Coming Up Term 3

I hope it has been a very positive and relaxing break for all our families.

All reports have been released through Parent Lounge and Student Café. I hope there has been plenty of discussions around the positives and areas for improvement in these. Parent Teacher Student feedback meetings will be conducted on Monday 17 July. Bookings for these have been open for two weeks. Please note no classes will be conducted on this day to allow for the meetings.

Families can also access Term Three timetables through Parent Lounge. This will assist in preparation for day one on Monday. Please note there are a number of changes due to new electives in the Middle School, switching between History and Geography in the Middle School plus a number of staff in different positions across the College.

NAIDOC week took placed across our nation this week. The 2023 theme is ‘For Our Elders’ to highlight the important role that cultural knowledge holders and leaders bring to communities. As a community that recognises the traditional owners and carers of the land and waterways we live on, and respects elders past present and future, ATC will also celebrate NAIDOC week with Mass on Tuesday 11 July for all students and staff.

Leadership is an important skill we develop in all of our young people. The leadership of the student body will soon pass from our current Year 12 students to our current Year 11 students. I wish our Year 11 cohort all the best as they undertake their Leadership Retreat during week one in preparation for them to lead the College.

Day one is around the corner, which means it may be time for that overdue haircut in preparation for the return to school. All students are required to wear their full College formal uniform to school through Term Three.

Here is a good Checklist to help you prepare for Day One:

1. Formal uniform, including tie, ready.
2. Suitcoat ready, including badges.
3. Appropriate hair style.
4. Timetable viewed. Any changes noted.
5. Timetable printed out if necessary.
6. Co-curricular program identified and in calendar.

Term Three looks to be action packed. The key dates are as follows:

IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM THREE

Monday 10 July | First Day of Term Three

Monday 17 July | Pupil Free Day – Parent, Student, Teacher Feedback Meetings

Tuesday 25 July | Senior School Academic Assembly

Wednesday 26 July | Junior School Academic Assembly

Thursday 27 July | Signum Fidei Breakfast

Friday 28 July | Middle School Academic Assembly

Saturday 29 July | P&F Trivia Night

Tuesday 8 August | Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop

Tuesday 8 August | Year 11 RYDA Program

Wednesday 9 August | Year 5 Mass & Retreat

Thursday 10 August | College Tour

Tuesday 15 August | Year 11 SociABLE

Tuesday 15 August | Junior School Interhouse Track & Field Carnival

Wednesday 16 August | Brisbane Ekka Public Holiday

Thursday 17 August to Sunday 20 August | QCMF

Friday 25 August | Year 8 Retreat

Thursday 31 August | Last Day of Formal Uniform

Thursday 31 August | Fathers’ Celebration

Friday 1 September | Ministerial Pupil Free Day

Friday 1 September | New 2024 Students Testing Day

Friday 1 September | Formal Music Concert

Sunday 3 September | Father’s Day

Tuesday 5 September | P&F Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 5 September | Year 4-12 GBC Track & Field

Sunday 10 September | Foundation Long Lunch

Friday 15 September | Last Day of Term Three

UPCOMING DATES 

Friday 7 July to Sunday 9 July | Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival

Monday 10 July | Year 5 Gold Rush excursion

Monday 10 July | Year 11 Physics excursion to iFLy

Monday 10 July | Year 12 Student Leaders Afternoon

Tuesday 11 July | NAIDOC Mass & Celebrations

Tuesday 11 July | P&F Meeting

Wednesday 12 July to Friday 14 July | Year 11 Leadership Retreat

Wednesday 12 July | Year 7 (B, X) Geography excursion

Wednesday 12 July | State of Origin Game 3

Thursday 13 July | Year 7 (N, W) Geography excursion

Thursday 13 July | Middle School Subject Selection evening

Friday 14 July | Years 8-10 2024, Subject Selection opens

Update Personal Details in Parent Lounge

Have you moved house, updated your mobile number or changed email addresses? Parents and caregivers are reminded to update their contact details and their child’s medical details in Parent Lounge.

FORMATION 

Personal Safety and Security

The College accepts that parents and/or caregivers provide their child/ren with Mobile Devices to protect them from everyday personal security and safety risks; including travelling alone on public transport or commuting long distances to school. It is acknowledged that providing children with a Mobile Devices gives parents and/or caregivers reassurance that they can contact their child if they need to speak to them urgently. However, the College accepts no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged Mobiles Devices at school, including travel to and from school.   

• Any student bringing a Mobile Device to school is totally responsible for the care and security of the Mobile Device. 
• In cases of emergency the College requires parents to contact College Reception and Senior School Reception rather than students directly. Students are not to answer texts or calls during class time. This includes the use of smart watches. 
• It is strongly advised that students use passwords/pin numbers to ensure that unauthorised phone calls cannot be made on their Mobile Devices (e.g., by other students, if stolen).  Students must keep their password/pin numbers confidential. Mobile Device and/or passwords should not be shared. 

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, and its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of a range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future.

Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week. A special report offering suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week has been published on the College App and Facebook page.

LEARNING 

Parent, Student, Teacher Feedback Meetings

A reminder that Parent, Student, Teacher Feedback Meetings are scheduled for Monday 17 July (Pupil Free Day). We strongly encourage your child to be present at these discussions. These meetings will be held via Microsoft Teams and will operate in 7-minute intervals. You can view your bookings in Parent Lounge. If you are unable to join the meeting, please contact College Reception on 3878 0500 or email learning@atc.qld.edu.au so that the relevant staff member can be informed.

Year 5 Gold Rush excursion

This is a reminder that the Year 5 Gold Rush excursion is on first day of term – Monday, 10 July. Please refer to the App for more details of the excursion, including what the students need to bring and what they need to wear.

FAITH & MISSION 

Service 

Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 are invited to take part in the MacqLit Readers Program as tutors for younger students. Help is required Monday to Thursday from 7:45am until 8:10am from Week 2 onwards. Students who are able to assist with this program will earn Service Hours for their time. Please email Sacha Pringle, Coordinator Inclusive Practices and Case Manager Junior School, to advise of your availability.

SPORT 

Track and Field training will take place on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon in preparation for the GBC and AIC Championships. It is not too late to register and please come into the Sport Office or email us at sport@atc.qld.edu.au to do so. Please be advised that Track and Field training will be split across two venues. Years 4 to 6 will be onsite at Jack Bowers Oval from 3.15-4.30pm, whilst Years 7 to 12 will be at Jack Cook Park at Toowong from 3.30-5pm. Buses will transport the Year 7 to 12 students to Jack Cook Park; however, a reminder that families will have to collect their child from Jack Cook Park after the conclusion of training.

We look forward to a great season ahead.

CLUBS 

We look forward to the Term Three Clubs resuming from the end of Week 1, with Golf beginning on the first Sunday of the term.  The Term Three timetable and information letters for each of the 2023 Clubs are available on the relevant tags on the ATC College App - Co-curricular tag. Please make sure that you have subscribed to each Club tag on the College App to receive all information about each club your child is involved in.

To check which activity your child is registered and involved in, please go to your Parent Lounge account, click on the Student Details drop down menu, scroll down to the Extra Curricular tab, and the activity/ies they are registered in will appear.  Please contact the Sport and Activities office should there  be any discrepancies.

Please read all information letters carefully to ensure that you and your son understands all that is involved and the commitment that needs to be made.

CO-CURRICULAR MUSIC

Term Three lessons and rehearsals commence from Monday morning of Week One – students and families please check your subscriptions on the College App to ensure you have access to updated timetables and news.

Term Three rehearsal attendance is vital as ensembles and choirs prepare for our two major performances: Queensland Catholic Colleges Music Festival (QCMF) and the Formal Music Concert.  Please ensure you have the dates and details in your family calendars and are subscribed to all relevant tags on the College App.

P & F NEWS 

Meeting Dates 

All are invited to join the P&F President, Mr Ben Prain, and the Principal at our meetings on Tuesday evenings once each month. We meet in Mt Sion Library at 6.30pm. Our upcoming meetings are on Tuesday 11 July, 8 August, 5 September, 10 October and 21 November. For any queries, please email the P&F Secretary Catherine pandf@atc.qld.edu.au 

Mr David Gardiner 

Deputy Principal