Villa View – Issue 18, 31 Oct 2024

As we conclude October and move to November it is an important time of year. Not simply because our Year 12 students move toward the finish line but because as a Catholic community, we remember those whom we have loved and lost, All Souls, those of our departed friends and relatives who have journeyed to heaven. Then on November 1st we celebrate specific lives, venerated by their service and actions to the status of Sainthood in the church. In our Villanova story seven of our eight houses are dedicated to the Saints of the Augustinian world. Appropriately we did in fact take time this week, through our All Saints Mass to reflect on the lives and actions of two of those; our College namesake St Thomas of Villanova and St Alypius. So who were these men and why would we honour and reflect on their lives of faith, service and commitment? 

St. Thomas of Villanova (1488–1555), was known as the “Father of the Poor.” He was an Augustinian friar and archbishop of Valencia, Spain. Renowned for his deep commitment to social justice, he used church wealth to care for the impoverished, the sick, and orphans. As a bishop, he reformed the clergy, encouraging them to lead lives dedicated to God and the community. His legacy is his dedication to charity and his tireless work for the marginalized, earning him sainthood in 1658. Thomas’s famous words, “Charity is not just giving, it is removing the need of those who receive charity and liberating them from it when possible” resonate today, inspiring those who work to address poverty’s root causes. St. Thomas’s emphasis on educational reforms within the Church also influenced his Augustinian successors. It is easy to see in our current practices of commitment to social justice, engagement with St Vincent De Paul and other groups how St Thomas still lives in our lives here at Villanova. 

St. Alypius of Thagaste (c. 360–430), was a close friend and companion of St. Augustine. Alypius walked alongside Augustine as companion, support and confidante sharing in the struggles and triumphs of Augustine’s journey to Christianity. Born in North Africa, Alypius was instrumental in Augustine’s spiritual development, converting alongside him in 386. He later became Bishop of Thagaste, where he dedicated his life to defending Christian doctrine and fostering unity within the early Church. Known for his integrity, Alypius aided Augustine in fighting heresies like Donatism (a group that believed the ordinary, those who made mistakes, could not lead the church and sacred life) and upheld the importance of ethical leadership. His life epitomizes loyalty and moral courage, often recounted by Augustine in Confessions, where he describes Alypius as “a faithful servant of God in whom truth has shone”. Alypius’s dedication to a life of virtue and truth left a legacy of steadfast commitment to Christian principles, inspiring those who seek to live according to faith and reason. So once again through an ancient Christian role model we have a wonderful character in which to help our boys as they shape their identity and purpose – to be men of integrity, honesty and to challenge hypocrisy and create a world of ethical word and action. 

Both saints embody our Augustinian virtues. Their legacies remind us of the enduring power of faith when coupled with action in service to humanity. 

It is then the perfect moment for us to bring forward our Year 11’s to their Senior leadership experience on this day. 

Through the celebrated mass our College Captain for 2025, Matthew Linnel, was inducted as was our Vice captains, Student Council President, portfolio leaders, House captains and Senior students. All called forward to lead our student community in 2025. 

College Celebration of Excellence 

Next week the College will come together as a community to give accolade and acknowledgement to those students who have achieved a level of excellence across their academic studies, cultural commitment and performance, service commitment or in the realm of Sport. We share together a wonderful evening at QPAC and take an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been. I would encourage our community to come and celebrate regardless of whether your son is receiving an award.  

Parent Reflections and Feedback Survey 

The College Leadership Team are putting the final touches on our parent reflections and feedback survey. This is a very important activity for our community to understand where we are succeeding and achieving and where there is improvement or areas of renewed focus. 

The survey will look to cover the breadth of college experience for parents and their sons and gauge our performance with the outcomes being utilised to assist College leadership in charting the course forward and aligning these intentional actions with the 2024-2026 strategic plan. 

The survey is a simple Likert Scale form, with opportunity to offer commendation or suggestions for improvement. 

The survey is confidential, but not anonymous. It is our feeling that to get good information for our Learning & Teaching faculties, our Heads of School, the Music Department and Sport we do need to be able to contact and discuss elements of feedback in detail should we need further detail to improve. We will ask for your son’s grade, but his name is not required. Anonymous surveys are of little value as you are unable to dig deeper into problems and issues raised as you are unable to engage in meaningful discussion. 

If through the survey you feel you would like to engage in further discussion or consultation, please contact the Principal’s EA Ms Annie O’Gorman and she will organise face to face feedback sessions with the appropriate member of the College leadership team. 

The survey will be released to the community at the conclusion of week 6 (next week) 

Announcement Acting Head of Senior School Term 1 2025 

Mr Matthew Levander, our Head of Senior School will be taking some long service leave in Term 1 of 2025. In his stead will be Ms Kate Mellor. Ms Mellor has held leadership positions at The Stuartholme School, Southern Cross College, Brisbane Catholic Education Head Office and in schools across Melbourne. Since her arrival at Villanova she has been involved in numerous Mission Activities, Debating and is the staff leader on the College’s student Council. I look forward to Kate sharing her leadership and influence with our boys and congratulate her on her appointment.  

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.

Year 11 Senior Commissioning
On Wednesday of this week, we celebrated the Mass of All Saints, illuminating the stories of two of our House Patrons- Alypius and Nicholas of Tolentine. As part of our service, we commissioned our Year 11 students as the Senior class of 2025 and formally invested our Student Leadership Team. To conclude the ceremony, our 2025 College Captain, Matthew Linnell articulated quite eloquently the inspiration behind the Senior Motto for 2025- ‘Many Voices, One Spirit’: connecting the vision of the incoming stewards of our College to our values. I would like to share with you some excerpts of Matthew’s address.

‘Many voices’ is a piece of the motto that teaches us to become open to feedback, positive or negative and appreciate those who share their opinions. Many voices mean you are open to learning from others, and as Augustine puts it, it is that ‘restless search for truth.’ The truth is about seeking knowledge from others and sharing it. The truth is not yours or mine to keep. It is to be shared. Seeking the truth and not being afraid to share it with others establishes a community of people willing to learn and share. You should never feel scared to voice your opinions, and this is something I am calling the Seniors of 2025, but also all Villa boys to do. Don’t make others feel scared to speak up. Accept and learn from their many voices.

Spirit. Now, if I were to ask you individually, most would say that spirit at Villanova is about the chants, the war cries, and spirit rallies. While this is the loudest, most celebrated aspect of the Villa spirit, it has many layers. Spirit here at Villa is not just Cor Unum. Spirit is found in academics, the teachers, acts of ministry, spending time with your friends, and on the court or field during sports. Villa spirit encumbers all aspects of life at Villanova and is shown through everything you do. The simple thanking of a teacher, that’s Villa spirit. Shaking the hand of your opponent that’s Villa spirit. Giving up your time to help those in need that’s Villa spirit. Putting in your 100% effort that’s Villa spirit.

Year 10 Day of Reflection
Last Tuesday, our Year 10 students engaged in our Day of Reflection program offsite at the Queensland Multicultural Centre. Facilitated by Mr Michael Fitzpatrick, the program included the following aspects:

• Building positive culture towards leadership.
• Providing an opportunity to create safe environments for vulnerability.
• Promoting the value of interiority search and truth telling within the cohort to chart a course to personal and collective growth.
• To recognise and honour the pressure on our young men as they move towards their QCE studies.

I was especially impressed by the students who openly shared their thoughts and feelings with the entire group. Many of them stepped outside their comfort zones and showed incredible courage.
These experiences are essential for the growth and character development of our students.

The following is a reflection of the day from Year 10 student William Dolphin:

“Reflection days are typically something people enter with a certain degree of apprehension; however, they are always a unique experience. What other day do we get to hear Mr Levander sing his favourite U2 song? Each time we come together as a cohort I’m reminded what a great group of blokes we have in Year 10. Being able to chat to random people without judgement is always enjoyable.

Michael asks the hard questions, challenging us to really get out there and take a risk. He got everyone to share their fears anonymously, which was really comforting, knowing that everyone’s going through similar problems. He also gave us the opportunity to acknowledge those of us who are often left out. Overall, Michael really emphasised to us the nature of servant leadership; how it’s really not about us. At a privileged all boys school, it’s easy to become arrogant, but this reflection day really helped us understand that true leadership comes from putting the people you serve first.”

“Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.”- Simon Sinek

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

At Villanova, our reputation in the community is built on the actions and attitudes of each individual, especially our students. From how we interact with each other, to how we conduct ourselves in public spaces, our students’ everyday behaviours—particularly before and after school—speak volumes about our collective values. It is important to realise that when we talk of Villanova’s reputation it is not about some abstract thing but about each and every person connected to, and a part of, the community that is Villanova. This term, our Heads of House will lead important discussions across all year levels on what it means to be a respectful and responsible Villanova student in our shared community.

One of the main areas in which we receive both positive and constructive feedback is student conduct in public spaces. Our expectations are clear: we want to be known as considerate, respectful members of the community. This means ensuring students are mindful of their behaviour on public transport. Students should use their GoCards responsibly, offer seats to those who need them, and avoid taking up space unnecessarily, like placing their bags on seats. Such actions help create a more comfortable and inclusive experience for everyone.

At popular local spots like Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and KFC, students often enjoy gathering after school. While we understand the appeal of these places, it is essential for students to remember to act with courtesy. This includes avoiding congregating in large groups that can block pathways, being mindful not to leave bags in high-traffic areas, and, above all, cleaning up after themselves. Our commitment to respect and responsibility extends to every space we occupy, reinforcing a positive impression of our school community within the larger community.

In addition, students must exercise caution when crossing streets and main roads, especially as we are near so many high-traffic areas. Using appropriate crossings, waiting for signals at traffic lights, and following all pedestrian rules is not just a matter of personal safety; it is a public responsibility that reflects our commitment to society as a whole, by acting with care and integrity.

These small, everyday actions contribute to our reputation. By making conscious choices that demonstrate our values, students play a key role in either reinforcing or undermining the strong, positive reputation Villanova holds within the community.

In a great example of enhancing our reputation, our Year 8 students had a lovely time attending All Hallows’ last Friday afternoon for a social event. They played Dodge Ball, Trivia, participated in a Scavenger Hunt and finished with a dance party on the grass terraces overlooking the Story Bridge. It was a wonderful afternoon, and the students should be really proud of the positive way they interacted with the All Hallows’ staff and girls. This is a return event with Year 8 All Hallows’ students and it was lovely to see them reconnecting and remembering the fun they had at Villa in Semester 1. The plan is to continue this connection over several years and build some really strong bonds. I would also like to thank the Year 11 Leaders who came along to help support the afternoon and our teachers Mrs Carey, Ms Robinson and Ms Condoleon for giving up their Friday afternoon.

Community is at the very heart of our Augustinian values, as St Augustine maintains,

“community is the fruit of charity and is expressed in friendship, which brings forth and nourishes loyalty, trust, sincerity and mutual understanding”.

Have a great week!

Mr Sean O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Let’s Chat Education is a business focused on helping students, parents and educators communicate at age-appropriate stages about puberty, relationships and growing up.  Mandy Stephens and her team of educators travel all over south-east Queensland delivering information and engaging students in respectful conversations and activities about personal development.   As staff, we are always in awe of how these female professionals deliver sensitive content matter in a way that accommodates all students – those that can’t wait to ask questions and students who prefer to observe.  The topic itself is universal – every human being grows, matures, and navigates their way through physical, social, and emotional changes.  Yet it can be a little awkward at times using the scientific terms, discussing the mechanisms of our own bodies, and helping the next generation understand that every person has a different experience, although similar to their family or friends.  As part of the National Curriculum – Health and Physical Education – we are responsible for ensuring our young men have access to this education in each year level.  You can find more information using this link Health and Physical Education | The Australian Curriculum.  Our Year 5 students have their first session this Monday – Introduction to Changing Bodies, and our Year 6 students finished their 3 sessions this Monday – Managing Changing Bodies, Where Babies Begin and Media Madness.  Please visit Let’s Chat Education | Puberty, Relationships & Growing Up With Mandy Stephens (letschat.com.au) if you would like any further details.

Relationships and sexuality is also included in the Brisbane Catholic Education Curriculum – 2019 Relationships and Sexuality Shape Paper_.pdf (bne.catholic.edu.au) and so this forms part of our line of sight – that from Year 5 to Year 12, we must give individuals the opportunity to have the time they deserve to consider their part in the world around them.

A huge part of relationships is about our sense of belonging within our community.  We have positive experiences when we feel included, respected, and valued for our contributions.  It’s part of human nature to be liked by others.  It makes us feel happy and safe when our relationships fulfill our needs.  The reality is that when we have a lot of people working and playing together then it’s inevitable that relationships can change.  Sometimes people change and grow in the same direction.  It’s also healthy that our needs and wants move in different directions – friendships can shift.

As adults we know only too well that across our school days we moved between friends, and through our work and families, our social circles keep on shifting.  They can expand or contract, depending on the time we have available to keep commitments and invest in the relationships we wish to sustain.

For our students, changes in friendships can have quite a large impact as they are far less distracted by the demands that adults have.  So when a Junior School boy has a close friend or a classmate that experiences conflict, it is upsetting and can cause anxiety.  They may not want changes to take place at all – seeking the comfort of what is familiar.  Making new friends can seem over-whelming despite there being around 57 other choices in their immediate learning space.  So we must always keep a regular focus on relationships – Circle Time, Well Being, Let’s Chat, Focus of the Week – and involve games that continue to build new partnerships or reveal common interests that spark a connection between classmates.  It is crucial to allow boys the opportunity to become involved in Co-curricular teams and projects such as Debating, Sport and Maths Olympiad classes.  Accepting invitations but also extending your own request for catch ups over the weekends or holidays can make an incredible difference for all boys involved.

Over the next few weeks, as we reach the finish line for 2024, I would ask that we all put our relationships first.  At the end of all that we achieve in work and play, who we are to each other reflects the very essence that is the gift of life.  How fortunate we are to be here, to be making memories and to hope that when we look at someone, that we find a smile and someone we can trust to show us kindness.  It’s what we can all offer each other with ease.

Mr Stephen Rouliadeff, Head of Junior School

Mass of All Saints and Commissioning of our Seniors for 2025
Yesterday we celebrated the Mass of All Saints and the Commissioning of our Seniors for 2025.

In his homily Fr Saldie emphasized the unity and diversity within the Catholic Church, highlighting how people from various backgrounds come together in faith.  Fr Saldie shared his reflections on the Vatican’s role in spreading the message of Jesus and the spirit of love that guides the Church as well as acknowledging human imperfections and the potential for sainthood through grace and faith.

The phrase “Many Voices, One Spirit” captures the idea of diverse perspectives contributing to a harmonious community whilst considering the distractions of modern life and the importance of finding inner peace amidst the noise.

The celebration of All Saints’ Day was highlighted, recognizing ordinary people who live their faith and make a difference in their communities and the importance of love in daily actions and the important role of teachers in shaping young minds.

Our Senior students were encouraged to be positive influences and to listen to others, fostering a sense of community. Fr Saldie concluded with a quote from Ellen DeGeneres “Be Kind to one another.”  Through kindness, we learn to listen, we generate a one voice of peace, here and beyond, locally, and internationally.

The Commissioning of the Senior Class of 2025 and the Investiture of the Student Leadership Team followed the Mass commencing with the following blessing from our community to our incoming Senior class:

St Thomas of Villanova, our College patron, reminds us that:
“We are not born for ourselves and the natural gifts and graces we receive are not for ourselves alone, but we have received them for the benefit of all. It is a matter of justice that the graces, gifts, knowledge, and skills received – as a gift or by one’s industry – should be used for the common benefit.” 

The Senior class of 2025 pledge:
Motto:  Many Voices, One Spirit.
We, the Seniors of 2025, recognise and accept the duties and responsibilities to which we are called.
Inspired by Saint Augustine, we pledge ourselves:

• To open our hearts to the Truth of God that inspires us to be young men of service, faith, and peace.
• To be role models where our actions mirror our words and reflect our College values.
• To work collaboratively with our peers and teachers to ensure we all reach our full potential and strive to be our best version of ourselves.

When we reach the conclusion of our Senior year, may we proudly look back at the legacy we have left at Villanova College.  We, the Seniors of 2025, with one heart and one mind, will live out our motto ‘Many Voices, One Spirit”.
And with God’s help, and that of our patron, Saint Thomas of Villanova, we shall endeavour to fulfil these pledges and live up to the confidence that the Villanova community has placed in us.

At the conclusion of the Investiture of the 2025 Student Leadership Team, 2025 College Captain Matthew Linnell led the team in taking their pledge of leadership before his first official College Captain’s address to the community.

2025 Student Leadership Team Pledge
Conscious of the honour conferred on us as the 2025 Student Leadership Team, we recognise and accept the duties and responsibilities to which we are called. We pledge:

• To model Christ’s example of true servant leadership.
• To work cooperatively with staff and students in supporting the new House System.
• To work with the gifts of our Senior class so that all can serve and contribute to our College.
• To always and everywhere bear witness to the College’s values of Humility, Search for Truth, Community, and Interiority.

And with God’s help and that of our Patron, Saint Thomas of Villanova, we shall endeavour to fulfil these pledges, and to live up to the confidence placed in us.

Life on the Street – Photo competition at Emmanuel City Mission
Built into the rhythm of life at Villanova is our connection to Emmanuel City Mission.  Every Thursday morning across the year that ECM is open, representatives from our community are there to serve people who are experiencing homelessness.  We make breakfast, whirl the coffee machine into action, and between bacon and egg burgers, cereal, toast, and a warm drink we have the opportunity to chat and sometimes even play a game of pool with people who are starting their day in a space where there are friendly faces, good food, a warm shower.  Every week boys give their time and they have the opportunity to serve.  They are appreciated and their presence makes a difference!  That is what service is about.

Last month ECM ran a photo competition that Villanova assisted in funding.  We were so grateful that Mrs Krystal Bradford, one of our talented Visual Art teachers, assisted with the judging.  Her reflections follow:

I am deeply honoured to have recently participated as a judge in the Emmanuel City Mission’s ‘Life on the Street’ Photo Competition 2024. This year’s competition was a profound experience, as I joined esteemed colleagues—First Nations artist Jennifer Kent, ECM volunteer and contemporary artist Thomas de Weger, and Professor Beck Davis from the Queensland College of Art and Design—in evaluating the top 20 finalists from over 40 compelling entries.

The judging process was both challenging and enlightening. Each photograph vividly captured stories of hardship, struggle, hope, and community connection. The works we reviewed were not only beautiful but also raw and powerful, offering a poignant reflection of life on the streets. The emotional depth and narrative strength of each piece made the task of selecting the top 13 exceptionally difficult.

The impact of these images has profoundly altered my perspective on homelessness. Their ability to capture and convey the harsh realities faced by those on the streets is both moving and thought-provoking. We’re eagerly anticipating the Awards Night on September 12th, where we’ll honour the finalists and announce the winners. This event promises to be a significant moment, celebrating the artistic efforts that have shed light on important issues surrounding homelessness.

Thank you to Micheal Shakhovskoy and Tim Noonan for having me and allowing me be part of this significant community event.

More stories from our AFAS immersion in the Philippines
Stories are such a powerful way to share experiences.  We’ve gathered many from our last trip to the Philippines and we again invite you to read these with a cuppa and perhaps to even share amongst your family.
Hopefully they will make for some good conversation.

Feeling the Love at Divino Amore Academy by Noah Lum
The Divino Amore Academy experience in Cebu, Philippines was something I will hold with me for the rest of my life. On arrival early Friday morning, we were greeted with songs and dance, to which we replied with some dancing and cheering of our own. As it was sports day, the rest of the afternoon, that began with a delicious meal, was spent playing volleyball and basketball with the students. It was tough to say goodbye, but we were filled with hope and excitement for our classroom visits on Tuesday. Arriving on Tuesday back to DAA felt like returning home, the welcoming community made getting up in front of the class easy and comfortable. We were treated with the utmost respect and care from the classrooms we visited, in my case, year 10s and year 7s, and felt like we were students who had been attending this academy for years. These trips to this wonderful school, and the interactions with the kids, supported by my conversations with some of the Nuns, taught me valuable lessons of gratitude, kindness and respect that will stay with me forever.

The Augustinian Story spanning over 500 years by Conor O’Mara
I thought the Basilica Del Santo Niño was just incredible. It was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, making it the oldest church in the Philippines. Beautiful masonry work was carved out of huge pillars holding up the sky-high ceiling. Which canvased beautiful intricate paintings of biblical scenes. The Wall behind the altar had sculptures of The Father, The Son (Sto Niño), and the Holy Spirit, which were surrounded by 14 other saints. The gold painted pillars surrounded each one and created this huge frame that held them. The Sto Niño was gifted to the Queen of Cebu in 1521 by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, making it the oldest Christian relic in the Philippines.

After hearing the stories about its significance so long ago, seeing the Sto Niño in person felt very surreal. Thinking about the lives that were lost, of those eager to possess it, was very confronting. Even the hallways connecting to the hall, were filled with paintings and art. But outside the church, there was so much more. In the soft rain, hundreds of people attended mass and prayed. There were hundreds of red candles that flickered and threw light on the vine wrapped pillars all surrounding statues and fountains. Many small flames created warmth.

The people inside the Basilica came from all walks of life. Some with bibles full of notes and praying 30 minutes before the mass. Some like us, who wander through, looking around, not too sure of how to approach it. Some looked wealthy and comfortable, others looked like they were struggling a whole lot more. What got me was the unity between everyone. Homeless sat next to rich, foreigners sat next to locals, the dedicated sat next to the unsure. The Basilica Del Santo Niño really stood out as a central place of worship. It truly felt as if all were welcome.

2024 Vinnies Christmas Hamper Appeal

A huge thank you to our big-hearted community for the incredible response to our annual Vinnies Xmas Hamper Appeal. Our target was to gather enough items to support 22 local Households. Our collection depot in the soon to be demolished Clare Lodge contains enough goods to create beautiful hampers for many more households. For the YAYM and Vinnies Teams (under the guidance of Mrs Kath Underhill and Ms Alisa Cleary) there is much excitement and anticipation as they carefully package items for distribution in Week 7. Ambrose 5 Mentor Group and their mentor Ms Freney have lovingly created a hamper for your viewing pleasure. Just in case you are wondering what will be delivered to local households in need.

Mrs Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

At Villanova, we are committed to nurturing much more than just strong academic results for our boys. Our focus is firmly on personal growth and the development of each individual, a mission that’s at the heart of our approach to student wellbeing. This holistic view recognizes that true success is found in building resilient, compassionate young men who are grounded in their faith and prepared for life’s challenges.

Part of our Year 8 wellbeing program is a partnership we are fortunate to have with All Hallows’ School. Last Friday, the boys visited AHS, enjoying the company of some lovely students – and a stunning view of the Story Bridge in the background. The gathering was a relaxed social afternoon, focused on having fun and building connections between the two cohorts. This kind of afternoon gives Year 8s a chance to have fun and connect with each other without any pressure. It helps them form new friendships, feel included, and take a break from school stress, which is great for their well-being and sets up positive connections for the future.

The boys were fantastic. They jumped right into the activities with a relaxed, respectful attitude. When I chatted with some of the girls afterward, they mentioned how down-to-earth and genuine the Villa boys were. They represented our school wonderfully and we are excited to keep this partnership going with All Hallows.

There are a number of ways to measure success of the Villanova Wellbeing Program. Student wellbeing audits are done each year through the ACER Social Emotional Wellbeing survey which was completed in Week 2 to track progress over time.

Additionally, we gather insights through informal methods, such as conversations with the boys and observations of their interactions. What we see is that our boys are generally happy and engaged – they stay connected throughout their time here, and often return after graduating.

This was reinforced at the Year 7 AFL trials last week. I was so impressed with how many Villanova old boys and current students had signed up to coach the younger teams. This speaks volumes and is inspiring to see our students and alumni eager to give back to the school community. This commitment reflects a lasting bond that extends beyond Year 12, embodying the type of Augustinian graduate we aspire to foster at Villanova.

Hope you all have a wonderful Week 5.

Mrs Sheridan Carey, Director of Student Wellbeing

On Saturday October 19, Villanova hosted the AIC Esports round in the Hanrahan Theatre, marking our third year of hosting a live Minecraft Education Capture the Flag tournament. This Minecraft-based esports format, introduced by Villanova in 2022, has since gained popularity among esports organisations and schools across Australia.

This year, we enhanced the event with advanced audiovisual elements, lighting design, booming sound, and entertaining game commentary. This ensured the audience was engaged and entertained for the duration of the event, and the photos showcase the visually stunning experience!

The event also celebrated the neurodiversity and inclusivity of our Villanova and broader AIC community, showcasing a diverse group of competitive players alongside our skilled technical crew, all demonstrating commendable sportsmanship and teamwork throughout.

Villanova triumphed once again, securing the AIC Esports Champions medals for the second consecutive year in a thrilling final on the “Dragon’s Domain” stage. It is worth noting that both our Capture the Flag teams competed with distinction, eventually having to challenge each other for the final place in the Grand Final against Padua College. Congratulations to our Senior Minecraft Team, a committed group of Year 8 and 9 players who understand CTF game strategy and Minecraft mechanics exceptionally well!

Special thanks to Mr Caain Miller for his innovative AV design, his AV crew, and to our dedicated esports volunteers who managed servers, directed video streams, and officiated gameplay. We appreciate the behind-the-scenes work of this exceptional group of students – their combined efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and exceeded all expectations!

This event wraps up an exciting esports calendar for Villanova, where we achieved significant victories, including wins in the QUT Gardens Point Valorant Competition, the FUSE Cup Battle at Bond Fortnite competition, and the FUSE Cup Australian High Schools Minecraft Game Coding Challenge, among consistent semi-final placings in all FUSE Cup Nintendo esports competitions.

As we enjoy a well-earned break from esports in 2024, we look forward to expanding our diverse esports roster in 2025 with a dedicated lab space for advanced gaming and simulation, attracting more students from Years 7 to 12 eager to engage in both competitive gaming and the leadership opportunities it offers.

Mr Jason Lane, Esports Coordinator

New ‘Music News’ on the Horizon
The Music Department will be introducing a new ‘music newsletter’ that will be distributed every alternate fortnight, alternating with the College newsletter.  The purpose of introducing this document is to reduce the number of emails being distributed from the Music Department to parents.  We hope that this will allow a more clear, common communication with our community, reduce the load on your inbox, and provide a more centralised source of information regarding our music department.  We look forward to also utilising this new format to share some more of the work being undertaken by our students and staff in order to demystify and celebrate the learning process between concerts.

This new ‘Music News’ will be distributed via the Villanova College App and a link via email as per our newsletter and sports bulletin.  Our first edition will be distributed on Thursday 7 November 2024 – get yours hot off the press!

Year 5 Open Rehearsal
On Tuesday morning, we welcomed the parents of our Year 5 beginning musicians to our Year 5 Open Rehearsal.  After a hasty breakfast of coffee and muffins, our parents were treated to a rehearsal with their sons where they learned how we approach learning in music and how these approaches benefit our learning in the general classroom.

With cognition and metacognition made apparent through the rehearsal process, our young musicians had the opportunity to share their experience with their parents.  After a crash course in posture and a few notes, our parent beginner’s orchestra, and band both performed admirably!

We look forward to sharing more information with families regarding Music for 2025 and our November ‘Christmas Concerts’ shortly – please keep an eye on your inboxes!

Celebration of Excellence
Information has been distributed to all participant students and families regarding this event.  If your son is involved in this event as a musician and you have not received information regarding logistics, please contact the Music Office urgently.  All students in Symphonic Band, Sinfonia String Orchestra, Big Band, and Irish Ensemble 1 are required at the QPAC Stage Door by 7:30am next Tuesday morning.  All Chamber Winds, Chamber Brass, and Guitar Ensemble 1 students are not required until the evening.

Students are to wear performance uniform for the evening event (academic uniform in the morning).  Students are advised they can accept their awards in performance uniform if they are receiving recognition for their efforts during the event.

We look forward to seeing you there next Tuesday night.

Christmas Extravaganza and JS Christmas Concert
We will be hosting two Christmas Concerts this year on Tuesday 19 November.  Our Junior School Christmas Concert will be convened during Assembly time – 10:00am – in Hanrahan Theatre.  This will be our final performances of our Year 5 Band and String Orchestra for 2024.  Information regarding this event will be emailed to Year 5 families a little later this month.

Our Christmas Extravaganza for all other musicians will be convened in the evening on Tuesday 19 November.  This event will be shared in Goold Hall so that we may avoid any more weather mishaps!  Ticketing and logistical information will be distributed regarding this event shortly.

Key Dates Term 4
As we look ahead across the term, please ensure we pencil the following dates into your diary:

Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers
Our fantastic Music Support Group have organised an innovative fundraiser for Villanova College.  You may have heard the buzz about our Villanova Camp Chairs and Wildcat Coolers…  the MUST HAVE items for the beach/cricket/park/fishing/BBQ/etc.
Villanova Branded Camp Chairs – $35; Wildcat Coolers – $30
All items can be purchased via TryBooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML

Purchases can be collected from the Music Office and all profits will go to the Music Support Group.

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

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

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Director of Sport Address
Excitement is definitely in the air as the end of year approaches and preparations commence for our Term 1 Sports. With selection trials in AFL, Cricket and Volleyball either concluded or concluding soon, it is a good time to remind students that we – as a College and as a Sports Department – are doing our best to include as many sports, teams and activities as possible. On occasion, the number of teams we are able to nominate is restricted. This is generally to do with a myriad of reasons from AIC mandates, facilities, budgets, training availability and so on.

With this in mind, I encourage students to accept, if they do miss out on team selection, that it is nobody’s fault; and that the College is doing all we can to provide programmes that are inclusive and diverse for all students to enjoy and engage in.
In 2024 alone we had some amazing statistics and numbers:

• 13 AIC Sports
• 3 AIC Invitational Carnivals
• 181 teams
• 285 coaches
• Domestic Tours and Camp (International Tours planned from 2025)
• State Carnivals – CBSQ, Volleyball Schools Cup, QSchools AFL
• Representative Sport – Lytton, Composite, Met East, State and National

As we head towards the end of 2024, we look back fondly on some of the memories and our most liked moments caught on camera!

Mr Shaun McLean, Director of Sport

Sport Sign-Ons
Registrations for Term 1, 2025 Sport, AFL, Cricket, Swimming and Volleyball have now closed. Students registering late need to collect a Late Registration Form from the Sports Office, get the form signed at home and return it to the Sports Office.
To keep up to date with selection trials and training schedules, please visit the Locker Room Overview page, and the individual Locker Room sport pages (e.g. Swimming page, Volleyball page, etc).
All registered students, plus those new to the College in 2025, must attend selection trials (at least one session) to be considered for AIC team selection.

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

Training Schedules
The Term 4 Training Schedule, for Weeks 4-9, is now available on The Locker Room Overview page of the Villanova College website. This does not include Term 1 Sports – AFL, Cricket and Volleyball.
The AFL, Cricket and Volleyball trials and training schedules for Term 4 are available on both the Locker Room Overview and the individual Sport pages.
Please visit the website Locker Room for specific dates and timings for 2025 Year Level trials. Please note all trials are in 2025 Year Level – if your son is currently in Year 7, he needs to trial with the Year 8 (2025) group.
The AFL Training Schedule for Weeks 6-9 and the Cricket training schedule for Weeks 5-9, Term 4 are now available on the Locker Room.

Save the dates – Sporting Tours, Camps and Clinics

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

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

Term 4 Pre-Season Games – expectations for uniforms, understanding that hire jerseys are not available until Term 1 and many new students will not have Villa sports uniforms yet:

• AFL Term 4 games –
  • Current students – Villanova Green HPE Shorts and HPE/House Shirt.
  • New students – (where possible) Green shorts and a Dark Green Shirt.
• Cricket Term 4 games –
  • Current students – Villanova College Cricket Whites.
  • New students – Plain/Regular Cricket Whites.
• Volleyball Term 4 games –
  • Current students – Villanova Green HPE shorts and HPE/House Shirt.
  • New students – (where possible) Green shorts and a Dark Green Shirt.

Example Villanova Green HPE Shorts and HPE/House Shirt.

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

Director of Sport – Shaun McLean, smclean@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC AFL Coordinator – Matt Conlan, mconlan@vnc.qld.edu.au on leave Term 4, contact bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cricket Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Swimming Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Cross-Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe – bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill, kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Football Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Basketball Coordinator – Contact, sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Rugby League Coordinator – Contact, sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Tennis Coordinator – Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Track & Field Coordinator – Anthony Kemp, akemp@vnc.qld.edu.au
AIC Water Polo Coordinator – Juanita Jacobs, jjacobs@vnc.qld.edu.au
Composite District Sport – Todd Kropp, tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au
Lytton District Sport – Chris Everding, ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au

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

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

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

AFL
Selection trials for AFL have now concluded as of Thursday 31 October. AIC team selections will be posted to Parent Lounge by Friday 1 November. New families will receive an email from our Enrolments Office.
Selected students will then continue training in Term 4. The Term 4 Training Schedule for Weeks 6-9 is now available on the Locker Room pages.
There are two pre-season games scheduled – versus Iona 8/9 (all year levels and teams) and versus SLC 15/16 November (only Year 8-Open teams 2025). Draws will be available soon.

Mr Brian Pascoe, AFL Coordinator for Term 4

Cricket.
Last week saw us conduct the Cricket selection trials for our 2025 Cricket teams, thank you to all coaches and students who participated in the trials. The 2025 teams/squads will be posted in the coming weeks.

AIC – Villanova Cricket – save the dates:

• Weeks 5-9 of Term 4. Aggregate A/B Cricket squads weekly training at Little Langlands nets.
• Saturday 9 November. Team trials against Iona College for 7A,8A,9A,10A, 2^nd XI and 1^st XI teams.
• Wednesday 4 December. 7A (2025 team), 10A, 2^nd XI and 1^st XI trials Vs Gregory Terrace at Tennyson.
• Sunday 8 – Friday 12 December. Oblate cricket tour to Perth, WA.
• 1^st XI Cricket trial Vs SLC – Friday 9 January at SLC playing fields.
• January Villanova Cricket Camp – January 20, 21 and 22 at Villa Park (8:00am-12:00) daily. This camp is open for all students in Year 5-10 and it will be a user pay camp.
• Cricket trials for all A/B teams on Friday 24 January, some teams will play against opposition colleges, while other teams will do internal trials.

We have planned for the trials  vs Iona (Saturday 9 November). to be conducted in the afternoon commencing at 1.30pm (except for 1^st XI which will be all day). This will involve certain teams across the College. We are aware that most club games are played in the morning. However, earlier this week I was made aware there are some afternoon zone cricket fixtures in both EDJCA and Bears planned during the season. It was suggested that boys involved in these games could request via their clubs for their games to be played in the morning on these weekends, if a clash occurs. We hope to publish our AIC cricket season schedule soon, so as our cricket community has time to consider any further clashes that may occur.

Please email Mr Nathan Dufty, ndufty@vnc.qld.edu.au, if you have any questions regarding Villanova cricket.

Mr Nathan Dufty, Cricket Coordinator

Swimming
All Swimming families are reminded there is now a payment pending for your participation in our AIC Swim Squads. The costs cover pool hire and coaching.
Please visit Parent Lounge to make payment for the 2024/2025 season. Note the three different payment categories. RSVP for payments is mid-November.

Information will be distributed soon to all Gold Squad Swimmers in Years 7-12 about the Tallebudgera Swim Camp from 18-20 January 2025. Please click below for the Expression of Interest form.

AIC Swim Camp 18-20 Jan, 2025 – EOI

A friendly reminder that all swimmers and parents are reminded that it is a responsibility of each swimmer to have their own kit bag containing kick board, flippers and pull buoy.  They are not to be borrowing from other students or the lost property bins at the pool.  You are also asked to arrive about 15 minutes early, dressed and ready to be in the water at the start time of the session.

Mrs Juanita Jacobs, Swimming Coordinator

Volleyball
AIC Trials will continue over the coming days ahead of the trial match v Iona. All registered students from Year 8-12 will be invited to participate in the Iona trial match, with the final 2025 selections being made after this. Team/squad lists will be posted following this trial and those students selected will continue training and participate in the SLC trial game on Saturday 16 November.

For our Year 7 students, due to the large number of students trialling, a small group of students will not be required to attend the Iona trial, with our remaining students listed in a team that will take on Iona. Final squad selections will also be released after the Iona trial game.

Finally, the expected uniform for the trial is the Villanova squad shirt, Green HPE shorts and Villanova socks.

Wishing all our teams the best of luck for the remaining trials.

Mr Todd Kropp, Volleyball Coordinator

Basketball CBSQ
Villanova basketball continued to show promise and development as the leading basketball program in AIC over the last few weeks with our First V, Junior Secondary (Year 9 & 10) and Sophomore (Year 7 & 8) teams competing at Champion Basketball Schools Queensland. The only AIC school to have all three teams compete in Division 1 of State Championships.

Our First V, narrowly missed a top four finish, finished eighth, a very commendable feat, especially in a tournament as tough as Champion Basketball Schools Queensland. The contributions of your five senior leaders—Kayden Ikitau, Cooper Long, Isaac Morrison, Ewan McCarthy, and Charlie Blyth—have made a significant impact on the team’s performance and culture. Their leadership will surely be missed, but it is exciting to see the promise in the younger players.

Our Junior Secondary team showed a lot of promise and development over the course of their tournament having limited time to gel and learn to play as a group. The young men showed a lot of resilience and resolve to be able to remain in Division 1 with wins over Yarrabilba and Trinity, both up and coming basketball schools.

Finally our Sophomore team did a terrific job to finish tenth and narrowly missed a top eight finish.  The work done by the young men over the tournament showcased the significant amount of work that has been done in the Junior School. With many of the boys playing at this competition for the first time there are great signs for the future as they look to improve on this year’s performance next year.

Thank you to Mr Shaun McLean for his tireless work to help organise and ensure that Villa can compete in these state championships, Mr Stuart Rowland for his assistance with managing and getting the boys to the games. Special mention to our coaches who make considerable sacrifices to volunteer for the boys to see them succeed, by keeping them organised, prepared, and supported throughout the entire year – Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Mr Sam Korst, Mr Travis Warren, Mr Lachlan Nuttall and Mr Brad Collins.

Mr Jordan Mullan, Basketball Head Coach

Strength & Conditioning
The S&C training schedule for Weeks 4-9 can be viewed on the Locker Room page.

Speed & Agility Training – Years 5-8 students
The Term 4 programme is being held on Friday mornings from 11/10 to 29/11. Registrations are now closed. The Speed & Agility Programme for Years 5-8 students will be back again in 2025.

Composite Sport
Nomination paperwork is now available from the Sports Office for the following Sport/s –

Villa Sport – humble in victory, gracious in defeat.

Join the Villa P&F – Make a Lasting Impact!

The Parents & Friends (P&F) Association is a fantastic way to stay connected to your Villa family throughout your journey at the College. We are looking for new office bearers for 2025, and we would love for you to be part of it!

If you are interested in joining, please reach out to any of our current executive members listed below, or join us at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where nominations will be open for all roles. This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to our community, and we’re confident you will find it a rewarding experience.

P&F AGM Details:
Date: Monday, 4 November 2024
Time: 6 PM
Location: College Library

Positions Open for Nomination:

• President – Peter Roberts, 0412 055 884
• Vice President – Two positions
• Treasurer – Drew Hellyer, 0419 269 519
• Secretary – Shelly Perkins, 0481 440 097
• Parent Representative Coordinator – Loretta Jordan, 0423 748 500
• Carnival Convenor & Secretary – Emma-Jane Harrison, 0411 225 892
• Ordinary Members / Event Organisers – Unlimited positions available

To attend the AGM, please email villapandf@vnc.qld.edu.au with your name, confirmation of attendance, and the role you are considering or wish to nominate for.

Don’t hesitate to put your hand up – you won’t regret the chance to be part of such a meaningful and impactful team!

2024 Villanova College Celebration of Excellence Evening – Tuesday 5 November, 6.30pm

The Celebration of Excellence is now only days away, and the excitement is building! Seats are available here. If you need additional seats, you are welcome to reserve them, as we have now opened more sections of the Concert Hall! Don’t miss this special evening!

Doors open at 6pm. Ceremony will commence at 6:30pm and conclude around 8:30 pm.

Students With Disability Travel Rebate
Semester 2

• Was your child included on the latest Commonwealth Census as a student with a disability requiring supplementary, substantial or extensive adjustments?
• Does your child’s Personalised Learning Plan confirm their transport needs are demonstrably different to those of their same aged peers by reason of their disability?
• Has your school’s learning support teacher assessed your child’s Travel Capability Rating as ‘semi-independent’ or more dependent?

Visit our website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of transport and
apply at www.schooltransport.com.au during October.

Late applications cannot be accepted after 31 October 2024.