Villa View – Issue 14, 24 August 2023

This Friday we celebrate through Eucharist our 75th Anniversary as we welcome to the College Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Assistant General at the Order of St Augustine, Fr Tony Banks, Augustinian Provincial Fr Peter Jones and the Augustinian Provincial team.

It is a great honour to have Archbishop Mark celebrate with us and recognise the contribution of the Augustinians and Villanova College to the church and to Brisbane City through the good works of our graduates. I have reflected more than a few times this year on the enormity of the job that faced Fathers O’Donnell and Hanrahan as they arrived in Brisbane to a house in Hamilton with no students and, under the direction of then Archbishop O’Donnell established a school for liberal arts learning that would transition young Catholic men into University and further study. Now, 75 years later and across the Brisbane River from where it first started, we find ourselves a school of 1500 young men all working toward personal goals for the betterment of others and our society.

You will notice in social media and through communications that we now move toward our final acknowledgement of the 75 year and our Gala Ball at Brisbane City Hall on Saturday, 7 October.  I hope that as many parents and families connected with the College can come along and celebrate our College and its community.

QCMF – what a weekend!
In 2022 the Queensland Catholic Schools and College Music Festival (QCMF) blew me away with its energy and complexity and this year it went even further. I have to thank Mr Michael Jones our Director of Music, Mr Michael Molloy (Old Boy) the president of our Music Supporters group, Mr Jordan Mullan our Community Engagement and Foundation Manager and the incredible band of volunteers for making the weekend such an incredible success.

It cannot be underestimated the value that the festival brings to the students of Queensland’s Catholic schools and the importance of the opportunity for all students, including ours, to test themselves against a high range of musical standards, be adjudicated against those standards while performing publicly in front of family, friends, fellow musicians and peers. We often parade our sportsman in front of the College and laud them as they play their ‘grand final’ or ‘premiership’ game. For our musicians last weekend was their grand final moment. Accordingly, so many groups performed wonderfully, and the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were aplenty.

I also commend the Cor Unum Spirit Committee for acknowledging this and conducting a spirit rally for our musicians on Tuesday to acknowledge and support them in their performances.

Parent Feedback Survey Outcomes and College Responses
I thank all of our parents who chose to make response to the College feedback survey. It was most appreciated. As stated, the survey was confidential but not anonymous and as such, we will make appropriate response, both strengthening those areas where we receive positive acclaim and in looking to remediate areas where parents felt improvement may be necessary. However, there will only be in rare cases personal response to your feedback as this was designed to highlight systems and areas in the College where we could improve and these are now sitting with the various responsibility owners in each of Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, Teaching and Learning and Sport to make adjustment where valid and necessary. I must note that in some areas what some people commended others felt were areas for improvement. Communication being one example where some felt too much and others too little. As such our response will continue to look at getting the balance right and getting accurate and timely information out to families through the most appropriate medium.

Father’s Day Gathering (Friday 8 September)
I would welcome and encourage all our current Villanova dads to attend the P&F Fathers’ Night gathering at the Camp Hill Hotel from 6 – 10pm to celebrate Father’s Day. It is designed to be a low key gathering to get together, connect and meet and perhaps form bonds that can assist over their son/s time at the College and beyond.

Vale Mr Peter Morrissey
Last Friday the College farewelled long term staff member Mr Peter Morrissey (Father of staff member, and Old Boy, Brett).

Peter was married to Dawn and started teaching at Villa in 1987. As a foundational staff member in a ‘new subject area’ what was then known as ‘computer science’ he laid the platform for much of what we know as IT today. The current 75th Anniversary video has a photo of Peter in the computer lab. Peter served the community and families of Villanova College for some 26 years retiring at the end of the 2013 academic year.

Peter’s passing brought wonderful stories of the establishment of computing and IT at Villanova.

Peter was appointed to teach computing as a subject, with the foundations of computer science at Villa had been established with Mr Ian Phillips, Fr Mike Morahan and Mr Reg Allen driving its introduction in the late 1970s and early 80s. Originally taught using the computer services of the UQ Prentice Centre, with staff driving car loads of punched cards out to St Lucia and then return to get the printouts later in the week. By 1983, Villanova had our own computer lab of Commodore VIC20 microcomputers for programming classes, and Mr Michael Ryan was the Computer Science coordinator prior to Peter starting. Computing was part of the curriculum for all Year 9 students by that time, for example, and there was a flourishing co-curricular group – VAM, the Villanova Amateur MicroComputerists.

Peter began at the College following the purchase of the first room full of Sperry PCs in the mid-80s. These were our first machines with a PC-DOS operating system and floppy disk storage. It was from this point that Peter worked tirelessly to expand the program across the entire curriculum.

In this our 75th year we celebrate those great men that laid our College’s foundation. To the Morrissey family we thank you.

Mr Paul Begg, Principal

In keeping with the Spirit of Reconciliation, Villanova College acknowledges the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we stand. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. This has always been, and always will be, a place of teaching and learning connected to country, culture and community.

Manners maketh the man.  It’s a proverb from William of Wykeham in the 1300s or more recently the Kingsman movie – Secret Service.  Old school vibes.  The idea that the small things matter.  Being on time (which means 10 minutes early), dressing for the occasion, showing consideration for others who may be younger/older, promoting kindness and thoughtfulness for people’s time – the list goes on.  Being a man in 2023 – whatever the age – is not defined as it used to be, for good reasons – but it still matters a great deal to us at Villanova College.

