Concordia College (South Australia)

Concordia College
Latin: Fortiter in Re, Suaviter in Modo Firm in Principle, Gentle in Manner[1]
Location
Highgate, SA, Australia
Coordinates	34°57′35″S 138°37′3″E / 34.95972°S 138.6175°E / -34.95972; 138.6175Coordinates: 34°57′35″S 138°37′3″E / 34.95972°S 138.6175°E / -34.95972; 138.6175
Information
Type	Independent, Co-educational, Secondary, Day school
Denomination	Lutheran[2]
Established	1890[2]
Principal	Lester Saegenschnitter
Key people	Mrs. Briony Carman (Head Of Middle School) Mrs. Mavis Herbert (Head Of Senior School)
Enrolment	~790  (2009[3])
International students	19[3]
Colour(s)	Blue and Gold
Slogan	"In touch with the past - forming the future"
Website	www.concordia.sa.edu.au

Concordia College at Murtoa, c.1890s

The College at Highgate on opening day, 1905

Gymnasium team in front of the main building, c.1921

Concordia College is an independent, co-educational, Lutheran, secondary, day school, located in Highgate, an inner southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

Established as a boys school, teachers college and seminary in Murtoa, Victoria in 1890,^[4] Concordia moved to its current site in South Australia in 1905, and caters for about 800 students from Years 7^[5] to 12, including about 20 international students.^[3] The College operates under the auspices of the South Australian District Synod of the Lutheran Church of Australia, and enrolment priority is given to families who are members of the Church, however students come from a variety of religious backgrounds, Christian denominations, and economic and social circumstances.^[6]

The school has been an IB World School since January 2001, and is authorised to offer the IB Middle Years Programme.^[7] Concordia is affiliated with the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA),^[2] the Independent Schools Sport Association (ISSA),^[8] the Independent Girls' Schools Sports Association (IGSSA), and the South Australian Secondary Schools Sports Association (SASSSA).^[9]

History

Concordia College was originally established in 1890, as a Lutheran boys school, teachers college and seminary in Murtoa, a small wheat district town in Victoria. Its existence was largely due to the vision and work of W.F. Peters, a local Lutheran pastor.^[4] The school became known as Concordia College and Seminary in 1894.^[10]

In 1902, Professor A. L. Graebner travelled to Murtoa to settle differences that had arisen at Concordia, and upon his return home, sought a Professor for the college, Carl Friedrich. Graebner arrived at Murtoa in August 1903 to find that the college had closed. He revived the support of the parish, and Concordia was reopened in April 1904.^[11]

Leaders within the Lutheran Church in South Australia soon felt that the College was too important to the future of the Church for it to remain in a remote country town in Victoria, and it was decided that Concordia should be moved interstate. The move came in December 1904 to Highgate, the school's current site,^[4] with classes resuming in February 1905, and Graebner as Headmaster.^[11]

Concordia, named for the Latin word meaning "harmony", became a co-educational, Christian, secondary college in 1927, operating under the South Australian District Synod of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Until 1988, the College operated two small boarding houses on campus. Today the College caters for a small number of country and international students through a Homestay program.^[4]

Campus

Concordia is located on a single campus in suburban Highgate, five kilometres south of the Adelaide city centre.^[12] The College grounds feature a combination of historic and modern architecture, surrounding a central grassed quadrangle.

The campus includes:

