Acting Principal's Message | Mr Damien Fall
Dear members of the Terrace Family
This week, we celebrate Laudato Si, the often-discussed encyclical penned by Pope Francis, whose connection with Mother Earth and all her inhabitants is well known. Laudato Si calls us to recognise our Catholic and social responsibility to look after the Earth for ourselves and future generations. We all have a part to play, and the College is currently developing a Sustainability Plan that will sit alongside our Master Plan. When both plans are complete, it is hoped that they will interact in a way that all future planning considers how we might balance the needs of the College with the needs of the Earth.
It is fitting that on Tuesday, we held our College Identity Presentation Assembly during Laudato Si week. Our identity as a College is a lot like our personal identity – it goes well beyond just our name and includes our history, values and character. Our College Identity Team is tasked with ensuring we maintain our Edmund Rice identity and that students are well versed in what makes a Terrace education unique. Our identity should represent a major point of difference for those families who choose a Terrace education for their sons and hence, we must ensure we never drift from the foundations set by Edmund and the earliest Christian Brothers. Thank you to all who contribute to Terrace maintaining its special and unique character and to our Identity Team for leading this.
The talent and dedication of many of our young men is something I envy, and I would like to take a moment to acknowledge some remarkable recent student achievements:
Edward Ince, Year 11 Magee, has been selected in the Australian Under 17 Football team and will travel to Thailand to contest the Asian Cup.
Jack French, Year 12 Barrett, has been selected in the 18 & Under Australian Water Polo team that will tour the USA next holidays, while Joseph Gallagher, Year 10 Barrett, has made the 16 & Under team and will tour New Zealand.
As I write, Jack Barends, Year 12 Mahoney, is representing Queensland at the National Debating Competition in Melbourne, with a win/loss record of 2-1 thus far.
Congratulations and best wishes to these young Gentlemen of Terrace on their outstanding achievements. They represent just a small sample of the many highly commendable accomplishments we see so often at Terrace.
We are approaching the end of Week 6 in what is a 9-week term, which means the academic intensity is rising. Exam timetables have now been released, giving students the opportunity to plan the final weeks of term to ensure they maximise their outcomes. I hope that parents are witnessing an increase in time and effort being dedicated to homework, assignments and exam preparation. The best rewards go to those who earn them.
Finally, a reminder that the final day of Term 2 will be Thursday 15 June, with a 3.10pm finish for students from Years 5-10. For students in Years 11 and 12, the academic term will finish when all exams are completed. Friday 16 June will be a student-free day, but also the final round of the GPS Tennis and Football Competitions when we will host Churchie. My best wishes to all in the Terrace Family as we complete Week 6.
Warmest best wishes,
Damien Fall
Acting College Principal