This term, we completed the last of the Year 9 Outdoor Education programmes for 2024. The Year 9 camps were a series of adventures and thrilling activities set against breathtaking landscapes. The rock climbing challenged students on the impressive cliffs of Mt Tinbeerwah. There was an atmosphere of excitement and a hint of nervousness as each student tackled the chosen routes. Encouraged by friends, students pushed their limits, celebrating each ascent.
The vibe shifted as the houses took to the water for a day of kayaking. With the sun shining and water gently rippling beneath the kayaks, students paddled through calm waters, navigating the Upper Noosa River and soaking in the natural beauty around them. The tranquillity of the experience provided a perfect contrast to the adrenaline of climbing.
Our adventure culminated in a visit to a vast sand patch with incredible views. Standing atop the dunes, students were met with an expansive vista of the Sunshine Coast. It was a moment of joy after a long day, where students could relax and explore the unique landscape. More than just a series of activities; the Year 9 programmes were a celebration of growth and resilience.
I would like to acknowledge the expert and professional oversight of our Outdoor Education programme provided by the Head of Outdoor Education Jared Crunkhorn, Outdoor Education Teacher Tom Barton and the instructing staff. To learn more about the Year 9 Outdoor Education experience, please watch the following videos creatively produced by Tom Barton.
Rod Olsen Head of Senior School
Mawson House – Year 9 Outdoor Education
Casey House – Year 9 Outdoor Education
Magnus House – Year 9 Outdoor Education
The Arches café
We value your feedback. Please take a moment to complete our short survey on the Arches café. Your input will help us better understand your needs and preferences.
Being purposeful means having a clear focus rather than being confused or unsure about what you are doing or why you are doing it. Acting purposefully involves working towards a goal. You concentrate your mind and efforts so that something good will happen as a result. While some people let things happen, a purposeful person makes things happen.
Attribute of the week: balanced
You understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal wellbeing for yourself and others.
Inter-School State Chess Championships
In a display of exceptional skill and strategic prowess, two of our Churchie Prep teams achieved remarkable success at the recent Inter-School State Chess Championships. Churchie Team 1 emerged victorious, securing first place after a series of intense and challenging matches. Their dedication and hard work have paid off, earning them the prestigious title of state champions.
Churchie Team 2 also performed admirably, clinching third place and showcasing their talent and determination. Their impressive performance reflects the depth of chess competency within our school and highlights the strength of our chess programme.
As a result of their outstanding victory, Churchie Team 1 will now head to Perth in December to compete in the nationals. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to demonstrate their skills on a larger stage and to gain invaluable experience through higher-level competition. We are incredibly proud of both teams and their brilliant accomplishments.
Join us in congratulating Churchie Team 1 and Team 2 on their remarkable achievements and in wishing Churchie Team 1 the very best as they prepare for the nationals!
Larissa Guy Head of Prep Chess
Final Prep School Photos for 2024
We ask that all students and parents please be aware of the following Prep School photos, which will be taken this Friday in the Campbell Centre between 8:20 and 10 am:
8:20 am: GPS Track and Field team – GPS track and field uniform
8:35 am: Whole of Year 6 photo – formal uniform
8:45 am: All 2024 Activity Captains – formal uniform
9 am: Met East and State reps – Met East/QLD competition uniform
Music Fest
Congratulations to Prep Band on their Silver Award from this year’s Music Fest competition in Week 4.
Dr Steven Nisbet OAM
Across Weeks 4 and 5, Year 5 students were given the opportunity to meet Dr Steven Nisbet OAM, who explained some of the science, technology, engineering, mechanics, mathematics, music and history of the grand pipe organ in the Churchie Canon Jones Chapel.
Our Prep boys are lucky to hear the instrument regularly at chapel and enjoyed learning more about it. There are many complex parts to an organ—the ‘king of instruments’ as described by Mozart—not to mention the technique needed to play it. Dr Nisbet played for the boys, demonstrating the organ’s different sounds or timbres and how the organist reads from many parts at once, playing with both hands and feet.
It is incredibly unique for our boys to attend a school with such an amazing instrument, and we thank Dr Nisbet for giving the students the opportunity to ask questions and learn a little more about it. All teachers and students learned so much!
Melissa Black Head of Prep Music
Anglicare collection
On behalf of Anglicare Brisbane Children and Families (a foster and kinship care agency), we extend our deepest appreciation for your continued support of our foster and kinship carer families at Christmas time. The gifts provided by our community last year meant Anglicare was able to put smiles on the faces of children during a difficult time when they are away from their biological parents.
Anglicare’s team supports 105 children and young people in out-of-home care, aged between birth and 17 years, as well as the biological children in foster and kinship carer families who generously share their homes. Over Christmas, this number often increases, with carer families unexpectedly opening their homes to more children in need. Your support through gift donations allows Anglicare to provide thoughtful presents, ensuring these vulnerable children have a memorable Christmas.
Anglicare supports a balanced mix of boys and girls aged from birth to 17. For children aged 13 and older, gift cards are well-received, allowing them to shop and choose something special themselves. We ask that any gift card donations exclude liquor services, and we request $30 denominations as the preferred amount.
All donations can be delivered to Chaplain Stephanie’s office in the Prep Admin building.
End-of-year events
Each week at Churchie is as busy as the last, and as we approach the end of the year, the calendar becomes even busier. Our end-of-year events are important occasions where we acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful achievements of the boys. We are proud to provide special occasions to mark significant milestones.
You will shortly receive communication from me outlining upcoming events. Please mark the dates in your calendar that relate to your son/s. I look forward to sharing these special events with you as we head towards the end of the year.
Camps in Term 4
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. As these are busy traffic periods, a crossing supervisor is provided to ensure the safety of the boys and others. When dropping off boys on the western side of Oaklands Parade in the morning, please insist they use the supervised crossing.
Please note there is no parking in front of the Health Centre and Churchie Shop on Oaklands Parade. Brisbane City Council has recently updated the signs in front of this building and will be regularly monitoring the 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, means 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
CAM
On Tuesday 8 October, the Churchie Awards in Media (CAM) dazzled audiences at Dendy Cinemas, Coorparoo, with a celebration of student creativity and cinematic magic. This year’s event, dubbed The A..CAM..edy Awards, paid tribute to all things Hollywood. Year 12 students Tom Crooke and Bill McCart hosted the evening with palpable energy. The night kicked off with a humorous intro film featuring guest appearances from A-list stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep, alongside a surprising cameo from iconic Churchie legend Mr John Collins, delighting the audience.
The event showcased a variety of student-produced films, from hilarious mockumentaries to beautifully crafted short films. The creativity, passion and dedication displayed by Churchie’s young filmmakers impressed not only the audience but also guest judge Richard Fabb from Griffith Film School. Mr Fabb highlighted the importance of students’ creative skills, noting how valuable such skills are across filmmaking and a range of industries. He praised the innovation and collaboration in the student projects, emphasising that these abilities will serve them well in future endeavours.
The ACAMedy Awards continue to spotlight CAM as a vital platform for nurturing Churchie’s future filmmakers, offering them the opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen and receive industry-level recognition. This year’s spectacular entries prove that the future of filmmaking at Churchie is brighter than ever.
Congratulations to all students involved! For those who wish to relive the magic or see more Churchie student films, subscribe to the Churchie Film and Media YouTube channel.
Winner: ‘No Exit’- Oliver Stjepanovic, Nic Charlson, Lachlan Angas-Johnson
Year 11 and 12 Combined Experimental
Winner: ‘altum somnom’ -_Lachlan Angas-Johnson, Nic Charlson
Nominee: ‘Here. There. Now’ – Oscar Isles
Runner Up: ‘The Curious And Peculiar Mind of James B. Enidrawn’ – Ben Andrews
Year 12 QCE Narrative
Winner: ‘The Grey Area’ – Ben Andrews
Year 12IB Short Films
Runner Up: ‘Holey Land’ – Bill McCart, Tom Crooke, Simon Velge, Sam Blackburn
Winner: ‘Phoenix’ – Will Shackel, Thomas Dwyer, Tom O’Neill
Following the 2024 Churchie Awards in Media, the CAM introduction film is now available to view. The background to the short film is this: with only 20 minutes until the 2024 Churchie Awards in Media and the Headmaster anxiously waiting, Year 12 CAM hosts Bill McCart and Tom Crooke embark on a frantic quest to find Dendy Cinema 1. Along the way, they encounter Hollywood A-listers and stumble through some of cinema’s most iconic moments. Will they make it in time for the big night?
During Week 4, Year 11 IB Biology, Environmental Systems and Societies students and QCE Earth Science students participated in a biology excursion run by the Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre. The group began by learning data analysis techniques, calculations and predictions related to biodiversity and species richness, which they applied to the Moreton Bay ecosystem. After the classroom activity, they departed on a boat to apply their knowledge, taking measurements and collecting data on species and environmental conditions. Skills applied included using a Secchi disk, measuring wind speed and classifying biotic organisms. The group thoroughly enjoyed expanding their knowledge of Australia’s ecosystems’ complexity and variety.
Year 11IB History and Philosophy UQ Excursion
Written by Alex Ma (Year 11)
On 25 October, Year 11 IB History and Philosophy cohorts travelled to the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus. The excursion provided a research opportunity for Internal Assessment tasks and an insight into a day in the life of a UQ humanities student. Highlights included a Q&A session with a current Ramsay Undergraduate Scholarship recipient, lunch under flowering jacarandas in the Great Court, and a tour of the Antiquities Museum focusing on Greek warfare. The most fascinating experience, agreed upon by all, was a guided tour of one of the campus’s six libraries, where the spacious design and endless book collection inspired the boys to immerse themselves in their studies. This rewarding experience was made possible by Mr Robertson and Mr Page, who organised and led the excursion.
Aquila news
Australian Maths Olympiad Committee Summer Olympiad Programme
Congratulations to Owen Yu (Year 9), Lucas Shan, Ben Wu and Daniel He (Year 8) and Lucas Xue and Yunfan Shu (Year 7) who have been selected for this highly selective programme. They will engage in a challenging range of problem-solving competitions and coaching. The School is the best-represented school within this elite programme, with a quarter of all invited students coming from Churchie.
Australian Intermediate Maths Olympiad
Congratulations to Owen Yu, who received a High Distinction (scoring 23 out of 24) on this challenging three-hour exam. The AIMO is open to students from Years 7 to 10. Jayden Ooi (Year 9) and Daniel He (Year 8) also achieved Distinctions. Congratulations also go to our highest achiever in Year 7, Tony Cao.
Junior Science Olympiad Spring School
Owen Yu (Year 9) recently attended this camp at ANU in Canberra. Owen was one of only 24 students selected from across the country, based on his outstanding performance in the Junior Science Olympiad. Owen completed a programme that allowed him to develop practical skills in science and study a range of advanced material in biology, chemistry and physics. Owen was then invited to complete the three-hour selection exam for the Australian Junior Science Olympiad Team.
Senior Science Olympiads
Congratulations to Felix Nano (Year 11) and Max Gao (Year 12), who received High Distinctions for the second year in a row in the Australian Chemistry Olympiad. Owen Yu (Year 9) received a Distinction. Distinctions were also received in the Australian Physics Olympiad by Felix Nano and Jeongmin Choi (Year 11) and Owen Yu and Marcus Chan (Year 9).
F1 in Schools State Finals
Three teams recently contested the F1 in Schools state finals at the CQU in Mackay. The competition requires students to design, manufacture and race prototype F1 cars as well as create marketing and promotion strategies for their particular brand. Churchie was represented by Team Alvarium (Alister Hillier, Henry Peters and Angus Peters), Team Hyperion (Jacob Seldon, Hugo Johnstone and Kevin Lu) and Team Velocitas (Charlie St Clair, Owen Yu, Jayden Ooi and Charles Chen). In their first state competition, the teams performed exceptionally well. Velocitas won the verbal presentation and innovation awards and was the overall champion team in the Development Division. In the Professional Division, the most senior competition, Alvarium placed second, with Hyperion finishing third. Alvarium received awards for Best Reaction Time, Best Portfolio and Best Graphic Design, while Hyperion was recognised as Knockout Round champion and Best Managed Enterprise. Given the relative inexperience of these teams, these were outstanding results. The boys should be commended for months of hard work and preparation.
Service news
Written by James Lee (Year 11)
The Tukka Project is a local charity addressing the critical issue of food insecurity among school children. In Australia, one in five primary school students attend school without a proper meal, leaving them unable to concentrate. This issue significantly impacts their ability to learn and achieve academically.
The Tukka Project collaborates with schools and communities to provide nutritious meals at no cost to schools, ensuring every child has access to healthy, balanced meals so they can focus on learning. By offering these meals, the project helps students maintain energy and improve concentration, enhancing academic outcomes and wellbeing.
Volunteering sessions, such as the one held at Norman Park Bowls Club every Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:45 pm, play a vital role in this initiative. During these sessions, volunteers prepare meals for distribution to schools throughout Brisbane. Boys who participated last Wednesday found the experience fulfilling and enjoyable as they contributed to a cause benefiting local children. The event highlighted the importance of community involvement in addressing food insecurity and gave boys a hands-on opportunity to make a positive impact.
If your son is in Year 12 this year, please ensure you visit our Pixevety photo platform and download any photos of him that you would like to keep by Thursday 30 November 2024. The parent guide to Pixevety at Churchie (available on myChurchie) has instructions on how to download your son’s photos. If you are another son at the school, parent access will continue.
Congratulations to Hunter Luostarinen (Year 9) on his successful appointment to the Australian Youth Orchestra Young Symphonists, held at Snow Concert Hall in Canberra on 5 October 2024. Conducted by Carlo Antonioli, the concert brought together the rising stars of Australian orchestral music. This is an incredible achievement for Hunter, who is one of the youngest members of the Queensland Youth Symphony. By all reports, he had a fabulous time performing pieces such as Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky arr. Rimsky-Korsakov.
Queensland Youth Orchestra finale
Congratulations to Hunter Luostarinen (Year 9), Luka Roberts (Year 11) and Alex Smith (Year 10), who all participated in the premiere Queensland Youth Orchestra Ensembles at QPAC on Saturday 26 October 2024. The Big Band performed an extended work by John Felstead titled ‘Amazonite,’ featuring some exciting Latin rhythms and solo performances from many Big Band members. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra concluded the evening with a tribute to QYO founder John Curro AM MBE, performing his favourite symphonic work, Pines of Rome by Respighi, featuring every trumpet and trombone player from all the ensembles in a memorable and engaging final piece.
Brass Workshop
A very exciting trumpet event is happening at Churchie on Sunday 3 November. We will hold a concert and masterclass in the Churchie Canon Jones Chapel from 2 to 4 pm. Visiting Churchie that weekend is Mr Yoram Levy, Head of Brass and Trumpet at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne. Mr Levy is recognised worldwide as one of the leading trumpet teachers of our time and has performed with many of the world’s great symphony orchestras.
For anyone who wishes to attend the concert and masterclass as an audience member. This ticket costs $20 and can be purchased here:
The concert will feature Mr Levy, along with Churchie trumpet teachers performing exciting trumpet repertoire, accompanied by our virtuoso Mr Christian Gante on the chapel organ and piano.
All details are available in the attached flyer, including ticket links. The event is open to the general public, so please feel free to share the flyer with friends.
Henry Down – Bands Captain 2024
The final instalment from the 2024 Music Captains is a reflection by Bands Captain Henry Down on his time in Churchie Music:
Written by 2024 Bands Captain Henry Down
‘In 2024, I was in Big Band 1, Morris Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble 1 and the Musical Pit Orchestra. One of my best music memories this year would be Jazz Under the Stars with James Morrison and Darren Percival. The atmosphere and music were incredible, and it was a fantastic opportunity to perform with iconic musicians. The event grows each year, and I look forward to returning in the future. My all-time best music memory at Churchie was the 2023 Japan Music Tour. Along with the excitement of exploring a new country with friends, the opportunity to perform in a foreign setting was unforgettable. My advice to future Churchie musicians is to make the most of the wide range of opportunities the Music Department offers: the diversity of ensembles, frequent international tours, and a strong connection to other music development programmes. These exist to help you grow as a musician—what you put in is what you get out.’
Sport
Swimming
After two weeks of training, we are focused on the first race meet of the season, King and Queen of the Pool, hosting St Margaret’s this Friday. All boys are encouraged to sign up to compete for the ‘Vekso’ helmet and the title of King of the Pool. We are excited to present awards for winners in each age group, as well as best on pool deck and spirit awards, all presented on our new medal dais. Boys are reminded that race meet registration is mandatory for electronic timing, marshalling and catering purposes.
The Term 1 Breakfast online payment link is now available for families to book breakfast for their sons every Monday for Term 1; it’s a fantastic initiative from our Swimming Support Group.
All registered GPS Swimming athletes are also invited to join us at our annual January Camps for fun, training and team-based activities.
For all camp details, itinerary and the payment link, please visit myChurchie – Swimming.
2025 Junior GPS Swim Day Clinic
Years 5, 6 and 7 boys – must be registered for GPS Swimming
There was an omission last week in recognising the achievements of our Metropolitan East Track and Field team competing in the Queensland School Sport State Championships at QSAC – Cruz Collins in Year 8 also competed and placed third in the 14 years triple jump and fourth in long jump. Well done, Cruz. This brings our total number of bronze medals to four in the championships.
Photo: Vanessa Collins
Volleyball
Jack Denner, Rhys Gezorke, and Henry Dee were successful in making the squad for the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships. The boys showcasing top-level attitude and sportsmanship throughout the trials. Volleyball Queensland’s youth teams compete annually in this premier event. Since 2015, VQ has proudly held the title of “Champion State” every year. The 2025 event will take place from March 24-27 at Coolangatta Beach, Gold Coast, with divisions for U14 to U18 athletes.
Swimming
Congratulations to Lachy Evans on his recent selection to Swimming Queensland’s Open Water State team.
Lachy competed at the 2024 Queensland Open Water Championships at Coolum Ski Park on 12 October, placing first in the Men’s 15 years 5 km Open Water event with a time of 1:00:43.88. With an extremely fast time, Lachy achieved the second-fastest overall time in the championships (1:31 behind first place), earning both gold and silver medals. As a result, Lachy has been selected for the Queensland Open Water team to compete at the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships and Ocean Swim Festival held in Perth from 20 to 24 November 2024.
We wish Lachy all the best in his preparation and performance.
Football
Quinn MacNicol captained the victorious Australian Joeys U17 Football team in the three qualifying matches held in Kuwait. The Australian team now progresses to the AFC U17 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in April 2025.
Trent Goodrick Head of Cocurricular
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:
If you are looking for credible resources to support your parenting journey, please explore the Senior School wellbeing page. This is accessible via the Groups section on the Churchie App. The page includes a variety of mental health and wellbeing resources and a link to School TV.
Dates for the Wellbeing Lecture series for 2025 will also soon be available on the wellbeing page.
Best wishes, Parent Connect Executive Team and Coordinator Community.
Pixevety
Churchie photo library
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.
Prize announcement: Friday 22 November 6 to 8 pm at Metro Arts, West End. Churchie families are invited to attend this exciting prize announcement event, open to everyone.
Introducing Marion Abraham, one of 16 finalists in this year’s prize! Marion Abraham is a painter living and working in Lutruwita (Tasmania, Australia), investigating the inner workings of the self. Embracing a fiercely tangible approach to the medium, Abraham infuses traditional painting techniques with subversive qualities to create dynamic compositions of the body in the landscape. Guided by feminist instinct and a dark sense of humour, her paintings meld romantic and escapist notions, familiar clichés and art historical references with the muddiness of the natural world. Parallel to these themes, the artist’s practice also operates as a rebuttal to seductive feelings of despair and the mysterious longing she feels between her family’s Lebanese lineage and birthplace in rural Australia. These underlying tensions lead her works from lightness into darkness, and back again, navigating ideas of the soul, reimagining power structures and centring the valorising of care.
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.
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.
