The Week Ahead - Term 3, Week 10
Monday 16 September to Friday 20 September 2019
From the Head of College
College Council and Leadership met last weekend to review progress with the Strategic Plan. Over the coming months, I will be sharing this progress with our wider community through short video clips and written excerpts. It is a time to share the progress that has been made over the past twelve months, and to celebrate the hard work of many staff members, students and parents who are making all things possible.
One area of focus in the Strategic Plan is Teaching and Learning. We saw many highlights of this during the past week through activities such as the Makerspace Day Camp held at the Hume Street Campus. This is just one significant example of the value that we place on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs within the College. The employment of our first STEM Coordinator, Ms Fiona Stone, has seen a resurgence of interest in this area that is extending from Prep to the senior end of the College. Congratulations to Ms Stone, Mr Dennis Wolbers, Head of Department Science, and to the staff for some outstanding Teaching and Learning experiences.
From the College Pastor
Jesus, the Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:25-37)
The parable of the Good Samaritan can be read on various levels. On one level we read of an outsider – a Samaritan - who would have been looked down on and despised by many. He saw a person in a ditch. This poor guy had been robbed, stripped of his clothes, beaten and deserted. A priest and a temple worker walked by and pretended not to notice him. But thankfully the Samaritan stopped, helped and then left the injured man at the inn and paid the innkeeper to look after him until he returns. In life we also will have many opportunities to be ‘good Samaritans’ to others. May we take the time to see the needs of others and reach out and help in times of need, even if it means leaving our comfort zones.
Community News
Mango Fundraiser
Term 4 Netball Training
Cookie Dough Delivery
Cookie Dough orders will be delivered on Monday 16 September and can be collected from the Bunya Room in the Concordia Function Centre at Stephen Street Campus, on Monday afternoon between 3pm and 4pm. Please remember to bring an esky/bag to collect your order.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
German Speaking Contest
MLTAQ is the acronym for ‘Modern Language Teachers Association of Queensland’ and this is an Australian organisation which supports language teachers of Indonesian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and, of course, German in schools (both primary and secondary) here in Queensland.
This organisation celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Part of this celebration was a MLTAQ Language Speech Contest for primary school students from Brisbane and surrounding areas last Sunday at Griffith University Nathan Campus in Brisbane. Approximately 40 schools participated, including Concordia Lutheran College (HSC/WSC).
As the current German teacher for Years 5 and 6, I am extremely pleased to share the news that five students from Junior College participated in the event. Time to practice was very short and students had to eat lunches while fine-tuning their speeches. Parents and siblings were made to hear and listen to these students’ efforts in preparation for the contest.
Year 4 Amaroo EEC Excursion
An outstanding day was had by Year 4 students at Amaroo Environmental Education Centre. Students learnt about the differences between Migaloo and Murri Culture. Activities included shelter and gunyah construction, traditional tool usage, food preparation and ochre art. They went on a bush walk and learnt how indigenous people used local flora and fauna.
TJ’s Swim - Super Holiday Booster Blocks
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
R U OK Day
During the week, the Middle College Leaders led a presentation to create greater awareness to the students about national R U OK Day which was Thursday 12 September. Their presentation focused on the importance of encouraging people to start a conversation beginning with, “Are you ok?”
They spoke about some of the reasons why you might not be feeling ok. Some of those reasons being that life can knock us all down, illness can rob us of confidence and energy, work or lack of work can make us feel frazzled or inadequate, falling short of our goals can make us feel hopeless, death of loved ones can sap us of energy and hope and relationships breaking up can make us confused, sad or angry.
The Middle College Leaders reminded the students that we all need conversations and that is why we all need to ask people around us, “Are you ok?”
By giving someone the opportunity and the time to share what they’re feeling, we’re giving that person something truly invaluable. We’re giving that person a sense of connection and a sense of belonging. Throughout the week there were several activities during Pastoral Home Class lessons and during Tuesday lunchtime which enabled the students to have more conversations around this topic.
Mrs Roslyn Cook
Middle College Coordinator
Years 7 and 9 Students Celebrate their NAPLAN Success!
On Tuesday 10 September, the Years 7 and 9 Middle College students met at lunchtime near the D Block shade sails to celebrate their 2019 NAPLAN results. The students thoroughly enjoyed the delicious chocolate cake and the opportunity to share their success with one another.
USQ Opportunities
USQ has launched a number of new scholarships for school leavers with the aim of keeping them in the region.
School leavers who achieve an OP of 1-2/ATAR 97.5 will automatically receive a scholarship package valued up to $29,000, including an optional study abroad package and leadership development.
Students with an OP 6/ATAR 90 or above will be awarded a scholarship package valued up to $20,000 and OP8/ATAR 85 or above will be awarded up to $6,000. There are no caps to the scholarships available, as long as students put USQ as their first preference on QTAC, they will receive the award.
"We want to ensure our best and brightest are staying in the region, and that we are attracting school leavers from across the State," Professor Mackenzie said. "We want to build strong rural and regional communities and we know that providing outstanding educational opportunities (and careers) locally is the best way of doing just that."
Future Community Leaders Scholarships are still available to students, however, due to high demand the closing date has been extended until 15 September
Swimmimg Carnival Reminder
2019 NASA Space Apps Challenge
Now in its 8th year, NASA’s International Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon where teams and individuals engage with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on Earth and in Space. The purpose of the Space Apps Challenge is to:
- Inspire collaboration, creativity and critical thinking
- Foster interest in Earth, Space Science and Exploration
- Raise awareness of NASA data around the world
- Encourage growth and diversity of the next generation of scientists, technologists, designers, engineers, artists, builders and coders.
For the first time, the University of Southern Queensland will be hosting the Space Apps Challenge from its Toowoomba campus. Entries are open to teams or individuals in Years 9 to 12.
I encourage your child to join this fantastic opportunity and be a part of Concordia Lutheran College's NASA Challenge Team. The event will be held on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October. There is no cost and lunch is provided.
If your child would like to be part of this challenge, please ask them to come and see me or, you or your child may contact me at dennis.wolbers@concordia.qld.edu.au.
Mr Dennis Wolbers
HOD - Science
ConocoPhillips Science Experience
Years 9 and 10 students who have an interest in science, have an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists during the first week of the upcoming September school holidays.
USQ is offering this to students as part of the ConocoPhillips Science Experience program. This experience is being offered in many tertiary institutions across Australia, with over 68,000 students taking part last year.
The three day program will run from the 24 to 26 September. The cost is $190. If you or your child would like more information, click here or contact me at dennis.wolbers@concordia.qld.edu.au.
A select group of Year 8 students had the opportunity to work with Pepper the robot and fly drones with some of Australia’s best racers this week as part of Concordia's Makerspace Day Camp held at Hume Street Campus. These are just some of the experiences your child could have at the Science Experience Camp at USQ.
Mr Dennis Wolbers
HOD - Science
Information Evening Invitation
Boarding
Boarding News
Hello and welcome to another week in Boarding!
Boarders enjoy their sports including AFL. Kicking high, running fast, leaps, bumps... and I am talking about the girls! Just recently, a number of the girls played the in the Under 16 AFL Grand Final.
They had worked hard all season to get to the final and they put everything into the game on a cold and windy Friday night. The game was neck and neck until the final siren, when they were only just beaten by one goal (but they had lots of fun!).
More sports with the girls – during this school term, Kashar Bounghi polished her tennis skills on the tennis courts at Concordia, coached by local coach Glen Adamson. She then headed for a four-day trip to Darwin to play at the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival, which is a celebration of tennis and culture, promoting health and wellbeing through tennis and education.
Mr Ross McKeown
Boys' Houseparent
