Villa View: Issue 31/20

Dear Members of Villanova College Family,
Welcome back to an exciting Term Four. I hope all our families had some down time over the past two weeks and feel recharged for what will be a very busy and hectic term.

Queenslanders to date have done a fantastic job in restricting the spread of COVID-19 and the measures that have been in place are now starting to ease. In planning for the events of Term Four the College staff will continue to follow the guidelines set down by the government while making every accommodation to have parents and families present at key events. I ask please for your patience and understanding as we grapple with the guidelines and how best to enact them in holding certain events, especially as our Senior students graduate from the College.

It is at this time of the year that we commence planning for 2021 and placing events in the College calendar. The approach we will adopt is to assume events will go ahead in 2021 with some restrictions on numbers, especially indoor events. There will always be the provision in these uncertain times to either postpone events or to cancel events at short notice if the College community experiences a positive case of Coronavirus.

International travel for all groups including sporting, AFAS and Music will not occur until a vaccine is readily available. The risk across the globe is too high and it is necessary to take a very cautious approach. In 2021 there are no plans to take groups from Villanova College overseas.

Year 12 Students
We keep in our prayers the Year 12 students as they enter their final term of the year. For the next three weeks the students are working closely with their teachers in preparing and refining their knowledge for the upcoming external exams. Beginning on Monday 26 October the Year 12 students will begin their external exam block. The exams will be held over a three weeks period concluding on Tuesday 17 November. We continue to support, encourage and challenge our Year 12 students over the coming weeks and wish them every success for the external exams.

Middle School
Mr Greg O’Neill will be taking Family Leave for the next three weeks. During this time Mr Peter Simpson will be Acting Head of Middle School.

Uniform
Socks and how our boys wear them is driving me crazy! I walk around telling the boys, ‘short pants long socks, long pants, short socks.’ Boys will pull up their socks when told and will try to keep them up but with little success. Students can buy garters from the Uniform Shop to keep the socks up. Another solution is also to buy bigger socks, as some students are still wearing the socks they had in Year 5 and having grown significantly, will never be able to pull up their socks as they will not reach. It may be time to buy some new socks that fit.

In the return to hot weather and summer, students need to have the correct hat – formal hat with formal uniform and sports hat with sports uniform.

Our staff will continue to remind and challenge students about their unform and I ask parents to help us by ensuring socks fit the student, belts are black without big flashy buckles and students are wearing the correct hat.

AIC Track and Field Carnival
The 2020 AIC Track and Field Carnival will be held tomorrow and on Saturday at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre, Nathan.  Following the easing of restrictions on numbers, adult spectators will now be permitted to attend. Parents of the competitors can attend the Championships; however, they will be required to sign in and follow all safety requirements of the venue.

We wish our athletes all the best for the carnival.

Prayers
We keep in our prayers our Year 12 students and their families as they begin their final term at Villanova College.

You have made us for Yourself O Lord,
And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

Term 4 is a huge favourite of mine.  Not only does the AFL Grand Final bring me great joy (and a little pain with West Coast now out of the running – go Lions!), but we now can find so many rewards in our learning spaces.  I am referring to the rewards in our relationships.  It is time to make the most of the minutes we have left in our classes and year levels.  We have eight precious weeks left together, after what can only be described as “2020 – The Year of Making Lemonade”.

Instead of thinking about what we might have missed out on, let us focus on what we have all gained.  Our personalities, work habits and relationships are for the most part, the best version they can be now in this point in time, teachers know their students exceptionally well and the same goes for the boys knowing their mentors.  There is an established history of experiences from first day of school, camp, Learning at Home, AIC Sports, Music performances, special days and fundraisers.  It is the accumulation of every moment that creates the memories that last a lifetime.

So, we have that last sprint to the finish line.  Boys know the importance of being organised with books, stationery, a charged laptop and how a positive approach can mean they get the very best out of their school day.  They have learnt the importance of regular revision, study habits (making study cards, quizzes such as Kahoot, mix and match games) and engaging in class tasks.  Boys have also worked out who they best work with during lessons – being productive, completing the work set – and this may not always be with their best mate from the playground.  So much learning about who they are as learners has happened this year.  Their awareness of how choices impact their time and capacity to do their best should be quite high at this stage.  There is power within knowing ourselves and being honest about our strengths and challenges.  Perfection is a myth, but hard work will get us exactly where we need to be.  It is never too late to work hard.  It is always impressive to see who can shine as the photo finish camera lights up ready to capture us all crossing that line.

The next two months are still very much about getting to know your sons.  With three terms of experiences under our belts, there is a great amount of trust and understanding built between students and teachers.  This leads to many more possible “reveals” – finding out more about the human side of each other is always one of the most rewarding things a teacher is privileged to do.

In a Maths lesson, we can find out how one boy has been saving his pocket money for the ultimate skateboard.  In a Religion lesson, we can find out how one boy has built a German barbecue in the backyard with his father.  In a Geography lesson, we can find out the holiday travels of students over the September holidays, and how entertaining is it as some describe the journeys in the cars with siblings!

There is something very special about Term 4 and how the Junior School boys find comfort in sharing their worlds – not to brag – but rather because they are interested in strengthening their connection with their peers and teachers.  What they say matters to us – we can still be surprised, overjoyed and excited to learn more about your sons.  This is the best gift for any teacher – when a student sees them as a person who cares about their world, perspective and interests.  It takes time to gain this organic element of a relationship and its value is extraordinary.  It is a compliment of the highest order in education.

There is much to focus on in the upcoming weeks.  We will work until the very end of our Academic Calendar.  Our boys’ sense of wellbeing and belonging to our community is a priority.  Our College Values – Search for Truth, Interiority and Community – stand firmly behind all our planning, teaching, learning and assessment.  Restorative Practices remain our primary means to always work on our relationships.  We have to know ourselves to be our best with others.  That takes a lot of time and practice.  It takes a lifetime to find our own truth.

Heads up gentlemen and give us your best.  We are beside you; God is within you and we can achieve many things you might never have thought possible if we work together.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Finishing Well
With what seemed like an extraordinarily long third term, we now turn to the usual intense sprint to finish of another academic year- but one like no other. In speaking with the students throughout the week, I have stressed the importance of returning to positive and purposeful routines and the value of finishing well. Of particular focus of course is the way in which our Year 12 students approach the final preparation for their external examinations. I would like to congratulate those students who attended the College last week in the St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre to either meet with staff or collaboratively study with their peers. I hope this is a tradition that will continue to develop in the years ahead. I wish all Senior School students the very best this term.

The Jobs of the Future
In the course of my holiday reading, I came across an interesting article on Seek pertaining to the six in-demand jobs of the future. Futurist, Morris Miselowski explains: “While there will still be a need for people who can code, these types of skills will be cooling down and making way for those who can integrate tech and humanity,” he says. “The health and wellbeing sectors will also be growth industries, we are increasingly taking wellbeing into our own hands – including when it comes to caring for our elders, and we are learning to be more discerning in this age of information.”

That integration of technology and humanity is something that really peaked my interest, especially in the context our Augustinian values and tradition at Villanova College- the synergy between a restless search for truth and community suggests the importance how wisdom can benefit our common humanity and how those privileged with the power of knowledge are asked to gift it to the benefit of all.

According to Miselowski, these are the burgeoning careers of the future:

1. Health and wellbeing
   A range of job types will be in focus here: from health and wellness coaches to physios, personal trainers, nutritionists and dietitians. Our increasing interest in health and wellbeing and growing awareness of choosing suitably qualified health practitioners means study and experience in these fields will be time well spent.
2. Mental health workers
   The isolation many of us experienced through COVID-19 has shone a light on the message that mental health is just as important as our physical health. Careers in this in area will cover a broad range; think anything from telehealth counselling to senior policy making.
3. Geriatric care
   With an ageing population and a shift in what we want from aged care to focus more on at-home care, all the usual health services will require more workers for this format – including fields such as physiotherapy. It’s also likely there will be a surge in demand for people who provide help with everyday living; think gardening, meal provision, driving and delivering supplies.
4. Physician assistants
   With it taking up to 15 years on average to become a fully qualified specialised surgeon, there’s potential for more demand for physician assistants, who can be trained in far less time to reduce wait lists. Don’t be alarmed; this doesn’t mean an influx of trainees being elevated to expert ahead of time. Physician assistants or PAs practice delegated medicine, meaning they perform patient exams, order and interpret tests and imaging, diagnose, order treatment, formulate management plans and review patients, assist in surgery, perform minor surgical procedures as required, and refer people to specialists.
5. Virtual influencer ‘teams’
   When you consider the world’s top ‘robot influencer’ Lil Miquela (a.k.a. Miquela) pulls in almost $10 million a year through social media platforms, and her closest competitor Noonoouri is netting $2.5 million per annum, learning to build and brand virtual influencers is likely to become a much coveted career in the future. More than simply knowing how to code, you will be looking for expertise in psychology to nail this career brief. Why? Miquela is a Japanese virtual rock star who holds sold-out real-life concerts while Noonoouri is an activist, vegan and fur-free supporter strutting virtual runways around the globe. These personas, who update as often as real-life influencers, are established on the basis of detailed intel on what audiences respond, to both appearance and behaviour-wise.
6. Robotic to human experts
   This work takes a blend of IT, psychology and consumer behaviour skills. It’s all about exploring and refining the bridge between humans and technology. It can involve influencing habits and purchases through in-app experiences, voice command tech and programming tech to deliver a unique experience or recommendation specific to each time, situation or place.

