For this week’s newsletter, I include some excerpts from Tuesday night’s Awards Night speech:

Nudgee men, tonight we recognise and congratulate you on your academic achievements as well as leadership and service in diverse dimensions of school life. It’s my hope that at the core of that successful learning is an open mind and a generous heart. Tonight’s awards validate the outcome of your learning. More important to your long term success and happiness is the process of learning; the skills you employ to learn rather than the learning of content itself. 

Research is telling us this. The World Economic Forum in their Future of Work study in 2020 identified the Top 10 Skills that will be needed in 2025. They are listed on the screen for you. Broadly speaking, they are classified in four baskets: Problem solving, Self management,  Working with people and Technology use and development. 

You will soon be entering a workforce that is being transformed by the multiple influences of this technology such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain and bitcoin, edge computing and digital skills … to name just a few. While this is true, it is also the case that only two of the top 10 skills listed for you, relate directly to technology. The rest are thinking skills, people skills and skills in managing yourself. They are the skills that Dyson and his company have applied to be successful and inventive. They happen to also be the skills that Nudgee College reinforces through our Learning and Teaching Framework. 

This core business occurs within our mission as a school. That mission is to be a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition and therefore a school with a clear set of values. These values or touchstones are intrinsic to our school culture. Being a ‘Sign of Faith’ is not just something that we sing about. It has to be lived everyday wherever Nudgee men find themselves. In this our 130th year, it was timely that the College undertook the EREA School Renewal Process in May. Renewal was an opportunity for others to observe us, to assess our authenticity and the lived reality of students, staff and parents. In summary the Panel made the following comment:

Nudgee College was accredited as an outstanding Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition … and we are to be commended for the commitment that is made daily to the realisation of an authentic, innovative learning community. This has been clearly articulated in the words, views, actions and challenges presented by each group as well as in the dynamic activity of classrooms and other areas of college life.

This commendation is indicative that our 130th year has been one of continued success, accomplishment and progress. From a long list I highlight the following from 2021: 

• The completion of significant construction projects 
• The successful NSSAB audit review
• The Review of Learning Support Structures and our Identity & Mission program 
• The reshaping of the Year 12 student leadership framework
• The hosting of the Da Vinci Decathlon 
• The enrolment of over 1,700 students 
• The excitement generated by The High School Musical – On Stage!
• The vibe of the NC creatives@twilight initiative
• The extraordinary participation rate of students across the co-curricular program as well as our success in GPS Swimming and Track & Field championships and the consistent placing in the top three of numerous sports 
• The community celebration of our 130th Year in April, the weekly Reflections post on our facebook and the recent publication of Reflections, the commemorative book.

In conclusion, we marked our 130th year with the raising of the Great Cross in the Old Boy’s Mall. Its imposing stature reflects a clear message. It is a message of gratitude and faith-filled hope. Gratitude for those who have gone before us but also a faith-filled hope, in the present and the future. A faith-filled hope that our community will continue to strengthen our mission as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. A mission that aims to offer a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community that is committed to Justice and Solidarity. 

At Nudgee College that means being Signum Fidei and striving to be a Sign of Faith to all. This has defined and enriched us in 2021; just as it has for the past 130 years. With God’s blessing it will do so again in 2022. I look forward to sharing that journey with you.

Mr Peter Fullagar 

Principal

2021 has in some ways been a more challenging year than 2020; who thought that was possible?  With the dawning of the new year, I think a lot of us, myself included, were convinced that by entering the year 2021 all the issues with COVID-19 would now be in the rear-view mirror.  How wrong we were…

I can honestly say that this year has been one of the hardest I have faced, professionally and personally, for so many reasons.  This has caused me to increasingly be drawn to reading wellbeing articles. Wellbeing is now a very popular and much used term in schools and indeed society. I must admit, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of literature being circulated on wellbeing and even some of the conflicting things you read about in relation to maintaining your own and our students' wellbeing. One article I came across a few years ago that I reread recently really resonates with me. It went something like this:

Have you had one of those days where things kept going wrong? Have you ever noticed how quickly someone can upset you? The impact of our choice of language, actions and behaviours is immense, setting the tone for the situation, reaction or discussion ahead. 

As teachers and parents, we must remember the power of our choice. Haim G Ginott phrased it beautifully in saying, “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.” Whilst there seems a lot of pressure in these words, they are equally important for parents and coaches. Being the “decisive element” reminds us of the control we have in creating an environment where others will be welcomed, feel comfortable to be vulnerable and be heard. 

The skills to achieve this are great and need constant focus, refinement and dedication to achieve success. To work to our potential with the capacity to engage with positivity, to be patient in our interactions and have a genuine consideration for those we are working with, we need a number of elements. 

Rest and recovery: Teaching and parenting are arduous and exhausting. You need time in your day, week and term to re-energise to have the mental space to connect the right words and responses to varied situations and personalities. 

Compassion: Educating and parenting requires empathy. By leading with compassion, we are in a better position to build trust and respect with those around us. 

Conviction: Working with passion and purpose helps us to be driven to achieve our goals. We are better positioned to feel connected and so see value in our day’s work.

Direction and growth: Being committed to the present is essential; having a vision for your future is equally important as it helps you to refocus through challenges, direct your work and benefit from the stumbling blocks you face.

The Dalai Lama once said, “We need to strengthen such inner values as contentment, patience and tolerance, as well as compassion for others. Keeping in mind that it is expressions of affection rather than money and power that attract real friends, compassion is the key to ensuring our own well-being.”  

Wise advice for all of us to consider.  

We are in the final stretch, with all boys deeply immersed in assessment and exams. As this is my last piece for the year, I hope the year finishes well for all families and wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas.  

I’m looking forward to putting 2021 in the rear-view mirror!

Sections taken from Taken from: E Teaching November 2017 (36)

Mr David Johnston

Deputy Principal

Semester Reports and Learning Habits Reports 

Semester reports provide a summary of results for each subject using an A to E scale. Grades in Year 5 to 10 are allocated using the Achievement Standards of the Australian Curriculum. Detailed feedback on assessment pieces is provided in the Parent Lounge and Student Cafe. 

Year 11 students are provided an A to E grade for each subject using the Unit Two results from the QCAA courses they are completing. Year 12 students can review their QCE results via their learning account. Further information for students is provided by QTAC or their VET provider depending on their pathway. We eagerly await QCE and ATAR results due to be released on Friday 17 December. 

Learning habits reports will also be emailed for years 5 to 11. They provide a snapshot of how your son is progressing in the classroom. They’re practical things your son can do to put himself in the best position to maximise his learning opportunities. Each learning habit is based around our Habits of Minds pedagogical framework. Use the Learning Habits poster to frame a conversation with your son about his results.

Mr Jason Sepetauc 

Dean of Learning and Teaching

YEAR 7 GEOGRAPHY

This term for Year 7 Humanities, we studied the concept of liveability and sustainability. We discussed all the many social, economic and environmental factors that influence liveability and how they affect our lives. The assessment was to design and create our own city specifically to meet the needs of a particular group of people living there. We had to consider the liveability characteristics of our community including access to clean water, affordable housing, low crime rates, employment opportunities, transport, education, entertainment and green spaces. I enjoyed the creativity involved in designing my city.

James Gray

Year 7 Shaw Student

Senior Drama and Music Performance Assessment Evening

Claim the Date: Monday 22 November we will be holding the Senior Performance Assessment evening for our current Year 10 and 11 Drama and Music students.

Where: Tierney Auditorium

Time: 6.30pm - 8.00pm (approximately)

Everyone is welcome to attend the evening and see our current students perform their FA1 or IA1 respectively for their course of study in Senior Drama and Music. Bring along family and friends. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at akilgour@nudgee.com. 

Ms Alison Kilgour 

Head of Faculty - Arts

As we farewelled the Seniors of 2021 today, it was timely to also farewell and acknowledge the many parents and caregivers who will have attended their final Nudgee function. Thirteen families saw their third and final son graduate as a member of the class of 2021. I would like to specifically acknowledge, John and Marcella Lean who had their fourth son graduate today; as well as, Peter and Sue Vollert who's fourth son graduated today, concluding 20 continuous years as parents of Nudgee students. A tremendous effort for all involved.

The Seniors of 2021 have been an incredible group and I share with you some insight into my message to these young men who lead us in our 130th year. 

We know of the incredible stories of those individual men honoured with the Signum Fidei award by Mr  Fullagar at the last school assembly. Alex, Aidan and Hayden - you certainly deserved that moment. 

When you consider all that these three have experienced and endured - it’s an enormous credit to you as parents and classmates - that in the darkest of hours, these young men had you to lean on and turn to. In voice and in action, you were collectively authentic Signs of Faith.

Your capacity to serve others and support your Nudgee brothers inspired those of us around you who outwardly were leading and directing, but inwardly looked to you for examples of resilience, patience, courage and so often, and so genuinely - hope.

Old Boys Awards

One of the joys of working in this area is being able to recognise students who have done well, and are being ‘leading students’. Last week at the College Assembly we were able to recognise students from Years 5-10 with the highly regarded Old Boys’ Awards. These awards are given to a boy in Year 5 and 6 (in each Core Class) and in Year 7 to 10 (one boy per House, per year level) who exhibit the all-round values and qualities we want from a Nudgee Man. The Awards are: 

Year 5 and 6 - N.Macrossan Award

Year 7 - I. Brusasco Award

Year 8 - P. Donovan Award

Year 9 - S.Cook Award

Year 10 - S. Daley Award

Students are awarded a certificate and a badge emblazoned with the name of the Nudgee Old Boy award they have been presented with. Congratulations to the following boys who have received the Old Boys’ Award for Semester two 2021 for their class or House; well done on being great Nudgee Men.

If you would like to read more about the namesakes for these awards, please click here.

Change to Bus Tickets in Term 4

• ID cards must be used to tap on and off every time students use the bus
• ID cards can be purchased for $10 from IT

The process of purchasing paper tickets (10 x trip cards) is being phased out. You have until the end of this term to use up any previously purchased 10 trip tickets. Unused or partially used paper 10 trip tickets can be marked with the Student's name and handed back to either the Student Office or the Junior School office so that we can refund the equivalent value to your BusMinder account.

ID cards will track your bus ticket payments and information via a Busminder account.

Please set up your BusMinder Account by following the instructions below:

Apply via the Parent Lounge on the Nudgee website (forgotten your password? click here).

Go to School Links / Transport. Your application will be assessed and then you will be sent details to install and log into the app.

Students are expected to take their ID with them to Tap ON and Tap OFF every time they travel on a Nudgee Bus. This includes excursions, trips to training and activities, Sunshine Coast boarders bus.

Year 8 Camp

After much anticipation, it was with much excitement our Year 8’s were finally able to attend their expedition-style camp.  Despite some challenging weather conditions, it was an incredible experience for all involved.  Thanks again to the Year 8’s for embracing this adventure and showing flexibility with the changing dates throughout the term.  A huge thank you also goes to all the staff involved behind the scenes in making this camp happen. Thank You to the following staff who attended Year 8 camp last week: Chris Norton, Oliver Mahony, Brendan McGuinness, Scott Gale, Cameron Brown, Lauren Nolan, Peter Gledhill, Darryl Kyle, Grace Waterman, Theo Betteridge, Ty Corbett, Tom Hughes.  I’d also like to acknowledge Ken Adams, Karin Van Wirdum and Todd Dening for their support.

Ms Joanne Barret
Acting Dean of Students

Awards Night and Farewell Rituals

This week has seen our wonderful Senior cohort finish their formal assessment window. It has been a week of farewells which culminated in our farewell dinner and Valedictory morning. I want to congratulate these boys for the dignity, respect but most importantly the sheer emotion that they expressed to be finishing their Nudgee College journey. 

The Annual Awards evening is a highlight on any calendar, where we award the prizes for the hard work and dedication for many of our young men.

Other Boarding award winners are:

• Chace Crema - Year 8 tennis champion
• George Coorey - Year 9 Best oarsman
• Liam McBride - Dr Robert Keane Award for excellence in Music Theory + Academic Excellence Award
• Lawson Swain - Year 9 Tennis Champion
• Harry Waldron - Cross Country Under 15 Champion

Year 10:

• Jack Ball - Dux of Design
• Luke Cowley - Dux of Business; Dux of Math Methods
• Jasper Innes - Dux of Media Arts in Practice
• Patrick Kennedy - Chess Senior Age champion; Dux of Maths methods, Physics, Specialist Maths, + Academic Excellence Award
• Zachary Lewis - Dux of General Maths + Academic Excellence Award
• Radford Powell - Dux of Engineering
• James Swao - Track and field U16 Champion; Dux of Religion and Ethics
• Emmanuel Taviri - Dux of Fitness, Sport and Recreation

Year 11

• Morgan Bourke - Dux of Essential English
• Jim Collins - Dux of Physical Education
• James Duffy - Dux of Physics + Academic Excellence Award
• Ben Forbes - Year 11 Tennis Champion
• Joshua Hagenbach - Dux of Business
• Jack Hallett - Debating most Consistent + Academic Excellence Award
• Harrison Knox - Visual Art Incentive Award
• Jonah Nelson - Rowing year 11 Best Oarsman
• Harry Roati - Dux of Economics, Study of Religion + Academic Excellence Award
• Dan Seaton - First XI Best Batsman
• Darcy Turner - Academic Excellence Award

Year 12

• Leigh Chui-Clark - AV Outstanding Contribution to College Life
• Harry Coventry - School based apprenticeship/traineeship Award
• Flynn Faulkner - First XI Football Best and Fairest
• Franco Lim Santos Faria - Visual Art Emerging Artist Award
• Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa - First XV Rugby Best and Fairest
• Joshua Reid - Volleyball Most Valuable Player
• Byron Smith - First XV Rugby - Best back
• Jonty Trethowan - Shirley Agnew Award for Outstanding Participation
• Degenhard Beschel - Liberating Education Award for Service to the Liberating Education program
• Rodin Martin - John Francis Treacy Memorial Award for Service to the Boarding Community
• Douglas Gemmell - Br JG Hodda Award for Leadership and Diligence as College Vice-Captain
• Basil Nolan - Br JG Hodda Award for Leadership and Diligence as College Vice-Captain
• Leo De Clara - Br JG Hodda Award for Leadership and Diligence as College Captain
• Morgan Chippendale Br JG Hodda Award for Leadership and Diligence as College Vice-Captain; The Arts Committee Creative Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts; The Old Boys Award for outstanding Service to the College

We also congratulate Boarding staff member Mr Phil Tikinau for receiving an Excellence in the Workplace Award.

Holiday leave

With the end of Term only 1 week away, boys and their families should be planning their travel home at the end of the term.  Could I ask that you or your son enter his "vacation leave" into REACH by no later than Monday 22 November to assist with rostering, meals etc. 

If your son is in Years 5 to 10 and needs to depart prior to the end of the term he must have approval from the Principal.  This link can be found on the portal: Link to Principals leave form.

We will have the usual transports to the airport and Roma Street Station on the last day of school.  If your son needs transport to the airport on the last day, please enter this into the notes of his leave application including the flight number and departure time.

If your son is travelling to either Toowoomba or Goondiwindi we will have our usual end of term bus service available. Bookings can be made for this service HERE.

Mr Sean Toovey 

Dean of Boarding

Direct Debit Payment Schedule - 2022

We are pleased to introduce a new and more beneficial solution for the payment of school fees by direct debit (which is the College’s preferred method of payment) using your bank account or credit/debit card within the Parent Lounge.

By setting up your Direct Debit Payment Schedule within Parent Lounge, this will help make the payment of fees as seamless & secure as possible for families with these added benefits: 

• Email confirmations and alerts – receive an email every time a payment is processed. If a payment fails, you’ll receive an alert with automatic payment retry information. 
• Secure – a modern platform hosted by Microsoft in Australia with data encryption and PCI DSS Level 1 compliance. 
• Proven solution – School EasyPay is used by many other leading schools across Australia.
• Australian owned and operated – support team are located in Balmain, NSW.

We are pleased to continue to offer parents a no cost processing fee option, for payment of school fees via direct debit with a bank account. If you opt to use a credit or debit card there will be a minimal charge.

No action is required by you at this stage to set up your Direct Debit Payment Schedule.

However, it is important that you know your Parent Lounge ID and Password. If you have forgotten, please click here.

Parent Statements for 2022 Tuition and Boarding will be made available on 4 January 2022 and instructions on how to set up your Direct Debit Payment Schedule in the Parent Lounge will be provided at that time.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact our Finance team on 3865 0417 or fees@nudgee.qld.edu.au.

Mr Damien Campbell 

Acting Dean of Operations

The Locker Room

Please come in and exchange your incorrect white shirts (the Crest on the Pocket).  No receipt needed, just a straight swap.  Come in before Thursday 25 November 2021. 

The New Uglies are flying out the door. 

Very popular with the Dads! Great for Christmas presents.

Uglies gym shorts & drill shorts $40.

Long sleeved tee $40