This week we have a Focus of the Week “Manners” – highlighting eye contact when speaking, saying “please, thank you or excuse me” with conversations, and being willing to apologize when it’s warranted.  Is this a lost artform?  Perhaps it’s tougher to do with the pressures of life in 2023 being different to the mid-1900s.  Perhaps it’s a time-consuming measure of our patience.  But doesn’t it work towards the good of all in our society?  Don’t manners lead us to be our best selves?

Yes, they do.

We do want our sons to hold the small details as important and a part of being our best.

So, we need to model them.  We need to discuss them at home, at school and in any co-curricular setting – sport, music, debating or social setting.  It promotes the interiority of our young boys – to consider the feelings of others.  To stop and think about how other people feel and act around us.  How can we help?  What can we do?  There is always something.  A way to show kindness.  Just walking past our Year 5 spaces I can see boys cleaning desks with antibacterial wipes, straightening up bags and instruments along verandas, relocating drink bottles and hats, helping staff carry library books and sort worksheets into piles – the list is endless.  On the playground – picking up rubbish that isn’t ours, reminding mates to sit down when eating and drinking, Year 6 boys collecting balls and hats from the gardens for Year 5 students, gentlemen escorting others to the First Aid room – that helping hand, to stop what you are doing and be of assistance.  Not for reward or praise, because it’s the right thing to do.

At home – do the boys get the chance to “help out” meaningfully?  It can be a trap to “do it myself” to save time.  The lesson for our Junior School students is to act more instinctively rather than with instruction – see the need, fulfill the role.  Be that man.  Be that person.

This is not about gender but humanity.  Yet our students need to know that it’s humanity that requires the love, compassion, and time to stop what we are doing (working, playing, walking to and from a place) to be “that” person.  The one that makes the difference.  The one that turns a world around for someone who might just need that one helpful thought, hand, or moment in time.

So, we strive this week for returning to what matters most in Term 3, Week 7.  The small things that make the biggest difference.  What really matters.  Our sense of belonging, presence, and community.  Manners – consideration, time, effort, and thoughtfulness – they keep us connected as people.  They are exactly what St Augustine, our patron saint, whom we celebrate this Friday at a whole College Mass – meant for us to remember.  So, we do.  No matter what.  We keep some things precious and holy.

I’m setting a challenge for those that do the right thing and read this newsletter – Junior School students – send me an email between now and the end of August.  Use the heading “Manners Maketh the Man.”  Share with me how you pledge to share your intentions at home, school, church, or the co-curricular world with your manners – what did you do, who did you impact and just what changes did you make for someone or a group of people with such kindness?  I’m going to invite three Year 5 and three Year 6 students to a Head of Junior School Lunch by end of Term 3 – we are going to “break bread” over your efforts – so get busy gentlemen!

Mr Stephen Rouliadeff, Head of Junior School

This week, I thought it would be beneficial to highlight a crucial aspect of student success – the establishment of good routines. In our ever-changing world, the power of routine cannot be underestimated. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent, having solid routines in place can greatly enhance your productivity, well-being, and overall success. Routines provide structure and predictability to our lives. They not only help us to manage our time, but they enable us to make the most of our energy and reduce our stress level as we know we are on top of things.

So how do we do it? Here are a few tips:

Set Clear Goals: Begin by defining your goals, whether they’re academic, personal, or extra-curricular. A routine is most effective when it’s aligned with your objectives. Hopefully, students can use the goals they have set this Semester as a springboard.

Prioritize Tasks: Identify the most important tasks and prioritize them. Make sure your routine allows time for these high-priority items. With various assignments due over the next two weeks, there will be tasks that require priority on certain days.

Time Blocking: Breaking the afternoon or evening into time blocks dedicated to specific tasks. This technique helps you stay on track and avoid multitasking [which, while it sounds like a timesaver, rarely produces the best work].

Consistency: Try to wake up and go to bed at the same times each day. Consistency reinforces your body’s internal clock and helps regulate sleep patterns. Sleep is such a key part of physical, hormonal, and cognitive development.

Plan for Breaks: Integrate short breaks into your routine in order to recharge. Stepping away from your homework or study can boost productivity and creativity. Incorporating exercise and mindfulness activities can also positively contribute in this way.

Start Small: Begin with a few manageable changes to your routine, and gradually build on them. Big changes all at once can be overwhelming and rarely achieve the desired result.

Reflect, Review and Adjust: Regularly evaluate your routine’s effectiveness. Are you achieving your goals? Are there areas for improvement?

Parents and teachers play a vital role in fostering good routines in students. By setting a good example and providing guidance, we can all help develop lifelong habits that promote success. Remember, the best routines are those that are tailored to individual needs and goals. As we get ever closer to the end of term and the stress of looming exams and assignments, let’s commit to creating routines that set us up for success and a fulfilling life.

Wishing you good routines and years of success in whatever future challenges you face!

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

As we push towards the business end of another academic term at the College, energy stocks are diminishing and our young men are tested to find their inner resilience, resolve and determination to move into their examinations well prepared. Ultimately it is question of their perseverance, particularly for our Seniors who have been working all year and will commence their mock examinations next week. But how do we keep going? Again, the Stoic philosophers have something pertinent to say about the way to persevere in the face of challenges. Seneca once said, “we are more often frightened than hurt, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.” The following are some Stoic Lessons articulated by Ryan Holiday on how to keep pushing on and penetrating a wavering mindset:

1. Don’t complain- makes it harder to endure as you’re defeating yourself.
2. Realise it’s not the end of the world- the difficultly will end; we can only control our response to that.
3. Don’t just sit there and take it- by putting off action, we allow our suffering to have full control.
4. Demand better, just don’t want better- advocate for yourself.
5. Stop torturing yourself- it’s important to take accountability for actions that cause suffering, but you can do that without suffering.

Student Voice
At our last College Assembly, the GREATS pillar that was woven throughout the agenda was that of Teamwork. After the launch of the names for next year’s Vertical House System illuminating the story of Saint Augustine and the opportunity to create eight ‘new teams’ at the College, Cultural Committee Student Leader Ryan Buck spoke eloquently about the work of Patrick Lencioni and the five areas where teams can find themselves in trouble followed by the way in which our students can guard against them. The following is a poignant excerpt from Ryan’s address:

Patrick Lencioni’s book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” uncovers the hidden challenges that hinder effective teamwork and provides insights on how to overcome them. The first dysfunction that’s addressed is the absence of trust. Trust is defined as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.” Trust is the foundation upon which all successful teams are built. When team members lack the vulnerability to openly share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, collaboration becomes an uphill battle. Through our College’s wellbeing committee, safe environments have been established that foster genuine conversations where individuals can express themselves without fear of judgment. If we truly strive for effective teamwork, upholding a vulnerable, genuine approach to wellbeing, helps dismantle this first dysfunction and pave the way for enhanced cooperation.

The second dysfunction: fear of conflict. Conflict is often thought as something negative or disruptive to a team. However, Lencioni disputes claiming healthy conflict is imperative for the development and progress of a team. So I challenge you. Don’t fear conflict. Don’t be scared to call out your mates when they poorly represent the college.

Vince Lombardi, considered to be one of the greatest NFL coaches and leaders in American sports proclaimed, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a teamwork.” The third dysfunction: Lack of commitment. Without encouraged participation, effective teamwork is impossible. As a part of the Villanova community, each one of your voices, your opinions are invaluable. But get involved. The College has so much to offer. So many opportunities, waiting for you to commit. Take advantage of the opportunities. Improve yourself and improve our community.

Villa Loreto Cup
This Friday, our Year 12 students break from their final mock exam preparations for a social afternoon with our sister school Loreto College. Each year our Seniors contest the Villa Loreto Cup, a series of activities between our two Colleges that strengthen the bonds of friendship between our students. The final event is Touch Football- the series decider following Villanova taking out the volleyball match and Loreto claiming the netball fixture. I’d like to thank Head of Year 12 Mr Blake McLauchlan and his counterpart at Loreto Mrs Jan Kearney for their support of the respective student leadership teams in organising the events across this year. Looking forward to the trophy remaining in Villanova hands.

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.”- Anatole France

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School 

Mass to Celebrate the Feast of St Augustine and our 75th Year
Last week I experienced my first QCMF at Villanova College.  It was the most extraordinary event, the largest Youth Music festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
14 000 young people filling our College with music and singing.  I was left with such a feeling of awe at the talent, and with a strong sense that we are in good hands moving forward watching and listening to our young people!  As a compere of several shows I had the privileged seat nearest the performers, seeing the connection with their conductors, and watching the appreciative faces of the audience.  There were many moments that were moving.  It feels to me like our whole campus at Villanova has been deeply blessed by such a great event.  A brilliant preparation for this week’s College Mass.

On Friday morning our whole College will pause from the activities of the day to come together to celebrate through a shared Eucharist the feast day of St Augustine and our 75th year as a College.  It is a very significant event for our community, a time of looking back to remember all those who have gone before us that make Villanova College the place that it is.  A time of looking forward to consider who we are becoming.  We will return to the gospel messages of our faith and to be sustained, stretched and challenged by the messages and actions of Jesus.  We will be celebrating the life of Augustine and all those who have followed his rule in their life in the centuries following.  We will be remembering the 5 young men, Augustinians, who bravely set out to start our school in a country that was new to them, in a city they didn’t know.  We will be holding in prayer all the students, staff and families that have been a part of Villanova College for the last 75 years.   They hand to us, who are here now, a thriving learning community to be part of and to contribute to.  That is certainly something to give thanks for, to sing about, to pray about!

It is a very significant occasion. We are most grateful to have Archbishop Mark Coleridge joining us to lead us in Mass.  We are also delighted that the following Augustinians will be here to celebrate with us:
Peter Jones OSA Provincial, Past Staff
John Sullivan OSA Prior Villanova Augustinian Community, Past Student, Past Staff
Francis Belcina OSA Parish Priest St James’ Parish Coorparoo
Saldie Resolado OSA Chaplain Villanova College
Peter Wieneke OSA Chaplain Villanova College
David Austin OSA Past Staff—Assistant Priest, St Clair, Paramatta Diocese
John Murray OSA Past Staff—refugee advocate, Bangkok, Thailand
Paul Maloney OSA Past Staff, Assistant Priest, North Harbour Parish, Broken Bay
Senan Ward OSA Chaplain St Augustine’s College, Sydney
Percival Sevare OSA Province Secretary
Tony Banks OSA Past Staff, Assistant General, Rome
John Zang OSA Prior, Student House, Sydney

Additionally, we are most grateful to have members of our College Board, Past Principals of Villanova College, and Principals from our surrounding schools joining us for this celebration.  We also hope that many more will join us on live stream to celebrate with us as part of our community.

At our recent World Youth Day, Pope Francis addressed the 1.5 million young people gathered in Lisbon, Portugal from across the world.  His message was simple and profound:

“Nothing is free in life; everything requires payment.  There is only one thing that is free: the love of Jesus.  Therefore with this freely given love that we have received and our desire to walk, let us walk in hope, look to our roots, and strive ahead fearlessly, fearlessly.  Do not be afraid!”

We have been given roots here at Villanova College that tap deeply into the Christian tradition that is founded in love.  On Friday we pray our community will together experience that love of Jesus that is freely given.  May it continue to enable us to strive ahead with hope and courage!

Year 7 Twilight Retreat with Loreto College – Friday 11 August
Friday afternoon and the bell rings.  Most students charge for the gates and into the weekend, but on three Fridays this year we have filled the school bus with students from the Middle school and headed over to Loreto College to join them for a Twilight retreat.  The Year 7s had their opportunity on Friday 11 August.  The program has been an invitation from Loreto and facilitated by the Passionist Retreat team.  It has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to be with the girls at Loreto.  The activities have been fun and engaging.   They have been about life and friendships and what matters for our students.  They’ve led to moments to hear a story that just opens up the keyways of being that are core to our faith, and we believe core to living a good life – they are about connection, about the dignity and worth of every person, about justice.

We are very grateful to Loreto for hosting us.  We have a deep commitment at Villanova to seek opportunities for coming together in meaningful and fun ways with our Sister schools through retreats, Conversations of the Heart, Head 2 Heart, and Justice forums.  We look forward to continuing to develop these connections.

Joseph Yates shares a little of the experience:

“Last Friday I had the amazing opportunity to join 20 boys in my cohort on a retreat to Loreto College. It was an amazing evening, with food, games and activities designed to engage students to make connections. It was a great chance to branch out and talk to boys I hadn’t had much to do with as well as get to know some of the girls from our sister school. We went into groups to play various games that encouraged thinking outside the box and working together. My favourite part was when we had to share stories with another person to learn about them and what we had in common. Overall it was a very successful night, and I would definitely like to go again if given the opportunity.”

Date Claimers for Term 3
75th Anniversary Mass
On the Feast of Saint Augustine this year we are celebrating our 75th year as a College.  Our Archbishop Mark Coleridge will be with us for this occasion, and we will also be joined by a large number of the Augustinians.  We extend an invitation to families, past students indeed all connected with our community to join us via live stream on the day.  Please mark it in your diary – 9.30am Friday 25 August.  The link is:

https://youtube.com/live/t2QpOnOJjlQ?feature=share

Free Dress Day – Monday 28 August
To celebrate the Feast Day of St Augustine on Monday 28 August we are having a Free Dress Day to raise funds for Emmanuel City Mission.  Please bring a gold coin donation for the privilege of wearing free dress on that day. All funds raised go to funding breakfasts at Emmanuel City Mission for the rest of the year. Your donation will go directly to helping the most vulnerable in our local community.

Each Thursday Villanova College has students and staff at Emmanuel City Mission preparing breakfast, making coffees and looking for opportunities for a yarn with those who visit.  That means throughout the year all our Year 11 and 12 students volunteer and a huge number of our Year 10 students as well.  It is a powerful way that we are together making a difference.

Pastoral Masses
There has been some fantastic attendance at some of our Masses over recent weeks.  The chapel is a great place to start the day as we take time to come together to listen, pray and support one another.  It is an opportunity to celebrate and deepen our connection as a community. Parents are welcome to attend when their son’s mass is on, and we love it when grandparents come to.  Masses are held in our chapel and start at 8am and are finished by 8.30am.

Please ensure that your son is present when his pastoral or team is gathering, and know that on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you are always welcome.

Term 3

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

NAPLAN
As mentioned in an earlier Villa View this term, NAPLAN results have now been released. Parents/carers can access these on Parent Lounge.

Year 12 Cohort
With internal assessment behind them, our Year 12 cohort turn their attention to mock external examinations over the coming two weeks. This period is an important opportunity for the students to get vital practice for their external examinations in Weeks 4 to 7 next term. We wish our Year 12 students the very best for the next two weeks.

Examination Schedules
Year 7 to 11 examination schedules have been emailed to students and are also available on Student Café. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with these schedules to ensure that they know when and where each examination is being held.

ICAS Assessment Program
Over the past two weeks, a number of students have had the opportunity to sit a range of ICAS assessments. These assessments are an opportunity for students to demonstrate and celebrate excellence in academics. The questions are engaging and fun and are aimed to push students to their academic limits, as well as test higher order thinking and problem-solving abilities. Next Tuesday, 97 students from Years 5 to 10 will sit the ICAS Mathematics assessment and we look forward to seeing what great results they can produce.

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

Welcome back from Ekka week! I’ve loved hearing stories from the boys about rides they went on, how many dagwood dogs they ‘smashed’, showbags that were great value (which I am dubious about) and other favourites like wood chopping and animal nurseries. Like most of Australia, I also loved watching the Matildas dominate over the last few weeks in the World Cup. Medal or not, this team has shown grit and perseverance throughout the campaign, and that success has many faces. I’m confident our boys can tap into the idea that success is not always measured by a scoreline.

The Wellbeing unit for Year 5 Term 3 is Character Strengths, and this will be my focus of the week.  Positive psychology emphasises the importance on identifying and using individual strengths.

Research shows that wellbeing, positive behaviour and academic achievement are more likely when students are aware of their character strengths and have opportunities to demonstrate and develop them at school. To start playing to your strengths, and building on them, first you have to know what they are. It is for this reason, boys in each year level complete a survey which allows them to see what their strengths are, understand the benefits of these strengths and look at ways to best use them.

Playing to your strengths makes you more motivated, capable and ready to face life’s challenges. People who use their character strengths tend to be happier, more confident and resilient, have more energy, know how to deal with school stress, feel more connected to what they do and are more likely to reach their goals.

Every boy at Villanova is special and unique in his own way – no two boys like exactly the same things nor are they good at exactly the same things. They have different strengths and different weaknesses. What makes us unique is our character strengths. Qualities like bravery, kindness, teamwork and honesty are some examples and social scientists have found there are 24 in total. Once the boys discover what their combination of strengths are, they are being encouraged to practice them as they can be improved! To use the focus of the previous newsletter as an example, gratitude is seeing the good things in our lives already, and saying thank you for them. If we choose to be more grateful, we will become more content and happier with our lives.

Most of the boys have completed this unit so I encourage you to talk to them about what their strengths are, and perhaps how they can best use them at school. A fun exercise could be them guessing what your main character strengths are….  but boys can be very honest so this could go pear shaped.

If you’d like to know what your strengths are, below is the link to the website where you can take the survey.

http://viacharacter.org.

Hope you all have a lovely rest of week.

Sheridan Carey, Director of Student Wellbeing

Congratulations to our Middle School Esports students for their tremendous success recently! Villanova teams were successful in winning at Rocket League pairs and Minecraft Capture the Flag, demonstrating our ability to compete effectively across a range of different platforms and games.

FUSE Cup Minecraft Queensland Cup success again!
On Saturday 5 August, Villanova hosted the FUSE Cup Minecraft Queensland Cup 5v5 Capture the Flag competition in the Augustine Centre. This was the third season of the inaugural event, with the largest number of teams playing since Season One was held in May of this year.

Villanova entered a team of Middle School students consisting of Damian Ellis, Alex Tento, Oliver Tento, Joseph Yates, Hamish O’Toole and Thomas McDougall into the competition. In this final season of the competition, the large draw was full of experienced players from schools across the South-East Queensland region. Our team played consistently well in their pool to qualify for the play-offs. We were eventually eliminated in the semi-finals, and St Peters Lutheran College secured both slots in the Grand Final.

Our overall placing in the competition secured a wildcard spot at the Queensland Cup Finals to be held on Sunday October 22 in the Augustine Centre – congratulations team! Villanova now has two distinct teams competing in the State Finals, and we wish all students well in the lead up to this exciting competition.

Thank you to our Minecraft server hosts and MCs, whose involvement and conduct was positively commented on by parents visiting from as far away as the Sunshine Coast. Well done to Cooper Crowley, Elijah La Porte, Finn Van Der Meer, Hugh Weston, Harry Woodward and Ming Yang for their continued support in these important hosting roles.

All Villanova Rocket League Grand Final!
On Thursday 10 August, eight students across Years 7 and 8 travelled to Brisbane South State Secondary College to compete in the annual Brisbane High Schools Rocket League pairs competition for the FUSE Cup. We entered four pairs, Tom Lambert with Carter Dohmen, Veer Kaylan with Sage Arancibia, Elijah La Porte with Matt Wolhuter, and Aidan Davis with Patrick Joyce. With an exceedingly strong start, three of our pairs qualified for the elimination rounds. In an all Villanova grand final, Patrick Joyce and Aidan Davis defeated Sage Arancibia and Veer Kalyan 2-0 in matches. Patrick and Aidan will now represent the Brisbane region at the Queensland State Finals later in October on the Gold Coast.

AIC Esports – Save the Date for Saturday October 21
Building upon the success of the inaugural AIC Esports round in October of last year, we are busy with planning for this year’s second annual AIC Esports event. This action-packed competitive Minecraft competition will be held in the Augustine Centre with all AIC member schools competing across three player zones. This event was so successful last year that it became the template for the 2023 FUSE Cup Minecraft Queensland Cup. It is a great opportunity to witness esports, with spectators and families welcome to attend and cheer on their College teams. We will have a coffee van and some food and snack options available for all attendees. I will provide more details closer to the event.

