As a new year begins, I reminded the boys during the first assembly that we start a new journey.  Completing the journey will take initiative, creativity, boldness, audacity, courage, collaboration, cooperation and persistence. It is the tangible expression of these life forces at work which we must continue to embrace as we strive daily to inspire our community with renewed meaning and purpose. This is truly reflective of what we believe in, proclaim and stand for as a faith driven community. We believe in education and caring, respecting the wholeness and dignity of each person, valuing learners and their learning and which is liberating, healing, and loving.

A new chapter in our rich 130 year history is just beginning and WE (students, parents/carers, teacher support and teaching staff) are privileged to lead it and play our part. We have demonstrated, especially during the past very challenging year, that we have the desire, the collaborative expertise, an openness to growth, a commitment to learning, the energy and enthusiasm and a real confidence in our collective capacity to successfully change and embrace the new normal.  

I am sure we are about to write another exciting chapter in the Nudgee College story in 2021.

Upon entering the campus it is evident that the building projects are completed or nearing completion. The MacKillop Building on Edmund Rice Way has now been transformed into the Early Learning Centre with our first enrolments enjoying the wonderful facilities on offer. At the top of the campus, the extensive building site that encompasses the heritage precinct, including Edmund Rice Mall, as well as the Treacy, Duhig and Gallagher buildings is really taking shape.  We are using all the new large, air conditioned classrooms and the new Health Centre will come on line towards the end of the term.  And the flats are unrecognisable as they are nearing completion.  The surface is now world class and will provide the amazing facilities for our boys to train and play on.

Looking back to 2020, in the final week of December we received the wonderful ATAR achievements of our first cohort of students to complete the new Queensland Certificate of Education.  We had 170 (visa students not included) ATAR eligible students. It is pleasing to see the sustained focus on learning and teaching resulted in the second strongest set of Year 12 results in the past 20 years. Overall, we had a QCE completion rate of 99%, which represents an outstanding completion rate, significantly above the state average. You can read more about the Year 12 results in the Learning and Teaching section of the newsletter. 

In other news, I am sure many of you are now aware that Peter Fullagar has been hospitalised due to an infection. He is responding well to treatment and after a short period of rest is expected to make a full recovery.

We keep Peter in our thoughts and prayers and look forward to seeing him back at work sometime next week.

Finally, as we start the new school year, I would ask that we keep our brother school, St Brendan’s Yeppoon, in our prayers and thoughts.  They are dealing with the tragic loss of two of their St Brendan’s College family members in the last few days. Rhys Yore, Year 11 student, was tragically killed in a traffic accident last Wednesday night and Peter Bartlett, a long standing and much loved staff member succumbed to illness and died peacefully surrounded by family early this week. 
 
Eternal rest grant unto Peter and Rhys, O Lord;

and perpetual light shine upon them

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.


Mr David Johnson

Deputy Principal

Welcome back to Nudgee for 2021 and a particular welcome to all our new students:

Can we God of all things

You bless our lives with many gifts

Today we thank you for the gift of these young men

May they be welcome in our community

May we honour the trust and hope of their parents and families and

May they grow to be signum fidei - a sign of faith.

AMEN

Live Jesus in our hearts  -  FOREVER!

Mr Stephen Meara 

Dean of Identity 

Year 12 Results

The 2020 Senior class were the first to complete the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). For many this also involved sitting external exams and receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The ATAR replaces the OP, which has provided universities with admission data for a generation.
 
In 2020, St Joseph’s Nudgee College had 170 (visa students not included) ATAR eligible students. It is pleasing to see the sustained focus on learning and teaching expressed in the second strongest set of Year 12 results in the past 20 years.

Results highlights:

●Declan Cabot earned the honour of College Dux with an ATAR of 99.90
●The median ATAR was 82.30, the mean ATAR was 80.25
●30% of students received an ATAR >90
●57% of students received an ATAR >80
●78% students received an ATAR >70
●155 (from 160 applications) students received their preferred university placement
●164 VET certificates were awarded
●13 students secured full time apprenticeships
 

Subject Duces, Year 12 2020 

Skills and Training Certificates awarded in 2020

Last year, 90 Certificate l-lls were issued by Nudgee College including Certificate l in Construction, Certificate ll in Engineering Pathways, and Certificate ll in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.

76 Certificates were awarded to Nudgee students by external institutions. Subject areas included Business, Fitness, Rural Operations and those offered by TAFE. 

Queensland Tertiary Offers

80% of Nudgee College students received either their first or second QTAC preference for study in 2021. 

The majority of Nudgee College students have enrolled at QUT in a variety of courses. This follows a similar pattern to the 2019 cohort.

The areas our students will study are outlined below. There has been a decrease in those electing to study Management and Commerce and increases in the areas of Creative Arts, Health, Natural and Physical Sciences and Society and Culture.

Congratulations to our 2020 cohort on their excellent results.

Full Time Apprenticeships for 2021

We have been advised of 14 full time apprenticeships offered to Nudgee College students for 2021. These apprenticeships include a range of qualifications - Carpentry, Automotive, Landscaping, Plumbing, Barbering, Painting and Metal Fabrication.

Mr Jason Sepetauc

Dean of Learning and Teaching

Welcome to new Nudgee Men

On Wednesday, Nudgee College welcomed 280 new students.  It is an absolute gift to have so many new young men join our community.  Our new arrivals have seen Nudgee College be bigger than it has been in its history; allowing us to offer so many great things. There is also always a challenge in working in the “Student” area that we make each boy feel “he is known”.  We work very hard at that.

Some fun facts about our numbers for 2021 - 

• Overall we have 1700 students enrolled 
• 1412 are Day Students
• 288 are Boarders
• Our new students are from 15 Different countries including Australia, China, England, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, Republic of South Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and speak 17 different languages other than English at home.
• Each House has between 185-191 students
• We have 272 in our Junior School (Years 5 and 6).

Our boys are blessed as it is the best time ever to a Nudgee Man.

Last First Day

At the beginning of this week two social media phenomena were happening at the same time. Firstly, proud mums and dads were posting pictures of their young children heading to prep or their first day of school.  Simultaneously, many 16, 17, and 18-year-old students were posting selfies and creating the phenomena of the “last first day” – A celebration of starting their senior year and acknowledging that their time at high school is coming to an end.

I am sure last week there are lots of mums and dads who had thoughts like, “How is my baby boy a high school senior?”, “Didn't he only just start school?”, “Where has that time gone?”

The College is looking forward to a wonderful year of senior focused events which we enjoy along with the students and their parents. Boys are very conscious that they will do many things over coming months for the last time, and it is worth being mindful of the significance of those moments – the last GPS swimming, the last Head of the River, their last game of cricket or volleyball for the College, their last Investiture Mass (this time with them as the stars) as well as many more moments.

Add to those moments later in the year things like formals, Saturday cheering, Boarders final weeks, Kairos Retreat, Farewell assembly and Valedictory; there is a lot to look forward to and cherish.

Amongst all of the stress of the many things boys and families have on their plate this year, we encourage all to be mindful of the special moments and recognise how blessed we are here at Nudgee College.

In recognition of the phenomena of the ‘last first day’, on Wednesday, the College was able to capture a photo of our senior cohort on that day. There was a definite energy in the group and anticipation of what the seniors of 2021 can create here at Nudgee. The boys have been challenged since the end of last year - what legacy will the 2021 seniors leave?

We trust the seniors enjoyed their last first day; it was the start of what will be an exciting journey in 2021.


Slight change to our lost property system

We receive a lot of lost property in the Student Office much of which is brand new. In order to more quickly reunite you and your son with labelled lost items we are now sending out a tracked email each afternoon to both parents and students. Many of you may have received an email from us this week as we have gone through all of our 2020 lost property and trialed this new system. If your son has lost something, please send him to the Student Office because there is a good chance we’ll have it. Labelling everything increases this likelihood exponentially.

Mr Peter Todd 

Dean of Students

A Very Warm Welcome

It is my absolute pleasure to welcome new and returning families to the Nudgee College Junior School. We had a great first day with our Year 5 students and the new Year 6 students. As I explained to gasps from some students, this is my 33rd ‘First Day’ and each year is different and exciting. There was certainly a buzz of excitement amongst our students that they had finally made it to the Junior School. With the return of our current Year 6 students on Thursday the energy level was raised even further. We look forward to a fabulous year with our staff and students ready to make the most of 2021.

Each year the boarding staff arrive at school and are faced with an empty Village. A great deal of preparation goes into the start of every year in those subsequent weeks, but nothing replaces the feeling of having the young men come back through the gates to their “Home away from Home”.

On Tuesday we celebrated Australia Day by welcoming over 85 new boarders to the St Joseph’s Nudgee College boarding community, to be part of the 290 Boarders at the College in 2021.  It was a wonderful occasion and we were struck by how smooth the transition was for many. It is clear that the sleepover we did for these boys last year has had a terrific impact on settling their nerves.

The first week of boarding is often full of anticipation and nerves (for students, parents and even the new Dean!), however we have seen a very smooth transition from the boys, who have settled well into boarding life. Each new boarder has been assigned a “Boarding Buddy'' who is helping them settle into the routine of boarding life. 

Staffing

I would like to congratulate the new Head of House for Murphy, Mr Alex O’Regan, on his permanent appointment, as well as Mr Graham Moore who will look after Hodda house in lieu of Mr Ken Mitchell’s long service leave.

I would also like to welcome a number of new Boarding Supervisors to the Nudgee Boarding team.

• Ms Tahnee Brahim (teacher) - Murphy House
• Ms Grace Waterman (teacher) Hodda House
• Ned O’Rielly (NCOB)- Cotter House
• Martin Le Rossignol (NCOB)  - Cotter House
• Chris Norton - O’Brien House
• Lachlan Gilbert (NCOB)- O’Brien House
• Theo Betteridge - O’Brien House and New Boarding Rec Coordinator
• Ms Kym Wiseman - New Cotter house Mum
• Mrs Elizabeth Grima (nee Todd) - 3IC Cotter House

Of course, I also welcome back our existing staff who I hope have enjoyed a restful break, welcoming in 2021 in their individual ways.

Boarders’ Support Group (BSG)

Nudgee boarding has a wonderful Support Group that is made up of boarding parents across various regions, year levels and Boarding Houses.  Please refer to the DOCUMENTS tab in TeamApp for the BSG Contact List.

This committee will communicate with boarding families via email, but welcome any contact via phone call if you are looking for information and/or support on your Nudgee journey.  This year, the BSG have put together a 2021 Nudgee Boarding Parent Calendar and 2021 Year 12 Important dates list to assist boarding families with their planning and travel commitments for the year ahead.   These are also available on TeamAPP under the DOCUMENTS tab.

This support group is also responsible for organising two of the main boarding fundraising functions each year. Firstly, in Term 2 - “Evening on the Green”. This will be held on the evening of Friday May 21st here at school in conjunction with our House charity Free Dress day.  Secondly, in Term 3 - “Boarders Bash”, which is held after the 1st XV home game against Gregory Terrace on Saturday August 14th.    

If you would like to be involved in the BSG, please email my EA, Tonia Scholes, and we will add you to the wonderful group that we have.

Term Ahead

Week One will be filled with a range of recreational activities, which is another popular part of boarding life. Various sporting activities commence this Saturday Round 1 of GPS Cricket and Volleyball v BSHS.  On Sunday most of our Boarders will travel to the Gold Coast for the Wet & Wild Day Trip - this is a great way for the boys to get to know each other and either reconnect with old mates, or get to know new ones.

This week, we have also held a full boarding meeting for boys to outline the strategic vision and plan for 2021. These meetings are invaluable as they allow the boarders to voice their opinions, concerns and ideas for their year ahead.

Reach for the Stars

In Week 2 we will commence our Reach for the Stars initiative, an academic enrichment program designed to help each boy reach his potential.  We are privileged to have a number of academic staff motivated to help our boarders succeed and we are very appreciative of the time and energy they give to the boys.

Communication

For new parents to boarding this year, we encourage you to download the boarding TeamApp.  The introduction of TeamApp to the College has assisted our communication with boarding families enabling them to keep up-to-date with important news, events and activities involving their son, his house and College.  Whilst not our only means of communication, this is an additional resource that parents, students and staff find most useful.

Please see flyer below.

As we prepare for the beginning of Term 1 sport and activities, the following is an update for GPS Sport. We remain under the Sporting Industries COVID Safe Plan, the GPS Association has approval for: 

Competitions to be run as per GPS and College calendar for Term 1.
 
Spectators at GPS sporting events in Term 1 will be restricted and will vary depending on the activity and venues. Therefore, crowds have been limited to immediate family only, incorporating the following guidelines: 

• Indoor Sport Facilities - At Nudgee: two parents. At some schools only one parent can attend (to be confirmed each week depending on the opposition and venue). For example, Volleyball at BSHS will only be allowed one parent per boy.
• Open Outdoor Sport Facilities - two parents can attend.
• Please note: at Nudgee, dependent siblings are able to attend, we will attempt to confirm other schools' position on this each week via the TeamApp.

Schools will continue to use the EVA Check-in App for tracing purposes at all GPS events. All spectators must sign in via the relevant QR code at the venue. Please download the app onto your phone prior to game day. Download: Android app and an iPhone app.

You are reminded of the following COVID-19 guidelines:

• Players, coaches and spectators are not to enter Nudgee College or other GPS venues if feeling unwell 
• Maintain social distancing
• Wash hands regularly
• Get in, play, get out. Players are to arrive ready to play and have their own equipment including water bottle. Players are to leave at the conclusion of their game.
• Spectator tracing registers will be completed via EVA Check-in App and QR Codes. Please download the app onto your phone prior to game day. Registration QR codes will be at each venue for scanning and easy completion
• When leaving the venue please check out of the EVA Check-in app
• Only immediate family are permitted to spectate at GPS sports events in Term 1. TWO parents at outdoor venues and ONE parent at indoor venues.

Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable sporting experience for your son/s. When visiting Nudgee College or another GPS school, please cooperate with all signage and direction from staff as we navigate the COVID-19 restrictions.
 

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Anthony Connellan (Director of Sport) - 0428 158 890

Nudgee College Health Centre - 07 3865 0501

Christine Atchison (First Aid) - 0411 273 685

If you have any queries please contact the Sports office on 3865 0430 or activities@nudgee.qld.edu.au. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate sport in 2021.

Mr Anthony Connellan 

Director of Sports

As we begin a new school year, the Performing Arts team is looking forward to creating new opportunities for students at Nudgee College. We’d like to extend a particularly warm welcome to our new families who are beginning their Nudgee journey. The Performing Arts encompasses a wide variety of activities that include:

• Art Club
• Chess
• Culture Group
• Debating
• Instrumental Lessons
• Musical
• Music Ensembles
• Theatre Sports

All boys are encouraged to be involved, so whether you are continuing with learning an instrument or looking to try something new like Theatre Sports or Debating, there’s a place available for whatever level you’re at. Please feel free to contact us for more information, watch the Daily Notices for announcements, and check the Nudgee website under activities to see what’s available.

Mr Robert Stewart

Director of Performing Arts