ConcordiaLutheranCollege

Monday 21 February to Friday 25 February 2022

From the Head of College

Head of College Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers

It was wonderful to acknowledge, present badges to and affirm our respective College captains and leaders in front of their peers this week. Good luck to all these leaders as they begin their journey of service to their peers and the College.

The student leadership groups in our College are in excellent hands with layers of staff to also guide and support these groups. Student voice is a critical component in setting culture, the strategic direction and pulse in any school. These student leaders have been encouraged to set one clear goal each term for their leadership role to feel a sense of accomplishment and completion throughout the 2022 school year.

Good luck and congratulations to our Year 12 students, who received their Senior ties this week, as this rite of passage confirms them as our Senior class and leaders of 2022.

Reducing anxiety at the start of the school year is something which we all need to be aware of as the students return to school after an extra-long break. New classes, new teachers, new students as well as the uncertainty of the pandemic all have the potential to pile up and create fear of the unknown. Here are some strategies to consider as we continue to navigate the new school year:

Validate their anxiety: Let your child know that you appreciate and understand that they may be anxious about the return to school. It is an important validation for your student and helps them feel safe and secure.
Help them prepare: Ask them what they are looking forward to in 2022 and check in regularly in the first weeks.
Focus on the positives: Talk about their friends and teachers and reassure them that they will soon feel comfortable in their new routines.
Limit expressing your expectations: Check the timing of these conversations, especially academic ones, as you will have plenty of time to discuss these as the term unfolds.
Non-anxious behaviour or brave behaviour should be praised and celebrated. The more energy we give anxiety the bigger it becomes. This side of addressing anxiety is not always talked about.
Look after yourself: The longer break and the uncertainty that comes with the current pandemic have taken a toll on parents as well. Ensure that you take care of your own wellbeing if you are going to be the positive carer your child needs. Flexibility is going to be a necessity in the coming months as you care for your child and family.

[Acknowledgement: Michael Grosser and Dr Jodi Richardson]

Please remember to continue using the strong open-door policy to your student’s Classroom Teacher, Home Class Teacher, Director of Campus, Year Level and Pastoral Care Coordinators and my office too. A transparent, trusting and strong working relationship with you are critical ingredients to the ongoing success of your child’s journey at Concordia.

Computer literacy and digital safety are paramount in the wellness journey of all our students both at home and at school. Our young people have access to the world at their fingertips via their electronic devices. Computer literacy is a necessary learning in 2022. However, we are aware that parenting online can be daunting and sometimes overwhelming. Please find attached a correspondence from the Australian Federal Police regarding internet slang and the use of emojis to better equip you to engage in conversations about your child’s online safety. [Please note that some people may find the content distressing].

For further information and learning please access E-safety online or contact our College Counsellor, Ms Jessica Tobin by calling 4688 2700 or via email jessica.tobin@concordia.qld.edu.au.

Thank you to our College Counsellor, Ms Tobin, for her ongoing support of and work done with our students every day in conjunction with so many staff at Concordia who do and value pastoral care as an essential part of the students’ learning and social toolbox.

Thank you for your ongoing support and communication as together we continue to navigate the early part of the school year.

Have a safe weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather we are currently experiencing.

Yours in Christ.

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

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From the College Pastor

One body, many parts

This year, I have the privilege to teach German to a Year 7 class, as well as the usually Christian Studies load.

Learning another language is an important skill for people living in our multicultural and globalised world and in such a diverse country as Australia. I suspect that our German heritage at Concordia is the reason for offering the German language.

Germany is a major industrialised western country and there are over 150 Million people in the world for whom this is their mother tongue. German is the 11^th most spoken language in the world. Our Lutheran reformation heritage has strong German roots also.

While we can’t just duck across a border to immerse ourselves in another language and culture in this wide brown land of ours, we can still learn about other cultures and languages and experience them even within Australia. Traditionally (and I think it will become so again) Australians are avid international travellers, so having another language is an invaluable asset.

Learning another language, however, is much more than just learning words and grammar. It's also about understanding another culture, different worldviews, idiosyncrasies and lifestyles. It is about developing empathy and understanding toward people different from ourselves. And that is certainly something we want Concordia students to take with them when they step into the wider world beyond their school years.

