The most powerful influence on a child’s life and perspective is that which is modelled by its parents and I thank you for the daily partnership which we have with you in laying the foundation for your child. Parents, therefore, you are a critical part of this process of perspective-giving. If we take that broad sense of true education, it cannot possibly the case that everything is achieved at school. As we come of our awards and presentation season at Concordia, it’s important that we all keep in mind that not winning a prize at school renders all achievements in the year as negligible. The greatest prize for our children is when they can look themselves in the eye and acknowledge that they have tried their absolute best and done a good job. I would ask that you keep this in mind as you read and discuss your student’s Semester 2 report with the. I have included, for your interest, a link to an article published in the late 1990s offering advice to parents on what to consider when looking at their child’s report – not a lot has changed with some great advice being provided to parents.

One of the major tasks undertaken by the college this year has been to review our Strategic Plan. Please find attached for your perusal a copy of our new Strategic Plan for the next 3 years – Towards 2026. From this we have also written our 2023 Annual Plan, which is also attached for your perusal, which informs the nuts and bolts of college life in 2023. Please note that our Vision Statement is still being fine-tuned and currently presents as a draft statement. Both documents will now be updated on our website in readiness for the 2023 school year.

Several upgrades and refurbishment projects will await us on our return in the new school year as part of our maintenance plan. A significant project will be the refurbishment of the gym/fitness area of the gymnasium on the Stephen Street Campus. This project is all part of supporting the restructure of the Sports Program at Concordia in 2023 and beyond.

I am excited to let you know that Belinda Sanders has been appointed as Concordia’s next Director of Marketing and Enrolments. Belinda is currently a Presenter and Senior Producer with ABC Southern Queensland. Belinda has worked as a radio and television journalist and producer, having spent the last 23 years working for the ABC. She has contributed to many charities and community events and is currently the Director of The Lighthouse Toowoomba charity and President of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs Communications and Media Club. As a long-standing member of the local community, Belinda has deep working relationships and is widely respected within the local community. We look forward to welcoming Belinda to Concordia at the start of the 2023 school year.

The departure of Mrs. Wendy Bowen, at the end of the school year, has also allowed us to consider and restructure the leadership roles at Stephen Street Campus to better suit the strategic direction and intent of the college. Mr. Jamie Pukallus will continue as the Director of Campus for Stephen Street but will look after the Learning and Innovation portfolio from next year, a role which he has great experience and held very successfully in his previous school. We have decided to create the new position of Director of Pastoral Care, who will work closely with Mr. Pukallus at the Stephen Street campus, as well as having oversight of the restructuring of the Prep – Year 12 Pastoral Care Framework. I look forward to announcing this appointment to you at the start of the 2023 school year.

During my address at the Years 6 to 11 Presentation Night on Monday, I put forward a challenge and a request for every family to take up in the holidays. The challenge is for the students and the request is for the parents. I have challenged every student to read at least one good book during the upcoming break and requested that you, as the parents, attend a church service as a family over Christmas, to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

I would like to extend my very best wishes to every family for a blessed Christmas, a chance for some well-earned rest and a safe start to the new year.

Yours in Christ

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

A Christmas Blessing from my family to yours:
May the feet of God walk with you, and his hand hold you tight,
May the eye of God rest on you, and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you, and his breath give you life,
May the Child of God grow in you, and his love bring you home. [Lyrics by Robyn Mann]

At the end of the school year as assessments are completed, reports still being finalised and lockers cleaned out, it is time not just to give thanks but also to look forward and be reminded that in the midst of this ever changing and challenging world, there are some constants. Christmas is coming around again, a reminder that God’s love for us is unchanging, and his promise to be with us, sharing all the ups and downs of our lives is forever. Christmas invites to reflect on what this mans for us and how this can give us a solid foundation for our lives. Christmas invites us to join the wise men from the East and worship the baby of Bethlehem, Jesus, the Christ, as Matthew reports:

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matt 2:11)

May you find time in these coming holidays to rest, be refreshed, but also connect with the Christ-child, and be drawn into his presence and be filled with joy and hope for the year ahead.

Have a blessed Christmas and happy New Year!

Pastor Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

Today, we celebrated with our Year 6 students as we said our final farewells to them in our closing Chapel Services. We wish them all the best as they move into Middle College and look forward to hearing about all they accomplish in the future. We also wish those of you who are leaving our community, all the best for your future endeavours. We hope that you will look fondly on your time spent at Concordia.

Our Junior College would not be the community it is without the support of our parents. We would like to thank all of you for your continued support throughout 2022 and look forward to working alongside you again next year. To our students, congratulations on another successful school year. We are very proud of all that each one of you has achieved.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to recognise the staff of Hume Street and Warwick Street Campuses. This outstanding group of people have worked tirelessly again this year and always bring out the best in our students. Your Christmas break is truly deserved. We wish all of our families a blessed Christmas and look forward to seeing you in 2023.

Click here to view HSC's Events for Term 1, Week 1.
Click here to view WSC's Events for Term 1, Week 1.

