Villa View: Issue 11/21

Dear Members of the Villanova College Family,
Welcome back to Term Two. I hope all our families had an opportunity during the break to enjoy time with family and friends. We welcome back the students after a disrupted conclusion to Term One. Our recent experience of a short closure is a timely reminder that despite best efforts of governments across the world, the threat of the COVID pandemic is still very much with us. It is important that we do not become complacent and think that the virus is no longer circulating across borders.

Staffing News
We welcome back to the College the following staff who have been on leave. Mrs Kristina Moffett (nee Whitehead) and Ms Christianne Kemp have both returned to the College following Maternity Leave. Mr Justin Feuerriegel has cut short his leave from the College and will be returning to a teaching role in the Middle School replacing Ms Georgia Mills-Geer who will be taking Maternity Leave.  We also welcome Ms Mary Bergmeier – Health and Physical Education teacher replacing Mr Pat Atkinson.

Mrs Dot Blair will be taking a well-deserved break from her busy role as Tuckshop Convenor for the next couple of weeks. Mrs Joy Browning – Student Services Officer – Senior School has made the decision to retire from her duties and we wish Joy all the best for the future. Mrs Shannon Lynam is taking leave for Terms Two and Three and we look forward to her return later this year.

Augustine Centre
The College has investigated an outbreak of mould in the music practice rooms and Hanrahan Theatre. While there is no immediate danger, exposure to mould can affect people in a variety of ways. The remediation of the problem will require an extensive clean and take a number of weeks. I have taken the decision to close the Augustine Centre until the remediation process is completed, and we receive the ‘all clear’ for resuming activities in the Augustine Centre. There will be significant disruption to the activities of the College, especially the Music program and I thank Mr Michael Jones and all the Music staff for their understanding and patience. Alternative rooms have been arranged for the teaching of Music.

Augustinian Governance
On Friday 16 April, the Villanova College Board held their Annual General Meeting with the Prior Provincial, Fr Peter Jones OSA and members of the Provincial Council. At the meeting we farewelled two long serving Directors, Ms Donna McMahon and Mr Geoffrey Egert. Both Donna and Geoffrey have served on the Villanova College Board since 2012 and we thank them for the dedicated and generous service to the College and Augustinian education.

Following the AGM, Villanova College hosted the Board Directors from St Augustine’s College, Sydney and the Provincial Council for a day of workshops on governance, risk management and Catholic education in Australia. We were very pleased to welcome the Board Directors from St Augustine’s College to Brisbane and to share our stories.

Commencement of the Term Two Sports
Following trial matches this Saturday, round one of the Term Two sports program will commence on Friday 30 April and Saturday 1 May. This year the response to participate in teams from the students has been outstanding and we are fielding more teams in Football and Rugby than previous years.

The role of parents in educating their sons about good sportsmanship is an extremely important one. How adults behave on the sidelines and as supporters will be crucial for our young people receiving the right messages. As a member of the AIC Sporting Association Villanova College supports the clear expectation of all involved to be good sports and to display appropriate behaviour on the sidelines at all matches.

Anzac Day
This Sunday 25 April we will remember those brave young men and women who served and continue to serve their country in the Armed Forces. Anzac Day is a time to show our respect and to remember those who served and those who gave their lives for our way of life here in Australia.

The College will be marching on Sunday 25 April from Baragoola Street and students attending are asked to wear full academic uniform including hats. Please gather where you see the Villanova College banner. The march will commence at 8.00 am (those participating are asked to arrive at 7.45am) and conclude at approximately 10.00 am.

Anzac Day Prayer
Gracious and loving God, the cross of Christ is the sign of your desire for justice and peace for all. Open our minds to your vision as we remember all who suffered through Australia and New Zealand’s involvement in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Grant all servicepersons who sacrificed health and life for the good of all, the gift of your deep peace.

May we who inherit the freedom for which they fought become instruments of your peace in our homes, workplaces and world.

We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

God bless.

Mr Mark Stower, 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. 

Teams Pilot Classrooms
This week a number of classes across the Junior, Middle and Senior schools commenced the Term 2 pilot phase of using Microsoft Teams as a digital classroom space. Special thanks must go to our teachers participating in this foundation stage of using Microsoft Teams – Ms Chloe Adams, Ms Raquel Bastos, Ms Paula Cattoni-Henry, Mr John Christie, Ms Julie Colbert, Ms Terri Dillon, Ms Juanita Jacobs, Ms Emma Jimenez, Mr Nate Leonard, Ms Jo McConville, Mr Mannie Navarro, Mr Thomas Peel, Mr Tyler McCluskey, Mr Neil Roche-Kelly,  Ms Justine Silk, Mr Blake Stockton, Ms Belinda Tucker and Mr Kristian Zamprogno.

If your son is enrolled in a pilot class, you will receive a formal letter detailing how the College aims to use Microsoft Teams. This letter also provides links to help you support your son to learn how to use Teams, should you wish to become involved. Of course, our pilot teachers will be showing students how to communicate, collaborate and engage with their subjects in this online and connected space.

Even if your son is not enrolled in a pilot class the Teams platform still available to him, via the Teams Chat function. Teams Chat allows students to converse with each other, form small chat groups and work collaboratively. This is beneficial for students working together on projects, in special interest groups and peer mentoring/academic support programs. Your son is receiving documentation and guidance this week to ensure he is aware of the expectations of any and all online Teams Chats. However, I will include some of the key points regarding online etiquette here so you can address this with your son.

Online etiquette involves:

• Correct spelling and expression – always;
• Posting information that is true, kind and purposeful;
• Posting information that is a positive reflection upon both the sender and recipient;
• NOT posting files or information without consent;
• Taking responsibility for what is posted – editing and/or deleting information where mistakes have been identified by others;
• NEVER posting information to wilfully harass, intimidate, isolate, embarrass or bully another person – including posting to private groups.

When we commence Semester 2, all classes at the College will be using Microsoft Teams. We will look to the guidance and wisdom of our pilot Teams classes as we move towards this important step later this year.

If you have any questions regarding Microsoft Teams, please contact me at the College via email: jlane@vnc.qld.edu.au

Mr Jason Lane, eLearning Pedagogy Leader

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” – Michael Jordan.

Basketball is an important part of my life, and so sporting biographies and podcasts are always of great interest to me.  The “Last Dance” documentary on Netflix in 2020, showed an incredible insight into Michael Jordan and his last season with the Chicago Bulls.  I was mesmerized with the footage of team members, and even the era (the late 1990s looked incredibly dated and old-school, but that is another article altogether) – memories from my childhood, and every bit of information I have absorbed over the years in social media was enhanced by some brilliant directing and editing of never seen before “behind the scenes” footage.  Maybe, it meant more to me because there were some childhood heroes speaking and so nostalgia kicks in, but as an adult I am also in awe of the power that one person can have in a team, but the team is what makes that individual be their best.

Michael Jordan is fiercely competitive and demands the highest of standards from others, which he models himself.  He has traits that do not always show the best side of him, especially out of context, and he will admit the mistakes he has made professionally and personally.  Yet, I am in awe of his ability to work so hard, for so long, and bring the game to the level it could be – at a time when research, technology and marketing was just beginning to reveal the potential an athlete could have, with the right preparation.  He had to perform at an elite standard, knowing that his fans expected it, and that his rivals would relish in anything less.  Jordan had to make sacrifices to get where he did, like any professional athlete, even in 2021.  The hours of training, therapy, diet, travel, obligations for contracts, and somewhere in between the chance to see family and friends required discipline, and the ability to prioritise knowing that he would never be able to please everybody was his reality.

My point is, even Michael Jordan could never have achieved his success without several teams.  His first team would have been his family – two parents, four siblings – they taught him the benefits of hard work at home and school.  Michael did not make the basketball team at first, so he worked on skills and drills, and got a spot the following year.  He would not give up.  He made changes and his opportunities turned into accomplishments.  Michael Jordan is worth $1.6 billion dollars because of his work ethic, talent, decision making, and his trust in his family, coaches, teammates, and friends.

What I really want to emphasise is that any single boy in the Junior School could be on his way to a similar journey.  Imagine the potential we have around us.  It may not be in basketball, but in a profession, we cannot even imagine now.  What matters is that we show these young men the work ethic it takes to be successful in life.  If I were to take the top five tips from Michael Jordan, and bring them to the world of Year 5 and Year 6, these would be it:

1. Believe there is a way to get what you want – be smart, plan and go get it. Want a better grade, or to make a particular team?  Then figure out the changes you need to make, because doing the same thing will get you the same result, guaranteed.

2. Know you have a team to help you be your best – you are not alone. Parents, teachers, mates.  Be brave and ask.  There is no better feeling than the first person who says, “Sure I will” and it will happen.
3. Be prepared for changes to be slow and steady. You cannot be Michael Jordan at age 10 or 11.  So, it is about steps.  There is also a lot to be said for confidence, and that comes with the small changes – you realise you can make better decisions in assessment tasks, or in a game situation when you really master the content or skills you need.
4. Take risks. You might not get the results you want the first time – it is ok to be disappointed.  Do not give up.  Make more changes – the right path for you is there.
5. Celebrate the efforts along the way. Be proud of your time and effort.  Show appreciation to the people who help you out.  Realise that some wins are small, but just as important as those podium finishes.

After Monday’s Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, I hope all our boys realise their potential.  Term 1 sets the standard, and Term 2 is about growth.  To grow, requires a team of people.  If we choose to work together, these budding minds and bodies in the Junior School can truly achieve anything.  Let us make the most out of the nine weeks we have together and aim high.  Everyone, regardless of ability, has the potential to be a champion.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Despite some wet weather over the Easter weekend, I hope holidays served as an opportunity for the boys to rest and recharge. I know that many took some time in Term One to adjust to the rigours of a new year level. Whilst the rigour should only continue to increase, hopefully the boys established good routines and study structures early in the term.

On Monday, the Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences were a great opportunity to hear feedback from their teachers, which can be applied as the new term commences. I would always encourage students (or parents) to not wait for such conferences if they are in need of teacher feedback, but rather contact their teachers or Year Level Coordinators at any time.

This week the first half of our Year 9 cohort completed their annual camp experience. With a focus on leadership, the boys have been challenged throughout the week to support one another through a range of activities.

Due to concerns about COVID restrictions and border closures, we were unable to travel to Pindari NSW, this year, instead heading to the beachside wilderness of Noosa Northshore. One of the highlights of the camp is the canoe expedition out to Boreen Point and overnight camp out.   The boys have been fantastic and have risen to the challenges set for them. On behalf of the boys, I especially thank the staff for their support and assistance throughout the week.

We look forward to the other half of the Year 9 cohort getting the opportunity to enjoy their camp experience in Week 3.

As always, have a great week as we look forward to another term of academic challenges, fun and satisfying rewards.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Welcome Back
I hope that all Senior School families had a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable Easter holiday period and that all students are re-energised and determined to commence this second term with a mindset for continual improvement- both academically and personally.

Whilst this term has three consecutive Mondays of student free days/public holidays, it is imperative that students do not remain in a holiday headspace. They must return to disciplined routines and study plans immediately to ensure that positive momentum is not hindered. With the advent of the second trimester of sport which always brings much excitement and student engagement- there is well over two thirds of the student body involved in either chess, cross country, football, or rugby- the importance of good organisation will be vital to enable students to effectively balance their studies with their co-curricular activities. I look forward to seeing many families out at Villanova Park on Saturdays across the term ahead.

Finally, as a College we acknowledge the eternal sacrifice of our fallen veterans and the contribution of our current defence personnel at our annual Anzac Day commemoration service in Goold Hall tomorrow. Whilst the pandemic led to some unique yet profound ways of remembrance last year, marked with many families lighting a candle at dawn on their driveways, it is pleasing that the diggers get to march this year and that some services will be able to go ahead, including the Coorparoo RSL Service in which our students are invited to participate. Those students who intend to represent the College at the march on Sunday are asked to gather at Baragoola Street, Coorparoo at 7.45am in full winter uniform. Lest we forget!

The Value of Patience
I read with great interest the editorial in the May edition of Men Health’s magazine with the title of ‘Wait Training’, a clever pun regarding the usual focus on weight training. I would like to share an excerpt from Scott Henderson’s article about the value of patience and investing in process over product.

‘They say good things come to those who wait. But in 2021, you have to ask yourself is still the case? We can get food delivered to our door in minutes, watch any movie or TV show on demand and order a new wardrobe while scrolling though social media. Surely, it is widely accepted that good things come to those who own a smartphone. Patience, these days, is rarely required.

It is no wonder, then, that when it comes to our health, relationships and careers, we often become overwhelmed and frustrated with slow progress. In this world of instant gratification, we wonder why our larger goals can’t also be achieved overnight?

Patience is something that we have all been forced to become reacquainted with this part year as we have waited for a return to normality, a vaccine, travel, seeing loved ones… the list goes on.

It is difficult not to get caught up in the hype of instant results. Blame social media, or the media in general, but it is the end result we often project to the world, rather than the journey.

My own advice is to identify your goals, commit to them and enjoy the process of chasing them down. Have patience and forgive yourself for not having everything you want now. Great things come to those prepared to immerse themselves in the journey and wait.

The Art of Public Speaking
As both an English teacher and a passionate advocate of the archetype that is ‘a renaissance man’, I place an incredibly high value on the art of public speaking. Unfortunately, for many of our young men, it is a skill that is not often cultivated or practiced, even though most English and Religion courses contain oral presentations within the suite of assessment.

In listening to a recent episode of The Art of Manliness podcast, I was immediately fascinated by the discussion between the host and Professor John Hale who shared a range of pragmatic ideas about public speaking from history’s great orators. Hale outlined ‘what we can learn about the physicality of public speaking from Demosthenes of Athens, the importance of empathetic body language from Patrick Henry, the effective use of humour from Will Rogers, the power of three from the apostle Paul, and the potency of brevity and well-executed organization from Abraham Lincoln.’ It is a podcast which I strongly recommend our young men have a listen to in preparing for their spoken tasks this coming term. It can be accessed by the following link:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/guide-to-effective-public-speaking/

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.” – John Ford

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Lockdown in Holy Week: New Awareness for Living Gratefully and Walking Humbly!
As I imagine like most people in Brisbane, on the last Monday of Term 1, I certainly did not really anticipate lockdown by 5pm.  As the morning began, I was busily preparing for the week ahead and hitting the road for Year 12 retreat.  There was genuine disbelief in the car I was travelling in as we hit the range of Mount Tamborine, when the call came through that a three-day down lockdown had been announced.  Suddenly life as we were expecting it was taking a u-turn.

In the coming days we were at home. We shifted to mask wearing, limited moving around our community and returned to online learning.  Life changed in a matter of hours.

Our current context is certainly teaching us not to take anything for granted!  We are also learning how important as a community it is to take swift and immediate action as a preventative measure.  Caring for one another is ironically expressed in moving to isolation and slowing down our interactions with one another.  Are we perhaps being drawn also to live more gratefully?  Are we also developing a humility that makes us more present to one another?

I found however, due to lockdown, the journey of Holy Week began became illuminated in a new way.  The lockdown stripped away activity and made the starkness of Holy Week more pronounced and its challenge more amplified.  How much suffering have we seen across our world in the last 12 months?  How many sacrifices have we made to protect ourselves and others?  How grateful are we to the front-line workers who risk their own health to ensure the care of others?  How acutely aware are we of the places of privilege where people have the space and capacity to isolate when needed?  How much more flexible and adaptable have we needed to become?  How much can we change when we need to?   How much are compassionate and just responses desperately needed in this time of pandemic?  Do we dare at this time to go more deeply into a new and demanding identification with the Passion and death of Jesus, and so too into a deeper understanding of the transformed glory of his resurrection?

I spent Holy Week sitting with the Passion and Easter meditations written by Sarah Coakley who wrote them through the eyes of Mary Magdalene.  I offer her introduction for your reflection on Holy week and the invitation being offered to us as Easter people:

“We are humanly and globally more united now than we have ever been (by this very disease), and yet — seemingly — more separated than ever (by our fear of it). It is as if we have crashed precipitously into Holy Saturday, into the silence and emptiness and shock of Jesus’s tragic death before we have even started the journey up to Jerusalem with him. But we still have to walk the way of his story this week.

And the trouble with the controlling coronavirus “story,” of course, is that it isn’t just a story — we are in it, and for now none of us can get out of it. But the glory of the Passion story is that it also isn’t just a story: it is, as we Christians have to remind ourselves afresh at this time, the story, the final and ultimate story of “life and death contending,” and of life triumphing in the extraordinary power and mystery of the resurrection, in which God’s Son breaks out beyond the bonds of death and shatters the forces of darkness and sin. And that mystery, we must also remind ourselves now, in faith and hope and love, already binds us all together across the boundaries of time and space and even death itself; just as — inversely — the fear and anguish of COVID-19 reminds us right now of this same fact: that we belong together for ever, in need and vulnerability and compassion and mutual longing. We are one — both in death and in life.

So, when the coronavirus story meets the Passion story this Holy Week, we are not, after all, empty-handed as Christians, even though we ache and yearn for the physical comfort of the familiar sacraments that are currently denied us, and we quake in fear at the pestilence itself. For this year we are being stretched in new and even newly unthinkable ways, precisely by that fear and by that temporary sacramental loss, to understand afresh the core of our baptismal faith: that the resurrected body of Christ encompasses and sustains us all, “ourselves, our souls and bodies,” even in and through death itself, and mystically unites us not only to Him but to each other.

It follows that the coronavirus story will not only not have the last word, but that even in its random cruelty it may yet turn us back to the transcendent source and unity of our Being, and to a realisation that as “very members incorporate” in this Christic body, we are now being called into a future — political as well as social — that it is our Christian duty to re-imagine in the wake of it.”

In this Easter period, the College extends this prayer to all who are struggling with the challenging impacts of the pandemic.

Creator God
We pray for those whose lives have been turned upside-down by COVID-19.
For those who have contracted the disease
For those who have died, and their families
For those whose health has been compromised by the effects of the COVID force

For those whose family lives haves become unsettled, stressful, and dangerous.
For those whose health is compromised we pray for
acceptance and a move toward restored health.

For those whose workplace is altered we pray for
the ability to come to terms with a new reality.

For those who can no longer sustain their own business we pray for
sustained help in the struggle to make ends meet

For those who must work at home and care for family members we pray for
an open expression of need when the pressure becomes overwhelming.

We pray also for those whose daily work exposes them to COVID-19.

We extend our wholehearted thanks for the risks they are taking, and we pray for them, for we believe our praying will lead to action.

May the Resurrection of Jesus sustain us and our world in these challenging times.

Source: Adapted from prayers of David Sparks, United Church of Canada minister
https://united-church.ca/community-and-faith/being-community/faith-communities-and-covid-19

Vinnies Youth Camp
On the recent school holidays, Senior students Gabe Gutierrez and Tom Price ventured to the Sunshine Coast to give up their time to be a friend to a young person in need. Attending the Vinnies Youth recreational camp for young people experiencing disadvantage, the boys supported their little buddies to have a wonderful experience of fun and friendship. The boys engaged with their buddies in team games, craft activities and even a flying fox! The boys had a great time and would definitely recommend the experience as one that was thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile.

A big thank you to the Vinnies Youth team for offering us places for our seniors to be involved in this program that supports so many young people and families at risk in our local community.

Cleaning up Norman Creek
Our Green team has continued to take action over the holidays with another clean-up of Norman Creek on Sunday 18 April.  Students and staff gathered to assist in this work.  Together putting their concerns and passion for our environment into action to help create cleaner waterways.

A big thank-you to all involved and an invitation to anyone interested to join in the last clean up in this series in the coming weeks.  Please come along to our Green team meeting to learn more about this important work.

Anzac Day
This Sunday, Villanova College will be marching in the Coorparoo RSL Anzac Day March. Students are encouraged to attend this important occasion. The march will commence at 8.00 am from Baragoola Street. Students are asked to wear their academic uniform including hats and be in attendance at 7.45 am to assemble behind the College banner.

The Augustinian magazine
The April edition of The Augustinian is now available. Click here to read.

Sunday Readings at Home
Please use this link to access this week’s readings and commentaries.

Ms Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

I take this opportunity to welcome back all families to Villanova College for what I hope was a restful and enjoyable time as a family over the Easter break. Looking ahead there is no doubt that Term 2 sport will be another action-packed adventure. During this term AIC chess, cross country, rugby and football will get into full swing. The annual AIC Golf Championship will be played. This tournament has been moved from Term 4 to Term 2 this year. Our AIC Cross Country squads will continue with their preparations for the up-coming AIC Cross Country Championships which will be held on Wednesday 2 June (Week 7)  at Curlew Park.

This weekend Villanova will play a trial round of chess, rugby and football against St Patrick’s College (SPC). Due to the St Patrick’s Year 12 Formal, most games hosted at Curlew Park have been scheduled earlier in the day to allow the boys to get prepared for the night ahead. Given it is a long weekend, this arrangement is beneficial to both Colleges as I am aware many families may be looking to depart for a well-earned long weekend after the games. As from Round 1 the start times will revert to the normal 2.15pm kick off time for the First XV rugby and remain at 12.15pm for the First XI football.

Our First IV Tennis Development Squad have begun their 2021 pre-season program which will be held each Wednesday evening at the Morningside Tennis Centre. On top of this, there will be many Lytton/Composite and Met East events held throughout the term as per the regional sports calendar.

As you can see there are plenty of opportunities for all students to become involved in the sports program. We expect that when a boy commits himself to a sporting team or squad, he follows through with that commitment until the end of season.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS:  Prior to the commencement of each sports season the College requires all students to complete an ‘online sign–on form’. Both the student and the parent are required to check a box indicating that they are willing to commit to that sport for the whole season.  The Sports Office uses this information to determine how many teams the College will nominate in that sport in each year level into the AIC competition. Coaches are appointed and training schedules, equipment, refs etc. are then organised to ensure all students are catered for.

We ask parents to support the College by ensuring their son attends all training sessions and is available to play each weekend. With the long weekend approaching it is important that all players make themselves available to play their allocated games on these weekends. If families are travelling away on these weekends, we ask that this be done after your son’s game is played. With the number of students who have registered to play rugby or football we have purposely submitted more teams into the competition with less reserves in each team to maximise every player’s playing time. If players do not attend the games on these long weekends, teams will be left short. This is not the Villanova College way. Again, please consider your son’s commitment to the team before making travel plans.

As we approach the chess, rugby and football trial matches for the season this weekend, I ask parents to be patient and understanding of the selection process. It is always a very short turnaround from season to season in the AIC calendar. The next two weeks both at training and during the trial games will be important for coaches in the selection process. Please attend all training sessions and games to make this process easier.

I wish everybody the very best this term and please remember to get involved, offer your talents to the College, and enjoy the good times spent with your mates!

Chess, Rugby and Football Trial Round v St Patrick’s College – Friday 23/Saturday 24 April
Please refer to the College’s website to view all times and venues for this weekend’s fixtures against SPC. Note that the weekly draw is found in the ‘Weekly Fixture’ section.

Villanova Park Canteen – Sports Club
The Sports Club requests the assistance of parents to help serve or cook at our canteens on the weekend. As players should arrive at least 30 minutes before their game for warm-up we propose parents could work in the canteen during this time. After the warm-up period working in the canteen parents could then see their son’s game. If we all pitched in it would make the task less demanding for others and helps build the community spirit. Please help if you can.

AIC Rugby and Football
Please ensure you access the College’s website to view weekly team lists, coaches contact details, by-laws, training schedules and weekly fixture schedules.

Be reminded that we are still in the trial process stage. We are hopeful that the teams will settle down next week after the trials this weekend v St Patrick’s College leading into Round 1 of the season.

AIC RUGBY
Mr Chris Everding, AIC Rugby Co-ordinator

The only disruption to training this week has been the Year 9 camp, which has hampered this age group to try and work on positional play and run backline moves and forward drills. The fields looked fantastic at training on Tuesday afternoon and there was some excitement bubbling around the place that we will finally get a full season in and everyone was ripping in knowing we are still in the trial phase of the season.

This weekend sees the Year 5 – 8 boys at Home to St Patrick’s College and we especially look forward to seeing the Year 5 boys run around in what will be their first game of rugby for Villanova. The Year 9 – Open teams will be out at Shorncliffe, except for the 9D/E and the Fifth XV and Sixth XV, who will all be back at Villanova Park as St Patrick’s do not have enough players to cover our numbers. Could I please ask that parents give a little bit of your time when you drop your boys off to assist in the canteen. You will be able to shoot off and watch your boys play and it is helping raise money for the Sports Club, who work tirelessly to provide equipment for ALL sports at Villanova. It is also a great way to meet other families at Villanova.

A big thanks to the coaches for their efforts in putting together teams in such a short timeframe and with so many disruptions. We still have another three training sessions and a trial game prior to Round 1 next week and it should also be pointed out that teams can change weekly because all the boys train together, injuries will become a factor in selections, and many sides will play at the same venue each week. Please keep encouraging your son’s if they believe they should be in a higher grade.  We have an experienced team of coaches and they are prepared to move players around and promote players where it is warranted.

AIC FOOTBALL
Mr Anthony Kemp, AIC Football Co-ordinator

Thankfully, this week has seen our teams be able to hit the pitch for training in preparation for the trial matches against St Patrick’s this weekend. As we are still in the trial process and sorting out teams with player movement, this weekend will serve as an important hit out for our boys. Our coaches have had a tough task so far with minimal training and trial games to get teams sorted and will use this weekend as another opportunity to work out their team lists. It is important to note that players will have the ability to move up and down teams throughout the season as well. I would like to thank our coaches for their hard work so far in getting the season underway.

Our Years 5 – 8 teams will be playing home this week at Villanova Park and hosting St Patrick’s. The Year 9 – Open teams will be playing away this week out at St Patrick’s, Shorncliffe. Could we please ask that boys arrive 30 minutes prior to their games to allow them sufficient time to get ready and allow the coaches to plan for the game. Also, if we would ask any parents who are available to help out in the canteen whilst out at Villanova Park on the weekends that would be greatly appreciated.

We are certainly looking forward to getting the football season started and here’s hoping there will be no more disruptions!

AIC CHESS
Nick Verity and Jack Lamb, AIC Chess Co-ordinators

The AIC Chess season resumes in Term 2 with our second trial round against St Patrick’s at Shorncliffe. We would like to remind players that lunchtime training is still on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. While it is not compulsory to attend all of these sessions, every player whose name is on a team list should make themselves available for at least one of these lunchtime sessions every week. These sessions are ideal to practise the ideas we have been looking at during morning training (forced check-mating patterns and opening principles). You will find team lists and training schedules on the College website.

AIC CROSS COUNTRY
The student participation in the Year 7 – 12 program has been excellent. It is good to see that the solid numbers present at training last term have not dropped off this term. Please see below some reminders regarding the training schedules:

Year 5 and Year 6 Squad
Training will be held each Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 3.15pm – 4.30pm. Boys are to meet Miss Roberts at the Junior School play area after school, she will then walk the boys down to training. Boys who cannot train both afternoons are encouraged to attend the non-compulsory training session on Sunday afternoons.

Enquiries: Tom Lonergan (Coach) 3349 0767 lonert24@gmail.com

Year 7 – 12 Squad
Training will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 6.45am. All students are to meet at the front of Goold Hall at 6.45am sharp (not at Little Langlands). Late comers must remain at the College.

IMPORTANT! – All Cross Country runners should be participating in two to three training sessions per week, unless they are involved in another sport, in which case they should be completing at least one cross country session per week to be prepared sufficiently for the AIC Championship.

AIC Cross Country Meets
All the AIC meets listed below apply to both the Year 5 and Year 6 and Year 7 – 12 squads at the same venue on the same day.  Buses will be available to transport all runners to and from the venue.

Wednesday 19 May – AIC Meet at St Laurence’s College Playing Fields, Runcorn. Hosted by St Laurence’s, this will be held in the afternoon after school. Buses will transport the squad to the venue and back to Villanova at the completion of the meet.

Wednesday 26 May – AIC Meet at Curlew Park, Sandgate. Hosted by St Patrick’s, this will be held in the afternoon after school. Buses will transport the squad to the venue and back to Villanova at the completion of the meet.

Wednesday 2 June AIC Championships – AIC Championships at Curlew Park, Sandgate.

Year 5 and Year 6 AIC Cross Country
Mr Tom Lonergan

It was pleasing to have so many turn up for training during the holidays. The boys trained on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of both weeks. On Monday of this week those boys who had trained, showed the benefit of this training when completing an arduous 3km Time Trial. Thirty boys completed the trial (12 from Year 6 and 18 from Year 5).  Four boys from Year 7 and Year 8 assisted by running with the Juniors and supporting them.

Training on Monday 26 April (Anzac Day Public Holiday) and Monday 2 May (Labour Day) will be held from 8.30 – 10 am at Whites Hill Sports Ground, Boundary Rd, Camp Hill (meet at Cricket clubhouse). Boys serious about representing Villanova in the AIC Championships need to attend this training as we have just six weeks from yesterday (21 April) until the Championship – Boys with Big Hearts run Cross Country.

Lytton District Cross Country
The Lytton District Cross Country Trial will be held at Villanova Park on Thursday 6 May. Selections will be finalised by Mr Lonergan and Miss Roberts over the next week at training. Four students will be selected in each of the U10, U11 and U12 age groups.

Villanova will be running the canteen at the trial and we will be looking for parents of the runners to assist with preparation and serving throughout the morning. A note will accompany the boys nominated regarding this request.

COMPOSITE SPORT
Please find below a list of composite trial and nomination dates. Paperwork for these trials is now available in the Sport Office.

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT
Congratulations to Tom Twaddell, Gus Godwin and Harry Grant-Smith who have all made the Met East Rugby Union Team.  These boys will attend the Queensland Schoolboy Rugby Union trials in late May. Best wishes boys!

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Augustine Centre Update
After further investigation prior to and over the Easter period, we have received advice that to effectively remediate the Augustine Centre will require some significant work.  The College is currently in discussion with consultants to determine the exact scope of works and timeline for completion.  Mr Stower has communicated that we expect this work to take at least all of Term Two at worst case.

I understand that we will be able to communicate more clearly with our community regarding the timelines for us to return to the Augustine Centre next week.  The College is determined to have this matter rectified as soon as possible to ensure a return to regular programming for our department and the rest of the school.  We will continue to update you regularly as this situation unfolds.

Lessons and Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be continuing as per our rehearsal schedule attached.  Please ensure your son checks the time and allocated space so that we can arrive punctually and maximise the rehearsal time we are afforded.

Teachers and tutors will have communicated with everyone regarding lessons times and venues.  I would like to commend our students for their flexibility and reliability with regards to lesson attendance.  Thank you all with your ongoing patience as we work through this challenging period.

Entertainment Publications Memberships
Entertainment memberships are one of the Music Support Groups main fundraisers.  Just click on the link attached in the flyer to purchase a membership and obtain ongoing special deals throughout the year.

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 or barbecue.

• Villanova Branded Camp Chairs – $35
• Wildcat Coolers – $30

Purchases can be collected from the Music Office and all profits will go to the Music Support Group. All items can be purchased via Trybooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML

Opportunity to Participate
The Music community at Villanova welcomes all students interested in participating in ensemble or instrument/vocal tuition.  If your son would like to take lessons on an instrument this year, please contact the Music Office on 3394 5691 or via email at music@vnc.qld.edu.au for further information.

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

Michael Jones, Director of Music

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Click here to purchase: https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/22002q9

P&F MOTHERS’ NIGHT
The  Villanova College P&F invites all Villanova mums to the annual P&F Mothers’ Night. Tickets are now available through Parent Lounge.

Date: Friday 7 May
Time: 6.30pm – 11.00pm
Venue: Senior Terraces, Villanova College
Tickets: $60 (includes drinks, nibbles and dancing)
RSVP: Monday 3 May

Support the improvement to play spaces around the College by purchasing Mothers’ Night raffle tickets (available through Parent Lounge and on the night).

The P&F would love to hear from Villa dads in Years 10, 11 and 12 who are able to assist on the night. Sign up to volunteer here.

SCHOOL PHOTOS
Silver Rose Photography will be taking class groups, individual and sibling photos on the following days:

Thursday 20 May: Year 12 cohort and individual photos and Year 11 class groups and individual photos

• Year 12 cohort are to be at Goold Hall, ready to be photographed at 7.00am sharp.
• Year 11 students are to be at Goold Hall, ready to be photographed at 8.40am sharp.
• Please wear full winter academic uniform, including tie, long trousers and blazer.

Monday 24 May: Year 5 to Year 10 class groups and individual photos and all sibling orders

Please wear full winter academic uniform, including tie (and long trousers and blazer for all Year 10 students).

Sibling packages MUST be ordered before Thursday 20 May.

All class group and individual orders MUST be in before Monday June 7 to avoid a late fee of $9.

Please note that Silver Rose never place student images online to view before purchase due to security reasons. If you are not happy with the image provided, Silver Rose will refund upon return of the photos. Please click here for ordering instructions.

ITEMS SOLD AT THE VILLANOVA PARK CANTEEN
Villa Supporter’s Caps  Pink or Gold – $20.00
Villa Supporter’s Shirts – $50.00  (some sizes sold out)
Mouthguards – Junior – Youth – Adult – $15.00
Shin Pads – Small – Medium – Large – $15.00

TUCKSHOP ROSTER (TUESDAY 27 APRIL – FRIDAY 30 APRIL)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.

FLEXISCHOOL ISSUE WITH STUDENT CARDS
After contacting Flexischools regarding issues students have been having with their cards for Tuckshop purchases, we ask the parents of boys affected to re-confirm that your son’s card is linked to your Flexischool account.

To do this, log in using either the App or Website, select Students and then edit your son’s details to add his student number in the Student Card number field. Remember to save after editing. How do I link a student card? https://community.flexischools.com.au/s/article/How-do-I-link-a-student-card

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY TRAVEL REBATE – Semester 1, 2021

• Does your child have a verified disability that requires transport assistance to and from school?
• Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s travel capability rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent?

Visit our website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of transport and apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by May 2021. Late applications cannot be accepted after 31 May 2021.

Rev. Fr. Patrick Leslie Seary OSA
Villanova Staff 1953 – 1960

Patrick Leslie Seary was born in Cairns in 1914, the eldest of eight children. His father was a policeman and the family moved from town to town across North Queensland. Consequently, Leslie attended many schools: the Malanda State School, Sisters of Mercy Convent School in Mareeba, and the Marist Brothers High School in Cairns.

He had thought about becoming a priest for some time, and after finishing school in 1933 the only priesthood he wanted to enter was the one he had lived with all his life – the Augustinians. There were no facilities to train Augustinians in Australia so Father Joe Phelan, the Vicar Provincial, put Les on a ship bound for Ireland and cabled the Irish Province that Les was on his way. The Provincial of the Irish Province received the cable and wrote immediately to say that they did not welcome receiving students from Australia at that time! It was too late though, Les was on his way and when he arrived in Ireland, he was accepted into the novitiate at Orlagh.

In 1935 he was sent to Rome to complete his studies at St Patrick’s Irish Augustinian College, obtaining a Degree of Bachelor of Divinity.  Les was ordained priest at St Theresa’s Carmelite Church in Rome in 1940.

World War II stopped normal passenger transport, and the young Australian priest was virtually a prisoner in Rome. The Vatican provided unrelenting efforts to assist people to leave Italy for safer areas, and had contact with Father Weber, a German priest, whose job it was to arrange, through an underground system, for Jews to leave Italy. Arranged by Father Weber, Les paid an official a bribe of 3000 lire (the Swiss Embassy gave him the money) and was able to board a flight to Portugal, and then fly to Ireland.

In 1948 Fr Les was sent to Nigeria, where the Irish Province maintained a mission. He travelled to Kaya where, with Father Malachy Cullen, he pioneered a new Mission. The priests worked with the farmers who were on a subsistence level of living. The Catholic church had few facilities at that time at Kaya and one of the first projects undertaken by the priests was to set up a small school with 29 boarders. Some of the tragedies, epidemics of measles and meningitis with high fatalities, devastated the priests in their helplessness to stem the death rates.

In 1950, Fr Seary moved to Bazza, a thousand miles from the Nigerian coast. The Catholics in the district were mainly Biafrans, who had suffered in the Civil War. His first job was building a school and was then appointed ‘Father in Charge’ to establish a mission. He built a Mission station and became a familiar figure throughout the surrounding mountains and villages of the Higgi Tribe. Les enjoyed his work at Bazza, and the people responded to his preaching of the Good News and dubbed him, with much affection, ‘Father John’ (how Les came to be known as ‘Jack’ is another story).

When the Australian Province of the Order of St Augustine was established to 1952, Les was recalled to Australia and was appointed to the new Villanova College campus at Coorparoo. He was a natural sportsman and seemed to turn his hand to most sports, serving as Villanova’s first sports master. His sense of humour, skill as a teacher and ability to remain undaunted at the prospect of teaching a class of almost 80 boys endeared him to every boy who came in contact with him. Cricketer, golfer, pianist, boxing referee, teacher – Les was loved by all. He composed the Villanova war cry in Hausa, a Nigerian tongue (again, another story).

Villanova College Staff: 1954 Back Row: Fathers Rod Cameron, Tom Woods; Les Seary, Brian Mahony and Bernie Connolly
Front Row: Fathers Louis Hanrahan, Ben O’Donnell and Jim Ryan

Fr Leslie Seary, the first Sportsmaster at Villanova, coaching cricket

Fr Seary taught at Villanova College until 1960, then served at assistant priest in Cairns. In 1965 he celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his Ordination and was given a holiday, during which he returned to Ireland. It was whilst he was there that he was given permission by the Australia Province to return to his beloved Nigeria. Over the years spent in Nigeria he was stationed at various towns, including Gombi, Mubi, and finally at Biu.

Fr Les always had a happy outlook and never despaired at the difficulties of missionary work in Nigeria. Les passed away in Brisbane in 1992 and is buried at the Nudgee Catholic Cemetery.