The Week Ahead - Term 1, Week 8
Monday 15 March to Friday 19 March 2021
From the Head of College
Next week again shows the diversity of activities that are offered across all three Concordia campuses. Tonight is the exciting Glow Disco at the Warwick Street Campus along with ‘An Evening with the Director of Campus – Mrs Minnikin’ for the parents and guardians. This a great initiative and provides an occasion where parents can get to know each other, and at the same time hear a little about the exciting developments at the Campus and more widely across the school.
As previously mentioned in The Week Ahead, Pastor Nathan Glover and family will be welcomed into the Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship at 2.00pm on Sunday. I look forward to joining our representative students and the Lutheran community on this occasion of Pastor Nathan’s Installation.
Congratulations to all of our sporting stars who are competing in various competitions both in Toowoomba and Brisbane. It is the season for sports such as Futsal, Cross Country, Cricket, Basketball and Swimming, and I am delighted that an increasing number of our students are playing sport both at competition level and at a training level for winter sports such as AFL.
Lutheran education in Queensland consists of 26 schools and a number of early childhood centres. In the latter part of this week, I will be attending a meeting of Lutheran Principals, and an assembly of school Chairs and Principals on Saturday 20 March. The meetings are often ‘technical’ by nature but there is always a chance for me to share the good news stories that are evident daily across Concordia.
Congratulations to all in our community – your visible support of the College makes the world of difference.
Kind regards,
Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College
From the College Pastor
Community News
Inter-House Cross Country
The Inter-House Cross Country was held on Wednesday across all Concordia campuses. Well done to everyone who competed and a special congratulations to the 2021 Age Champions.
Learning in Residence Review
We are grateful for the generous gift of time, talents and thinking, shared by more than 20 past, present and future members of the Concordia community in the interactive, online Reflect 2 Pivot workshop this week. The rigour in our conversations brought depth and authenticity to our shared thinking and vision. This valuable ‘design thinking’ process is one of three ways that the College is inviting our whole learning community to continue making a difference, as together we shape the innovative and exciting future of Learning in Residence at Concordia.
Learning is at the heart of everything we do at Concordia.
Exciting times ahead!
Mr Darren Pope
Learning Enrichment Coordinator
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
Lost Property
For Current Year 10 Parents and Students...
Subject information is available in the following handbooks:
Sports News
Sport Coaches in the Spotlight
This week we feature David Rentell, Concordia's football and futsal coach
From the Director of Stephen Street Campus
Sometimes it takes contrast to appreciate the steady and familiar.
Around this time last year, I was reflecting on how easily we take for granted the simple routines of life. As a parent of four children, I am very aware that the familiar of an engaged young person’s weekly commitments, is anything but steady both for students and their chauffeurs.
It is the little things, like seeing all of our sporting teams in their new uniforms enjoying the opportunities to compete against other schools, that continues to bring a strong sense of joy. Even as I drove out on Thursday to watch our senior futsal girls’ grand final, there was a large group of students on the oval engaging with the first of the AFLQ coaching sessions that have been facilitated through the Sporting Schools grant.
So, as we approach the run into the end of Term 1 with the steady stream of semi and grand finals, DD Trials, TSS, QCIS Swimming and Inter-House Cross Country carnivals... soak up the steady and familiar.
For students, the last three weeks of term are very much the business end with numerous assessments items and tasks to finalise. This is a time of higher pressure and it important that students are proactive in managing their commitments. This weekend is a good opportunity to ensure that there is a clear plan for the weeks ahead that includes time to exercise, sleep and look after their wellbeing.
The conversation around sexual consent
As you will no doubt be aware, a serious conversation is currently been held in the media, government and schools around sexual harassment, assault and consent.
Grace Tame, 2021 Australian of the Year, powerfully placed these issues on the agenda for society to confront. This week the Queensland Government has released the following statement: READ NOW
David Robinson, Executive Director, Independent Schools Queensland, has also been engaging with the Minister of Education, Grace Grace, “in relation to responding to the current situation.”
Local Lawyer, Adair Donaldson is actively adding his professional voice to this issue, specifically around the legal definitions of consent. I encourage parents to take a moment to make a cuppa, listen to Adair’s recent interview on ABC Southern Queensland with Belinda Sanders, and intentionally approach this conversation with their children.
As a College, we will ensure that we continue to embed age-appropriate information into our Christian Studies, Pastoral Care and Health and Physical Education programs that equip our students to make informed and hopefully the right choices as they move forward in life and for them to have the confidence and support to report illegal or inappropriate actions.
Our core value of respect underpins our position in that we strive to build a community where every member of the College community respects themselves, others and creation as they demonstrate stewardship and care for God’s earth and all who live on it.
Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus
SSC P&F News
We are looking forward to catching up with everyone this coming Monday 15 March at 6:30pm for our P&F meeting which will be held in the Concordia Function Centre.
Hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it and have any ideas for fundraising, a question or concern you need help with then please feel free to email us at SSCPF@concordia.qld.edu.au and we can raise the matter at the meeting.
Meanwhile, have a fabulous week ahead and we look forward to connecting with you soon.
Mrs Hazel Buckley
Chair SSC P&F Committee
Boarding
News from Boarding
Last week we said goodbye to tutors, Tahnee and Francene. We wish them all the best with their chosen careers and pathways. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to the Learning in Residence program. During your time you both have made a huge impact on our present and past students. Many thanks!
Weeks 6 and 7 have slipped by and now we are approaching Week 8 - how the weeks have flown by! Students have been working tirelessly finishing off drafts and assignments with some starting exams.
The Concordia outdoor air and weather has been great and many students have displayed such enthusiasm and commitment in after school sporting activities such as Basketball, Futsal, Volleyball, Weights, AFL and ADP training and Sprints. The Junior Volleyball girls had a big win on the first night of competition. A big thank you to Mrs Jana Anderson for her tireless sports coordinating.
There are those who enjoy drama, dancing and singing who rehearse two to three times per week for the upcoming College production, A Midsummer Nights' Dream.
Year 10 had their special Year 10 Dinner and, in the words of a rather new student to boarding, it was, “EPIC”.
While our students have been extremely busy, they have all been positive and supportive of their fellow peers and staff. Our boarding houses have a wonderful feel of home away from home.
Enjoy our photos from the past two weeks in the gallery below.
Mrs Maureen Taurima and Mr Ross McKeown
Houseparent
