The Week Ahead - End of Term 1, 2022
Friday 1 April 2022
From the Head of College
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Term 1 has affirmed to me what an incredibly trusting, flexible and resilient community we are at Concordia. The delayed start to the school year back in January came with an online learning week for our Years 11 and 12 students, a return to wearing masks, all school gatherings and events either postponed or cancelled and parents again not allowed back on campus. Hasn鈥檛 COVID-19 made us all so much stronger and more aware of the simpler things in life which matter? I believe that this entire generation of students will emerge as more resourceful and appreciative citizens in the years to come. Thank you to our incredible staff for riding this everchanging wave and looking after this journey with so much energy, without a complaint and always focused on providing the best learning and pastoral care outcomes for our students.
So much has been achieved with Project Based Learning making its way into the Arts and Technology Departments at Stephen Street Campus, flexible learning spaces being explored on our Junior College campuses, learning support structures being consolidated and streamlined across the College and a noticeable lift in several sports achievements with so many individuals and teams making their presence felt. Adventurous Learning has arrived at Concordia with the students being reminded to Imagine, but importantly for us to Embrace, the Possibilities made available to them every day.
The end of a term also means that some staff will be moving on from Concordia with new staff preparing to join our community in the new term. I need to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Angela Sten and Mr Paul Edwards for their significant contributions to school life at Concordia over the years. I would like to wish them every blessing and safe passage as they step away to focus on their respective family commitments, their wellness and future career prospects.
Thank you for the overwhelming response received by MMG Survey from you the parent body. We now look forward to receiving a summary and feedback from MMG at the start of Term 2 to further inform the strategic direction for the college in the next few years.
It was very fitting for the College this afternoon, to wrap up the term by slowing down and being still as we reflect on and celebrate the meaning of Easter. Thank you to Pastor Thomas, Mrs Jackie Minnikin and Mrs Juanetta Priest for looking after these services on our campuses.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish every family a safe and relaxing term break. Happy Easter!
Yours in Christ
Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College
He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed [Matthew 28:6]
From the College Pastor
Christ is risen!
We have made it! When you read this our somewhat disrupted Term 1 will nearly have come to an end. And what resilience our community has again shown, dealing with a delayed start, mask wearing and then gradual opening of things again, with many people experiencing sickness at some stage or another.
In spite of all this, much learning and growing has taken place and we were blessed to even fit in our swimming carnival and finish with the cross country. We gained renewed appreciation for coming together in chapels and assemblies. All campuses will finish with an Easter focused service today.
As you look back over the last 10 or so weeks, what highlights come to mind, what challenges did you overcome? I am sure we all have stories to tell.
I think we can say that we lived our theme for the term: stepping out of the boat (taking on challenges that come our way) and our final focus on the Easter events, with Good Friday being the topic for last week and the resurrection (Easter) this week is an appropriate conclusion to the term.
It is a reminder that there is suffering in our lives, that things do not always go as planned, that there are unanswered questions, but Christ is in the midst of that, sharing our journey, and that with God this is never the end, there are new beginnings, there is hope, there is life beyond death even!
Easter is the celebration of this beginning and new hope, as the disciples found the grave empty and then met their risen Lord, alive! So as on Easter, which is celebrated at the end of the holidays this year (I have included some service times below) the cry: Christ is risen! rings out 鈥 and the reply He is risen indeed! comes back may you be filled with joy and hope. Perhaps you find some time to join a worshipping community and remember and celebrate these life-changing, world changing events.
I pray you may find rest and refreshment through these holidays and return refreshed and strengthened and full of hope for our new term.
Easter blessings to you all.
Pastor Thomas B枚hmert
College Pastor
Community News
Easter services offered by local 女女视频 Churches
(Maundy Thursday 14/4, Good Friday 15/4, Easter Sunday 17/4)
Emmanuel (Concordia Chapel)
Good Friday 9am
Easter Sunday 9am
Good Shepherd 女女视频 Church (23 Glenvale Road)
Palm Sunday 9am (This is also a confirmation service)
Maundy Thursday 7pm
Good Friday 9am
Easter Sunday 9am
Wilsonton/Glencoe Parish
Maundy Thursday — Bethlehem (Glencoe) 7pm with HC
Good Friday —
鈥 Bethlehem (Glencoe) 8.30am with HC
鈥 St John鈥檚 (Wilsonton) 10.15am with HC
Easter Sunday —
鈥 Bethlehem (Glencoe) 5.45am with HC — Easter Breakfast after
鈥 St John鈥檚 (Wilsonton) 8.30am with HC
Redeemer (Neil St)
Maundy Thursday — 7pm
Good Friday — 9.30am
Easter Sunday —
鈥 6am (Picnic Point)
鈥 9.30am (Redeemer)
Christian Life Week 鈥 in the winter holidays
女女视频 Youth Queensland are again offering special camping experiences for young people at Highfields (Koojarewon) or the Sunshine Coast (Luther Heights).
Our life-changing Holiday Camps are the highlight of the school holidays for hundreds of young campers every year! There is still no better way than camping to give young people the space to discover more about themselves, their world and God.
Enrol now and claim your discount! Click on the links below.
For Years 7 to 12:
For Junior College students (Years 3 to 6):
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
From the Junior College Directors
After a delayed start this term, we have made it to the end of another eventful yet rewarding 10 weeks at the Junior College. As we finished the week today with our Inter-House Cross Country, it was wonderful to see the House spirit as the students from Altus, Kessler and Stedman were put through their paces on the track. The students should be extremely proud of the persistence and resilience they showed today as well as the sheer determination to get around the course.
As always, the success of every term is due to the hard work and dedication of the students and staff, and the continued support of our parent community. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Junior College staff. Even though there were many challenges this term, this group of professionals always remained calm, flexible and were always prepared to work with any situation that was put in front of them. We wish them all a relaxing and restful break over the next two weeks.
On behalf of the both of us and the Junior College staff, we would like to wish you all a happy and safe Easter break with your families. We look forward to seeing you all back in Term 2.
to view HSC's Events for Term 2, Week 1.
to view WSC's Events for Term 2, Week 1.
Mrs Juanetta Priest - Director of Campus (Hume Street)
Mrs Jackie Minnikin - Director of Campus (Warwick Street)
Junior College Social and Emotional Wellbeing Classes
Throughout Term 1, students across both Junior College campuses engaged in Social and Emotional Wellbeing classes. These classes were designed to equip students with the skills they need manage day to day life. Initially, we explored the Zones of Regulation (ZoR), followed by an introduction to the You Can Do It program and Keeping Kids Safe program (Daniel Morcombe Foundation). All three programs tied together beautifully to help students gain a strong understanding of both theirs and others鈥 wellbeing and safety.
The ZoR helped students gain insight into feelings and emotions, what they are, how we all have them and how we can classify them into colours to make them easier to relate to. Students learnt that all emotions and feelings are okay and welcome. By becoming more aware of what our bodies are telling us and understanding that our feelings can and do influence our actions, we can learn to manage our responses.
We also touched on the size of our problems and how that dictates our reaction or response. Big problems require big and immediate responses while small problems (which are still problems) require smaller responses. At the end of each lesson, we talked about the wide range of people who love and care for us, who can help us when we need. We also took the opportunity to discuss and practice using some 鈥渢ools鈥 from our imaginary toolkit. These are things that any of us can do/use wherever we are, at any given time. Not every tool works for every individual, so we tried different techniques to see what helped and what did not.
This unit has assisted students in developing an appreciation for both their own and others鈥 social and emotional wellbeing as well as their safety. This learning can be reinforced at home by opening up a dialogue with your children about what they have learned about themselves in this unit and which tools work for them.
Mrs Christa Connolly
Teacher
Junior College German Classes
Please for an overview of German this term at both Hume Street Campus and Warwick Street Campus.
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
HSC Tennis Coaching - Term 2
HSC Tuckshop Orders
Please note: There is no tuckshop in Week 1 of Term 2. Tuckshop will start in Week 2.
