Villa View – Issue 13, 10 August 2023

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to share in some detail a significant development at Villanova College designed to support and guide your boys through their journey and provide families with a level of connection and care that encourages success. We have in the last 12 months reviewed both our bullying and relationships framework and our behaviour support processes which have witnessed the development and implementation of the GREATS framework. The next step on the road to peak support and encouragement of your sons and their development is in relation to our school wide pastoral support structures.

The vertical house system, is designed to further nurture a sense of community, camaraderie, and school spirit among our students. We are confident that this exciting initiative will continue to enrich their educational experience and personal growth. To deliver a structure that supports our approaches to relationships and bullying prevention, provides psych-social support structures and peer to peer mentoring opportunities allowing boys to grow in a positive, dynamic and robust environment.

What changes in the new house system?

• Eight Unique Houses: Our new house system will consist of eight distinctive houses, each named after notable Augustinian figures, past and present, who embody the values we cherish at Villanova College. Each house will have its own values and unique emblems, representing the diversity and richness of our school community. Each of the eight Houses has a modern patron as well, to keep our links to the current House names.
• Daily pastoral support and further specific focus on student wellbeing program and the positive formation of young Augustinians: Each day, and each week, boys will further engage with the wellbeing program, activities such as circle time and pastoral support activities targeted to specific areas of growth and development. Additionally, each student becomes part of a House group and have an adult House mentor whom they partner with across their years at the College. Equally their Head of House will journey with families across the entire 8 years of a students time at the College, as opposed to a Head of year who cares for your child for 12 months and then they move on.
• Student Involvement: We believe in empowering our students to take an active role in shaping our school’s culture. As part of the house system, students will have the opportunity to vote on the colours of each house and share their thoughts on the House crests and symbols.
• Inter-House Competitions: The house system will bring friendly competitions and events to our school, promoting teamwork, leadership, and a healthy competitive spirit. Through these events, students will have opportunities to showcase their talents and strengthen bonds with their housemates. These activities are well beyond sports carnivals – they will include but not be limited to; academic performance, classroom effort and behaviour, performance showcases, chess, debating, service involvement, theatre sports, e-sports, as well as the traditional swimming cross country and athletics. They are designed to develop, encourage, and reward the complete Villanovan.

We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the new house system and want to keep you fully informed throughout the process. To achieve this, we have planned the following:

• Today Friday 11 August during the assembly, we officially introduced the house system to our students. We encourage you to talk to your children about this exciting change and support their involvement in the house selection process.
• A dedicated section on our school website will be launched in the coming weeks, providing comprehensive information about the house system. Here, you will find details about the house names, emblems, colours, and the timeline for upcoming events.
• Our school newsletters and social media platforms will include regular updates on the progress, success stories, and upcoming house-related events. We want to keep you engaged and informed every step of the way.
• From the responses in our parent feedback survey Mr Begg, Mr Levander, Mr O’Neill and Mr Rouhliadeff will host a webinar to present the House system and respond to people’s questions and interests.

We are excited about the positive impact the new house system will have on our school community and look forward to working together to make it a resounding success.

Your support, enthusiasm, and partnership are essential in creating an inclusive and thriving environment for our students.

Stay tuned for further information in this initiative to support your sons in the best way possible.

Parent Feedback Survey

Thankyou to all parents who were able to share some of their reflections and feedback with the College. Your support and interest is greatly appreciated.

The de-identified data has been shared with the College leadership team and will be discussed and enactioned as appropriate. Responses to some feedback in areas of improvement may be immediate while others may take some time to consider and evaluate.

Staff Senior Banquet

A wonderful night was shared with our Senior students on Wednesday of this week when we came together for the staff senior banquet. For our Year 12 students this is a hallmark moment dinner, where there are called to ‘the last lap’. It is both an acknowledgement of the journey to now but also a heralding call that the preparation period for external examinations has now begun and to reach their goals it is now that the energy and commitment to performance needs to rise to its peak.

I am most thankful to Mr Blake McLaughlin for his organisation of this evening and to our army of Year 12 parent volunteers who served us on the evening.

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.

Interiority
As an Augustinian school Villanova fosters the development of four key values – humility, community, the restless search for truth and interiority. A new award has been created this year in our Junior School, the Villanova Values Award. These awards are presented once a term at our Junior School assembly and each term focuses on one of our Augustinian values. Last Friday, we presented the awards to students who demonstrate a commitment and willingness to look inside themselves and practice interiority.

Interiority can be a difficult concept for our younger students to comprehend. St Augustine writes “Do not go outside yourself, but enter into yourself, for truth dwells in the interior self.” Interiority is all about the contemplation that occurs within ourselves, where we can find the truth. For our younger boys, connecting it the notion of your conscience can be helpful. It’s about developing an intrinsic motivation and learning what inspires us and motivates us. The big test for our boys is the choices they choose to make as they gradually experience greater moments of independence. Being able to make the right choices only works if we know ourselves well – interiority is the key to this self-knowledge.

Some characteristics of interiority in our students are boys who:

• Listen carefully to others
• Think deeply
• Consider their strengths and weaknesses
• Are patient and kind with themselves
• Are positive and optimistic about learning
• Are honest
• Strive for learning and improvement, instead of comparing themselves to others.

Moments for interiority are present in many areas of school life. When new content is delivered in the classroom, students can consult their “inner teacher” and try to make connections with their prior knowledge. When they attempt a new maths strategy, they can examine their method and evaluate its effectiveness. On the playground, if they find themselves playing a game where they don’t agree with the rules, they can be aware of their own thoughts and feelings and consider how their reactions may impact others.

At morning assembly in our Agora, I shared as a teenager I would often get in arguments with my parents, and then take the time in my room to reflect on my own behaviour and think about how I could have better spoken to them, without getting angry and yelling. Interiority can be difficult, especially for a young person with limited life experience, but in moments of quiet reflection understanding is achieved and learning takes place. As parents and educators we hope that the messages we continue to deliver to our young people are sitting somewhere within ready to be encountered by our boys as they continue their journey towards being a fine young man.

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the recipients of our Villanova Values Award for Interiority:
Year 5: Rayan S, Leonardo Z, Leo M, David Y, Nate E, Fred C, Beau R and Nick F
Year 6: Lachie D, Sam H, Alex L, Callum W, Coen W, Luka D, Eddie G, Lachlan A and Cooper S

Mr Callum Hackett, Head of Year 5 and 6

Last week our Year 9 students attended their Day of Reflection at the Queensland  Multicultural Centre. The day was facilitated by Michael Fitzpatrick who uses music, movement, and discussion to challenge the boys on their growth as individuals, their relationships with their friendship groups and their understanding of the cohort that they are making their Villa journey with.

The Day of Reflection is designed to give the boys an opportunity to think and reflect upon their school journey thus far. It also looks towards beginning the transition into the Senior School. Furthermore, the day enables the boys to reflect on themselves as an individual – how they perceive themselves within the whole year group, with a bit of reflection on their relationship with God thrown in for good measure!

All the staff present were very impressed by the way the students interacted throughout the day. They accepted the challenges that they were faced with and showed their familiarity with the concept of interiority in that they were able to reflect on both their own attitudes and those of the group. We also witnessed a real sense of ‘we’re in this together.’ It certainly shows the great promise these young men are displaying as they transition out of the Middle School and start to become the future leaders of our College.

On a less happy note, the Pastoral Area Leaders and I have begun to see a decline in the way the boys are wearing their College uniform. Please stress with your sons that there is a dress code and that all students are required to adhere to our uniform policy. They may seem small things, but having their top button done up with their tie, their socks pulled up and their shirt tucked in are all non-negotiables. We have re-implemented a ‘Sun-safe Room’ for students who have not been wearing a hat in the last week and it has been interesting to see how quickly the students have conformed to wearing one again. Our focus will now turn to ensuring our uniform is equally as well presented. I am asking for your help in this regard, please challenge your sons when they walk out the door to be wearing our college uniform correctly.

Finally, as a College, we all look forward to our Athletics Carnival. It is a great fun filled day [especially as the weather looks like being one of those fabulous Brisbane winter days] and a chance for all to get together and support each other. It will be a disrupted week, with the Ekka and QCMF holidays, but the Athletics Carnival is an all-College event that we all need to support and be present for. I ask all parents to support us in ensuring students are in attendance and giving their best efforts across all of the events.

As always, have a great week in the Middle School!

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Who am I?
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great individuals, and alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.

Who am I?
Habit

Aristotle once said, ‘we are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit.’ In striving for excellence in all our endeavours, it must become a way of living. The modern-day philosopher Ryan Holiday says of excellence- ‘its not a thing you do one time, it’s foundational, like an operating system and the code this system operates on is habit.’ Small adjustments, good systems, the right processes—that’s what it takes. Things like:

• When we wake up
• What we study and practice
• Who we have in our lives as influences
• Where we go and how we spend our time

Students who require support around their habit-making can obtain guidance from members of the Senior School Pastoral Care team or their ACP teacher.

Senior School Assembly
Last Friday, our Student Leadership Team hosted the first Senior School Assembly for the semester. Emceed by Isaac Solomon and Caden Griffiths, the assembly showcased the gifts and graces of our young men including the awarding of Trimester Two sports awards, a report by our Student Council President Nicholas Malanos, who unveiled the Senior Mural Legacy Project, as well as a wonderfully entertaining performance by our Percussion Ensemble of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal. As the GREATS Focus of the Assembly was on the pillar of Accountability, I spoke in my Head of School address about the importance yet challenge of collective accountability. John Curran once said, ‘evil prospers when good men do nothing.’ One of the greatest challenges in student leadership and character formation is to have the courage to call out behaviour and a mate who compromises our values. In shaping a positive school culture, we need to ensure that our students will not be bystanders to poor behaviour and bullying and that they commit to speaking out.

Staff Senior Banquet
On Wednesday evening, our Year 12 students continued one of the most storied traditions at Villanova College, joining with their teachers in table fellowship for the Staff-Senior Banquet. This quintessential Augustinian ritual illuminates the primacy of the teacher-student within our community and is unique in that our Seniors are able to enjoy a social occasion with our wonderfully generous staff. Given that our Year 12s completed their internal assessment program last week, the timing of the evening was perfect allowing our young men to be fully present and able to take their immediate focus off the books for one night. The night also reinforced the importance of continued unity and strength and a shared commitment by the Senior class moving into their mock and ultimately final examinations. As College Captain Mitchell Rieck stated in his toast to the College:

“Lads, as we stare down the final straight, I have two messages I wish to share. First, do not forget to be grateful. For your mates, your parents, your teachers, and your school. It is the personal moments, in which we genuinely interact with each other that is at the heart of human nature. And it is crucial that over the next three months, amongst the looming presence of externals and post school life, that we do not lose sight of that fact. And secondly, while I offer absolutely no resemblance in any form, I try my best to embody the great Kobe Bryant, in saying- job’s not finished. Our greatest challenge is yet to come, so if you think now is a time to take the foot off the pedal, you are gravely mistaken. It’s time to show everyone what the last 13 years of our lives have meant to us. As we approach the final straight, I challenge you to work harder than you ever have before, those hours of devotion will not go unrewarded. From this day forth, take the step towards your endless potential.”

I would like to thank Head of Year 12, Mr Blake McLauchlan for his organisation of the evening, coupled with the support of Mrs Kath Underhill. Furthermore, the significant contribution of the Year 12 Parent group, led by Mrs Narelle Rieck always makes the occasion a special memory for our young men.

“The friendship which draws human beings together in a tender bond is sweet to us because out of many minds it forges a unity.”- Saint Augustine

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Life Beyond Fear and Guilt
In our last Villa View I shared Part 1 of a three-part series of a blog from Br Damien Price.  Damien’s blog is called Encounters of the Heart and as a good storyteller and someone who now has decades of experience in working with young people his writing is always honest, insightful, challenging and heartwarming.   I invite you to have a read and to share his Blog around the family table over a meal or in those journeys in the car where we have precious moments for the conversations that matter with our teenage boys.  Damien’s blog prepares for our upcoming Referendum in October where as a nation we decide if our Australian constitution will have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to Parliament.

The last blog considered what it means to have a voice and to be heard.  This week’s blog considers our own reactions as we listen to others and our capacity to listen to our own internal knowing.  I think it is exactly what Augustine was talking about when he spoke about the value of ‘interiority’ that is so core to us here at Villa.

He writes:

Voice: Part 2
Life Beyond Fear and Guilt
“Pricey you’re speaking a lot of nonsense!” My reaction, so often, when people challenge me is immediately to go on the defensive. Internally I immediately justify my position and a whole litany of reasons why THEY are wrong come to my mind. I am immediately hooked into a dualistic approach: win – lose, right – wrong, black – white, saved – damned etc. If I am not careful Damien is always right, wise and saved and the rest of humanity is wrong, unwise, and biased. Real life is just not like that.

So, when topics such as ‘The Voice’ come up all of us, myself included, can run to defend our positions. We can feel judged, threatened, and misunderstood. If I am not careful Damien can go to a very ego driven high moral ground. So, for true discernment and decision making over the coming weeks as regards the upcoming referendum we will all need some true humility, huge ears and open hearts. This is particularly true when we feel strongly about an issue – but again here, one of the key questions is, “Why do I feel so strongly about this and where is this strength of feeling coming from?” There will be great wisdom and insight in the answers to that question.  Read more here: Life beyond fear and guilt – Encounter The Heart

Social Justice Forums
The All Hallows Human Rights group last week hosted a Justice forum on stopping Human Trafficking.  They had in attendance students from nine schools and a total of well over 100 students.  The evening provided some powerful facts and insights into human slavery and what actions can be taken to stop human trafficking.  There were powerful speakers from both A21 and Blue Dragon, but the power of the evening was most evident in the discussion amongst students about how to raise awareness and to advocate for change.  Some actions are as simple as knowing what we support through the products we buy.  Buying fairtrade and slavery free products are part of the small active steps we can take to ensure we are not unknowingly part of human slavery.

Globally there are nearly 50 million people experiencing modern slavery and it is estimated that 41 000 of these people reside in Australia.  Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in every state and territory in Australia.  Traffickers primarily exploit women and men in forced labour, and to a lesser extent women and girls in sex trafficking.  Labour trafficking occurs within the following industries: agriculture, cleaning, construction, hospitality and domestic service.

Students who attended from Year 11 and 12 will be sharing back their learnings in their RE classes and there are direct links to the curriculum in both SOR and Religion and Ethics when we are working on contemporary social justice and human rights issues.

Augustinian Group at World Youth Day
Last Wednesday following a three-week pilgrimage, Fr Saldie returned to Villanova College, after leading an Augustinian group to World Youth Day.  On the weekend over 1.5 million young Catholics from around the globe gathered in Lisbon, Portugal.  For the Augustinian group, their time included visiting a number of the key places connected with Augustine’s life.  We very much look forward to the stories from Fr Saldie in the coming weeks.  Amongst the crowds Fr Saldie found Dan Ingledew, an Old Boy from Villa whom we often connect with now through his work at St Vincent de Paul!

Date Claimers for Term 3
75th Anniversary Mass
On the Feast of Saint Augustine this year we are celebrating our 75th year as a College.  Our Archbishop Mark Coleridge will be with us for this occasion, and we will also be joined by a large number of the Augustinians.  We extend an invitation to families, past students indeed all connected with our community to join us via live stream on the day.  Please mark it in your diary – 9.30am Friday 25 August.  The link is:

https://youtube.com/live/t2QpOnOJjlQ?feature=share

Pastoral Masses
There has been some fantastic attendance at some of our masses over recent weeks.  The chapel is a great place to start the day as we take time to come together to listen, pray and support one another.  It is an opportunity to celebrate and deepen our connection as a community. Parents are welcome to attend when their son’s mass is on, and we love it when grandparents also attend.  Masses are held in the College chapel, commencing at 8am and finishing by  8.30am.

Please ensure that your son is present when his pastoral or team is gathering, and know that on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you are always welcome.

Term 3

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

I hope everyone has had a great start to Term Three. Going with the Year 10s on camp last week was an absolute hoot. Who doesn’t love being covered in mud, pulling ten tonne trucks and hiking in the bush at 9:00 at night? So much fun.

Boys are engaging with a range of skills in their Wellbeing lessons this term. I’d like to focus on the Year 8 unit – Gratitude. Practicing gratitude helps us feel energetic and excited about the future and much has been written lately about the impact it has on our wellbeing. Like many of the skills that are woven into the Wellbeing program, gratitude is a skill we need to practice and nurture to improve our mindset.

It’s so easy to take things for granted and focus on aspects of life that trouble or irritate us. The human brain has a natural tendency to give weight to negative experiences or interactions more than positive ones. Psychologists refer to this as negativity bias, and it causes people to focus on one bad thing in a mountain of good things.  And I’m guilty of it myself at times. Last weekend I was irritated having to drive halfway across Brisbane to get my kids to sport and repeatedly got grumpy at drivers going too fast, too slow and just generally being in my way. Experiencing positive emotions, like joy, gratitude, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration and love, has been found to benefit mental and physical health, social relationships, and academic outcomes.

Watching my kids involve themselves in a range of sport and activities made me realise I’m lucky to be able to watch them do the things they love. And then I watched the Firsts have a cracking win against Laurie’s and saw the Villa army support their mates and get behind the win.

I’m grateful to be a part of such a community.

So, I will be encouraging the boys to focus on things we are grateful for and pay attention to all the wonderful things in life, rather than focusing on the things they want or don’t have. Switching to this mindset will help them feel better about themselves and their world. I promise I’ll also put in a good word for everything you do for your sons. EVERYTHING.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Mrs. Sheridan Carey, Director of Student Wellbeing

Director of Sport Address
Villanova students have been engaged in a number of sporting activities in recent weeks, both within the AIC Competition and external representative avenues.

Congratulations to Mr Kropp and our Senior Volleyball players who performed exceptionally at the recent Volleyball Queensland Schools Cup, winning the Year 11 Division 1 Competition. This is a remarkable result and one that places our boys well in preparation for Nationals in December and the Term 1 AIC season.

Our Senior AFL team also participated in the AFL Queensland Schools Competition last Thursday. Playing Nudgee College in the quarter-finals stage, our boys competed well, just falling short by four goals. Well done to Mr Pascoe and our AFL boys for their efforts.

We warmly welcome St Edmund’s College in Round 4 fixtures this Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August.

Sport Review
It is our strong intention here at Villanova College to offer a professional, inclusive and evolving Sport programme. Our primary goal is to ensure that Villanova students are given opportunities to participate in Sport, regardless of their level of interest or inherent talent.

To truly be invested in strengthening our systems and processes around Sport, we must first be open to feedback from our families. The link below is an opportunity for Semester 1 sporting families to provide information on the positive areas of our programmes and the areas in most need of improvement.

A Sport Review will now be available at the end of each Semester, so a longitudinal analysis can be performed to ensure all of our (14) Sport programmes continue to perform, improve and evolve.

If your son(s) participated in Sport in Semester 1 2023, you are welcome to click on the link below and complete the form. If you would like to complete the form for multiple sports, please submit multiple entries.

Submissions may remain anonymous. Thank you for your valued and honest feedback.

Sport Review – Semester 1, 2023

Term 3 Results

Basketball – Round 3

Rugby League – Round 3

Tennis – Round 3

Communications
Families are reminded to access all Sport information via the Villanova College website and the Villanova College App. The Locker Room tab provides updated information regarding training schedules and current AIC/trial draws.

The AIC Draw 2023 can also be accessed here. A note that in some cases, draws may not match the AIC draw. Families are encouraged to always check The Locker Room for accurate draws. Weekly Team Lists will be posted regularly to the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe Portals.

Training Cancellations
Due to a number of external clashes and commitments next week (Week 6) – QCMF, public holiday and interhouse Track & Field carnival – training for all sport will be cancelled from Monday 14 to Friday 18 August. This also coincides with the bye round for all schools, with no fixtures on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August.

First teams in Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis may still train. This will be communicated by the relevant Head Coaches and Coordinators.

Sports Club
The Villa Sports Club are looking for volunteers this Saturday 12 August at the Goold Hall canteen. There is no link to register this weekend, just turn up on the day to lend a hand if you are available. We thank you for your support.

Dogs at AIC Sporting Venues
A reminder to all parents that due to Health and Safety requirements, all AIC Sporting venues are dog free venues including Villa Park. Please do not bring your dog/s.

Team Photos – Tennis
Tennis Team photos will take place at Morningside Tennis Centre this Saturday 12 August. Boys are reminded to be in full tennis playing uniform and arrive at least 10 mins prior to the photo time.

Sports teams who did not have their photo taken in Term 3 will receive communication later this term or early next term with regards to when this will take place. This involves:

• Rugby League – 6A, 6B.
• Basketball – 1sts, 3rds, 4ths, 11B, 11C, All Year 5 and 6.

Training Schedules
Please see below the The Term 3 training schedule for Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis. This schedule has been updated so please check this document carefully.

Term 3 Training Schedule

Golf
In an inspiring display of skill and precision on the golf course, Tom Wynn (Year 12) rose to the challenge once again to lead the Villa team at the recent AIC Golf Competition played at Keperra Gold Club on Monday 31 July.

Playing off a scratch handicap on the day, Tom showcased his prowess by finishing the round with an impressive score of one under par, securing a remarkable 70 off the stick. His stirring performance allowed him to emerge as the overall winner of the stroke division, with his undefeated record remaining intact. Similarly, Ben Pickering (Year 12) displayed his ability with a commendable nett score of 68, securing third place in the handicap division. Meanwhile, Oliver Wright (Year 7), with a handicap of 9, carded a respectable 85 and this performance earned him a 14th place finish in the stroke division.

The tournament also saw the participation of promising young talents Archie Goad (Year 5), John Martin (Year 7) and Tate Ramsay (Year 9). Overall, the tournament provided a platform for these talented golfers to exhibit their skills and foster a healthy competition among the AIC Colleges. All six competitors represented the College with distinction on the day and the four younger members are already looking forward to reclaiming the Balharry Shield in 2024.

Mr Matt Conlan, Golf Coordinator

Basketball
It was another great weekend on the court for our Basketball teams this past weekend against St Laurence’s College. Whilst some tough matches were played, it was great to see our boys rise to the challenge and post some great results against a well-drilled opposition.

Our First V team posted another great win, Head Coach Jordan had this to say after the game.

The Laurie’s game always comes with an added element of urgency and importance due to the close relationship the schools have had over the years. The Villanova 1^st  V Wildcats were up for the task with a fast start with some impressive shooting from McDowell-White and good passing between Rouhliadeff and Moloney.

A solid first half defensive effort from the Wildcats saw them hold Laurie’s to just 15 points. In the second half Laurie’s were able to punish some poor defensive decisions that allowed for easy lay-ups and wide-open threes, swinging momentum in their favour. But the Wildcats depth and experience would prove too much running away with it 80-47.

This weekend we take on St Edmunds College in what will be another tough encounter. Can I please ask families to check the draw carefully as start times may differ from previous weeks?

I wish teams all the best for this coming weekend!

Mr Todd Kropp, Basketball Coordinator

Rugby League
We had a positive Round 3 against St. Laurence’s College on the weekend, securing two draws, three wins, and five losses. Our young men demonstrated their ability to back themselves, playing with grit and determination until the final whistle. Many matches were closely contested, and it is gratifying to witness the continuous improvement of our players each week.

Throughout the day, it was evident that some of our boys who experienced defeat were disappointed. However, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our young men that growth and resilience stem from overcoming challenges. I urge our boys to persist in rigorous training, maintain a positive mindset, and, most importantly, continue to enjoy the game.

The 1st XIII achieved an impressive 22-12 win over SLC, instilling our players with a tremendous amount of confidence heading into the final three rounds of the AIC competition. Their ball movement was smooth and precise, with effective communication among players, resulting in scoring opportunities through well-timed passes and clever running lines. The boys exhibited excellent decision-making skills, promptly identifying gaps in SLC’s defence and capitalizing on them to gain metres. Notably, the 1st XIII’s defensive performance was equally commendable. Their ability to sustain their defensive efforts throughout the majority of the match was impressive. They remained organized and supportive of one another, preventing SLC from gaining momentum and maintaining control of the game.

Next, we face St. Edmund’s College for Round 4 at Iona College. Please refer to the draw posted on the website for the time and field allocation for Villanova. Make sure to allow sufficient travel time, arriving at Iona at least 30 minutes before your scheduled kick-off time, unless instructed to arrive earlier by your coach.

Lastly, a reminder to notify your coach if you are unable to attend training, allowing them to plan effectively and make the most of the sessions. Coach contact details can be found in the AIC Rugby League section of the Locker Room.

I wish all teams the best of luck for Round 4 of the 2023 AIC competition. Let’s train hard, play aggressively, stay true to the spirit of the game, and as always, strive for victory.

Mr Blake McLauchlan, Rugby League Coordinator

Tennis First IV
Given St. Laurence’s are one of the premiership favourites this year, our first home match of the season was always going to be a challenge. This challenge was compounded with the late withdrawal of one of our players due to illness. This led to Luke Phillips making his debut for the First IV. While his matches were challenging, the experience at this level will certainly leave him in good stead should he need to stand in for the First IV again this year.

Overall, the 7-1 loss was disappointing. However, there were standout performances by our boys with Reuben Wagels, winning his singles in straight sets and our captain Adam Zanatta, who once again fought from a set down to force a super tiebreaker in his singles match. Despite taking two falls, Adam fought hard to the end, losing 10-7 in the super tiebreaker.

We are looking forward to being back at home this weekend to take on St Edmund’s.

Mr Justin Musumeci, First IV Manager

Tennis
I would like to congratulate all our Villa tennis players from our round 3 matches Vs St Laurence’s. It was always going to be a tough day against a well-trained opposition. I did get the opportunity to watch some matches played at the home venue where the Senior teams competed. It was refreshing to see how competitive our players are, and how far they have come from the beginning of the season. It was great to watch our boys compete in tie-break situations with the same determination that they started the match, it is certainly much easier said than done – but I encourage all our players to value and fight for every opportunity to win a rally, game, or set.

Can I please remind all AIC Tennis players about the commitment to the Villa uniform.  Players are only to wear the tennis uniform outlined on the Locker Room. Many of these fixtures take place in public centres and we want to look our best to represent our College.

Teams playing at home at MTC this weekend will have team photos taken. It is very important to make sure that you know your photo times as outlined in the weekly draw. Please allow extra travel time and arrive earlier this Saturday, so that you don’t miss your team photo.

I would like to say a massive thank you to our Year 5 and 6 Tennis Manager Mrs Maria Mascadri and our 1^st Tennis Manager Mr Justin Musumeci for organising the 1^st Tennis squad to attend the Year 5 and 6 Tuesday training session. Although the session was aimed around positivity and fun, it also highlighted to our Junior tennis players that if they continue to have a positive attitude at training, and more importantly – enjoy the sport of tennis and the values of what it means to represent Villanova, the College will provide a supportive program and sporting pathway to help them achieve their goals. Thank you again to Mrs Mascadri and Mr Musumeci for supporting this initiative and making it such a memorable experience for all involved.

Mr Nathan Dufty, Tennis Coordinator

Track & Field
Villanova Interhouse Track & Field Carnival Years 5-12 – COMPULSORY!
All students from Years 5-12 are required to attend Villanova’s annual Track and Field Carnival at Villa Park next Thursday 17 August. All students are to attend school as per normal times wearing their PE uniform to and from the College.  Buses will then transport the boys to and from Villa Park. Boys with before school training for either Basketball (Clem Jones Centre) or Tennis (Morningside Tennis Centre) will be bused directly to Villa Park at the conclusion of their training. We hope all parents support the College to ensure all boys attend. Canteen facilities will be available at the Park with cash and Eftpos options available. Student cards will not be accepted. We ask students to bring a small bag on the day for their belongings including a hat, sunscreen and water bottles (food etc.). The first events are due to start a 9:40am with the last event concluding at 2.00pm followed by presentations. All students will be rotated around 100m, hurdles (championship event only), bin ball, 200m, javelin, 800m, long jump, discus (Year 7 only), shot put, high jump (a select few in each age group only) and tug-of-war events. Our aim is to have fun, promote Track & Field, give everybody a go, showcase our best athletes, and identify those boys who should be in our AIC Track & Field squad.

Our Track and Field coaches will be posted on all Championship events for them to identify our best athletes and encourage them into our T&F program, which will continue training throughout the term. We would expect all members of our rugby and football development programs as well as all ‘A’ team members of each of the sports we have on offer to excel and be at the forefront of the T&F program.

Track and Field – Championship Events and ‘Fast ‘n’ Furious’
Students will have the option of competing in each or all individual championship events rather than selecting a relatively small group of boys to do them all. Boys have had the opportunity to sign-on for Championship events in the last week – these sign ons closed on Thursday of this week. The championship events include the 100m, 200m, hurdles, 800m, long jump, shot put, javelin (Year 7-12 only) and high jump.

Students who do not wish to participate in the championship events will compete in the non-championship program.

Boys will be given the opportunity to compete in a ‘fast and furious’ 100m race. We are looking for our 10 best runners in each age group to nominate themselves for this event. The chosen finalists will then compete in the first event at the Villanova Inter-House Track and Field Carnival in front of the entire school for the ‘fast and furious’ final. The winner of each age group will be awarded a prize (TBC) by the Sports Office.

At the end of the day, we want Villa’s best athletes to compete against each other and for the College to identify our best athletes to join our AIC Track and Field Program. It would be reasonable to expect that all ‘A’ team members in all sports, nominate for at least one Championship event. Ben Mowen, Andrew Slack, Junior Football Development Squad and 1^st Football candidates for next year’s season must nominate or they may not be considered for these squads.

Training will continue in Week 7 according to the schedule below. Middle distance runners will train at Little Langlands on Monday and Wednesday mornings and all other disciplines will train at Villanova Park on either Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday afternoons. Boys training in the afternoons, will be bused to Villa Park after school and a bus will be provided to bring them back to the College, arriving at Villa at approximately 5.45pm. Parents can pick up their sons at Villanova Park at the conclusion of training, however if they are not collected by 5.10pm they will be put on the return bus back to the College.

Sprints/ Hurdles
When – Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
Where – Villanova Park
Time – Bus departs Villanova at 3.10pm and returns at 5.45pm

Throws (Javelin, Shot and Discus)
When – Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
Where – Villanova Park
Time – Bus departs Villanova at 3.10pm and returns at 5.45pm

Jumps (High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump)
When – Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
Where – Villanova Park
Time – Bus departs Villanova at 3.10pm and returns at 5.45pm

Middle Distance
When- Monday and Wednesday mornings 6.45 – 8.00 am.
Where- Please meet in front of Goold Hall at 6.45am. Coaches – Mr Brian Pascoe and Miss Amy Roberts
Time- 6.45am

We do understand that many of our athletes will have other co-curricular commitments including AIC Rugby League, AIC Tennis or AIC Basketball. The Sports Office at Villanova College is keen to negotiate an individual training schedule with these students for them to participate and represent the College in Track and Field. This is important to our program as it ensures our best athletes are representing Villanova on the day of the Championships.

AIC TRACK & FIELD TRAINING DATES & VENUES – 2023

Mr Chris Everding, Track & Field Coordinator

Villanova Volleyball – Seniors Schools Cup
It was a great weekend for our Volleyball teams as our Year 11 and 12 teams competed in Volleyball Qld’s Senior Schools Cup event. This event plays host to 310 school teams from all over Queensland. Our teams entered Division 1 of their respective year levels and we are happy to announce our Year 12 team finished in seventh place of 20 teams and Year 11 team finished the final with a 2-1 win over Marist College Ashgrove claiming the Gold Medal of the division. We also congratulate Year 11 student Jack Renner for being named the Most Valuable Player of the Division.

As the AIC Volleyball program will commence once again later this term, we look forward to following the progress of this team with great interest.

Composite District (representative) Futsal
Paperwork for the 13-14 years Futsal trials is now available from the Sports Office.

Strength & Conditioning
For the Term 3 schedule and sign on links, please visit The Locker Room.

Mr Marco Mastrorocco, S&C Coordinator

Zone Cricket Parent Representatives needed.
Our Term 4 Zone Cricket program includes.

• Morning training sessions based at Little Langlands nets which is convenient for parent drop off.
• A professional skill based weekly “coaching program” for all players.
• Opportunity for “higher divisions” to play weekly matches on turf.
• Fun end of season cricket presentation day at Villa Park.
• A chance to meet new mates whilst having plenty of fun.

External Achievements
The U12 Football Championships were held in a wet and windy Cairns last week. Year 7 student, Charles Warr, was captain of the Met East team. They finished second in the boys competition, and in the aggregate trophy. In addition to the Silver medal finish, Charles was awarded player of the match in the final by the opposition. Congratulations Charles!

External Sport Advertising
Cyclones Basketball Club

QCMF 2023
We are now one week away from QCMF 2023.  It is going to be another incredible event with over 14,500 students coming to share their music with us from 17-20 August.

Performance times for all Villa ensembles have been sent to participant students.  Please contact the Music Office should you require clarification.  Information regarding logistics for the Festival performers will be sent over the coming fortnight.

We encourage everyone to pre-purchase tickets this year via our website – www.qcmf.com.au.  Festival and day passes are on offer and will be sold at a discounted rate prior to the festival.

To host all our visitors, we will require your assistance at this year’s event.  Information regarding volunteering has been distributed to all musician families; however, we encourage all community members to register and roster for roles across QCMF 2023 – www.qcmfvolunteering.com.au.  Volunteers will receive a free festival pass affording them access to all four days of the event.

I sincerely hope you will come and join us in this great celebration of music in Catholic Schools.

Cakes for QCMF!
TO ALL OUR HOME-BAKERS…  We need cakes, slices, cup-cakes, any sweet-baked goods for our adjudicators, volunteers, and visitors across the weekend of QCMF.  Our fantastic catering committee are looking for donations of baked goods and will be taking collection from Thursday 17 through to the morning of Sunday 20 August.  If you would like to donate your baking in lieu of volunteering, we would like to hear from you.  Please contact the Music Office at music@vnc.qld.edu.au to register your interest.

Villanova Ensemble Performance Times
Please see below the arrival and performance times for all Villanova College ensembles across QCMF.

Key Dates Term 3
As we look ahead across the coming months, please ensure we pencil the following dates into your diary:

Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers
Our fantastic Music Support Group have organised an innovative fundraiser for Villanova College.  You may have heard the buzz about our Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers…  the MUST HAVE items for the beach/cricket/park/fishing/barbecue

Villanova Branded Camp Chairs – $35; Wildcat Coolers – $30
All items can be purchased via TryBooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML
Purchases can be collected from the Music Office and all profits go to the Music Support Group.

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

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music