I do hope that you are looking forward to the many wonderful opportunities this term.
A high-energy and well-organised start to the term will ensure that all students are well placed to achieve the goals they have set for the year.
We are particularly mindful of our Year 12s who are now three weeks away from their final QCE and IB external examinations. With the support of staff and families, they should approach this testing time with confidence and optimism. It was very pleasing to see so many Year 12s attend the Study Camp programmes in the second week of the vacation and I extend my thanks to the many staff, parents and Old Boys who supported these programmes. I commend our teaching staff who volunteered their time to support the boys and enhance their preparation for the weeks ahead.
MMG Education Parent Survey
For some years, the School has offered parents of students graduating from Year 6 and Year 12 the opportunity to provide feedback and insight on their experiences, via a confidential survey. The survey is conducted by external consultants, MMG Education, who have been assisting the School for some years. Parents in Years 6 and 12 will have received an introductory notification about this opportunity. The School is grateful for the time taken to complete this survey, which provides highly valued feedback to assist with future planning.
Sony Camp
The School extends heartfelt thanks to staff, students and parents who led and assisted with this year’s Sony Camp, held over the first weekend of the semester break. In a long-standing partnership with St Margaret’s, the School provides the venue, time, activities and care for higher-needs children in a wonderful learning experience for all involved. Such an enterprise is only possible due to the generous volunteerism of students, staff and parents. I particularly wish to thank Director of Service Mr Clayton Kelly, who served as Sony Camp leader and oversaw the programme that ensured our 29 guests had a safe and memorable time. My sincere thanks to all involved.
Thank you
I extend the School’s thanks to the many staff and parents who assisted with activities over the semester break. I warmly thank and acknowledge the languages staff, Mrs Winnie Edwards-Davis and Ms Shiyi Xu, supported by Mr Michael Daley, who led a group of senior students to Yan’an High School in China after some years’ absence. A great feature of the School’s languages programme is the four international partnerships we have established with school communities in China, Japan, Spain and France. Such learning experiences are undoubtedly wonderfully enriching for our students, supported generously by our staff and families.
As well as the activities mentioned above, the School hosted a range of preseason sporting camps and activities to prepare for service and GPS programmes in Term 1, 2025. Across cricket, rowing, volleyball, tri-service cadets and Duke of Ed programmes, students were involved, and again, sincere thanks are extended to staff and parents who gave of their time generously.
I extend my best wishes to you and your family as we embark on Term 4. May the boys rise to the many opportunities and challenges that lie in store for them.
Yours sincerely
Dr Alan Campbell Headmaster
Churchie Parents Advisory Association
CPAA Executive membership in 2025
While all Churchie parents are automatically general members of the CPAA, there is also a CPAA Executive body, which meets one to two times per term to provide parent input and advice directly to the School Executive and School Council on matters of strategic and practical importance. In 2024, the CPAA Executive worked with the School in relation to fundraising policy, the master building plan, cocurricular support, volunteer engagement and boarding provision, among other topics.
The Executive is appointed by the School Council and consists of two representatives from the Prep School, Years 7 to 9, Years 10 to 12, boarding and cocurricular support groups, and one representative from Parent Connect. Members are appointed for 12 months at a time, with a maximum term of four years. The Constitution is available on myChurchie on the CPAA page.
Are you interested in joining the CPAA Executive in 2025? Nominations are now open, and we encourage all interested parents to apply by completing the document at this link and returning it to cpaa@churchie.com.au by Friday 25 October 2024. Our current Chair, Angela Rae, would be happy to talk further if you would like more information—she can be contacted at agrae@burnettlane.com.au.
The Viking
The Viking 2023: Remember to collect your copy
The Viking 2023 yearbook was distributed to all staff and students in Term 1. If your son was enrolled at Churchie in 2023 and has not yet received his copy, please collect from any of the following locations:
Prep School office
MS24 student services
Jackson main reception
Prep School
Value of the week: preparation and responsibility
Being responsible means others can trust you to do things with excellence. You accept accountability for your actions. When you make a mistake, you offer amends instead of excuses. Responsibility is the ability to respond ably and make smart choices.
Attribute of the week: communicators
Communicators understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. You are willing to work in collaboration with others.
Welcome to Term 4
A very warm welcome to Term 4! It was wonderful to see the boys return to school with smiling faces and genuine happiness to be back. I am looking forward to the many special events awaiting the boys this term. Musical performances, our Early Years Christmas Pageant, the Christmas Service at the Cathedral, Final Assembly and the Final Chapel Service for our Year 6 boys are just some of the significant occasions we will celebrate.
Term 4 promises to be another busy, exciting and productive time for the boys, and I look forward to seeing their individual and collective efforts as we move through the term!
Year 6
As part of their inquiry into systems, Year 6 began Term 4 with an excursion to Queensland’s Parliament House. During the tour, the boys participated in a mock parliament and were given an insight into the structure and functions of how laws are made. The boys were able to consolidate their knowledge of Australia’s democracy whilst gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of the people, institutions and processes that make Australia the wonderful nation it is.
Following their visit to Parliament House, the Year 6 boys were treated to a special visit from Churchie Old Boy, the Honourable Milton Dick (1989), Member for Oxley and Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. Milton spoke to the boys about his role as a parliamentarian and Speaker, providing an invaluable opportunity for them to deepen their understanding of the Australian political system. The boys actively engaged, asking insightful questions that showcased their strong grasp of how our government operates. As a memento of his visit, Milton presented our school leaders with a special gift—an Australian flag that had been flown in the House of Representatives.
Blessing of the Animals
Reverend Sharon Mitchell and Chaplain Stephanie Cotroneo will conduct a special service in the Prep School’s Early Childhood Playground to bless family animals on Saturday 19 October from 9:30 to 10:30 am.
All Churchie families are invited to our annual service, during which we gather to give thanks for our beloved pets and God’s creation. Your furry, finned and four-legged pets, friendly and with leads/carry cases, are welcome to join us. If you are unable to bring your pet, you may like to bring a photo or drawing instead.
Students are to wear their blue and grey uniform to this event.
Canberra Tour 2024
On the first four days of the school holidays, 59 Year 6 boys had an unforgettable adventure on their recent tour to Canberra, filled with engaging educational experiences and memorable moments.
One of the major highlights was our visit to Parliament House, where students had the opportunity to explore the heart of Australia’s democracy. They toured both the House of Representatives and the Senate, learning about how laws are made and participating in a mock parliamentary session. The visit provided a deeper understanding of our government and sparked curiosity in many future leaders.
Another fascinating stop was the Australian Electoral Commission. Here, students gained insight into the electoral process and the importance of voting in shaping our nation. They even participated in a simulated election, which helped them grasp the fundamentals of our democratic system.
The cultural aspect of the trip was enriched with a visit to the National Gallery of Australia, where students were mesmerised by a range of stunning artworks, including iconic pieces of Australian history and contemporary art.
Overall, the Canberra Tour was a fantastic educational experience, filled with learning, exploration and fun! A big thank you to Mrs Guy, Mrs Valentine, Mrs Walker, Mrs Carr, Mr Frewin and Mrs Nicholson, who supported our Year 6 boys.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their civics and citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government contributes $90 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate initiative costs. The rebate is paid directly to the School upon completion of the excursion.
Anglicare collection
On behalf of Anglicare Brisbane Children and Families (foster and kinship care agency), we extend our deepest appreciation to you for your continued support of our foster and kinship carer families at Christmas time. The children’s gifts provided by our community last year meant Anglicare was able to put smiles on the faces of our children at a time that can be so difficult for them, being away from their biological parents.
Anglicare’s team supports 85 children and young people in out-of-home care, ages up to 17, as well as the biological children in foster and kinship carer families who so generously share their homes with children in need. Over the Christmas period, this number increases, and their carer families are often unexpectedly opening their homes to more children in need. As a result of your support with donations of gifts, Anglicare can provide a number of beautiful and thoughtful presents to some of our community’s most vulnerable people, ensuring they can have a memorable Christmas.
Anglicare supports a fairly balanced mix of boys and girls up to age 17. For children aged 13+, gift cards are well received as they like to go shopping and choose something themselves. We just ask for any gift card donations to not include liquor services.
All donations can be delivered to Chaplain Stephanie’s office in the Prep Admin building.
Camps in Term 4
Year 3: Burleigh Heads, Tuesday 1 to Wednesday 2 October
Year 4: Emu Gully, Wednesday 16 October to Friday 18 October
Year 5: Tyalgum Ridge Retreat, Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 November
Use of school crossing
Please note that before and after school, boys should only cross Oaklands Parade at the supervised crossing near Gate 1, the main Prep School entry. As these are very busy traffic periods, a crossing supervisor is provided to ensure the safety of the boys and others using the crossing. When dropping off boys on the western side of Oaklands Parade in the morning, please insist that the boys use the supervised crossing.
Please note that there is no parking in front of the Health Centre and Churchie Shop on Oaklands Parade. Brisbane City Council has just replaced the signs in front of this building and will be regularly monitoring this area.
Class placements 2025
As we move towards the end of the year, planning for 2025 is well underway. Class placements for 2025 will be communicated to our parent community at the end of this year in preparation for the commencement of the academic year. Our staff is in the initial stages of looking at class allocations, and we are undertaking a thorough process to ensure we continue to have the boys at the forefront of our decision-making.
When allocating boys to classes, there are several factors we consider. One key priority is ensuring we have an even spread of academic ability levels across each of our classes, and another is ensuring that the social structure of classes is conducive to both learning and the building of friendships. This sometimes means we need to separate boys when a friendship becomes a distraction to their learning and enables boys to further their friendship circles. Other factors that help determine our class allocations are the social/emotional needs of our boys, student interests and, if applicable, personal and family backgrounds. As a school, we also need to consider our entry points and the impact this has on our class placements. The construction of class groupings is therefore a process we take very seriously and plan for carefully in collaboration with class teachers, specialist staff and the Preparatory School Executive team.
When creating class lists, the School will consider all information about a boy that may have been communicated to the teacher, Deputy Heads and Head of Prep School throughout the year. The School will then create balanced classes according to the educational and social information we have about each of our boys. We do value these ongoing conversations; however, class placements will remain the professional and operational responsibility of the School and, as such, we will not be accepting requests for specific teachers.
As you can appreciate, the consideration of all these factors makes class placement a time-consuming but important process. We feel positive that the extensive time and care we give to this process, together with the talented and committed team of staff into whose classes we are placing each boy, mean we are able to produce the best possible class combinations to benefit each and every boy.
We know you appreciate the careful consideration that goes into these decisions and the competence and dedication of every member of our team involved in the process.
Mark Wyer Head of Preparatory School
Senior School
International Baccalaureate Diploma News
Sravan Renjith – Chess Olympiad
Year 11 IB student Sravan Renjith recently returned from two weeks in Budapest, Hungary, where he competed in the Chess Olympiad, a biennial event where the best players from each nation represent their country in teams of five players. This year, there were a record-breaking 193 teams in the Open section and 181 teams in the Women’s section.
Sravan represented New Zealand, playing on board three, with results as follows:
Round 1: vs Macau, won 3.5–0.5
Round 2: vs Argentina, lost 2.5–1.5
Round 3: vs Afghanistan, won 3–1
Round 4: vs Australia, lost 2.5–1.5
Round 5: vs Puerto Rico, lost 2.5–1.5
Round 6: vs Malawi, won 3.5–1.5
Round 7: vs Malta, won 3–1
Round 8: vs Canada, lost 3–1
Round 9: vs Nicaragua, won 3.5–1.5
Round 10: vs Hungary Team 3, lost 3.5–0.5
Round 11: vs Guatemala, won 3–1
Overall, Sravan finished with 6.5/9 with five wins, one loss and three draws. Based on his live rating, Sravan is now New Zealand’s highest-rated player. A personal highlight for Sravan was an interview he conducted for Lichess, one of the biggest chess websites in the world, which is currently featured on their social media.
Well done, Sravan!
Year 12 IB Extended Essay presentations
A central part of the IB Diploma Programme is the extended essay – one of three elements known as the core and the heart of the IB philosophy. The extended essay offers students the opportunity to research and investigate a topic of their own choice that interests them, using the independent research and writing skills they will need at university. Over a nine-month period, students design and research a question, working both independently and with a supervisor to craft a 4,000-word essay.
Year 12 IB students have chosen a wide variety of subject areas, from literature to philosophy, economics, business management and history; biology, computer science, mathematics, film, music, theatre and visual arts. The research questions have been equally diverse, such as the ethics around the measures Woolworths has taken to increase its profit margin since the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis of how successful The Last of Us has been in employing traditional narrative elements to craft complex modern video game storytelling, an exploration of Tom Stoppard’s portrayal of different types of deterministic systems in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Arcadia, and the extent to which German and Wilhelm II’s foreign policy were to blame for the start of the First World War.
On Monday, the Year 12s were presented with a bound copy of their extended essay to celebrate the completion of this significant task. These essays have now been sent to the IB for marking.
Thank you to Brian Bodell, who coordinated the extended essay process, as well as to the supervisors who worked closely with students and the library staff who assisted with referencing. Congratulations to the Year 12s, who have demonstrated resilience, determination and perseverance over the past year to produce pieces of work of which they should be proud.
Samuel Armstrong Film How have directors Sylvester Stallone (Rocky IV) and Steven Caple Jr (Creed II) influenced the character of Ivan Drago?
Charlie Auchter Computer Science To what extent do BERT and checking for perplexity and burstiness differ in their accuracy and efficiency in detecting text?
Samuel Blackburn Business Management How ethical are the measures that Woolworths has taken to increase its profit margin since the COVID-19 pandemic?
Bentley Burke Theatre To what extent does the National Theatre’s production of Frankenstein use the elements of performance and production to effectively portray the odyssey of the Creature?
Henry Capp Film How do Jordan Peele’s films, Get Out and Us, correct the representation of African Americans in horror films?
Oscar Cooke Business Management To what extent has the Qantas brand been negatively impacted by the decisions made by Alan Joyce as CEO and what can be done to address the consequences?
Tom Crooke Film How does lighting in film noir change emotion and meaning and how has it developed from German Expressionism?
Finbar Curran Literature How does Kazuo Ishiguro’s construction of memory develop identity in Never Let Me Go and The Buried Giant?
Alex Davies Philosophy Should members of a social contract be allowed by the state to freely leave the social contract?
Harry Deefholts Literature How successfully has The Last of Us employed traditional narrative elements to craft complex modern video game storytelling?
Thomas Dwyer FilmHow has the American interpretation of the horror genre evolved from classic horror in the 1930’s to modern-day psychological horror (2017) through different film techniques and cultural contexts?
Henry Grosser Literature To what extent does Tolkien employ various literary devices to connect industrialism to corruption and evil within The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
Ellis Hogan Music How has Radiohead used innovative techniques of harmony, modal modulation and rhythm over their early career to create a progressive, emotional and dystopian sound?
Harry James Film How does James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy explore the concept of fatherhood?
Henry Jones Film How does Studio Ghibli communicate an anti-war perspective through different choices in Grave of the Fireflies andHowl’s Moving Castle?
Charlie Liu Mathematics How long will the COVID-19 pandemic last, and what is the peak number of people infected in Queensland, using the SIR model?
Richard Liu Business Management To what extent does Build Your Dreams’ internal structure create a reputable brand image despite its poor background?
Bill McCart Literature How does Tom Stoppard portray different types of deterministic systems in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Arcadia?
Jack McGrath Biology How does the introduction of a ketogenic diet compared to a mixed diet (70–80% fat, 5–15% carbohydrates, 10–20% protein) affect the performance of male endurance athletes (off-road cyclists and long-distance race walkers), as measured by max (mL/kg/min)
Haris Omar Business Management What factors within the release of the online subscription-based streaming service, Disney+, aided in its eventual profitability in comparison to other streaming services on the market?
Tom O’Neill Literature How does Netflix’s animated television series Arcane display changing gender roles by breaking and reimagining gender tropes?
Tom Patterson Business Management How rewarding would a move from conventional breeding practises to either a combined or a primarily artificial breeding-based program be for independent businesses in Australia?
Ted Perkins Visual Art How was Joe Adsett influenced by Newstead House, designed by Andrew Petrie in the design and construction of both Laurent and La Rosa?
Finlay Peterson Visual Art How did The Electrician by Boris Eldagsen prompt investigations into the impacts of AI generative art on human creativity, photography, authorship and ethics?
Thatcher Phillips Business Management Will the introduction of a Gigafactory in Australia be able to increase Tesla’s EV market share?
Angus Rae Philosophy In the context of characters in the manga Berserk, is Jung’s concept of ‘the shadow’ a more prevalent and convincing concept of morality and the unconscious than Nietzsche’s concept of ‘the higher man’?
Will Reading History How did different ideologies underpin political terror in Stalin’s USSR and Hitler’s Nazi Germany and did they employ similar mechanisms and have the same effects?
Angus Richards Economics Has the Australian Government’s intervention in the aviation sector supported Qantas throughout COVID-19?
Will Shackel Business Management To what extent did TEPCO effectively use crisis management in response to the Fukushima Disaster?
Caelan Smith Philosophy Is there any legitimate justification to bestow rights to the Whanganui River?
Nicholaus Suchting Business Management How does Rolex achieve its strong brand image through the use of its marketing strategies?
Simon Velge History To what extent was Germany and Wilhelm II’s foreign policy to blame for the start of the first World War?
Ryan Walker Business Management What strategies did Nike use and how successful were these strategies in promoting products for women’s sports?
Vincent Wu Philosophy How should social media be used to build the conditions for a revolution?
Fraser Young Visual Art What is the impact of childhood trauma on the art of Louise Bourgeois?
Year 12 IB Study Camp
During the second week of the September holidays, Year 12 IB and QCE students attended the annual Study Camp held in The Centenary Library. With students facing external exams worth between 25 and 80 per cent of their final score at the end of October, it was great to see them taking the opportunity to work with their teachers and Old Boys to refine their content knowledge. The very nature of the IB demands a collaborative approach to study and the boys worked well together as they completed past papers and worked through challenging questions. It was wonderful to see the camaraderie amongst the cohort as they worked to prepare for these examinations – the culmination of two years of work.
Thank you to the staff who taught extra classes, the library staff who organised the week and the parents who provided nutritious meals.
Our very best wishes are with the entire Year 12 cohort as they study over these final weeks.
Catherine Prosser Dean of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Year 9 French chefs in action
Bon appétit! Year 9 French students undertook a practical cooking task as part of their food unit.
Using only French language, they selected a recipe, described the ingredients and explained how to prepare it, with a practical demonstration in front of their class.
Presentations included macarons, crêpes, biscuits, toasties, salads and brownies. Well done to each chef!
Sarah Washington Head of French
Churchie Awards in Media
The ACAMedy Awards
If you enjoy the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, red carpets and star-studded entertainment, mark this date in your calendar! This year, CAM takes on the theme of ‘The ACAMedy Awards,’ celebrating all things cinematic. Hosted by Year 12s Bill McCart and Tom Crooke, the evening will be a remarkable showcase of the creativity and innovation of our emerging student filmmakers from Years 9 to 12 at the Dendy Cinemas, Coorparoo.
Come and witness the future generation of storytellers as they explore bold ideas, push creative boundaries and demonstrate the exciting potential of media production. This is a must-attend event for any student considering film and media as a future elective subject.
We are fortunate to have dedicated parents like Juanita Wrigley and Kirsten Hanly generously contributing their time to our Viking Café. Juanita, whose sons are Connor and Churchie Old Boy Blake (2017), volunteers once a month. She finds it rewarding not only for the chance to see her son and his friends but also for the opportunity to meet other parents whose children are in the same year level as hers.
Kirsten, who volunteers alongside Juanita, has sons Caleb, Rory and Fraser at Churchie, and shares Juanita’s enthusiasm. She values the opportunity to engage with the school community and connect with new people. Kirsten notes, ‘It’s a wonderful way to contribute and stay in touch with what’s happening around the school.’ She also appreciates that the time commitment is manageable—only from morning tea to lunch—which makes it a convenient way to support the school while building new friendships with other parents.
We invite you to join Juanita and Kirsten in experiencing the sense of community that comes with volunteering at the Viking Café. Even a small contribution of time can make a significant impact.
Please contact the Tuckshop Volunteers Coordinator for more details if you can spare some time during the term to help in our busy tuckshops.
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.
Outback Rowing Regatta (Barcaldine and Longreach), 5 and 6 October
Noosa boarding families dinner, 5 October
Mt Isa Boarding Schools Expo, 3 December
See Churchie Boarding on the road for RSVP links and further details:
Welcome back to Term 4, 2024, and congratulations to all students who successfully auditioned in Years 7 to 11. Rehearsals begin in Week 1, with lots of great new music carefully selected by your conductors. You will get to meet your new ensemble members as we progress and prepare for the 2024–25 season. We also welcome the wonderful Ms Joanne Leask (Acting Head of Strings), who comes to Churchie from Redeemer Lutheran College for Term 4, while Mr Hooper takes his well-earned long service leave. Year 12 students will still be involved in the final performances for Tri-Service Cadets and Speech Night in Week 2, with additional communication via your ensemble conductors. Our Week 3 Music Camp presents a wonderful opportunity for the premier ensemble members to get to know their conductors and ensemble members and to develop repertoire with special guest conductors Mark Sullivan (Strings), John Rotar (Choral) and Shadelle Guest (Band). Good luck to all those younger ensemble members in the Prep School who will get the opportunity to perform in Musicfest. Best wishes to everyone for Term 4!
Assembly performance Week 9
Congratulations to Tom Crooke and the Crooke Collective, who set the tone with a festive and celebratory performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’ featuring Tom Dwyer on vocals; Zac Patane on lead guitar and Tom Patterson on drum kit.
Special thanks to Mr Jack Franklin for the multi-track recording from the mixing desk. Please follow this link to a recording of the performance:
Australian Honours Ensemble
Congratulations to the following students who were selected for the Australian Honours Ensemble Programme (AHEP) as well as the State Honours Ensembles Programme (SHEP). Concerts took place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2024 at the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre. The students were able to work in an exceptional national and international environment and thoroughly enjoyed playing music with other outstanding and like-minded students over the four-day period.
Participants
AHEP
Ellis Hogan – Bassoon (Wind Orchestra) – Concert Two (4 to 6 pm)
Alex Ma – Vocal Tenor (Vocal Ensemble) – Concert Two (4 to 6 pm)
Noah Oxenford – Vocal Baritone (Vocal Ensemble) – Concert Two (4 to 6 pm)
Luka Roberts – Trumpet (Symphony Orchestra) – Concert One at (11 am to 12:30 pm)
Alex Smith – Trombone (Symphony Orchestra) – Concert One at (11 am to 12:30 pm)
Damien Ting – Cello (Symphony Orchestra) – Concert One at (11 am to 12:30 pm)
SHEP
Lufti Furtado – Tuba (Brian Hogg Wind Orchestra) – Concert One (8:30 to 9.30 am)
Lucas Shan – Tenor Saxophone (Graham Lloyd Wind Orchestra) – Concert Two (10:30 to 11:30 am)
Music Camp
Congratulations to all members selected for the premier ensembles for Churchie Music Camp. By now, you should have received your letter. Thank you to all those who have completed their consent form. Please finalise your payment here if you have not already done so.
One of our guest conductors for strings is Mr Mark Sullivan. Please take some time to read his biography and make the most of the opportunity to learn from this wonderful educator and musician:
Mark is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he studied violin performance with Dr Anthony Doheny, cello with Christian Wojtowicz and double bass with Dr Michael O’Laughlin. He subsequently completed orchestral conducting studies with Jerry Nowak, Dr William LaRue Jones and Dr Marvin Rabin.
He has worked as an orchestra director in over 30 schools in Australia and the United States and participated in courses and masterclasses with renowned pedagogues including Robert Culver, Paul Rolland, Gerald Anderson, Sandra Dackow, Robert Frost, Bob Phillips, Geza Szilvay, Phyllis Young, Francois Rabbath and Barry Green. Mark has also lectured at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (QCM), Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the University of Queensland (UQ).
He was awarded the ABODA Outstanding Ensemble Director’s Award and the ASG State and National Inspirational Teaching Awards. He has presented at several Maryborough Music Conferences and the National Positive Schools Conference.
Special congratulations to the 2024 Basketball First V and Chess Premier teams for winning their respective GPS premierships and to the Rugby First XV for their valiant effort despite ongoing injuries, achieving sixth place. The sports and activities department is looking forward to concluding the year with the forthcoming GPS Track and Field Championship in October. Our pre-season Term 1 sports—rowing, volleyball, cricket and swimming—are underway this term. For all current information regarding trials and training, please see each sport’s myChurchie page.
Welcome back to Term 4 and the exciting start of the volleyball preseason! We are thrilled to acknowledge some outstanding achievements by our athletes during the break. Luka Sazdov represented the Queensland U18 Maroon team, clinching the National Final, while Edison Du represented the Queensland U14 White team, finishing third overall at the Nationals. Well done, boys! The entire Churchie community is incredibly proud of you both.
GPS selection trials and training
As we gear up for the upcoming GPS Volleyball season, please note the following key dates:
AVSC selection trials – Week 2:
Wednesday 9 October – 3:15 to 4:45 pm – Years 9, 10 and 11 (2024 year levels)
Thursday 10 October – 3:15 to 4:45 pm – Years 7 and 8 (2024 year levels)
Students must be available during the December holidays for selection.
GPS selection trials – Weeks 4 and 5:
Due to increased cocurricular registrations, some participants may not be selected for a GPS team.
GPS pre-season teams training – Starts Week 6
GPS pre-season matches:
Saturday 16 November – Nudgee College
Saturday 23 November – Brisbane Boys’ College
Important: New students arriving in 2025 are expected to attend the selection trials in Term 4, 2024. Exceptions will only be made for boarders or students coming from interstate or overseas in January.
New initiatives
This year, we are pleased to introduce several new initiatives within Churchie Volleyball:
Junior spike squad – tailored for developing young talent.
Student competition – offering students an opportunity to showcase their skills in a competitive environment.
Mixed social competition and division one – providing additional avenues for volleyball engagement. Please see the flyers in the newsletter for further details.
We look forward to a strong pre-season and an even more exciting GPS season ahead!
Carrie Mill Director of Volleyball
Rowing
The 2025 Churchie Rowing Season got off to a fantastic start over the Term 3 break with our Pre-Season Camp at Maroochydore being a huge success.
Open and Year 11 boys spent four days getting back in the boat and building fitness, with some hotly contested beach cricket games and watching the Lions win the Grand Final on Saturday. Back in Brisbane, our Year 10 group kicked off Term 4 training at the shed with a tough ergo and run fitness session while our new and improved pontoon is in its final stages of installation.
A final call-out for Year 7 boys wishing to join our programme as a cox this season. Please directly email Director of Rowing Tyson Sholl, to register your interest. Successful boys will be added to the programme by Week 3.
Tyson Sholl Director of Rowing
Debating
The 2024 Debating season wrapped up with outstanding results in both the QDU and Debate of Origin competitions, reinforcing both Churchie’s competitive strength and character.
The QDU Brisbane Secondary Schools is a gruelling knock-out competition drawing schools from both independent and state sectors. With our 8.1s reaching the top two teams of competition with 160+ teams, we had high hopes for a team that had taken out the GPS premiership for their division. True to form, their performance in the Grand Final was phenomenal, with the boys winning the premiership with a unanimous 3-0 adjudication panel ruling in their favour.
At the top end of the competition, our Senior A boys fought off fierce competition from seasoned teams to reach the grand final against Somerville House. While the team came away with second place in their division, they delivered a polished and gracious performance despite the pressures of mock exams. A special congratulations to Dario Lim for winning speaker of the grand final—a truly deserved recognition for such a classy performance.
On the last day of Term 3, a squad of eleven boys, Grant Smith and I flew to Sydney to compete in the Debate of Origin competition. Started in 2020 as an opportunity for students from Churchie, Melbourne Grammar School and Cranbrook School to continue debating during COVID-19 competition cancellations, it has become an excellent chance to maintain a competitive edge and build friendships across Australia. St Peter’s College in Adelaide joined in 2024.
After some sightseeing and fish and chips at Bondi Beach and scenic drives through Bellevue Hill, we met Cranbrook’s debaters and staff for a welcome dinner and trivia competition. The teams participated in three short-prep debates in a single day with tough topics, and an expectation that all speakers—even those in Year 8—would do points of information questions, usually only expected from Year 11 in the Queensland competitions. In this, the. Juniors won 1 of their 3 debates (with close 1-point margins in the two losses), Seniors won 2 of their 3 debates (again with close 1-point margins in their loss) and Intermediates were tremendously successful in winning the comp for their division by winning all three debates. This resulted in Churchie emerging as the clear winner of the Debate of Origin, with our Seniors and Intermediates winning their divisions and the Juniors coming a close second.
With the 2024 competitions now wrapped up, we are already preparing for our 2025 performance. Preseason training will commence in Week 1 and we will post notifications for trials shortly. Keep an eye on the debating page on myChurchie for more details.
Rebecca Hewitt Director of Debating
Sporting achievements
Congratulations to the following students who achieved representative success recently:
Volleyball
At the National Championships, several Churchie players represented Queensland:
Luka Sazdov represented and captained the Queensland U18 Maroon team, winning the National Final.
Edison Du – Queensland U14 White team – third place.
Adam Sullivan – Queensland U16 White – fifth place.
Frankie Sharpe – Queensland U17 Maroon – second place.
Wil Fernley – Queensland U18 White – third place.
Luka SazdovEdison DuFrankie SharpeLuka Sazdov
Rugby
Congratulations to the following boys who were selected for the Queensland Reds U14 and U16 representative teams during the holiday break. The boys will play against NSW during Term 4 and on behalf of Churchie Rugby and the school community, we wish them the best of luck for those games:
U14 – Elijah Nosa, Kolby Walters, Noah Mariner, Billy Gough and Kane Kinnaird
U16 – Sio Kite, Alfie Bowman and Angus Underwood
Trent Goodrick Head of Cocurricular
Zei Balas
The Arthur Beetson Foundation Queensland Murri Carnival was an incredible experience for everyone involved!
The Zei Balas team, a diverse group of players from various locations, embodied the spirit of unity and cultural pride. Under Jayden Ah Boo’s inspiring leadership and vision, they didn’t just come together as teammates but as brothers.
The competition took place over the holidays from 25 to 28 September. This annual four-day rugby league carnival brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teams from across Queensland. Our team, Zei Balas (bonded like brothers), of 20 players, came from all corners of Australia, including Thursday Island, Badu, Innisfail, Woorabinda, Townsville, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Churchie students Jayden Ah Boo (Captain), Bailen Noy (Vice Captain) and Tuviyah Tamwoy were passionate team participants as players and hosts.
Winning two out of four games is a remarkable achievement, especially for a team that had not previously played together. Their resilience, determination and successful bounce-back after losses are truly commendable. The team’s display of heart, grit and growing bond, is a source of immense pride. The significant role of families, coaches and community support in their journey cannot be overstated.
On behalf of the team, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families, supporters, sponsors, Parent Connect, Community Cookers and the entire Churchie community for their unwavering encouragement and participation throughout this incredible journey. We are deeply grateful to the Churchie staff managers and coaches, (Kelly Jackson and Craig Howe (managers), Peter Coyne and John Krasniewicz (coaches) and their assistants for generously giving their time and support to the team. The presence and support of Kye Boland and Emil Willie-Jawai, founders of the Zei Balas team in 2021 and Churchie Old Boys (2023), at the games, was also greatly appreciated.
Jayden Ah Boo, the captain of the team, shared his thoughts on representing his mob and participating in the games, saying,
By forming this team, my primary goal is to extend the opportunities I have been fortunate to have to my close friends and family from remote communities. I want to give them a chance to showcase their talents, giving them a new path to walk while proudly representing our diverse backgrounds, rich cultures, cherished families and beloved homes.
Jayden Ah Boo
When asked about the highlight of the carnival, the players shared, “It was coming together as strangers and leaving as brothers, representing their culture through rugby, making lifelong friends and creating unforgettable memories.”
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 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.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events and dates for your diary are below:
3 October | CART Awards evening, Churchie Art
5 October | Nansen House Family Social | 2 to 5 pm | RSVP
8 October | CAM Awards, Dendi Cinemas Coorparoo
9 October | Parent Connect Meeting | 6 to 7 pm, Brenan Pavilion
12 October | Biggs House Parents Catchup, venue TBC
25 October | Grenfell Mothers Lunch
26 October | Year 4 Parents Christmas Party
27 October | Mansfield House Christmas Party
30 October | Coffee and Connect | Arches | 8:15 am
30 October | Parent Connect AGM | Brenan Pavilion | 9 am and then lunch. Please see the details here.
On 11 September, Parent Connect hosted our annual Spring Lunch at the Greek Club in West End. It was a fabulous day with 540 in attendance. We were entertained by a fashion parade from Samantha Ogilvie and viewed a wellbeing video produced by students to share how wellbeing is fostered by the School. This is available to watch on the Senior School Wellbeing page. It was a wonderful afternoon of camaraderie and conversation.
An annual tradition is for the flower centrepieces to be purchasable and gifted to teachers and others as a sign of appreciation. We were delighted to be able to continue this again in 2024.
A huge thanks to all for attending and for your contribution to funding our Wellbeing speakers for the year ahead.
Best wishes, Parent Connect Executive Team and Coordinator Community.
Churchie Foundation raffle
The Ultimate $500k Sports Car and Experience Raffle
The Churchie Foundation is giving you the opportunity to win extraordinary prizes from a prize pool valued at $500,000. Prizes include a Porsche vehicle package valued at $320,000, Porsche Alpine Travel Experiences valued at $80,000 each and a Sports Travel Experience valued at $20,000.
Ticket sales close on Friday 22 November 2024 at 9 am.
The Churchie Cricket Luncheon will take place on Friday 15 November at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank. This will be the 19th annual Churchie Cricket Luncheon which over the years has generated significant financial support for the Churchie Grand Master Plan, the Churchie Cricket programme and many nominated charities. The 2024 Cricket Luncheon will support Parkinson’s Queensland.
As always, the luncheon will be full of fun including the traditional bowling competitions for both men and women, networking, quality raffles and auctions, a quality three-course meal, top-shelf beverages and wonderful entertainment from cricketing legends Doug Walters, Michael Vaughan and Simon Katich.
Tables of 10 and individual tickets are still available.
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.
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.
