Villa View: Issue 33/21

Dear Members of the Villanova College Family
Last Saturday we welcomed to the College the students of Year 5 and Year 7, 2022. These young men were dropped at the gates of the College and walked into a place that was unfamiliar to them. They gazed around at the buildings and the size of the College, realising that they now are a part of this place we call Villanova College.

The enthusiasm of the students, beginning their journey at Villanova College was palpable and reverberated around the gathering spaces where the boys sat to welcome their new friends. These young men are looking forward to the great opportunities on offer at the College and are eager to embrace the challenges of their new school.

Accompanying these young men on their journey are two very important groups of people: teachers and families. Over the next six or more years a crucial partnership will be established between home and school. Together we are developing fine young men. Our success is dependent on each other. We cannot achieve this goal alone. The bond that binds this relationship is the common desire to wholistically develop these young people into good men of faith, wisdom and purpose.

Many staff were present and welcoming on Saturday, excited to meet the students of 2022. Their dedication and enthusiasm for the work they do every day is boundless, and I thank them for their support of the Orientation programs.

Celebration of Excellence
Next Tuesday evening, 2 November our College community is invited to attend the 2021 Celebration of Excellence. The evening will be held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre commence at 6.30 pm and we are asking all guests to be seated by 6.15 pm. Students attending the evening are expected to be in full academic uniform including white shirt, ties and blazer (Senior School only).

We are looking forward to celebrating the academic excellence of our students across 2021 and giving due recognition to the hard work and dedication displayed by our scholars.

Charlie Fisher Golf Day
Last Friday the Old Boys Association held their annual Charlie Fisher Golf Day at Gailes Golf Club. Over 56 Old Boys and guests joined the festivities. The winning team, 2011 Barbarians featured Christian Welch, Jac Thong, Nicholas Christensen and Hugh Pembroke.

On hand to present the winning trophy was Mrs Margaret Fisher, wife of Charlie and Charlie’s daughters Mrs Nicole Cole and Ms Helen Fisher. The day was a great celebration for all involved. The Fisher family offered their thanks to the Old Boys Association for honouring the memory of Mr Charlie Fisher.

2011 Barbarians: winners of the Charlie Fisher Cup

Prayers
We keep our Year 12 students and their families in our prayers over the coming weeks as they complete the last stage of their secondary schooling.

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

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

In keeping with the spirit of Reconciliation, Villanova College acknowledges the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we stand.  We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.  This has always been, and always will be, a place of teaching and learning connected to country, culture and community. 

Year 12 External Examinations
Our Year 12 cohort commenced their external examinations last Friday along with approximately 50,000 other Year 12 students in the state. Today, those students studying Mathematical Methods sat their two papers whilst English and Study of Religion were earlier in the week. So far, students have been leaving examination rooms at the conclusion of each paper feeling confident in their preparation and their performance. I have been thoroughly impressed by the way our young men have approached this important stage of their final year and encourage them to continue to work hard across the remaining 2 ½ weeks of the examination period.

Year 10 and 11 Examinations
Examination schedules for Year 10 and 11 have now been published and have been made available to the students.

Year 7 to 9 schedules will be made available soon.

As students draw closer to end of year examinations, it is always good to look back on what has been achieved in the past and what was it that you did to achieve the results you did. Essentially, it means completing a ‘stocktake’.

• Use of Class Time

How well did you use your time in class? Who did you sit next to? Did you listen to teachers and fellow students when they were speaking? Did you participate and contribute in your lessons? What are the main changes you need to make in this area?

• Asking for Help

If you didn’t understand something in class, did you ask a question about it? If you were unsure about an assignment or assessment, did you check in with your teacher? If you were struggling with a topic, did you ask for help? What are the main changes you need to make in this area?

• Time Management

Did you do enough schoolwork each afternoon? Did you plan out a timeline to do the work for your assessments? What are the main changes you need to make in this area?

• Preparing for Examinations

Did you ensure that you were always clear on what you were being tested on? Did you make study notes along the way so you had them ready for test time? Did you test yourself on the content as you were learning it to see if it was in your memory? Did you do lots of questions to practise the skills of the subject? What are the main changes you need to make in this area?

I’m sure in answering these questions, students will be affirmed by some of the good things they are doing. However, it is the areas where there is room needed for improvement that can become a real focus over the coming weeks.

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

Tomorrow is when Australia celebrates World Teachers’ Day.  This is such an important opportunity for us all as parents and students.  We all know how great it is to have a happy son.  If a teacher has helped our students just for one memorable moment in a day, then we often find the smile is a little bigger that evening over dinner.  It can be for a million reasons.

An open classroom door in the morning that means unpacking books and checking the timetable to get books organised.  A helping hand with homework that was a little challenging to complete, be it for lack of time or some confusion with the concepts involved.  A birthday remembered and discussed – the presents, special dinner or plans for celebrating.  A lunch break where a debating speech is checked, printed and rehearsed for the speech that evening.  A kind word when expectations are met and so there’s a chance to grab a “spooky treat” from the Halloween corner.  A compliment on a new haircut.  Interest shown on the weekend’s sport results because a special game was taking place.  A smile when a book is forgotten and so a quick trip to the photocopier is made to help out.  The millionth pencil is lent out, knowing that it’s unlikely to ever come back.  Noodles are made for lunch when a lunchbox is lost, and a student is hungry.  The list is long but it’s never impossible for teachers who really can be the world’s most incredible problem solvers.

Imagine teachers as real people – with families, friends and the people who are in this vocation for the right reasons – because your son matters.  They have passions you might still be yet to discover in the last four weeks of Term 4, 2021.  We have staff committed to Frocktober, wearing dresses every day of October to raise money for Ovarian Cancer – Frocktober – VNC GALS – is where you will find our staff eager to share their commitment for women’s health at this time of the year.  There are teachers discussing the Mooloolaba Triathlon 2022 – working out preparations and logistics for personal fitness and goals that see a combination of the swim, cycle and run rotation their goal outside of school hours.  Staff are studying online courses and completing master’s degrees to complement their work in education – readings, tutorials, lectures and assignments taking up weeknights and weekends.  Our Junior School staff have families who are their passion – babies, infants, teenagers and adults who need love, support and attention just as much as our students do.  A parent’s role is never-ending – it doesn’t matter how old a child is, the hope continues and the desire for happiness is very real.

My favourite teacher was from Year 3.  School didn’t seem hard – it was fun.  It was 1983 and I can only imagine how different the curriculum was back then.  I walked to school as it was only around the corner from where we lived.  My parents were still married so life seemed easier then.  I had a routine and my teacher just seemed energetic, happy and carefree.  By Year 6, I was often the first kid at school.  Mum used to tell me, “it’s too early to go to school” but I was determined to get there, ready to play with whoever showed up.  It was tennis, as new courts had been put in – my Mum had bought a $45 tennis racquet for me (very expensive in those days) – or basketball, as this was a game you could shoot on your own or join in with mates to help with rebounds and start a little competition.  My life was my friends – I don’t think I actually thought much about my teachers on a conscious level.  Yet now, I know with all my heart how much it matters to have that person who shows they know you on a level that is genuine and makes an impact.

In Year 6 this week, we will focus on the Robbie Sellars Award – all Junior School staff nominate students who have shown an incredible passion for life, positivity and their school hours.  Robbie was an incredible example of a young human being who knew that his terminal illness did not define his love of life.  He lifted the spirits of classmates, teachers and confirmed that every minute of life is for living.  See the miracles in front of you.  Show gratitude for every breath you take.  Leave a legacy that others will remember.  The Robbie Sellars Award is the student who loves, and lives life to the fullest.  They remember that students and staff are people – that manners, respect and spirit is within us all.  It’s how we embrace the small moments every day.  Over Year 5 and Year 6, what can our students show us matters most – what is their legacy they want to leave behind?

If you are able to read this newsletter in time, I hope that you find a small way to reach out to a teacher in the next week – this is your chance to say thank you for the smallest or biggest moment your son may have experienced in 2021.  Just an email, card, post-it or smile will suffice.  That kind of support gives us all the courage to keep going in a world that is unpredictable at the best of times, but it has the most important treasures of all – your sons – that make every effort worthwhile.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

October is always one of my favourite months of the year and this year is no different as the month sees the commencement of the new NBA season.

Whilst my beloved Washington Wizards have been battling at the wrong end of the ladder for too many years, the beginning of every season reignites fans with new hopes and dreams for the months ahead. No doubt all sport fans feel the same, irrespective of the code and team they follow.

Each sporting season is not unlike a school year. I’m realistic. The Wizards will lose games they should win, they’ll make mistakes that will cost them games, they’ll experience injuries, they might even have players and coaches that disagree about the style of play or the direction of the club. In the same way, the school year sees varying experiences of success, failure, tension between relationships, and even the occasional injury.

