Academy Learning Conferences with Julie Arliss
In line with our strong commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities that stretch and challenge our students, Concordia recently hosted a series of learning days with international gifted education specialist Julie Arliss, direct from the UK. This is the 12th year Concordia has hosted these events.
Across three days—a Junior Student Conference, a Senior Student Conference and a Teacher Gifted Symposium for educators from across South Australia—more than 90 Concordia students from Years 7–12 engaged in a rich program of lectures, workshops and debates alongside peers from other schools. A highlight included a live lecture from Dr Andrew Pinsent, who holds a doctorate in physics from Oxford University as well as PhDs in philosophy and theology.
Across the conferences, students explored profound and challenging questions such as:
- What is courage?
- How do we think on our feet like Oxford University students?
- How do Plato’s ideas still shape the world today?
- How does religion, science, evil and freewill intersect?
- What is the nature of time?
- Does love conquer all—or can it sometimes cause harm?
- Freedom of speech – why is it important?
Through philosophical inquiry, logical reasoning, scientific exploration and spirited debate, students were immersed in a day of rich learning and stimulating thought. This inspiring program not only broadened students’ intellectual horizons but also exemplified the value of creating spaces where gifted and highly able learners can be stretched to think deeply, critically and creatively.
State Final Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award
The Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award is a national competition that aims to enhance students’ communication skills and to help people appreciate the ideals of Legacy, which are voluntary service, social justice, caring, personal sacrifice and mateship. Legacy is a unique Australian voluntary not-for-profit charity, an organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of families of our Australian Defence Force veterans who have served in war, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions and who have sadly died or become incapacitated either during war or subsequently.
The organisation currently cares for over 3,500 families throughout South Australia. Year 9 students Eva (9ALAM) and Sophia (9ALAM) represented Concordia beautifully during the preliminary round of the competition. On Friday 15 August, Sophia was awarded a trophy for competing as one of 10 Finalists for South Australia at the Legacy House State Final. She presented an excellent speech about the importance of voluntary service.
As a special note, while she is a debater, this is Sophia’s first year competing in formal public speaking competitions, and she placed highly in the South Australia / Northern Territory Rostrum Voice of Youth Zone Final at Parliament House and excelled at the Legacy State Final. At Concordia, one of our core school values is aspiration—striving for continuous growth and improvement. Sophia demonstrates that with dedication, openness to feedback, consistent practice and perseverance, amazing things are possible. Well done!
26 Book Challenge – Hot Chocolates, Book Chats and Passport Checks
This year’s Book Week theme of 'Book an Adventure' presented the perfect opportunity to bring students together who are taking part in this year’s 26 Book Challenge. Avid readers gathered in the library with a treasure trove of hot chocolate toppings to share book recommendations and have their 26 Book Challenge passport stamped by 'Book Council immigration'. Students swapped book titles and encouraged each other to achieve the goal of reading 26 books by Week 5 of Term 4. To learn more, see here. Special thanks to our library team who work so hard to bring literature to life and celebrate the power of reading for pleasure.
Emma Rieger
Enrichment and Extended Learning
