This article comes to you from isolation and written with a good deal of frustration. No sooner have I returned to the College than I have caught COVID-19. Fortunately, I am on the mild side. My frustration stems from the genuine excitement turned suddenly to disappointment that I was feeling as I returned to the College over the past week.

As most of the community is aware, last term, I was working in the role of acting Director of Schools for EREA (Queensland) while the incumbent, Mr Peter Chapman, was on leave. This was the first time in a very long career that I had worked outside of a school environment. While the work related to education and schools, it certainly was a different way of working. For this reason, it was a challenging experience and one from which I learnt. It would be my intention to apply this learning to be more effective in my role as Principal for the benefit of all the boys and the school community more broadly.

Clearly, College life progressed very well last term and I am grateful for the highly capable leadership of Mr David Johnston, in particular. He was ably supported by Mr Jason Sepetauc, Ms Natalie Webber and Ms Bonnie Becker who also undertook acting roles last term. It is a continuing strength of the College that we have a depth and breadth of talented, dedicated leaders.

The excitement that I referred to above was, in part, related to the anticipation of all that lies ahead this term. Term 3 is much like every other school term in that it is busy. It is also true that this busyness often takes different shapes and forms. There are many community events and occasions coming up as well as the extensive Term 3 co-curricular program. We can help our boys negotiate this busyness by guiding them to be organised and committed. Organised in their use of time and resources. Committed to their school work and study. Committed to their co-curricular activities. Committed also to making a contribution to family life as a son and a brother.

My excitement was also in anticipation of the many community events of the coming term starting with this weekend’s first round of GPS competition, the Old Boy reunions and the Boarders Bash. This feeling has shifted to the frustration of knowing that I will not be present on Saturday. I know that it will be a terrific day all round, made even more special because of the enforced cancellations of the past two years. Thousands will take part in this celebration of our deep community connection and Nudgee Spirit.

Finally, welcome back to the start of the new term and, as always, I extend a warm welcome to those new families that have joined us over the break. I look forward to rejoining the community in the coming days.

Mr Peter Fullagar

Principal

"Make no one sad"

Culture is a word we often hear used to describe people's ideas, customs, and social behaviour in our community. It is the feeling you get when you enter our grounds and refers to the capacity of the College. It also includes all those within it to build robust and resilient learning relationships within supportive environments that inspire our boys to grow in knowledge, skills and character. It ensures our boys are equipped, empowered and enabled to assume responsibility for positively contributing to the world during their time here and long after leaving.

During an assembly late last term, I spoke to the boys about how the culture of our school is made up of the character each of us brings to the College each day. Character is defined by what you do when nobody's watching. This is not only a true testament of an individual’s character, but an accurate indication of what culture, or as we frequently hear at Nudgee, our spirit really is.

From the time the boys arrive at the College, we tell them, “to be kind - always”. This is the rule that really counts.  It sets the foundation for our culture and spirit, which means to be kind to yourself and all others:  to be kind to your body, mind and spirit.  We teach the boys that if you are always kind, you must be kind under all circumstances.  You must be compassionate, loving and thoughtful.  It doesn't matter who the people are; we must embrace them just the way they are.  We must also offer forgiveness.  Even when people make mistakes, we must recognise that everyone is doing the best they can now.  When they grow and know more, they will do better.

A positive culture, made up by the character of each person at Nudgee, needs to be evident at this time of the year.  Without it, you cannot achieve the things you want. As we start a new semester, some of the boys need to reset and focus on the new term. It is now, more than ever, that each of us needs to support the other and remain positive. 

A former principal I worked with always said at this time of the year, “make no one sad.”  These are wise words for us all to live by and words I would encourage all our boys to heed as we enter the new term and the pressure of a busy calendar places pressure on each of them.

Good luck to all the Year 12s entering their last full term here at the College. I would encourage each of them to enjoy this time and finish their Nudgee journey with dignity.

Mr David Johnston

Deputy Principal 

Welcome back

As usual, we hit the ground running and get prepared for an action packed Term 3. At our first Assembly for the term, we presented the 1st V Basketball, 1st IV Chess and 1st XV Rugby Teams for Round 1 on Friday and Saturday. Arts Prefects reported on their recent music tour. College Senior Hugh Smith recited Rupert McCall’s famous poem ‘Blue, White, Blue’ and College Captain Harry Roati shared some wisdom for lies ahead in Term 3. Important date to remember is this Saturday 16 July is the Old Boys’ Reunion Weekend and Boarders’ Bash.

Senior Formal

On Sunday, our Year 12 cohort celebrated their Senior Formal with parents and partners at the RNA Exhibition Centre. It was a wonderful night! The boys hosted their partners extremely well and had a great night with each other. They engaged confidently with staff and their behaviour was a highlight.

A big thank you to Ms Larissa Patti and Mr Raoul Carmody and their team of helpers, especially Mr Mark Chamberlain and Mr Paul Elliot for their organisation and attention to detail. The room was beautiful and everything went very smoothly. Thanks also to the many staff who attended, your support of events such as this is much appreciated by the boys and the Student Formation team.

Week 2 School Photos

A reminder that next Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 in Week 2 is School Photo Day 1 and 2.

Day 1: Year 5 to 12, PC Groups, Individual photos and Group photos (Seniors, Boarding, Indigenous, Sons of Old Boys). If you would like your Son to be part of the Sons of old Boys photo please register HERE.

Day 2: Year 5 and 6 Core Classes, Catch-up Portraits and Sibling photos.

Please see below for details on how to place your order.  If you have any questions, please contact Silver Rose Photography on 07 3262 5788. You can order photos by going to Silverrose.com.au and use code XSJNC22 to order. We encourage all families to place their orders as soon as possible prior to photo day.  Sibling photo orders MUST be placed by this Friday 15 July. 

As always, can I ask parents to be mindful of their son's haircut and personal grooming standards.

Bag Tags

If you have ordered a bag tag for this term, please ask your son to see their House Dean. This includes any Junior Students.

Lost property

A reminder when you purchase uniform items the laundry can label them for you. Please also name lunch boxes, water bottles, literally EVERYTHING your son brings to school.

Our process is if the item is named, we email the student and parent to help reunite you with your lost items as quickly as possible. Anything unnamed or the name cannot be read such as nicknames, initials, or half washed off and illegible names are kept at the student office for a period of time for clothing and shoes we keep them for a term.

Lunch boxes are a different matter, we empty any food and containers for health and safety reasons and will keep the lunch box for a maximum of two to three weeks they will then be discarded. So if your son loses something look out for an email from us. If you and or he doesn’t see an email from us or you know the item is unnamed please ask him to talk to the Student Office. 

Absences 

Can I please remind parents and caregivers of your requirement to contact the school before 8.30am if your son is going to be absent for a full or part day. This requirement is for sickness, appointments and other absences of similar nature.

The College App is our preferred model for communicating student absence. If you fill out an absence in advance and circumstances change, please notify the Student Office as soon as possible through studentabsences@nudgee.qld.edu.au or ring (07) 3865 0536.

Mr Anthony Connellan

Dean of Students

Academic Pathways, Subject Selections and 2023 Timetables

It’s a busy term in Learning and Teaching. The College performs organisational gymnastics as they plan for 2023 whilst caring for current students, and gearing up Year 12 for their final internal assessments and mock exams.

Timetabling, academic pathway considerations and subject selections form a large part of the planning. Over the next few weeks Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 will engage in a variety of processes to assist their decision making. An excellent place to start for all families is the College’s subject selection website.

Cohort specific communications about information nights, online sessions and meetings will be emailed out by the Learning and Teaching Office. I thank Year 10 families who were first out of the blocks yesterday. Your engagement is appreciated. Here are the calendar events at a glance.

Mr Jason Sepetauc 

Dean of Learning and Teaching

What We’ve Been Doing

Music - Regional Tour was a resounding success! The boys were brilliant ambassadors for Nudgee College in their performances, engagement and behaviour. We hope you enjoyed following along on social media. Thanks to boys, families and staff - both on the tour and in the planning stages.

Chess - Over the holidays there was a highly successful Chess Tournament, and a well attended Chess Camp, all great preparation for the GPS Season this term. Congratulations to the First IV who were presented on Assembly:

• Eric Yang
• Patrick Kennedy (captain)
• Tanush Patel
• Dominic Stein
• Reserves. Jack Weaver and William Kewley

What’s Coming Up

Week 1 and 2

Chess will be hosting TSS this week and TGS next week

Music has three students involved with the State Ensembles Program at the Queensland Conservatorium this weekend. Congratulations to Antoni Harbeck (violin), Archer Jenkins (guitar) and Eddie Power (also guitar).

Debating are thrilled to be involved in the Model United Nations Conference to be held at TSS over Sunday and Monday. Congratulations to Thomas Woodhead, Jacob Gillam, Liam McBride, Oliver Kele, Lawson Swain, Sam Kewley, Anthony Mineo, Dom Weber, Oscar Roati, George Coorey and Billy Conellan, and thanks to coaches Dom Carroll and Ian Trinh.

Arts Committee will be meeting in the Bodkin Boardroom on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm to continue planning the Dimensions Arts Festival.

Term 3 is packed with performances in Music and Theatresports, it is the GPS Season for Chess, and the pre-season for Debating. There’s something for everyone!

Check the student notices for more information about each of these activities, or feel to contact me directly.

Ms Alex Khafagi 

Director of Performing Arts

Welcome to Term 3 Sports! 

Round 1 Basketball and Rugby begins on Saturday vs TSS (H)

We hope to see you all at Boarders' Bash after the 1st XV! 

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