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Dear Parents and Caregivers

The College remains a hive of activity as the weeks keep tumbling by as we head towards the end of the 2021 school year. From all accounts the Year 12 students are moving through their external exam schedule with measured composure as well as arriving well prepared each day. We are also thankful to have our Year 9 students back safe and sound from Googa. These students have their Rite Journey Homecoming next Tuesday night, as we officially welcome them back as young adults into the College.

Our Year 11 students also spent three days at Googa this past week as part of their Leadership Retreat as they prepare to step us as the College’s Senior cohort and leaders in 2022. Pastor Thomas Böhmert and I had the wonderful opportunity of spending the day out at Googa and getting into the thick of the “lantana game” with them. Thank you to Mrs Natalie Houston, Mrs Karin McKenzie and Mr James Bishop for supporting the students on this journey.

There were lots of houses with cobwebby fluff, plastic spiders, scary pumpkins or other paraphernalia out front in Brisbane last Sunday. It seems this Irish-American observance of Halloween (All Hallows eve = the day before All Hallows or All Saints Day) is being more and more commercialised into Australia. Anything for a few lollies!

I was in Brisbane to observe another important occasion falling on 31 October: The 504th anniversary of the Reformation. My former congregation at St Peters always puts on a special service with choir for that occasion, often including a Bach Cantata or similar choral work and since I used to sing in that choir we went to worship and catch up with our Brisbane friends. It was a beautiful, uplifting service.

At the reformation chapels I announced the results of the Walk my Way initiative, which replaced the reformation race and encouraged students and family to support refuge children in camps to be able to attend school and so potentially change their future in appositive way.

Walk my Way is an initiative of ALWS (Australian ŮŮ��Ƶ World Service - ), who have been working in these camps for many decades.

The Uniform Shop will be open from 29 November from 8am to 2pm Monday to Friday and will close from 2pm Thursday 16 December and will re-open on Tuesday 4 January 2022 from 8am to 2pm (appointments will need to be made for this period).

On Wednesday 17 November (Week 7), we have a special chapel for the Junior College at 9.45am in the SSC chapel – with guest artist Dan Warlow leading us in worship. Dan will also lead the SSC chapel at 11.50am. Dan has been called the new Colin Buchanan and we are blessed to be offered his services for this occasion. Parents are welcome to attend. 

We are looking forward to seeing the members of our College community come together for our annual Presentation Evening for Years 6 to 11 on Monday 22 November at The Empire Theatre.

In the past, our Presentation Evening has been held for Years 7 to 12, but given the Year 12 students now leave much earlier in Term 4 and have a special service in their honour, we have changed the Presentation Evening to include Years 6 to 11.

We are looking forward to a wonderful evening with dance and music performances on stage from students from across Years 6 to 11. Important awards will be presented on the night, including the Year 6 major awards.

In recognition of the importance of sporting achievement, the sports awards for 2021 will also be presented at The Empire Theatre at 22 November. The Sports Breakfast taking place on Friday 5 November will not have awards presented as they will be presented on 22 November at our Presentation Evening.

Seating at The Empire Theatre must be booked in advance however the ticketing is not yet ready. We will send a notification to all families when it is available.

If you have any questions regarding this, please contact me.

Mrs Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing & Enrolments

$36,000 negotiable

We are selling our 20 passenger seat Toyota Coaster bus which is in great condition and only has 197,830km. This has currently been used as a school bus, with Queensland "School Bus" signage and flashing lights.

All seats have lap belts or standard seat belts. The bus also has an alloy bullbar, tow bar, 12 volt and 24 volt plugs, air conditioning throughout. It has a 6-speed manual gearbox with 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine.

The bus has current Queensland registration with a current inspection certificate and RWC. If you are keen, you could turn this into a camper home or use as is. This has been a very reliable vehicle and we are only selling due to downsizing. Currently advertised on Gumtree.

Please contact Tyrone Lanagan, Operations Manager, on 4688 2700.

On Thursday 11 November the HSC Parent Connect are providing a meal deal for students at the Swimming Carnival and those students at their Campus. Meal Deals will be delivered to the pool at 10.30am, HSC at 10.45am and to WSC at 12.45pm for the longer break.

Orders are through My Student Account and close on Monday 8 November 2021 at 3pm.

