The Week Ahead - Term 4, Week 7
Monday 13 November - Friday 17 November
From the Head of College
November is upon us as we round out the end of year event season with only two weeks to go before the school year concludes. This week I was honoured to speak at our Sports Recognition Evening in Mr Prinsloo’s absence. What a fitting event to wrap up an amazing year of Concordia sport. The evening was designed to not only recognise the achievements of our students in the sporting arena, but to also celebrate the increased profile of Concordia in many new competitions this year. Mr Pukallus closed the evening by reminding us of the pride we can have being part of a Concordia Lions team.
The Concordia Sports Sponsorship Package was also launched at this event. As we move into 2024, we are excited to present this package for which we are seeking sponsorship to further support the development of our students in their chosen sports. Please take the time to look through our Sports Sponsorship package via the link.
Concordia Sports Sponsorship Package 2024
Staffing Update
At the end of every school year, we inevitably have a number of staffing changes. This year we say farewell and thank you to Jodi Lundie-Jenkins and David Heuschele from our Junior College as they begin their respective retirement journey at the beginning of 2024. We thank them for their dedication and service to the College and wish them all the best for the future that lays ahead. Gabe Robbie and Shanaal De Zoysa will be taking up new career opportunities as they move from our Stephen Street Campus next year, whilst Jess Kropp will begin a new adventure with her family in a new country. Thank you to those teachers. You will all be sorely missed.
We also farewell Tania Garrahy who has been working across both of our Junior College Libraries. We thank Tania for the work she has done in this area and wish her best for the future.
Congratulations to our 2023 Year 12 cohort as they completed their final external exams this week. What an achievement! We look forward to welcoming these students back to Concordia one last time next Wednesday as we celebrate the end of their time at school with a special Graduation Brunch.
I look forward to attending many of our end of year events starting next Monday. Until then rest up and take care.
Blessings for the week ahead.
Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Acting Head of College
From the College Pastor
Community News
Progress and Potential Concert
The Year 5 Band Immersion program concluded with the Progress and Potential Concert held on Thursday November 2nd.
This concert enabled the Year 5s to showcase the skills that they had learnt on their new instrument. There was a mix of well-known pop songs as well as songs written specifically to focus on instrument techniques and the concert demonstrated the students’ ability to work as an ensemble, follow direction from a conductor and perform publicly on their instrument.
The Year 4s were inspired by the Year 5 performances, knowing that they would be up on stage in just one years’ time and were captivated by the performances of the Year 6 Drum Group, The Junior Campus Band as well as the Stephen Street Campus Concert Band. This concert showed the growth that can occur and potential that these students can access if continuing music.
ALWS Event
ALWS ‘Asante’ ….
“Asante’ is the Swahili word for ‘thank you’!
It’s a word you hear a lot when you visit a refugee camp you support through ALWS at Kakuma in Kenya.
The people you help in Indonesia want to thank you too, and the word they use is ‘Terima Kasih’.
ALWS wants to pass that thank you onto you in person, and so that is why we are coming to Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Brisbane and inviting you to be a part of the ALWS Asante.
It is an opportunity for us to share some of the work that through ALWS you are currently involved in and meet some of the ALWS team.
But, not only that. You will also be hearing stories and songs from special guests, Robin and Dorothy Mann, Ambassadors for ALWS Lives You Touch program.
What: ALWS Asante
When: 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Saturday 25th November 2023
Where: St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 24 Phillip Street TOOWOOMBA
RSVP: Friday 17th November – 1300 763 407 or alws@alws.org.au
Robin and Dorothy have recently returned from Indonesia where they braved motorbikes, mangroves and mud to see the life-changing impact of the love that people like you bring to life through ALWS.
Packed into the 90-minute ALWS Asante will be stories and songs from Robin and Dorothy…
…an inspiring journey to a community where people with disability are no longer forgotten, but celebrated…
Project Based Learning at Concordia
Junior College
JC Library News
Borrowing will end for HSC and WSC campus library this week. Please start to return all of your library books. We will be happy to provide a list of what is outstanding if you need.
There will also be no book club this term.
JC Swimming Carnival Meal Deal - 16 November
On Thursday 16 November the HSC Parent Connect are providing a meal deal for students at the Swimming Carnival only. Meal Deals will be delivered to the pool at 10.30am.
