15 February 2023

Acknowledgement of Country

Induction Mass 2023

Recently our College community joined together for our School Leaders Induction Mass in the Santa Maria Centre.  College Captains, Vice Captains, Prefects, House Captains and all Year 12 students were presented with their leadership badges, and made their leadership pledge in the presence of their families, special guests including representatives from our sister schools, Gilroy students and staff.

Our Year 11 Peer Support Leaders were also presented with their badges at the ceremony.
Laura Poggio was announced as Dux of the College for 2022 and presented with her award.

Thank you to Mr Nick Dametto MP, Member for Hinchinbrook, who presented the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to our College Captains.

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Meet the Teams

Student Absences

Student Care Insurance - Information Sheet

Accidents will happen and they can be costly.  Student Care is a student accident insurance policy specifically designed to help cover the costs.  Please click on the link above for more details and how to make a claim.

NCCD and Supporting Students with Disability

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) gives Australian schools, parents, guardians and carers, education authorities and the community information about the number of students with disability in schools and the adjustments they receive. The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires all schools to report the data collected for the NCCD to the Australian Government on an annual basis.

The NCCD collects data about school students with disability who are receiving adjustments across Australia in a consistent, reliable and systematic way. It enables schools, education authorities and governments to better understand the needs of students with disability and how they can be best supported at school.

You can access more information regarding NCCD via the website link :NCCD Portal
A Fact Sheet for Parents, Guardians and Carers 

Important Dates

Essential Emails

From the Principal - Kevin Barnes

Dear Families,

I am very grateful that we have been able to launch into the 2023 school year without disruptions or restrictions as we had experienced in previous years.  Our students have now completed three weeks of schooling and I trust all students, families and staff have settled into their routine and are working towards achieving their goals and aspirations for the year ahead.

Each new school year is a time of welcoming new students and staff to the College and finding ways to make them feel welcome and part of the Gilroy family.  It was wonderful to welcome 70 Year 7 students plus a number of new enrolments in all year levels.  I am very proud that the year started off with 366 students and a number of new enrolments are currently being processed which ensures the College is continuing to grow. 

Over the past week we have shared many Facebook posts to introduce our new staff members and welcome back some familiar faces.  These new staff members have certainly added a new energy to our College.   

Gilroy Santa Maria College is very proud of the achievements of our 2022 Year 12 students. Our Year 12 Dux, Laura Poggio achieved an ATAR of 98.85 and Hayley Gangemi achieved 93.90 which are outstanding results and well deserved by these very dedicated and committed students.  Another twelve students achieved an ATAR above 80 which are results the College is very proud of.   Numerous students received early entry University offers, while others received offers to various uni courses, including Engineering, Education and Nursing.  All Year 12 students who were involved in School Based Apprenticeships were able to transition as first year apprentices. Every Year 12 graduate achieved their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

The achievements of our students is evidence that hard work from committed students, supportive parents and dedicated staff is the recipe for success through a quality Catholic education at Gilroy Santa Maria College.

The first three weeks of the school year have involved a number of whole school events.  At the Induction Mass, our student leaders were presented with their badges and we witnessed the entire year 12 cohort pledge their oath to lead the College with pride and be role models for the entire school community.  That day coincided with school photos, a perfect opportunity as all students were dressed in formal uniform.

As part of our Disaster Management Plan, we recently held an emergency evacuation drill to ensure all staff and students are aware of how they must react in the event we are faced with an emergency situation.  I am pleased to report that overall we performed our duties in a manner which would ensure our safety and security if we were to enact this process in a real life situation.  We did however identify some areas of our evacuation plan which need to be strengthened and processes are in place to ensure improvement strategies are being implemented.    

The College Senior Leadership Team is currently developing the Annual School Improvement Plan (ASIP) which will highlight improvement strategies that will be implemented throughout 2023 to ensure our College continues to offer quality education opportunities for all students.  The ASIP will identify our improvement goals and set out strategies of how we will implement change to achieve those goals.  I will share  information relating to the ASIP in future editions of the GSMC newsletter.    

Last Friday we held a highly successful interhouse swimming carnival which was a very enjoyable day for students with excellent participation and competitiveness from all involved. I wish to thank our Sports Coordinator, Mr Jack Dixon, for coordinating such a well organised event and acknowledge the support he received from his fellow HPE staff.  An event like this is not possible without the contribution of all staff in providing our students with another memorable sports carnival.  

This week, myself and Mrs Timms will be attending a two day intensive course aimed at Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) to enable us to continue to lead our staff, teachers, parents/carers, students, parish and the wider community. The identity of the College is reflected through our Catholic values and evident in our participation in liturgy and prayer.

God bless
Kevin Barnes

Prayer

From Melissa Carr -Deputy Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community,

On behalf of the entire staff at Gilroy Santa Maria College, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all students, parents and guardians as we begin another academic year. We are thrilled to have your child joining us this year and are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and challenging learning environment that will allow your child to grow both academically and personally. Our mission is to nurture the growth of the whole person in a safe, supportive and inclusive Catholic learning environment. This year, we aim to continue to promote excellence in all aspects of life, as we strive to instil in each student a love of learning, a respect for self and others, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world. 

This year, we will be introducing several new programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing our students’ academic and personal growth. Our dedicated staff will be working to ensure that each student has the support and resources they need to be successful. Additionally, we will continue to offer a wide range of extracurricular activities that will allow students to explore their interests and develop new skills.

We recognise that communication between school and home is a critical component of student success, and we encourage you to stay informed about your child’s progress and get involved in the education by attending parent-teacher evenings, signing diaries on a weekly basis, asking your child how their studies are going and regular engagement with our College Facebook page and newsletter.

I am looking forward to working together with you to make this a successful and rewarding year for your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of our staff. 

Subject Changes

If students would like to make any subject changes, please collect a subject change form from Student Reception as soon as possible. This form must be completed then returned to student reception. The change will need to be consulted, formalised and if appropriate, a new timetable will then be issued. Students are not to change classes/subjects until they have received a new timetable. Teachers will inform students when is an appropriate time for subject changes to occur. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or via email to ask any questions.

Assessment

The assessment planners for Year 7 to 12 have been released and all Year 7 and 8 students have also received a paper copy that they can either put on the fridge at home or in their student diaries. All students and parents have been notified via Compass also. These planners are available on the College website in the Students tab. A link in the school newsletter is also available. Assessment Planners contain all necessary information for the assessment of each subject expected throughout Term 1. Some students may become rather overwhelmed by the quantity of work ahead. The key to survival is being organised. The school diary is a great resource to keep students organised. Students need to ensure that they have all the required writing materials and books for their classes and need to begin revising work and ensuring homework is completed from day one. Homework entails consolidation of the day’s lesson, revision of previous learning and working on any upcoming assessment. Students should also take advantage of the academic support which is available in the library every lunchtime and after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A timetable listing the academic support provided by our staff is also included in this newsletter. Please click here for the link  2023 Academic Support Timetable

Please also be aware of the Assessment Guidelines & Procedures regarding missed work and assessment. These documents are available on the College website and clearly outline procedures for assessment.

Some major points include:

• It is imperative that if your child misses an exam for any reason that the College is notified. A Medical Certificate upon return to school that covers them for any missed assessment is necessary.
• Students Requesting Work for Short-Term and Long-Term Absences: The College expectation is that students will see their classroom teacher when they return to school for work they have missed due to any absence. Most learning areas are using Google Classrooms so students should be able to access missed content and course work at any time.
• Parents/Students Gaining Access to Past Exam Papers: No student will be given copies/access to past exam papers as this remains the intellectual property of the College.
• No student can conduct their exam prior to the scheduled date.
• All assignments must be submitted before or on the due date.

Year 7 & New Students: Study and Assessment Information Session

On Thursday 23 February, a letter will be sent home and a notification sent via Compass regarding the details and information for our Year 7 Study and Assessment Information session. This session will be provided online via a google form link to pre-recorded presentations by our College Principal, Kevin Barnes, Years 7/8 Pastoral Leader, Erin Cerutti and myself. This is a VERY IMPORTANT and COMPULSORY information session that all families need to participate in. The information will be contained within a google form, asking families to register their information so that we are able to ensure all Year 7 families have received this information. 

The aim of the evening is to help students understand:

• What is study
• How to study
• How to use the College diary
• How to be organised
• What support structures are available
• How to navigate Compass
• Provide an avenue to ask questions

While this session is particularly tailored for our new Year 7 families, all new and interested parents and students are very welcome and encouraged to attend.

NAPLAN

This year, NAPLAN testing has been moved to Wednesday 15 to Monday 27 March. This had allowed QCAA to release student’s results by the end of Term 2 which means that, as teachers and a College, we can best utilise students’ results in our learning and teaching programs. This week we have completed practice testing with Year 7 and 9 students. All went very well, with 100% of Year 7 students having brought their chromebooks fully charged! All students have also written a reminder to have their chromebooks 100% charged and to bring their earphones during NAPLAN testing in March. Can I please ask for parent/guardians’ support to also ensure this occurs? An information letter was issued to Year 7 and 9 families last week and a copy is also available in this newsletter.

Year 12 Block Exams & Tracking Interviews

The Year 12 block exams scheduled were released on Monday to students via Compass. The block exams period will commence on Friday of Week 5 (24/02/2023) and conclude on Tuesday in Week 6 (28/02/2023). During these three days, Year 12 students are only required to come to school if they have an exam scheduled. Students are welcome to attend the library for study at any time during school hours. Normal school rules apply and we remind students about the importance of signing in upon arrival and if departing before 3pm. A copy of the expectations during exam block will be distributed next week, and will then be available on College website under the Students tab.

All Year 12 students will take part in a Tracking Interview commencing on Tuesday 14 March. This interview will be held with either Joan Devietti or I, and our Careers Advisor, Vicki Gardner. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend as this allows these supportive discussions between school and home to continue beyond this interview time. Families will be notified of scheduled times for when these interviews will take place, if you would like to attend but are unable to attend the scheduled interview, please contact our College office to discuss an alternate time. ATAR students will also receive an individualised ATAR prediction with a 10 point range alongside targeted advice for how to improve their result. These interviews will also provide the opportunity for discussions around QCE tracking, engagement in the classroom and further establishing and encouraging study habits to promote learning.

God bless
Melissa Carr

From the Business Manager –Ros Giuliano

Please see below the 2023 school fees.  An invoice for your child’s school fees will be emailed to you in the next couple of weeks. Please make sure the email address we have on Compass is current.

If you currently pay your fees by direct debit, please check that the fortnightly amount is enough to cover your fees for the year, as there has been an increase.  If you are unsure, please contact me.

2023 School Fees

As all year levels attend either a camp or retreat so we have decided to include all school camps in the general levy.

The General Levy is charged as a contribution towards the following:

• Subscriptions 
• Student devices – Chromebook or Laptop
• Technology – including licences, accidental insurance and laptop bags
• Subject levies
• Textbooks and other learning resources
• Camps/Retreats

We have also separated the Building Fund Levy of $500 per family. This was previously included in the general levy but this fee is now charged per family not per student.

MULTI-SCHOOL FAMILY FEE DISCOUNTS

As of 2015, a new fee structure gives families discounted fees for the second, third and subsequent children across both secondary and primary systemic schools in the Townsville Catholic Diocese.

To take advantage of this extended fee discount, parents/carers should contact the principal of the primary school, informing them of older siblings attending a systemic Catholic secondary school.  Diocesan Tuition fee discounts will be applied accordingly.

PENSIONER AND HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS FEE DISCOUNTS

In addition to these family fee discounts, parents/carers with a means tested Australian government health care or pensioner concession card may be eligible to receive a 70% discount to tuition fees.  The health care card must be in the name of the parent/carer not the child/student.

Families without these cards who are experiencing financial difficulty should speak with their school principal to apply for special consideration.

No child will be denied enrolment due to financial difficulty.  Parent/carers should discuss this matter with the school principal who will treat the situation with understanding, sensitivity and confidentiality.

Just a reminder that our preferred method of payment is BPAY and those details are on the statement. As always, you can pay by credit card, cheque or cash or we can set up a direct debit through Pay way.

If the statement does not look right, or you do not agree with balance, or if you have any issues or questions regarding the statements please do not hesitate to contact me.

As always, if for any reason you are finding it difficult to pay school fees, please contact the Principal or myself to discuss the matter.

Ros Giuliano
rgiuliano@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au

Years 7 & 8 News

Hello everyone, my name is Erin Cerutti and I am looking forward to being the Year 7 & 8 Pastoral Leader again this year!

What a terrific start to the year the students have had! It’s so good to see students back at school, ready to learn. A very special welcome to our Year 7 students, as they begin their high school journey. They all look fantastic in their uniforms. Year 7 students have spent the first couple of weeks becoming familiar with their school, meeting new friends and teachers. It has been a big change for most students and they should be commended on the way they have embraced the change.  

We have a very busy first term ahead of us, which has included, school photos, Induction Mass, Swimming Carnival and Year 7 Camp to Quinola Lakes. Please check out the Term calendar on our Facebook page or on Compass for more information. 

My focus for this term is to make everyone feel welcomed, supported and included at Gilroy Santa Maria College. If you feel like your child is having difficulties, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My email address is: ecerutti1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au

Erin Cerutti

Sports News

O'Meara Wins the Swimming Carnival 

On Friday 10 February, Gilroy Santa Maria College held its annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival. Thankfully the weather was kind and rain was not an issue. A great day was had by all, both in and out of the pool, whether it was in the grandstands shouting House war cries, having fun with friends during the novelty events, or athletes showcasing their swimming prowess during an event.

The battle for the overall interhouse shield was tightly contested all day, with the lead changing frequently throughout the carnival - that was until the Relay events took place and O’Meara charged ahead as overall winners of the carnival.

Congratulations to all competitors on your efforts in the pool. A special mention must also be given to our age champions for their success on the day. 

Trophies: 
Boys Junior House Champions: McAuley 
Girls Junior House Champions: Rice
Boys Senior House Champions: O’Meara
Girls Senior House Champions: Rice
Spirit Award: O’Meara
Overall House Champions: O’Meara

Age Champion:
Under 12’s Male: Levi Murray
Under 12’s Female: Lara Biasi 
Under 13’s Male: Jett Reid
Under 13’s Female: Samantha Scott
Under 14’s Male: Lucas Masters
Under 14’s Female: Jess Furber
Under 15’s Male: Patrick Galletly
Under 15’s Female: Louise Kaurila 
Under 16’s Male: Codey Masters
Under 16’s Female: Loren Jensen
Opens Male: Michael Russo 
Opens Female: Eve Tento

Mr Jack Dixon

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

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Extra Curricular Activities

Tuckshop

Needed URGENT: More Helpers.  

Start time for helpers is preferably 8:30am – 10:30am or until when you are available.
If there is any query in regards to this roster or you are unavailable please contact
Sandra Benedetto [0427 765 321] - Jodie Lino [0407 904 918]

Flexi Schools - How to Order Tuckshop

What's Happening in the Parish

St Patrick’s, Ingham
Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm
Sunday: 8.30am and 7.00pm

St Peter’s, Halifax
Sunday: 7.00am

Canossa Chapel, Trebonne
Sunday: 10.00am

St Teresa’s, Abergowrie
Sunday: 10.00am

INGHAM REGION CATHOLIC PARISHES NEWSLETTER:

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

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

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