Players and students alike are called upon to prepare well, have their minds and bodies ready for optimal performance, and be ready to adapt and adjust behaviours when required.

Sporting stories have always interested me as there are so many parallels to schools and the learning process.

Whilst some might be naturally gifted in certain fields, rarely do we learn anything instantly. The road to success mostly features trials, errors, failure, confusion, and, finally, a deeper learning that can be built upon and enhanced by future learning experiences.

Personally, I often find myself referring to James Nottingham’s Learning Pit (discover more here https://www.jamesnottingham.co.uk/learning-pit)

As for my beloved Wizards, hopefully they too have learnt much from their losses throughout last season. NBA teams like the Heat, the Bucks, the Lakers and the Nets all have an abundance of champion players, and no doubt all of them have stories of “the pit” and how they climbed their way out of it.

At Villanova our boys are no different. Each year presents different challenges, both inside and outside of the classroom. These challenges, whilst unique for each person, are all common in the pit. To deal with these challenges effectively and climb from the pit requires grit, resilience, self-control, discipline, emotional regulation and of course the support of their teammates, coaches, peers, parents and teachers.

As we head into the final stages of Term 4 (‘the fourth quarter’ to continue the metaphor) the boys will be able see the finish line, but it is not the time to take their – and our – eye off the ball. To get through these final weeks, finish strongly, and take home the cup of self-satisfaction requires not only their hard work but our support, guidance and encouragement.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Cultivating an Opinion
There is one thing for certain in an all-boys’ educational setting in that our young men are never short of an opinion. Whilst promoting student voice is something we value in the Senior School; it is also important for our students to be able to cultivate and construct opinions and views which they can confidently and purposefully defend. I read a thought-provoking article by Shane Parrish entitled’ The Work Required to Have an Opinion” which poses the question- ‘how many of us actually do the work required to have an opinion?’

Parrish states “the work is the hard part, that’s why people avoid it. You have to do the reading. You have to talk to competent people and understand their arguments. You have to think about the key variables and how they interact over time. You need to listen and chase down arguments that run counter to your views. You have to think about how you might be fooling yourself. You need to see the issue from multiple perspectives. You have to think.”

Doing the work to be able to hold a well-informed opinion aligns well with our Augustinian tradition which promotes a restless search for truth. Let us continue to challenge our young men to engage in this search.

Celebration of Excellence
Next Tuesday evening, we affirm the outstanding academic achievement of our Villanovan scholars at the annual Celebration of Excellence, to be held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. This event is one of the most important on the College calendar, such is the value in celebrating the diligence and dedication of those students who have excelled in their studies across Terms One to Three. The evening also provides a wonderful opportunity for our talented musicians to play in a world-class venue such as the Concert Hall. I look forward to announcing the Awards of Distinction – Dux and Proxime Accessit of Year 10 and Year 11 in next week’s Villa View.

Year 11 Semi-Formal
Last Friday night, the Year 11 Semi-Formal was held at the Victoria Park Golf Club, after the false start of last term’s postponement due to Covid restrictions. As such there was a great sense of the excitement and enthusiasm for the evening, as was witnessed by the energy displayed on the dance floor. In reviewing the evening, the Senior School Pastoral Team is keen to explore further ways of building the capacity and skillset of our young men to be able to purposefully engage with their partners in such social situations. I would like to thank Year 11 Pastoral Area Leader Mr Blake McLauchlan for his meticulous organisation of this event.

“Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Mass of All Saints
Last Friday, having farewelled our Seniors on Thursday, we celebrated our last College Mass for 2021.  We were ahead of schedule celebrating All Saints.  As Catholics we remember those who have gone before us who have, through their actions and their faith, been inspirational to those around them.  Their lives responded to a call and a need that was present in the particular time that they lived.  Many of them continue to inspire us now.  Augustine, Monica and Thomas all have a very special place in the story of our College, hundreds and hundreds of years after they have died.  That is a pretty impressive legacy to leave behind!  All our saints were ordinary people, who listened to that whisper and urging of God and acted on it!  How do we tune in to hear what is really needed today?  How do we respond to the needs in our classroom, in our community, in our world?  I wonder what other saints might be amongst us if we dare to listen and respond?  In the midst of a week with Halloween, perhaps some conversations about All Saints could be part of your dinner time conversations.

At Villanova, through our Masses and liturgical celebrations we set aside intentional time as a community to come together and to pray.  In a busy school calendar, this is a significant commitment.  It is part of living out our values.  We come together, grounded in humility, to search for truth in our lives and to pray and reflect on our response to the invitations and needs before us.

In recent weeks a group of Year 11 students have been training as the Liturgy Group for 2022.  Having been commissioned at Mass on Thursday morning, it was fantastic to see them taking leadership roles at our College Mass, reading, ministering communion and music.  We are deeply grateful to Fr Saldie for his preparations and leading us; for Mrs Tucker and the Liturgy Band; and all the students who took an active role.

Our Augustinian Values: Humility, Interiority, Community, Search for truth and Ongoing Conversion.

Sunday readings at home
Please use this link to access this week’s readings and commentaries:

Ms Kate Garrone, Dean of Mission and Identity

I take this opportunity to draw to your attention to a section written below regarding coaches, managers and officials needed for 2022. As with all Colleges within AIC, Villanova relies heavily on the assistance of staff, parents, students and Old Boys to assist with coaching and managing. Put simply, our boys depend upon the good nature of many within our community to give of themselves so that our students can enjoy the benefits that playing sport provides. PLEASE give serious consideration to nominating yourself to assist the AIC Year 5-12 sports program at Villa in 2022 by completing the online nomination form found on the College website (further details below).  At this stage we are still short on cricket coaches. If you would like to assist the College by fulfilling a coaching role, please contact the Sports Office.

AFL, Volleyball and Cricket trials commence next week for all boys entering Villa in 2022 from Years 7-12. By this stage, all students who are keen to participate should have completed the appropriate online sign-on forms to register their interest. Although this form was due weeks ago, the online link is still open and is found on the ‘Locker Room’ page of the website. Students must attend these trials in order to be considered for a team. Please find all dates and times listed below.

It was once said to me years ago – it takes many years to build a positive school culture but only one year to destroy it. I urge everybody within our school community to get behind the sports program and become involved. The positive school culture which can be enhanced by participation within sport benefits our whole College. The first step is to get involved.

Experienced Football Coaches Required
The Villanova College Sports Department is currently looking for experienced/highly qualified coaches to be involved in the football program starting later in Term 4 and continuing into next year. We are seeking coaches who will work with our ‘A’ level sides. Coaching positions will be paid. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested, please get in contact with Football Co-ordinator, Anthony Kemp – akemp@vnc.qld.edu.au

2022 Coaches/Managers & Officials Needed – Our Boys Need Your Help!
The Villanova College Sports Department is currently seeking coaches, managers and officials for the Year 5-12 AIC sports program in 2022.  In particular, we require the assistance of staff, parents, Old Boys and friends of the College to take on the many duties needed to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate and enjoy all the benefits that playing sport provides as well as ensuring the ongoing growth and development of our sports program across all areas.

Villanova’s success in sport is dependent upon many factors, one being the generosity of members within our community to give of their time and efforts in order to serve our students by taking on specific roles. These roles include coach, manager, referee, umpire, scorer etc. If you can help in any way, please complete the online nomination form below.

All forms received will be compiled into a database. Before each season commences a member of the Sports Office will contact those who have expressed an interest to assist. A final confirmation of commitment will be asked, and further details will be given.

The College is indebted to those who were able to assist throughout 2021. We now invite those who would like to assist in 2022 to become involved for the benefit of our students and the College. You will no doubt find it rewarding and no experience is necessary. Please click on the link below if you are able to assist – https://form.jotform.com/VillanovaSport/coachofficialnomination 

2022 Villanova Cricket, AFL, Swimming & Volleyball Sign On & Trials
Villanova College will conduct AIC Cricket, AFL and Volleyball trials for all teams from Years 7 – 12 on the dates listed below. These trials are open to all students who are enrolled at Villanova College in 2022.  Please note that all students compete in their year level and not in their age groups.

All students, including those students who will join Villanova in 2022, must attend these trials to be considered for team selection in 2022. Students entering Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 in 2022 may only participate in cricket, AFL or volleyball as these will all be played on Saturday.

Students are required to wear any appropriate sporting attire to these trials.

Students wishing to trial must complete an online sign-on form and simply attend the venue 15mins before the advertised start time.

Commitment:  All teams will have one or two training sessions either before or after school each week during Term 1.  Term 1 training times for all teams will be advised before the end of year.

All students wishing to trial for an AIC cricket, AIC AFL or AIC volleyball team must complete an ‘On-line Sign -on Form’ due last Friday 15 October. Link below.

 https://form.jotform.com/VillanovaSport/aic-term-1-2022-sport-sign-on

Year 7 -12 (2022) Cricket/AFL and Volleyball Trial Schedule
Trials conducted Term 4 – 2021

PLEASE NOTE: Trials are for those boys who are entering that year in 2022, e.g., Year 7 trials are for those boys who are entering Year 7 in 2022.

• Little Langlands – Langlands Park, Main Avenue, Coorparoo (next to Easts Leagues Club)
• Goold Hall – located on the Villanova College Campus, access via Eighth Avenue, Coorparoo
• Coorparoo JAFC – Giffin Park, Birubi Street, Coorparoo

Further trials will be held on the following weekend dates after the initial trials are held above. Students will be advised of their team and subsequent playing time and venue after their trial session scheduled above. Please keep these weekends free.

FURTHER AFL, CRICKET and VOLLEYBALL TRIAL DATES – Year 7-12 Teams
After the cricket, AFL and volleyball trials held during Week 5, Term 4 (that is, 1 – 5 November), the College has organised further trial games to take place on the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November. It is important that all interested students attend these trials as we hope to finalise teams and squads after this weekend. All times and venues will be given to all players during the trials played earlier in the week. Some of these are listed below.

Those who do not make an AFL or volleyball team have the option of joining a cricket team. NOTE – The trials pertain to the year level the student enters in 2022. Therefore, the Year 7 trials are for students entering Year 7 in 2022.

All students wishing to trial for an AIC cricket, AIC AFL or AIC volleyball team must complete an ‘On-line Sign -on Form’ due last Friday 15 October. Link below.

https://form.jotform.com/VillanovaSport/aic-term-1-2022-sport-sign-on

Further Cricket Trials – Year 7-12 Teams
Most (not all) teams from Years 7-12, Sunday 7 November 2021 at Villanova Park – Specific times and fields TBA

Please note the trial games for cricket will be played on Sunday 7 November at Villanova Park. These trials are for selected teams/students only. NOT ALL BOYS WILL BE REQUIRED. After the trials held earlier in the week, we will advise those who are required to attend further trials on Sunday 7 November.  More information about team lists will be given at a later stage.

Please contact the Sports Office if you have any queries or concerns – sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au Phone: 3394 5621

Date: Sunday 7 November 2021
Venue 1: Villanova Park, Manly Road, Tingalpa
Venue 2: Kianawah Park, Wynnum Road, Tingalpa
Uniform: Villanova cricket whites or any suitable sports clothing

Further Volleyball Trials – Year 7-12 Teams
All teams from Years 7–12, Saturday 6 November 2021 at Villanova College, Goold Hall

Please note that all students who have signed up for Volleyball trials will be expected to attend further trials held on Saturday 6 November in Goold Hall at Villanova College. After the Volleyball trials held on Saturday 6 November all coaches will then select their volleyball teams/squads. If a boy fails to make a volleyball team/squad, they are welcome to join a cricket team. More information about team lists will be given at a later stage.

Please contact the Sports Office if you have any quires or concerns – sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au Phone: 3394 5621

Date:  Saturday 6 November 2021
Venue: Court 1 – Goold Hall, Nearest Main Entrance; Court 2 – Goold Hall, Near Stage
Uniform: Sports PE uniform or any suitable sports clothing

* All players need to be at their respective venues 15 minutes prior to the commencement of their game.

Other Volleyball Trial Matches Organised (Only for those boys who are selected after Saturday 6 November)
Note – some training sessions will be organised before the games below – TBC

• Saturday 13 November, Trial match v Iona College – Times and venues TBA
• Saturday 20 November, Trial match v St Laurence’s College – Times and venues TBA

Further AFL Trials – Year 7-12 Teams
All teams from Years 7 – 12, Saturday 6 November 2021

Please note that all students who have signed up for AFL trials will be expected to attend further trials held on Saturday 6 November at Coorparoo JAFC, Birubi St, Coorparoo (Giffin Park). After the AFL trials held on Saturday 6 November all coaches will then select their AFL teams/squads. If a boy fails to make an AFL team/squad, they are welcome to join a cricket team. More information about team lists will be given at a later stage.

Please contact the Sports Office if you have any queries or concerns – sportsoffice@vnc.qld.edu.au Phone: 3394 5621

Date: Saturday 6 November
Venue: Coorparoo JAFC, Birubi St Coorparoo, Giffin Park
Uniform: Any suitable sports clothing to play AFL including boots and mouthguards. Bibs will be supplied

* All players need to be at their respective venues 30mins prior to the commencement of their game.

Other AFL Trial Matches Organised (Only for those boys who are selected after Saturday 6 November)
Note – some training sessions may be organised before the games below – TBC

• Friday 12 November, Open trial match v Iona College – Times and venues TBA
• Saturday 13 November, Year 6, 7, 8, 9/10 trial match v Iona – Times and venues TBA
• Friday 19 November, Open trial match v St Laurence’s College – Times and venues TBA
• Saturday 20 November, Year 8 and Year 9/10 trial match v St Laurence’s College – Times and     venues TBA

Zone Cricket
Round 3: Saturday 23 October – Day 1 of the first two-day game (50 over game)

 Swimming/Volleyball and Cricket Clinics – 2022
Please find below some date claimers regarding to the up-coming swimming, volleyball and cricket clinics, which are open to all students from Year 5-12 in 2022. These are great opportunities for our student athletes to develop their skills before the 2022 AIC sport season commences.

• Cricket Clinic – 18, 19 and 20 January at Villa Park
• Swim Clinic – 17 January at Langlands Pool
• Volleyball Clinic – 17 & 18 January at Goold Hall

Villanova Swimming – Mrs Juanita Jacobs, AIC Swimming Co-ordinator
Thank you to all the students who have been able to attend the morning training sessions.  It is great to see so many people in the pool developing their skills and fitness.  We realise that there are often clashes with other sporting trials or music programs and that getting organised can be difficult.  There will be swim training right up until the 17 December.

All swimmers are expected to have a kit bag (clearly labelled) containing flippers, kick board and pool buoy.  This is an essential part of the training sessions and is an expectation from the coaches.  A lot of equipment is being misplaced, because it is not clearly named, and is being left at the end of the pool deck after training.  Coaches and managers are clearing the area and placing the equipment into the wet bins.  This is not our responsibility.  We ask the boys to take greater care with their gear so that it is not left lying around the pool after the sessions.

To start the 2022 season, all members of Villa swim squad are invited to participate in a special Swim Clinic run by the team at Langlands pool on Monday 17 January.  The clinic will include a mixture of pool and gym work.  There is no cost to participate.  More information will be supplied in next week’s edition.

Please find below the dates which training will cease over the upcoming vacation period at Langlands Pool. We certainly hope all our swimmers will continue their training throughout the Christmas holiday period.

• Last day – Friday 17 December
• Start back – Tuesday 4 January

AIC Water Polo 2021
Thank you to the students and parents who supported the AIC water polo competition this year.  We returned to Somerville House Pool on Sunday for a great day of social water polo.

The Year 7 and the Year 8/9 teams were both very competitive, each winning two games out of three. The Open team played well in their first game against Ashgrove defeating them easily, but was convincingly defeated by a very strong Iona team, finishing second in Pool A.  The playoff for 3rd and 4th was against Padua, and unfortunately Villa was not successful, and finished 4th overall.

Many thanks to our coaches Henry Lamb and Brandon Frail for their assistance on the day, and also to Meg Jacobs, Doone Wildin and Kristine Herbert for their assistance on the bench for the morning games.  The boys and I really appreciated your time and support.

Volleyball Schools Cup – Mr Todd Kropp, AIC Volleyball Co-ordinator
This past weekend the Villanova First VI volleyball squad competed at Volleyball Queensland’s Senior Schools Cup. Villanova entered 2 teams in the competition, one in Year 11 Honours and one in Year 11 Division 2. Our First squad has been training since late Term 3 and the tournament provided a great environment for our teams to implement technique and strategies ahead of the upcoming AIC season.

Our Year 11 honours team had a great weekend on the court playing against the State’s best. After a shaky start and 3-1 loss to Ambrose Treacy College, the team went on to win their next 4 matches setting them up for a place in the Gold Medal match. Unfortunately, our cross-town rivals in Craigslea SHS also locked in a place in the Gold Medal match setting up an exact rematch from the Year 10 Honours final in 2020. Unfortunately, the Craigslea team showed up ready to play and eager to even the count and with this was slightly too much for our team to handle and our boys settled for Silver and the title of second-best team in the State. We will follow this team closely during next year’s schools cup series as the Year 12 Honours division will provide the tie-break for these two great teams.

Our Year 11 team playing in Division 2 featured a mix of year 11 and year 10 students. This team also took on the challenge of putting into practice some very specific game tactics and strategies. With a good start to the tournament, the boys secured an early win over Brisbane Boys College 2, Redcliffe SHS and Brisbane Christian College and suffered a loss to Brisbane State High finishing second in our pool. This placing set up a cross pool match with Springwood SHS where our team had one of their best performances of the tournament earning them a place in the semi-finals and guaranteed place in a Medal match. Whilst our boys put in a gallant effort, the Villa boys lost the gold medal qualifier to Brisbane Boys College 1 and lost the Bronze match to Brisbane State High and finishing in 4^th place.

Regardless of the result, we are proud of each of the boys that represented Villa and we know this experience will have them prepared for what is to come with the 2022 AIC season.

AIC Touch Football Competition
Last Saturday Villanova entered two teams from year 6 and one team from Year 7 into an AIC Touch Football competition held at SLC playing fields. This was the first time such a competition has been held and there is a possibility this may become a regular fixture on the AIC calendar.

Overall, our boys performed extremely well during the day and both the div 1 team in Year 6 and the Year 7 team made the grand final. Unfortunately, the div 2 Year 6 side lost the semi-final, which could have seen a Villa v Villa final.

The Year 6 team went on to win the competition with a convincing 6-0 win over Ashgrove in the final. Unfortunately, the Year 7 team went down in the grand final 2-3 to St Laurence’s College in a nail biter.

Year 7 AIC Touch Football Grand Finalists

Year 6 AIC Touch Football Champions

A huge thanks goes to Mr Grant Hine and Mr Matt Pearson for managing the Year 6 team and to Mrs Nicola Anderson for managing the Year 7 team.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

FUSE Cup Esports Update
Last Friday a group of Year7 students travelled to Emmanuel College on the Gold Coast to participate in the Queensland Esports State Finals.

We hit the ground running with Grant Crawford and Connor Chaseling (Year 7) competing in the first event of the program, the Rocket League state finals. Grant and Connor competed against Ripley Valley State Secondary College in a 5-minute knockout match, where Ripley Valley opened with two quick goals forcing Villanova to change tactics and switch to a very defensive game. Ripley Valley then went on to win the grand final, lifting the trophy as the best Queensland Middle School team in Rocket League. Congratulations to Connor and Grant for giving it their all.

After a screen-free digital wellbeing break, Jack Fidge (Year 7) competed in the state finals for Mario Kart Deluxe against players from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Ipswich. Jack raced a near-perfect “Special Cup” Grand Prix, blitzing past the opposition to finish first in three of the four races. By the final race he had a comfortable lead buffer, securing him of the title of Queensland High School State Champion – Mario Kart. Jack now qualifies to compete at the national finals later this year.

So, as the curtain closes on Villanova’s first year competing in the FUSE Cup esports league we have enjoyed great success – having won the Brisbane High School trophy two out of three times, and having produced a Queensland state champion in the Mario Kart league – the most competitive of the esports league fixtures. I was surprised to learn that over 6,500 students participated in the FUSE Cup in Queensland in 2021, demonstrating the momentum, interest and enthusiasm this form of competition has gained in recent years. No doubt in 2022, our involvement in the FUSE Cup will continue to grow, giving even more students the opportunity to represent Villanova in activities they enjoy and excel in.

Mr Jason Lane, eLearning Pedagogy Leader

Jazz Music Institute Workshop
Mr Dan Quigley and the Jazz Music Institute team came to Villanova College on Wednesday afternoon this week to workshop with our Jazz Ensemble and Big Band members.  The afternoon provided our students with a great insight into the nature of music theory and its easy practical application within the Jazz idiom.

The students had an opportunity to perform onstage with our visiting artists, placing the concepts discussed in context through some blues improvisation.  Congratulations to Fionn Rossi (8), Charles Cox (9), Dominic Martin (10), William Bruce (6), and Liam Galbraith (5), for having the courage to perform for their peers in this challenging context – well done gentlemen!  We also appreciate the support given to our performers by their colleagues present on the day.

Thank you to Mr Harvoe and Mrs Silk for creating this opportunity for our students.  Thank you also to Mr Miller for his technical assistance in ensuring the venue was prepared for the afternoon.  We look forward to returning to our regular rehearsal schedule for our jazz ensembles next week, Wednesday 3 November.

Christmas Extravaganza 2021
As we draw to the end of another academic year, the Villanova Music Department’s Christmas Extravaganza arrives like the decorations and carols at your local department stores.  Featuring many of our Middle School and Senior Ensembles, we are looking forward to sharing the Christmas Spirit with our broader community mid-November.  The event is scheduled for Thursday 11 November, commencing at 6pm – information regarding ticketing will be distributed to families shortly.

Celebration of Excellence
This year, our 2021 Symphonic Band and combined Irish Ensembles, along with our 2022 Sinfonia String Orchestra, will be performing as part of the formal ceremony next Tuesday evening at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Concert Hall.  Performance and transport information has been distributed to participant families some time ago.  Information relating to ticketing for families of performers was sent through the Villanova College Office yesterday afternoon.  Please note that the same ticket limit applies to families regardless student involvement; i.e. if your son is performing and receiving an award, a limit of four tickets per family stands.

Students will need to bring their performance uniform, instrument, and music to school on Tuesday 2 November.  We will be departing the College at 1.30pm via bus for QPAC where we will complete our sound checks and have dinner (provided).  The event is scheduled to conclude around 8pm – performers can be collected from Stage Door in the tunnel under QPAC upon conclusion of the event.

If you have any queries regarding ticketing for this year’s Celebration of Excellence, please utilise the contact details on the letter distributed yesterday afternoon.

2022 Ensembles for Band and Strings
Our 2022 Ensembles have commenced rehearsal.  Ensemble lists were distributed at the end of last term – please find attached a copy of this term’s rehearsal schedule.  We are all looking forward to preparing our new groups for a great calendar of events in 2022.

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

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

All items can be purchased via TryBooking through the following link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BMEML

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

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

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

Date Claimers
We can now look ahead to what the rest of Term 4 brings!  Further information will be distributed shortly to participant families:

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

Michael Jones – Director of Music

IMPORTANT BYOD INFORMATION FOR 2022
From December 2021 Villanova College will no longer provide Sophos Antivirus for BYOD laptops.  As such, the tamper protection password has now been removed enabling uninstallation of Sophos. It is recommended to replace Sophos by early December as virus definitions will no longer be updated. Simply uninstalling will re-enable the built-in Windows Defender to protect your son’s computer whilst installing another End Point protection solution. The built-in Windows Defender is recommended at a minimum for Virus, Threat, Firewall, and Account protection.  However a third party End Point Protection product such as Bitdefender Total Security, Kaspersky Total Security, McAfee Total Protection is recommended for enhanced protection.  These products offer family licence packages and are well worth considering to protect and manage all devices in your household from a central dashboard and/or login profile. If you have any questions or would like some assistance with removing Sophos, etc please contact: byod@vnc.qld.edu.au

Secondly, the College has recently updated key information on two of our BYOD website pages. Namely:

• Specifications and Purchasing » Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au) – uploaded a new JB Education Parent Purchasing Portal walkthrough video, demonstrating how technology is used at the College, how to purchase and contact information for further support; updates to the Parent Purchasing Portal code for 2022.
• Setup Guides » Villanova College (vnc.qld.edu.au) – removal of information regarding Sophos, recently updated with links to Bitdefender, Kaspersky and McAfee as per the above message.

Finally, if you are purchasing a new laptop for the 2022 school year using the JB Education Parent Purchasing Portal, I have noticed that expected delivery times are starting to push out to late January. Therefore, please consider making your purchases sooner rather than later. Remember:

• Buy for three years – consider the impact of regular, sustained use over three years;
• Purchase with the maximum warranty – look for battery replacement options;
• Purchase with ADP/ADH (accidental damage protection / accidental damage handling) to minimise expense to you in the event of accidental damage.

If you have any questions regarding purchasing for the BYOD laptop program, please contact: byod@vnc.qld.edu.au

YEAR 9 PARENTS’ END OF YEAR EVENT

• Saturday 20 November, 7.00pm
• Beyond the Pale, Coorparoo Square
• Purchase drinks and food at the bar

See the Year 9 Parents’ Facebook group for RSVP details.

LIBRARY ROSTER (MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER – FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Library.

TUCKSHOP ROSTER (MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER – FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.

LANGLANDS POOL OPPORTUNITY
Langlands Pool is looking for a part-time Receptionist (Mon/Tues + possible Sat morning). If you are interested please contact Jan at Langlands (janarndt@bigpond.com)

SMALL STEPS 4 HANNAH CHARITY EVENT
Small Steps 4 Hannah invites the community to the International Men’s Day 2021 Cocktail event to celebrate all that men do in our communities.

• Friday 19 November from 4.00pm
• The Lawn, Dockside, Kangaroo Point
• 3 Hour Drinks and Canapes Packages – $110/ticket

Tickets available at https://tickets.lup.com.au/smallsteps

Further information available here.