Villa View: Issue 23/20

This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week and the significant milestone of Catholic education in Queensland for the past 175 years.

I am always mindful of the very humble beginnings of Catholic education in Queensland. The Brothers, Fathers and Sisters of the many religious orders joined with lay staff to provide a Catholic education to the working-class children of families. It was very different times to what we experience today as demonstrated from the story below from the archives of Villanova College.

“…In February 1951, I began my first term at Villanova College, Whinstanes. Yes, the grounds were beautiful to look at. There was the entrance, coolly shaded by overhanging trees; the tennis court bordered the road and the drive swept up in a dignified curve to the stately house, formerly, I heard since, the home of the Webster family. “This is good!” thought I, excitedly. Some other boys joined me – they knew their way around, and guided me past the stately entrance, past the building, and towards some wooden shacks over in the corner. “Bicycle sheds, or clock rooms,” I said to myself. But no! These were the classrooms.”

Today our students enjoy a very different learning environment with contemporary classrooms and digital tools. What must stay the same is the passion our educators have for developing good young men in a faith community.

Setting Our Future
Over the past 12 months the College in partnership with the College Board has developed the strategic plan for the next three years 2021- 2023. Setting Our Future is the title of the strategic plan document and I encourage parents and other community members to read the document – available via the following link.

Setting Our Future details the initiatives the College will undertake over the next three years to respond to a challenging and changing landscape in education. We will continue to strive to live out our mission as a Catholic College in the Augustinian tradition and in doing so respond to the needs of our students and families as we prepare for the demands of the 21st century.

Four key pillars underpin the strategic plan and these four pillars have been deliberately and purposefully selected to drive our future direction.  The four pillars are shown below.

• Augustinian Identity and Mission
• Transforming Teaching and Learning
• Student Wellbeing
• Stewardship

The Setting Our Future document, in setting our future direction is accompanied by the College annual Action Plan and the College’s Master Plan. In collaboration, these three documents provide the detail for our development now and into the future.

COVID-19 has shown all organisations the need to be flexible and agile. The world of work, business and even schooling have all been impacted by the pandemic. We are seeing the potential for a major change with workers selecting to work from home, meetings held in virtual boardrooms and Parent-Teacher Conferences held through online platforms.

In all this change and uncertainty, we need to mindful of what is important to us. Our connection with our students, families and the wider community is central to who we are as Villanova College. We value dearly our belonging to a community with the common purpose of raising fine young men.

Ordination
On Saturday 15 August, Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane will celebrate the ordination of Peter Lê Tuấn Anh, OSA to the Holy Order of Deaconate at St James Parish Church, Coorparoo. We keep Br Tuan Anh is our prayers and thoughts at this special time as he prepares to serve God and the community.

You have made us for Yourself O Lord
And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
I hope that the conversations that parents and students had with teachers last week were valuable and you were able to receive information vital for your son’s continued improvement here at Villanova College. I hope there were both opportunities to provide affirmation of work done well (feedback) in addition to information around the improvement of work (feedforward). Our teachers place significant importance on giving students a broad picture of their strengths and areas in which they need to work on.

Feedback / Feedforward
Now that reports have been published and Parent-Student-Teacher conferences have been held, the Teaching and Learning Office has received a few queries from parents with regards to where assessment feedback can be accessed (and now that reports do not contain comments). As communicated last year, the College, in consultation with parent representatives, made the decision to provide regular, continuous feedback on student assessment rather than including general comments on end of semester reports. In the Junior School, teachers will continue to share feedback and feedforward by sending this home with the student whilst Middle and Senior School teachers will post feedback and feedforward so that it can be viewed in Parent Lounge and Student Café.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences Feedback
Whilst on the topic of feedback, the College would like to hear about parents’ experiences with Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences. As an event, and from the College’s perspective, the event appeared to work particularly well, however, we are conscious that there may have been elements of the day that could be improved. Please use the link below to access an online form to provide feedback.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pVLDvKol9EeHKipkErxkNra4AgAGRHhBsIIYXgoHg9FUNjBNQlZXUEdRSE9TS1RPV1VRMjJVMzhJSi4u

Student Laptops
I have visited a number of classrooms this week across Years 5 to 12 and notice that some students have come back to school in Term 3 with malfunctioning devices. Some are missing keys, others are struggling to hold their charge for any longer than a couple of lessons. It is important for all students to have a fully functioning device that when charged in the morning will last until 3.00pm. I would urge parents to do a quick check of their son’s device, and of any other peripheral equipment required to complete work at school or at home (i.e. mouse, printer, headphones, etc.)

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

Physical Education Excursion to the University of Queensland
Recently the Physical Education students from Years 11 and 12 attended the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland. The focus of the activities involved were linked directly to the units of work that these students are currently studying.

Year 12 students took part in Exercise Physiology tasks that included:

• the calculation of maximum oxygen uptake on the treadmill – the performance of marathon pace running for two minutes on the treadmill. (The pace was calculated on a two- hour marathon) – high intensity cycling efforts for 30 seconds – electronically timed runs over 20m
• fitness circuits.

Year 11 students participated in a range of Sports Psychology and Biomechanics activities. These included:

• Sports Psychology activities and physical performance responses. Students contrasted their results in a number of skills tests after meditations, visualisation, goal setting and having to deal with external distractors.
• the application of Biomechanical principles to explore the use of force. Students had access to plates that measured the production of force on a range of skills using a number of techniques. This allowed students to quantify the effects on the variations and establish the most efficient technique for the skill involved.

The boys were able to explore some of the resources at the Human Performance Centre as well as engage with the lectures on the courses that are on offer. It also allowed students a taste of university life which should prove to be informative, as the boys consider life after Villanova College.

Mr Patrick Atkinson, Physical Education Curriculum Area Leader

This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week – 175 years of Catholic schooling in Queensland.  Officially, most events are cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines.  Unofficially, the Junior School has celebrated the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of boys and our faith in each other all week.

The most noticeable difference has been six brand new banners designed and hand-made by 11 Junior School parents and their families.  Stunning to say the least, I am in awe how ideas on a piece of paper turn into cut-out felt characters, hand stitched hessian material, quilted fruits as well as a glittery chalice!  It was the very first thing the boys noticed in the playground on Monday morning and they have stood up to the wind and sunshine every day since.  Thank you to these families – your time, patience and gifts will be shared for years to come.  Your contributions to our College have provided joy and wonder.

Our Gifts of the Holy Spirit Competition has been running all week.  Junior School families can nominate one of the seven gifts (all boys have been given the handy hint sheet) per person in their family.  Fill in an example of how you share this gift with other people and put it in the entry box.  It could not be simpler!  We have the power to make the lives of people around us better, easier, and more fulfilling just by using our knowledge, wisdom, understanding, fortitude, reverence, piety and counsel.  There will be one lucky name, seven lucky families in total – drawn from each gift box on Friday.  A restaurant voucher awaits those Villanovans who enter, and you have until tomorrow morning, so get busy talking around the table tonight.

There has also been ministry promotions this week – the Green Team ran “sponsor a tree” day on Wednesday, the AFAS group (Australian Filipino Augustinian Solidarity) promoted their work for the education of students in the Philippines and the YCS Team met with the Year 6 Leaders to launch the “RUOK” space where the Junior School precinct meets the Senior School – this will be now considered a sacred space of thought and contemplation for mental health and spirituality.

Each day our Term 3 Year 6 Leaders have been watching the playground for boys “doing the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do”.  Mrs Mascadri made gift bags – all day suckers and green/gold handballs – so a lucky Year 5 and Year 6 boy, every lunch break was rewarded for patience, kindness, thoughtfulness and care.  The quiet and assuming, the boys who stop playing tiggy to pick up rubbish, the students who cared for others if a situation presented itself – a special effort to see beyond the noise and laughter.

Tomorrow, Junior School staff will cook and serve a sausage sizzle as a thank you to our boys.  A warm first break treat in this cool weather, free of charge to show that we are here for them heart, mind, and stomachs.  We spend so much time “feeding” the mind and the soul – so let’s make sure that we have the protein to show St Patrick’s our spirit in AIC basketball on the court and the scoreboard!  If your son would like to bring his own lunch that is fine, or even supplement the sausage sizzle with a little in his lunchbox, or at the Tuckshop, then no problem.  We will have gluten free sausages, gluten free bread available and standard sauces.  Sausages served in serviettes is also an option!

Week 3 in the St Thomas Learning Centre has been really enjoyable thanks to the hard work and conscious effort of families and teaching staff.  I would like to thank Mrs Nichole Rouhliadeff for her planning and preparation as Religious Education Curriculum Area Leader, working in collaboration with the College Liturgical Team led by Mr John Holroyd with Father Saldie and Father Peter.  How blessed we are in Catholic education to have our faith, community and spirits given priority.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

In this week’s podcast episode, Mr Peter Simpson joins me to discuss Leadership in Sport.

Referenced in the podcast is an article on Sam Walker, the founding sports editor for the Wall Street Journal, who spent more than a decade investigating the question, ‘What does it take to be the best of the best — a truly great sports team?’ Read the article here.

Click on the image to begin listening to this week’s episode.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

It was a wonderful sight, seeing our student body come together last Friday for our first whole College Assembly since February this year. In my opening remarks I spoke of Goold Hall being the spiritual home of Villanova College and it was great being able to affirm our sportsman and musicians in front of their peers. At lunch time, we continued with a spirit rally led by the Cor Unum Spirit Committee which finished in our new Junior School Precinct in the impressive agora. Seeing our Year 12 students set a positive example to our Year 5 students was one of the highlights of my week and demonstrated the intrinsic value of the big brother – little brother relationship.

Do Good Because it is Good
Every Sunday, I check for the latest post from the Art of Manliness website and editor Brett McKay’s weekly Sunday Firesides. His latest offering particularly resonated with me regarding the development of our young men in the Senior School. He writes the following:

In modernity, we’ve taken to justifying every behaviour and practice by its benefits, its utility. We ask, “What’s in it for me?” We approach even the seemingly sacred as if it were an offering in a marketplace, for which we want to get the best deal. In adopting this stance, we turn everything, from ethics to relationships, into tools; we convert the ineffable into objects; we instrumentalize human values.

But ancient philosophers didn’t exhort us to seek Beauty, Truth, and Justice because they are expedient, productive, and useful. These ideals, these eternal transcendentals, these properties of being, were seen as intrinsically valuable. They were sought for their own sake. They were embraced not as the means to achieving something else, but as ends in themselves; the “something else” was simply the happy by-product of their pursuit. As the modern philosopher Svend Brinkmann puts it, right action legitimizes itself. You don’t pursue things like friendship, health, love, and virtue for their practical utility; you do Good simply because it is Good.

So, what are the takeaway for our students, particularly in their academic endeavours? Pursue truth not because it might be on an exam but to cultivate your general knowledge. Pick up that paper in the yard, not to find favour with a teacher but because you have pride in your College campus. Let us always challenge ourselves to move from mindsets of entitlement to attitudes of altruism.

How Now Hamlet
Over the course of weekend as I was writing my column, I was also in the midst of finalising my plans for this week’s lessons for my Year 12 English class as they prepare for their first mock examination week. Our Seniors are studying arguably William Shakespeare’s most famous play- Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and it certainly is my favourite text to teach. But why? The plays continue to offer valid social commentary on a range of themes and issues- many of which have transcended time. In looking at Hamlet in particular, the themes of ambition, moral corruption, revenge, privacy and mental illness are all very topical for adolescent males. When lecturing in the St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre Auditorium last term, I intentionally focused some attention on the fatherly advice imparted by Polonius to his son Laertes in Act One. He says:

Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame!
The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,
And you are stay’d for. There; my blessing with thee!
And these few precepts in thy memory
See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade. Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;
Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not express’d in fancy; rich, not gaudy;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine ownself be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!

After penetrating the often-cited language barrier, as a class we were able to extract the value in this advice- be a man of honour and integrity.

‘We should teach our children nothing which they shall ever need to unlearn; we should strive to transmit to them the best possessions, the truest thought, the noblest sentiments of the age in which we live’- Felix Adler

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Catholic Education Week
This week is Catholic Education Week, marking 175 years of Catholic Education in Queensland. I would like to begin by acknowledging that the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples have been promoting humble and community learning for many thousands of years where Villanova College is now continuing the education of the whole person.

A number of events have been occurring throughout the week to help the boys tune in with the differences that can be made by a Catholic school, both in building community, and reaching out to those who need a helping hand.

With regard to community, there is a range of wonderful banners hanging in the new Junior School play area. The banners complement and draw out the great feeling of life and energy in the new Junior School.

On Wednesday a new section of the Junior School play area was opened as a special space celebrating the friendships between Senior and Junior School students which have been a strong feature of College culture for many years. The YCS Ministry has overseen this project and the opening featured YCS students alongside Year 6 class leaders. The Junior School celebrations conclude tomorrow with award of prizes for people displaying the gifts/ graces of the Holy Spirit, and with a free sausage sizzle.

Speaking of the different Ministries, each group has played a role during an enjoyable-busy week. The Green Team are sponsoring some planting of new trees with the welcome assistance of past parent Rob Jansen (Finger Gullies Bushcare Group, Coorparoo). Students have been bringing in gold coins to pay for the saplings, and with the chance to win the chocolate tree prize. This is a great addition to their successful recycling campaign.

AFAS set up their typical Filipino ‘sari sari” store (all purpose) and used it as a base to sell chocolates with monies raised going to refugee families via the Romero Centre. So far about $100 has been raised – thanks to the generous chocolate donations from the P and F.

YAYM assisted with the chocolate sale as well as continuing to open up new opportunities for Middle School students at break-time. Outstanding in this regard is the Minecraft Club. It is very impressive to see how Year 7 students pour so much time and creativity into making and explaining new Minecraft “worlds” for other students to explore.

All the Ministry meetings welcomed new members and we saw about eight new students in the Vinnies meeting on Tuesday. The Vinnies Youth Coordinator, Anthony Forshaw, joined the meeting by Zoom and helped to promote our new project, which is to raise funds to sponsor a “Buddies Day.” This is a special day of activity and friendship for a dozen young people who do not always enjoy such opportunities.

The point of Catholic Education
For as long as I can remember, there have been critics of Catholic schools, sometimes foretelling the imminent demise of faith altogether. But there is something about the direct messages of the Gospel which somehow remains alive and active. We began our week with the direct question, “When did you see me hungry? And when lonely, lost, afraid, and vulnerable.” And in so much that we reach out to those suffering – doesn’t matter how young the person or how clumsy the action – then “in as much that you did this for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, then you did it to me.” These words continue to come true today for boys and girls who see them acted out, and who hear them spoken.

Hearing the Word
It is not easy to go to Sunday Mass at the moment, and the COVID-19 virus is changing habits in some households, with people live-streaming services or meeting in smaller friendship groups. One thing I always enjoyed about going to Mass with my father and my sisters was the weekly leaflet. It contained useful reflections on the Gospel, and provided practical suggestions. It often stayed around in the house during the week, and I recently discovered a “stash” of leaflets that my dad had kept, presumably because he wanted to filter the ideas he read there into his daily way of life, which he did. From this week we are providing a link to the Sunday Mass readings, with reflections and practical ideas about living out the words.

Sunday Readings

Family Prayer

Mr John Holroyd, Dean of Mission and Identity

Last Friday we had our first College Assembly since the COVID-19 restrictions came into place back in March. At this assembly we were able to acknowledge those boys who represented Villanova in basketball and tennis from Years 5 – 12. We also acknowledged those who made the First V basketball and First IV tennis teams.

As a result of running shortened AIC sporting seasons this term, the College is able to provide many sporting opportunities for the boys. Although it’s great to see everybody will have the chance to participate and play their favourite sport this year, the shortened season means we will have lots on our plate this term with lots of cross over from one season to the next.

At present we have 17 tennis teams and 31 basketball teams in season competing. We have many rugby and football squads from Year 7 – 12 in pre-season training at Villanova Park, involving over 200 students.

Year 7 – Open rugby and football trials have commenced this week at Little Langlands with the Year 5 and Year 6 rugby and football trials commencing next week. Each age group will have one session either before or after school. These trial sessions have been planned around the current basketball and tennis training schedules as much as possible with minimal overlaps.

At present we calculate that we will have 62 rugby and football teams school wide. This is the greatest number of teams the College has ever had. It’s certainly great to see so many boys are keen to play and represent their school.  Next Tuesday, selected ‘A’ rugby and football teams across the College from Year 7 – Opens will participate in the trial game v Ashgrove after school (please see details below).

On top of this we have around 100 boys from Year 5 – 12 participating in Cross Country training. These runners are all competing for a spot in the team to compete at the AIC Cross Country Championships held at Curlew Park in a little under two weeks’ time. The Villanova Cross Country team will be announced next Tuesday. On behalf of the College we wish all these runners the very best with their preparations.

The AIC track and field training schedule will be released soon. Training will begin during Week 6 of this term. All training will be held at Villanova Park this year on our newly built Track and Field facility which includes a two-lane tartan long and triple jump pit, a tartan high jump fan, two new shot circles and one new discus circle with cage. A meeting will be called for all interested athletes in the coming weeks.

Mrs England has also released details regarding the AIC Chess trials.

Towards the end of this term we will have rugby league trials. League will be played in a tournament style format over one day for the Year 5 and Year 6 teams and over a three-day period during the first week of the holidays for the Year 7 – 12 teams. Towards the end of term, we will commence our pre-season swimming, cricket and volleyball programs too.

With such a busy sports schedule, I encourage all students to be organised and listen to the morning notices and always refer to the ‘Locker Room’ page on the website for all information pertaining to sport so that you don’t miss out. Further details pertaining to most of the sports listed above is found below.

I encourage the boys to be mindful of their studies during this term. At the end of the day our studies should be the main priority. However, instead of choosing studies over sport, you should learn to balance your studies with sport.

Unfortunately, with the wet weather last weekend, we had to cancel all tennis matches and outdoor basketball games against Iona. From the remaining indoor basketball games which were able to be played, Villanova won 16 and lost eight against Iona, including a resounding win by our First V basketball team who look to be in great form this season.

This weekend we play Round 3 in our pool against St Patrick’s College. After this round all teams will be ranked. Next weekend, the finals round, will see the same ranked school in one pool play the same ranked school in the opposite pool. Our aim is to win as many games as we can in Rounds 1 to 3 so that our teams can play off for the highest possible position in the finals round. Hopefully playing off for the grand final.

During the finals round each AIC school will host a different year level next weekend. This will mean that families with more than one child in a different age group will have to travel to various locations next week.  Please stay tuned to the ‘weekly fixture’ section on the website for all game times and venues each week.

I wish everybody involved with basketball and tennis all the best this weekend. Please enjoy!

AIC TENNIS AND BASKETBALL
Round 3 v St Patrick’s College, Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August – Times and Venues

All Year 5 and Year 6 basketball games are played on Friday afternoons. All Year 7 – 12 basketball and Year 5 – 12 tennis games are played on Saturday.  Please refer to the College’s website to view all times and venues for this weekend’s fixtures against Padua College.

Note – transportation for all Year 5 teams will be provided to and from St Patrick’s College this Friday. Buses will depart Villanova at 2.30pm and will depart after the last game at St Patrick’s at 5.15pm. We expect the bus to return at approximately 5.15pm at the front of the College for parent pick up.

AIC RUGBY AND FOOTBALL TRIALS
The first rugby and football trial session for all groups from Year 7-12 has been arranged for this week. Next week the Year 5 and Year 6 boys will have their first session. Please see times and venues below.

After these trials, all boys from Year 5 – 12 will participate in further rugby and football trials held during ‘trial week’ which commences the week beginning Monday 10 August. All Year 5 and Year 6 trials will continue at Little Langlands and all Year 7-12 (Opens) trials will be conducted at Villanova Park during this week. All boys trialling at Villanova Park will be transported by bus to the venue directly after school. Parents must collect their son from Villanova Park after training.

Year 5 and Year 6 Trials
Boys in Years 5 and Year 6 will have the opportunity to attend three trial sessions. All trials will be conducted at Little Langlands. There will be an initial trial held for each year level during the week commencing Monday 3 August followed by a ‘trial week’ which will commence on the week beginning Monday 10 August. Within this trial week the boys will have two trial sessions as well as a trial game against St Patrick’s College on Friday 14 August. More information is available in the ‘Season Schedule’ document which is posted in the ‘Locker Room’ on the website.

Year 5 and Year 6 Football Trials
Boys are asked to arrive at 6.20am so that the sessions can start on time. All players must have their own water bottle, boots and shin pads.

Year 5 and Year 6 Rugby Trials
Boys are asked to arrive at 6.20am so that the sessions can start on time. All players must have their own water bottle, boots, old jersey and mouthguard for these trials.

AIC Rugby and Football Trials v Ashgrove – ‘A’ Teams, Tuesday 4 August
Next week, certain ‘A’ teams across the College will have a trial game against Ashgrove. All football games will be held at Villanova Park. All rugby games will be played at Ashgrove. Transport will be arranged for all teams to the venue. A bus service back to the College will be provided for the rugby players only. Parents are to collect all football players after the game at Villanova Park.

Rugby Trial Schedule v Ashgrove
Venue: Marist College Ashgrove, Frasers Road, Ashgrove

Year 7 and Year 8 students will be transported to and from Ashgrove by bus, departing Villanova at 2.00pm and returning to the College at 4.45pm.

Year 9 – Open students will be transported to and from Ashgrove by bus. Departing Villanova at 3.00pm and returning to the College at 5.45pm.

Football Trial Schedule v Ashgrove
Venue: Villanova Park, Manly Road Tingalpa

A bus will depart Villanova at 3.05pm to Villanova Park. Parents are to collect their son from Villanova  Park after the game. No return service will be offered.

AIC BASKETBALL
Mr Sean O’Neill, AIC Basketball Co-ordinator

The weekend games against Iona were always going to be difficult against such a good school and we were certainly challenged across the board. Iona are such a dominant sporting team and again showed how close the AIC competition is. We ended the weekend with 16 wins, 7 losses and 8 wash outs. Of particular mention was the Year 10’s which was the only age group to have wins across the board. Well done and keep it up!

The 1^st V game certainly lived up to the hype with both teams first quarter efforts showing how well skilled they were. Iona’s outside shooting kept them in the game and continued to pressure our game. While the score line eventually blew out to 88-60, the play by play was as challenging as we have had all year. It was a full team performance with each player contributing on both ends of the floor to execute our game plan.

We come up against St Patrick’s College this week who have always been such a powerhouse in basketball so it will take all our efforts to win and put ourselves in the best chance to finish as high as we can for finals in Week 4. Good luck to all this week!

AIC Basketball Results v Iona College

AIC TENNIS
Mr Todd Kropp, AIC Tennis Co-ordinator

The Villanova tennis teams took to the court this week training with fierce determination to recover from some tough losses on the court last week. The coaching team were pleased with the intensity brought back to training and were keen to see our boys in action once more.

Unfortunately, the weather proved too much for both Colleges and the full tennis fixture was a wash-out.

In other news, our College got the opportunity to celebrate with our First IV squad on Friday during Villanova’s first full school assembly since term 1. Our boys were presented their First playing tops in front of the full college by Head Coach, Bo Tran and First V Tennis Manager, Ms Barbara Dewis.

This Saturday 1 August marks the last of the AIC Pool rounds with the finals round taking place on Saturday 8 August. Please keep an eye on the College’s ‘weekly fixtures’ page for full fixture information.

I wish the best of luck to all our teams!

AIC Tennis Results v Iona College

AIC CHESS
Mrs Sally England AIC Chess Co-ordinator

The AIC chess competition is ready to start again with a much-shortened version for the term. Due to the change in times for the Exhibition holiday we will not be participating in a trial game with any other school. However, we are planning a night next week – Wednesday 5 August, for the boys to have a trial game against each other, to help finalise the teams and give them some much needed match practice. A permission letter will come home this week with the boys.

Meetings have occurred this week for all the teams to explain the process and allow the boys to trial for the positions available. Due to the shortened competition and the rules of social distancing, the number of positions will be curtailed allowing for the four team members and a reserve for each team. Thus, the seniors will have 15 players, the intermediate team 10 and the Junior team 10. There will be no C teams this year. Villanova is in a cluster with St Laurence’s, Iona and St Peters and we have two home games and an away game at Iona. Finals will occur after that.  Information about the protocols on the night will be available in next week’s Villa View. Just a reminder that unless the boys can play on the nights of 21 and 28 August, and 4 September they should not be trying out for a position. They are however welcome to play during the lunch hours.

Boys will be notified on morning notices at the moment until teams are chosen and then they will receive emails for any notifications. The days for playing/practice at morning tea are – Seniors – Monday and Friday, Middle School – Tuesday and Thursday (all in T10), and Junior School – Monday and Wednesday with Mr Lamb and Mr Verity in the old Junior Library.

Please contact Mrs England or Mrs Warren if you have any queries about the season.

AIC CROSS COUNTRY
Both the Year 5 and Year 6 and Year 7 – Opens squads are training well in the lead up to the AIC Championships. We encourage all runners to keep up their training as we have less than two weeks until the Championships. The Year 5 – 12 Cross Country team will be announced next Tuesday 4 August.

Information notes will be given to all runners on Wednesday 5 August, as well as being posted on the web.

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

The Villanova cross country squad has resumed where it left off before the holidays, with all boys training hard in preparation for the AIC Championships in week five this term.  The coaches have been immensely proud of the effort and commitment these boys have shown this season.  Without a doubt, the hard work and brotherhood displayed during this season has resulted in a real positive and confident group of young men.

The next two Fridays will consist of 3 km time trials, followed by a poolside BBQ breakfast.  These sessions will be final opportunities for boys to earn selection in the team to represent the college.  We look forward to rewarding those squad members who have consistently turned up in the wet, windy and cold mornings.  It’s important now that we finish the season strong and don’t get complacent with our commitment to training.  Keep up the hard work gents! – Mr Jordan Roache

Year 5 and 6 Squad – Training will be held each Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 3.15pm – 4.30pm. Boys are to meet Miss Roberts at the Junior School Area after school and she will walk the boys down to training. Parents are to collect their son/s from Little Langlands after training.

Year 5 and Year 6 AIC Cross Country Trials – Whites Hills Reserve:  8.30 – 9.30 am
This Saturday, there will be a Trial Run for the Junior Squad. Meet Mr Lonergan at the cricket ovals at Whites Hill Reserve, Boundary Rd, Camp Hill. The course will be the reverse of that run, in the bush, last Saturday. This run will be the last opportunity for boys to press their claim to be part of the Villa AIC Team to contest the AIC Cross Country Championship on 12 August 2020. This Trial is open to “all-comers” so if you would like a challenging 3 km run on Saturday, please turn up.

AIC Cross Country Championships
The abovementioned championships will take place at Curlew Park on Wednesday 12 August. 12 competitors per age group will be selected to compete. This year there will be no ‘lead up’ meets.

At present no parents are permitted to attend the championships, except one parent per Year 12 student competing maybe present.

To reduce the numbers at the venue at any one time, the Championship will be split into two parts. The Year 5, 6, 12 years and 13 years will compete first followed by the 14 years to opens. Both groups will be bussed to and from the venue. All bus times etc will be published next Wednesday.

Venue: Curlew Park, Curlew Street, Sandgate
Date: Wednesday 12 August, 2020

VILLANOVA RUNNERS CLUB
Sunday afternoon 4 – 5 pm at Whites Hill Recreation Grounds, Boundary Rd. Camp Hill (meet at Cricket Oval # 3). Open to all students/parents/siblings/friends etc.

This activity is an opportunity for all aspiring AIC Cross Country runners to complete an extra training session each week. Parents and siblings of the athletes are invited to participate in the training. One of the training activities will be a Tabata session followed by a Bush run. Tabata is an anaerobic activity which complements fitness for running. Further information about this program can be gained by contacting Mr Lonergan email: lonert24@gmail.com

Wet weather? Continuous heavy rain – the session will be abandoned. Showers/misty rain – training will continue as planned.

AIC TRACK AND FIELD TRAINING
AIC track and field training officially commences the week beginning Monday 17 August, which is the week after what would have been Ekka week. This year all students from Years 5 – 12 will train on Wednesday afternoon only at Villanova Park. A bus will transport all athletes to and from each training session. We hope to commence training at 3.45pm and conclude by 5.15pm. The bus should return to the College around 5.40pm.

The coaches will cover all track and field disciplines across all age groups at these sessions. Training as a Year 5 – 12 squad will increase team spirit and ensure our athletes are able to attend the various sessions we have on offer.

Middle distance will be the only discipline that will train at different times. A full program will be available on the College’s website by tomorrow.

VILLANOVA INTERHOUSE TRACK AND FIELD CARNIVAL – CANCELLED!
Please be advised that due to the current COVID-19 situation, the College has decided to cancel the Interhouse Track and Field Carnival this year. As we normally use this day to select our track and field squad, we are now opening the squad to anyone who wishes to attend training. The squad maybe reduced after two – three training sessions.

Year 5 and Year 6 Track and Field Trial Day, Thursday 13 August – in replacement of the Annual Interhouse Track and Field Carnival, all Year 5 and Year 6 boys will be transported to and from Villanova Park on Thursday 13 August. This is not a carnival. The staff will simply run the boys through several track and field disciplines to identify those who should be in our track and field squad. More information will be published next week. At this stage we ask that parents do not attend this day.

TERM 4 ZONE CRICKET
This year Villanova will again run an internal cricket competition for Year 4 students who will be entering the College in 2020. It looks like, at this stage, that all Year 4 matches will be played in the afternoon at Kianawah Park, to keep the boys together and to free up cricket fields in the morning. The current Year 5 students, who are interested, will be invited to play for Villanova in the Eastern Districts pre-Christmas competition during Term 4 in the U11 divisions. Year 6 students wishing to play will be placed in either EDJCA or BEARS competitions, depending on their age group.

All Year 7 – 12 students wishing to play will be placed in a team and will play in the BEARS competition. Forms inviting your son to sign on will be sent home in the near future. At this stage we are waiting for guidelines from the relevant associations before putting out the registration forms. The format this year will be an online registration and all parents will be given the steps to follow to sign on successfully. Teams will only be nominated if we have enough parent volunteers to coach and manage on Saturdays. The organisation of the season is set up here at the College and the weekly coaching is also taken care of but the running of matches on Saturday, is the responsibility of Villanova parents. Please indicate if you can be a match day coach/manager on the form. Students are free to play for other clubs and this decision will have NO bearing on AIC selections in 2021.

VOLLEYBALL
Mr Todd Kropp, AIC Volleyball Co-ordinator

Whilst the AIC Volleyball season is still a while away, I wish to let our volleyballers know of an upcoming opportunity ahead of returning to the Villanova courts.

The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), in conjunction with Volleyball Australia, runs a training program for Junior athletes known as the Emerging Talent Program. This program is offered to athletes Under 18 who wish to pursue volleyball training beyond a school and club level. This program operates throughout many Sport Centres in Brisbane and offers athletes a choice in which they would like to attend.

For more information regarding trials, costs, and venues please follow the link below.

https://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/VA-Emerging-Talent-Flyer-QLD-2020-21-Trials-Flyer.pdf

REPRESENTATIVE SPORT
A gentle reminder to all parents to please notify Mr Craig Stariha – Director of Sport, via email cstariha@vnc.qld.edu.au if your son has made any representative team. Once students make a Met East, Qld State or National representative team, all information is often given directly to the parents not the College.

The College will publish all Met East, Qld State and National representatives (Composite District and Lytton District representatives will not be published). The College will publish limited non-school/club representative teams – only state teams and higher.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Ensemble lessons and rehearsals Term 3
All lessons and rehearsals have commenced.  Please ensure you have received a copy of this term’s timetable from your son’s tutor/teacher.  If this has not arrived via email, please contact the Music Office:  music@vnc.qld.edu.au or 3394 5691.

The Term 3 Rehearsal Schedule has been included  here for your revision.

Year 5 Ensemble Rehearsals
Year 5 Ensemble Rehearsals continue next Tuesday morning.  Please ensure your son arrives beforehand to allow time for setting up and preparing for the first note to occur at 7:30am.

To allow for social distancing and maintaining a safe environment, we have reduced the size and increased the number of Year 5 groups.  These are rehearsing in separate locations across the Augustine Centre and O’Donnell wing.  Information regarding the location of your son’s rehearsal venue will be emailed home before the weekend.

Performance Uniform Requirements
This year has been extremely quiet in terms of performance opportunities for our students.  However, as we move into a post-pandemic period, we are looking forward to more opportunities to share our music with the broader community.  We will have at least one performance in Week 8 this  term, with others scheduled for Term 4.  Students will be required to wear performance uniform for these activities.

To assist with preparations for these events in September, we would like to clarify performance uniform requirements with families.  As it has been some time between performances, I would also like to ask our ‘veteran’ performers to check their uniforms; you may have grown between events!  Best we are prepared now before the hectic nature of school life returns.

May I ask now that all students review their performance uniform situation after our College photo shoot.  There are a number of students who will require a resize and please note that all students require black business socks.  I wasn’t pleased with the number of multi-coloured, logoed, sport socks that were appearing underneath trousers in the photo shoot.  Please head to Kmart and grab a cheap pair of plain black socks in preparation for September.

Performance uniform information is outlined below:

All Year 5 musicians are required to wear:

• grey shorts;
• formal white shirt (available from uniform shop);
• long school socks;
• school tie;
• black leather belt; and,
• polished black school shoes

The following table outlines uniform requirements for the remainder of our ensembles:

All uniform items can be sourced through the Uniform shop or external clothing retailers. For further information regarding uniforms for ensembles at Villanova College, please contact the Music Office on 3394 5691 or music@vnc.qld.edu.au

Music Support Group
Our Villanova College Music Support Group will be meeting on Monday 10 August, at 7:30pm in the Chapter Room – the meeting room to the side of Hanrahan Theatre foyer.  We hope that you are able to join us to learn a little more about the activities and events planned for Villanova Music across the remainder of the year.

Key dates for Term 3
Key dates for Term 3 were distributed via email during the final week of the holidays.  May I ask that you note the following dates in your diaries as ‘set’ for the coming term:

Entertainment Memberships
Entertainment Publications are no longer selling books, just digital memberships from 2020 onwards.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please access our membership portal through the links below.  There are a number of great offers available focussing on supporting local and small businesses through this challenging period.

Thank you all for your continued support of Villanova Music.  We are glad to continue to be of service to you and your son as we navigate this challenging time together.

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Notice of Special General Meeting of the Villanova College Parents and Friends Association
The P and F Executive of the Villanova College Parents and Friends Association invites all ordinary members (parents and friends) to attend a Special General Meeting, at 6.45pm on Monday 10 August 2020.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and agree on a new AGM date for the P and F Executive. This Special General Meeting will be held immediately after the next monthly P and F Executive Meeting (commencing at 6.00pm), in the Tolle Lege Library.

We hope to see as many members of the College Parents and Friends Association in attendance.

Jacki Kerr, Secretary, Villanova P and F Executive

2020 Non-Government Schools Census Collection Notice
Please click here for details of the 2020 Non-Government Schools Census.

Tuckshop Roster (Monday 3 August – Friday 7 August)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.