ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE Gregory Terrace 1976 . 1 . 1 4 --if- - lilLIJ 2er.A', 1 L-7,14Lh. Q r I I Joh M. a - N. = = = '11 LJ / r, His Grace the Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Rev. F.R. Rush D.D. Photograph by Courtesy of the Catholic Leader HEADMASTER'S REPORT EXCERPTS FROM Catholic Education: THE HEADMASTER'S REPORT In spite of increasing financial burdens to be borne by parents who wish to send their children I have the honour to present to you tonight the to schools like ours there is still evident a keen Annual Report for the first year of the second desire on the part of parents to make this kind century of St. Joseph's College. of education available to their children. Our I welcome you all on behalf of the College to enrolments are keeping up well and this surely this evening's function and in a particular way I is a reliable guide that parents want what Terrace welcome you to this spot. Years ago the offers. ceremony which we now know as the "Speech It is axiomatic that a pupil can benefit most Night and Distribution of Prizes" was held on from being here if the home and school work an appropriate afternoon in the old College together. For the period that pupils are enrolled Quadrangle. Therefore in holding this evening at a particular school they and their parents here we are not really breaking new ground but have undertaken to uphold and support the are returning to the College after an absence of standards professed by that school. This is all many years. the more important in schools which profess a I hope that you find the open air environment particular religious philosophy. Our primary pleasant enough and that you enjoy the evening value is that St. Joseph's is a catholic school _40 at least as much as you would had it been held and we therefore must endeavour to have all in our more accustomed venue the Festival Hall. aspects of school life and attitudes based on 1976 has been an interesting year at Terrace. (Br.) B.M. Buckley, C.F.C., B. Agr., Dip. Ed., M.A.C.E., Christian principles. We must have your support Headmaster. in I In many ways it has been a good year and there this, and appeal to you to continue to give it. has certainly not been an anti -climax feeling with 690 in the secondary and 233 in the One of the difficult decisions confronting any after Centenary Year last year. Demands for primary grades. There are 135 in grade 12 and Headmaster with full classes is the question of enrolment are keeping up so there is every 142 in grade 11.923 is a slight decrease on last enrolments. There are parents who would prize indication that Terrace is entering its second year's total mainly because grade 4 was phased greatly what schools such as St. Joseph's century with the strong active vigour out this year in accordance with Archdiocesan College offer and who would be very supportive characteristic of youth and not with any sign policy. There is no intention to phase out any of the school but whose sons cannot be accepted symptomatic of old age. Enrolments are 923 further classes. because there is no room in the class requested. If parents do not place significant value on catholic education and do not support school 1;'? to. values and principles in the home situation, "aenone.-41. sne."4:Wdo'dok . Au they could be keeping out of the College r,614.641/i someone else who would. If there is a difference between values professed in the home and in the school the home ` influence is almost invariably the stronger. This has been well documented by research evidence in recent years. In the "Declaration on Christian Education" the Second Vatican Council clearly recognises this point also. It states: "Since parents have conferred life on their children they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and 4411 foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for failure in it". Developments: At Easter time this Centenary Building was .41"rgso brought into full use and has proved to be a very functional addition to the College. It has marking of 2 tennis/basketball areas here enabled the grouping of all secondary classes - Library is about to begin. where we are seated tonight. These tennis into one area so that maximum utilization can - on the debit side a fire 2 weeks ago severely courts have been used for playing G.P.S. be made of our facilities and equipment. damaged the useful 2 -storey green building fixtures. at the top of Victoria Street. Other developments have been: - construction of indoor cricket practice the remodelling of our old science rooms in - facilities in this space also. There will be 5 Rhodes Scholarship: the "Senior School" to provide a Geometrical nets when the project is completed. The first A welcome news item received towards the end Drawing room and 3 classrooms. has already been installed. of last year was that Michael Francis Wilson had - reconversion of the language laboratory - at our Tennyson Playing Fields the levelling been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for which had reached the end of its useful life of 2 new playing fields and the renovation of Queensland for 1976. back to a classroom. the area underneath the Caretaker's house. Religious Education: the doubling in size and refurnishing of the This latter area is used for entertaining - At the beginning of this year we adopted as a visitors from other schools. Junior School library. basis for our program of Religious Education in - provision of a well equipped Manual Arts - construction of the new College Canteen in secondary classes the "Guidelines for Religious room for Grade 8. the undercroft area beneath the Junior Education" as used in the Archdiocese of presence amongst our senior students has greatly assisted us. In addition to the formal courses in Religious Education the program of Guest Speakers in a "Preparation for Life" course has been continued and St. Vincent de Paul and Interact groups operate. In the week of 18-22 October the whole school was involved in an Appeal to raise funds to assist needy people in the Third World. Serious effort was put into this by large numbers of students and these efforts included such things as a relay run from Alexandra Headland to Brisbane by 5 grade 12 boys, a A 20 -kilometre paddle up the river by 8 boys, and P a Barbeque-Film evening by the Interact Club. The total raised so far is $1,300.00 with a total of $1,600.00 expected and the boys are to be commended for their efforts and generosity in this. 1.111.1111111 S . ;7 Study: 1m. The spirit of study in the College is reasonably good. We strive to create an atmosphere of order \ and discipline that should make it easy for es 1976 Terrace Art Show. pupils to study. We know that we have the full cooperation of most parents in this. Parent- Teacher evenings were held for each grade Melbourne. Br. J.C. Roberts acted as coordinator greater consciousness of Terrace as a Christian during the course of the year to help bridge any of this program and I thank him especially for community based on the values of the Gospel. communication gap between home and school. his work in this area. To cover the courses In the senior classes, where the retreat has been taught as part of the program a resource centre supplemented by a number of Christian Living This year for the first time Art was offered as a was created at the school containing a wide Camps and one -evening retreats, the response of subject for grade 8 boys. This was taught by range of suitable printed and audio-visual the students has certainly fulfilled our hopes Mr. P. Tuckwell who will also pilot this course material which pupils have used during the year. for the year's program. At this level we have through to grade 9 next year. These courses are centered on themes endeavoured to place the emphasis on personal In addition to the Christian Living weekends appropriate to each age group concerned and a commitment to Christ. Such an ideal has previously referred to a number of other camps team of teachers working at each level has appealed greatly to our seniors and their and excursions have been held, some specifically ensured an evenness of treatment and emphasis. response has been enthusiastic. educational, others more of a general -interest A prominent aspect of the year's program was We are indebted to Father Garry Walker and and recreational venture. The two broadest in the mid -year Retreat. The success of these Father Dominic Nolan, both Columban scope were an 8 -day excursion to Noumea in retreats especially in the higher classes is attested Missionary priests, and to Sister Colleen Mary August by 26 boys from grades 10, 11, 12 and by a renewal of prayer in the school and a of the Good Samaritan Order whose repeated two staff members, and an 8 -day safari excursion through Central Queensland to Mackay and back down the Coast by the grade 8 classes. On this latter trip four staff and several parents accompanied the boys. A number of other smaller activities have given the boys opportunity for cultural development.