• The Chapel: The most notable of the buildings is the Chapel, which has been the recipient of numerous awards.^{[citation needed]} The Chapel features a waterfall and fountain visible through a glass wall behind the altar, and a cross with a crown of thorns. The facility doubles as an assembly hall and a performance venue. It is also used for weddings and is made available for performances by local schools which do not have their own performance venue.
• The Suaviter: Named from the school motto, the Suaviter is one of the original school buildings, and was formerly the Chapel. Retaining its stained glass windows, it has been converted into a conference and exhibition/display centre with catering facilities, where students participating in the hospitality curriculum receive training.^[13]
• The Yangadlitya Resource Centre was opened on 29 May 2006 by Mrs Ningali Cullen, possibly the first female indigenous Concordia College student (class of 1954). The College was given permission to use the name "Yangadlitya" (meaning "for the future") by the elders of the Kaurna people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Concordia stands. The building is of a strikingly modern design using bold colours, with facades both to the quadrangle and Winchester street.
• Murtoa: A new addition to the school in 2010, this multipurpose building houses a brand new state-of-the-art television studio and media-editing suite as well as several multipurpose classrooms. The music centre has also been expanded into the building featuring new practice room space and a large acoustic rehearsal room. Built by Sarah Constructions, it features a modern design similar to the Yangadlitya building, including a skybridge connecting the two buildings. It was named after the town, Murtoa, Victoria, the original location of the school.
• The Hamman Wing:
  • Upstairs: Year 7 and 8 class rooms, the LOTE (Languages other the English) rooms, three computer rooms.
  • Downstairs: Offices and services.
• The Tech Centre: Facilities for woodworking, metalworking, plastics and electronics. (Also has one classroom and computer rooms.)
• The Gymnasium: One big gym room (used for basketball, netball, volleyball,etc.) which can be split into two, plus a weights room, a classroom, changing rooms, administrative facilities, and a large foyer (with mirrors, which is also used for dance and other activities).
• The Maths Centre: Six classrooms, a computer room and a storage room.
• The Science Building: Six laboratories and associated offices.
• The Music Centre: Practice rooms, a classroom and an ensemble room.
• The Drama Centre: A configurable performance area with lights, sound and video facilities. The main performance space features a movable seating system enabling it to be used for a wide variety of corporate, drama and musical performances.
• The Canteen.
• Various outdoor sporting facilities: tennis courts, netball courts, ovals, etc.

Curriculum

Middle School

The Middle School caters for students in Years 7 to 9. Concordia offers the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP).^[7] The IBMYP is an internationally accredited curriculum, designed to encourage students to look beyond their local and national community, and to understand the diverse cultures of the world. The College adopted the programme due to its holistic approach to education, its emphasis on developing independent learning skills, and its international standing. Nine Areas of Learning are combined with five Areas of Interaction to provide breadth and depth in the Middle School curriculum. The College provides additional support for students with learning difficulties, as well as extension activities for gifted students.^[14]

Year 7 students students are required to study Art, German, Physical Education, Christian Studies, Health, Science, Drama, Indonesian, Society and Environment, English, Mathematics, Technical Studies, Food Technology, and Music.^[15] In Year 8, students study similar subjects, with the addition of Geography, Design and Technology Studies, and History.^[16] Art, Drama and Music students in Year 7 and Year 8 produce a musical in Term 4.^[15]

In Year 9, students are provided with some choice over their studies, selecting at least one semester of study from each of the Learning Areas of Arts, Humanities, Language and Technology. Studies in English, Mathematics, Physical Education, and Science remain mandatory.^[17]

Senior school

The Senior school, catering for students from Years 10 to 12, follows the curriculum mandated by the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia, and students are prepared for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). The College also offers the option of Vocational Education Training (VET) and TRAC links for those not wishing to pursue university study. As with the middle school, Concordia provides a network for students requiring learning support, as well as extension activities for students identified as gifted.^[18]

In Year 10, students are required to study each of the four core subjects for two semesters: English, Mathematics, Science and Christian Knowledge. Students then choose one Elective subject from each line: Art or Indonesian, Drama or Media Studies, Geography or Music, German or Physical Education, History or Design and Technology Education, and Food Technology. Those undertaking the Certificate Pathway for the IBMYP must select one subject from each of the major Areas of Learning which are Arts, English, Health, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Studies in Society and Environment and Technology.^[19]

Students in Stage one (Year 11) are provided with more choice, with only Australian Studies, Mathematics, and English or English Second Language (ESL) mandatory. Three semester units are then required from Group one subjects, covering the Arts, Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies, and an additional three from Group two subjects, covering Maths, Science, and Technology. VET subjects, Multi-media studies, and work related studies are also optional.^[20] The Stage two (Year 12) program follows a similar format, although with more subject choice.^[21]