Warwick Street Campus
WSC Tennis Coaching - Term 2
WSC Tuckshop Orders
Please note: There is no tuckshop in Week 1 of Term 2. Tuckshop will start in Week 2.
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
Wow 鈥 what a term! It is safe to say that in education you need to expect the unexpected. This has been certainly true for the past couple of years. I am truly proud of both our students and staff for how they have adapted to the changes and curveballs that have come their way this term.
From COVID restrictions to natural disasters, we have all had to work together to ensure learning can continue, with as little disruption as possible. Yet, every step of the way I have heard from our staff and families - 鈥渨hat can I do?鈥 What a great community.
Today, we are holding our College Cross Country on Stephen Street Campus. What a beautiful day we have been blessed with. Thank you to Mr Darryl Allen and our HPE staff for their time organising the event. I can鈥檛 wait to see what House comes out on top.
Our term finishes with the closing Chapel service. This term we have explored the focus of 鈥淪tepping out of the boat鈥. The underlying message is that it is often the first step that is the most challenging when confronting our fears. When our focus is on staying 鈥渃omfortable鈥, we fail to challenge ourselves and take risks that may ultimately help us and others. If we shift our focus to being challenged and developing resilience, yes, we may encounter hardship, but this is what builds our character and enables us to be a leading example to others. Well done to everyone in our community who have taken a step out of the boat this term by trying something new or taking a positive stand on behalf of others.
We now look ahead to next term and even more events and opportunities for our students. In May, our Years 7 and 9 students will sit their NAPLAN tests. Students have this week completed practice tests to check the IT aspects of the online testing. I have no doubt our teachers have and will continue to do a first-rate job of preparing our students for this, not through special programs but through everyday high-quality instruction in their curriculum classes. A number of excursions and other extra-curricular activities are also planned for Term 2, including our College Track and Field Carnival.
I wish our whole community a wonderful Easter holiday break. During the break, if you and any of your family need any support, please do not forget the external services available within our community. .
Yours in faith,
Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus
Elevate Parent Information Session - Years 7 to 12
Boarding
Boarding News
Hello to all our boarding families!
What a fantastic weekend we have had in Boarding. How great it is for us as staff to witness the friendships and networking that our students have with each other. A day at the Toowoomba Show stands out, where staff and students come together in fun times with laughter and for some, a little embarrassment. Students volunteered to be involved at the Concordia stand in the pavilion. Many balloons pumped up and given away to the little ones. Thank you to all who helped out.
On arrival at the Show, small groups of boys and girls went every which way not knowing where to go first. Some ventured down sideshow alley and stopped at various stuffed animal stalls, floating ducks, darts and lucky number draw to name a few. Others swooped to the dodgem cars, cup and saucer, merry go rounds, ferris wheel and ranger for a little adrenalin rush.
We headed home around 4pm for dinner then out again to view the fireworks. Everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was a pleasure to take our students out. I feel such a sense of pride every time we venture into a public arena with our boarding students as they are great ambassadors for our College. Thank you to our tutors who gave up their time to spend with the students.
On Sunday evening we had a special Easter dinner and Easter egg games. Fun was had by all.
Mr Wally and Mr Steve joined in with the games. Mr Wally is gaining a reputation for fastest Bunny round the track, however, he could not manage the egg and spoon race! As you will clearly see, he had to have two spoons, gaining him the title of two time egg and spoon cheater champion. Proof is in the picture. Captain Jerry and Mr Wally鈥檚 Bunnies also coming unstuck when they were caught out using the hand sanitiser to glue the egg on the spoon. Therefore, clearly Bella鈥檚 team won the Fair Player Award for most honest bunnies.
Bella Clarke won the Best Easter Hat along with Best Dressed Girl. Well done, Bella. Jacob Colley was Best Dressed Male.
Well done to all, what a great night of laughter and Bunny mischief. Thanks to all the kitchen staff for the beautiful meal.
Time to close off wishing you all a safe and happy holidays. Hope you enjoy our many photos this week in the gallery below.
Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent