Principal's Message | Dr Michael Carroll

Dear members of the Terrace Family

Welcome to Term 3.  I hope that the holiday break provided an opportunity for families to enjoy some down-time and re-energise.  It goes without saying that Term 2 was like no other school term any of us has experienced.  My hope is that Term 3 will provide some continuity and consistency for our College community and that we can have 10 weeks of uninterrupted teaching and learning, whilst enjoying the many social and co-curricular activities that usually occur in a school term.

It has been wonderful to see so many students engaged in the range of camps, clinics, games and rehearsals that were staged over the holiday period.  My thanks to all staff, students and families involved in the various co-curricular programs.  I spent last Saturday at Tennyson and was very pleased to see so many students running around and engaged in their sport.

As I have written previously, this term of sport will be comprehensive, but also different.  Our community is coping well with the ‘sign in’ process at the various venues.  I again remind parents to download the EVA Check-In App and populate your details in order to save time on Saturday.  The ‘check-in’ process will operate at all GPS school venues during this term so there should be familiarity with the system as the term progresses.  I also remind parents that for all activities, only 2 parent spectators per player are permitted to attend.  Unfortunately, other family and friends are not permitted to attend.

The Semester 2 Reports were sent over the holiday period and although Term 2 was interrupted from a teaching and learning perspective, assessment was conducted and the reports provide an indication of overall performance, while potentially highlighting strategies that need to be employed by students for Term 3.

In a year where we have seen so many new initiatives introduced, Wednesday’s hosting of our first ‘virtual’ Parent-Teacher meetings continued the trend.  Whilst not quite the same as our normal face-to-face meetings, I trust they provided an opportunity for teachers, parents and students to examine Semester 1 results and together, develop strategies for Semester 2.

I am sure that we are all hoping for a less disrupted term and that we do have 10 weeks of face-to-face teaching and learning.  It will be important for all students to ‘start well and start now’ and equally important that all students get into the routine of homework and revision this week.  For our Year 12 students, they are entering their final semester of school and will need to ensure they are focused from the start.  For all students, a positive start this week is imperative.

Term 3 co-curricular activities commence this week with fixtures against IGS in chess, basketball, tennis and football.  The rugby season will commence in Week 4.  The cross-country championships will also be held in Week 4.  I wish all players the best for the upcoming seasons and remind all players and supporters of the need to display the highest level of sportsmanship throughout the season.  I offer my congratulations to the following leaders of their respective activities:

Basketball
Co-Captain:  David Eltima  
Co-Captain:  Ose Motuga

Chess
Captain: Yang Zhang

Football
Captain: Josah Hitchcock
Vice-Captain:  Malakai Love-Semira

Tennis
Captain:  William Campbell

Finally this week, I welcome back Ms Suzanne Black and Mr Michael MacDermott from leave.

Have a great term.

God Bless.

Dr Michael Carroll
College Principal