Villa View – Issue 16, 6 October 2023

Welcome back to Term 4 and the enjoyment of the completion of another school year.  

As is always the case at this point of the year we look forward to those events that ‘close-out’ the calendar and mark the movement of our young men to the next stage of their life journey. That is of course the graduation of our seniors but equally the movement of our Year 6’s into secondary school or the transition of our Year 11’s into college student leadership. It is a time of enjoyment and celebration but it is equally a period of time when we can all too quickly get caught up in ‘what’s next’ and forget that there is much hard work and diligent commitment to be completed before we get to the celebration. I certainly reflected on this with our students on assembly this week as the Broncos, and most of Brisbane, celebrated a premiership with 20 minutes to go! As we now know the most important part of the game was the final quarter. It is the same for the academic year. Regardless of our hard work and dedication throughout the year and all those small goals we may have achieved they can all too easily be undone if we lose focus in the last portion of the year. 

All boys are encouraged to make sure that the end is just as good as the start! 

In the next few weeks we will announce our College leadership for the 2024 school year, including the inaugural House captains. This will be paired with the release of students allocations to Houses and the name of their Head of House. It is certainly exciting times. In accordance with these landmark moments we will also run an evening webinar on the new House system for parents so that you can understand the pastoral processes, supports and purpose as well as being given the opportunity to ask questions about how things will operate if you have areas of clarification. Details and dates will follow. 

An information session on joining the College Board or Board Committees
Date: Thursday 26th October
Time: 5:00pm-6:00pm
Format: webinar via TEAMS 

Most of our parents and community members would understand that Villanova College is an independent school in the Augustinian tradition, governed by the Order of St Augustine via the appointment of the College Board. 

The College Board is supported by Board Committees to provide oversight of strategic direction, operations and compliance. The Committees include Risk and Compliance, Building and Capital, Finance Advisory , Succession and Performance, Mission and Identity and Foundation Management. 

The College Board regularly invites expressions of interest from people who feel they have the experience, skills and commitment to assist with these important activities. 

Members of the Villanova College community and other interested parties are warmly invited to a webinar information session to find out more about the role of the College Board and Board Committees, and the way you can play an active role in the future direction of our College. 

Registration details will be sent via separate emails and through our social media channels. 

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.

Welcome back to all Senior School families to Term 4 and the short but dynamic sprint to the finish line for 2023. I hope there were opportunities for relaxation and renewal across the holiday break following the intensity of the previous term. As we return, our Year 12s are coming to the sunset of their Villanova Journey yet there is so much still to focus upon prior to their Graduation with external examinations shortly commencing. I congratulate the young men who took advantage of the study and tutorial sessions conducted in the Learning Commons of the St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre last week.

The Year 11 students formally commence their Unit 3 studies this term and will be challenged to embrace a white shirt mentality ahead of their formal commissioning as the Seniors of 2024 at the conclusion of Week 5. Our Year 10 students have carved out an impressive start to their Senior School journey this year and coupled with our Year 11 students, will be called upon to lead the student body in our exciting transition into the Vertical House System. Following the confirmation of which Houses our young men will placed in across the coming weeks, our Year 10 and 11 students will begin the process of shaping the early development of House identity and learn the integral stories of their House namesakes connected to the story of Saint Augustine.

Best wishes to all Senior School students for the term ahead and we continue to pray for our Year 12 students that they finish with great success and a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Maximising Productivity
One of the eternal considerations for young scholars is cultivating better productivity amidst the myriad of competing time pressures. With study, cocurricular engagement and part-time employment, coupled with the maintenance of social lives, our young men can sometimes struggle to prioritise their time and energy with purpose.

One of my favourite thought leaders is Shane Parrish, author of Farnam Street blog. According to Parrish, the key to productivity is doing more of what matters and less of what doesn’t. When you concentrate your mental and physical energy in one direction, you have the most impact. His latest blog provides some pertinent takeaways:

“One way to reduce the surface area of your attention is to ask yourself the difficult question of whether what you are doing really matters to the outcome you want. If you are ruthless, you can eliminate 20-40% of what you are doing today without impacting the most important things. All the time you spend on the least important things comes at the expense of the most important things.

Asking the question is easier than answering it honestly. Admitting you’re doing something that doesn’t matter means you’ve been wasting your time. It’s much easier to keep doing what we’ve been doing and tell ourselves that if we just had one more productivity hack, we’d make more progress.

Being busy and being productive are not the same thing. Running around in circles is busy. Going toward your destination is productive. It’s easy to be busy. It’s hard to be productive. The real “work” of productivity is less about improving efficiency and more about improving effectiveness. Being productive is not about doing more; it’s about concentrating all your energy on the few things that matter.”

“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.” -Nathan W. Morris

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

I hope the term break provided all with a time of rest, recreation, and refreshment. The weather has been great, and it is always nice to pack up the quilts and winter gear and get out the summer clothes in preparation for our end of year pursuits. Term 3 was a big one and students and teachers alike would no doubt have appreciated the time to recharge the batteries and prepare to give Term 4 their best.

While spending time fishing with my children, I happened to listen to a podcast with an excellent message on the way we use language with young people. Rod Campbell, who runs a nationwide program called ‘Learning Life through Sport,’ a program designed to challenge social norms and inspire young people and their communities to bring a new standard of behaviour and respect to sport and life. He spoke about the importance of coaches, parents, and mentors talking to students about effort. Rating their success on and off the field based on effort rather than results and the positive impact it can have upon them. The alternate theory of saying words like ‘bad luck’ not only doesn’t hold them to account, but also delivers negative connotations. It in fact sends them the message that the sport, the team and luck are totally beyond not only their control but even their ability to influence events.

The other well-tried mantra that he spoke passionately about, was that the standards we walk by are the standards we accept. As I see it this has such powerful implications for the young men at Villanova. It is a hard thing to challenge each other as peers but at the same time there is nothing more powerful. If we want to improve culture, then there is no faster way to do so than to have it come from within. When our young men challenge each other to pull up their socks, not litter or be more respectful, it shows their recognition of, and desire to achieve, exactly what it is that they want from their school. This is where we want to get to. For Rod Campbell it is a positivity tool. He uses it to challenge his players, his peers and those around him to find ways to be kind to others, to react in positive ways and finally, to learn a respect for, and an appreciation of, everyone around them.

It is these thoughts that will form the basis of our theme this term and that I will continue to emphasise with our young men as we guide them on their journey to becoming the best version of themselves.

Speaking of becoming the best version of themselves, good luck to all of our Track and Field athletes this Thursday and Friday at the AIC Carnival. The work they have done so far, and the effort they have put in, places them in a great position to achieve some marvellous results.

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

There are incredible post-holiday vibes around the Junior School this week.  Spring has sprung!  Stories of hikes in national parks, bikes at local parks, beach and camping trips, some even venturing as far as Melbourne or Sydney to witness the AFL or NRL Grand Finals – the fact that we could embrace the holidays was a blessing.  I have nothing but gratitude for the chance to relax and renew my enthusiasm for Term 4, notorious for being fast and furious.

We have eight weeks left to enjoy the relationships formed over the past three terms.  It’s safe to say that a lot of changes and growth have taken place this year and there will be a special few that have saved their best for last.  The students who do shine this term can often be some of the most unexpected.  There are young men who have nurtured a slow burn for learning and perhaps there’s a spark about to ignite.  For others, they have worked conscientiously and yet hit obstacles that somehow meant their dream results were just out of reach.  Maybe this term they find the change that matters – by trusting their teachers whole-heartedly, accepting the helping hand of parents or being brave enough to ask peers for guidance during lessons.  When a change makes a positive difference, this can set off a chain of experiences that see a student motor towards the finish line.

These precious first few weeks matter greatly if we hope for shifts in student achievement.  Lifts in academic grades need a team effort.  Commitments must be made.  The reality is that the boys have the resources at their fingertips – OneNote, workbooks, textbooks and the internet which gives unlimited resources by typing in a year level, subject and/or topic.  Yet the most significant resources are people – because if we communicate, check in, encourage and praise each other, then the outcomes are exponential.  Students will build confidence and belief in themselves.  Teachers sustain energy and enthusiasm for planning, teaching/learning and reflection to keep providing dynamic experiences.  Parents will feel informed in how best to help their sons – and find comfort in the best efforts being all that matters.  It is never too late to ask for help, offer help or accept help.

Our best wishes are with the AIC Track and Field squad members for this Thursday and Friday’s competition.  After two months of specific training with sprints, middle distance, hurdles, long jump, high jump and shot put, our Year 5 and 6 students are ready to represent Villanova College.  There is something incredibly brave about sport at an individual level.  It requires grit and determination to perform to capacity on one day that require the perfect combination of health, absence of injuries and the ability to manage the weather conditions.  It is about putting themselves on show – against the clock or tape measure – for the glory of a podium finish.  Sometimes it’s very much about getting a PB – shaving seconds off or adding on those crucial centimetres that mean as much glory as any colour of medal.  There is so much satisfaction up for grabs – gentlemen we wish you all the very best!

Our Focus of the Week is to “get the little things right.”  Manners, turn taking, helping out – making our community the best it can be.  We have high expectations in Term 4, and we expect the boys to finish strongly, right up to Friday of Week 8.  Our Senior Mentors have only two more mornings with us before they embark on their final exams in Senior School  EVER!  Whilst our Year 5 and 6 students can’t fathom the idea of ever finishing school, the reality is we should enjoy every single day and cherish the moments we share together.  These are precious times, filled with so many moments that are worth recognising and acknowledging.  May Term 4 bring us all some moments of joy and achievement.

Mr Stephen Rouliadeff, Head of Junior School

Welcome to term 4!  This is always the shortest, fullest and fastest term of the year.  My image for this term has been that feeling of moving from the platform to the rollercoaster.  The feeling of excitement as the harness comes down over your head and is locked into place and you realise that there is no turning back!  I hope that for our Villa community it will be a fun and fulfilling ride that stretches us and remains fun even when it twists and turns and makes us go upside down.  There is lots of learning to still happen, exams and assignments to focus on, extra-curricular activities to engage in, endings and celebrations to occur.

Justice Forum: Learning from the Past…. Standing up in 2023!
On Thursday this week Villanova brought together student leaders from 8 schools for a Justice Forum in partnership with Brisbane’s new Holocaust Museum.  Students from Iona, Mount Alvernia, Lourdes Hill, St Rita’s, Marist, Ambrose Treacy and Loreto engaged in an afternoon taking a deeper dive into the atrocities of the Holocaust.  This exploration into the events leading up to the Holocaust and the genocide of 6 million Jewish people is confronting and challenging.  We were led by tour guides with personal experience of the Holocaust through the museum and had the opportunity to hear the personal stories of Dr Peter Kraus, a survivor of the holocaust and Rocky Miller whose extraordinary mother was a survivor of the holocaust.  Every person present was affected by the powerful witnessing of stories that we had the opportunity to experience.  Amidst the unimaginable difficulties what was incredibly inspiring to students and staff present was the resistance within the Jewish people to being dehumanised and those who had in small ways, taken small actions that enabled their survival.  There was much to contemplate and discuss as we headed to afternoon tea and when we returned we had Nikki Marczak from the University of Queensland, Department of Atrocities Prevention share about their work and engaged us in some activities to delve more deeply into understanding how we can predict and prevent genocides from occurring again.  There was great discussion.  A few of our students reflected on the bus ride home last night:

“This Justice forum allowed us to delve deeper into topics and allowed us to explore social issues that are sensitive and how to act to address these issues”
Patrick Campbell

“It is an Important reminder that even though the holocaust happened far away it is probably the most evil thing and we need to be reminded of these atrocities so things like that don’t happen again. By acknowledging the past, we can take action to prevent this happening again” Raif Kristenson

Unfortunately human rights atrocities do continue in our world.  The prayer we used last night is very relevant for us as a nation and global community at this time.  It calls us to conscience and courage.

Loving God,
lead us beyond ourselves
to care and protect,
to nourish and shape,
to challenge and energize
both the life and the world
You have given us.

God of light and God of darkness,
God of conscience and God of courage
lead us through times
of spiritual confusion and public uncertainty.

Lead us beyond fear, apathy and defensiveness
to new hope in You and to hearts full of faith.

Give us the conscience it takes
to comprehend what we’re facing,
to see what we’re looking at
and to say what we see
so that others, hearing us,
may also brave the pressure that comes
with being out of public step.

Give us the courage we need
to confront those things
that compromise our consciences
or threaten our integrity.

Give us, most of all,
the courage to follow those before us
who challenged wrong and changed it,
whatever the cost to themselves.

Prayer for Conscience and Courage by Joan Chittister

Celebrating the work of our Student Council in 2023
Last night Student Council President Nicholas Malanos, with the support and guidance of Mr John Holroyd and Mrs Kath Underhill organised the first annual Student Council Dinner celebrating on the successes that has been in 2023 for the Council and its influence on Villanova. We were fortunate to have 5 of the 2024 Loreto College leadership team with their year level coordinator to establish roots and connections between the 2024 Senior Cohorts both at Villa and Loreto moving into their white shirt leadership at Villa. Starting off the session Meg and Lance from Iona College came in to propose a possible initiative for Villanova in future having on campus dogs for therapy purposes for students who may be experiencing tough times, or who may be encouraged to read through the presence of the dog.

Following this Brendan Cox, CEO if Legacy joined the session giving his inspiring talk on the difference between status leadership and service-leadership in a school environment. Following the first segment of the dinner, we were blessed to have the Year 10 Hospitality class led by Mr Tony Rolls preparing a tasty dinner. Moving into the second segment of the night the groups of students spread out and gave suggestions on how we could make our school a better place with the opportunity to work with Loreto in 2024. With this we had our guest panel with Luke Palmer (2021 Student Council President), Tom Price (YRNA Founder, Student Council President), and Gordon Hughes (ex-Villa percussion staff member, Global Engagement Manager at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission).

We were so fortunate to have all these guests throughout share their personal experience and wisdom with the boys and girls. To finish off the evening, students from Villanova were tasked to bring a dessert that means something special to your family (e.g. heritage). Overall, it was a great evening with a strong finish for the 2023 Student Council moving in with a bright future with the 2024 Senior Cohort. Special thanks to Nicholas Malanos, Mr Holroyd, and Mrs Underhill for making this idea for the students and guests a reality.

Date Claimers for Term 4
Mass for All Saints – Friday 3 November
Pastoral Masses
There is an old saying: A Community that prays together, stays together! At Villanova we are extraordinarily fortunate to have Fr Pete and Fr Saldie as Chaplains who are able to lead us in Eucharist together.  Alongside our full College masses these masses for our Pastorals and Co-curricular teams is an opportunity to celebrate and deepen our connection as a community. Parents are welcome to attend when their sons mass is on, and we love it when grandparents come too.  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.

Term 4

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

A warm welcome to everyone on what is our final and usually the busiest time of the year. I hope your sons were able to find some time over the break to slow down and reset for Term 4. I am still getting over the trauma of Brisbane losing two grand finals in one weekend, and have not enjoyed the New South Wales and Victorian fans in our midst rubbing it in. I am showing resilience by reminding the boys it is only a game, it is on next year, and we won State of Origin.

I have told the students my door is always open if they want to come in and have a chat about anything, whether that be school related, sport or any issues they are having. And many boys have done just that. Sometimes a chat is all that is needed, but other times there have been students who have reached out and asked for help when they need it. Boys need to know they are not alone, and they don’t have to feel that way. There are always people around who will help them and the message we are telling them is sometimes, all you have to do is ask.

Learning to ask for help is an essential skill that enhances a person’s wellbeing. When people are able to ask for help, they’re more able to solve their problems and feel more confident in their lives.

It is important to develop help-seeking skills so that in the future, we can ask for help for ourselves or for others. Seeking help when problems manifest provides the opportunity for early intervention, which can lessen the likelihood of escalation. This term in Wellbeing, the Year 9s are completing a unit on Help Seeking which aims to teach students when to ask for help, practice how to have these types of conversations, build confidence for them to ask for help and appreciate the challenges people face when it comes to asking for help.

The older we get, the less likely we are to ask for help, and this unit reminds students that every single person needs help and that no one can face every challenge by themselves, all of the time. Nor do they have to.

I’m looking forward to what is going to be a successful and productive term for our Villa students.

Mrs Sheridan Carey, Director of Student Wellbeing

Lessons and Rehearsals
As we return to Term 4, our new ‘core’ ensembles have commenced rehearsal from Week 1.  Our remaining Jazz and Chamber ensembles will be finalised and communicated by the end of this week with those groups commencing in Week 2.

All instrumental lessons have commenced – please ensure your son has received his timetable information from his teacher.  We are looking forward to another active and exciting end to the term!

Battle of the Rock Bands
On Thursday evening, The Shamps will be returning to Clairvaux MacKillop College to represent Villanova at the annual Battle of the Rock Bands.  The boys have prepared a killer set and Mr Campbell is confident the team will pull off a great show.  We wish the students all the best for their gig tonight.  Tickets are still available – please visit the event’s Facebook page for more information:  https://www.facebook.com/BattleoftheROCKBands

Gala Ball – Jazz Program Contribution
The Villanova Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Amadeus Chamber Ensemble, and Big Band are looking forward to contributing to this Saturday’s Gala Ball at Brisbane City Hall.  The students have been preparing their sets in preparation for an exciting evening’s entertainment.  Amadeus will welcome attendees into the foyer, followed shortly by Jazz Band prior to formal proceedings commencing.  Jazz Combo will offer some background music during entrée’s with Big Band rounding out the student contribution.  The evening’s entertainment will conclude with Phat Sauce, a great Brisbane commercial ensemble led by former Villa tutor Evan Osborne.

For those attending, we hope you all enjoy the show as much as we have enjoyed preparing the music!

Open Rehearsal – Year 5 ensembles – Tuesday 10 October
This coming Tuesday we are holding an open rehearsal for our Year 5 Band and Year 5 String Orchestra and are inviting parents to come and attend with their son.  An email with a link to a form regarding RSVP for this opportunity has been sent home.  We are seeking numbers to assist with seating, ensure we have adequate muffins, and prep our coffee van.

The coffee van will be onsite outside the Augustine Centre from before 7am.  Muffins will be distributed in front of the AC.  Band students are to move to Goold Hall by 7:30am, Strings will be rehearsing in Hanrahan Theatre for this week’s session.

I am looking forward to seeing as many parents as possible next Tuesday morning.

Senior Musicians’ Dinner
We are looking forward to spending an evening with our Year 12 musicians and their families next Friday evening – 13 October.  The event will be taking place in the lower Hanrahan Theatre commencing at 6pm.  We will look back on a great year of performances, reflect on a great contribution to our musical family, and wish them well for their future experiences.  Information has been distributed to families regarding this event.  If you have any queries, please contact the music office urgently at music@vnc.qld.edu.au or 3394 5691.

Wieneke Family Music Prize
Heats for the Wieneke Family Music Prize will be held this coming Friday.  We have a quality group of musicians who have entered this year’s Heats, and I am looking forward to listening to everyone.  The finals for the 2023 Wieneke Family Music Prize are scheduled for Tuesday 17 October, 6pm in Lower Hanrahan Theatre.  Information regarding the finals will be distributed early next week – it will be a great evening of music; we hope you can join us!

2024 Music Leadership Opportunities
Now that our Year 11 students have completed the formal student leadership process, we will commence our process to determine the student leadership group for 2024.  Information will be emailed to all Year 10 and 11 musicians tomorrow afternoon.  We will be seeking nominations by the end of next week (Friday 13 October) and will undertake our election processes the following week.  I strongly encourage you all to consider putting your hat in the ring for this development opportunity.

Key Dates Term 4
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/BBQ/etc. this summer!

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 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 to purchase a membership and obtain ongoing special deals throughout the year.

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

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Director of Sport Address
Over the holiday break, we had many outstanding individual and team performances across a variety of sports.

Congratulations to Jackson Moloney (Year 12) who represented the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team in their successful campaign versus Tonga and the Australian Barbarians.

Following an outstanding AIC season, congratulations to our AIC Champion First V team who placed seventh at the Queensland Basketball Schools tournament on the Gold Coast.

A special congratulations to our Villanova Volleyball players and staff members who recently attended the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships in Bendigo, Victoria. Our very own Sports Office member and First VI Head Coach Mr Todd Kropp was awarded the very prestigious 2023 Queensland State Coach of the Year Award.

The focus for Week 1, Term 4 is our AIC Track & Field Championships on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 October.
We wish our team of 140 athletes well and celebrate the leaders within the programme.

It is my great honour to announce our AIC Track & Field Captains for 2023:

• Captain of Track & Field – Hugo Harrison
  • Senior School Captain – Liam Gyetvay
  • Middle School Captain – Oliver Logan
  • Junior School Captain – Darcy Dickinson

Following the Track & Field Championships, training and trials will commence for Term 1, 2024 Sports. See below some dates to remember:

Term 4, 2023:

• Week 2:
  • Pre-season training for Swimming commences – Swimming registration and information letter now available on the website Locker Room page.
  • Pre-season training for Firsts Squads and Development squads in AFL, Cricket, Volleyball, Football and Rugby Union commences.
  • Strength & Conditioning and Speed & Agility sessions commence.
• Week 4 – AIC Cricket selection trials commence (all year levels)
• Week 5 – AIC AFL and Volleyball selection trials commence (all year levels)
• Week 6 – Pre-season games vs Iona College
• Week 7 – Pre-season games vs St Laurence’s College

As we prepare for another year, we ask all students to register for Term 1, 2024 Sports. Students are required to click on the registration link below and complete all details by Wednesday 11 October.

AIC Term 1, 2024 Sport Sign-on – register here by Wed 11th Oct

There is one slight change to Term 1 Sport in 2024 with the addition of an Open 2nd XVIII AFL team. The distribution of year levels in AFL has also changed. See below:

• Open 1st XVIII and 2nd XVIII – now students from Years 10-12, 2024. This is a change from previous years.
• 9A/9B – students from Year 9, 2024.
• 8A/8B – students from Year 8, 2024.
• 7A/7B – students from Year 7, 2024.
• 6A/6B/6C – students from Year 6, 2024.
• 5A/5B/5C – students from Year 5, 2024.

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.

Term 4 Sport
Information will be provided next week regarding the AIC Touch Invitational Carnival on Saturday 21 October and AIC Water Polo on Sunday 22 October 2023. Students will be asked to sign-on for these activities via a link provided on the website Locker Room page. More information will be provided in next week’s Sports Bulletin also.

For those students keen to be involved in Esports on Saturday 21 October 2023 please contact Mr Jason Lane at jlane@vnc.qld.edu.au.

2023 Sport Photos – Basketball First V & Representative Photos
The following photos are scheduled for Tuesday 17 October 2023 at Villanova College.

• First V Basketball team 2023 – students must bring their full playing uniform for the photo – time to be confirmed.
• Representative Sport photo – any students from Years 5-12 who have represented their region in school sport (Metropolitan East), State in either school sport or club (Queensland) or Nation in either school sport or club (Australia). Students must bring their full representative playing uniform for the photo (boots not required). Only boys in full region/state/national attire will be in the photograph – time to be confirmed.

Term 1 Sport Registrations
As mentioned above, Term 1 Sport registrations will close by Wednesday 11 October. Please register via the link below:

AIC Term 1, 2024 Sport Sign-on – register here by Wed 11th Oct

Training Schedules
Please see link below with the Term 4, 2023 training schedule. This schedule commences from Week 2, Term 4 (from Monday 9 October). This training schedule is only for Weeks 2-4, Term 4.

Villa Sport – Term 4, 2023 – Training schedule

Following Cricket selection trials in Week 4 and AFL/Volleyball selection trials in Week 5, an updated training schedule will then be posted from Weeks 5-8.
For all updated information regarding training and selection trials schedules, please visit the Locker Room page of the Villanova College website.

AIC Track & Field Championships – Dates

• Day 1 – Thursday 5 October – 1pm – 5pm
• Day 2 – Friday 6 October – 8.30am – 2pm

AIC Track & Field Championships
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 Thursday and Friday. However, we believe that all those who have trained are important members of the 2023 AIC Track & 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 tomorrow and to be present for the team photo at 7am on the quadrangle.

There have been a number of changes due to illness and injury and a final team list will be posted in the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe portals. Simply log in as normal to these portals. Select the ‘Links’ tab from the top tool bar. From the drop-down menu, select the ‘Team Lists & Weekly Schedule’ tab to view the documents. All team members and reserves listed are invited to attend the carnival on Day 2. We would like all athletes and reserves to attend Day 2 (even though they may have had their event on Day 1) as we are keen for all boys to be present for the photo in the morning and to support the team on the major day of competition. We do understand if your son, who has not been selected to compete, chooses to remain at school, rather than spend the day at QSAC.

Please find some information below regarding the event schedule, bus departure times, uniform requirements etc.  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. This is to ensure the staff account for all boys and the entire team is present for photos. Parents may collect their son from the venue if they are in attendance.

Day 2 Friday 6 October 8.30am – 2.00p Main Stadium – QSAC, Kessels Road, Nathan
Team Photo:   All athletes are to assemble/meet in the quadrangle at Villanova College at 6.50am for a team photo.
Transport:      Bus departs Villanova College from Sixth Avenue at 7.20am and will return to the College by 2.30pm.

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 green athletic shorts or rugby 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)
• Boys must bring their own food. Lunch will not be provided. A canteen service will be operational tomorrow
• Please avoid junk food such as chips and milk drinks
• Other sportswear i.e. spikes

Thank you for supporting your son during the track and field season this year.  I am sure all boys will give their best today and tomorrow 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 seven teams in the competition this year. It is encouraging to see a number wanting to develop their cricket before the AIC season kicks off early next year. This pre-Christmas competition will only benefit the cricket program and also have a positive impact on all players. A massive thank you needs to go out to Nathan Dufty, 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 club has taken up a lot of their time.

Apologies for the delay in getting this information out to you but team lists have been changing and due to changing team numbers from other clubs, the draw has gone through many drafts. Team Managers will have all of the information required if you cannot access the draws.

Players are to wear their Villa cricket whites and a wide brimmed Hat. There will be kits supplied to teams and players are welcome to use any gear from the kits provided.

All team lists are available on Parent Lounge and Student Cafe portals. Simply log in as normal to these portals. Select the ‘Links’ tab from the top tool bar. From the drop-down menu, select the ‘Team Lists & Weekly Schedule’ tab to view the documents. 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 their Team Manager. Notices for Zone Cricket will not be placed on the College App.

Training times for Zone Cricket from Weeks 2-9 at Little Langlands are below:

External Achievements
First IV Tennis player Reuben Wagels (Year 9) had a very busy holiday break winning the doubles at the State Age Championships in Rockhampton. Reuben also won the doubles and was runner up in the singles at the Central Age Championships in Hervey Bay. This is a massive haul of rankings points and will likely put him in the top 50 nationwide for his age group. Well done Reuben!

Henrik Frederiksen (Year 11) and Zac Joyce (Year 10) won the U18 Century Cricket Brisbane Premier League last week as part of the Gold Coast Waveriders team. Well done boys!

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

• Upcoming Events

75^th Anniversary Gala Ball – Saturday 7 October | Villanova College 75th Anniversary Gala Ball (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Junior School Disco – Friday 13 October | Tickets available in Parent Lounge.

Co-curricular Photo Day – Tuesday 17 October

Final Year 12 Assembly & Guard of Honour – Friday 20 October. Keep an eye out on our social media and App notifications for the Live link.

Villa Verve – Friday 20 October at 6pm in Goold Hall, Villanova College. No tickets required.

Mother of Old Boys Afternoon – Saturday 21 October | Mother of Villanova Old Boys (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Villanova College Golf Day – Friday 27 October | Villanova Golf Day – The Charlie Fisher Cup | Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Derby Day for Ladies – Saturday 4 November | Villanova Derby Day for Ladies (vnc.qld.edu.au)

• Community Meetings

Sports Club AGM  – Wednesday 4 October- 6pm in Goold Hall

P&F – Monday 9 October – 6pm in the Library

Villanova Old Boys Association – Monday 9 October – 6pm in the Library

Music Support Group – Monday 9 October – 6:30pm in the Augustine Centre, Chapter Room

• Students With Disability Travel Rebate
  Semester 2
  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 our 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.

Late applications cannot be accepted after 31st October.