Orders are through My Student Account and close on Monday 13 November 2023 at 3pm.
Please note: This meal deal will replace Tuckshop in Week 7 for both WSC and HSC
Meal Deal details are below.
Cost: $9.00 with Gluten Free Options available
Option 1 - Wrap, Fruit Salad and Drink
Drink - Choose from Water or Chocolate Milk or Apple/Tropical/Orange and Mango Popper
Wrap - Choose from Chicken, Ham or Vegetarian
Snack - Select Fresh Fruit Salad
Option 2 - Sushi, Fruit Salad and Drink
Drink - Choose from Water or Chocolate Milk or Apple/Tropical/Orange and Mango Popper
Sushi - Choose from Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Avocado and Mayo or Vegetarian
Snack - Select Fresh Fruit Salad
JC Weekly STEM Challenge
Week 7’s Stem Challenge is the Christmas Decoration Challenge: “It is nearly Christmas. Design a Christmas ornament to hang on your tree. Happy designing!”

JC Year 6 Big Day Out - Wednesday 22 November
The much anticipated JC Year 6 Big Day Out will be held on Wednesday 22 November. Please read the attached Parent Information Letter which provides you with more details about this excursion.
Permission Required
Parents are requested to go to Parent Lounge to submit your permission for your child to attend this excursion by Thursday 15 November 2023.
- Login to Parent Lounge >
- click on Events and Payments >
- click on JC Year 6 Big Day Out 2023 >
- Accept >
- Save
Important Note After submitting your permission, please check and ensure your Parent Lounge portal is up to date regarding your child's Emergency Contact Information and Medical Conditions.
Should you have any further queries regarding this excursion, please contact your child's teacher.
JC Special Awards Assembly

Junior Engineers Holiday Program
Are you on the hunt for a fantastic holiday camp to keep your kids engaged and entertained during their break? Look no further than Junior Engineers School Holiday programs!
JC Maths Textbooks for Year 2 to 4 in 2024
With the uptake of the new Australian Curriculum Version 9 next year, our teachers have been working through the planning and revision of their current teaching units to reflect and include the changes to our new curriculum. Teachers have been involved in many planning and information sessions during our afternoon staff forums and pupil free days.
One of the changes which will be implemented next year is the new iMaths textbook. This textbook has been updated and renamed Maths Trek to reflect the changes to our new curriculum. Browns are aware of the change to our textbook and all orders will automatically include Maths Trek. If for any reason your school pack has the iMaths textbook included, Browns will exchange this book for the new updated textbook, Maths Trek.
Please note: The online version of the booklist available through Browns Office Choice is correct showing the new textbook - Maths Trek Student Book.
Outside School Hours Care
Stephen Street Campus
Sport News
Sports News – Term 4, Week 6
Basketball Academy Opportunity
https://toowoombabasketball.com.au/neers-academy/junior
https://toowoombabasketball.com.au/neers-academy/senior
Recent Results & Achievements
Rugby 7s - Finals
U13 Boys
- Congratulations to the U13 Boys Rugby 7s team who played their final fixture for the season on Monday night, beating TAS 21-7. The boys had a fantastic season finishing 5th from 14 teams, which included some impressive wins against some tough opponents.
Futsal – Finals
- Our Futsal teams also played their final fixtures for the season with the U13 boys going down narrowly, the Junior girls winning their grand final 3-2 and the Senior girls also going down. Well done to all those students who played Futsal this term, and a big thank you to Mr. David Rentell, Mr. Lachlan Harrower and Ms. Skye Arnold for coaching our teams.
Girls Twilight Netball
-
The girls are proving to be unstoppable this season recording another win against the blaze, which makes 4 wins from 5 games, for the season.
Boys 5-A-Side Netball
- The boys 5-A-Side competition concluded for the season. It has been great to see the boys step out of their comfort zone and give something different a go. It has also been great to see some fixtures played at Concordia. Thank you to our coaches Jessica Balnaves and Emily Robinson for all your coaching expertise and patience with our boys.
