Dear Members of the Terrace Family,

As I write, the significance of this week for those in our community is very much in my mind. Families will be conscious that we are celebrating Catholic Education Week, and to help understand its importance, considering the statistics is a good start. This year, we celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. With more than 300 schools, 20 000 staff and 150 000 students, one can only imagine the millions of lives that have been positively impacted by education in a Catholic school. My seven siblings and I were raised in the Catholic tradition by our wonderful parents, and one of the greatest gifts they gave us was a Catholic education. It is the reason I pursued my vocation as a teacher and that my wife and I chose to educate our three sons in the same tradition.

I do not doubt the unique nature of a Catholic education and its significant role in the formation of students who are fortunate enough to enjoy it. At Tuesday morning Mass this week, the homily spoke of humans as being far from perfect, having both good and bad in us. We were challenged to use our education in the Catholic tradition to grow the good. I sincerely hope that the partnership between home and school includes shared values that we can help each other instil in our young men and help them be their very best. Teaching is a noble profession and one that most of us view as a vocation. I would like to pass on the thanks of the Terrace Family to our dedicated teachers, who aim to make a Terrace education something unique and memorable. It is also important to show our gratitude to the many non-teaching staff who strongly contribute to making our College the place it is.

At this week’s Academic Medal Assembly, I had the pleasure to congratulate our 368 medal recipients and nine students who accepted diligence and improvement awards. I compared the same medals currently being awarded at the Tokyo Olympics when acknowledging our gold, silver and bronze award winners. While the medals capture an achievement, they are more importantly a symbol of the time and effort that has been devoted to reaching that point. Rewards come on the back of hard work, and I encourage all Gentlemen of Terrace to keep giving their very best to achieve their potential. Personal excellence is about an individual student being the best he can be, not necessarily better than everyone else. Congratulations to all students who continue growing our proud academic tradition by aiming for personal excellence.

I need to pass on some reminders about etiquette when picking students up and dropping them off. In doing so, I ask that parents show respect for other drivers and our neighbours. In particular, I ask that parents and caregivers adhere to the following:

• Please never perform u-turns in Rogers Street.
• Please do not stop your car across neighbours’ driveways, even briefly.
• Please do not stop or pick up in the middle of the road – take a lap around the block instead.
• Please turn your engine off if you have to wait for your son.

A minor personal inconvenience goes a long way towards maintaining good relations and ensuring students are as safe as possible.

Finally, I wish Mr Damien Cuddihy, Dean of Students, the very best as he takes two weeks of personal leave, returning in Week 5. Damien is outstanding in his role, and we will miss his energy and selfless enthusiasm. In his absence, Mr Terry Thompson will act in the role of Dean of Students. Please continue to direct any pastoral matters to your son’s House Dean, who will receive support and assistance from Mr Thompson as required.

My very best wishes to all during Catholic Education Week.

All schools market themselves as offering something unique or special, something that sets them apart from other schools. This week, we celebrate our defining characteristic, our Catholicism. At the heart of this Catholic community are people - incredible staff who bring our vision and mission to life every day. Terrace staff aim to build quality relationships with young people, colleagues, parents and our Old Boys.

We are blessed at Terrace to have a staff so willing to challenge our young men to ensure that they reach their full potential. I feel privileged to observe our staff as they engage with and support boys and their families in so many areas at the College.

Last Friday night’s House Choir was an entertaining example of our community at its best. While congratulations must be given to the hundreds of young men who performed, I am grateful to the staff who enable them to take to the stage with such confidence. Thank you particularly to our House Deans, whose sense of competition is (mostly) tempered by their unwavering commitment to nurture and support boys in all areas of College life. My thanks also to Mr Matt Cocking, Mr Derek Rose, Ms Imogen Brown and their staff for tackling the enormity of House Choir logistics with their usual good cheer, despite the COVID hurdles.

This week, the Arts Faculty is hosting Winterfest, showcasing the breadth of opportunity and artistic talent within the College. Many students participate in music and visual and performing arts during the opening evening. My thanks to the staff involved in coordinating Winterfest, Mrs Suzanne Cooke, Ms Janine Sulzer, Mr Zac Von Hoff and Ms Melissa Herron. I particularly congratulate the students involved for their skill and expertise.

