Year Level Afternoon Teas

As it feels like forever since we have been able to enjoy a cup of tea together, we would like to invite you to a cuppa on the Resource Centre veranda over the coming two weeks from 2.15pm to 3pm. Your classroom teacher and I will be in attendance and look forward to catching up.  Registration for attendance will be required via the online form next to each year level. Parking will be on the Hume Street Oval.

Prep: Monday 16 November - HSC Prep Afternoon Catch Up Registration

Year 1: Wednesday 18 November - HSC Year 1 Afternoon Catch Up Registration

Year 2: Monday 23 November - HSC Year 2 Afternoon Catch Up Registration

Year 3 and Year 4: Tuesdays 17 or 24 November - HSC Years 3 and 4 Afternoon Tea Registration 2020

Year 5: Thursday 19 November - HSC Year 5 Afternoon Tea Registration 2020

Orientation Day – Monday 16 November 

On Monday 16 November we will welcome all of our new students for 2021 to Hume Street Campus. Our incoming Prep students will spend the morning with Mrs Natalie Blackwell and our new students from Years 1-6 will also join their cohort for the day.

Each class will also have the opportunity to spend the morning in their 2021 classroom so they can get a taste of what to expect when they return next year. We look forward to meeting our new students and hope that all students and teachers will enjoy getting the chance to know each other a little better before next year begins.

Junior College Music Showcase
Next week, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the talents of all of our musicians. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, students from Years 3-6 will be performing in our Junior College Music Showcase. This will see performances from our choirs and ensembles so they can show the skills they have learnt throughout the year. We look forward to being able to record these performances so we can share them with parents.

Students from Years 3 and 5 will need to bring their instruments on both days. 

Colour Explosion Fun Run and Meal Deal
Thursday 19 November is our Colour Explosion Fun Run and Meal Deal. Please send old clothes with the children to wear during the waterslide and fun run.

Our meal deal closes on Wednesday 18 November at 3pm and all orders are through your My Student Account. This meal deal will be the last week of Tuckshop.

Book Club
Thanks to all the parents who have supported our Book Club in 2020. It has been another busy year with lots of great titles to choose from. Book Club also benefits our school — for every order placed, Scholastic gives back 20% of the order spend to schools to purchase valuable educational resources via its Rewards program. Our Junior College libraries have never been so well-stocked. Here’s a sneak peek of some of the books that will be available for borrowing early in 2021. 

Library Books
Just a reminder that ALL library books and home readers are due back next week. Please help your child look for these at home. Accounts will be issued at the end of term for any outstanding loans. 

Blessings for the week ahead

Mrs Juanetta Priest
Director of Campus

Orientation Day – Monday 16 November
On Monday 16 November, we will welcome all of our new students for 2021 to Warwick Street Campus. Our incoming Prep students will spend the morning with Mrs Rowena Weier and our new students from Years 1-6 will also join their cohort for the day.

Each class will also have the opportunity to spend the morning in their 2021 classroom so they can get a taste of what to expect when they return next year. We look forward to meeting our new students and hope that all students and teachers will enjoy getting the chance to know each other a little better before next year begins.

Christmas Dress Up Day - Wednesday 25 November 
On Wednesday 25 November, we are asking students to come dressed in Christmas clothes and bring along a gold coin donation to go towards the cost of props for the Musical.

Junior College Music Showcase
Next week, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the talents of all of our musicians. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, students from Years 3-6 will be performing in our Junior College Music Showcase. This will see performances from our choirs and ensembles so they can show the skills they have learnt throughout the year. We look forward to being able to record these performances so we can share them with parents.

Students from Years 3 and 5 will need to bring their instruments on both days.

Water bottles
It is important for the students to drink plenty of water during the day, so please make sure they are coming to school each day with their water bottles. We also have a water bottle station where students can refill their water bottles if needed.

Every blessing for the week ahead.

Mrs Jackie Minnikin
Director of Campus

Prep - Angels

• White dress for girls 
• White T-shirts and College sports shorts for boys

Year 1 - Shepherds and sheep

• Plain white T-shirts 
• Long black pants/leggings

Year 2 - Wise Men

• Crowns (students to make at school)
• T-shirts (to be purchased by teacher) **Please send sizes to Mrs Lundie ASAP via Seesaw 
• College sports shorts

Year 3 - Jazzy Donkeys 

• Donkey ears (Teacher made)
• Sunglasses
• Plain black/white T-shirt 
• Black long pants

Year 4 - Middle Eastern attire 

• Over-large, long-sleeved shirt in a light colour (Op Shop)
• Track pants (any colour)
• Slides/thongs 
• Small suitcase or backpack

