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Principal’s Message | Dr Michael Carroll

Dear members of the Terrace Family,

This week marks the halfway point of Term 3.  In previous years we have enjoyed all that goes with the Ekka – the rides, the fireworks and of course, the dagwood dogs and iconic strawberry sundaes.  Unfortunately, 2020 is no ordinary year, and although we have a public holiday on Friday, the rest is somewhat different.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the many families who have been assisting at the various sporting venues this term and supporting the College’s position on maintaining a safe environment.  The level of cooperation shown, particularly with the ‘Arrive, Play and Leave’ philosophy, has been outstanding. We have been able to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our students and community. Ultimately, this has meant that approximately 1400 students have been able to represent Terrace each weekend.  Thank you for your support.

Keeping with the COVID-19 theme, I also want to comment on the College’s position regarding students (and staff) remaining at home if immediate family members are awaiting COVID-19 test results.  We have taken this conservative and cautious position, as have many other schools, to ensure the best chance of remaining open and continuing normal face-to-face teaching and learning.  The COVID-19 situation in Queensland remains positive, and as such, we will seek advice from QCEC at the end of this week with a view to downgrading the current directive. I understand that some may feel that our current stance is too conservative. However, the reality is that if a student or staff member tests positive, then those affected via the tracing protocols will be at home for 14 days.  This could affect many students and staff and have a significant impact on the continuity of teaching and learning.  I thank you for both your understanding and cooperation. Any change in position will be communicated to the wider Terrace Family.

For Terrace students, the next couple of weeks are important as they are the hard work weeks of the term.  Assignments are currently being done, new work is being covered in all year levels apart from Year 12, and it should be full steam ahead for the coming few weeks prior to the exam period in Weeks 9 and 10.

Our Year 12 students are working towards a complete set of practice external exams, commencing at the end of Week 7.  In previous years, Terrace has spent a considerable amount of time preparing for the QCS tests through a series of practice papers.  A similar strategy is being employed for the new ATAR system, and these practice external exams will provide the Year 12 students with some important insights about their external exams, which will occur for the first time in October.

In these very unusual times, I ask that the Terrace Family keeps the students, staff and families of our Victorian EREA schools in their thoughts and prayers.  They remain in lockdown, isolated within their own communities and are, undoubtedly, very concerned with the health situation in Victoria.  We stand in solidarity with our fellow EREA schools and wish them all the best in these difficult times.

Finally this week, it is with much sadness that I inform the Terrace Family of the passing of Simon Hatton, GT 2017, brother of Joshua, GT 2015 and Andrew (Year 12).  Please keep the Hatton family in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a great week.

God Bless.

Dr Michael Carroll
College Principal

Dean of Studies | Mr Mason Hellyer

We have reached the mid-point of the term and enter a critical phase of the Term 3 academic journey. Over the next two weeks, many assignment drafts and assignments are due, and exams are on the horizon. It is imperative at this time that students commit to finding a balance between these two assessment modes. Both assignment and exam success are a result of consistent effort over a period of time. Consequently, I encourage all students to commit time now to ensure they can manage this busy time and set themselves up for success. To assist with finding balance, students can:

  • Plan time for both assignment and exam revision each week
  • Attend staff-led tutorials
  • Attend study hall (Years 11 and 12)
  • Use their checklist booklets to ensure they are efficient with their study
  • Treat an assignment draft date as the due date

Our Year 12 students are currently fully immersed in preparation for both their external exams and the transition to life after school. An important aspect of this transition is making decisions about what Tertiary study they engage in. To assist with this decision, the College will be holding a QTAC Information evening online via Teams on Monday 17 August from 6pm. The link to the presentation has been sent to Year 12 parents and can also be found on the College App. I encourage all Year 12 students and parents to join the presentation from Mrs Natalie Twine, our Careers Counsellor.

Year 12 will also be commencing a mock External Exam block from 28 August. This 10-day exam block will replicate the processes and procedures of external exams, as well as provide a further experience of subject based external exams. The QCAA has provided publicly available examples of external exams that can be found on their website, under each subject description, in the resources section.

Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

On Wednesday, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 had the opportunity to listen to a variety of speakers on the topic of cultural diversity. These presentations aimed to strengthen our awareness and understanding of student cultures within our community. The keynote speaker, Mr Nick Bachono, spoke of his experiences as a young Australian of African heritage playing College baseball in the USA. He challenged the boys to respect everyone, to educate themselves and their peers on racism issues across the world, to take some time to consider what privilege might mean in their context and finally, to look for ways to diversify their lives. Following Nick, a group of Year 12 students addressed the cohorts to share their story about living in Australia and as a student at Terrace. To Solomon, Chris, David, Cormac, Samer, Marley and Ose we thank you for taking time to give back to our College community during the week. Your personal stories and reflections were one of several steps that assist our community to be one of inclusivity.

As this goes to press, our Year 11 students are participating in the next phase of the 2021 Senior leadership program. The current focus is based around the concept of teamwork, with a series of activities at Victoria Park called the 'Battle of the Houses'. The main aim is to present the various House groups with challenges to overcome as a team. Mr Nick Hanley, GT 2004, was also on hand to speak with the cohort about his experiences in suffering a major spinal injury while at school and the journey to overcome this tragic event in his life. Developing resilience is a key learning from this presentation. House dinners concluded the evening at various restaurants around Spring Hill. As you could imagine, feeding 28 boys at the same time will be a challenge for the local chefs! 

A quick thank you for your support around the various venues last weekend in the fixtures against Nudgee College. We are comfortable with the flow of spectators throughout the day and are keeping below the maximum numbers permitted at any one venue at a time. 

On Monday, we have a big day of co-curricular photos. Please remind your son of this on the weekend, so they are prepared with the correct uniform on Monday. Students must bring their ID cards to their photos.The photo schedule is on the College App.

Acting Dean of Identity | Mr Terry Thompson

Never see a need, without doing something about it

During school last Friday and school sport on Saturday, students wore pink laces to support the Edmund Rice Foundation’s Best Foot Forward initiative, which provides educational opportunities for women in developing nations. It was great to join with our fellow Edmund Rice school, Nudgee College, in supporting this cause on Saturday at Tennyson. Terrace raised $3700 for this worthwhile cause. Well done.

On Saturday, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross. This is particularly significant in Australia as Mary MacKillop became our country’s first declared saint when Pope Benedict XVI canonised her in St Peter’s Square, Rome in 2010. Mary was someone who lived a life of heroic goodness, born of her closeness to God and her love of all she met, particularly the poor and marginalised (Thinking Faith, 2010). Mary MacKillop’s motto was “never see a need, without doing something about it”.

For me, this reflects the characteristics and values of Edmund Rice - Edmund Rice was committed to doing something about the needs of the poor and the marginalised. He cared so much that he opened a free school for boys in poverty. His “aim was to promote an education that recognised the dignity of each individual and thus he sought to liberate them from their ignorance of God and of their Catholic faith, while at the same time empowering them with an education which would enable them to rise from the demeaning poverty and sense of hopelessness in which they were trapped” (Edmund Rice Centre, n.d.).

At Terrace, we see these needs at both a local and global level and, I am proud to say, ‘do something about it’. This action is seen in initiatives such as the Eddies Van, our House Friendship Groups and Kolega Café, to name a few. I challenge everyone to continue to be on the lookout for the needs of others and, wherever possible, do something about it.

Holy God, source of all goodness,
You show us in Mary MacKillop
A woman of faith
Who lived by the power of the cross.
Teach us to embrace what she pioneered:
New ways of living the gospel
That respect and defend
The human dignity of all in our land.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Tuesday Morning Mass

Just a reminder about Tuesday morning Mass at 7.30am in the Chapel of The Holy Family. Kearney, Barrett and Mahoney Houses are leading Mass in the coming weeks.

  • Week 6 – Kearney House

Please note, we are anticipating a significant number of Year 12 students and staff for the Kearney House Mass.  As such, we unfortunately must restrict this Mass to students only. We look forward to welcoming members of the wider Kearney family to celebrate with us in the future.

  • Week 7 – Barrett House
  • Week 8 – Mahoney House

Due to the current COVID restrictions in place, parents/caregivers who attend will need to sign in (via the EVA Check-In app) and follow social distancing requirements. We appreciate your support with this.

Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever

Terrace Library

Please click here to view the catalogue. 

Director of Culture | Mr Matt Cocking

QCMF 2020

For 30 years, the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival has been the centre of our Music program.  In fact, we refer to this as our state final. In previous years, Terrace has fielded a strong and diverse group of students and ensembles. Our 32 ensembles regularly came home with high achievements and individual awards of excellence. This year is different, the 30th Anniversary of the largest music festival in the Southern Hemisphere has been reduced to a video. We are proud to have filmed and submitted several Senior, past and future student vignettes and look forward to the release. In the meantime, we will post some of these videos on the Cultural Instagram this weekend.

Social distancing is giving us time to work further on our fundamental skills and core strength. We look forward to performing for you as a stronger group of ensembles in the future.

Thank you - Mr Norman Clarke

This week we were fortunate enough to have Mr Norman Clarke attend our assembly to listen to the contrabass clarinets and two alto clarinets he gifted to the College. With 1100 of our 1700 students having once taken part in our Norman Clarke Music program it was an excellent opportunity to perform for him and show our gratitude as a College.  

Halftime entertainment

Well done to the Red Thunder Drumline for their cover of Hey Ya! performed on the stream of the weekends sports fixtures. It is great to be still involved. Thank you to all of the community who took the time to congratulate these students – your encouragement goes a long way.

We look forward to Happy featuring our Pep Band at the next home round.

 

Chess

Well done to every member of our GPS Chess team beating our opponents with six team wins and three draws. Our best team win in a long time.

Placings

  • Premier Board - fourth
  • Senior Board - fifth
  • Junior Board - third

Public Speaking internal program

We are happy to confirm that as per Stage 2 of the Roadmap to Cultural Commencement, we will begin our internal Public Speaking program.

Details for speech

  • This is not a debate. It is a speech. The topic is open for your interpretation, not necessarily choosing to be for or against. 
  • Primary and Junior Secondary (Years 5 to 8) will be two to three minutes.
  • Middle Secondary and Senior Secondary (Years 9 to 12) will be three to four minutes.

Key dates

  • Wednesday 26 August - Years 11 and 12  
  • Friday 28 August - Years 9 and 10  
  • Monday 31 August - Years 7 and 8  
  • Wednesday 2 September- Years 5 and 6  

Workshops in Room 420 will be held on the following days for preparation and delivery: 

  • Tuesday 11 August
  • Wednesday 12 August
  • Tuesday 18 August
  • Wednesday 19 August

Individual or group support can also be discussed.

All boys are invited to express an interest in participating by sending an email to Mr Cacciola ASAP.

Debating 

Congratulations to Ben Scuderi, Joseph Wenck, Joshua Long, Joshua Ferguson and Luke Ames who have been participating in the QDU mini competitions for Year 12 students. They have qualified through to the Quarter Finals. Quarter and Semi Finals will be held this Sunday.

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 5

Thank you to the Clarinet Ensemble, for their support at assembly on Tuesday. In the presence of Mr Norman Clarke, they featured our latest acquisitions, two contrabass clarinets and two alto clarinets, which were donated by Mr Clarke. Also showcased with the ensemble was the new drum sensation to the College, George Audet (Year 8). Next week we have the Music Assembly, featuring the Fanfare Trumpet Team, the Terrace Jazz Orchestra, the Waterford String Orchestra and the Terrace Choir.

The Music team at Terrace are not only great Music tutors and ensemble directors, but also highly regarded and visible industry professionals.

Whether it is playing at corporate functions in Brisbane’s best contemporary bands, running the house band at the iconic Brisbane Jazz Club, backing national and international artists, playing in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra or touring across Australia and beyond, our tutors have and continue to do all this and more. All this experience and industry know how puts our students in an enviable position.

We recently welcomed Ms Irena Lysiuk who has received the call to work with Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Luke Evans in a television series being filmed in Byron Bay. As a result, she will be taking some time off to fulfil this amazing short-term opportunity. Mr Jacob Bradford, has kindly stepped up to help Irena. He will teach her students and run her ensembles in her absence. We are indeed fortunate to have this depth of experience at Terrace.

We look forward to seeing Irena’s work in the series in the future and bringing these experiences back to the College and our students. 

If any students are leaving the programme, this needs to be notified by parents two weeks prior to the end of the term (Thursday 3 September).

Placement Day 

On Friday 4 September we will be holding our Placement Day for all musicians and singers who will be in Years 5 and 7 in 2021. If you are a current Terrace Year 6 student, we do not need to see you. This event provides the Music department with the opportunity to meet and hear our newest members before next year and place them in an appropriate ensemble. This is not an audition, but it is a moment to provide certainty for students and families for next year.

Music Practice Hall 

Music Practice Hall is held on Mondays from 3.15-5pm. We encourage you to support this unique opportunity, whereby your sons can practice and receive guided supervision with tutors from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and other tertiary institutions.

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

The Weekly Wrap

Basketball

Terrace played traditional rivals Nudgee College in Round 4.  This round is traditionally played with great spirit and mutual respect between the two Colleges across all levels. Terrace had another successful weekend on court, recording its best results against Nudgee, a 79% win rate across the program. Unfortunately, a handful of games on the Outdoor Courts at both venues were cancelled due to overnight rain.

The College’s A-B program has been most impressive so far this season. They are improving as they gain continuity each week. So far this season, this group has won an impressive 87% of their games played, and we encourage this group to continue to back their ability and play to their highest standard against some stronger opposition in the coming weeks. The adage “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” will have to be in voice and action this weekend to continue the strong start to the season.  

The Years 5-6 teams are also showing signs of improvement as they continue to develop their core skills and style of play under the leader of the Junior program Mr Henry Mahoney, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge in developing young athletes. While the results have been inconsistent, the students' approach to training is commendable and improvement is obvious as we move past the halfway point of the season. We look forward to seeing what they produce in the coming weeks.

As we enter a traditionally busy time at the College, we encourage students to be proactive with their time management to ensure that they can give 100% commitment to their team, with some highly competitive fixtures ahead, while still fulfilling their study requirements.

Please click here for Round 4 results

Football

Round 4 was a great weekend for Terrace Football. The program walked away with an impressive 13 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses, a significant improvement on our last visit to the Nudgee grounds in 2018. The whole program can be proud of the success we achieved on Saturday. 

Each game was played with the pride and passion expected in fixtures against our oldest rivals. The attitude of players was fantastic, exemplifying our spirit of College sportsmanship. There were a great many highlights across the board as each team gave their all, but special congratulations should go to the 5A and 8B teams who have continued their unbeaten streak for the fourth straight weekend and are still yet to concede a point. Overall, the Year 5 teams should be proud of their efforts in their first outing for Terrace against Nudgee: they did not lose a game all day.

This weekend, we return to Tennyson to host Brisbane State High School. The State High program is very strong across the board and they are renowned throughout the competition as an emerging powerhouse of GPS Football. We wish all boys the best of luck taking on these formidable opponents on our home ground this Saturday. 

Rugby

As we head into Week 5 of our Term 3 program, I would like to congratulate all the players who have regularly attended training this term. It has been fantastic to see the progression of our players from the start of the season, despite the disruption of training by other school activities.

Congratulations to Nudgee College on once again winning the St Joseph’s Cup, recording 20 wins, 1 draw and 8 losses against us. Both College’s run arguably the two largest schoolboy rugby programs in the country, and a huge amount of time, effort and support is required to ensure boys get regular gameplay opportunities across the age groups. Thank you to all those involved in making both the Nudgee and Terrace Rugby programs possible.

Year 11 Leadership Retreat

The Year 11 Leadership Retreat takes place this Thursday, which means all Year 11 boys will be absent from Thursday training. Training for the Under 16 and Opens will still go ahead as scheduled, though there will be lower numbers without the Year 11 boys present.

Team of the week

This week’s team of the week is the mighty Under 11Bs coached by Greg McMahon. The boys battled up the scoreboard to nab a 21-19 win, holding off their Nudgee opponents in the dying minutes with some gritty defence.

Rugby results

Weekend results can be found via the link here. This provides access to results from all schools and age groups. Please note that the 1st XV is the only grade that plays for a premiership.

Key dates

  • 15 August - Round 5 v BSHS (AWAY)
  • 22 August - Round 6 v ACGS (HOME)
  • 29 August - Round 7 v BGS (HOME)
  • 5 September - Round 8 v TSS (AWAY)
  • 12 September - Round 9 v Downlands (small number of non-GPS fixtures)

 

Captains’ Corner | Vice Captain, Anton Saunders

I sat in the Francis Rush Room at 7.18am on Tuesday 11 August, contemplating my fourth instalment of Captains’ Corner. The obvious option was there: a reflection of the Saturday gone by. At first, I was hesitant to be so predictable in my points of discussion. If you have read any of my past instalments of Captains’ Corner, you would probably be inclined to say that my writing is largely driven by spontaneity – my discussions a derivative of my conscience, from which I draw parallels to the fine College that is St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace. But I digress, because the week gone by was unlike any to have come before it, and to merely disregard it would be remiss of me.

Under normal circumstances, a dual Terrace vs Nudgee fixture for Rugby and Basketball would grant the week as special in the College calendar. The weekend would be one of utmost joviality – with large crowds of students, parents and Old Boys alike amassing at playing fields and courts to spectate the majesty and skill of premier Firsts teams, as well as the spirit of social teams. However, I think it is more than fair to say that this year there has been no normal circumstances. In saying that, not only were Rugby and Basketball battled out against our arch-rival school over the weekend, but Soccer, Tennis and Chess also had fixtures. Not to mention that there were also the annual GPS Cross Country championship on Tuesday. For all six of these fixtures, no crowds were permitted to amass. Truly, normal circumstances were absent last week.

To finish this instalment of Captains’ Corner, I will share some personal highlights from last week:

Tuesday: At morning tea, the whole school gathered to tunnel for Cross Country, sending off our Under 16 and Open runners on their journey to Limestone Park in Ipswich. I extend my congratulations to Callum Walsh, who has been a great friend of mine for ten years, as well as an exemplar of the Terrace Gentleman, on his phenomenal leadership as Cross Country Captain – ascertaining a third place result, and successfully restoring the pride of our Cross Country program.

Thursday: At morning tea, my cohort and I went over to Victoria Park to do war cry practice with Years 5 and 6. We were greeted with overwhelming spirit and enthusiasm. Then, at lunch, we descended upon Waterford to do war cry practice with the Year 10s, and similar to Years 5 and 6, we were again greeted with overwhelming spirit and enthusiasm. Shout out to Jock Millar and Ziggy Bickle, who took the lead, and led their Year 10 cohort to some second-to-none war cries.

Saturday: From 11am-12pm, I had the privilege to lead the majestic 3rd XV. Albeit a 10-5 lead at halftime, we lost 10-22 in the second half. I couldn’t have been prouder of the team though, as every player played for each other, and finished the game with nothing left to give.

To come off of the field and here that both the 1st XI and V had had successful games was a euphoric feeling. I am proud of the effort all of the boys put in.

Until next time, take care.

The Terrace Family

We pray for the families of the following members of the Terrace Family who have gone to their eternal rest. 

Mr Simon HATTON - GT 2017, Brother of Joshua, GT 2015 and Andrew (Year 12).

Terrace Ladies Group

GT Ball update

Regrettably, the College 145 Year Ball had to be postponed earlier this year as COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.  The Ball has been rescheduled to Saturday 6 March 2021, to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.  People who originally purchased tickets may hold these over until the Ball next year.  However, should you wish to obtain a refund please contact the College Communication team via office@terrace.qld.edu.au.  Remaining tickets will go on sale in the future – keep an eye out on the College social media for dates and times.  We hope that restrictions permit this event to proceed as now planned and look forward to celebrating this very special occasion with all the Terrace Family in 2021.

Events

All your upcoming Terrace Family event details are here...

Support Red and Black basketball and be in with a shot of winning some incredible prizes! What's not to love?

1st prize - LG LED TV valued at $1195
2nd prize - Nespresso machine valued at $399
3rd prize - Bunnings wheelbarrow with goodies

Tickets $25 each or 5 for $100 (+ booking fees)
Please click the link below to purchase. 

Raffle Tickets | Purchase Here

The College regrets to advise that the T-Bone Lunch has been cancelled. Refunds will be processed in the coming days to all ticket holders.
For any further information, please contact
GTOBA@Terrace.qld.edu.au | 3214 5200

The College looks forward to celebrating this very special occasion with all the Terrace Family in 2021.

Date: Saturday 6 March 2021
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
RSVP: Tickets on sale early 2021. All tickets currently not refunded will automatically transfer to this new event. 
For further Ball enquiries or refunds on current tickets, please email
Terrace Communications | office@terrace.qld.edu.au 

Year Level Parent Social Functions

Find all your upcoming year level parent function details here...

Year 6 End of Year Break Up/Graduation Shorts

Details: Friday 27 November | 12 - 3pm
Venue: Centenary Pool, Gregory Terrace Spring Hill
Cost: Admission - $15 (+bf) | Includes admission, sausage sizzle & cake
Canterbury commemorative shorts - $30 (+bf) | Please view sizing chart linked below
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Catherine Hennessy | terraceclass2026@gmail.com

Year 6 Break Up | Book Here

Community Information

Co-curricular Photo Day 

Students are reminded to bring their biggest smiles to school this Monday 17 August for co-curricular photo day. Boys are asked to please bring their team kit and/or performance uniform and ID card. Students who are required to wear their formal white shirt for photos are permitted to wear this to and from school on Monday. A copy of the schedule with photo times and uniform requirements is available on the College App.