Villa View – Issue 10, 13 June 2024

As we come to the end of Semester One it has certainly been a year of enormous activity and reward.

Our House system has launched and seen wonderful take up from boys and staff alike. This has been paired with a more focused and refined approach to behaviour management and support and our Heads of House and teachers are reporting to us through feedback that this system is improving student outcomes.

The Seniors, under the leadership of Tiernan, Ewan, Joe, Diego and Charlie have established a strong modelling of expected behaviours and commitment to study, friendship, spirit and College life. In term 3 they will continue this commitment and example set before passing on the ‘flame’ to the new cohort of Seniors in term 4 as we usher in the Year 11’s to leadership and our seniors shift their focus to their final exams.

Year 10 boys have now entered the SET planning phase and subject selection period of their journey and I would encourage parents to continue to be enthusiastic participants in guiding their boys during this time. Please be aware we are at your disposal for advice and guidance so please use the expertise of the Learning and Teaching team and the Heads of Faculty across the next few months.

Next week we travel to St Augustine’s in Sydney for the bi-annual tour with our Rugby, Football, Basketball, and Debating teams as well as our student leadership teams. This is an important sharing and exchange of friendship and ideas about Augustinian principles and the growing of Augustinian fraternity.

Across the holidays I have the pleasure of accompanying our Head of Thomas House, Mr Alex Sullivan to the International Boys School Coalition (IBSC) where he will present his action research project on providing support and guidance toward re-engagement for dysregulated students. The IBSC is an organisation dedicated to boys education and the exploration of best practice in learning and teaching, pastoral care and the development of healthy attitudes, beliefs and behaviour in boys. I am looking forward both to the learnings at the conference and to Alex’s presentation.

College Strategic Plan 2024-2026
Element 5 Designing and Supporting a sustainable future

One of the complexities of school life is remembering that we are in fact a large, robust and responsive business entity that has one of the most valuable outputs of any commercial entity – the future!

To continue to develop, support, sustain and encourage that future; the young gentlemen of Villanova, we need to make sure that our business practice, infrastructure, planning and decision making is more than simply compliant but is wherever possible best practice and visionary. The 2024-26 strategic plan looks to ensure as a College we have a clear strategic intent to deliver in this space.

Strategic Intent:
Optimise and strengthen our resource foundations, governance and business strategies to ensure a sustainable, confident and Augustinian future.
Elaborations: Secure financial viability developing agile responses to a changing and challenging education sector.
i. Maintain and develop agile responses to a changing and challenging education sector
ii. Execute the College master plan elements with discernment and responsibility.
iii. Develop a College Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy and reporting framework.
iv. Finalise the College governance structure for future assurance, educational and corporate integrity.

AIC Sport
Last weekend we concluded the second trimester of Sport with a great weekend against St Peter’s and Ambrose Treacy College in Rugby, Chess and Football.
It was a marvellous weekend with some excellent results. The highlight of the season though came on Monday when the final positions were announced in the aggregate championship. We finished in third position behind Marist and Iona (by 2 points) and ahead of St Laurence’s in fourth and Padua fifth. This is a remarkable achievement and a great reward for the hard work of all of our coaching and coordinating staff.

We move quickly with trials for trimester three sports starting and as such we look forward with great promise and enthusiasm to our Rugby League, Basketball and Tennis seasons. In that vein we wish the best to our First Rugby League squad who will again contest the Confraternity Sheild Rugby League Carnival in Townsville in the holidays.

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.

It is incredible how quickly we have reached the conclusion of another semester at the College, one which has seen the infusion of great energy and commitment by our student body, staff and parents towards the establishment and support of our new House system. Certainly, I speak for all Heads of House in conveying of gratitude for the way in which our students have embraced their new House identities and colours and are the pioneers of cultural development within our community.

Similarly, a commitment to servant leadership and reaching out to those on the margins is central to our mission and identity and I look forward to seeing our Senior School students, particularly our Year 11 students, continuing to work with our partners, especially Emmanuel City Mission, Rosies and St Vincent de Paul in the terms to come. Our musicians continue to build impressive repertoires and are diligently working towards another QCMF next term. The recent Ball Park Music Rock Festival that took place in Hanrahan Theatre showcased the wonderful musical talents of our young men across the College.

Whilst our Firsts sporting teams have not secured premierships across the first semester, they have faced the adversity of defeat with courage and secured some valuable life lessons in the process. In the words of Rudyard Kipling and his seminal poem ‘If,’ -if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same- there are numerous takeaways for all our students who engage in our sports program. What has been more admirable has been the spirit of brotherhood and togetherness within our Swimming and Cross-Country programs, securing wonderful third place results across both programs, especially against larger schools.

The upcoming holiday period should hopefully provide an opportunity to recharge and rest after the frenetic pace of Semester 1. I both encourage and challenge our young men to look inward and engage in an interiority search exploring areas for self-improvement- both academically and personally. Students should ask themselves the following questions:

• What have I enjoyed about my 2024 experience thus far?
• What have been the challenges which have been difficult to overcome?
• Have I worked to my full potential in the classroom and at home to maximise my academic results?
• Have I contributed to the richness of the Villanova community- whether that be through my involvement in culture, music, service or sport?
• Am I maximising the full value of my Villanova education?

I wish all Senior School students and their families every blessing for a wonderful holiday.

Student Voice
The intentional focus from our GREATS Character Framework that was illuminated at last week’s College assembly was that of Service, which is synonymous with our identity as a Catholic school. Ministry Captain Harrison Bryant spoke eloquently about the opportunity for personal growth that is offered by having the courage and the commitment to serve and give of oneself. Harrison stated the following:

“In a school setting, service is particularly vital. It teaches us empathy, responsibility, and the value of working towards a common goal. Engaging in service activities helps us to build a stronger, more cohesive community. It allows us to develop skills and qualities that will serve us well in all areas of our lives. By participating in service, we learn to appreciate the diverse talents and perspectives of our peers, and we become more connected to one another. Service fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, reminding us that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves.

