On Monday and Tuesday of this week we hosted the EREA Council or the Trustees. We were pleased to welcome Philomena Billington, Peter Turner, Peter Hamill, Beth Gilligan and David White. These Trustees oversee the governance of our 55 Schools across the Country, as well as the network of Flexible Learning Centres. The highlight was our Opening Mass, conducted on Tuesday morning.

This Mass was celebrated by Father Gerry Kalinowski and in true Lauries spirit all boys participated in the singing. It was an excellent way to open our school year. The President of the Trustees, Ms Billington commented on the life-giving nature of this Eucharistic celebration. We pride ourselves on a spirit of welcome and inclusivity. Philomena also stated to me that the visit to our community was timely and appeared to lift the spirits of the Trustees.

I thank all involved, especially Ms Rebecca Tsoumbaras for her organisation of all logistics.

QSSIRL

Over the last few months we have been preparing for the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League Carnival, to be held at our Runcorn Fields in the first week of the June/July holidays. 64 male and female teams will converge on Brisbane from, all over the State. Mr Eddie Wallace and Ms Desley Armitage have done much to ensure “a spirit of welcome” at South Brisbane. Next week I will announce our Gold Sponsors for the event, as well as an exciting partnership announcement. For this event, we require community support, the Sports Office will send out a request for support through an expression of interest form. 

This is for community members who could volunteer to help at the carnival. The carnival runs from Sunday 25 June, until Friday 30, June. All support would be most welcome.

Enrolments

Over the next three weeks we will be interviewing prospective students for Year 7 2025. At the same time we have conducted a series of Principal’s Tours for potential families for Year 5 and 7. These tours have been most successful and I thank all our student tour guides for their support of our enrolment process. Should you be seeking enrolment for your son for Year 7 2025, I ask that you contact Tina McManus.

Lauries Community Committee

I remind all parents that our first L.C.C. Meeting for the year is next Monday at 6.00pm. All are invited. We have much to do this year and require a great deal of support.

Open AFL

I congratulate our Open AFL Students on a great win against Villanova at Yeronga Sports Field. In a high quality match, played in good spirits our boys were able to score the victory in the final moments. I wish all boys well in AFL, Volleyball and Cricket this weekend against Villanova College. I also wish all boys well at the Swimming Age Championships held at Yeronga Pool tonight (Friday evening).

Primary Liturgy

Today we commissioned our Year 6 Primary Leaders and formally welcomed our Year 5 boys who have just begun their Lauries Journey. It was a great event. I was most taken by the Lauries Journey Statement, it is shared below and says much about our College Community.

I belong within a Catholic College in the tradition of Edmund Rice and I am on a journey through my school years, the Lauries Journey. 

Every person at my school is unique and precious in the eyes of my God and deserves care, respect and dignity.

My Lauries Journey will see me grow from a young boy to a young man. 

But it is not a journey that I take alone. Walking my journey with me are my parents and family, my friends and my teachers. 

They support me completely on my journey and they seek to help me grow to be the good man that I am meant to be. 

It is the example of Jesus that guides me on my journey.

I am proud of who I am and the relationships in my life. 

My school is St Laurence’s College and I am on the Lauries Journey.

MR CHRIS LEADBETTER

Principal

Opening Mass

On Tuesday we held our Opening Mass to launch our new year as well as our theme “Heart of Gold”. At the mass were members of the Edmund Rice Education Australia Trustees who had spent two days at our College. The board was overwhelmed by the respect and reverence our students held during the mass and as always were blown away by the way our students participated in full voice.

Ash Wednesday – Wednesday 22 February

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent season that culminates with Easter where we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is a time of prayer and sacrifice where we remember God's presence through Christ who came to us to teach a new coveant based on love, compassion, justice and mercy. During Ash Wednesday we receive the ashes on our foreheads which reminds us that we believe Jesus is the source of all life; that just as the bush burns and ash falls to the ground and in time seeds of new life are sown, so too does our new life come from Jesus.

We sometimes don’t follow God’s law of love. We hurt people. We act selfishly. Today we tell God that we are sorry for these things and we ask God for his help during the next six weeks so that we can become better people and change our hearts.

The Ash Wednesday ceremony will take place in each of the students House Groups where they will have the ashes signed on their forehead as part of the liturgy.