Year 5 - Stars

• All black 
• Stars and hats will be provided

Year 6 

• Year 6 individual items for each character

My experience at Googa has been nothing but positive. I not only grew in skills but also how I perceive the world around me. Throughout the entirety of Googa, we were challenged physically, emotionally and, most importantly, mentally. The strength to continue to keep fighting though rain, hail or sweltering heat was a massive feat for 14-15 year olds to achieve. At any point in time we could have given up and refused to continue but we learnt to support and work together to make sure each one of us stepped over the line. While living together 24/7, we learnt a lot about each other and built connections and memories. Googa really changed my mindset about many things. I am very much a pessimistic person but with the help of my friends and Googa staff I learnt that having this attitude doesn’t only make the experience horrible for yourself but for others. With learning to have a more optimistic outlook on the challenges we faced, I found that I didn’t find them as mentally draining. I want to encourage students coming though Middle College who are yet to experience Googa to really look forward to going because when you are on the bus coming back from Googa, you are going to miss it and want to stay forever.  Mia Hallaran 

Googa was something I had been dreading since Year 7 when I started at Concordia. Now that I have completed it, I feel silly for worrying about it so much. Googa was lots of fun, even the challenging parts. This experience showed me that I can do more than I thought I could and to be more grateful for what I have at home. It also allowed me to come out of my shell more and become friends with girls I never really talked to at school. Going forward I hope to cherish fond memories and remember all that Googa has taught me. I encourage future Googa participants to go in with a positive attitude, do their best and be a team player. Claire Welsh 

Googa was a great experience; I went to Googa with an open mindset and I came out with one of the best experiences of my life. My favourite thing about Googa was solo as me and the maroon boys had fun with our bonfire. I also enjoyed the three-day hike as it was fun getting lost (it was Gavin’s fault). There were definitely bad times, but I could barely remember them as I have gotten closer to boys I thought I would never talk to and I thank them, my classmates and the Googa staff for making this experience great. Keenan Burns 

Googa has all made us realise that life isn’t about what we have or what we want, it’s about all of the moments and memories we make along the way. It’s about the people you have in your life to share all of those special moments with. Everyone takes away something they learnt from Googa to use in their everyday life even if it’s just the motivation to keep persisting on when times are tough. The challenges that were brought upon us like the three-day hike were not only challenging but they helped us to connect and develop as individuals. Googa was an amazing experience with memories that will stay with us throughout our whole lives!  Maddison Geiger  

Setting up tents in the rain, screaming about snakes and spiders, eating raw potatoes at 2pm: it all makes you realise how lucky you are at home. It makes you grateful for the things you take for granted, like a roof and a cooked dinner. However, don’t get me wrong, I loved it. It’s so easy to see the bad in these situations and let it ruin the experience of Googa, but if you smile and laugh through it, you’ll really get to enjoy the camp. Jasmin Long 

Googa taught me to challenge myself and learn to try things I haven’t done before. Whether I was metres above the ground for High Ropes, or walking down valleys and up hills for hikes, I had to consistently push myself. We had to go without our comforts or family, making us all the more grateful for them when we returned. James Conrick  

Googa has brought me closer to the 20 other boys I was with. The experience made me realise who I can really trust and who is loyal as a friend, whether they were waking me up in the morning or keeping me safe in the high ropes. I’m happy that I became closer with boys I don’t talk to much at school, so I know they can trust and be loyal to me and I can be the same for them. Alex Theodosis 

The Googa experience for me was having to spend four weeks with some people who I didn’t like or know that well and some of my best mates. The experience you get back from the camp is knowing people better and having gratitude for all of the privileges, as well as the things your parents do for you. Jacob Irwin 

A four-week camp in the middle of nowhere, its sounds crazy but it was crucial to go into it with a positive mindset. What you put into the experience is you get out of it. Four weeks of testing yourself and pushing yourself to do things you were not used to doing. Friendships were made and new connections were created. Through this experience I learnt to push myself and give everything a go or I would regret it. You will be tested physically and mentally on multiple occasions and you will require support from others, and you will need to support others as well. This experience guided me and taught me how to grow into a young man. This experience is pivotal for everyone to grow and become a better person. Zaeden Clayton 

To be completely honest, I went into Googa with a damaging mindset. The staff, my friends and the enjoyable activities helped me overcome this. I am so glad that the majority of Googa had me smiling. I became proud of myself and I’m now aware of what I can do - anything I put my mind towards! Googa showed me how brave and persistent my friends and I could be. I am petrified of heights, so the high adventure activities were a challenge, but I am so satisfied to say that I completed it. At Googa, I became friends with people I never would have thought to talk to. There are no negatives about Googa, go in with a smile on your face and make the most of it, it goes by really fast. Josh Lambert 

Googa has pushed me to my limits and strengthened me in ways I never thought possible. The experience has made me realise that I have to go outside my comfort zone and undergo challenges to grow as a person. Through the many things Googa threw our way, such as living with our friends and hiking in the pouring rain, we learnt resilience and adaptability. Googa will never tear you down, only help to build you up in ways you could never imagine. Aimee Lau