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Make God the priority

Thursday, February 23 2012 12:45

At a special gathering on Wednesday morning the community came together to celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten period.  In a liturgy prepared and written by Mr Chris Ryan, the Dean of Identity, and presented by our Senior students and Campus Minister, Mr Paul Antenucci, we were reminded that God must be the priority in our life.  Ash Wednesday reminds us that we come from God and will return to God.  When the ashes are placed on our forehead we are challenged to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel".  Put another way, we are challenged to be the best we can be in the context of our tradition and Christian story.  Let's make this Lent make a difference!

Earlier this week the College held its first Academic Medals Assembly for 2012 based on the final set of results from 2011.  The College holds this special ceremony because we believe the recipients of the medals, along with the diligent and most improved recipients, deserve particular recognition.  We recognise that what has been achieved has not come easily; that is has required students to be committed at school and at home.  As a community we are proud of what these students have achieved.  One hundred and fifty-five students received academic medals on Tuesday with fourteen more being recognised with Diligence and Most Improved awards. 

In recognising our award recipients I also have a message for those who did not receive an award on Tuesday.  We are no less proud of what you too have achieved.  There is, of course, a rider to that statement – the rider being that you have done your very best.  New Zealand-born architect, mathematician, physicist and academic, Harold Taylor said:

"The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can become"

Terracians are encouraged to be the best they can be.  It may mean a personal best.  While that personal best might not gain public recognition, within oneself and to those closest to you, there should be a deserved satisfaction that your hard work is paying dividends.

Certainly the hard work of the students who appeared on stage this week, has reaped rewards.  We rightfully celebrate their achievements.  I hope all our students are committed to becoming the best they can be and prepared to make a difference.

The attendance at Parent-Tutor Interviews was outstanding. I have said it many times but  it cannot be stressed enough how important the partnership is between parents, school and student. The relationship with your son's Tutor is extremely important. A Tutor can potentially be the most "significant other'' in a student's life over many years at the College.

Tomorrow is the College Open Day - Terrace Twenty12. The format has changed from previous years but it is essentially still a means by which we can show the fine facilities and resources Terrace has to offer to current and prospective families. Our Year 11 students will be leading tours of the College, our Supporters' Groups, musicians, staff and students will all be playing a role during the afternoon.  We look forward to a  wonderful afternoon.

All the very best to our young rowers who this weekend will be taking part in the Junior Head of the River at Lake Kawana.  We have 14 crews lining up and all have been performing strongly in the lead-up events.

Good luck to all our teams competing over the next few days, from our debaters and swimmers tomorrow night to our cricketers, rowers and volleyball players on Saturday.