The Weekly

Audio edition

Starting new this year, we have introduced this audio version of the Churchie Weekly Newsletter as a trial and an additional way for you to hear what’s on at Churchie. For feedback or general inquiries, please contact Churchie News.

From the Head of Senior School

GPS Music Showcase

Last week, 31 Churchie students participated in the GPS Music Showcase across four ensembles, each with their unique genre and discipline. The showcase brings together the best musicians from GPS schools to make music in a non-competitive environment, highlighting and embracing the artistic endeavours of the many students within the GPS system. Preparations for the showcase involved intense rehearsals starting at 8:30 am across various host schools. At least nine tutors from each school ran sectional tutorials across the ensembles, offering thorough and detailed musical education for the students throughout the day. Students then convened at BBC’s College Hall for an awe-inspiring concert.

The Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with an interesting array of music, using unique ‘whirly’ instruments to create interesting timbres in Winds of Poseidon by Robert Smith. The highlight was Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold, featuring Ellis Hogan (Year 12), Gabin Won (Year 11) and Bill McCart (Year 12) in the woodwind section.

The Concert Band, featuring six Churchie students, then performed three pieces, including the most evocative The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Randall Standridge.

Big Band was, in typical fashion, entertaining, with William Dique (Year 12) and Alex Smith (Year 10) as Churchie’s representatives in the 17-piece ensemble. Sweet Home Chicago was an audience favourite while the the melody of El Abrazo showcased Big Band’s virtuosic and expressive side.

Finally, the GPS Choir performed with an impressive 120 students on stage, evenly representing the GPS schools. The finale was a memorable performance of ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’, during which the Year 12 vocalists, which included Charlie Hartwright, Thomas Dwyer, Alastair McDonald, Guy Gorwood and Rafferty Keirnan, led a moving and memorable verse.

The evening celebrated the outstanding way in which all the schools came together to showcase GPS collaboration. Congratulations to the Churchie music students who represented the School and we extend our thanks to Mr Ben Hooper, Mr Jeremy Williamson, Mrs Rosemary Oxenford and Mr Bohdan Davison for their contributions to this event.

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School

Prep School

On Monday, we hosted our annual Curriculum Information Evening, providing an insight for parents into what happens in the classroom. It was wonderful to see parents actively engaged in a variety of lessons. In literacy, workshops covered spelling, writing and reading, while in mathematics, hands on activities in the early years were complemented by challenging problem solving in the upper years.  The librarians discussed the value of best-fit books and reading choices for our boys, and in Japanese, parents enjoyed learning a new language. Through our arts programme, parents played music and showcased their creativity in making a unique structure. Through our PYP framework, parents enjoyed the chance to learn about conceptual understanding and some of the big ideas boys delve into in their units of inquiry.

A sincere thank you to all parents who enthusiastically participated in the evening and to our dedicated staff for highlighting and showcasing what a day in the life of a Prep School student may enjoy. This event plays an important role in fostering strong relationships between school and home.

Last week, we celebrated our inaugural Prep School house meetings. For the first time in the Prep School, our Years 3 to 6 boys met with their house staff and housemaster and celebrated the beginning of a Prep School house system.

The house system will provide an additional layer of pastoral care for our boys and build a sense of connection to their house and school. It will be through the house that we engender and build the boys’ leadership skills, develop a sense of brotherhood with their house mates, focus on service and implement a pastoral curriculum. It will also provide friendly competition within the houses, competing in sporting and academic pursuits along with earning house points that will ultimately lead to naming the Hobbs Cup champion house for the year.

The boys were very excited to be part of the first house meetings and are looking forward to the opportunities ahead of them. We look forward to sharing our house journey with you throughout the course of the year.

Value of the week: courtesy

Courtesy is being polite and having good manners. When you speak and act courteously, you give others a feeling of being valued and respected. Greet people pleasantly. Bring courtesy home. Your family needs it most of all. Courtesy helps life to go smoothly.

Attribute of the week: caring

Show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. You have a personal commitment to service and act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the environment.

Unlocking potential: The power of a good night’s sleep

From the School Counsellor

In the bustling world of primary school, where kids are juggling so many activities and experiences, ensuring our children get the right amount of sleep is crucial. Sleep is not just a time for dreams; it’s a fundamental pillar for academic success, emotional well-being and growth. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that children aged 6 to 12 should regularly sleep 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours. However, 3 in 10 report they rarely or only sometimes get 8 hours or more of sleep at night. (Kohler, M.& Reece, C. 2023, p. 9). It’s not just a matter of recharging; it’s a fundamental building block for their cognitive development and emotional resilience.

Creating a healthy sleep routine may sound challenging, but here are some gentle nudges to help guide your child into the realm of sweet dreams:

1. Consistent bedtime rituals: Establish calming pre-sleep routines, like reading a bedtime story or practising deep breathing exercises. Consistency signals to their minds that it’s time to wind down.

2. Screen-free zone: Encourage a screen-free hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted by devices can interfere with the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.

3. Comfortable sleep environment: Ensure their sleep space is cozy and comfortable. Simple adjustments, like soft bedding and dimmed lights, can make a significant difference.

I invite parents to explore our Prep School Wellbeing page on myChurchie with their sons for child-friendly insights into why sleep matters and additional tips for fostering good sleep habits. Engaging in this exploration together can open up meaningful conversations about the importance of sleep and empower children to take an active role in their well-being.

For further guidance, School TV (also accessible via myChurchie offers a wealth of resources, including articles, videos, podcasts, and more, specifically curated to support parents in nurturing healthy sleep patterns for their children.

Kohler, M. & Reece, C. (2023). Resilient Youth: State of the Nation Report 2023. Adelaide: University of Adelaide. Source.

J B Adams Library news

Opening hours

The J B Adams Library in the Prep School is open for borrowing and quiet games before and after school for the use of boys and parents. We open at 8 am and close at 3:30 pm. Years 4 to 6 boys can use their laptops to complete classwork and homework. Staff are available before and after school to help with book selection.

Parent library

Our Parent Library books are available for Prep parents to borrow from the Prep Library. Books available cover a range of topics related to parenting, child development and family matters. Library staff are available to help with borrowing.

Parent helper volunteers

We welcome parent helpers in the Prep Library. You can help us, even if you only have 30 minutes at the beginning or end of the day. Please drop in and see us or send us an email if you would like to help in the library. We will ask you what times and jobs suit you. If this is of interest to you, please email preplibrary@churchie.com.au.

Think Mentals

This week’s focus on literacy and numeracy in the Prep School is on Think Mentals, a mental computational programme that helps boys in Years 2 to 6 answer different types of mental maths problems. Think Mentals teaches boys how to use a variety of clever strategies to break tricky maths problems into friendly, manageable chunks.

Over the year, 18 strategies are learned and practised. Each week, teachers explicitly introduce a new strategy to the boys, teach them how to use it, and then have the boys practise using the strategy on a variety of questions. Over the week, the boys will continue to practise and revise strategies, either at school in Years 2 to 4 or online for Years 5 to 6. The boys also tackle a variety of general fluency maths questions. The end of the week allows for a review that combines focus, revision, and general fluency questions.

Simple ways to help your son with his mental maths:

1. Ask your son what strategy he is focusing on that week. Encourage him to demonstrate the strategy to you and practise solving problems together.
2. Revise previously learned strategies regularly.

Medications

Please note that, in keeping with school policy, if your son needs to take medication while at school, the medication must be administered by our Health Centre staff. Medication to be administered should be in its original packaging, with clear directions for its administration and a note from the parent. Please provide this to your son’s form teacher, who will ensure that it is provided to the Health Centre.

Parking around the School

When parking in the streets surrounding the school precinct, I ask that parents and carers observe all parking signs and do not block the driveways. If a car is even slightly impinging on a no parking, bus or no standing zone, or driveway, this is not only illegal but unsafe. I encourage you to set the right example to keep our children and the rest of the community safe.

At the beginning of the school year, car parking arrangements are always a bit chaotic. Our Years 4 to 6 pickup zone is our busiest area in the afternoon. To assist our families with pickup arrangements, please ensure you don’t use this space as a car park and observe the traffic regulations when leaving the area. Cars are only permitted to exit left onto Stanley Terrace. Please be mindful when using our pickup and drop-off zones for the safety of our boys and community.

Mark Wyer
Head of Preparatory School

Senior School

Study Hub — Academic core skills Years 8 to 10 essay writing

Presenter: Ms Fiona Philip
Registration: Limited space available; please email Kelly.Jackson@churchie.com.au to register for the sessions.

Week 5: Writing thesis statements

Date: Wednesday 21 February
Time: 3:30 to 4:15 pm
Location: The Centenary Library (CLG110)

Thesis statements are crucial as they provide a clear and focused direction for an essay, setting the tone and scope, and guiding the reader through the writer’s argument or analysis. In this session, we will practice the art of crafting compelling, clear, and concise thesis statements that will elevate your essays and presentations. 

Week 6: Integrating evidence and making evaluations

Date: Wednesday 28 February
Time: 3:30 to 4:15 pm
Location: The Centenary Library (CLG110)

Key to a successful essay or argument is clear evidence and justification for your argument. In this session, we will improve the quality of your evidence and effectively integrate it into your argument. We will then ensure we include clear evaluations linking our arguments back to our thesis statements.

Week 7: Cohesion

Date: Wednesday 6 March
Time: 3:30 to 4:15 pm
Location: The Centenary Library (CLG110)

Cohesion in your assessment writing is crucial as it ensures that your ideas are presented in a clear, organized, and understandable manner. This session uses linking words, consistent tense, and a logical structure to connect sentences and paragraphs, making the text flow smoothly. By improving your cohesion, you will enhance the quality of your essay or presentation.

Kelly Jackson
Senior Learning Support Coordinator

Year 12 IB Chemistry

Currently, across all Year 12 subjects in the IB Diploma Programme, students are completing their internal assessment that will be moderated by the IB. In group four (science) subjects, internal assessment involves the collection of data over a significant period of time.

The scientific investigation that students undertake is an open-ended task in which students gather and analyse data to answer their own formulated research questions. Students are encouraged to explore an area of specific interest.

Dr Mikhail has been pleased to see that her students have all chosen unique and engaging topics:

• Bentley Burke is looking at the effect of varying metal reactivity on the heat of enthalpy of a single displacement reaction as measured through calorimetry.
• Finbar Curran is looking at how the specific heat capacity of water changes with increases in salt solution.
• Ellis Hogan is looking at exploring the relationship between specific heat capacities being affected by variable hydration levels of metal sulphate solutions.
• Charlie Liu is looking at the effect of changing the concentration of electrolytes on the amount of metal deposition also in electrolysis.
• Bill McCart is looking at how the rate of reaction of a chemiluminescence reaction is impacted by the concentration of a rate-determining reactant involving L-Cysteine inhibited luminol.
• Jack McGrath is looking at the effect of current on the amount of copper metal deposition during electrolysis.
• Haris Omar is looking to investigate the effect of exposure time to air on lactic acid concentration in milk (i.e. what happens to milk when you leave it out for too long).
• Thatcher Phillips is looking to investigate the effect of temperature on vitamin C degradation.
• Angus Richards is looking at the effect of the concentration of electrolytes on the overall EMF or cell voltage in an electrochemical cell.
• Vincent Wu is looking to determine the amount of actual copper in our copper coins through titration.

Best wishes to the class as they complete these investigations.

Catherine Prosser
Dean of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Senior School wellbeing page

Please see here a link to our new Senior School Wellbeing page.

The purpose is to provide a landing page for Senior School families with a focus on wellbeing. Students and parents can now access:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
• Our new Wellbeing Curriculum (Year 7 to 12)
• Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series
• School TV (Parent wellbeing resource to support with parenting)
• House pages
• Links to a variety of other useful information across the tenets of the School. 

In addition to this, notices relevant to the Senior School will be posted here (in addition to relevant year level pages). 

For parents wishing to find quick access to this page it can be found under the ‘Quick Links’ section in myChurchie.

For any issues with access to this page, please contact the IT department via MySupport@churchie.com.au.

Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series

Last week, Dr Terry Byers presented A Learner’s Toolkit for Parents – How to set up your son now for success in the future. To view the PowerPoint slides please visit the Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series page.

Josh Di Bella
Deputy Head of Senior School (Years 10 to 12)

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School

Music

GPS Music Showcase

Congratulations once again to the musicians who represented Churchie at the GPS Music Showcase. The level of musicianship was extremely high, and it was a wonderful effort to bring everything together in one day of rehearsals. High-level music, such as this, would not be possible without the amazing musicianship and music literacy of all students involved. It proves once again that music is truly a universal language.

Participant names

Music Support Group – Mt Rokko

This is a photo from the recent Japan Music Tour in 2023, where the students had an amazing meal at Rokko View Palace, donated by the Music Support Group. This is one of the many opportunities that MSG fundraises and works tirelessly toward in support of the Churchie Music students. Please come along to the Music Support Group Launch and Welcome this Thursday 15 February 2024 at 6 pm to find out more about what the Music Support Group does.

Generations in Jazz performance

In 2019, the music students embarked on the Generations in Jazz tour to Mt Gambier. This year heralds the return of this amazing music tour experience for Churchie musicians. James Morrison AM is the convenor of this magnificent event, putting the students first in a weekend of performances, workshops and performances from James and other internationally renowned artists who exclusively perform at the festival. For more information, please come along to the Music Support Group Launch and Welcome on Thursday 15 February 2024 at 6 pm.

Music Calendar Launch and Welcome

A reminder for any students interested in the 2024 Mt Gambier Generations in Jazz Tour, the 2025 Vienna music tour for students in Years 8 to 12, or anyone in Years 7 to 12 who would like to hear about the 2024 music calendar and meet the wonderful music community, please come along to the Music Calendar Launch and Welcome on Thursday 15 February at 6 pm.

It is a wonderful opportunity for students and their parents to come along and meet other parents and students within the music community, especially if you are new to the School or in Year 7. The evening will serve as an opportunity to view photos from the recent Japan Tour and find out about Generations in Jazz this year and the Strings and Choral tour in 2025. You will also receive some wonderful information on the music calendar events followed by an opportunity to share some food and drinks with the parent and student community courtesy of the Music Support Group. The event will take place in the Centenary Lecture Theatre on Thursday 15 February 2024.

Commissioning service

A huge congratulations to our Senior Chaplain, The Reverend Sharon Mitchell, on her commissioning last Wednesday 7 February 2024. The members of Viking Vocals 1 and Chamber Strings 1 accompanied the service beautifully, with hymns to the familiar theme of Ode to Joy and yet another stunning rendition of Gabriel’s Oboe by Chamber Strings 1. One of the members of the clergy was so moved by the music and was quick to pass on his appreciation to Reverend Sharon. Congratulations to all the musicians that made this service so special.

Drumline at volleyball

A small, dedicated contingent of Churchie woodwind, brass and percussion students added to the atmosphere of the Firsts VI’s tunnel at Saturday’s home game. Comments from the audience were noted the music gave everyone goosebumps and ignited the spectators’ enthusiasm. Congratulations to all the musicians for showing their support for Churchie Volleyball.

AMEB Results

At the end of last year, we had some AMEB results in the Voice and Communication Department. Congratulations to:

• Hayden Pollock: Voice and Communication (Preliminary) A+
• Ben Shepherd: Voice and Communication (Grade 2) A+
• Bill McCart: Voice and Communication (Grade 7) A+
• Lachlan Mills: Speech and Performance (Grade 8) A+

If you’d like to learn more effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques, please see the attached flyer and contact jules.hanlon@churchie.com.au for more information on how to enrol in lessons:

May Concert Series

Preparations for the May Concert Series in Term 2 are well and truly underway. The May Concert Series is a culmination of work completed over two terms. Keep up the practice and place the following dates in your diaries:

• Bands Concert – Thursday 2 May 2024
• Choral Concert – Thursday 16 May 2024
• Strings and Guitar Concert – Thursday 23 May 2024

Bohdan Davison
Director of Music

Sport

Churchie hosted a successful third round of GPS fixtures over the weekend, kicked off on Friday with the highly anticipated Churchie Swimming Age Championships and our debating teams hosting Nudgee and serving both tantalising Chinese snacks (for the Lunar New Year) and great debates. Then, Saturday saw our host regatta at Lake Wyaralong while cricket and volleyball matches at Churchie had us on the edge of our seats.

For the results summary, visit myChurchie – GPS Sports and Activities.

Rowing

Regatta three, hosted by Churchie, provided an exciting race format, producing the best spectacle of the season so far.

Run as heats and finals, as opposed to our usual two-race format, this format placed crews into finals based on their finishing time and not constrained to their division of entry.

The result was a regatta full of tight races and thrilling finishes, pitting boats against those with similar skillsets and speed. Highlights of this week were Year 10 Thirds and Year 9 Fourths. The Year 10 Thirds continued to dominate, with the boat stroked by Ben Parker setting their best time of the season in 5:00.34, which also would have qualified them first in division two. The Year 9 Fourths won the E final in a fantastic time that would have also put them on the podium in the two divisions above them.

Two notable crews were our Open First VIII and Year 11 First VIII. The First VIII had their best row of the season. After a challenging heat,  they collected themselves with the maturity fitting of our top boat and produced a fantastic A final. They pushed TSS right to the end and closed the gap to only 6 seconds, the closest anyone has got all season.

The Year 11 First VIII also had their best regatta of the year. A strong showing in their heat put them in the Open B final with our Open Seconds and Thirds. Their best row of the season saw them place fourth ahead of both our Open division boats.

A special part of the Churchie regatta is the Brian Chatterton Trophy awarded to the crew that wins the Opens Division 2 race. This is awarded each year at the Churchie regatta and was won by TSS this year.

Tyson Sholl
Director of Rowing

Swimming

Over 140 swimmers filled the marshalling list for the inaugural 2024 Churchie Age Championship. A wave of blue and grey filled the stands, mounted the blocks and made waves down the pool in pursuit of the perpetual championship trophy. A large crowd of parents added to the atmosphere, with Swimming Support Group providing an epic sausage sizzle and famous bake sale produce. Thank you to our staff for timekeeping and special thank you to Tom Wehl, Tom Pattison and Charlie Wehl for managing the marshalling of athletes and starting races. The presentation of our Captain of Swimming weekly Gnome Award went to Charlie Wehl.

Congratulations to the following Age Runners up and Champions:

The fastest time in the pool was Open Age Champion William Shepherd-Smith, improving on his 2023 time with a 25.38 for 50 metres freestyle. The second fastest time was delivered by Connor Davidson (26.26) and the third fastest from Spencer Kilimnik (26.50).

Thank you to our amazing swimming staff and support group. Without you, this event would not have run so effortlessly and been enjoyed by all.

Our last two Friday meets will be held at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler, competing against other GPS Schools. Boys are reminded to register their attendance via the bus registration form as transport to Chandler is mandatory. Our final two race meets are the remaining opportunities for boys to register a race time in events for team considerations. All spectators are welcome to attend and, due to procedure changes by the Sleeman Sports Complex, parent spectators are asked to bring their phone to access the GPS Spectator pass and show upon entry to the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

The 2024 Awards Presentation event invitation and RSVP online portal are available on myChurchie – Swimming. All families are invited to attend and a list of awards and criteria presented on the night can be found on myChurchie.

Our Preliminary GSP championship team announcement is scheduled for Monday 19 March and the final team announced the following Monday.

Jaye Finocchiaro
Director of Swimming

Debating

Our round three home round was truly one for celebrations. From the Lunar New Year decorations to the high-energy and spirits of our parent volunteers eagerly feeding our boys and their visitors, we started our afternoon in fine spirits. It was this positivity that gave our debaters a confidence and morale boost that contributed to a truly excellent round of debating.

For our Year 7 GPS squad, it was their final round of trials, led by Mr Grant Smith (and assisted by coaches Harry Rae and Dashiell Young). After an exciting round of short-prep debates, we were able to confirm our 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 squads. Congratulations to those boys.

The captain’s ‘gee-up’ (a re-established tradition prior to debates) reminded boys that debating is fun, regardless of the outcome, and that wins aren’t possible unless we respect our opponent and every point they raise.

It’s advice that was clearly heeded by all boys. From the outset, the wins rolled in steadily in all age groups, and the excitement and tension grew with each win. The lively crowd in The Centenary Library lecture theatre provided great support for our Senior A debaters, who were tunnelled into enthusiastic cheering, and the crowd was rewarded with a split win to the boys on the topic ‘that we regret the commercialisation of Indigenous art.’

Well done to the boys, not just for the achievement, but for the tenacity, respect for opposition, and hospitality to our guests. We’re hoping to maintain this winning streak into our next round against Toowoomba Grammar School this Friday. Keep an eye on myChurchie for transport details and information about our ‘friendlies’ supplementary debates here at school for the teams not heading over the range.

Rebecca Hewitt
Director of Debating

Cricket

Our round three match-up against Nudgee was one of the most anticipated rounds of the season.  

Despite rain intervals throughout the day, the boys performed well to achieve strong overall results. 7A, 9A, 10A and the Thirds continued to their impressive seasons to each notch a third straight win, while a number of B to D teams were also successful in securing wins after last week’s tough round. Highlights were the Third XI securing a huge 130 runs, 9A winning their match without losing a wicket and 9C reducing Nudgee to just 37 runs and chasing it down with all wickets to spare.

The First XI’s match was a challenging contest, with regular shifts in momentum due to the weather. Despite this, Churchie produced a solid performance with the bat to finish with 5/140 from 40 overs, led by 52* from Tighe Morris and 42 from Angus Storen. Nudgee then fell short in their run chase, with the left arm spin duo of Henry Hiller (3/22) and Rupert Bignall (2/9) standing out in the team’s victory. The win sees Churchie remain unbeaten after three rounds, sitting behind early pace setters Ipswich Grammar School and The Southport School.

Congratulations to these boys for their excellent performances:

• Tighe Morris 52* (First XI)
• Cooper Mostert 56 (Second XI)
• Conor Wrigley 82* (Third XI)
• Feliks Dunbar 3/11 (Third XI)
• Charlie Hartwright 75 (Fourth XI)
• Sean Hansen 58 (11A)
• Banjo Jenkins 48* (9A)
• Teddy Chandler 48 & 3/20 (8B)

This weekend we take on Toowoomba Grammar School, with the Firsts and odd year levels away.  

A reminder to all members of the Churchie Cricket community that tickets to the End of Season Presentation Dinner are now for sale. Please see myChurchie for more information and to purchase tickets.

James Patmore
Director of Cricket

Volleyball

Round three was an incredibly thrilling event that surpassed all expectations. Despite facing the formidable Nudgee programme, our teams showcased their continuous improvement and unwavering commitment to excellence with only six programme losses throughout the day. The Nudgee College team arrived with a passionate and determined group of young men, eager to secure a victory. However, our blue and grey army demonstrated their resilience and refused to back down. The atmosphere in Sir John Pidgeon Centre was electric, with the venue packed to capacity with spectators as well as hundreds of boys from each school eagerly anticipating the Nudgee versus Churchie First VI showdown. 

Before the highly anticipated 12:30 pm match, there were several standout performances worth mentioning. Ethan Thomas from the 11Bs delivered an impressive serving performance, leading his team to an emphatic win in The Campbell Centre. The Blue and Grey army, led by our 2024 passionate school leaders, not only supported the First VI for an epic three hours but also rallied the troops to get behind our amazing Second VI and their winning performance to then provide that much-needed push for the 10Cs to rise up and pull away to win their match. 

Prep School Volleyball saw an exciting weekend for us, playing some nail-biting games against Nudgee. Both the Year 5 teams played excellent volleyball with great team effort. The 5As remained calm under pressure in a very close game and the 5Bs showed Nudgee they were a force to be reckoned with, consistently serving balls in and returning anything that came their way. Well done to Ari Mathews and Caiden Dastoor for keeping the ball with your stellar digging skills. The 6Bs showed determination on Saturday in their game against Nudgee. Well done to Caleb Cheng for returning some powerful serves and to all boys for their improved communication and quick decision making. The 6As went down to Nudgee, 1–2, in one of their hardest games to date. The boys showed grit and determination when faced with the pressure of their serves, spikes and tips all being picked up by their opponents. They showed that even when faced with a challenge they can hold their heads high and continue to show support for one another. The boys played exceptional volleyball and should feel proud of their skills and improvements each week.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the enormous crowd that gathered to support both teams. Their presence created a sense of anticipation and excitement that permeated the air. The closely matched abilities of both teams only added to the excitement and intensity of the game. Following our victory over Nudgee at AVSC, they came for redemption, resulting in intense rallies and closely contested scores in every set. The level of volleyball displayed by both teams during the match was nothing short of elite. Each point had the massive crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the epic five sets. While Nudgee’s First VI put up a valiant fight, it was our elated Churchie team that emerged victorious.  

This weekend round four sees the senior programme up the mountain taking on Toowoomba Grammar School and the juniors playing at home. Don’t forget the end of season presentation link is live with an early bird price special—lock in your tickets now before you miss out!

Carrie Mill
Director of Volleyball

Sporting achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have achieved representative success in their sporting pursuits:

Benjamin Donger (Year 12) was selected for the 13 to 19 years Metropolitan East Tennis team to compete at the State Championships in Brisbane in March.

Caelan Smith (Year 12) was selected in the 13 to 19 years Metropolitan East Triathlon Team which competed in Harvey Bay last weekend.

Daniel Lane (Year 7) and Nate Strachan (Year 7) were both selected in the 11 and 12 years Metropolitan East Aquathlon team that competed in Harvey Bay last weekend.

Trent Goodrick
Head of Cocurricular

the churchie emerging art prize

This year marks the 37th anniversary of the churchie emerging art prize—Australia’s longest-running prize for emerging artists. Through a new partnership aimed at further enhancing the prize’s reputation, the 2024 exhibition will be held at Metro Arts in West End.

‘As a stalwart in Australia’s art landscape for many years, initiatives such as “the churchie” play a crucial role in championing emerging artists, providing opportunities for emerging artists to be showcased and appreciated,’ said Genevieve Trace, Executive Director at Metro Arts.

Mark your calendars for this unmissable exhibition, as Metro Arts transforms into a vibrant showcase of Australia’s emerging artistic talent.

‘the churchie’ finalist exhibition will take place at Metro Arts from Friday 22 November to Saturday 30 November.

‘the churchie’ is made possible thanks to generous sponsors. If you would like to provide your support, please contact emergingart@churchie.com.au. Your sponsorship will ensure the continuation of the prize’s rich 37-year legacy of launching the next generation of Australian artists.

Pixevety

Pixevety – a photo platform for Churchie images

Pixevety is Churchie’s photo platform, where photos from across the School will be uploaded on a weekly basis. Students are recognised by the system so parents can simply click ‘myVIPs’ and see their son’s photos in one easy location.

Families new to the School may not see ‘myVIPs’ yet, as new student ID photos are still to be processed in the system. However, you can still browse the galleries.

Watch the video below to learn how to use Pixevety.

For more information visit the Pixevety page on myChurchie or email news@churchie.com.au.

Churchie Shop

Term 1 opening hours

Restocked items

• Football and rugby socks
• New satchels

Parent Connect

Parent Connect is the school-wide parent community support group focused on nurturing the fun and family-centric side of school life. We provide valuable support services through formal and informal networks across the School. We intentionally communicate, connect, coordinate services and facilitate wellbeing support for our families and the greater community. Click here to access on myChurchie.

Join Parent Connect

It is a long-standing initiative of the Churchie parent community to enable the sharing of contact details for those who opt in and provide consent. Joining the Parent Connect database is easy. Join here. Once you have joined, you will receive communication from your parent coordinators and access to your cohort’s parent contact list.

Year and house parent coordinators

Each year and house has a parent volunteer who is the friendly peer contact for parents to help navigate school life, host social connections, and assist with the administration of the private Facebook groups.

Parent Connect services and volunteer engagement

Any member of the Churchie community (parents, old boys, friends, and staff) can participate in these services or make a confidential request for wellbeing support. Click here to volunteer or request support.

Meals on Wheels Parent volunteers needed

This is a service that requires the involvement of parents to be the volunteer drivers for boys from Biggs House and Gerald House on a Friday to provide meal delivery services for Bulimba and Carina Meals on Wheels. The commitment is approximately two hours once a term. Stacey Lacy is the Parent Connect Coordinator she is a current Year 10 and Grenfell House parent. Click here to volunteer.

Upcoming events

Coffee & Connect
Friday 8 March
The Arches
After drop-off

Parent Chapel Service
Friday 8 March
Canon Jones Memorial Chapel
9:30 am

Parents and Churchie Staff Morning Tea
Friday 8 March
Morris Hall
10:30 am

Boarding and Day Mothers Afternoon Tea
Friday 8 March
Brenan Pavilion
1:30 – 3 pm

Tuckshop news

Viking Café volunteers

We welcome mums and dads to volunteer at our tuckshops. Please contact the Tuckshop Volunteers Coordinator for more details if you can spare some time during the term to help in our busy tuckshops.

• Viking Café volunteers please contact via email.
• Prep Tuckshop volunteers please contact via email.

Upcoming events

View the school calendar on myChurchie for all scheduled events.

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