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As our college swimming program draws to a close for Term 1, we couldn’t have scripted it any better than the victory at the QCIS Inter-school swimming carnival last week on Friday. Thank you to every swimmer for the significant contribution, dedication, team spirit and encouragement of one another on the day. Thank you, too, to the coaches, parents and HPE staff who have supported these students. Concordia came away with both the Aggregate and Percentage trophies for the 4^th year in a row. We are immensely proud of all our sports students who continue to represent our school with pride and, very importantly, good sportsmanship. Good luck to those swimmers who will be progressing to regional and state championships over the coming weeks.

Later this month Concordia will be hosting its Open Evening on Tuesday, 31 March from 4pm – 6:30pm. This is an important event on the college calendar as it allows the community to visit the college, meet the staff, see the many opportunities on offer and gain further insight into the rich world of living and learning at Concordia. Concordia was recently announced by the Courier Mail as one of the Top 20 private schools in Queensland, offering an exceptional education at an affordable price. Please remind any friends, family or neighbours who are considering their current or future schooling opportunities to visit the college on the day.

As we partner together in supporting your child’s growth, I would like to share and explore with you, in this week’s newsletter, the important topic of making and keeping friends. Here are some ideas to support your student in this area of relationships. Put friendships on the conversation table - establish a dialogue with your child about friendships so you can offer support when difficulties arise and provide ideas when needed. Be upfront with your child and discuss the importance of building connections with children both inside and outside school and remember to talk, don’t lecture.

Identify what may be holding a child back - identify and discuss any behaviour, such as teasing, bullying or self-centredness, that may prevent your child from making friends. For example, a child’s remarks can irritate others to the extent that he or she is left out. Don’t be squeamish. Be upfront with your child. Put your coaching hat on - teach social skills such as starting a conversation, being a good winner and loser and holding others' interest during a conversation. Playing games with family members is a great way for kids to pick up many of these skills. For example, “Next time you want to play a game with…try…”

Workshop tricky scenarios - the social world for our children is far more challenging than the academic world. Maths or English is a breeze compared to meeting new friends, saying no to peer pressure or letting a friend know that their behaviour is annoying. Next time they come to you with a problem, try workshopping different solutions with them. Focus on soft power - some children can struggle with keeping friends, as they often use assertion (and aggression) rather than adaptability when they don’t get their own way. Undoubtedly, soft power wins in the long run in the friendship arena. Children who can adapt, use humour, have a positive attitude, are helpful and know how to stand up for themselves when behaviour is unjust or unfair do well with friendships.

Teach your child how to read the room - children who struggle to make friends often charge in too quickly or hover too far away in play or social situations. It helps to teach them to “read the room” in social situations. Encourage them to watch a group for 30 seconds to identify the game being played and the overall “vibe” before approaching to join in. This gives slow-to-warm-up personality types the chance to feel comfortable (and weigh different social options) in new situations and environments.

Leverage the “home ground” advantage (something which my wife and I did with our two children) - social anxiety is often lower in a familiar environment. Organise a “micro-playdate” with just one other child at your home, centred around a structured activity like Lego or baking. This controlled setting enables you to use friendship coaching in real time. If a conflict arises over sharing, you can quietly pull your child aside to validate their frustration while helping them navigate the social “repair” needed to keep the play session going.

Develop a host mindset in your child - if your child likes to take charge and struggles with sharing, teach them how to be a good host. Start by asking, “What does a good host do?” Make a list of behaviours that make others comfortable at home and in their company. This shifts their focus from their own comfort to others’ comfort, building a foundation of empathy and emotional regulation. Get them out and about - encourage your child to participate in out-of-school activities or groups that offer opportunities to meet new people outside their school peer groups. Friendships formed through shared interests are often very strong.

Limit solitary activities - alone time is important for kids. It gives them the chance to process their day, relax and feel comfortable in their own skin. However, it’s a balancing act. Too much alone time means your child doesn’t have the opportunity to develop the basic skills they need to navigate the social world. These skills don’t develop in a vacuum.

Finally, our goal as parents isn’t to collect friends for your children. It’s to help them develop the social “muscles” to connect when they want to and the self-worth to be comfortable being alone. Helping a child find their tribe is rarely about a single “grand gesture.” It is found in quiet, consistent social interactions in familiar and unfamiliar situations as well as in supportive friendship coaching. As you guide them through these challenges, remember that you aren’t just helping them find a friend for today—you are equipping them with the emotional intelligence to lead and connect for a lifetime. [Acknowledgement: Parenting Toolbox]

As we partner with you on your child’s learning and living journey, please remember that Concordia maintains a strong open-door policy and warmly welcomes your questions, conversations and collaboration at any time.

We are looking forward to the rest of Term 1 as we continue to move forward together with confidence.

Have a safe weekend.

Yours in Christ.

Mr Anton Prinsloo
Head of College

At Concordia, we provide camps for almost every year level, starting in Year 3, and it is one of the things that make Concordia special. These camps enable the students to explore who they are in different contexts, and they provide opportunities to build new and closer relationships with peers and teachers. The connections formed at camps spill over into the classroom and ultimately strengthen our learning environment and help us to live up to our aspiration to be a community where everyone is known and loved.

Camps also provide the opportunity for students to connect with God’s beautiful creation – and we know that in our screen-oriented world, such connections are a positive factor for mental health and wellbeing. I certainly didn’t hear any complaints from students who were missing their devices. There were plenty of other things to do and try to learn. Our hope is that students take some of these experiences and lessons and apply them in their daily lives: seek some regular time out in creation, time to enjoy looking at the sky, to feel the sand or grass under your feet, to marvel at the intricacy of a flower or the beauty of a tree, to watch an ant lift a leaf 5 times its size or discover a colourful bug you’ve never seen before. And perhaps that activity might lead to a deeper appreciation of the creator who stands behind it all. As the Psalmist put it:

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1)

Have a great week, and God bless.

Thomas Böhmert
College Pastor

The online landscape offers immense opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection. However, it also presents risks that young people must be equipped to navigate confidently. Our aim as a college community is to foster digital citizenship — where students make safe, ethical, and responsible choices online. The Digital Thumbprint workshops delivered age-appropriate content that aligned with our school values and reinforced our commitment to positive and safe technology use.

The workshops addressed four key areas of cybersafety that are increasingly relevant in today's connected environment:

· Digital security (Years 5 – 6): Students explored ways to protect personal information, create strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and recognise common threats such as phishing, scams, and hacking attempts. Emphasis was placed on proactive habits to safeguard devices and accounts.

· Cyberbullying (Years 7 – 9): Discussions focused on identifying harmful online behaviours, understanding their emotional impact, fostering respectful digital relationships, and knowing where to seek help—whether reporting incidents or accessing support networks.

· Digital identity (Year 10): Young people reflected on how their online presence shapes how they are perceived, including privacy settings, sharing decisions, and the long-term implications of digital footprints. Specifically, students examined how online interactions may be used by future employers and the impact that digital identity can have on their future. The sessions encouraged social media reframing to build positive, authentic online personas.

· Generative AI: With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, workshops covered safe and ethical use of tools like generative AI, including prompt engineering, recognising misinformation or deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and potential risks such as privacy breaches or inappropriate content generation.

These topics were delivered in age-appropriate, interactive formats that encouraged open dialogue and real-world application, helping students develop the critical thinking skills needed for responsible digital citizenship.

To extend this learning at home, we strongly recommend families explore the excellent free parent resources available from Digital Thumbprint at:

This dedicated page offers a wealth of practical materials, including:

· Downloadable guides and tip sheets on topics like device agreements, privacy settings, balancing screen time, using AI safely (with conversation starters), recognising scams and hackers, handling cyberbullying, and understanding recent social media changes for under-16s.

· Quizzes such as the "Are you conversation ready?" assessment and First Phone Readiness Quiz to help gauge family discussions.

· Activity sheets (e.g., Passphrase Passport for younger children) and factsheets for quick reference.

· Links to trusted external supports, including the eSafety Commissioner, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Kids Helpline, and more.

In addition to these resources, the Australian Government’s eSafety Commissioner provides comprehensive, free resources for parents and carers to support safe and positive online experiences. Key resources include:

· Advice on social media, gaming, live streaming, and popular apps

· Step-by-step guides to managing privacy settings

· Support for young people experiencing cyberbullying, image-based abuse, or harmful content

· Reporting tools and information on legal protections

These resources can be found at:

Cybersafety is an evolving landscape, and no single workshop or resource covers every scenario. Our Pastoral Care Team remains a key support for our students and families to provide personalised guidance. Whether you have concerns about a specific incident, need advice on family expectations around technology, or simply want to discuss emerging trends like AI or social media updates, please do not hesitate to reach out to any member. We are committed to partnering with families to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and empowered both online and offline.

Together, we can foster a generation of digitally confident and resilient young people.

Take care,

Mr Tony Manteufel
Director of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Our focus now turns to our next major event, the Open Evening on Tuesday, March 31, from 4pm - 6.30pm. This is a great opportunity for families to explore the College, meet our teachers and students, and experience the atmosphere that makes Concordia such a special community. A Parent Connect run BBQ will be available during the evening at a small price, so there is no need to worry about dinner. If you know families who may be considering Concordia, please encourage them to come along and register through our website.

It has also been fantastic to see the range of cocurricular activities already underway this term. From chess to music, dance and drama, through to sport, fitness and agriculture. There are so many opportunities (too many to mention) for students to discover new interests and develop their talents. Our specialist teachers also offer support in several subjects after school, helping students build confidence and strengthen their understanding. I encourage you to talk about these wonderful opportunities with your children and encourage them to get involved.

Parents and carers also have the chance to enjoy an evening of their own at the upcoming Garden Gala. This event showcases the talent of our students and promises to be a wonderful night. You will find details and information on how to purchase tickets in this newsletter.

Thank you, as always, for being part of the Concordia community.

Warm regards,

Ms Belinda Sanders
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement

Along with the excitement came many thoughtful and insightful questions from students about the move and what the new spaces will be like. Throughout this time of change, the transition for our students remains a key priority. We are committed to ensuring that this move is as smooth and positive as possible for everyone. To help support this, we will be placing question boxes in each classroom so students can continue to ask questions about the move. This will allow us to respond to their questions and keep them informed as the process unfolds. Please discuss with your children any questions they might have and encourage them to put these in the question boxes that will be located in their classrooms from next week.

We are also pleased to share that Stage 2 of the building project is progressing well and remains on track. Another exciting milestone is approaching, with the furniture for Stage 1 scheduled to be delivered and assembled next week. Seeing these pieces come together will be another step toward bringing our new learning environment to life.

Thank you to our parents who participated in the Term 1 Social and Emotional Interviews this week. These conversations are incredibly valuable and highlight the importance of strong partnerships between home and school.

Recently, we came across an analogy shared by a cricket coach that speaks powerfully to the role parents play in helping children grow in independence. The coach encouraged parents to allow their children to carry their own cricket bag. While this may seem like a simple act, it represents something much bigger.

When a young player carries their own bag, they learn responsibility. They make sure their equipment is packed, they take ownership of their preparation, and they begin to understand that being part of a team means contributing and being ready. It is a small but meaningful step in helping children develop independence, resilience, and accountability.

This idea translates very well to school life. As educators, we are continually working to help students develop the skills they need not only for learning, but for life. Part of this journey involves encouraging students to take responsibility for themselves, packing their school bag, remembering their belongings, organising their learning materials, and communicating with their teachers when they need help.

While it can sometimes be quicker or easier for adults to step in and do these things for children, allowing them the opportunity to manage these responsibilities helps them grow in confidence and capability. Just like carrying their own cricket bag, these everyday tasks build independence and teach students that they have an important role to play in their own learning.

Strong partnerships between home and school are essential in supporting this development. When families and teachers work together to encourage independence, children learn valuable life skills such as responsibility, organisation, and teamwork.

So as the cricket coach wisely suggested, sometimes the best thing we can do is let our children carry their own cricket bag. Through these small moments of responsibility, they learn that they are capable, trusted, and an important part of the team.

Blessings for the week ahead.

to view HSC's Events for Term 3 2025, Week 7.
 to view WSC's Events for Term 3 2025, Week 7.

Mrs Juanetta Priest - Director of Campus (Hume Street)
Mrs Jackie Minnikin - Director of Campus (Warwick Street)

At the Junior College, NAPLAN assessments will take place on the following days:

• Wednesday 11 March
• Thursday 12 March
• Friday 13 March
• Tuesday 17 March

Students will complete the assessments online, with Year 3 students completing the Writing assessment on paper. These assessments are not about passing or failing; rather, they provide valuable information about each student’s learning progress.

NAPLAN is designed to be inclusive and accessible for all students. In line with Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) guidelines, students with Personalised Learning Plans who receive adjustments in the classroom will continue to receive appropriate adjustments during the NAPLAN assessments. These may include provisions such as additional time, rest breaks or other supports consistent with their classroom arrangements. This approach supports equitable access to the assessment while maintaining the integrity of NAPLAN. The Diverse Learning team will be working alongside class teachers and that relevant information is communicated appropriately.

NAPLAN test days should be treated as just another routine event on the school calendar. The best way you can help prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure your child that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school program and to advise them to simply do the best they can on the day.

We're lucky enough to have a Water Slide alongside the Colour Fun Run this year, don't forget to bring a towel and a change of clothes!

Year 1 students will be dressing up and participating in a Wacky Wednesday fun day. Students are invited to come dressed in all things wacky. It could be as simple as odd socks and shoes, funny things on your head, wearing your shirts backwards or soccer outfit mixed with a tutu. These are just a few examples!!!

Year 1 HSC and WSC students will be enjoying this event on Wednesday 18 March.

Mrs Millett, Mrs Norley and Mrs Reimann
Year 1 Teachers

One of the highlights for me personally so far this year has been joining our Year 7 cohort at their camp at Alexandra Headland. What a privilege it was to watch these young people in action. They engaged with staff and each other in the most respectful and enthusiastic way imaginable. Every activity was tackled with grit and determination. I saw students achieving genuine goals – both socially and personally. Some confronted heights on the high-ropes course for the very first time; others stepped bravely out of their comfort zones during team challenges. The growth in confidence, the laughter, the quiet moments of reflection, and the cheers of support for one another were truly inspiring.

Moments like Year 7 camp remind us why ������Ƶ’s extensive Outdoor Education program is so central to who we are. Rather than being simply an add-on, it is a deliberate part of our holistic approach to educating the whole child. Research consistently confirms the profound value of these experiences. A recent University of Notre Dame Australia study found that outdoor adventure education significantly boosts young people’s confidence, resilience, and social connections while supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing. Broader studies echo this, showing improved academic engagement, stronger problem-solving skills, reduced stress levels, and even gains in standardised test performance and classroom behaviour. At Concordia, we are proud to offer a rich, progressive Outdoor Education pathway because we know these programs build the resilience, character and lifelong skills our students will carry far beyond school.

A quick practical reminder for families: NAPLAN testing begins next Wednesday, 11 March. This is simply one snapshot of learning progress and provides valuable information to help us support every student. Please encourage calm, positive attitudes at home – a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and the message that effort and resilience matter far more than perfection. All we ask is that students give it their best, applying the hard work they do in class every day.

Next week, our Year 10 students head off on work experience placements. This is always a highlight of the year – a wonderful chance to explore real-world careers, develop independence, and see classroom learning come alive. I look forward to hearing about how our students fare in the workplace, and what learnings they have as they shape their pathway in the years to come.

Finally, please save Tuesday, 31 March, in your diaries for our Open Evening, held in conjunction with the Subject Information Evening. It will be a fantastic opportunity to tour our College, meet teachers, and discover the breadth of programs we offer. More details will follow shortly via email.

Thank you once again for your partnership. The calm, focused start we have enjoyed is a shared achievement, and I look forward to an outstanding remainder of Term 1.

Yours in faith,

Mr Jamie Pukallus
Director of Campus