The Week Ahead - Term 3, Week 2
Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July 2019
From the Head of College
Welcome back to a new semester and one that is ‘jammed pack’ full of activity. In particular, welcome to our new families and students. Several new boarding students have begun their journey through the ‘Learning in Residence’ program, and we have also welcomed new students across the College.
This coming week, we will be welcoming students from Wuxi, China, into the College for a period of three weeks. They will be accompanied by staff members and be housed in the Boarding residences. The program allows for plenty of ‘student to student’ interaction, English language immersion with our students, a planned ESL program and connection with the wider community. This is the first incoming group for the semester and we will be welcoming back students from Argentina for two nights later this term. Over the coming years, we will be looking to build international connections and reciprocal visits; in line with our strategic direction for the future.
From the College Pastor
Faith
Hebrews 11:1 says that ‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ Faith in God can waver. Sometimes our faith may feel strong and yet at other times we may be riddled with doubt and uncertainty about God, eternal life, and God’s love for us in Jesus. I sometimes see faith like water. If I ask you what a drop of rain is, you would answer ‘water.’ If I asked what a pool is full of you would answer in the same way. If we think of the ocean and ask what that is made up of the answer is still – water! All three are differing sizes. Some are easier to see than others (the ocean is much bigger than a drop of rain!) and yet all three are still water.
Community News
Kindergarten Filling Quickly for 2020
Places are filling up for Kindergarten 2020 at the Martin Luther Kindergarten. If anyone has friends or families requiring a place, please contact Melissa Giles, Service Leader on 07 4613 5610 or martinluther.kgt@qlecs.org.au. Further information also available on our the College website
TRC Youth Strategy 2019-2021
Have your say on the Toowoomba Regional Council Draft Youth Strategy 2019-2021
Our Region is home to over 27,000 young people aged 12–24. We value the contributions young people make to our Region and are proud to support their participation in all aspects of community life.
We’ve developed a Youth Strategy to guide how we recognise, support and engage with young people as our next generation of community leaders. The strategy includes six focus areas centred on helping young people:
- Get involved in their communities
- Have a voice and participate in government decision-making
- Link with service providers, community organisations and government agencies
- Find jobs, study and get training close to home
- Connect with other young people in the Region.
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Middle College Expo
Our 2019 Middle College Expo is nearly here! Join us for an out of this world experience in the Function Centre on Wednesday 24 July.
We are very excited to announce that University of Southern Queensland - Australia will be joining us for the event with an awesome activity for our guests.
This event is designed for students currently in Years 4 to 6. More details are available at www.concordia.qld.edu.au/mcexpo
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
Welcome back! Having four children of my own, I know that the break from logistics of family life during term time is a very welcome relief. For our boarding families, I trust that this time together has been a great opportunity to reconnect and enjoy the time together as families. This semester we also welcome four new students and welcome back Mrs Jessica Balnaves.
I do want to publicly acknowledge the work being done by our teachers this year. There is no doubt that for teachers of Year 11, across the state, the implementation of the new QCE system is very demanding. I am very proud of the way that this roll out is progressing at Concordia and thank our staff for their diligence and sustained efforts in ensuring that we are maximising the opportunities that this season of change presents.
From the Director of Learning and Innovation
We are very excited to inform you about some changes that are underway in our Maths Department for Years 7 and 8. Traditionally in schools, it has been challenging for one teacher to cater to the learning needs of 25 individual students. As a result, not every student has experienced success in Maths, with many students finding it particularly stressful or difficult. Our teaching team is now working very hard to change that, by changing the structure of our Maths curriculum so that instead of all students learning the same topic at the same time, each student will focus on only what they are ready to learn. This means that every student can experience success in Maths.
Cafeteria Closure - Week 2
Please be aware that the SSC cafeteria will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week (22, 23 and 24 July) due to the Middle College Expo.
Campus Photo Day
MSP Photography will be at Stephen Street Campus next week on Tuesday 23 July. Order envelopes were distributed to students yesterday, so please check that you have received one. All payments are due on photo day either online or with cash in the envelope. Click here to order online.
Please ensure your student returns the envelope on photo day. All orders received after photo day are subject to a late fee.
For those who require a sibling/family photo order envelope, these are available at Student Reception.
Students are to wear formal uniform for this day.
World's Greatest Shave
Every day, another 35 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer. That's one Aussie every 41 minutes. Although research is improving survival, sadly an Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours. Students at the Stephen Street Campus will be raising money to give families facing blood cancer, the emotional and practical support they need. The funds raised will also fund vital research to help more people survive blood cancers, while improving their quality of life.
These students will be fundraising throughout Term 3 to support the Leukaemia Foundation. In conjunction with this, Jessica Hollonds, Zoe McCormack and Shilo McCormack will be cutting their hair to donate to Cancer Council to make wigs for those who have lost their hair while fighting cancer.
If you would like to donate to the College World's Greatest Shave team, Concordia Lutheran Smootheran College, click here. The event date will be early in Term 4.
To support Jessica, Zoe and Shilo in their Cancer Council Ponytail Project, click here.
Mr David Rentell
Teacher