Last Friday, under glorious blue skies, the Prep School held its annual Interhouse Track and Field carnival.
The day started with our Reception to Year 2 boys participating in a variety of athletic disciplines to learn basic track and field skills. The carnival was an opportunity to develop their motor skills in a fun environment. They learned to run, hop, jump and throw in activities that were enjoyable, while also learning some valuable life skills, such as perseverance, having a go, not being afraid to fail and being part of a team. It was wonderful to see the many families and friends supporting and encouraging our boys, making it a fun and enjoyable morning for our younger boys.
Our second carnival of the day was for our Year 3 to 6 boys. The carnival was a fantastic showcase of competition and participation for all boys involved, allowing for healthy competition and providing an opportunity for boys to trial for a position in the GPS Track and Field squad.
Our older boys participated in more traditional track and field events, including sprinting, middle distance and relay events. They also participated in the Vortex throwing event, which teaches them the skill of throwing. It was lovely to see our house captains and vice captains heavily involved, cheering and supporting their fellow teammates as they competed for valuable house points throughout the day. The highlight of the afternoon was the special guest appearance by the four Prep School housemasters, who participated in the all-age relay race at the end of the day.
The results of the 2024 Interhouse Track and Field were:
1st place: Angles
2nd place: Saxons
3rd place: Jutes
4th place: Danes
Thank you to our parents and family members for their support, which added to the carnival atmosphere on the day. Thank you also to the Prep School staff for their support and organisation of the carnival. Special mention to Mr Fry, Mr Harth, Mr Sutherland, Mr Whitehead and Mr Darwin for their organisation, set up and pack up of the event; we couldn’t do this without you. We look forward to the upcoming track and field season.
All parents, step-parents and guardians of current Churchie students are warmly invited to attend the upcoming CPAA General Meeting at 6 pm on Thursday 1 August 2024 in Nichols Theatre (or Click here to join the meeting if you are unable to attend in person). (Please note this meeting was previously scheduled for Wednesday 31 July.)
Withdrawal of enrolment for 2025
Withdrawal of your son from Churchie requires one full term’s notice in writing to Churchie Admissions via email (admissions@churchie.com.au) as outlined in the terms and conditions of your son’s enrolment agreement. Notice of your intention to withdraw your son at the end of Term 4, 2024 (i.e. he will not be returning to Churchie in 2025) must be received by the first day of Term 4, 2024 (Monday 30 September) or one term’s fees will be charged.
Being humble means considering others as important as yourself. You are thoughtful of their needs and willing to be of service. You don’t expect others or yourself to be perfect. You learn from your mistakes. When you achieve great things, humility reminds you to be thankful instead of boastful.
Attribute of the week: open-minded
When you are open-minded, you understand and appreciate your own culture and personal history, and you are open to the perspectives, values, and traditions of other individuals and communities. You seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and you are willing to grow from the experience.
A Message from the School Counsellor: Exploring worry
What is Worry?
It is perfectly normal for children to experience worry, but when these feelings become overwhelming, they can impact their wellbeing. Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. While stress and anxious feelings are common responses to pressure, they usually pass once the stressful situation has passed or the ‘stressor’ is removed (Jorm et al. 2019). It’s important to note that anxious feelings can also serve a useful purpose, helping us avoid danger and perform at our best. According to the Australian Government’s Institute of Health and Welfare, one in seven Australians aged 4 to 17 experience a mental health condition, and anxiety disorders are among the most common.
Housemaster assembly
This term, our students are delving into the topic of ‘worry’ in their housemaster social emotional learning (SEL) sessions. Understanding this emotion is crucial for our young learners as it helps them navigate the challenges they face daily.
In our housemaster assemblies, we aim to complement the work being done in the classroom SWITCH programme, where students are learning to identify their emotions and independently access tools and strategies to manage their big feelings. Our focus will be on helping students understand that worry is a natural part of life and exploring ways to recognise and manage it effectively.
Students will learn about what constitutes a worry and how recognising these feelings is the first step towards managing them. Through entertaining activities, they will discover techniques to alleviate their worries and reflect on how they can support their peers and family members who might be experiencing similar feelings. This approach not only helps them manage their own emotions but also fosters empathy and understanding towards others.
SchoolTV
We encourage parents to utilise the SchoolTV resource available on myChurchie, which offers a wealth of interviews, podcasts, books, journal articles, and fact sheets. These resources can provide additional support and guidance if your child is struggling with excessive worries. Please see the link here.
Reavely NJ, Wright JM, Morgan AJ, Bassilios B, Hopwood M, Allen NB, Purcell R. A Guide to What Works for Anxiety: 3rd Edition. Beyond Blue: Melbourne 2019.
Year 3
This term, the Year 3 boys have been exploring the importance of Celebrations and Commemorations in our Unit of Inquiry – How We Express Ourselves. Last Friday, the boys built on their knowledge of this concept by interviewing parent volunteers about different celebrations and commemorations. The boys asked ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ questions to gather information about the topic and deepen their understanding.
Book Week
Book Week parade
This year’s Book Week parade is being held on Monday 19 August in The Campbell Centre, commencing at 8:40 am.
Our Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 boys will dress up as their favourite book characters for our Book Week parade. The boys in Years 3 to 6 are also invited to join the parade if they would like to. Boys are to come to school in their costumes with their blue and grey uniforms in their bags so that they can change following the parade.
We will again be presenting prizes for the best homemade costumes. In the interest of reducing, reusing, and recycling, we are encouraging boys to work with their parents to create a costume from things that they already have at home. Homemade costumes can, of course, include a shop-bought element – for example, a red t-shirt if a character needs one.
An alternative costume option for our Book Week parade is to make and wear a sandwich board costume. Sandwich boards are made using two large pieces of cardboard which are joined using shoulder straps. The boys wear the sandwich board – with one piece of cardboard at the front and the other at the back of their body. The sandwich board could be decorated by the boys to show the cover of their favourite book or characters from a book. For instructions about making a sandwich board sign, follow this link.
More detailed information about our Book Week parade will be posted on the myChurchie year level pages.
Year 4 to 6 Magic Competition
This year’s Book Week theme is ‘Reading is Magic’. During lunchtimes in the Prep Library on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 August, boys are invited to participate in a magic competition. To enter, there is an entry fee of $10 per student. This money will be donated to Room to Read, an international charity that builds and staffs libraries and classrooms in 20 developing nations around the world. If your son wishes to enter, please register at the Magic Competition Payment Link.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Mrs Belinda Booth at belinda.booth@churchie.com.au.
Prep Support Group meeting
The next Prep Support Group meeting will be held on Thursday 1 August, commencing at 8:30 am in the Brenan Pavilion (behind the pool).
The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) holiday
Wednesday 14 August is a public holiday for the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka). There will be no school on that day.
Mark Wyer Head of Preparatory School
Senior School
Years 10 to 12 academic achievement
Congratulations to the following Years 10 to 12 students on their academic achievement so far this year. They are our top 10 per cent of academic achievers based on mean percentage results across all their subjects or have received all As (or the IB equivalent) for Semester 1, and at least a B in RE. All of these young men have also demonstrated excellent learning behaviours, reflecting the hard work and diligence that so often underpins real success.
A reminder that an outline of all our academic prizes can be found on myChurchie.
We have an exciting wellbeing initiative launching this term called Stymie. Churchie is partnering with Stymie to support the safety and wellbeing of all students. Stymie is an online confidential reporting service for anyone needing help or concerned about someone else. Stymie provides a proactive opportunity for students to say something about harmful behaviours or anything they are concerned about for themselves or someone else. It works because it is accessible 24/7, anonymous, easy to use, and messages are typically delivered to approved notification recipients in our wellbeing team within a few seconds.
Churchie is introducing Stymie to ensure that students who might find it difficult to speak up now have an anonymous avenue to seek support for themselves and others. Stymie was launched at Churchie today. All students from Years 7 to 12, as well as all staff, had a 40-minute presentation by Stymie CEO Rachel Downie and Alistair Hunter about Stymie and how to use it appropriately and effectively. The Stymie platform may be accessed by students in addition to the wellbeing services already offered at the School. The boys will still have continued access to existing pastoral care channels such as their housemaster, Chaplain, and School Psychologists. We look forward to continuing to support the students through all our usual channels at Churchie as well as through the additional anonymous avenue with Stymie. For more information about Stymie, please visit the Stymie website.
The recent Churchie service tour of Timor-Leste was an extremely enjoyable experience for all involved. Upon arriving at our partner school, AHHA Education in Alieu, we were greeted with open arms by the students and teachers who allowed all the boys to feel as though they belonged within the school environment. Each boy made an effort to embrace the cultural differences compared to Australia, which was only helped by the friendliness of the Timorese people who allowed us to feel welcome in such an unknown environment. Many challenges appeared throughout the trip because of the long days and the food options which differ from the options that we are used to back home. However, everyone took these differences in their stride, which helped make the trip so enjoyable and allowed us to further immerse ourselves in the Timorese culture. In addition to us teaching them English, the school taught us about their traditions as well as core subjects such as Portuguese and the Science of Life. This helped us gain a better understanding of the foundations that make up life in Timor and left many of the boys thinking about when they can return in the future.
The experience was truly rewarding and memorable and definitely a tour I would strongly recommend to every boy in the future. I would like to offer a huge thanks to Mr Kelly, Mr Howe, and Mr Hugheston-Roberts for taking us on this experience as well as all the boys involved for the significant impact they had on the staff and students of AHHA Education.
The Senior School is hosting a Wellbeing Panel Discussion on Mental Health and Seeking Support in collaboration with Parent Connect and the Old Boys’ Association. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Old Boy Damien Edmonds (1987), co-founder of Edmonds Marketing. The panel will include Alastair McDonald, a current Year 12 student and Wellbeing Ambassador; Mitch Rosenlund, teacher and Nansen Housemaster; and Toby Ford, an Old Boy (1977) who is the founder and CEO of Ford Health and an expert in corporate health and resilience.
You are welcome to join the panel and Churchie staff for a barbecue before the commencement of this discussion. Please note the following details:
Date: Wednesday 31 July 2024 Details: Barbecue 5:30 to 6 pm (undercroft of The Centenary Library) Presentation: 6 to 7:15 pm (The Centenary Library Lecture Theatre)
As with all presentations in the Parent Wellbeing Lecture Series, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions during the session.
This free event is for parents, guardians, and members of the Old Boys community.
Josh Di Bella Deputy Head of Senior School (Years 10 to 12)
School bus zones
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of parents or guardians dropping boys off and picking them up at school from the School’s bus zones. These are the zones alongside Magnus Quad, Morris Hall, Chapel, and in front of the Preparatory School (virtually the eastern side of Oaklands Parade). They are designated by Brisbane City Council as Bus Zones between 7 to 9 am and between 2 to 4 pm. It is illegal to set down or pick up from a Bus Zone no matter how short the time frame; more importantly, it can endanger the lives of our young men and hinder other road users when buses cannot properly access these zones because of the vehicles that are stopped there.
Craig Howe OAM School Marshal
Senior School photos
Senior School photos, which include Years 7 to 12 house photos, portraits, Year 12 Valedictory photos and sibling photos, are scheduled for Thursday 25 July (week three) for all houses except Grenfell and Kingsley. Year 7 form photos are also scheduled for this day.
Thursday 1 August (week four) is the scheduled photo day for Goodwin, Grenfell and Kingsley, including their sibling photos.
Students are to wear Whites, and there is a high expectation of all students to have the correct haircut, as per the School Handbook and Student Diary. Please note the following extract for personal grooming:
Hair must be such that it can be kept well-groomed and tidy. The expectation is that the hairstyle be conservative and that hair should be above the collar at the back. Ears must be completely visible and must not have hair hanging over them or brushed behind them. The length of sideburns is to be no lower than the middle of the ears.
The following are considered unacceptable:
undercuts or layering
excess length, including long fringes that extend beyond the eyebrows when the hair is pulled downwards towards the nose
dreadlocks
excessive hair product
extremes of fashion
hair colouring beyond the natural colour
shaved heads at blade cut less than 3
tracks through the hair or eyebrows.
Furthermore, students must be clean-shaven at all times and the wearing of visible jewellery, studs or piercings is unacceptable; religious jewellery must be kept under the clothing.
Students not suitably presented will be excluded from the photos.
Ordering photos
To order photos please refer to the Leading Image flyer below or use the following instructions:
Leading Image will communicate directly with you online and post your photos to your home for your convenience. Individual student ordering will stay open after the photo day. Orders placed after the photo day may incur a postage charge per order. Any enquiries should be referred directly to Leading Image via info@leadingimage.com.au
Sibling photos
Sibling photos must be ordered before photo day. For administration purposes, please order your sons’ sibling photos by Monday 22 July at 4 pm via the Leading Image School Photos website.
Year 8 Grandparents and Special Guests Lunch
Please view the invitation to the Year 8 Grandparents and Special Guests Lunch to be held on Monday 12 August from 11:45 am.
Year 8 students are welcome to invite up to two guests for this special event. We ask that only grandparents or special guests attend this sit-down lunch. It is important for parents to RSVP by Monday 5 August on behalf of their son’s guests via the following link: please click here
Grandparents and special guests will receive a programme before the event.
Dr Alex Krzensk Acting Head of Senior School
Music
Special Guest Darren Percival at Headmaster’s Assembly
Last Thursday, the amazing Darren Percival graced the stage to lead the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ on Assembly, proving that great men sing with pride and integrity. It was wonderful to see the school respond and follow Darren’s lead. After this, Darren performed a preview of what is to come at Jazz Under the Stars with a rendition of Harry Connick Jr’s ‘Come By Me’ in front of Big Band 1. This was a great experience for the students and the staff, let alone the Big Band 1 members who were fortunate enough to share the stage with the great Darren Percival. A recording of the performance can be heard below, with Darren encouraging the boys to sing in call and response during a unique assembly:
Please follow this link to a recording of Big Band 1 playing ‘Come By Me’ on Headmaster’s Assembly:
Audition music
Audition music for 2025 ensembles is now available on myChurchie. Please take the time to consult your tutor about the best excerpt to perform and the best selection for your own choice. You may wish to use your soiree piece and dedicate your time to perfecting the excerpt. Your tutor will also be able to assist you with any other questions about the process. Upload recordings are due by the end of Week 7 to allow for new ensembles to begin in Term 4 2024. If you are successful in your audition for a premier ensemble, you will be expected to attend Music Camp from 18 to 20 October 2024, so please save the date.
Over 400 students performed solo across three days from 15 to 17 July 2024 in various locations including the Chapel, Jensen, and School House. The students all worked incredibly hard to perform their pieces, preparing them to be at their best for the Signature Concert Series ahead. Performing solo takes courage and prepares us for many life skills. Although preparation will always minimise errors on the day, there will inevitably be some learning from the experience, and each time you perform solo you become more comfortable and ultimately better at your instrument. The soiree creates a warm and encouraging environment. It was particularly pleasing to see such great peer support and lovely to hear some chamber groups perform, as well as some of the staff playing in duets or even solo.
Students Charlie Hartwright and Alex Ma performed at the Brisbane Jazz Club as part of the club’s Voices of Tomorrow programme. Voices of Tomorrow is designed for jazz singers under the age of 18 to bridge the gap between their school and professional performances. After playing lead roles in the recent school musical, these boys are continuing their musical development by performing solo pieces unrehearsed with professional jazz musicians. The Voices of Tomorrow programme is open to all budding singers.
Churchie’s Best Solos
At the culmination of all students in Years 7 to 12 performing solo, Churchie’s top 10 soloists took to the stage to perform in an extraordinary concert. Among the student accolades on display were three LMusA, two AMusA, Australian Youth Orchestra, and Queensland Youth Symphony representation, along with recent National Stage Band and Queensland Symphony Orchestra Young Instrumentalist Prize award winners. Guest adjudicator Mr Simon Hewett (Director of Music at Queensland Youth Orchestras) was very impressed with the talent on display and thoroughly enjoyed the concert. He spent a lengthy period of time after the concert discussing feedback and suggestions for improvement with each of the students, further reinforcing the educational nature of this concert and that although there is only one winner, the holistic nature of an evening of music is where the true success of the evening lies. Mr Hewett gave three special commendations: Luka Roberts (Year 11) for his technically demanding performance of Slavische Fantasy by Carl Höhne; Charlie Hartwright (Year 12) for his engaging and heartfelt recital of ‘Being Alive’ by Stephen Sondheim; and Eric Kim (Year 11) for his virtuosic and passionate rendition of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole (5th Movement). Competitions and placing can come down to very small increments, and although the standard was so high this year, there was a feeling of consensus with the adjudicator’s decision to award Gabin Won (Year 11) as Churchie’s Best Soloist for 2024. Gabin has had an immense year, finishing second in the Queensland Young Instrumentalists Award, and he delivered a confident and persuasive performance that connected the celebratory qualities of Reinecke’s Concerto for Flute (third movement) with the audience in a most memorable performance. Thank you to all the students, staff, and parents who attended this auspicious occasion. Please take some time to see and hear the wonderful performances below:
Please follow this link to a recording of all soloists from Churchie’s Best Solos:
Jazzin Up the Mall
On Sunday 21 July 2024, Churchie’s premier ensembles took to the stage at the heart of Brisbane city to perform on the Queen Street Mall main stage. Symphony Orchestra delighted the audience with a very passionate recital of ‘Jupiter’ from The Planets. The amazing Chamber Strings 1 brought some home-grown talent to the stage with an uplifting rendition of Percy Grainger’s ‘Mock Morris’. Following this, Morris Wind Symphony showed the fullness of their sound with a sneak preview of their Time and Space repertoire for Gala, including the main theme from Back to the Future. Charlie Hartwright then took to the stage to perform Harry Connick Jr.’s ‘Come By Me’ after being inspired by Darren Percival’s rendition with Big Band 1 on Assembly earlier in the week. The band really lifted with Luka Roberts delivering some relentless high-note trumpet playing at the end of the Big Band 1 set. Viking Vocals 1 were testing out their Jazz Under the Stars repertoire with an arrangement of the famous jazz standard ‘Have You Met Miss Jones’, based on the Robbie Williams Big Band arrangement. The finale ended with the amazing Senior Voices, singing ‘Set Me Free’ by Paul Jarman and David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ as part of their Gala program. Below is a video of ‘Life Could be a Dream’ performed by Viking Vocals 1:
Jazz Under the Stars: James Morrison
We are excited to announce that tickets for Jazz Under the Stars featuring James Morrison and Darren Percival have sold out. Thank you for your support of Churchie Music. We look forward to seeing you at Main Oval for an evening of great music and food.
Please take a moment to view the Jazz Under the Stars promotional video below:
VIDEO: HARRY DEEFHOLTS (YEAR 12)
Gala
Think of your favourite space movie or a theme that relates to time. Chances are you will hear it and see it at the Gala Concert on 15 August 2024. Save the date for this spectacular night of themed music with an audio-visual extravaganza.
The cocurricular team is eagerly anticipating the selection presentation and release of the Selection Portal this coming Monday.
We remind all families to free up their Monday evening on 29 July to tune in to the Head of Cocurricular’s presentation, outlining important information for choosing sports and activities commitments for 2025.
Once the portal is live from 7:30 pm next Monday, families will have ten days to deliberate before making choices with their sons for 2025. Please note the Selection Portal link access will be disabled to all from Sunday 18 August at 6:00 pm.
Information regarding GPS sports, activities, music, and the creative arts is available on programmes’ myChurchie sites. If you require further information regarding a particular sport or activity, please reach out to directors and coordinators for advice. Their contact information can be found on each myChurchie site.
Trent Goodrick Head of Cocurricular
Basketball
The Churchie basketball teams had a great weekend of results and shows of sportsmanship against a tough opponent in Gregory Terrace. The boys across the programme played hard and with humility, resulting in 29 wins, 2 draws, and only 9 losses for the day.
Some key performances across the day included:
a clean sweep of wins in the Year 5, 6, 7, and 9 age groups
5D winning their game 44-4 in an amazing defensive performance
7B’s strong 52-8 effort
11D stepping up for a 43-10 victory.
Across the programme, the day was typified by our boys helping the opposition up when they could, playing our traditional fast-paced style, communicating in a very Churchie-like way, and doing so with lots of smiles and fun. It is great that our teams routinely have a lot of wins; however, it is the enjoyment and skill that our boys play with, as well as superior structures due to committed coaching, that really make the rounds that much more enjoyable.
This week saw the release of the early bird ticket purchase for the basketball end-of-season awards dinner, which will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday 7 September from 5:30 pm. I encourage all Years 7 to 12 parents from basketball to jump on and purchase a ticket for themselves and their son before the early bird offers close. More information can be found on the MyChurchie Basketball page.
This weekend, the programme has a round against Nudgee College, with our Year 5-8 teams playing away at Nudgee College and other venues, and our Year 9-12 boys playing either in the Sir John Pidgeon Sports Complex or the Campbell Centre.
The First V game against Gregory Terrace was always going to be a dangerous game. Gregory Terrace has a formidable backcourt combination; however, Churchie’s depth and the size of our front line were certainly going to be tough for GT to handle.
The first quarter saw Churchie out to a strong start behind some breakneck speed, strong finishes, and rebounding inside, as well as the return of Kurt Siwek and the debut of Year 9 Andrew Watene. The boys battled hard for a 27-19 lead at the first break, which would have been larger if not for the strong play of the Terrace captain from beyond the arc.
The second quarter saw more of a barrage from deep from Gregory Terrace and lots of runs by both teams. Terrace managed to bridge the gap behind strong guard play, and the high-scoring quarter saw Churchie with a slim lead, 62-56.
Right from the start of the third quarter, the crowd saw Churchie pick up the defensive intensity, covering the shooters all quarter. They stretched the lead out behind eight crucial points by Captain Oskar Olechnowicz, strong rebounding by the combination of Kurt Siwek and Connor Davidson, and some heady play and a late three by Year 10 Noah Kirk. The score was 90 to 80 heading into the final term with much work still to do.
In the fourth quarter, 10 huge points by Connor Davidson and some big early threes by Nash Harding, put the score out towards 20 points quickly, and Churchie finished out a tough-fought game with a final score of 117-104, reflective of a tough contest in which the Churchie First V was just a bit too strong across the board.
The boys will look to continue their undefeated start to the season against Nudgee College at home this Saturday at 12:15 pm, which is part of the showcase day at the School. The First V and First XV doubleheader in terms of spectating will be one to behold, and our basketball boys are primed to put on a show for as many of the Churchie community that can attend. 12:15 pm is the tip-off time in the Sir John Pidgeon Sports Complex for what should be a great show of the premiership talent the team has and the exciting brand of basketball that sees them as the top-scoring team in the GPS.
Round 2 of the GPS Chess season saw Churchie take 47 eager young men to St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace and achieve a commanding victory. We won all 12 teams down to Open I in what was ultimately a demolition of our opposition. Special congratulations must go to players in the Premier Senior Open A, B, C, and D teams, who all won their games.
This week, we face Nudgee College at home in the Centenary Library. We invite you to come along and support our chess players as they take on well-prepared opposition at home. Our “Second Chance” tournament will run again for boys not selected in GPS teams.
We also have the Brisbane Secondary Interschool Chess Competition next Tuesday, which will be held at the School in Morris Hall. Students interested in participating should contact Mr. Max Condon.
Let’s continue to show our support and dedication to our chess players as they strive for excellence.
Last Saturday, the Centenary Library hosted the Strategic Minds Chess Club FIDE rapid, an initiative to help Churchie and Queensland players obtain and improve their FIDE chess ratings. This club is particularly beneficial for preparing Churchie boys for GPS and state competitions.
The event saw a club record of 63 players participating in an attempt to help FIDE break a world record for the most games played in 24 hours. The participants included 2 Grandmasters, 1 International Master, 2 FIDE Masters, 1 Women’s FIDE Master, and 3 Candidate Masters. The presence of these titled players and other strong competitors made this one of the most vital rapid events in Queensland’s history.
After seven rounds of intense competition, the Churchie boys performed exceptionally well. IM Sravan Renjith won the event with a score of 6.5/7, followed closely by CM Jayden Ooi in second place. Both boys finished ahead of strong Grandmasters, marking a significant achievement. Well done, boys!
I want to thank Max Windsor, and David Esmonde personally for their invaluable support in running the FIDE rapid last Saturday. I encourage any Churchie boy to consider participating in a Strategic Minds Chess event. Our goal in running these events is to bring strong players to Churchie, providing opportunities for our boys to improve and enhance their chess skills.
I look forward to seeing you all at our next event, which will be a FIDE Classical event in November this year.
Max Condon Director of Chess
Rugby
Round two of the GPS competition provided near-perfect conditions for Churchie’s first away game of the season. After a solid hit last week against Brisbane Grammar School, Churchie was looking forward to playing some expansive rugby against round two opponents Gregory Terrace.
It was an extremely close battle between the two schools, with both schools playing some enterprising rugby. A total of 33 matches were played between the two schools, and Churchie was just edged out by GT, who came away with 16 wins, 14 losses, and 3 draws.
This weekend, we look forward to a competitive set of matches against Nudgee College in our second home game of the season. With all teams playing at home, the ground is set for a great day of rugby.
Queensland Reds vs Wales
Churchie was pleased to host Wales last week leading into their fixture against the Qld Reds. Churchie Old Boys Richie Asiata (2014) and Dre Pakeho (2022) were named in the starting team for Queensland, joining former Churchie coaches Jock Campbell and James O’Connor.
First XV report
The First XV ventured to play Terrace at Tennyson on Saturday, confident after an impressive win against Brisbane Grammar School the previous week.
The match kicked off in very windy conditions. For the early stages of the first half, GT applied plenty of pressure and controlled possession well. The Churchie defence stood firm, but a relentless pick-and-go sequence saw GT pull away with two early tries. It wasn’t long before Churchie hit back with a well-worked try. Harry Solofa’s offload from the floor saw Max Blanch assist Caleb Godfrey, who sprinted through from 15 out.
Churchie regained possession from the kick-off, and some well-worked pressure led to Churchie having a lineout 10 metres out from the GT try line. The forwards imposed themselves with a well-worked driving maul finished off by Harry Solofa. The scores now stood at 14-12. Terrace scored another well-worked pick-and-go try shortly before half-time, making it 19-12.
The second half kicked off in even windier conditions. The first 15 minutes saw Churchie spend more time inside the Terrace half but were unable to capitalise on possession. Credit is due to the stern Terrace defence that was able to win some crucial turnovers. After they capitalised on a Churchie handling error, Terrace stretched their lead to 28-12.
The last 15 minutes of the game saw Churchie hammering on the door non-stop. A quick tap from Max Blanch saw him crash over, bringing the score to 28-19. From the kick-off, Churchie gathered possession and found themselves again camped on the GT try line. GT’s solid try-line defence saw them hold out and take the victory in what was a physical and intense second half.
Andrew Moloney Director of Rugby
Sporting achievements
Congratulations to the following students for their success in the following sporting pursuits:
Treyvon Pritchard (Year 11) was selected for the Australian U18 Development Squad. He joins 2023 Old Boy Frankie Goldsbrough, who was also selected.
Kurt Siwek (Year 12) was selected for the Queensland U18 Basketball Club Team.
Trent Goodrick Head of Cocurricular
Boarding on the road
Upcoming events
Churchie Boarding is continuing to travel far and wide to meet with current, future and past community members. We are pleased to be supported by members of the OBA Committee, School Executive, School Council and the Churchie Foundation at many of these events. Please spread the word or visit us if you are in the area.
Moree Boarding Schools Pop-up Expo, 25 July
Tamworth Boarding Schools Expo, 26 to 27 July
Toowoomba families function, 3 August
Australian Cotton Conference, 6 to 8 August
See Churchie Boarding on the road for RSVP links and further details:
Recently retired Wallaby skipper, Michael Hooper, will join Wallaby Coach, Joe Schmidt on the panel at the upcoming Churchie Rugby Luncheon.
Limited seats remain
The annual Churchie Rugby Luncheon will be held on Friday 9 August 2024 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane’s South Bank. This event precedes the Wallabies’ match against the current World Champions, the South African Springboks at Suncorp Stadium. As always, there will be top-level entertainment, with Justin Harrison as the main speaker, along with a panel discussion conducted by MC Greg Clark featuring new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and other former Wallabies. Additionally, there will be the usual raffles, auctions and the ball-passing competition for both men and women.
With the much talked about British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, tables purchased for the 2024 luncheon will receive priority for 2025, which will undoubtedly be a sell-out at the new venue, The Star Casino, Brisbane. Save the date for the Churchie British and Irish Lions Test on Friday 18 July 2025.
Pixevety is Churchie’s photo platform, where photos from across the School will be uploaded weekly. The system recognises students 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.
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 view on myChurchie
Join Parent Connect
Join here. The Churchie parent community has a long-standing initiative to enable the sharing of contact details for those who opt-in and provide consent. Joining the Parent Connect database is easy. Once you have joined, you will receive communication from your parent coordinators, access to your cohort’s parent contact list, and membership to the private Facebook groups.
Parent Connect contacts
Click here to meet the executive team and coordinator community of volunteer parents. Each year, house, and service activity has dedicated, friendly peer contacts for parents, helping them navigate school life, host social connections, and administer private Facebook groups.
Services and volunteer engagement – Community cooks needed
Community Cookers is a confidential service that provides meals for families within our community. Meals are dropped off and picked up via the staff at The Arches. Maddie Legget is the parent coordinator. Click here to volunteer or request support.
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.
Upcoming events
We host several events throughout the year to unite our community, and we would love for you to join us. Our upcoming events include:
Friday 26 July | Biggs House Fathers Dinner | Story Bridge Hotel | 6:30 pm | RSVP
Wednesday 31 July | Parent BBQ & Wellbeing Speaker Series Event | Lecture Theatre | 5:30 pm
Friday 16 August | Mansfield Goat Burger Day | Churchie | from 12 noon
Sunday 18 August | Kingsley Parent catch up | Revel Rivermakers | 3 to 6 pm | RSVP
Wednesday 11 September | Mothers Spring Lunch | Greek Club | 11:30 am
Wednesday 25 to 28 September | Zei Balas Rugby Supporter | ABF QLD Murri Carnival | TBA
Thursday 12 September | Year 12 Father & Son Breakfast
Student-led initiative – Zei Balas (bonded brothers) rugby team
The Zei Balas Rugby Team was established in 2021 with the help of Churchie staff members Kelly Jackson and Craig Howe. They formed a rugby team to compete in the ABF Queensland Murri Carnival, enabling the opportunity to showcase their talents and proudly represent their diverse backgrounds and rich culture through sports with their mates from remote communities.
Captain Jayden Ah Boo and Vice-Captain Bailen Noy are leading the 2024 team, which includes players from Thursday Island, Badu Island, Horn Island, Mabuiag Island, Mungindi, Brisbane, and Sunshine Coast.
Thanks to the growing community of supporters, the team has developed its logo, designed its uniforms, and conducted fundraising. You can support the team by learning more, following their story and contributing via GoFundMe.
Mothers of Old Boys High Tea
Thank you to all the mothers who joined us last Wednesday for the Mothers of Old Boys High Tea. We enjoyed the unexpected entertainment of the Welsh Rugby Team warming up on the Flat during the event. If you are a mother of an old boy or know of one, please share this link to ensure we have the most up-to-date contact details for future events. Click here to access photos.
Best wishes,
Parent Connect Executive Team and Coordinator Community.
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.
