The Week Ahead - End of Term 3, 2021
Friday 17 September 2021
From the Head of College
Dear Parents and Caregivers
I can hardly believe that we find ourselves at the end of Term 3 already! What a busy but productive term it has been at Concordia. It has been fitting that after a year of interrupted school in 2020, we were able to celebrate 75 years of history, traditions and long lasting friendships while plotting the next exciting course for the Concordia community.
Thank you for the incredibly friendly welcome, encouraging conversations and support which have been shown to me over the past 10 weeks. I am in awe of the strong sense of community which defines us as a College, as well as the incredible pastoral care which I see happening around me every day.
This week has seen the start of the formal functions which will take place over the coming few weeks as we farewell and graduate our Year 12 students from Concordia. Wednesday night saw us acknowledge our Year 12 Boarding students and their families as they wrap up a journey which has moulded them into very independent young people and forged life-long friendships.
Yesterday evening was all about our Year 12 students dressing up, arriving in style and farewelling the Year 12 cohort with their parents and College staff with a formal dinner. I hope that you enjoyed the Valedictory Dinner arrivals and that a sense of tradition, importance and rite of passage was part of your night too. I need to acknowledge these young adults for the way in which they presented themselves and represented their respective families at these events. Thank you to the parents and caregivers of these students for the support of your student this past week.
From the College Pastor
Milestones!
As I write these lines, I am looking forward to a couple of important events in the Concordia calendar – the Boarder Recognition Dinner and then the Year 12 Valedictory arrivals and dinner. Two more firsts at Concordia for me, and important events for the Year 12s as they near the end of their schooling journey and prepare to step out into life beyond school.
It is important that we recognise and celebrate this important milestone in their journey, which marks an end of an important period in their lives and in our journey with them. This is also cause for reflection, to look back, take stock where they have been, what they have learned (or perhaps better what we have learned together), the relationships they have built and how they have grown over these last 13 years – and perhaps through the ups and downs of this time to give thanks for the many blessings that we receive on a daily basis.
Community News
Walk My Way (Term 4)!
Did you know that for just $26 a child in a refugee camp like Kakuma, Kenia, can go to school for a whole year? Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) has been providing support for children like this for many years, and many Lutheran school across Australia have been inspired by this initiative.
So, early Term 4 Concordia Lutheran College is challenged to Walk my Way, and help send some more children to school and so gain a better future.
The challenge is to walk 26km – and we are doing this as a community: Each Home Class is challenged to walk 2km over the first three weeks of Term 4 (13 Home Classes x 2 = 26km). The Year 9s will do something at camp and the two Junior College campuses are also joining in.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
All Schools Primary School Touch Training Schedule
Please click here for the Training Schedule for Term 3, Week 10 and Term 4.
JC Year 5 St Helena Island Excursion
As part of our Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum, we have organised an excursion for Tuesday 12 October, to St Helena Island for our Year 5 students to develop their knowledge and understanding of prison life experiences. Please click on the parent letter for more information. Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission by Thursday 16 September.
- Login to Parent Lounge >
- Click on Events & Payments >
- Click on - JC 2021 Year 5 St Helena Island Excursion >
- Accept >
- Save
Important Note: Please check and ensure your child's medical conditions and Emergency Contact Information is up to date.
JC Year 5 Leadership Day
On Friday 8 October, our Year 5 students will be attending a leadership day at Koojarewon Youth Camp. Please see the attached parent letter for more information.
PERMISSION REQUIRED:
Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission by Friday 17 September 2021:
• Login to Parent Lounge >
• click on Events & Payments >
• click on JC 2021 Year 5 Leadership Day >
• Accept / Decline >
• Save
Important Note: After submitting your permission, please check and ensure your Parent Lounge Portal is up-to-date regarding your child’s Emergency Contact Info and Medical Conditions.
Should you any further queries regarding this event, please contact your child’s teacher.
JC Christmas for the Bush
Care Outreach has been supporting Outback families for over 25 years. Many rural and remote families are in their tenth year of drought. These families need us more than ever this Christmas.
In Term 4, the Junior College will be again supporting Care Outreach with their Christmas for the Bush appeal. You can help by donating:
- Non-perishable food and Christmas treats
- Toys and family gifts
- Toiletries
- Pre-paid visa cards
Donation baskets will be placed in every classroom. 100% goes to our farmers! For other specific needs, please visit Care Outreach and click on the 'Christmas for the Bush' tab.
JC Library News
The Scholastic Book Club orders have arrived and have been sent home with the children this week. Please note, if you are waiting on a back order, I will be keeping an eye out for those and will give them to your child as soon as they arrive early next term.
Thank you to all those families who have assisted their children in locating overdue library books. Any library books that were overdue as at the end of August or prior to that were billed for the replacement cost. If you are able to find these books over the holidays, please return them as soon as possible for a credit.
I hope you and your family enjoy a lovely break and look forward to seeing the children all back fresh for Term 4.
Mrs Karen Maben
Junior College Library Coordinator
JC Leadership
Term 4 will see the beginning of our process in choosing leadership for 2022. We look forward to this process. If your child is interested in reading a little about this over the holidays, please click here to view the Junior College Student Leadership Handbook.
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
Farewell Term 3
Last night, the red carpet was rolled out as we celebrated the Formal Arrivals with our Class of 2021. It was a fantastic occasion with a full complement of parents, friends and past and present students also being able to witness this significant milestone for our Seniors.
In the season where there are so many restrictions in place nationally, I find myself being extra grateful for any gathering or event, such as this one, that can be run in its full format. Behind the scenes, there is an extraordinary amount of effort required to organise and run an event such as this and I want to publicly thank Mrs Natalie Houston and the team of staff, parents, friends and students who worked alongside her to create such a magnificent night for our students. It was certainly a night to remember.
Chess Competition
Over the last three weeks of Term 3, many Middle College students have been battling it out for the Chess Champion title of 2021.
In the finals, Adam Armstrong went on to defend his 2020 title playing against Flynn Eldridge Hayes. This is the second year in a row these boys have battled it out for the winning trophy.
Unfortunately for Flynn, Adam played a tactical game which crowned him as the reigning champion for 2021, retaining his previous title as Champion Chess player.
Mrs Roslyn Cook
Year Level and Pastoral Coordinator (Years 6-8)
Writing Competition
This year the standard of the writing competition entries was extremely high. Thank you to all of those students who submitted entries. The winners will have their stories added to the 2021 Anthology book of excellent writing which Mrs Heidi Edwards collates each year for the English department.
- 1st place - Samuel Wong
- 2nd place - Bruce Omanga
- 3rd place - Joshua Walkington
Highly Commended awarded to Cate Stangherlin and Kataya Krienke.
Next year this annual competition will be even bigger and better!
Mrs Roslyn Cook
Year Level and Pastoral Coordinator - Years 6-8
Lost Property
There is quite a number of items in the Lost Property box currently. Please visit Student Reception if you are missing any items.
Sport News
What a great weekend in sport it was last week:
- Grace Webcke – Netball - U17s Future Panthers in Brisbane, WON!
- Carolyn Marschall – Netball – U17s Dominos, Runners Up
- Lauren Makings – Rugby League – U15s Brothers, Runners Up
- Kaitlyn Zelinski - Rugby League – U17s Valleys, Runner UP
- Bridie Lindenmayer – Hockey – J1 and A2, Newtown Lions J1 – Runners Up – A2 WON!
- Maddie Geiger – Hockey – J2 and J1 Newtown Lions – J2 Won – J1 Runners up
- Caitlyn Bailey – U15 and U17 All Stars Basketball – U15 Won – U17 Won
- U17 Concordia Basketball Team – U17 CLC All Stars, Runners UP
Additional congratulations to:
- Bridie Lindenmayer for being awarded the J1 most improved player for the season
- Maddie Geiger for being awarded the Team Spirit award
Mrs Jana Anderson
SSC Sports Coordinator
Boarding
Year 12 Boarder Recognition Dinner
Our dining room was transformed into beautifully set tables, lighting to fit the mood, a PA system that had everyone attentive and a room full of very proud parents and teachers alike. Peers and junior students were all waiting for the farewell speeches.
While we have a small boarding cohort, the hearts of these students are huge. Personal, heart-filled references to 'my brothers' and 'my sisters' resonated throughout the entire evening. Year 12 students spoke candidly and from the heart, reminiscing about early days, first days and last days, late nights and early mornings.