Mrs Juanetta Priest - Director of Campus (Hume Street)
Mrs Jackie Minnikin - Director of Campus (Warwick Street)

Records Broken

• Lisa Richards – Girls Open 100 IM, 100m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke, 100m Butterfly, 13Yrs 50m Free style, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly
• James Rice – Boys 13 Yrs. 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly
• Rhia Heilig – Girls 13Yrs 25m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke
• Billy O’Neill – Boys 13yrs 25m Freestyle
• Sebastian Millett- Boys 12 Yrs 25m Backstroke
• Tiernan O’Keefe – Boys 13 Yrs 25m Breaststroke
• Boys Open 100m Relay – ALTUS
• Girls Open 100m Relay - ALTUS

Friday Sport - Term 4
Last Friday saw the culmination of our Year 5/6 Inter-School Sport fixtures for Term 4. This term we participated in mixed Volleyball, boys Cricket, Touch Football, and girls AFL and Hockey. Our Concordia teams performed exceptionally well week in week out showing fantastic sportsmanship and coming away with some great results.

Many thanks to all persons who assisted in some way each term to provide the opportunity for our students to have a game of their chosen sport, these are some of the best memories that will stay with them throughout their lives, while also having fun with their mates. Special mention to our tireless coaches Mr Paul Baker, Mrs Emma Stewart, Mr Alan Weir, Mr Sam McCullough, Mrs Leanne Ivanov, Mr Darryl Fry that assisted for all your efforts during the year.

Little Athletics
Recently several of our Junior College students have been involved in extending their involvement in the track and field off season, by involving themselves local Little Athletics clubs.

James Rice, Jonathan Rice, and Chase Robertson participated in a variety of events at this meet, and with their team have made it to State Titles in Brisbane on Saturday 3 December.

Jonathan has qualified in the following events:

• U11 Long Jump
• Mixed Relay 10 - 12yrs, 4 x 100.

At Regionals, Jonathan finished 3rd in Long Jump. In the Mixed Relay, Jonathan and in his team, placed 1st.

James has qualified in the following events:

• U13 4 x 100m Relay.
• U12 Distance Medley.

James and his team finished 1st at Regionals, in both events, listed above.

Chase Robertson has qualified in the following events:

• 4 x 100m Relay
• High Jump

Other CLC Students, who are part of the same Little Athletics Club and Participated at the Regionals Carnival and will also go onto the state event are William Spoelder and Lachlan Spoelder.

Basketball News
This term our Junior College participated in the annual Friday Night Basketball Competition, which was played at a host of venues across town. This team had some great success throughout the term and were rewarded with a grand final berth against Downlands College. While they didn’t get the result that they were after, they should be proud of their efforts. Well done to all involved!

“Commit to be fit program”
For the last 4 weeks some students have taken advantage of the “commit to be fit’ program which has been run at each campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. At these sessions students had the opportunity to challenge themselves physically in a variety of activities both individually and in groups. Congratulations to those students who turned up before school each week to improve themselves not only physically but from a wholistic health focus. Great job everyone.

Mr Darryl Fry
Teacher / Junior College Sports Coordinator / Head Coach, Touch

This afternoon I will be emailing parents a letter which outlines some key updates for Stephen Street Campus in 2023. Without going into great detail here, we eagerly anticipate some changes to Pastoral Care and increased student access to extra-curricular activities. We are always keen to hear feedback from our students and families, and as always, our plans moving forward will attempt to capture this voice in the opportunities we offer.

2022 Awards Evening
What a thoroughly enjoyable evening it was on Monday as we recognised a large number of students from Years 6-11 at our Awards and Recognition event at Empire Theatre. Boy, do we have some talented students at Concordia - many of whom are triple and quadruple threats! What I love so much about Concordia is the humility that is possessed by even our highest achieving students. Well done to all award winners, you have certainly embraced our theme for the year in “imaging the possibilities”.

Departing staff
While the end of year brings much joy, we also acknowledge with sadness that we will be saying goodbye to some incredible staff. I would like to acknowledge the tireless passion and dedicated service of Mrs Bianca Coleborn, Ms Wendy Bowen, Mr Darren Pope, Ms Leah Parker and Mr Adam Coutts. Many within this group have served Concordia over a number of years and have been integral in developing the College that now stands before us. The outcomes they have achieved, and the fruits of their labour will be woven into the fabric of Concordia for many years to come. Thank you so much for putting Concordia “at the heart” of everything you do – you will be missed. All the best with your next call.

To our families, thank you for supporting your children in developing not only their academic skills, but their character as well. Beyond the academics, our hope is to grow kind individuals who know how to solve problems and contribute to the world in positive ways. To the students, you make us proud each day. To the staff, thank you for your dedication and commitment, well beyond the hours of the day. You are the ones who create the place where students can grow into the very best versions of themselves and you continue to inspire me.

Have a wonderful Christmas and summer break.

See you in the new year.

Yours in faith,

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus

The Student Council has a number of events and causes planned for 2023. Students are encouraged to look for every opportunity to be part of these activities next year.

Shaved heads:

• Bella Gratwick
• Hannah Hills
• Henry Thorne
• Alex Theodosis
• Lachlan Churchill
• Joshua Blackwell
• Mrs Karin McKenzie
• Mr Jamie Pukallus
• Mr Anton Prinsloo

Cut ponytails:

• Jorja Hollonds
• Mia Hallaran
• Mia Allsop
• Jacinta Kucks
• Jaymee Burgess

Coloured:

• Tani Bhardwaj
• Mrs Melanie Beckman