Agency is one of the most powerful cognitive motivators for children. They learn and grow when they see and feel the consequences of their own actions. Inevitably, our children test that power, separating from their parents and building their decision-making capacity. Younger children’s sensory-processing motors are running on high and the feel of a jacket with its bulkiness and constriction is often unwelcome and they’ll discard or go without it. Ultimately, they probably don’t need a coat as much as we think they do.

As they get older, it all becomes about the peers – ‘nobody else is wearing a jacket or jumper.’ Those are the voices that they care about and those are the voices which our teenagers are hearing. At this point, we come second! As parents, we know that letting go is always difficult and sometimes painful. If we can frame the jacket/jumper battles as a sign that our children are starting to make their own claim on the world, that they are asserting their identity as well as building their confidence and self-worth – and we are helping them on this journey – then maybe the battles can come to an end.

As parents we have to take the long view, even if in the moment it can be hard. PS: Sounds good, just take your jacket or jumper! [Acknowledgement: Usable Knowledge, HGSE]

Facilities Update

The ongoing maintenance, upgrade and refurbishment of the infrastructure remains a priority for the College. This has included the cleaning and line marking of our outdoor courts, the upgrade of all the basketball facilities at the Stephen Street Campus gym and the refurbishment of the College’s Lecture Theatre. The latter facility will be officially opened in Term 3 and we look forward to hosting you for various parent meetings and information sessions in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish every family a safe weekend and a great start to the final week of Term 2.

Yours in Christ.

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

Quote: “That’s what children are for—that their parents may not be bored.” [Ivan Turgenev]

It is always a great experience to come together with fellow Lutheran believers from across our vast state, worshipping, celebrating and working together in the cause of the gospel of Christ. It provides encouragement for those coming from far flung places and small congregations – reminding us that we are all part of something much larger and it urges those who are going from strength to strength that they are also part of something beyond themselves and have responsibilities to encourage and walk with those in weaker positions. St Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians how the strong and weak are to look out for one another on several occasions, and in connection with a collection of support for the poverty stricken church in Jerusalem he notes:

¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

Synod is an important concept for us – walking together in worship of Christ and in service of our world. We here at Concordia are part of that and we seek to live that here also, walking with one another, supporting those who are struggling, and standing together in unity as we remember and celebrate God’s love that carries all of us.

As we come to the final teaching week of the term, I pray that our Lord might strengthen you and encourage you to see the bigger picture, the larger community that you are part of – both to give and receive support in. God bless.

Pastor Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

12pm: A teacher knocks on the door to discuss Maths resources and how we could implement them into our current program.

12.15pm: Mrs Libby Scouller, the Learning Enrichment Coordinator, asks for a moment to look over the notes of two students who are receiving some additional assistance.

12.25pm: Time for a walk around to check in with the students. This is another time of day where it is so rewarding to see children in their classrooms, debating and answering questions or involved in hands-on maths activities and small group work.

12.32pm: Back to those emails. Pastor Thomas is emailing his thoughts on the Chapel service at the end of the week and Mr Prinsloo is sending through emails of staffing updates and information from ISQ.

12.45pm: Sports Track and Field Debrief over at Stephen Street Campus. Oh dear… there will need to be a dash to get back so that we can complete entering Subject Outlines for the online report cards in order for teachers to access them.

The voices of Mrs Lynch and Mrs Paynter echo through the offices. 'Have you eaten?' Oh, that’s right! Food!

Also at the top of my mind is the allocation of times for Parent-Teacher Interviews. Staff need to be reminded to block out unavailable times and open times they are available to see parents.

2.30pm: It’s a race to open a Teams meeting with LEQ to discuss our After School Hours Service.

3pm: Time to get ready for an after school duty. I go down to the Prep and Year 1 rooms and help teachers by walking our youngest students out to Drive Thru. "A red water bottle missing! Let’s take a look through the eating area on our way."

The school once again buzzes with children, Grandmas, Pops, Aunties, Mums, Dads, siblings as everyone makes their way home.

3.30pm: Staff Meeting Day. The agenda includes ‘Kids in the News’, a student case management chat, preparations for our wine and cheese night, disco, wet weather plan debrief.

5.05pm: Time for teachers to move out. They have had a big day with their students and they still need to get ready and prepare for the following day.

5.15pm: I pop into our OSHC service to see how all our OSHC children are faring. They are busy beading and sewing material pouches. A Dad pleads with his little one to pack up and come home.

5.30pm: Time to make my way home before continuing later with emails and catch up on correspondence.

It has been another great day with each day being different from the one before.

The days are predictably unpredictable. It is busy and fast paced. Each day brings with it new challenges where you need to be able to accept change, listen to the needs of others, expect to be interrupted, make many decisions and be productive in a small amount of time.

