The Week Ahead - Term 1, Week 6
Monday 28 February to Friday 4 March 2022
From the Head of College
Dear Parents and Caregivers
I can hardly believe that this week鈥檚 edition of The Week Ahead will bring us to the half-way mark for Term 1. So much has already happened in the short period of time which the students have been back at school.
Both the students and staff must be commended on how they have adjusted to several events continuing in an online platform. This past week we received the wonderful news that masks will no longer be mandatory at schools from Monday 7 March and that parents and caregivers can once again access school life.
The lifting of restrictions will allow for the ongoing growth of the quality working partnership which we endeavour to achieve with every family. Details regarding these new arrangements will be made available to you once they become available from the State Government in the coming days.
Given the pending changes, I would like to share with you what teachers want you to know:
- Don鈥檛 be a stranger - Talk to your student鈥檚 teacher early when you feel the need and as your first point of contact. Parent-teacher interviews shouldn鈥檛 be the only time you connect.
- Learning doesn鈥檛 stop at 3:30pm - You can help your student鈥檚 teacher do a better job by encouraging your children to show you something they are working on at school.
- Let your child make mistakes - Teachers don鈥檛 want perfect students. We want students who try hard and make mistakes. It鈥檚 important for teachers to see what students don鈥檛 know so that a growth journey for learning can be put in place.
- Stay involved 鈥 Give support and be your child鈥檚 cheerleader no matter how well or poorly you did in a certain subject. Just knowing that you are paying attention will be very motivating for them.
- Teachers are on your side, give them the benefit of the doubt - If your child complains about something at school, speak to the teacher involved as they can provide further insight into the matter. Unfortunately, our children will mostly bring home their version of events and tell us only what they want us to hear. When our daughter did this as a high school student, she provided us with further details and her role in the matter when we indicated that we would go into the school the next day with her to speak to the teacher and hear their side about the matter. This is where a good relationship helps, as a quick email or text can usually sort things out before it all escalates.
- If the teacher deserves a good grade, give one 鈥 Teaching isn鈥檛 easy, so it鈥檚 incredibly uplifting when someone takes the time to say thank you. Why not email when your chid has had a positive experience at school. Please let me know too if a teacher is doing a good job.
[Acknowledgement: Lisa Collier]
Congratulations and thank you to our Year 10 students who have been outstanding ambassadors for the College as they have been out and about on work experience this past week. From all accounts these students have been a credit to both their families and the college. Thank you to Mrs Leah Bowes, Mrs Jo-Ann Tessmer and Mr Jamie Pukallus for touching base with each of the students and their 鈥渃urrent employers鈥.
Thank you for your ongoing support of and loyalty towards the College. I look forward to doing and enjoying the second half of the term with you.
Keep well, stay safe and connected.
Yours in Christ,
Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College
From the College Pastor
Hearing God's Voice
This week鈥檚 Chapel explores the story of the Samuel, the prophet, who came to live with Eli the priest as a young boy to learn to be a priest and become a leader in Israel. His name means 鈥淕od heard鈥 鈥 and he was given this name by his parents who had pleaded with God for a child through many years of childlessness.
Samuel (you can read the story in 1 Samuel 3:1-10) heard God calling him 鈥 and it took the much older and more experienced Eli to recognise what was happening. From this initial call, Samuel grew up into prophet and leader of his people. He truly 鈥渉eard God鈥, even as he himself was an answer to the prayers of his mum, which God heard…
As we prepared the Chapel for the primary years with he Year 6 class at WSC, we explored how we might hear God鈥檚 voice today. We thought that it might perhaps not be like for Samuel, a voice calling in the night, but we worked out that God speaks to us in the first instance through the bible, his recorded word. There we learn about who God is, how he operates, how much he loves each one of us, how he wants us to live. And as we learn this we may be able to recognise his voice in other ways as well.
The Year 6 students then came up with a little play to apply this, set in a playground and showing a student responding in kindness to a difficult situation. We thought that the inner voice that may prompt us to do something kind, to help someone in need, can actually be God鈥檚 voice, calling us to bring his love to others. We can test this voice by reflecting on whether it aligns with what we have learned about God through our study of the scriptures.
We also thought that sometimes God may use others to speak to us, to help us learn more about ourselves or what we may need to do.
I was impressed by the creativity and thoughtfulness of the Year 6 students as we worked on the Chapel together. I pray that all of you may have ears and hearts to recognise God鈥檚 call in your lives and be guided by his love for each of you.
Have a blessed week.
Rev Thomas B枚hmert
College Pastor
Community News
International Women's Day High Tea
You're invited to attend the inaugural International Women's Day High Tea taking place at the Concordia Function Centre on Tuesday 8 March from 5.30pm to 7pm.