Heart of Gold

The theme looks at the core of who we are, our heart beats the black and gold and we become and Inclusive Community in the Edmund Rice tradition where all can find their place. In the Gospels, Jesus challenged those in his time to look at everyone through the eyes of love, compassion, empathy and justice. He reminds us to see the dignity in all those we meet. Our patron, St Laurence O’Toole, took the example of Jesus and lived it in his own community by welcoming them at the table in his own home those who had little and offered them something to eat. He fed, clothed and housed the many orphan children in his diocese and fought for peace from the invading Normans. Many years later Edmund Rice would take the Gospels of Christ and live them in his own community when he saw the injustice of thousands of young people going without an education. Like Christ and St Laurence O’Toole, Blessed Edmund Rice set out to change things by delivering a Liberating Education that empowered his students to break free from the shackles put upon them by a society that ignored and offered no support.

So what do the teachings of Jesus, the life of St Laurence O’Toole and Blessed Edmund Rice mean for us here with our Hearts of Gold. It challenges us to see each other through the eyes of dignity and to look for Christ inside each other. In striving to build an Inclusive Community our hope is for St Laurence’s College can be a place where everyone can find their heart, that passion that stirs them to be active members of a community where we lift each other up. That heart that is stirred with a simple chant of SLC, or Ancient Words being sung during a Rugby game, the heart that beats for service when we serve a meal at Emmanuel City Mission or support a young person on a Sony Camp. I would like to share with you an extract from a recent letter written to us by a member of the public, a St Laurence's College Old Boy, who saw that Heart of Gold in our students at the Marter Bus Stop recently.

I was walking along Stanley street when I notice a small gathering of boys around a homeless man at the entrance of the station only to see the boys were handing their leftover lunch from their open lunch boxes to a very grateful homeless man. 

Not only I was walking past with a smile on my face - but so many others who also shared this beautiful moment. 

As a College Old Boy I walked past with a puffy chest feeling proud of the old school again.  

 I wanted like to express my personal gratitude for the leadership and empathy these exemplary young men showed within the community.

MR PAUL CORFIELD

Dean of Identity and Community

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 

Wednesday 15 March – Monday 20 March (main testing window for the College)

I have written previously about the upcoming NAPLAN Online Test, and much has been outlined in the media about NAPLAN regarding its usefulness and future viability. You may also note that NAPLAN has been moved to Term 1 2023, rather than Term 2 as was the case in previous years. I see this as a positive decision to assist schools in obtaining and using data earlier, where interventions can be initiated in a more timely and useful fashion, which can ultimately, better support students.

You will also know that as a College, we are mandated to test our students via an online format. The data that the College receives is very useful in determining future teaching and learning programs which can target potential shortfalls for particular cohorts. The NAPLAN data is also useful to determine if students are working at their potential, and whether they need to be challenged to work more effectively in their subjects and at home.

Our SLC Testing Schedule can be found [HERE].

Please also find below a variety of information from ACARA regarding NAPLAN.

• NAPLAN Information Brochure for Parents and Carers [HERE]
• NAPLAN Infographic [HERE]

NAPLAN Information – (ACARA - https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan)

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, and is the only nationwide assessment that all Australian children undertake. It’s a measure to see whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. All government and non-government education authorities have contributed to the development of NAPLAN materials.

Why do NAPLAN?

NAPLAN helps governments, education authorities and schools to see whether young Australians are reaching important literacy and numeracy goals. It provides information about how education programs are working, areas for improvement, and which schools need support in the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy.

It can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs. It provides additional information to support teacher judgement about progress in a child’s level of literacy and numeracy attainment.

NAPLAN also allows parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy and over time. As students’ progress through their school years, it’s important that checks are made along the way to see how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics.

NAPLAN offers students an insight into where they are at on their learning journey. By sitting NAPLAN and trying their best, students help to make sure teachers and schools have the right information to help every student in Australia get the support they need to reach their full potential.

NAPLAN Levels of Achievement

From this year, parents and carers will get earlier, simpler and clearer information about their son’s NAPLAN achievement based on new, more rigorous national standards.

Education ministers have agreed to change the way NAPLAN results are reported to parents and carers, now that all students are taking the tests online, and with the move to an earlier NAPLAN in March. New proficiency standards with four levels of achievement for each year level will replace the previous 10-band structure that covered all four levels tested and the old national minimum standard set in 2008 when tests were on paper. The new proficiency standards include a baseline benchmark to identify students who are likely to need additional support.

The numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard will be replaced by the following

four levels of achievement:

· Exceeding

· Strong

· Developing

· Needs additional support.

The descriptors for each category will make it clear to parents what their child’s literacy and numeracy skills are at the time of NAPLAN testing, and support discussions with their school on their child’s progress.

Opening Mass

We welcomed members of the National EREA Trustees, College Advisory Council and other visitors last Tuesday for our opening mass. It was such an uplifting event and a great start to our liturgical year. Our boys' engagement was outstanding.

Mentoring

This week is mentoring week. For new families, this is where students will sit with their House Mentor, or Senior mentor for Year 12 students, and review data, determine future pathways and set SMART Goals. If your son has not had their mentoring meeting yet, please ask them to contact their House mentor to see where they are on the interview schedule. Mentoring is also an important way for staff to check-in with students, to see how they are developing socially and emotionally.

Conclusion

I thank parents for their support with NAPLAN. Best of luck for those participating in sport or co-curricular activities this weekend.

Live Jesus in your hearts. . .Forever!

DR LIAM HERBERT

Dean of Teaching and Learning

Playing around with fractions

Fractions are a fundamental aspect of mathematics that students often struggle with. The concept of the fraction is introduced and developed in Primary School, using pictorial and physical, hands-on representations. In the middle years of schooling, students are expected to develop algorithmic techniques for adding, multiplying, dividing and subtracting. The next step is to work with fractions that include complex algebraic expressions, an essential skillset for success in the Senior years of mathematics.

Repetition through play

Successful repetition is key to becoming fluent in a new skill, and introducing game-aspects into a maths activity is a great way to get students practicing! Our Assistant Head of Faculty, Charlotte Wilson, developed a simple but effective activity with dice to get some Year 8 boys practicing their fractions operation.

1. Boys roll two dice and form a fraction from the two numbers (one number is the numerator, the other is the denominator). An option is to use both dice to generate each number, giving numerators and denominators up to 12.
2. The dice are rolled again to generate another fraction
3. Students choose what operation to perform on the two fractions (plus, minus, times or divide). Students will need to find common denominators and reduce fractions to simplest forms.

In the image above, the black dice could form the fraction and the white dice could form the fraction. These could be adde. Alternatively, the white dice could be added to give a numerator of 3 and the black dice could give a denominator of 9; this forms the fraction. A second fraction would then be formed by rolling all the dice again, which could be multiplied with.

A pair of students will repeat this activity for about 20 minutes, giving them the opportunity to practice all the different operations with a wide variety of fractions. The collaborative peer-to-peer learning also adds significant value to the activity. 

In the image above, the black dice could form the fraction and the white dice could form the fraction. These could be adde. Alternatively, the white dice could be added to give a numerator of 3 and the black dice could give a denominator of 9; this forms the fraction. A second fraction would then be formed by rolling all the dice again, which could be multiplied with.

A pair of students will repeat this activity for about 20 minutes, giving them the opportunity to practice all the different operations with a wide variety of fractions. The collaborative peer-to-peer learning also adds significant value to the activity. 

No doubt you can think of ways to extend and vary this fun maths activity – I’d love for you to try out your version and let me know how it goes!

MR BEN LITCHFIELFD

Head of Faculty - Maths

Career Counselling

For any students wanting to discuss career information, post-schooling pathways, job skills etc. Mr Adam Firman will be stepping into the role of Careers Counsellor from Week 5 – Week 10 of Term 1. Mr Firman will be available for appointment from Monday – Thursday and can be contacted via phone: (07) 3010 1158 or email: afirman@slc.qld.edu.au. 

Navy Open Day

The Australian Defence Force will be holding a Brisbane: Navy Open Day on Sunday 26 February from 11.00am – 2.00pm. Interested students can find out about the types of roles available within the Australian Navy, as well as having the opportunity to tour HMAS Moreton. For further details and to register, please click on the link above.

Bizgro Accounting Experience for Grades 11 & 12

Bizgro has reached out to St Laurence’s College to offer paid work opportunities in the Accounting field. Interested students can find more information on the Jobs Board, which can be found on the Careers Page.

UNE Early Entry

The University of New England has opened their early applications for 2024. Students who are interested in studying through UNE are encouraged to apply – students can apply now and still apply for other universities later in the year, should they want to keep their options open. Some of the benefits of applying are: 

· Free to apply

· Open to all Year 12 students

· Students apply directly to UNE online

· Students can submit up to three course preferences

· An ATAR is not required

· Most courses can be deferred

· There is an option to study fully online options for most courses

· Study on-campus options available for courses with affordable accommodation in our on-campus residential system

If students or parents have any questions about this, please contact the Careers Office.

Senior External Examinations

The QCAA offers interested Year 12 students the opportunity to complete a language subject through their Senior External Examinations. Students who are fluent in one of the languages offered are encouraged to consider this.

Students who register will complete two examinations (one reading, writing and listening, one speaking) at the end of Year 12; this counts as having completed a full General Subject. Successful completion of a Senior External Examination:

• Can contribute to a students ATAR
• Will contribute four points towards a student’s QCE
• Can contribute two adjustment factors towards a student’s tertiary entrance ranking

The following languages are offered as Senior External Examinations:

• Arabic
• Indonesian
• Korean
• Latin
• Modern Greek
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Russian
• Tamil
• Vietnamese

Students who apply must:

• Be confident in the spoken, written, reading and listening components of the language
• Be engaging in external learning of the subject (e.g. language lessons, tutoring by a native speaker etc.)
• Pay a fee of $71.03

Students will be sent the resources to ensure that they can prepare for the examinations (e.g. syllabus, subject handbook, links to prior examinations for practice). Registrations and further questions can be addressed by Mr Newcombe (Head of Teaching and Learning – Senior School). Registrations are due by 28 April 2023.

Tuckwell Scholarship

The Australian National University’s Tuckwell Scholarship applications open 1 March. This scholarship is offered to 25 students around the country and is worth $24,700 per annum to successful applicants.

Academically high-achieving students who are open to the idea of studying interstate next year are encouraged to read through the terms of the scholarship and consider applying – NOTE: if a student applies and is successful, but changes their mind later, they are not obliged to go, so students who are unsure can still apply and consider their final decision around where they will study throughout the year.

Griffith University Indigenous STEM Camp for Grade 9 & 10 Students

The world of work is changing and society must adopt new skills to match this change. Future workers will spend more of their time working on jobs that require skills in science, maths and critical thinking. Griffith’s Indigenous STEM Camp 2023 seeks to promote pathways into STEM amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 9 and 10 and support the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

This on-campus experience will provide students the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops, lab tours, learn about Indigenous student success programs and strengthen their academic skills. Students will hear from the GUMURRII Student Success Unit, academics, and current students about everything Griffith has to offer.

Date: 4 - 6 April 2023

Time: 9am - 2.15 pm

Where: Gold Coast campus, Griffith University

All reasonable costs including travel, flights, accommodation and meals are included. Please note: students will check-in to their accommodation on 3 April 2023 for a total of three nights.

Applications close 24 February 2023

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Latest student report card (minimum grades of C).

2. Motivation Statement

3. Reference (e.g., supporting letter from your teacher)

This camp is provided specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Successful applicants will be notified 1 March 2023.

Grandshake Virtual Work Experience

Grandshake is a company that offers Virtual work experience opportunities for students in Grades 10 – 12, partnering with companies such as Inland Rai, Cardno, AI Group, Consult Australia and ARTC to offer experiences such as:

• Systems and Signals Operator
• Communication and Sustainability Cadet
• Junior Environment Planner
• Civil Construction Cadet
• Junior Digital Engineer
• Drone Pilot
• Electrical Technician

Grandshake has partnered with industry to design real-world projects that students can work on virtually, connect with industry partners and earn micro-credentials (in the form of digital badges, which can be added to LinkedIn Profiles). The programs require approximately 10 hours of commitment and are free for students to enrol in. For further information, check out the Grandshake website (or use the QR code below) or please contact the Careers Office.  

MR PAUL MOSCOS

Careers Counsellor

Another busy week has come to a close at the College and I hope that students have settled back into a positive routine by establishing a study timetable, balancing their commitments and practicing self-care through thoughtful nutrition, rest and relaxation. 

On Tuesday we had our Opening Year Mass which was a wonderful celebration to mark the start of 2023 Lauries Journey.

Mentoring

Our Middle School Mentoring program began this week with House Mentors engaging students in the process of reflecting on their individual learning, engagement and progress in order to set goals and develop an action plan. The process will continue next week, and I would encourage you to ask your son about his goals and plans in order to see how he can be further supported at home. Mentoring interviews have also begun with our Senior students in order to support them in their academic journey. These too will continue over the next couple of weeks.

Year 7 Parent & Son Evening

An invitation went out earlier this week to our Year 9 Parent & Son Evening which will be held at the College on the evening of Wednesday 1 March. We are looking forward to giving a parent/caregiver and their son the opportunity to rotate through five workshops where they will learn more about Lauries and each other. RSVP by Wednesday 22 February to secure your place. This event is free of charge and begins with a light meal at 5.30pm. 

Please click HERE for the invitation.

Interhouse Volleyball

Interhouse Volleyball has consumed our lunchtimes and has been a delight to watch. All Houses competed with pride, passion and a great deal of friendly rivalry. Congratulations to Treacy who took out both the Senior trophy and Middle School competition. Many thanks goes to Mr Anthony Bird for organising the tournament and the many staff who refereed the games. Heads of House are thanked for their enthusiasm and supervision at lunchtimes, along with the many House mentors who came along to cheer along their students.

Service

I would like to thank the multitude of students who have assisted with the Principal’s Tours which have been hosted on Wednesday afternoons for the last three weeks. 

These tours are a wonderful opportunity for prospective families to learn about our College by meeting with Mr Leadbetter followed by a walking tour of the College with students being the tour guides. The highlight of the afternoon is always the tour, after which the visitors speak glowingly about their guide and their experience. These afternoons would not be a success without the contribution and enthusiasm of the students who participate. Whilst this experience helps their growth and confidence, their service to the College is wonderful and very much appreciated.

In addition to this we have been hosting 21 students from Japan who are in Brisbane on a Study Tour and who have been ably supported by our Year 9 students. Some of our students and families have provided a homestay for a visitor, but during the day a wonderful group of Year 9s have supported the boys as academic buddies. Our students have been welcoming and provided critical support to our Japanese visitors and I would like to sincerely thank them and the coordination by Ms Desley Armitage.  

Best wishes for the coming week.

MS VANESSA BELL

Dean of Middle School

Swimming Age Championships 

This afternoon the College will host our annual Swimming Age Championships at Yeronga Park Swimming Complex. This annual event is one of the major highlights on the College sporting calendar with strong competition through the different age groups. A tradition that has grown recently is the inclusion of the Woody Forrester Cup Swim Relay event – where a team of Old Boys take on current students. The depth of talent on display in the Old Boys team is always incredible. For all members of the community who would like to come and watch and support, the championships commence at 4.30pm with the Woody Cup race being swum at about 6.15pm.

Good luck to all boys competing tonight.

Term 2 Sports- Chess, Cross Country, Football and Rugby – Registration Process 

We are still not yet at the halfway point of the Term 1 sporting season and planning for Term 2 sport is well advanced. The following will be the process for students registering to participate in one of our Term 2 sports.

Term 1 Week 5 (Week Beginning Monday 20 February)- STUDENT Expression of Interest - Every student in the College will receive an email from the Sports Office to their school email account. It is the student’s responsibility to use the link included in that email to express their interest in playing a Term 2 Sport. For younger students – Primary and Year 7 - home class teachers will assist where needed.

Term 1 Week 6 (From Wednesday 1 March) – Parent Lounge Invitations- Students' expression of interest will be turned into parent lounge invitations. Parents are to accept these by Friday 10 March.

Term 1 Week 8 (Week beginning 13 March) – Cross Country Training and Chess Trials commence.

Term 1 Week 9 (Week beginning 20 March)- Rugby and Football Trials commence.

Please note: Students can play either Rugby OR Football and in both of these sports there will be unlimited teams based on the number of students wanting to participate. Students cannot play both Rugby and Football. Students can participate in either of these sports AND Cross Country AND Chess.

Confraternity 2023 Volunteers 

In June the College will host the Confraternity Rugby League Carnival. This is the largest school’s rugby league tournament in the state with 64 teams attending. To host such a large carnival, the College will require the assistance of many in the community. Next week the College will send out a volunteers information package. We ask that all families who may be interested in assisting access this package – it will be pushed out through the App. The carnival’s theme for 2023 is “In the Spirit of Welcome” and we know our community will be incredible ambassadors for this them.

MR EDDIE WALLACE 

Head of Sport

Instrumental lessons and ensemble rehearsals are now well underway as students prepare for the first of our Concerts before the end of Term 1.

Congratulations to our Worship Band musicians and choristers on their beautiful performance at the Mass held on Tuesday morning this week.

There was much excitement last Friday as our Year 5 Music Ensemble Program commenced with their first large ensemble rehearsals for Band, Strings, Guitar and Musicianship.  

We are looking forward to their Lauries musical journey in 2023 and their first performance later in the year!

PERFORMANCE DATES

Wednesday 8 March | Intermediate Ensembles Concert | 6pm ERPAC

Performances by the College’s Intermediate Ensembles:  Concert Band 2, Big Band 2, String Orchestra 2, Guitar Orchestra 2 and Little Brotherhood

Thursday 9 March | Senior Ensembles Concert | 6pm ERPAC. 

Performances by the College’s Senior Ensembles:  Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band 1, Big Band 1, String Orchestra 1, Fellowship of the String, Guitar Orchestra 1, Brotherhood, Big Brotherhood and Percussion Ensemble 1

Monday 13 March | Old Boys and Community Choir Concert | 7pm St Ignatius Church Toowong 

Rehearsals are well underway for our Lauries Old Boys and Community Music Season for 2023 for our Old Boys Choir, Guitar Orchestra and String Ensemble. We look forward to everyone coming along to the Old Boys and Community Music Concert @ 7pm on Monday 13 March at St Ignatius Church, Toowong. 

CALL FOR DONATIONS | LMSG

The Lauries Music Support Group (LMSG) is calling for prize donations for their Easter Raffle. 

The raffle will run during the Intermediate & Senior Ensemble Concerts next month. All donations will be gratefully received at the music department reception by Friday 3 March.

Raffles will be drawn during the Intermediate Ensembles Concert on Wednesday 8 March and the Senior Ensembles Concert Thursday 9 March.

If you would like further information regarding any of the above, please contact the music department: music@slc.qld.edu.au or telephone 3010 1138.

Strike up the Band!

MR ROSS CAPERN

Head of Instrumental Music

Esport – The rise of competitive gaming

We have all played computer games at some point in our life. For me, I still have memories of playing Donkey Kong or the countless hours trying to master the moves of Mortal Kombat. I loved the competition and the feeling I had when I completed a new stage or defeated a new opponent. Like most other kids, I wanted to be the best player and would always check to see where my score rated against other players. In 2023, nothing has changed except what was once a casual hobby has now morphed into an organised professional sport.

 Esports, or competitive video gaming, has grown in popularity in recent years. It has become a major industry, with professional players, teams, and leagues all vying for the prestige that comes with winning these competitions. These competitions are often broadcasted live, both online and on television and can attract millions of viewers. To put it into context, the 2019 League of Legends World Championship Final had two million more viewers than the NFL Superbowl. 

One of the reasons for the rapid growth of esports is the rise of live streaming platforms like Twitch, which allows players and fans to connect and share their passion for gaming. Another factor is the increasing involvement of traditional sports teams, media companies and sponsors. These brands see the potential for Esports to reach a large and engaged audience and are investing heavily in the industry. One example is Manchester City which has invested in the Esports team, Fnatic, and has its own "eManchester City" team in popular games such as "FIFA".

What games do they play?

Generally, the types of games played by professional players or teams can be placed into five genres of games. 

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) is a subgenre of strategy video games in which players control a single character in one of two teams and compete against each other to destroy the opposing team's main structure. Examples of popular MOBA games include League of Legends and Dota 2.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games see players control an army and must gather resources, build structures and plan out their attacks in real-time. Examples of popular RTS games include Starcraft and Age of Empires.

First-Person Shooters (FPS) are a genre of video games where the player experiences the game through the eyes of the main character and uses weapons to engage in combat with the enemies. The game is typically played from a first-person perspective, and the player's view is through the eyes of the character they are controlling. Examples of popular FPS games include Overwatch 2, Call of Duty, Halo, and Battlefield.

Sport-based video games simulates the practice of traditional physical sports. Some games emphasise playing the sport, whilst others emphasise strategy and organisation. Examples of popular sport-based games include FIFA, 2K, and Rocket League.

And finally, Fighting games (FG) are a genre of video games in which players control characters and engage in one-on-one combat or fight against each other. The objective of the game is usually to deplete the opponent's life bar by attacking them with various moves, combos and special abilities. These games typically feature a variety of characters to choose from, each with their own unique fighting style and moves. Examples of popular fighting games include Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Super Smash Bros.

MR BRENT MALCOLM

College enrolments for Year 7 in 2025 are now open! 

Click HERE to begin your enrolment process!

At the time of enrolment, parents/guardians are given the opportunity to elect not to have their child identified (photographed and/or named) in College related publications and on digital platforms. Should you wish for your child to not be identified for safety/privacy reasons, please email communications@slc.qld.edu.au. A member of College staff will be in contact with you to discuss further. 

The College is excited to announce that Year 5 and 7 2024 Manchester City Football School trial registrations are now open. After the success of the current boys participating, we can't wait to see the continued progression for years to come. 

Find the registration form link here: https://www.slc.qld.edu.au/man...

Please see attached information from Yeronga AFL Club here.

The Lauries Community Committee (LCC) have changed their first meeting date to Monday 20 February.

As you may be aware, the College will be proudly hosting the 2023 Confraternity Rugby League Carnival from Sunday 25 to Friday 30 June.

The Carnival presents a unique opportunity for the Lauries community to secure state-wide exposure for their businesses. We are excited to announce that Silver and Bronze Sponsorship Opportunities are still available.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact the College Director of Communication, Development and Events, Helen Turner on (07) 3010 1178 or development@slc.qld.edu.au. 

Further information regarding the carnival can be found HERE.

Thank you for joining us for the 2023 Virtual Open Day where we were joined by key College staff to virtually showcase the amazing facilities and unique offerings we have at the College. In case you missed it, please see the recording of the event HERE.

The chance to learn more and tour the College is not over by any means with an in-person or traditional Open Day taking place later in the year on Thursday 27 July at 4pm. Further correspondence will be made available closer to the event.

Please see the below message from Our Lady's College Principal Ms Andree Rice regarding the visit of author Madonna King:

Our Lady’s College is pleased to be welcoming one of Australia’s most accomplished parenting authors Madonna King to our campus on 21 February, and I would like to extend a personal invitation to any staff or parents in your school community who would be interested in hearing from Madonna on the topical and important areas of teen girls and the crucial support they are seeking.

This event is offered at no cost, but I do ask that interested attendees register via email sannerley@bne.catholic.edu.au  “Yes, ,<insert name/s> will be attending the Madonna King event.”

 See invitation details attached HERE.

 We hope to see some of your community here on 21 February.

The Smith Family continues to run its matched savings program for families to help with school related expenses. Saver Plus supports eligible families to save for education related expenses by providing up to $500 for school costs via our free budgeting and matched savings program. We have now had over 55,000 families complete the program, and the program is now delivered virtually.

You can find more information about the program on our website or our Facebook page. 

Here is a short video about the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpR1l-UnooI&t=68s

Families can use this initiative to pay for items such as:

• Laptops, computers, or tablets
• School uniforms
• School books and stationery
• Textbooks
• Music classes or instruments
• Sporting classes or equipment
• Excursions and camps

Enrol into our Speech and Drama Program for Term 3.

Does your son love Theatre Sports? Drama games? Acting and public performance?

More importantly do you want your son to improve his presenting skills in all their classes? Expand their debating skills?

Would you like your son to learn how to breathe properly to reduce stress, anxiety, and speak with confidence.

We also offer Trinity Guildhall and AMEB exam which improve ATAR scores, recognised practical exams that add to your university application?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, Speech and Drama is for your son! Contact the Music Department for enrolment information and forms – music@slc.qld.edu.au

Email lduggan@slc.qld.edu.au for more information.