Term 1, Week 2, 2018

Concordia CONNECT Term 1, Week 2, 2018

In this issue...

A Message from Michael Paech A Message from Paul Weinert Concordia Campus Commencement Service IB Diploma Award Ceremony Siassi Teacher Visit Diary Dates

St John's Campus Read a welcome from the Principal, a P&F update and can you help by hosting a Siassi teacher?

In this Section From the St John's Campus Principal 2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps Siassi Teacher Visit - Urgent Request for Host Families St John's Campus BBQ - Save the Date! P&F Update

Concordia Campus Hear from our new Principal, and read about new staff and student leaders, ICT matters and event information.

In this Section From the Concordia Campus Principal 2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps 2018 Commencement Service IB Diploma Award Ceremony ICT Matters Upcoming Events Student Achievements From the Archives

Sport Click here for the latest news and results.

In this Section St John's Campus Sports Results Concordia Campus Sports Update

Music Read some music notes about instrumental lessons/hire, ensemble rehearsals and Generations in Jazz.

Concordia Campus Music Notes

Noticeboard Diary dates, events and notices from around the College and the wider community.

In this Section Diary Dates Stamps for Missions The School Shop Public Notices & Events St John's Campus

Read a welcome from the Principal, a P&F update and can you help by hosting a Siassi teacher?

In this Section

From the St John's Campus Principal 2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps Siassi Teacher Visit - Urgent Request for Host Families St John's Campus BBQ - Save the Date P&F Update

From the St John's Campus Principal

Welcome Back

The 2018 school year has been underway for nearly two weeks and we are pleased that our students have settled back into the routines of school life well.

A particularly warm welcome to all new students and their families starting in our St John’s Campus community this year. We hope that you transition into our community quickly and enjoy your time with us.

The beginning of each new year is generally marked with a level of excitement and energy as we all connect and reconnect with each other. We look forward to a great year ahead as we continue to grow and learn together, all the time knowing that God is with us.

Our staff returned to school a week before our students and were engaged in several days of professional development, along with a number of different planning and preparation meetings. It is always good to be able to commence the year with a positive and clear sense of direction for the year ahead and I thank all of our staff for their involvement and commitment over these days prior to school commencing.

New Staff This year we have several new staff joining our team and we extend a special welcome to them. We look forward to working alongside them as we focus on our vision to Engage. Achieve. Serve.

New Student Leaders

During our opening Chapel service, as well as welcoming new staff, we officially installed our Student Leaders for the 2018 school year. We look forward to the positive influence these students will have on our school community as they work with staff and lead their peers.

Staff Announcements

We congratulate Mrs Cailtin Wilk (4W) and her husband Jakub who are pleased to announce that they are expecting the arrival of their first child in Term 2 this year. We wish them God’s blessing as they move towards this exciting time. For parents of students in Year 4W, please note that we will be working towards finding a replacement teacher for Caitlin and we will inform you when this is done.

We are also thrilled to announce that one of our Year 6 teachers from 2017, Mrs Emily O’Callaghan and her husband Kevin are the proud parents of their first child, a healthy baby boy. Hudson Ray O’Callaghan was born on Friday 2 February.

We wish Emily and Kevin God’s blessing as they begin this new chapter of their life as a family.

Upcoming Events

Please note the following dates:

Our PIN (Parent Information Night) will be held tonight, Thursday 8 February, and we encourage parents to join us for this informative evening designed to support the partnership between home and school. The schedule of the evening is as follows:

First Classroom Session 7 - 7.40pm

2018 Update (in Hall) 7.45 - 7.55pm

Second Classroom Session 8 - 8.40pm

Staff Installation will be held on Sunday 11 February in the Concordia Chapel at 10.30am. All families are welcome to join us for this special service.

Sports Day is scheduled for Friday 9 March (at the end of Week 6). A good day to note in your diary.

Michael Paech Principal - St John's Campus

2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps

Thank you to all of the parents across the College who completed the 2017 Parent Survey in Term 4. We were delighted with the response and appreciate the thoughtful feedback that was provided, with the vast majority of responses being very positive. The Executive teams at both campuses are currently analysing the feedback and working through a strategy to assess your suggested improvements and address the issues that have been raised. We have been able to immediately address some areas such as adjustments to the newsletter, which will be ongoing, and providing more information about accessing and using ManageBac. Further information will be communicated to parents after a full review of the survey data.

