14 June 2024

Save the Date

Important Information

Prayer

From the Principal - Kevin Barnes

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As we approach the final weeks of Term 2, I extend my gratitude to the entire school community for their dedication and commitment to our College throughout this semester. It has been a semester filled with achievements, challenges, and numerous learning experiences for our students in academic, sporting, and cultural activities.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting the Townsville Catholic Education Senior Leadership Team in our College to present me with the Validation Certificate in acknowledgement of the School Renewal Process which we have been working on over the past years.  It truly was an honour to have Jacqui Francis, Jennifer Blackshaw, John Nuttall, Peter Stower and Louise Vella-Cox at our College to showcase all that we have to offer our students and to discuss the challenges we face in a rural school setting. 

Last night I travelled to Townsville to witness Will Brennan be ordained into the priesthood.  As Bishop Tim mentioned, it is a rare occurrence to attend an ordination, especially within our diocese.  We look forward to working with Father Will whilst he is based in Ingham and wish him well in his chosen vocation.

I wish our students representing the College at the Confraternity Shield Rugby League Carnival and the girls competing in the QISSN Netball Carnival in Townsville during the first week of the school holidays the best of luck. I am confident that each player will represent our College with pride and demonstrate true sportsmanship, along with their teammates and supporters. I look forward to supporting both teams alongside many parents, families and staff.

Term 3 will begin with camps and retreats for most students. This annual tradition is a time for everyone to contribute, ensuring we make the most of the experience and embrace new challenges.

With the school holidays fast approaching, I urge all students to prioritise safety. As everyone enjoys a well-earned break, it is essential to ensure that holiday activities are both enjoyable and safe. Whether traveling, participating in sports events, or simply spending time with family and friends, I encourage everyone to exercise caution and be mindful of their activities.

Please remember that the cane crushing season will commence in the coming weeks, presenting potential hazards we need to be aware of. Road safety and cane train awareness are of the utmost importance at this time of year.

Wishing you all a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday.

God bless
Kevin Barnes

Colour Run

On the last day of this term, Friday 21 June, students will take part in the GSMC Colour Run. This will take place from 12:50pm to 3:00pm on the school oval. This will be a free dress day, where students are encouraged to wear a white sun-safe shirt and old closed in shoes that can be covered in colour. Classes will run as normal from Homeroom to Lesson 3, before the colour run starts after a whole school assembly. 

To participate, students MUST bring the following:

• Change of clothes (to change into after the colour run) 
• Towel 
• Closed-in shoes 
• A set of goggles/sunglasses
• Plastic/rubbish bag (to put wet clothes in) 

To take part in the GSMC Colour Run, students will be required to show their homeroom teacher their spare clothes, towel and goggles/sunglasses during Homeroom in the morning. If students do not have these items, they will NOT be allowed to participate in the Colour Run and therefore will take part in a separate activity in the SMC. 

From Cassandra Venturato - Acting Assistant Principal - Religious Education

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It is with immense joy that we congratulate Deacon Will on his ordination as a priest. His journey of faith and service has led him to this sacred moment. Let us pray for him as he embraces his new role, bringing God’s love to our parish and beyond.

Father John continues his recovery, and our prayers surround him. May God’s healing touch strengthen him each day. May we lift our voices in prayer, asking for his swift return to good health. 

For Reflection

After the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. (1 Kings 19:12-13) Sometimes, we look for God in the big things that happen in our lives, such as when a baby is born or when someone is very sick. That’s all very good to do, but in the above reading today, we’re reminded that we can also find God in quiet moments every day. Today, turn off all the screens and noises around you and sit in the quiet for a few minutes. In the hushed silence of our hearts, where the noise of the world fades away, we find a sacred space. A place where we can truly listen. In that stillness, we hear the whispers of God, gentle and profound. His presence is not in the clamor, but in the quietude - the pause between breaths, the stillness of a tranquil lage at dawn. There, we see Him not with our eyes, but with the eyes of our soul.  

In Christ’s love,
Cassandra Venturato

Essential Emails

From the Business Manager –Ros Giuliano

School Fees are Now Due

Thank you to all who have paid fees to date. If you have not paid recently
please do so ASAP.  BPAY is our preferred method of payment. The details are on the family statement. You can also pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or by term byPayway, 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 can work together for a solution.

Office Times for School Holidays

The office will be open during the school holidays Monday to Friday from
8.00am – 3.30pm and closed for lunch between 12pm-1pm.

Ros Giuliano
rgiuliano@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au

Sports

Rugby League:

This year the Gilroy Rugby League team was welcomed to the Townsville Blackhawks Trophy. After putting in a few training sessions in Terms 3 and 4 last year, the boys were keen to battle it out against other schools in the Townsville District including Columba Catholic College, Ryan Catholic College, All Souls St Gabriels, Southern Cross Catholic College and Blackheath and Thornburgh College. 

We opened the competition with a 28-14 loss against eventual winners Columba Catholic College. Josh Venables and Jaia Poppi were among our best in the first game of the year. After that, the boys strung together a few good performances getting a win against Blackheath and Thornburgh College (22-14) and All Souls St Gabriels (18-8). Shaun Devietti, Nathan Venturato and Tristan Milan starred in those matches, while Jaia Poppi was strong as always. After we had to forfeit our first home game of the year due to weather conditions, we travelled to Townsville to play Ryan Catholic College. The boys played tough but eventually lost 32-14 with Jack Butcher and Kelin Corradi being standouts. Our final game of the competition came just in time for our fields to dry out enough to host our first home game of the year. Southern Cross Catholic College travelled to Gilroy and the boys got the job done, winning 28-4. Josh Venables, Dallas Brown and Cooper Barnes were strong with Pierce Carrara scoring a hat trick in that game. 

Gilroy finished the competition in 3rd place, only 1 win from making the grand final. So after not training on a full field all season due to ongoing rain, the boys should be extremely proud of how they have played this year so far. With Confraternity only just around the corner, the coaching staff are confident that the boys are prepared for a great week of rugby league. 

Gilroy would like to thank the Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy team, especially Annon Whittington for running such an organised competition and getting our boys some much needed game time in the lead-up to Confraternity. A special thanks also goes out to the Townsville Bulletin for their ongoing coverage of the competition. 

Now we look forward to the Confraternity Carnival that kicks off in the first week of the school holidays (24th June) in Townsville. 

Jaidyn Spina
HPE Academic Leader & Sports Coordinator

Pastoral Leaders - Messages

Year 11/12

Andy Barra visited Gilroy Santa Maria College to talk to the Year 11 and 12 students about joining the workforce after leaving school.

This was an incredibly valuable experience. The insights he provided were both practical and inspirational, offering a real-world perspective about how to approach our potential future. Andy shared first-hand experiences about the challenges and opportunities he faced, and provided tips on navigating job searches, interviews, and workplace dynamics, as well as creating a good attitude and work ethic.

The session also addressed the transition from academic life to a professional environment, stressing the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and resilience. Hearing about Andy's personal journey and the lessons learned along the way was motivating and provided a clearer understanding of what to expect in the workforce.

Overall, the experience was enriching and empowering, equipping us with valuable tools and knowledge to confidently take our first steps into our professional lives.

Ewan and Lara
2024 School Captains

Emerging Leaders News

ATSIMS Program

Emerging Leaders Sophie Johnson and Radayne Spina participated in a 6 week program in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders In Marine Science program. In this program, Sophie and Radayne experienced what pursuing a career in Marine Science would be. They began by attending JCU and participating in a range of Reef Education Team Workshops.

The students then headed over to Goolboddi (Orpheus) Island for a 3-day camp alongside students from 5 other schools within the Townsville district. The students thoroughly enjoyed snorkelling along the reef and hiking to Rocky Bay. They  learnt about marine debris and how that affects our marine life and what we can do to prevent debris. Students also attended the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) out in Nilgoolerburdda on Bindal Country where they learnt about Coral and Coral Spawning, specific marine life and listened to the journey’s of the ATSIMS team.

On the last day of the program the students participated in a range of rotational activities which included sharks, sea monkeys and pearls. Both Sophie and Radayne proudly graduated from the program where they both were invited to participate in the ‘Beyond ATSIMS' program.

Well done to both students for their commitment and efforts in the program!

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Student Accident Protection Plan - Claim Form

Accidents will happen and they can be costly.  Student Accident Protection Plan 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.

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/

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

Around the District