The Week Ahead - Term 3, Week 4
Monday 5 August to Friday 9 August 2019
From the Head of College
This week our students from across the College continue with the Toowoomba Eisteddfod, our international students visit the Brisbane universities, and we continue to host the students and staff from Wuxi, China.
I am very much looking forward to attending the NAIDOC Dinner on Monday evening, and spending time with our invited guests and Indigenous students as we recognise the place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the history of this land. The role that the Lutheran Church of Australia has played by working alongside of Indigenous communities is well documented, and spans more than 150 years in locations as far flung as Central Australia and Northern Cape York. We are delighted to welcome to our dinner our Federal Member of Parliament, the Hon. John McVeigh MP and other distinguished guests.
In the Junior College, many activities continue to flourish as the term unfolds. I was delighted to see the ‘Lego projects’ grow at Hume Street Campus. The display, situated in the foyer between the Resource Centre and the main classroom block, shows the creativity and ingenuity of our young students. What a wonderful way to learn the basic concepts of several key learning areas including Technology, Science and Mathematics? When I place this experience alongside of the robotics units offered in the Junior College then I am excited with the rapid growth of our curriculum to meet the needs of our students in their new world.
Kindest regards
Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College
From the College Pastor
A ‘handy way to pray’ to our Father in heaven
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray it for ourselves and others. When Jesus gave us this prayer, he told us to pray to ‘our’ Father in heaven and to ask him to give ‘us’ our daily bread etc. It is important to remember that we are called to pray not only for ourselves but for others. We are assured that our Father in heaven hears our prayers through Jesus. One simple way to help us remember to pray for others is by following the ‘Handy Way To Pray’ model.
Community News
Eisteddfod Musings
As I sit in the spectacularly refurbished Empire Theatre and watch some of Toowoomba’s up and coming musicians, I start reflecting on what Eisteddfod means to me. At its core eisteddfod is a Welsh word meaning ‘to sit’. The concept was started in the 10th century as a festival of poetry and music where bards performed for Noble families in an effort to win favour. At the end of the festival, the hosting Lord would announce the “Crowing of the Bard”, the criteria for this was completely subjective to the hosting Lord’s tastes and the prize was a seat from the Lord’s dining table. Today’s Eisteddfodau environment has developed into something completely different and Toowoomba’s Eisteddfod has been noted by visiting adjudicators as an event that is uniquely Toowoomba.
Using Parent Lounge to Advise of Student Absences
Parents can now advise the College via Parent Lounge if a student is going to be absent for one or more days. Click here for instructions on advising the College of an intended absence. This should be done prior to 8.30am on the day of the absence.
If your student is absent, but you have not notified the College, you will receive an SMS notification during the morning. In this case, you need to acknowledge the absence via Parent Lounge.Click here for instructions on acknowledging an absence.
Luther's Adventures
Luther has been excited to be back at school these past few weeks. He got to take his first Practice QCS test and helped out at the Student Council’s BBQ in Week 1. He spent Week 2 at Warwick Street Campus visiting the different classes. During Week 3, he went to TAFE in Schools with a few of the students and enjoyed reading a book from the new Street Library whilst sitting on the new Quad furniture.
2019 Calendar Updates
The following event dates are now available or have been amended:
Bible Scene Art Competition
Brisbane Science Festival
Friday 16 to Sunday 18 August 2019 @ Southbank Piazza, South Bank Parklands
Join the Brisbane Science Festival over three fun-filled days for spectacular science shows, STEM career talks, robotics, drones, virtual reality, native animals, rocket science and more! The Southbank Piazza will be filled with high energy stage demonstrations, professional development opportunities for teachers and Australia's first cancer-themed, education-focused, Escape Room.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
JC WSC Year 5 & HSC Year 5/6 Brisbane Space Excursion
The WSC Year 5 and the HSC Year 5/6 class Brisbane Space Excursion will take place on Tuesday 3 September 2019. All parents have been emailed the relevant information regarding this trip. If you have not received this email, please contact your child’s teacher. All permission forms are due back by Monday 26 August 2019.
Every Family – Triple P Parenting Programs
See the flyers below for further information about upcoming Triple P Parenting Programs.
JC Year 2 QLD Museum and SparkLab Excursion
The Junior College Year 2 excursion to the QLD Museum and SparkLab will take place on Thursday 15 August 2019. All Year 2 parents have been emailed the relevant information regarding this trip. If you have not received this email, please contact your child’s teacher. All permission forms were due back by Thursday 1 August 2019.
JC Year 2 ‘The Twits’ Empire Theatre Excursion
The Junior College Year 2 ‘The Twits’ Excursion will take place Thursday 5 September 2019. All Year 2 parents have been emailed the relevant information regarding this trip. If you have not received this email, please contact your child’s teacher. We require the permission form to be submitted by Thursday 15 August 2019.
JC Year 6 Canberra Trip
The Junior College Year 6 Canberra Trip will take place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 September 2019. All Year 6 parents have been emailed the relevant information regarding this trip. If you have not received this email, please contact your child’s teacher. We require the permission form to be submitted by Monday 12 August 2019.
JC Year 3 Camp
The Junior College Year 3 camp will take place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 September 2019. All Year 3 parents have been emailed the relevant information regarding this trip. If you have not received this email, please contact your child’s teacher. We require the permission form to be submitted by Tuesday 13 August 2019.
Preps Go Wild at the Zoo
On Thursday 26 July, the Prep classes went to the zoo, zoo, zoo! The Darling Downs Zoo to be exact. The day was very exciting and gave the Preps the opportunity to experience a wide variety of animals and their habitats. We got to pat snakes and crocodiles and learnt how the zoo helps to care for animals. We were even lucky enough to experience the miracle of birth (a little above the Prep Science Curriculum) as we witnessed a baby llama being born and watched it take its first tentative steps.
Track Training - QCIS Athletes
Students who have been selected to compete at the QCIS Athletics to be held on Monday 12 August, are invited to attend the following track training sessions. Sports uniform and water bottle is required for every session.
Year 3 Koojarewon Youth Camp Open Afternoon
An invitation is extended to our Year 3 families to attend an open afternoon at Koojarewon Youth Camp on Monday 19 August from 3.30pm to 5pm. This is an opportunity for parents and children to visit the campsite in readiness for the Year 3 Camp to be held later in Term 3. Koojarewon Youth Camp is located at 26 Borghardt Road, Highfields.
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
BlueBots Assist Year 2 in Maths
As part the Mathematics program, Year 2 students are currently exploring, creating and following directions. The focus for this week has been quarter turns, half turns, right, left, forwards and backwards.
The students’ understanding of the importance of providing clear and accurate instructions has been enhanced through the programming of BlueBots.
Walk My Way
Juanetta is walking the official walk of 26km from Noosa to Coolum on Sunday 4 August. The HSC Student Council is planning an exciting day to also support this project. On Thursday 8 August, we will have a free dress and activities. One of our activities as suggested by the students, will be to make a poster of 26 Reasons of ways We are Fortunate to live in Australia. Please bring a gold coin donation for the free dress which will help refugee children in Africa go to school.
HSC Tuckshop Orders
All orders are to be completed online at My Student Account by 3pm each Wednesday. Please notify Reception by 9am on Thursday if your child is absent and we will cancel their order.
Rookies2Reds Program
Kindy to Year 2 Pyjama Storytime
HSC Week 4 Events
Click here to view HSC's Week 4 Events.
Forms to Complete - HSC
Warwick Street Campus
Lego Masters
‘Aussie Icons’ was the challenge issued to our Lego Masters this week. On Tuesday, Luca B manufactured a big pineapple (sundaes anyone?) and Hannah H, a redback spider. The younger students approached the idea with more flexibility and imagination on Thursday (and were the undisputed champions at pack-up time), producing a lot of rainbow-coloured ‘things’. My favourite for the week was the Mad Max style transport that Ollie D made.
Silent Handball
Recently, Year 3 and Year 6 combined to play silent handball. Although it was a challenge in the beginning, students soon found that playing the game this way was fun and promoted lots of teamwork.
Building Ninja Warrior Robots
Year 5 students have taken robotics to a whole new level, by building ramps, tunnels and lifts in a class project to produce an obstacle course for our sphero robots to negotiate.
Teachers, Mrs Marie Smith and Mrs Fiona Stone, collaborated with students to encourage creativity and design thinking. Students evidenced that they can upcycle a range of materials and test their own understanding and application of best practices in design, as used in multiple industries around the globe.
Kindy to Year 1 Pyjama Storytime
Rookies2Reds Program
WSC Trivia Night
One of the highlights on the Warwick Street Campus calendar each year is the P&F Trivia Night. Each year we have seen this event grow in numbers as our community comes together for a night of fun, laughter and friendly competition. I encourage everyone in our community to come along to enjoy the fun. Family and friends from outside our community are also most welcome to attend.
Tuckshop Orders
At WSC, tuckshop is held on a Wednesday. All orders are to be completed online at My Student Account by 3pm each Tuesday. Please notify Reception by 9am on Wednesday if your child is absent and we will cancel their order. Tuckshop will start in Week 3 and finish in Week 9.
WSC Week 4 Events
Click here to view WSC's Events for Week 4.
Forms to Complete - WSC
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt delivered his now famous speech, “Man in the Arena”.
“The credit belongs to the man (person) who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.”
On Monday’s Assembly, I spoke around this notion of being prepared to “step into the arena”. For each person, this arena takes many forms. For a student, the arena may include friendships, academic pursuits, cocurricular, being strong in their values or being ambitious in their endeavours. For us as parents, we have our own arenas: juggling work commitments and ambitions with the dynamics that raising a family brings. What I emphasised to our community on Monday, was that we must take on challenges and pursuits, being comfortable in the reality that we will not always get it right. This is a very real aspect of endeavouring to push into our potential.
Finally, I want to acknowledge all of our students who recently competed in the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. It was so pleasing to see students rising to the challenge of performing, under competition conditions, with many being rewarded with placings. I also want to thank Mr Paul Edwards (Coordinator of Music Performance) and our other instrumental music teachers for their work in ensuring that our students were well prepared for the Eisteddfod.
Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus - Stephen Street
Year 11 Food and Nutrition
Student Council News
Over the past three weeks, Student Council has given ‘The Quad’ a makeover. Through the efforts of students supporting a variety of events, Student Council bought eight picnic tables and some café seating to make The Quad a more inviting place for students to have their lunch. As well as the new Quad furniture, Student Council placed a Street Library in the undercroft of S Block. This is a great way for students to find pre-loved books and read them, swap or donate them. More things are still to come to The Quad in the near future including murals designed by students and a vertical garden.
Tyla Parker
Student Council Media Master
Student Council Fundraising Project
Student Council Service Project
Please collect as many bread tags as you can. There are collection points located outside classroom B5 and in Reception.
Youth Survey 2019
It is not too late for your student to participate and have their voice heard. Students have until 16 August to complete the survey. It will take approximately 15 minutes.
Click on the image below to access the survey.
Use the pin number: 45524 to identify Concordia and take part.
The rise (and resurgence) of “internet challenges”
Click here to read this interesting and helpful blog article.
Parent Information Evening
Sport News
Inter-House Track & Field Carnival Age Champions
Congratulations to the 2019 Track & Field Age Champions who received their medallions on Assembly last term:
Forms to Complete - SSC
Boarding
Boarding News
My first three weeks in Temme House have been great! The boys are fantastic. I think at first, they were wary of the new Houseparent, ‘checking me out’. They very kindly guided me through their daily and weekly routines. I was finding my way, trying to put names to faces, trying to remember where everything was located, which buttons to push to open and close this and that, and so on.
Now it’s like I have been here for years! I started to see their real personalities when we celebrated Christmas in July. They laughed, and had fun and devoured the desserts. Now we know enough about each other to enjoy our days. I know who sleeps in longer and needs a second wake up call. They know I will ask them where there hat is as they are heading out the door to go to school. They know I enjoy their conversations, and they know I only have bad “Dad” jokes.