Co-curriculum

Community service

Concordia encourages community service, with service opportunities within the College including duties assisting with Open Days and fund-raising days, flag-raising, supervising or coaching sports or club groups, refereeing competitions, and tutoring peers and students in other levels. At the end of Year 10, students may choose to participate in a Peer Support training camp, designed to prepare them for selection in Year 11 as Peer Supporters to students in the middle school. For middle school students, service has an added benefit, due to the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program requirement that all students complete at least 30 to 40 hours of unpaid annual Community Service.^[22]

The Concordia community has won awards for community service, including the highest fund-raising school for the World Vision 40-hour famine in 2005, 2006 and 2007.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, the Concordia College Middle School won $1,000 dollars for their entry in the Wakakirri story-dance festival.^{[citation needed]}

Musicals

Concordia students may participate in the annual musical, performed at the Scott Theatre, typically in March or April. A long established tradition, these musicals are generally a showcase of the music and drama departments. Musicals presented have included:

Year	Musical
2011	The Wizard of Oz
2010	Grease (all four shows sold out)
2009	Children of Eden (South Australian Premiere)
2008	Oklahoma!
2007	Beauty and the Beast
2006	Cabaret
2005	Les Misérables
2004	West Side Story
2003	Little Shop of Horrors
2002	The Mikado
2001	Godspell
2000	42nd Street
1999	The Wizard of Oz
1998	Guys and Dolls
1997	Me and My Girl

Others in previous years have included: L'il Abner, Carousel, My Fair Lady, Annie Get Your Gun, The Boy Friend, Fiddler on the Roof, The Pirates of Penzance, Calamity Jane, Viva Mexico, Ruddigore, HMS Pinafore, Can You Imagine, Free As Air, A Penny For a Song, God So Loved, Where Is God, Anything Goes, Tom Sawyer, Salad Days, and Trial By Jury.

Sport

Concordia College cricket team, 1940s

Inter-school sport at Concordia is typically held on Saturday mornings, with the girls competing in the Independent Girls' Schools Sports Association (IGSSA), and the boys in the Independent Schools Sport Association (ISSA). Additionally, some competition is conducted mid-week. The College is also affiliated with the South Australian Secondary Schools Sports Association (SASSSA) providing students with access to other options such as Knockout Competitions. Students are also encouraged to take part in games through lunchtime House Competitions and use of the schools Recreation Centre.^[9]

Sports available to students include: Aerobics (girls), Athletics (boys and girls), Australian Rules Football (boys and girls), Basketball (boys and girls), Cricket (boys), Cross country (boys and girls), Hockey (girls), Netball (girls), Soccer (boys and girls), Softball (girls), Swimming (boys and girls), and Tennis (boys and girls), Volleyball (boys and girls).^[9]

House system

As with most Australian schools, Concordia College utilises a house system. There are currently four houses, three named after three of the streets surrounding the College and the fourth, Malvern after the neighbouring suburb.

• Cheltennam - Green (The Green Army/Warthog Army)
• Highgate - Dark Blue (The Highgate Heroes/Highgate Hippies)
• Malvern - Light Blue (The Malvern Spartans/Malverknights)
• Winchester - Red (The Winchester Warriors/Windians)

Students represent their house in a number of activities, including a Sports day held at Santos Stadium, a Swimming carnival held at Unley Memorial Swimming Pool, and lunchtime house sports. Students earn points for their house through participation in these activities, and the house with the most points at the conclusion of the school year is awarded the House Shield.

