The Week Ahead - Term 1, Week 4
Monday February 17 to Friday 21 February 2020
From the Head of College
The Rite Journey
Welcome to a new edition of The Week Ahead. It was a delight to join our Year 9 students, parents and staff before dawn for the Rite Journey ‘Calling’ at Picnic Point. As I was immersed in the cooking of the BBQ, I could not help but reflect on the importance of rituals in all our lives. This morning was for our students and parents, the start of a year that processes through a number of activities including the Googa Outdoor Education experience. It culminates with a final Chapel service; however, I really thought about how important it is to extend the Rite Journey concept for the benefit of our young people. It is written into our Strategic Plan, and I look forward to an investigation in this area getting underway in the near future.
Old Scholars Association and Alumni
I am pleased to let you know that Mrs Julie Gould has kindly taken on the coordination role to bring together our old scholar and alumni community. We are aware of many past student and staff cohorts gathering together to share stories and often the ‘good’ times, and we are looking forward to being able to facilitate such gatherings for all of our past 70 plus student groups who have moved through Concordia. We will be looking to establish connections with all past students and staff, update our contact database, and work alongside these groups as they celebrate their connections to Concordia.
Julie is known to many, and she has had a very long connection with Concordia. I take this opportunity to thank her for willingly taking on this important role within the Concordia community. Further contact and general details will be released in the coming weeks and I look forward to a growing interest in the College as we head towards our 75th Anniversary in 2021.
Like our Old Scholars page on Facebook for further information.
Kindest regards and blessings
Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College
From the College Pastor
Community News
Peak 2 Park
Concordia will be entering a school team into this year's Peak 2 Park on Sunday 3 March. This is always a great community event plus a great little workout for the upcoming Cross Country! If you would like to be a team member, entry is $10 per person. Please go to Student Reception to collect the entry form and once completed, pay at the Business Office.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Junior College Inter-House Swimming Carnival
Recently, Concordia hosted its annual Junior College Inter-House Swimming Carnival. This was the first major Inter-House sporting event for 2020. What a fantastic day it was for all concerned despite the onset of rain threatening to put a dampener on activities.
From the first House War Cries at 8.30am, the students never stopped, ranging from their individual races, through to the House Spirit encouraging each other, enjoying the great meal deal and interacting with the House Mascots. It was evident the students were having fun and enjoying the mateship that comes with the sporting endeavours at these carnivals.
Change to Reception Hours
The Junior College Reception hours have changed. The new hours are from 7.45am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday.
MiniLit and MacqLit Parent Information Session
Concordia is very fortunate to have qualified staff to implement this research-based program on all three campuses. If you would like more information about what it is and how it works, please join us at Concordia’s Hume Street Campus Year 1 classroom on Wednesday 19 February at 5.30pm. We look forward to sharing this amazing program with you. If you are unable to make this time, we will upload the PowerPoint to Parent Lounge after 19 February.
Outside School Hours Care
Hume Street Campus
Message from the Director
Please take the time to read the following article: Let them play! How academic preschools are ruining your childs development
In a nutshell, it talks about the importance of play in a child’s life and the ramifications in student learning of less play. Opportunities to ‘play’, create neuro pathways that build links between the left and right side of the brain. The stronger the connection of the left and right sides of the brain, the stronger the learning. Play can include activities such as sport, climbing trees, jumping on trampolines, riding bikes, building with lego, building cubbies, or anything where they are using their imagination to create.
HSC Week 4 Updates
Click on Expand Article to view important notices for the coming week.
HSC Week 4 Events
Click Here to view HSC events for Week 4
Warwick Street Campus
Message from the Director
The last three weeks at WSC have been very busy indeed and I thank everyone for your continual engagement and support of the students and staff at Warwick Street Campus.
The students have come back this year buzzing with excitement about the many new initiatives that will be occurring and you will read about some of these below. I look forward to being a part of these activities with the students and sharing some photos with you in the coming weeks.
Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Director of Campus
WSC Week 4 Updates
Click on Expand Article to view important notices for the coming week.
Word on the Street
Rubik’s Cube Club
We are excited to announce that the Rubik's Cube craze has come to WSC. Please see the details on the flyer below about our Rubik's Cube Club.
WSC Week 7 Events
Click Here to view WSC events for Week 7
Warwick Street Kindergarten Weekly Chatter
This month the Kindy children and staff are focusing on the vegetable garden. They’ll be discussing what vegetables they would like to grow, and what they’ll need to help them grow. Gardening engages all sorts of senses and helps children to develop and recognise them without even realising.
