Acting Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

Welcome back to Term 4. The boys have made an excellent start this week and seem prepared for the challenges of the term ahead. Thank you for your support in assisting the staff to create a positive tone around the corridors and in the classrooms. This term is short, meaning there is no time to waste. Students have heard the message throughout the week that they need to get down to work immediately.

This Friday we hold our annual Inter-House Track and Field carnival. The day will include a range of fun events culminating in the much anticipated all age House relay. As with all House events, the focus is on participation, fun and connection. On this day, all students are asked to wear their PE uniform to school. It is an expectation that every student who is physically able to do so, completes in all events for his House. This is an enjoyable, important and compulsory day for all students, and I look forward to everyone attending and participating to the best of their ability. 

A reminder that this month’s Terrace SchoolTV topic looks at the impact of not having enough sleep. Whilst a number of boys have very busy schedules that compete for time, it is important that sleep remains a priority. Frequently, a sleep deprived student lacks engagement in the classroom, preventing them from keeping on top of the content. The earlier a student “gets behind” in the term, the more problematic things become, often leading to wellbeing issues that may impact on other aspects of life. So, particularly for the parents of our younger students, keep fighting the good fight with phone use and games such as Fortnite. Both have the potential to erode good sleep patterns as students get older, which can become increasingly difficult to recover from. Many parents have found the SchoolTV resource to be insightful across a range of topics specific to adolescence. The link to this month’s topic on Sleep can be found here.

We continue to push the message about road safety. Students have been asked to ensure they only cross roads at designated crossings, even if it means walking slightly further to do so. The welfare of students is our top priority and we need them to help by making good decisions when it comes to their safety. I look forward to a positive and highly successful second term for all members of our community.