Villa View: Issue 19/20

Did you know this week is Refugee Week? The theme for this year, ‘Celebrating the Year of Welcome’ reminds us to take meaningful action to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum to our community.

Last year two of our graduating Senior students were refugees to Australia having fled the war in Iraq with their families. Through the generosity of the Villanova College Old Boys Association and the Terry Hendle Bursary, these young men attended the College for three years before graduating in 2019.

These young men were warmly welcomed into our College community by the students and the staff. They were so happy to have the opportunity to attend the College and showed their appreciation through enthusiastically tackling their studies and entering into life at the College wholeheartedly.

Few people in our community knew much of their story. The young men were understandably reluctant to speak about their past. However, they were extremely grateful for the welcome extended to their families by our community and were so appreciative of the gift of education afforded to them. Both young men have gone on to further studies and I know the support they received at Villanova College has made a real difference in their lives.

Virtual Sleepout
This Friday evening our students and staff will be holding a Virtual Sleepout to raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Due to COVID-19 restrictions our actions for this event needed to be adjusted and the virtual sleepout is one way in which our students and staff can continue to show their solidarity for those who live rough on the streets of Brisbane.

Semester One Reports and Parent-Teacher Conferences
Semester One Reports for all students will be available through the Parent Lounge Portal from Wednesday 15 July. I encourage our parents to set aside some time to sit down with their son/s to review the report and to discuss the past six months. We know that Term Two has been a disrupted period of time and this has affected student achievement in their subjects in a variety of ways.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held via video conferencing on Wednesday 22 July from 9.00 am until 7.00 pm. Please note this day will be a student-free day.

The College will facilitate bookings for conferences via the normal process of Parent Teacher Online (PTO) platform. Details for PTO will be sent home to families. The College will also provide to families all the details for the video conferencing so that the process will run smoothly and allow parents the opportunity to discuss their son’s academic results with teachers.

The Parent-Teacher Conferences will be enhanced if the student can be present. While I appreciate this may not be possible, I know our staff are very happy to have the students join the meetings and be a part of the discussion.

Spectators at sporting events – Term Three
When sports resume in Term Three the government restrictions and social distancing guidelines will be operating at Phase 3. Subject to further planning and review, a maximum of 100 people will be permitted for community sport. The AIC Management Committee has requested all member schools have COVID-19 Safe Plans in place for all venues hosting sports during Terms Three and Four.

Basketball and Tennis will be the two sports to begin the Term Three sporting program. Due to the restrictions in place, it will not be possible to have spectators at the majority of matches. The decision on spectators for all schools is shown below:

• Year 5 to Year 10 Basketball and Tennis will be DROP and GO only – no spectators at any games – only players and officials.
• Open Teams – DROP and WATCH – One family member will be able to be in attendance to watch the match with a limited number of spectators.

I know for parents and extended family members this arrangement will be disappointing. However, the restrictions are in place to protect our community and we must follow this directive. Further details about the arrangements on sports days are available in this edition of the Villa View under the Sports section.

Please be aware the trials for Basketball and Tennis to be held on Saturday 11 July will be DROP and GO for all teams and no spectators will be attending games.

Prayer
God, no one is a stranger to you, and no one is ever far from your loving care.
In your kindness watch over migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, those separated from their loved ones, those who are lost and those who have been exiled from their homes.
Bring them safely to the place where they long to be and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and those in need.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, who too was a refugee and migrant, who travelled to another land searching for a home. Amen

God bless
Mr Mark Stower, Principal

I had the opportunity to meet up with a group of Old Boys from last year’s 2019 graduating cohort. It was great to catch up with them and discuss how life after Villanova has treated them. Like our students, their university studies have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 situation and learning has taken on a new look. Lectures online, limited access to tutorials and the absence of any ‘hands-on’ learning have been par for the course.

I was keen to meet with the group for a couple of reasons. The first was to show off the new St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre. All were certainly envious of the space and agreed that it rivals some of the spaces they have used at university. They were also in agreeance that our Senior students will benefit greatly from the space in terms of layout, technology and the ability to collaborate. The latter part of our discussions were how these young men might be able to continue to contribute to the College. I asked if they would be eager to mentor some of our Year 12 students over the next four months as they work towards the external examinations. Their experience as Year 12 students last year and university students this year would certainly be valuable.

Although Year 11 and 12 students have finished assessment for the semester, our younger students are well involved in final examinations, and will be until next Wednesday. It will be a busy end to the term with a well-earned break at the end of it.

Mr John Christie, Dean of Teaching and Learning

Men’s Health Week is being held from the 15 to 21 June 2020.  How do the males around us invest in their physical, mental, spiritual and social-emotional health?  With men statistically likely to live until 78 (women aged 82), males are also likely to have accidents and develop illnesses at higher rates.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics also reports that populations of marginalised men – Indigenous, refugees, incarcerated and low socio-economic standing have increased risks.  Our health can often be taken for granted – and we often forget how important it is, until we are unwell.  So, let’s give men’s health our focus this week and consider the following:

Physical health is often what we think of first.  For boys, our main priorities are usually diet, exercise and sleep.  Some individuals are blessed with genes that bring agility and a high metabolism.  Some have strength and power.  Others have height and arm spans.  We all have different body shapes and sizes, strengths and challenges.

It is so important to remember that genes, growing stages and changes happen from birth until we are elderly.  How do we accept our physical self as males?  How do we be proud of what we are?  Do we, as fathers/teachers, promote a healthy acceptance of differences in our shapes and sizes?  Maybe we can do this more consciously.  Talk and make decisions about healthy food choices  in front of our children/students with thought.  There is a time for health and a time for treats. It matters – your physical health matters because people love you and want you around for as long as possible.

Mental health is vital for our wellbeing and crucial for happiness: have the joy inside yourself to see the world for all its miracles.  Males need the chance to just breathe in the beauty of the world around them.  Just be present.  Take notice.  We need to find peace in the busyness of work, home and whatever we have going on in-between.  That’s hard in 2020.  We need to find the strength in prioritising our mind. Clarity means we make better decisions, have purpose in the lives we lead (work and home can share the limelight, it is possible) and feel genuine appreciation for who is front of us, and what this world is really showing us.  Your mental health matters because your time on Earth is precious – and you are more important to others then you will ever truly know.

Spiritual health can be a tricky one for men.  God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit = leap of faith.  We are not the centre of the universe.  We are never alone.  We have unconditional love.  We are worth salvation.  These are four massive concepts to let wash over us, and to build our belief in.  Trust, time, theological discussion and debate, and life experiences will get us there.  Luckily, at Villanova College, we have the support of an incredible community to show us that liturgy and mass is about making the connection through prayer, song, the Word and communion.  Men can have moments of great faith – interiority – individually, even when in a congregation.

Social-emotional health is likely to be a male’s ‘go-to’.  Mates.  Wouldn’t be without them!  The oldest ones will tell you the truth anytime, anywhere, anyhow.  It’s so important to feel a sense of belonging – at work, and in social groups, clubs and of course, with the  families of your boy’s friends.  College events also become a time for meeting new friends – there are eight years of connections through academic, co-curricular and social events.  It can be a little over-whelming sourcing out new connections – but that one new mate is worth putting ourselves out there.  Having people to confide in, ‘be ourselves’ with, and spend down time with, is imperative for men.

If your health as a male could do with some attention, then this week in particular, I encourage you to use online resources such as:

https://www.menshealthweek.org.au/
http://www.mengage.org.au/
https://mensshed.org/find-a-shed/
http://www.menshealthaustralia.net/
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/media/news/news/2019/06/10/men-s-health-week.

Mr Stephen Rouhliadeff, Head of Junior School

Mobile Phone Policy Changes
As foreshadowed earlier in the year at the Parent Information Evenings, the Senior School Pastoral Care Team was committed to reviewing and reforming the current mobile phone policy within the Senior School. Following a very productive discussion with representatives of the Parent Group of each year level coupled with feedback from our teaching staff, we have formulated a new set of operational guidelines for the management of mobile phone usage/ access for Senior School students.

Students’ engagement in learning, development of positive relationships and healthy social interaction should never be compromised by inappropriate use of mobile phones or other electronic devices. During Form Meetings across the next week, we will brief students on our expectations, which will be effective from the commencement of Term Three.

I will write to all Senior School families outlining the changes but in summary, these are the key directives:

1. Students must not access their phone between 8.30am and 3.00pm except for briefly checking (30 secs) their phones at their locker at the commencement of each break (this would allow for any necessary parental communication; it is not to check social media accounts).
2. Phones must be kept secure in lockers.
3. Phones are not permitted to be held in pockets.
4. Students who have a class (e.g. hospitality) or music lesson that commences prior to 8.25am must return their phone to their locker at the conclusion of the class/lesson.
5. Phones are permitted in classes where teachers have indicated a prior need to students for an educational purpose (this is negotiated in advance between the classroom teacher and the Head of Senior School). Students must return their phone to their locker at the conclusion of such a lesson.
6. Phone use is permitted in the designated areas and only after obtaining the appropriate permission. (Adjacent to Pastoral Area Leader’s Office/ Senior School Student Services Reception).

The correspondence sent to families will outline the consequences for students who breach our very clear guidelines. As always, the support of parents in ensuring we maintain a culture of high expectations and conduct within the Senior School is always much appreciated.

Building Resilience
The rapidly approaching conclusion to this unprecedented term comes with it the opportunity to reflect on the various challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and the learning@home experience. With introspection and an honest look inward regarding how we have responded to this crisis, we can learn a lot about ourselves. In reading the latest blog by Shane Parrish, he states we learn whether we are resilient, whether we can adapt to challenges and come out stronger. We learn what has meaning for us, we discover core values, and we identify what we are willing to fight for. Maybe we discover abilities we did not know we had. Maybe we adapt to a new normal with more confidence.

In assessing the impact and the learnings from our experiences this term, we – as both individuals and as a community – must find ways to extract some positivity. Author and economist Keisha Blair, in Holistic Wealth, suggests that “building our resilience muscles starts with the way we process the negative events in our lives.” She further writes, “adversity allows us to become better rounded, richer in experience, and to strengthen our inner resources.”

I wish all Year 10 students the very best in their examinations across the remainder of this term.

“Mental toughness is a prerequisite for personal growth and success.” – Keisha Blair

Mr Matt Levander, Head of Senior School

Raising funds for Emmanuel City Mission
In a great show of unity, the Senior, Middle and Junior schools have joined forces to support one of the frontline services assisting those experiencing homelessness, Emmanuel City Mission.

Emmanuel City Mission is a drop in space for those experiencing homelessness that offers a hot meal, a shower, a safe place to rest and a supportive community.

During COVID 19, Emmanuel City Mission has been battling to stay open to support some of the most vulnerable in the community.

Villanova College has set itself the goal of trying to raise enough money to keep the centre open for a day. To do this, we are selling blocks of chocolate, which have been generously donated by the College community to   this year’s cancelled International Carnival and gifted by the Parents and Friends Association, at breaks this week to help raise funds to support the great work of the Emmanuel City Mission.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
As part of our outreach to the frontline services that help the most vulnerable, this week we launch the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. This year we are doing things a little differently by setting up an online crowd funding platform that will collect funds electronically for St Vincent de Paul Queensland.

The link to our fundraising page can be found below:

https://vinniesqld.grassrootz.com/vinnies-school-sleepout-qld-2020/villanova-college/

St Vincent de Paul are currently trying to support families and individuals impacted by COVID 19.

Our Ministry Captain Isaak Collie has a few words about the appeal:

“With winter setting in, the nights are getting colder, and whilst we may be cranking up our heaters and burying ourselves deep beneath our blankets, we must remember the thousands of people who sleep in rough conditions, whether it be on the street or in their own car.

Traditionally, this is when Villanova holds their Winter Appeal for Saint Vincent De Paul, however due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are not able to hand in physical donations. Instead, we have created an online crowd-funding page which allows you to donate directly to Saint Vincent De Paul and their Winter Appeal as an alternative.

I ask that you consider donating, we at Villanova understand everyone is currently living through tough times, however as little as one dollar will go a long way to helping a tremendous cause. Your donations will help those sleeping rough to receive blankets, sleeping bags, food, and other necessities needed to aid them through this harsh and wet winter.

Remember, whilst we enjoy our heaters and warm blankets, members of our community live with uncertainty of their future, uncertainty of their safety, and uncertainty of when their next meal is. You can help change that.”

Vinnies Virtual Sleepout
This Friday, some Villanova students will be participating in a Virtual Sleepout where students will be camping out in their backyards in solidarity with those who are sleeping rough at the moment.

While we sit in our warm houses with the heater, spare a thought for our students sleeping out in the cold.

The event aims to raise awareness for those who are less fortunate and disadvantaged, perhaps because of COVID- 19.

St Vincent de Paul Youth workers Dan Ingledew and Anthony Forshaw have put together a video to encourage our volunteers as they participate in the Sleepout. See the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65MYQLS-CDk&disable_polymer=true

Refugee Week
This week is Refugee Week and the theme is the Year of Welcome. This week we reflect on how we can be more welcoming to those who come to Australia, sometimes from dangerous, life-threatening situations or places devastated by natural disaster. As Catholics we are called to recognise that we are part of one human family, regardless of our race or ethnicity.

This theme asks us to reach out in solidarity to support refugees in our community, making them feel welcome and accepted. The staff at Villanova College have embraced the call to demonstrate this solidarity by contributing to the Work and Welcome Initiative which supports a person of refugee background to find employment at the college for a period of time.

The celebrations for the week in the broader community have had to go online but one of the initiatives is to ‘Share a meal, share a story’. This initiative asks people to ‘get together, share a delicious meal and share stories that help build empathy and understanding of refugee experiences.’

For more information about events for Refugee Week, please see the link: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

Miss Nicole Jones, Service Learning Co-ordinator

As the ‘new look’ Term 3 AIC sport season approaches, many people behind the scenes are busily working to ensure that systems are in place in order for teams to be selected in readiness for Round 1 to be played during the first weekend back next term.

We have cemented venues, timetables, coaches, equipment, first aid, sign-on lists and the many other things needed to conduct trials. The College has also put much time into the planning process to ensure all the correct ‘Workplace Health and Safety’ procedures and requirements are met in accordance with the current COVID-19 regulations.

Although we are looking ‘over the bow’ to the up-coming rugby and football season as well, our major focus has been to put plans in place for the up-coming AIC Basketball and Tennis season with the commencement of trials being held on Saturday 11 July for most teams.

A decision has been made by the AIC Management Committee that NO PARENTS WILL BE PERMITTED ENTRY TO SPECTATE AT ANY AIC BASKETBALL AND TENNIS GAMES this year EXCEPT those who have boys playing in an Open Basketball or Tennis team. These players may ONLY have one parent attend their games.

As all parents of those students from Year 5 – 12 (excluding the Open teams) will not be permitted entry, these parents will be asked to ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’ their son/s only. Please understand this rule will be strictly enforced. Parents will be denied entry and asked to leave if they attend games. At this early stage we ask all parents in our community to accept and abide by this decision.

When it comes to the First V Basketball games and depending on the size and layout of the venue, a very few select students will be permitted to spectate, most likely around 10 – 30 per College. These boys will most likely come from the Year 12 cohort. Those keen to spectate will be selected and notified on the Friday before game day.

By the end of term, the College will publish maps of all venues which include drop off and pick up points as well as entry and exit paths for players (and others). It is a requirement that all those who attend games will be required to register their attendance at the venue before entering. Therefore, all players, coaches and officials and those limited spectators must register their attendance at the designated registration desk before entry. The venue will be closed for the duration of the game. After the game all players, coaches etc. must leave via the designated exit path immediately to the pickup zone.

The venue is then cleaned between games ready for the next group to enter. A COVID Officer will be assigned to each venue to ensure correct procedures are followed.

Given these procedures will take time, the scheduling of games during the day will be spaced further apart allowing for more time to bump in and bump out players/teams for the venue to be adequately cleaned. This season the Basketball by-laws have been adjusted to reduce the overall time at the venue. Running clocks and limited time outs will be in place for most games. First V basketball will play normal rules. These by-laws will be posted in the respective sport sections by the end of next week for all to see.

All this information will be supplied to our families before the end of term ready to be put in place for our first day of major trials held on Saturday 11 July for basketball and tennis.

Please read below some important information regarding times and dates for those who wish to represent Villanova in AIC Basketball and Tennis next term. Boys will be selected directly after the trials. Those who make a team are then to commence training the very first week of next term as Round 1 is played the very first weekend back next term. Again, all the training schedules for every team are found within the ‘season schedule’ documents in the respective sport sections on the web via the ‘Locker Room’.

To lessen the burden on Saturday 11 July and to increase the trial period for each age group (given there will be only one trial day) all Year 5, 6 & 7 basketball trials will be timetabled to take place during school time this term. All Year 5-12 tennis and Year 8-12 basketball trials will remain on the Saturday 11 July.

Please read below some important information regarding some of the major ‘Return to Sport’ procedures for next term.

COVID-19 INFORMATION – RETURN TO SPORT – TERM 3

Drop Off and Pick Up Points

• Players, coaches and officials only are permitted to enter the venue. Selected students (for the First game) and one parent per player is allowed for the open games only. No other parents will be permitted to spectate games.
• Parents and school buses are to drop off and pick up at the designated areas during the specified times.
• Players are not to arrive more than 15 minutes prior to the start time. At the conclusion of the match all players must vacate the venue immediately via the exit path to the pickup zone

Entry and Exit Paths

• Please observe and obey all entry and exit paths as per venue map provided

Site Registration

• All players and all adults including coaches, officials, staff, parent spectators (opens only) and first aid officers etc must register their attendance at the registration desk

Hygiene

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

Canteen Facilities

• No canteen facilities are available
• All players, coaches, officials and spectators are required to bring their own water bottles to the venue. Two full water bottles per player is recommended. Water fountains will be closed.

Venues

• Venues will be cleaned before and after each match
• There will be an appointed COVID Officer at each venue

Download the App

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

AIC BASKETBALL SEASON

The full ‘AIC Basketball Season Schedule’ document is now posted within the AIC Basketball section of the website which is available through the ‘Locker Room’ page. Please refer to this document for all information pertaining to the up-coming season.

AIC Basketball Trial Schedule – Times and Venues

Any boy wishing to make an AIC Basketball team must have registered their interest via the online sign-on form which is now closed. A list of those who have registered is found within the AIC Basketball section of the website.

All teams will be selected directly after the trials listed below. All players will then follow the training schedule found within the ‘AIC Basketball Season Schedule’ which is posted on the website. Training begins as from Term 3, Week 1.

A Villanova Basketball hire singlet for each player selected will be issued sometime in week 1 next term. Mr Stower has kindly waived the usual $20 hire fee this year.

Please note – due to restrictions NO PARENTS are permitted to attend trials on Saturday 11 July. Parents must drop off and collect only on this day. More information regarding the COVID procedures, drop off and pick up points etc will be given via a map in next week’s Villa Voice.

Year 5 and Year 6 Basketball Trials – to be selected within normal PE class time during the remainder of Term 2. Teams will be selected and announced by the end of Term 2. This list will be placed on the College’s website via the ‘Locker Room’. These boys are not required to attend further trials on Saturday 11 July.

For this year only the College will transport all Year 5 and Year 6 teams to the away venue. Parents are required to collect their son from the venue immediately after the game is completed.

Year 7 Basketball Trials – to be selected within normal school time on Thursday 11 June. Teams will be selected and announced by the end of Term 2. These boys are not required to attend further trials on Saturday 11 July.

GOOLD HALL

 Year 8 – Opens Basketball Trials – all teams to be selected on Saturday 11 July. Teams will be selected and announced at the end of the trial session, so all players are ready to commence training Term 3, Week 1

GOOLD HALL

CLEM JONES – CARINA
Address – 56 Zahel Street, Carina

AIC Basketball External Trial Games

Given the timeframe, only the teams listed below will have a trial game against Ashgrove on Wednesday July 15 after school.

Venue – Villanova College

• 4.00pm – 7A (Outside Court)
• 4:00pm – 8A (Goold Hall)
• 5:00pm – 9A (Goold Hall)

Venue – Marist College Ashgrove

•  4.00pm Champagnat Centre Court 2 – 10A
•  4.00pm Champagnat Centre Court 1 – 11A
•  5.15pm Champagnat Centre Court 2- Second V
•  5.15pm Champagnat Centre Court 1 – First V

Bus transportation will be provided for those boys playing at Ashgrove. Parents are asked to collect their son/s directly afterward the game. NOTE – No parents are permitted to attend trials. Drop off and pick up only.

AIC TENNIS SEASON

Any boy wishing to make an AIC Tennis team must have registered their interest via the online sign-on form which is now closed. A list of those who have registered is found within the AIC Tennis section of the website. All trials will be held at Morningside Tennis Centre on the following dates and times.

Please note: There will only be one tennis trial session this year. This is due to the timeframe and road map of restrictions passed down by the Queensland Government. Villanova tennis trials will commence with an ‘Internal Tennis Trial Day’ held on Saturday 11 July which is the last Saturday of the July school holidays.  NOTE – No parents are permitted to attend these trials. Drop off and pick up only.

All interested students are to attend this trial session in order to be selected to represent Villanova. The managers and coaches of each age group will conduct these trials and will choose four players in each team plus up to two reserves for each age group. All teams are then to follow the training schedule as outlined on the ‘AIC Tennis Season Schedule’ document which is posted within the AIC Tennis section of the website via the ‘Locker Room’. All tennis training will commence on the first day of Term 3, that is, Tuesday 14 July.

Internal Tennis Trial Schedule

 AIC External Tennis Trial v Ashgrove

Given the timeframe, only the First IV team will have a trial game against Ashgrove on Wednesday July 15 after school.

Venue – Marist College Ashgrove

•  Marist Ashgrove Courts 4pm start – First IV team

Bus transportation will be provided for those boys playing at Ashgrove. Parents are asked to collect their son/s afterwards.

AIC RUGBY LEAGUE SEASON

Please be advised of the abovementioned season dates below.

In 2020 the AIC Rugby League season will be in a tournament style format with multiple games being played over a 1 – 3-day period as below:

• Year 7 – 12 Teams (three-day tournament) – Monday 21 September, Tuesday 22 September, Wednesday 23rd September
• Year 5 and Year 6 (one-day tournament) – Friday 18 September

VILLANOVA RUNNERS CLUB (VRC) 
Every Sunday – all welcome!

The VRC will meet on Sunday afternoons 4pm – 5pm at Whites Hill Reserve (Cricket Ovals, Boundary Rd, Camp Hill). This is an opportunity for Villanova College athletes to maintain/build up their Aerobic fitness as part of their training for the coming Cross Country and Track and Field seasons.  An open invitation is extended to the boys interested in improving their fitness (squad will be limited to 19 runners).  Assemble on Cricket Oval 3 at 4 pm; where a Tabata session will be held, followed by aerobic running in the surrounding bushland.

 Mr Craig Stariha, Director of Sport

Ensemble Lessons and Rehearsals Week 10
As all students will be at school Monday through Wednesday next week, we will be continuing our rehearsal routine through as per usual for the first 3 days of the week.  Please refer to the rehearsal roster distributed for Weeks 8 to end of term for the groups required.

Should all go to plan for Queensland ‘health-wise’ over the Winter holidays, we are expecting that with the lift of restrictions in July we can return to our regular rehearsal schedule.  I am really looking forward to the lifting of restrictions as we can all be playing music together!

Music Support Group
Our Music Support Group convened their monthly meeting on Monday evening.  We believe that given our current health status, we will return to face-to-face meetings with our next session on 14 July 2020.  This meeting will be convened in the Chapter Room, adjacent to the foyer of the Augustine Centre.  If we require more space, we will reconvene into the Upper Theatre to allow suitable physical spacing.  The meeting will commence at 7.30pm – we look forward to seeing you all there.

Performance Uniform Requirements
This year has been extremely quiet in terms of performance opportunities for our students.  However, as we move into a post-pandemic period, we are looking forward to more opportunities to share our music with the broader community.  We will have at least one performance in Week 9 next term, with others scheduled for Term 4.  Students will be required to wear performance uniform for these activities.

To assist with preparations for these events in September, we would like to clarify performance uniform requirements with families.  As it has been sometime between performances, I would also like to ask our ‘veteran’ performers to check their uniforms; you may have grown between events!  Best we are prepared now before the hectic nature of school life returns.

Performance uniform information is outlined below:

All Year 5 musicians are required to wear:

• grey shorts
• formal white shirt (available from Villanova College Uniform Shop)
• long school socks
• school tie
• black leather belt and
• polished black school shoes

The following table outlines uniform requirements for the remainder of our ensembles:

All uniform items can be sourced through the Villanova College Uniform Shop or external clothing retailers.

For further information regarding uniforms for ensembles at Villanova College, please contact the Music Office on 3394 5691 or music@vnc.qld.edu.au

Key dates for Term 3
Over the coming week, we will be refining our Term 3 Calendar of events to ensure clarity around activities leading up to the end of September.  As with most activities currently, we are working within a changeable environment that is slowly settling so we are growing in confidence to be able to produce some solid information around our events in Music.  The refined calendars will be distributed before the end of next week along with our Term 3 Rehearsal Schedule.  Please keep an eye on your inbox for more information.

In the meantime, may I ask that you note the following dates in your diaries as ‘set’ for the coming term:

Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music

Entertainment Memberships
Due to the current climate, we have not been heavily promoting our Entertainment Memberships in 2020.  Please note that 2019/2020 Entertainment books/ memberships will be expiring at the end of June.

Entertainment are no longer selling books, just digital memberships from 2020 onwards.  If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please access our membership portal through the links below.  There are a number of great offers available focussing on supporting local and small businesses through this challenging period.

Villanova College Music Support Group
Alison Schrauf
07 33945691
music@vnc.qld.edu.au

^Your bonus WISH eGift Card will be sent by email within 30 days of purchase. A $10 WISH eGift Card will be issued when a Single City Membership is purchased, or a $20 WISH eGift Card when a Multi City or Multi Plus Membership is purchased between 15:00pm Friday 22 May 2020 and 09:00am Monday 13 July 2020 AEST. One eGift Card per order. Offer excludes Entertainment waitstaff and Corporate Partner offers. View WISH eGift Card FAQs here – http://giftcards.woolworths.com.au/help. WISH eGift Cards do not expire. Lost or stolen cards cannot be replaced. If you request a refund on your Membership within 30 days of your purchase and it is after receiving your eGift Card, the amount of the eGift Card will be deducted from the original value of your Membership purchased.

*2 months extra Membership applies to activated Single City and Multi City purchased between 22 May and 13 July 2020. From time of purchase, an Activation Code must be activated within three months. If activated within three months, the Membership will expire 14 months from the Activation Date. If not activated within three months, the Membership will expire 17 months from the Purchase Date.

+Bonus $50 Discover Queenland Voucher. T&Cs apply. See www.entertainment.com.au/promotions.

#WIN 1 of 5 x $1000 WISH eGift Cards. T&Cs apply. See www.entertainment.com.au/promotions.

*All member offers are subject to terms and conditions. Check individual offers on the Entertainment Membership App or www.entertainment.com.au for more information. For all dining offers, it is optional for participating businesses to accept your Entertainment Memberships on all official Australian and New Zealand public holidays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day. © 2020 Entertainment Publications of Australia Pty Ltd.

St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre
Along with the entire community, the Villanova College Foundation Committee celebrates the completion of the St Thomas of Villanova Learning Centre. This new Learning Centre, combining the new Junior School precinct and additional Senior facilities, is the first of a five stage Master Plan to transform the Coorparoo Campus and deliver a 21st century learning experience.

Our College has a proud history of philanthropy – a community of parents, families and Old Boys who have generously supported this shared vision to provide leading educational opportunities for young men.

To continue this vision and the development of this Master Plan, the Villanova College Foundation Building Fund has been created. The Building Fund will be a key driver in bringing the Master Plan and this exciting transformation to life.

The generosity of our donors is greatly appreciated as we look forward to welcoming all for a tour of these new learning facilities in the near future.

For further information on the Building Fund and its role in enhancing learning opportunities for current and future Villanovans please visit https://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/support-villa/the-building-fund/.

Entry for Year 5, 2022

Applications for Year 5, 2022 are now open (current Year 3 students). To submit your application, please complete the Online Enrolment Application along with the requested supporting documents.

We are aware that many schools will not be issuing Semester 1, 2020 Reports until Term 3. As a substitute, we kindly request that you upload Semester 2, 2019 Reports when completing the online application. Please email Semester 1, 2020 Reports when received to enrolments@vnc.qld.edu.au

Applications close on Friday 17 July. All applicants will be invited to attend an interview from Saturday 1 August to Saturday 8 August. Enrolment offers will be made the week commencing 14 September 2020.

Villa Supporter’s Caps
Villa parents can now show their colours. Villa Supporter’s Caps have landed and are now available for sale through Parent Lounge (Accounts & Payments/Tours & Excursions) for $20.00 each.  Two colours are available – a pink or gold embroidered VNC. A limited number are available, so don’t missed out. Orders will be delivered to your son to take home via their respective Student Services Office.  All funds raised go to the Villanova Sports Club for new and improved sporting facilities for Villanova students. 

Vacation Care Program Bookings – Now Open
Bookings are now open for Vacation Care at Helping Hands Villanova.

Please click here for the flyer outlining all the exciting in-service activities on offer each day. Our educators have prepared a program for our families that’s jam-packed each day with structured activities including indoor and outdoor play. Our heightened focus on safety and hygiene means we will not be running excursions or bringing in incursion providers these school holidays.

You will see the attached flyer displays the daily fee (before any applicable Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is applied). Please note that the current funding package that provides for ‘free care’ has been extended to 12 July 2020 which means there will be no cost for any care up to and including this date. 

Anthony Tizzone, Service Co-ordinator

Tuckshop Roster (Monday 22 June – Wednesday 24 June)
All volunteers rostered on this week will be contacted directly by the Tuckshop.

The fourth Rector of Villanova College – Fr Donal Paul Dempsey OSA

Born in Dublin, Fr Paul received his early education at Basin Lane Convent and the Christian Brothers.  After joining the Augustinian Order he studied in Rome and was ordained in St John Lateran Cathedral in 1950.

Arriving in Australia the same year he spent the next three years in the Parish of Babinda before transferring to St James Parish, Coorparoo.  Here he was the chaplain at Princess Alexandra Hospital and part-time teacher at Villanova until 1955 when he became a permanent member of the College staff.

Fr Paul was appointed Rector of Villanova in 1971.  With a fine voice for singing and speaking, he supported the arts and languages as well as other aspects of the curriculum.  The College enjoyed a fine reputation in every field during his time of leadership.  He came to the task of Rector with a well-formed sense of ‘community life’ which he enjoyed with his fellow Augustinians, and which he wished to bring to the school community of students, parents and staff.

In 1975 Fr Paul celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination.  The College celebrated this in style presenting him with a new fishing rod and outfit.  Fr. Dempsey‘s great and passionate sporting love was fishing and many times he went to Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island for a weekend of relaxation!

When Fr Dempsey left the College mid-1976 due to ill-health, he went with the knowledge that he had begun a movement at Villanova to spread the powers and responsibilities of administration, of good staff/student relations and of more student/student related responsibility.

In 1976 Fr Paul moved to parish work in Victoria where his empathy towards all people and his ability to listen won many friends for the Augustinians.  He returned to an Augustinian Priory in Dublin in 2002 where he remained until his death on June 21, 2008 at the age of 82.