Coming Up Week 3

This week celebrated the academic achievements of our students for Semester 2024 learners and welcomed back our Year 12 graduates, including our College Dux Jacob, Proxime Accessit Declan, and our Treacy medal winners.

Mass

As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition the College Opening Mass and Junior School Mass are special events. They mark the beginning of the school in a much deeper way than buying shiny school shoes, the first day assembly or attending your first class.

Mass asks the entire community to lean into the liberating message of Jesus so that Ambrose Treacy students not only become great learners, but signs of faith (Signum Fidei). Lived through our College Pillars of Leadership Learning and Service, and the example of Edmund Rice and Ambrose Treacy, we are called to be active in our faith as we carry out all our tasks at school.

Mass is an opportunity for stillness and reflection about how we will all achieve our goals with dignity and respect. Details of the College Opening Masses are contained in this blog and via the app.

Camp Medical Information

This week I sent an information letter and form to complete ahead of camp in Week 6. We are doing this to improve student safety, minimize risk and provide agency for camp leaders and teachers. Please check that you have received the information, complete the Permission to Administer and Medical Details forms and return them to the College. Contact the college if you are unsure (camps@atc.qld.edu.au). The Medical Details Form must be signed, completed and returned before 4pm Monday 17 February.

Next week we will send detailed information specific to your son’s camp with times, dates, program summaries, waivers, packing lists and other relevant information. Your Head of Year, Head of House or camp leader are your first point of contact.

CAMP WEEK 2025: At a Glance.

Week 6 Term 1: Monday 3 – Friday 7 March 

Years 4 and 7 Welcome Afternoon - TOMORROW Saturday 8 February

The annual P&F Welcome afternoon events are being held tomorrow, Saturday 8 February on the College Ovals for families and students of Years 4 and Year 7 from 3pm to 5pm. BYO chairs, picnic food and drinks (no alcohol please) and relax and get to know one another. Year 12 student leaders will assist with games with the younger children and kids will be entertained on the inflatable Ninja course! Siblings are welcome to come along for the fun too! Contact Nicole Moy or Lisa Weller if you have any queries:  moynicole@hotmail.com littlelisa_b@yahoo.com.au

Past Students Stories

We invite our 2019 and 2020 Past Students to share their post-school journey with us. Whether it's university graduation, life milestones, career advancement or continued study, we would love to hear from you. Please send your story and photos to communications@atc.qld.edu.au

Please click here to update your contact details.

ATC Care and Concern

The ATC community is welcoming and friendly and we believe that when everyone is involved in the Ambrose Treacy life, it builds a strong and connected community. Volunteering is a great way to make friends and meet parents in your child’s year level and by signing up for Care and Concern or getting involved with P&F events, you are investing in your child’s future at ATC. Please follow the link below to the ‘Helping Out in 2025’ online form. We look forward to welcoming you to our community of volunteers.

HELPING OUT in 2025 - ATC Care & Concern

KEY DATES

Saturday 8 February  | P & F Years 4 & 7 Welcome Picnic (3pm – 5pm)

UPCOMING DATES WEEK 3

Tuesday 11 February  | Opening Mass, Riverlife Years 7-12 only, 12pm

Wednesday 12 February | Year 10 & 11 Parent Information Evening 6pm

Thursday 13 February | Junior School Parent Information Evening 6pm

Friday 14 February   | Junior School Interhouse Swimming Carnival 

Friday 14 February | Junior School Opening Mass

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Parents & Caregivers Information Nights

SENIOR SCHOOL: Year 10 & 11 Parent & Caregiver Information Night - Wednesday 12 February 6pm

Parents and Caregivers of Year 10 and Year 11 students are invited to the Senior Information Evening commencing at 6pm on Wednesday 12 February in the Waterford Building Auditorium. Further details are available on the app.

JUNIOR SCHOOL: Year 4, 5 and 6 Parents & Caregivers Information Night - Thursday 13 February 6pm

Please be sure to check the app for details of this information night for Years 4, 5 and 6 parents and caregivers. We look forward to seeing Junior School parents and caregivers at this event. Further details are available on the app.

Year 6 2025 Canberra Tour

The countdown has commenced to the Year 6 Canberra tour. The tour is intended to enhance the curriculum and leadership program, building student understanding of the processes of governance as well as the challenges of leadership.

When:

• Monday 3 March – Thursday 6 March (Nolan & Treacy)
• Tuesday 4 March – Friday 7 March (Bodkin & Lynch)

Information Evening: An information session will be held prior to the Junior School parent information evening, Thursday February 13 February from 6pm – 6.30 p.m. in the Chapel. This will then be followed by the Year 6 Parent Information evening in homeroom classes. Should you have any further queries regarding the Canberra tour, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Stewart, Head of Formation & Administration- Junior School (stewartm@atc.qld.edu.au). Please refer to the app for further details.

Junior School Swimming Carnival - Friday 14 February

Planning is well underway for our Junior School Inter-House Swimming Carnival which will take place on Friday, 14 February. The focus of the carnival is twofold; swimming excellence to determine our age champions and student participation with all boys contributing to their House totals to be crowned House champions at the end of the day. Further details have been shared on the app.

Student Background Data Collection

Student background data is collected annually by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA); this information along with other metrics effect he Commonwealth recurrent funding the College receives. Please update your details in Parent Lounge by Friday 21 February 2025.

Please refer to the app for further details and instructions regarding access to the Parent Lounge.

PRINICIPAL BLOG

Mr Ryan watched as a calmness and return to routine ushered in Week 2 of the school year. There is a busyness in the early days of Term One that require discipline, planning, adapting and a good sleep routine.

Follow the link to the Principal's Message for some sage advice and a look at the fun from Week 1: ATConnect | Principal's Message

LEARNING

Register for Elevate’s Parent Webinar Series This Term

Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over the next term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school. Register for the series by CLICKING HERE below and learn some great practical strategies to help support your child this year. Note that the timings are Daylight Saving time.

• How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated - 12th February 6:30pm (AEDT)
• How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time – 26th February 6:30pm (AEDT)
• How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!) - 12th March 6:30pm (AEDT)
• How You Can Help Improve Your Child’s Memory - 26th March 6:30pm (AEDT)

Excursion:

Year 12 Geography Excursion

Year 12 Geography will be going on excursion Overnight on Monday 17 February 2024 to Tuesday Morning 18 February. Please see further details on the app.

Year 4 Japanese

Ichi, ni, san, shi - Our Year 4s jumped straight into counting in Japanese today as Sensei had them singing along to counting songs to reinforce the new words and characters. Their workbooks were like pieces of art with neat and precise writing and drawing. There's homework for everyone and don't forget your coloured pencils! Who wants a Japanese sticker in their book next week?

Maths Space for Senior Students

High energy and great vibes at our first Maths Space of 2025! We've moved to a new classroom this year, and we invite Senior students to join us on Wednesdays and Thursdays during 2nd break to crunch the numbers! This week, mathematicians made the most of the supportive atmosphere, working quietly or asking for assistance with curly questions. Mrs. Kirsch and the team can’t wait to see even more boys embracing self-directed learning this year! See you in T205 and take your ATC Learning to the next level.

Year 10 Physics

Students in Year 10 are starting their Physics topic in science by analysing motion in two dimensions. They are accelerating their understanding through practical activities down a ramp, showing that physics really is phun!

FAITH AND MISSION

Opening Mass - Tuesday 11 February

As Ambrose Treacy College moves into the 2025 school year, we look forward to the Opening Mass and Year 12 Commissioning on Tuesday 11 February at 12pm at Riverlife, Seventeen Mile Rocks. The Mass will be attended by students in Years 7 – 12.

Students in Years 4 – 6 will not attend on this day but will participate in a Junior School Opening Mass on Friday 14 February at the College.

All students in Years 7 – 11 are asked to wear the Day Uniform of striped shirt and grey shorts with their tie. Those students in the choir or band are also asked to wear the Formal Day Uniform including striped shirt and suitcoat. Please see further correspondence from the music department about this event.

Further details have been shared on the app for Years 7 to 11 and Year 12. For any further information please contact Kate Garrone, Dean of Faith and Mission, garronek@atc.qld.edu.au.

150 years of Edmund Rice ministries in Queensland - Breakfast Event

To celebrate 150 years of Edmund Rice ministries in Queensland we invite members of the ATC Community to a special Breakfast Event with Dr Mary Murphy being held at Nudgee College on Wednesday 19 February, 7am to 8.15am. Dr Murphy is an engaging speaker and storyteller who will be insightful about the women who deeply influenced Edmund Rice. Tickets including breakfast are $15. For more details and to reserve your place, please click HERE.

FORMATION

Our Rubbish Warriors were back in action this week. These Junior School and Year 12 students were back pounding the pavements with rubbish pickers, lollipops and Warrior hats this week! Thursday is their day when they come together for some laughs, chats, and calling on others to help them in their pilgrimage around the College collecting rubbish. Nice work team!

MUSIC

Junior Band Program

Following on from our Music Demonstration and Instrument Testing, all new Year 4 and interested Year 5 and 6 students will have now received their instrument letter of offer for our Junior Band Program.

Families are reminded that there will be a Junior Band Information Evening on Thursday 13 February from approximately 7.15pm (following the Junior School information session.

Choirs

Choirs at ATC are open to all students who enjoying singing and performing. Please come along to a rehearsal at the following times and pop in to see us at the Co-curricular Music Office if you have questions.

Junior Choir (yrs 4-6) – Thursdays 7am

ATC Senior Singers (yrs 7-12) – Thursdays 3.10pm -4.10pm

Instrumental Music Lessons

Vocal and Piano lessons are available for interested students – please contact music@atc.qld.edu.au for more information.

SPORT

On Thursday 6 Feb, we held our Interhouse Swimming Carnival where boys nominated for their chosen events and competed against one another to earn points for their house. It was great to see so many of the boys turn up to the pool and give it their all. This puts us in great stead for the upcoming AIC & GBC Swimming carnivals.

This Saturday brings the first official Round 1 matches for AFL, Volleyball & Cricket. Please check the ATC App for all information including game time and location.

Our 1^st Cricket XI will be having their Baggy Green presentation at Chelmer Sports Ground at 7am, something these boys have trained and worked hard for and we wish them well in Round 1.

Volleyball

Last Saturday marked the launch of the 2025 Volleyball season. Our 13 teams and 125 students all kick started their season with fixtures against Brisbane Grammar School. It was great to see the students back on the court, putting the skills they are honing in on at training sessions to the test. We look forward to what the rest of the 2025 season has in store as we take on Nudgee College this coming Saturday.

CLUBS

Registrations have now closed for the Term 1 Clubs Program. Please refer to the Information Letters and Clubs Timetable on the ATC App for all relevant information.

As with all Extra Curricular activities, we ask you please commit or communicate to each Club session.  If your son is not available to attend, please email clubs@atc.qld.edu.au or the club coordinator to mark your son’s absence. 

P & F NEWS

Meeting Dates for the new school year

All are invited to join the P&F President, Mr George Patrikios, and the Principal at the P&Ft meetings  in Mt Sion Library at 6.30pm.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

Tuesday 11 March; 29 April, 27 May, 22 July, 2 September AGM, 14 October and 25 November for the big 2026 Planning Meeting. 

For any queries, please email the P&F Secretary  pandf@atc.qld.edu.au

P&F Events

• Year 4 & 7 families Welcome Afternoon - TOMORROW - Saturday 8 February 3pm on Brothers Oval
• Kick off Cocktails - Saturday 22 February
• Rugby Night Out - Saturday 29 March
• Trivia Night - Saturday 2 August
• AGM - Tuesday 2 September
• P&F Ladies Spring Lunch - Friday 24 October at Victoria Park

Kick off Cocktails!

Tickets are on sale for the P&F welcome event being held on Saturday 22 February from 6pm to 10pm. Join us at ATC for a night of friendraising and catching up with the ATC community

Let's build school connections that last a lifetime. Tickets are $35 pp and include entry, drink on arrival, canapés and one ticket in the raffle to win a terms tuition fees valued up to $4200. Further raffle ticket bundles can be purchased in Parent Lounge and you don’t need to be there on the night to win.

The ATC P&F invite our Parents and Caregivers to Kick off Cocktails, a welcome evening, on Saturday 22 February 2025 6pm to 10pm at ATC. Come along and start the year in style! Tickets are $35pp which includes a drink on arrival, canapes and one raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased via your Parent Lounge account. One raffle ticket is included in the entry ticket price and further raffle tickets can be purchased- 1 for $10, 3 for $20, 10 for $60 or 20 for $100. Major Prize is one term's school tuition fees valued at up to $4287.50 (dependent on son's year level). A bar will be selling beverages on the night. Eftpos only. Come along and connect with old friends and meet new ones!

Thank You!

Thank you to KPR Automotive for their generous donation for this year's Kick off Cocktails. If you would like to donate to the raffle for this event, please contact Catherine Jackson; pandf@atc.qld.edu.au

KICK OF COCKTAILS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you can help with this event please CLICK HERE or contact the event organiser as soon as possible - Catherine Jackson; pandf@atc.qld.edu.au.

COLLEGE TOUR

Join us for a college tour on Thursday 20 February at 4pm to wander through our beautiful riverside campus, meet our staff and speak with students. It truly is the best way to discover the ATC difference. Principal Chris Ryan will speak with parents and our teachers will be on hand to answer all your questions. There's also a sausage sizzle for afternoon tea so bring the family after school and enjoy a stroll around ATC. BOOK NOW via our website:

https://www.atc.qld.edu.au/enrolments/book-a-tour

Jason Sepetauc

Deputy Principal