Gilroy Santa Maria College eNewsletter

Enrol for 2026

Important Dates Term 3

Acting Principal - Melissa Carr

Dear Gilroy College Families,

I hope that Term 3 has been both successful and rewarding for our students and families. It has certainly been a busy few weeks at Gilroy, filled with camps, celebrations, excursions, sporting events, and opportunities for growth and connection.

Last week, our Year 7 students ventured to Magnetic Island for their three-day camp. Normally held in Term 1, the camp was rescheduled this year due to the major flooding event earlier in the year. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and staff to connect, build friendships, and enjoy a range of exciting activities. I extend my gratitude to Mrs Paula Di Batolo and her team for their organisation, as well as to the staff who gave their time to attend and support our students.

We also celebrated Science Week, led by Ms Ellie Nicholson and our dedicated Science Department. They provided a range of engaging activities during lunchtimes that sparked curiosity and creativity, with many students eagerly participating.

A highlight of the week was our “100 Days Until Graduation” celebration on Wednesday 13 August. Our Year 12 students fully embraced the theme, dressing up as “senior citizens” for the day. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm as they marked this significant milestone on their journey toward the completion of 13 years of schooling. Our Facebook page captured many of these joyful moments.

100 Days

In addition, Mrs Cassandra Venturato and staff accompanied our Emerging Leaders students to Lucinda for Murries Gone Walkabout. This excursion provided students with valuable experiences in teamwork, culture, and leadership, and was another example of the many rich opportunities available to our learners.

Murries Gone Walkabout

On the sporting front, both male and female cricket teams, as well as soccer and futsal teams, have been competing with great spirit. The Interschool Athletics Carnival also brought about excellent results, with many personal bests achieved and friendships strengthened through healthy competition.

A particularly exciting development this week is the journey of our GSMC Velocity Raptors, who travelled to Germany to compete in the World H2GP. Under the guidance of Mrs Belinda Strong and Mrs Nadine Jorgensen, five of our students are representing Gilroy on the world stage. We wish them every success in competition and safe travels abroad.

Meanwhile, progress on our insurance works following the flooding event continues strongly. Many projects have now been completed, and we are on track to see the restoration of the Santa Maria Centre—the most significantly affected building—by November.

Families will have received information regarding our upcoming Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews on Thursday 4 September from 1:00–5:00pm. These interviews are an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school in supporting student learning. If you experience any difficulties in booking, please don’t hesitate to contact our Front Office staff for assistance.

Gilroy College – 75th Celebration

On Thursday 30 October, we will gather in the Santa Maria Centre for a very special milestone in our College’s history—our 75th Anniversary Celebration. This event will provide an opportunity for our Gilroy community—past, present and future—to come together in gratitude, reflection, and celebration of the College’s journey over the past 75 years.

While it will be a relatively small and intimate occasion, it promises to be a meaningful one. The morning will include a liturgy led by Bishop Tim Harris, guided College tours with our Year 11 2026 Leaders, and shared refreshments. A highlight will be the premiere of our 75th Anniversary Video, capturing some of the wonderful memories and defining moments that have shaped Gilroy through the decades.

Invitations and further details will be shared shortly via our College Facebook page, so please keep an eye out for these updates. We warmly invite our Gilroy families, friends, and alumni to join us for this special morning of connection and celebration.

We look forward to honouring our past, celebrating our present, and looking with hope to our future—together as one Gilroy community.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our College community.

Warm regards,
Melissa Carr

Photography/Video/Media Consent

Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school/College for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student/College, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the College or Catholic Education.

I consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school/College, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes.

I understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school/College publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram).

I understand it is my responsibility to notify the school/College if I do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/video appearing in any or all of the above, or if I wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent. Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video.

I understand the copyright of such images will be retained by the school/College, Townsville Catholic Education, the Diocese of Townsville or their contractors, and there will be no remuneration or compensation for the images.

Acting Assistant Principal - Curriculum & Administration - Jaidyn Spina

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are now midway through another busy and productive term, and I’d like to share a few important updates with you.

Year 10 SET Planning and Subject Selection

All SET planning interviews have now been completed with our Year 10 students and their families. It’s always a privilege to hear students speak about their aspirations and future pathways, and we look forward to continuing to support them in achieving their goals.

Year 12 Mock Exams

Our Year 12 students are preparing for their upcoming Mock Exam block, which is designed to help them feel confident and ready for their External Exams in Term 4. The Mock Exams will run from Friday, 12 September to Thursday, 18 September. During this period, Year 12 students are only required to attend school for their scheduled exams. Vocational students are encouraged to continue their work placements with their usual employers during this time.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Bookings for the second round of interviews have now opened. Interviews this term will be happening on Thursday, 4 September, starting at 1:00PM. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers, discuss their progress, and explore ways to support their learning for the remainder of the year. Please note that the school will close early on this day at 12:50 PM. All students must be collected or take their usual bus home at this time. If you experience any difficulties with the booking process, please don’t hesitate to contact the School Office on 4776 2888 for assistance.

Warm Regards,
Jaidyn Spina

Prayer

God, we hold these seeds in our hand.
We see smallness, weakness, insignificance.
You see potential, growth, significance.
Tiny seeds grow by your power into huge trees.
They provide food for the hungry and homes for the birds.
From the darkness of the earth springs forth your life, your harvest.
Your Kingdom is like a tiny seed.
When we look at your church, and our own lives,
we see smallness, weakness, insignificance.
You see potential, growth, significance.
Give us eyes of faith and willing hands to see your Kingdom grow in us.
May we feed the hungry with food and the bread of life,
welcome the homeless into your family,
and gather the harvest you love has provided.
In Christ's name and the power of the Spirit
we commit our lives to you again.

Amen.

From the Business Manager – Ros Giuliano

School Fees are now Overdue.

Thank you to all who have paid fees to date. If you have not paid recently, please do so ASAP.

In accordance with the mission, values and ethos of our school, we remain committed to providing an education to all students regardless of their financial circumstances.

BPAY is our preferred method of payment. The details are on the family statement. You can also pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or by term by Payway, direct debit, credit card, cash or cheque.

As always, if you have any questions or queries, please contact the Principal or myself to discuss the matter. The sooner you make contact the sooner we canwork together for a solution.

Ros Giuliano

Direct Debit Form

Sports News

Last weekend GSM participated in the All Secondary Schools Touch Championships in Townsville. We entered in the Open, Junior and Minor mixed divisions with all students playing two days of outstanding Touch Football.

The Minor's had a tough day on Saturday, with several players coming after Rugby League commitments. The team rallied together and went undefeated on Sunday, winning all their games. The Grand Final score was 2-2, before Gilroy scored a try in drop offs, to secure a 3-2 win.

The Junior team impressed with steady improvement throughout the carnival, saving their best performances for the final day to secure a Grand Final berth. Despite a hard-fought match against a talented Gordonvale team, they wrapped up the weekend as well-deserved runners-up.

The Opens team had a tough campaign but fought well. They finished 4th in their pool overall just missing a finals spot. It was a great weekend with some tough competition and great comradery both on and off the sideline.

Velocity Raptors Connect with Industry at Windlab Breakfast

The Velocity Raptors were fortunate to attend an Industry Breakfast hosted by our Silver Sponsor, Windlab, featuring the Gawara Baya Wind Farm as the keynote focus. The event highlighted local supply and workforce opportunities for businesses to engage with this significant regional project.

For our students, it was a valuable chance to gain first-hand insight into the renewable energy industry while also presenting their project to industry representatives. Their professionalism and enthusiasm were noted by organisers, who remarked on how proud the community was of their efforts and the role they play in representing the next generation of innovators.

We are extremely grateful to Windlab for their ongoing support of the Velocity Raptors and for providing our students with this meaningful industry connection. Partnerships such as these not only enhance the learning experience but also highlight the importance of collaboration between schools, businesses, and the wider community.

Windlab Breakfast

Velocity Raptors Supported by Guidos Panel & Paint and
Beatts Fabrication

The Velocity Raptors are grateful for the support of two local businesses, Guidos Panel & Paint and Beatts Fabrication, whose expertise has helped prepare the team’s vehicle for competition.

Guidos Panel & Paint ensured the car’s finish was professional and durable, while Beatts Fabrication transformed a student-designed AutoCAD bracket into reality using precision CNC cutting. The custom piece was made lighter and more efficient, securely housing the car’s power and control systems.

These partnerships not only strengthened the Team’s car but also gave students valuable experience in taking designs from concept to production. We thank both sponsors for their ongoing support.

Guidos Panel & Paint and Beatts Fabrication

Velocity Raptors Farewelled at College Send-Off

The Velocity Raptors were farewelled in style at a special send-off assembly at the College before departing for Germany to compete in the H2GP World Finals. The occasion brought together parents, staff, sponsors, and supporters to celebrate the team’s journey and achievements so far.

The event also recognised the significant contributions of our sponsors, whose support has made this international opportunity possible, and acknowledged the tireless efforts of parents and community members who have assisted with fundraising and preparation.

Students proudly shared their project and expressed their gratitude to those who have backed them along the way. The send-off was a true reflection of the community spirit behind the team, highlighting the pride we all share in seeing local students represent not only their school, but also the region, on the world stage.

We wish the Velocity Raptors every success as they represent the College at the H2GP World Finals in Germany, showcasing their skills, innovation, and teamwork on the world stage. Keep an eye out for the YouTube live stream link in the coming days so you can cheer them on from home!

Go Raptors!! “Predators of Precision, Powered by Hydrogen”

Farewell Team

Our Year 11 and 12 Agricultural Practices students are working on an exciting project to improve the Ag precinct, constructing a new fence around the Ag Shed and repurposing the old cricket nets into a greenhouse and chicken coop.

We would like to sincerely thank Matt from Waratah Fencing for his generous support and expert guidance throughout this project. His involvement has provided students with the chance to learn industry-standard techniques and highlighted the importance of community partnerships in education.

This hands-on project is giving students valuable real-world experience and will enhance learning and production opportunities within the College.

Ag Fencing

Science Week at the College was a blast — quite literally! Our students dived into a week of hands-on experiments and jaw-dropping demonstrations, exploring the excitement and wonder of science.

Highlights included a watermelon explosion, invisible ink experiments, rocket-making, and crushing cans without using hands — proving that science can be both fun and mind-bending. The week culminated in a spectacular finale show featuring dry ice, whoosh bottles, and a daring demonstration from Miss Nicholson, who even set her hand on fire (safely, of course!).

A huge thank you to our teachers Mr Di Bella, Mr Frisby and Mrs Jorgensen and lab technician Miss Shelley for their assistance, and to Miss Nicholson for organising all the activities and making Science Week such a memorable experience for everyone.

Science Week reminded us all that curiosity, creativity, and a little courage can make learning unforgettable.

Term Dates 2025

Student Accident Protection Plan - Claim Form

AIG is our insurer for the student accident policy, with claims managed by CSN. Our WHS Sharehub - Student Accident Insurance page has been updated with all the current information.

The forms can also be found on the main TCE website . Forms are found under the 'Parents & Community' tab on the website.

Tuckshop

What's Happening in the Parish

INGHAM REGION CATHOLIC PARISHES NEWSLETTER:

https://inghamcatholic.com/category/newsletter/

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

Around the District

Cricket in the Herbert

Cricket is back in Herbert River in Term 4 and there’s something for everyone! Blast Cricket for children 5-10 years, Junior Cricket for U11s-U17s. Click the link to register with Herbert River: https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/org/herbert-river-cricket-association/11f2e5e8/register

Or contact antony.stewart@qldcricket.com.au or 0466 795 648 for more information.

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Newsletter Sponsors

22 August 2025