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Principal’s Message | Dr Michael Carroll

Dear Members of the Terrace Family,

Last week we saw our Year 12 students finish their journey at Terrace. Their final day was marked by a series of events including the Farewell Assembly, Mass and then Valedictory Dinner. The day was a special day for all involved, and I am sure it will be something that the boys will remember for many years to come. My thanks to all involved in making this day so special and successful.

The next two weeks will see the remainder of the students engaged in their exams and end of year celebrations. The exam timetables have been distributed along with revision work and checklists. It will be important over the coming days that all students continue to focus until the end of the year.

The school year will finish next Friday, 29 November at 12:30pm, following the Christmas Liturgy. This is another one of those special events at this stage of the year. The Years 5 and 6 Masses will also be celebrated next week and are an important part of the end of year journey. Parents are very welcome at all of these events.

The EB9 negotiations continue with Protected Action remaining in place. As a result, the changes that have been occurring over the last couple of weeks will continue, including the Library remaining closed before and after school and at lunchtimes, and Victoria Park remaining closed at lunchtimes for all Years 5 and 6 students.

Finally this week, I again ask parents to assist by reminding your sons about the returning of textbooks and the cleaning out of lockers over the coming days. The message I have been reiterating with the students focuses on ‘Finishing Well’. Your support of this message will help ensure an excellent finish to the year.

Have a great week.


Dr Michael Carroll
College Principal

Deputy Principal | Mr Chris Ryan

Staff News

The following teachers will join our community in 2020:

  •  Mr Gerhard Bekker will join the Waterford Place community for the first semester. Mr Bekker will teach Maths and Business in the load usually taken by Mr Mark Shori who is on extended leave after an acute illness. Mr Shori continues to recover well and will gradually return to Terrace day to day during 2020.
  • Mr Sonny Ali will also return to Waterford Place for the first half of 2020 working within the English and Humanities Faculties while Mrs Suzanne Black is on long service leave.
  • Mr Paul Carpenter joins us on a contract position for 2020. Mr Carpenter will particularly work within the Religious Education Faculty.
  • Mr Matthew Cuckson will also join us on a 2020 contract position. Mr Cuckson will work within the Human Movement and Science Faculties particularly in Years 5 to 8.

Dean of Studies | Mr Mason Hellyer

On Friday night at the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner, I was fortunate to reflect with a number of our youngest Old Boys on their academic journey. The common theme was the decision to commit to their studies in order to achieve their academic goals. Many reflected that this decision was an important step, as it led to greater motivation. Intrinsic motivation is an important driver for success as this leads to a commitment to work consistently toward a pre-determined goal. While there was a commonality with these students’ stories, there was a difference with when this decision was made. Some students are self-starters, some gradually come to the realisation as they are influenced by the College’s academic culture or peer influence, some need to be dragged kicking and screaming! The commitment to studies is an important step in a student’s academic journey. If your son hasn’t made that commitment as yet, the upcoming break is a great time to reflect on what he wishes to achieve in the next 12 months. This is especially important for our 2020 Years 11 and 12 students.

At College assembly on Tuesday, I shared some exam preparation wisdom from previous students:

• Plan what you want to complete every night - plan specifically rather than generally. 
• A tip for efficient study is to keep to the course outline and Moodle checklists in your study as they are what your exams are based around.
• Try to complete all worksheets and course outlines twice. 
• If you’re stuck on a problem, move on to something else and come back to it. Don’t spend hours circling around a single problem.
Make sure that when you sit down to study you are being productive. Set yourself a specific amount of work that you want to complete within a time period and make a conscious effort to remain focussed and avoid distraction. I always found that finding and completing questions – writing them by hand – was a far more effective method of study than just reading through material. Completing a response to a question requires you to be focussed and engaged, however it is far too easy to skim over a paragraph whilst thinking about something else. Studying effectively will allow you to work through more material, and will give you more time away from studying, which is also important. Patrick Sharkey, 2017 College Dux

Best of luck to all students with their final exams for the year.

Dean of Students | Mr Damien Cuddihy

I enjoyed seeing the boys graduate on Friday. So many stories walked out the College gates that afternoon for many of the staff. Within every year level some students stand out for a whole host of reasons. It is what makes teaching such a special and intrinsically rewarding profession. Some of my favourite students are always the ones that have found school challenging at different times throughout their journey. I had several conversations with these young men during the Valedictory Dinner, and I could sense the gratitude in their conversation. It was a little awkward for them at times, but they got the message across in their unique way.  My sincere thanks to the boys who take the road less travelled. At times it is a lonely and unrewardingly courageous road. As parents, we always deal in hope. Well, that’s the theory. I often comment when meeting with parents in my office that it is a long game. I have seen many boys proudly graduate from Terrace who, at certain stages, had very uncertain futures. If you’re one of the many parents, myself included, who fear what the future will hold for your son, I encourage to keep the faith and stick to the game plan. The tide will turn at some point and life will kick in for these boys. Keep catching them when they fall and now and then let them hit the ground and let them dust themselves off and stand up again. 

On assembly this week, I demonstrated a schoolboy haircut. The gathering found it reasonably amusing, and I have received quite a bit of feedback in the yard over the last couple of days. For the first time in 20 years we have relaxed our haircut policy. Boys are now permitted to get a blade three haircut on the back and sides as long as it is blended. Who says Terrace isn’t progressive! The other comment I made was that the standard of behaviour, conduct and appearance doesn’t change because boys are on a tour or a training camp. At times, some boys think that family values and school rules somehow don’t apply because it is holidays. If you have a son heading away on a Cricket tour, Rowing camp, Volleyball competition, Swimming or Music camp, can I ask that you please spend some time discussing these expectations?

Waterford Place

The final exam block has arrived for the Year 10 cohort. While the boys will be looking forward to the Christmas break there is still plenty of work to be done before we get there. 

Your son will have a copy of the Term 4 exam timetable if you would like to know what is coming and to monitor his preparation during this important final week. Please note that the Year 10 boys have normal classes or study groups outside of exam times. It is also important that your son arrives to school on time (before 8.25am) for the morning Pastoral Care Group roll call and messages.

Please ensure that your son gets good sleep over the next week leading into exams and ensure that he resists the temptation to be up late cramming. There is ample time to be well prepared without losing precious sleep. The removal of distractions, particularly mobile phones and social media during this study and revision period would also be beneficial for your son. While they will resist this, they are generally not great at managing these distractions.

On behalf of the Waterford staff I would like to thank both the parent body and students for your support throughout the year. We have enjoyed the journey with your sons throughout the year and wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas and hope the New Year brings a refreshed approach to the challenges of the new Senior schooling program.

Merry Christmas 

Director of Culture | Mr Matt Cocking

2020 Senior Musical – School of Rock

As we announced in a previous edition of the Terrace News, our Senior Musical for 2020 will be School of Rock.  We are very excited and look forward to hearing great music from our students.  Audition information has been posted.  Please check the Terrace App, email and links from our social media pages.  The turnaround is quite tight - please note the times and dates that have been posted.

Chess

Congratulations to our College Chess Champion, Yang Zhang (Year 11), who competed in the blindfold simul at Churchie on Tuesday.  Yang was one of 16 players who competed against the World Blindfold Champion and American Grand Master, Timur Gareyev.  He is renowned for playing against multiple opponents – whilst on an exercise bike!  After over five hours of competition, Timur won all 16 games.

College events and activities

With the end of the College year upon us, planning is well and truly underway for Cultural activities in 2020.  Please ensure you check Parent Lounge and remove any items that refer to this year. Information pertaining to 2020 teams, ensembles, workshops, etc., will start to filter through and it will make it easier to see what may need attention and what doesn’t if expired activities are erased.

Cultural Support Groups

We are very lucky to have two very active support groups involved in our Cultural program. On behalf of our staff and students, I would like to acknowledge and thank the following parents who will take a leading role in our groups next year.

Debating Support Group (DSG) 

  • Chair: Cate Clifford 
  • Secretary: Christine Maher
  • Treasurer: Peter Hackett

Terrace Performing Arts (TPA)

  • Chair: Nicole Hoffmann
  • Vice Chair: Nerida Dettl
  • Secretary: Michelle Williams
  • Treasurer: Brett Morgan

We thank these parents for stepping up to these roles. Our sincere thank you to Sally Mollo for her years as Secretary of the TPA.  

We consider all parents/caregivers of participating boys as part of these Support Groups - you are cordially invited to come to the meetings. They start at 5.30pm and last for an hour. The first meeting for each group will be held on Tuesday 4 February, 2020. 

Support Group Meetings: Please note the change of venues

Terrace Performing Arts 

4 February, 2020 5.30pm in the Francis Rush Room, Mt Sion.

TPAChair@terrace.qld.edu.au

Debating Support Group   

4 February 2020 5.30pm in the Mary Rice Room, Mt Sion.

DSGChair@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.

  https://twitter.com/gtculture        https://www.instagram.com/terr... 

Director of Music | Mr Jan Hewerdine

The Music department thanks Mrs Debattista and Mr Esbensen, who, with the Terrace Choir and the Waterford String Quartet, provided musical support for the Valedictory Mass at St Stephens last Friday.

A thank you also to Ms Amy Phillips and the Callan Black Strings for their musical contribution to Tuesday’s assembly.

Well done to the following students who will be attending the State Honours Ensemble Program (Primary), held at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music:

  • Charles Blanshard
  • Rohan Clancy
  • Lachlan Cooper
  • Ethan Daly
  • Cormaic Dunne
  • Oliver Gentile
  • Isaac Hession
  • Harrison Hislop
  • Anton Hoeft
  • Thomas Kennedy
  • Skylar Lam
  • Lucas O’Kane
  • Ben Sandstrom
  • Orlando Tessarolo
  • Jack Weeden
  • Jarrod Winks
  • Zachary Yoong
  • Lachlan Young

Congratulations to all our Trinity percussion candidates who sat exams on Tuesday. Bravo!

All Year 6 students who are not continuing on with Extra Curricular Music after this year, will be handing back instruments in Week 8 during class time.

As the end of the year approaches and we begin planning for 2020, could you please notify the Music Department as soon as possible of any enrolment changes to your son’s lessons for 2020. Students currently enrolled in the program will automatically roll over. During these final weeks and early in the New Year, you will be receiving information regarding lessons and ensembles.

Preparations are underway for the Premier Ensembles camp in January 2020. This will be held both at the College and at QCCC Brookfield. The camp is a great opportunity for our Premier Ensemble musicians to engage in several days of intensive rehearsals to hone their skills and to develop a sense of teamwork and camaraderie within their ensembles. Please respond to the Parent Lounge request (once posted) by the due date as numbers need to be finalised with the campsite before the end of term.

Music Practice Hall will be available this coming Monday (Week 8). This is held in the Music Centre, from 3.15-5pm. I ask that you actively support this so that we can roll it out fully next year and support the boys in attaining quality practice habits. The response from participants to date has been very positive, with students seeing an immediate improvement in their playing. 

Terrace Library

Captains' Corner | 2020 College Captain, Sam Dutton

Last Friday, as the sun sank below the horizon on yet another warm Spring day, the Terrace journey of the Senior class of 2019 came to a close. Amongst the joy and jubilation of the celebration, one could not help feeling a sombre sense of loss. As boys hugged and shook hands, reflecting on the years that had been, a new dawn was beckoning for their life after school. 

As the Seniors gave their final goodbyes, the Year 11s looking onwards knew their Senior journey had just begun. 

Introducing the Senior motto for 2020 on last Friday’s assembly, I spoke about a marathon runner by the name of Eliud Kipchoge. After over 22 000 steps at a speed faster that most can run a 100 metre dash, he recently completed a marathon under two hours. An achievement which was once thought to be humanly impossible, much like the landing on the moon, Eliud’s final stride was a step forward for humanity. In my analogy, I alluded to a moment after the race, one in which Eliud’s true ambition for the run was revealed. Although his goal was one set on breaking the two hour barrier, his true ambition for the run was to inspire hundreds around the world to walk outside and tie up their shoes. 

Next year, with the motto of Be the One, we too will be the ones to take a step forward. As a cohort and as a College, we will be the ones to stand, inspire and influence. On the sporting field, on the musical stage and in the classroom, we will constantly be reminded to be the ones to push ourselves to inspire others. Just like Eliud Kipchoge, every step we take has the power to be the one that makes a difference. 

As a cohort, we are all looking forward to getting to know the incoming boys to the College in 2020. In doing so, we are passionate about establishing healthy relationships that will help develop and shape the new era of Terrace Gentlemen in the coming decade. Moreover, we are all excited for what will be another fantastic year at the College, before the Senior class of 2020 also see their last sunset in the red and black.

Be the One to keep smiling!

Have a great week.

Terrace Ladies Group

Staff Xmas Lunch Cash Donations - https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=573609&

Staff Xmas Lunch Volunteer Helpers - https://volunteersignup.org/JAHJE

Staff Xmas Lunch Food Donations - https://volunteersignup.org/MXMH3

Date Claimers 

  • Wednesday 4 December 8am – Whole School Staff Lunch, Campbell Centre 
Dates for 2020
  • Saturday 22 February 2020 6pm – Girls' Night Out, Gambaro Restaurant
  • Saturday 6 June 6pm GT 2020 Ball – Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre

The Terrace Family

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

Mr Michael Joseph SLATER - GT1966 

Terrace Shop

During Term 4, the Terrace Shop has been very busy welcoming our newest students to the College. With wonderful Terrace mums volunteering to help us, we have fitted out over 225 boys! It has been lovely to have the volunteers join us to make the new families feel so welcome. We couldn’t have done it without them. To those mums who volunteered this year – thank you! We really appreciate your help and look forward to seeing you again in 2020.

Best wishes to all for a safe and Happy Christmas. 

TERRACE SHOP TRADING HOURS JANUARY 2020

The Terrace Shop will open for trading prior to Term 1 commencing in January 2020.

  • Wednesday 22 January: 7.30am-12pm and 12.35-3.30pm
  • Thursday 23 January: 7.30am-12pm and 12.35-3.30pm
  • Friday 24 January: 7.30am-12pm and 12.35-3.30pm

Historically, this trading period is quite busy. However, we will do our best to serve you as promptly as possible.

The Terrace Shop will return to normal trading from Week 1 of Term 1 - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:

Mornings: 7.30am-12pm

Afternoons: 12.35-3.30pm

Events

Find all your upcoming Terrace Family events here...

The ultimate raffle prize to end 2019 - a brand new Hyundai Accent, valued at over $17 400!

With a one in 350 chance of winning, this may be your best spent $100 all year long. 
Tickets available for purchase using the below link.

Car Raffle | Buy A Ticket Here

Welcoming cash donations to assist with catering the staff end of year Christmas lunch.

Please use link below to contribute prior to Wednesday 4 December.

Cash Donation | Click Here

The perfect Red and Black Christmas gift for next year's 2020 season! 

Get in quick to place your order - limited numbers available. 

GT Cricket Bag | Shop Here

Details: Sunday 1 December | 1.00pm - 4.30pm
Where: Tennyson Playing Fields
For further information or enquiries, please contact 
Blair Copelin | BlairCopelin@Terrace.qld.edu.au

Dates: Years 8-12  20 January | Years 5-12  21 January
Time: 9.00am - 3.00pm
Where: Waterford Place, Gregory Terrace
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Andrew Stormonth | AndrewStormonth@Terrace.qld.edu.au

Debating Workshop | Book Here

Details: Friday 28 February | 12.30pm
Where: Queensland Cricketers' Club, Wooloongabba
Cost: Table of 10 - $1500 or Individual Ticket - $150 (+ booking fees) | Includes 2 course lunch and 4 hour premium beverage package
RSVP: Please RSVP using the below booking link by Friday 21 February
For further information or enquiries, please contact
Matthew Jackson | matthew.jackson@astutefinancial.com.au

Cricket Luncheon | Book Here

To assist us with estimating numbers, please register your interest by following the below link prior to 30 November. 

Details: Friday 27 March 2020 | From 12.30pm 
Where: Howard Smith Wharves
Cost: $120pp or $95 for young Old Boys or Older than GT-1970 Old Boys 

T-Bone Lunch | Register Attendance Here

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.

Donation | Click Here

Year Level Parent Social Functions

Find all your end of year parent/caregiver year level functions here....

Year 6 End of Year Break Up

Details: Friday 29 November | From 12.00pm
Where: Centenary Pool, Gregory Terrace Spring Hill 
Cost: $15.50pp (+ booking fees) | Includes drink on arrival and nibbles
RSVP: Please RSVP using the below link by 25 November 
For further information or enquiries, please contact 
Bec Gasciogne | rgascoigne@retailfirst.com.au | 0419 792 463

Year 6 Break Up | Book Here

Community Information

St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal

For most of us, Christmas is a time of celebration with family and friends, with the joy of exchanging gifts, making precious memories together and enjoying delicious Christmas treats to eat. However, for 2.2 million Australians, including families and 750,000 children living below the poverty line, Christmas can be a time when meeting their most basic needs, like putting food on the table or a place to call home, is a real struggle. The Vinnies Christmas Appeal is all about bringing joy and festivity to families and individuals who may be in need of some extra support.

This year, the Terrace Family are supporting 36 families and 25 individuals by providing a hamper and Christmas gift donated by each of us. In Houses and at Waterford Place, students have been asked to bring in an item and a gold coin donation to support this worthwhile cause. Your effort with this means a family in our community is being supported during this time of the year. 

2020 Next Step survey

The Queensland Government will conduct its annual statewide survey of Year 12 completers in 2020. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between March and June next year, our 2019 Year 12 students will receive a letter from the Minister for Education or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office inviting them to complete the survey. To enable them to reach you, please ensure your contact details are correct in your learning account by logging into www.studentconnect.qcaa.qld.edu.au

Further information on Next Step and results from previous surveys are available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.