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Issue 32, 18 September 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   At the end of another school Term, my reflection is about how far we have come as a staff and as a College. I said to our Council earlier this week that the trajectory in areas such as academic progress, enrolment patterns and... Congratulations To Beth Ammenhauser and family on the arrival of daughter Cora Rose last Monday, 9 September.  Need to know! The College Term Dates for 2020 have been published.  ____________________________________________________ College policies and procedures are continuing to be reviewed and updated by Leadership and College Council. Please read these and familiarise yourself with the requirements, as they relate to your role at the College. Copyright Policy     All staff to read and noteCurriculum Policy     Mandatory reading for teachers and teaching... Staff Updates A sincere thank you and farewell to Rina Scott-Wilson (LE Coordinator) and Dan Burrell (SSC Teacher) who are embarking on new career opportunities. Thank you also to Rebecca Higgs (SSC Teacher) who has once again supported the College, this time during Stephen Miegel’s long service leave in the... Important Dates *The full schedule of events and activities for Graduation Week can be accessed here.  Escape for a moment... Whether you are travelling these holidays or relaxing at home, you can take this short journey of the amazing Tree Church and Gardens in New Zealand.  Campus Update Positive feedback continues to be received following the Festival of Learning at HSC on Thursday, 5 September. A huge thank you to all staff for making this event such a success. For those who didn't attend, here is just a snippet of what was experienced throughout the evening. ... Employee Benefits  Lutheran Church, Colleges & Schools of Australia have recently partnered with Bupa, giving you and your family access to their large network of registered healthcare providers across Australia. The Bupa Members First Extras Network is made up of over 1,000 providers helping you pay less for most services... Development Opportunities The QCAA is offering free workshops for teachers of Applied subjects (other than Essential English and Mathematics). These workshops will offer advice and resources that can be used to develop quality teaching, learning and assessment programs.  ____________________________________________________ ISQ Educational Data Course – 7 x online learning modules This... Events This week, 15 - 22 September, is Disability Action Week. “Ian” is an award winning short, animated film inspired by a real-life boy who was born with cerebral palsy and was determined to get to the playground despite his playmates bullying him. This film sets out to show that children... Who was I? Who was educated at Fairholme College from pre-school to Year 12; travelled to 25 countries so far, most recently to the USA in June; unsurprisingly has lost (and found) her passport numerous times; is currently watching "The Last Czar" on Netflix; and is distantly related to the... Who am I?  Born in…Mackay QLD Travelled to…South Africa to watch World Cup Indoor Cricket, New Zealand, cruised and cruised the Pacific Islands Lived and worked at…Jenolan Caves NSW Went to school…next door at HSHS          Collect…beer tap toppers and stickers     Hoard…a bit - Mum calls me Steptoe Embarrassed by…not much... Concordia in the News Makerspace Day Camp (Video) Education in the News Neuroscience and education come together in the classroom to stop Australia's science decline, ABC News Health and Wellness What a term... Wuxi Study Tour Group – Band Sleepover – QCS – Toowoomba Eisteddfod – Excursions for Preps, Year 1, 2, 5 and 6, Drama, Biology, Geography, International Students – Camps for Year 3, Year 11 Leadership and Year 6 – Influenza A - Sporting competitions... ‘Whatever’ Days It is…Hug A Greeting Card Writer Day (that is, if you know one!) Do you want to say it with a verse, a cartoon or a joke? Then there’s bound to be a card to suit the occasion! Hug a Greeting Card Writer Day offers a chance to... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: Participate in, or support, The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride. Held on Sunday, 29 September it aims to raise awareness for prostate cancer and men's mental health. Here is the 7News coverage from last year's event which raised over $15,000.  Thank you for your time! Best wishes for the holiday period. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Please email newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

BOARDING

Boarder Handbook Meet our 2024 Boarding Captains Each year Concordia's boarding community is represented by a Boarding Captain from each boarding house. These young leaders ensure our boarders are represented with high regard within the College community. In 2024, Concordia Boarding is being exceptionally represented by Boarding Captains Kerri Stiller... Discover Learning in Residence at Concordia When Concordia Lutheran College adopted the mantra that, "Learning is at the heart of everything we do," in 2018, we took the opportunity to reimagine our boarding offering and implemented a "Learning in Residence" program for our boarding students. We have created a contemporary... Meet our Boarding Houseparents Our Houseparents oversee each of our boarding houses, making sure our students are supported and cared for while studying away from their families. Mrs Maureen Taurima, our Girls Houseparent, and Mr Andrew Bull, our Boys Houseparent, oversee a dedicated group of staff members who ensure our... Our boarding houses... Temme House - Boys Boarding Giabal House - Girls Boarding Learning in Residence Boarding life at Concordia Lutheran College teaches young people the importance of independence, respect and tolerance. We house a melting pot of students from a diverse mix of cultures, but each year see lifelong friendships made within our successful boarding community. Our Learning in Residence program has... What's to eat? It's a valid question. For many, memories of boarding food in days gone past can conjure up images of less-than-appealing meals. However, at Concordia, students enjoy meals prepared by our professional chefs and kitchen staff. Boarding students receive six meals per day - breakfast, morning tea, lunch,... Boarder Activity Program Our boarding team work hard to make sure our boarding students enjoy a range of activities during their downtime. Examples of activities include ten pin bowling, cinema nights, disco nights, day trips to Sea World and Movie World, shopping trips to Grand Central and camping trips. Here's...

Middle & Senior College

Weekly Madness Our Student Leaders have created a four-week challenge for all students. Each day, they will share motivation ideas, study tips, exercise workouts and other fun activities. Check in each day to see what's happening! Create Don't just be a consumer, be a creator! This is place devoted to helping you make things from the creative arts through to cooking and designing. If you are feeling imaginative and creative, or you are looking to be inspired, this is the place for you. Explore Discover the world from your own home with a range of resources including virtual tours of places around the world and fun games and quizzes to test your Geography knowledge. This is a space that is designed to build your English and HASS knowledge and understanding. Innovate Do you enjoy STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics? You will in this space! The videos, activities and links in this space will make you think! Believe In times such as these, we turn to our faith. Visit this space to find resources such as devotions, virtual assemblies and more. Move It's important that you stay active while you are studying at home - for your mental health as well as your physical health. Our Sports department has collated an array of fun and easy workouts for you to do at home in this section. Study This is a page devoted to sharing with you different ways to enhance your study skills. These are skills that will help you while you are studying from home, but will also be useful when you return to school. We encourage you to look at this time as an... Win A space dedicated to sharing with you competitions for school students that you may wish to enter. If you win a prize, make sure you let us know. Good luck!

Issue 4, 28 March 2018

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the final edition of ‘Heads Up’ for the Term. It is hard to believe that this is only a new publication (4th Edition); however, the feedback is so positive and the contributions are growing in response to your needs. Next Term we... Need to know! As a first point of contact for all emergency/urgent matters that happen on any CLC campus, staff are to please contact: Shane Tessmer, Maintenance Supervisor   0407 582 170 Staff Changes Thank you to Stacey Warrener at HSC who has very ably replaced Allison Busiko who took long service leave in Term 1. Allison is returning next term and we are pleased to have Stacey's continued support as she replaces Margy Heuschele's days as Teacher Librarian at HSC for... Congratulations Paul and Heidi Edwards were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Pearl Laurel Rose Edwards on 21 March. Paul and Heidi thank everyone for their support as they start their family together.  Important Dates The Leadership Team has recently finalised the 2019 Term Dates and Term Planner for your reference and planning. Open Day 2018 Concordia will be holding our annual Open House on Friday 20 April and Open Day on Saturday 21 April from 10am to 2pm. These are our largest enrolment events of the year and are crucial to securing both short term and long term enrolments for the College.... 2018 Influenza Vaccinations This year we will be holding our Flu Vax Clinic on Thursday, 10 May.  If you wish to participate, please complete and submit the consent form by Friday, 20 April and make an $11.00 payment to the Business Office via cash / EFT or through a Payroll deduction.... Escape for a moment... Is there a chance you will be travelling with or near kids these holidays? If not enjoy watching what may (??!!!) be the experience for some of us.   Committee Updates Thank you to the following staff who took the ‘call to action’ and have volunteered as members of the new Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee: Marie Smith, WSCMatt Engler, HSCJohn Mathews, SSCLibby Chapman, Student NurseBarrie Knott, MaintenanceMarg Medill, Business OfficeTyrone Lanagan, CateringPastor Mark BlackwellJim Tamvakis, BoardingSonya Herndon, PA... Technology Over the holidays, IT will be implementing a new email signature for all staff. This will be automatically loaded for you and will provide a consistent branding and image aligned with the College’s style guide. Most excitingly, it will also provide the College with the opportunity to include email... Photography Thanks! Many thanks to everyone across the College who has assisted with the new photography being undertaken by the Marketing team over the past few weeks. Everyone has been incredibly accommodating and supportive and we truly appreciate your assistance. We have been delighted by the amazing results and look... Employee Benefits The College provides up to a 20% remission on tuition fees for permanent staff who have children enrolled as College students. For more information access the College’s Remission of Fees for Staff Policy  Development Opportunities All Australian schools are required to comply with the obligations outlined in the Disability Standards for Education 2005 to ensure that students with a disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as other students. ISQ has developed a Disability Standards for Education online course to... Events Thursday, 29 March 2018 - SSC Staff Association end of term dinner – Fitzys, drinks from 5.00pm – RSVP today to Christine Briskey, Business Office Wednesday, 9 May 2018 – ACEL Annual Dinner on the Downs – hosted by the College and a great opportunity to meet and build... Who am I? Who knows the full and complete lyrics to UB40’s Promises and Lies album; has potentially eaten too many paw-paws in his time; loves giraffes; and who gave up serving the nation to serve a classroom of primary school children instead? Paul Baker, Teacher, WSC This issue’s guess who… Born......I am the same vintage as Kylie Minogue and Hugh Jackman Before pursuing my teaching career, I.......considered becoming a music therapist Most memorable live concert......Billy Joel Raised.....2 amazing sons, both now adults Netflix favourites........The Crown, Suits, The Good Place Recently travelled to.......the place known as "the... Holy Week This coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, heralds the start of the most important week of the year for the billions of Christians spread across the globe. It is a week of mixed emotions, eager anticipation and personal reflection. The week took on even greater significance for me following my... Sharing Learning Engaging and sharing in professional learning is the second effective practice common  in high value-add (HVA) schools as identified by the NSW Government’s Centre for Education Statistics & Evaluation. HVA schools emphasised the need for professional learning to be relevant, shared and sustainable in driving whole-school change. To... Concordia in the News Makerspace Day Camp (The Chronicle)  Makerspace Day Camp (WIN News) Education in the News Should you be using less or fewer? – abc.net.au Feedback Wanted In 2017, the Leadership Team trialled a ‘Buddy System’ where Teachers and Support Staff were partnered with a colleague from a different campus or work area. This was an initiative that grew out of the School Improvement Committee. Teachers were able to meet for part of the Teacher Wellbeing... National ‘whatever’ days It is ‘National Something on a Stick Day’ today. A day where we are apparently all encouraged to put something on a stick. If you’re in the mood for celebration (last day of school today!) here are some ideas to inspire you….  The Bunya Pine  Recommendations:  The Queens Baton is in Toowoomba TODAY! If you aren't keen to attend the formal celebration in the Civic Square, you can line any street if you check the route. The Baton leaves Picnic Point at 3:57pm this afternoon. https://www.gc2018.com/qbr Thank you for scrolling...you have reached the end! Please send contributions and feedback to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au

