The Week Ahead - Term 3, Week 8
Monday 2 September to Friday 6 September 2019
From the Head of College
Congratulations, and thank you, to our many parents who attended the Warwick Street Campus Trivia Night and the Father's Day Breakfasts. What celebrations – and all for great causes! The Trivia Night raised a record amount of money for the Parents and Friends Association at WSC, and thanks must go to all parents involved in the organisation and work that makes these activities possible. Many thanks also to the kind sponsors of the Trivia Night – a record number of quality prizes were taken up on the night.
Congratulations to our Senior College Choir for a wonderful performance in the Annual Paul Morton Choral Festival. This is the first occasion that our choir has participated, and under the baton of newly appointed conductor Mr Neil Roche-Kelly, their performance was both fitting for this celebratory festival, and one of excellence. Well done to all students and staff involved in our exciting music performance program.
From the College Pastor
Jesus – the Vine
My brother in law owns a vineyard. Year after year he lovingly tends to the vines so that they bear fruit. As a caring relative, I offer to be a taster if he needs someone to make sure the produce is palatable!
One year he was telling me about grafting. This is where he takes a fallen branch from a different vine, then makes a slit in a ‘live’ vine and grafts the new branch into it. This branch is then brought to life as it feeds off its new vine. As the keeper of the vines he then tends to this new branch and cleans and cares for it.
Community News
Do you have family or friends looking at Boarding?
Our annual Boarder Experience Weekend takes place on 14 and 15 September. For families looking at boarding in 2020 or beyond, we invite you to experience a weekend in our boarding community to get a true understanding of what it’s like to be a boarder at Concordia.
For more information and to register for the Boarder Experience Weekend, please contact our Registrar Michelle Price by email at enrolments@concordia.qld.edu.au or by phone at 07 4688 2700.
Cocurricular Music Update
Term 3 is always a busy time for our cocurricular music students, starting with our band sleepover and immediately followed by the Toowoomba Eisteddfod and that’s just the first three weeks! There have been many notable performances to enjoy so far this term and many more to come.
With the Eisteddfod becoming a distant memory, our students have been extremely busy preparing for our annual Farewell to Winter Concert tonight. There have been some sensational performances leading up to this event including the Big Band performance for our Open Morning Assembly and Concordia’s successful return to the Paul Morton Choral Festival.
2019 Calendar Updates
The following event dates are now available or have been amended:
Bible Scene Art Competition
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
Makerspace Day Camp
WSC P&F Trivia Night
Our 2019 Trivia Night was again a great night and well supported by our College community! A huge thank you must go out to our hardworking members of the P&F who worked tirelessly on this event to make it a success for the third year in a row. Thank you also to Mr Lee Faulkner for not only hosting the event, but for also keeping us entertained for the evening.
Congratulations to the team of “Champions” who have taken out the top spot two years in a row. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next Trivia Night.
JC Year 6 Canberra Trip
Preparations for the Year 6 students from WSC and HSC to participate in the 2019 Canberra Trip are well and truly underway. Over the next few weeks students from both campuses will meet to discuss aspects of the trip as well as share their learning.
Students, teachers and attending parents are eagerly awaiting a variety of educational programs and tours which focus on Australia’s history and democratic processes, as well as visiting the Snowy Mountains and enjoying the snow.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians having the opportunity to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizen Education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding for each student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs.
Mr Paul Baker & Mrs Allison Busiko
Year 6 Teachers
TDPS Team Chess Tournament
On Tuesday 27 August 14 of our Junior College students took part in the TDPS TEAMS Chess Tournament. Well done to those students who attended.
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
From the Director of Campus
Onwards and Upwards
Week 7 has been a week of celebrating successes on Stephen Street Campus. We are absolutely thrilled with the growth we are seeing in our NAPLAN results. The efforts of our Years 7 and 9 have placed us as the top coeducational school in Toowoomba and ranked third overall!
I have to say that while we make every effort to downplay the whole NAPLAN process and experience for students, these results are definitely worth celebrating. It is very pleasing to see the fruit of all the focused work that is being done by staff and students.
Just last week, our entire English department took two days out to conduct a review of our entire Years 7-12 English curriculum. Collectively, they mapped all the literacy skills that must be demonstrated by the end of Year 12 right back to Year 7 and then having done this, totally reconstructed the units of work from Years 7 to 12. This was done to ensure that these skills are being explicitly taught in a sequential, logical and well-structured manner. I have to say that there was an incredible buzz in the room, with the walls covered in butcher’s paper full of innovative ideas. I look forward to seeing these units being developed and implemented over the next 12 months.
Sports News
Darling Downs Track and Field Trials
Concordia has enjoyed great success at the Darling Downs Track & Field Trials this week at the O’Quinn Street Ovals. Several students have gained selection into the Darling Downs Team to compete in Cairns in October. Congratulations to Taylah Bogg, Christine Watson, Isabella Gratwick, Reiko Vermuelen and Mason Watson. Well done, athletes!
Boarding
Weekly Update
Another week flashes pass – has time increased its speed? Maybe our scientific boarders should look into this phenomena.
This week has brought a reflective time for me.
I was standing outside the dorms, when a lady walking past commented to me, “Why do they keep these – why can’t they build new modern dorms?”
At first I was taken aback, then I started to reflect on the comment.
Physically, anyone can see that the dorms were built years ago. Built of the red and yellow brick, they reflect a time gone past. They speak of a past history, a time when buildings were built to withstand the rigours of weather, built with the best materials available. These dorms are well-maintained, and a group of legendary maintenance staff and cleaners work tirelessly to keep them in the best condition.