There have certainly been a few teething issues along the way, as is inevitable with a change of this magnitude, but these have been outweighed by the many wonderful moments of connection, opportunity and celebration. We are increasingly seeing the benefits of being one College, one Community and one Concordia – With One Heart. There is much to be excited about as we continue to build on the foundations established during this year of significant change. The words of Psalm 126:3 come to mind: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

At the centre of all of this have been our students. Term 3 has once again demonstrated the incredible breadth of opportunities available to our young people.

Our sporting achievements have been outstanding, including Concordia’s success at the QCIS Track and Field Carnival and across the many sporting fields and competitions this term. Our students have continued to demonstrate that we can truly punch above our weight. Our Arts Program has also been a wonderful source of pride, from Eisteddfod performances and concerts to dance, choral and showcase performances. This has been capped off by the announcement of the 2027 Musical, Spamalot. 

Our camps, excursions and incursions have provided equally rich learning experiences. The return of our Year 6 students and staff from Cairns, the Year 8 camp, Year 11 Leadership Camp and the many other experiences beyond the classroom have helped our students develop independence, resilience, confidence and wonderful memories. We now look forward to our Year 9 students attending Googa at the start of next term.

Our Boarding community has also continued to thrive, with 43 young people calling Concordia home during the term. Boarding is such an important part of our College story, and we are grateful for the care, commitment and sense of belonging created by our Boarding staff.

Perhaps one of the most encouraging aspects of this term has been the way our community has continued to come together. From Prepping for Prep and Open Morning through to our many community activities and this week’s wonderful Grandparents Day celebrations, we have seen the importance of relationships and belonging.

We have also enjoyed seeing our Agriculture and Food & Fibre students and staff representing the College in the wider Toowoomba community, including their participation at the Toowoomba Farmers Market last weekend. These experiences are an important expression of our commitment to developing caring citizens. 

It is also fitting that, as we approach the end of the term, we begin our Year 12 celebrations. From the Boarding Recognition Dinner on Wednesday through to tonight’s Year 12 Formal, we have commenced a very special season of acknowledging and celebrating our current Senior Cohort. Our Year 12 students have experienced an extraordinary period in Concordia’s history. They have witnessed and contributed to the journey from three campuses to one, and it is wonderful that we can now celebrate them as they prepare to take their next steps beyond Concordia. We look forward to sharing many more special moments with them throughout Term 4. 

We have also enjoyed announcing our Secondary College leaders for 2027, providing another important glimpse into the next chapter of Concordia’s journey. 

There is certainly much for which we can be thankful. The coming together of our College has never simply been about buildings or physical locations. It has always been about people: our students, staff, families and community. Our mantra remains at the heart of this journey: that every student is fully known, loved and valued at Concordia.

As Toowoomba comes alive with the Carnival of Flowers, perhaps the timing of our break is just right. After a very full Term 3, I encourage everyone to take a couple of weeks to slow down, take some deep breaths, change your rhythm and enjoy time with family and friends. Term 4 will, inevitably, bring its own busyness: final Year 12 celebrations, final assessments, end-of-year events, preparation for 2027 and plenty more opportunities to celebrate the remarkable year that has been.

Let’s be grateful for what we have achieved together, proud of our students and appreciative of the incredible work of our staff and families. Thank you for making Term 3 such a rich and memorable chapter in the history of Concordia.

Enjoy the spring sunshine and safe travels over the next fortnight.

Yours in Christ.

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

But amongst this is the opportunity to not just receive but also give, to reflect on others and their needs and how we can use our gifts to make a positive difference in our world. This fits right in the heart of who we seek to be at Concordia – people who look out for others and serve others in the world, because we know of God’s incredible love for each of us.

Walk My Way is an initiative of Australian Lutheran World Service, an organisation which came to life out of the need to assist refugees arriving in Australia after WWII to find their way in their new home, Australia. From there it grew - working in co-operation with Lutheran World Service (LWF), which bundles the resources of many Lutherans and other Christians across the world to assist where help is needed, both in emergency support and in helping communities to stand on their own feet to move out of poverty and grow in resilience.

This year’s focus for WMW is on girls in refugee camps in Africa, many of whom may face early marriage because of the economic circumstances their families find themselves in. ALWS supports the schooling of girls, thus enabling them to grow and develop their own careers and give back to their communities through their education. ALWS writes:

Angeline was 4 years old when she had to flee Burundi with her family, seeking refuge at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. With the support of generous donors, just like you, Angeline has been able to attend school. Angeline shares, “I want to be a doctor. I pray, God, bless me so I can achieve this dream. It’s not just for me; it’s for my community, too.”

Sadly, too many girls like Angeline never get the chance to attend school so they can strive for their dreams. They are forced to leave school early, and without education, they face a much higher risk of child marriage and a life with limited choices.

When girls stay in school, they are safer, healthier, and more likely to secure a good job. They have a chance to chase their dreams and help their community.

In 2026, Walk My Way will provide life–changing education to Girls in Danger of forced child marriage in refugee camps in Kenya and Somalia.

