ConcordiaLutheranCollege

Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March 2023

From the Head of College

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Several significant events over the past week have affirmed the expectations, pastoral care, working partnerships and servant hearts which our community displays week in and week out. Congratulations are in order when I reflect on the Stephen Street Campus Swimming Carnival. The participation numbers and encouragement by our Year 12 students of others is some of the best I have witnessed. Well done to all of you and thank you for being such great role models on the day. Today we also had the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our Age Group Champions at their assembly. We now look forward to the upcoming QCIS Swimming Carnival where a full Senior Swimming Team can test their metal.

Thank you to the many volunteers, 37 in fact, students and families who attended the Queens Park, Park Run last Saturday. The feedback from the Park Run fraternity has been overwhelmingly positive and affirming of Concordia’s presence last weekend. Thank you to Mrs. Libby Chapman, our College Nurse, for her role in coordinating and supporting the College at this event.

The College also hosted a Cybersafety Day earlier in the week which included presentations for our Year 5 – 12 students, staff and parents. From all accounts the workshops have been very well received across the board. Thank you to Mr. Tony Manteufel, Director of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing, for coordinating, planning and hosting this event.

Early this morning our Year 9 students and their families were part of the Rite Journey Ceremony at Picnic Point. The ‘Calling and Departure’ Ceremony is an event that marks the official beginning of the Rite Journey Program. It is a symbolic handing over of the Year 9s to the teacher-mentors who then work with the students in an intentional framework/course that helps to move them towards more adult ways of operating. The mentor teachers this year are Mrs. Karen Rhode, Mrs. Nicola Heuschele and Mr. Stephen Miegel. This ceremony involved a number of rituals which allow for a time of slowing down, reflecting and connecting at a deeper level with our Year 9 students. At the conclusion of the ceremony, all participants shared in a community breakfast hosted by the College. Thank you to the parents and caregivers for your partnership and participation in this event today. A further thank you must also be extended to Mr. Stephen Miegel as the coordinator of this event.

Listening to the Cybersafety presentation earlier in the week prompted the question about making strong or good choices, the subsequent consequences which arise from the choices we make as well as practising and implementing socially acceptable behaviour choices repeatedly. So, what is ethical behaviour? Almost 2500 years ago, the philosopher Socrates debated the questions with his fellow Athenians and his position was clear: ethics consists of knowing what we ought to do and such knowledge can be learned. In fact, we can teach ourselves how to make sure our behaviour is ethical by using 5 simple questions at the end of each day.

Did I practise any virtues today? Virtues are “Habits of the heart” which we learn through good role models such as a parent[s], a relative or a teacher. Ask yourself, was I, at least some part of the time today, a person who showed integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, compassion, or any of the other virtues I have been taught?
Did I do more good than harm today? Consider the short term and long-term consequences of your actions.
Did I treat people with dignity and respect today? All human beings should be treated with dignity and respect even when we disagree with or dislike them. All people have rights, especially the fundamental right to be treated as free and equal human beings. How did my actions today contribute towards the treatment of others?
Was I fair and just today? Did I treat each person the same unless there was some good reason to treat him or her differently? If we believe in justice for ourselves, then we need to show and propagate justice for others.
Was my community better because I was in it? How did I contribute today to a happy and supportive community for us all to live in?

We must all take responsibility for how we think, how we react and how we behave. Every day, we decide what we are – truthful or dishonest, kind or cruel, helpful or difficult, polite or unpleasant, a pleasure to be with or someone to avoid. Every day, our actions have consequences and can be helpful or hurtful. We practise ethics every day and by careful thought we can work together to be at our best every day. [Acknowledgement: Everything Counts]

Good luck to our Year 10 students as they embrace the possibilities of entering the workforce and learning about a possible career path, over the next fortnight, as part of their Work Experience Block.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Yours in Christ.

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

Quote of the week: Ethics is knowing what you have a right to do and what is right to do. [Peter Stewart]

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From the College Pastor

Community News

2023 Collection Notice - Student Residential Address and Other Information

The Australian Government Department of Education would like to notify you of the collection of residential address and other information. For more information please click here.

Autumn Leaves Concert - 23 March

Cyber Safety Information Session

We Will Rock You Musical - Hunt for items

As we draw nearer to the 2023 College Production of, We Will Rock You, rehearsals are underway, costume fittings are happening, sets are being built and creative team are putting finishing touches on props and scenery. We are still on the hunt for a few items which might be hidden in your backyard shed or back of the wardrobe. We are still looking for:

A large bicycle wheel
Working VCR machine
1 broken play station controller
Studded belts and Wrist bands

If you have any of these items and would like to donate please email: Holly.Kiehne@concordia.qld.edu.au

LYQ Winter Cristian Life Week Camp 2023 - Years 7- 12

Christian Life Weeks coming up midyear – early bird registration:
Book at Winter Christian Life Week 2023 | Lutheran Youth of Queensland (lyq.org.au)

Project Based Learning at Concordia

Junior College

JC Maths Pathways Parent Information Evening - Years 5 & 6

We would like to invite our Years 5 & 6 parents to an Information Evening to discuss Mathematics Pathways.