Furthermore, service in school lays the foundation for a lifetime of giving and civic engagement. When we start serving others at a young age, we are more likely to continue these practices throughout our lives. This mindset of service can lead to meaningful careers, impactful community involvement, and a more compassionate society. By instilling the value of service in our school, we are not only bettering our immediate environment but also contributing to the development of future leaders who will carry these principles forward.”

Next term, our Year 11 students commence their journey towards Senior leadership and the underpinning philosophy of our program is focused on servant leadership. As such, they will be called upon to serve those at the margins at Emmanuel City Mission- a core component of our Senior School Formation program.

Year 12 Formal
This Saturday evening, our Year 12 students will eagerly celebrate a significant rite of passage moment in their Villanova journey- their Senior Formal. I wish our young men every blessing as they enjoy the occasion with their partners and peers and I look forward to seeing the sartorial choices and dance moves on display.

“Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered.” – Giorgio Armani

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

As we wrap up another exciting and productive term, it’s time to reflect on the efforts and achievements of our Middle School students. Over the past week, students have shown dedication and engagement with all the exams they have had. Despite the challenges and stress associated with end of semester examinations, they have generally embraced their responsibilities with enthusiasm (well…… as enthusiastically as can reasonably be hoped anyway) and resilience.

As I walked through the different exam rooms, there seemed to be present three things I really like to see – a positive attitude, an air of quiet confidence [that only comes with good preparation] and an almost palpable desire to succeed. This was however expected, due to the response we had to study sessions, the thoughtful questions asked during review periods, and their performance in practice papers. Those students put in their best effort and embodied the spirit of perseverance, should now see that hard work and dedication pay off.

As Term 2 comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our students. You have earned this well-deserved break. This is a time to recharge, relax, and enjoy some downtime before we embark on the adventures, challenges and opportunities that Term 3 will bring. You have earned your break, now make the most of it!

In addition to academic achievements, we must also celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of our Trimester 2 sporting teams. Our students have shown sportsmanship, teamwork (and skill!) in chess, cross country, football and rugby union. Well done to everyone involved!

Looking ahead, we are excited about the many things happening in Term 3. One of the highlights will be the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival (QCMF). This is a fantastic opportunity for our musically talented students to showcase their skills and passion. I can’t wait to see and hear the incredible performances that our students will deliver.

Along with the Trimester 3 sports of Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis, we have Year 9 camp and various social opportunities (with our Year 7’s attending an event at Lourdes Hill and our Year 9’s ‘Conversations of the Heart’ with All Hallows’). So it is that we look forward to another term filled with teamwork, perseverance, and – not to be forgotten – fun.

Once again, congratulations to all our students for their hard work and achievements this term. Enjoy your break, recharge your energizer batteries, and be ready to hit the ground running as we begin yet another amazing term!

As St Augustine said:

“Flood the path with light; run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; and give us a sense of comradeship with the heroes of every age.”

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Semester One is ending for students tomorrow.  You can feel the energy shifting towards a holiday vibe.  As much as we are continuing to work up until the final bell rings on Friday, it is lovely to see the shoulders loosen and the smiles widen at the thought of a three-week break.

At the end of next week, parents/carers of students in Years 5 and 6 will be given access to their son’s Semester 1 report card and I strongly encourage you to share these with your son.  Do their expectations match the outcomes given?  What is your son proud of?  What will he work on improving in Semester Two?  It is the perfect opportunity to take a few notes so that when our Term 3 Parent Teacher Conferences (details coming so stay tuned) arrive on Tuesday 16 July you are prepared.  Changes must take place with organisation, attention and revision if grades are to shift in the right direction.  Doing the same thing will produce either the same result or even less – expectations continue to rise each term of the academic year – that’s called progress.

College Staff are working next week – reports will be finalised, Term 3 units planned, and professional development opportunities will be undertaken.  The week ends with a Staff Spirituality Day and this is about our office, teaching, specialist and grounds staff coming together to revisit Augustinian and Catholic values.  Our vision for balance across the 3 Schools needs time and attention.  Our College Values – Interiority, Community and Search for Truth – require that we put away the laptops and have conversations across the year levels and jobs we normally undertake.

I do think this winter break is well deserved.  Our students have worked to the best of their ability, around co-curricular activities and for some, through illnesses.  Staff have aimed high to achieve professional targets – they have employed strategies and communicated regularly to ensure each student is achieving their best.  I know some of our parents are looking forward to the holidays – letting go of routines and putting down the books for a while is a welcomed boost for family connections.  If you are travelling, we wish you a safe journey.  If you are staying home, then I know pyjama days are the best in winter.  For those parents who continue to work, I hope that helping hands are around you – for family and friends are often more than happy to organise special days out.

My mother Rachel is staying with us over the break and there are some very happy people in my family. It is amazing the impact another pair of helping hands can make.  The energy that mum brings, her cooking and willingness to help us out at such a busy time is just a blessing at this time of the year.  My family will be home for the holidays and I plan to be making good use of the chance to do some much needed gardening and exercise.  I will certainly be grabbing a coffee or breakfast somewhere most days because I do know that Rachel and my wife love to make “to-do lists” for when I get home.  As long as there is ESPN time scheduled in somewhere, I’ll be a very happy man.

It’s crucial for human beings to reset their spirits and have time out of the busyness that makes up our “norm”.  It centres us.  It refuels our inspiration and motivation to come back into learning.  We need to let go in order to find our grip on things again.  I wish all our Junior School families a wonderful holiday – may God be beside you, and may you return with tales of adventures, thrills and stories that keep us moving in the right direction.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Semester one 2024 is drawing to a close.  We have the beautiful blue skies of winter and the spectacular sunsets that mark this time of year in Brisbane.  Hopefully for our students they are finishing assessments with a sense of satisfaction and the holidays await as a time to relax, have time with mates and family and do some of the things they enjoy.