Cultivating Character
One of our underpinning aims in our Senior School is to ensure that boys who enter as Year 10 students are transformed into fine young men upon their graduation and as they enter upon life after Villanova College. Over the course of their three-year journey in the Senior School, we place a significant importance on the cultivation of character- what it means to be a good man.

This formation of the Villa Man is a responsibility that I and members of the Senior School Pastoral Care Team are incredibly passionate about. In considering the foundational blocks of good character, the three aspects articulated by author James Davidson Hunter is quite poignant- moral discipline, moral attachment and moral autonomy.

These three pillars are unpacked in a thought provoking article on the Art of Manliness website which can be viewed here: https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/what-is-character-its-3-true-qualities-and-how-to-develop-it/

Moral Discipline: A man of self-mastery embodies the kingship of self-control and can direct his will and make his own choices, rather than being a slave to his base impulses.

Moral Attachment: means being committed to a set of higher ideals and to acting, and if need be, sacrificing, for the greater good of one’s community

Moral Autonomy: Character cannot develop in an environment in which ethical decisions are forced upon the individual. Character is a product of judgment, discretion, and choice- born from a man’s free agency.

In addition to pursuing academic excellence at Villanova College, a truly holistic and balanced education seeks to achieve a number of key goals – the promotion of wellbeing, the development of resilience and empathy, and to see that each student achieves his potential. But I truly believe that the ultimate goal is building young men of good character and helping each boy and young man make responsible choices to live an honourable life.

“Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they belong.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

The Villa Man – Middle School Villa Man Conference
In 2011, the Senior students coined the idea of the Villa Man as a way of showing two things.  They wanted to recognise and support each member of their cohort and take personal action to become  young men of good character.

On the last day of Term 3, about twenty-five Middle School students came together to discuss and analyse what the Villa Man looks like in the Middle School. What are the qualities of a good peer and friend, who makes each day at school better for those around him?

The discussion was firstly triggered by an extensive survey conducted by Year 8 student, Henry Manning. What was humbling and inspiring in the 250 or so responses was the warm way in which so many Middle School students describe so many people whom they admire and appreciate. The Villa Man may at first seem abstract, but every day Middle School students see the difference being made by others around them, and it doesn’t matter how academic or sporty you are, every day you can try to make the Villanova community a better place: to be the Villa Man.

After quizzing a panel of Senior students and young Old Boys about how to grow in character through the Middle School years, the students formed groups to create posters of the Villa Man. The “wordle” below captures the qualities most frequently cited. (Arrogance and being selfish were most often named as blockers to becoming the Villa Man).

Our next step will be to follow up with the boys present to find ways to encourage all Middle School students to aspire to grow in the Villa Man qualities. What better task at school than to create the character which will be your hallmark through life?

Vinnies Raffle
The winners of the raffle for signed Brisbane Roar items were drawn on the last day of Term 3, with Dean Kaselakis winning one of the footballs, Ms Barbara Dewis the shirt, and Charlie Berridge, James Audet, and Kobi Crichton still to choose their prize. Thanks to the generosity of the donors – and all those who bought tickets, $175 has been raised for Vinnies Youth. As a result, Vinnies ran a successful “Buddies Day at the Park” during the holidays, with Ekka as the theme.

Welcoming Bruno
Our second Work and Welcome employee for 2020 is Fikiri Bruno. Bruno graduated from High School in 2017 and arrived in Australia in 2018 as a refugee. Through a number of staff giving up a little of their salary each fortnight, we have been able to give Bruno a role on our Grounds and Maintenance team this term. He is embracing his first job in Australia with great enthusiasm.

Ministry Gala Night
Tomorrow evening, we honour the contributions of so many Year 12 students who have leaned into Ministry to make a lasting difference. 37 invitations have been sent for an Italian evening at a “pop-up” restaurant in the Senior precinct. Several guests from partner organisations Rosies, Vinnies, and Finger Gullies have confirmed that they will come along. The second aim of the evening is to advise students how they can continue to be involved in building better communities – as Villa men.

Please click here for Sunday’s Readings.

Mr John Holroyd, Dean of Mission and Identity

As I write this column it is hard to believe that it is the first week back after vacation and we are on the ‘run home’ to Christmas. With only eight weeks remaining in the term, there is no doubt that it will be a busy term ahead.

Our swim program continues this week with the addition of the new 2021 students who have been invited and welcomed into our program. Usually we would have a ‘welcome breakfast’ for all swimmers as a way welcoming and introducing the new boys and their families to the swim program. Given the restrictions in place we are unable to provide a breakfast this year, however, we will have a special meeting held for all squad members tomorrow morning, Friday 9 October at Langlands Pool. This meeting will take place after the training session. Training will finish a little early tomorrow to allow for a 10-minute meeting. All squad members are invited to join the meeting including students entering the College in Year 5 and Year 7 in 2021. It is simply a meet and greet with all coaches and managers and a run through of the season. The meeting will conclude at 8.00am.

The AIC Track and Field Championships will run over a two-day period commencing tomorrow and concluding on Saturday 10 October at QSAC. A Track and Field meeting was held on Wednesday of this week in order to announce the team and to hand out all the necessary information. I wish all our athletes the very best over the Championship period. Please read below more information pertaining to the Track and Field Championship.

The volleyball program continues this week with pre-season training for the Opens and Year 7 – 10 teams. The College has entered a Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 team into the Queensland Volleyball Schools Cup which will be played over a three-day period commencing next Friday. Best wishes go to all these teams!  All information regarding the Schools Cup has been emailed to all those involved. We ask that the permission/medical forms be submitted to the Sports Office by Wednesday 14 October please. The official volleyball trials for 2021 will be held in Week 5 this term. More information is found below.

The Villanova College ‘Emerging Cricket Talent Squad’ commences their cricket training program this week. The coaching staff are very excited by the attendance and positive attitude given by all players. We wish this playing group all the best over the coming cricket season.

The rugby squads will commence their strength and conditioning programs during week 3 this term followed by the field sessions being introduced later in the term. The First XI football squad are more than likely to start their pre-season training early next year to give the boys some time to rest from the current football season. More information regarding the football squad will be given in the weeks to come.

As from 2021, AFL and Rugby League will be officially recognised as AIC sports after undergoing a two-year trial process and a review this year. These sports will continue to be offered to all Villanova students from Year 5 – 12 as part of the AIC Sports Competition moving forward. AFL will be offered in Term 1 and Rugby League will be offered in Term 3.

During Week 5 of this term we will commence all Cricket, AFL and Volleyball trials in the hope to get all teams selected before we break for Christmas. After the trial week we have organised a number of important internal and external trial games to further assist our coaches with team selections. Please see below for important dates.  Note – Year 6 students 2021 (current Year 5 students) will have their AFL and cricket trials held in Week 3 this term on Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 October after school.

An online sign-on form will be made available to all students next week who wish to participate in the 2021 Term 1 AIC sporting program. Please see below for further information.

As always, we encourage all students to get involved in the sports program and to enjoy the experience along the way.

AIC AFL (open to all students from Year 5 – 12)
In Term 1 2021, AFL will be offered to all students from Year 5 – 12. As from Term 1 2021 the following AFL teams will be on offer.

• Year 5 and Year 6 – Two teams in each year level (A and B). Games will be played Saturday morning throughout term 1. Year 5 and Year 6 students can choose to play cricket or AFL but not both.
• Year 7 – Only one team will be entered in the competition. These games will take place on Saturday morning during Term 1. Year 7 boys can choose to play AFL or Cricket or Volleyball as they are all played on Saturday.
• Year 8 and Year 9 – Only one combined Year 8 and Year 9 team will be offered. This game will be played on Saturday mornings next year (not on Friday evenings as has been the case in the past). Year 8 and Year 9 students can choose to play AFL or Cricket or Volleyball as they are all played on Saturday.
• Year 10, 11 and 12 – Only one combined Year 10, 11 and 12 team will be offered. This game will be played on Friday afternoons/evenings. Year 10, 11 and 12 students can play AFL and Cricket or Volleyball as these two sports are played on Saturday.

2021 CRICKET, AFL, SWIMMING AND VOLLEYBALL SIGN-ON AND TRIALS
All students from Year 5 – 12 who are interested in representing Villanova in AIC Cricket (Year 5 – 12), AFL (Year 5 – 12) and Volleyball (Year 7 – 12 only) in 2021 must complete an online ‘AIC Sport Sign-On Form’. The online sign-on link will be available to all students from Year 5 – 11 next week via the website as well as a message to be placed over the College App with online link details. Students entering the College in 2021 have been sent the sign-on information during the September holidays.

Please note:

• All students from Year 5 – 12 will play in the AIC Sport Competition
• All Cricket, AFL and Volleyball teams will be selected in year levels in 2021 not in age groups. Therefore, boys in Year 8 will play in the 8A-D teams (not the 13A-D teams)
• Students must attend all trials as listed below to gain selection. Failure to attend trials will affect team positioning
• Cricket is open to all students in Year 5 – 12
• AFL is open to all students in Year 5 – 12
• Volleyball is open to students in Year 7 – 12 (2021) only

Date Claimers

• AFL and Cricket trials for students entering Year 6 in 2021 will take place on Monday 19 October and Wednesday 21 October after school at Little Langlands from 3.15-4.30/45pm
• Trials for Years 7 – 12 students (2021) will commence on the week beginning Monday 2 November (week 5) as per schedule below
• Further Internal cricket games/trials will be held on Sunday 8 November for all teams from Year 7 – 12 (2021)
• Further Internal volleyball/AFL trials will be held on Saturday 7 November for all teams from Year 7 – 12 (2021)
• Volleyball trial matches v Iona on 14 November
• Volleyball trial matches v SLC on 21 November
• All specific times and venues TBA

Initial AFL, Cricket and Volleyball Trial Schedule – Week 5

Note – Further AFL, Volleyball and Cricket trials will be held on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, as listed in the information (date claimers) above. All players must attend both these trials to be selected. Specific times and venues for these trials will be given at a later stage.

AIC TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Villanova’s 2020 AIC Track and Field Team are very much looking forward to competing at the annual AIC Track and Field Championships which will be held tomorrow and Saturday at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (QSAC).

The team’s preparation has been encouraging and we are looking forward to a successful carnival. Unfortunately, not everyone who has trained will get the chance to compete on Friday and Saturday. However, we believe that all those who have trained are important members of the 2020 AIC Track and Field Team, therefore all squad members who have trained throughout the season are invited to attend the carnival with the competing team as a spectator/reserve.

Please find posted on the website under the AIC Track and Field section, Villanova’s Track and Field team and the event schedule. Other important information including buses times, uniform requirements etc is found below.  Due to COVID restrictions there will be no student spectators this year, however, two parents per athlete may attend the venue as a spectator. Parents wishing to attend must abide by the strict COVID protocols which are in place. A list of these protocols is posted on the web. Although parents may attend the event it is a requirement that all student athletes on both days arrive at the College and use the bus service provided to the venue. Parents may collect their son from the venue if they are in attendance.                      

Day 1: Friday 9 October 1.15pm – 5.00pm, Main Stadium – QSAC, Kessels Road, Nathan
Transport: Bus departs Villanova College from Sixth Avenue at 12 midday and will return to the College by 5.30pm

Day 2: Saturday 10 October 8.30am – 2.00pm, Main Stadium – QSAC, Kessels Road, Nathan
Team Photo: All athletes are to assemble/meet in the quadrangle at Villanova College at 6.45am for a team photo
Transport: Bus departs Villanova College from Sixth Avenue at 7.20am and will return to the College by 2.45pm.

All members of the team must arrive at the College by 6.45am on Saturday ready for a 7.20am departure on the team bus. All athletes are to meet on the quadrangle for a team photo before boarding the bus. Boys are to ensure they have eaten beforehand and have all the necessary food, drink and equipment for the day.  The first event on the program for Day 2 begins at 8.45am (Open 3000m).

Uniform: All athletes are required to wear the full Villanova College athletic uniform. Boys who are not competing may wear their team shirt and green PE shorts.

 Competing athletes must wear the following:

• Villanova athletics singlet
• Villanova white athletic shorts
• Villanova team shirt (COMPULSORY)
• Villanova sports cap (green)

The boys will need to bring the following:

• Hat/sunscreen/wet weather gear (if required)
• Water bottle/s
• Food (fruit, sandwiches)
• Lunch will not be provided on Saturday 10 October – A canteen service will not be available, boys must bring their own food
• Please avoid junk food such as chips and milk drinks
• Other sportswear i.e. spikes

The team bus will return to the College at the completion of the presentations on Day 2 by approximately 2.45pm.