U/12 Boys Futsal
Our U12s Futsal team competed in the Queensland Schools Futsal Cup last Thursday and Friday at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on the Gold Coast. The boys played magnificently over the two days and more than held their own against schools from across Brisbane and the surrounding areas. Their hard work, determination, and endurance paid off as the managed to finish 3rd in the shield competition!
The boys were from year 6 across both WSC and HSC! They were Joshua Dolley, Charlie Lowis, Willoughby Allard, Will Klein, Marcus Dealtry, Malakai Bell, Andrew Ye and Felix Smith. Andrew and Felix playing their first ever futsal games at the competition.
Thank you, Mr Rentell, for your coaching and enthusiasm across the tournament!
Pink Stumps Day
On Wednesday, we held our Pink Stumps charity fundraiser. This included a Pink inspired free dress day, Staff vs Students cricket match, and snow cones and lolly bags provided by our Student Council.
All the funds raised will go towards the McGrath Foundation's goal of 250 nurses by 2025, ensuring that no one with breast cancer misses out on vital care.
If you would still like to donate, please visit https://www.pinkisthecolour.com.au/s/5524/5703
Netball
- Training: Boys – Tuesday afternoons/ Girls – Thursday afternoons, from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm at the WSC outdoor courts.
- Game Venues: Boys – TAS/Concordia/Girls – Nell. E Robinson Netball Courts
- Draw:
| Team | Time | Opponent | Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 7 - Girls | 5.30PM | Foxymorons | 15 |
Sport Quote & Joke of the Week
Joke: Why do basketball players love cookies? Because they can dunk them!
– Credit: Our departing sport captains Alex Wright and Danielle Watson.
Boarding
Boarding News
Hello to all our families!
Two weeks and another year bites the dust. I know I have said it 20 times or more but “Where has the year gone?” One has been told that the older one gets the faster time goes by. I doubt there is anyone of any age who can say this year has not flown by.
Our Boarding Activity Calendar has been packed full of activities for your children to enjoy. This year our Tutors have come on board and supported our trips away. Without them we would not have been able to offer such a wide range of activities. Thank you to you all. I would also like to thank all those who at some time during the year have unselfishly given up their own time to spend time with ours. Our students are so lucky to have such a supportive network here at Concordia.
Afterschool sport has been at the top of the list for many of our students this year. Thank you to our School sports Coordinator, Joshua Biscoe for his commitment in developing such a strong following. Sport has been made available to all age groups and abilities. A shout out to those students who have progressed with their chosen sport outside of the College.
All our Year 12 students have now left Boarding, and our 2024 prefects Khan and Kerri have taken the reigns.
Year 10 Orientation Day was held on Monday which was a great success with the welcoming of 4 new Boarders for 2024. Next year we also celebrate the return of our first international student and family from PNG. Our numbers in boarding are on the increase. Watch this space!
Study has been progressing along nicely with most students putting the final touches to their assessments. Our older students will have work right to the end of term. Tutors will be readily available to assist when required. I must say with the new carpet and some recently purchased bean bags our Rec/Study room is feeling and looking good.
With the end of term fast approaching I have received the Travel Itineraries and have emailed to relevant parents this week. Please check your emails. Keep these in a safe place as 2024 travel times are also included on the Itineraries. Any required changes please contact me on 0490 890 917.
The boarding houses will again be hired out over the Christmas break so we would like as many students as possible to take their possessions home. Those traveling long distances via plane or bus may have their belongings locked away in our storeroom. We will ensure that nothing is left in the dorms.
Our Boarders Christmas Dinner will be on the 19th of November. It will be an evening of festive cheer and celebration. All students have been asked to purchase a gift to the value of $10 to put under the tree. Students and staff will all enjoy a special meal together and exchange small gifts. Keep a lookout for the photos to come.
I always feel a tad special when old girls and old boys return to say hello, but I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed 3 Tass Boarders standing outside Temme House with Mr. Cowper who was a Tutor in Boys Boarding about two years ago. It was a great catch up with Alister after the boys played Concordia Mixed Netball. The boys were quite impressed watching our students in the Rec room doing their study.
That’s all for this week folks. Take care and look after each other.
Enjoy the pics.
Mrs Maureen Taurima and Mr Andrew Bull
Boarding Houseparents