Welcome!
Welcome to the 2026 academic year and to this year’s theme of Interiority.
As a College, we have spent the last fortnight reviewing and analysing our 2025 outcomes, both academic and wellbeing, and planning for your son’s growth and development across this year.
In alignment with our College strategic plan, our annual goal is centred on your sons and their learning, particularly as it relates to the development of critical thinking and their engagement with ‘the restless search for truth”.
We have established four clear areas of focus and effort for our teaching and non-teaching staff this year to encourage students and achieve this outcome.
- Directed and intentional L & T practices
- Targeted student formation & monitoring
- Strategic staff education and formation
- The insistent and consistent management of students and their learning outcomes
As a College, we are committed to knowing our learners and to our learners knowing themselves.
The idea is that we want to graduate young men who have the ability to engage in the world around them, to filter and critique the information that comes their way, and to be able to make decisions and take actions that improve their own outcomes, but more importantly, the lives and opportunities of those around them.
In each area, we have clear goals and targets to be achieved, both academic and pastoral, and following our preparation days, I am enlivened by the College community’s openness and commitment to these goals and actions.
MyVilla 2026
The first action that parents will experience relating to our improvement goal is the movement of all academic learning and outcomes data to the MyVilla platform.
What does this mean?
All assessments will be in the My Villa platform, which will give parents and students direct access to assessment information and outcomes in real time, with vision of grades, feedback on assessment and feed forward (what to do next to improve) information. This will be across all year levels 5-12. This process, while giving parents good information to monitor and support their child, will more importantly bring students into the conversation earlier and give them clear reference points to understand themselves and their learning to set achievable and realistic goals for the future.
More detailed information will be shared during our parent information nights next week and through the Teaching and Learning Office.
Child protection information
As we start the new year, it is important to share with all parents in our community our Child Safety standards and processes, should you or your boys have any concerns in this regard.
Firstly, the College has Child Safety Officers who can be accessed by students, staff and parents should there ever be a concern about actions or behaviour that could be seen as harmful to children.
Our child protection officers are both male and female and are spread across the College from Years 5-12 to ensure there is access for boys to someone who they know. Additionally, all staff are trained in regard to both their responsibilities regarding conduct and care as well as their reporting responsibilities, both mandatory and what is expected of a Villanova teacher.
2026 also sees the introduction of a reportable conduct scheme across all industries and activities where young people are engaged. This includes government sectors, childcare, sports clubs, interest groups such as scouts all designed to further improve the wellbeing and safety of children. In the school setting these changes are not of major impact as we have regulations regarding safety and reporting requirements that have been enforced for at least the last decade.
For your reference, our Child Protection Officers are as follows, and they receive more specific and individualised training over and above the general staff population.
Mrs Kristy Watkins College Deputy Principal
Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff Head of Junior School
Ms Chloe Adams Year 5 Academic Coordinator
Ms Mel Liddy Year 6 Academic Coordinator
Mr Callum Hackett Junior School Pastoral Coordinator
Mr Sean O’Neill Head of Middle School
Ms Hannah Elder Middle School Science Teacher
Ms Ashleigh Wright College Psychologist (5-12)
Mr Tass Sakellariou College Psychologist (5-12)
Mr Manny Alexion College Psychologist (5-12)
Mr Matthew Levander Head of Senior School
Mr Paul Begg College Principal
New staff welcome
This year, we welcome a number of new staff to our College, as well as a number who are returning or changing roles. Over the last fortnight of preparation, we have been able to welcome them and induct them into our College practices and pedagogy, as well as our identity as a Catholic school in the Augustinian tradition. It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce our new staff to you.
| Ms Grace McDonald |
Legal/Business and HASS |
| Ms Veronica Fortune |
Business/ Accounting |
| Ms Stella Griffin |
Maths |
| Mr Tom Gunning |
Humanities |
| Mr Dominic Hayes |
Religious Education |
| Mr Benjamin Knight |
Religious Education |
| Ms Oulu Liu |
Chinese |
| Ms Kristy Watkins |
Deputy Principal Religious Education, Science |
| Ms Katrina Wilson |
English |
| Mr David Witt |
Engineering |
| Effie Kent |
Development & Foundation Manager |
| Rachelle Glendon |
Teacher Aide |
| Anastasia Bailey |
Student Services Junior School |
| Toni van Dorp |
Library Assistant |
| Emmanuel (Manny) Alexion |
Counsellor |
Parent Information Evenings
Junior School – Monday 2 February 5pm
Senior School – Tuesday 3 February 5.30pm
Middle School – Thursday 5 February 5.30pm
We look forward to welcoming you to the College.
BCC Safer Schools Transport program.
The Brisbane City Council informed us on Tuesday of this week that Villanova has been included in the Safer Schools transport program during term 1 this year.
For your reference, you can click here to view the letter from Council. In summary, this means that Brisbane City Council officers will be in regular attendance to monitor our school drop-off and pick-up zones, as well as parking and compliance around the College precinct.
This is a welcome initiative from Council, and I hope that our community’s compliance will prevent the issuing of fines and infringement notices for any breaches.
I ask that you please follow all guidelines and local laws in this regard. Only use designated drop-off and pick-up areas, and ensure that any ‘creative’ attempts to establish new drop-off zones-such as using neighbouring driveways-are avoided.
There is also the option, particularly for older boys, to be dropped off a short distance from the College and walk the remaining distance to school.
Prayer for our students and families to begin 2026
Loving God,
As we begin a new academic year at Villanova College,
we pause to give thanks for the gift of our community—
for students filled with hope and possibility,
for parents and families who entrust their sons to our care,
and for staff whose vocation is to teach, guide, and serve.
Ground us in Community,
that we may walk together with patience and generosity,
supporting one another in times of challenge and joy,
and reflecting your love through relationships marked by respect and care.
Lead us into Interiority,
that in the busyness of each day we may find moments of stillness,
listening deeply to your voice,
and nurturing hearts that seek meaning, purpose, and truth.
Form us in Humility,
that we may recognise our dependence on you and on one another,
remain open to learning and growth,
and serve with gentleness, gratitude, and grace.
Inspire in us a Restless Search for Truth,
that our learning may be courageous and curious,
our teaching thoughtful and authentic,
and our decisions guided by wisdom, integrity, and faith.
Call us always toward Ongoing Conversion,
that we may be transformed daily—
as learners, leaders, parents, and educators—
growing ever more into the people you invite us to be.
Bless our students as they strive and discover,
our parents as they accompany and encourage,
and our staff as they shape minds and hearts in your name.
May all that we do this year reflect the spirit of St Augustine and model the life Christ lived for us.
Mr Paul Begg, Principal
In keeping with the Spirit of Reconciliation, Villanova College acknowledges the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we stand. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. This has always been, and always will be, a place of teaching and learning connected to country, culture and community.
