Year 7 entry in 2024 is closing shortly

If any current families or friends are looking for entry into this year please email Ms Susan Shakespear (Director of Admissions) to secure a placement.

Email admissions@nudgee.qld.edu.au

We invite all prospective families to request a personalised College tour to explore Nudgee College's 136 hectares. Tours for entry into Years 7 to 11 will have an opportunity to discuss academic pathways with the Dean or Director of Learning and Teaching.

To book a College tour, please click here.

For further Admissions information please see the Admissions page on the College Website.

THREE KEY PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP

Tomorrow will see the school community acknowledging the Year 12s of 2021 during the Commencement Mass.  The reality is all Year 12 gentlemen are considered our school leaders.  Over the break, I had the opportunity to do some reading and leadership is a topic that I often gravitate towards.  Leadership formation is a concept that forms a central part of our new strategic plan.  There is so much advice available in regards to leadership.  Here are some key ideas for our Year 12s and future College leaders.

The defining characteristic of leadership today is transparency. Every move you make, every breath you take, people you are watching you. The scrutiny comes with the territory. It happens to all leaders. Like it or not, leaders - in fact we all - live in a fishbowl.  This transparency is here to stay.  In a world with so many options, leadership influence can’t be assumed. It must be earned.

Credibility is the foundation on which this influence gets built.  For people to truly follow, they must believe our leaders are worth following. Building credibility is a conscious choice.

There are three key principles to be acted upon to strengthen a person’s credibility: Show up on time, do what you say will do and be consistent.

1. Show Up on Time
Timeliness is the easiest and most visible thing in the world to measure. You’re either here or you’re not. Being on time upholds the most basic social contract: your presence.

For our boys, this extends right through College life.  Be on time to class.  Be on time to training.  Be on time for rehearsals.  Be on time for the start of the day.  Lateness is about much more than just a few wasted minutes. When someone is late it sends a clear message: Other things are more important.  Put bluntly, being late is rude.

2. Do What You Say You Will Do
In leadership, the two sides to consider are “What You Say You’ll Do” and “What You Actually Did.” When you do what you say you will do, the two sides balance out. You’re accountable. Each accountable action boosts your credibility.

Smart leaders understand that transparency brings greater accountability.  People are watching you to see if you walk your talk. Then they decide if your walk is on a path that they want to follow.

3. Be Consistent
Consistency is the practice of doing what you say you will do repeated multiple times, over an extended period. When you repeatedly practice what you preach, you send the message that you are someone who can be counted on.

Credibility isn’t a mystical innate quality. Credible leaders are made, not born. They’re made by practicing small habits over and over.  Be on time. Do what you say you’ll do. Be consistent. These are the small things that become big things. If our College leaders work at these diligently, their credibility and influence will grow and the College can continue to thrive.

Staying on the leadership theme, we expect to welcome back Peter Fullagar tomorrow.  He will attend the Commencement Mass and we expect him to start spending time at the College next week.  He is up and about and feeling much better.  I still think he decided to skip the start of the year - which is always intense - and he will now cruise through the rest of the term!  (And please know that is a joke).

Thank you to everyone who has attended the Year 7 & 8 and Year 11 & 12 Information Night this week, be it in person or online.  And a reminder that the Year 5 & 6 Information Night is on Tuesday 9 February followed by the Year 9 & 10 Information Night on Wednesday 10 February.

Mr David Johnston 

Deputy Principal

Some Need to Know Information

Nudgee College’s social media pages have been a wonderful way to share important events and moments within our diverse community.  Through this increased online presence, the Student Formation team will now focus our newsletter articles on important “Need to Know” dates, events and year level reminders.

A focus for students in the coming weeks include:

Commencement Mass and Senior Investiture - Friday 5 February

Year 12 Students are to wear their Formal uniform.
If Year 12 parents are attending please RSVP here, alternatively the Mass is being live streamed through this link.
Year 5, 6, 8 and 9 will watch remotely from their classrooms.
Year 7, 10, 11 will watch in person in the CBCC.
 
Year 11 Leadership

In week 4, our Year 7 students will attend their annual camp.  As part of our leadership program, Year 11 students can nominate their interest to attend this event with their House Dean.  We strongly encourage any students to speak with their House Dean as soon as possible. This is one of many opportunities for our Year 11 students to lead in preparation for their Senior year.

Year 7 Camp
A reminder for any parents to please complete the camp registration form ASAP

Mary Valley:  https://www.higherground.com.au/2021-stjosephsnudgee-year7-mv (Duggan, Fogarty, Magee, McKenna, Shaw)

Kenilworth Homestead: https://www.higherground.com.au/2021-stjosephsnudgee-year7-kw (Barrett, Riley, Ross, Tierney)

New Mobile phone policy “Mobile Free from 8 to 3”
At this week's assembly, I outlined to the students the College’s new position on mobile phones at school, which I had flagged with them last week. I then sent a direct communication to all Nudgee parents, if you missed that email then please see below. The new position comes after an eighteen month process, including: a literature review of international research into mobile phones and school performance; the tabling of many schools’ phone policy statements from across state and private schools; parent and staff survey feedback; and the consideration of recommendations from an internal school committee.
 
The College’s new position is that:

• Mobiles are not to be seen/visible during the school day
• Laptops are the device for class. Mobiles are NOT to be used as a device for classes.
• Students can keep mobile phones in Junior School tidy boxes, lockers, in bags, in laptop satchels, in pockets (if they can handle the temptation) but they are not to be out. Security is essential but is to be self-managed

Some small exceptions:

Students who need exemptions for medical reasons or other needs can register that with the Student Office and will receive an exemption card to attach to their mobile or have with them. If you need to apply for such an exemption for your son, please click here.

• At the tuckshop - students can use Apple Pay/ Google Pay if they must.
• Of course, students can continue to use phones on the journey to and from school on buses/trains etc.
• If a student's teacher specifically states a use for a class, such as videoing or photographing performance(s) or products, that is approved under teacher direction.

Please note, if a student has a smartwatch, it is not banned. However, only quick glances to it are considered acceptable.

A further note is that, for a number of reasons, a slightly more nuanced approach will apply to Year 11 and 12 students during break times but phones are still not to be highly visible.

Parent Communication to son/s:

Parents can communicate with boys using their College email. This is encouraged and will have the added benefit of students perhaps seeing important messages the College has sent them. Phone contact can be made before 8am and after school. Students can check their texts at those same times. 

What Outcomes are we after? What is the spirit of this approach?)

• Boys in classes learning - not on mobiles. 
• Boys talking and interacting with each other or being active - not on mobiles or devices for long periods.
• Limiting the instances of inappropriate taking of pictures and videos at school.
• Most importantly, from a well being perspective, maximising a device break-time. We are encouraging students to be ‘present’ to the world around them.  

This approach comes after significant consideration but will be reviewed in an on-going way. We are certainly open to further discussions with any parent. If there is something you wish to discuss further, please send an email with the subject ‘Mobile Phone Policy’ to students@nudgee.qld.edu.au. I have to say I have been overwhelmed with positive feedback from parents after sending yesterday’s communication.

Mr Peter Todd

Dean of Students

Diagnostic Testing

During the first three weeks of this term, students in Years 6 to 9 will complete diagnostic testing that serves to assess and monitor students’ growth over time. Students will complete online tests provided by ACER (the Australian Council of Educational Research) called the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) Reading and Maths tests. These PAT Tests provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about their students’ skills and understandings in the areas of literacy and numeracy.

The PAT Reading test will provide information on students’ reading-comprehension skills, while the PAT Maths test assesses students’ skills in the six strands of Number, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and Probability.

The College conducts this testing on an annual basis in order to track students’ progress in the areas of literacy and numeracy from year to year. As teachers and caregivers, we know that students of the same age and in the same year at school can be at different points of their learning and development. Therefore, this data serves to inform teaching and learning practices at Nudgee, aimed at meeting the needs of individual students. Our teachers are increasingly engaged in analysing data in order to investigate student learning, monitor progress over time and adopt teaching practices that enable increased levels of student engagement and improved outcomes. Students are encouraged to do their best on these tests in order to demonstrate what they know.

Ms Natalie Webber
Director of Learning & Teaching 

Week 2 has started smoothly with many boys finding their feet in the regular routine of boarding life. I encourage parents that if they have concerns regarding their son's anxiety to please contact your Head of House so that effective strategies can be implemented as soon as possible.

Parent Information Evenings
This week and next week Nudgee will be hosting a number of parent information evenings for all year levels. These events are being filmed by our AV Crew and links to each presentation will be available from the parent lounge on our Youtube channel on our website.

Commencement Mass for Year 12s
We look forward to celebrating this occasion with our Year 12 students. It is a lovely event where we honour our new leadership group and their parents or Head of Boarding House are invited to pin their leadership badge to their blazer. Year 12 students can bring up to two guests to this event. If you would like to attend please RSVP here.
 
Reach for the Stars
Next week, we begin our Reach for the Stars initiative, an academic enrichment program designed to help each boy reach his potential. We are privileged to have a number of academic staff motivated to help our boarders succeed and we are very appreciative of the time and energy they give to the boys. This year, we had an overwhelming response from our academic staff. This highlights to me the wonderful commitment and passion our academic teachers have not just for our boarders but for all our students. You can find the Term roster here.

Boarding Leaders
It was wonderful last week to present our Boarding Leaders for 2020:

O’Brien House - Liam McBride and George Coorey
Cotter House - Aidan Dohnalek
Hodda House - Jamie Knight
Murphy House - Oska Boyd
 
Also at the end of last year, we have now included boarding prefects for senior dorms in our College leadership group. These boys have already met on a number of occasions as they look to enhance the experience and involvement of all boys involved in our boarding community. I would like to congratulate the following boys who have gained these positions:

Cotter House - Atticus Johnston
Hodda House - Rodin Martin
Murphy House - Harry Coventry

They will be receiving their badges at the Commencement Mass this coming Friday from their Heads of Boarding House.

Some highlights from our first boarder weekend in. Each year group did different activities. This is a great weekend for our new boarders to bond with their brothers and get to know Boarding staff. It looks like they had a great time! 

Mr Sean Toovey 

Dean of Boarding