Dean of Waterford | Mr Luke Gribble

The Waterford journey for the 2020 Year 10 cohort has come to an end. The boys are ready for a well-earned break before returning to the main campus to start their Senior school journey. This fact makes my final contribution to the Terrace News for 2020 bittersweet. In a year where social-distancing and isolation became household terms, we have successfully navigated COVID-19 restrictions, distance education and modified experiences to ensure that the show went on. At the same time, we considered the safety of everyone in our community. I think we would all agree that this was not what we envisaged on 27 January when the school year began.

As the year has unfolded at Waterford, new friendships have been forged as the boys found their own space with a like-minded crew to hang out with at break times. Many have enjoyed the basketball and handball games in the yard and on the court. Several groups loved playing cards in the company of friends. Large numbers gathered at lunchtime in Room 1.3 to discuss everything from gaming to politics. I am confident that the boys know the rest of the cohort well after years of being House centred.

The relationships that the boys have developed with the Waterford staff have also had time to evolve. The conversations in the yard, at tutoring and over coffee in the Waterford foyer before school have been a wonderful part of the day for the staff and students alike.

Tomorrow (Friday) we welcome the next batch, the Year 10 students of 2021 into the Edmund Rice Theatre to start their own Waterford journey. I look forward to meeting the next Waterford intake and working with them and their families in the New Year.

I hope your son has enjoyed and made the most of his time at Waterford, and I wish each of you a safe and enjoyable summer break, a very Holy Christmas and healthy and Happy New Year.

Best wishes for 2021.