Exchange Programme

As has been the recent tradition, the Gregory Terrace Old Boys Association (GTOBA) and the College facilitate a Student Exchange Program with Chaminade College in St Louis, Missouri and the Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Program provides an opportunity for three (3) Year 11 students to experience up to six weeks in the United States.  Chaminade College was founded in 1910 by the Marianist Order as an independent Catholic school for day and resident students and is dedicated to educating young men from Year 6 to Year 12.  Archbishop Moeller High School was founded in 1960 to educate boys from Year 9 to Year 12 and is also conducted by the Marianist Order.

Mr Peter Chapman would like to invite interested Year 11 students to make application for this year’s exchange which will take place from late August to early October 2010.  This period of six weeks will include four weeks of Term 3 time and the two weeks of the September holidays.  Applicants should be sound students who are prepared to work with their teachers in managing a four week absence from the classroom.  Enclosed with the Application Package you will find a document clearly setting out how the College manages assessment procedures during the time a student is involved in the Program.

The Exchange Program is funded by the GTOBA, which will include return economy airfares.  Recipients of the Exchange will need to obtain a Passport.  Chaminade College and Archbishop Moeller High School will arrange for the students to be billeted during the program.  Further information about both schools can be found on the websites: http://www.chaminade.org and http://www.moeller.org .

Mr Peter Chapman would like to invite interested Year 11 students to make application for this year’s exchange which will take place from late August to early October 2010. 

Please note that all applications must be returned to Mrs Nugent by Friday 16 April 2010.

Application Packages can be obtained from Mrs Nugent at Mt Sion or downloaded from the "RELATED DOCUMENTS' section of this page.

The selection process involves a short listing of candidates for two rounds of interviews in front of a selection panel.  The final selection will be made prior to the end of Term 2.

Chamanade Student Exchange
(A Terracian Perspective)

In June this year, after a rigorous selection process, Scott Tweedie and myself were privileged enough to be selected as the seventh pair of representatives for the Terrace-Chaminade exchange. We left on the 19 August for what would be the best six weeks of our lives.

 

We stayed in the dorms on campus at Caminade for three weeks before moving into a home stay for the next three weeks. The dorms were an amazing experience. We were able to make full use of the 55 acre property as well as all of Chaminade’s facilities. The school is one of the most beautifully manicured and has amazing grounds and facilities that would rival most universities here at home.

 

The hospitality of the Americans in St. Louis is second to none. Absolutely everyone loves “Aussies” and loved us. We were literally treated like kings as we could do anything and go anywhere as our new mates were so willing to take us out. Another amazing part of their life is the fact that all students in Yeaer 10 and above drive to school. The Americans were almost shocked to hear that Australians students all catch buses and trains and Terrace boys do not drive to school. Chaminade’s student car park looked more like a prestige car dealership than a parking lot. All in all this was a wonderful experience that Scott and myself were extremely lucky to be apart of and from which we have learned a great deal .

 

However it wasn’t merely luck that got us there and I would like to especially thank Mr Chapman, Mr Fullagar, Mrs Gillig and Mrs Galis for all their work organising our exchange as well as the Chaminade Exchange here in January. We would also like to particularly thank the Gregory Terrace Old Boys Association and also Planetarium Rotary International for their continuing support of this fantastic exchange.

 

In writing this I am able to look back at the six weeks and realise how much I learned, experienced and enjoyed the exchange and so I hope that this exchange may continue on for many years so that other boys may experience Chaminade and all that this trip has to offer.

 

By Will Griffin, Exchange Student.

USA Chaminade Exchange
(A Chaminadian Perspective)

“Learn as much about the house system as possible” were the words that Mr Jim Gerker said to us before we left for Australia in late January. We never knew how much we could possibly learn and experience.

 

From the moment that we stepped onto the stones that make up the physical Terrace we could feel the life that is the people of Terrace. From the welcoming grin of Mr Price to the good-natured jokes of the students, Terrace is truly a family. We jumped right into classes as well as the school activities. Cricket intrigued us, volleyball fired us up, and the Induction Mass moved us as we began to see the life of the Terrace community.

 

In the classroom, we experienced an atmosphere of learning that showed us why Terrace was a stronghold of academics while, at the same time, being a place with perspective where people can have fun. From Mr Celegato’s chemistry class to Mr Broad’s health and physical education class, we saw students working, learning, and growing.

 

As we moved through Brisbane and experienced its families and communities, we saw how Terrace has a tradition of excellence that can be seen by everyone who encounters a Terrace gentleman. When Mr Connelly first spoke about the uniform, we thought he was just being strict, but as we learned to pick out students on the street we saw the difference that the Terrace uniform makes.

 

As we danced the night away at the Terrace dance, drenched in sweat, light and laser beams, we saw the Terrace community have fun. The spirited rendition of “Terrace to the Fore” after the last song really exemplified the spirit of the school. Even after a long, hot dance, the Terrace community never forgets to tell everyone else who is the best.

 

During the camp at Maroon, we saw one of the best parts of the house system: Boys in Years 8 and 11 working together to achieve common goals. From canoeing to hiking to building fires, we saw boys building friendships and house spirit that will last for the rest of their Terrace careers. Through teamwork in a beautiful landscape, we could almost see boys becoming men.

 

While we sit here and reflect on our experience, we realize that it wasn’t the activities, sports, academics, uniform or the house system that made our experience one that would last a lifetime, but it was the Terrace community, the people, who make Terrace the special place that it is. We’d like to especially thank the Jones and Boosey families and Mr Peter Chapman as well as the rest of the Terrace staff. To the entire Terrace community, we wish all of you the best of luck and we thank all of you for making our experience great.

 

By Jake Stokes and Matt Lodes, Exchange Students.