Please note: This meal deal will replace Tuckshop in Week 6 for both WSC and HSC

Meal Deal details are below.
Cost: $8.00 with Gluten Free Options available

Option 1 - Wrap, Fruit Salad and Drink Choose from Chicken, Ham or Vegetarian Fruit Salad Drink - choose from Water or Chocolate/Strawberry Milk or Apple/Golden Pash/Orange Popper

Option 2 - Sushi, Fruit Salad and Drink Choose from Chicken Teriyaki or Tuna and Mayo Fruit Salad Drink - choose from Water or Chocolate/Strawberry Milk or Apple/Golden Pash/Orange Popper

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

The much anticipated JC 2021 Year 6 Big Day Out will be held on Wednesday 24 November. Please read the attached which provides you with more details about this excursion. 

Permission Required
Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission for your child to attend this excursion by Thursday 18 November 2021.

• Login to >
• click on Events and Payments >
• click on JC Year 6 Big Day Out 2021 >
• 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 Information and Medical Conditions. 

Should you have any further queries regarding this excursion, please contact your child's teacher.

Schools are busy places, especially at the moment and I know we don’t need to tell you this, as I’m sure you have a tired little person coming home at the end of the day.

Being busy has nearly become a way of life and an indicator of importance. If my calendar is full, then I must be in high demand, however, being busy doesn’t necessarily equate to living a rich and fulfilling life. There can be loneliness amidst a full calendar, a lack of purpose in hectic days and an absence of genuine connection in rushed, incidental conversations.

We are excited to advise that preparations for our Junior College Inter-House Swimming Carnival on Thursday 11 November are well under way.

This year we look forward to parents attending our JC Swimming Carnival. For more details on parents attendance please read the Parent Information Letter below.

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.

As the end of the 2021 School year approaches quickly, I would just like to remind you to assist your children by ensuring that they continue returning all their library books on their designated library day. Week 6 will be the final week of borrowing of books to bring home. Book box borrowing will continue until Week 7. All library books will need to be returned by the end of Week 7 to allow for Stocktaking. Any books that are outstanding will be billed for the replacement cost at the end of term. 

I hope the children all enjoy their last weeks of the term and wish you and your family a safe and joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mrs Karen Maben
Junior College Library Coordinator

Please note: There will be NO tuckshop this week. Instead, there is be a meal deal for all students.

Don’t count the days, make the days count. When we get to this stage of Term 4, we inevitably start to count down the days left in the school year. These last few weeks will go incredibly quickly and are filled with many end of year activities for our students and school community. I encourage everyone to take some time in the busyness of the next three weeks, to slow down and enjoy every moment as we near the end of 2021.

We are excited to advise that preparations for our Junior College Inter-House Swimming Carnival on Thursday 11 November are well under way.

This year we look forward to parents attending our JC Swimming Carnival. For more details on parents attendance please read the Parent Information Letter below.

Please note: There will be NO tuckshop this week. Instead, there is an option to purchase a meal deal through My Student Account for all students to have on Thursday 11 November.

Parents, please find a list of costume requirement for our Christmas Musical, ‘Don't Be Afraid'. Some items of your child’s costume will be provided. Please contact your teacher if you have any difficulties finding the items below:

As the end of the 2021 School year approaches quickly, I would just like to remind you to assist your children by ensuring that they continue returning all their library books on their designated library day. Week 6 will be the final week of borrowing of books to bring home. Book box borrowing will continue until Week 7. All library books will need to be returned by the end of Week 7 to allow for Stocktaking. Any books that are outstanding will be billed for the replacement cost at the end of term.

Please remember to send a maximum of 2 books in with your child on Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 November if they are participating in the Book Swap being held on Tuesday 16 November. They can redeem these books for a token for each book to use at the Book Swap the following week.

I hope the children all enjoy their last weeks of the term and wish you and your family a safe and joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mrs Karen Maben
Junior College Library Coordinator

On Tuesday 23 November, all students from Prep to Year 6 will be involved in the Christmas Musical. Please note the following details:

• Students will need to arrive at 6.30pm and meet in their classrooms.
• The doors to The Shed will open at 6.45pm for families.
• The Musical will commence at 7pm sharp.

