Lest We Forget

I am pleased to share that Ms Kate Garrone has been appointed to our College Leadership Team as our new Dean of Faith and Mission commencing in 2025.

Kate is presently on the Leadership Team at Villanova College in Brisbane as Dean of Faith and Identity. She has a rich connection and history with Catholic education in the Edmund Rice tradition through a long-standing relationship with the ministries of the Christian Brothers. Kate has worked in supporting and forming volunteers and immersion participants, intentional communities working with refugees and people in need, and at Parade College in Melbourne where she was Ministry Co-ordinator. Parade College was Br. Ambrose Treacy’s first school in Australia.

Kate also has deep experience with the Sisters of Mercy tradition where she was on the College Leadership Team as Faith and Mission Co-ordinator at one their schools in Melbourne. Kate brings a wealth of experience across different faith and mission settings and also through her work as a practicing psychologist including working as a Guidance Counsellor at Mt Alvernia College here in Brisbane. We greatly look forward to welcoming Kate to Ambrose Treacy College.

This Week

This is a big week of ceremony and ritual.  Remembrance Day, which marks the armistice of the First World War, is a vital opportunity for our community to pause in respect and gratitude for all women and men who have served and died in service of the peace we now enjoy. It is also a stark reminder for us in these times of global uncertainty and conflict, that we must cherish this peace that we share and that has been hard earned. We shared in ceremony with our staff and students this morning. Less than a century ago, American and Australian soldiers were brought to our site for medical attention and recuperation during World War Two.

We look forward to welcoming the extended community at Riverlife tomorrow night for our Celebration of Excellence. Warm congratulations to all of our award winners and performers in anticipation of a terrific night. Thank you to Mr Jason Sepetauc, Ms Georgie Ingham-Myers and all staff involved in preparing for this special occasion.

Valedictory

Our Year 12 students have now concluded their external exams. Congratulations to all students who came forward to give of their personal best. Thank you to Mums and Dads and families for their support throughout this challenging and busy period.

Thank you and congratulations to Ms Liana Baillie, Dean of Learning, the Learning Office Team, the Learning Leaders Team, Inclusive Practices Team and all staff who assisted and supported our student body organisationally, academically, emotionally and pastorally.

The tradition at ATC is that our Year 12s gather for a Retreat Day the day before Valedictory. It is a powerful bookend to our Retreat Program that is facilitated from Year 4 to Year 12 and links beautifully with our Year 12 Claddagh Retreat. It is a day of stories, affirmation, reconciliation, and gratitude. My observation over the past four years is that our students are well prepared for this day in that they have developed a literacy, language and skill set to engage meaningfully as a result of our programs. I have had the privilege of being witness to some very moving moments on these days and we look forward to the Retreat Day and the joyous occasion of Valedictory on Thursday. 

Our day commences with Year 12 student breakfast with our staff, farewell assembly with students, parents and staff, a full school tunnel of honour, followed by Mass at The Cathedral of St Stephen in the city where Brother Patrick Ambrose Treacy worshipped and prayed. The celebrations end with Valedictory Lunch at Brisbane City Hall. It will be a magnificent day. 

Thank you to Mr Conor Finn, Mr Matt Warr, Ms Suzanne Colette and Mrs Helen Hicks for their organisation and facilitation of all events associated with Valedictory and Graduation.

Christmas Drive

Thank you to all families who are presently supporting our Christmas Drive in partnership with St Vincent de Paul. 

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a Catholic international faith community with 800000 members which is committed to the personal service of the poor. Vincent de Paul was a French Catholic Priest in the early 17th century who lived an extraordinary life of service. His mission of service to the poor was greatly formed by a period as being a captured slave by a band of pirates!

His dedication and devotion is now most commonly known colloquially in Australia through “Vinnies” thrift clothing shops which are key our Year 10 St Vincent de Formal tradition at ATC. 

We encourage the students to take the lead on this from selecting and purchasing items through to bringing them into their Homerooms. We look forward to seeing brimming basket hampers for our Christmas donations to families in need. It is always a meaningful and special time for our community to have the privilege in being involved with this project. Thank you for your support.

Share the Dignity “It’s in the Bag” Project

Another initiative we are looking to support in the Advent and Christmas Season is the Share the Dignity Bag Drive. Founder of the organisation, Rochelle Courtenay, was a guest speaker at this year’s Spring Lunch and leads this project where handbags with a range of products placed inside are donated in support of sharing dignity with women in need.

We are aiming for our collection day to be 18 November and Mr Matt Warr, Dean of Faith and Mission will be in contact about how ATC families can support. Thank you! 

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