Michael Paech Principal - St John's Campus

Paul Weinert Principal - Concordia Campus

Siassi Teacher Visit - Urgent Request for Host Families

For several years, Concordia College St John's Campus has enjoyed a connection with the Siassi Islands of PNG. This year we will again be visited by a group of Siassi teachers who will participate in the professional life of our school, observing classes, being immersed in the English language, receiving inspiration and motivation for their own teaching and worshiping with an Australian Lutheran community.

We are currently in urgent need of host families who would be able to host two teachers for three to five nights.

For more information, please download the attached letter and view the video below to hear about the benefits of hosting a Siassi teacher.

St John's Campus BBQ - Save the Date!

The St John's Campus BBQ, held on the College oval, is a wonderful time to connect with other school families in a fun and relaxed environment.

This year the BBQ will be held on Sunday 8 April from 12pm - 2pm. More information will be distributed to families in the coming weeks.

Students in Years 2 and 5 will also be involved in a School Service of St John's Lutheran Church Unley on that day and all families are welcome to join us in the Chapel at 10.30am.

For a list of diary dates, visit the noticeboard.

P&F Update P&F Meeting - Monday 12 February at 7pm

St John's Campus P&F (formerly known as Links) first meeting for the year will be held on Monday 12 February at 7pm in the staff room. All are welcome and we'd love to have as many parents as possible join us on the night. If you're new to the school, have never been involved with the P&F or would like to be involved again this year, we'd love to see you there!

Ice blocks

We would like to remind parents that ice blocks are being sold for $1 each Wednesday at recess. The ice blocks are supplied by Home Icecream and are Rite Bite approved. Please note only one ice block per child.

Sally and Tanya St John's Campus P&F Co-Presidents Concordia Campus

Hear from our new Principal, and read about new staff and student leaders, ICT matters and event information.

In this Section

From the Concordia Campus Principal 2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps 2018 Commencement Service IBDP Awards Ceremony for 2017 ICT Matters Upcoming Events Student Achievements From the Archives: New Students

From the Concordia Campus Principal

Even though it feels we are already well into the hustle and bustle of the school year, I wish to

extend a happy new school year to parents! Thank you for returning to, or beginning, your connection with Concordia College. What will this year hold for you, I wonder? How has it begun?

If you’re like me, a new year brings a whole lot of challenges, some re-visited, and some entirely new. We can sometimes become negative about this, but the truth is that it’s through challenge that we grow. It’s when we struggle with something that we think about it deeply, seek wider counsel, and hopefully grow through the experience. No pain, no gain, as the saying goes.

This is the educational journey, of course: growth through challenge. It’s exactly what Jesus experienced at the start of his three-year public ministry straight after his baptism at about thirty years of age. Luke tells us (Luke 4:1), 'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.' Tempted here is real testing, real challenging.

If you read the passage you’ll see that Jesus passed without fail. That’s not always our experience. In fact, if we’re honest, our performance and development is a mixed bag. Thank God that at least before him that’s not what counts. Instead our Lord’s great achievement is freely given to us. And it’s this which frees us – and our students – to stand tall. Other people might judge us harshly at times but before God that’s not the point because he credits us with Jesus’ success no matter how we do.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Concordia College community for the wonderfully warm welcome I have received. From the warm embrace of the Commencement Service to the friendly greetings at the information nights, it has been a pleasure to connect with parents. I look forward with great enthusiasm to serving the Concordia College community, a community where in my short time, I have already experienced first-hand the motto, ‘firm in principle, gentle in manner’ lived out in relationships.

God bless you in all the joys and challenges you face this year.

Paul Weinert Principal - Concordia Campus

2017 Parent Survey: Next Steps

Paul Weinert Principal - Concordia Campus

Michael Paech Principal - St John's Campus

2018 Commencement Service

The Commencement Service held on Tuesday 30 January was a powerful way to formally begin the new year. After the warmth of the back-to-school welcome activities the day before, it was fitting to celebrate the arrival of new staff, the induction of our Senior School Student Leaders and the academic achievements of our 2017 graduates.

Bishop David Altus and Pastor Dale Gosden honoured those installed as new staff and celebrated our high achievers through the honest and meaningful words they shared.

Student Leaders

Cate Sexton School Captains Jacob Kemp Natasha Moy Deputy Captains Dylan Quinn-Valentine

Taylor Prenzler Anais Briggs Student Leaders Nicholas Robins Ben Klingberg

House Leaders

Sophie Horsnell Cheltenham Captains Lachlan Greenwood

Kesia Jakubowski Cheltenham Deputies William DeTullio

Sophie Sampson Highgate Captains Wil Zampa

Victoria Emsley Highgate Deputies Oliver Grivell

Sarah Sheedy Malvern Captains Mitchell Williams

Mia Retallack Malvern Deputies Sean Maple Kate Johnson Winchester Captains Nathan Panagis

Emma Whyte Winchester Deputies Bradley Wulff

New Staff

Paul Weinert Dale Gosden (Principal, Concordia Campus) (Pastor)

Sue Bates Stephanie Nelson

Sophie Braun Mike Rowe

Michelle Deards Suica Ranka

Alex Geue Laura Simmons

Ellie Gleeson Amy Stephan

Gerry Krieg John Vella

Daniel Micklem

We also had the opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate:

The top SACE student and overall Dux with an ATAR of 99.9:

Mitchell Munn

The top IBDP students for 2017:

Natasha Davey Ariane Dorotich

As well as thanking his teachers, family and the Class of 2017, Mitchell encouraged current students to put in their best effort, not to pigeonhole themselves based on how smart they think they are, but to always work hard to achieve their goals. In so doing they they will be able to look back at the end of their schooling journey as he did, knowing they have done all they could - and being happy with their efforts. I believe that achievement is less about how smart you are, and more about how much effort you are willing to put in.

A quote that I feel embodied my mentality going into Year 12 is that “People don’t fail to succeed - they fail to make the effort to succeed.” (Thomas Oppong) Never settle for anything less than your best, and you will never have any reason for regret.

For an overview of our 2017 Year 12 results, visit our Results and Achievements page.

IB Diploma Award Ceremony

On Monday 5 February, the 2017 IB Diploma Award Ceremony was held at the Adelaide Town Hall.

This occasion saw all the International Baccalaureate Diploma schools of South Australia come together to formally acknowledge outstanding student achievement. It was a night of recognition and a celebration of the broad range of experiences the Diploma offers.

Amongst the many students state-wide to receive awards were Natasha Davey, who received a Certificate of Merit for Mathematical Studies SL, and Madeline Harrison who received one for French ab initio. We congratulate both girls on this outstanding achievement.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate Ariane Dorotich and Natasha Davey, equal top students for the Diploma class of 2017.

We wish all our recent graduates every success this year and beyond.

Louise MacMahon IBDP Coordinator

ICT Matters

Welcome to all new parents this year, and hello to everyone who is now officially an ‘old hand’.

For all parents, a reminder that we have set up a generic website at this address: https://www.concordiadigitallearning.com/ designed to inform parents a little about the College digital learning environment. On this site, we are providing access to College digital learning policies, including vendor privacy policies, and various guides and tips to using College software like ManageBac and cybersafety resources for home. This website will be reviewed and updated later this term, and St John's Campus information will be added to represent the full ELC-12 scope of College digital learning. For new parents, we will add your details to our curriculum assessment and reporting site on ManageBac and you will receive in your email, in coming weeks, an invitation to set up a password and access the program. ManageBac viewing allows you to see what learning activities are planned, what assessment tasks are due and when, and especially get a sense of how your children are progressing. Last year was the first time we opened the program to all parents, so we are also checking that everyone who should be able to access it can. Please let us know if you were unable to access ManageBac last year.

Your child's key responsibilities for caring for the College devices they are using are to:

Keep them in protective cases Charge them fully overnight Remember to bring them to school Let IT know as soon as possible if a problem or damage occurs

Among our many College aims is to teach and help our students to become responsible digital citizens who take care of the technology, everyone with whom they interact, and themselves online.

Tony Shillitoe ICT Manager

Upcoming Events

Year 7 Family Gathering

Year 7 families are warmly invited to join us for the annual Family Gathering in the Quad on Friday 16 February from 6- 8pm. Get to know other Year 7 families in a relaxed environment with your child's Home Class teacher. Siblings welcome.

Wood oven pizzas will be provided. BYO drinks or bar facilities available.

This is a free event funded and supported by the Concordia Campus P&F.

Please book online (for catering purposes).

Business Networking Breakfast

Our first Business Networking Breakfast for 2018 is coming up on Thursday 8 March from 7.30am - 9am in The Suaviter.

We are pleased to have guest speaker David Pisoni, Member for Unley, speaking on the topic "From retail business to politics: lessons learned from both ends."

If you'd like to attend, please RSVP by Friday 2 March on 8272 0444 or email Foundation Executive Officer, Sue Spry.

Twilight Tea

Our annual Twilight Tea event is coming up on Friday 16 March from 4.30pm - 8pm. This community event, supported by the P&F, is always a highlight of the year with fun and entertainment for the whole family.

More information will be distributed in the coming weeks, but please save the date today.

College Musical 'Legally Blonde'

The College musical is also a fantastic event each year and this year our students will present three public performances of 'Legally Blonde' across two days at the Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga.

Staff and senior students are already working hard to pull this show together and tickets are sure to sell fast, so please mark Friday 6 and Saturday 7 April in your diaries and keep an eye out for more ticketing information.

Diary Dates

For a list of diary dates, visit the Noticeboard.

Student Achievements

Well done to Year 10 student Ella (10NMC) who competed in the Athletics SA State

Championships last weekend and won gold in the U16 Women's 400m and bronze in the U16 Women's 100m. A fantastic effort! Following these results, she has been selected as a member of the State Team for the Australian Junior Championships in March and we wish her all the best as she prepares for this competition.

Congratulations to Sean (12TMC) on a great performance at the Australian Youth Championships with the SA U18 Baseball Team. South Australia defeated Queensland 9 - 0 in the Gold Medal game, achieving their first U18 victory in these championships since 1988 (30 years). Sean was equal 4th in the overall national batting with an average of .412 in nine games with 14 hits.

During the January school holidays, Ethan (7MGA) was Vice-captain of the State 12 and Under

Cricket Team that competed in the National Cricket Carnival at Barooga. After a draw against NSW and wins against VIC, QLD and WA, the SA team made it through to the Grand Final and won for the first time in its own right since entering the competition. Ethan was awarded player of the match for his efforts in the Grand Final. Well done, Ethan!

From the Archives

This week, as we reflect on the beginning of another school year, our Archivist shares some interesting recollections from students who were new to Concordia in the days when most students were boarders at the College. Read more... Sport

Click here for the latest news and results.

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St John's Campus Sports Results

Basketball

Concordia Crystals defeated by Unley Hawks: 9 - 17. A great effort.

Concordia Cats defeated Lightening Blues: 22 - 14. An awesome effort!

Netball

Concordia Canaries defeated by Unley Sky: 6 - 1. Excellent effort by all and a great goal by Emily A.

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Concordia Campus Sports Update

Please be advised that program information for Term 1 sport is currently being collated and will be made available via the parent portal as soon as possible. Meanwhile, students need to check the sports noticeboard information in the Gym foyer window (Boys Sport) and Gym foyer (Girls Sport) carefully and critical information for families will be emailed prior to the weekend.

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Read some music notes about instrumental lessons/hire, ensemble rehearsals and Generations in Jazz.

Concordia Campus Music Notes

It has been a very busy start to Term 1 in the Music Centre. Most ensembles have started rehearsals, and we are already hearing some fantastic sounds. This includes all Big Bands, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Musical, Pit Band, Middle School Choir and String Ensemble.

The following ensembles would welcome new members, who may attend the rehearsals next week for a “come and try”. Students would need to be having lessons in that instrument:

Flute Ensemble Guitar Ensemble

Instrumental lessons have begun for 2018. New students are still welcome to join the program, and may do so by applying through the online form.

Please note, photocopies of music should not be used by students due to Copyright. It is expected that students will purchase music for use in their lessons. This may be in the form of books recommended by their instrumental teacher, or downloaded links which have been suggested to the student, and those downloads will bear the name of the student, being the purchaser of the score.

Instrumental Hire is available, should students need to hire an instrument. Please complete the online hire application form.

In particular we would welcome applications for lessons in Flute, Clarinet, Trombone, Bassoon, Oboe and French Horn. Please note that we also offer group lessons in Improvisation. If you wish to discuss this option, please feel free to call Jenni Watkins in the Music Office on 8291 9367.

Ensemble Timetable

A copy of the Term 1 timetable for ensemble rehearsals is now available for download. Students audition for many of these ensembles, with auditions taking place in Term 4 each year.

Generations in Jazz

Students who are members of Big Band 1, 2 & 3, Jazz Collective and Jazz Choirs 1, 2 & 3 will all have been notified that their children will attend the Generations in Jazz Music Festival as part of their involvement in these ensembles and choirs. The tour will be leaving on the morning of Thursday 3 May and returning late Sunday 6 May. Families will receive more information very soon, and are reminded that attendance at this festival incurs a cost of $510. Students who have already attended and have a tour jacket, will be charged $475. They will need to deliver their laundered hoodie to the Music Office no later than Friday 16 March. New students will be able to try on sample size hoodies very soon. Noticeboard

Diary dates, events and notices from around the College and the wider community.

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Diary Dates

Fridge Notes

To download a Term 1 Fridge Notes calendar for each campus, click the links below. Fridge Notes can also be accessed via the 'More' tab within the School Star app.

St John's Campus Fridge Notes Concordia Campus Fridge Notes

St John's Campus

February

Thursday 8 Reception - Year 6 Parent Info Night, 7pm

Sunday 11 Staff Blessing in the College Chapel, 10.30am

Monday 12 P&F Meeting in the Staff Room, 7pm. All welcome.

Wednesday 14 ELC Parent Info Night, 7pm

March

Friday 9 Sports Day on the College Oval

Monday 12 Adelaide Cup Day (Public Holiday)

Year 4 Camp Wednesday 14 - Friday 16 Year 5 Camp

Friday 16 Twilight Tea, The Concordia Campus Quad, 4.30-8pm Monday 26 Parent/Teacher Interviews

Friday 30 Good Friday

Saturday 31 Easter Saturday

April

Sunday 1 Easter Sunday

Monday 2 Easter Monday

Sunday 8 School Service (Years 2 & 5) and P&F BBQ

Monday 9 Parent/Teacher Interviews

Friday 13 Term 1 Ends

Concordia Campus

February

Friday 9 House Captains' Retreat

Monday 12 - Thursday 15 Year 8 Camp

Wednesday 14 Ash Wednesday Service (Senior School)

Valentine's Day Heart Foundation fundraiser and Non-Uniform Day Thursday 15 Year 7-11 Parent Info Workshops, 7.30pm

Friday 16 Year 7 Family Gathering, 6-8pm. Book online

Saturday 17 German Exchange students arrive

Wednesday 21 COCA Class of 2017 Welcome Event. View invitation/flyer

Saturday 24 Senior School serving at Mary Magdalene Drop-in Centre

March

Wednesday 7 P&F Meeting, 7.30pm, all welcome

Monday 12 Adelaide Cup Day (Public Holiday)

Thursday 15 Sports Day at SA Athletics Stadium (formerly Santos Stadium) Twilight Tea, The Quad, 4.30-8pm Friday 16 Non-Uniform Day

Thursday 23 - Friday 24 Year 12 Retreat

Friday 30 Good Friday

Saturday 31 Easter Saturday

April

Sunday 1 Easter Sunday

Monday 2 Easter Monday

Tuesday 3 Year 9 Camp Parent Info Night, 7.30pm

Wednesday 4 P&F Meeting, 7.30pm, all welcome

Friday 6 - Saturday 7 College Musical: Legally Blonde at the Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga

Wednesday 11 Year 11 RAA Street Smart

Term 1 Ends, 1pm Friday 13 Year 12 Formal

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Stamps for Missions

The Lutheran Church collects and sells used stamps for their Stamps for Missions program, raising money for a variety of purposes in the Asia Pacific region.

Over the last decade more than $400,000 has been raised through the program and projects supported using the money raised include:

Ministry support for the Orang Asli (indigenous people) of Malaysia – programs such as literacy and computer classes for children, supplying library books and food distribution. Support for Hanna Schulz who is a linguist and translator in PNG And other projects in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.

If you'd like to get involved by donating used stamps to the Stamps for Missions program, please drop them in to the Concordia Campus Reception or the Concordia Campus library (Yangadlitya).

Catherine Riedel Teacher Librarian

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The School Shop

Please note that second hand uniform items will be accepted from 21 February 2018. Prior to dry cleaning blazers, skirts and pinafores, Shop staff are happy to confirm suitability for sale.

Click to view School Shop opening hours and uniform information.

The School Shop staff can be contacted on the direct telephone line during opening hours – 8291 9302.

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Public Notices & Events

Mark Le Messurier and Madhavi Narwana Parker will run education sessions for parents on topics such as responding to autism diagnosis, positive discipline, fathers and sons, anxiety and sibling rivalry. For dates and session times, contact Fullarton Park Community Centre on 8372 5180. Kalahari Experience Development Initiatives (KEDI) movie night fundraiser (Rated M) - Thursday 15 March, 6pm at the Capri Theatre. Download a flyer. Unley Jets Football Club – junior registrations are now open. The club is really keen to increase its girls football sides in U10, U12, U14 and U16. Please email the club if interested.

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