The Big Experiences

An important aspect of our current renovations and extensions in the Senior School is the addition of a second fully equipped Hospitality teaching space. This will create a “zone” of Hospitality teaching and learning  that will lie in the heart of the Senior School and we have ideas to enhance this even further to support practical teaching and learning through the support of various functions at the College. One recent example was the five year reunion of our 2019 Seniors.

Just today, I have visited our Hospitality students at the EKKA as they have worked on a range of service stations such as the classic Dagwood Dogs stand gaining vital real life experience in busy and intense preparation and service. Congratulations to Ms Cristina Bozzi, Ms Karen Bates, Mr Simon Martin and our Hospitality students on the ongoing growth of this learning pathway at the College.

Science Week

Our scientific enthusiasts always enjoy Science Week and this week at school, we have a range of activities organised by our Head of Senior School Science, Ms Dominique Nielsen and Middle School Science Co-ordinator, Ms Kate McGee to captivate and inspire. Today's engaging demonstration explored the power of liquid nitrogen.

Tipperary Renovation and Extension

The second phase of our building project is humming along and includes the Hospitality extension in the Senior School as mentioned above. The main part of the project is the demolition of the largest teacher staff room in the College which is located in the Middle School Tipperary building.

The project includes the demolition of two neighbouring classrooms which is creating a larger staff room with team work areas and stations and large kitchen and communal space for approximately sixty teaching staff in the heart of the Year 7 to 12 teaching and learning zone of the College. It also includes the creation of a Middle School Counselling Office to locate that key role close to staff and in the centre of the Middle School for students.

The project is scheduled for completion in early October. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and support as we improve the facilities for students and staff. It has been a significant undertaking when you consider that we struck dirt at Waterford in November 2022.

This project will enable the approximately 20 staff presently located on the third floor of the Edmund Rice Building to be situated with their other colleagues in a central position. A process is now underway with the College architects to consider internal systemic improvements for the heritage listed Edmund Rice Building which has provided an extensive amount of support to the College’s development in our first 10 years.

QCMF

The Queensland Catholic College's Music Festival begins on Thursday at Villanova College and is one of the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. It is a wonderful few days of performance and celebration. ATC always engages in this festival with enthusiasm and commitment, and we greatly look forward to it. Our Music Program is outstanding and a genuine trump card of our school culture. The WHAT of our Music Program is excellent and I am confident that our students and staff will acquit themselves strongly at the festival, but it is the HOW and WHY of our program which is relational, fun, disciplined and collaborative of which we are mostly proud. Well done and best wishes to Director of Co-curricular Music, Mr Jono Bolt, staff team and student team led capably by Dash Solomon, Nick Childs and Toby Smith.

Study in the second half of the Term

August and September are intense times of assessment and the second half of Term Three is infamous amongst teachers in all boys’ schools for when student tiredness can kick in, regret about work that has not been done can kick in, and some anxiety and stress, sometimes masked as recklessness or apathy can present. Extensive research literature and lived experience also shows that more often than not, many boys also believe they are doing better than they actually are or that there is a belief that there is less work required to achieve well than what teachers are describing!

Please find below some suggestions that may be useful for all students during this busy final month of Term 3. 

As the assessment period approaches it is important to explicitly plan for this time and support a positive and intentional environment at home where managing this busy time is a priority. Thank your lucky stars if your son does these things naturally and independently!

Lots of boys tend to think of busy times like an unassailable mountain and spend too much time looking at it rather than getting on it and steadily climbing it. It’s never as high or hard as they think it will be.

• Remove distractions: switch off mobile phones, find a quiet space and close unnecessary apps on your laptop.

• Make a schedule: make a list of things to be done and in the right order - tick off items when you have done them showing what is left to do. Prioritising is key!

• Think positively – make small goals and reward yourself with exercise or something you like to eat.

• Maintain healthy habits – a balance between fun, exercise, god diet, water and sleep-a well-rested brain and body help us to consolidate newly acquired information.

• Chunk your study into 30-minute intervals with a 10-minute break in between. By having a short break, you allow your brain to relax before focusing again.

• Talk about what you are learning with a study buddy, sibling or parent. Ask them to quiz you. Explain your topic. Externalising some material is helpful for synthesising understanding and consolidating.
  

Year 11 Sociable
Signpost occasions such as tomorrow evening’s Year 11 Sociable (our Semi Formal) are important for our students as they develop as a group and individually. Thank you to all parents and caregivers and staff for your support of Year 11 cohort as they have prepared to host their guests at Victoria Park. I am sure it will be an excellent night.

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

College Principal