This balance between action and reflection and rest is so important.  It is also deeply a part of all faith traditions.  Our Catholic tradition encourages the rhythm of daily prayer, building into the midst of our busy lives time that is quiet to reflect upon the day, our interactions and to look for the moments of grace, the experiences of love.  This is where we find ourselves.  This is where we find our God.  Here at Villanova, we draw on the wisdom of the Augustinian tradition and the value of interiority.  Augustine himself discovered that he had a restless heart until he discovered how to turn inwards and find God present with him and we remember this at the end of each prayer.  A piece of great wisdom echoing across 16 centuries and still relevant to us today!  How amazing is that?

Our leader says: You have made us for Yourself O Lord
We respond: And our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

We have welcomed Fr Saldie back this week from his time in the Philippines where he was preparing our AFAS immersion for September as well as attending an Augustinian conference.  Fr Gary McCloskey was a keynote speaker at the conference and as he was unpacking the end of prayer he used the direct translation from Augustine.

You have made us for Yourself O Lord
And our heart is restless until it rests in you.

Fr Gary was unpacking the Augustinian understanding that when we enter this space of connection with our God, we are part of something far bigger and deeper than ourselves.  We experience being of ‘One Heart’, an understanding of our unity, our oneness.  This is yet another enormously powerful aspect of interiority.  When we go within, when we allow ourselves to experience the unconditional love of our God, we at the same time connect with the interconnectedness and oneness between us all.
I encourage you to create space in your day for these moments of quiet, of reflection, of prayer and interiority.

Next Friday, we have our annual Staff Spirituality Day.  This year we are heading to the beautiful Botanical Gardens at Mt Coo-tha, and we will be further exploring our value of interiority.  Staff will be led by Br Damien Price, and five workshop leaders to explore:

Where do we find meaning and purpose in our lives?  What are your experiences of ‘encounter’ when you feel fully alive and fully loved.  It can be in the big threshold moments of our life, or the simplicity of a stunning sunrise, or when the stars take your breath away.  Encounter can occur in moments of pain and loss when we are vulnerable and open; and when we rejoice in moments where we know our presence and contribution is making a difference.  These moments of encounter take us into a larger space, into love and possibility.  Augustine searched restlessly until his heart found rest in encounter with love, with God.  How might you do this too?

At the gardens we will explore and experience ways to encounter or affirm your experience encountering as Augustine did in his own life.
Our staff have given much over Semester 1, please keep us in your prayers as a family next Friday on our Staff Spirituality Day.

At the beginning of next term, I will be attending the Augustinian Lay Congress in Rome.  There will be 100 delegates from across the world coming together to explore in the Augustinian network what does synodality – ‘of walking together’.  I look forward to sharing some of the insights and learnings on my return.

Green Team

Led by our eco-leaders Pat Hilyard and Diego Wieczorek the Green Team with additional Year 10s joined forces with Loreto College to work with Brisbane Habitat to plant over 300 plants, mulch and weed in Coorparoo’s stunning Finger Gullies.  The Green Team has been involved for a number of years now in planting and working to regenerate the Finger Gullies.  These areas have trees between 120 and 300 years of age and the planting and care that is occurring in the area is ensuring the gullies will continue to be a forest haven for plants, native birds and animals for the generations to come.

Well done to our Green Team for their efforts and a big thank you to Rob Jansen and the team from Brisbane Habitat who led us in this important work.

Year 10 Service-Learning Hours
When learning outside the classroom can support and enhance what is happening in class there is a richness and dynamism that connects school with the world.  Across Term 2 our Year 10 students have been all out in our community serving others as part of their RE program.  Each student does 10 hours of service and can reflect upon the experience in class time.  The learnings have been insightful and it has been fantastic to learn of the creative ways that the boys have engaged in helpful behaviour with others.

As holidays begin, we have put out a call for our Year 10s to assist at Emmanuel City Mission as they prepare for their move to a new location.  Across next week, during school holidays over 70 students will be involved with the cleaning of the new premise and assisting with preparing for the move to occur.  Another further group will be heading back to Finger Gully to continue the restoration of the forest in our local Coorparoo neighbourhood.  Keep your eye on Social media next week to see all that is happening.

A fitting example of the ability to make real change is seen in students like Taj Blackshaw.  Following is his speech at our Service focused school assembly last week:

Along with nine other Year 10 students I attended Emmanuel City Mission last week for the second time as a volunteer. We made breakfast for people who are currently experiencing homelessness. Right now, all the Year 10 cohort are undertaking 10 hours of community service as part of an RE project. It is an opportunity to put into practice the Catholic Social Teaching principles that we learn about in class. 

On the bus back to school from ECM we talked about our experience that morning. I was struck by the external looks of the people who walked in, all coming in different clothing, many in winter clothing, some in suits, a few in singlets and jeans, and many more. But the majority came in looking cold, especially the males. This experience taught me that we cannot judge people by external looks because even though they look like they have it all sometimes they don’t. It also showed me that so many people are doing so much to help people who are less fortunate than us.  But more help is needed, and more can be done.  

So, my Year 10 friends and I have combined an idea with a need seen by Year 12 volunteers on the Rosies van last Friday night. Both organisations need donations to help Brisbane’s homeless get through the winter.  Our call to action is this:

Could you please bring to school on either Wednesday or Thursday of this week an item from the following list: 

1. Blankets
2. Tracksuit pants for men size small, medium, large
3. Trousers for men size small, medium, large
4. Belts for jeans/pants

The call was heard and students and staff made donations, and as I write this article they are being delivered to ECM.  By the end of today there will be people grateful for our Year 10s seeing a need and responding to it, his is what Service Learning is about!

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean Of Mission and Identity

Academic Reports
At the end of next week, parents/carers of students in Years 5 to 11 will be given access to their son’s Semester 1 report card. For students in Years 5 to 9, reports will comprise grades for each subject criterion assessed during the semester, as well as an overall subject grade (A+ to E-). For students in Year 10, the report reflects a more Senior studies approach, with student results communicated for each assessment task and an overall grade (A to E) for each subject. Year 11 Unit 1 reports will contain the same information that Year 10 reports include but will also include if students have either been satisfactory or unsatisfactory in the subject, or if the subject continues into next semester.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
The second opportunity for parents/carers to engage in parent-student-teacher conferences occurs on Tuesday 16 July. These conferences will take place online via Microsoft Teams. As was the case earlier this term, students will finish classes at 1.00pm with conferences starting at 1.30pm. More information will be provided in communication that will be sent to parents/carers next week.

NCCD
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the College.

Year 12 External Examination Invigilation: Apply Now
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is now recruiting members of the community as invigilators to observe Year 12 external examinations at Queensland schools. These are paid positions, and all examinations are held during school hours from late October to mid-November 2024. Paid training is provided. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, eligible to work in Australia and hold a current paid blue card, or exemption card, or a Queensland College of Teachers registration.

Find out more and apply via the QCAA website.

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

As we reflect on another busy term, Villanova College has continued to compete with distinction and excellent sportsmanship in esports. We have been busy both at school and in the wider Brisbane area.

In the FUSE Cup, our Year 7/8 esports team competed in the Just Dance Brisbane Competition, and our Year 9/10 team competed in the Super Smash Bros Brisbane Competition. Both events were held at Brisbane South State Secondary College with a full complement of esports teams entering from across the region.

On Thursday 16 May, our Year 7/8 group competed in the Just Dance 24 event. This esports group spent many lunch times and afternoons learning a prescribed set list of 20 nominated songs. Both teams competed well on the day with Team 2 of Rory Kernot, Liam Dent, Lachlan Stewart and Jasper Tainsh, narrowly missing the finals. Team 1 with Xavier Lewis, Dominic Lewis, Harry Gillespie and Yash Shah made it all the way to the Quarter Finals and came third in the Semi-Finals in an intense competition. Mr Lachie Dent organised and supported the team and commented on their sportsmanlike conduct and support of each other throughout the event.

On Friday 17 May, our Year 9 and 10 Super Smash Bros team competed at the same venue in a very different competition. The team had an excellent showing against some tough rival schools. After competitive heats, four of our players progressed to the Quarter Finals. Damian Ellis played with dexterity and skill and went down in the Semi-Finals in a closely fought match. The team of Cooper Crowley, Kevin Dinh, Damian Ellis, Reuben De Groot, Hamish O’Toole, Andy Stewart, Alex Tento and Talen Tran were supported by Mr Matthew Smith in the lead-up to the day. Thanks to Mr Smith for giving up many recess breaks and afternoons to provide time and opportunity for our team to develop their skills before the competition.

Finally, working behind the scenes this term has been our FUSE Cup Minecraft Esports Game Coding Challenge team. A dedicated group of Minecraft coders, builders and skilled players were hand-picked to design and code an original game for the Minecraft Education platform. Year 7 students Thomas Buddhadasa and Cameron Doherty, and Year 9 students Cooper Crowley, Damian Ellis, Taylor Pert and Alex Tento spent nearly three weeks of back-to-back recess breaks and weekly afternoon sessions designing, coding and building a challenging multi-level game. Our Year 7/9 team has demonstrated excellent collaboration and game development skills in our face-to-face and online sessions over Microsoft Teams. Mr Lane has enjoyed learning from them! The team submitted their presentation to the FUSE Cup on the last day of term, and we wish them well in the judging of this unique competition!

Mr Jason Lane, Esports Coordinator

Strings and Bands Winter Concerts
Last Tuesday and Thursday evening our String and Band departments hosted their respective Winter concerts. Both evenings were a wonderful opportunity for students to witness the breadth and scope of development possible within their own respective areas of performance.  The audiences enjoyed the music shared and I am pleased with the development that our students are demonstrating.

Thank you to all the staff and students involved to ensure these events ran so effectively.

Jazz on the Terrace
This evening we are hosting our inaugural Jazz on the Terrace Winter Concert. With the inclusion of some gas radiators, we are certain the hot music from our Jazz and Irish Departments will entertain you all with the backdrop of the best view in Coorparoo – the Brisbane skyline by night. This is a sold-out event with tickets now extremely difficult to come by – please avoid scalpers!

We are looking forward to the debut of the Villanova College New Orleans Marching Band, and our special guests, the Jazz Music Institute Big Band.
If you do not have a ticket, come down to Eighth Avenue and have a listen – it will be a great night.

Term 3 – QCMF
As we draw ever closer to August, we will be communicating more with families regarding QCMF. This year’s event is going to be amazing with over 109 schools and 614 ensembles joining us from 15-18 August. We look forward to you joining us to share in this celebration!

Key Dates Term 3
As we look ahead across next term, please ensure you 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/ (flyer attached).

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 exclusive 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

In the busyness of sporting weekends, it is easy to lose sight of the little things that often go unnoticed. The welcome smile and handshake as we greet our Chess counterparts on Friday afternoons on Sixth Avenue; the comradery between our students across differing year levels as they form tunnels of support for their peers; the extra efforts of our coaches to provide half time snacks and post-game functions for us all to come together as community.

One characteristic of the ‘Villa Young Man’ that, in my opinion, sets us apart from our other AIC member schools, is our unwillingness to give up. No matter the score, the circumstance, the odds against us, Villanova College students do not ever throw in the towel. As we prepare our young men for the wider world beyond graduation at our great College, we hope that these valuable life lessons learned, on the sporting fields and in the classroom, remain forefront as our boys continue to develop and mature. The tenacity to keep striving to reach your goals and to never give up, is one trait I hope our boys hold on to in the future.

Congratulations to all 67 Sporting teams who represented the College in Trimester 2 Chess, Cross-Country, Football and Rugby Union. For some, the season was a learning opportunity to refine skills and strategies moving forward. Others performed exceptionally well winning premierships in their respective divisions. A complete review of results is included in the Sports reports below. Thank you to all our Coordinators, Coaches and Managers for their work during Term 1 and 2.

Well done to all Villanova College students who participated in Sport during Term 2. A special mention to our Year 12 students following their final seasons in the green and gold. Thank you for your service to our Sporting programmes over many years, and we hope to see a number of you back again in the future supporting our programmes through volunteering and coaching.

Results

Chess Final 2024

Football Final 2024

Rugby Final 2024

AIC Sport Results – Associated Independent Colleges

Trimester 3 Sport Sign-Ons
Registrations for Trimester 3 Sports, Basketball, Rugby League, Tennis and Track & Field are now closed. Students registering late will need to collect a form from the Sports Office. The Week 9, Term 2 Selection Trial schedule (link below), commencing Monday 10 June, is now available on the Locker Room Overview page.

Week 9, Term 2 – Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis trials & holidays

The Term 3 Training Schedule will be available on the Locker Room Overview page by Friday 14 June.

June-July Holiday Clinics
Please note reduced squads for Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis will be available on Parent Lounge by 4pm this Friday 14 June. Students selected in these reduced squads will continue selection trials in Week 1, Term 3.

Final AIC teams will be posted to Parent Lounge by 5pm Sunday 14 July. Round 1 AIC is Saturday 20 July.

If students are not selected in the reduced squads and/or final AIC teams, they will be invited to an alternative Sport option in Term 3. This will be an internal Basketball competition. More details will be available once AIC teams are finalised.

Over the holidays, Villa is hosting some skills clinics in each sport. Please note, these clinics are not selection trials. They are just available to those students selected in the reduced squads this Friday 14 June, to continue some training over the holidays. The sessions are not compulsory and no RSVP required.

Holiday skills clinics:

• Basketball – Saturday 15 June at Goold Hall. See schedule attached.

• Rugby League – Saturday 15 June at Villa Park. See schedule attached.

• Tennis – Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July at Morningside Tennis Centre. Please contact Morningside Tennis Centre for more details (PH: 3899 8110).

The Term 3 training schedule will commence from Week 1, Monday 8 July. This schedule will be available by 4pm this Friday 14 June.

Week 9, Term 2 – Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis trials & holidays

Term 3 Trials
Week 1, Term 3 will still be the continuation of selection trials, including Basketball and Tennis trial matches versus Iona College in all A and B games from Year 5-Open and 1sts Tennis on Tuesday afternoon 9 July. There will also be trials against St Peters Lutheran College on Saturday 13 July. AIC teams will then be finalised by 5pm Sunday 14 July.

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 Overview 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 Overview page of the Villanova College website.
The Week 9, Term 2 Selection Trial schedule (link below), commencing Monday 10 June, is now available on the Locker Room Overview page.

Week 9, Term 2 – Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis trials & holidays

The Term 3 Training Schedule will be available on the Locker Room Overview page by Friday 14 June.

Save the dates – Sporting Tours, Camps and Clinics

• St Augustine’s College Tour – Sydney – 17-19 June 2024.
• Rugby League Confraternity Carnival – Townsville – 22-29 June 2024.
• Christmas holidays 2024/2025 – Cricket Oblate Tour to Perth, Volleyball AVSC Tournament Gold Coast & Swim Camp at Tallebudgera.
• ** International Tour ** – Football and Rugby Tour to Japan – Easter 2025.
• ** International Tour ** – Basketball and Volleyball Tour to USA – Christmas holidays 2025/2026.

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.

For those students participating in Trimester 3 Sports – please see correct uniforms below.

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, smcleanatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC AFL Coordinator – Matt Conlan, mconlanatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cricket Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverdingatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Swimming Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobsatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkroppatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cross-Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe – bpascoeatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill, kunderhillatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Football Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, nduftyatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverdingatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkroppatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Basketball Coordinator – Jordan Mullan, jordanedwardmullanatgmail.com
AIC Rugby League Coordinator – Alex Russell, arussellatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Tennis Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, nduftyatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Track & Field Coordinator – Anthony Kemp, akempatvnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Water Polo Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobsatvnc.qld.edu.au
Composite District Sport – Todd Kropp, tkroppatvnc.qld.edu.au
Lytton District Sport – Chris Everding, ceverdingatvnc.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.

Chess Report
Round 7 was one which our boys looked forward to with a little trepidation.  St Peter’s Lutheran College, having the current standing of being number one College in Chess for 2024 performed accordingly. Our home round was one filled with great anticipation and challenge, and the Coorparoo lads were up for the test.

Round 1 saw some interesting results, with our Junior A and B teams winning all eight matches! Well done superstars! Additionally, our Firsts were sitting on a draw after two wins and two losses. Accordingly, our Intermediate teams, who were both possibly looking at a Premiership had quality first rounds.  Once again though, the fightback in Round 2 was tougher than expected, and St Peter’s soared into top gear. A very tough afternoon of Chess, but Villanova players maintained their composure, their pride and their humility.

Our Chess season came to an end on Friday with a celebration of sorts when the visitors departed. Many thanks to our wonderful Chess parents; Carla Dolphin, Geoff and Anna Egert, Vy Nguyuen (delicious Chess Brownies), Frances Ellis, Matt McDougall, Chris Nicolaou, Sabina Gorycka-Pajak and Jacqui Power for all of your assistance with the party. It was truly wonderful to listen to how much the boys enjoyed their Chess season, and special thanks to Dan Egert for his eloquently meaningful Captain’s speech.

Villanova College achieved 4^th place in the AIC aggregate system for Chess 2024, a definite improvement on 6^th place in 2023! With the Intermediate B team undefeated and season premiers, congratulations to these lads and Mr Liam Periera. Of special note is Tom McDougall, Year 8, who won every single match this season.

There are many other success stories to be told, but it definitely takes a HUGE VILLAGE to run a Chess season. My heartfelt congratulations to all students, but my appreciation and admiration goes to my colleagues, Mrs Maria Mascadri, Ms Leah Belson, Mr Liam Periera and Mr Callum Fleming for the abundant encouragement for, and mentoring of, their teams throughout the season. Also, many thanks to the Sports Department; Shaun, Todd, Nathan and Chris for their assistance throughout the season. The cream on the cake was having the expertise of our pro-Chess coach, Jonathon Jones to guide the boys and teach them some tricks!   There is no doubt that Villanova Chess is set for great growth in 2025!

Mrs Kath Underhill, Chess Coordinator

Football Report
1^st XI Football
The season has come to an end and I can’t believe how quickly time has passed.  It feels like just yesterday both the Firsts and Football Development Squad were commencing their respective pre-season trainings.

The program saw many new initiatives implemented throughout this season, from camps such as the TSS camp on the Gold Coast, to new coaching and administration roles, to our new friend the Veo Camera – who catches all our season’s highs and lows. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know and work with the players throughout the year and the development has been truly extraordinary.

Though the results were not a highlight this season, the direction of the program has clearly improved, and it is evident that the changes implemented throughout this year have laid a solid platform for what is to come in 2025 and beyond.

As the curtains close on the 2024 AIC season, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents for their efforts in getting players to trainings and games week in and week out, the players for their continued to commitment to the sport, the coaches for their level of dedication to their respective teams and of course the sports office, without whom none of this is possible. Best of luck for the rest of the year and I will see you all for the 2025 pre-season!

Mr Hudson Rogers, First XI Football Head Coach

The AIC Football season concluded last Saturday with most of our teams playing against St. Peter’s Lutheran College. Our Villanova teams finished the season strongly with 15 wins, eight losses and five draws. It was a strong finish to the season for our program which is a great way to end the season. I was present at Villa Park last Saturday and it was very satisfying to see the significant improvement across all our teams.

The Villanova Football season saw us finish the season 7^th in the aggregate. I had a lot of our fantastic coaches contact me after their respective matches on the weekend commenting on how much they’ve enjoyed the season, although we’ve probably not had the best season overall “result wise” and not performed to our high standards that have been set in previous seasons, It’s still satisfying in knowing that we have a good base to work with moving forward and a great dedicated coaching team that have a strong passion for our Football program. As Football coordinator, it was my second season in the role and I know that with these ingredients, plus some new and additional initiatives that were implemented for this season, Villanova Football will continue to be a force in the AIC Football in future years which is very exciting for the college.

As with all our sports at Villanova College, none of it would be able to run as professional and as productive without our great coaches and volunteers. The amount of time that goes into planning and implementing a Football season is something that a lot of people don’t understand, I want to say a massive thank you to all our fantastic coaches who showed great commitment across the entire season. There is a lot of work that went into the selections, coaching and management of the 28 teams that represented the College this year and a huge thank you goes out to our coaches. We continue to rely on the generosity from parents, old boys, and external coaches to give our boys the chance to play every Saturday.

There is a lot of work that went into the selections, coaching and management of the 28 teams that represented the College this year and a huge thank you goes out to our coaches, for what has been a successful season. I would like to thank our parents; Mr Peter Frederiksen, Mr David Arancibia, Mr Gavin Neale, Mr David Savage, Mr Regan Dent, Mr Alex Sneyd, Mr Andrew Masci, Mr Nicholas Matigian, Mr Daniel Gribbin and Mr Elliot Fox. A huge thank you to our Old Boys who came on board this year. Thank you to Mr Maxwell Wheatley, Mr Gabriel Spina, Mr Rory Bower, Mr Nichloas Vega, Mr Ned Thomas, Mr Lachlan McPhee, Mr Andre Fisher, Mr Andrew Stamatiou, Mr Logan Jones, Mr William Ilka, Mr Ethan Hill, Mr Jordan Zappala, Mr Oliver Bishop, Mr Luke Waterson, Mr Riley Dent, Mr Matthew Collyns, Mr Vincent Avolio, Mr Alex Vasiliou and Mr Mitchell Voss. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the fantastic staff members who coached a team. Thank you to Mr Liam Johnston, Ms Amanda Waterson, Ms Bridgette Watson, Ms Caitlin Walls, and Ms Julie Colbert.

I would also like to extend a massive thank you to all our external coaches who gave up their time to take a team for the season. Thank you to Mr Hudson Rogers, Mr Damien Rogers, Mr Ajay Khabra, Mr Lewis Scattergood, Mr David Dalla Pozza and Mr Thomas Burgess. Without the ongoing support and assistance from the many members of the Villanova College community, the 2023 Football season would not have run so smoothly.

This season we were very fortunate to create a new role for a Junior Football Coordinator. Filling this role was Mrs Maria Mascadri who did a fantastic job in making sure that all Years 5-8 Football teams were looked after, Maria spent countless hours and always went above and beyond to ensure that all students and coaches were supported on a weekly basis, there is no denying that the great results achieved in our junior ages were contributed to by the hard work and professionalism that was shown by Maria. I’m sure that all coaches and parents would agree that Maria has been such a great addition to the Football program. Thank you, Maria.

I would like to give a special mention to our new 1^st XI Football Head Coach Mr Hudson Rogers and 1^st XI Football Assistant Coach Mr. Damien Rogers. Both Hudson and Damien were in their inaugural season with the 1^st XI team. The college and I cannot thank them both enough for their commitment and dedication to the 1^st XI team and overall Football program. Thank you for the countless hours spent in shaping the Villanova Football program into a much stronger position and I know that next season will be bigger and better. Hudson also took on the role as our Technical Director of Football. This is another new role that was created to improve the overall program and provide a clear development pathway for all Football students, Hudson’s passion, and commitment to seeing the overall program grow is second to none, and it makes for a very exciting product for future seasons.

A shoutout also to all departing Year 12 Football students who have dedicated a lot of time to the Villanova Football program, we hope that you’ve had a lot of fun along the way whilst creating many fond memories that will last you a lifetime. Thank you also to our Year 12 Football parents who have spent thousands of hours in making sure that their sons get to training and matchdays and everything in between.

I would like to thank our fantastic ground staff, Clyde and his team for having our fields facilities at Villa Park in pristine condition every weekend. The amount of positive feedback that we get especially from opposition spectators saying how great our playing fields are, is a credit to them, so many thanks again to the Villanova Park team.

I look forward being a part of and seeing the Villanova Football program continue to grow in future years.

Mr Nathan Dufty, Football Coordinator

Rugby
The philosophy leading into the final game of the season was to play with freedom and fun and this translated to a dominant 52-13 win again St Peter’s.

The execution of set-piece was pleasing with domination in the scrum by Harry Higgins and the lineout by Josh Hollett and this resulted in establishing a strong platform for some attractive attack and try scoring by the backline.

First XV debutant Zac Childs put his body on the line in the first half with some magnificent ball and all tackles and Peter Daly Medallist Nate Wallin enjoyed the open space to run riot with some great running rugby.

The season ended with a 3 and 4 record, providing opportunities for players in both Year 10 and 11 to learn from the experiences of First XV rugby into their future years in the program. Thanks to the Year 12s for their contribution to the program and the support they showed to their younger Villanova brothers.

On behalf of the coaching group, I would like to thank Head of S&C Mr Marco Mastrorocco for his preparation of the boys across the last three terms and to the First XV Manager Mr Joel Cosgrove for his logistical support of the group. We would also like to acknowledge the work of the Second XV coaches Mr Terry Gaffney and Mr Patrick O’Halloran.

We wish all players continuing onto the St Augustine’s Tour all the best and for those transitioning into the Confraternity Carnival and Term 3 Rugby League program every success.

Mr Matt Levander, First XV Rugby Assistant Coach

Villanova rugby continued to compete in all year levels, finishing the season third in the aggregate, which is equal to our third-place last year. After a tough round one against Marist College Ashgrove, where we only won two aggregate games, our teams bounced back and won every other aggregate round except Iona, where we tied six all. The final aggregate scores with the round score in brackets are.

Marist 81.5 (3-9), Iona 74.5 (6-6), Villanova 71, SLC 66 (7-5), Padua 55 (8-4), SPC 35.5 (8-1), SEC 28.5 (10-0) and SPLC 2 (2-0).

The 10A and 10B undefeated premierships and the third place by the 10Cs, will no doubt have a lot of Year 11 students next year stating their case for 1^st XV selection, giving them a possible two years in the 1sts program. The competition this year was extremely tough for this group of boys but they dug deep and went through undefeated, which is a terrific result in any A and B competition. For an ‘A’ team to be successful you have to have depth and a strong B and C team to cover for injuries or illness. The strength of the 9s and the 8s will also hopefully continue over the next few seasons producing good results and providing our boys with some success along the way as their rugby journey continues.

The Year 6 Rugby teams had a cracking season winning sixteen matches and losing just four games across the cohort and will be a powerful addition to the aggregate competition next year.

The College believes that the most important aspect to come out of the rugby season, was the overall improvement of the boys along with the delivery of the program and the willingness of the coaches and players to buy into the program and give their best each week. It is a common theme every year, but they really bond together, and the momentum gets going just as the short seven-week season comes to an end.

Tony McGahan, former Wallabies assistant coach joined our team this year and his input and influence across all year levels had our coaches working well together to unify cohorts and have all members performing the same drills and not having each year level working separately on various aspects of the game. To enable players to move between teams seamlessly, each player must know his role and the common rugby language used by coaches to fit straight into another team. Tony has overseen the program at Villa and is likely to implement a number of changes and adjustments to improve the overall performance of each player and have the boys better prepared to start the season.

Congratulations to our aggregate premiership winning teams:
10A coached by Mr Ben Francis and Mr Mannie Navarro
10B coached by Mr Paul Gapes and Mr Paul Tuitahi and Mr Troy Colley
8A coached by Mr Josh Stanbury and Mr Daniel Nightingale

Congratulations to our undefeated non aggregate team.
6C coached by Mr Sean Mahon and Mr John Price

The 5C team was taken on by Mrs Sheridan Carey and she assembled a few Years 11 and 12 boys, Harry Innes, Ewan McCosker, Jackson Connor and Xavier Wincote. They not only were extremely dependable but also managed the team well. They were organised, on time and warmed the boys up well before games. A credit to the four of them and to Mrs Carey for getting them in the programme. I hope this leads to many other senior students taking on these types of roles in the future.

The preseason work behind the scenes is massive and takes an enormous amount of time and we would like to thank Our First XV coaches, Mr Eddie Harris, Mr Jon Winsbury and Mr Matt Levander who had a lot to do in the running and delivery of the program, prior to Tony McGahan coming on board.  Their input was well received by all coaches. Their passion for rugby and for Villanova is second to none and they have a huge investment in seeing the boys perform well during the season. Training for the First XV group began back in term three last year in the gym. It is an incredibly long lead into the season, but all three men were there inspiring and motivating the boys to be their best. Marco Mastrorocco, our Strength & Conditioning guru was absolutely sensational in getting both of the Andrew Slack and Ben Mowen squads fit and strong in the off season.

The firsts finished fifth in the competition after winning three games and losing four. They had two remarkably close wins against SPC and SEC and totally dominated SPLC in the final game last Saturday. Well done to all the boys who represented the College in the firsts this year and in particular to our Year 12 students across all of the Open teams, who have now concluded their rugby journey at Villanova. There will be one final hit out for a few of our Seniors when they take on St Augustine’s College in Sydney next week.

There is a lot of work that went into the selections, coaching and management of the twenty-six teams that represented the College this year and a huge thank you goes out to our coaches, for what has been a successful season. We continue to rely on the generosity from parents, Old Boys and external coaches to give our boys a run on the paddock every Saturday. I would like to thank our parents; Mr Eddie Harris, Mr Jason Harris, Mr David Grigson, Mr David Hollett, Mr Andrew Ryan, Mr Ben Francis, Mr Troy Colley, Mr Sandy Taylor, Mr Nathan Spooner, Mr Vaasa Afa, Mr Damien Lyons, Mr Josh Stanbury, Mr Anthony Caruso, Mr Mark McCullum, Mr Troy Watson, Mr Peter Green, Mr Troy Speedy, Mr Tim Fraser, Mr David Meredith, Mr Shaun Mahon, Mr Paul Gapes, Mr Matt Brady and Mr Mark Venables.

A huge thank you to our Old Boys who came on board this year. Thank you to Mr Jamie Mullins, Mr Shaun Hourigan, Mr Joel O’Reilly, Mr Jack Daly, Mr Alessandro Porreca, Mr Domenic Franco, Mr Ben Addley, Mr Josh Vincent, Mr Will Lawrance, Mr Tommy Lawrance, Mr Eli Harris, Mr Peter Day and Mr Ryan Buck. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff members who coached a team. Thank you to Mr Terry Gaffney, Mr Pat O’Halloran, Mr Joel Cosgrove, Mr Mick Garske, Mr Matt Levander, Mr Mannie Navarro, Mr Kirk Astill, Mr Mark Gabey, Mr Hershelle Classen, Mr Tom Peel, Mr Chris Paterson, Ms Lauren Robinson, Mrs Sheridan Carey, Mr Tom Gunning, Mr Mark Gabey, and Mr Wian Joubert. A special mention to Mr Brett Morrisey, who assisted with the Year 5-8 Rugby teams and helped coordinate team lists with coaches and the running of the Junior games on Saturdays. It is pleasing to have so many staff members on board who contribute to establishing a positive rugby culture within the College.

Finally, I would also like to extend a massive thank you to all our members of the Villanova community who offer to help with refereeing and officiating for each of our home games. Thank you to Mr Paul Woodward, Mr Matthew Campbell, Mr Sandy Taylor, Mr Troy Watson, Mr Jamie Kernot, Mr Dave Capra and a special mention to Mr Ben Henry, for refereeing and assisting in finding and placing referees when we were short on a number of occasions. We are also incredibly lucky to have students who sign on to referee. This year Archie Godwin and Charlie Caruso joined the referee ranks, and we look forward to them gaining more experience and becoming more involved next season.

Without the ongoing support and assistance from the many members of the Villanova College community, the 2024 season would not have run so smoothly.

Thank you to all involved in the 2024 Rugby Union program. A pleasing third place result in the Rugby aggregate puts Villanova College in a strong position moving forward.

Mr Chris Everding, Rugby Coordinator

Tennis
The 2024 Villa Tennis Championships will be held at Morningside Tennis Centre on Sunday 21 July. See flyer attached. More information will be distributed to registered Tennis families soon.

Villa Tennis Championships – 21 July, 2024 – Enter here

Zone Cricket
Villanova will be entering teams into the Zone Competition in term four this year and we would like to encourage ALL of our cricketers to think about playing for the College rather than other clubs. The boys in Year 6 to Open will be playing divisional cricket in the BEARS comp and we want to try and keep our A/B and C/D players together to develop their cricket and to get a core group of players to stay together to help improve and raise the standard of cricket at Villanova. We did not perform as well as we would have liked this year in the AIC Competition, and the success of AFL has begun depleting our cricket numbers. Villanova is hoping to get these boys back and to try and keep our AIC teams together for the Term 4 competition, so we can be better prepared for the 2025 cricket season. Please keep this in mind and have a chat to other families who might think of playing for another club.

Strength & Conditioning
During the holidays, we will give everyone a rest for the first two weeks, but the gym will be open to anyone on the last week on the following dates:

• Tuesday, 2 July: 8:00-9:30am
• Thursday, 4 July: 8:00-9:30am

The Term 3 S&C schedule will be available soon.

Mr Marco Mastrorocco, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator

Speed & Agility Training Term 3 – Years 5-8 students
Speed & Agility is crucial to most sports. Future Athletics’ Speed & Agility programme is designed to teach students these skills to form a strong base for their chosen sport.

Regardless of the sport, the skills learnt through our Speed & Agility programme will help young athletes and set them up for the future. Sprinting technique, coordination, plyometrics, flexibility, change of direction training and core exercises are some of the skills taught in the sessions. These sessions are conducted in a fun and playful environment focussing on the child and helping them enjoy sports.

This programme is available to all students in Years 5-8. The Term 3 programme will run on Friday mornings, from 7-8am on Whinstanes. The programme runs for 8 weeks from Friday 19 July to 6 Sep.

Registration is made through payment on Parent Lounge. The event is now active.

Speed & Agility Term 3, 2024 – Flyer

External Achievements
A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Year 11 student, Max Jones, who recently travelled to Fiji to compete in the Oceania Athletics Championships. There were many ‘firsts’ for Max, most notably, his first selection in an Australian team and, more importantly, his first ever Gold Medal representing Australia. Max threw an incredible 66.33m beating his previous PB by 4m. This was a true testament to the hard work put in over many years and we look forward to following Max’s success in the future. Go well Max!

Villa Sport – humble in victory, gracious in defeat.

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

Upcoming Event: Villanova Community Carnival
Save the date: Saturday 20 July
Villanova Community Carnival 2024 | Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Year 5 into 2026 Enrolments are now Open!
Year 5 in 2026 | Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au)

Join us for our Weekly Breakfast Café!
Every Tuesday morning, our talented Year 11 Hospitality students take charge and run a delightful breakfast café from 7:30am to 9:30am. We have built a fantastic following of students and teachers, especially between 8:00am and 8:30am. However we would love to extend a warm invitation to parents to join us, particularly between 8:30am and 9:30am, to keep the boys busy and enjoy a delicious breakfast.

Check out below the wonderful menu our students have prepared!

Students With Disability Travel Rebate – Semester 1 2024

• Was your child included on the latest Commonwealth Census as a student with a disability requiring supplementary, substantial or extensive adjustments?
• Does your child’s Personalised Learning Plan confirm their transport needs are demonstrably different to those of their same aged peers by reason of their disability?
• 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 during May. 

Late applications cannot be accepted after 31 May.