Issue 11, 8 August 2018

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues, A ‘quiet’ reflection It is strange how life goes around, and this week seems to have presented some times for quiet reflection. I hope and pray that you are also able to find those special times? Of course you think about family and those... Need to know! There is a new Staff Portal on the College website with quick links to Staff Email; TASS; the College Network; the Maintenance and IT Request Form and IT Guides. This is particularly helpful for staff who don’t have College Notebooks but may need to access work resources... Staff Changes Stephen Street Campus As you are aware with Lisa Vongsarath’s unexpected departure Sandy Cox has been doing a wonderful job filling in until a Teacher could be appointed to take Lisa’s place. It is with pleasure that the College welcomes Margaret Battle to the staff for the remainder... Important Dates Escape for a moment... Here are 10 jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago. It is amazing to think what new opportunities will arise for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and students in the next 10 years.  Committee Updates  Education Minister, Grace Grace, has announced all Queensland state schools must offer more uniform choices for girls, including shorts and pants, from 2019. The College’s Uniform Committee were already actively exploring such options and we look forward to an update from this Committee as new choices are trialled... Technology Microsoft Forms is our free and Office 365 integrated alternative to Jot Forms and even Survey Monkey. It includes many of Jot Form’s features and more, with easy sharing and data reviewing. With Microsoft Forms, you can create surveys, quizzes, and polls, and easily see results as they come... Development Opportunities eStorm - DiscoverOffice 365 Workshop Tuesday, 21 August 2018 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm at SSC Function Centre (free) -  this is run by an external provider who is hiring the College's facilities for the presentation. If you wish to attend, please register ASAP as places are limited.... Events A big thank you to Christine Briskey for organising the SSC Staff Association movie night showing ‘The Greatest Showman’. Lots of pizza and popcorn was consumed by those who were able and interested in attending! The SSC Staff Association Committee requires new members. This committee meets approximately once a... Who was I? Who moves a lot, both houses and riding of bikes, has qualifications in hairdressing and Education Support and finds time to travel internationally?  Marteen Paynter, Receptionist, WSC Who am I?  Born…Maryborough, Queensland in December 1962. Raised…with one younger sister and  two older brothers. Met my wife…to be at the age of 12. Of course not knowing this at this stage. I was married…at Bauple Uniting church on 12 September 1981. I listed…into the Army Reserve in August... Sharing Learning - Resilience Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. It is a necessary skill for coping with life’s inevitable obstacles and one of the key ingredients to success. Learning to bounce back and to bounce forward. Examples of challenges some young people may face where resiliency... Concordia in the News For staff who missed the launch of Learning in Residence on the first day of this term, you can read more about it and see a short video from the event. Education in the News Rush to enrol in learning revolution – Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 2018 Edwina Robertson from One Bucket talks about how six and seven year old siblings in Coonabarabran rotate days off school to help with livestock and to minimise labour costs. The dos and don’ts... Here's the Dish Did you know that Taste.com.au is the most popular cooking and recipe resource site within Australia? Within the past 12 months, their most downloaded recipe was for Banana Bread. Slow-cooker pulled pork also trended highly. Are you cooking anything different this week? Here is a new take... Team Updates The PLaN and Learning in Residence Programs are well underway with 3 USQ students engaged across the College supporting literacy and learning. The Stephen Street Campus Library have also welcomed Benita Becker as a work colleague – no longer a student, to complete her practical placement during her... In the Community A Reflection…..Vinnies CEO Sleepout  More than 116,000 Australians experience homelessness every night, and 32 per cent are children. That’s not a reality I’m comfortable with. On Thursday night, 21 June, a group of LEQ leaders spent a long, cold and uncomfortable night sleeping on the concrete. They... National ‘whatever’ days Today, it is Happiness Happens Day. The day was founded in 1999 under the name of “Admit You’re Happy Day” by the Secret Society of Happy People. Happiness Happens Day aims to spread the joy of being happy, and to persuade people to look on the brighter... The Bunya Pine Want: WANT to be in a music video for a country rock band? Eight Second Ride will film its video clip for new single See What Tomorrow Brings at the Spotted Cow on September 1 and need about 100 extras. For more information, contact info.eightsecondride@gmail.com Recommendations: Toowoomba... Thank you for scrolling...you have reached the end! Please send contributions and feedback to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au