Please note that reserved seating will be available for the Year 6 parents and guests at the front. 

Don’t forget to bring your costumes on Thursday 18 November and Monday 22 November for the dress rehearsals.

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.

On Saturday, friends and families of our Year 9 students made the trek to Googa to celebrate the conclusion of their four-week adventure. This cohort of students has made a very positive impression on the Googa team in the way that they conducted themselves, their ability to work through the various challenges and their general willingness to jump in boots and all to the various activities. 

“The Lantana Game” has gained a status all of its own and this group, in pouring rain, took the activity to the next level. Big smiles, twinkles in eyes and lantana scratches will be the subject of many a story in years to come. 

Well done, Year 9, we are so proud of you. We are looking forward to your Coming Home Ceremony on Tuesday as you share with us your journey this year.

Year 11s, not to be outdone by our Year 9s, have also spent time up at Googa this week on their Leadership Camp. Hiking and cycling journeys started the program and interestingly, by request, our Year 11 studens also had “The Lantana Game” slipped into their program. With our Concordia staff of Mr Anton Prinsloo, Mr James Bishop, Mrs Karin McKenzie, Mrs Natalie Houston and Pastor Thomas joining in, fun was certainly the order of the day.

For our Year 12s it is the home stretch with next week being the final week of external exams. We commend them on their effort so far, congratulate those who are finished and wish those who still have exams next week every blessing… nearly there.

This morning, the  'sold out' 2021 Sports Breakfast was held in the Function Centre. This was a superb event and thanks must go to the organisers, Mrs Jana Anderson and Mr Tyrone Lanagan.

Have a great weekend.

Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus

Concordia ŮŮ��Ƶ College has a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program for students in Years 7 to 12.

Under the BYOD program, all students are required to bring their own device for use in all classes. We recommend that if your student (current or starting Year 7 in 2022) requires a new device, to start the process sooner rather than later.

The has been created to explain how the program operates, set out expectations of parents and students and provide information about device minimum specifications. This handbook is available in Parent Lounge (School Links > Stephen Street Campus) and on the College's website.

Last Saturday, ten Concordians walked for the Relay for Life Foundation, fundraising for lifesaving cancer research and patient support services. We would like to thank our Concordia community for their endless support, raising $3415 towards the foundation’s global movement. 

Our Relay for Life team walked eight hours together around Frogs Hollow, Queens Park, honouring and remembering loved ones, cancer survivorship and our global fight back against cancer.

The Year 9 Business class will be running Christmas markets on Wednesday 10 November at lunchtime in the quadrangle. This is the culmination of their Business venture project which commenced last term. Students have designed and made a range of quality, affordable products such as magnets, keyrings, paperweights and coasters. . These items would make excellent Christmas stocking fillers!

Payment will be via MSA only (no cash).

Mrs Karen Rohde
Teacher

Last Wednesday, students in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11 attended several Digital Thumbprint workshops which covered Cyberbullying, Digital Discernment and Digital Identity.

Digital Discernment explored the power students have online to influence both positively and negatively through the choices they make and the way they behave. Through interactive activities, the facilitator highlighted the necessity for using discernment in consuming online media, such as fake news and social media posts; and provided opportunities for students to practice problem solving with each other through dealing with real situations related to social media use and relationships. They also explored the power social media has, to influence society and friends positively for a better world. The main digital citizenship themes encompassed in the workshop were cyber-bullying, cyber-safety, connectedness, reputation, discernment, and privacy. 

Hi there to our Boarding families!

With the end of term fast approaching, our students numbers are getting lower with the Year 12 students signing out for their very last time. After today, we will only have three Year 12 students remaining. Best wishes to all that have left and I hope that you have taken great memories and friendships with you. Remember, if you are in the area, to pop in. I am always good for a cuppa and a cake.

Sports this week have been fantastic. What a great job our PE and Sport departments do in encouraging our students to give it a go. Congratulations to those who have entered a sporting code for the very first time. Feedback is that you have some great skills happening on the field.

Our boys are featured in our photo gallery this week with Myles Wangua, Patrick Malone and Harry Allsop. Outstanding performance guys. Jarharn is proud of his Bulldogs sign he has made and our girls Bella, Daisy and Kasha making craft items. 

Until next week stay safe and look after each other. 

Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent