Villa View – Issue 3, 22 February 2024

Faith in Community
I am often left wondering about the ‘wellbeing movement’ that is so prevalent in education and of course here at Villanova. Not so much in its importance for our young people but moreover that there is a prevailing belief that looking after one’s wellbeing and outlook is a new concept or something for the new age. The reason why of course is that our identity as a catholic school in the Augustinian tradition has been, since day one, a place where the value and importance of the individual and their wellbeing has been of priority and focus.

I addressed this concept with our boys on assembly this week as we watched our week in review video. My position to the boys was that through our faith the notion of wellbeing has been at the forefront of our existence for the last 76 years. In fact our understanding of its importance has generated and encouraged our meaning and purpose and focused our behaviour and relationships for the eternity of the Christian message. Through our Augustinian lens of Interiority, the concept of meditation and taking time within oneself, is a great assistance to our wellbeing and mental health. Taking time to take stock and consider both the life we are gifted and the life we live. In so doing we are making decisions about our future actions that will either address our failings and inconsistencies or reinforce our successes. Fundamental to our faith is forgiveness, encouraged by love, kindness, empathy and compassion. To be someone who lets go of negativity and looks forward to the positive possibilities of the future is to be someone comfortable with and encouraging of forgiveness and reconciliation. Again, it delivers to us a positive outlook toward wellbeing, it is not new per se but a fundamental of Christian living.

So while Dr Martin Seligman’s research into happiness and the notion of PERMA is fundamentally sound, and something that we use to inform our programs and practice it is in many ways a secular interpretation of faith and living an authentically Christian and Augustinian life. As such we will definitely continue in our focus and commitment to student, and staff wellbeing, but it will always be shaped by our identity and mission and look to ensure that in our boys wellbeing there is always a sense of something bigger, something of higher importance than the simplicity of a happiness construct.

House Breakfast and Welcome
I would like to thank and acknowledge our Heads of House, our parent community, and our student community for your support of the first of the College House breakfasts this week as a call to community, fraternity and friendship. It was so nice to move around and speak to our parents about the House concept and see so many parents engage with their Head of House and House Mentors. These relationships are the ones that will assist you in shaping and guiding your son on his journey of growth across his Villa years and I am so happy you were able to make it and enjoy time together with us, your sons and daughters.

Legally Blonde – a musical success story!
This week we have seen the culmination of months of effort and commitment to the College musical Legally Blonde.
The co-production with students from Loreto College has been a labour of love for so many students, staff and parents from both schools and the final production was outstanding.

We presented to the College on Monday our student performers and wished them well in their performance. I would encourage our boys to consider committing to the next College musical in two years’ time as it is such a wonderful growth and development experience.

Year 7 Time and Space
I extend an enormous vote of thanks and gratitude to Sean O’Neill, Kate Garrone, Amanda Waterson and the team of young men, and some Mums, who facilitated out Year 7 Time and Space evening on Tuesday. Bringing together 148 of our Year 7 Mothers and their Sons to engage in conversation and sharing will have lasting effect. Equally I thank all of the Mums and boys who availed themselves of the experience. I do hope you found it worthwhile.

Year 9 Conversations of the Heart
Last week we shared an experience with the staff and ladies of All Hallows’ School that focused on right and respectful relationships. Facilitated by Br Damien Price and led by Senior students from both Villanova and All Hallows our Year 9 boys, and their peers from All Hallows engaged in conversation and activities targeted at identifying positive ways to interact and enjoy the company of friends and how to act and support one another in a positive and respectful way. This is the second year of the program and it was beautifully facilitated and participated in by all parties.

Senior debating debut success
I cannot let this week go by without acknowledging the season opening performance by our QDU College Senior A debating team. They began on Wednesday night with a resounding victory against a formidable opposition in the form of the young women of Sommerville House.

The debate was a short preparation debate, a particularly challenging form, on the topic of “That we prefer a world where we are overly sceptical than one where we are overly trusting.” Our boys were on the negative side of the debate, arguing for a world of trust.

Each young man performed admirably in manner, matter and method and as a College community we enthusiastically await their future season debates.

Congratulations to Ambrose House on their swimming carnival success
The first of our House events has begun and it is with great pride the Ambrose Owls have swept to success in the annual Interhouse swimming carnival. It was a wonderful day of participation and enjoyment that saw the Owls snatch victory from the Lions jaws (Monica House). It was certainly a great way to have Interhouse competition re-emerge at Villa.

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.

Last fortnight, I shared with you the four defaults articulated by thought leader Shane Parrish which act as barriers to clear and effective thinking. Building strength to counteract these forces requires personal development and intentional consideration. Rudyard Kipling’s seminal poem ‘If’ which I often share on Graduation evening contains a poignant line- ‘If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you’ is an expression of personal strength. According to Parrish, the four strengths you need to train and develop are:

• Self-accountability: holding yourself accountable for developing your abilities, managing your limitations, and using reason to govern your actions.
• Self-knowledge: knowing your own strengths and weaknesses- what you’re capable of doing and what you’re not.
• Self-control: mastering your fears, desires and emotions.
• Self-confidence: trusting in your abilities and your value to others.

Many of these strengths are developed through the process of interiority, our College theme and intentional value for this year. We continue to explicitly promote the importance of introspection with our young men and taking time to reflect with honesty about how they can become the best version of themselves. The transition from boyhood to manhood in the Senior School is best expressed in our motto- Vincit Veritas; the journey to finding the inner truth about themselves.

House Cup
Last Thursday (and Tuesday for Junior School students), the first House Cup event for this year’s calendar was conducted, with the Interhouse Swimming Carnival taking place at Langlands Pool and the College pool, respectively. The stands were awash with the colours of the eight Houses and the House Seniors are to be commended for their enthusiasm and buy-in in embracing our new context for spirited competition. In particular, I would like to affirm both Augustine and Thomas Houses for their relentless exuberance. Congratulations to Ambrose House, led by Lachlan Ebrington for being crowned champions and taking the early lead in the House Cup. The next event is the House War Cry competition in Week 8.

Musical
Last night marked the opening performance of ‘Legally Blonde,’ the combined Loreto and Villanova College Musical. The cast, musicians and crew have been preparing for this moment for weeks and I would like to congratulate all Senior School students for their dedication and passion for the Arts. For many of these students, this is their ‘grand final’ moment, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fruits of their labour.

Cor Unum Spirit
With heavy rain wiping out most Round 3 fixtures last weekend, all focus and energy was redirected towards the support of our Volleyballers who travelled to St Laurence’s College. After a hard-fought curtain raiser win by our Seconds, our First VI took to the court in front of the adoring and passionate Villa Army who ascended Mater Hill in their droves to become the ‘Seventh Man.’ The straight sets performance by the Firsts was incredibly impressive. I would like to congratulate the Student Leadership Team; the Cor Unum Spirit Committee led by Harry Innes and thank all the spectators for your vibrant display of school pride. With Music Captain Demetri James on saxophone, the new chant ‘I love the Green and Gold’ was sung with volume and gusto.

“The greatest wealth is health.” – Virgil

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

It was such a pleasure taking our Year 7 cohort away on camp to Caloundra this year [and I can’t say that so unequivocally every year]! It was fantastic to see our young men engaging so well with the camp program, the camp staff, and our staff. The enormous growth and development shown by the students during their time away showed just how important these camps are – and in a way that can’t be achieved in a classroom, in normal curriculum-based activities. While some students showed some trepidation when leaving for camp and during some activities, it was lovely to see their Villanova brothers rally around them and support them on the bus ride, in the cabins and during those activities. The sense of accomplishment they felt upon returning home knowing that they had not only made it through the camp experience but learnt more about what they could achieve with the help of teachers and friends cannot be overestimated.

The activities engaged with on camp were fun, challenging and helped to create a camaraderie that is now being built upon back at school. The growth in the area of friendships was especially evident as time and opportunity was there to be able to spend real time getting to know each other, resulting in the expansion of some friendship groups and the forming of new ones.

As I spoke to each group on the last day of camp, I made sure to remind them that their core teachers had given their time away from their own families to attend the camp make it the success it was. It was great to see the boys acknowledge this and personally thank them for the personal sacrifice they made so that the boys could have the camp experience that they had. I also am grateful to the staff as not only did they give up their time, but they brought real energy and enthusiasm to their groups and worked hard to form strong student-teacher relationships.

It was also an especially important time for our Heads of House to be able to come away for three days and begin to form relationships that will last over the next six years with the young men in their care.

A special shout out must also go to our Year 11 students who came along as mentors. They were excellent at encouraging the boys to push themselves, helped out during free time by organising games and got to know the boys in their House. I recognise that Year 11’s taking three days out of their academic work can be difficult, but it was greatly appreciated by all the students and staff.

We are in the midst of House Breakfasts this week and it has been so nice to see families able to come along and share a meal and most importantly, connect with other families to ensure a strong support network is available here at school. As I chatted with one Year 8 Ambrose House family this morning, they expressed how lovely it was to have had the opportunity to meet a Year 11 family who was able to provide some tips and hints on how to keep their young men organised and more importantly, felt they were part of a family within a family. That is certainly what we are after at Villa!

Have a great week in the Middle School.

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

There is a lot to be said about words, in any language, and the impact they have on our relationships in the world.  Words in print – media, literature and advertising surround us.  Technology helps in the speed in which we can access the headlines and research a subject.  Words that are spoken – these differ greatly depending on with whom the conversation is with – family, friends, colleagues, strangers.  Words can also be sung, and these can be powerful in terms of bringing up memories and our emotions.  In whatever mode, words have the potential to uplift, empower and motivate us as human beings to be our best.  They can also hurt us (no matter how old we are, resilient we may seem or what our role in society is) and we should be very mindful of the intentions behind words and the possibility of how they might be received.

I am second born, the younger brother of two sons, and I recognise my classic textbook traits  in “Why First-Borns Rule the World and Last-Borns Want to Change It” by Michael Grose (2011), as my birth order would suggest.

Susan Scott, author of “Fierce Conversations – Achieving Success at Work and in Life – One Conversation at a Time” (2017) is a book I have borrowed from our Tolle Lege Library out of professional and personal interest.  I have a job that requires me to choose my words carefully because people matter, over any professional expectation, student grade, assessment task or interpersonal conflict.  I have a wife and two sons (both who have now finished high school) and as a husband and father I have a responsibility to communicate with sensitivity and clarity as an equal shareholder in our family unit.  I am a son with two parents in different states and a friend to people all over the world so how I communicate on the phone, via email/text or social media matters when time zones and brief statements can matter a great deal.  Let us be clear, I’m going to spend my whole life learning how to think and listen more and speak with greater care.

In the foreword, Scott (2017) states “Our lives succeed or fail gradually, then suddenly, one conversation at a time.  While no single conversation is guaranteed to change the trajectory of a career, a business, a marriage, or a life, any single conversation can.  The conversation is the relationship.”  This makes me reflect greatly on the importance of belonging to human beings, to our parents and students, of every conversation we share.  That is not to say we should take on the burden of every conversation having the importance of greatness, but we can consider just how great one conversation might be to one person in a day.  To see someone as the most incredible person, who matters greatly in just one moment, and deserves our presence, attention, and care.  If we set a goal for making this a goal each week – imagine the butterfly effect it would have in our community.

In the introduction, Scott (2017) states “Our most valuable currency is not money…nor intelligence, attractiveness, fluency in acronyms or the ability to write code…” – it’s emotional capital.  She references a 2002 Nobel Prize winner for economics, Daniel Kahneman, a psychology professor at Princeton, who proved, beyond doubt, that we behave emotionally first, rationally second.  Think about that.  Think about it some more because this is our culture.  Not a generation, gender, racial or 21^st Century issue.  It’s us as human beings.  Our connections are crucial.

So I am learning how significant team conversations are – in the Junior School, in my family and with my friends.  I, along with you, need to work on clarity and working towards understanding the person in front of me.  Action and change, being open to that, means that loyalty, teamwork and moving forwards can be the best suggestion that goals can be achieved.  Clear pathways and responsibilities for us all – in work, school, family, and friends.  Prioritising.  Each one is just as important as the other.

At the moment, I’m in the middle of Principle #3 – Be Here, Prepared to be Nowhere Else.  Being understood, Scott (2017) explains, is not the same as interpreted.  Doesn’t that resonate?  That to me is the difference between listening and hearing.  I know that as a Head of Junior School, a coach, a teacher, a husband, a father, a son, and a friend.  What can I do?  Keep working on knowing the difference between those two means how someone will perceive and engage with me.  Hope that they can do the same in return.  Encourage our sons to do the very same.  Understand the bigger picture, that we play an important part and it’s vital we strive to do the best to help ourselves and others live the quality of life we all deserve.

This week, consider one conversation at a time.  I really do believe that Scott (2017) has given me the goal I need as a professional and as my best self.  How about you?

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Going inside for Lent—a daily journey to the interior!
Ash Wednesday was marked in all mentor groups through the leadership of over 120 students who attended training and assisted with assigning readers, preparing the classrooms and ensuring a prayerful experience was created.  A big congratulations to all the boys involved.
We are now in our second week of Lent for 2024.  Fitting with our Augustinian value of ‘Interiority’ this Lent we are inviting our community on a daily journey to the interior.
“Return to yourself. Withdraw from all the din. Look inside yourself to find a pleasant, private corner in your consciousness…” (St Augustine, Sermon 52,22)
With the help of this Calendar our goal is to promote in ourselves the Villanova College value of INTERIORITY by:

• taking time each day to consider the “focus of the day”
• being still and reflecting on my honest answer
• considering what action I could take in response
• asking God, the “Inner Teacher”, to guide me

Lent has 40 days. We don’t count the Sundays.

Please find a link to the Lenten Calendar here

You are most welcome as a family to build in time each day to reflect with these prompts.  Taking a journey to the interior helps to change how we interact with the world around us.
Here is the prayer we prayed at assembly this week.  We invite you to pray it across Lent in your family:

God, open my mind.
Help me to challenge my perceptions of others and of myself.  May I see all people as you do.
God be in my heart.
Help me to heal my relationships so that I can restore trust and dignity, and mend what has been broken.
God help me to listen.
Help me to make time for others.  Quieten and slow my pace.  Teach me to listen and be present.
God bless my hands.
Help me to reach out to all who are hurting, forgotten, silenced and oppressed.
As I travel through this Lenten season, may I be just and generous.

Amen

Second Week of Lent – (Week beginning Monday 26 February)

Ronita is 22. She lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines.

Ronita left school when she became pregnant as a teenager. This could have had a life-long impact on her ability to find work and provide for her family but, thankfully, she heard about the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Caritas Australia’s local partner in the Philippines.

Through the FCJ, Ronita was able to re-enrol in her studies and continue learning in a safe and flexible environment – even with the arrival of her second child.

After completing her ALS classes, Ronita went on to earn her Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma. With her new diploma, Ronita has now secured a job at a call centre and is looking to a brighter future for her whole family.

“I have now graduated senior school and I am so proud of myself,” she said. “I feel hopeful for the future… Now it’s not impossible for me to achieve my dream… Thank you.”

Watch Ronita’s Story

Please donate to Project Compassion.
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

On a Mission in ’24 – Ministry Sign ups

A fundamental of the Villanova Man’s journey is Ministry. For those new in 2024 the Ministry program at Villa is an opportunity for all of us to put our values of humility, interiority, restless search for truth and community into action.  We combine our efforts to make a feasible difference not only in our local community but globally in places such as the Philippines. We hope that by striving together we can enrich our environment, our community, and ourselves.

So what do we actually do? There are 5 key Ministry Teams all of which are run and led for the most part by students in years 10, 11 and 12. In 2024, the Ministry Teams and their current plans include:

1. Green Team: 2024 focus is on bees, waste management, and tree planting. They need your support on Sunday 3 March when their team will join our local community at Norman Creek for Clean Up Australia Day.
2. Vinnies: 2024 supporting the homeless through ECM, Vinnies Sleep Out and Xmas appeal.
3. Young Christian Students (YCS): 2024 breaking down barriers in the Junior School.
4. Australian Filippino Augustinian Solidarity (AFAS): 2024 goes global again with a tour in December to the Philippines to connect and support our sister/brother schools.
5. YAYM: our only Middle School Ministry team in 2024 will be celebrating languages with food, games and activities.

Call to action:
This week our Ministry captains have extended an invitation to all in our community to get behind the work of our Ministry Teams. Ministry work cannot be done in isolation. We need members to support each of the Ministry team Executives.

This week there have been ‘Sign Up Events’ during second lunches on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in the Tuckshop area. Ministry captains asked students to put their name to a Ministry team and a unique opportunity to give back to those who need it most. Vinnies will sell Zooper Doopers to support ECM.

As Diego shared on behalf of all the Ministry Captains:

“Together, let us embark on this journey of service, growth, and self-discovery.  Join a Ministry team in 2024– it might change your life,
and it will definitely change someone else’s life.”

Conversations of the Heart
Creating spaces where boys and girls come together to discuss the challenging situations and choices they are faced with has been a call directly from our Senior students.  Our own students told us at the end of a Consent symposium we went to with All Hallows in 2021 that they needed more spaces for these conversations, that they need to happen with students who are a bit older and understand what is happening, and that we need to be talking about it in Year 9 so they would be better prepared.  This is how Conversations of the Heart began, and this is how it will continue.  The last weeks there has been a great partnership between our current Senior students at Villanova and All Hallows to create our Twilight ‘Conversations of the Heart’ for the Year 9 students of 2024.

Being in its third year of operation, for the first time, amongst our seniors we had students returning who participated in Year 9.  Our Seniors have their own retreat to begin to create a safe space where they can discuss the challenges they are facing.  Topics range from parties to mental health, to maintaining healthy friendships, to the pressures of drugs, experimenting with alcohol, sexting and more.  Our framework is about looking at crossroad moments when our students need to be able to make decisions about who they want to be on the other side of their decision.  It is also about seeking flourishing and healthy relationships that help us be our best selves.

We’re supported by a great group of past students who in their 13th year come back to share their own stories.

The Seniors then prepare the program for the Year 9 students – facilitating small groups, sharing stories, exploring responses to different scenarios.  It was fabulous to be with our young people from both schools as they did this!

At the end of the evening the students gather to share.  Our Conversations of the Heart are based in the Spirituality of our lives, with God who is present with us on the journey.  Our message of the dignity of each person and the gift of each person is core to our program.  Here are some of the take aways students shared last Tuesday:

Choose who you surround yourself with, who share your values.
Make sure you’ve got a multitude of people who have got your back.
People are a lot more resilient than I realised.
You can always count on the people close to you.
Know your boundaries.
Make sure you look after your mates.
Some things just don’t work out, and that is okay.
Don’t let anyone make you cross your boundaries.
Choose your friends on how they treat others.
Do not change anyone, but yourself.
Do not lie about personal experiences just to be popular.
Be true to your values and morals, even if you might lose friends.
Surround yourself with good people.
Hang out with people who have your best interests at heart.
Don’t let anyone make you feel ashamed for setting boundaries.
Things won’t always go your way, but life keeps on going.
Love yourself, accept yourself.
You need to keep your own values.
Know who you can trust.
If you can’t change the situation, you can change how you react to it.
Be that person others can trust and rely on.
Don’t let peers pressure you.
Everyone has got beautiful stories.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Know when you need to walk away.
If you have to wear a mask to make friends, then you are looking in the wrong place.
Be comfortable with your ‘line in the sand’.
Trust your gut, trust your intuition.
Some things are out of your control.
Stay with a good group of friends.
Learn from the past, be excited about the future, be in the present.
Your feelings are valid, don’t let anyone change that.
If people do not respect you, walk away.

A big thank you to All Hallows for partnering with us in this event to make it possible, especially hosting us for the twilight evenings!  We are also so grateful to have Br Damien Price who is quite simply an extraordinary facilitator with young people – providing a perfect mix of fun, vulnerability, heart and structure.  A huge thank you to our Seniors and Old Boys for their presence and their willingness to share and listen.

National Apology Day gathering at All Hallows
The Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations was Tuesday 13 February.  To mark this occasion, eight students from Villanova accompanied Ms Jocelyn Anderson to All Hallows’ School to reflect on the significance of this apology.  They had the opportunity to listen to story, to dance and to meet with other students who are both impacted directly by the Stolen Generation or who are committed to reconciliation and healing.  There were students from many Catholic schools across Brisbane, and Aunties and Uncles who came to lead and share.  We are most grateful to All Hallows for hosting this event.

Mrs Kate Garrone, Director of Mission and Identity

I always love walking through the school and hearing about all the things the boys have been involved with over the last week or two. The change to a House System has brought a newfound sense of competitiveness, commitment, and camaraderie amongst the boys and this was clearly on display at the inaugural House Cup Swimming Carnival last week. Students were involved, energetic and brought a real sense of fun to the day – many are already planning their outfits and war cries for the next one.
It was just so great to see it in action.

As part of the Wellbeing Program this term, the Year 12 cohort are looking at the concept of Grit and how they can use it in their final year of schooling. Good leaders possess and show Grit which is their long-term persistence and self-regulation to achieve something they are passionate about. They also enjoy self-determination components, competence, autonomy and relatedness, believe others matter and understand that relationships underpin anything worth achieving.

In the past few wellbeing lessons, the 12s have been hearing about someone who truly epitomises Grit. Turia Pitt is a remarkable example of grit in action. Her life story is a testament to her extraordinary resilience and perseverance in the face of unimaginable challenges. Turia, an Australian athlete and motivational speaker, suffered life-changing injuries in 2011 when she was caught in a bushfire during an ultramarathon in Western Australia.

Despite severe burns and immense challenges, she refused to be defined by her circumstances. Turia’s journey involved numerous surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, yet she demonstrated unwavering determination to not only survive but thrive. She has completed Ironman races, written books, and engaged in public speaking, becoming an inspirational figure by actively pursuing her goals and inspiring others facing adversity. Turia Pitt’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of grit in overcoming life’s challenges.

Turia’s story offers Year 12 boys a powerful lesson in resilience and determination. Her ability to overcome adversity, maintain a positive mindset, and achieve ambitious goals serves as inspiration for facing academic pressures and uncertainties about the future. I encourage the boys to reflect on her story as they embark on a potentially stressful and pressure-filled year and hope they see that challenges can be faced with perseverance and grit.

It’s been lovely chatting with parents at the House breakfasts this week. Already looking forward to the next one!

Mrs Sheridan Carey, Director of Wellbeing

BYOD Bootcamp for Year 5 Students
Our Year 5 students have been spending some of their class time completing short, sharp online “bootcamp” lessons to learn how to manage their new BYOD Windows 11 laptops and become more confident using the Microsoft applications and software used in their classes each day. Our excited learners will finish this bootcamp program by the end of Term 1. We hope this foundation will help them build strong ICT skills going forward.

Esports Update
The official Esports program for 2024 kicks off in the next fortnight with a team of six Year 11 students competing in the QUT Esports Valorant Invitational tournament at Gardens Point campus on Saturday 2 March. This event is largely coordinated by QUT students and staff who are involved in the Diploma of Esports course. It’s a great opportunity for our students to compete and experience Esports as a university pathway.

Esports also commences for younger students in Years 7/8 and 9/10 with Rocket League pairs competing in the FUSE Cup competition at Brisbane South State Secondary College on 6 March and 7 March, respectively. We hope our continuing teams and new esports recruits in Year 7 continue to show great teamwork, support each other, and maintain good gaming habits in our first live event for the year. Thanks also to Mr Lachie Dent and Mr Matthew Smith for becoming involved in the support and mentoring of our growing Esports competitive player group.

Ethical and Responsible Use of AI
Last Friday, students in Years 9-12 completed our bespoke “Ethical and Responsible Use of AI” module. This module, developed for Villanova students who wish to use AI tools such as ChatGPT for their schoolwork and studies, clearly sets out responsible use and unethical use. Parents are welcome to peruse and explore the module to better understand what AI platforms are available to students, what use cases are considered ethical and unethical, and how to guide and support students navigating this exciting technology field. Please follow this link to peruse the module (ignoring the verify achievement instructions at the end): https://rise.articulate.com/share/iqPwdjCDAuSxkDFhQYdAysEnoTcWBYG1#/

2024 Acceptable Use of ICT Agreements are long overdue!
A final reminder for all students to complete the 2024 Acceptable Use of ICT agreements. A list of students who have not yet completed this agreement is with House Mentors and Heads of House. This was expected to be completed over two weeks ago, and this is now a repeat request in a subsequent newsletter. Students who have not completed this online agreement in Years 7-12 are in breach of our policy and may see reduced access to network resources or other forms of intervention and support until such time as all agreements are signed and locked in for the 2024 academic year. Please refer to the email sent to all students and parents on 2 February 2024 for further details. If helpful, use this direct link to complete the form with your son: https://villanova.jotform.com/240152603999057

Mr Jason Lane, Director of E-Learning

Lessons and Rehearsals
We are now moving into our fifth week of lessons and rehearsals post-Christmas.  The building is most definitely alive and buzzing with activity and music – it is always a great place to be at this time!  We are now a few weeks away from our Debut Concert series – we are really looking forward to sharing our first term’s work with you all very soon.

Year 5 Instrumental Music
Instruments were distributed to all students on Tuesday this week, with students taking instruments home upon delivery of their signed loan agreement.  This is always an exciting time in our department, and we look forward to this period with great anticipation.  We ask that all our Year 5 musicians ensure they take appropriate care when assembling and using their instruments, always ensuring they are in a safe space and making sure they are the sole player of the instrument placed in their care.

We look forward to sharing a little more about some exciting events for our Year 5 musicians over the coming fortnight – we have some great musical opportunities ahead!

Registering Attendance at Music Activities
To ensure we meet our duty of care requirements, as per all activities within our school we must maintain an accurate attendance role for all music activities.  I would like to take this opportunity to remind all students and families of our processes regarding the recording and monitoring of attendance for ensemble and lessons here at Villanova.

Ensemble Attendance – the roll will be taken immediately before the commencement time of rehearsal.  Students who are not present will either be marked ‘A’ (away – unexplained absence), or ‘E’ (away – explained absence).  Explained absences will be logged should communication be received via email or phone message to the music absentee line.  If you communicate on the morning of a morning rehearsal, your son may be marked away – the roll will be adjusted once the teacher has had an opportunity to check correspondence after rehearsal.  The parents of students marked absent will receive a brief email communication noting their child’s absence.

The roll will again be marked at the end of rehearsal.  Students who were marked absent but have arrived during the session will be marked as ‘L’ – or Late.

Lesson Attendance – students are required to sign in via the Kiosks outside the music office if they are attending their private or group lesson.  Please ensure you bring your student card as this is the most efficient way of negotiating this obstacle.  If you don’t have your student card, you will require your student number and password (used for accessing the Villa network).  Students are to log in at the kiosk and select Music Lesson upon arrival, and check-out of music lesson upon departure.  Staff will also maintain a roll for our records that is updated upon conclusion of each lesson.

We take our duty of care seriously and we thank the students for assisting us in following procedure to ensure all are safe and accounted for.

Mobile Phones in Rehearsal
As the College embarks on a new era of relationships with mobile phones, we will look to emulate a similar approach in rehearsal.  Historically, in rehearsals that I take, I expect that mobile phones are not to be used or seen during ensemble.  These activities, whilst co-curricular, are still part of the College routine; as such, the regular rules around mobile devices apply.

With the removal of mobile phones from classrooms from the beginning of the 2024 academic year, it is expected that mobile phones are not brought to rehearsal.  Mobile phones may be placed inside a student’s instrument case (on silent) or left in their school bag.  If a phone is seen by a teacher during rehearsal, the regular school rules will apply – the device will be confiscated and taken to Student Services for collection by the student’s parent.

We thank you all for supporting our College community at this interesting juncture in time.

Musical
Congratulations to our Musical team for their opening (not opening) night on Monday evening.  The show on Monday was well done and we are looking forward to another stellar season of our combined musical over the remainder of the week.  Congratulations and all the best for the run!

Music Support Group
Our next Music Support Group meeting will be convened on Monday 11 March in the Chapter Room at the front of the Augustine Centre, commencing at 6:30pm.  All parents are most welcome to attend.  We encourage you all to come along and learn a little more about what happens behind the scenes in music here at the College.

Key Dates Term 1
As we look ahead across the term, 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.
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 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
Following the cancellation of AFL and Cricket matches due to the heavy rain last week, our focus centred on Volleyball in Round 3.

Buoyed on by a remarkable clutch victory by the Second VI late in the third set and the Villa Army who led a rousing entrance on to the court, our First VI Volleyball team had an outstanding start winning the first eight points versus St Laurence’s College. Maintaining this level of performance was always going to be difficult, but full credit to our boys who led from the front all match, winning three sets to nil. With an undefeated run so far this season, our First VI are well poised, however remain focused on the next game versus St Edmund’s College this Saturday.

We wish our Swimmers well in their final pre-season meet this Thursday 22 February at Chandler. This is the final dress rehearsal leading into AIC Champs on Tuesday 5 March. All Swimmers are reminded to prioritise attendance at the Chandler meet this Thursday.

We travel to St Edmund’s College in Round 4 of the AIC competition this weekend. I encourage all sporting families to remain up to date with draws and notifications via the website Locker Room page and the Villa App. This weekend we have a number of supplementary games versus other schools and byes, so we all need to be diligent in reading the draw carefully.

Please note, Trimester 2 Sport registrations are now open for Chess, Cross-Country, Football and Rugby Union. More information is provided below.

Draw – Round 4, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 February
Round 4 vs St Edmund’s College – is now available on the Locker Room page. The draw will be posted to Locker Room by the Wednesday prior to the round ahead.
This is the earliest possible time we can post this information.

Sports Club – Canteen Volunteers
Thanks to the Sports Club, our canteens are back! There will be canteens operating in the Villa Park grandstand and in Goold Hall this Saturday 24 Feb. The Villa Park grandstand will be assisted by volunteers from the Year 9A and 8A cricket teams.

Please click on the link below to support our Goold Hall canteen this Saturday (Years 7-9 teams are at home). There are 30-minute shifts allocated, so you may be able to help whilst your son is warming up or assisting at another game. If you can’t sign up for the full block, just pop your head in on the day to see if any help is needed.

On behalf of the Sports Club, we appreciate your assistance.

 Volleyball Canteen Goold Hall — Signup Here

Round 3 Results

Volleyball Results – Round 3

Trimester 2 Sport Sign-Ons
Information was distributed to the community this week via the College website and Villa App with regards to registrations for Trimester 2 Sports – Chess, Cross-Country, Football and Rugby Union.

Registrations for Term 2 Sport are now open. Sign-ons are due by Wednesday 6 March. Late entries will require students completing a form and returning it to the Sports Office. Please click on the link provided below to register.

Term 2 Sport Sign-On

Team Photos
See below dates for remaining team photos in Term 1.

• Friday 1/3 – Open Seconds AFL @ Coorparoo AFL
• Tuesday 5/3 – AIC Swimming Team @ Villanova College
• Saturday 9/3 – remaining AFL, Cricket & Volleyball @ various venues
• Tuesday 12/3 – Firsts AFL, Cricket & Volleyball @ Villanova College

Rugby Union and Football (soccer) coaches needed.
The Sports Office is currently finalising the coaching lists, for rugby and football. If there are any parents or members of the Villanova community, keen on coaching a team in term 2, could you please contact the Sports Office. We have some spaces to fill across the College but would be keen to hear from our Year 5 parents about taking a team next term.

Team Lists
Team lists do not appear online. They appear in the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe sections of the portal. Team lists will be posted by Thursday prior to the round ahead. This is the earliest possible time we can post this information.

AIC Draw 2024
Please find attached the AIC Draw for 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.

Training Schedules
For all updated information regarding training and selection trials schedules, please visit the Locker Room page of the Villanova College website. Sport specific training schedules for AFL, Cricket and Volleyball can also be found on the Locker Room page.

All Sport Training Schedule – Term 1, 2024

Save the dates – Sporting Tours, Camps and Clinics

• Firsts Rugby Camp – Sunshine Coast Recreation Centre – 7-10 April 2024.
• Firsts Football Tournament – The Southport School – 8-12 April 2024.
• Football & Rugby training clinics all year levels – Villa Park – Easter holidays, 2024 dates TBC.
• St Augustine’s College Tour – Sydney – 17-19 June 2024.
• Rugby League Confraternity Carnival – Townsville – 22-29 June 2024.
• Xmas holidays 2024/2025 – Cricket Oblate Tour to Perth & Volleyball AVSC Tournament Gold Coast.
• ** International Tour ** – Football & Rugby Tour to Japan – Easter 2025.
• ** International Tour ** – Basketball & Volleyball Tour to USA – Xmas holidays 2025/2026.

Term 1 Sport Uniforms
Families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Villanova College Uniform Look Book. This information is found on the College website Uniform Shop page. Opening hours for the Uniform Shop can also be found here. All students selected in AIC teams are expected to wear the correct uniform for AIC fixtures each week.

Hire Jerseys – Term 1 AFL and Volleyball
In Term 1, students playing AFL and Volleyball will hire jerseys from the College. Students who have not collected their hire jersey need to visit the Uniform Shop as soon as possible. Jerseys are then returned to the Uniform Shop before the end of Term 1.

Jerseys not returned by the end of Term 1 incur a late fee charge on the student’s account. The deadline of the end of Term 1 (last day of term) is strict. All hire jerseys must be returned by then to avoid the late fee charge.

Students must have the full correct uniform, including hire jersey, for all AIC matches.

Sport Contact List
If you are requiring information about a specific Sport, in the first instance, visit the website Locker Room page. If you need further clarification, please contact the relevant Coordinator below. For any training or game absences, please contact your Sport Coordinator.

Director of Sport – Shaun McLean, smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC AFL Coordinator – Matt Conlan, mconlan@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cricket Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Swimming Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cross-Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe – bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill, kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Football Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Basketball Coordinator – TBC – contact the Director of Sport
AIC Rugby League Coordinator – Alex Russell, arussell@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Tennis Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Track & Field Coordinator – Anthony Kemp, akemp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Water Polo Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
Composite District Sport – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
Lytton District Sport – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au

Wet weather cancellations
If there is any reason to cancel training sessions or weekend games, this information will be posted to the Villa App in the Notices section.
Please ensure you have downloaded the Villa App and updated your preferences and settings.

The Villa Sports Department will endeavour to cancel morning training sessions by 6am and afternoon training sessions by 1pm. If a training session is cancelled, boys are not able to be dropped off to the training venue as there will not be supervision present. Please check the Villa App regularly for these notifications.

If any AIC fixtures are cancelled, we will follow the same procedure above. Timing will be dependent on when that information becomes available.

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

Cricket
The wet weather that dumped a considerable amount of rain last Thursday night, flooding the three bottom ovals at Villanova Park and left pools of water at Kianawah Park, gave us very little chance of getting on against SLC. All AIC fixtures were cancelled by each of the eight Colleges, meaning we missed a good opportunity for many of our teams to push for wins against St. Laurence’s College.

Many thanks to all cricket parents for getting their son’s to Villa last week for the team photos for Year 5,

Our Round 4 draw this week is against St. Edmund’s College, but they have limited teams. Many sides are playing Ambrose Treacy College or there are other supplementary games against other Colleges.

There will be a canteen operating at Villa Park, serving drinks and some snacks from our 8A and 9A parents. If you are at Villa Park, please support the Sports Club and grab a refreshment, while you are there.

Mr Chris Everding, Cricket Coordinator

Swimming
Unfortunately, the meet on Friday at St Peter’s Lutheran College was cancelled due to the weather.  The final meet for the season will be held on Thursday evening this week at Chandler.  It is the final chance for some of our swimmers to swim a PB and to be considered for a race on the day of AIC.

Good luck to the swimmers who are competing at Districts and Met East competitions in the next week.

AIC Swimming Meets
Save the dates for upcoming AIC meets and AIC Championships:

• Thurs 22 Feb @ Chandler
• Tuesday 5 March @ AIC Championships at Chandler
  • Team photo at Villanova College that morning prior to catching the bus to Chandler.

Buses will transport boys both ways at all meets and championships, other than Iona on 9 Feb which will be one-way only. Parents may collect boys from the meets and take them home – they just need to check in with a staff member prior to leaving. Meet timings and details will be distributed closer to the dates in the weekly draw.

Mrs Juanita Jacobs, Swimming Coordinator

Volleyball
Another big thanks to our volleyball community for this past weekend’s round of AIC Volleyball. A round against St Laurence’s always poses a tough challenge for our teams and this weekend was no different. Whilst our results as a College aren’t as pretty as previous weeks, it was still refreshing to see how our teams have progressed since the AIC trial in Term 4 of 2023. I was proud to see our teams maintain focus during tough sets and even recording 20+ points in sets we lost. I continue to encourage all members of our program that every point, every rally, every opportunity to perform a skill is worth it.

Another tough round for our teams this Saturday v St Edmunds College. Our Junior teams will have their second home round this week and our Senior teams will travel to SEC. With that said, our Year 7-9 teams will also be responsible for court duty this weekend, please note the schedule below.

Round 4 duty roster

*9D will play at Marist College, Ashgrove
*4^th VI will play at Villanova College v SLC

Our First VI team continued their success over the weekend with a 3-0 win over a very talented St Laurence’s team. The Villa team were well supported this week with many turning up to show some support, on behalf of the team I thank our supporters and staff that showed up for this match.

Our boys started the match strong with some determination on serve and defence which led to an 8-0 initial lead. The team then settled into the match and executed the plan for the match with perfection and took the match. Some notable performances by the entire team when coming to out of system play, and execution of serve. Celebrations settled this week as we returned to the court in preparation for a strong St Edmunds team for Round 4.

Best of Luck to all teams for this weekend!

Mr Todd Kropp, Volleyball Coordinator

Cross-Country
The training for the 2023 AIC Cross-Country season starts on Tuesday 5 March in week 7A of Term 1 with the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools squads training as one (Tuesday 5 March is AIC Swimming day, so Swimmers will not be required at Cross-Country training on this morning).

Dedication to training, effort and positive respectful relationships are the characteristics of the students at Villanova College who train with the cross-country squad. I challenge students who want to be involved to start their own running training now in preparation for the start of the running season.

I encourage boys, especially students fit from playing other sports or wanting to be fitter for their other sports to speak to either Mr Pascoe or Mr Roache about how you could get involved. Especially, if you have not previously joined the Cross-Country squad.

We are aware that many boys will have lots of different activities going on. We encourage our best runners to represent Villanova on the day of the championships. It may be the case that a student may not be able to attend all training sessions due to other commitments. If this is the case, we simply need students to communicate this to the coaches and managers involved. We are open to negotiating alternative training schedules with those who have lots on to facilitate optimal performance and maintain athlete well-being.

Training Schedule
Term 1 – Weeks 7-10 – Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, 6:45-8am.
Term 2 – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 6:45-8am.

Middle and Senior School Students
– Meet in front of Goold Hall and have name marked off roll.
– Leave Goold Hall at 6.45 am.

Junior School Students
– Meet at the Agora, store bags, have name marked on roll.
– Leave the Agora at 6.45 am.

The cross-country season will once again include a number of warm-up meets. This will allow students race practice and to familiarise themselves with AIC Championship course at St Patricks College playing fields, Curlew Park Sandgate. The warm-up meets include,

Cross-Country Warm-up Meets

• Wednesday 8 May 5 at Sherwood
• Wednesday 15 May at SPC – AIC course familiarisation.
• Wednesday 22 May at Runcorn

All Cross-Country training will be conducted on and around the precincts of the College and Little Langlands.
The training is completed by 7.45am with shower facilities available in Goold Hall and the Tuckshop open from 8am for breakfast if required.
The 2024 Cross-Country Championship is scheduled for the 29th of May at Curlew Park, Shorncliffe.
We encourage all boys intending to join the ‘Running Wildcats’ to attend training starting Week 7 and see how great you can be.

Mr Brian Pascoe, Cross-Country Coordinator

Speed & Agility Training
For those students in Years 5-8 who have registered for Speed & Agility Training, these sessions continue on Monday mornings. Registrations have now closed for Term 1. Term 2 registrations will be available later this term.

For students in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12, there are “free” Speed & Agility sessions on Wednesday mornings, 7-8am on Whinstanes. These sessions are free of charge and open to any boys in Years 9-12.

Composite Sport (13-19 Years)
Nomination paperwork is available from the Sports Office for the following Sports.
Process for Composite Sport nominations:

• Visit Mr Kropp in the Sports Office (Level 3 STV building) to discuss nominations.
• If eligible, collect paperwork from the Sports Office.
• Return paperwork to the Sports Office by the return date.
• Composite Sport Office will then notify families regarding the trials.

External Achievements
Please note achievements that have already been posted to the College’s social media platforms will not also be displayed in the newsletter.

Criteria for social media posts are generally achievements reaching a National level of representation or success/leadership of State level teams (e.g. selection in an Australian team). Or significant achievements on parallel with this.

Criteria for newsletter posts are generally achievements reaching a State level of representation (e.g. selection in a QLD team). Club, Met East or Composite representation does not meet the criteria for newsletters.

Please send all newsworthy stories to smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au.

And always remember; kids sport is meant to be fun…

Collection Notice for parents/guardians
2024 Student Residential Address and Other Information

The Australian Government Department of Education (the department) would like to notify you that we have requested for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information. Under the Australian Education Regulations 2023, the school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:
– names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
– student residential address (excluding student names)
– whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
– whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).

The school collects the above information by generating a unique and unidentifiable student reference number (SRN) for each student record. The school only uses the SRN for this collection. The SRN cannot be used for any other purpose. The number only indicates to the department that each record provided is for one student.

Purpose of the collection
The Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection (the collection) informs Australian Government school education policy and helps ensure funding for non-government schools is based on need. The information collected is used to inform school funding calculations. It is combined with Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data to calculate a non-government school community’s anticipated capacity to contribute to schooling costs.
In 2020, the department introduced a new measure of capacity to contribute: the Direct Measure of Income (DMI). The DMI is based on the median income of non-government school students’ parents or guardians using the collection data. For more information see Direct Measure of Income (DMI) Methodology.

Use and disclosure of personal information
Your personal information is protected by law under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). Personal information is information or an opinion about an identifiable individual. Personal information includes an individual’s name and contact details.
Any use or disclosure of your personal information must occur in accordance with the Privacy Act, the Australian Education Act 2013 and Australian Education Regulations 2023.

Your personal information provided to the department through the collection may be:
– disclosed to the ABS for the purposes of capacity to contribute calculations and analysis as a part of the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project (MADIP). Find more information about MADIP on the ABS website MADIP page
– disclosed to a contracted auditor where the department may audit a school’s collection submission. The contracted auditor compares the school’s submission with the student enrolment information. The contracted auditor will not use the information for any other purpose.

Communications technology support
– used or disclosed where it is otherwise required or authorised by law.
The department does not intend to disclose your personal information to any overseas recipients.
Find the department’s privacy policy on the Department of Education website which includes information on:
– how individuals can access and modify personal information held by the department
– how complaints about potential breaches or breaches of the Privacy Act can be made
– how the department will deal with these complaints.

The department commissioned an independent Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA). The PIA assesses the flows of information under the Collection, compliance with the Privacy Act and measures in place to safeguard the personal information being collected. The current version is available on the 2018 Student Residential Address Collection: Additional Required information Privacy Impact Assessment web page.
What do you need to do?
You are not required to do anything. Your school is responsible for providing the department with the requested details; however, you can contact the school to update your family’s details.

Contacts for further information
Your school can provide additional information about the collection process.
Alternatively, please visit the SchoolsHUB Address Collection help and support page.