Director of Sport 

Rowing - Junior Success on the Huon River

On Saturday 15 February, our Junior rowing team competed in the second Junior Regatta of the season on the Huon River. The boys delivered exceptional performances, securing victories in the Years 7, 8, and 9 quad events. Their dedication and hard work continue to showcase the strength of our Junior rowing program.

Last Sunday, our First VIII had the incredible opportunity to train with triple Olympic coach John Driessen. This rare and invaluable experience provided our Senior rowers with expert guidance, enhancing their skills and preparation ahead of the Head of the River in three weeks.

This weekend, our rowers will compete in the highly anticipated All Schools Championships. In a historic moment for St Virgil’s College, we will be boating Senior crews with Years 11 and 12 rowers for the first time in over 30 years. This marks a significant milestone in our rowing program and an exciting step forward for our College.

Our rowers have proudly won the Junior Shield four times in a row at this prestigious event. This year, they are determined to make history by securing a record-breaking fifth consecutive win for St Virgil’s College.

Best of luck to all our rowers this weekend—Go Team sVc.

2025 Senior School House Athletics Carnival

Preparations are in full swing for the 2025 Annual Senior School House Athletics Carnival, scheduled for next Wednesday 26 February, at the Domain Athletics Centre.

The carnival is mandatory for all Years 7-12 students and staff, emphasising House Spirit and participation.

Students are required to wear their Sports Uniform to school and when leaving the Domain Athletics Centre. Additionally, students and staff are encouraged to wear their House-coloured shirts or dress in appropriate House colours while at the Domain Athletics Centre for the duration of the carnival.

Some events will also serve as selections for the 2025 College Athletics Team. The remaining selections will take place during athletics training on Monday afternoons at the Domain.

The carnival program is attached for your information.

All students should arrive at school as usual on Wednesday and attend PC, where attendance will be taken. After that, teachers will direct students to board the buses. 

Following the carnival at 2.15 pm, all students will be transported back to Austins Ferry, where they can access their normal transportation options home.

If parents/carers wish to collect students directly from the Domain, or if students have their P plates to drive to and from the Domain, please complete the Alternative Transport Arrangements Google form by clicking here. 

Students must be collected from the Student Services tent on the oval before 2.15 pm. If students are not collected by this time, they will be bussed back to campus and will have to use the normal transport options home. Please indicate who will be collecting your student in the Google form.

Students are not permitted to walk into town. Normal attendance procedures apply, so please contact Student Services via PAM if needed.

Years 11 and 12 students who already drive to school, in accordance with the College agreement, can go directly to the Domain and must sign in with Student Services upon arrival. The College expects all P1 and P2 restrictions (regarding passengers) to be followed as per the signed driver agreement.

Students should bring their own drinks and food, as there will be no school canteen orders available. Additionally, please remember to bring sunscreen. 

Parents/carers are welcome to attend. There will be canteen and coffee van facilities available at the Domain.

Who will take home this year's Athletics House Cup?

Term 1 Co-Curricular Activities

Term 1 activities are kicking off over the next two weeks, with close to 300 students participating. Please keep an eye out for EdSmart communications for specific information regarding each sport, activity, and team.

Athletics Training - next Monday

SATIS State-Wide 1st Cricket Roster - underway on weekends

SSATIS Senior Tennis - next Tuesday

SSATIS Basketball - this week

Tennis Development - next Tuesday

Table Tennis Development - next Monday

Sailing – Teams - this week

Sailing Development - this Saturday

Information regarding the following activities will be out in the coming weeks.

MTB

STEM Club

Chess Club

Homework Club

Water Polo

Good luck to all students and a massive thank you to our dedicated team of staff and parents/carers who are assisting with coaching and manager duties.

Additional Co-Curricular Activities - Debating and Study Skills Clubs

Registrations are now open for the two additional Co-Curricular activities for Term 1.

• Debating Club

• Study-Skills Club

Debating Club:

• Training and practice on Tuesdays at Recess.

• The coordinator is Mr Ivan Dowding-Hopkins (idowdinghopkins@stvirgils.tas.edu.au)

• The interschool competition starts on Wednesday 12 March, with six rounds, conducted every two weeks.