Events such as House Choir and Winterfest are not possible without the hard work of our Facilities and Maintenance staff. I thank Mr Nick Jeffrey and his team for reliably laying the foundations for the success of such events.

While the marketing tagline for this year’s Catholic Education Week may be A spirited tomorrow, I thank all of our teachers, non-teaching staff, coaches and mentors who not only in Catholic Education Week but throughout the year, in the ordinary and every day, build right relationships, foster respect and look for ways to provide inclusivity and care – the spirit of the Gospel is alive in our staff and bringing hope to the Gentlemen of Terrace each day.

A Spirited tomorrow

This week, we celebrate Catholic Education Week. Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 309 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. This year is especially significant as we also celebrate the 150^th anniversary of our oldest Edmund Rice school, Parade College (Victoria) and 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.

The theme for Catholic Education Week this year is A spirited tomorrow. This theme acknowledges the long tradition of Catholic education and its continued relevance in preparing students for the future. The theme references the work of the Plenary Council in discerning the way forward for the Church in Australia and complements the Faith in the Future theme of the 200 years of Catholic education celebrations.

In Pastoral Care group this week, students watched the following video - a snapshot of the last 200 years of Australian Catholic education. Since 1845, Queensland Catholic schools have been a vital part of this story. Additionally, Pastoral Care Mentors shared with their PC group what it means to teach in a Catholic school. For me, teaching and working in a Catholic school means being guided and inspired by the Gospel values and Catholic social teachings to be someone who makes a difference. It means nurturing the future of the Church in Australia by mentoring the Gentlemen of Terrace to be the best version of themselves and living with Jesus in their hearts.

The College Advisory Board and Year 7 Magee, Mahoney and Reidy hosted Catholic Education Week Mass in the Chapel of The Holy Family on Tuesday morning. It was a special occasion to mark this significant week in the College calendar.

Thank you to the entire Terrace staff for the wonderful job they continue to do every day to celebrate Catholic education at Terrace.

Lord, God of all Creation, as we celebrate the great gift that is Catholic Education in Queensland, we give thanks for the many ways You walked beside us, held, comforted and inspired us.
In embracing our Spirited Tomorrow, we also rejoice in the knowledge that our stories are woven into the Spirit that flows through all our faith-filled communities. As we look towards new horizons, may we walk boldly forward, together in hope, trusting in the plans you have for us. We make this prayer in Jesus’ name. AMEN

Live Jesus in our Hearts…Forever.

St Joseph…Prayer for us

The first two weeks have moved by quickly, and the College has well and truly settled into its usual routines. Once again, the annual House Choir night didn’t fail to impress on many levels. Watching the various performances provided a great insight into the heart and soul of the Terrace House system. The sense of community created by the House Seniors, House Deans, Director of Culture, Mr Matt Cocking and his cultural team is undoubtedly a highlight on the calendar. We had well over 1000 boys on stage during the night, and our congratulations to the deserved winners for 2021, Reidy House. Thank you to all those involved in creating such a fantastic event, especially the Terrace Performing Arts volunteers and Music staff who invested heavily in the event.

Terrace had a good representation of families participate in a webinar on Relationships and Sexuality education last Monday night facilitated by Brisbane Grammar School. Dr Tessa Opie from, In Your Skin commenced the presentation with the following statement In an era where hardcore pornography is more readily available than ever before, there is an entire generation growing up that believes that what you see in hardcore pornography is the way you have sex. Sex education is becoming an increasingly embarrassing conversation to have for parents and schools. Providing contemporary educational programs that counter the trend of hardcore pornography being the de facto sexual educator will continue to challenge families and educational institutions. I would highly recommend parents watch the informative recording of the webinar by Dr Opie. It is based on current research and will be available for a short time on the following link.

Recently, the College has received requests from members of the public to remind our students that masks are mandatory on public transport by anyone over 12 years of age. We have been promoting this, but we need your support. Please remind your sons of their responsibility to themselves and the public.

Success is what you make of it

With the Tokyo Olympics underway, we are witness to many examples of success. From the obvious podium finishes to an athlete’s personal best performance, success has many forms. Recent Terrace Old Boy, Tom Neil’s interview following his semi-final swim in the 200m freestyle encapsulates the above quote. When asked how he felt after missing out on the final by 0.03 of a second, he stated that a personal best in his heat and the experience of a semi-final at his first Olympics was a success in his mind.

There are many quotes that I have come across that attempt to define success. Many refer to attaining a physical object, a gold medal, a championship ring, money. Some refer to the attainment of intangibles such as power or influence. These definitions all refer to external rewards as measures of success. External rewards are very powerful as they provide a focus or an outcome goal to strive towards. Tuesday’s Academic Awards Assembly was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the achievements of our students. The awardees had decided to commit to their studies, follow up on their commitment to hard work, and be rewarded with an academic medal.

The Academic Award is an external recognition of success. However, the majority of the boys awarded have been motivated by the internal desire to succeed. I see these award winners as a success. Our Diligence and Improvement award winners are also a success. Our 2020 median ATAR 91.65 student who was offered the University course of his choice is a success.

At Terrace, we intentionally challenge every student to succeed, or more specifically, to be the best he can be. As Tom Neill demonstrated, success is not always reaching the top. Success is striving to improve and learn how to improve from every experience along the way. I am sure that we will see Tom on a podium.

Remember, as 2018 College Dux Jacob Montaner said at the 2019 Scholars Assembly, motivation leads to hard work, and hard work leads to success.

Our Year 12 students are entering a busy time of the term with their final internal assessment tasks completed in the next week. Now is the time where consistent effort will pay off during this peak in the assessment cycle.

All the best.

QDU Debating

Congratulations to all our teams who debated last week. We had a clean sweep of winners! With more debates this week, we are looking for more positive results.

House Choir

Congratulations to Reidy House, who are the winners of this year’s House Choir Cup. Back to back winner for the People’s Choice Shield is Kearney House.

What a great evening of entertainment and camaraderie between the nine Houses. Thanks to the House Deans, Seniors and Pastoral Care Mentors for their leadership leading up to this event. Thank you also to our Terrace Performing Arts Support Group and their volunteers for their never-ending enthusiasm for the entire evening.

Photos of House Choir can be found on the Terrace Image Library.

Terrace Chess – Round 2

With over 40 boys playing for GT, the Brisbane State High School team had strength in depth as they have for years now. While our Open D team won and the C and E teams drew, Friday belonged to the State High teams from Premier to Open H. The boys did their best and appreciated the challenge. Good luck for Round 3 at Brisbane Boys’ College this week.

Upcoming

Next week will see our junior musicians represent Terrace at the GPS Junior Music Day of Excellence. This day brings together the nine GPS schools for a day of music workshops, culminating in a concert. The hosts this year are Brisbane Boys’ College. This free event is ticketed. If you would like to attend, please click the following link: Junior Music Day of Excellence.

Next Tuesday, our elite Terrace Chessmen will compete in the Inter-House Chess competition at Churchie. We wish these young men well.

The Terrace Debating Dinner will be on Thursday 26 August. Tickets are selling fast for this event. If you would like to attend, please go to the following link: Debating Dinner.

Holistic education

At Mass this week, Father Pio spoke about the importance of a Holistic Education and challenged Terrace boys to appreciate their opportunities fully. While this is a relatively new philosophy that has emerged over the last four decades, how might this apply to Music Education? Does music provide an opportunity for students that encompasses their emotional, social, ethical and academic needs within an integrated and supportive environment? An interesting article by Samantha Steitz promotes the many positive facets music education can provide in developing both the child as a musician and as a human being. On the surface, it incorporates all the musical elements of performance and musicianship. On a deeper level, it challenges our creativity, self-confidence, creative problem-solving, teamwork, body awareness, prioritisation and compassion, to name a few.

House Choir 2021

Last Friday evening was a wonderful celebration of community, It was my first experience of House Choir, and I was greatly encouraged by the way students worked together to present their House musical number. Thank you to the Terrace Performing Arts Support Group, which worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support and facilitate the evening. I would like to congratulate the Terrace Vocal Ensemble on their outstanding performance of a Queen medley which rounded off the evening’s entertainment.

Basketball debut performance

On Saturday, we experienced the debut performance by the College Sousaphone players at the 1^st V Basketball game against Brisbane State High. Known as the Sousa Army, they are the newest addition to our Saturday Sport performances, including Pep Band and the Red Thunder Drumline.

Junior GPS Music Day of Excellence

Good luck to our 16 students representing the College at this year’s Junior GPS Music Day of Excellence next Tuesday at Brisbane Boys’ College. Tickets are available here. This year’s concert promises to be a fine performance.

Term 3

• Saturday 24 July - Sousa Army Basketball Performance
  
• Tuesday 3 August - Junior GPS Music Day of Excellence
• Saturday 7 August - Red Thunder Drumline Rugby Performance
• Sunday 15 August - Terrace Choir Past Mother’s Mass
• Tuesday 17 August - Strings Showcase
• Saturday 28 August - Sousa Army Basketball Performance
• Saturday 28 August - Red Thunder Drumline and Terrace Rock Band Rugby Performance
• Saturday 11 September - Sousa Army Basketball Performance
• Saturday 11 September - Red Thunder Drumline Rugby Performance
• Tuesday 14 September - TPA Meeting - 5.30pm

Basketball

In Round 2 of GPS Basketball, Terrace played Brisbane State High School (BSHS), a renowned opponent and an exciting challenge for the entire Terrace program. Much of the program engaged in supplementary or internal matches, although overnight rain saw a few of these washed out. Each weekend the ability to hold a significant amount of supplementary or internal games points to the size, strength, and depth of talent in the Basketball program this season.

In terms of results, BSHS narrowly took honours on the day as Terrace won 12 of 23 games, a strong showing given the representative talent across the age groups of the opposition. Despite the results, the program is buoyed by the tight margins in the majority of the games. The players must be commended on the way they competed against a strong and physical opponent. Teams played the game with the right attitude and fought until the end of the game in the face of adversity. Overall, the program improved on results in previous seasons to record its best day against BSHS. Special mention goes to the 9As and 11As for hard-fought games. The B-D teams were responsible for most of the wins on the day, with the 11Bs overturning a big defeat in the trial to win a tight contest with Most Valued Player Jonathon Russell leading the team, which is well coached by Mr Anthony Baruksopulo. The 9Cs claimed a thrilling three-point win thanks to a nearly half court buzzer beater from Kelby Eilert, with scores tied to win the game.

There were some outstanding performances in the Supplementary Draw, notably from the 8G and 8H teams who both won games playing in a higher division. The 10Fs also had an impressive 20 point win thanks to MVP Dev Chakraborty. The 10G team had a tight win playing up a year level against the BBC 11Fs, while the GT 11Fs came back from five points down against the BGS 11C thanks to a clutch set of free throws by Michael Harper.

The 1^st V lost a thrilling and gripping fixture which produced some of the highest quality Basketball seen at an underage level. The skill, speed, and execution under pressure from both sides were highly impressive in a game that ebbed and flowed with the lead changing hands several times in a dramatic fourth quarter. The Terrace 1^st V fought to the end in a game that could have gone either way, but ultimately BSHS produced their best with the game on the line to take the honours. An exciting challenge now lies ahead for the 1^st V team as they look to rebound this weekend, a challenge the team is looking forward to.

In Round 3, the program takes on the much-improved Brisbane Boys’ College. This round will feature the most teams I the GPS draw all season, and we wish all players the best of luck,

Please find the Round 2 results here

Rugby

Congratulations to all teams for their efforts last weekend. The willingness to shift the ball to space and use the width of the field was evident with plenty of entertaining tries from all parts of the fields in windy conditions. A special thanks to all the families who travelled up the range to play Toowoomba Grammar School.

Tennyson was at its very best last weekend in hosting Round 2 of the GPS Rugby competition against Brisbane State High School. Thanks to the Rugby Support Group and all the parents who generously gave up their time to assist in the BBQ pit and canteen. Special thanks to Mr Michael Fallon and his crew of helpers who tirelessly provided the best Game Day burger in the competition. In total, we managed 20 wins and 12 losses across the weekend.

The GPS team of the week goes to the 1^st XV, coached by Mr Michael Broad, Mr Mick Tunny, Mr Nick Stiles and supported by manager Mr John Hinch and analyst Mr Steve Chapman. The team had a grinding 20-5 win. Thanks also to our 1^st XV strength and conditioning coach, Mr Mark Chisholm, who does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to ensure the players are ready to go on game day. Our 1^st XV team heads into this weekend’s game against Brisbane Boys’ College with a sense of belief and confidence after last weekend’s polished performance

BBQ pit helpers

The Rugby Support Committee has agreed that certain age groups will be asked to provide the resources for at least one home game each year. In some years, when we have bigger crowds (e.g., Nudgee), extra help will be needed. Many of you will have experienced a similar system in junior club rugby. Depending on the number of volunteers, we ask you to provide a minimum of one hour per season to contribute back to your son’s involvement in the Terrace Rugby program.

• Saturday 7 August Under 16 and Opens age group
• Saturday 28 August Under 14 and Under15 age groups
• Saturday 11 September Under 11, Under 12 and Under 13 age groups.

Please find the link to the full Round 2 Rugby Wrap here.

As I am sure many of you know, last Friday was one of the biggest nights in the jam-packed Terrace calendar - House Choir. Personally, House Choir has provided some of my favourite memories during my time at Terrace, with badly sung (or more yelled) songs, intricate skits and the interesting outfits chosen by the Seniors.

None of this could be done without the hard work of the House Captains who have organised everything over the past few weeks. I always assumed House Choir just magically came together, and because of that, I probably didn’t appreciate the work the House Captains and Seniors put in to make sure their performance runs smoothly. The hours put in by each House Captain, thinking of themes and songs, creating actions, rehearsing and running around Brisbane looking for costumes and props is highly commendable. I am sure some of them may rather have used the time studying for the upcoming maths exams, yet they never complained and just got on with the job. They should all be very proud of their efforts.

A standout endeavour was from the Barret House Captains, who went above and beyond for their performance by obtaining a free piano, picking it up in a ute (which broke down). Mr Cameron came to their rescue and bought one of the school utes to Kenmore McDonalds. There, the boys slid a 600kg piano across ute trays before gutting it so they could transport it to the Pat Rafter Arena. And fortunately, it seems that the judges appreciated this effort as they managed to pick up a nice second place.

Overall, the night was fantastic, just as magical in my final year as it was for my first in Year 5. I would like to commend the Reidy boys for their fantastic performance, which secured them first place and my fellow Kearney boys for securing the all-important People's Choice Award. I would also like to thank Mr Cocking, the Music staff and all the staff and volunteers, including parents/caregivers and siblings, who made the night possible.

I believe the House Captains and everyone involved in making the night such a success certainly Answered the Call giving their all to get their job done and doing so with passion and perseverance. I believe all students – no matter their year – should follow in their House Captain’s footsteps and Answer the Call and show dedication to all activities presented by the College.

Terralicious‘21 Fashion Parade final update

We are delighted to announce the Terralicious ’21 raised just over $30 000. These funds will be jointly donated towards TIACS -This Is a Conversation Starter and the College to create a memorial garden. Thank you to our Terrace Community for supporting this event to make it such a success.

Past Mother’s Mass and Morning Tea

Please share this invitation with your friends and family

Tennyson Canteen Volunteering Term 3

Rugby season is well underway, and the Canteen and BBQ pit has been a hive of activity. Thanks to those lovely volunteers who have helped in the first few weeks. We have some busy weekends ahead of us and would love to see the rosters full. Our next home game is scheduled for 7 August. Be sure to keep an eye out for the weekly Canteen and BBQ Pit Volunteer Sign Up links.

Eddie’s Van presentation

At our last TLG Meeting on Monday 19 July, we were fortunate to have Matt Rice (GT 2020) come along to provide some information on the work done by the Eddie’s Van night team. Many will know of the weekday Big Brekkie – Eddie’s Van initiative – run by GT students, staff, parents and Old Boys. Some may not be as aware of Eddie’s Van night activities, coordinated by a willing team of Terrace Old Boys and friends. The team provide hot meals, a friendly face, some conversation and comfort to those finding themselves on the streets or in difficult circumstances. Those present last Monday were treated to a hands-on inspection of the new van as well as finding out about the various ways Old Boys, friends, and parents can support Eddie’s Van night activities, including:

Link up with the night activities Facebook group at “Eddies Night Van” to engage from a ‘hands on’ perspective; or

Join the Eddie’s Night Van Meal Train to prepare a meal, donate or ask a question via this link http://mealtrain.com/z97k46

Finally, if you have queries on Eddie’s Van night activity logistics or have community contacts that could potentially help with food supplies (bakery, fruit and vegetable, etc.), toiletries or other comforts – get in touch with the Eddie’s Van night team via Facebook, Matt Rice at 2002matthewrice@gmail.com or GT Care and Concern via careandconcern@terrace.qld.edu.au

Upcoming Events

• 7 August – GPS Round 4 vs TGS (home)
• 15 August – Past Mother’s Mass and High Tea
• 16 August – TLG Meeting – 7.30am in The Founder’s Room
• 28 August – GPS Round 6 vs BGS (home)

St Joseph's College Rugby Lunch

Details: Friday 13 August | 12.00pm - 3.30pm
Venue: Exhibition Hall 4, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane
Cost: $2000 per table of 10 | Includes two course meal, platters & 3 hour drinks package
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by Friday 30 July
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Anthony Kirk | anthony.kirk@morgans.com.au

2021 Terrace Past Mothers’ Mass and Gathering

Details: Sunday 15 August | 9.00am - 12.00pm
Venue: Chapel of the Holy Family, St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace
Cost: $25pp (+bf) | Includes morning tea
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by Wednesday 11 August
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Nicole Hoffman | nhof8777@bigpond.net.au

Terrace Debating 2021 Dinner

Details: Thursday 26 August | 6.30 - 10.30pm
Venue: The Marquee, Victoria Park Golf Complex, Herston
Cost: Adults - $65pp (+bf) Students - $45pp (+bf) | Includes two course dinner
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by 12 August
For further event information, please contact
Nicole Quinn | DSGChair@Terrace.qld.edu.au

2021 Terrace Basketball Raffle

Details: Saturday 11 September | Entries close at 9am
Venue: Will be drawn outside the Campbell Centre before the 1st V fixture
Cost: $25 per ticket (+bf)
For further event information, please contact
Angela Papacostas | angepapacostas@gmail.com

Year 7 Parent/Caregiver Mid-Year Function

Details: Saturday 31 July | 6.30 - 10.30pm
Venue: Gusto da Gianni, Portside Wharf, Hamilton
Cost: $48pp (+bf) | Includes canapes & glass of prosecco on arrival.
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by 19 July
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Monica Katsanevas | monica@bloomberry.com.au

Year 12 Formal Parent/Caregiver Function

Details: Tuesday 10 August | 7.30 - 10.30pm
Venue: Viet de Lites, Southbank Cost: $35pp (+bf) | Includes buffet dinner.
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by Thursday 5 August
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Sharon Loudon | sharon.loudon@co-bolt.com.au

Year 5 Mothers' Long Lunch

Details: Sunday 15 August | 12.30 - 3.30pm
Venue: Blackbird Bard & Grill, Riverside
Cost: $140pp (+bf) | Includes 3 course lunch & 3 hour beverage package
RSVP: Please RSVP via the below link by 2 August
For further information or event enquiries, please contact
Monica Katsanevas | monica@bloomberry.com.au