Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

I genuinely enjoy the dynamic nature of a boys’ school and all it entails, but now and then some moments capture the strength of a school like Terrace. While it has been great to have the boys participating in a wide range of activities over the last two weekends, it was in watching a group of Year 5 students playing handball before school that caught my eye this week. It reminded me of the joy that simple activities can bring to boys. For ten minutes they laughed and enjoyed the company of each other playing handball, without arguing over who may have been out. It was magic.

With regard to GPS co-curricular activities, the limitation of two adults per student remains in place. Please be mindful that some indoor venues may not be able to accommodate two adults due to space limitations. Sports coordinators will communicate any variations to this via the College App on a week to week basis. The EVA Check-In App contact tracing process is proving to be quite effective but a gentle reminder to check out again when leaving the facility. The concept of arrive, play and leave is still the key message to all players. This week the GPS Association reconfirmed that student spectators are not permitted at Firsts matches this season. The boys will find this disappointing, but as College, we need to be consistent and follow this directive.

I have referred to this before, a book I have enjoyed reading is Cracking the Boy Code by Adam Cox. It unpacks in simple language the intricacies of communicating with boys. I make this comment frequently, but my time in boys' schools tells me they are all wired differently. As a teacher wanting to be a person of influence for your son, it can take time to develop a positive relationship. One theme that we focus on when developing a positive rapport with boys is understanding that boys will often treat you the way you treat them. This is reinforced by Adam Cox, who suggests that it is the form of the conversation that resonates deeply for boys, and which they remember for hours and days after the conversation. This is Rule #1. Your tone is ‘louder’ than your words. How you say things lingers longer than what you say. It is an excellent starting point when trying to penetrate that outer shell! Enjoy.