What makes a good teacher? 

I have worked in schools for many years (so many in fact, I am not prepared to declare the exact number) but I am not sure that I can answer that question with a categorical answer. There are so many professional skills and personal qualities needed that, in my mind, a good teacher is nearly impossible to define. You know a good teacher when you see one in the classroom, the rehearsal room, the art studio or the boarding dorm. You also know that there is no ‘cookie cutter’ mould for what makes a good teacher. 

Carl Jung suggests the following essential quality:

‘An understanding heart is everything in a teacher and cannot be esteemed highly enough. One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.’ 

He may well be right. While being a warm, relational teacher is essential; it is not enough on its own in today’s educational landscape. The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is the leading professional organisation for teachers in Australia. Their work over recent years has seen the development of the Professional Standards for Teachers. Even a brief perusal of these standards will provide you with insight into what is expected of teachers today. In short, it is complex and challenging.

At the College this year, we have continued to develop our teachers as individuals but also to build them as a cohesive, vibrant community of professionals. Our framework for doing so has been the implementation of the Art and Science of Teaching (ASOT). In staff rooms and staff meetings across the College we have been endeavouring to embed this framework in the planning and practice of our teachers. Parallel to this has been our work to develop a comprehensive Staff Performance and Professional Growth Process for all staff in all dimensions of school life. More information on this will be shared in the future as we roll it out across the College in the next two years.

I share all of this as an introduction to World Teacher's Day (WTD) on Friday. At the College, we are truly blessed to have teachers of the highest calibre - both in their professional capabilities but also in their personal qualities. There are many reasons why Nudgee College is such a well renowned school. One of the most essential reasons for this is the quality of our teachers. I express my sincere gratitude to them all. A small suggestion for parents - perhaps tomorrow on WTD you might also find a way of expressing your personal appreciation to the good teacher/s that your son is nurtured by here at the College. 

Please see below some of the social media that is associated with the celebration of WTD in all schools. 

World Teachers' Day Queensland 2022

Read the campaign teacher profiles here.

Find out more at: https://www.worldteachersday.com.au/

Please see shared below a Statement on behalf of the College that was sent to our boarding families on Wednesday in response to a recent online news story. Please contact my office should you have any questions.

Dear Nudgee College Boarding Families, 

You may be aware of an article published late last week regarding allegations against Brother Darcy Fidelis Murphy, a boarding master and deputy headmaster of the school in the 1980s and early 1990s. The article referred to one of the College’s boarding houses being named after Br Murphy.

Given these allegations, we will conduct a review into the naming of the house. The review will consider any information gathered in an independent investigation commissioned by the Christian Brothers Oceania Province. This investigation was established in response to the allegations raised in media reports. Any changes will be communicated to the Nudgee College community.

I can confirm that Nudgee College has no record of any complaint made against Br Murphy, however the College encourages anyone with any information to contact Queensland Police Service or the Christian Brothers Oceania Province.

We understand and appreciate the enormous level of trust that you instill in our College staff to look after your sons. As a College, we continue to do all that we can to create an environment in which our students, your sons, can feel safe. We follow strict protocols around child protection to do so. 

Should you have any questions about this matter please contact Mr Casey Brealy - Dean of Boarding.

Mr Peter Fullagar

Engagement, Relationships and Belonging

It is no secret now that I spent a good part of last term in interview mode. At one point during this process, I had to write a mock newsletter article addressing the notion that an all-boys education is an outdated model of schooling in the modern day. As an all-boys education advocate, it was a task I really enjoyed completing. Here is what I submitted:  

I am the father of a boy about to enter his final year of education at an all-boys’ school. If I think about his childhood and his continuing journey through adolescence, it’s a whirlwind of movement and physicality, adventure and injury, friendship highs and lows, short and to-the-point communication and lots and lots of food.

Most importantly, however, it’s a celebration of a journey from boyhood to manhood. As I reflect on the last six years as I have watched him grow into the young man he is becoming, I think of all the celebrations and challenges, all the successes and disappointments, and I know he would not be the young man he is today without the benefit of an all boys’ education. 

Sadly, this view is often challenged. Arguments are mounted that single-sex schools are antiquated and they have no place in the 21st century. But this is missing the point that our world today is far more complex and challenging than ever before. Our young men are bombarded with television, social media and other influences that challenge masculinity and lead them to question what it means to be a man today. This makes an all boys’ environment, where boys are valued, respected and supported in their journey to manhood, even more vital in the 21st century. One of the most valuable gifts we can give our young men today is to walk the schooling journey with them, encouraging them to have the self-belief, the confidence and the strength to become the best men they can be. 

Nudgee College has been educating boys for over 131 years. It has a reputation for working with families to raise boys to grow into respectful, joyful and engaging young men who go out into the world and make a difference. Boys flourish at Nudgee because they are valued as individuals who are encouraged to be themselves, develop their passions, and grow in confidence. At Nudgee, boys are provided with collaborative, challenging and engaging experiences that allow them to become lifelong learners and confident global citizens.  

At Nudgee, we know that boys excel when expectations are high, where they are encouraged to take responsible risks and where they are supported to reflect, learn and grow. They thrive on competition, particularly when it is provided in a safe environment where they feel encouraged to be their best and accepted regardless of the outcome. At Nudgee, our teachers understand boys. They choose to teach in a boys’ environment because they are committed to developing clever, creative and confident young men. They spend time with boys, knowing that the relationships they build are critical to a boy’s learning. They know that when they invest in positive, trusting relationships and when they hold high expectations, boys thrive. 

At Nudgee, boys are free to unlearn traditional stereotypes and fully explore their potential. There are no expectations about what roles boys should fill as they enjoy recognition for their interests and skills rather than conform to career goals and roles that society has traditionally expected of them. We know when our boys pursue various interests, they are more likely to find more in common with others and develop strong friendships. The bonds of brotherhood formed when working together in the classroom, or on the playing field, or in performance last a lifetime.

We also know that their self-esteem can be fragile and that adolescence can be a tricky time. Research suggests that students in boys’ schools are more likely to explore their strengths and interests, feeling more comfortable engaging in an assortment of learning areas, co-curricular activities and leadership roles, unrestrained by the presence of girls or the fear of embarrassing themselves in front of girls. 

The absence of girls in the classroom in no way limits our boys’ opportunities to interact and socialise with girls in healthy, productive ways. The College’s partnerships with all-girls schools ensure regular, positive and fun social interactions through musicals, socials, support at weekend sports, leadership opportunities and numerous other get-togethers. Furthermore, our boys are blessed with strong, confident and highly-capable female role models. This supports their development as young men who are respectful and positive in their relationships with women. We believe our boys find important role models in the outstanding teachers, coaches, and counsellors who are by their sides each day. Through these relationships, where our staff are forthright and caring, the boys also develop the confidence to drop their guard and give of themselves. These relationships also promote empathy, courage, and resilience. This relationship-based education model enhances the learning process and contributes to each boy’s growing sense of belonging to his class, his team, and the College. 

There is no greater joy than to walk the educational journey with a young man and see him emerge possessed of the quiet strength and character which will enable him to contribute to the world as a son, brother, partner, father, colleague and friend. Boys’ education is a purposeful vocation, and Nudgee is undeniably proud to be an all-boys school. 

Mr David Johnston

Deputy Principal

Stationery Aid collects, sorts, cleans, renews and donates excess and used education resources by creating booklist and stationery boxes for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged students to start the school year.

“Renewed stationery for planet, people and education.”

If you have any unneeded stationery, please put it in the blue bin in the foyer of the Larkin Centre before the end of the year.

What we collect: 

• Pencils
• Pens
• Pencil cases
• Exercise books/scrapbooks/notepads
• Display books
• Erasers
• Rulers
• Sharpeners
• Headphones
• Maths equipment
• Calculators
• Crayons
• Musical instruments
• Text books
• Highlighters
• Glue
• Folders (except ring binders)
• Book covers
• Cover contact
• Visual art diary
• Art books
• Art supplies

Please NO ring binders!

Mr Stephen Meara 

Dean of Identity

In a short week that follows the energetic exit of the Seniors as they head into their final exams, there is still much to focus on for our younger Nudgee students. Reflecting on last week, it was impressive to witness the larger student population respectfully farewell their Seniors. For our Years 5 to 11 students, there continue to be mixed emotions of sadness, excitement and their own anticipation of the slow transition into a new year level over the coming months.

In particular, our current Year 11s in many ways step up to leadership. This is evident academically in the classroom, planning with House Deans or members of CLT and SLT and in more subtle ways like the transition into the Senior spaces of the school yard. 

As mentioned a number of times throughout the year, a reminder that our School TV resource is available to parents and caregivers here at Nudgee. As we shift into the middle part of a term that quickly leads into assessment time and the balance of preseason arts and sport, I share with you a link that addresses the ever important concept of managing the concept of being overwhelmed.   

CLICK HERE for "Managing Overwhelm"

Mr Anthony Connellan

Dean of Students

QMEA incursion

Last Wednesday selected students from Year 9 were invited to participate in the Beakers.Bots.Build workshop presented by Belinda Thurstun from Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy. Year 9 students included: Tejas Ashok, Dermot Clancy, Joseph Costigan, Charles Dallimore, Eric Fitzgerald, Ben Goggin, Matthew Heath, Mark Hili, Hilton Im, Sejin Lee, Roan McNamara, Lachlan Mills, Will Neubecker, Tanush Patel, Alex Smith, Ryan Stewart, Ash Tayler, Sam Tulley and Fergus Wright. It was a highly engaging and enjoyable day with a plethora of hands-on activities. Here’s what a few of the participants had to say:

“Our day was filled with engaging activities, ranging from programming a robot to crafting a machine to knock a coin into a cup. Starting with the robot, we simulated a truck loading and unloading at the conveyors - an insight into daily mining operations - by coding it to follow a certain path on the ground towards the LEGO conveyors. Afterwards, we explored the properties of light and how it can be used effectively to make mining operations safer, by illustrating ray diagrams of light reflecting off a mirror. Reflective clothing is worn on site so that lights from machinery will illuminate the workers, allowing for safe operation. The final activity involved using various materials (Play-doh, rubber bands, popsicle sticks and dowel) to build an object that would reliably cause a coin on a table to fall into the cup below, without pushing it with our hands. Sorting the unwanted materials from coal conveyors is a task that has had different methods for years, ranging from labourers manually sorting the materials to large machinery doing it autonomously. Industry representatives from two leading mining companies supported the entire day, providing us with an insight into their fields as well as keeping the day entertaining. After being immersed in the activities, I can personally confirm that the experience was rich and beneficial for learning about careers in the mining and engineering industry” - Eric Fitzgerald (Year 9).

“The QMEA incursion was an eye opening experience as to what career pathways I could follow after school. I learned about the growing mining industry and how new technologies like drones and autonomous vehicles allow for safer worksites. We received expert advice from two engineers, Tom (ConocoPhillips) and Gavin (Glencore Technologies), about their employment journey. We viewed previous projects that they had worked on, such as a large robotic machine used to strip copper, which made the process of making copper sheets much more efficient and safer. Overall, we all had an enjoyable day which we learnt a lot from” - Mark Hili (Year 9).

We’d sincerely like to thank Ms Belinda Thurstun as well as Gavin and Tom for their enthusiasm, expertise and for allowing our students the opportunity.

Iona College Day of Excellence

Students from Years 7 to 9 attended the Iona College Day of Excellence. Participating students selected a workshop of their choice to enrich their learning in the areas of STEAM along with students from: St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, Padua College, Churchie, St James College, Ambrose Treacy College, St Patrick’s College and St Edmund’s College.

Nudgee students from Year 7 included: James Carroll, Jayho De Geer, Tobias Grant, Troy Li, James Neubecker.

Year 8: Jacob Brown, Jeremy Deakin, Angus Kovac, Max Lazzarini.

Year 9: Tejas Ashok, Joseph Costigan, Xander Eyles, Matthew Heath, Will Neubecker, Alex Smith, Ash Tayler.

“My workshop was the EV3 Robotics workshop where we learned how to program LEGO EV3 Mindstorms robots to do a wide range of tasks. What I enjoyed most was working with a friend to program the EV3 robot to perform complicated tasks, such as stopping for pedestrians as well as learning about the components and functionality of the LEGO robots. Overall, having the opportunity to meet and work with other students from a range of schools was a great experience, and made for a great day.” - Troy Li (Year 7)

“The workshop I participated in was the Turing Tumble. A Turing Tumble is a plastic board with small hooks. The plastic parts are placed on the hooks creating a path for small metal balls to pass through to the bottom, which flicks a switch, starting the process again. There are several types which represent different parts of a computer, ranging from the wires to a shut off switch, and many more. All in all, it was a great day, and we all had fun.” - Ash Tayler (Year 9)

We would like to thank both Ms Samantha McKinnon and Ms Lynette Pearce from Iona College for allowing our students this opportunity to engage with like minded students in the celebration of academic excellence.

Ms Stephanie Spicer

Program Leader - Enrichment

The Stones - ShockTherapy Theatre Company visit

‘Based on a true story, The Stones is about risk taking behaviour and the pain of guilt when things go too far. The play places the audience in the position of a jury where they must consider whether the boys are responsible for their actions, or too young to know what they were doing.’

The Stones by Shock Therapy Theatre Company is a play that is studied as part of the Year 8 Drama course of study. This performance was an opportunity for students to have access to an education experience that addresses risk taking behaviour and the impact serious consequences can have. At the same time students are exposed to a theatrical experience that not only entertains but engages them on many different levels. It was wonderful to have this embedded into the Student Formation program so all Year 8s could benefit from the play. 

The two actors played multiple characters and used minimalist staging to tell the story. It was a high energy performance where the actors certainly embraced Physical Theatre and live guitar playing to enhance the impact of the performance. The Year 8s immersed themselves in such a positive manner and engaged completely in the Q&A at the completion of the performance. 

Ms Alison Kilgour

Head of Faculty - Arts

Term 4 has seen plenty of significant and special events. These formal events, which are heavily attended and widely shared are certainly worthy of celebration. However, this week I thought I would write about some of the lesser-known elements of our community. Some of the informal events that can often be overlooked, yet occur on a weekly basis. Whilst those within the boarding bubble are aware of these, I thought it was time to share a snapshot below of these with the wider community.  

Please see below just a few of the things that have happened in our community over the last few weeks.

• House BBQs
• Water balloon fights
• 10 Pin Bowling
• Bounce Trampoline Park
• Putt Put at Victoria Park
• Bubble Soccer
• Ping Pong Competitions
• Rock Around the Clock 

These are just a few of the regular activities that our boys participate in - if I continued the article would be far too long! I would like to publicly thank the staff who make all of this possible. A special thank you much go to Mr Vladimir Savovski for his work on the recreation program for our boys. 

Mr Casey Brealy

Dean of Boarding