Mrs Thomson is asking children to bring a photo of their family to kindy, either in person or you can email it through to: Chelsea.Thomson@concordia.qld.edu.au
And a reminder for Mrs Gillam's room to please bring a family photo in or email one to Kayla at: Kayla.Gillam@concordia.qld.edu.au
Drive Through
Just a reminder that our Drive Through area is for pick up and drop off only. This area is NOT FOR PARKING during these times. It is a ‘Kiss and Drop’ and pick up zone only. Parents must not park and leave their car in the Drive Through in the morning as it blocks the driveway for other vehicles and creates parking issues. This must remain a safe area for all of our students to use. We appreciate your assistance with this.
Miss Steph
Stephen Street Campus
Senior College Assessment Guidelines
There have been a significant number of changes in regards to assessment which have come from QCAA. This new Assessment Guidelines document reflects for parents and students the changes to the new syllabus requirements in regards to assessment. I would strongly encourage you to please read this important document. Please click here to access the Assessment Guidelines handbook.
This handbook is also available in Parent Lounge and Student Cafe under School Links > Learning & Innovation.
Ms Wendy Bowen
Director of Learning & Innovation
Elevate Parent Information Session
Library Lover’s Day 14 February
14 February is the day to reflect and celebrate the love of your life… libraries!
This year all Campuses are celebrating Library Lover’s Day by sharing the book that they love the most. We have had an overwhelming response at Stephen Street Campus. Some of our favourite books are:
Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod
The Mortal Engines series by Phillip Reeve
The Magician by Raymond E Feist
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
A Dog’s Purpose by W Bruce Cameron
One Humanity, Many Faiths by Venerable Master Chin Kung
There is definitely a thriving and diverse culture of reading at Concordia!
Mrs Heidi Edwards
Teacher Librarian
SSC P&F News
Welcome to 2020!
Firstly I’d like to thank everyone who braved the torrential rain on Monday night to attend our first P&F meeting at SSC for 2020. It was great to see familiar faces and welcome some new ones too. It’s hard to believe that we’re already half way through February and for the SSC P&F this is going to be a whirlwind of a semester with a few events happening in the first half of the year.
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
On Saturday 7 March, due to a cancellation, we have been very fortunate to secure a spot at Bunnings West to host a Sausage Sizzle. This will be our third barbecue there and to date, these have been a successful fundraising opportunity for the P&F and in return, for the College and student community.
We will be seeking parent and student volunteers to assist (in one hour time slots) on the day with cooking and selling. Please click here to view the Volunteer Roster where you will be able to nominate and secure your preferred times to help out. We will be seeking volunteers at Bunnings from 7am to 4.30pm, and students must be 15 years or older to help on the day. If you’re not in a position to help out on the day, please come on down and buy some sausages (there’s not much in life that beats a Bunnings snag).
Maths Extension Workshop
One of our goals in Mathematics is to not only enrich learning but foster a love for the subject beyond what can be experienced within the time constraints of the classroom. The University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba campus (USQ) provides one of these opportunities. For five weeks starting from Thursday 27 February in the afternoons, USQ will run a Mathematics Enrichment Program available to students in Years 9 and 10.
The program goes for two hours in which students will complete problem-solving activities to help activate their mathematical thinking and also challenge them. Students can register their interest by clicking here.
Mrs Karin McKenzie
Head of Department - Mathematics
Term 1 Assessment Planners
Term 1 Assessment calendars can be found in Student Cafe and Parent Lounge under School Links > Learning & Innovation.
Boarding
Weekly Update
Week 3 is nearly over and our students have all settled into boarding life. Students are full on with their studies, school sport and external sporting commitments.
Our Year 12 students are proudly walking around with their Senior jerseys on!
A big shout out to staff who did a wonderful job with our overseas students when they were in isolation. We are happy to say our boys have settled back into the dorm and at school. One morning in the dorm, I was taken aback as I thought “Doctor Doctor" was in the house but it was Mr Ross doing his rounds!
Our Boarding Captains are exhibiting great leadership in the dining room and in the Boarding House. Well done! Students are enjoying the many different meals in the dining room. Back to Boarding normality.
The installation of new staff, Miss Tosca and Miss Tina, is now completed and both ladies have settled well into their roles.
I am now on the road to recovery following surgery and will be back on deck within a couple of weeks.
Mrs Maureen Taurima
Housemother
Evening Study for Years 7 to 10
In consultation with the Learning Enrichment Coordinator, Mr Darren Pope, we are developing a student driven Learning in Residence study program for the boarders from Years 7 to 10.
So far, the program has been a fantastic step forward, involving the boarding students to have their voices heard in what motivates them to do ‘homework’.
One of our new boarders was heard to say happily after a study session, “I got so much work done tonight!"