Issue 21, 6 March 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   As we head ‘over the hump’ and into the final weeks of Term, there are many matters either taking shape or being attended to in the background. The ‘Strategic Plan’ is now ready for conversation through the staff planning groups, before release to... Need to know! Here are 2 final short videos which provide guidelines for safe social media use aligned with the College’s Staff Code of Conduct and QCT’s Code of Ethics and Professional Boundaries for Teachers. __________________________________________________________________ Do you have oversight over a cost centre or budget? You can review how... Staff Updates Congratulations to Tammy O’Rourke (Junior College Teacher) and her family who welcomed a baby boy last week! Jesse Gibbs is relocating to the coast and has stepped down from his role in Boarding but will continue as a Sports Coach. We are pleased to welcome Taylor Stead as a... Important Dates Visible Learning in Action 2019 has seen the Junior Campuses begun to use the Seesaw App to keep the student’s learning visible for both the students and the parents.   Seesaw is a digital Learning Journal where both students and teachers can upload photos and videos of the student’s work. These... Escape for a moment... It is International Women’s Day this Friday and this year’s theme is #MorePowerfulTogether, emphasising the important role we all play. You can hear from these girls about their cultural experiences and aspirations as women in the future. Committee Updates A big thank you to James Bishop, HOD Technology; Holly Kiehne, SSC Teacher Visual Arts; and Dennis Wolbers, HOD, Science for joining the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee. Click here to access the minutes from last week's meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 20 May at... Technology A fairly new app ‘Houseparty’ is a virtual meeting place for up to eight people to simultaneously video chat. Internet Safe Education, who has delivered presentations to the College community previously, has an informative article about the app and recommendations for students and parents on how to stay safe when... Employee Benefits Are you a member of QIEC Super? You should have received a direct communication from them about their pending merger with NGS Super, due to take place in May of this year. NGS Super is a larger like-minded industry fund specialising in the non-government education sector, and QIEC... Development Opportunities Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) have just launched ‘The School Bell’ podcast about issues of importance to Queensland independent schools. ISQ Director (Strategic Relations) Shari Armistead is joined by educators, researchers and experts to discuss everything from parental choice to innovative practice, wellbeing and student outcomes. To find it... Events - Open Day Many thanks to everyone who contributed towards creating a very exciting and interactive schedule of events for our guests on Saturday, 16 March.  We have already been receiving registrations though our website and anticipate that this will now accelerate in the final two weeks leading up... Who was I? Who is a Queenslander through and through (being born in Mareeba), watches Grey's Anatomy to chill out, and creates and sells artwork when not in the classroom... Allison Busiko, Year 5/6 Teacher, HSC Who am I?  I was born…in Sydney and lived there for 32 years I regret…never getting to see A-Ha in concert when I was in year 6 Marie Kondo is a Netflix favourite and I love thinking about Sparking Joy in life I am ashamed…I have only memorised pi to... Sharing Learning Here is an informative graphic contributed by Bec Hooley, Learning Enrichment at SSC.  To assist you in supporting Learning Enrichment students, all relevant information can now be accessed against the student record in Teacher Kiosk. _______________________________________________________________ Did any staff member manage to solve Karin McKenzie's (HOD, Mathematics) trigonometry puzzle... Concordia in the News New psychology subject at the College, 7 News Toowoomba 2019 “Cooee” International Student Welcome Event, Win News Toowoomba Education in the News 5 Teacher Insights from Long-Term Engagement with Visible Learning, Corwin Connect Scaffolding in a Visible Learning Classroom, Corwin Connect The Australian Computing Academy have launched Schools Cyber Security Challenges which are classroom ready and aligned with both the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies and the ICT Capability.... Feedback  Thank you for your feedback on the buddy groups. This feedback will now be used by the Pastoral Care and Staff Wellbeing Strategic Working Group to inform decisions regarding the program for 2019.   Health and Wellness - Hiding behind technology? From time to time we all encounter situations where we dislike a person’s behaviour and we feel we need to say something, but actually having the conversation is a different story. With the integration of technology into the workplace it is much easier... Team Update Your feedback in February overwhelmingly supported the continuation of the strategic working groups. These groups are: Internal Communication Secondary Academic Pathways Pastoral Care and Staff Wellbeing School Spirit The Leadership team will now be directly discussing the strategic plan and proposed actions with these groups. Thank you to... In the Community Australian law enforcement and emergency services organisations have a fabulous initiative called Uniforms 4 Kids which repurposes donated uniforms which would have otherwise been disposed of into new items of clothing for Australian children. Most clothing is repurposed by volunteers in a shed in Cooroy, and more... ‘Whatever’ Days Why have a day, when you can have a whole week! It is officially Procrastination Week. For those who want to enjoy this week, put that piece of work off until later; however if you’re against the idea of procrastination, then take the time to get that project... The Bunya Pine Recommendations Toowoomba Regional Council Parks Week, 9-17 March Curious Arts Festival, 15-16 March, Empire Theatre Thank you for scrolling...you have reached the end. Please send contributions to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 22, 20 March 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   Thank you once again to everyone involved with last weekend’s Open Day. A great success as I said in my earlier email, and it could not have happened without your commitment and support. Thank you! What educators do ‘makes a difference’ In recent... Need to know! With several new staff to the College, it is important to familiarise ourselves with the College lockdown procedures, and particularly the music that will play in such a scenario. Click here to listen to the College song music and remember the CLOSE procedure: Close all outer blinds and... ____________________________________________________ College policies and procedures are continuing to be reviewed and updated by Leadership and College Council. Please read these and familiarise yourself with the requirements, as they relate to your role at the College. Privacy PolicyUpdated to align with new data breach legislation Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs Policy  ... Congratulations Congratulations to Sonya Holden who has achieved her Graduate Diploma of Education (Guidance and Counselling) this past week. Sonya is continuing her study next year with only 3 subjects remaining to achieve her Masters. Well done!   Staff Updates The Boarding Team has welcomed Taylor Stead this week, a USQ Bachelor of Education student and Game Development Officer with the NRL. The College is still seeking a Girls Boarding Residential Tutor. If you know of anyone who values free accommodation and food in return for 15 hours... Important Dates Open Day Update Many thanks to everyone who assisted with Concordia’s 2019 Open Day. The day was held earlier than in previous years due to the public holidays in Term 2 and other scheduled events, so it was great to see everyone come together to produce such a high quality... Visible Learning in Action - The SOLO Taxonomy in English I’m sure it takes more effort to create an abstruse label for a taxonomy like the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (which fortunately has the less cumbersome acronym of SOLO) than it would to simply call it, say …... Escape for a moment... April Fools Day is not far away and in recent years it has become known as the ‘Don’t be a fool, change your smoke alarm batteries day’. If you are the prankster type, enjoy this video, touted to be the greatest classroom prank ever. Technology Throughout many areas of the College, we are increasingly engaging with Microsoft Teams which provides a place to create and make decisions as a team, bringing everything together in a shared workspace where you can chat, meet, share files, and work collaboratively. Microsoft has several MS Teams training videos... Development Opportunities Darling Downs School Sport is providing FREE coaching courses (Cricket, AFL, Rugby League, Track and Field) on Saturday, 30 March at Harristown High School from 8.30am. Registrations close Friday, 22 March 2019 and places are limited.  Events The SSC Staff Association extends an invitation to all College staff and partners for a trivia night on Friday, 5 April (last day of term) from 6.30pm with trivia to commence from 7.00pm. The event will be held in the SSC Library and food platters and prizes will be... Who was I? Who previously lived in Sydney for 32 years, regrets not seeing A-ha in concert in Year 6,  is told that she isn't a good singer or dancer (but does it anyway!) and is "ashamed" to have only memorised pi to 2 decimal places... Carissa Jaworska, Teacher and... Who am I?  Born…in Toowoomba and lived here all my life  I remember…going to Willow Springs Adventure Park (where Springs Garden stands today) for EVERY school breakup where I learned to skate very badly!   I am…a scientist at heart and graduated from DDIAE (now known as USQ) and worked in... Sharing Learning Source: Adam Grant, Organisational Psychologist Education in the News Hearing Week 2019: $4 million rollout of fun and free hearing test for school children, Australian Government The latest ABS Schools Australia 2018 data shows Qld independent schools experienced their largest annual growth rate in 5 years. In a media statement ISQ's Executive Director, David Robertson said... Health and Wellness - Save time to make time The team at AccessEAP have been gradually putting together a list of some ways to save time in our everyday lives. Not all will suit everyone but you may find one or two that can make a difference. 1. Don’t procrastinate... Team Update Following feedback from the School Spirit Strategic Working Group and to improve collegiality and build house spirit, all staff have now been allocated to a school house - that is Kessler, Stedman or Altus. Thank you to Col Anderton for undertaking this unenviable task. If you forget which... In the Community Did you know that 1 in 3 people will need blood in their lifetime?  Or that giving blood takes just 1 hour and your donation will help save 3 lives? To help meet constant patient demand for blood and blood products, Toowoomba Donor Centre needs to collect... ‘Whatever’ Days Once upon a time, a long time ago (well, actually, back in 1991 in Sweden), a Storytelling Day was held. The ethos behind this event caught on around the globe, and now people celebrate World Storytelling Day on an international level. The aim of World Storytelling Day is... The Bunya Pine Recommendations:  SSC Italian Food Day, Friday 29 March _________________________________________________________________ Are you paying local water access fees? The Toowoomba dams combined total is reaching a critical level (despite last week's rain) and the Toowoomba Regional Council may commence pumping water from Wivenhoe Dam. Here is a short video... Thank you for scrolling...you have reached the end. Please send contributions to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 24, 1 May 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   Welcome to the opening days of a new school Term. Thank you to the staff members who worked through the mid semester break, and thank you to those who ushered students on overseas tours, supported students in the many activities that occurred over... Need to know! An external provider will be delivering training for Fire Wardens on Monday, 24 June. Training will occur on individual campuses. If you are a support staff member AND a fire warden, please note that this training is in the first week of the school holidays. Please contact... ____________________________________________________ College policies and procedures are continuing to be reviewed and updated by Leadership and College Council. Please read these and familiarise yourself with the requirements, as they relate to your role at the College. Anti-Discrimination Policy        No significant changesChild Protection Policy        No significant... Congratulations Isaac Heuschele (HSC) and Jess Kropp (SSC) have completed the accreditation processes to serve as teachers in Lutheran Schools. The LEA ‘Pathways’ and ‘Equip’ accreditation programs are being reinvigorated and will be released later this year under a new banner. We will keep you informed as to how this... Staff Updates In addition to announcements at the end of last term, we welcome Kate Jones to SSC as a HPE Teacher; we have Stacey Warrener from HSC at WSC full-time this term replacing Marie Smith on leave; and Denis Sutton has returned to the College as a bus driver... Important Dates Escape for a moment... Late April has finally brought a change of seasons, and with that, the increased prevalence and risk of colds and flu. Double-dipping is more risky than invoking the five-second rule says one expert, however I’m sure there are many ‘George’s amongst us… Technology Internet Safe Education, who the College has engaged in the past to deliver presentations to students, parents and staff, have recently released a Dark Web Handbook. It has been written by the company founder, Brett Lee, who is a former undercover internet detective and police officer of 22 years,... Employee Benefits A reminder to QIEC super members that the fund is merging with NGS Super on 6 May. The Business Office are effecting many administrative changes to support this merge and affected employees should have received information directly from QIEC.  If you have any questions, please contact 1300 360 507 or info@qiec.com.au Development Opportunities How can we make life better for young people? You may have heard of the ABC Heywire Program. 50 young people from across Australia are invited each year to discuss this question and from it, seven ideas are selected as most likely to spark a positive change. Community... Events The 27th Annual Mayoral Prayer Breakfast is on Tuesday 14 May 2019.  All staff are welcome to attend and payment can be made to the Business Office. RSVPs to Sonya Herndon close TODAY.  Who am I?  I was born...in Toowoomba I went to University in...Vienna, Austria I have competed in...Eventing at a National level I am currently completing...my Masters in Education (full time, because I’m crazy!) I love watching...my AFL team the mighty Geelong Cats I have memorised...most of Eminems songs Sharing Learning - LEQ Connect & Collaborate Dear Leaders of Learning, Greetings and welcome to this new initiative to connect and collaborate with educators across our network of 26 Lutheran schools in Queensland. In support of ongoing improvement in learning outcomes for students, we have a valuable opportunity to support... Concordia in the News A bit of self-promotion…if you haven’t already, check out the College’s promotional video for Googa and the benefits of this unique experience fostering personal, spiritual and social development for Year 9 students.  Education in the News Do our students need to be more mentally tough? – school-news.com.au (contributed by Jason Smith) Feedback The Concordia Lutheran College Strategic Plan is complete and is being released to the wider community through various platforms. At this stage last year we had just received feedback from parents and the community, and since that time input from staff and general data has been considered by the... Health and Wellness As we return to a new term, we review to-do lists, calendar events, planning and activities and it can seem overwhelming even before it has started. Resilience is the process of adapting whilst facing any source of stress, tragedy or adversity. It is not a trait people are born... ‘Whatever’ Days To give you sufficient time to prepare, this FRIDAY, is National Two Different Coloured Shoes Day.  This day was created by Dr. Arlene Kaiser to recognise and celebrate human diversity. According to Kaiser, “The simple act of wearing two different coloured shoes proclaims your individuality. By taking this... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: Need a massage? Students at Demi International are looking for people to practise remedial massage for their training. Leigh Hassall is looking for clients on Mondays and Tuesdays. The cost is just $15. To find out more, call Demi International on 4642 5132. Thank you for scrolling and reading...you have reached the end. Contributions are gratefully received at newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 25, 15 May 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   National Boarding Week I start this article by welcoming you to ‘National Boarding Week’. Thank you to all who work in and around Boarding for your commitment and effort to the four pillars of Boarding i.e. pastoral, academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular. Boarding is... Need to know! Lutheran schools seek to ensure that each member of the school community enjoys a positive, safe, healthy and respectful place of learning. To meet this expectation staff and volunteers of schools of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) are obliged to meet the requirements of the ‘LCA... Congratulations What an experience yesterday afternoon at the quarterly Staff Wellbeing Forum! Matt Cramb (Class of 2017) and contestant on the hugely popular 'Lego Masters' program shared his learnings (and recording secrets) from his time on the show and acted as chief 'Brickman' setting the challenge for staff teams to... The 'Golden Brick' was held aloft as the judging commenced and the story telling to support the build (or lack thereof) became more creative as the judging ensued. In the end, the addition of a 'hammock' was highlighted by Matt as 'very cool' and the winning team was:  Sadly, we couldn't include... Important Dates Visible Learning in Action  See how this teacher demonstrates her application of SOLO taxonomy and hear from her students sharing their feedback on the benefits of this collaborative learning culture.  Escape for a moment... If you were able to attend yesterday afternoon's staff wellbeing forum and experience the LEGO challenge set by Matt Cramb, you may now want to take LEGO to a whole other level...  https://www.everblocksystems.com/ Strategic Working Groups Thank you for your feedback and interest in continuing the Strategic Working groups.  The groups will be moving forward with the specific purpose of developing an action plan in line with the Strategic Plan for the College.  The Chair of each group will be in contact with... Technology Daniel and Mitch have over 20 ‘How To’ guides available from Links on Teacher Kiosk. If you need to know how to do something, this is a great place to start, otherwise please lodge an IT Request. Aquatic Centre Use The Aquatic Centre is now fully functional and ready for use. TJs Swim have resumed their business operations and lanes will also be available for staff use, providing adequate supervision is available based on legislative requirements.  If you have a Bronze Medallion qualification, which is specific to water safety,... Events There was a renewed sense of enthusiasm and participation by staff at the Track and Field Carnivals last week. The competition at times looked fierce and the final winners  were: KESSLER in the Junior College Watch this space for the Middle / Senior College as there are still a few... ___________________________________________________________________ The Martin Luther OSHC is hosting a fundraising sausage sizzle and bake sale on Saturday at the Hume Street Campus with all proceeds going towards the purchase of new and updated resources. If you are yet to vote, please consider voting at the campus and supporting the OSHC.  Who was I? Who was born in Toowoomba; managed to escape to Vienna, Austria for University; was a national competitor in eventing; has memorised most of Eminems songs; and is currently studying a Masters of Education full-time... Amy McCabe, Houseparent - Girls Boarding Who am I?  I grew up...in Brisbane and worked in my Grandfather’s plant nursery My most favourite TV show as a child was...Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I respect...older generations with stories to tell In my spare time...I work on and drive one of my two classic cars I hoard...antique objects... Sharing Learning This short video from Corwin reinforces the message of 'Parents as Partners'.  Please continue to use Teacher Kiosk for electronic communication with parents as it ensures you are always using up to date email addresses, and records are automatically maintained for you and your colleagues.  Concordia in the News Preparations for College Musical: Bugsy Malone, Channel 7 Toowoomba Education in the News ABC iview have created a special ‘You Can’t Ask That In The Classroom’ series, tailored for a younger audience.  Health and Wellness Knowing your character strengths isn’t just interesting information. When skillfully applied, they can actually have a significant positive impact on your life. Take a free strengths test here. The concepts of positive psychology can have many benefits in the workplace. Check out our Case Study where Eleni van Delft... Team Update There are currently 2 very busy project teams implementing TASS functionality. At SSC, we have James Bishop leading the development and configuration of the Year 11 LMS Assessment and Reporting Framework, in conjunction with Karen Watson. This has been a significant undertaking to facilitate the change to senior syllabuses... Thank you! This week is National Boarding Week. Did you know that of the 27 founding students of the College 23 were boarders? Day students of course now significantly outnumber boarding students; however we would not be here today without this foundation in boarding and the continued leadership and hard... In the Community It is National Volunteer Week next week - 20-26 May. The focus of this year's event is 'making a world of difference' and celebrating 30 years of this national event.  Access the Australian Go Volunteer register to find an opportunity to suit you! ‘Whatever’ Days Today is Numeracy Day and being better with numbers is not a special talent, but something we can all learn. This song that by its own admission ‘goes on and on’ may just assist you… Thank you for scrolling and reading...you have reached the end. Contributions are gratefully received at newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 26, 29 May 2019

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   Professional boundaries for all staff All Principals are asked questions relating to boundaries between staff and students, and now it is becoming more common to be asked questions relating to the boundaries between staff and parents. Where are the professional boundaries around relationships... Need to know! The way you get your payment summary is changing - this year, the Federal Government required employers to start reporting pay, tax and super information direct to them each payday, so employees can find all their information in one place when they need it. The Business Office... Important Dates _____________________________________________ Feedback that Makes Learning Visible Outline Escape for a moment... It was difficult to escape the election night counting, however if you did watch the ABC coverage you may enjoy seeing 2 of the panel members in a very different light… TASS Update The TASS program continues to improve in functionality and representatives from 119 schools recently met to receive further information on future enhancements. The TASS user base is very broad from small to large schools, including Brisbane Girls Grammar, St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, Knox Grammar in Sydney, and... Technology We have had a big influx of write off devices and lost files recently amongst both students and staff so please use your OneDrive and encourage this with all students (note: Mitch and Daniel don’t cope well with tears!). The main features of OneDrive include: Direct Sync – Meaning... Lutheran Super Katie Lightfoot from Lutheran Super is visiting all 3 campuses on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Some questions you might like to consider: Am I making the most of my super by contributing extra and saving tax through Salary Sacrifice? What are my Insurance needs and am I... Development Opportunities The new ISQ The School Bell podcast series continues to gain momentum with Drone technology expert and Dr Catherine Ball discussing the role of independent schools in fostering innovation and creativity using drone technologies in the latest issue. Events Over 800 tickets have already been sold for the College’s 4 performances of Bugsy Malone. Great seats are currently available on opening night and you can book tickets online or to avoid the new $5 booking fee, book in person at the Box Office. Click here to view the 2... Who was I? Who amongst us had to start today with a coffee; watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a child; worked in his grandfather's plant nursery growing up; now works on and drives two classic cars; hoards antique objects in a 'man cave'; and was possibly indulging in a... Who am I?  Born in…Adelaide Regret…not trying harder at school Have met…The Ten Tenors Can’t…dance Collect…scarves Indulge in…chocolate Won’t…eat snails Have lost…my keys Have found…my keys Netflix favourite…Suits In my spare time…I love to cook Sharing Learning - Youth Mental Health First Aid Myself, Roz Cook, Carissa Jaworska and Amaris Lancaster from boarding attended 2 days of Youth Mental Health First Aid training recently. The training was facilitated by Darling Downs Health Service and funded by the Public Health Network. The Youth Mental Health First... Concordia in the News Thinking outside box meant perfect venue - Concordia's Function Centre; Toowoomba Chronicle Health and Wellness Wow, what a fortnight it has been with the first cases of influenza this year. Thank you once again to all staff for your considerable efforts in controlling the infection. As we roll into the last weeks of this term, please be vigilant with hand hygiene and... ‘Whatever’ Days 1 in 2 Australians are now diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85. Please consider hosting a biggest morning tea or make a donation to make a difference to those impacted by cancer. Thank you for scrolling and reading...you have reached the end. Contributions are gratefully received at newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 38, 19 February 2020

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   2019 Non-Government Schools Census Post Enumeration Exercise Basically, this is a long title to explain the fact that we are scheduled to be involved in an NCCD audit in 2020. It is a normal part of the process and it will primarily involve... Need to know! All College community members, including staff and parents are reminded that the College has established procedures for handling grievances and complaints, both by staff and parents/community members. Allison Busiko (HSC Teacher), Marie Smith (WSC Teacher) and Karen Rohde (SSC Teacher) are the College’s trained Contact Officers and can support you with these processes... ____________________________________________________ The following College policy has been updated. Please read and familiarise yourself with the requirements, as they relate to your role at the College. Purchasing Policy Important Dates Visible Learning in Action  Escape for a moment... Toowoomba has recorded over 183 millimetres of rain since the start of February. Watch the extraordinary power, beauty and life giving properties of water in this clip from 2018 which captured one of Australia’s great natural events – floodwaters that travelled over 1,000 kilometres down the Diamantina-Warburton... TASS hints & tips The order of Teacher Kiosk menu options on the left hand side can be changed (except for ‘My Timetable’ and ‘My Saved Lists’). To change the order on your Teacher Kiosk home page, click on the menu name and drag it up or down. _________________________________________ Do... Employee Benefits  As employees of Lutheran Education Queensland, we are able to access an increased employer superannuation contribution beyond the government mandated 9.5%. If we make a co-payment as per the schedule below, the College will increase their contribution, which in turn, can deliver a substantial benefit to superannuation savings.... Your views matter - Staff Pulse Thank you to the large number of people who completed the first Staff Pulse last week. As aptly named, this survey is short and sharp - 10 questions chosen at random; and gives you a further platform to provide feedback. Here is a snippet... Who was I? Who grew up watching Rainbow Brite; has met Prince William, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh; memorised "A Bush Christening" by AB Banjo Paterson; lived in Ballina, Augathella, Cunnamulla, Dulacca, Roma, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Brisbane, Isis River, Hervey Bay; has travelled to Thailand, England, France, United... Who am I?  Plan to…become a teacher Am related to…a former staff member Went to school at…Churchie Netflix favourite…The Ozarks Embarrassed by…public speaking Inspired by…my dad Obsessed with…sport of any kind Endured…working on building sites Lived with…many different people Most favourite TV show as a child…Biker Mice from Mars Teaching & Learning Classroom layout - what does the research say? What effect do different classroom seating arrangements have on student participation? What does your learning space reveal about your teaching philosophy? Should teachers or students decide who sits where? Learning spaces come in all shapes and sizes, from rectangular... Concordia in the News It’s generally considered inappropriate to share what a colleague may be doing on Valentine’s Day, however we can confirm that Hayley Sugars, Junior College Music Teacher was performing an intimate recital of songs in the Opera Queensland Studio. Congratulations Hayley!  _____________________________________________ Bianca Coleborn, Director of Marketing and... Education in the News Independent sector surging with 14,000 new enrolments, Education HQ Team Updates - BeYou Term 1’s Staff Wellbeing Forum yesterday afternoon included completion of the BeYou Educator Survey. BeYou is a national initiative for educators aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people and replaces both KidsMatters and MindMatters. The College’s commitment to the BeYou... Feedback With Concordia’s 75th anniversary taking place next year, we would like to re-engage with our Old Scholars network by sharing brief profiles of our past students through our Old Scholars Facebook page. Please find below a link to a quick questionnaire that we would like Old Scholars to complete.... Health and Wellness  Did you know we have 60,000 thoughts a day, and these are usually the same 60,000 thoughts we had the day before and the same before that. You see, our thoughts are not passive words that just roll through our head, they are powerful waves that direct... Thank you! Thank you to the many staff who helped facilitate the temporary isolation of 3 boarding students following their arrival in Australia at the start of term. The College still has one student in China who is yet to arrive in Australia. While scientists around the world are working... In the Community The Queensland Government’s Healthier Happier website has a multitude of resources to improve physical and mental wellbeing. One of the relatively unknown resources available for us all is the free Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service. You get up to 10 free coaching calls with a qualified... ‘Whatever’ Days It is international Tug of War Day today! One of the simplest of sports, dating back to ownership disputes over food and clothing, the history disappears into legend with the Sun and Moon wrestling over light and darkness. Most cultures have references to competitions of strength that involve pulling... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: World Science Festival Brisbane, March 2020                 Toowoomba Events ________________________________________________ Learn to paint your pet, UQ Gatton, Friday 28 February 6.30pm To attempt to reduce emails, if you have non-urgent messages or communications to staff groups, please email them to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au for inclusion in Heads Up. 

Issue 46, 22 July 2020

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   Welcome to the new school Semester and another season of ‘Heads Up’. It was a relief to have a break from what was an exhausting first Semester and it is my prayer that we can settle into a steady pattern that will take... Need to know! Each year in Semester 2, we issue a short survey which supports the planning process for the next school year. 2021 budget preparation has already commenced, and the first version of the 2021 SSC timetable will be generated in early August. All staff are asked to please... Staff Updates This term we welcome back Glenda Challenor from a period of leave; and we welcome 3 new colleagues: Meg Goodman, Teacher at SSC; Simon Isakka, Cleaner at HSC; and Suresh Risal Sunar, Cleaner at SSC. We are also pleased to announce that after a very challenging few months,... Important Dates Support Sought  A reminder that Sonya Holden, SSC Teacher will shortly commence her final research project for her Masters of Education (Guidance and Counselling) and is seeking the support of teachers. I would genuinely appreciate the support of colleagues from any year level to share their experiences of supporting students... Visible Learning in Action Brains That Do the Work Do the Learning: A Story of Two Classrooms, Corwin Connect Adapted introduction: Eddie settled in with his back to the wall in his usual student desk in a classroom where time seemed to move sluggishly. This teacher had always seemed pleasant... Escape for a moment... Don’t underestimate the importance of the food that we choose to eat…Horticulture Australia is encouraging us to choose The Good Mood Food Development Opportunities Click HERE to read more about the speakers and register for this FREE exceptional professional development opportunity. Technology A reminder that the College has introduced a new visitor management system that replaces paper based sign in processes at all campuses, for both visitors and staff. Importantly, if you have any member of the public coming to visit you, including parents, it is mandatory that they register their... Committee Updates The Chair of the College’s BeYou Committee, Sonia Siebenhausen, Student Counsellor, will join with committee members to further introduce BeYou and specifically, the results of the survey completed in Term 1 in the coming weeks during Staff Forums. Be You, and Beyond Blue Board Director Johanna Griggs, has... Who was I? Which colleague is related to Author Terry Hayes (Screenwriter for Mad Max 2/ Thunderdome); has served meals to Pauline Hanson and Shane Jacobsen (Kenny); met Ben Harper (musician) and Alastair McLeod (Chef); enjoys seeing live bands, including Violent Soho, Ben Harper and Blind Boys of Alabama, Flight... Who am I?  Built…a mini home from a shipping container and lived in it for two years Been awarded…full academic scholarship to university in the USA Had dinner with…Broncos coach Wayne Bennett Aspire to be…a chartered accountant Last read…The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris Most recent foreign city experience…watching... Library Update Term 3 is shaping up to be very exciting in our three libraries!  MS read-a -thon: Starts on August 1. Parents are responsible for signing students up to participate via the website. Keep an eye out for details via email/notices or see library staff for details.   House... Employee Benefits All full-time and part-time staff can now access salary packaging services via Paywise as well as Remserv. Concordia staff can salary package day-to-day Living Expenses (e.g. Mortgage, Rent, Credit Card account, etc. >$70,000 income – can save between $42 to $190 per month).  Following are the current car... Staff in the News Gabe Robbie, HOD of HASS is the star new AFL recruit for the South Toowoomba Bombers, receiving well deserved accolades in both the Toowoomba Chronicle and Win Facebook page for his 9 goal contribution in the season opener.  It was announced yesterday that 33 AFL matches... Education in the News Teaching Students How to Solicit Feedback, Corwin Connect Let’s continue our journey to developing assessment-capable, visible learners. At this point, students know what they are supposed to be learning, what success looks like, how they can monitor their progress, how to take on the challenge of learning, and how to select tools... Health and wellness As the Covid situation in Victoria escalates, finding and maintaining your own sense of personal control is important. COVID-19 has understandably created heightened levels of anxiety, stress and fear in our community, which can impact on mental health. Access EAP has this information sheet for you, and... ‘Whatever’ Days There are only 9 days left in this month to contribute to Plastic Free July – a global movement, that started in Australia, helping millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Welcome to a new term of Heads Up. All content is welcome including shameless plugs and recommendations by emailing  newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 47, 5 August 2020

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   The future is something to behold! I am currently reading a new publication by futurist Michael McQueen entitled 'Teaching for Tomorrow', and it struck me that there was no better time than now to think about and plan a new and more engaging... It's okay to be sick - it's not okay to be sick at work The hand sanitiser dispensers, disinfectant spray bottles, paper towel and posters that were so prominent when they were first introduced have now become normal on our noticeboards, tables and desks. Whilst Queensland cases are limited, it... Need to know! A reminder that child protection is everyone’s responsibility and in particular, staff have mandatory reporting obligations. All staff are asked to please read and familiarise themselves with the College’s Child Protection Policy and the specific reporting obligations. The Queensland Department of Child Safety has an online tool... ____________________________________________________ The following College procedures have been updated. Please read and familiarise yourself with the requirements. Emergency Response and Risk Management Plan COVID-19 Paywise Campus Visits Glen Thurbon, Paywise Manager QLD will be available on Tuesday, 11 August and Wednesday, 12 August to deliver information sessions and conduct individual appointments. Please contact Glen on email  glen.thurbon@paywise.com.au or phone 0456097481 to book. A reminder that through Paywise, you can salary package day-to-day Living Expenses... Escape for a moment... In 1974, an ABC reporter asked people in the street how would they know what the weather was going to be if meteorologists went on strike. We could ponder that same question if the BOM or Weatherzone apps stopped working. The answers are surprising... Development Opportunities AITSL continues to release an extensive range of resources through their Teacher Resource Hub. Professor John Hattie extends an invitation to all teachers to use this hub and join the AITSL Facebook group.   ______________________________________ All Queensland Safe Work Month events will be virtual and free to attend... Technology TASS continues to proactively engage with their customer base and enhance their suite of features. A further significant update is planned for the September school holidays and some of the possible additions include: The Business Office is actively testing submission of leave applications through the Payroll/HR menu in Teacher... Concordia Virtual - Our Online Open Day You probably already know that the Virtual Open Day is a big thing in the educational landscape right now. With COVID-19, most schools and universities have “pivoted” and created an online space in lieu of an Open Day this year. We are also... Feedback The Staff Pulse survey through TES for Schools will continue periodically as an additional avenue and tool for you to provide feedback. The administration of this survey through an external portal provides full confidentiality, however this feature does limit the capacity at times to make meaningful change for individual... Who was I? Who has built a mini home from a shipping container and lived in it for two years; been awarded a full academic scholarship to university in the USA; has enjoyed sharing a meal with Broncos coach Wayne Bennett; aspires to be a chartered accountant; last read The... Who am I?  Born…in Toowoomba Have travelled to…UK/France/Italy and Switzerland Can't stand…coriander Blessed…to married 30 years this year Have stood face to face with…Michael Caine Want to live…in UK or Switzerland for a year Serve…as chairman and vice chairman of my church and parish Ran…my own business and employed 5... Employee Benefits The Lutheran Education Queensland Enteprise Agreement enables staff to access an increased employer superannuation contribution beyond the government mandated 9.5%. If we make a co-payment as per the schedule below, the College will increase their contribution, which in turn, can deliver a substantial benefit to superannuation savings. Employee... Concordia in the News Thank you to John Trappett, Karin McKenzie and Adrian, along with current parent Eakraj Adhikari, who shared their experiences, challenges, unexpected surprises and learnings from the period of online learning in a recent webinar hosted by ISQ, the Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network and Griffith University.... Education in the News AITSL has released a survey, via the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) to understand the workforce trends that impact teaching and schools nationally. The survey takes no longer than 10 minutes to complete and is voluntary. The work experiences of every teacher and principal in Queensland... Health and wellness Professor Caroline Mansfield from the University of Notre Dame Australia is interviewed in this 6 minute video reflecting on personal wellbeing and resilience. An insight with practical strategies for all staff members, given the ongoing uncertainty of the external environment. _____________________________________________ And, for those who value activity... ‘Whatever’ Days On this day…. In 1100, Henry I was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey In 1772, Russia, Prussia and Austria signed a treaty creating the First Partition of Poland, depriving that country of approximately half of its population and almost one-third of its land In 1966, the... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: Healthy multicultural recipes from the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland  This is the foremost medium for internal communication across all campuses. Please send your contribution to newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au 

Issue 53, 26 November 2020

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues,   Staffing update It is with great sadness that I let you know that several roles across the College will not be ongoing in 2021. As a result, Ms Judy Burgis, Mrs Delmae Clanchy, and Mrs Kate August will be leaving us at the... Need to know! The SSC Daily Structure has changed for 2021. Click here to view. This is also on Teacher Kiosk>Links>Teaching & Learning. _____________________________________ The Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) have informed us of some changes to the Queensland Criminal Code to provide greater protection for children against sexual abuse.... Congratulations Congratulations to Ross McKeown, Boys Boarding Houseparent, who has been awarded ‘Accredited Boarding Practitioner’ by the Australian Boarding Schools Association. And thank you to our cohort of Boarding Residential Tutors. This team support our students with their assessments and exam preparation in the evenings, only to return to their... Important Dates *The plan for the Staff Professional Development Days in January will be emailed separately to this newsletter.  2021 College Term Dates Workplace Health Safety & Wellbeing Committee An external company, the Hendry Group, has been engaged to review Emergency Planning procedures across all three campuses.  New Chief Wardens have been appointed and have been invited to a specific training session during the January PD days. All other staff will also be... Development Opportunities The QCAA is presenting a series of free webinars across the PD days in January, as well as Monday, 25 January. Before you register, please do wait for the release of the College’s plan for these PD days. Where possible, we will attempt to work around some of... Escape for a moment... There’s no excuse to not get your groove on this Christmas… Get to know your AccessMyEAP app It's new and released for free download via Google Play and theApp Store. We’re making it easy for you to access your own EAP and wellbeing services with our intuitive and dynamic app. Put yourself in control of your mental health and wellbeing. Make a booking to... Events Chriss Briskey, Chair of the SSC Staff Association has provided the below photos from the end of year function at the Meringandan Pub, as well as photos of just some of the gifts that the staff association have provided this year to staff who have been unwell, had a... Thank you! International Men’s Day was recognised on Thursday, 19 November. To the men (and boys) in the College community, you are valued. SSC Library Book Cull You may have noticed that there are piles of books being pulled off the shelves in the SSC library. I admit, it is very distressing to see a sea of books earmarked for donation and disposal, but it is a very important aspect of maintaining our... Employee Benefits Paywise has an opportunity for you to win free fuel for a year in their Christmas Competition Following are the current salary packaged car specials:  Car specials There are many misunderstandings about car salary packaging, here common myths are reviewed - Car myth busters Independent school staff can... Education in the News Student behaviour issues have dropped ‘dramatically’ at this primary school – here’s how they did it, ABC News It’s Pick of the Crop for Bowen as part of $1.7M Healthy Kids Pilot with Schools Finnish Way of Learning Session with Finnish Teachers and Lutheran EducatorsFinnish Way... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: The USQ Summer McGregor Arts and Music Retreats have some spaces remaining if you are wanting to invest in creative pursuits over this holiday period. __________________________________________________ Toowoomba Regional Council, The Home Project: Shadow Puppet Stories __________________________________________________ Geocaching – spend time in the outdoors this holiday period... Thank you for your support of this publication, and your content contributions. Best wishes for the holiday period. 

Issue 61, 26 May 2021

Head of College Update Dear Colleagues, A lot of words and messages have ‘gone under the bridge’ (so to speak) since this staff publication began in 2018. Communication continues to be of the utmost importance, and Heads Up has been just one way of sharing many ideas and thoughts with... Need to know! The Uniform and Bookshop opening hours on a Friday have changed to provide working parents with greater flexibility. Hours on a Friday will now be from 7.30am – 10.30am. Important Dates Team Update The Emergency Control Team at each campus recently participated in an exercise to practice their response to an emergency scenario. With the support of the Hendry Group, who delivered training to all staff in January, the College now has a full suite of emergency procedures including full and... Thank you! Thank you to all our boarding staff for the additional events and activities that you led last week. The Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) has been promoting many events across Australia connected with National Boarding Week and have created the below video which highlights the benefit of boarding... Health Update I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan and as we like to say...winter is coming! Fortunately, unlike the show, we do not have to fight off zombies. However we do have to ward off the winter colds, flu and now COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness... Feedback All support staff have been invited to engage in a workshop and provide feedback to guide the development of a performance and development program for non-teaching roles at the College. The intended outcome of the program will be the professional growth of staff, which will in turn support the... Escape for a moment... We all wear different hats as the need arises, but who is the 'hat' behind cartoon and movie characters? Here is The Rock as ‘Maui’ from Moana. Development Opportunities AITSL has curated top leadership videos and guide to help you boost your leadership skills. Being a great leader requires a constant focus on self-improvement and professional growth. AITSL's resources for school leaders provide real-world takeaways to use in your professional setting. Reconciliation Week 2021 National Reconciliation Week commences tomorrow, Thursday, 27 May and the theme for 2021 is: More than a word. Reconciliation takes action. The goal of the reconciliation movement is for a just, equitable and reconciled country. This will only be achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,... #CUPRESCUE The College has joined the #CUPRESCUE Schools Program with 7-Eleven Rangeville. Over 1 billion cups end up in landfill each year because they’re lined with plastic and need to be processed separately to be recycled. Together with Simply Cups, 7-Eleven is leading the cup recycling revolution in Australia so... Employee Benefits The current superannuation guarantee (SG) of 9.5% has been in place for several years. Effective 1 July 2021 the Australian Government has confirmed an increase to 10.00% and further increases in the following financial years. The Business Office is planning for this change and the new percentage will... Who was I? Who was born in Charleville; watched Skippy and Astro Boy as a child; won't ever ride a roller coaster as she is afraid of heights; has met the American band Davisson Brothers; likes to go camping and fishing with the family; loves playing touch football; and is... Who am I? Born…in a beautiful, peaceful city as a child, however the same city is now ranked among the global top 20, of the most dangerous cities with the highest rates of crime and violence. Can’t believe…I owned and carried daily, a 9x19mm Belgium Browning Hi Power gun to... Education in the News The Science of Blended Learning – a research-practice partnership, Teacher Magazine Three Strategies to Encourage Single-Tasking, Corwin Connect New legislation supports greater teacher workforce mobility, ISQ How teachers are helping to design an online network for formative assessment, ACEL Lifelong Learning After a very bumpy twelve months, many in Australia and New Zealand are taking a moment to think about their work, life, and home and what they want that to look like. In clinical terms, this is called having agency (or control) over one’s own life. This also... Who else is 75 this year? As it celebrates its 75th birthday, Vespa surpasses the milestone of 19 million units produced, including almost two million in the last decade alone. These are 19 million stories of guys and girls, entire generations who dreamed of and gained their freedom astride a... The Bunya Pine Recommendations: Toowoomba Choral Society Youth Choir’s production of ‘Just So’, Saturday, 10 July. Tonight's Blood Red Moon, ABC News Thank you for your support of this publication through contributions of content and professional reading for colleagues. Email newsletter@concordia.qld.edu.au

Issue 71, 10 November 2021

Head of College Update Dear Staff Over the past couple of months, I have been engaging in professional readings about wellness as we plan for this whole staff focus in 2022. One of the wellness areas which I have been reading about is gratitude. Personally, I feel grateful for the... Advent As we are coming closer to the end of the school year – and isn’t time flying at the moment! – we are also nearing the end of the church year. On November 28 the season of Advent begins. Advent refers to the arrival of someone or something. Advent... Need to know Staff Association The current staff association fund arrangements will come to an end after the planned end of year festivities. Moving forward we are looking to work towards a more inclusive model where all staff are involved in various events throughout the school year. Thank you to... Committee Updates Workplace Health Safety and Wellbeing Committee The Committee met on the 9th of November. The following matters were raised at the meeting and serve as a reminder to everyone: Air Conditioning Please remember to turn off the air conditioning unit when leaving a room. If you come across... Career Opportunities Learning in Residence Houseparent We are currently seeking an experienced and inspiring professional to lead our Learning in Residence program for boys in Years 7-12. Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Coordinator We are looking for a passionate OSHC Service Coordinator to manage our recently established Warwick Street OSHC... For Sale: College Toyota Coaster Bus $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... Book Review Banjo Tully By Justin D'Ath Possible curriculum areas: English, HistoryAvailable at: SSC Suitable for: Upper Primary or Middle School Cheekily, Banjo decides to ride his horse to school instead of his bike on ‘ride to school’ day. After being sent home, he finds out that his parents are...

Issue 73, 2 February 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Starting a new school year is an important time to reflect on what is working and what aspects of our job/teaching could be “even better”. The start to 2022 has already commanded our full attention and demanded that we be flexible, creative, collaborative, transparent... Welcome to 2022! Well, we have seen each other on various screens and sometimes even facemask to facemask in the last couple of weeks, but welcome to the 2022 school year again. Our theme for this Year is “Imagine the possibilities”, linked to some words St Paul wrote to the... Staff Movements We are fortunate to have had several new staff members join our team for the commencement of the year. Please join me in welcoming: Jamie Pukallus - Director of Campus, Stephen StreetBelinda McManus - Teacher, Hume Street CampusKellie Maddock - Teacher, Hume Street CampusNeil Roche-Kelly - Teacher, Stephen... Committee Updates CLC Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee The WHSW Committee met on 9 November 2021. Please see the minutes. The Committee meeting dates for 2022 are: Term 1, Tuesday 1 Mar 12.45pmTerm 2, Tuesday 24 May 12.45pm Term 3, Tuesday 16 Aug 12.45pm Term 4, Tuesday 8 No... Need to know Staff Development Week Thank you to everyone for your participation and contribution to Staff Development Week and for your flexibility and patience as we navigated the transition to online platforms. A special thank you to meeting hosts and presenters for your work in this space. If you... Career Opportunities Sports Coordinator We are currently seeking a passionate sports enthusiast to fill the role of Sports Coordinator. This is a full-time, term-time (plus 2 weeks) position. OSHC Assistant We are looking for additional casual assistants for the OSHC Service at Warwick Street Campus. To find out more information,... Escape for a Moment...

