Dean of Students | Mr Damien Fall

After the excitement that comes with the return to school, Week 2 is all about getting into strong routines in and out of the classroom as well as at home. It has been pleasing to see our young men transitioning from holiday mode and meeting their school responsibilities. We often refer to ‘The Terrace Way’, which is a set of guidelines that we ask students to follow in their efforts to be the best they can be. There is ample evidence to indicate that boys need clear boundaries and high standards. The framework provides a consistent, school-wide set of expectations that we know are so important for students. I applaud our students for what has been a very solid start to the year and I strongly encourage them to get into good habits of study, co-curricular involvement, social interaction, nutrition and sleep. A major focal point for our pastoral team is developing a sense of safety and belonging among our students; we know that when we get these right, students have the best opportunity to thrive.

On Friday of this week, we celebrate our Opening Mass and Senior Induction at the University of Queensland. Moving the entire community to UQ is a significant operation and reflects how important the day is. Details about the day have been sent home and I remind parents that, should you wish for your son to travel home privately from UQ, we require written notification of this. This allows us to track students’ whereabouts and to adjust bus orders. It is assumed that all Year 12 students will travel home privately. We look forward to a memorable day for our community.

The connection between school and home has long been a significant part of the success of Terrace. The early weeks of the year provide multiple opportunities to strengthen these connections, with Parent Information evenings providing year level specific information. Also, on the horizon are our Parent/Tutor Interviews, which provide a wonderful opportunity to connect or reconnect with your son’s Tutor, who is the primary point of contact for pastoral matters. These interviews will be held on Wednesday 14 February as outlined in the information sent home before the commencement of school. Attendance on the evening is always excellent and we look forward to another strong showing this year.

I had the opportunity to spectate at both Tennyson and the Campbell Centre last Saturday as co-curricular activities got into full swing. The benefits of student involvement in these programs is clear. This Saturday, our 1^st VI Volleyball team are looking for strong support at Nudgee College. On assembly this week, I made it clear that any spectator at this match must be in his academic uniform. If boys have played in an earlier game, they are asked to change into their College uniform to spectate. It is a great sign of school spirit when boys show up in great numbers and wear their uniform with pride.