Coming Up Week 3

2024 College Leaders

I am delighted to formally announce the following College Student Leader roles for 2024:    

Declan Lever – College Captain 

Michael Neumann – College Vice-Captain 

Jock Noonan – College Vice-Captain

I warmly congratulate these students and wish them well for this responsibility. I also congratulate all of the students who were shortlisted in this process and acquitted themselves so well. We are indeed blessed by the calibre of young people within our community, and I look forward to the announcement of House Leaders for 2024 and the leadership of the entire cohort.

In the meantime, we remain in the capable hands of our 2023 Seniors who are doing a most commendable job across all domains of College life. 

Parent Teacher Student Feedback Meetings

Thank you to all the families who were able to participate in the Parent Student Teacher feedback meetings this week. They are an important part of our process to provide feedback and specific steps for individual students to improve. The task now is for each student to put certain practices into action, or remove some negative factors, with the goal of improving in certain subjects. Organisation is another key to success, and next week the semester two assessment schedules will be available to all families to assist with planning.

2024 Subject Selections

After our recent Subject Selection Information evenings, the online subject selection process is now open for current Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 students. The link is available through Student Café under ‘Links’. Year 10 families also have scheduled SET Planning meetings to assist with this selection process. 2024 Subject selections are due online for current Years 7, 8 and 9 students by Friday 28 July. Please communicate with key staff I you have any queries. The closing date is important to assist with 2024 planning.

Academic Assemblies

Next week, we will celebrate the academic success of our students at the relevant Academic Awards Presentations. All award recipients have received an email outlining the location and time, and we look forward to having parents and carers onsite to celebrate these achievements. Congratulations to all of the students receiving awards. Please note the change in day for Middle School and Senior School assemblies from our printed calendar.

Signum Fidei Breakfast

Next week we also celebrate the students who have been consistently doing all the little things well. The Signum Fidei breakfast for all year levels will be held on Thursday 27 July on the riverside of the Edmund Rice building. Please note parking will be a challenge that morning and I ask for those attending to be patient and take extra care on that morning.

Lost Property

We currently have a large quantity of named and unnamed lost property. If your child is missing any school items, please go to Student Reception in the Edmund Rice Building.  All school items will be disposed of by Friday 4 August 2023.

Health Centre News

The timing and duration of the flu season in Queensland varies from year to year but generally occurs between May and October, with a peak commonly in August. Over the past few weeks there have been a number of Influenza cases at ATC, please be aware of Signs and Symptoms: Headache, fever, vomiting, stiff neck or back, joint pains, drowsiness or confusion and photophobia. If your child is experiencing the listed symptoms, or is generally unwell, we strongly encourage that they stay home and rest. For further information on Influenza please visit the following website Influenza (The Flu) (health.qld.gov.au)

UPCOMING DATES 

Monday 24 July | Junior School Maths Challenge

Tuesday 25 July | Volleyball QLD Primary Schools Gala Day

Tuesday 25 July | Munster House Mass

Tuesday 25 July | Middle School Academic Assembly

Wednesday 26 July | Junior School Academic Assembly

Thursday 27 July | Whole School Signum Fidei Breakfast

Thursday 27 July | Year 11 & 12 Clontarf Employment Forum

Thursday 27 July | Co-curricular Music & Drama Recital

Friday 28 July | Years 8-10 2024, Subject Selections due

Friday 28 July | Senior School Academic Assembly

Friday 28 July | National Tree Day excursion (Environmental Club students)

Saturday 29 July | P&F Trivia Night

LEARNING 

ICAS Competition

ICAS Competition bookings are now open. The benefit of ICAS is that student achievement can be compared nationally and internationally.

For more information on ICAS you can visit: https://www.unswglobal.unsw.edu.au.

The College will run sessions for ICAS Science, English and Maths, for years 4 to 10, on the dates and times below.

• English:  Tuesday 15 August 2023 from 7:15-8:15am; cost $19.25

• Science:  Tuesday 22 August 2023 from 7:15-8:15am; cost $19.25
• Maths:  Tuesday 29 August 2023 from 7:15-8:15am; cost $19.25

The ICAS parent payment link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps. The college access code is: NLO363

Bookings close on Monday 31 July at 4pm

Junior School Maths Challenge

The inaugural ATC Junior School Maths Challenge will be held on Monday 24 July. Students in Year 5 and 6 Extension Mathematics will engage in a range of mathematical challenges in mixed teams throughout the day in Nudgee Junior Hall. Students are required to attend homeroom and Period 1 as usual, with the first round beginning at 9.00am. Each round encourages students to collaborate and engage in different mathematical skills including speed and accuracy, knowledge and understanding and problem solving. Students are required to bring their pencils, a calculator, and their usual lunch.  

We are looking forward to a fun and challenging day of maths.

Year 11 Visual Art in Practice Ceramics Workshop

On Tuesday 1 August, Year 11 Visual Arts in Practice students will be visiting The Ceramic Studio to experience a ceramic wheel-throwing and slip-casting workshop to inspire their artmaking. Please refer to the letter on the College App from Ms Caitlin Sneddon for more information regarding this excursion.

Year 5 Reading

Miss Madsen and her Year 5 class headed to Warril Place on Friday afternoon for their reading lesson! Soaking up the sunshine and taking in the fresh air, what a fantastic way to spend your time reading, how lucky are our students.

Year 12 Hospitality

Have a look at the delicious treats that our Year 12 Cert II Hospitality students made! These triangular filled-pocket pastries are a Jewish pastry called Hamantash. We cannot wait to see what dishes from around the world these students cook next!

FORMATION 

Student Representative Council Leadership Assembly

This week, we had the opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate the new Student Representative Council (SRC) members at College Assembly.

Leadership is present in many forms and the ability to be agile when presented with problems is a valuable skill to possess. Our Seniors did so when they pivoted to Teams when the weather prevented us coming together.

The theme for our leaders was to foster a community where Random and Intentional Acts of Kindness were central to our genetic DNA and leadership. The College Leaders (both SRC and Seniors) collaboratively agree that a community that is unified and hardwired with the courage to be kind, can hopefully produce a ripple effect of kindness within ATC and beyond. The opportunity to build leadership capacity amongst our students was further developed at the Student Leadership Afternoon, held after school during the week.

Everyone has the ability to lead. It is simply an active and intentional choice that someone makes in order to leave a person, situation or community in a better place than they found it.

FAITH & MISSION 

Munster House Mass

A significant focus for Ambrose Treacy College is to consolidate the vertical house system and the spirit and identity of each house. One means to do this is by gathering as a community to acknowledge the students of Munster House as a community within the College. An important expression of our rich tradition as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition is the celebration of Mass as an avenue to bring the community together, listen to scripture, give thanks and be united in Holy Communion as the heart of Catholic faith and life.

The Munster House Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 25 July in the Chapel of St Joseph at 8:30am. This will be a student only event.

Students are expected to wear their full formal uniform, including suitcoat and tie, and meet their homeroom teacher in the Chapel at 8:25am to mark the roll prior to the commencement of Mass.

SERVICE

This winter, sleep out in the name of Service. ATC students are encouraged to take part in this solo Service initiative that promotes the great work that Rosie’s do in the city of Brisbane. “Rosie’s reaches out to those most in need, people who are homeless or at risk, lonely, and socially isolated within our communities.”

In solidarity with the patrons of Rosie’s, students are tasked with sleeping rough for a night, experiencing the harshness of a sleep without the comfort of a warm bed. In addition, students are encouraged to make this a solo challenge, as a way of experiencing the loneliness that many of Brisbane’s homeless community feel.

What is sleeping rough?

• No mattress (use your garage floor/backyard/pergola/deck as your bed for the night)
• Minimal Bedding ie Sleeping bag and pillow

• Cold dinner

The Sleepout for Outreach will provide students with a moment to reflect on their own experiences with that of a person who sleeps rough every evening. It is through this lived experience where students will develop compassion and empathy for those living on the margins. This act of solidarity may well be the catalyst for offering support and assistance to those in need now and into the future.

To complete this service challenge, students are asked to bring a donation of 2-minute noodles to the Faith and Mission office, log 5 service hours and a picture of their experience with their homeroom teacher and signumfidei@atc.qld.edu.au. It is hoped that along with creating awareness of those most vulnerable, we can also bolster the Rosies pantry, supporting their outreach program providing connection to those on the streets.

Please contact Mr Andrew McCrohon, Head of Service and Clubs if you have any questions.

Year 7 RE Service Learning Project

This term the Year 7 cohort are exploring what it means to live a Good Life as a part of the RE Curriculum. A significant focus for this unit is that students are asked to plan, implement and reflect on a Service Learning Project. This project is a chance for students to engage with external organisations and begin to understand the benefits of service and volunteers in our community.

We invite parents and families to engage with this opportunity and to be involved with your son’s decision for the project. You may be able to facilitate a connection with a local sports or community group, a local aged care home, person in need or charitable organisation. Even an idea may be enough to motivate your son and his group members to make a difference. Please talk with your son about this assessment and talk about the prospects that are available to him. We encourage you to walk alongside your son in service and envisage a more meaningful connection as they demonstrate Catholic virtues in action.

Should you have any queries about this project please contact your son’s RE teacher or Alicia Madigan, RE Coordinator, Middle School.

SPORT 

Track and Field training has started and 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. Year 4 to 6 will be on site at Jack Bowers Oval from 3.15-4.30pm, whilst Year 7 to 12 will be at Jack Cook Park at Toowong from 3.30-5pm.

Buses will transport the Year 7 to 12 boys to Jack Cook Park, however, a reminder that families will have to collect their son from Jack Cook Park after the conclusion of training. We look forward to a great season ahead.

Buddy - Year 5 - Met West Rugy League

Year 5 student Buddy, recently travelled to Townsville for the Vic Jensen Under 11’s Rugby League Carnival. Alongside his Met West teammates, Buddy finished sixth, and as one of the younger players of the team, we are very proud to hear of his great sportsmanship throughout the carnival. Well done Buddy, an excellent achievement, what a way to spend part of your school holidays!

CO-CURRICULAR MUSIC

QCMF (Queensland Catholic Schools’ and Colleges’ Music Festival) is the premier event on Queensland’s Catholic School annual music and arts calendar - we are delighted to again be involved in this outstanding music event, with 21 of ATC’s Bands, Ensembles and Choirs participating in 2023.

Details of specific performance times and venues are now on the College App. Please ensure all dates and times are in your calendars and any absences are communicated ASAP. 

ATC LONG LUNCH – SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023

Ticket sales are open! Please visit https://www.trybooking.com/CJIYR for all details about the anticipated return of the ATC Long Lunch on Sunday 10 September. Come along and enjoy live entertainment, drinks at the Long Lunch Bar and catching up with friends. You can BYO food or order from Rosalie Gourmet Market for delivery to the event on the day, easy! We look forward to a wonderful community occasion and advise that this is an 18+ only event.

Sponsorship Opportunities – Do you have a business or have contacts that can help support this event by way of donation or sponsorship? We seek your involvement to make this event a success and ask that you register your interest to assist via this form.

Should you have any questions, please contact Helen Hicks, Administration Officer, Ambrose Treacy College Foundation.

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 8 August, 5 September, 10 October and 21 November. For any queries, please email the P&F Secretary Catherine pandf@atc.qld.edu.au 

P&F Trivia Night

THANK YOU to the following local & family owned businesses which have donated RAFFLE PRIZES for the Trivia Night so far. Still possibly more prizes to come. Raffle tickets available on Parent Lounge & also for sale on the night. Don't miss out!

Shopping: Boutique Meats (Kenmore), Bunnings (Indooroopilly), iFruit Fresh (Kenmore), Kenmore Plaza Seafood - Fresh & Cooked, Kenmore Village (Centre Mgt), My Green Stuff (Graceville), Presents of Mind (Indooroopilly), VetShop Australia

Beauty: Cru Hair (Chapel Hill), Monsoon Hair Design (Chapel Hill)

Services: KPR Automotive, 17 Mile Rocks

Food & Drinks: Ananas Espresso (Graceville), Chafffey’s Bakery (Chapel Hill), Domino’s Pizza (Chapel Hill), Peach & Billy (Chapel Hill), Pig & Whistle (Indooroopilly), Suburban Social (Chapel Hill), The Kenmore (Tavern), Wests Bar & Bistro (Toowong)

Entertainment: Cinebar (Rosalie), Event Cinemas (Indooroopilly)

Fitness & Health: Fig Tree Yoga (Fig Tree Pocket), Jetts (Kenmore), Movement Vitality Yoga & Mobility (Indooroopilly), Studio Pilates (Oxley & Jindalee)

Please support the businesses which support the College.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TRIVIA NIGHT - can you help?

• When: Saturday, 29 July 2023, 5.30pm - 10pm
• Who: just 2 or 3 more people (who are NOT already on a Trivia Table).

• What's the job: sell raffle tickets, mark answer sheets, take photos & lend a hand.
• Special skills: 1 x PHOTOGRAPHER (must have own camera)

Please contact the Event Coordinator (Suzanne) if you can help via pandf@atc.qld.edu.au. It's a fun night!

Mr David Gardiner 

Deputy Principal