1 September 2016

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

2016

Gilroy on the Go

Model Search – Jessica Percival

Congratulations to Jessica Percival for winning the Australian Italian Festival Model Search. This is a modelling competition for female and males, aged between 13 to 25 years of age who aspire to work within the modelling industry. The winner takes home an array of prizes and receives representation from RFT Models on completion of professional model training.

Chess

GSM Chess Team came in 6th place out of 28 teams. Well done.

Debating

This week the Year 7/8 debating team will lock horns with St Patrick's College. The issue is "That Today's Celebrities are Bad Role Models." Gilroy will try to convince the adjudicator that celebrities are not all bad. In fact, they will try to argue that most are charitable and 'good.'

Gilroy will contend that we have overlooked the good done by celebrities. While Hollywood scandals command a lot of media attention, the public have overlooked celebrities' many good deeds. These 'good' acts include agitating for social justice organisations, funding orphanages and beginning charities. Of course, sportspeople can be also celebrities. As such, sports stars like Ronaldo are famous for his generosity. These examples will be used to construct an argument that, hopefully, the adjudicator will find convincing.

This week's debate follows after a narrow defeat in early August to another school. On that occasion Gilroy's team lost by a few points in a contest that could have gone either way.

In the Year 7/8 division of debating, students must argue for five minutes on a contentious issue. This is a significant jump up from English where normally students are asked to speak for three minutes. Most debating involved in debating, impressively, are able to speak without notes for up to one minute in what is called a rebuttal (or counter argument).

Because Gilroy lost their first round debate, this week's debate is a 'dead rubber'.

Italian Public Speaking

Congratulations to our three contestants in the Italian Public Speaking Competition who performed in Townsville recently. Isabella Melara was awarded third place for her speech on Italy. Benjamin Jorgensen and Patrick Bortolanza both delivered excellent speeches but unfortunately did not place. The “gelato” from Frosty Mango on the way home helped soothe the wounds!

Great Pyramid Race

Year 12 student, Jack Paton, competed in the Great Pyramid Race on Saturday 6 August, finishing the whole distance of the course within two hours. Walsh’s Pyramid is 922m and the race consists of 6 km of road and 6 km of mountain. Well done Jack!

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

This week our Yr 12 OP-eligible students have been sitting the annual Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test. The QCS is a statewide test designed to contribute to the calculation of Overall Positions (OPs) that are used to rank students for tertiary entrance. Our eligible students have been preparing for a number of months now and I’m confident they have put in their best efforts. I thank Mrs Leonardi for all the preparation work she has done to ensure our students perform well. I also thank Mr Staples and the Yr 11 students for preparing breakfast for the students before school.

Also this week we conducted our Yr8 and Yr10 Subject Information Sessions. Students and parents were presented information regarding the various subject choices as they move into Yr 9 and Yr11 respectively. It’s important to highlight that for our students entering Yr11, the college now offers a vast offering of career pathways through the subjects we teach at school or through the various alternate programs that can be accessed by students. We are very proud that we can cater for students of all interests and talents so successfully.

I was also very proud of our students and their contributions in two important community events recently. Firstly, many of our students were involved in the Ingham Arts Festival which was wonderful to see. We certainly have some talented students as many received prizes and commendations. Secondly, was the involvement of our athletes at the Interschool Athletics Carnival. I was really impressed with their commitment as they really tried hard in all events. This attitude of ‘giving it your all’ no matter the result, is a quality that I hope continues in everything we do here at Gilroy.

Regards
John Nuttall

QCS Breakfast

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

As the holidays near so does the Mission Trip to Naga City, The Philippines. The students and adults participating on the journey are busily finalising arrangements and preparing for what will be a very spiritual, memorable and eye opening experience. Below is a description of who we will be working with and where we will be working.

The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) is an international Roman Catholic monastic religious institute of Brothers dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor. It was started in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung in Kingston, Jamaica and has now grown to over 550 brothers from 13 countries.

The MOP started their work in Naga City in 1993 and began their ministry among the poorest in the Bicol region. Their work consists of providing shelter and residential care for homeless and abandoned children, as well as the disabled and elderly. They deliver food, clothing, medicine, and pastoral care to poor families in San Rafael and the City Dump Cite in Balatas. The MOP also provide physical, social, intellectual and spiritual development for the poor and indigent children in the region.

Our job, as we enter this community, will be to assist the Brothers in their work. To help out with meals, talking and entertaining the children and adults in the home as well as distributing food parcels and building a house for one family. We will also be participating in prayer and mass services during our time to fully involve ourselves in the everyday experiences of the Missionaries of the Poor. Please continue to pray for us before and during our trip.

God who calls us and who sends us,
as our young missionaries prepare for their journey,
we ask that you protect and guide them.
May their minds be open to the new cultures they encounter.
May their hands be helpful and humble in service.
May their eyes see your presence in everyone they meet.
Help them to grow in love for You and one another
not only on each day of this journey,
but every day until the end of days.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our students the best for their exams and our prayer today is one that students can pray before their exams.

Bless you

Christine Timms

From the Acting Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the Year 12 students sat their QCS test. Students have spent 18 months preparing for these strenuous two days. Preparation has involved the expert services of Dr Terrie Bourke and advice from Dr Judy Smeed, training from Mrs Leonardi and Mr Hill and 2 sets of practice testing using past tests. The practice tests were professionally marked by experts and students received constructive feedback from each experience. Each morning, the year 11 students cooked breakfast for the OP students and a beautiful session of Meditation run by Mrs Timms followed. The College has truly given students every opportunity to achieve at their full potential. Thank you to all involved.

Last night, Years 8 and 10 students attended an Information Night. Students will now select their subjects for next year. These selection forms, stating their preferred subjects are due in at Student Reception by Friday 2 September. Year 10 students will be interviewed in the next two weeks to discuss their selections and possible career pathways. The interview is an integral part of the SETPLAN process. If your child is having any difficulties in selecting their subjects, please do not hesitate to contact the school office to make an appointment with or speak to myself or Nancy Douglas (Careers Advisor).

Exams are imminent, commencing next week on Wednesday 7 September to Tuesday 13 September. Students have been issued with a copy of the exam schedule and it is also included in this newsletter. The timetable can also be found on the Student Intranet and the School Website.

A reminder that Year 11 and 12 students will have block exams and rules do apply. Students are expected to attend homeroom if their exam is scheduled for the morning. If they do not attend homeroom they will be expected to sign in at Student Reception. If a student leaves the school after their exam they will need to sign out at Student Reception as per usual. Please remember that if students choose to leave school at any time of the day that they cannot return unless returning at 2:55pm to catch their bus home. Most importantly, a reminder, that a medical certificate is required for students who miss exams.

This term will conclude on Friday 16 September with a ‘Fun Run’ at Forrest Beach. Please encourage your son/daughter to attend as it is a great way to end the term.

Joan Devietti

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

With QCS currently in progress and exams fast approaching, it is almost akin to the “Grand Final” time of the assessment season. For almost everyone, exams are a time of great stress and anxiety and at times it probably feels like it is all too much for our overloaded brains and lifestyle to handle. As a person who is currently engaged in further studies, I can very much identify with how students feel during exam time or during times when multiple assessments are due.

We all handle things differently and the comparison to a Grand Final is very close to how many of us can feel as deadlines approach. Many years ago, when Moses was playing fullback for the Israelites in the desert, I was also playing for a club team that made four grand finals in a row. Even though we were able to luckily win them all, I can clearly remember being a player who always had a bad case of Grand Final nerves. In fact, I remember that there were a heap of players who all suffered from the same affliction, but all dealt with their nerves and anxiety in their own particular manner. Some people would be edgy and irritable; some would phone the coach every night to make sure that he had his game plan in order; some would force themselves to vomit before every game, while others ran over every possible scenario in their mind and hardly got any sleep for the week. For me, I liked to follow routines (some may call them superstitions). Before every game, I would convince myself that I couldn’t eat lunch before a game, but instead would have a Mars bar and a can of coke one hour before I played. In hindsight, this was probably one of the worst pre-game nutritional regimes that any athlete could possibly digest. I am fairly certain that my kids will never be adopting such a ridiculous pre-game strategy. As ridiculous as it seemed, it was one of the ways that helped me overcome my nerves and my anxiety and allowed me to build my personal resilience and strengthen my resolve to succeed.

