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Principal’s Message | Dr Michael Carroll

Dear Members of the Terrace Family,

As we navigate the final stages of the online learning experience, I wish to acknowledge and thank you for your support of your sons over this time, and for the partnership you have demonstrated with your son’s teachers.  It is certainly pleasing to know that all students will be returning to school on Monday 25 May and, as a community, we can kick start Term 2.

In my letter earlier in the week, I emphasised the importance of preparing the students for a return to school, both in and out of the classroom.  There will be a time of adjustment as students return to the more structured routine of a regular school day. While I suspect the majority of students are looking forward to reconnecting with their friends and teachers, I also suspect that many will miss the casual dress code, flexible timetable and regular fridge browsing that has been a significant part of their daily routine over previous weeks.  It will be important to reinforce the school routine message over the coming days.  The staff will also be recalibrating the learning from next week and assessing what has been learnt and where reinforcement of topics or concepts may be required.  Many classes will have some diagnostic testing in the early days to determine where the students’ learning sits.  A reason for extending the length of the term was to allow additional learning time for all students.  Again, I reiterate that if you have queries or concerns, please contact the relevant staff to develop an assistance plan.

On Monday, the GPS Principal’s met to develop a return to sport plan.  Critical to this plan is adherence to Government and Governing Body Guidelines.  At this stage, the proposed model will involve all Term 2 and Term 3 activities being conducted in some format during Term 3.  The exact timelines and details are still being finalised.  Once this plan has been finalised, I will communicate the details and importantly, the practicalities of how such a season might be structured.

As we prepare for the return of 1700 students to school, I want to reassure parents/caregivers of the safeguarding and hygiene measures being implemented by the College.  These include:

• Safe social distancing wherever practicably possible.
• Additional cleaning of high touch points during the school day.
• All desks, chairs and lunch tables disinfected each day.
• All teachers have sanitiser for student use.
• Tuckshop food will be fully packaged and social distancing practices employed in that area.
• Additional hand washing stations set up around the College.
• Limited parent access to College grounds, particularly around drop-off and pick-up times.
• Water bottles to be used on campus – drink bubblers used only for refilling these.

I am sure that the planned return of students is welcomed by parents, staff and the students themselves.  There will be some transition issues and I encourage parents/caregivers to work with their sons on these issues.  I also remind parents and caregivers that issues such as haircuts, winter uniform and traffic protocol (particularly in Rogers Street) are also important for a successful return to school.

I look forward to seeing the boys return next week and to reconnecting with the members of the Terrace Family.

God Bless 


Dr Michael Carroll
College Principal 

Deputy Principal | Mr Damien Fall

This week, as a community, we have acknowledged Timor week and the anniversary of Timor-Leste gaining its independence. Many in our community would be aware of the strong relationship that has existed between Terrace and Timor for the many years since Br Dan Courtney commenced his work there. This year’s theme of journeying with each other has resonated strongly, reminding us that in our relationship with the people of Timor-Leste, we benefit as much as they do. When my time at Terrace comes to an end, undoubtedly among my strongest memories will be the two opportunities I had to attend Year 10 Immersion programs in Timor. 

We often think of adults as teachers and youth as students, but we can learn a great deal by stopping and listening to our students. The Terrace Timor Network grew from students sharing stories of their experience in Timor and the need to build a stronger relationship with our northern neighbours. Our boys’ interactions with the youth of Timor also help us to remember what is important in life – health, humility, relationships and simplicity. I also have great memories of interactions with the Canossian sisters, whose lives of sacrifice and charity are an example of selfless service. Their tiny stature belies incredible strength and determination – a combination that Franciscan Theologian Richard Rohr beautifully summarises as gentle of heart, while firm of foot. I look forward to our relationship with Timor-Leste continuing to grow and strengthen.

On Friday this week, we farewell Ms Cassie Bampton, who will be taking a period of leave, returning for Semester 2 next year. We wish Cassie the very best for this time away. Mrs Susie Cooper will take her place in the Faculty of Exceptional Learners for the remainder of this semester. Next semester Ms Mariella Gibson, currently teaching at Waterford Place, will take her place for the following 12 months. Next week, we will also farewell long-serving staff member Mrs Rhonda Curry. Rhonda has served the Terrace Family for nearly two decades, running the print room among a myriad of other tasks that make our lives a little easier. Rhonda will not want a fuss and will have mixed feelings as she enters retirement, but she departs with our love and very best wishes for the next phase of her life. She is one of those people who help build unique communities such as ours.

The quiet ‘small school’ to which we have become accustomed over the past five weeks is certain to feel very different on Monday. We very much look forward to the return of all students next week. No doubt, many parents do as well! All the very best to everyone in the Terrace Family.