Attending this evening is a great opportunity for you to gain a deeper understanding of the courses and ask any questions you may have. This meeting will allow you to find out more about the individualised approach to teaching Maths and how it aligns to the Australian Curriculum.

We will be discussing how students progress, what a Maths Pathways classroom looks like, and how to interpret a report card. We will show you how to access information on Concordia’s Parent Lounge and the parent interface for Maths Pathways.

When: 27 February 2023
Venue: E1 – Lecture Theatre, Stephen Street Campus
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

We look forward to seeing you there.

Rowena Weier
JC Teaching & Learning Coordinator

JC Student Council and Service Leadership

As a Junior College, we would like to support the people in Turkey who have been tragically affected by the earthquake. Australian Lutheran World Services (ALWS) are raising funds to support this very worthy cause. If your child would like to support this fundraiser, the HSC and WSC Student Council will be hosting a Gold Coin Free Dress Day on Monday 27 February.

JC Free Dress Day - Monday 27 February

AFL & Hockey Sporting Schools Program

Detailed information regarding the after school sporting programs has been emailed to all years 4-6 parents for AFL and Years 2 to 6 parents for hockey.

To submit your child/children's interest in participating, go to Parent Lounge > Tours & Excursions. Permission is due next Friday 24 February.

If you require the intercampus bus, please please click on the link - Bus Transport Application

Please note: there is a maximum of 25 participants for AFL, years 4-6 Students only & 30 participants for Hockey, years 2-6 students only.

JC Sports News

Toowoomba Central Zone Swimming Wrap Up 2023
Congratulations to the 34 Concordia Lutheran College students that competed at the Toowoomba Central Swimming Trials at The Glennie School on Wednesday 15 February 2023. It was great to see the format back to normal, and spectators present after new restrictions imposed due to Covid-19, over the past few years.

It was an impressive effort by all our athletes with many achieving new personal best times, with many CLC students qualifying in over 30 events, while several missing out by the narrowest of margins, to represent the Toowoomba Central Zone Team that will now compete at the Darling Downs Regional Swimming Championships in March in Gatton. The Concordia team will be supplying a major percentage of swimmers from the central Zone. Great work to all involved in preparing our swimmers, while also top marks to those students who put in the individual effort in their training.

Thank you to Mrs Riehl and Mrs Paynter for their smooth managing of the team on the day, having students ready to go for the races. Also, a big than you to Troy Chandler from Tjs, your assistance before and on the day with team is appreciated as always. As a representative of Concordia Sport at these events it is always rewarding to see our students do their best, and to hear glowing feedback from the members of the community involved in such events about our competitors. What a great start to our sporting representative programs for 2023. Well done to all concerned and we wish our Central Zone representatives all the best in their next challenge!

Central Zone representatives - Jonathon Rice, Connor Gadsby, Parun Benham, Charlie Lowis, Douglas Plumb, Emily Holding, Nicole Plumb, Manshi Bhardwaj

Sporting Schools Programs
Junior College campuses we will be running both AFL and Hockey Sporting School programs after school. Information has been advertised with these programs through parent lounge. As usual these programs are eagerly awaited by both students and parents alike and I am looking forward to running these programs over the next 4 weeks.

Cross Country
As our Cross-Country carnival will be held on Wednesday 29 March. We will be start preparations for this event with training in both PE lessons and other sessions before school for those students who wish to attend and improve their fitness and have some fun with their mates. Please see below information for these sessions. This is for students from Years 1 to 6.

Training Times - starting 7 March 2023

HSC – Wednesdays, (weeks 7, 8, 9 & 10) - 7.30 -8.10am
WSC - Tuesdays, (weeks 7, 8, 9 & 10) - 7.30 – 8.10am

Students will meet Staff on ovals and be in PE uniform, while they may need a spare pair of sneakers/socks depending on how wet the grass is each session. Also, they will need to bring a water bottle.

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

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Outside School Hours Care

Stephen Street Campus

SSC Weekly Events

Please click here to view SSC's Events for Term 1, Week 6.

Boarding

Boarding News

Hi to all our boarder families.

Our feet have not touched the ground this week. It has been a very happening and eventful week in Boarding. All sporting codes are well underway. Concordia sports and external Club sports are certainly keeping our students busy and energised. Our sporting program has grown this term and the students have come on board with their commitment and team spirit.

The SSC Inter-House Swimming Carnival was such a success last Friday that the students are still talking about it. Congratulations to all those who participated and those who cheered them on. Those who do not swim were creative and sported the Hawaiian theme.

Preparations for our Japanese tour are well underway. We are all looking forward to a welcomed change in Week 10. It will be a time for us to showcase our College and Boarding facilities whilst sharing a little of our Australian culture. Having the dorms full creates a great atmosphere and it allows the students to interact with each other. It is extremely reassuring knowing we have a happy place for all to share.

As the Housemother from time to time I venture into the boys’ dorms to check the house keeping of their rooms. I was so impressed with the tidiness and organisational skills displayed. With permission from the boys, I have taken some photos so all the Mums and Dads can get an insight into how their son is surviving boarding life.

This weekend we are off to the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast and a dash to the beach for some well-deserved RNR. We will be heading off early and returning by 5.30pm.

Until next week take care and safe travels.

Hope you all enjoy our pictures below.

Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent