Villa View: Issue 6

Dear Members of the Villanova College Family
Ash Wednesday marks the commencement of the 2017 Lenten season. The theme for the Lenten Program for the Archdiocese of Brisbane is “Up from the Waters” from the Gospel of Matthew.

When Jesus had been baptised, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ (3:16)

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us.

Over the coming weeks at the College, students and staff will be supporting the work of Caritas Australia through Project Compassion. The generous support of our community provides much needed resources for Caritas to make a difference in the lives of those who are the poorest.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority – QCAA has a range of resources and materials for parents about the new Senior system to be introduced in 2019 beginning with students in Year 11. These resources will provide important information about the changes to Senior schooling and the introduction of external examinations. The current OP system will be phased out in 2019 and replaced with the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank – ATAR for Senior students completing their studies in 2020.

The link to the website is shown below. If your son is in Year 9 or below then this change will affect your family. Please take the time to view the resources.

https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/new-snr-assessment-te

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Augustinian Spirituality Retreat with staff from the College. Fr Peter Wieneke OSA and Mr John Holroyd facilitated the retreat and conducted workshops on the life of St Augustine. One of the special moments was the opportunity to hear staff share parts of their own life stories and their involvement in Villanova College. We are very blessed to have dedicated staff members who give so generously of their time to the education of our young people.

SES SCORE

The Commonwealth Department of Education and Training will be collecting student residential addresses from 1 March to 31 May 2017 for the recalculation of the socioeconomic status (SES) scores. The SES Score is applied to Commonwealth recurrent funding calculations to the end of 2017.

Schools have been directed to provide a statement of addresses, in accordance with section 21 of the Australian Education Regulation 2013. A statement of addresses contains the following three pieces of information about students at Villanova College:

• Students’ residential address (not student names or other identifying information)
• Students’ level of education (i.e. whether the student is receiving primary or secondary education)
• Students’ boarding school status (boarders or day students)

The full text of the notice from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training is attached below as a link.

2017 Student Residential Address Collection

We continue to keep in our prayers all those members of our community who are battling illness at this time.

You have made us for Yourself O Lord

And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.

God bless

Mr Mark Stower, Principal

The season of Lent is once again upon us.  For the next 40 days (excluding Sundays) it is part of our Catholic faith to consciously commit to doing more, being more or going without something each day in the search towards being our best self.  Jesus’ 40 days in the desert was the ultimate challenge in terms of understanding His role as a human being on behalf of God.  He needed to step away on His own to face the reality of what lay in store for Him, what God needed Him to go through.  This was for the sake of those women, children, and ill-treated individuals who had no voice against those in power.  It was for others that He sacrificed his physical body and yet at the same time gave spiritual and mental power to all those who could believe.

As part of our Religious Curriculum and Life of the College, we are encouraging students, teachers and families to make a Lenten Pledge.  Traditionally, Lent is often thought of as “giving up” a vice to help us as individuals.  In today’s Church community, Lent can be a more liberating way of seeking to actively benefit the family, parish or larger part of society.  If we are indeed to seek giving up a treat of some kind (e.g. takeaway coffee) then we might aim to donate that $4 to charity, such as Caritas, an organization who aim to educate and end poverty around the world.  If we aim to be more to others, then we may commit to allocating 30 minutes per day to spend quality time with our children (no Iphones in sight!) or with the elderly.  Striving to do more might be seeking a Big Brother program, reaching out to our neighbours or servicing our skills to Lifeline, the Rosie’s Van or St Vincent De Paul.

For a ten or an eleven year old, the Lenten pledge must be one that is realistic but also accountable.  We need to help our sons challenge themselves but also experience success with their commitment.  There might need to be a compromise between the ambitious thinking and the practical situation of what they can manage each day.  Forty days is actually quite a long time to keep a promise!  Some boys might make one pledge for the entire season, others may like a different challenge per week and some may look to try different ideas every other day.  It is the willingness to try to be our best self that is crucial.  We may not be perfect during our pledge but we can admit our “stumbles” and reset our ideas as well.  If parents participate, then sons will really be kept to sustaining an effort that will certainly bring some spiritual development over the next two months.

Our Villanova College pledge for 2017 is “putting teaching first” and the Junior School staff are doing just that.  Last week both teaching year levels met for two hours and shared and reflected upon Marzano’s Art and Science of Teaching framework, Design Question 8 “What will I do to establish and maintain effective relationships with students?”.  The first five weeks of Term 1 are crucial to knowing “who” we are working with in our classes.  We must know these incredible young men as individuals so we can effectively care, teach and assess them.  The boys must feel safe, valued and willing to trust us as educators.  The only way that will happen is if we know what they like, what they fear and the situations that foster engagement and productivity.  What worked with a class in 2016 needs alterations for a class in 2017.  Teachers must constantly source new methods, practices and plans to ensure their boys receive the best possible experiences for six to eight hours each day.

Under the guidance of Ms Kristina Whitehead, Program Leader – Collaborative and Reflective Practices, teachers spoke as a group about what tasks, games and displays they had implemented to get to know their classes.  Photos gave us a real insight into how each class is designed to enhance the needs of learners.  Videos of students giving feedback about how they felt about life in their new classroom gave us voices from those who know first-hand the effectiveness of our results.  Teachers had the chance professionally to collate, provide feedback for each other and consider what could also work for them in the future.  We are now looking to focus on Design Question 1 “What will I do to establish and communicate learning goals, track student progress and celebrate success?”.  In Week 9 our staff will meet once again to validate what plans, results and evidence they can use to work as a collaborative group of professionals.

Best wishes to all with your Lenten pledges, for myself, I pledge to read to my two boys every night.  Boys, I might need your help, so make sure you come and ask me how I’m going!

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

“The minute you become a leader is the same minute you forget about self and start thinking of others.” – Anonymous.

What do we look for in effective leaders?

Over the past months, the news and social media have hit overdrive in their reporting, analysing and commentating on political leadership, both here and abroad.  Everyone seems to have their own take on how the job should be done.

This climate creates the ideal opportunity for us to reflect on what we look for in our leaders; be it at work, at school, or even in the home.

Last November, when our current Year 9 students gathered for their annual Day of Reflection, the theme of the day was leadership. The boys were challenged to identify and reflect upon the different styles of leadership and the effectiveness of each. When asked to nominate examples of effective leaders, it came as no surprise that Johnathan Thurston’s name was suggested countless times.

What was gratifying to the staff though was that Thurston was recognized not just for being the highest point-scorer in State of Origin games or as a great footy player, but for his ability to demand high standards of, and be a role model to, his team mates. He is seen as more than just an individual match winner, but as a leader who inspires and encourages the players around him and trusts in them to keep giving their best.

This ‘servant leadership’ resonates well in an Augustinian context, as all Year 9 students are called upon to be leaders in the Middle School. Like Thurston, this involves setting high standards of behaviour and school work, but also being positive role models for those in younger grades. Whilst this can be a challenge for many adolescents, it is something that we as a staff strive to assist our young men in achieving.

At the conclusion of the Year 8 Day of Reflection, all students were called upon to nominate the eight students who they thought would best represent them as Year 9 House Vice-Captains. Pleasingly, it did not turn into a popularity poll and it became obvious that the boys had placed a great deal of thought into their nominations. The students with the most nominations were shortlisted in readiness for elections this year.

During our College Assembly last week, these young men, elected by their peers, were commissioned to the office of Middle School House Vice-Captains and subsequently affirmed by the College community:

Max McCaul (Crane); Luke Barton (Goold); Dale D’Souza (Heavey); Tim Calvisi (Murray)

I congratulate these boys on their appointment, and challenge all Year 9 students to embrace their own roles as Middle School leaders.

Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School

Building upon my commentary last week on pragmatic ways to maximise academic success, I would like to emphasise the importance of time and organisational management. This has been a major focus for the Year 11 students throughout their last two form meetings as the increased study load associated with their new subjects demands more of their time. The advice of Director of Studies, Mr Peter Wall, regarding how to find 15 hours throughout the week for homework completion, study and assignment work whilst still balancing co-curricular commitments and time for relaxation was extremely insightful. I strongly encourage all parents to have regular conversations with your son regarding his study habits to ensure that he includes regular revision and is giving himself enough time to engage purposefully throughout the assessment process from planning through to final submission. If your son requires assistance in structuring a workable study planner, he can seek support through the Curriculum Office or by engaging with his ISP teacher or Year Level Coordinator.

Furthermore, with the mid semester exam block fast approaching for Year 11 and 12 students, it is vitally important that our young men take full advantage of the early release of the schedule to strategically prepare for these examinations. The exam block schedule is located for students in the My Courses section in Moodle (Form Meeting tab).

Senior School Vision

Two further aspects of the Senior School vision that I would like to discuss this week, focus upon the capacity of our students to embrace two core values which underpin our identity as a Catholic school, compassion and servant leadership.

Be Your Brother’s Keeper

The Senior cohort has adopted this aphorism as their theme for 2017 and I congratulate the Year 12’s for the way in which they have supported their Villanova brothers throughout the year thus far. A powerful demonstration of this solidarity occurred at College Assembly earlier this term, when the Year 12’s as a united brotherhood sang ‘Brother’s Keeper’ arm in arm. To be true to this motto, students require an altruistic mindset built upon the values of empathy and compassion to be able to recognise those students in our community who need our support.  To paraphrase former American President Barack Obama, to be your brother’s keeper allows us to pursue our individual dreams yet still come together as one Villanova College family – e pluribus unum: out of many, one.

Be a Leader

‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ Mahatma Gandhi’s poignant quote is an apt representation of the vision of student leadership at Villanova College. Leadership development is a core component of the Senior School formation program and the model that we prescribe to is one of servant leadership. Inspired by Jesus Christ, whose humble yet profound leadership example underpins all our intentions, students are challenged to view leadership not as a platform for power but a platform to make a positive difference to the lives of others. I would like to congratulate the continued work of the Student Leadership Team in serving the Villanova Community in their endeavours this term.

“Give of your hand to serve and your hearts to love.” Mother Teresa

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

The various student Ministry Groups are on song as we begin Lent, with different groups working very well together. One notable example occurred on Tuesday at St Stephen’s Cathedral, with almost thirty students involved in the launch of Caritas Australia’s 2017 Project Compassion Appeal. The students in the Liturgical Choir and Band have taken significant recruitment steps with the result that a wonderful and full sound is being created.

“I sat in yesterday’s Mass completing in awe of how wonderfully your school performed.” (Joe Foley, Caritas). Particular thanks must go to Mitchell Lockett (Year 12) for his enthusiasm and commitment in attracting extra students to the Liturgical Choir. These students provide a great service to the College, as not only do they lend depth and colour to our liturgies and gatherings, but they also generate spirit within the community, as was seen on Tuesday.

At the same time at the Cathedral, a team of Year 9 and Year 12 students took part in the workshop that accompanies the official launch of Project Compassion. These students appreciated the chance to engage with like-minded students from similar schools as well as having the opportunity to see how wide and generous the Project Compassion campaign is across all Catholic schools and parishes.

Our task at Villanova is now to put the “Amen” to the prayers heard at the Ash Wednesday service in Goold Hall yesterday by filling up the Project Compassion boxes (Middle School) and the Saint Vincent de Paul hampers (Senior School). All students are encouraged to be generous, to make some small sacrifices and to give to neighbours who have far less than we do. The 2017 theme for Project Compassion is Love Your Neighbour and we aim to show this care and compassion through a practical and generous response.

Teams of students are also working together to plan for Mission Day in Term 2, with a target of $20,000 set. This sum would provide places for 16 students at our sister schools in the Philippines as well as providing scope for community projects in the three areas that we visited in September.

Finally, at each College Assembly, there has been a team of Ministry students not only presenting information but also insisting on how warmly welcome every single Villanova student is to get involved in service to others. There is no type-casting and the door is always open.

Mr John Holroyd, Vice Principal – Ministry, Mission and Evangelisation

This week our swim coaches and managers are making final preparations for the annual AIC Swimming Championships to be held at Chandler next Monday. The College has much respect for the many swimmers who have trained long and hard in the pool spanning many months, as the early rises and countless laps are not seen by many. The self-discipline and motivation these swimmers possess as they go about their training is to be admired. On behalf of the College we wish all members of the Villanova College Swim Squad the very best at the AIC Swim Championships next week.

To support our swimmers, the College will transport all Year 7, 10 and 12 students to Chandler next Monday.  I know that every swimmer will appreciate the support given by their mates in the stand and I have no doubt that given this support our swimmers will lift even more on the day. Further details pertaining to spectators and competitors is found below.

Term 2 sign-on forms for rugby, football, cross country and chess were due last week, but we estimate that some forms have still not been handed into the Sports Office. I ask all students to download a form from the College website or collect one from the Sports Office and register your interest as soon as possible as coaching allocations are currently being finalised based on team numbers.

Well done to all cricket and volleyball teams who took on Padua College last weekend. In regard to the aggregate games it was a close day. Both Colleges drew in volleyball and Villanova narrowly won more in the cricket to take out the day overall. With strong results in the last three rounds, Villanova is still in a position to take out a good number of premierships and achieve a credible position in both the cricket and volleyball aggregates.

Please note that the second round of volleyball photos will be taken this weekend for teams playing at Goold Hall. Please consult the schedules found on the webpage and ensure all players are dressed accordingly.

As we enter the back half of the cricket and volleyball season I ask all to keep up the efforts both at training and on game day. It is not uncommon for teams to lose some focus around this stage of the season. We have three rounds remaining and all boys are going well.  Let’s keep up the good work right until the end.  Best wishes to all involved and enjoy!

Round 5 Fixtures – Saturday 4 March, AIC Cricket, AFL and Volleyball v Iona

Please refer to the College’s website to view all times and venues for this weekend’s fixtures against Iona. Simply scroll down on the College’s home page to the ‘Latest News’ section and click the ‘Weekly Fixtures’ section.

AIC Swimming – Mrs Kate Alexander, AIC Swim Coordinator

The Villanova swim season is quickly coming to an end, with the second last swim meet held at Iona last Friday night. Many thanks to parents who offered their assistance with timing. All swimmers have been training very hard and we definitely saw their hard work pay off with many PB’s beaten last week.

Tomorrow, 3 March, all members of the AIC swim squad will be acknowledged at our College Assembly in Goold Hall from 10.35am.  Parents are most welcome to attend.

Tomorrow afternoon, swimmers will attend a final time trial at Langlands Pool straight after school from 3.30 to 4.30pm followed by a BBQ for all swimmers. It is important that all squad members attend this swim meet as it is the final opportunity for coaches and managers to conduct any last minute swim offs in order to finalise nominations for the AIC Swimming Championships, to be held at Chandler next Monday, 6 March.

Final Swim Trial and BBQ at Langlands Pool

Friday, March 3

Langlands Pool, Panitya Street

Time:   Warm-up: 3.15-3.30pm

Time Trials: 3.30-4.30pm

**All students must be collected from Langlands Pool promptly at the conclusion of the time trials.

AIC Swimming Championships – Chandler

By now all squad members have received a letter outlining all relevant information in regards to the AIC Swimming Championships. This information has also been posted on the sports webpage of the Villanova website.  Please note:  The draft swim team is posted on the website, as some changes may still occur following the final trials tomorrow. The final team list will be posted by midday on Saturday.

Our final swim team, to compete at the AIC Swimming Championships, will be selected based on times recorded at the AIC swim meets held throughout the season. Unfortunately, not every student who has trained throughout the season will swim on the day of the Championship. We do, however, recognise each swimmers importance within our squad and the efforts they have made, so every member of the squad will be acknowledged at tomorrow’s Assembly and all regular squad members will travel to Chandler next Monday, either as a competitor or a reserve. Buses will transport students to and from Chandler on Monday.

On Monday morning, the boys are asked to meet on the Middle School Quadrangle at the College by 6.45am (not Langlands Pool) for final team instructions and a team photo, before departing for Chandler at 7.15am.  The Carnival will conclude by 2pm.  We ask all swimmers to travel as a team to the Championships on the buses provided by the College. Parents may transport their son/s home directly after the Carnival, but must advise a teacher prior to leaving Chandler.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to a great day out at Chandler to celebrate all Villanova College AIC swimmers and acknowledge the hard work they have put in over many months.

Spectators – AIC Swimming Championships

All Year 7, 10 and 12 students will be bused out to support our swimmers at the AIC Championships next Monday. All buses will depart and arrive back at the College within normal school hours.  All supporters are required to wear full academic uniform. Canteen facilities will be available.

AIC Cricket

From the 33 games played against Padua on the weekend, Villanova had 21 wins, one tie and 11 losses. The aggregate teams posted seven wins and five losses. Even though we took out the day I think it’s fair to say that a number of teams didn’t make the most of their opportunities. A number of our losses were very close and they all seemed to go Padua’s way.

This week we are looking for all players to be consistent across the entire game and capitalise on the game breaks which occur. Iona will, as always be determined until the end. All players are asked to maintain a good positive attitude during warm up and throughout the game in order to be the best they can be. I have little doubt Villanova have the talent to go well this weekend. We need to apply ourselves from the beginning and maintain the focus throughout the game. Good luck to all teams!

AIC Cricket Results v Padua

AIC Volleyball – Ms Barbara Dewis, AIC Volleyball Co-ordinator

‘Volleyball is 90% heart, 10% skills and 10% passion. You ALWAYS give 110% – no matter what!

I am not sure if this statement is proving to be a strategy for all teams as we progress into the back end of the volleyball season.  Training provides the platform for all coaches to have in place a game strategy for their opposition, however players are taking it upon themselves to use training as ‘fooling around’ time. Unfortunately, this is costing teams valuable points in sets at crucial times, as well as on the ladder of winning a premiership.  While we talk about players having fun, if players are genuine and sincere about a premiership there are a few concerns that must be addressed before this weekend’s round of fixtures.

Please ensure all players:

• notify coaches of absences from training and games
• arrive on time for training and games
• arrive early for court duty
• train with purpose
• encourage and support each other at training and games
• listen to coaches

On a brighter note, the highlight of the weekend would have to be the 7A game.  This team endured everything that could possibly be thrown at them and only had six players to take the court for the entire game of three sets.  They lost the first set 21 – 25 but with some stern but encouraging words from the coach, these six players stood strong and went on to win the game. ‘Sometimes it is not how good you are, but how bad you want it. If you have the right mental attitude, nothing can stop you from achieving your volleyball goals.’

A valuable lesson the players took from this match was to always play the whistle and only the Captain of the team is to approach the umpires during a game. Congratulations must also go to those teams who had a win against some very tough opposition.

As we move to the next round against Iona all teams will need to be well prepared and ready for everything that Iona will serve to you. Stand strong and committed to your team and as always – Carn the Cats!

Volleyball Team Photos

Photos will be taken this weekend for all Year 7, 8 and 9 volleyball teams. Please check the College website for the schedule and ensure all players are on time and dressed in the full and correct volleyball uniform.

AIC Volleyball Results v Padua

AIC AFL – Mr Adam Fry, AIC AFL Co-ordinator

What a weekend of footy it was, as for the first time and I’m sure not the last, all four teams had fantastic wins.  Congratulations to all players on their tremendous victories, but as we know one win doesn’t make a season and it is right back to business this week for a big weekend of fixtures.

This weekend will see us up against four very strong sides from Iona so it is imperative that all players are switched on and ready to go this Saturday. A reminder to all players to ensure you continue to bring a water bottle in these still very hot conditions. It is fantastic to see players from both teams arriving early or staying late to support their Villanova mates.  I encourage all players to do the same this weekend for what will be a big weekend of Villanova AFL at Yeronga on Saturday.

Results Round 4

5A Villanova 17.5.107 defeated Marist College Ashgrove 2.2.14

5B Villanova 11.8.74 defeated Marist College Ashgrove 2.1.13

6A Villanova 20.10.130 defeated Marist College Ashgrove 0.0.0

6B Villanova 17.10.112 defeated Marist College Ashgrove 2.4.16

AFL Fixtures Round 5

Villanova Rugby and Football Uniforms – 2017

ALL students from Years 5 – 12 playing either rugby or football must purchase the Villanova rugby or football uniform in readiness for the up-coming season. This includes shorts, jersey and socks. The College Uniform Shop will have all rugby and football gear available for purchase, although some stock is currently on back order.

IMPORTANT:  Every boy who signs up for either rugby or football WILL make a team, so these uniforms must be purchased.

Villanova Rugby Uniform

• Villanova rugby jersey
• Villanova rugby shorts
• Villanova rugby/football socks
• Mouth guards compulsory
• Head gear optional
• Villanova green zip jacket or Villanova track suit optional

Villanova Football Uniform

• Villanova football jersey
• Villanova football shorts (not the PE shorts/ not the basketball shorts)
• Villanova rugby/football socks
• Shin guards compulsory
• Villanova green zip jacket or Villanova track suit optional

Please Note:  Football players must wear the Villanova football shorts not the Villanova basketball shorts, which do look similar.  The new Canterbury rugby and football socks are the same.

AIC Rugby and Football Training/Trials

The first training/trial session will occur the very first week after Round 7 of cricket, AFL and volleyball, Monday, 20 March.

All Year 5 and Year 6 students will be involved in some skill and drill sessions during Friday sport commencing on 10 March. All players must have boots, mouthguards and a suitable jersey (this does not have to be a Villanova jersey). Staff will notify boys when they will be doing contact drills and require extra protective gear.

All training times and venues for all Year7 – 12 teams are listed on the College’s website. All Year 5 and Year 6 teams will train at Langlands or Whinstanes, specific days and times will be advised.

Please see the divisions below, in each division the players will be graded from A, B, C etc. Opens will be graded from 1st, 2nds, 3rds etc.

Football:  Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Opens

Rugby:  Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, 16 years and Opens (students from Year11 onwards are to play in their age group not year levels)

AIC Rugby and Football Trial Games – Date Claimers

Monday 20 March, 1st XV and 1st XI Football trial v Iona (after school)

Saturday 25 March AIC Rugby and Football v SLC (full school trial)

Saturday 22 April AIC Rugby and Football v SPLC (full school trial)

AIC Rugby, Football and Chess Training/Trial Schedule

The schedules below will be applied all season:

 Rugby Training

Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, 16years and Opens at Villa Park 4.00pm – 5.15pm, Monday and Wednesday afternoons

Year 5 and 6 at Little Langlands, morning session 7.00am – 8.00am

afternoon session 3.15pm – 4.45pm (specific days will be advised)

Football Training

Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths at Villa Park 4.00pm – 5.15pm, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

1sts and 2nds at Villa Park on Monday and Wednesday afternoons

Year 5 and 6 at Whinstanes/Little Langlands, morning session 7.00am -8.00am

afternoon session 3.15pm – 4.45pm (specific days will be advised)

AIC Chess Training

Chess Club will continue on Wednesday and Friday mornings in Term 2 from 7.30am – 8.30am. Lunchtime sessions will also be available at first break every day for game practise. The Chess Club sessions offered this term will also double as the trial process to select AIC teams.

AIC Rugby, Football and Chess Sign-On – Forms now overdue!

Please be advised that all boys from Year 5 – 12 have been given the opportunity to sign-on for the up-coming rugby, football and chess season. These forms must be returned tomorrow.

Junior School (Year 5 and Year 6) Rugby and Football Information

Of the 311 boys in the Junior School, 236 have signed up to play football or rugby. That is a healthy 76% of our students, however we would still love to have more students sign up to ensure we have fewer reserves each Saturday. If boys have clashes with other sports, we will try to make arrangements to ensure they can get out on the field each week with their Villanova mates. At this stage there will be four rugby teams and six football teams in Year 5, while in Year 6 there will be three rugby teams and four football teams.

Year 5 and 6 Rugby and Football Trials

Initial selection trials will be conducted by staff, during Friday Sport from 2.15pm – 3pm, commencing next Friday. All football players will play games on Whinstanes (Year 6) or on the Junior School oval (Year 5), as an identification process only, in order to split the boys into two groups. Staff will place the boys into initial squads that will then be revised in the last week of term when official training begins.

Rugby players will be involved in a number of drills and play a series of modified matches at Langlands and will require an old jersey, boots and a mouth guard. The boys can change into their rugby gear at the end of lunch but must change back into their sports uniform to go home. Football players can bring along boots, football socks and shin pads, if they are scheduled to trial on Whinstanes and will play in bibs over their sports uniform.

Junior School Rugby and Football Training

All training will commence the week beginning 20 March in preparation for the trial match against St. Laurence’s College on 25 March.

Rugby players will train at Langlands and are to bring a mouth guard, jersey, footy socks and boots. If the boys don’t have an old jersey, an old t-shirt will do. No mouth guard – no contact drills!

All football players will train either on Langlands or Whinstanes with days and times to be confirmed and are to wear their sports uniform. Bibs will be supplied to help identify the boys. They can bring shin pads and footy socks and boots.

St Augustine Tour

The annual exchange between Villanova College and our brother school St Augustine’s College (SAC) will take place from 7 – 9 May in Brisbane. Each year the exchange has students from both Colleges compete against each other in rugby, football, basketball and debating. The exchange offers an opportunity for the staff and students of both Colleges to form bonds and further strengthen our already strong relationship.  Those who have been selected to participate in the tour, including the First Football Squad, the Andrew Slack Squad, the Wildcat Basketball Squad and our debaters have all been given an information letter requesting all squad members take on billets. We ask players involved with these squads to return these billet forms as soon as possible.  Please contact the Sports Office with any questions.

Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

2017/18 Entertainment Book Drive

The 2017/18 Entertainment Book drive has commenced with all presale envelopes distributed to all Year 5 and Year 6 students as well as all Middle and Senior School students participating in ensembles at Villanova College.  If your son has not received his presale envelope yet, please ensure he drops by the Music Office to collect one.  Prizes are available for the most sold during this period.

This fundraiser is held to support our Music Support Group and their mission is to assist students travelling on tour.  $13 from each book sale supports our Music Department.  If your son sells up to two books, the monies raised goes towards our Music Support Group.  For every book after the second, your son will receive a $13 tour credit stored in perpetuity against his name at Villanova College, for the use of Music Tours only.  Please support our fantastic Music Support Group with this annual fundraiser.

Please see the Pre_sell_flyer_Entertainment_Book to this week’s newsletter with a link for all online purchases.

Junior School Music

All Year 5 students will have received their instruments and satchels this week so lessons and home practice can now begin in earnest.  Bringing an instrument into your home may be a new experience for your family and will require a little adjustment to ensure smooth sailing for our new instrumentalists.  There will be some quite ‘awesome’ sounds produced by your sons over the coming weeks.  I implore you to stay positive as these first few steps are made and provide much encouragement through these early stages.

For all Junior School students, we ask that at least three practice sessions per week of around 15 minutes each are completed for ‘home work.’  To ensure this occurs we highly recommend practice becomes a routine element of family life.  Please negotiate with your son when these sessions will occur and place them on the family timetable so that all members are aware that your son’s bedroom will be an experimentation of sound for that period of time each week.  The more routine this becomes in family life the easier it will be to maintain.

I look forward to seeing the fruits of this labour in a couple of weeks’ time at our annual Jump Start Day concert at 5pm on Tuesday, 14 March.

Music Ministry Group – Launch of Project Compassion – St Stephen’s Cathedral

Our Music Ministry Group provided music for the Mass launching Project Compassion, a ministry of Caritas Australia.  The students did a wonderful job and were recognised by the Archbishop for their efforts.  We also received many positive comments from the congregation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those whose efforts led to such a successful outcome for the students:  Mrs Justine Silk for her assistance in rehearsal and at Mass; our librarian Mrs Eleni Peace for music preparation; Mr Patrick Zietsch and Alex Williams for their expertise, assistance and crewing on the day and Fr. Peter Wieneke OSA and Mr John Holroyd for their guidance in terms of repertoire.

Tour Information

Tour information has been sent home electronically to students in our String Ensembles and Bands (excluding Junior School Ensembles).  We would appreciate prompt return of these documents so that decisions may be made regarding tour viability and staffing.  If you have not returned these yet, please do so by the end of the week.

Should you have any queries or concerns regarding your son’s involvement in any of these events, please don’t hesitate to contact me through the Music Office on 3394 5691 or via email at music@vnc.qld.edu.au.

New Students to the College

New students enrolled at Villanova College in the Middle and Senior Schools are most welcome to join our co-curricular Music program.  All other interested students are encouraged to come down to the Music Office to introduce yourselves or alternatively contact us during business hours on 3394 5691 or via email at music@vnc.qld.edu.au.

There is an opportunity to learn all brass and orchestral string instruments as well as guitar, piano and voice at Villanova College.  Information regarding our program is available from the College website, on Parent Lounge or through the Music Office.  Please don’t hesitate to make contact!

Communication

As per 2016, information regarding the general running of the program and upcoming events will be communicated through the College newsletter, Villa View.   Information relating directly to your son’s ensemble involvement in a performance will be communicated via email and or a letter sent home at rehearsal times.  Emergent matters relating to urgent changes to routine will be communicated via the Skoolbag App.

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Tuckshop Roster

Monday 6 March

Kym Edser, Nicole Winsbury, Jenny Lanskey, Liz Burge, Donna Heaton, Chris Ghikas, Rachel Meyer, Donna Skelton, Donna Fingland, Souni Morelli, Angie Childs

Tuesday 7 March

Tricia Intelisano, Lisa Murphy, Angela Crisafi, Irene Tornatore, Mechelle Fury, Christina Ross, Ita Dumont, Kelly Collins, Dimi Stergou, Maria Kambouris, Genevieve Keskinidis, Lisa Waugh, Miranda Dang, Irene Miano

Wednesday 8 March

Tracey O’Reilly, Karen Meimaris, Natalie Jayne Dunton, Ruth O’Brien, Leanne Kruysmulder, Alison Wilde, Marlene Delbridge, Maria Perez, Ekta Kapoor

Thursday 9 March

Julie Paterson, Debbie Winfield, Jane O’Brien, Lydia Wilcox, Georgina Horky, Deanna Trembath, Jayne Smith, Kellie Killips, Catherine Bishop, Nicky Micheletti, Sue Godwin

Friday 10 March

Mary Atkinson, Maria O’Leary Chay, Cath Davies, Effie Prineas, Kelly Kendall, Melissa Lorimer, Marina Pennisi, Nicole Dillon, Melissa Clark, Cathy Harris, Maria Spina, Angela Connolly, Jen Thomas, Kym Verity

Tuckshop menu and price list

Library Roster

Monday 6 March

Leah Coogans, Bronagh Earthrowl

Tuesday 7 March

Loretta Jordan-Vieira

Wednesday 8 March

Donna Leahy, Melanie Higgins, Ekta Kapoor (After Tuckshop)

Thursday 9 March

Maritsa Malanos, Nicky Micheletti (After Tuckshop)

Friday 10 March

Gina Avolio, Jaclyn O’Shea

AFAS EXCHANGE

There will be a meeting for all those participating in this years AFAS Exchange to the Philippines next Tuesday at 6.00pm in V7.

Mr Tony Hindmarsh

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Sports Uniform Sale.  All sports uniforms (training gear only) must sell – two for $5.

Come in, grab a sports bargain and browse our full range of regular stock while you are here.

We are open each Thursday morning during the term from 7.45am until 9.15 am.

Ms Maree Erikson, Coordinator

San Sisto College Dance

On Friday, 10 March, San Sisto College is holding its annual college dance.  The theme for this year’s dance is Neon.

The dance will be held at the Carindale, PCYC from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

This dance is open to all students from Years 8 – 12.  Upon entry students are required to show ID and a $10 entry fee is applicable.

All Hallow’s School Dance

All Hallow’s School is holding a dance for Years 7 and 8 students on Friday, 17 March from 7:00pm to 9:30pm at All Hallow’s School.

The dance will be held at Loretto Hall and can be accessed via Dodge Lane or Kemp Place entrances.  Upon entry students are are required to show ID and $10 entry free is applicable.

Stay up to date with the College events please proceed to the event calendar.

We now have just over two weeks to go until the Villanova International Carnival.  Thank you to all new and old volunteers who have taken on running a stall. We still have one vacancy which we urgently need to fill – the Silent Auction is without a convenor.  If you are able to assist us, please contact Cameron Clelland.  

Let the fun begin – Ride Tickets can now be purchased via Flexischools.  

All the details are in this week’s International Carnival newsletter.