• Competition is conducted after school at various school/college venues.

• Years 7-9 between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm.

• Years 10-12 approximately from 8.00 pm.

• Three rounds in Term 1 and three rounds in Term 2.

• Finals will be held on Thursday 26 June and Wednesday 2 July.

• A team must field three speakers and a ‘fourth speaker’ who will either time keep or adjudicate, so we need at least four members for each team.

Study-Skills Club:

• Lunch or recess on a day to be confirmed.

• The coordinator is Mrs Alison Haddon-Cave (ahaddoncave@stvirgils.tas.edu.au)

• Includes guidance and assistance with:

1. How to study

2. Essay writing (drafting etc)

3. Research + Analysis

4. Revision

5. Presentations

Registrations close at 5.00 pm on Friday 28 February 2025. To register, please complete this Google Form.

For further information on either club, please contact the coordinator above.

Please ensure that students and parents/carers consult before registration to avoid duplicate entries and or registering for activities that the student does not wish to participate in.

St Virgil's College is an all-inclusive school and therefore will try to ensure all students that register will be able to participate in their chosen activity. It is a condition of participation in all sVc Co-Curricular Programs that students are consistently meeting the College's behaviour and academic effort expectations. Representing the College is a privilege and ongoing participation in Co-Curricular Activities is subject to behaviour tracking and advice from Heads of House and College Leadership.

2025 EREA National Football Tournament - Expressions of Interest Closing Today

A reminder that expressions of interest close today.

The St Virgil’s College Soccer program seeks to provide players with excellent playing opportunities that will enhance their soccer experiences, whilst also further reinforcing school spirit and the holistic education provided to all students. Expressions of interest are now OPEN for Years 7-11 students who wish to be considered for selection to represent the College in two teams for the following divisions, to play in the EREA National Football (Soccer) Tournament:

1. Year 8 competition (Years 7-8 students considered)

2. Year 10 competition (Years 9-11 students considered)

Each team above will have a 16-person squad selected to tour Brisbane from 13 April to 17 April, the first week of the Easter School Holidays (end of Term 1).

Matches will be played against other EREA schools from across Australia and will be hosted by St Joseph's Nudgee College, in Brisbane, where all participants have reported having a great experience. The College has won the Year 9/10 division five times in the past nine years, and our 7/8 team finished runner-up last year in their inaugural participation in the Year 8 competition. If selected, your son will be expected to participate in a weekly training session at the College as advised below and commit fully to the College’s soccer program, ie. SSATIS roster and Representative Matches where possible. Please note that the Principal, Director of Sport and Coaches reserve the right to add or remove members to the party based upon the perceived potential for development or concerns about school-based attendance, behaviour, or commitment to academic studies. Please note that parents/carers must be up to date with their family tuition fee payment plan for students to be considered for a place on the tour.

To register your son's expression of interest, please complete this Google Form.

A draft itinerary and cost of the tour can also be found in the EOI Google form.

Expressions of interest close at 5.00 pm on Friday 21 February 2025.

Selection trials will take place in Week 4B of Term 1 as follows:

Years 7-8

Monday 24 February, Recess (10.40 am - 11.10 am), Main Oval

Tuesday 25 February, Recess (10.40 am - 11.10 am), Main Oval

Years 9-11

Monday 24 February, Lunch (1.00 pm - 1.30 pm), Main Oval

Tuesday 25 February, Lunch (1.00 pm - 1.30 pm), Main Oval

Training for both teams (6 weeks) will take place on Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 March, 2 and 9 April, Lunch (1.00 - 1.30 pm), Main Oval. Additional practice matches may also be organised.

New Beginnings - Come and Try Sailing and Rowing

The Year 7 introduction to Senior School life at Austins Ferry was in full swing last week and this week as part of the New Beginnings Program. Taking advantage of the warm weather, all Year 7 students experienced ailing from our own Marine Education Centre and Rowing from the New Town Bay Rowing Sheds. Lots of smiles and fun times. Thank you to the College staff, older students and volunteers for making these opportunities come to life for our students.