It is a time for some celebration! Mother's Day, of course, on Sunday and then a return of some students to ‘onsite’ teaching on Monday. I am sure that there will be a party-like atmosphere on both days – with a slight easing of distancing restrictions on Sunday, and effectively the start of a new school term for some students on Monday.

I have been amazed by the acts of kindness across our community. I know that staff have been involved in the personal delivery of Mother's Day gifts in some instances, while others have delivered lollies to students. Parents have dropped in a cake or morning tea for the enjoyment of staff members; and the list goes on. Those who are engaged with Concordia Lutheran College are members of a very special community, and I am proud to be part of such a community at this time.

Please be aware of the special conditions that will be in place for our limited return to school on Monday. I do draw your attention to the letter (Thursday 7 May) that outlines the details applying to Monday and then through until further notice. Your cooperation in helping us through the coming weeks is required and I thank you in anticipation. 

I cannot wait to greet students beginning with our Senior boarders on Sunday and then students in Prep and Years 1, 11 and 12 on Monday. Hopefully, it will not be long before all Concordia students are together at school and experiencing the social dynamic of being ‘in-school’.

Kindest regards and blessings

Mr Adrian Wiles
Head of College

We've had another stellar week of online learning at Concordia Lutheran College. Well done everyone! Here are some of the new items that have been added to LOVE CLC during the week:

JUNIOR COLLEGE

• Makerspace Mondays: Make a news report - inspiration from Joshua Cramb
• Teach Me Something Tuesdays: Draw a realistic eye with Mr Trappett
• Where in the World Wednesdays: Discover the Camino Way with Mrs Norley and Mrs Priest
• Think outside the Box Thursdays: Some new ideas for you to try
• Fry-day Fitness: Mr Fry provides us with another spectacular performance
• Student Work: A new page to share some of the tremendous work by our Junior College students

MIDDLE & SENIOR COLLEGE

• Win: A new page has been created to share competitions for school aged students to enter
• Explore: Discover the Meiji Restoration and Empire of Japan
• Innovate: DNA extraction from a strawberry with Miss Jayasuriya

Make sure you send us a photo of your work or participation in the activities on LOVE CLC! Email them to us at marketing@concordia.qld.edu.au.

Mrs Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing & Enrolments

I’ve heard it said, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” 

How true a statement is this!! I find it hard to comprehend the amount of learning and work that the world has had to implement to make it safe for us all again. 

Our staff at Concordia’s Hume Street Campus are feeling blessed by many factors:

• Clear, calm, concise leadership (thank you, Mr Wiles).
• Supportive parents – for all of the encouraging words, cupcakes, chocolates etc.
• Hardworking students – they have embraced their online learning and put brilliant effort into their work – check out LOVE CLC to view some of the student input. 
• Teachers are feeling 150% blessed by the amazing support of our Teaching Assistants – they are the best!
• Beautiful sunsets, glorious autumn days and the biggest brightest full moon.
• IT that works! Thanks to our IT Department.
• Road trips and lots of smiles.

Please ensure that you read Mr Adrian Wiles’ letter that was emailed to parents Thursday 7 May. It is full of the information you will need for the coming week.

By the time you are reading The Week Ahead, we hope to have seen many of you in your driveways, showing us your best dance moves. Keep a check on Facebook for a special compilation of these photos. 

From all of us at HSC… Happy Mother’s Day!

Mrs Juanetta Priest
Director of Campus

When we become parents, we change in ways we could not imagine and grow in ways we would not dream of. The last three weeks has certainly forced all of us to grow in many different ways in things that most of us would never have dreamed of doing! Term 2 has definitely been one to remember so far! 

We are excited to welcome our Prep and Year 1 students back next week as we begin to get back to some form of normality. I’m sure the youngest members of Warwick Street Campus are just as eager to get back and spend time with their friends.

One of the highlights of Term 2 each year is to invite our mothers to school to be spoilt by their children for Mother’s Day. We may not have been able to have our usual pampering session this year, but I’m sure the experience and training the students have had at these sessions in previous years, will ensure that all of our mothers are just as spoilt at home!

I want to take this time to wish all of our Warwick Street Campus mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday, and thank you for the incredible effort you have put into assisting your children with their online learning. Our WSC mums have worked harder than ever before this term as they have taken on yet another role, as classroom teacher. I’m sure most of you have found this is no easy feat! 

Here we are at the end of Week 3 and I am pleased to say that all the necessary plans are in place for the return of our Years 11 and 12 students. I’m sure that it would seem that this should be an easy switch to flip but it has been an intense week of focused work ensuring that all necessary measures are in place. I sense that there is a huge collective sigh of relief as we feel some normality returning to life. 

Under the current restrictions, there is still suspension of mass gatherings. These defined “gatherings” include assemblies (Chapel), camps, excursions, sports and swimming events, Arts events and inter-school activities. These restrictions will, no doubt, gradually be eased as the authorities gain confidence in their strategy but for now, all these are on hold.

I read a very interesting article earlier in the week shared by Ms Wendy Bowen:
“It’s just my opinion, but looking back on this, knowing that they survived one of the most traumatic disasters of their lifetimes, might be education enough for young people. We hope with all our hearts that few suffer tragedies as a result, but I can safely say that they are already experiencing things way beyond the importance of exams. Our first day back, then, should be a celebration of that ability to cope with challenges none of their teachers could have contemplated at such a young age. And that just might give us hope.”
Kenny Pieper

Kenny is a secondary teacher and author based in Scotland.You can follow him on Twitter at @kennypieper
Read more of Kenny's article by clicking here. 

Have a great weekend.

Mr Jason Smith
Director of Campus

Parents/carers play a key role supporting students as they learn from home. This makes clear communication between teachers, students and their parent/carers even more important than usual. This advice provides strategies for parents/carers to support their student’s learning as they continue to provide routine, support and encouragement.