Dear Members of the Villanova College Family,
On Tuesday, our College community gathered in Goold Hall for the Opening Mass to celebrate the commencement of the 2021 school year. Celebrating Mass together as a whole College was a very important sign of our unity as a faith community. The theme for the Mass focused on the Gospel reading where the boy, Samuel was called by God. Samuel’s response is a reminder to us to be open to the invitation from God to be his servant.
“Speak; your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:4-20)
Parent Information Evenings
It has been fantastic to welcome back families to our College and to have the opportunity to meet face to face with our teaching staff. Over the next few weeks Parent Information Evenings will be held for all year levels. It is pleasing to see so many parents passionate about the education of their son and joining with us in a very strong partnership to ensure these young men are supported, encouraged and challenged to be their very best.
I am looking forward to welcoming our parents to the new year at the upcoming evenings and I encourage all our parents to join with us as we outline the plans for 2021.
Camps
Imagine taking away 160 plus students and staff for two nights and three days. You leave behind your nice cosy bed knowing you will be on duty for 24/7 for these three days and you will need to deal with every eventuality from scrapped knees to being home sick. This is what our Year 5 staff are currently facing this week and they love it. Why? Because establishing strong relationships between our staff and students is the key to our success in the classroom.
This is why we conduct our camps so early in the school year- to provide opportunities for our staff to get to know the students they will be working with during the year.
Driving around the College
Over the last couple of days, I have received four emails from our neighbours and our own parents about the poor behaviour of drivers when trying to pick up and deposit students. The emails tell me that parents are more than happy to go on the wrong side of the road to avoid waiting in line as well as double parking and blocking access to a whole street. One neighbour even took a photo of the car and registration plate that was parked on a yellow line blocking their driveway and sent me the photo. One mother who asked a parent to move and not double park was yelled at and intimidated by the other parent.
My highest priority will be the safety of our students. Parents who do not follow the guidelines set down for pick up and drop-offs, jeopardise the safety of our students. I have requested the Brisbane City Council and our local Police to undertake frequent patrols of the streets and loading zones surrounding the College. Please be aware that Seventh Avenue is not a drop-off zone due to the one-way nature of the street.
Once again, I ask all our parents to be patient and understanding of the neighbourhood in which the College is located. There are tight streets surrounding the College and on each school day our pickups and drop offs significantly increases the traffic congestion. If we all show due consideration, we will be able to move through the streets with little fuss.
Music Camp
Over the weekend the music students from Loreto College joined with our music students for a series of workshops. Specialist clinicians worked with the students to develop their skills as performers and members of ensembles. I am grateful to our Director of Music, Mr Michael Jones and the Music staff for their support and guidance of the students. We look forward to many wonderful performances in the future.
Prayers
We keep in our prayers the Nepean-Hutchison family following the recent death of new Year 7 student Karmichel Nepean-Hutchison. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and classmates.
We also keep in our prayers the Loreto College community following the death of one of their 2020 Senior students last week. I have offered the thoughts and condolences of the Villanova College community.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
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.