Enjoy a delicious range of savories and sweets prepared by our professional chefs, along with an assortment of gourmet teas, coffee and juice. You will also receive a gift bag on arrival.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for school-aged students. Tables of 10 are available for $250.
It's been great to see a an excellent response to this event with half of the available seats already sold! If you'd like to join us, please make sure book your tickets as soon as possible by clicking this button. Ticket sales close on Friday 4 March, if not sold out sooner.
Lots of Socks 鈥 World Down Syndrome Day 鈥 14 March
On Monday 14 March we are asking students to wear their craziest socks to school and bring along a gold coin donation to help support World Down Syndrome Day.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Sports News
Congratulations to the 30 Concordia students that competed at the Toowoomba Central Zone Swimming Trials at The Glennie School on Wednesday 16 February 2022. This year's carnival had a different format, with many new restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.
It was an impressive effort by all our athletes with many achieving new personal best times. We had many CLC students qualify in over 50 individual events. These students will compete at the Darling Downs Regional Swimming Championships on Wednesday 2 March 2022 in Gatton. Selected students from the Central Zone Swimming Team will also represent Concordia at the QCIS 10-19 Yrs Swimming Carnival in Dalby on Wednesday 9 March 2022. Great work to all involved in preparing our swimmers and congratulations to those students who put in the individual effort in their training.
Thank you to Mrs Riehl, Mrs Lynch, Mr McCullough and Troy Chandler for their smooth managing of the team on the day, having swimmers ready to go for the races and timekeepers. I must also say thanks to our parents for supporting and encouraging our awesome students in their sporting endeavours and their understanding of the rules imposed at these meets. As a representative of Concordia it is always rewarding to see our students do their best and to hear glowing feedback from members of the organising committee involved in the events.
Well done to all concerned and we wish our Central Zone Representatives all the best in their next challenge.
Representative Team - Manshi Bhardwaj, Chloe Chettle, Eloise Chettle, James Rice, Jonathan Rice, Ollie Dunlop, Connor Gadsby, Emily Holding, Emma Walkington, Evi Purchase, Milla Cronje, Anya Vermeulen, Parun Benham and Miles Plumb.
Sporting Schools Programs
Next week at our Junior College campuses we will be running both AFL and 鈥淩ookie to Rollers鈥 Lawn Bowls Sporting School programs after school. Information has been advertised with these programs through parent lounge. As usual these programs are eagerly awaited by both students and parents alike and I am looking forward to running these programs over the next 4 weeks.
Cross Country
As our Cross-Country carnival will be held on Friday 1 April 2022. We will be start preparations for this event with training in both PE lessons and other sessions before school for those students who wish to attend and improve their fitness and have some fun with their mates. Please see below information for these sessions. This is for students from Years 1 to 6.
Training Times - starting 1 March 2022
- HSC 鈥 Tuesdays 7.30 -8.00 am
- WSC-Wednesday 7.30 鈥 8.00 am
Students will meet Staff on ovals and be in PE uniform, while they may need a spare pair of sneakers/socks depending on how wet the grass is each session. Also, they will need to bring a water bottle.
Cheers
Mr Fry
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
From the HSC Director
Thank you all for assisting your children to settle into 2022 as smoothly as they have. Apart from a few tired preppies, everyone has settled in and classes are running well. If you ever have any concerns about anything in your class, please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher. Emails are the best way to communicate as we check them everyday. Calling our Reception is also a great way to get a quick message to the teacher.
Thank you for your support in our crazy rainy weather. It was an out of the ordinary and adventurous day but working as a team, we achieved safeness for all. I would like to put a shout out to our Admin team who took 100 calls, found students, escorted them and assisted in getting them safely into cars. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful working team.
to view HSC's Events for Term 1, Week 6 2022.
It seems we may have a wet weekend. I pray you will all stay safe and well.
Mrs Juanetta Priest
Director of Campus - Hume Street
HSC Campus Photos 鈥 Monday 28 March
HSC Campus Photos 鈥 Monday 28 March
Our Campus Photos are scheduled for Monday 28 March. Please ensure your child/ren are in the correct uniform. Students in Prep and Year 1 will wear their sports uniform. All students from Years 2 to 6 are required to wear their formal uniform.
Family Photos
To enable parents to purchase a family photo of all or some of their children who attend Concordia 女女视频 College, photos of siblings will be taken in the Hume Street Campus Hall between 8am and 8.15am on photo day. If you would like family photos please collect an envelope from the Campus Reception.