Issue 74, 16 February 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff As we continue to settle into the new school year with our students by establishing good routines, work habits, safe classrooms and a rigorous learning culture, one of the key ingredients currently absent from school life is our parent body. We need to guard... Speaking the language… Do you speak another language? Indeed, what’s the point of learning another language in this country – everyone speaks English anyway? Perhaps you have encountered or asked these questions… After a hiatus of many years, I have the privilege of teaching German (my second method when I... Need to know Indigenous Student Liaison Wally McIntosh has recently commenced in the role of Indigenous Student Liaison Officer. Please introduce yourself to Wally and make him feel welcome as he starts spending time across all three campuses. A Request Form has been developed to assist Wally with meeting our... Assistance Needed Bus Driving We are hoping to re-establish a bus driving register of staff that are willing and able to drive the College's 24 seat Rosa Bus for school excursions and activities as required. If you currently possess an LR class licence or higher and are happy to be... Career Opportunities College Uniform/Book Shop Attendant We are currently seeking an enthusiastic Attendant for the College Uniform/Book Shop for the period 28 February to 16 September. In this 10 hour/week position you will work closely with the Business Office to ensure the efficient operation of the shop, including providing friendly... Happy Valentine's Day!

Issue 75, 2 March 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff The end of last week once again tested our resilience, adaptability, resolve and collegiality and once again we passed with flying colours. Thank you to the administration teams across all three campuses for the way in which you rallied together and safely navigated the... Waiting? Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14 Watching the news can be depressing. Not just floods and destruction in our local backyard (global warming playing out as predicted?) but there seem to be forces at work in the world at... Staff Movements This fortnight we welcome four new staff members to the College. Vicki Byrne has commenced as Teaching Assistant at Stephen Street Campus, Fumika Sato from Hume Street OSHC will now also assist at Warwick Street OSHC, long-time Concordia parent Dorothy Christensen will be replacing Bev in the Book/Uniform... Need to know Grievance Procedure A reminder to all staff that the College has in place procedures for handling grievances and complaints, both by staff and parents/community members. These procedures can also be found on Teacher Kiosk under Links>Policies & Procedures Career Opportunities Early Childhood Teacher Hume Street Kindergarten is looking for a passionate Teacher who can also undertake the role of Service Leader. This is a fixed term contract to cover a period of parental leave from the beginning of Term 2 until the end of the school year. More... Special Dates Events that are taking place this fortnight: World Wildlife Day - 3 MarchHearing Awareness Week - 3-9 MarchPlay Outside Day - 5 MarchParks Week - 6 - 14 MarchClean Up Australia Day - 6 MarchInternational Women's Day - 8 MarchHarmony Week - 15-21 March Escape for a moment... While our natural environment can sometimes cause havoc and heartache, we are also blessed with some amazing natural wonders in Australia. Take a moment to quietly reflect on the beauty that surrounds us.

Issue 76, 16 March 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Hasn’t it been wonderful to have school life return to normal again! The past week has included Chapel services, assemblies, several excursions and incursions. Thank you to everyone – admin, maintenance, kitchen staff, who have been working behind the scenes to put together and... Official acknowledgement of new staff Normally, we would have included the affirmation and/or installation of new staff members at our opening service, but with the Covid restrictions this year that proved a little difficult. So, this week finally we managed to include this rite at each campus at chapel or... Need to know It's okay if you're sick. It's not okay to be sick at work. A reminder to all staff that you must stay home if you are unwell. Additionally, if you have Covid-19 symptoms eg. fever, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, please get tested. If you have... Staff Questionnaire Reminder A friendly reminder to all staff to complete the questionnaire sent by MMG Education. Responses are due by 27 March. The information gathered in the questionnaire will be used to inform our continual improvement strategies and initiatives. If you have not received an email from MMG with... Career Opportunities English TeacherWe are currently looking for a fixed-term full-time English Teacher, commencing in Term 2 until the end of the year. Click here for more information. OSHC AssistantThe Warwick Street OSHC is seeking expressions of interest from term time employees who may be interested in working some casual... Special Dates Events that are taking place this fortnight: Tuesday 15 – Monday 21 March – Harmony Week Thursday, 17 March – National Close the Gap Day Thursday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day Sunday, 20 March – UN International Day of Happiness Monday, 21 March – World Poetry Day... NGS Super Kate Graham from NGS Super is visiting Concordia on 18 March. Kate is offering 20 minute one-on-one sessions and can provide advice based on your personal circumstances. Please follow the links to make a booking. 9.00am-10.30am Hume St 11.00am-12.30pm Warwick St 12.45pm–2.30pm Stephen St Who am I? I was born…in a beautiful city which is a 20 hour flight from Australia I have lived... in 5 different Australian states and in 8 different towns/cities My favourite dish... is a filled bee sting. The baker across from my high school made the best ones -... Escape for a moment... In recognition of St Patrick's Day tomorrow, this issue we enjoy the fast feet of the talented Gardiner Brothers.

Issue 77, 30 March 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Reflecting on the past 10 weeks has made me again realise how incredibly resilient, flexible, hardworking and committed the staff at Concordia are – lucky students and parents I’d say! What a topsy turvy start we encountered back in January when our Preparation and... Made it! We have nearly made it! Yes, even these last few work filled days will come to an end and with it this disrupted Term 1 will nearly have come to an end. And what resilience you and all our community have shown, dealing with a delayed start, mask... Easter services offered by local Lutheran Churches(Maundy Thursday 14/4, Good Friday 15/4, Easter Sunday 17/4) Emmanuel (Concordia Chapel) Good Friday 9amEaster Sunday 9am Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (23 Glenvale Road) Palm Sunday 9am (This is also a confirmation service)Maundy Thursday 7pmGood Friday 9amEaster Sunday 9am Wilsonton/Glencoe Parish Maundy Thursday Bethlehem... Staff Wellbeing at Concordia This week staff enjoyed participating in a professional development learning session facilitated by Ali Palmer. The session focused on staff wellness and practical measures we can all adopt to help improve our positivity. This is the first of three sessions to be conducted by Ali throughout... Staff News Gabe Robbie (HOD Humanities & Social Sciences) got married in February and has shared this beautiful photo taken at Preston Peak. Congratulations Gabe & Steph! Linda El Attar (JC German Teacher) welcomed a baby girl last December, named Ruqayah Rose. Both mum and bub are doing well and... Need to Know The following policies have been approved and added/updated on Teacher Kiosk. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the latest version. COVID-19 Safe PlanCritical Incident Policy and ProcedureRemission of Fees - College Council and StaffWhistleblower Policy ACLE 2022 ACLE 2022 will be held in Melbourne this year from 6-8 July. The College is seeking expressions of interest from staff that would like to attend. Based on the response, a small contribution from the College will be made towards the associated costs for attending this worthwhile event.... Staff Questionnaire Reminder A friendly reminder to all staff to complete the questionnaire sent by MMG Education. Responses are due by 1 April. The information gathered in the questionnaire will be used to inform our continual improvement strategies and initiatives. Career Opportunities English TeacherWe are currently looking for a fixed-term full-time English Teacher, commencing in Term 2 until the end of the year. Coordinator Music PerformanceWe are currently seeking a passionate and inspiring Coordinator of Music Performance to lead and coordinate our co-curricular music performance program. Click here for more... Special Dates Events that are taking place this fortnight: Thursday, 31 March - Transgender Day of VisibilitySaturday, 2 April - World Autism Awareness DayThursday, 7 April – World Health DayMonday, 18 April – World Heritage Day Thursday, 21 April – World Creativity and Innovation Day Friday, 22 April – Earth... In the News Residential Tutors, Lexi and Tina were spotted in The Chronicle enjoying the Toowoomba Show. Who was I? I was born in the beautiful city of Dresden, Saxony. This is where my love of German cakes began, especially a filled bee sting or Streusselkuchen. The baker across from my high school made the best ones - still does! I have lived in East and West... Who am I? I was born…Toowoomba I have lived... in Toowoomba all my life My favourite dish... is chocolate or cheesecake My favourite pastime... is reading, especially historical fiction My favourite holiday destination is ... camping at the Bunya Mountains in Summer and Cairns/Far North QLD in Winter I'm currently... Holiday Happenings I hope you all enjoy a wonderful break. Please send through your holiday happy snaps to Lynda in HR to share in the next edition of Heads Up. Escape for a moment... As a Lutheran school we appreciate and celebrate the true meaning of Easter and know that there's more to Easter than chocolate... but... how good is a Lindt Bunny? The Bunya Pine Giveaway: Women's white corporate shirt, size 14. Contact Lynda in HR. Women's navy corporate skirt, size 16. Contact Lynda in HR.Women's navy corporate cardigan, size 14. Contact Lynda in HR. If you have an event you would like to promote, a good book to share or can...

Issue 78, 27 April 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Welcome to Term 2 which is now in full swing with the last of our long weekends, the Labour Day Holiday, looming on Monday next week. This will bring our slow start to the term to an end with our first full week “landing”... Autumn! This is my first real autumn experience in the last 7 years – they call it autumn in Brisbane too, but it really is only a change from hot and sticky to pleasant and warm weather. ANZAC morning was quite bracing and gave us a taste of things to... Need to Know COVID-19 Update From 6pm tomorrow, Thursday 28 April, there will be no quarantine requirements for COVID-19 close contacts if they: do not have COVID-19 symptoms test negative every second day for a week from the day of becoming a close contact (day 0, 2, 4 and 6).... Career Opportunities Business ManagerWe are currently seeking an experienced and innovative finance professional to oversee the financial and operational governance of the College. Residential TutorsWe are still on the lookout for male tutors in Boys Boarding. We're looking for someone with an interest in working with our delightful young people... Special Dates Events that are taking place this fortnight: Monday, 2 May - Labour DaySunday, 8 May - Mother's Day Who was I? I was born in Toowoomba and have lived here all my life. I have enjoyed raising my four children in this community. They are by far my greatest and proudest achievement. They all attended Warwick Street Campus and Stephen Street Campus. My daughter, Sydney Hughes, who some... Who am I? I was born in… Toowoomba I lived... in Dalby for the first 30 years of my life I have travelled to... Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu My favourite dish is... Japanese cuisine My favourite sport is... soccer My favourite pastime... gold class movies... Escape for a moment... In honour of Mother's Day, enjoy this peaceful reflection of animal mothers and the special role mothers and other caregivers play in our lives. The Bunya Pine Giveaway: Women's navy corporate skirt, size 16. Contact Lynda in HR.Women's navy corporate cardigan, size 14. Contact Lynda in HR. If you have an event you would like to promote, a joke or quote to share or can recommend a good read or a resource, please contact...

