Teaching and Learning
Christmas has come to Concord School
The festive season has woven its magic over Concord School.
Front Office at Bundoora
The Office Staff have gone all out to decorate the spaces in the front foyer. The Admin, Principal and teaching staff are looking forward to welcoming new students and their families to Concord School over the last few weeks of term.
Discovery Centre MILE Room
In the past week, many classes have wandered into the Winter Wonderland in the Discovery Centre, MILE room. Students are putting on a dazzling array of festive props and posing in the Snow Globe photo booth. Other students have excitedly written and posted letters to Santa in our very own North Pole postal box.
Discovery Centre Activities
In the Study Area and Science Spaces, students have cut out paper snowflakes and made Christmas cards and Christmas Booklets. They have made magic snow dough, as well as clay Christmas ornaments and rock art magnets. Ashley Butler and Courtney King have put their creative talents together to transform the centre and engage imaginative minds in all things Christmas.
Christmas Concert
What a turn out! The Christmas Concert was a huge success. The entertainment, food, stalls weather and Santa’s visit combined to make this a memorable occasion for students and their families. Well done to Justin Hall, our Performing Arts teacher, for organising the night and for orchestrating the awesome performance of Unbroken.
Our Master of Ceremonies, Mark Connors kept the momentum going and made Santa’s job so much easier. Thanks also to the VCAL team involved in organising and running the BBQ, particularly Karen, Bronwyn, Megan, Courtney K, Mannon. There was a host of helpers on the 11/12 and PreCAL market stalls. Most of the Christmas gift ideas and products were sold old within an hour of opening the stalls.
The PreCAL market stall was a huge success, thanks to teachers, allied health staff and to our parent helpers Denise & Kylie. The PreCAL students did a great job selling their products and practising their communication and money skills. On Friday 7th Dec. Kirsten Coulter, Jessica Fitzsimmons, Karen Jordan, Nicole Haspell and Kris Lord and some keen PreCAL students, Daniel T, Travis L, Caitlin S sold some more of their attractive Christmas gifts; soaps and baths bombs at the Laurimar PS Christmas Fair.
The section dance performances at our Christmas Concert were outstanding. .Congratulations to the students for their polished performances and for entertaining families in an authentic festive celebration. Thank you also to the teachers, aides and helpers that taught students the moves and assisted with the amazing props and costumes.
There are a few more celebrations of student learning coning up this week:
- Two Graduation Presentations-Yr. 6 and Yr. 12 students
- Whole School Assembly
Ice Bucket Challenge
On Tuesday 4th December at 2pm, students in Yr. 12 SAP staged an entertaining whole school viewing of an ‘Ice-bucket challenge’. In the previous two weeks, students in SAP collected gold coins from students and staff. The donors had to choose which teachers they wanted to be ice-bucketed. The fund raising event raised nearly $300 for the RSPCA, Farmers’ Drought Relief and the Salvation Army.
Six police officers lead by Senior Constable Shanice Vilone, parent of Danielle in PSP, attended the event, donating money and volunteering one of their officers to be spectacularly ice-bucketed too. Audiences were entertained as Colin Simpson, our Acting Principal raced around the arena, trying to escape his fate. Fortunately, our police officers were there to apprehend him and observed the first big ice bucket douse. Many other performances followed, Bronwyn Hart (VCAL Team Leader), Justin Hall, (Performing Arts teacher), Jesse Donaldson (Educational Support), Colin Daisley (Maintenance officer), Deb Whiteway (Administration Officer) and a young female Police Officer.
The students in SAP were delighted with their fund raising efforts. They initially brainstormed fundraising recipients and event organisation and worked tirelessly to ensure the event was successful. These students will be some of the worthy graduates this week (Thursday December 13th).
Graduating Student Interviews
I caught up with some more students who are graduating from year Primary and Secondary school. They gave me some interesting insights concerning:
What they enjoyed learning/
Their top highlights
What they would miss most/
What they are looking forward to, next year?
What advice they would give other students?
Upper Primary Interview with Kiara T (PDJ)
You are graduating from Primary School this term
How long have you been at Concord School? 1 year and three days, I started on Nov 1st 2017
What are three highlights in your time at Concord School?