It will be the parents鈥 responsibility to get their SSC children to HSC for the family photo and then take them to SSC ready for school before 8.30am. If you would like family photos done could you please collect a family photo envelope from Reception prior to photo day.
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: Week 9 is the last week of Tuckshop.
HSC Tennis Coaching - Term 1
Colour Explosion Fun Run
Thank you so much for continuously supporting our school, especially through fundraising. This term, we are hosting a Colour Explosion School Fun Run.
Start fundraising today.
Did you know? Students raise 3x times more when they fundraise online! Visit to create your child鈥檚 cybersafe fundraising profile. Instructions are in your child鈥檚 sponsorship booklet. You have until Friday 23 April to fundraise, so make sure you get cracking!
The big day is coming!
We are so excited to host our Colour Explosion School Fun Run on Friday 18 March. On the day, make sure your child brings a white shirt and old shorts for the Fun Run and waterslide! They will be covered in non-toxic, high quality colour powder from head to toe! They will also need a water bottle and their hat. Sunscreen will be provided in the classrooms prior to the event.
How do prizes work? Help your child fundraise more by setting a prize goal! It鈥檚 okay if they change their mind 鈥 you order their exact prizes later. You can order your child鈥檚 prizes online at by Friday 9 April . Alternatively, complete the back page of your sponsorship booklet when you return your cash donations. Students can choose a prize based on the total amount of dollars raised, or mix and match smaller prizes.
Share in $200,000 worth of extra prize credit! Achieve bigger prizes by helping your child earn bonus credit on their online profile. By reaching fundraising milestones online, you can share in $200,000 of extra prize credit!
Become a Fundraising MonSTAR! Collect all virtual badges on your online profile page and receive your own Fundraising MonSTAR bag tag.
Class Reward Prize. Teamwork counts! If your class creates the most online profile pages each student will receive a Fundraising MonSTAR handball.
FundRazor of the Year Award. Do you think you can top the national leader board? Australia鈥檚 highest fundraising student in Australia will win a Razor Prize Pack, worth $4,900!
If you have any questions about the Colour Explosion School Fun Run please contact the office of on 1300 133 022. Thanks for supporting our school and we hope to see you at the event.
Happy fundraising!
HSC Touch Coaching
Mrs Bianca Coleborn will once again be running Touch Training on Wednesdays from 11am to 11.30am for students in Years 5 & 6. Students will eat their lunch and then meet Mrs Coleborn on the oval grandstands at 11am.
HSC Drama Squad
Hi, my name is Andreas Elms and I love Drama!
I am very excited, as this year I will be joining the Concordia family, teaching Speech and Drama, and coordinating the brand new drama clubs for the Junior College campuses. We have called them "Drama Squad - Hume Street" and "Drama Squad- Warwick Street".
I have been teaching drama and working with young people in the creative arts for many years and I can't wait to start working with the Concordia students through drama games, improvising, vocal activities, poems, plays, skits and building confidence along the way.
The Speech and Drama lessons will take place during the school day, where the students can work together in pairs or on their own. The Drama Squad is Wednesdays from 7.30am-8.30am at Warwick St and Fridays from 7.30am - 8.30am at Hume St.
If you would like your child to join the Drama Squad and or speech and drama lessons, please feel free to contact me.
Student Council and Hume Street Service Leadership
Our HSC Student Council began meeting this week. As a Hume Street Campus we have several Service Leadership opportunities being planned for this term. I would encourage you to talk with your children and decide as a family which one/s you would like to support.
- Lots of Socks 鈥 14 March. Concordia 女女视频 College is very proud to support an inclusive education. Lots of Socks is a Crazy Sock Day in support of Downs Syndrome. This will be a day where the students will be able to wear crazy socks and if possible, bring a gold coin for Downs Syndrome Australia.
- Bully No Way Day 鈥 18 March is a day where we have intentional chapel/assembly focus on what bullying is and how being a great friend is important. We invite your child to wear something orange to celebrate. This could be a shirt, shorts, hair ribbon etc.
Class Parent Reps
We love our Parent Reps and have a couple of classes missing one. If you would like to self-nominate, please read the attached document and get in contact with either Juanetta Priest or your classroom teacher. We would love to have at least one per class and two is even better.
Prep 鈥 Kendra Hopper
Year 1 鈥
Year 2 鈥 Nicole Brownlie
Year 3 鈥
Year 4 鈥 Tegan Charchar
Year 5 鈥 Sasha Dolley
Year 6 鈥
Prep 2023
Interviews for Prep 2023 will begin soon. Don鈥檛 forget to ensure your 2023 Prep student is enrolled. If you have friends who need more information, please let them know to give us a call.
Toowoomba Rates Notice
If you were fortunate enough to receive a Free Plant Voucher with your rates notice this week and do not want this voucher, we would love to collect it. Our students are always looking to extend our planting program and these vouchers can help us considerably. We currently have about 40 bushes/trees to plant in the coming weeks as a result of this program 2021.
Warwick Street Campus
From the WSC Director
When the going gets tough the tough get going! Even though WSC has had a few challenges over the last couple of weeks, we have worked together to make it through.
Thank you to parents, students and staff for your resilience in the face of these challenges. It is wonderful to know that our community is there to support each other. We look forward to the weeks ahead when we can get back to normal school life.
At the beginning of each year, it鈥檚 always timely to remind new parents, and existing parents of some important housekeeping details.
Allergies
Warwick Street Campus is a nut free school. As we have many students with significant allergies - we appreciate your support in making sure that the students have lunch boxes that are nut free. I know there are many students who enjoy peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches, but if those sandwich choices could be saved for weekend lunches, it would be appreciated.
Drive Through
We are fortunate to have our Drive Throughs at Warwick Street Campus for morning and afternoon drop-offs and pick-ups. We appreciate and need your assistance to keep our Drive Through safe. To use the Drive Through, parents must adhere to the following procedures:
- Absolutely NO overtaking is permitted in the Drive Through
- Always drive to the top of the drive through in the mornings as this will avoid people being delayed behind you
- No parking is permitted in the Drive Through
- Students must be able to put on their own seatbelt to use the Drive Through
- Do not walk through the Drive Through. All parents and students must use the pedestrian crossing at the top of the Drive Through.
- Parking in the staff carpark is not permitted.
Meetings with teachers
As always, WSC staff have an open-door policy and we are always happy to meet with parents. As you can imagine, schools are busy places at the beginning and end of each day.
If you need to speak to your child鈥檚 teacher about their progress, please make an appointment with them before or after school. This enables them to take the time to sit down with you and listen to your concerns.
Vacation Care
After collating the results of our recent Vacation Care survey, we are excited to announce that we have applied for approval for Vacation Care at Warwick Street Campus. We hope to commence this in the Easter break and Miss Moira Downing, our OSHC Coordinator, will send more information to families in the coming weeks.
Take care in the wet weather everyone and blessings for the week ahead.
to view WSC's Events for Term 1, Week 6.
Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Director of Campus
WSC Campus Photos 鈥 Wednesday 16 March
WSC Campus Photos 鈥 Wednesday 16 March
Our campus photos are scheduled for Wednesday 16 March. Please ensure your child/ren are in the correct uniform. Students in Prep will wear their sports uniform. All students from Years 1 to 6 are required to wear their formal uniform.
Family Photos
To enable parents to purchase a family photo of all or some of their children who attend Concordia 女女视频 College, photos of siblings will be taken in the Warwick Street Campus Shed between 8am and 8.15am on photo day.
It will be the parents鈥 responsibility to get their SSC children to WSC for the family photo and then take them to SSC ready for school before 8.30am. If you would like family photos done, please collect a family photo envelope from Reception prior to photo day.
Term 1 Tennis Coaching at WSC
WSC Touch Coaching - with Mrs Coleborn
Mrs Bianca Coleborn will once again be running Touch Training on Thursdays from 12.45am to 1.30pm for students in Years 5 and 6 at Stephen Street Campus.
Interested students should meet Mrs Coleborn in the playground at the beginning of lunch and bring something to eat during the walk across to Stephen Street Campus.
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 9.
WSC Drama Squad
Hi, my name is Andreas Elms and I love Drama!
I am very excited, as this year I will be joining the Concordia family, teaching Speech and Drama, and coordinating the brand new drama clubs for the Junior College campuses. We have called them "Drama Squad - Hume Street" and "Drama Squad- Warwick Street".
I have been teaching drama and working with young people in the creative arts for many years and I can't wait to start working with the Concordia students through drama games, improvising, vocal activities, poems, plays, skits and building confidence along the way.
The Speech and Drama lessons will take place during the school day, where the students can work together in pairs or on their own. The Drama Squad is Wednesdays from 7.30am-8.30am at Warwick St and Fridays from 7.30am - 8.30am at Hume St.
If you would like your child to join the Drama Squad and or speech and drama lessons, please feel free to contact me.
Stephen Street Campus
Stephen Street Campus Update
Wow 鈥 how fast is this term going! Already we have hit the halfway mark of term, and the school year has quickly hit full stride.
As predicted in last鈥檚 weeks article, our Year 10 students have done themselves and the College proud in their work experience placements this week.
