save
Important Note: Please check and ensure your child's medical conditions and Emergency Contact Information is up to date. If you have any questions please contact your child's teacher.
HSC Movie Night - New Date - 5 November
On Friday 5 November 2021 the Hume Street Campus will be holding a movie night from 5.30pm. The movie, The Secret Life of Pets 2, will be screening from 6pm with food and refreshments available.
For more information please see the flyer below. To register your attendance please .
HSC Years 3 to 6 Swimming Lessons
On Friday 15 October, students from Years 3 to 6 will commence their swimming lessons at the Concordia Aquatic Centre. Each of these classes will participate in eight lessons over Term 4. 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 - it would be great for Years 5 & 6 to wear their togs to school as they will be leaving straight after assembly on Fridays
- 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.
Warwick Street Campus
From the WSC Director
Term 4 is a significant one for our Year 6 students, as they celebrate the end of their primary school years and look ahead to high school. As our Year 6 students look ahead to next year, so too, do our Year 12 students. This week, Concordia’s Year 12 students have completed their 13 years of schooling with their Valedictory service on Monday, and their final Chapel service today.
At the end of Term 3, I had the honour of attending the Concordia formal celebrations, and am proud to say, that I taught many of these students in Prep and Year 1. What a journey it has been for these young people who started in Prep at WSC in 2009 and now have almost completed their schooling at SSC. On behalf of the staff at WSC, many of whom have also taught these students, I wish them all the best for the future.
In Term 4, leadership positions for next year becomes an important topic of conversation for our Year 5 class. Our student leaders play an important role within our campus, and this week I’ve been able to spend some time with the Year 5 class as they begin to think about writing applications for various roles. We look forward to hearing the speeches of our Campus Captain nominees on 8 November.
Next Monday we welcome our 2022 Preps along with other new students to WSC for our Orientation Day. We look forward to getting to know them all a little better before they start with us next year. Our new Preps will be spending some time with Mrs Weier for the morning session, and our older students have been invited to stay for the whole day. Current WSC students will also get a new experience as they visit their new classroom for the morning as well.
I look forward to seeing you all in Week 3.
to view WSC's Events for Term 4, Week 3.
Blessings for the week ahead.
Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Director of Campus
WSC Walk My Way - New Day & Time
This term 鶹ý is participating in the Walk My Way initiative to support Australian Lutheran World Services.
On Tuesday 19 October, WSC will walk 2km around our Campus oval starting at 2.15pm. We are asking our students to bring a gold coin donation to support this worthy cause, and for an ice block at the end of the walk. Parents are most welcome to join us.
Grandparents’ Day Invitation
Grandparents’ Day Catering - Friday 22 October 2021
We would love your help on Grandparents' Day to either provide a plate of food for morning tea and/or help set up and serve.
to register your interest.
Please find below the list of food suggestions for each year level to bring for children and grandparents to share for morning tea:
Prep – Fruit Platter
Year 1 – Biscuits/Slices/Cakes
Year 2 - Sandwiches
Year 3 – Biscuits/Slices/Cakes
Year 4 – Savoury
Year 5 – Savoury
Year 6 – Sandwiches
Please be aware of the ‘No Nut’ policy when baking or purchasing your food items. We ask if you could please use disposable plates and containers to make it easier with clean up. Could we have all plates of food delivered by 8.30am on Friday 22 October. Plates can be taken directly to the Resource Centre unless it needs to be refrigerated in The Shed fridge or handed in at Reception.
WSC 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 7.
WSC Years 3 to 6 Swimming Lessons
Students from Years 3 to 6 have commence their swimming lessons at the Concordia Aquatic Centre. Each of these classes will participate in ten lessons over Term 4. for the swimming timetable.
Please ensure that students have the following:
- 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.
Stephen Street Campus
What a Week!
This has been a week topped and tailed with our Year 12 Recognition and Valedictory Evening at the Empire Theatre on Monday and their final chapel today. Surrounded by family and friends, these are truly special occasions and it is a strong sense of pride that we pray every blessing over our graduating students as they complete their external exams and move into life beyond secondary education. Well done, Year 12!
While the Year 12 students have been having their fun, our Year 9 students are approaching the end of their second week at Googa. Mr David Rentell and a steady stream of staff have been making the trek up to Googa over the past two weeks to catch up with the students and, in some cases, to even join in. Our Student Counsellor, Miss Jessica Tobin takes the gong for joining in on a hike.
While for Concordia this four-week program is ingrained in our DNA, it truly is a very unique experience that has proven to have an enduring value from our students’ perspectives. If you have a connection to one of the young people at Googa, please remember to put pen to paper and write them a letter of encouragement. These letters will be one of the few forms of communication that these young people will ever receive and for this reason, they are treasured. Their parents will have the contact details for Googa.
On Monday, Stephen Street Campus will come alive with our new 2022 Year 7 students. The majority of these students are becoming quite familiar with our campus having already attended two transition afternoons with their parents last term. We look forward to getting to know them and I thank Roz Cook (Years 6-8 Coordinator), our Peer Support Leaders and student volunteers for the work they have done in preparation for the day.
A reminder that on Sunday, our Stephen Street Campus Parent Connect is hosting a Barefoot Bowls afternoon. Unfortunately, I am not able to be there but I look forward to seeing the photos and I do hope that everyone has a great afternoon of socialising, having fun and getting to know each other better. I thank Parent Connect for the work they are doing in creating opportunities for us to get together.
Have a great weekend.
Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus
Technology News - Year 9
Design and Technology
Year 9 Design and Technology students designed a bluetooth speaker unit that was inspired by nature. Can you spot the use of biomimicry in their appearance of their designs in the gallery below?
Food and Fibre
The Year 9 students' project was to design a celebration cake to suit a particular occasion and theme. The used the design process to ideate, create and evaluate their cakes.
Business
The Year 9 business class students created resin products to sell at a market as part of an Enterprise project. Students had to design, construct, market and sell their items.
Visual Art Success
Year 12 student Stuart Larsen has received a Commendation at the Creative Generations Awards in Visual Arts Excellence at the Darling Downs South-West Regional exhibitions.
Stuart received one of just five Commendation Awards for the region for his artwork “Holden HQ Wagon Door Pixilation” which is an artwork painted on a car door. This is a very high commendation for school students in the subject area of Visual Art and a great achievement for Stuart and the College.
Stuart has had a very successful year in Visual Arts, also taking out second place in the USQ Future Visions Exhibition. We congratulate Stuart and wish him every success!
Free Webinars for Term 4
Boarding
Boarding News
What a week in boarding! Days are fast running into each other. Many of our Year 12 students are getting the jitters and squirmy feelings with the realisation that their days are numbered in Boarding and at school. This week marks the end of classroom lessons.
Boarding - a place many have adopted as home away from home. A place where lifelong friendships have been formed, loyalties and memories made and legacies left for those who attend after they have left. Reminiscing of times gone by, people who have come and gone. Staff who have supported and encouraged them on their journey. Year 12 you will all be missed. We wish you every success in your exams over the next few weeks.
Our event of the week was the 2021 Year 12 Recognition and Valedictory Evening with our very own Harry Allsop on bagpipes starting the evening off (watch the video below). Jana Giblet reciting the Acknowledgement of Country and Nadia Thomas our opening prayer. Kaitlyn Zelinski and Georgette May appeared in the dance presentations and the Con Voce performance. Well done to all.
It was a fabulous to see all the Year 12s on stage, singing from the heart, our College Song. A great night.
Rugby 7s has started up this week and we had a huge attendance. Softball has also started with two girls participating. The social Volleyball team is also playing.
Big ups to Sarah Lindenmayer for getting her hair chopped for the Ponytail Project and for her spontaneous Braveheart type shout after it was done.
We are heading off to Brisbane at 8am sharp on Saturday morning for our Boarders' annual trip to Movie World. All are chatting about which ride will be the best and with Mr Prinsloo encouraging the students to have a turn on the new ride. (Word has it he is a bit of a thrill seeker himself). Cannot wait to share our pics next week.
Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent