Villa View: Issue 25/20

Dear Members of the Villanova College Family

Today, our Year 12 students attended their Retreat Day at the College.  Our Year 12 students are approaching adulthood rapidly and with age comes responsibilities and greater expectations. This Retreat provided these young men an opportunity to pause and take time to reflect on their own journey and the road ahead.

In a few months, our Year 12 students will be preparing to leave the College and move to the world of work and study. Guiding each young man will be a set of values or beliefs that have been forged into his character through his experiences in his family, school, relationships and friendships. It is through all these experiences that his character has been formed and will continue to be formed as he moves through life.

At Villanova College we strive to develop good young men. We do this important work in partnership with our families. We have at our disposal a very talented staff who work with these young men every day forming their character through a range of experiences. We teach the young men good manners and remind them of the need to respectful, courteous and polite. Each of us play a part in forging the character of these young men.

An Augustinian Graduate document articulates a number of distinct qualities of a graduate from an Augustinian school. These include humility, interiority, a restless search for the truth and ongoing conversion. These concepts have been further distilled into the image of the “Villa Man”. The “Villa Man” was first proposed by students in the 2011 Senior cohort. The idea was to find a way of representing how pursuing a wide range of different interest and talents is all part of being the “Villa Man”.

At the Year 12 Retreat our students and staff will be involved in an activity to articulate what does this concept of the “Villa Man” look like today. Next week I will share with you what the students believe to be the qualities of the “Villa Man”.

Basketball and Tennis
Congratulations to all coaches, managers and players for a fantastic season in 2020. Our teams played with passion and skill across the season. The students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be back playing sport and competing. Thank you to our parents for their support during the season. It was difficult for families when they were unable to attend the matches due to restrictions on spectators.

Our First V Basketball Team played an exciting match on Friday evening and thrilled the crowd with their talents. Congratulations to St Edmund’s College, Ipswich who were victorious on the day.

Studies
We are now at the halfway mark of this term and it is time to check in and to see how well our students have settled back into the routine of school, homework and studies. The next sporting season commences next week, and an increasing number of students will need to juggle training, game day and tiredness with all their other commitments.

I ask parents of our Years 11 and 12 students to please keep an eye on work commitments. Students spend 30 hours per week at school and if they commit to 20 or more hours of paid part-time work the hours quickly build to an unmanageable amount when study, sport and other social commitments are added in.

Young men often struggle to balance all the demands of life. They want to do it all and will try valiantly to please everyone and suddenly fall down in one aspect. As busy adults we have learnt the strategies that ensure we can juggle many demands.  It is worth sharing some of these strategies with your son as he navigates this busy time of the term.

Prayers
We keep in our prayers and thoughts Br Tuấn Anh Lê OSA who will be ordained by Most Reverend Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane, on Saturday 15 August in St James’ Parish Church, Coorparoo, Brisbane.

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

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

FINAL CALL for ICAS Registrations!

The ICAS Assessments series is designed to assess your students’ ability to apply classroom learning in new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

This year Villanova invites students from Years 5 – 12 to participate in the 2020 Online challenges. These will take place between Monday 17 August and Friday 4 September. The Online Parent Payment Portal is now closed, but if you’d like to register your son, please email Mrs Kath Underhill with name, year level and subject/s. I will place a manual College order, and then you will be charged accordingly.

This year ICAS will be offered in:
*Digital Technologies (Years 5 – 10)
*English (Years 5 – 12)
*Mathematics (Years 5 – 12)*Science (Years 5 – 12)

FINAL CALL for Tournament of Minds Enthusiasts!

Hey gents, interested in joining a team to solve a high-level challenge in an atmosphere of fun?  If so, please send an email expressing your interest in ToM. This activity is open to Years 5 through to 10.  We have had a great interest thus far but need more committed team-members to join in!! You might even like to make your own team! Here is SuperTom Will Dolphin   in action in the Junior School!

Due to our COVID year, this year all teams will be judged by video entry only rather than a live performance. That in itself makes it even more exciting!  More information can be found at www.tom.edu.au.

If you have any further enquiries regarding either of these programs,  please feel free to email Mrs Kath Underhill (Program Leader Exceptional Learners) at kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au

The AIC Basketball season is officially over, and it is hard for me to let it go.  There is nothing I love more than the bounce of those basketballs in Goold Hall, on the Multi-court, the back board, or the sound of the swish of the net.  Four weeks went far too quickly, but I am incredibly grateful that we had the time together as a Junior School with training and games.  My heartfelt thanks to all basketball parents who waited patiently in cars, waited excitedly to hear the boys’ updates in the car on the trip home, were lucky enough to get a few photos/emails from coaches and most of all, got to see the positive benefits of participating in College Co-Curricular team sports.

There are so many benefits to being a team player and working together to do your very best in a pandemic, at home or away, with mates, and a staff member that maybe shared their love of competition and flair for early mornings with a smile and a warm cup of coffee.  I have loved any snippet of conversation about boys who turn up to training ready to learn, laugh and love this game of basketball just a little more with every bounce and cheer from the coach.  It takes courage and determination to put yourself onto a court – it takes the belief of the coaches and the desperation for details from the parents who want to know every detail after the game.  Every victory means the world, and every loss builds the resilience we need to face our next goal for redemption.

AIC Football and Rugby is kicking off this week.  There are football boots, head gear, shin pads and mouth guards from one end of the Junior School to the other!  In the blink of an eye we turn to running, kicking, trapping, tackling, passing, scoring the goal/try and throwing the ball in from behind the head.  Our teams are, as always, packed with boys who have club or little experience – and it does not matter.  Taking the chance to get to upskill, showcase talents or getting to know other boys in the year level is what matters.  Our coaches are ready and willing to take these boys as far as they want to go.

AIC Cross Country was on our radar this week, and as I write this article, there are some very tired, happy boys at home after their wonderful efforts today.  Amy Roberts is going to bed early tonight, knowing that the squad had prepared for two terms with fitness and strategies that stood us in the best light at today’s races.  Congratulations to all concerned.

It was inspiring to see Charlie Farmer and Ronan McMahon take centre stage in our College Virtual Assembly today to accept their roles as Junior School Captains.  I was not a runner at school,  as it is not my forte at all.  I am in awe of these young men who can seamlessly just breathe deep lungs of oxygen and keep those legs pumping over distances I could never do at the same age.  You are putting yourself out there for the College to be so very proud of you.  Thank you for dedicating yourself to this individual sport, where so much rests upon the perfect lead up to the final race.

Junior School Debating is currently happening at lunch breaks and after school.  Led by Melissa Wilson, Junior School staff are working side by side with boys to brainstorm, draft and rehearse speeches in affirmative and negative roles.  Bells are dinging with the time limits, and there is so much feedback going into how to improve and make the most of rebuttal points.  It is a competition like no other, where preparation is key but matches the ability to think spontaneously as well – the sharpest and wittiest of minds belong here.  Working as a group of three in a team means each individual really has to take their part seriously and it is an awesome achievement to take the win on the night.

Last, but not least Tournament of Minds has launched. Boys have begun brainstorming with Team Facilitators Kath Underhill, Melissa Wilson and Maria Mascadri searching for answers to the Super Challenge “Quo Vadis.” It amazes me the way these boys work together to solve TOM challenges as they are far from simple – TOM rules are complex and require teams of seven members to work together, which often is a challenge in itself – let alone finding a solution!

I look forward to seeing all Junior School boys and staff at today’s AIC Sports Trials – in lieu of a Carnival per sei, but the focus on seeing talents shine and fun prevail is paramount.  We need this time together, this opportunity to be amazed, impressed and surprised in a variety of races, jumps, activities and games.  Ensure there is plenty of lunch, treats, water, sunscreen and a hat is packed in the bags tomorrow – but most of all, a love of College Spirit and being a Villanovan who knows how lucky they are to be able to participate.  The Victorians, including honorary resident Nicholas Cherry (6 Red), need us to demonstrate our appreciation for body, mind and spirit in a way they can only dream about at the current time.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Join me for this week’s podcast: Episode 16: Making Decisions. Click on the image to begin listening.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Year 11 Student Leadership Process
The importance of establishing a strong culture of student leadership is a core component of the Senior School journey at Villanova College. The Year 11 cohort is now poised to decide the Student Leadership Team that will represent the Seniors of 2021 and the Villanova College student body. This year, we have moved to an application process whereby students have been given the opportunity to nominate for the various Student Leadership Team positions at the College.

Students who ultimately become elected into the Student Leadership Team will be contributing to Villanova College in an extraordinary way. Their involvement in a wide range of sporting, cultural, music and/or ministry activities coupled with a strong commitment to their academic pathway will ensure that they act as a fine role models to the younger students within the College as well as inspiring their peers. Within the application process, there are clear criteria which those aspiring to positions of student leadership need to have previously demonstrated. These criteria are:

Academic Requirements
Been committed to their path of study, be it academic or vocational, and made every attempt to achieve to the best of their ability.

Been an academic role model for their peers and the student body, both inside and outside the classroom environment.

Involvement and Participation
Been involved in a range of College activities or programs.

Encouraged others in the College to become fully involved in the life of the College.

Role Models/ Mentoring
Modelled good behaviour to other students within the College in regard to conduct, uniform, and personal grooming.

Partnership with Staff
Worked in partnership with staff in the classroom and in co-curricular activities.

Responsible Leadership
Modelled good behaviour in public and challenged those who damage the College reputation.

I wish all Year 11 students the best throughout the selection process and I am confident that the 2021 Student Leadership Team will be an outstanding group of young men.

Senior A Debating
I love a good oration – the art of taking a stand and passionately supporting your own opinion! Debating is one of the great arts however it often does not receive the level of support as opposed to other College activities. Our Senior A Debating Team of Year 12 students Sean Kearns and Callum Moses and Year 11 students Henry Barras, Aubrey Forster and Luke Palmer are to be congratulated for their outstanding achievement in reaching the final series of this year’s QDU Series. In their pool they defeated Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Nudgee College and Marist College, Ashgrove to secure the College’s first finals appearance in the competition in a decade. Under the tutelage of Villanova College Old Boy Peter Sams, our fine young orators excelled, and we should all be very proud of their efforts.

First V Basketball Final
In an unprecedented year of firsts, this year’s AIC Basketball Competition structure allowed the opportunity to play a Grand Final. Last Friday night, our First V Basketball Team played St Edmund’s College in what was always going to be a contest for the ages for the coveted First V crown. With passionate support from our contingent of Cor Unum Spirit Committee members and with many watching on through the live stream, our team led for all but the last minute of the game to clench defeat from the jaws of victory. In seeing the emotions of the players after the final buzzer and speaking with them in the yard through the week, the disappointment of the defeat was and still is very raw. What can young athletes learn from such an experience? Martin Luther King Jr states, ‘the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge.” The building of resilience, the ability to lose with class, grace and dignity and the hunger to seek redemption in the face of defeat are all the building block of character formation. I look forward to seeing the team respond in 2021.

‘Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune’ – William James

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Year 12 Retreat
After a unique year so far, the Year 12 cohort are undertaking their retreat at the end of this week. The retreat provides an important moment to breathe in what is a very busy term. The aim is to take the boys on a journey from busy time to sacred time – where “sacred” means taking time out to listen, and to celebrate what is really important.

The aim of the day is indeed to listen to the story of each student, to affirm him, and recognise the value of his unique gifts and graces. It is only upon this basis – of really seeing each young man – that the gentle challenge to become a Villa Man of Gospel values is re-issued. The retreat also creates an opportunity for the Senior cohort to reflect upon their journey through the College, recognising the powerful legacy they are leaving – a legacy based on unity, creativity, and resilience.

The day all takes places in the new St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre and will conclude with a twilight Mass and a shared dinner on the outside terraces. My sincere hope is that the day will confirm friendships, whilst allowing students and staff to appreciate the stories of others more deeply, in the spirit of the College motto, Vincit Veritas.

Ekka Week Choc Tops
On Tuesday and Wednesday, members of YAYM and SVP combined to create and sell choc tops, in homage to the icon that is the Ekka ice cream. Proceeds are all going to Vinnies as we are seeking to fully sponsor a forthcoming Buddies Day. The Buddies days allow about 12 children to have a memorable day out, enjoying activities and opportunities they do not always have access to in a safe environment, accompanied by Vinnies volunteers.

Appropriately the production and sales team were formed by an alliance between Middle and Senior School students. Even more, a delegation of the newly formed Mini Vinnies from Junior School came to inspect the process with a view to doing a similar sale in Junior School.

Choc tops are not as easy to make as we thought. It took 15 students 12 minutes to make the first three. At this point, the feeling was that this charitable business enterprise would melt before any units were sold. Fortunately, the production line learned quickly, and Villanova Ministries now produce the final word in choc tops.

Mission Week – Looking Ahead
Owing to the COVID-19 uncertainty, Mission Week this year will occur in Week 7 this term: the week leading up to the Mass of St Augustine. Each family will receive a red candle bag with a prayer and information about AFAS, our overseas ministry. Established in 1992, AFAS exists to provide exchange opportunities with, and service for three Filipino sister schools. The “S” stands for solidarity, and during Mission Week we try to teach each student, in heart and mind, why it is good and right to stand together with the young students of Filipino Augustinian schools who are like us in so many ways – except in having access to resources that we take for granted.

The red candles allow families to also stand in solidarity with both the ministry students at the College who work so hard to promote AFAS, and with the communities of the sister schools in the Philippines. It is worth noting in the COVID-19 crisis that the Filipino communities have nothing like the safety net we enjoy. That is why each family has been invited to donate $5 via school fees. We have already given a special donation of $5000 to each of our sister schools to assist with welfare programs for struggling families – thanks to the generosity of Villa families.

Look out in Mission Week for “Filipino World” bringing cultural artefacts on tour around the campus, like the iconic sari sari stall, jeepney, and fishing boat. There will be fun and educational activities happening both in and outside class to ensure that each student hears the call and invitation to learn more about social justice, and to make a difference.

Mr John Holroyd, Dean of Mission and Identity

Last weekend was the final weekend of the AIC Basketball and Tennis season. Many thanks to our parents who were able to drive their son/s to the many different locations over the weekend in the ‘Finals Round’.

There are no aggregates awarded this year as a result of the shortened season, but premierships are awarded. Overall, Villanova won eight basketball premierships from Year 7 – 12 and had four undefeated basketball teams in Year 5 and Year 6.  Unfortunately, we recorded no premierships or undefeated teams in tennis.

I take this opportunity to thank the many coaches, players and officials for playing their part in making the AIC Tennis and Basketball season a rewarding experience.

Given the short seasons this term there is a very quick turnaround from one season to the next, more than normal. In fact, we had a crossover of rugby and football trials involving all age groups from Years 5 – 12 over the past two weeks. This has given the coaches some opportunity to start organising and selecting teams before we hit the official ‘trial week’ for rugby and football this week. Our hope is to advertise teams by Wednesday of this week to give families some time to organise themselves for the long weekend.

All up each age group will have three trial/training sessions under their belt before we play an all school rugby and football trial v St Patrick’s College this Friday 14 August. Those who do not attend the trials this Friday cannot be guaranteed a high team ranking if they do not attend.

May I draw your attention to the media release distributed by the AIC Management Committee on Monday of this week. This document outlines the restrictions and some procedures put in place during the up-coming rugby, football and chess seasons. Please read below the more specific restrictions and procedures in place at Villanova Park.

Apart from the normal social distancing messages the major differences this season will be that 2 parents/guardians per player may attend the venue. The strong message is that you play your game and leave immediately afterwards. No spectators should hang around and only 100 students will be selected to support the First teams as spectators, no other parents are able to watch, if your son has not been chosen beforehand, he must leave immediately after his game. The check in procedure at Villanova Park (and nearly all venues) will be done using a QR code. You simply scan the code using your phone camera. A link will then take you to a page where you are required to complete your personal details which will be used if contact tracing is needed. These QR codes will be posted up all around Villanova Park.

Rugby and Football Training – parents please stay in the car when collecting your son. We ask all parents to remain in their car when collecting their son from Villanova Park after training. Furthermore, we ask that you consult the Villanova Park COVID map which indicates which car park is recommended for you to park in when boys play on certain ovals. This has been created to help reduce traffic congestion during the afternoon and on game days.

At the time of writing this article the results of the AIC Cross Country Championship were not known. A full report of these Championships will be published in next week’s Villa View.

Track and Field training will begin next week. Please read below all information regarding the Track and Field season. In order to squeeze in all training sessions at Villanova Park it has been decided that all Year 7 – 12 rugby (and First and Second football) teams will train on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. All Year 7 – 12 (excluding First and Seconds football) football teams will train Monday afternoon only. This leaves Wednesday afternoon available for all Track and Field training. Therefore, this will create no clashes of training with those wishing to do rugby, football or track and field. Only Year 6 football training on Wednesday afternoon will clash.

I wish everyone all the best for the trials this Friday before enjoying the rest of the long weekend.

AIC Rugby and Football Trials vs St Patricks – Friday 14 August
A full schedule of games to be played against St Patrick’s College this Friday 14 August is posted on the web tomorrow via the ‘Weekly Fixture’ section. All boys who are keen to make a rugby or football team across the College must attend these trials. Given we have advertised this date well in advance, we are hoping families will attend the trials before enjoying the long weekend.

We ask all families to check the Villanova Park and Curlew Park COVID Site Plans which are found within the ‘Weekly Fixture’ section as well. Simply scroll below the weekly schedule to view the COVID site plans of each AIC College. Some important information regarding COVID procedures for Villanova Park is listed below. Please take time to read this information.

Villanova Park – COVID Site Information
All fixture times and venues are posted in the ‘Weekly Section’ of the Villanova College’s website   https://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/student-life/co-curricular/sport/weekly-fixtures/

COVID Guidelines

• Players, coaches, staff, spectators (maximum of two per player) and officials are only permitted to enter the venue.
• Parents are encouraged to park in the designated car park areas which are near their son’s playing fields.
• Eastern Car Park – Fields 1, 5, 6 and 7
• Western Car Park – Fields 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Players must arrive 30min prior to the start time. At the conclusion of the match all players, coaches and spectators must vacate the venue immediately
• Players are to apply their strapping before arrival at the venue
• Please adhere to the home and away spectator areas as indicated on the COVID map
• First aid stations are situated on the halfway line of each field

Site Registration

• All adults including coaches, officials, staff, spectators and first aid officers etc must register their attendance using their phone and the QR codes which are posted around the venue (EVA Check-In, a contactless, secure sign-in system by simply using your phone)

Hygiene

• Utilise the hand sanitiser before, during and after the game. These are located at the many sanitiser stations at the venue
• Shower at home both pre and post-game
• Come to the venue dressed in playing uniform. There will be no access to changerooms (First teams only). Toilet facilities will be available. Players are not to bring any unnecessary equipment e.g. footballs
• Follow the displayed signage at the venue and social distance at 1.5m always
• If you are displaying signs and symptoms of feeling unwell STAY AT HOME and seek appropriate medical advice
• Those who display symptoms will not be permitted entry

Canteen Facilities

• No canteen facilities are available at Villanova Park this season
• All players, coaches, officials and spectators are required to bring their own water bottles to the venue. Two full water bottles per player is recommenced. Water fountains will be operational at the venue

Download the App

• We encourage all members of the community to download the COVID Safe App to assist with contact tracing in the event of a contracted case whilst at any AIC sporting event

AIC Track and Field Training
AIC Track and Field (T and F) training will commence the next week Wednesday 19 August at Villanova Park. A full season schedule is posted on the web. This includes all coaches, training times and venues, AIC meets dates and much more. As we will not have an Interhouse Track and Field Carnival to help us choose our Year 7 – 12 Track and Field squad, we have decided to use the results from last year to choose our squad (plus anyone else who is interested to join). The Year 5 and 6 boys will be chosen from the Junior School Track and Field Trial Day held this Thursday 13 August.

Due to the restructure of the AIC sport seasons this term, we now have AIC Rugby Union, AIC Football and AIC Track and Field training all at the same time. As Villanova Park is used as the training venue for each of these activities, therefore we are restricted to the number of training sessions we can offer.

It has been decided to offer only one Track and Field training session per week. This will take place on Wednesday afternoons throughout the entire season leading up to the AIC Track and Field Championships which are held in Week 1 of Term 4, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October.

This year we intend on training our entire AIC Track and Field squad from Year 5 – 12 in all disciplines/events on the same afternoon each week, excluding the middle-distance athletes. The entire squad will be transported by bus to and from Villanova Park to use our newly constructed Track and Field facility. The boys will train from 3.45pm to 5.15pm. The bus will then return all athletes back to the College for collection by approx. 5.40pm. Please find listed below a complete list of our 2020 Track and Field coaches.

Track and Field Training Schedule
Includes all students from Year 5 – 12 in all disciplines excluding middle distance
When – Wednesday afternoon
Where – Villanova Park
Time – Bus departs Villanova at 3.10pm and returns at 5.40pm
 
Middle distance athletes will train at Little Langlands on the days listed below.

• Year 5 and Year 6 – Monday and Friday afternoon at Little Langlands 3.15 – 4.45pm. Coach – Mr Tom Lonergan
• Year 7 – 12 – Monday and Wednesday mornings 6.30 – 7.30 am at Coorparoo AFC, 33 Birubi Street, Coorparoo (the oval behind Coorparoo SHS – marked with an athletics track). Students to find their own way to the venue, boys will be bused back to Villanova at the completion of training – Coach – Mr Brian Pascoe

Track and Field Coaching Staff

• Sprints and Hurdles – Mr Chris Everding, Mr Ben Valentine and Mr Michael Garske (plus external qualified coach – Bill McKenny)
• Middle Distance (800m/1500m and 3000m) – Mr Brian Pascoe and Mr Tom Lonergan
• High Jump – Mr Craig Stariha (plus external qualified coach, Stephen Karger)
• Long Jump and Triple Jump – Mrs. Terri Dillon, Mrs Nichole Rouhliadeff and Ms Liana Baillie
• Shot Put – Mr Blake McLauchlan, Mr Anthony Kemp and Ms Barbara Dewis
• Discus – Mr Paul Schiavo (plus external qualified coach, Michael Criticos)
• Javelin – Mr Tony Rolls (plus external qualified coach, Neil Janse)

If for any reason a student is unable to attend his allocated training session, he must contact his coach and notify them as a matter of courtesy. The Track and Field coaching staff is comprised of experienced members of staff from Villanova, as well as several external professionally qualified coaches.

I encourage all students who are keen to represent Villanova College in Track and Field this season to take advantage of all training sessions offered.  This year the College will not run the annual Inter-House Track and Field Carnival, so we are unable to ascertain an official train-on squad. At this stage all those who are interested may join the squad.

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

AIC Basketball Report – Mr Sean O’Neill, AIC Basketball Coordinator
The 2020 season was an unusual beginning with a shortened trial system and preseason but what continued to shine through was the talent in our basketball program and the hard work that players have continued to put in during the offseason. While our pool consisted of other equally strong teams, we were able to secure 15 gold medal games out of a possible 23 which shows how strong we are. Of those 15, we were able to secure eight gold medals. A further seven silver, and five bronze. In the Junior’s a further three teams had undefeated seasons as well. This is an excellent effort in such a compacted season. Special mention must go to the Year 10 age group which had all four teams competing for first place and of those, three were able to secure victories.

Premiership Teams
10B, 10C, 10D, 9A, 9C, 8C, 8D, 7B

Runners Up
First, Second, Third V, 11C, 10A, 7C

Undefeated Teams – Year 5 and Year 6
6B, 6C, 5C, 5D

Special thanks must always go to the coaches who come in every year to provide the expertise and passion to help push the boys to be the best they can be. Our mixture of staff, external coaches and old boys are all very strong and are part of the reason we remain so successful as a program.

We continued to run our three high performance programs in 2020 to help push top players in each year level. Despite it being shortened, the players worked hard to ensure they were ready for the start of the AIC season in the best shape they could be. Hopefully, these programs will be back to their normal scheduling in 2021 to allow us to work with them for longer.

In the First V, the strong showing of our team was evident with three 25-point wins in the pool matches and saw us matched up against the equally strong St Edmund’s team. It was a tough gold medal game which saw us lead for the entire match only to be beaten in the final minute of the game. This was heartbreaking for the team and the emotions afterwards reinforced how much it meant to the team. Some of the players have been part of the First V program for four years and despite losing the gold medal, they have provided a blueprint for future players on how to be a role-model in the program both on and off the court. Special mention must go to Head Coach Jordan Mullan for the time, passion and expertise that he instils in the players. His contribution across the high-performance squads and the First V cannot be underestimated. He was so ably supported by Assistant Coach Stephen Rouhliadeff, trainer Sam Korst and statistician Travis Warren. This team of coaches have dedicated so much to help push this team to the best that they can be.

Despite AIC basketball having now finished, the program continues with the QLD Basketball State Championships. The First V will be competing in Championship Division and will see us competing against the top twenty teams in the State. This is an excellent opportunity to challenge the players in a tournament style competition. QLD Basketball have also included for the first time a Sophomore and Junior Division meaning our Year 9 and 10’s and 7 and 8’s will compete now as well, and both have been ranked in the top division as well. This will be an excellent opportunity to continue to put our College forward as an excellent basketball program.

Finally, I challenge all players to continue to work on their game during the offseason to ensure we start 2021 in the best way possible. Thank you again to all players for what you give to our program.

AIC Basketball Results – Finals Round

AIC Tennis Report – Mr Todd Kropp, AIC Tennis Coordinator
Congratulations go to all the tennis players from Years 5 – 12 on a great season. The 2020 season was certainly one to remember for several reasons. The season saw an array of tennis talent coming from all AIC schools in various age groups making the competition across the board very competitive.

Villanova competed in three pool rounds followed by a final round which included a cross-over with the other pool of AIC schools. The Villanova teams played off against St Peters, Iona and St Patricks during the round season and played a variety of Colleges in the final round.

Round 1 v SPLC
Villanova were truly starting at the top of the measuring stick with St Peters in Round 1. It was a rushed beginning to the season, but the Villa boys took this in their stride and showed up ready to play a fierce opposition. Unfortunately, the results not swinging our way with SPLC taking a clean sweep of the round, but I am proud to say the scores were not a true reflection of the matches that took place. Most notably, the one-hour battle that 8A player, Josh Wennerbom, was involved with. Our First IV team also went down to a well-drilled SPLC First team.

Round 2 v IONA
To add to an already difficult season, the skies opened, and rain took away any chance of Villa taking to the court against rival College Iona. With the court too dangerous to compete on, the round was announced as a full wash-out.

Round 3 v SPC
The final of the pool round was also going to be tough but with the cancellation the week before and the limited season, the boys were keen to hit the court again. Some notable victories included the 3^rd, 11A, 9A and 7A teams that won overall by 5 sets or more. There were also five teams that had to be split by count-back of games, showing us the true level of competition. Unfortunately, our First IV team also suffered their second loss going down to SPC 5 sets to 3.

Final round
The finals round proved to be quite rewarding for the Villa teams with 11 wins and 6 losses. Unfortunately, with the finals for the First teams scheduled to be played on Friday night, the weather proved too much, and the finals were declared a washout.

It was certainly an odd season for our First IV team. The VNC Tennis Development Squad began training in July ahead of the AIC season. Twelve boys took part in this squad ranging from Year 9 – 12 who trained with program Head Coach Bo Tran. Our First IV team consisted of Callum Moses, Alexander Faccio, Joe Timms, Sam Simmons and reserve James Reid. It was a disappointing season having lost two of the four rounds to weather conditions, but we know the team enjoyed the two rounds they got to play.

I would like to congratulate and thank all graduating Year 12 students for their effort on the tennis court and make special mention to Alexander Faccio and Callum Moses, two graduating members of the Villanova First IV tennis team. Callum and Alex have been competing for Villanova on the tennis court since 2015 and I would like to thank them for their contribution.

From the 17 teams submitted into the AIC Tennis competition we were unable to secure a premiership nor have an undefeated team. Whilst this is not a true reflection of the season, I know the VNC teams will return to the tennis court hungry for those trophies next season.

Finally, I wish to thank the AIC coaches: Maria Mascadri, Mel Wilson, Michael Mascadri, Nick Halstead, Julian Mascadri, Connor Wadsworth, Shayle Korander-Matheson and Barbara Dewis. These coaches did a great job of supporting and guiding our boys around the tennis court and we hope to see them back again next season. I would also like to make special mention to Mr Bo Tran, program Head Coach for all Villanova teams and all the coaches and staff at Morningside tennis centre.

Keep an eye on the AIC Tennis page on the College website for more tennis opportunities with Morningside Tennis Centre.

AIC Tennis Results – Finals Round

AIC Chess – Mrs Sally England, AIC Chess Coordinator
The chess competition is fast approaching, and we are close to finalising the teams after the trial night last Wednesday. Teams will be chosen this week and all the boys notified. Boys who are not successful in making a team will still be able to continue to play at Morning Tea. The three nights of competition are Friday 21 August and Friday 28 August and Thursday, 3 Sept. The practice days are – Seniors – Monday and Friday; Intermediate – Tuesday and Thursday and Juniors – Monday and Wednesday. Boys are encouraged to play as often as they can at home as well.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Message from the Music Department
During our remote learning period, a video message was sent each week from the Music Office regarding general Music Department news and a reflection for the week.  Due to popular demand, this edition has returned.  Please find below a short video, sharing some views on mindset and communicating how we would like you to commemorate QCMF:  https://youtu.be/R_LCt2GDN-0

Tuned-In Podcase – Season 2, Episode 1
At long-last our next episode of Tuned-In has hit the digital sound waves across the globe.  Streaming on all your favourite podcast platforms, we hope you enjoy this week’s episode.

Our Music Captain, Sean Kearns, shares news and info from the Music Department and leads a discussion with our Music Extension students around their recent composition projects.  The students share insights around the creation of their works and a short excerpt to give you a taste of their compositional abilities.  We are then joined by Brass Captain, Dylan Crouch, and Production Co-Captain, Isaac Langford, where they take a moment to discuss music and Villanova with our Head of Junior School, Mr Rouhliadeff.

We hope you enjoy!

Auditions are approaching
As per our Music Department calendar, auditions for all Middle School and Senior School ensembles are approaching.  Please note – this audition process is NOT a prerequisite for participation.  You cannot fail this audition.  This is an annual assessment tool we use to gauge the development of the program overall and guide decisions around the number and type of ensembles we require each year.

We aim to develop balanced ensembles that contribute to the ideal learning environment for an effective music education.  Students will be positioned in ensembles that best reflect their current ability and reflect the capability of our program overall.  These positions and placements are made with careful consideration of each student’s developmental stage and skill level; we want the ensemble experience to be empowering, not destructive.

Gala Concert – Week 8
Our ensembles are preparing for the Gala Concert we currently have scheduled for Thursday 3 September.  At this point in time under current restrictions, this event will be proceeding with guidelines put in place to manage social distancing.  Information around attendance for this event will be communicated as soon as our plan has been approved.

We thank you for your patience with this as we navigate this challenging terrain.

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

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

We are excited to offer the new Entertainment Apps.

Amazing 50% off and two for one deals across Queensland and Australia.

20% from each membership goes towards our fundraiser.

PLUS receive a bonus $10 or $20 Priceline eGift Card until 13 August.

Help support us and our local community!

https://www.entertainment.com.au/orderbooks/22002q9

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

• Monday 31 August: Year 5 to Year 10 class groups, individual photos and all sibling orders
• Thursday 3 September: Year 12 cohort and individual photos and Year 11 class groups and individual photos
  (Year 12 Cohort are to be at Goold Hall, ready to be photographed, at 7:00am sharp.)

Sibling packages MUST be ordered before Wednesday 26 August (the sibling package will not be available to purchase as of Wednesday 2 September via Silver Rose website).

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

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

Please see attached for ordering instructions.

Helping Hands – Dr Joe the Scientist

We had our first week with Dr Joe the Scientist and it was electrifying! The boys learned new and exciting things that allowed them to think and hypothesise. Next week Dr Joe will lead new exciting experiments including robot building. If you wish your son to attend the Tuesday sessions with Dr Joe, all you need to do is ensure he is enrolled at Helping Hands and is booked in every Tuesday for the next three weeks. Dr Joe’s Science Incursion is at no extra cost to the after school care daily fee. Enrol via: https://www.helpinghandsnetwork.com.au/register/

Tuckshop Roster (Monday 18 August – Friday 22 August)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.