Jason Lane, Director of E-Learning (Middle Leader)

QCMF 2023
It is now a week after the start of QCMF 2023 and it feels as though life is returning to our regular routine.  Reflecting on the week that was, I am still amazed at the manner in which our community continues to draw together to live our charism so vividly over this four-day period.  The feedback we continue to receive from our colleagues, friends, and the broader community has been overwhelmingly positive – and to a fault they reflect on the quality and character of our students.  The manner in which our students met, welcomed, and helped their guests showed how strongly the sense of community is lived in this place.  I cannot thank enough the students, parents, and friends who drew together to welcome our travelling musicians and yet again made QCMF what it is recognised as – not only the largest, but the most community-minded music festival in the Southern Hemisphere.  Without your help, this event would not continue to experience the success it does.

Our musicians did another excellent job with their strong efforts over the past 12 months coming to the fore over the weekend.  I am pleased with the results achieved and, as always, we will use this information to reflect, reset, and prepare to work toward further refinement over the next year.  We look forward to celebrating our collective results over the end of week via our social media channels.

Gala Concert Series
As we move toward the end of term, we are looking forward to our final concerts for our 2023 ensembles.  We look forward to celebrating with our Seniors as they move into their external exam period, and we commence preparations for the upcoming academic year from Term 4.

Gala Concert 1 will be convened on Thursday 31 August with all of our choral, guitar, percussion, and string ensembles performing.  Gala Concert 2 will be convened on Tuesday 5 September with all of our Jazz, Rock, and Bands performing on the Terrace and inside Hanrahan Theatre.

Tickets will be available for purchase via Trybooking – information will be distributed this week via email to all participant families.

Wieneke Family Music Competition
At the beginning of Term 4, the heats for the Wieneke Family Music Competition will be convened.  Information regarding our annual solo competition will be distributed to families over the coming week.  We are seeking all entries to be submitted before the end of term.  Please ensure your child speaks with their music teacher to ensure they are prepared for this exciting event in our school music calendar.  As always, there are some great cash prizes up for grabs!

Audition Submissions Due
A quick public service announcement that all Audition Submissions are due by the end of next week – Friday 1 September.  Please ensure your son is aware of this date and has submitted his recording via the required means before this time.  I am looking forward to listening to these submissions and prepare our ensembles for the coming 12 months.

Key Dates Term 3
As we look ahead across the coming months, please ensure we pencil the following dates into your diary:

Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers
Our fantastic Music Support Group have organised an innovative fundraiser for Villanova College.  You may have heard the buzz about our Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers…  the MUST HAVE items for the beach/cricket/park/fishing/barbecue

Villanova Branded Camp Chairs – $35; Wildcat Coolers – $30
All items can be purchased via TryBooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML
Purchases can be collected from the Music Office and all profits will go to the Music Support Group.

Entertainment Publications Memberships
Entertainment memberships are one of the Music Support Groups main fund-raisers.  Just click on the link below to purchase a membership and obtain ongoing special deals throughout the year. www.entbook.com.au/22002q9

Thank you all for your ongoing support of Music at Villanova College.

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Director of Sport Address
It was a pleasure to see so many students engaged in our Inter-House Track & Field Carnival last Thursday 17 August. These events are rarely about results and competition, and more geared towards community, friendships and fun. Thank you to all our lovely staff members who helped the day run smoothly and our Assistant Director of Sport, Mr Chris Everding, for his leadership in the planning and implementation of the carnival.

Track & Field season is now in full swing with training sessions and pre-season meets occurring over the next few weeks. It is understood some students may have competing commitments with Term 3 activities and these students are encouraged to visit the Sports Office, as alternate programs can be organised.

This weekend we welcome Padua College in Round 5 of AIC Competition. At somewhat of a half-way point through the season, it is important to re-establish and reset. Students are reminded to remain committed through to the end of the season, regardless of how the team is performing. Finish well; and ensure you enjoy this time with your peers.

Term 3 Results

Basketball Results – Round 4

Rugby League Results – Round 4

Tennis Results – Round 4

Communications
Families are reminded to access all Sport information via the Villanova College website and the Villanova College App. The Locker Room tab provides updated information regarding training schedules and current AIC/trial draws.

The AIC Draw 2023 can also be accessed here. A note that in some cases, draws may not match the AIC draw. Families are encouraged to always check The Locker Room for accurate draws. Weekly Team Lists will be posted regularly to the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe Portals.

Sports Club
The Villa Sports Club are looking for volunteers this Saturday 26 August on the Goold Hall canteen. There is no link to register this weekend, just turn up on the day to lend a hand if you are available. Thank you.

Dogs at AIC Sporting Venues
A reminder to all parents that due to Health and Safety requirements, all AIC Sporting venues are dog free venues including Villa Park. Please do not bring your dog/s.

Team Photos – Tennis
Year 7, 8 and 9 Basketball teams will have their team photos taken at Villanova College next Saturday 2 September. This will include teams playing games at St Martin’s Catholic Primary School. More time between photo and game will be allowed for these teams.
The following teams will have team photos taken on Friday afternoon 8 September. Photos will be scheduled at Villanova College from 2:15pm:

• Rugby League – 6A, 6B.
• Basketball – Year 5A,B,C,D and Year 6A,B,C,D.

The following teams will have team photos taken on Saturday 9 September at St Martin’s Catholic Primary School:

• Basketball – Open 3rds, Open 4ths, 11B and 11C.

Training Schedules
Please see below the The Term 3 training schedule for Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis.

Term 3 Training Schedule

Basketball
It was another successful week on the court for the AIC Basketball teams. St Edmunds College proved to be a tough opponent on the court, with Villa recording some very tight final scores. After the AIC bye round last Saturday, I know our teams will be refreshed and ready to go for this week against Padua. With only three rounds left, I encourage everyone to keep an eye on the results as we have a few teams on the premiership pathway.

Our First V team also recorded another win. The game vs St Edmunds was certainly a challenging one for our team, but they pulled through with a 64-62 win. A special mention to Year 12 student, Flynn Brown, for stepping into the starting line up with a huge impact on both ends of floor.

A final reminder to students and families that the AIC Basketball uniform must be worn in full otherwise students will not be permitted to play.

I wish the best of luck to all for this week against Padua.

Mr Todd Kropp, Basketball Coordinator

Rugby League
Last Saturday, Villanova showcased a range of talent on the field against St. Edmund’s College, delivering an impressive display of skill, teamwork, and determination. We came away with a notable six wins and two losses. The dedication and hard work of our players were evident as they put their all into every play, defending their lines with confidence.

It has been fantastic to observe the teamwork and comradery among our players as the season has progressed, and many teams are beginning to forge impressive attacking combinations. These glimpses of teamwork and confidence point towards a promising future for Villanova’s rugby league teams.

Congratulations to our 1st XIII team who came away victorious from Iona in Round 4. Heading into Round 4 with two wins and one loss, our boys faced a formidable challenge against St. Edmund’s College. The game was extremely close, with St. Eddie’s testing our boys in both attack and defence. Through it all, our players displayed remarkable composure, ultimately emerging victorious. The momentum gained from this victory propels our 1stXIII team into Round 5 with an enormous amount of confidence.

The road ahead promises excitement, and our boys are more than ready to face the challenge that Padua College presents this weekend.  The battleground will be the St. Edmund’s College Playing Fields at Tivoli, and I remind our boys to stay focused and hungry as Padua College will be ready for us. It’s essential that we’re prepared for the journey ahead, so please make sure to allocate enough travel time to arrive in Ipswich at least 30 minutes before your scheduled kick-off time, unless otherwise instructed by your coach.

As we venture into the final two rounds of the AIC Competition, I wish all our teams the best of luck. Let’s continue to support our teams, celebrate their achievements, and cheer them on as they face Padua College and Iona College for the final two rounds. Go forth with determination, sportsmanship, and a burning desire to succeed.

Mr Blake McLauchlan, Rugby League Coordinator

Tennis First IV
After being outplayed by St Laurence’s, the pressure was on the First IV to bring an improved performance at Morningside against St Edmund’s last weekend. They didn’t disappoint, roundly defeating St Edmund’s seven rubbers to one to improve to 2-2 for the season. Whilst our doubles performances have been our strength in the season so far, last weekend it was the singles matches where our boys shone, winning all four rubbers losing only one game across all eight sets.

Special mention to our captain Adam Zanatta, who won his first singles match of the year 6-1, 6-0 after losing his last two singles matches in agonising super breakers. On the doubles court, once again we excelled winning three of the four rubbers.  After two consecutive matches at home, we are back on the road again this weekend in what should be a close fought match at Padua.

Mr Justin Musumeci, First IV Manager

Tennis
I would like to congratulate all our Villa tennis players and team managers from our Round 4 matches against St Edmunds. We had a great day out overall losing 36 matches and winning 70 matches.  I did get the opportunity to watch some matches played at Morningside where the Senior teams competed. It was refreshing to see how competitive our players are, and how far they have come from the beginning of the season. I challenge all players to keep working hard for the final three rounds, keep up a positive attitude at training and to not let your teammates down.

I would like to say congratulations to our Year 7 Tennis players and our Year 7 Tennis Manager Mr Hudson Rogers. Both teams had their first wins of the season; this is such great reward for them due to the fantastic attitude that they consistently showing weekly at training.

After having a freshen up last weekend with no AIC sporting fixtures, we’re ready to go for our matches against Padua this Saturday. Our Year 5-8 teams playing at home at MTC this weekend will have team photos. It is very important to make sure that you know your photo times as outlined in the weekly draw. Please allow extra travel time and arrive earlier this Saturday, so that you don’t miss out on your team photo.

Can I once again please remind all AIC Tennis players about the commitment to the Villa uniform, please only wear the Tennis uniform outlined on the Locker Room. Many of these fixtures take place in public centres and we want to look our best to represent our College.

Good luck to all Villanova sporting teams in your Round 5 matches against Padua.

Mr Nathan Dufty, Tennis Coordinator

Track & Field
Pre-season Meet 1 is on Thursday 24 August at the SAF (State Athletics Facility – Kessels Rd Nathan). Please visit the College website Locker Room page for further details.

Track and Field Training and Meets continue next week. There is a Meet on Wednesday 30 August (Pre-season Meet 2), followed by training at Villa Park on the Thursday afternoon for all squad members. With only a few Meets to get times and distances, athletes are urged to attend to allow coaches to begin ranking athletes for the AIC Championships in October.

Athletes were encouraged to join the squad after last week’s Interhouse Carnival if they performed well on the day. We need to get our best athletes out competing, to ensure Villanova of a strong result in the Championships. Boys attending the Meet next week are to register for the bus outside the Sports Office by Monday.

Junior School students will be bussed at 2pm to SAF and will return at 5pm. Middle and Senior School students will depart at 3pm and a bus will return at the conclusion of the last event, arriving back at the College at approximately 8:15pm. Parents are welcome to attend and take their son/s home when they have finished their events.

AIC TRACK & FIELD TRAINING DATES & VENUES – 2023

T&F PRE-SEASON MEET 2:
SCHEDULE OF TRACK EVENTS WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST SAF

SCHEDULE OF FIELD EVENTS WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST SAF

Mr Chris Everding, Track & Field Coordinator

Composite District (representative)
Nomination paperwork for Composite Cricket 13-15 years is now available. Please see Mr Dufty in the Sports Office for this information. Paperwork is to be returned no later than next Tuesday August 29.

Strength & Conditioning
For the Term 3 schedule and sign on links, please visit The Locker Room.

Mr Marco Mastrorocco, S&C Coordinator

Zone Cricket Players Wanted.
Looking to play club cricket in Term 4?
REGISTER TODAY

Zone Cricket Registrations

Our Term 4 Zone Cricket Club program includes.

• Morning training sessions based at Little Langlands nets which is convenient for parent drop off.
• A professional skill based weekly “coaching program” included in the rego costs.
• Opportunity for “higher divisions” to play weekly matches on turf.
• Saturday morning matches against other local cricket clubs.
• Fun end of season cricket presentation day at Villa Park.
• A chance to meet new mates whilst having plenty of fun.

External Achievements
Jacob Aldenton (Year 6) recently competed in the 2023 JT 125 Toowoomba Junior Age Tennis Championships over the weekend. The event was held over two days at both Toowoomba Grammar School and the Toowoomba Tennis Association. Jacob played in the Tier 1 Boys Singles Under 12 division, representing 16 of the strongest boys in the age category.

Jacob was unseeded in the tournament but managed to defeat higher ranked opponents through the draw and reach the finals on Sunday. Whilst defeated by a top 10 State player in the final, it was an incredible achievement to make the finals. Well done Jacob!

Jed Normington (Year 6) recently attended the National AFL Carnival in Albury, NSW. Jed’s Queensland team won three of the six games played. Jed was awarded the MVP trophy for the game against Northern Territory. Well done Jed!

Year 12 students Jake Fazldeen and Fraiser Lay recently represented the U17 Queensland AFL team at the National Championships in Victoria. Jake and Frasier have been members of the Villanova First XVIII since Year 10 and are both members of the Brisbane Lions Academy. Although being narrowly defeated by Victoria Country, Jake and Frasier did Queensland  proud. This is a remarkable achievement, well done boys!

A big congratulations to Year 10 student, Ollie Jacobs, who is currently in Sydney representing Queensland at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships. Ollie still has a few events to compete in over the next few days, but we congratulate him for winning the Silver medal in the 15 Years 50m Fly with a time of 25.53, beating the previous record at 25.60. Well done, Ollie!

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

Free Dress Day – Monday 28 August
To celebrate the Feast Day of St Augustine on Monday 28 August we are having a Free Dress Day to raise funds for Emmanuel City Mission. Please bring a gold coin donation for the privilege of wearing free dress on that day. All funds raised go to funding breakfasts at Emmanuel City Mission for the rest of the year. Your donation will go directly to helping the most vulnerable in our local community.

Writers’ Festival – Tuesday 5 & 12 September
Unleash Your Creativity – All students from Year 5 to 12 are invited to join us for two Incredible Evenings! Renowned Authors Oliver Phommavanh and Martin Ed Chatterton will grace us with their presence and share their expertise at the Villanova College Writers Festival. For more information on both workshops, please visit: Writers Festival (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Father’s Night – Friday 8 September
Join us for our P&F Fathers’ Night! Friday 8 September, 6pm at the Camp Hill Hotel. A fantastic evening and an ideal chance to reconnect and meet fellow Villa Dads! More info at Fathers Night (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Deceased Villanovans & Staff Mass – Sunday 10 September
Join us at Goold Hall, Villanova College, at 10am.

75^th Anniversary Gala Ball – Saturday 7 October
Don’t miss out on the chance to step into history and celebrate 75 incredible years of Villanova College at the much-anticipated Charity Gala Ball! Your ticket purchase not only grants you access to a night of elegance and entertainment but also contributes to the development of a cutting-edge STEM and Sports Hall, a hub that will empower present and upcoming generations of Villanovans. Let’s come together to honour our past and shape our exciting future! Secure your tickets at Villanova College 75th Anniversary Gala Ball (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Villanova College Golf Day – Save the date: Friday 27 October

Derby Day for Ladies – Save the date: Saturday 4 November

Each year, Villanova College Sports Club holds an event to celebrate our strong past and present Villa Mum community. All funds raised from Derby Day are donated back to the college in order to deliver sports and recreational programs for our students. Tickets will be on sale soon.

Creative Arts – Audition Pack