I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of our students across a variety of vocations. It has been fantastic hearing about the opportunities and experiences our students have been given by our gracious network of employers. From assisting with surgeries at veterinary clinics to assisting with company marketing strategies, our students have truly tasted the realties and rewards of their chosen field.
The feedback from both the students and employers has been overwhelmingly positive and continues to reaffirm the importance of the work experience program. I wish to thank Ms Jo-Ann Tessmer and Ms Leah Bowes for their efforts and hours of work coordinating the work experience placements and assisting with workplace visits.
Over the past two weeks our Years 7 and 8 students have participated in the 鈥渆ntry events鈥 as part of the launch of our Project Based Learning approach in Technology and The Arts.
Our teaching teams have spent a great deal of time planning for these events and ensuring that student engagement and critical thinking is maximised from day one. Mr Prinsloo鈥檚 cameo role in the Technology fashion parade as Harry Stiles was, I鈥檓 sure, a treat for the students, not to mention a great photo for our end of year celebrations!
Congratulations to the Year 12 cohort who have been working with great commitment through a number of assessments since the beginning of term. As the year progresses and student workload and assessment demands increase, we continue to emphasise the need for students to look after their own wellbeing.
Part of doing this is being aware of one鈥檚 stress and having effective ways to manage this on an ongoing basis. Psychologist Andrew Fuller offers the following tips for students when faced with periods of stress:
Don't think about the end result, focus on the steps you have to take today to get to that outcome
Lots of anxiety is thinking about how future events will turn out. Will I pass this test? Will they like me? Do I have enough friends? Try to tame your mind so that you stop thinking about questions you can鈥檛 know the answer to. Instead practice narrowing your attention to what you can do right now.
Exercise
Being physically active lowers our stress levels. Exercise increases blood flow to the smart parts of our brains where problems can get solved. When we sit or lie still for too long the more primitive parts of our brain kicks in and our thoughts go around and around.
Movements where you move rhythmically are especially good for reducing stress. Dancing, drumming, roller-skating, table tennis, swimming, juggling, down ball, volleyball, boxing and gymnastics are all rhythmic movements.
Write it out
Get your worries out of your head. Write them down on a sheet of paper. Make a note or a voice memo on your phone.
Know that everyone has worries
All human beings worry at times so don鈥檛 feel strange or odd or different. Just learn that you can find yourself worrying at times, just like everyone else.
Talk to someone you trust
Now you know everyone gets stressed at times, tell someone you can rely on about feeling worried. Even if they don't have any suggestions for you, just telling someone makes a difference.
Breath deeply
When you feel stressed, take a moment to breathe deeply. Put your hand on your belly and take a big breath. Then slowly breathe out as you count to yourself, 鈥渙ne thousand, two thousand, three thousand鈥. Slowing down your breathing resets your body.
Drink water
Drinking water lowers the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body.
Stop mind juggling, start doing
Lots of people when they get stressed freeze up and feel like they can't start anything.
Start somewhere. Your first attempt doesn't have to be the perfect answer. Getting started builds momentum and confidence.
Use a mood shift playlist
Music is a powerful way of lessening stress. Make a playlist of your best feel good songs and play when you find the worries are creeping in.
Next week marks the final week of the current COVID back-to-school guidelines. I look forward to having our families back on College grounds, and I will provide an overview of events ahead where this will be possible in next week鈥檚 edition.
Yours in faith,
Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus
Boarding
Hello to our Boarding families
Full speed ahead! Five weeks until the end of term.
Our boarding houses have been buzzing this week with students coming and going to various sports and training sessions, School based traineeships and our Year 10 with work experience.
Not forgetting DD trials and trips to Brisbane for selective AFL and ABA games.
As our students have busy afterschool schedules, we are keeping a close eye on their eating habits. Missing meals and filling up on non-nutritional snacks is not advisable. Please remind your child to eat the meals prepared by our kitchen staff. There is always plenty of fresh fruit around for those who want a little extra.
For those who are not sports minded, Choir and Drama Club have started with morning and afternoon practices starting this week.
To all our new parents, thank you for choosing Concordia Boarding for your child as we in boarding find them all an absolute delight to look after and mentor. They definitely liven the boarding houses up! Personalities are starting to surface as confidence is growing. The boys, in particular, are definitely feeling a lot more comfortable as the days and weeks go by.
Those who are struggling with the transition into boarding are being supported and encouraged by our wonderful staff and teachers and most of all with your support. Any concerns please feel free to call Andrew or myself.
I have a few photos this week that I hope will be enjoyed by all.
Take care and stay safe.
Ms Maureen Taurima
Houseparent