Having learned a number of different languages myself, and being fluent in two, I have found that it becomes easier to learn new languages once you have mastered one. I have also experienced, on a number of occasions, the way the Christian faith unites people from all sorts of different backgrounds and cultures – whether in Central Australian indigenous communities or at international gatherings of pastors from many nations or joining worship in Finland, for example.

St Paul writes in his letter to the Christians in Corinth:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:1-14)

Our world needs people who can look beyond the human-made boundaries of nation, language and culture, and bring people together in understanding and love. We have a God who seeks to bring peace and love into this world of divisions and calls us to be part of his work.

Perhaps learning another language is a small contribution toward this divine goal. Please encourage your children as they undertake this challenging task.

Blessings for the week ahead!

Pastor Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

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Community News

2022 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection Notice

We wish to advise parents and guardians that Concordia has received a request from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training (the department) to provide a statement of student addresses, in accordance with the Australian Education Regulation 2013.

For further information, please refer to the Student Residential and Other Information Collection Notice.

International Women's Day High Tea

You're invited to attend the inaugural International Women's Day High Tea taking place at the Concordia Function Centre on Tuesday 8 March from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Enjoy a delicious range of savories and sweets prepared by our professional chefs, along with an assortment of gourmet teas, coffee and juice. You will also receive a gift bag on arrival.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for school-aged students. Tables of 10 are available for $250.

It's been great to see a an excellent response to this event with half of the available seats already sold! If you'd like to join us, please make sure book your tickets as soon as possible by clicking this button. Ticket sales close on Friday 4 March, if not sold out sooner.

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College Policies

The College has a number of public policies that are available for viewing through our website. These policies and procedures include statements about Privacy, Grievance Handling, Child-Protection, Anti-Discrimination and Respectful Relationships. Click here to access these policies.

For further information about any public policies and procedures of the College please contact either the Head of College or Directors of Campus.

Budding 2032 Olympians!

Budding Queensland athletes ready yourselves - your state, indeed your country, needs YOU!

Today the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) announced its #Youfor2032 campaign and is on a quest to identify and develop local athletes to take to the world stage at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The program aims to identify aspiring athletes aged 13 to 23 for Olympic sports and 13 to 30 for Paralympic sports.

The QAS will be travelling across the state as they select more than 20,000 young athletes in a bid to put more Queenslanders on the medal dais in Brisbane 2032. Applications for #Youfor2032 will open on 12 April 2022, with the first testing sessions happening in Toowoomba in May.

Click here to find out more.

Lots of Socks – World Down Syndrome Day – 14 March

On Monday 14 March we are asking students to wear their craziest socks to school and bring along a gold coin donation to help support World Down Syndrome Day.

Project Based Learning at Concordia

Junior College

From the Directors

When looking at the Seesaw posts over the last couple of days, it is easy to see that our students have quickly settled back into their school routines. In the current world we are living in, Seesaw has become a direct link between school and home as we are able to share not only student learning, but some of the important events that are continuing to happen while our parents are unable to attend in person.

The first of these events was on Monday afternoon with our Year 6 leaders being presented with their badges from Mr Prinsloo. Unfortunately, we were unable to have parents join us for this occasion but were able to video this and upload it to Seesaw for all our Year 6 families to see. Congratulations to all our leaders. We look forward to seeing you lead the way in 2022 and leaving your mark in the Junior College in various ways throughout the year.

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JC String Ensemble - Logistics Change

Dear Parents and Caregivers

The great news is that our Junior String Ensemble has doubled in size since this time last year (from six to 12 students). This has, however, brought some operational challenges which means we have had to change the time and place of Tuesday rehearsals.

Rehearsals will now take place in the Music room at the Warwick Street Campus and will run from 3.10pm to 4.10pm. Pick up will be from The Shed/Warwick Street drive through. I ask that you are prompt in collecting your children as I need to be at the Stephen Street Campus to teach at 4.30pm. If you are running late, please contact me on my mobile - 0427 240 541.

This change in logistics means the Warwick Street Campus students will no longer need to walk over to Stephen Street Campus (I will be able to supervise them from the end of school, until they are collected) and it ensures I am ready and waiting to meet the Hume Street Campus students as they get off the bus at Warwick Street Campus.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these changes, otherwise I look forward to seeing your children at Warwick Street Campus, on Tuesday.