Alumni

Alumni of Concordia College are known as Old Collegians or Old Scholars, and may elect to join the schools alumni association, the Concordia Old Collegians' Association (COCA). COCA exists to encourage past students and teachers to retain their active interest in the Concordia community, through sports teams, social events, fundraising activities, and regular reunions.^[23] Some notable Concordia Old Collegians include:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Alumnus	Born	Died	At Concordia	Notability
Moll Ernest GeorgeErnest George Moll	1900	1997		Australian Poet[24][25]
Nagorcka RonRon Nagorcka	1948		1961–1964	Contemporary composer, didjeridu and keyboard player[26]
Noack Errol WayneErrol Wayne Noack	1945	1966		First Australian National Service conscript to be killed in the Vietnam War[27]

See also

• List of schools in South Australia
• List of Lutheran schools in Australia

References

1. ^ "Welcome". About Us. Concordia College. 2008. http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/aboutus.php?id=11. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Concordia College". About Our Schools. Association of Independent Schools of South Australia. 2007. http://www.ais.sa.edu.au/html/about_schools_display.asp. Retrieved 2008-03-25. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b c} School Performance Information 2009, Concordia College
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "History". About Us. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192149/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/aboutus.php?id=93. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
5. ^ Note that Year 7 is a relatively recent addition to Concordia, the first Year 7 class being in (2003?).
6. ^ "A Welcoming Environment". Enrolments. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719190716/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/enrolments.php?id=62&sid=544. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Concordia College". IB World Schools. International Baccalaureate. 2008. http://www.ibo.org/school/001829/. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
8. ^ "Member Schools". Constitution. Independent Schools Sport Association. 2007-05-06. http://www.issa.asn.au/flexipage.aspx?PageId=212. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} "Co-Curricular Sports Program". Beyond the Classroom. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20071023190052/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/outsideclassroom.php?id=56. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
10. ^ "Australian Lutheran College in Historical perspective". About Australian Lutheran College. Australian Lutheran College. 2008. http://www.alc.edu.au/about/history/. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Pahl, P.D (1983). "Graebner, Carl Friedrich (1862 - 1949)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 9 (Online ed.). Melbourne, Vic.: Melbourne University press. pp. 65–66. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090067b.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
12. ^ "Why Concordia". International Students. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192315/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/internationalstudents.php?id=173. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
13. ^ "The Suaviter – the 'gentle' meeting place". Facilities. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719232317/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/aboutus.php?id=128&sid=133. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
14. ^ "International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program". Middle School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192401/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/middleschool.php?id=155. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "The Year 7 Program". Middle School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719231600/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/middleschool.php?id=156&sid=159. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
16. ^ "The Year 8 Program". Middle School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719231623/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/middleschool.php?id=156&sid=160. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
17. ^ "The Year 9 Program". Middle School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719231505/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/middleschool.php?id=156&sid=161. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
18. ^ "Curriculum Outline". Senior School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192541/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/seniorschool.php?id=143. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
19. ^ "Year 10". Senior School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719190914/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/seniorschool.php?id=143&sid=146. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
20. ^ "STAGE 1 – Year 11". Senior School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719190938/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/seniorschool.php?id=143&sid=147. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
21. ^ "STAGE 2 – YEAR 12". Senior School. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719190846/http://concordia.sa.edu.au/seniorschool.php?id=143&sid=148. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
22. ^ "Community Service". Beyond the Classroom. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192457/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/outsideclassroom.php?id=195. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
23. ^ "COCA (Alumni)". Community. Concordia College. 2008. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071029192213/http://www.concordia.sa.edu.au/community.php?id=213. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
24. ^ Spennemann, Dirk H.R. (2000). "Ernest George Moll (1900 - 1997): a biographical sketch". Literature. Marshalls Digital Micronesia. http://marshall.csu.edu.au/Marshalls/html/Literature/Moll.html. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
25. ^ Ernest G Moll, OldPoetry.com
26. ^ Jenkins, John (1988). "Ron Nagorcka". 22 Contemporary Australian Composers. NMA Publications. http://www.rainerlinz.net/NMA/22CAC/nagorcka.html. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 
27. ^ Knott, John (2000). "Noack, Errol Wayne (1945 - 1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 15 (Online ed.). Melbourne, Vic.: Melbourne University press. pp. 486. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150564b.htm?hilite=concordia%3Bcollege. Retrieved 2008-03-25. 

Further reading

• Leske, E. 1990. Concordia 100 years, Murtoa-Adelaide: a history of Concordia College, Adelaide. Concordia College, Highgate, South Australia. ISBN 0646004018.

External links

• Concordia College Website