Villa View – Issue 11, 11 July 2024

Welcome back to Semester 2 to all our parents, students and community members. For those that started with us this year it is certainly hoped that you are well embedded in the Villanova way and feel welcome and supported here at the College. On the alternate side of things we are also entering that exciting, and at times sad, period for our senior students and parents as they build toward the ‘time of lasts’ – last athletics day, last QCMF, last sports game and the list goes on.

Next week you will be provided with a summary of student academic performance highlights from Semester 1 and of course we also have the Academic Acknowledgment assembly on Tuesday of Week 3. Certainly the overwhelming story of Semester 1 2024 was of learning growth and student commitment in the classroom. As such it is pleasing to see that the messages of the GREATS framework are being largely realised across the College in classroom, sports fields and the school yard. This of course does not mean that we are totally satisfied, nor that every boy is performing at his peak. Each boy still has space to improve and grow and this is where we move to next Friday with our Empower Ed goal setting morning next Friday between the start of school and lesson 3. More details will come from the Teaching and Learning office.

College Community Carnival Saturday 20 July
The countdown is well and truly on for the Villanova College Community Carnival on July 20, 2024. Our Parents & Friends Association, the carnival committee and our numerous stall co-ordinators have been deep in preparations since Term 1 to ensure an enjoyable and successful carnival both in terms of enjoyment for the boys, for the building of community and the raising of funds to support school projects.

This year alone the Parents and Friends Association has assisted in funding the refurbishment of the Middle School Terraces, resources for the Year 9 Rite Journey program, supported the Year 6 Mother and Son Dinner, committed funds to assist in our parenting engagement and support seminars including the Year 7 and our upcoming Madonna King workshops for parents. The carnival funds will be allocated to assist in the College’s transition of Whinstanes to astroturf to improve its performance capabilities and safety.

I would encourage all families to attend and enjoy the carnival and where possible offer up some time to support our stall holders and carnival attractions.

International Boys Schools Coalition Conference 2024
As Villanova parents you have made the choice to send your sons to a Catholic Augustinian school for boys. This, obviously, we feel is an excellent choice as we are focussed and understanding of the uniqueness of boys education, their needs and what they respond to best for their learning and development. Over the recent holidays I had the pleasure, with Thomas Head of House Alex Sullivan, to join 600 other committed boys educators from around the globe at the International Boys School Coalition (IBSC) conference at the Harrow School in London, a school educating boys for some 400 years.

It was a wonderful learning and leading experience where we attended some 20 best boys education practice plenaries and listened to some inspiring and challenging keynote speakers. Alex represented Villanova College magnificently as he presented his IBSC action research project titled “Mindful Masculinity – research in using mindfulness strategies to bring boys to regulation and behavioural change”. In essence Alex was presenting our Villanova practices of relational education and the way in which we can use reflection and interiority to bring boys from points of deregulation to a position of regulation that allows discussion and restorative conversation to occur. With some 50 delegates attending his session there is no question that there was great relevance in his presentation and what we do here at the College in working with and developing boys’ character and their strategies and ability to move from spaces of emotional irrationality to rational and considered thought. I certainly received many enquires and compliments about how we are doing things at Villanova and requests to share and discuss more.

Senior Justice Forums
Over these first few weeks of Term 3 our boys in the Senior School are invited to a number of Social Justice forums with our local brother and sister schools.

Yesterday was the first of these hosted by San Sisto, looking at the topic of homelessness. Some 20 of our Senior students attended from 4-6 pm listening to guest speakers from local outreach providers and girls and boys from local schools to discuss and consider the plight of the homeless and to consider ways to address and challenge the issue.

There are still two to go hosted by Lourdes Hill and Loreto and I would strongly encourage boys to see the Ministry Office and consider attending one of the these as they explore relationships and issue pertaining to consent.

St Augustine’s Tour
In the first week of the student holidays we spent time with our brother school, St Augustine’s at Brookvale. We had a wonderful exchange experience and the boys could not have represented the College any better in their behaviour, performance or their general presence in and around the St Augustine’s community. This is an exchange program that has run for over 50 years now and it is certainly something we are looking at expanding beyond Debating, Student Leadership, Basketball, Football and Rugby as it currently stands. We certainly believe there is the opportunity for consideration for Jazz Band or drumline to look at growing it to a complete sharing of Co-curricular activity. More to come as we plan to host in 2025.

Confraternity Shield
Finally we had a second wonderful tour experience across the holiday period as our Open Rugby League team travelled to Townsville for the annual QISSRL Confraternity Shield carnival. Seven of the eight AIC schools now compete in ‘Confro’ and in this our second year the boys again have done admirably. While there are always ‘what ifs’ in tournament play, overall the boys can be pleased with their final outcome and position in winning the Cup Final 60-2. As with the Auggies tour, our staff were again commended on countless occasions on the way the boys played and their behaviour on tour. It is rewarding to see that what we work hard towards developing with our young men inside the College is then displayed more broadly as they operate in the world beyond the gates.

Mr Paul Begg, Principal

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

Welcome back to all Senior School families to another semester at the College. I hope that all students had the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing and enjoyable mid-year holiday- reflecting on their performance across Semester 1 and looking forward to returning with renewed energy and determination to finish the second part of the year well.

The third term of the College year is always vitally important for all three Senior School cohorts for a variety of reasons. Our Year 12 students will soon complete their remaining internal assessment items before shifting focus towards their external examination preparation program- culminating with the all-important mock examinations in Weeks 8 and 9. Our Year 11 students will largely complete their Unit 2 studies, the final formative phase of their studies before their summative IA1 assessment items commence in Term 4. Furthermore, the cohort will also embark on their leadership program and the selection process for the 2025 Student Leadership Team. Our Year 10 students will complete their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plans and meet with a Senior member of staff to finalise their course of study for Years 11 and 12.

With such a significant agenda ahead, it is imperative that our students return this week with a settled mindset ready to work. The Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences that take place next Tuesday afternoon/evening of Week 2 is another opportunity to discuss improvement agendas for the coming term. I strongly encourage all students to be present online for these important conversations.

Student Voice
In this week’s College Assembly, we returned to the first pillar of our GREATS Character framework and focused on Growth. College Captain, Tiernan O’Neill delivered a student leader address which offered some courageously vulnerable reflections on his own journey towards character growth, particularly illuminating the value of failure. Tiernan stated the following:

“I would like to remind you that whilst being your “College Captain” is an honour and privilege- it is just a title. I fail every day. I strive for growth every day, and if my time here at Villa was to be defined, it wouldn’t be defined by how many times I fell, it would be defined by how many times I got back up.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from my time at the College is that you will fall, you will fail but you need get back up and keep pushing, you need to recognise your mistakes and learn from them.

And that is the journey to character- it is like climbing a mountain. There will be missteps, times in which you think you will not reach the summit. But the value in pushing on, learning more about yourself and charting the course to the peak of your own potential is certainly worth it.

I ask that all of you watching on the live stream and in the audience to take some time to reflect on the semester that has just passed and find areas of your life where you need to improve. I promise if you put the time and effort into that area, you will see positive results. It may not be immediate, it may not be noticeable, but I guarantee that eventually the person you are now in 6-8 months will be unrecognisable.”

I certainly hope that those listening to Tiernan’s address were able to conduct an interiority search of their own and honestly reflect on their journey towards the young man they aspire to be and the aspects of their character that require further growth and development.

Year 11 Semi-Formal
This Friday, the Year 11 students will no doubt enjoy their Semi-Formal occasion at the Victoria Park Golf Club. Such events are important in the social development of our young men, and I have stressed my expectation that they are to be most generous in their care and concern for their partners throughout the evening.

“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.”- Theodore Roosevelt

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope you all enjoyed your break; filled it with fun, relaxation, and memorable moments, and returned refreshed and rejuvenated. It certainly got colder over the holidays, but we tend to be more alert in the cold, so it’s good preparation for the term ahead. And what a Term. As we dive into it, I look at the College Calendar and am excited by the many varied activities and opportunities that await our Middle School students. It reminds me again of how lucky our students are [and I was] with the varied opportunities that are on offer in all aspects of college life.

Term 3 promises to be one of our busiest and most exciting terms yet. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:

Trimester 3 Sports: Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis begin this weekend with trials before the AIC season begins next week. It was great to see so many students trialling across the three sports. Along with these, AIC Track & Field training will commence as well.

Year 9 Camp: Our Year 9 students will embark on camp at Emu Gully in Week 4. This is a fantastic opportunity for personal growth, bonding, and creating lasting memories [like the great food]. We wish them all the best.

Community Carnival: Join us in celebrating our College community at the Community Carnival on Saturday 20 July. This event is one of the highlights of the year [and a personal favourite of mine], featuring food, performances, and fun activities for the students. It is a wonderful community-building event and I encourage all families to attend.

QCMF (Queensland Catholic Schools & Colleges Music Festival): Our talented musicians will take the stage at QCMF, showcasing their hard work and dedication. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to their outstanding performances. The entire festival is a mammoth event with 110 schools from across QLD, Australia and NZ attending.

Athletics Carnival: Prepare for a day of energy, enthusiasm, and school spirit at the Athletics Carnival. The House Spirit has certainly been on show so far this year and we will continue to build on it with a fantastic day out at Villa Park.

Year 7 Social Afternoon with Lourdes Hill: Our Year 7 students will enjoy a special social afternoon with Lourdes Hill students this term. This is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and strengthen connections. More information will be sent to Year 7 parents soon.

In addition to these exciting events, Term 3 is first and foremost about the work ethic produced inside the classroom. I hope that all families were able to engage in meaningful conversations with their sons regarding their Semester 1 report cards. The Empower Ed interviews with House Mentors will provide a valuable opportunity for students to review their Semester 1 results and set new goals for Semester 2 and these will occur next Friday. I encourage all parents to have a conversation with their children about setting new goals that they would like to see themselves achieving this term. This sort of dialogue is integral to the healthy support of your child’s academic journey and personal development.

Furthermore, Term 3 is significant as it is the term where Subject Selection takes place. It’s so important that students carefully consider their interests and future aspirations when choosing subjects. We are here to guide and support them through this process, ensuring that they make informed decisions that align with the goals they have set themselves.

As you can see, it is once again a packed term filled with opportunity. May we all make the most of it!

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Even the gloomy and unpredictable weather has not been enough to dampen the high spirits in the Junior School this week. The beginning of a new semester is always an exciting time, and it was so great to see the boys back on campus on Monday morning. Our staff worked tirelessly during the first week of the student’s holidays to ensure we were ready to hit the ground running for Term Three. Having the opportunity to reflect on Semester One and prepare units of work for the upcoming semester was made even more productive through the leadership of our Year 5 and Year 6 Heads of Curriculum and Pedagogy Miss Chloe Adams and Mrs Melissa Liddy.

A three-week break is just enough time for us to really step back and take notice of the incredible growth our boys have experienced this year. For Year 5s, the first day of Term Three looks very different to Term One. Faces of nervous energy, apprehension and unfamiliarity in their new setting have been replaced with beaming smiles, confidence and greeting peers as old friends. Some of our Year 6s look like they have grown significantly over the short break. It is a bit of a knock to the confidence when a Year 6 boy has to look down on you when conversing on the playground. I visited the Year 6 classrooms earlier this week encouraging them to take advantage of their final semester as a Junior School student. Term Three is an incredibly busy time, but there are so many extra-curricular activities to be involved in.

The Focus of the Week in the Junior School week is a simple one – ‘Get the Little Things Right.’ Now is the time to ensure our ducks are in a row to begin the fresh semester. The boys have been tasked with the responsibility of doing a stock-take of their belongings. Making sure pencil cases are full, books that are nearing completion are replenished, and school bags are clean, and tidy are simple steps to get ahead. I also thank all families for your attentiveness to the College’s hair and grooming and uniform policies. Looking sharp and dressing smart are little things we can do each day to set us up for success.

We often share a video clip with the boys taken from the University of Texas, where Admiral McRaven shares great words of wisdom that starts with the simple line “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” If you have not seen it before it is worth a watch or discussion with your boys. You can find it at the link below:

Speech To Change Your Life Today! Admiral McRaven “Make Your Bed” Motivational Words Of Wisdom (youtube.com)

With Semester One report cards fresh in mind, next Tuesday’s online Parent-Teacher-Student conferences provide an opportunity to make a game plan for Semester Two. (A reminder that conference bookings close this Friday 12 July at 9.00am.) Setting realistic goals and having practical discussion about how these can best be achieved is imperative. Hopefully, parents will feel informed in how best to help their sons – and find comfort in the best efforts being all that matters. It is never too early to ask for help, offer help or accept help.

I know Mr Rouhliadeff often claims Term Three as his favourite time of the year. He is currently on leave until Friday 19 July, but will no doubt have his sports cliches ready to share with the boys on his return! If you had any matters that need attention, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s class teachers, or reach out to the Junior School Leadership Team:
Pastoral – Callum Hackett (chackett@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Year 5 Curriculum – Chloe Adams (cadams@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Year 6 Curriculum – Melissa Liddy (mliddy@vnc.qld.edu.au)

Mr Callum Hackett, Head of Years 5 and 6

Welcome back to Term 3. Hopefully, the break was fun and rejuvenating. We are now in our winter months with a term full of Justice Forums, leadership formation for our Year 11s, QCMF Music festival where we welcome over 20 000 people to Villa, sporting and classes that aim to continue to grow our students’ hearts and minds.

We are extremely fortunate to have five Ministry groups that are student run at Villanova.  Over the next couple of newsletter editions our Ministry Captains are sharing the achievements and focuses of Semester 1 and outlining the plans and opportunities of Semester 2 in their ministry groups.
As always students are welcome to join these groups.

Vinnies
The St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies for short) is an organisation on a mission to assist those experiencing poverty and inequality and works to shape a more just and compassionate society. Founded by Frederic Ozanam on 23 April 1833, Paris, France, Vinnies has since established an international presence. At Villanova College, Vinnies organises the charity hampers such as the Easter, Winter, and Christmas.

Semester 2 for Vinnies kicks off with the Winter appeal in Term 3 where we will collect warm clothing for Emmanuel City Mission. On Friday August 2, Vinnies will be engaging in the annual sleepout in which we gain greater insight into what the less fortunate in our community experience nightly. Every year for the sleepout, the boys venture to the city where we evaluate conditions of homelessness such as anti-homeless infrastructure. Boys will grab dinner with a challenge of spending no more than $2 each and the evening concludes with a reflection on what was experienced that night. The year will conclude with a Christmas appeal in Term 4.

Joining the St. Vincent de Paul Society offers individuals a chance to actively address social issues by serving the marginalized and vulnerable, providing food, shelter, and assistance to those in need. Through volunteering, members not only make a tangible difference but also experience personal growth, developing valuable skills and finding fulfillment in their efforts. The Society fosters a sense of community and belonging among like-minded individuals, forging meaningful connections and friendships. Whether motivated by faith, humanitarian principles, or a desire to contribute positively to society, joining the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Villanova provides a platform to live out one’s values and make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

YAYM
YAYM (Young Augustinian Youth Ministry) is our Ministry group for students from the Middle School. It has been a big year already with a focus on Harmony Week including running a full Middle School assembly to explore how we can more fully celebrate cultural diversity in our College, along with support for our Mission Week.

This term YAYM is finalising the details for its first Multicultural Appreciation Day, set to take place at the end of the term. This event will celebrate one of two diverse languages taught at the College, highlighting the richness of our multicultural community. Students and faculty are eagerly preparing various cultural food and activities that showcase the beauty of these languages and reflects its cultural heritage. Coming into 2024 YAYM wanted to convey a deeper understanding and appreciation of the global community within our college and promise to make these next few upcoming events as enjoyable as possible.

YAYM leaders, Gus, Rudi and Romano extend a warm welcome to students from the Middle School joining YAYM initiatives.

Upcoming Events
Date Claimers and more!
In Term 3 there are a number of Justice forums that schools are hosting. These are student driven events which a number of schools attend. We have a number of students from Year 11 who have shown great leadership in their interest to attend these events. We look forward to sharing the learnings.

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope you and your family enjoyed the break, and your son is excited to be back at school for the start of Semester 2.

Year 5 to 12 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
As communicated over the break, Parent-Student-Teacher conferences will be held next Tuesday 16 July. This round of Parent-Student-Teacher conferences provide an excellent opportunity for parents/carers to discuss their son’s progress across Semester 1.
Specific details for the conferences are as follows:

• An email was sent to all parents/carers earlier in the week with instructions for booking and participating in conferences.
• Bookings have closed, however, if parents/carers would like to make a late booking, please contact Mrs Kerryn Graham (3395 5521).
• Conferences will be held online via Microsoft Teams.

Parents/carers should note that students will finish classes at 1.00pm next Tuesday. This will allow conferences to commence at 1.30pm (last conference finishes at 7.00pm). Students can either go home at 1.00pm or if they do not have the ability to leave before 3.00pm, supervision will be provided in the Tolle Lege library. Parents/carers can register that their son is remaining at school until 3.00pm by using this link – Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences – Supervision of Students

Our teachers are looking forward to speaking with parents/carers next Tuesday.

Semester 1 Academic Awards and Assembly
On Tuesday 23 July, the College will hold our Academic Awards Assembly to acknowledge high achieving students in Years 5 to 11 based on their Semester 1 results. We look forward to celebrating with these students, and the whole College community, with the assembly commencing at 9.40am. We will be livestreaming the event for parents/carers to view. The livestream link is below.

The criteria for receiving an academic award is as follows:

• In Years 5 to 9, students must receive a minimum of 4 A’s and 1 B in their five (5) core subjects of Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science and HASS, and with no C (or lower) in any other subject studied.
• In Years 10 and 11, students must receive a minimum of 5 A’s and 1 B in the subjects studied.

Students (and parents/carers) receiving an award will be notified soon.

ICAS Assessments
Within our College community there are students who shine brightly, displaying exemplary dedication and academic talent. They deserve to be recognised and this year we are again giving them the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS Competition.

What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Writing and Digital Technologies. ICAS results are in-depth and meaningful and evaluate student performance against other competition entrants across the state and nation. The data reveals student strengths and weaknesses and can help you recognise and support your child’s academic journey.

Learn more about ICAS here: ICAS – Leading Academic Competition – ICAS Assessments

ICAS Results and Certificate
Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online result report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals. Your child’s ICAS certificates will show their results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. – Use these to enter the Results Portal ORTI (icasassessments.com)

How to Participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to sign up to your chosen subject areas using the link and code below.
Registration for all subject areas closes on Monday 29 July at 11:59pm.
Sign up here    Parent access page – ICAS Assessments
Access code    OUX926

This year, our students can elect to sit the following assessments:

Digital Technologies   5 – 9 August               $19.95
Writing                        5 – 9 August               $23.95
English                         12 – 16 August           $19.95
Mathematics               26 – 30 August           $19.95

Please note, the College cannot facilitate refunds or make alterations as all money is paid directly to ICAS Assessments.
Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf).

We are proud to be offering ICAS to our students this year and encourage you to consider entering your child. Please do not hesitate to contact the Teaching and Learning Office (tandl@vnc.qld.edu.au) with any queries.

EmpowerEd Program
After its introduction in Semester 1, the EmpowerED program takes place again next Friday. It is an initiative that brings together a range of activities and learning opportunities for students to complete and participate in, in the hope that what they discover will help them to grow academically.

Next Friday, during the session before morning tea, the College will suspend normal classes and students will participate in a program of activities, one of these being a conference with their House Mentor about their goalsetting for the semester.

I wrote in Semester 1 that “Successful individuals tend to share a number of things in common; one of these is the time they invest in goalsetting. Goalsetting allows individuals to use direction and focus, motivation and engagement, planning and time management, and accountability and responsibility to make measurable progress in what they put their mind to.” All Year 7 to 11 students will spend time in their House meetings this week completing their Semester 1 goalsetting. The document asks students to draw on the College value of interiority to reflect on their past achievements and to then challenge themselves to improve on these achievements. Whilst we place significant importance on academic progress, the process will also ask students to reflect on other elements of their lives such as their personal development and wellbeing, and set goals to improve these areas. Year 12 students will not participate in goalsetting but rather will have a discussion with their House Mentor about the completion of their final internal assessment and their preparation for external examinations.

It is important that students have their goalsetting document completed by next Friday (19 July) and avoid any appointments wherever possible.

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

Rehearsals and Lessons
As we return safely from our Winter break, just a gentle reminder that all lessons and rehearsals have commenced as per our Term 2 routine.  Please ensure that your son is prepared for his rehearsals with gear ready to go the evening prior, and that you have received your son’s timetable communication from his tutor for Term 3. We are looking forward to working with you all as we move toward one of the biggest events in our calendar – QCMF 2024.

QCMF 2024
We have come to the time of our music Grand Final…the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival.  This year we are welcoming over 14,500 students from across Queensland and NSW to the College for four days from 15-18 August.  It is going to be another great celebration of music education in Queensland Catholic Schools.

We will be seeking support from our community to assist with volunteering over the event.  We will be distributing information regarding volunteering very soon and appreciate the ongoing support we receive.  To assist you with your planning, we have included the performance times for all Villanova ensembles below:

Music Support Group Meeting – Monday 15 July
Our next Music Support Group meeting will be convened next Monday, 15 July, commencing at 6:30pm in the Music Classroom on Level 1 of the Augustine Centre.  Come along and learn a little more about the happenings within the music community here at Villanova College – we look forward to seeing you there.

Key Dates Term 3
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

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. Villanova College Music Support Group (entertainment.com.au)

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

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Director of Sport Address
Although holidays are a time for rest and recouperation, Villa Sport continued its momentum into Trimester 3. It was a privilege to join our students in Sydney on the St Augustine’s College Tour and in Townsville on the Confraternity Rugby League Tour over the break. As always, our boys competed well on the courts and fields, but what was most impressive was their exemplary behaviour away from the sporting venues. The College has received a number of positive, affirming messages from members of the public with regards to our students and their behaviour and manners. Well done to all our fine young men who represented their College with such pride over the holidays.

We now transition in Trimester 3 Sport with selection sessions and trial matches in Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis in Week 1. Round 1 for these Sports is just around the corner on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July versus Marist College Ashgrove. AIC Golf is also on the horizon with the championships on 29 July and Track & Field training commences in Week 4.

Due to venue availability and limitations to the number of teams we are able to nominate in Trimester 3 Sports, there will be students who miss out on playing the Sport they love. This is unfortunate, and in many ways, unavoidable. Villanova College has listened to the feedback of our community over the past 18 months and we will be implementing an alternative Sport option for students who are unsuccessful in making AIC teams in Term 3 2024. The ‘Colours Cup’ internal Basketball competition will be offered to these students should they wish to participate. Information will be distributed once AIC teams are finalised next week.

Sports Club
The next meeting for the Villanova College Sports Club is this Monday 15 July from 6-7pm, Level 3 in the St Thomas of Villanova building. All welcome.

Results

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 still wanting to register for Track & Field just need to visit the Sports Office.

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 page provides updated information regarding training schedules and current AIC/trial draws.

Training Schedules
The Term 3 Training Schedule is now available on The Locker Room Overview page of the Villanova College website.

Save the dates – Sporting Tours, Camps and Clinics

• Christmas holidays 2024/2025 – Cricket Oblate Tour to Perth, Volleyball AVSC Tournament Gold Coast & Swim Camp at Tallebudgera.
• ** International Tour ** – Football & Rugby Tour to Japan – Easter 2025.
• ** International Tour ** – Basketball & Volleyball Tour to USA – Christmas holidays 2025/2026. 

AIC First Team Presentation assembly
This coming Tuesday 16 July, we will acknowledge the selected students who will represent Villanova’s First teams throughout the AIC Season in Basketball, Golf, Rugby League and Tennis. Teams will be finalised this weekend after the final trial matches are conducted on Saturday.

Parents of these students will be invited to attend however this notification will only be released on Monday 15 July. For those unable to attend, the assembly will be available via live stream with a link published on the College app.

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, 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 – Jordan Mullan, jordanedwardmullan@gmail.com
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 or emailed to the specific students and their parents. 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 and your emails 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

St Augustine’s College Tour
A Brotherhood. That’s what comes to mind when I think of the St Augustine’s tour. In the first week of the holidays sixty boys had the opportunity to go on the St Augustine’s tour down in Sydney. Over the three days spent in Sydney with the Auggies boys we travelled around wider Sydney, played sport and spent time with our billets and their families.

Debating started off Day 1 with the Auggies side just edging out the victory over what was otherwise an extremely close debate. After the debating the Boys walked around the town seeing the sights while the Leadership team sat and met with St Augustine leaders. Much was discussed and moving forward we are looking to build a stronger relationship between the two schools not just on the sports field but in student life, music, fundraising and much more. Day 1 ended with the Basketball boys settling the series at 1-1 and putting a stamp on a dominant victory.

On Day 2 the boys took on Manly beach with the morning being spent checking out the water and some of the local coffee shops. The soccer boys got the ball rolling with sport with a couple electric goals from Jordan and the lads but unfortunately going down in an exciting game of football. The rugby boys had the final game of the series, this game was a bit more special as we had the opportunity to run out and play at Brookvale Oval. It was the experience of a lifetime and although we didn’t get up, I’m sure it’ll be a memory that’s remembered for years to come.

But what I think was the most important part of the trip wasn’t the score line, it wasn’t the series, it wasn’t even going to Sydney. The most important part of the tour was seeing the real-life connection that is held between our two schools. It’s funny how one minute we are strangers to our billets and the next minute were getting in their cars to go back to their houses. All the boys were grateful for the hospitality shown and the fact that the billets and their families opened their doors to us and gave us a place to stay and fed us. From personal experience Ollie C and I stayed with the second row for Auggies, we spent hours at his kitchen table talking with him and his family about life in Brisbane, footy, and more.

Boys, if you have the opportunity to take part on a tour like Auggies then do it. It’s a great experience. I would like to take this time to thank Mr McLean and the sports office for organising this trip down to Sydney, without them none of this would be possible, I’d also like to thank all the staff that gave up their time to come down Sydney with us.

Tiernan O’Neill, College Captain

Confraternity Rugby League Carnival 2024
On 22 June, Villanova rugby league players flew to Townsville to represent the College in the Confraternity Carnival hosted by Ignatius Park College. Over 1200 players across 52 teams participated throughout the week and the Villa boy’s performance on and off the field was nothing short of success.

The team started with a bang scoring on the third play of our first game through Lachie E’s speed down the wing. Jackson C proceeded to take matters into his own hands by scoring four tries. On day 2 Mr Navarro liked to remind us of his favourite saying, “It never rains in Townsville.” In wet weather footy the boys faced some adversity but showed heart to bounce back through courageous efforts from Nate W and Hudson B. I’d also like to mention Bailey S who received a nasty hit from an offside opposition player. Bailey showed true grit of a Villanovan to get back up when I was almost certain he may not.

On day four, Sam B quickly established himself as an enforcer and as players chose to run around him, they ran straight into a deadly Sean K. The boys had made it into their second straight bowl grand final in a row. Early tries from Seth W and Ned G along with a fancy finish from Harry I steered the team in a positive direction. While the tries kept flowing it’s no doubt that Josh H’s runs from the back fence led the boys all the way home to victory. A comfortable 60 – 4 win.

I give full credit the boys for their display of Confraternity spirit and sportsmanship throughout the week. Off the field the actions of the boys did not go unnoticed with members of the public leaving positive comments. Firstly I’d like to thank Mr McLauchlan and Mr McLean for their organisation and management of the trip, it wouldn’t have been possible without them. Thank you to Bridie for keeping the boys healthy as there were no major injuries throughout the week. Thank you to Mr Navarro for your wisdom and jokes. Thanks to Stu Harland for running the water, the boys were lucky to have you there. Lastly, I’d like to thank coach Mike for making the week one to remember. I definitely recommend Confro to any Villa boys who might be interested in the future as it is a great way to create memories with mates.

Roman Dunne, Confraternity Co-Captain

Basketball

• Finalised team lists will be available on Parent Lounge by 5pm Sunday 14 July.
• Please check the Locker Room Overview page and Parent Lounge for fixture information and team lists. Teams may change throughout the season so please check this information weekly.
• If your son/s are unavailable for training or matches, please contact your team coach/s or Mr Mullan (Basketball Coordinator) via email jordanedwardmullan@gmail.com.
• Only students in the correct uniform will be permitted to play in matches each week. The Basketball uniform is found above.
• This coming Tuesday (16 July) will be parent/teacher conferences. Training for teams on Tuesday afternoon will be optional. Students are encouraged to attend their conference if required.

Mr Jordan Mullan, Basketball Coordinator

Rugby League
A big thank you to families for the time put in during the AIC trial process. With teams almost confirmed, we look to the trial match this coming Saturday.
Can I please remind families of the following:

• Please check the Locker Room page and Parent Lounge for fixture information and team lists. Teams may change throughout the season so please check this information weekly.
• If your son/s are unavailable for training or matches, please contact your team coach/s or Mr Russell (Rugby League Coordinator) via email: arussell@vnc.qld.edu.au
• Only students in the correct uniform will be permitted to play in matches each week. The Rugby League uniform is found above.
• This coming Tuesday (16 July) will be parent/teacher conferences. Training for teams on Tuesday afternoon will be optional. Students are encouraged to attend their conference if required.
• Finally, we are still looking for assistance as touch judges throughout the season, if any parents or students are available to assist, please contact Mr Russell (arussell@vnc.qld.edu.au). There is a very short online course (20 minutes) required.

All the best to our teams as they hit the field for their first time in 2024, and a special congratulations to our Year 5 students who will hit the field for their first ever AIC Rugby League match.

Mr Alex Russell, Rugby League Coordinator

Tennis
Whilst it has been a cold and early start to AIC Tennis for 2024, this hasn’t stopped our student’s enthusiasm to return to the court for the 2024 season. Our trials began during Week 9 of Term 2 where students from Year 5 – 12 took to the courts at Morningside Tennis Centre ahead of the season. We also had our First Tennis Squad begin early in Term 2 in preparation for another successful First Tennis campaign.

Whilst we are working hard to finalise the team lists for this week, can we please remind our Tennis community of the full College trial v SPLC on Saturday 15 July. A friendly reminder to our parents to check the weekly fixture information posted via Parent lounge and the Locker Room page.

Each week we will select 4 students to represent our A and B teams, respectively. For any students who don’t make the A and B teams, although you may have some individual disappointment – I strongly encourage that you continue to train every week with your year groups, this allows you to gain valuable coaching whilst continuing to develop your skill set. The team managers will select the teams each week based on performance, attitude, and training attendance.

AIC Tennis Uniform

• HPE Shorts
• Villanova Squad Shirt
• Black training sport socks
• Villanova Cap (optional)

Bring on the Tennis season.

Mr Nathan Dufty, Tennis Coordinator

Villa Tennis Championships
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

Track & Field
Track & Field training commences in Week 4 from Monday 29 July. The season schedule will be available on the website from next week.

Strength & Conditioning
Strength & Conditioning continues in Term 3. Refer to the Term 3 Training Schedule on the Locker Room Overview page. The gym is available to all students in Years 7-12.

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
Boris V (Year 8) had another successful Water Polo tour. He represented Queensland in U13 National Development Tournament in Hobart over school holidays. Boris played for QLD Orcas who showcased their exceptional talent and teamwork, dominating with an undefeated record throughout the entire tournament. Truly an outstanding achievement. Well done Boris!

Composite Sport
Nomination paperwork is now available for students wishing to nominate for Composite 13-14 years Futsal trials. Nomination paperwork can be collected from the Sports Office, please note previous representative playing experienced is required.

Villa Sport – humble in victory, gracious in defeat.

• Upcoming Event: Villanova Community Carnival

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

• Upcoming Event: QCMF

The countdown to the Queensland Catholic Schools & Colleges Music Festival has begun! With over 14,437 students performances from over 109 schools and colleges from all over Queensland, it is the premier event in the Queensland Catholic Education calendar. 15-18 August 2024. Book your ticket now at a discounted rate! https://qcmf.com.au/

• Year 5 into 2026 Enrolments are now Open!

Year 5 in 2026 | Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au)
If you have a boy currently in Year 3, please remember to send an enrolment application for Year 5 into 20026.

• Join us for our Weekly Breakfast Café!

A reminder that 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.

• 2024 Non-government schools census collection notice

The Australian Government Department of Education (the department) would like to advise all staff, parents and guardians that it will collect certain information about your school, its staff and student body as part of the 2024 Non-government schools census collection (the census).
How and what information is collected for the census?
Census information is provided to the department by your school legal entity (the approved authority) via the SchoolsHUB website.
The census provides information about your school and the number and characteristics of the school’s staff and student body during a specific reference period. Characteristics collected through the census include:
teaching and non-teaching staff
-students’ year level and workload
-students’ gender and age (as on 1 July 2024)
-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students
-students with disability
-students receiving distance education
-boarding and overseas students.

The names of students and staff are not collected, apart from the name, position and contact details of the staff member nominated as the primary contact for the census.

Census special circumstances applications
Census special circumstances applications may also be made by schools to include a student(s) who did not attend during the census reference period but otherwise meets census eligibility requirements. Schools will provide the department with information and documents about the student demonstrating their eligibility. The department does not require personal information about a student and asks schools to de-identify any documents before providing them.
Purpose of the census collection
The information provided during the census is collected by the department in accordance with the Australian Education Act 2013 (the Act) and the Australian Education Regulations 2023 (the Regulations). The Act and Regulations require the legal entity responsible for the administration of the school (the approved authority) to provide this information to the department to:
-ensure the provision of Australian Government funding to schools is properly calculated and
appropriately managed
-conduct research, statistical analysis and develop school education policy for the Australian
Government
-meet national and international reporting obligations on school students in Australia
-publish and provide information about schools to the public.

Use and disclosure of personal information
Your personal information is protected by law under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).
Personal information is information or an opinion about an identified individual or an individual who
is reasonably identifiable.
Any use or disclosure of your personal information must occur in accordance with the Privacy Act
and the Act and Regulations, and any other applicable laws.
Your personal information provided to the department through the census may be:
-used or disclosed by the department as outlined above under the heading ‘Purpose of the census
collection’
-disclosed to the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to publish
on the My School website and included as high-level data for ACARA’s National Report on
Schooling in Australia
-disclosed to state and territory government departments and authorities in accordance with the
Act and Regulations
-disclosed to Australian Government departments and authorities in accordance with the Act and
Regulations
-disclosed to non-government school representative bodies in accordance with the Act and
Regulations
-disclosed to a contracted auditor where the department decides to audit or verify the
information provided by an approved authority about a school. The contracted auditor may use
previously collected information or request access to individual student records for comparison
purposes. The contractors may pass this information onto officers within the department, if there
is a discrepancy in the data provided by the school and the school’s records and further
investigation is required. The contracted auditor must handle personal information in accordance
with the Privacy Act
-disclosed to the department’s service providers so they can provide information and
communications technology support services to the department.
-used to validate data from other collections undertaken by the department
-used or disclosed where it is otherwise required or authorised by law including under the Act or
Regulations, or otherwise permitted under the Privacy Act.

Other than in exceptional circumstances (for example, investigation of fraud relating to overseas
students), the department does not disclose any of the personal information collected to overseas
recipients.

You can download the Department of Education’s privacy policy or request a copy at
privacy@education.gov.au. The privacy policy includes information about:
-how to access or correct personal information held about you or your child
– how to make a complaint about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles
– how the department will deal with such a complaint.

What do you need to do?
You are not required to do anything. The approved authority of the school is responsible for providing the information to the department.
Contacts for further information
Your school can provide more information about the data it provides for you or your child as part of the census.
To find out more about the census collection and reporting, visit SchoolsHUB.