Ms Georgie Meecham
Strings Conductor/Tutor

Free 2 Day Autism Workshop for Parents and Carers

Outside School Hours Care

Stephen Street Campus

From the Director of Campus

After only two weeks into College life, I am clearly witnessing the amazing group of young people that I am blessed to be involved with at Concordia.

As I walk around campus, the smiles and warm greetings of our students are examples of how the College values are more than simply words on posters. Everywhere I go, I see the living and breathing, high sense of respect and regard students hold for each other, staff and the wider community.

I wish to particularly commend our Boarding students for their transition back, or in some cases for the first time, into our boarding family. We do not underestimate how hard it can be to be away from family and the places we call home. I am awed by the way in which some of our “old guard” boarders have taken our new boarders under their wings to help with this adjustment. Our Boarding Houseparents, Maureen and Andrew, along with our tutors, also need to be recognised for how much time and energy they spend in ensuring all students make this place their home away from home.

This week, we have held two special events in recognising our Student Leaders in the College. Our Year 9 Middle College Leaders have received their badges, with words of encouragement from Mr Prinsloo to always remember that the badge is not the sign of a leader, but rather it is the daily actions and values they display. Here is the video from the ceremony:

Our Year 12 students too, have been recognised, with the presentations of their Year 12 ties, signifying their critical role as our senior leaders. Students in elected leadership positions were officially installed and presented with their badges.

Mr Prinsloo shared some history with the students about the wearing of ties and the sense of belonging that comes with it. I shared a verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 to encourage our leaders to boldly take on their roles and share their valuable insights in their final year -¹²Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Both ceremonies were recorded, and the link has been emailed to parents of students in these year levels.

Watch the ceremony below:

In the coming week, our Year 10 students embark on the important milestone event - work experience. This really does mark the beginning of their journey into the Senior phase of learning, where they begin to carefully consider their future pathways. We encourage students to make the most of this opportunity by asking their employers plenty of questions, gaining an honest appraisal of the ups and downs of the particular vocation. We know our students will do us proud with high levels of respect and a can-do work ethic. Staff will be visiting students during their placement through the week, and we look forward to sharing some photos of our students through our communication platforms next week.

COVID guideline reminders As we continue to operate under the COVID-19 guidelines for schools, a reminder that all students should bring a mask to school each day. Naturally, over time these masks may become damaged or deteriorate. There have been a number of requests for new masks from students in the past week. Unfortunately, the College does not have a large supply of masks on-hand, so we ask that parents please check in with their children as to the state of their current mask and consider whether a replacement may be needed.

Have a great week.

Yours in faith,

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus

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Elevate Parent Support Webinar Series

Tennis Coaching - Term 1

Boarding

Boarding News

To all our new students and parents, I hope this week has been a little less stressful for you all. The students have started to find their place in boarding and have formed friendships that will be lifelong.

We have noticed over the past few days, the relaxed looks on the young boys' faces which indicated that they are doing just fine. The transitioning period is far from over and they will all have ups and downs, however, we have certainly had a positive start to date. Keeping the students busy and engaged has been great. Thank you to all our Tutors for their hard work.

Study is well underway now and students have been encouraged to seek out help in the Library.

Over the coming weeks, the workload will become greater and we ask that you promote the use of our Library after school with your child, especially if they are finding that the days are long.

Concordia school sports has kicked off with our girls' Futsal team playing St Ursula’s College on Wednesday. Although we didn’t win, the girls certainly enjoyed the run and the many laughs they had. Tonight, they play at The Glennie School.

Those students who have chosen Club sports, their games will commence this week. Local clubs have been extremely supportive in picking up and dropping off students. Thank you to those parents who have organised pick ups and drop offs as well.

Laundry was a tad messy this week due to clothing not being named or named correctly. To avoid missing or misplaced clothing, we asked that you remind your child to name their clothing. It is also important that they use the correct clothing markers. Please refer to the Boarders' Handbook.

We all attended Chapel last Sunday and after church our students’ planted marigolds with the congregation.

Please feel free to call Andrew or myself if you have any questions or concerns. I hope you enjoy the photos in the gallery below.

Until next week take care and stay safe.

Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent