The College acknowledges the Turrbal First Nations Peoples of the lands and waterways we know as Nudgee. 

It was this week 12 months ago when most of our students returned to school after the lockdown of five weeks from the beginning of Term 2. Of course, Senior students had returned to school two weeks earlier and many boarders were not able to return immediately. What I remember vividly from that first week back at school was the almost universal sense of joy amongst the boys at being at school. While we were immensely proud of the NC@home program, clearly it could not fully replace the connection and learning that occurs when we are face to face in the classroom and together as a community at school each day.

The pride and joy that was evident a year ago was also on show at last weekend’s Open Day with many Nudgee College boys being involved. One prospective parent had cause to ask just how it could be that the boys could love their school so much? Her interactions had amazed her. Similarly, another parent provided us with the following feedback:

‘I would like to praise ….  for his wonderful guidance and knowledge of the college. He took us on an hour and a half tour and could not have been more thorough and patient as I asked many questions and engaged with most designated teachers from each of the departments. However, it was the engagement with my nine-year old son … I would like to highlight. I was so impressed with his behaviour and attitude towards … in engaging as much as possible with him and making it about him and not just about the parents.’

Last year’s lockdown meant that we hosted an online Open Day. Perhaps this change partly explained the enormous crowd, which was present last Saturday. We had a massive 60% increase of registrations  when compared to our last live Open Day in 2019. The presence of such large numbers combined with a full round GPS tennis and football meant that there was almost a carnival atmosphere around the College. The fine weather, the beauty of the campus and the involvement of many staff, students and parents all combined to make our visitors feel very welcome.

As always such an occasion requires the combined efforts of many staff from across all the dimensions of school life. It is also true that such occasions require leadership and I thank Ms Tara Shipperley and Ms Hannah Kilburn(Development and Communication Office) and Ms Susan shakespear (Director of Admissions), in particular.

As we pass the midpoint of the term there are two significant events next week.

The College will host the da Vinci Decathlon next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with hundreds of girls and boys involved in an academic teams competition that challenges their multidisciplinary skills and knowledge. Over 40 schools will be represented with over 120 teams. Nudgee College will be represented by 56 students from Years 5  to 11. More information about the competition is available at https://www.davincidecathlon.com/

For many months, our students and staff have been preparing for the 2021 production of ‘The High School Musical – On Stage’ which will be held next Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Tierney Hall. There has already been an overwhelming interest already and there are few, if any, tickets still available. We wish everyone involved the very best for this celebration of the performing arts at the College.

Finally, it is Reconciliation Week, which we marked on Tuesday’s assembly and with activities on throughout this week. I share with you part of a letter sent to staff from EREA Executive Director, Dr Craig Wattam: '

'Reconciliation week reminds us of our obligations and opportunities to offer a liberating education – one that is of quality and that is culturally enriching for all young people. We do so with a spirit of inclusion. Our curriculum demands us to provide an education that prioritises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures and offers opportunities to close the gap in learning outcomes between First Nations young people and their non-Indigenous peers whereby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people can “see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas”. These intentions are echoed in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (1.4 and 2.4) highlighting the importance of educators in respecting and understanding the diversity Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages and for the ways in which this impacts the cultural identity of young people and the ways in which they learn.’

With every best wish for the week ahead.

Mr Peter Fullagar

Principal

The Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Lifestyle website recently posted a segment titled “Stress Relief from Laughter? It’s No Joke.”  The article began, “When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered.”  Important insights to be gained from the article include:

• A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.
• Laughter can enhance your in-take of oxygen, stimulate your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increase endorphins that are released in your brain. 
• A good laugh fires up and then cools down your stress responses; it also soothes tension. 
• Long-term effects of laughter include improving your immune system, relieving pain, increasing personal satisfaction and improving your mood.  

The article concluded by saying, “Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you’ve had your chuckle, take stock of how you’re feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That’s the natural wonder of laughing at work.”

As we are now well into Term 2 and the routine of life sets in here is an attempt to bring a smile to our faces. I have several mates - I use this term loosely - who have suggested humour is not in my wheelhouse.  But I will give it a crack. 

Below is a list of humorous teacher memes.  Many were posted last year during the various lock downs that occurred throughout the world.  Maybe one or two will bring a smile to your face. 

“If you see me talking to myself, I’m having a staff meeting.”

“So, it turns out that being an adult is mostly Googling how to do stuff.”

“I don’t always go the extra mile, but when I do it’s because I missed my exit.”

“Getting older is just one body part after another saying ‘Ha-Ha, you think that’s bad’? “Watch this.’”

“I don’t need any support, I can do this alone – said no teacher ever.”

“Age is just a number, yeah…. and jail is just a room.”

“Most people don’t think I’m as old as I am until they hear me stand up.”

“Shout out to old people for graduating high school without Google.”

“Did you put white highlights in your hair?”

And to finish, one from one of my favourite actors, Will Farrell. “Chocolate comes from cocoa which comes out of a tree. That makes it a plant. Therefore, chocolate counts as salad. The End.” 

Mr David Johnston 

Deputy Principal 

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

Lord, open up our hearts

so that we may hear the message you teach of

...a world in which the wrongs of the past are recognised;

...a world in which a reconciled people walk and talk together sharing stories;

...a world in which all burn with the desire to have your peace and justice reign.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

YEAR 9 RETREAT

Last Thursday, our Year 9 students enjoyed a day away from the College on retreat.  Our Year 9 retreat theme is the Emmaus story - finding God on the journey.  As Jesus walked with the disciples that day He walks with us - in the people around both friend and stranger, in the majesty of creation and in our own hearts.

WALK FOR EDMUND

Our largest whole school activity was launched this week - the Walk for Edmund.  On the last day of term all the College will walk the 7km round trip to the Boondall wetlands raising much needed funds for the Edmund Rice Foundation which supports the work of the Christian Brothers here in Australia and across the developing world.

Mr Stephen Meara

Dean of Identity

It’s a crazy time of term. What the science tells us is that happiness and well-being doesn’t just fall out of the sky and hit us; we actively have to do things to feel good about ourselves and others. We have to be ‘on-purpose’ in doing things to feel a sense of well-being. 

What is clear in the Student Office at this time of term - just over half way through - is that lots of people are tired and stressed (boys, staff and parents).

It is definitely time to be purposely mindful about stress, anxiety, being ‘wound up’ and, therefore, not being able to be truly present and perform at our best. Maybe over the next week (and beyond hopefully) we all might spend time focusing on the below ten things.

10 tips to help you stay mentally healthy (crucial for this stage of the term)

1. Spend time helping someone else with something - when you help others, it makes you feel good. Volunteer for a cause (like signing up for one of the wonderful Nudgee College social justice programs), help a neighbour or simply do something nice for a friend or stranger.
2. See the funny side of life and laugh often -  laughter is a wonderful medicine.  Watch/read/listen to something that will give you a belly laugh. Not only does laughter decrease stress hormones, it also triggers the release of endorphins which help improve your overall sense of wellness.
3. Think about a new skill you can learn - learning something new gives the ‘grey matter’ a workout and builds neural pathways in the brain.
4. Catch up with friends - spending time with our friends and loved ones is always a guaranteed way to lift our moods.  Often just spending time chatting and laughing with someone is a great mood lifter.
5. Go to bed early - make it your aim to get eight hours of solid sleep every night. Sleep will help restore your body and mind. To help you get a good night's rest, put your phone away at least an hour before bed and do something soothing and relaxing such as reading a book to help you get a good night's rest.
6. Focus on your organisation - with upcoming deadlines and assessments, it is easy to get overwhelmed by study/work commitments.  Being disorganised can build stress and anxiety at this time. Try creating a study routine to get yourself into the habit of studying. Put all your assessment and deadlines on a calendar and plan your time effectively to ensure you give yourself ample time to complete big projects and prepare yourself for an exam. 
7. Ask someone for help - Everyone’s life journey is different, and sometimes we need help to overcome the really bumpy bits. It's okay to ask for help: speak to a work colleague, teachers, a friend or a family member.
8. Stay Active - keeping fit and staying active can help you to sleep better, manage stress and boost your mood.  Take the dog for a walk, or take the stairs when you can.  Try riding your bike instead of catching public transport or find a sport or physical activity that you enjoy and make a plan to do it regularly.
9. Take care of yourself - a healthy body is linked to a healthy mind.  Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole foods, and avoid processed foods.
10. Be ‘present’ in the moment - be in the here and now. Enjoy the moment.

Mr Peter Todd

Dean of Students

Focus on Learning and Teaching 

There are only 16 school days until the end of term. The term has been busy, commencing with parent teacher interviews and rescheduled examinations due to the end of Term One COVID-19 related school shutdown. This put us on the back foot, and some teachers and boys feel as though they have played catch ever since - an unfortunate part of our new normal. Add the rescheduled Showcase and several large school events such as the successful Open Day and it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. 

Primarily we are a school, a place of learning. We must not lose sight of this among the many wonderful opportunities Nudgee College offers us. Brother Ambrose Treacy, our founder, spoke of faith, formation and opportunity when imagining what Nudgee College would offer boys. Opportunity is at the heart of what learning and teaching provides. Let us keep this in mind as we approach the end of semester and the culmination of much hard work by boys and their teachers. Let us attend to the Habits of Mind that will see us succeed in the coming weeks. 

Year 11 and 12 boys and families have been sent a QCE memo detailing a range of topics relevant to their progress. QCE Memo Link. 

Most boys have examinations as summarised below. Teachers will provide students with further details to assist with their preparation. Boys also have other forms of assessment due which can be found in the ‘curricular activities due’ area of the Parent Lounge.

A reminder about the process around taking leave before the end of the term. We begin with the premise that boys attend school up to and including the last day of term, Friday 18 June. If you wish to finish before this date, you need to seek permission from the Principal. A Principal’s Leave Form is provided from the ‘school links’ drop down in the Parent Lounge. 

Assessment is ongoing right up to the last day and full attendance is encouraged. We also look forward to celebrating our annual Walk for Edmund fundraising day on Friday 18 June. Note that absences from exams may affect semester grades and catch up exams will not be scheduled in Years 5 to 10. Senior examinations are subject to QCAA policy. 

Mr Jason Sepetauc

Dean of Learning and Teaching

Yr 10 Essential English NCOB Guest Speakers

As a part of the Literacy Short Course, the Year 10 Essential English classes are currently learning about and participating in activities that relate to preparing for and seeking employment, operating in an existing workplace, and/or entering a new work environment. As a part of furthering their understanding of life in the workplace, NCOB's Dan Wilson (2006), General Manager - Sales Director at Felix and Mitch McKellar (2009), Director - Pride Carpentry came to talk to the boys about their professional working experiences since graduating from Nudgee College.

It was an exciting opportunity for the students to learn about various aspects of working life outside the gates of the College and garner invaluable information about employee and employer expectations. I am so grateful that these two men so willingly gave of their time to give back to the College. While presenting to the Year 10s both Dan and Mitch mentioned the importance of their education, quality mateship, and growing strong community networks. They also emphasized the importance of being resilient and responsible men of courage who should not be afraid of hard work, the value of always embracing learning opportunities be they through success or failure and the importance of being able to give back.

It was a wonderful opportunity and experience for our current students to be able to listen to the wisdom and advice of those who have gone before them.

Ms Kathleen White

English Teacher

da Vinci Decathlon 

This week at assembly, we acknowledged the boys in Years 5 to 11 who will represent the College at the Queensland da Vinci Decathlon. Nudgee College will be this year’s Queensland host school for this academic competition, which is designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Originating with Knox Grammar School in Sydney, the da Vinci Decathlon sees students compete in teams of eight across ten disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics and Chess, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography and Legacy. There is a particular emphasis on higher order thinking skills. In order for students to succeed, they will need to employ their Learning Habits of ‘Thinking Flexibly’, Creating, Imagining and Innovating, and ‘Thinking Interdependently’. Our teams have been attending weekly training sessions to prepare for the challenging competition. We wish the boys in each of our teams all the very best.

Year 5

Darcy Cotter

Max Geyer

Liam Mawson

Flynn McDarmont

Rahul Padmanabhan

Scott Sibraa

Oliver Watson

Archie Woodward

Year 6

Harper Cameron

James Caroll

Ethan Ferris

Ryan Khatmi

Owen McGregor

James Neubecker

Daniel Simpson

Oliver Smith

Year 7

Ethan Andrews

William Dallimore

Michael Donovan 

Andrew Emery

Matthew Fuller

Tom Kewley

Elfie Piper

Baxter Witteveen

Year 8

Thomas Bayo

Dermot Clancy

Matthew Heath

Sejin Lee

Will Neubecker

Riley Nixon

Alex Smith

Fergus Wright

Year 9 

Liam Astbury

Khy Dhawan

Benjamin Ditchburn

George Gillam

Fred Nash

Alex Patti

Oscar Roati

Jamie Waddington

Year 10

William Duffield

Aidan Easton

Jacob Gillam

Oliver Kele

Anthony Mineo

Padraic Townsend

Jack Weaver

Joseph Wesche

Year 11

Elliot Browne

Ben Gunter

Thomas Malone

Johnson Meraveka

Yash Rayani

Harry Roati

Lachlan Russell

Archie Wallis

Ms Natalie Webber

Director of Learning and Teaching 

Evening on the Green

We had a very successful Evening on the Green on Friday evening. We had close to 300 parents and siblings attend the event. It had a great community feel and everyone mixed and mingled while watching the traditional Inter-dorm touch competition. Congratulations to Murphy House who took out a close final over the men from Hodda. It was a great opportunity for parents to chat socially with other parents and the senior staff over a beer or wine. It was also wonderful to see so many parents meet other boys' parents and friends of their sons. The celebration continued well into the night, and I am sure would have gone longer if permitted.

Open Day

The boarders then had their ‘exit weekend’ and the school had our annual Open Day, which drew the biggest crowd we’ve seen at an Open Day plus families to come and see our school at its best. The boys leading the tours of the boarding village did an exceptional job and everyone enjoyed the BBQ during their breaks from talking to prospective parents and students.

Take a look the special boarding video made for Open Day, created by current parent Nick Piper and featuring many of our boarders here.

Goondiwindi Rugby Day

The next significant event in our packed calendar is the annual Goondiwindi Rugby Day. I’ll be escorting a group of our boarders to join Mr Casey Brealy and myself, along with Director of Sport Mr Anthony Connellan, our Boarding Rec Coordinator Mr Theo Betteridge and some great music by Jamaal Sugars.  This event enables our boys and staff to engage in a positive way with the young kids in that region. It is always a fantastic opportunity to touch base with some of our northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland boarding families who always support this event.

Mr Sean Toovey 

Dean of Boarding

Tennis

The tennis boys were poised and ready for round 5 coming off a bye week. This week saw the seniors play at home and the juniors away against GT.

First IV had a great win over GT 6-2. NC had lost the last 5 years. It great to see the boys come out on top after some competitive tennis. 

Winning teams consisted of the first IV, 11A, 10A, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D 8C, and 7C teams. Across the board there were many close games that highlight how far the program has come.

Players of the round for this week go to:

Max Craig

Tom Drahm

Aiden Horan

Zane Crema 

Harry Orr 

Tyler Payne 

Please collect your V-golf voucher and grip from your coaches throughout the week. 

Mr Brendan McGuinness 

Director of Tennis

Cross Country

The GPS Cross Country Championships held on Thursday 20 May was an incredible display of everything our runners had worked towards since January. In the 10 years event, Zac Zillman just got over the line in front of Jacob Guthrie in 8:12 to place 4th. In the 11 years, Thomas Gibb powered through his 3km event in 11:33 to place 5th, a huge PB for him! Rhys Griffiths, Michael Donovan and Oliver Steven dominated in the 12 years event with Rhys placing 3rd (11:15), Michael placing 5th (11:17) and Oliver in 6th place (11:21). Overall, our 10 years scored 1st place, 11 years were 3rd and our 12 years were 1st, winning us the shield again with 27 points.

The second part of the day started with the 13 years 3km event. Oscar Irankeje gave it everything he had to finish 2nd in a time of 10:03. Will Curran was first over the line to win the 14 years 4km in 13:19 with his brother Ned following him 11 seconds later to finish in second place. Harry Waldron was the first Nudgee College runner over the line in 14:18 in the 15 years 4km, with Declan Warnes just 6 seconds later. In the 16 years 6km event, Will Morrow came in taking 11th place with a time of 20:39. Lastly, the Open event saw Cross Country Vice Captain Sam Rogers complete the 6km race in 21:15. Overall, Nudgee College placed 6th out of the 9 schools in this particularly competitive event. BSHS won the day, followed by BBC (2nd) and TSS (3rd). IGS came in 4th place, ACGS in 5th, NC in 6th place, BGS in 7th, GT in 8th and TGS in 9th place.

At our awards and celebratory afternoon back on campus, the following awards were presented:

Most Improved Over the Season:

Junior: Michael Donovan

Intermediate: Harry Waldron

Senior: Will Morrow

Most Dedicated Athlete:

Junior: Harry Edwards

Intermediate: Will Curran

Senior: Haydon Malone

Leadership Awards:

Primary: George Dart

Secondary: Kyle Brady

A huge thank you to all of our Cross Country coaches for a great season - Chris Gale, David Johnston, Paul Masters, Damien Gannon, Sue Minor, Desiree Cullen, Declan Cabot, Anna Jones and Daniel Mowen. 

Ms Jaimee Trembearth

Director of Cross Country

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