nharri (hello in Yolngu Matha from Nhulunbuy - Northern Territory)
This week, the Nudgee College community comes together to celebrate NAIDOC Week. This year's theme is Heal Country, it acknowledges the fundamental role of Country in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its peoples. Country is more than a place, it is inherent to the identity and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We are fortunate to be a school community with a clear set of values. Our daily practice is informed by the four Touchstones of the Charter of Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition: Inclusive Community, Justice & Solidarity, Gospel Spirituality and Liberating Education. Further to these, as Nudgee College, we also claim our own set of values, which are based on our vision to form our young men to be ‘Signum Fidei’. These values are highlighted in our Strategic Plan and include Community, Authenticity, Justice, Excellence and Courage all connected to Faith.
The challenge in being overt about our values is ensuring that you are always striving to live them out in practice. In other words, our values need to be more than mere words on a page. They need to be a lived reality for our students, our teachers, our parents and the wider Nudgee community.
So, it was with some pride that as part of our NAIDOC Week* celebrations that we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at Tuesday's online assembly. The RAP represents our plan for reconciliation that fosters and values respectful relationships between all Australians. It is symbolic of our commitment to promoting deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, histories and aspirations. It is based on relationships, respect and opportunities in our classrooms, the wider school and our school community. The RAP complements the productive relationships that the College has had with many indigenous students, parents and families over many years.
I thank Mr Scott Gale (ATSI Education Officer) in particular for his leadership of the collaborative process of developing the RAP. This process has involved fellow staff, indigenous students, parents and old boys in addition to members of the Murri Ministries - our local Catholic organisation. Ms Annie Banks (Liberating Education Program Coordinator) has also been instrumental to the successful completion of Year 12 by many proud indigenous Nudgee College men in recent years.
I also commend viewing the launch of the RAP from Tuesday’s assembly. A segment of the assembly is include in the Identity section of this newsletter. You can watch the full assembly here.
As we come to the end of Week 6 of the term, there is much to focus on terms of Learning and Teaching. Beyond the essentials of daily school, homework and study various Year levels have been making important decisions. Year 12s have just completed an interrupted assessment period for the third Internal Assessment (IA) and must start to focus of QTAC choices for pathways beyond this year. In addition, their mock exams are looming in just over a fortnight’s time. Year 9s have been completing their subject selections for 2022 and Year 10s SET Plan meetings for next year. Year 11s have entered a time where leadership interviews are being held for the various Senior positions of Year 12. This is a very crucial process and one that generates great interest and some stress for our young men. We pray for the staff and students involved that we will make wise choices that reflect our values and our aspirations as a leading and contemporary Catholic boys school.
The recent and continuing COVID-19 restrictions have challenged all of us in various ways. I have been impressed by the manner in which our young men have adapted to wearing masks around the school and in classrooms. Their cooperation has been exemplary. Many have also had to deal with the disappointment of the interruptions to their sport and cultural activities. They have managed this well considering the level of commitment and dedication of our leading teams. We look forward to a return to GPS competition over the coming weekends.
Our boarding families who live far from South East Queensland also know that there has been a particular level of strain over recent weeks. For some of these families the fact that they live interstate, and in some cases just across the border with NSW, there is an even higher level of stress and anxiety. We continue to work with and support these families during a time of locked borders. Given this situation, I also acknowledge the work of Mr Sean Toovey (acting Dean of Boarding), our four Heads of Boarding Houses and all the boarding staff for the level of care they display every day for our boarding students.
This appreciation was captured beautifully in some feedback that I received from a boarding parent recently:
‘We as a family feel truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful caring and supportive community.’
With every best wish for the week ahead.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
*NAIDOC Week is celebrated at Nudgee College at this time due to the clash with school holidays of the Australia wide activities.
Term 3 Exams
PATHWAYS UPDATE
Tertiary Entrance and Early Offer Schemes for Admissions in 2022
The QTAC application process started on 3 August with applications being accepted up until the 12 November, to be eligible for the first major offer round (some courses which require portfolios and auditions are finalised before this date). If students would like to be considered for an early offer to universities such as Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Griffith University, applications need to be submitted by 15 October. There are various conditions attached to early offers and they vary according to each institution. The Australian Catholic University (ACU) uses Year 11 results to provide the offer and can be issued as early as September. This requires a direct application to be made via their website.
The process for other universities is that the student registers for an ATAR and creates a QTAC account. Preferences are listed according to the requirements of the particular institution (for example, the QUT offer is contingent on the course being listed in the top 3 preferences). The institution will then contact the student for more information, which must be provided by the communicated closing date, to receive an offer. The offer may then be issued. Please note that the offer can be conditionally accepted and then adjustments can be made to the student’s QTAC preferences to ensure other preferred courses are considered in the first official offer round. If the student does not receive an offer in those preferred courses, they can then accept their early offer outright.
Information on QUT, Griffith and ACU requirements are below. Please note, UQ does not provide early offers.
QUT (apply by 15 Oct)
Griffith (apply by 15 Oct)
ACU (apply by 11 Oct)
The Learning and Teaching Team are presenting a QTAC information event on Monday evening, 30 August in Tierney Hall. Representatives from major QLD institutions will be available to speak with. All Year 11 and 12 families are invited to attend. In the meantime, if you would like further information, please contact Ms Dee Lyon on (07) 3865 0388 or dty@nudgee.qld.edu.au
Academic Firsts Function
The Academic Firsts met last week to celebrate more great Year 12 results. These students achieve in the top 10th percentile in 4 or more of their General Subjects. With Mr Fullagar in attendance, our students were fortunate to hear from Mr Adam Stacey of Micromelon. Adam created his own successful business, which specialises in digital solutions for educational institutions. He spoke about the challenges and pathway to success.
Mr Sepetauc introduced the event and indicated his pride in the cohort. He spoke of the need to finish the year strongly by continuing to achieve. The focus needs to be maintained on mock exams, master classes and effort in classes. Furthermore, students need to support their mates and show leadership as the academic role models of the College.
Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship
The Sir Samuel Griffith scholarship initiative is designed to assist high-achieving Year 12 students looking towards university study in 2022 and likely to receive an ATAR of at least 95.5.
In 2022, Griffith University will allocate 80 Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarships, valued at up to $24,000 each. These scholarships are specifically designed to recognise academic excellence and demonstrated qualities including:
• leadership
• civic responsibility
• social awareness
Principals are able to recommend one student per year for this honour. Should you be in Year12, interested in studying at Griffith University in 2022 and on track to receive an ATAR of at least 95.5, please email Ms Lyon at dty@nudgee.qld.edu.au to indicate your interest.
Ms Dee Lyon
Director of Pathways
Music Guest Composer
On Thursday 29 July, the Senior Music class had the privilege of a masterclass with professional Australian composer Christopher Healey. Christopher has mentored under composers such as Gerard Biophy, Robert Davidson and Daron Hagen, and has just submitted his PhD in Composition. His works have been played internationally, including America, France, Serbia and The Netherlands.
Tying in with Music Unit 4: Narratives, the boys were given a unique perspective on Christopher’s thought process in creating his works, a catalogue that now spans over 90 compositions of varying style, scope and ensemble. Whilst we often analyse and evaluate how composers create meaning in music, the boys were shown how story and meaning inform his creation process, authenticating and enriching what the boys have been learning about Musicology and Composition throughout their Music education. The way the human brain interprets music and inherently creates order and meaning, even from Music that is explicitly written without any meaning in mind, was another interesting topic.
“While listening to Chris share his wisdom on music composition with the class, I learned that all music - no matter the genre or style - conveys meaning and tells a story. While explaining this, he shared some strategies that he uses in his pieces to tell his own stories. I am sure that myself, and the entire class will be able to apply his knowledge to our own work and tell our own stories through music.” Matthew Johns (Year 12)
If you would like to listen to Christopher Healey’s compositions or find out anymore information visit his website at www.christopherhealey.net
Ms Alison Kilgour
Head of Faculty - Music
Photos taken prior to lockdown and mandatory mask in schools.
Year 8 Humanities - Geography
This semester students from Year 8 Humanities have begun their study of Geography with a unit focusing on ‘Landforms and Landscapes’. In the first few weeks of the term students have been looking at different geographical processes, which shape landforms, including tectonic plate movement, erosion and weathering. As part of an in class task, students learnt about how tectonic plates create different types of volcanoes.
To show their understanding, students had to visually describe the features, processes and layers of a volcanic landform of their choice. Working as a pair, students were also given a choice about how they could create and portray their visual, including hand drawing, cardboard or Lego. In doing so, this helped develop the students' understanding of how to communicate particular spaces and information at correct geographical scales, whilst deepening their knowledge and understanding about volcanic landforms with a fun, hands-on activity. Then, students got to view all the created visuals in order to learn about the similarities and differences between each type of volcano and to provide feedback on their peers' work. This knowledge and understanding of skills will assist them later in the term when they have to create a brochure about how we use, manage and protect Australian Landscapes.
Mr Sam Dickinson
Year 8 Humanities Teacher
Photos taken prior to lockdown and mandatory mask in schools.
Are your son’s circumstances changing in Term 4 or beyond?
The College’s financial planning for the delivery of services in 2022 is approaching completion and as such, we draw your attention to the processes relating to withdrawing a student.
As with many schools, we require a full term's notice to withdraw a student without penalty. Should the notice be given in a shorter period closer to the end of the year, unnecessary pressures are applied to the College and to the broader parent community to absorb the current and future costs of planned services.
As per the policy, notification of the withdrawal at any time during the year is required no later than the first day of his final term of study. For example, if your son was finishing at the end of Term 4, notification would need to be received by the first day of Term 4.
Please email all withdrawal notices to admissions@nudgee.qld.edu.au for the attention of the Principal.
The Locker Room
Nudgee College White Long Sleeve Formal Shirts - EXCHANGE
A recent batch of Nudgee College White Shirts had a manufacturing fault. The Nudgee College Crest is located on the pocket (incorrect) when it should be located above the pocket (correct). We have been waiting for the correct White Shirts to arrive.
Could you please check your White Formal Shirts. If you have the incorrect shirt/s please bring them to the Locker Room and we will give you new replacement/s. Eg. If you have 3 incorrect shirts Size 20, we will give you 3 correct shirts Size 20. No receipt required. It’s a simple swap.
Please note: We can only exchange for the same size. Please bring in your incorrect shirts/s.
Incorrect white formal shirt below
2021 Early School Leavers survey
The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2020, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.
Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2021.
For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.
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