Issue 79, 11 May 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff As we head towards the mid-way mark of Term 2, planning is being put in place for the upcoming Professional Learning Week at the end of the term. One of the major strategic directions which Concordia has begun to move into is that of... NAPLAN, again. It’s that time of the year again, and while I have a feeling that it is becoming more a routine event, there is still stress and pressure attached to the annual Naplan tests for both students and staff. I guess there are two sets of questions attached to... Staff Movements Our Head of Department Science, Elisabeth Smit is taking leave for the rest of the year. We thank Elisabeth for her dedication and leadership and wish her well in Chinchilla. We hope to see you again in 2023. Our new Coordinator of Music Performance, Christina Marangelli will begin... Need to Know Staff Development DaysThe mid-year staff development days will be held from 20-22 June. Please take a moment to view the schedule. Invitations for first aid and CPR will be sent out by the end of May. Staff Wellbeing WorkshopAli Palmer will soon be returning to Concordia to... Open Day There are just a few days before our long awaited 2022 Open Day taking place this Saturday 14 May from 9.30am to 12.30pm! So far we have almost 240 people registered across all three campuses, which is right up there with our record from last year. Open Days... Career Opportunities Teachers - Science & HPEWe are seeking two passionate and innovative teachers to join our amazing teaching team at Stephen Street. Both positions are full-time contracts until the end of the school year. OSHC CoordinatorWarwick Street OSHC are looking for a new Coordinator to commence in Term 3.... Special Dates Special days that are taking place this fortnight: Sunday, 15 May – International Day of Families Thursday, 26 May – National Sorry Day Friday, 27 May – Friday, 3 June – Reconciliation week Local events that are happening this fortnight: Dinosaur FestivalWinter Doll, Bear & Toy ShowDavid Hack... Visit from Bupa Private Health Insurance On Tuesday 17 May, Erin from Bupa Toowoomba will be at Stephen Street Campus to hold one-on-one appointments with staff. From 09:20am we have arranged for staff to have individual face-to-face appointments to discuss their Private Health Insurance with Bupa Toowoomba. This is an... Out & About The boarding team enjoyed a day at Movie World on Saturday, 7 May. Many thanks to the boarding staff for the work that they do and the experiences they provide for our young people. Who was I? I was raised in Dalby and lived there for the first 30 years of my life. I have travelled to Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu. My travels have developed my love of Japanese cuisine. In my spare time I enjoy playing soccer and... Who am I? I was born in… Melbourne I have lived in... Melbourne for the first 14 years, London for the next 17 years and now Queensland for 2 years I have travelled to... Sri Lanka, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Budapest, Edinburgh and Bangkok My favourite dish is... panang chicken curry... The Bunya Pine Education in the News: Labor promises cash payments to high achievers to study teaching (ABC News, 8 May)Labor promises to pay students who get an ATAR of 80 or over if they decide to study an education degree, as part of its plan to boost teaching standards... Escape for a moment... In this dreary weather sit back and enjoy some great sporting moments that epitomise the saying "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity"

Issue 80, 25 May 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Open Days afford schools the opportunity to put their best foot forward, which for many is all about showcasing their bricks and mortar and affirming a very traditional way of schooling i.e. the adults talk and tell, while the students are expected to do... Off campus… Like most teachers I am committed to my students and want to support and guide them in their learning, so being away two days in a row this week was not ideal. However, stepping outside the hustle and bustle of every day school busyness from time to time... Staff Movements Our new Student Counsellor, Garth Calder will commence next Monday, the 30th. Garth has a Masters of Counselling and has most recently worked as a Counsellor at Mercy Community Services. He also holds a Bachelor of Theology and has previously worked with a number of Lutheran organisations in... Need to Know Staff Development DaysThe mid-year staff development days will be held from 20-22 June. Please take a moment to view the schedule. Invitations for first aid and CPR will be sent out next week. Staff Wellbeing WorkshopAli Palmer will soon be returning to Concordia to facilitate the second... Career Opportunities OSHC CoordinatorWarwick Street OSHC are looking for a new Coordinator. The successful applicant will have experience working with children and the ability to deliver a supportive and engaging program and oversee the daily operations of the Centre. Click here for more information. Special Dates Special days that are taking place this fortnight: Thursday, 26 May – National Sorry Day Friday, 27 May – Friday, 3 June – Reconciliation Week Friday, 27 May - Australia's Skin Cancer Prevention DaySaturday, 28 May - Red Shield Appeal WeekendMonday, 30 May - World MS DayTuesday, 31... Out & About The newly formed Concordia Social Group hosted their first event on Friday the 20th at the Stock Exchange Hotel. It was great to see everyone in their fun shirts. The winner of the much coveted first prize, bonus release time, was Lexi Morton and the coffee voucher... Who was I? I was born in Melbourne and lived in London for many years before coming to Toowoomba. I have travelled to Sri Lanka, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Budapest, Edinburgh and Bangkok. I love playing team sports, particularly volleyball. I also like board games and card games. I enjoy a... Who am I? I was born in… Warwick and moved to Toowoomba 9 years ago after finishing high school I have travelled to... Bali and New Zealand I love... spending time at our family farm outside of Tenterfield, camping or going to the beach My new favourite pastime is... making... Wellness with AccessEAP A timely mid-term reminder... The Bunya Pine What's on Out beloved Exec Assistant, Sonya Herndon, is a woman of many talents and has taken on producing The Hunchback of Notre Dame for the Toowoomba Choral Society. To purchase tickets please see the Empire Theatre website. Eidecan Battle of the Bands is returning in 2022.... Escape for a moment... In acknowledgement of National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, we take a look at the great work being done at Amaroo Outdoor Education Centre to share the local Aboriginal culture and history with the next generation. The centre welcomes over 5000 students each year and is...

Issue 81, 8 June 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff The final edition of this term’s Heads Up has come around so quickly, they say that time flies when you are having fun! This has reminded me that a year ago, this week, I spent a week at Concordia meeting many faces as well... Pentecost Last week the church observed the important festival of Pentecost – after Easter and Christmas probably the third most important festival of the church year - and certainly foundational for the very existence of the church. Today I want to share a reflection on the traditional orthodox iconography of... Need to Know Staff Development DaysThe mid-year Staff Development Days will be held from 20-22 June. Please take a moment to view the schedule. All teachers and teaching assistants are asked to attend the project-based learning workshop on Tuesday, 21 June. For part-time staff this may require a revised work... Staff Intention Survey Reminder Each year we issue a short survey which supports the planning process for the next school year. All staff are asked to please click on the relevant link below and submit your responses by Monday, 13 June. Support Staff Intentions for 2023 Teaching Staff Intentions for... Committee Updates CLC Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee The WHSW Committee met on 31 May. Please see the minutes. The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 August. For Sale: Volkswagen Passat $14,999 negotiable The College is selling a 2012 Volkswagen Passat, Model: Passat CC 125TDI 6 Spd DSG. The car will be detailed and have a roadworthy completed before handing over. Please contact Tyrone Lanagan, Operations Manager for more information. Special Dates Special days that are taking place this fortnight: 13-19 June - International Men's Health WeekTuesday, 14 June - World Blood Donor DayThursday, 16 June - National Vegemite DayMonday, 20 June - World Refugee DayTuesday, 21 June - Winter Solstice Upcoming local events: Saturday, 11 June - Blacksmithing and... End of Term Staff EventPlease join us for drinks and nibblies at the City Golf Club on 22 June for the Social Committee end of term event. Who was I? I was born in Warwick and moved to Toowoomba 9 years ago after finishing high school. My greatest achievement is my 7 year old son, Blair. I love spending my time at our family farm outside of Tenterfield, camping or going to the beach. I’ve found a... Who am I? I was born in… Tamworth NSW My family... I have a younger sister who lives in Brisbane and is a teacher I've travelled to... over 50 countries. My favourite country is Poland. My favourite dish is ... chicken parmigiana My favourite activity is...whitewater rafting in Pacuare River... The Bunya Pine Emmanuel Community Library Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship have started a lending library of Christian books, DVDs and other materials. It is located on the bookshelf at the entry to the chapel. All Concordia staff are welcome to use the library at any time. It runs on an honour... Escape for a moment... Following on from a great State of Origin match last night, we ask you to consider, how many men does it take to tackle a crocodile? Watch proud Queenslander Robert Irwin to find out more.

Issue 82, 20 July 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff During the last week of the term break I had the wonderful opportunity to attend ACLE 6 [the Australian Conference of Lutheran Education] in Melbourne alongside 8 other Concordia staff members. This was my fourth ACLE Conference and in my humble opinion, by far... Different ways of knowing How do you cater for different learning styles and different ways of knowing in your classrooms? I suppose this is something we are all struggling with at times and we are journeying as a community as we seek to provide a contemporary education experience at our... Staff News Garth Calder (Student Counsellor) and wife Sarah welcomed their first child, Adelaide Joy, on 22 June. Congratulations Garth & Sarah! Staff Movements This term we welcome the following new staff: Jacob Hohnke, Residential Tutor SSCJoshua Biscoe, Teacher SSCTimothy Hamlyn, Teacher SSCHannah McConochie, Cleaner SSCSophie Crombie, OSHC Assistant WSCStephen McLady, Bus Driver SSC Need to Know COVID-19 Update Please see correspondence from Anton regarding the wearing of masks at Concordia. Vision Statements Survey A reminder to all teaching staff to complete the Draft Vision Statements Survey by this Friday, 22 July. Your timely input is needed in preparation for next Tuesday's meeting. Ranking... Career Opportunities Bus DriverWe are currently seeking a new part-time Bus Driver. This is a permanent part-time (term time) 25 hours per week position with additional casual hours available throughout the school year. Click here for more information. Who was I? I was born in Tamworth and I'm a die hard Blues supporter. I love to travel and I've travelled to over 50 countries with many more adventures on my wish list. My favourite country to date is Poland and one of my favourite adventures so far was... Who am I? I was born in… Northern NSW in a town called Glen Innes I have lived in... Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as well as in NSW where I grew up I've travelled to... at least 20 countries and I think I love Ireland and Italy the... The Bunya Pine National Tree Day Toowoomba Regional Council will be undertaking their National Tree Day planting event on 3rd September 2022. New trees and shrubs will be planted out across three Toowoomba Region parks, as part of an initiative to increase the region’s urban forest population. This event is... Education in the News More than 800 selective school places set aside for disadvantaged NSW students By Danielle MaheABC News A new plan to reserve more than 800 places at selective schools for disadvantaged students will improve equity of access and level the playing field, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell... Escape for a moment... In honour of the Horse's Birthday coming up on 1 August, we enjoy the talented work of child and horse in this clip from the America's Got Talent archives (stunts start at 2 minutes, 50 seconds).

Issue 83, 3 August 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Stronger Every Day! I recently saw the above slogan at a Health and Fitness Centre and it struck me that I should be reflecting on and applying this to the various areas which make up my daily journey. After returning from a Contemporary Learning... Statistics and God In recent weeks I have been privy to a number of webinars looking at the latest data from the 2021 Census and some other sociological research and data from our ever-changing society. I’m sure you are aware of the decline in people self-identifying as Christian in Australia,... Need to Know Term 3 Wellness Session Ali Palmer will be returning next week to facilitate the next staff wellness session. A reminder to please register for a session by following the link: Term 3 Wellness Session Commonwealth Census This year the Commonwealth Census will take place on Friday, 5... Valedictory Dinner Staff Invitation Career Opportunities Strings TutorWe are currently seeking a passionate Strings Tutor to provide individual tuition to strings students as well as conduct the College Strings Ensemble. The position is approximately 4.5 to 6.5 hours per week with potential for growth. Hours of work are negotiable and highly flexible. Residential TutorsWe... Teachers Save More with RACQ Bank As part of RACQ Bank's ongoing commitment to the education community, we have developed a range of discounts and benefits for teachers and education staff on our loans and term deposits. Our teachers' offers are one of the ways RACQ Bank recognises Queensland teachers... Who was I? I was born in Glen Innes and have lived in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast beforecoming to Toowoomba. I have travelled to over 20 countries and I love Ireland and Italy the most. In addition to travel, I love painting and drawing, relaxing at the beach... Who am I? I was born in… Melbourne I have lived in... China & Tasmania I've travelled to... New Zealand, Pacific and Asia My favourite dish is ... breakfast I'm currently watching... The Split, Too Close & Schitts Creek My favourite joke... I don't need one, life is funny enough... Wellness with AccessEAP 5 Health Pillars There are many ways to exhale, and one particularly helpful one is cleaning out the unnecessary and outdated information in our brains. Like a spring clean in our house or car, a cleanout of the mind requires taking time and reflecting on all aspects... The Bunya Pine National Tree Day Toowoomba Regional Council will be undertaking their National Tree Day planting event on 3rd September 2022. New trees and shrubs will be planted out across three Toowoomba Region parks, as part of an initiative to increase the region’s urban forest population. This event is... Education in the News Can Hospitals Help Us Address the Teacher Shortage? By Shannon Meyerkort A proposal to adopt a clinical-style model which embeds student teachers in schools only months into their training is being proposed as one solution to the growing teacher shortage crisis. A roundtable meeting on August... Escape for a moment... Some of our fellow earth dwellers are off to a cracking start in 2022, creating a bunch of weird and wonderful new world records for us to enjoy.