Dean of Studies | Mr Mason Hellyer

This week has seen our Senior cohort settle back into the College routine and back into the tempo of the classroom, study, and handball! Year 12 students have also had a number of Internal Assessment (IA) tasks due, which has fast tracked their transition back from distance learning. However, the real rhythm of the College will commence from next week when all students are back on campus.

Consequently, we need to recognise that Week 6 will not be a regular mid term week at Terrace. The Years 5-10 students have had a different experience of GT@Home and have engaged with their learning in different ways. Therefore, teachers will be transitioning students back into the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to share stories, participate in diagnostic tasks to ascertain what they have learnt and reengage with formative tasks already completed at home to determine where they are at with their learning. It is also important to recognise those students who have grasped content during GT@Home and utilised their self-regulatory skills to deepen, apply and extend their understanding.

It will be great to have the students back at the College, although all students will need some time to adjust back into classroom routines. 

Years 9 and 10 students will receive information next week regarding subject selection for Semester 2. Students have the option to study either History or Geography during the semester. Mrs Suzanne Cook, Head of Faculty – Humanities and the Arts and Mr Sean Benham, Coordinator Geography will meet with both year levels to detail the topics covered and assessment required for both subjects. Students will receive an email on Wednesday 27 May to inform them of how to make their choice. The selection of either Geography or History is an online process and the selection deadline is 3pm 3 June.

Year 8 students will also receive information next week regarding subject selection in Creative Arts for Semester 2. Students can elect to study either Music, Drama or Visual Art during the semester. Students will receive further information regarding each subject during their Creative Arts classes in Week 6. If a student is considering selecting Music, Visual Art or Drama as a Year 9 elective subject, they should select the same subject for Semester 2. It is advisable to have a first and second preference of subjects to study.

Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

The opportunity to have all the boys together again has been something we have been looking forward to since the end of last term. The last couple of months has reinforced the belief that schools are not so much about old buildings and grandstands, but rather the characters that walk about the corridors day in, day out. It is staff and students that give the place its pulse. 

The question beckons…what are we about when we come back to school? As always at the forefront will be student learning. While there are increased cleaning schedules for classrooms and high contact areas throughout the day, teachers carrying hand sanitiser to each class and student ‘pop-up’ hand washing stations in the yards, it is the learning process that needs our focus in the coming week. 

Social distancing restrictions do not apply to students at school or while using public transport, but for adults on campus, social distancing remains in place.  As such, we ask that parents/caregivers attending the College move directly to Student Services for assistance as required. However, students are expected to maintain social distancing when waiting at the bus stops and train stations after school. May I ask that you remind your sons of this community expectation if they are catching public transport. 

What has not changed? Gentlemen of Terrace are always expected to be young men of knowledge, humility and wisdom. For whom much is given, much is also expected. We unashamedly have high expectations in the classroom and the return of students next week needs to reflect this. Let us not forget our Senior leader’s wonderful motto for this year Be the One. Next week, students need to Be the One to transition with a high degree of organisation and purpose. The vast majority of our students have learnt to take greater responsibility for their learning in the last month. Now is the time to capitalise on this when returning to the normal learning process. The College staff will continue to sweat the small stuff and make sure the boys know that they are back at school through clear and consistent boundaries. As has been communicated in the last few weeks, winter uniform and acceptable haircut styles will be high on the list next week for staff. 

We are hopeful that co-curricular activities will recommence in some capacity in the coming months. They will take on a different look than normal, but the boys will have the opportunity to kick footballs and play in bands again soon. For students that have concerns about personal wellbeing, our Counselling team are looking forward to connecting with them in the coming weeks. If you have any concerns about the transition back to face to face learning for your sons, please contact your son’s House Dean for support. Finally, the revised State Government guidelines continue to emphasise the importance of schools ensuring that unwell students do not attend school. It specifically states that unwell students are not to attend the school site and the school must ask parents/carers to collect their child from school if they are unwell. Please continue to communicate with Student Services as usual if your son will be absent from school. 

Assistant Dean of Identity | Mr Chris Zammit

Timor week

Justice and Solidarity

This week, as a College Community, we celebrate Timor Week – an opportunity to acknowledge Terrace’s long history of walking in solidarity with our friends in Timor-Leste. It also coincides with the country’s second declaration of independence from Indonesian occupation, 18 years ago on 20 May, or Restoration Independence Day. Through this partnership, we are inspired by stories of triumph through struggle, hope through despair and compassion and forgiveness through great atrocities and loss.

The Christian Brothers began their work in Timor-Leste in 1997 when Brother Dan Courtney (GT 1964) started his missionary work in the villages of Railako-Kraik, Railako-Leten, Samalete, Deleso and Teraso. The Christian Brothers have played a major role in rebuilding this nation ever since. Terrace began its connection with Timor-Leste in 2005 with a Year 10 student Immersion experience. Terrace students returned and spoke about the poverty they witnessed. Deeply impacted by their stories, the boys’ parents formed what is now known as the Terrace Timor Network (TTN). Although the Christian Brothers completed their missionary work in 2018, the TTN continues to support Timor-Leste in the areas of health, education and sustainable economic development.  

Justice and Solidarity
We are committed to justice and peace for all, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection that calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised and the earth itself.

Our ongoing relationship with Timor-Leste is just one way that we live our touchstone of Justice and Solidarity. Throughout our journey at the College, each person is called to action as we walk together with those in both our local and global communities who are struggling, understanding that we are all in this together. Throughout this time of crisis, we are reminded of the importance of being there for each other, whether near or far, and that when one person suffers, we all suffer. The story of Timor reminds us that justice and peace will be with those who are united and persevere through the toughest of times together.

As the Terrace Family, we stand in solidarity with the Timorese people and join with them in liberating their country beyond struggle and sacrifice and into hope and happiness. Our collective friendship continues today in the small actions of support around the College, whether it be through a cup of Kolega coffee ('Kolega' means friend in Tetum), the purchase of coffee from our TTN, our Years 5 and 6 Lenten Appeal or by deepening our understanding of the struggle of our Timorese friends through conversations and story.

May we always strive to be people of action in our world who forever uphold what is right and just.

Live Jesus in our hearts… Forever!

Waterford Place

With Week 6 fast approaching, all the staff at Waterford Place are looking forward to welcoming the boys back to school on Monday 25 May. After a three-week break over Easter and five weeks of distant learning, I understand that it may be a little difficult for your son to adapt back to the usual routine of regular school life. Over the next few days, it would be good to get the boys prepared by having them well rested.

The Waterford staff are very much aware that the past eight weeks have been challenging. There will be a transition period for students back from distance learning into our normal routines. As always, if you have concerns about how your son is coping with this transition, please contact your son’s Pastoral Care mentor, teacher or myself.

As a part of the preparation for the students return, we would like to reinforce a few points:

Hygienepractices – we will continue to encourage students to utilise the hand sanitiser provided and make use of the hand washing stations. We have multiple hand sanitising stations/ tables set up on every floor of Waterford Place in addition to the hand sanitiser supplied in every classroom.

Water bottles - Students will be required to use their own water bottles on campus, filling their bottle from the student taps and not drinking directly from the water fountain.  

Uniform – The winter uniform, including blazer and hat is now expected to be worn from Monday onwards. The Terrace hoodie is not part of the winter uniform. The uniform expectations are the same regardless of whether travelling to and from school by private or public transport.

Haircuts - Please ensure your son’s haircut meets the requirements as outlined by the 2020 College diary on Page 121. Hair is not to be cut any shorter than a number three blade, tracks are not permitted at all. The back must be cut evenly and clearly above the collar, and the fringe must be cut to a length above the eyebrows, not kept longer and brushed to the side. Shorter hair at the back and sides must be blended gradually into the longer hair on top. Please refer to the College diary for further information if required.

Shaving – All students must be cleanly shaven as per College requirements.

We thoroughly look forward to seeing all the boys back at Waterford Place next week.

GTCare@Home

We keep hearing that the Corona crisis has plunged us into an unprecedented period of adversity. In truth, the human race has encountered adversity before. Repeatedly.  The challenges of adversity have been faced by every generation.  Some have dealt with war and famine, others with pervasive economic disarray. For some, the fight for social justice has set them on a difficult path, full of obstacles and frustrations.

Back in the 1800s, a talented American writer named John Greenleaf Whittier, joined the charge to campaign against slavery, an issue so divisive it sparked a bitter civil war in his nation.  Whittier and his fellow abolitionists persisted in the face of adversity.  Like today’s Corona- addled community, they did not give up.  They maintained a hopeful vision for a better world and took active steps to create one.  During his lifetime, Whittier endured a series of economic recessions that spanned 1822-1835 and the Russian Flu pandemic of 1889. In an inspired moment, Whittier penned a poem entitled Don’t Quit, offering a timeless message for all of us facing difficulties

When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about 
When he might have won had he stuck it out; 
Don't give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out— 
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 
And you never can tell just how close you are, 
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit— 
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Students struggling with the challenge of reintegrating back into the school routine would do well to remember that success is failure turned inside out…so please, don’t quit!

Terrace Library

Director of Culture | Mr Matt Cocking

Online Music lesson success

Thank you to the 460 families who each week transformed their living rooms into a music studio for half an hour. Students were eager to be a part of this online environment and continue their ongoing learning. Teacher feedback was that students were more attentive and ready to learn while parents have commented on how much insight they now have to further support this from home. The ultimate partnership has a great student, teacher and parent who is supporting from the home front. One positive of 2020 will be a greater understanding and support for our students and their future success.

Watch this great YouTube video by Yamaha Australia about the trilogy of the student, teacher and parent and how we, as parents, help and keep our students engaged.

GTCouchella@Home

GTCouchella@Home has been an excellent vehicle to give students a performance-oriented goal while in isolation and all students have been very proud of the clips they have been able to share. These have formed an important part of our community staying together and supporting each other throughout this period of isolation.
 
Last Sunday we featured Angus Freer (Year 11) playing Master of the Puppets on Bass Guitar. Well done Angus. 


Sunday sessions continues 3pm Sunday this week with the Year 12 principals of School of Rock, released on the College FaceBook and Cultural Instagram. Terrace music is also collaborating with the River City Music Organisation in Louisville, Kentucky on some global scale collaborations, which we hope to release soon. I have seen some rushes of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble collaborating with 1200 other musicians, and the final result will be outstanding. Stay tuned.

‘ISO’ Chess Tournament

The final round of ISO Chess was held this week.  Congratulations to the following top eight Terrace Chess players:  

Winner - Alex Ong (Year 11)
2nd - Max Elliott (Year 5)
3rd - Joshua Alfredson (Year 9)
4th - Yang Zhang (Year 12)
5th - Tom Beckmann (Year 8)
5th - Justin Jeyarajah (Year 12)
6th - Adrian Jesuthasan (Year 10)
7th - Tom Barnett (Year 9)

Thank you to Mr Liam Herne and our Chess coaches for hosting this. We look forward to presenting the winners with their virtual trophy.

Mooting

As with so many other activities, the 2020 National High School Mooting competition did not proceed.  Held each year at Bond University, Terrace has always been competitive with past students being counted amongst the previous winners.  

For those whose first question is “What is Mooting?”, it is an opportunity for students in Years 11 and 12 to develop their advocacy skills in a competitive environment. Run by the Faculty of Law, Terrace is very proud to be a part of this invitation only national competition.

On behalf of the College, we would like to thank Mrs Samantha Knott for her leadership of this team and commend the following students who were to have represented Terrace last weekend:

• Senior Counsel – Finbar Carroll
• Junior Counsel – Jack Gibb
• Solicitor – William Varvari

Director of Music | Mr Jan Hewerdine

Hello and welcome to Week 5. Thank you for embracing the online lessons so readily; they have been most successful. 

This week will be the last week that video lessons will be occurring. Tutors will be sending out timetables for face to face lessons, which commence next week (Week 6). Teaching will continue into Week 10 (this was formerly Staff Week).

All ensembles will recommence in Week 7 (starting Monday 1 June) as usual. A reminder that attendance to all rehearsals is part of the commitment. For those in premier ensembles, attendance is a key factor in achieving an Honour Pocket. While all performances are cancelled for the moment, workshops will still go ahead. We will update details as these come available.
 
Over the past four weeks, we have been privileged to see some of our amazing musicians and singers perform online via GTCouchella@Home series.

Thank you to all that have participated and kept music making alive in the interim. Please keep an eye out, there are more to come.

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the Music Department  music@terrace.qld.edu.au.

Captains’ Corner | Vice Captain, Noah Stevens

In my time at Terrace, no night has been more special, more spectacular or more exhilarating than musical opening night. This year, Terrace was preparing a performance of School of Rock. An exciting, action-packed show full of brilliantly choreographed dances and songs with insane vocals and acting by stars such as Luke Evans, Liam Keates Riley and Valeria Emancule.

Each year, the musical is full of fun memories and after a hectic show week, there is an overwhelming feeling of loss. Many tears are shed, and hugs given because in those rehearsals a family is formed where lasting friendships and connections are made. The musical is an experience unlike any other at Terrace, not just for those who see the show but especially for those who form a part of the show.

This family atmosphere doesn't just extend to the leads, rather, it flows across the chorus, orchestra, parents, teachers, directors, choreographers and especially the backstage crew who, in recent years, under Matt Rice's leadership have taken a special place in the musical’s heart. 

While I cannot fully express how much this experience has been transformative for me and my high school friendships and perspectives, I can say that the family atmosphere that is highlighted in the musical is alive and well at Terrace. We truly are a 'school of rock' with the teachers as our rock stars working through gruelling conditions to provide us with an amazing education.

I implore any student that is keen to go and join this amazing experience. In these trying times, be sure to say thank you to the rock stars around you, especially your teachers, parents and mates. While the fate of this year's musical is unknown, I can say there is no way you can stop the school of rock.

The Terrace Family

We pray for the families of the following members of the Terrace Family who have gone to their eternal rest. 

Mr Keren Anthony MUIR-MCCAREY, GT 1964-67