The Weekly

Audio edition

For this term, we are trialling the audio version of the Churchie Weekly Newsletter as an additional way for you to hear what’s on at Churchie. For feedback or general inquiries, please contact Churchie News.

From the Deputy Headmaster

At our Headmaster’s Assembly last week, I referred to the advice left by some of our highest achieving boys from our class of 2023. As we approach the final challenges of Term 1, it is a timely moment to share some of the words of wisdom from our newest Old Boys:

Lachlan Mills, now studying a Bachelor of Paramedic Science at Queensland University of Technology

‘Get the most out of your class time by paying attention and asking questions. Show your teacher that you are paying attention and willing to learn; they will always offer their advice and encouragement. Think about your end goals and how your efforts are bringing you closer to achieving them. Try to space your study out so that you do small blocks of work consistently, rather than a huge amount of work all at once.’

Leo Callaghan, now studying a Bachelor of Economics / Laws (Honours) at The University of Queensland

‘Churchie provided me with a plethora of resources that enabled me to succeed academically and gain entry into my first preference at university. To prepare for exams and assignments, my advice is to start early, make a weekly study schedule and not use AI dishonestly. As a visual learner, study skills I enjoyed using included brain dumps and drawing diagrams, graphs and flowcharts. Find what suits your style of learning and exploit that for maximum rewards.’

Toby Garraway, now studying a Bachelor of Science / Laws (Honours) at The University of Queensland

‘My advice to younger students for academic success is to use the resources provided to you, including Study Hub tutoring and teachers. Don’t be hesitant to reach out for help. I found the Pomodoro technique helpful. To keep motivated, put aside distractions and just start working. If you have nothing else to do but your work, your mind will focus quickly and you will be productive.’

Angus McPherson, now studying a Bachelor of Engineer­ing (Honours) / Design at The University of Queensland

‘As counterproductive as it sounds, stay busy. My best work was done when I was under the pump, as I had no time to get distracted on my phone or procrastinate. Be nice to your teachers—they always go that extra mile to give you a hand, especially in the lead-up to external exams. Start your assignments early—there is no better feeling than going to bed early the night before an assignment is due.’

Across all our highest achieving students last year, very clear themes emerged from the advice they offered. Start tasks early, especially for revision before examinations. Ask lots of questions to check for understanding. Have clear and achievable goals to help with motivation. Stay organised to get the most out of every moment. Study hard but always in a smart way—know how your brain works and take advantage of effective study routines.

Evoking Jim Rohn’s famous line, here is one final sentiment that I always find especially powerful:

Charlie O’Connell, now studying a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics at The University of Queensland

‘The pain of discipline hurts far less than the pain of disappointment.’

In his own version of the same idea, Rohn went on to explain the difference between these two ideas, that ‘discipline weighs ounces while regret (or disappointment) weighs tons’. As ever, the former seems much more appealing.

NAPLAN

Across the country over the coming days, over a million students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be undergoing the annual suite of NAPLAN tests. As always, Churchie sees these testing opportunities as useful to further understand student growth and development, both for individual students and across whole cohorts over time.

Please see this page from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for more information on NAPLAN. Of note:

Education ministers agreed that NAPLAN results would be reported using proficiency standards from 2023. Together with the move to an earlier NAPLAN in March, these changes meet an initiative of the 2019 National School Reform Agreement.

The proficiency standards are reported on a reset NAPLAN measurement scale that makes better use of the online adaptive tests.

A new NAPLAN time series begins from 2023. Results from 2023 onwards cannot be directly compared to results from 2008 to 2022. 

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)

At Churchie, it is important for every student to be involved in NAPLAN. However, results only provide a ‘point in time’ gauge on student capability. They are not a final or definitive indicator of overall potential.

We thank our staff for all their work in managing our NAPLAN tests, particularly with the technological complexities that come with NAPLAN’s new digital interface. The new world of online assessment is certainly a sight to behold.

Cocurricular news

Last Saturday at Lake Wyaralong, the GPS Head of the River rowing championships showcased some remarkable talent from our rowers, and also reflected the extraordinary support of our broader rowing community. While the day may not have translated favourably across all our crews, there were some significant highlights and all our students, particularly our Year 12 students, should be immensely proud of their efforts and dedication. We offer our particular congratulations to the following crews who won their divisions:

• Year 9 Division 11
• Year 9 Division 6
• Year 10 Division 4
• Year 10 Division 3
• Open Division 4

Of note, there were 14 podiums across all age groups with our Year 9 and 10 boys reaching 12 of these podiums. This also placed us in third place for quad races with only 2 points separating the top 3 schools. Our programme is in a strong position for next season.

We also extend our sincere congratulations to our volleyball community with the Firsts completing their 2024 season undefeated on Saturday, with a remarkable depth of talent across the rest of the programme as well. In the coming days, we look forward to the final stages of GPS Debating and Cricket seasons, both programmes featuring significant talent and success from our Churchie boys. End of season functions are always a wonderful way to acknowledge success and hard work, and for students to convey their appreciation to all our staff and parents who support our various programmes in such selfless and inspiring ways.

Richard Wheeldon
Deputy Headmaster

The Viking

The Viking 2023 has arrived

The Viking 2023 yearbook has been distributed to all staff and students across the School. If your son was enrolled at the school in 2023 and has not yet received The Viking 2023, please have them contact their housemaster (Senior School) or classroom teacher (Prep School).

Final call for The Viking 2022

If you do not have a copy of The Viking 2022 yearbook, please collect one within the next week from any of the following locations:

• Prep School office
• MS24 student services
• Jackson main reception

Year 3 Discovery Day

Year 3 Discovery Day is a special morning for boys currently in Prep, Year 1 or Year 2 and their families to experience the unique benefits of joining Churchie in Year 3.

If you have a friend or relative who would like to find out more about a Churchie education, you are most welcome to invite them to attend on Thursday 20 March.

Please have them register via the Churchie website.

Prep School

This week, our Year 6 boys will commence their outdoor education programme. They will travel to North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), renowned for its incredible natural landscapes including cliffs, beaches, forests and, of course, its Aussie wildlife. The three-day experience will foster friendship building, problem-solving, independence and building the boys’ self-confidence.

Building self-confidence is an important facet of our outdoor education programme, providing boys with the opportunity to try and experience many new and different activities that are not part of our day-to-day curriculum. Each activity is a new challenge, a new opportunity to succeed, learn, overcome fear and even fail a few times along the way. Our boys walk away with a sense of achievement when successfully completing these new activities.

While on the programme, boys are building their sense of independence. Completing tasks they may not do at home, following rules and managing themselves are all important skills developed on camp. Managing their belongings and their sleeping quarters is always interesting.

The programme can bring individuals together who may not have previously interacted in other areas of school life. It is an opportunity to share a meal, build teamwork and engage in activities where they are responsible for each other. Promoting care, welfare for others and mateship are important elements. Outdoor education amplifies the community and relationships that happen at school and provides a level playing field for all our boys.

There will be valuable opportunities for boys to connect with what they have been learning in the classroom: science, mathematics and problem-solving. Connecting classroom learning to outdoor activities shows boys there is value in what they are learning. Additionally, there will be physical activities they may not have encountered before, such as high ropes courses, bushwalking and canoeing. For some boys, they thrive in an outdoor education environment and discover a newfound love of learning!

I know our boys will find the outdoor education programme challenging in some ways, but ultimately it is an opportunity for personal growth and development. I look forward to visiting our campsites this year and sharing images with you.

Value of the week: forgiveness

Forgiveness is giving people another chance after they have done something wrong. Everyone makes mistakes. Instead of revenge, make amends. Forgive yourself too. Instead of feeling hopeless after a mistake, decide to act differently, and have faith that you can change.

Attribute of the week: inquirers

Inquirers have a natural curiosity, learn to acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research, and show independence in learning. You actively enjoy learning, and this love of learning will be sustained throughout your life.

Japanese

It has been a fabulous start to the year. The boys have settled into our Japanese class routines and have been making great progress in their language ability. We have been lucky to have Daichi Kuwabara in our classroom. Kuwabara Sensei is a student teacher visiting from the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. Not only has he been in the Japanese classroom, he has also been very active exploring everything Churchie has to offer!

The boys have been enjoying Japanese Club on Wednesday afternoons, tutoring on Friday mornings and Hiragana Bootcamp at lunch on Tuesdays. We welcomed the new boys in Year 5 with a full blooming cherry blossom tree, just like it would be in Japan. The school year starts in April in Japan and the cherry blossoms are usually in full bloom.

Prep Solos

Congratulations to the boys across Years 1 to 6 who prepared musical items to share with our Churchie community this week at our Term 1 Prep Solos Evening. It was lovely to not only hear their performances (particularly those performing for the first time)  but also see their amazing progress.  I thoroughly enjoyed listening to each carefully prepared piece for piano, acoustic guitar, flute, trombone, violin, viola, cello and double bass. What an amazing gift to share with an audience, that of beautiful music!

Prep Solos offers a wonderful and authentic performance opportunity for our Prep boys to grow their musicianship and technical skills through the challenge of formal performance preparation. It takes a lot of polishing and practising to have an item ready to perform, and it takes courage to get up in front of an audience. However, there are incredible benefits not just to their musical and communication skills but to memory, self-regulation and discipline, coordination and confidence! All boys involved should be very proud of their hard work.

Thank you to all of our wonderful VPAT tutors for encouraging our students behind the scenes, and particularly to Ingrid Rochet for accompanying many of the boys on the night on piano.

If your son is interested in performing at next term’s Prep Solos, please see the expression of interest in the notices of My Churchie or speak to your son’s VPAT tutor. All year levels, all instruments, and all technical levels are welcome!

Library

Reader of the Week recipients: William Leahy, Marco Culpo and Harrison Gibb

Prep Support Group

The next meeting of the Prep Support Group will be in JB Adams Library at 6 pm on Thursday 21 March. All Prep School parents are welcome to attend.

Fathers Sausage Sizzle

The once-a-term Fathers Sausage Sizzle will take place at lunchtime on Friday 22 March. Please pre-order your sausage here. Please note that no other food options are available on sausage sizzle days for lunch. No late orders can be taken on this day. Please see the Prep Tuckshop menu on myChurchie for details.

Around the grounds

Easter service

The Prep School’s Easter Service at St John’s Cathedral will be on Monday 25 March from 6 to 7 pm. The service is compulsory for all Years 4 to 6 boys. A roll will be taken in the evening. The formal uniform of a white shirt and tie is to be worn by all students attending. Boys with special tasks at this service will travel to the cathedral during the day of the service to rehearse. All families are welcome to attend.

Parents on campus

A reminder that all visitors to campus (including parents) during the school day must sign in upon arrival.

If you are attending the campus for an appointment with a staff member, the sign-in process generates a notification to let our staff member know that you have arrived. It will also print a name tag for you to wear while on campus.
 
Sign-in kiosks are available at the Prep School Office. Parents who are volunteering at the tuckshop can sign in at the tuckshop. Your cooperation with this process is appreciated.

Traffic and parking

The safety and wellbeing of our boys are paramount. Please ensure when accessing the drop off and pick up zones around the school, you observe the local road rules and conditions. We are happy to provide staff in these areas in order to facilitate an efficient, orderly and safe environment for our boys.

Term dates

The final school day for this term is Wednesday 27 March. Term 2 commences on Tuesday 16 April.

Mark Wyer
Head of Preparatory School

QCE evaluation

The QCAA has engaged the University of Melbourne’s Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre to conduct an independent evaluation of the new QCE system. The aim is to assess the QCE’s efficacy and for recommendations to the QCAA for future improvements.

Following a recent opportunity for school communities to provide initial feedback via a quick survey, the University of Melbourne is now inviting organisations and individuals to make more substantial written submissions of up to 2,000 words on their thoughts, experiences and impressions of the QCE system and its processes. Responses are required address to five stimulus questions that can be found on the submission form via this link. The closing date for these written submissions is Friday 19 April.

Please click here for information on Churchie’s thoughts regarding the new QCE. However, we encourage members of our community to offer their own views.

Richard Wheeldon
Deputy Headmaster

Senior School

GPA Improvers in 2023

The following Senior School students were recognised in last week’s Headmaster’s Assembly as our GPA improvers in Senior School from Semester 1 to Semester 2 last year. They have also achieved strong learning behaviours in all their subjects, which, of course, is essential to any sustained improvement and success.

Year 11 IB Music

This week our Year 11 IB Music students presented their first performance in a series of performances that will cover these four areas of inquiry:

• music for sociocultural and political expression
• music for listening and performing
• music for dramatic impact, movement and entertainment
• music technology in the electronic and digital age

Alex Ma sang ‘Good thing going’ by his favourite composer Stephen Sondheim. Jack Leung performed Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C# minor on piano. Noah Oxenford performed Andaluza, a Spanish-inspired piano piece by Granados. Luka Roberts demonstrated virtuosic trumpet technique playing Slavische Fantasie by late-Romantic composer Carl Höhne. Clancy Wardle rounded out the session by channelling Pearl Jam in his performance of ‘Jeremy’. We also extend thanks to Mr Christian Gante who accompanied some of our students.

Due to the nature of the IB Music course, students embark on a two-year journey to build their portfolio, allowing them to refine their performances and hone their musical abilities over time. This approach not only fosters growth but also encourages students to push the boundaries of their creativity and expressiveness.

As we applaud the remarkable achievements of our Year 11 musicians, we eagerly anticipate the continued development of their portfolios.

Meagan Pearse
Head of Faculty – Music
IB Teacher

Pink Stumps Day service barbecue

On Friday, the Churchie Cricket community engaged in Pink Stumps Day by organising a barbeque and selling socks, bandannas, grips and caps. Through the dedicated efforts of Mr James Patmore, the First XI and other volunteers from the wider cricket community, we were able to raise vital funds for the McGrath Foundation.

Connor Rudman
Service Captain

Driving to school

Students who hold a current driver’s licence may use a private vehicle or watercraft to travel to and from Churchie under strict conditions at the discretion of the school.

Below are the conditions under which permission is granted to use a private vehicle to and from school or a school event:

• The student must register to drive with the School Marshal and receive approval from their housemaster before commencing to drive to school.
• Year 11 students are not permitted to carry any passengers, except for immediate family.
• Year 12 students must have the written permission of their parents on file with the School Marshal before they carry designated passengers.
• Year 12 students are to have no more than one designated passenger in their car, unless the passengers are siblings. Designated passengers, who are not relatives of the driver, must have written authority from their parents to travel with another student. This is to be kept on file with the School Marshal.
• Day students are not permitted to drive boarders under any circumstances at any time.
• Students must park in Easts Football Club, Barker Street and other surrounding streets and observe all parking regulations. No students are to park in Oaklands Parade or in any staff or parent car parks. Students and their families retain full responsibility for the safety and care of their motor vehicles.
• Vehicles are out of bounds for the duration of the school day.
• The speed limit within the school grounds is 15 km per hour.
• The school uniform must be worn when driving to and from school
• Traffic violations, reported dangerous driving or inappropriate behaviours by drivers and/or passengers to and from school may result in the withdrawal of driving privileges and/or the request to undertake a defensive driving course and may also be referred to the Police.

Students may request to travel to school by a motorised watercraft (tinnie). Students are not permitted to and from school by jet ski. Permission to travel to school by tinnie must be requested from the School Marshal and have written permission from their parents on file. Permission to drive to school is considered a privilege and may be revoked at any time by the Head of Senior School.

Students are not permitted to ride electric scooters to and/or from school or school events, or at any time while at school or while wearing a school uniform.

Permission to drive forms may be obtained from myChurchie.

Lost Property

Please encourage your son to visit Lost Property if he is missing any items. Lost Property is open at morning tea in MS43 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Parents on campus

A reminder that all visitors to campus (including parents) during the school day must sign in upon arrival. This includes The Centenary Library, except for The Arches café.
 
If you are attending campus for an appointment with a staff member, the sign-in process generates a notification to let our staff member know that you have arrived. It will also print a name tag for you to wear whilst on campus.
 
Sign in kiosks are available at the main reception (Jackson building) or in the Senior School office (MS25).

Your cooperation with this process is appreciated.  

Rod Olsen
Head of Senior School

Chaplain’s corner

St John’s Cathedral Bell Tower Open Days

Saturday: 23 March 2024 from 1 to 5 pm
Sunday: 24 March 2024 from 11 am to 3 pm

St John’s Cathedral Bellringers invite you to join us for Open Days on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March 2024.

The Mini Ring will be available in the North Carpark between 1 to 5 pm on Saturday 23 and 11 am to 3 pm on Sunday 24 March.

There will also be free tours of the Cathedral Bell Tower with the opportunity to try a tower bell, as well as regular ringing demonstrations during the weekend. All ages are welcome.

Register for tours here.

Admission to Holy Communion Service

Date: Wednesday 1 May 2024
Time: 6 pm
Location: St John’s Cathedral

Churchie students in Year 4 and above are invited to celebrate being admitted to Holy Communion in a joint service with students from St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School.

Please complete the Admission to Holy Communion JotForm. 

If your child has not yet been baptised, this can occur during or before the Admission to Holy Communion Service.

Please contact Chaplain Stephanie for further information at stephanie.cotroneo@churchie.com.au.

Stephanie Cotroneo
Lay Minister – Chaplain Preparatory School

Confirmation Service

Date: Wednesday 12 June 2024
Time: 7 pm
Location: Canon Jones Memorial Chapel

Churchie students in Year 9 and above are invited to express interest in taking part in the sacrament of Confirmation. Family and friends are welcome to attend, and sisters from any school are welcome to be Confirmed alongside their brothers. They are also encouraged to support and attend this service, which will be followed by light refreshments.

Please complete the Confirmation Application JotForm to express interest in learning more about confirmation. If the candidate has not yet been baptised, this will occur during the Confirmation Service. Please note: a separate form is required for each candidate to enter the necessary details for each person.

Please contact The Rev’d Sharon Mitchell if you have any questions or for further information at sharon.mitchell@churchie.com.au.

Rev’d Sharon Mitchell
Senior Chaplain

Music

Daniel Batchelor – Co-Captain of Bands

There is a saying in music that ‘people often hear with their eyes’ and after viewing the Big Band 1 performance last Thursday at Headmaster’s Assembly, there would be no better epitome of this than Co-captain of Bands Daniel Batchelor. Please take the time to read more about his journey through the Churchie ensembles below and you can also watch Big Band 1’s performance:

I joined Churchie in 2021 in Year 9 where I joined the music department as soon as I could, joining Morris Wind Symphony and Big Band 2, and later Big Band 1. The friendships and enjoyment I got from Churchie music drew me to take on more and more additional commitments and bands, ranging from Twisted Metal and Drumline, from the 2023 Japan Music Tour and the Pit Band for the Singing in the Rain Musical in 2022. Being a part of these ensembles has allowed me to build close relationships with fellow musicians and to learn new and important skills. It is these skills that I find as key reasons why more students should pick up an instrument.

Daniel Batchelor

As the May concert series draws near, I and my fellow musicians look forward in anticipation to those truly memorable performances. No performance is made excellent by a lack of dedication, reliability, and hard work towards the difficult music,  which is why this year I aim to catalyse a strengthening of positive behaviours in the rehearsal room and music program. I look forward to continuing the mentor program by senior musicians for prep and concert band students, alongside a reform targeting tardiness in the rehearsal room.

Queensland Youth Symphony

A huge congratulations to Hunter Luostarinen (Year 9) and Luka Roberts (Year 11) who will be performing with QYS on Saturday 16 March 7 pm, at the QCGU Conservatorium Theatre. Queensland Youth Symphony is the highest honour for any orchestral musician in the state up to the age of 25. For Luka and Hunter to be a part of this orchestra at such a young age, is an impressive achievement in itself. The programme will feature the impressive Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 as well as the Elgar Cello Concerto. If you would like to purchase tickets in support of our Churchie musicians, please use the following link here.

John Law and Gabin Won

Congratulations to Year 10 student John Law (AmusA Piano) and Year 11 student Gabin Won (LMusA Flute), who were both awarded their diplomas from the Australian Music Examinations Board last week. These are significant achievements for students of such a young age and they can now use these diplomas as letters next to their name.

Stringsfest

Well done to the members of Chamber Strings 1, who played with finesse at Stringsfest last Wednesday. The executive member of Brisbane Grammar School said it was hard to believe that they were only of school age with such fine musicianship. Once again, Eric Kim played ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ with great emotion and Mock Morris was the best performance of this repertoire to date. The massed Stringsfest Orchestra of more than 100 students playing Vaughn Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis was a sight to behold. Congratulations to all of the Chamber Strings 1 members who were involved.

May Concert Series

A reminder to save the date for the upcoming May Concert Series in Term 2. Students have been practising for over two terms for their first performance of the year. Please take some time to review the video below:

Bohdan Davison
Director of Music

Sport

This weekend saw two key milestones in our GPS sports and activities calendar. A sea of blue and grey supporters turned out in force for the GPS Head of the River rowing championship at Wyaralong Dam on Saturday.  And, our 2023 ‘programme of the year’ Churchie Volleyball secured a back-to-back GPS premiership. Congratulations to all boys and to Director of Volleyball Carrie Mill for her tremendous hard work and dedication to Churchie Volleyball, assisted by the Volleyball Support Group.

Please see the weekend’s results summary via myChurchie – GPS Sports and Activities.

Rowing

The 2024 GPS Rowing season ended on a blustery Lake Wyaralong on Saturday. Tough and ever-changing conditions provided fast times, fuelled by a strong cross-tail wind and athletes hitting the peak of their season when it mattered.

Churchie started well with a clean sweep of the podium in the Year 9 Div 10 race and our first victory of the day going to the Year 9 Elevenths (Worthington, Medelis, Lewis, King and cox Carpenter). The Year 9 programme continued their day with a further three podium finishes, making up nearly half of our total podiums for the day with six in total. This was capped off by our 2024 quad crew of the year, the Year 9 Sixths (Pollock, Waller, Ward, York and Wang) taking the win in their final race of the season.

The point-scoring campaign started well with back-to-back second places for the Year 10 Sixths and Fifths. Division 4 provided our first win in Year 10 with the crew of (Bennett, Searle, Brittain, Easton and cox Morris) narrowly beating a fast-finishing crew from Gregory Terrace. Winning ways continued in the form of our overall crew of the year for 2024, the Year 10 Thirds (Scott, Townson, Deluca-Smith, Parker and cox Parker), capping off an undefeated season with a two-second win over TSS.

The strength of our junior and Year 10 programmes bodes for well the seasons to come. Twelve of our 14 podiums came from these teams and solidified third place on points for quads with only two points separating the top three schools.

The Year 11 Division 1 crew (Brown, Hopkins, Booth, O’Connor, Barrett, Rissman, Roberts, Louw and cox Williams), coached by Jack Barwick, put together another fantastic row in a highly competitive field to finish with a time good enough for second place in the Open Division 3. Congratulations to the hard work of those involved in fielding full Year 11 Division 2 and 3 boats. This was a great experience for the boys and we look forward to their progress next year.

Our Open Third VIII (Patterson, Hughes, Yunker, Souris, Butler, Tammela, Williams, Hood and Evans) did us proud in their last race, overcoming late-season crew changes to finish a close third behind Terrace and TSS. It was a result worthy of the effort put in over four years. The only win of our Open programme went to the Open Fourth VIII in a narrow victory over GT. Our VIII crew of the year for 2024 is the Open Second VIII (McDonald, Edmonds, Webster, McPhee, Marcovich, Allen, Parkes, Taylor and cox Earnshaw), who stormed home to claim the bronze (narrowly missing silver) in their best time of the season of 6:05.9.

The Open First VIII (Bitz, Parkes, Stinson, Parr, Parkes, Williams, McIntyre, Pini and cox Bliss) had a disappointing end to what was a largely successful season. Winning the Under 21 VIII at Queensland states was the highlight, along with several second places. An unfortunately timed mishap with 500 metres to go saw the boys cross the line in a position not reflective of the season but taken with grace, nonetheless. Five boys from this boat return next season to make amends, I’m sure.

The winning crews in order:

• Year 9 Div 11
• Year 9 Div 6
• Year 10 Div 4
• Year 10 Div 3
• Open Div 4.

Tyson Sholl
Director of Rowing

Cricket

Saturday’s round of GPS fixtures saw Churchie take on Ipswich Grammar School (IGS) in the annual Pink Stumps Round. Along with being Churchie Cricket’s main fundraising event, it was also a hugely important round on the field, with most games, especially in the A divisions, being match-ups between teams sitting in the top three positions on their respective ladders.

Overall, Churchie enjoyed the better of the head-to-head results, winning 12 of the 19 matches played against IGS. While IGS won more of the A division matches, where most of their teams sit in a top two ranking, Churchie’s B and C teams performed strongly. Highlight team performances included 9A locking in first place overall in their competition with a 45-run win, 9C bowling out IGS for 46 and 8B remarkably winning their match, defending just 62 runs.

The First XI contest saw second place Churchie take on third place IGS—a heavyweight contest between two standout teams.

The match was truly befitting the promised contest, with momentum swinging back and forth across the 100 overs of play, going down to the final over. IGS batted first and posted 9/207. The efforts of the Churchie bowlers and fielders were excellent in limiting IGS to that total, where, at times, they threatened to set a target of 230 plus. Henry Hiller (2/34), Rupert Bignall (2/43) and Angus Storen (2/48) all collected two wickets each.

In reply, an 83 run third wicket partnership between Daniel Desmet (51) and Tighe Morris (42) had Churchie well placed at 2/121 heading towards the second drinks break. However, a crucial over, which saw both batters dismissed, swung the game back in IGS favour. Despite the best efforts in the final overs from Sam Drinnen (27*), Alex Walduck (19) and Rupert Bignall (16), Churchie ultimately fell five runs short, finishing at 9/202. It was a wonderful game of cricket, with IGS just proving too strong.

Across the grounds, there were, once again, plenty of outstanding performances, led by Shoubhit Jain from the 8As, who hit an outstanding 104 in his team’s win. His century was the fifth scored by a Churchie batsman this season. Congratulations to:

• Daniel Desmet First XI 51
• Ben Donger Fourth XI 54
• Riley Wondergem 11A 87*
• Sean Hansen 11A 66*
• Liam Stieper 10A 68
• Kian Chapman 9A 4/15
• Bobby Winson 9C 64
• Shoubhit Jain 8A 104
• Isaiah Missen 8D 50
• Cooper Mullins 7C 42*

This weekend sees Churchie take on TSS, in the final round of matches for the 2024 season, with round nine being a bye for Churchie. This week is also the final week of training for all teams for the season. Best of luck to all teams in their final round of matches, where there are upwards of 20 teams fighting to secure a top three ladder finish, including many looking to secure first place. For the First XI, a win over season leaders TSS would see them lead the ladder going into the last round, forcing both IGS & TSS to have to win their final matches away from home to secure the premiership.

A reminder that ticket sales for the Churchie Cricket End of Season Dinner on Saturday 23 March at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre close on Monday 18 March. We look forward to seeing the Churchie Cricket community come together that evening to celebrate the 2024 season.

James Patmore
Director of Cricket

Volleyball

Round seven marked the official last round of GPS Volleyball for 2024. We hosted Ipswich Grammar seniors at home. The dominance that has been shown across all teams throughout the season continued with an almost clean sweep in both the junior and senior games.

Churchie Volleyball concluded the 2024 season as the top overall programme, earning 272 points. Our official win/loss percentage increased to 81.7% up from 78.7% in 2023. As a programme, we secured 16 official GPS premierships, including 13 undefeated teams and a back to back undefeated premiership for Mr Ben Wasley and the First VI.

2024 premierships include the Open Firsts, Thirds, Fourths (unofficial), 11B, 11C, 11D (unofficial), 10D, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E (unofficial), 6A, 6B, 5A and 5B teams.

A special congratulations to 5A, coached by Nicole Baker and 5B, our newest team, coached by Vivienne Corness, for an incredible inaugural season, winning an undefeated premiership. Sam Box from the First VI has been mentoring our youngest team with Mrs Corness commenting ‘Sam’s insights, positivity, encouragement and tips for the boys have been invaluable.’ Thank you Sam for your dedication and support, undoubtedly the secret weapon to the Year 5 success story.

The Year 9 cohort also deserves a special mention for maintaining an undefeated record across all four teams. Nathan Spencer coached the A team but also worked closely with the other teams across his year level to ensure a whitewash of results in Year 9, contributing to four of our 13 undefeated premierships for the season. This adds to the fierce competition in the race for team of the year in 2024!

Expected premierships by schools are as follows:

• ACGS – 19 (16 official, 3 unofficial)
• NC – 7 (1 official, 6 unofficial)
• BGS – 5 (4 official, 1 unofficial)
• BSHS – 3 (3 official)
• BBC – 1 (1 official)

*To be recognised as an official GPS competition/premiership there needs to be at least 5 teams in the competition.

Congratulations on a remarkable season, and here’s to a future filled with even more victories, both big and small. I look forward to celebrating this amazing season with the community at our end of season awards night on 23 March.

Carrie Mill
Director of Volleyball

Debating

International Women’s Day was certainly a day that attracted much commentary throughout the School. As round seven of GPS Debating fell on 8 March, we reflected on the plight of women and also acknowledged the phenomenal efforts of the parents (and particularly the mothers in our community) for their work in preparing the catering and the smooth flow of our home rounds. These volunteers give their time so generously.  To all the parents, and especially mothers, who comprise our parent helpers and Debating Support Group, thank you so much. Our Captain Dario Lim reiterated these ideas in his speech to the boys:

‘As debaters, the struggles of women globally are very real and important issues we argue about, and we are in a unique position to understand and combat these issues where we can. You are going to make arguments about these issues, from the point of these women. As the captain of this community, I am proud to say each and every one of you are among the kindest and most well-informed people. But we go to a school where sexist ideas are far too prevalent. It’s conversations in locker rooms or the disproportionate disrespect that female teachers endure. I know this isn’t you guys, but every time you walk past those standards, you are letting them grow and spread. So call them out. Call out the sexist comments, or objectifying language. Because the standards you walk by are the standards you accept.’

Dario Lim

What followed was a high-quality afternoon of debate. Across our 17 debates, we took 14 wins, including every team from Years 8 to 12, who are currently all sitting in the top three of their respective divisions. Congratulations to our 9.2 and 11.1 teams for maintaining their unbeaten streak, and to the mighty Senior As, who took a convincing win against Ipswich Grammar School with a unanimous 3–0 panel win. While I am confident of a top three finish for them in a year of exceptionally strong competition, I also know that we couldn’t have better boys as role models to our younger speakers. I hope that the audience at their final debate against The Southport School gets to see some top talent in action.

The QDU competition is also well underway, with all our teams having completed their first round of competition. On Wednesday night, it was a highly entertaining debate between our 12.1s and a team of spirited first-timers from QASMT. The 12.1s and 8.1s took convincing wins and made new friends along the way. Likewise, it was a high level of competition from our Year 7s in their first ever debate at Villanova College. I was proud to see two out of these three teams walk away with a win.

This week is another packed week of competition. We conclude the official GPS competition this Friday with the round against TSS (keep an eye on myChurchie for transport details), and our Senior A and Year 10 debaters have a round of QDU Debating on Wednesday to keep their long-prep skills fresh. My hope is that we can finish strong.  I remind boys that debates aren’t won with academic skills or public speaking prowess, but with goodness: compassion, active listening, respect, empathy and support for each other.

Rebecca Hewitt
Director of Debating

Water Polo

There has been a large number of boys registered in Years 7 and 8 to play in Term 2, resulting in the need for a trial this term. The trial will be held on Thursday 21 March (week nine) from 7 to 8 am at the Churchie 25 m pool. The first part of the trial will require all boys will be required to complete a 200 m time trial followed by a 4 x 25 m sprint session (you may wear goggles for the swim sets).

Details regarding training, games and uniforms are available on the Churchie Water Polo myChurchie page.

Alan Greenbank
Director of Water Polo

Sporting Achievements

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

• Nick Mattiske, Flynn Swift and William Hansen on their selection for the Metropolitan East Open Water Polo team to contest the state championships in Brisbane in May.
• Nate Strachan competed at the South Coast Branch Surf Life Saving Championships and has qualified and been selected to represent BMD Northcliffe.
• Andrew Watene was selected in the boys 13 to 16 years Metropolitan East Basketball team to compete at Queensland State Championships in Cairns in May.
• Jake Miles-Wrency, Nash Harding and Connor Davidson were selected in the boys 17 to 19 years Composite District Basketball team competing at the Metropolitan East Trials this week.

Trent Goodrick
Head of Cocurricular

Churchie Old Boys’ Association

Book launch – A Running Life

Tony Booth OAM, a renowned athlete and athletics coach, was born in Toowoomba in 1929. Tony was a champion schoolboy athlete and Open Queensland champion for 100 yards (1949 and 1950) and 440 yards (1955 and 1957). For over thirty years (1956 – 1989) he coached athletics, cross country, swimming and rugby at Churchie. He later coached athletics at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School.

Tony has written his autobiography, entitled A Running Life which covers the many years of his athletics career and his involvement in GPS sports, QGSSSA carnivals, UQ track and field, ‘Tony Booth Sports’ and retirement. It runs to approximately 650 pages and will be printed in two, hard-covered volumes.

In celebration, a book launch will be held in the Brenan Pavilion at Churchie on Thursday 21 March 2024.

Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 4 to 6 pm
Location: Brenan Pavilion

RSVP: Friday 15 March 2024

$220 per two-volume set

To confirm your attendance at the Book Launch and pick up your order, please click here.

You may attend the book launch without purchasing a book, however, please register your attendance for catering purposes.

To purchase the book only, please click here. Please note that postal charges will apply and that orders will be dispatched after the book launch.

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

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.

Parent Connect contacts

We are happy to share with you all that the Parent Connect executive team, Year, House and Volunteer coordinators can be viewed on the Parent Connect page on myChurchie. Click here to view 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. Once you have joined, you will receive communication from your parent coordinators, access to your cohort’s parent contact list and membership to join the private Facebook groups. Join here.

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.

Parent Connect Events

Term 1 events

Friday was a wonderful day of community, connection and friendship for the parents of Churchie with coffee and Connect followed by the Parent Chapel service, Parent & Staff morning tea and the always beautiful Boarding and Day mother’s afternoon tea. Thank you to everyone involved in making this day so special.

Reverend Sharon shared with parents some words of wisdom about grace and giving ourselves space for the busy and the quiet times. Recommended books: ‘Bright Shining How Grace Changes Everything’ by Julia Baird and ‘Having and Mary Heart in a Martha World’ by Joanna Weaver.

The chapel will be open from 7:45 am on Wednesday mornings for meditation as an opportunity to take a quiet moment in our busy lives, all are welcome.

Term 2 Events

• Coffee and Connect (1 May)
• Churchie Open Day (1 May)
• Parent Connect Meeting Brenan Pavilion (29 May)
• Wellbeing Speaker Series (TBC)

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.

Follow Churchie

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• Churchie on LinkedIn

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