Our congratulations to Alex McDougall who has been selected as Team Captain for 2020. Alex has led by example with his commitment to Villanova’s athletics program over many years.

Thank you for supporting your son during the Track and Field season this year.  I am sure all boys will give their best on Friday and Saturday this week and we look forward to an enjoyable and successful couple of days.

ZONE CRICKET
The Zone cricket competition begins this Saturday and Villanova has entered 12 teams in the competition. It is encouraging to see so many students wanting to develop their cricket before the AIC season kicks off early next year, particularly in this COVID period. This pre-Christmas competition will only benefit the cricket program and have a positive impact on all players. A massive thank you to Jeff Ilka and Ross Whitby for their work behind the scenes, as well as the team coaches for getting the season up and running. The organising of team lists, fields and attending meetings to go into bat for Villanova Cricket has taken up a lot of their time.

All team lists are available on the College web site. If you have not been in contact with your team manager, could you please do so before Round 1 starts this Saturday to provide your contact details and to set up rosters for umpiring and scoring. The draws for all teams are available on either the EDJCA for U11 and U12 or BEARS cricket websites.

In case of bad weather, parents are to contact the team manager. Notices for zone cricket will not be placed on the College App.

Villanova College Cricket Helmets – FOR SALE!
Order yours before 15 October (this has been extended from the 8 October until October 15)

Given the COVID climate, all cricket players will be required to supply and wear their own cricket gear including cricket helmets in the foreseeable future.

Villanova has approached Gray Nicolls to introduce a special line of specialised Villanova Helmets which are green in colour and have the College crest embroidered on the front. Gray Nicolls have offered a range of three helmets to choose from. If you wish to purchase your own Villanova cricket helmet, please follow the link below to order online. Orders will close on 15 October. All orders should be delivered to your door by mid-December ready for the 2021 AIC Cricket season. Perhaps a great Christmas gift idea!

Online Order Link –  vcs.gnsportsclubs.com

Size Chart – GN Size Chart

VILLANOVA SWIMMING
Mrs Juanita Jacobs, AIC Swimming Co-ordinator

 The swimming preseason has commenced with a reasonable group of 40-50 swimmers in the pool each morning.  We will certainly be looking at building on those numbers as quickly as possible in preparation for the season.  It is important that swimmers begin training as early as possible, so they have the fitness and technique behind them to swim strongly at the AIC Swimming Championships held in 2021.  If there are any problems with attending training, please email Mrs Jacobs and discuss the concerns jjacobs@vnc.edu.au.  We encourage all swimmers to be present on Friday mornings each week, so that we can unite as a team and build success together.

Training session times are as below:

It is important that students are present at the pool at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.

Special Welcome Meeting: A special meeting will be held for all squad members on Friday 9 October at Langlands Pool. This meeting will take place after the training session scheduled that day (training will finish a little early that day). All squad members are invited to join the meeting including students entering the College in Year 5 and Year 7 in 2021. It is simply a meet and greet with all coaches and managers and a run through of the season. The meeting will conclude at 8.00am.

AIC WATER POLO
At present the AIC Water Polo Tournament date is Sunday 1 November, most likely held at Iona and perhaps another venue. Divisions at this stage will be – Year 7, 8/9 and Year 10/11 (no Year 12s). No spectators and no catering will be allowed at the venue. More information including the sign-ons process will be available by next week. Please note – only those boys who were prepared to swim for Villanova will be permitted to play as the first priority.

BEN MOWEN AND ANDREW SLACK SQUADS 
Given the rugby season was moved to Term 3 this year it has meant our time frames for the selection of the abovementioned squads have been made much later this year. We plan to formally announce both squads early next week. An information pack will be given to all the successful players by mid next week with a plan to commence the strength and conditioning training the week afterwards, that is, the week beginning Monday 19 October.

The boys and coaches are all keen and eager to further develop themselves. I believe the hard work put in now will pay dividends later in the regular season. This is a great opportunity for all squad members, we encourage all boys to take up the challenge and push themselves to achieve greatness throughout the season.

AIC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
The annual AIC Golf Championship will be contested on Monday 26 October at the Indooroopilly Golf Course.  We are currently seeking nominations from students in Years 5 – 12 who have a current AGU Handicap and Golf Link Number. Each College must submit a team consisting of five players. These players will be escorted by a staff member on the day of competition. Transport to and from the venue will be arranged by the College. All interested students are asked to see Mr Stariha to register. The final team will be selected based on handicaps. Nominations are due by next Friday 16 October.

BASKETBALL REPORT – QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS CUP
Mr Sean O’Neill, AIC Basketball Co-ordinator

During the Term 3 holiday break, the First V basketball team competed in the Queensland Schools Basketball Championship. The team competed in Championship Division against the top 20 schools from all over Queensland in a very tough competition. Throughout the pool games the boys did an exceptional job with two wins, a draw and a loss. The draw was a heartbreaker with St James down by three with five seconds to play only for them to shoot a tough contested three-pointer. Despite this, the players dug deep and qualified through to the top eight schools. Two tough losses in a row before the final game meant that we were playing off for seventh against eighth. The boys had a convincing win over Ipswich Grammar.

It was a gruelling four days of competition at the highest schoolboy level and the College should be exceptionally proud of the achievements of the entire squad and coaching staff. A huge thanks to the Year 12 students who played their last game for the Wildcats Basketball program and helped to propel us into a basketball force in Queensland. The Junior (Year 9 and Year 10) and Sophomore (Year 7 and Year 8) teams compete next week in the same competition and we look forward to hearing the results as they are also competing in the Championship Division.

VILLANOVA COLLEGE SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE FATHER TOM MESCALL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPORT
The College has commenced the process of selecting the Villanova College Sportsman of the Year Award as well as the Father Tom Mescall Award for Excellence in Sport. Mr Stariha has spoken to all Year 12 students in their Form Meeting today regarding the process of selection and the selection criteria.

Students wishing to nominate for either award must see Mr Stariha to complete a ‘Sporting Involvement Form’. This form will also be available on the web within the ‘Locker Room’ section.

Villanova College Sportsman of the Year Description
The Paul Finnimore Memorial Shield for Sportsman of the Year is awarded to a Year 12 student who has made an outstanding contribution to the College’s sporting program. The student will have represented the College in a minimum of three sports during their senior year displaying not only outstanding sporting ability but also exemplary sportsmanship and conduct.  Of these three sports there must be a combination of both individual and team sports. The recipient of the Sportsman of the Year Award would not be in contention for the Father Tom Mescall Award.

Please note – Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent cancellation and/or restrictions placed on many sporting events throughout 2020, the College has made the decision to consider the contributions made by the recipient during his time as a Year 11 and Year 12 student at the College. Therefore, those who wish to nominate must list all their sporting achievements and contributions made during both years.

Criteria

• Success in sport representing Villanova in the AIC Competition as well as any other representative honours
• Breadth of participation representing Villanova in at least three sports in the AIC competition including both team and individual sports
• Sportsmanlike attitude both on and off the field at training and on game day

Note –  the last criterion of which takes precedence over the other two.

Villanova College Sportsman of the Year Selection Process

1. The co-curricular data is collected in TASS throughout the year and is entered in by the Co-Curricular Departments – Sport, Ministry and Music.
2. Students who have participated in three or more sports during the calendar year will be asked to complete a Sporting Involvement Form. Students who nominate have the responsibility of including all their sporting achievements on the form.
3. The Director of Sport collates the Sporting Involvement Forms and presents a short list and recommendation of the Sportsman of the Year to the Head of Senior, Middle and Junior School, Deputy and Year 12 Co-ordinator.
4. This group discusses the nominations and makes a recommendation to the CLT/ Principal for final approval.

Father Tom Mescall Award for Excellence in Sport – Award Description
The Father Tom Mescall Award for Excellence in Sport is presented to a Year 12 student in recognition of their sporting excellence. This award may or may not be awarded each year and may be awarded to more than one student in any given year. The Father Tom Mescall Award is a way to recognise those students who have succeeded at a First level (or Division 1 Level) in a variety of sports at Villanova as well as reaching a very high representative level in any given sport.

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT
Well done to Henry Wright who has been selected as a member of the Queensland 10-12 Years Golf Merit Team. Due to COVI- 19 Henry will not play in any higher competition but we certainly acknowledge his membership in the Queensland team this year.

Congratulations also go to Lachlan Whaites who has been selected to compete in the 10-12 Met East Cricket Team who will compete at the State Championships in Toowoomba in mid-November. We wish Lachlan all the best at the carnival.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Ensemble Lists 2021 – Band, Strings and Guitar
All ensemble lists have been posted outside the Music Office and your son’s ensemble director should have been in contact regarding rehearsals for this term.  All rehearsals have recommenced in our ‘new groups.’  Year 12 students are most welcome to come along and attend rehearsals for the remainder of the year.

Music Leaders 2021
Due to a delay at the start of this term, we will be completing our leadership process over the next few days.  All nominees will be meeting with myself and members of staff over the remainder of the week.  They will then have the opportunity to share their vision with the broader music community on Monday 12 October during first break in the Hanrahan Theatre.  An election process will take place, open to all musicians from Years 6 – 11 over the evening of Monday 12 October, closing at the end of morning tea on Tuesday 13 October.  All music leaders will be announced before the end of school on Wednesday 14 October.

I would like to wish all of our prospective leaders the best of luck in this process and look forward to hearing their visions early next week.

Senior Musicians Dinner
We will be celebrating the service of our Senior Musicians next Friday evening, as advertised.  Information relating to this function will be emailed home to all families involved by tomorrow.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the Music Office – 3394 5691.

Wieneke Bursary 2020
We will be celebrating the Keith and Dawn Wieneke Bursary Competition this term, with our heats held during Week 3, and our final convened during Week 4.  Information regarding this year’s Bursary will be distributed to students, families and staff by tomorrow.

As per previous years, entry is free, and students are to perform a short solo work on their chosen instrument during the Heats stage for the Director of Music.  Five finalists will be selected from each of the Junior, Middle, and Senior School and these students will perform for an external adjudicator.

This year will be different in that we will be offering First and Second prizes within each section.  The prize money has also increased and we are looking forward to rewarding more of our fantastic musicians.  Prizes are delineated as follows:

Senior School            First Prize            $600               Second Prize      $300
Middle School           First Prize            $400               Second Prize      $200
Junior School            First Prize            $300               Second Prize      $150

We look forward to receiving your entries before they close on Thursday 15 October.

Key dates for Term 4
Key dates for Term 4 are outlined below.  A revised calendar for the remainder of the year will be communicated over the break.  May I ask that you note the following dates in your diaries as ‘set’ for the coming term:

Entertainment Memberships
Entertainment Publications are no longer selling books, just digital memberships from 2020 onwards.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please access our membership portal through the links below.  There are a number of great offers available focussing on supporting local and small businesses through this challenging period.

Thank you all for your continued support of Villanova Music.  We are glad to continue to be of service to you and your son as we navigate this challenging time together.

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

*Value displayed is an example of potential savings within the Membership only and is subject to available offers at any one time. The redemption examples show how a Member could redeem the cost of the Single City Membership in one day.

^The additional $10 and $20 per Membership sale during the current promotional period 12am 14 August 2020 – 11:59pm 13 September 2020 AEST will be paid to the relevant Entertainment fundraising group as per the standard payment terms within the corresponding quarter.

*All member offers are subject to terms and conditions. Check individual offers on the Entertainment Membership App or www.entertainment.com.au for more information. For all dining offers, it is optional for participating businesses to accept your Entertainment Memberships on all official Australian and New Zealand public holidays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day. © 2020 Entertainment Publications of Australia Pty Ltd.

Ever wanted to walk/run the Sydney City to Surf?
This year on Sunday 18 October you can – without leaving Brisbane – and at the same time, support the work of the Augustinian Volunteers in Australia. The College community is warmly invited to join the Augustinian Volunteers Australia team in this year’s virtual City to Surf – the event’s 50th anniversary. Augustinian Volunteers engage young people in after school social justice projects.

On the race day: you chose your own track to walk and when you have completed 14km, the App lets you know. Your name is printed in the list of runners (with your time) and you are sent the race medal.

To register: https://city2surf.com.au/  Following registration you will be sent the App to download.

After registering, go to the link https://city2surf2020.everydayhero.com/au/walking-with-augustinian-volunteers-australia

Stroll down to the yellow tag ‘Join Team’. You will then be part of the Augustinian Volunteers Australia team. Then you can seek sponsors and all money goes to support the Augustinian Volunteers under the patronage of the Governor General of Australia.

Our own Father Saldie has set an ambitious fundraising target of $2,500. He’s currently sitting in second place as the Augustinian’s highest fundraiser. To support Father Saldie’s campaign, go to:
https://city2surf2020.everydayhero.com/au/saldie

Tuckshop Roster (Monday 12 – Friday 16 October)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.

Students with Disability Travel Rebate (Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme) – Semester 2, 2020

• Does your child have a verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school?
• Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s travel capability rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent?

Visit the website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of transport and apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by 31 October 2020. Late applications cannot be accepted after this date.