Term Two's Already Getting a Good Rap!

Young people can sometimes get a bad rap. On Friday evening, I was delighted to be present as our Year 12 students enjoyed their Formal. They introduced their partners to staff, danced, joked, and looked to celebrate and enjoy themselves. They were well mannered, engaged, appreciative and positive and I am very happy that they enjoyed this signpost event. I couldn’t help but think back to my first year at ATC and the Senior Formal of 2020 when, due to COVID restrictions, guests couldn’t dance, leave their seat unless to go to the bathroom and were spread out under the floor meterage rules of the time. The Seniors of 2020 managed that situation fabulously, but it was brilliant to see the Seniors of 2023 unencumbered by such considerations and joyously celebrating. Thank you and congratulations to our organisers, Mr Conor Finn, Mrs Suzanne Collette and Mr Brendan Flanagan and all parents and caregivers who joined us for the welcome function and staff who joined us for an excellent evening. Well done to the Seniors of 2023 as they continue to Pave the Way.

ANZAC Day

We had two solemn and meaningful ANZAC Day ceremonies on Friday where our students engaged strongly. I thank Mr Andrew McCrohon as Acting Dean of Faith and Mission for his leadership and Mrs Helen Hicks for her organisation of these occasions. This week, we welcome back Dean of Faith and Mission, Mr Matt Warr from his long service leave.

I have shared with the community before that as a newly married young couple, my wife and I were blessed to live next door to Eric and Betty. Eric was a former prisoner of war on the Burma Railway during World War Two and Betty was at home raising their children unsure if she would ever see him again. Later, their eldest son was to serve during the Vietnam War. Most Sundays of my young adult life were spent listening to Eric and Betty’s extended family laugh throughout the afternoon as they enjoyed their family tradition of a Sunday lunchtime BBQ. Their family culture of gratitude, service, sacrifice, and humility was inspiring. So much so that after Eric passed away, my children insisted on Betty going to their primary school on Grandparents Day along with the real McCoy!

We are living in a contemporary world of uncertainty and change. Millions of people throughout the world presently live within a context of violence and destruction. Tomorrow, in a special way, we remember and pray for these people throughout our world that peace and safety may come to them, their children and their extended family and friends. We remember all those women and men who are serving, have served and sacrificed so that we may live in the relatively prosperous, safe, resourced and democratic society that we do. We pray in hope for peace in our world and remember all in our community who pause in thanksgiving for a loved one tomorrow. May we be people of the Gospel value of Peace in our everyday lives and relationships. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest We Forget.

Parent/Teacher/Student Feedback Meetings

From Wednesday this week, there are 37 days of classes remaining this term. For the Senior School in particular, but for students in the Middle School in developing positive learning habits, it is important to map and plan for this brief term. Coming out of today's feedback meetings, I would encourage parents to have explicit conversations in supporting and challenging our students to plan ahead for what will be a busy period. As an educator and a parent myself, (my three girls are now 23 and our twins 21) I am on the other side of the busy time of secondary school, but we found it helpful to develop holistic planning habits with our girls that included assessment and study, co-curricular activities, family time, down time, part-time work and exercise. Different personalities manage these things in different ways, but in general, research demonstrates, and my lived experience has shown me that most boys tend to overestimate their capacity to manage tasks and underestimate what is required to complete the task successfully! That isn’t to say we don’t love them, its to say that we know that they need explicit boundaries, structures, support and challenge! This week is a great time to engage for the term ahead if you haven’t already -it’s worth the grief despite the protestations! Please feel welcome to link with your classroom teachers, Formation Leader, Home Room Teacher or Learning Team on your journey. You’ll never walk alone! It’s one thing to create a planning schedule and post in on the wall or even better, on the fridge too but its another to make living it a priority in the busyness of our lives. They say it takes six weeks to develop a habit -37 days plus weekends is the perfect opportunity.

Congratulations to our Swimming team, Mr Paul Jones and the Sport staff, who attended the Greater Brisbane Conference (GBC) Swimming Championships last Thursday. The team performed very well, finishing second overall with a particularly great performance by our Junior swimmers which saw them win the Junior Boys' Division. I also congratulate Andre Venter, Tom Ryan and Jake Alvos who won their respective Age Championships. Thank you All Hallow's School and Brigidine College who partnered with us in the combined events.

God bless,

Chris Ryan

College Principal