This period is always frenetically busy but joyous as we engage with our Arts Festival, Pink Day and the rituals of final days of school for Year 12. Congratulations to Ms Caitlin Ferreira and all staff involved in our Arts Festival which has so many moving parts! We look forward to the ATC Actor’s Studio production of The Outsiders on Tuesday and Wednesday night!
Jazz by the River
Wet weather threatened this marquee event once again, but we overcame this with a triumphant move to the SFX centre where we celebrated the pride of our College, the Co-curricular Music program. Congratulations and thank you to all students, staff and parents on a fabulous night. A personal favourite was the Past Students Band which was incredible with fifteen of our best putting on a high standard set of classics.
Thank you to all of our team who make this possible from Facilities, Finance, Communications, Food Services, but most importantly, to our wonderful Music team, led by the incomparable Mr Jono Bolt. I offer my sincere congratulations to our talented student musicians who bring so much joy to our community.
Seniors of 2025
Best wishes to our Year 12 students who begin their final three days of classes today. Our traditions and rituals give shape and meaning to these days which support everyone to finish well. Today our Seniors celebrated the final gathering with Year 4s at the Funky Sock lunch where they received a gift of a pair of fun socks and a heartfelt hand written message from the Year 4s as encouragement for the exams. There was a bit of fun with the Monday theme of "Bring Anything But a Bag" which saw some creative takes on the school bag! My hope is that this is done collaboratively and respectfully which is certainly the culture and legacy of our Seniors from 2019 to 2024. We wish this year’s Seniors the very best in their upcoming external exams.
Oldest and Youngest students share their final 'Funky' day together
Seniors of 2026
Our Year 11 group assume the mantle of leadership on Thursday and last week’s unveiling of their motto for 2026 has heralded their hopes for the year ahead. Their invitation to “Believe” is clear and strong. Our hope is that they lead in such a way that promotes belief in Gospel values of hope, compassion and inclusion. Out hope is that they lead in such a way that promotes belief in each other, our communal potential and in the power of building on the Senior legacy that has been established by our first seven Senior groups. We wish 2026 College Captain, Liam Middleton and his team the very best.
Dr Craig Wattam
Thank you to parents who have written to me or caught up with me at Jazz by the River to wish me well for my secondment to the leadership team of Edmund Rice Education Australia Colleges (EREAC) next year. The role focuses on the promotion and implementation of our Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice tradition in supporting College Leadership Teams and senior leaders in the similar roles as Dean of Faith and Mission in fellow EREA schools throughout Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity.
As Mr Chris Woolley, CEO of EREAC has shared with you, Dr Craig Wattam will lead the College in 2026 which I believe is both exciting and very much to ATC’s advantage as Craig is a deeply dedicated and experienced leader within our schools and a good person. He is a people person with a particular strength for connecting with students. Craig spent some time with me at the College during the September break and knows and understands ATC from when he was Executive Director of EREA. He is excited, and wants to help us keep growing, improving and flourishing. I am confident that we are in excellent hands. I have thanked our wonderful staff in anticipation of their warm welcome of Craig, support and commitment during this transition and, in turn, I thank all of our parents and past students for the same.
Staff News
I am pleased to share with our community the news that Mr Tim Walker has been appointed Dean of Formation joining the ATC College Leadership Team in 2026. Tim is well known to our community having been a foundation staff member, Head of Department, Head of House and Acting Dean of Formation during his time at ATC. Prior to joining ATC, Tim was a Coordinator of Justice and Peace Education and then House Dean at St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe and is currently a Pastoral Leader Senior School at Marist College, Ashgrove. We warmly congratulate Tim and look forward to welcoming him back to Ambrose Treacy College in 2026.
Our Dean of Business Operations, Ms Deborah Carcary has let me know that she will conclude her time with us in January. Deb has made a strong decision to prioritise and support her extended family during a challenging personal time and to step away from full time work for a period. We wish Deb and her family all the very best and thank her deeply for her hard work, diligence and dedication as College Accountant and then as Dean of Business Operations on the College Leadership Team for the past two years. Deb will continue as a member of our community as the proud Mum of Ashton. The College will commence recruitment for this vital leadership team position immediately.
Mr Adam Knott has decided to stand down from his position as Middle School Head of Year and remain on our teaching staff. I thank Mr Knott for his contribution to the pastoral care of Year 7 cohort this year and wish him well.
Dyslexia & ADHD Awareness Month
This month, we proudly shine a light on Dyslexia and ADHD - two neurodevelopmental differences that shape the way many of our students learn, think, and thrive. Dyslexia affects around 10–20% of the population, and ADHD impacts another 10% and at ATC, we’re privileged to support students with dyslexia and ADHD, each bringing their own unique strengths and perspectives to our community. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated. By lighting up our Edmund Rice building in red for Dyslexia Awareness and orange for ADHD Awareness this month, we are raising awareness and building a culture of acceptance, understanding, and belonging. Let’s continue to champion neurodiversity and embrace the brilliance it brings to our ATC community.
Parents & Friends Ladies Spring Lunch
Best wishes to the women of our extended parent community for a great time at their annual Spring Lunch to be held this Friday. Thank you to Mrs Sasha Tucker and Mrs Mel Kuflik for their leadership and organisation of this significant community event which will be enjoyed by all.