It is thrilling and tiring but oh so rewarding. What an amazing opportunity to be able to spend time with all members of our school community and see things from a new perspective.

Click here to view WSC's Events for Term 2, Week 6.
Click here to view HSC's Events for Term 2, Week 6.

Wishing you a safe and relaxing weekend.

Mrs Rowena Weier
Assisting Director of Campuses

During Term 3 in Week 7 (21 to 26 August), we will be celebrating Book Week. The theme for this year is Dreaming with eyes open… The Book Week Parade will be held on Wednesday 23 August. Students and Staff are all encouraged to dress up as a character from a book they have enjoyed. Once again we will be having Pyjama Storytime one evening of that week at each campus for Kindy to Year 2 students in the Resource Centre. This is a fun event for families to come with their children who are dressed all cosy in their pyjamas and share some stories and activities. Keep an eye out for more information on these exciting activities at the beginning of next term.

Thank you for another great term of together supporting and encouraging your children to be reading as much as they can and have an enjoyable break.

Mrs Karen Maben
Junior College Library Coordinator

Mr Darrly Fry
Teacher / Junior College Sports Coordinator / Head Coach, Touch

National School Officers Day – 8 June
This week we recognise our wonderful staff who fall under the School Officer classification. This includes a range of roles from Learning Assistants through to and including our Sports Coordinator, all of whom spend countless hours supporting the College to function and operate, with the central purpose of supporting and engaging our leaners. Thank you to our team for your energy, commitment and passion in delivering an environment where all students can thrive.

End of Semester / Unit Reporting
Currently teaching staff are busy finalising marking and overall grades for the end of semester/unit reporting. Parents and students can expect to receive reports for Years 11 and 12 by Monday 13 June, while Years 7-10 reports will be released by Monday 20 June. Following this parents will have the opportunity to make bookings for the next round of Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews, to be held on Monday 11 July. As always, we encourage you to contact your child’s teachers directly if you need any clarification about reporting information or assessment feedback.

Sporting events
It has been a busy week for sport at the College, with both girls and boys competing in AFL competitions, and girls participating in Vicki Wilson Netball. Despite having small numbers due to illness, our girls team finished second in the senior AFL division on Wednesday. We have a number of talented athletes leading the development of our teams; fostering an awareness that Concordia is fast becoming a force to be reckoned across a number of sports. Nominations are currently being called for our Touch teams to participate in the Swans competition in Term 3.

Have a great week.

Yours in faith,

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus

This was a true team effort and we look forward to seeing more of the Media Club's work sharing news about Concordia for our community. Great work to all involved!

Next week the Concordia Media Club will be taking an excursion to the Triple M and Hit FM radio studios to meet the hosts, take a tour of the studios and chat with the Content Director. Media Club members must advise me of their wish to attend by 4pm on Monday 13 June. Parents and guardians will be contacted for approval once the expressions of interest have been received.

The Media Club has worked well this term, creating an assortment of videos and learning how to create a television news story. We look forward to seeing more of their work in Term 3!

Mrs Bianca Coleborn
Director of Marketing & Enrolments

Congratulations to Selina Richards for her great achievements last Saturday at the National Weightlifting Comp. Selina is a self-motivated and extremely focused elite sportswoman in this field. Selina maintains her grades and trains four times a week and in her spare time manages to play Volleyball and AFL.

The girls played AFL on Wednesday at Captain Cook Recreational Reserve. They were so cold when they came home there was no time for catching up. Straight to the showers. The cold weather has really settled in this week with temps dropping to 1 degree overnight.

Our boys will be playing AFL tomorrow again at Captain Cook Recreational Reserve. Big shout out to Mr Darryl Allen for his support to our boarders with last minute mouth guards and shorts.

Thank you to Kerri and Max for their participation with Sunday’s church service. Max, as a first timer, did a great job with his reading. Kerri continues to be a regular and presents with grace and confidence. Pastor Nathan acknowledged our students for their participation.

As many of you will be aware, we have had three cases of COVID in the girls' boarding house and students have been in our Isolation unit. Where possible, parents will collect their children and they will recover at home. However, if a student normally has to fly home, they will remain in boarding. Nurse Libby checks in on the students three to four times a day and Miss Maureen is in-dorm during the day. COVID cleans are done regularly and the isolation area is out of bounds to the remainder of our students. We are following all Queensland Health regulations relating to COVID-19 in Residential College and student accommodation.

Holidays are just around the corner and I would like to remind you all that the dorms will be hired out during the holidays and we request that our students take home all their belonging as our storage area is limited. For those who travel by plane, we have an allocated space for them to store their personal possessions.

We welcomed Jacob, a new Tutor, this afternoon to boys dorm. Please feel free to have a chat with Jacob on travel day.

Until next week, stay warm and travel safely.

Mrs Maureen Taurima
Girls' Houseparent