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Principal’s Message | Dr Michael Carroll

Dear members of the Terrace Family,

There is certainly plenty happening at Terrace at the moment, and I trust that you and your families are coping with the pace.  The same pattern continues next week with a number of important events occurring.  These include:

  • The Celebration of Excellence – 17 November
  • Terrace Giving Day – 18 November
  • Year 12 Farewell Assembly – 19 November
  • Year 12 Graduation – 19 November
  • Years 5-11 Exams – 20 November

I thank all those involved in the organisation of these events and look forward to seeing many of you throughout the week.

Next Wednesday, 18 November, Terrace Giving Day will take place.  I am sure that you have already seen the wonderful social media campaign featuring Delors and his journey.  I encourage all members of the Terrace Family to join in and contribute to our Giving Day.  All funds raised will go towards supporting the Edmund Rice Bursary program and help other young men like Delors.  Please visit terracegiving.com.au to find out more.

Over the last couple of weeks, the College has interviewed for the newly created position of Dean of Pedagogy and Learning Innovation.  I am pleased to announce that Ms Ralda Deoki has been appointed to the role.  Ralda is currently the Director of Pedagogy and Learning Innovation at St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe.  I am sure that you will welcome Ralda to the Terrace Family in 2021.

The House Deans and Year 11 students have been involved in the House Leadership selection process.  I am pleased to publish the list of 2021 House Leaders below.  They are a fine group of young men who, along with the College Leaders, will be great representatives of Terrace in 2021.

Barrett House
  • Daniel Fitzgerald
  • Lachlan Kennedy
  • Frederick Marshall
  • Riley Tillotson
Buckley House
  • Dominic Byrne
  • Nicolas Dean
  • Daniel Dodds
  • Benjamin Good
Kearney House
  • Lucas Hicks
  • Hugo Jarvis
  • Samuel Lilwall
  • Joshua Migotto
Magee House
  • Thomas Fischer
  • Callum Fitzgerald
  • Patrick Milne
  • Lucas Samut
Mahoney House
  • Will Hancock
  • William Richards
  • Tyson Riley
  • Charles Williams
Reidy House
  • Oscar Erzetich
  • Joseph Liddy
  • Riley Mills
  • Thomas Murphy
Treacy House
  • Harry Forster
  • Griffin Kelly
  • Joshua McFarlane
  • Nicholas Romano
Windsor House
  • Henry Joseph
  • Tobias Mohr
  • Paddy O’Toole
  • Daniel Wright
Xavier House
  • Lorenzo Gamboa
  • Dominic Hayes
  • Geordan Papacostas
  • Justin Sullivan 

Finally this week, with only 11 days until the end of the school year for students, it is very important that all students finish well both in and out of the classroom.  Expectations around student behaviour will not decline over the coming days, and I ask all parents to reinforce the ‘finishing well’ message with their sons.

Have a great week.

God Bless.

Dr Michael Carroll                                                                                                              College Principal

Deputy Principal | Mr Damien Fall

This year has been a big year for our teaching and non-teaching families, with a large number of staff being blessed with the addition of children this year. The latest newcomer to the Terrace Family is the first child of Mr Patrick Collins and his wife Alicia. This week, they welcomed Patrick, who continues a long family tradition of honouring this fine Irish Catholic name. We wish the Collins family every joy as they get to know each other, with dad now taking a period of paternity leave.

Families who have a long association with Terrace may remember Mrs Maureen Twomey, who is a former College Librarian and whose sons also attended Terrace. The College was saddened to hear of Maureen’s passing last week and we send our thoughts and prayers to her family at their time of great sadness.

Next Tuesday evening, we continue the tradition of our annual Celebration of Excellence. The circumstances of the year mean that attendance numbers are limited, but it will be wonderful to still be able to recognise the outstanding achievements of so many of our young men. The new QCE system with its external exams means that we are no longer able to present College Dux on the evening – this cannot be decided until after external exams are marked.  COVID restrictions means that we will be unable to commence the evening with the traditional procession of staff, but we do retain the ability to present awards to the deserving winners. The event will also be streamed, giving families the opportunity to watch from home for the first time. We look forward to a wonderful event, which showcases the extraordinary talents and work ethic of so many students, while also acknowledging the efforts of our staff in getting the Gentlemen of Terrace to this point. 

With only two weeks of school remaining, there is plenty of work still to be done, as all year levels enter their final exams for the year next week. I look forward to a strong effort at this important time and wish everyone the very best.

Acting Dean of Identity | Mr Terry Thompson

Always Was, Always Will Be

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are committed to reconciliation with and recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people of our nation. We acknowledge the elders past, present and future of the Turrbal and Jagera people on whose traditional lands St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace stands. For many generations, the Turrbal people have raised family, shared story and song and passed on their language and culture to their children around the hills, gullies and creeks of the area we call Spring Hill. This land will always be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the pain and struggle of the past and commit to a hopeful future where we proudly share in the stewardship and care of the ancient land on which our school stands.

This week is NAIDOC Week – a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The theme for NAIDOC week this year is “Always Was, Always Will Be” which recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65 000 years.

We have recognised this week in several ways. During Pastoral Care Group this week, students received a wrist band to serve as a reminder to reflect upon the successes, achievements, and resilience of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. Students continued celebrations during their lunch breaks by engaging in traditional Indigenous games. Additionally, we were very fortunate to welcome Goothala Doyle of Spirit Circles Ancient Wisdom who led a smoking ceremony, shared stories and played the didgeridoo to the Terrace family at our College assembly on Tuesday.  

Loving God, we thank you and praise you for who you are, for your unending love for us and your creation of these lands on which we now live. We thank you for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, who you placed as stewards and custodians of these lands and waters.
Lord, we come before you this NAIDOC Week to celebrate the successes, achievements, and resilience of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. We recognise those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders who are using their talents to enrich our communities and inspire us all in many ways. We honour First Nations peoples who have fought every day for the past 230 years for rights, culture and land. They reveal the true meaning of strength and survival.
Lord, will you increase our capacity this NAIDOC Week to humble ourselves and listen afresh to truly hear the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We acknowledge and lament the injustices of the past and present and ask for your mercy and healing. May the truth of history, of these lands now called Australia, be told in its entirety, and truth telling becomes a priority for our government and all citizens. We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

(NAIDOC Prayer by Bianca Manning, Aboriginal Christian Leader and Gomeroi Woman)

Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever

Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

While our Year 12 students are working their way through the external exams, the rest of the College has two weeks left of the school year, and it is important that all students from Years 5 to 11 finish strongly.  The term has been short and sharp, and with exams commencing next week, there is no time to waste.  We should be seeing students making sacrifices and forgoing some of their preferred activities to ensure that they are as well-prepared as possible.  With limited days remaining, it can be tempting for students to lower their standards about important matters such as classroom application and personal presentation.  It is very important that students finish well with regard to all aspects of their education, including punctuality, the way they wear their uniform, behaviour in public and road safety.  We do not want the good work of the year undone in the final days.  

A reminder that Year 11 students are required to attend school on Thursday morning the 19 November for the Senior Graduation assembly. For all other year levels, school finishes at 12.30pm on Friday 27 November.  Students are expected to be in attendance until this time and we respectfully request that parents ensure their sons do not commence holidays before this.  I look forward to the final two weeks being smooth and productive.

The latest SchoolTV episode explores the important topic of alcohol consumption with your son.  Young people are at a greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults because their brains continue to develop until their mid-twenties.  The safest level of alcohol consumption for teenagers is no alcohol at all, but this may be difficult to enforce and may not prevent them from experimenting.  However, parents and carers can influence sensible drinking habits and help minimise the risks.  In this special report, a series of discussion points are offered to help make the conversation about alcohol consumption a little easier.  The report can be found here.

Dean of Studies | Mr Mason Hellyer

During the current External Exam block, I meet with each subject cohort of Senior students 20 minutes prior to the commencement of their exam. There are a number of reasons to do this. Firstly, to gather them all in one space to ensure they are on time for the start of the exam. Secondly, to provide updates on what has been occurring and what may be coming up in the near future academically, as many will only come into school for their exams. However, most importantly, it is an opportunity to focus students on the exam ahead.

The exams have challenged our Seniors. Consequently, I have been using the concept of controllables and uncontrollables as advice for students navigating not only the pressures of exams, but also this period of uncertainty. The message is to recognise the stressors that you cannot control – ATAR scores, life after school, university courses/work – and accept that you cannot influence these outcomes at present. However, you can control aspects of your life at this present time that will ensure you maximise your academic performance such as exam preparation, staying healthy, getting enough sleep.

At times of assessment, it is important that students feel they are in control of aspects of their lives and can influence future outcomes. Academically, this requires that students should be directing their energy and time into the things they can control, not on things that they cannot.

Ultimately, the key to good performance is preparation – it is still not too late to be prepared. Therefore, when your son is feeling the pressure of exams here are some hints that can be shared with them:

  • Be prepared. Work backwards from your exam date to plan when you will prepare. Don’t just leave it for the night before.
  • Complete all of the revision sheets.
  • Use Moodle and the subject checklist to go back through the content you have covered.
  • Test yourself:
    • use flashcards
    • do as many practice questions as possible
    • mind dump – close your notes and recall everything you can in your own words.
  • Continue to exercise and eat well. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
  • Have a good sleep the night before, be well rested.
  • Go back over your study notes before the exam. Don’t engage in speculative talk.
  • It is okay to be nervous, in fact it is normal. Your mates may not obviously show it, but they are just as nervous as you. Feeling nerves is your body’s way of getting ready.
  • Walk into the exam with confidence – you have done the work, now is the time to show it!

I wish all students the best for their exams next week.

Dean of Waterford | Mr Luke Gribble

The 2020 Waterford cohort is finishing the year exceptionally well and should be congratulated on what has been an excellent year across a multitude of areas. In many respects, we should be thankful that we are close to completing another normal term of schooling.

While the upcoming assessment period can bring some discomfort, it is in these uncomfortable moments that we test our grit, determination and ultimately get rewarded for our perseverance. While mentoring a number of boys this term, I have often said that I am yet to sit with a student that has raised the bar with regard to time and effort and not seen improved results. Hopefully, your son has already started the revision process but if not, it is not too late to start.

I am currently preparing for the 2021 Waterford intake, and through this process I am reminded of the level of physical, social and emotional growth that occurs from the end of Year 9 to the start of Year 11. The Waterford teachers are witness to a great deal of change in the outlook of our young men after a year spent at Waterford. It may be harder for you as parents to see it at times, as you walk so close to your son. The Waterford faculty are very confident that the current cohort are well prepared to leave the confines of Waterford Place and return to the main campus as big buddies to the newest Terracians and play their role supporting the next class of Senior Leaders.

Director of Culture | Mr Matt Cocking

Celebration of Excellence 2019 on YouTube

Celebration of Excellence is an occasion for our musicians to perform on a professional stage as we genuinely celebrate the excellence and diversity of our students. As we start to prepare our featured artists for this year’s performances, we felt it was time to put our 2019 performances on YouTube for all to share.

Celebration of Excellence Rehearsals

Before school rehearsals are already underway for this event.  Please check the Terrace App for the latest schedule.  As confirmed with the Director of Sport, all students are to attend rehearsal over sport as this is considered an “in season” activity. 

Senior News

Congratulations to Theatre Captain, Liam Keates-Ryley who has been accepted to study a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music starting in 2021.  This is a fantastic achievement for Liam, and we look forward to hearing a lot more from him in the coming years.

Middle School Musical - 2021

The call has gone out to students to sign up to the 2021 Middle School Musical, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. If your son would like to be involved, he can still register his name at the Cultural office.

Terrace Performing Arts

The Terrace Performing Arts Support Group held their Annual General Meeting last night, and we are happy to announce the following parents and their new roles: 

  • Mrs Jenny Barends – Chair
  • Mrs Michelle Williams – Vice Chair
  • Mrs Megan Fraser – Treasurer 

We look forward to getting to know these parents and working with them over the coming years.

With an incoming team, our sincere thanks go to the outgoing parents. 

  • Mrs Nicole Hoffmann – Chair
  • Ms Nerida Dettl – Vice Chair
  • Mr Brett Morgan – Treasurer
  • Mrs Michelle Williams – Secretary

Thank you for your unending support for our program and our students.  Thank you to Ms Nerida Dettl who will be saying goodbye to the College as her son finishes this year.  Nerida has worked tirelessly over many years at many events. We look forward to you returning as a guest to an event!

Support Group meetings

Support Group meetings will be held online if necessary.  Should you wish to contact the Debating Support Group, please email: DSGChair@terrace.qld.edu.au or the Terrace Performing Arts, please email: TPAChair@terrace.qld.edu.au .

Staying in touch   

To keep in touch with all things Cultural, we would suggest you download the Terrace App and follow us on Twitter (@GTCulture) and Instagram (terrace_gtculture) to ensure you don’t miss anything.   If you have any photographs or video that you would like to share, please tag us.

TWITTER            @GTCulture  INSTAGRAM      terrace_gtculture  YOUTUBE          Terrace Culture YouTube Channel

Director of Music | Mr Jan Hewerdine

Welcome to Week 6

This week, before school, rehearsals have been running from Tuesday and will go through to next Monday for the Celebration of Excellence Orchestra. Rehearsals run from 7am-8.20am. Please note that these will be running in room 320 with strings in MU2. If any boys are both a chorister and musician, then they need to attend all rehearsals for the orchestra, except as pre-arranged with Mr Bradford.

There will be a TLG Mass held next Tuesday from 7.30am with select choir members in support. These choristers will be informed and will be transported via bus out to the BCEC at 12.45pm from outside the Chapel. Choristers who are also playing in the orchestra, or who are featuring at the Celebration of Excellence will not participate in the service.

Congratulations to Senior Liam Keates-Ryley who has been accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium of Music to undertake a Bachelor of Music.

Please note that there have been modifications to the workshops below in Term 1.

A reminder that if you wish to cease lessons, you need to notify us two weeks prior to the end of the term (Tomorrow Friday 13 November).

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the Music Department  music@terrace.qld.edu.au

Term 4 Events

  • Tuesday 17 November - Celebration of Excellence
  • Thursday 19 November - Year 12 Valedictory Mass 

Term 1 2021 Events

  • Monday and Tuesday 18-19 January - Terrace Choir Workshop - 8.30am-3pm – Chapel of the Holy Family
  • Tuesday 19 and Monday 25 January - First Percussion Ensemble Workshop - 8.30am-3pm - Rooms 320/1
  • Monday 25 January - Concert Band (2&3) Workshop - 8.30am-12pm ­- MU2
  • Monday 25 January - Youth Choir Workshop - 8.30-3pm ­– MU1
  • Wednesday 20 January - ANZAC Marching Band (SWE and Red Thunder Drumline) - 9am to 11.30am - Tennyson Playing Fields
  • Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 January Music Camp (Red Thunder Drumline, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Terrace, Jazz Orchestra, Waterford Strings, Waterford Soloists) - 8.30am-4pm - Queensland Conference and Camping Centres (QCCC) 179 Gold Creek Road, Brookfield
  • Thursday 11 February - GPS Showcase - 8.30am-8.30pm Griffith University Qld Conservatorium of Music select musicians and singers
  • Saturday 20 February - Strings Workshop - 8.45am-1.15pm Terrace (TBA)
  • Thursday 25 February - Chamber Concert-3.30-7pm Edmund Rice Theatre
  • Friday 26 March - Terrace Jazz Night - 3.30-9pm (venue TBA)

Director of Sport | Mr Tony McGahan

Tennis

Congratulations to Dominic Anderson (Year 11) who has been selected to be a member of the Queensland School of Sport 13-19 Years Tennis Merit Team for 2020.

Terrace Shop

Volunteering at the Terrace Shop

During Term 4 we are welcoming our newest students to the Terrace Family and we need your help! We would love to have you assist us in the Shop as each new student is fitted for his Terrace uniform.

It is a lovely tradition to have current parents volunteer in the Shop during this time. It gives new families an opportunity to meet other parents and ask those everyday questions in a friendly and welcoming environment.

It doesn’t matter if you have not volunteered with us before – we warmly welcome everyone! We will be here to help you and will give you a quick cheat sheet for the fitting process.

We will attend to the uniform fittings from Term 4 Week 1 -  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am - 2.45pm. 

On Tuesday 17 November we will need assistance until 5.15pm. There are two families booked at one scheduled time, therefore we hope to have two volunteers kindly assist after school.

If you are interested in helping us, please put your name down to volunteer via the following links.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We both look forward to welcoming you!

Donna Asnicar and Felice Gatenby terraceshop@terrace.qld.edu.au

Terrace Ladies Group

Help Needed

Seniors Valedictory Day 2020

This year everything is different.  This year, our Year 12 cohort are doing their Valedictory Day very differently due to COVID-19.  It is being held at Tennyson on Thursday 19 November.

We want to make it a special day and would love for our whole school community to pull together and help out in some small way. Whether that be cooking for morning tea, helping to serve the food at Tennyson or packing gift bags and food hampers the morning before.

Giving back is what we do best at Terrace. If you are able to help please signup using the links below. If you are unable to help but would like to make a cash donation please use the link below.

Cash Donations

Volunteer  Opportunities Wednesday 18 November

Food Snack Bag Prep (no cooking) 

 Gift Bag Prep

Volunteer Opportunities Thursday 19 November

Food Donation 

Food and Drinks Service

Any questions please email  dpklcarroll@gmail.com

Events

Find your end of year Terrace Family invitations below...

Details: Tuesday 17 November 2020
Time: Commencing at 7.00pm and concluding at 9.00pm. Guests are requested to please be seated at 6.30pm.
Venue: Great Hall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Dress: Students - Formal uniform, which includes blazers and white shirts.
Due to COVID-19 venue restrictions, this year's event can only accommodate two parents/caregivers per award recipient or performer.  Award winners have been notified separately by email. Ticketing available below. 

For those family members unable to attend in person, the 2020 Celebration of Excellence will be available to view via live stream. Please use the below link should you wish to view the celebrations via the College YouTube.

COE Tickets | Book HereCOE Live Stream | View Here

Terrace Giving Day: it's not just a day, it's a legacy.

St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace was founded on the humble premise of educating "anyone who would come." This is our opportunity to share in this legacy.

Together as a College, through the Edmund Rice Bursary program, it is our goal to help aspiring young men become Terracians.

We are asking for your help to raise $192,000 in 24 hours, which will fund the tuition of two boys through their six-year journey at Terrace.

Join us from midday on 18 November and make a tax-deductible donation to help us reach this goal.

Together we can!

Terrace Giving Day | Join Us Here

The joy of Christmas is giving to others. 

The Terrace Family is warmly invited to show their support for the 2020 St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Over the coming weeks, students are welcome to donate hamper items to their House or Waterford Place which will be used to make up hampers for families and individuals in our local community.  Let's Be The One to make someone's Christmas a little merrier this year. 

Fresh, juicy mangoes taste even sweeter in the name of a wonderful cause!

Order a tray of mangoes and support Windsor House Friendship Group - Youngcare. All funds raised will go to directly to helping young Australians with high care needs.
Details: Order using the below link by Thursday 19 November. 
Cost: $35 (+ booking fee) for 1 tray
Pick up: Students and parents/caregivers can collect their order at College reception Monday 23 November
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Anthony Hayward | AnthonyHayward@Terrace.qld.edu.au

Fundraising Mangoes | Order Here

Details: Sunday 29 November | 1 - 4.30pm
Venue: Tennyson Playing Fields
RSVP: No RSVP necessary. All Old Boys and current Terracians and their families are warmly invited to attend.
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Blair Copelin | BlairCopelin@Terrace.qld.edu.au 

Want to help but poor on time?

You can now donate money directly to Terrace's Care and Concern Committee. Cash donations will be used to purchase ingredients to make meals for Terrace families and staff in need. 

All donations are appreciated greatly, and will support the important work this committee undertakes for our community.

Cash Donation | Click Here

Terrace Christmas Appeal 
Thank you to for your generous support so far of the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. 
While food donations are gratefully being accepted in Houses over the coming weeks, the College is also requesting donations of toiletry items such as toothbrushes, soap and toothpaste. 
Donations can be dropped off at the Campus Ministry office. Your support is greatly appreciated by those who will receive these essential items.

Year Level Parent Social Functions

Find your end of year parent/caregiver get together details here...

Year 6 End of Year Break Up

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK!

Details: Friday 27 November | 12 - 3pm
Venue: Centenary Pool, Gregory Terrace Spring Hill
Cost: Admission - $15 (+bf) | Includes admission, sausage sizzle & cake
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Catherine Hennessy | terraceclass2026@gmail.com

Year 6 End of Year Break Up | Book Here