Your Walk My Way will help to equip teachers, keep schools safe and cover the cost of tuition. When you organise a local community Walk My Way event, you’re supporting more Girls in Danger to go to school, protecting them from forced child marriage and giving them the chance to pursue their dreams. (Walk My Way 2026 | Home)

So here is a chance to look beyond our own lives and the challenges we face, to support others who also face many challenges. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the amazing gifts we have received, just by being able to live in Australia and attend this wonderful Concordia community, and to look beyond ourselves and give something in support of others – sharing God’s love across the world.

Have a wonderful holiday break.

Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

The commemoration brought together students from several local schools and Indigenous representatives from across the region, providing an opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect on the stories that have shaped our community. We are grateful to have been part of this important event and the ongoing journey of understanding and reconciliation. Annie Scouller, one of our incoming middle school leaders, reflects:

The emerging middle college leaders, present school captains and one incoming captain were invited to the commemoration service of the 183rd anniversary of the Battle of Meewah. If you didn’t know, the Battle of Meewah started on the 12^th of September 1843 and only lasted for a span of two days. This battle was also referred to as “The Battle of One Tree Hill”, known as Tabletop today.

The clans who fought for their land primarily were the Jagera (Yuggera) and Ugarapul nations. These people fought for some key factors. They fought against their sacred land being stolen from them, usually by being fenced off or wrecked by settlers using water sources or letting the sheep graze. It was also a response to escalating violence between the squatters and the indigenous people. The warrior Multuggerah decided how to take action. After years of living without respect, Multuggerah, a great warrior, came up with a plan to make a stand against the settlers on Tabletop.

We, as leaders, had the amazing opportunity to learn about this rarely spoken topic, and we got to listen to the amazing stories that were told about the people and their cultures.

Term 3 has been filled with memorable experiences beyond the classroom. Students have participated in excursions, camps, swimming lessons, athletics carnivals, Father's Day celebrations, and the always-popular Disco. These experiences have provided opportunities for students to learn, connect, grow in confidence, and create lasting memories with their peers.

Alongside these special events, exceptional learning has continued to take place in classrooms every day. Our students have been engaged in rich learning experiences, challenged to think deeply, collaborate with others, and celebrate their progress. It was wonderful to see this learning on display at our Learning Showcase on Tuesday evening. Parents had the opportunity to step into our classrooms and be guided by their children through the learning they have been undertaking this term. It was a joy to see students become the teachers, proudly sharing their knowledge, skills, and achievements. We were also delighted to welcome grandparents and special visitors to the Junior College on Wednesday. This special occasion allowed families to visit our new learning spaces, spend time with students, and experience firsthand the vibrant learning environment we are building together.

At our Closing Chapel Service this week, we reflected on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 12, where he reminds us that the body has many parts, each with an important role to play. Just as every part of the body works together, our Junior College community has worked together throughout this term. Students, staff, parents, and families have each contributed their unique gifts and strengths to help make this term such a success. When we work together with love, compassion, and a shared purpose, we reflect the way Jesus calls us to live and serve one another.

As the holidays approach, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to our incredible staff. Their dedication, care, professionalism, and commitment to our students have been outstanding throughout what has been a very busy and significant term. They have embraced change, supported one another, and continued to provide exceptional learning opportunities and care for every child. Thank you also to our parents and families for your ongoing partnership and support. Together, we have made Term 3 one to remember.

We wish all students, staff, and families a safe, restful, and enjoyable holiday break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for an exciting Term 4.

Click here to view JC's Events for Term 4 2026, Week 1.

Mrs Jackie Minnikin & Mrs Juanetta Priest  
Directors of Junior College

This term has also seen the successful completion of our Year 8, 10 and 11 camps. Such activities form a key aspect of a Concordia education that enables students to get out of their comfort zones, bond with their friends, build resilience and create memorable moments. We would like to thank our staff members who devoted their time to these valuable experiences and congratulate our students on meeting all the challenges head-on.

More recently, we are pleased to have announced our Student Leadership team for 2027 for the Middle College and Senior College. Being a leader at Concordia does not simply involve being a title or carrying a badge but rather involves serving others and developing the character to lead with confidence and integrity. We congratulate all the students who applied for positions and are excited to see our new leaders’ impact on our College culture next year.

The second annual ROAR Day was yet another huge success and a great demonstration of the spirit of the Houses. Students throughout the day engaged in a variety of creative, physical, and team-building activities demonstrating teamwork, commitment, and healthy competitiveness. From engineering/design tasks to performance activities, strategic tasks, and House challenges, students took every chance to score points for their House and forge connections at all levels. We hope all students had a great day out of their normal routine.

Even as we recognise and celebrate the successes of the term that is coming to a close, there is no shortage of excitement ahead of Term 4. Our Year 9 students will be joining the Googa Outdoor Education Program. For four weeks, our students will be immersed in a life-changing experience full of lessons of independence, responsibility, resilience and teamwork. The Googa program is one of the signatures of our College, and many students will fondly remember the program years after graduating from our school. We wish good luck to all the participants and hope that they will gain much from this program.

As we move into the spring holidays, I want to express my gratitude for the continuous support from the parents during another successful term at our school. Collaboration and cooperation of our school and the homes play an important role in the development of our students, and we value your trust in us.

I would like to wish our Concordia families a pleasant, enjoyable and rejuvenating spring holiday break.

Yours in faith,

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus