As Week 10, Term 3 commences, I am mindful that all students, staff and parents are looking forward to a well-earned break. Our Year 12 students are engaging in mock exam feedback sessions this week and Years 4 to 11 continue their assessment schedules in their different ways. Best wishes to all families for this September break and I trust that everyone will return refreshed for what will be a full and busy Term 4. We welcome students back to the College on Monday 30 September.
Jason Sepetauc shared some highlights for the term in his blog on Friday. I affirm each of those and would add my appreciation and acknowledgement of all of the hundreds of “little things” that people do across our community to make it what it is, some examples being; the support of each other, the volunteering on BBQs, reading mornings and gardening, the leaders of our Feel Good Friday tradition of welcoming our youngest students, the Year 4 Merry Men initiative keeping our grounds tidy, the teachers, coaches, support staff and tutors who go above and beyond in helping, the thousands of good mornings, please's, thank you's and smiles, the students who model the way day in and day out in buying into our story positively and the parents for your good faith, support and belief in your son and our school. Thank you for an enjoyable, jam-packed Term 3.
Phase B of Building Project
The Tipperary staff space in the Middle School will be completed towards the end of the break. This will see 53 secondary school staff located in the centre of the school and provide an opportunity for teaching staff currently located in the top floor of the Edmund Rice Building to move and the Finance, Human Resources and Compliance offices to move to the third floor. We will also relocate the College Board Room to this top floor.
After the break, we are on the home stretch with the new Hospitality teaching space and new Drama teaching spaces to be completed in October with a view to not being a building site for the first time in two years commencing in November. The four demountable classrooms located across the road from the Edmund Rice Building will be decommissioned at the conclusion of the year and we will fully occupy the Waterford Senior School precinct in Term One, 2025.
Thank you to the extended community for your patience and support while we have developed these significant resources for our students and staff. There is no rest for the wicked, and we continue our strategic push for land acquisition external to the College and a master planning process for the future refurbishment of the heritage listed Edmund Rice Building has commenced.
Conclusion of Term 3 Sport
Last Saturday saw our sporting program begin to wind down for 2024 with the last round of GBC and AIC sport with AIC Athletics and GBC gala day to come.. Congratulations and thank you to students, staff, and parents for a huge year of court and field sports. I especially congratulate and thank our Year 12 students who may have pulled on the blue, white, and green for the final time. Thank you for your example, effort and passion for ATC. Congratulations to our Co-curricular Office Team of Lyndon Brieffies, Rob Lofting, Luke Read and Bryce Rankin for their efforts and a huge thanks to all coaches and supporters.
On Saturday we won GBC premierships in Football for the Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams-well done to all players, coaches and supporters.
Congratulations to all Rugby League players on our first foray into AIC competition. At the commencement of the term, 85% of our players had never played Rugby League so it has been a steep learning curve. We have improved week in and week out and we are pleased with our first effort on which we can build in 2025.
Jazz By the River
We look forward to the much-loved community event of Jazz by the River being held at Warril Place on Saturday 12 October. Tickets are available HERE. We would love this one to be the biggest and best JBTR's yet. I can guarantee that our musicians and singers are ready to entertain you, having seen them in top form at the Formal Music Concert last Thursday evening.
We will feature our ATC Jazz Orchestra, Big Band, Hot Brass Squad, Jazz Ensemble Blue, Jazz Ensemble Green, ATC Guitars on the river stage. Families can bring a picnic or buy food at the event. The bar will be open for drinks purchases and there are raffle tickets for sale. More information is on the ATC App.
Community Prayers
Lord, we pray for those in our community who are suffering. Be with them in this time of hardship and uncertainty. Give comfort and peace to those who have lost loved ones. May their sorrow be turned into strength, and their distress turned into peace. May our hearts remain loving and pure as we seek to always be compassionate to those around us.
God bless.
Chris Ryan