Issue 84, 17 August 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff Last weekend’s Art in Focus showcase again affirmed the strength of our learning programmes, the calibre of student who attends Concordia every day as well as the exceptional staff who guide and influence the student’s journey so positively. What an incredible event it turned... Celebration! Did you get to attend the inaugural Arts in Focus event on Saturday at the Armitage Centre? I must say I really enjoyed the event and loved the idea of combining various arts, music, drama, dance, visual arts, giving our students the chance to showcase their skills and learning... Staff Movements Next week we farewell Timothy Hamlyn on the 24th and thank him for his time teaching Science and HASS at Stephen Street. We wish him well in his new role, teaching Latin in Sydney. Elisabeth Smit will be returning to Concordia to take on the teaching role vacated... Need to Know Timesheets A reminder to all staff that timesheets cannot be submitted for a future date. Timesheets are to be submitted in a timely manner for work already performed. This includes timesheets submitted for camp allowance. Gender Equality Policy The existing Gender Equality Policy has been reviewed and... Valedictory Dinner Staff Invitation A reminder to RSVP for the Valedictory Dinner by 31 August. Career Opportunities Relief Operations StaffWe are currently seeking expressions of interest for School Cleaners & Kitchen Hands, to join a casual pool of relief staff. Hours of work will be between 6am and 7pm, Monday to Friday, as required. To be successful in the role the applicant will have good... Salary Packaging with Paywise As you may be aware, you can save on tax by salary packaging various items, paying for them from your pre-tax income. This increases your take home pay. An overview of the salary packaging options available in the education sector is available on Paywise's website. Please... Who was I? I was born in Melbourne and have lived in China and Tasmania, before relocating to Toowoomba. I have travelled around New Zealand, the Pacific and Asia. My greatest achievement is my wonderful family and I enjoy spending time with my family, watching my son play hockey, reading,... Who am I? I was born in… Brisbane I've travelled to... Tasmania, so I have been overseas Places I've worked... volunteering in a Vinnies Op Shop. It was really fun but not fun on the wallet though. I aspire to... be a Secondary Teacher and a Visual Artist My favourite... The Bunya Pine InStudio Art Trail Over four massive weekends in August, the InStudio Art Trail is back in 2022! The wonderful artists of the High Country Hamlets region are opening their doors to the public! Experience and enjoy a relaxing drive through the creative studios, insightful exhibitions, and have... Bright Ideas With Wendy Bowen This is a link to Louka Parry - Change One Thing “How we define and understand success”. What might success look like in the future for Concordia? How do we want our future students at Concordia to demonstrate what is successful? “We need to innovate... Escape for a moment... In recognition of Science Week, we enjoy the world record for the largest elephant toothpaste fountain.

Issue 85, 31 August 2022

Head of College Update Dear Staff As we move into the final weeks of Term 3, it’s our senior cohorts at the Junior and Senior campuses who are part of the busyness of moving through rites of passage and closing events. For our Year 12 students their focus over these... Walk my Way 2022 You may have seen the advertisements for Walk my Way in chapel or the Week Ahead. Here is a bit more information about it all: Walk my Way is an initiative of ALWS (Australian Lutheran World Service), who work closely with Lutheran World Service in supporting... Staff Movements This fortnight we have welcomed Hannah Weier as the OSHC Coordinator at Warwick Street and Claire Simpson as the Administration Officer at Stephen Street. Next week we farewell Georgie Meecham and wish her well as she prepares for the arrival of bub. We welcome Felicity Mohr in the... Need to Know Professional Relationships Tensions can rise at this time of year for both staff and students and this serves as a timely reminder of your rights and responsibilities in relation to the Code of Conduct and Respectful Relationships Policy. We all have the right to feel safe and... Career Opportunities Teacher - Middle & Senior EnglishWe are seeking a passionate, highly professional and suitably qualified teacher with a demonstrated ability and interest in teaching Middle Years English, with the ability to teach Senior English being highly desirable. This is a permanent full-time appointment, commencing January 2023. Residential TutorsWe... Book Week 2022 A big thank you to everyone who got into the spirit and helped make Book Week special. Who was I? I was born in Brisbane and I've travelled to Tasmania, so I can say I've been overseas. I enjoy learning new things and when I'm not studying you can often find me watching YouTube videos and TEDTalks. My favourite sport is car racing and my favourite quote... Who am I? I was born in... Geelong I have lived in... Queenscliff, Ocean Grove, Guyra, Coffs Harbour, the Gold Coast and now Toowoomba I have travelled to... New Zealand and Bali My favourite dish is... lasagna I enjoy... waterskiing, swimming, camping, shooting, reading novels, dancing and spending time with... Wellness with AccessEAP 10 Tips on How to Have a Conversation on R U OK? Day R U OK? Day is on 8 September this year. You don’t have to be an expert to support someone going through a tough time. You just need to be able to listen to... The Bunya Pine Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers There are events happening across the region from 1 - 30 September with the Floral Parade taking place on 17 September. For more information, please click here. If you have an event you would like to promote, please contact Lynda in HR and... Education in the News A Sydney high school banned mobile phones. It had dramatic results. By Andrew TaylorThe Sydney Morning Herald7 August 2022 A Sydney high school has seen a dramatic decrease in behavioural issues and a boost in physical activity and students talking to each other just two months... Escape for a moment... In recognition of Father's Day, this edition we celebrate the male role models in our lives and the things the definitely do not say.

Issue 91, 1 February 2023

Head of College Update Dear Staff You know that you have had a good holiday when you “just know” you are ready to return to work. When the break is long enough to disconnect, relax and focus on the things that matter, one can’t help but feel inspired to get... The train has left the station! Do you like trains? Growing up in Germany we rode trains a lot. I was 16 before we got our first car as a family, a little sky blue Trabant, we so we used all forms of public transport, including trains a lot, as... Staff Movements Carolyn Lynch from Hume Street Campus will be acting in the role of Registrar until 3 March while Michelle Price takes a well-deserved break. This week we welcome Sera Staples to the role of Residential Tutor and farewell Marlon Mandarino from boarding. Staff News Joshua Biscoe (SSC Teacher/Boarding) married Britney Holloway (Boarding) in December. Congratulations to the happy couple! Need to Know Professional Growth Framework (Teaching Staff) As a part of our collective journey as life-long learners, we're excited to roll out the new Professional Growth Framework for Teaching Staff this year. A reminder to all teaching staff that you need to identify a suitable Professional Learning Partner and... Wellness with Access EAP Why did I just do that? Applying Emotional Intelligence at Work We’ve all done it. It seemed like the right thing to say or do at the time – maybe we thought it would sound witty or be deeply appreciated. Or maybe it was a knee-jerk... The Bunya Pine Rugby League Darling Downs School Sports 2023 Officials Vacancies A reminder that the Darling Downs School Sports Board is still looking to fill multiple vacancies for team officials. A full list can be found here. An application form can be found on their website. Car for Sale... Escape for a moment... This issue we enjoy a talented performance from the not-so-secret drum corp.

Issue 102, 16 August 2023

Head of College Update Dear Staff Last week, which also happened to be the middle of Term 3, provided staff at both the Junior and Senior College with challenges which called on our pastoral care processes and structures to be firing at all cylinders – Did I mention that the... The Last Daughter I am not sure if you have already seen the film, which is actually a documentary (it is on Netflix), or if you have a chance to join us this Thursday evening at 6pm in the lecture theatre, but it is definitely worth it. It is the... Need to Know Professional Growth Framework In the busyness of the term it can be easy to lose sight of your goals, so this is a friendly reminder for teaching staff to keep working on the focus areas included in your Professional Growth Action Plan and to keep checking in... Career Opportunities Early Childhood Teacher - WSC Kindy The College is seeking a full-time and a part-time Early Childhood Teacher to join our wonderful WSC Kindergarten team in 2024. The permanent full-time position works Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 4.00pm with the option to work 4 days/week, if preferred.... Who am I? I was born in... Brisbane I have travelled to... England, Ireland, France, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, New Zealand, Fiji and around Australia. I have lived in... France, London, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Kingaroy and now Toowoomba I aspire to... travel to... Wellness with Access EAP Mindfulness, getting to the heart of it Where is your attention right now? Part of it will be on these words, and part of it may be elsewhere. Are you thinking about plans for the weekend? Worries about the cost of living? Remembering that wonderful holiday... The Bunya Pine Staff Uniforms Available The Uniform/Book Shop has a range of new staff uniforms available in size 4XL. If you're interested, please visit the shop during opening hours or email beverley.schmidt@concordia.qld.edu.au. Ponytail Project The SSC Campus is participating in the Ponytail Project as our shave for a cure... Escape for a moment... This issue we marvel at the abilities of these clever parrots.

Sport News

Basketball Academy Opportunityhttps://toowoombabasketball.com.au/neers-academy/junior https://toowoombabasketball.com.au/neers-academy/senior Recent Results & Achievements Rugby 7s – Round 1 U13 Boys Game 1 Vs Toowoomba Grammar Red: Won 40-7Game 2 Vs Toowoomba Grammar Maroon: Won 21-15 Futsal – Round 1 The 7/8 Girls: LossThe Opens Girls: LossOur U13 Boys: Loss  Girls Twilight Netball Concordia Vs Blaze: Won Boys 5-A-Side Netball... Charles Lowis Congratulations to Charles Lowis (year 6) who recently competed in the National Schools Soccer Championships for Queensland. His team secured a commendable 3rd place on the back of Charlie’s outstanding goal keeping, managing five clean sheets from 7 games. Remarkably, Charlie only conceded two goals throughout the entire... Upcoming Fixtures and Information Futsal Training: Boys – Monday afternoons/ Girls – Tuesday afternoons, from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm in the SSC gym. Games: Boys – Wednesdays/Girls – Mondays Game Venues: Boys – UniSQ (off Baker St)/Girls – The Glennie School (off Vacy St) Please arrive to your game... Netball Training: Boys – Tuesday afternoons/ Girls – Thursday afternoons, from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm at the WSC outdoor courts. Game Venues: Boys – TAS/Concordia/Girls – Nell. E Robinson Netball CourtsDraw: Rugby 7's Training: Wednesday afternoons 3:30pm-4:30pm on the Rugby oval. Game Venue: Highfields Sport and Recreation Centre.Draw: Upcoming Competitions and Opportunities Rugby League 9s Competition ​ Any students interested in competing in the Rugby League 9s competition in week 10 of term 1 next year, please go to student notices and complete the attached form.​Please note in order to play you will be expected to have attended... Staff vs Students Pink Stumps Day WHEN: Lunchtime, Week 6 – Wednesday November 8th WHERE: CSI Oval We will be hosting a Staff vs Students Pink Stumps Day because no one should go through breast cancer without the care of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse. McGrath Breast Care Nurses help... Sport Quote & Joke of the Week Joke: What animal is best at hitting a baseball? A bat!