The Phillip Island camp where I was with my friends doing fun things like the Giant Swing
Electives like Gymnastics where we somersaulted and trampolined
My teacher-Debbie helps me a lot.
What have you enjoyed learning this this year?
Writing especially writing stories about my favourite topics and ideas
What will you miss most when you leave?
I will miss my friends and my teacher. High School is the next big step.
What are you looking forward to next year?
The learning, the classroom and the teacher
When you see other Primary students at Concord School what advice would you give them.
Don’t worry too much because the work might be harder and you might not know people but you will get help and you will make friends.
Upper Primary Interview with Josh B(PJT)
You are graduating from Primary School this term
How long have you been at Concord School? 5 years I started in Lower primary in Bec Campbell’s class
What are three highlights in your time at Concord School?
Lady Northcote Camp, the activities archery, giant swing and the flying fox were great
‘Variety’ with Sabrina was fun the prizes were great and there was lots of yummy chips and other food
Bowling Day where we played games together and had pizza in the park
What have you enjoyed learning this this year?
I have enjoyed maths especially the times tables and addition.
I have also enjoyed ice-cream making and making spiders, my favourite is mint flavour.
What will you miss most when you leave?
The teachers, Sabrina and Debbie
What are you looking forward to next year?
I am looking forward to harder work and maybe the camps.
When you see other Primary students at Concord School what advice would you give them.
Year 11/12 Interview with Shania E.L. (SNK)
This is your last term of school
How long have you been at Concord School?
5 Years- I started here in 2014
What are three highlights in your time at Concord School?
Being School Captain in 2018
The friendliness of staff
My first camp in Year 9. It was in the Grampians, there was so much Aboriginal history there. The kangaroos visited you in the morning.
What have you enjoyed learning this this year?
Work experience at a Rosanna hair salon. The staff were so friendly and they were not too fussy.
What will you miss most when you leave?
I will miss teachers, students and friends. I know there will be different schedules to keep.
What will you do next year?
I plan to do an online Childcare Course and practice my childcare skills looking after my cousins who are six and ten.
If you visit Concord School what advice would you give other students?
My advice is ‘if you muck around, you lose out. You need to have a good attitude about learning. Maybe you could also become a school captain and get some respect too.
Year 11/12 Interview with Rubles(Ruby N) (.(SAP)
This is your last term of school
How long have you been at Concord School?
I have been here since 2014- that’s 5 Years
What are three highlights in your time at Concord School?
Doing a project on New Zealand, making NZ ice-cream and learning about the ‘Lord of the Rings’ film set.
Improving my drawing by practising my craft, every day.
Very interesting excursions with my favourite teachers (Tim C and Deb R). Excursions to Wildlife Parks where there are lots of Australian animals.
What have you enjoyed learning this this year?
I’ve enjoyed learning about ‘Dialogue in the Dark’ It’s a place you stand in the dark to understand about being sight impaired. I saw hallucinations and I found it interesting.
What will you miss most when you leave?
I will miss my old routines, sitting in a corner doing my comic strips and talking to my favourite teachers.
What will you do next year?
I plan to do hairdressing and earn $300 per week.
If you visit Concord School what advice would you give other students?
Be yourself, stick up for yourself. Do what you normally do, if someone doesn’t like it say
“Sorry for being myself, for I am the best one here”
Year 11/12 Interview with Michael T. (SAP)
This is your last term of school
How long have you been at Concord School?
I have been here since 2016- 3 Years
What are three highlights in your time at Concord School?
Making good friends
Work Experience at Coles in Bundoora
The Sydney Camp- It was my first time on a plane. Sydney was a place I hadn’t visited and the bay was beautiful.
What have you enjoyed learning this this year?
I’ve enjoyed learning about how to cook, particularly bread and asparagus soup with Lyn at Peter Lalor College
What will you miss most when you leave?
I will miss mainly my friends in year 11 and 12
What will you do next year?
I am going to support services in Epping. I will meet the challenges they give me.
If you visit Concord School what advice would you give other students?
Work hard, try your best and never ever give up. Remember to be friendly and help others.
Helen Edmonds
Acting Assistant Principal