As a school we recommend many tried and proven methods of overcoming the feelings and the mental roadblocks that we all experience during this time of the term. In the end, I believe that true success in this type of situation comes from using your own abilities and techniques, coupled with tried and proven methods, so that you can experience the satisfaction of being able to endure and overcome your own version of Grand Final nerves. Good luck to all students in up and coming exams. May your nerves be calm, may your victories be many.

Peter Groundwater

Careers

This is a busy time of the term with the QCS test this week, as well as the subject selection night for Years 8 and 10. It is also a time when students and parents are faced with many options and possible choices in direction. Please don’t hesitate to contact the College if you have any questions relating to various subject choices or planning for post-school pathways.

Applications are currently open for Year 12 students to apply for tertiary courses through QTAC. To search for courses in both universities and TAFE please visit their website;

Brochures are also available for UAC, which is the university applications centre for NSW and the ACT. You can find the website online below; Other states have their own processing centres, so please contact the College if you would like to investigate options elsewhere in Australia.

James Cook University recently opened the doors to their Orpheus Island Research Centre to careers advisors, to enable greater assistance to students looking to undertake science degrees. The facilities are excellent and their offer of utilising their facilities for camps and retreats is an exciting prospect for our students.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at the College on 4776 2888 or email ndouglas1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Nancy Douglas

Sports Report

Last Friday saw high school students from around Ingham gathering at George Day Oval for the 2016 Interschool Athletics Carnival. Though it was overcast, cold and even raining at times, this did not stop the students from giving their best effort to represent Gilroy. Despite the weather conditions, there were many athletes competing in their various events, and even more spectators cheering them on and encouraging the athletes. Due to the rain last week, the results of the Interschool Athletics Carnival were not announced due to the 400m and High Jump events being held during this current week.

There were some outstanding performances from Gilroy students during Friday’s carnival, with the 13 students named below being chosen in the Herbert River Secondary School team to compete at the Northern Region Track and Field Trials next Friday the 2nd of September.

Jackson Dickinson – 12 Years Boys Shot Put and Discus
Nashe Mangoyana – 13 Years Boys Long Jump
Regan Adams – 14 Years Boys Shot Put
Hayden Cavallaro – 15 Years Boys 400m
Kimo Srb -15 Years Boys 800m
Zane Liddle – 16 Years Boys 100m, 200m and 400m
Harrison Reinaudo – 16 Years Boys 800m and 1500m
Matthew Pelleri – 16 Years Boys Long Jump and Triple Jump
Trenyce Pearce – 13 Years Girls 800m and Long Jump
Alicia Galipo – 13 Years Girls Discus and Shot Put
Cheylsea Molloy – 14 Years Girls 400m and 800m
Zeia Artivilla – 15 Years Girls Javelin
Zoe Mina – 16 Years Girls Shot Put and Discus
Mikaela Stokes – 17 Years and Open Girls 800m and Long Jump

Congratulations to all these students and a special mention should go to Jackson Dickinson, who set a new 12 Years Boys Discus record with a throw of 23.54. Well done Jackson on your record.

GSM House Cup 2016

Academic Support

Academic Support will be offered for students after school MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY from 3:00pm-4:00pm.

Monday: Support will be available in the Library, senior Sciences in L1 and at the Trade Training Centre.

Tuesday: Support will be available in the Art Room for the Arts (Art, Creative Art, Drama etc).

Wednesday: Support will be available in the Library and the Indigenous Tutoring program will also continue.

Lunch time support is still available Monday – Friday in the Library.

Students can use this time to:

• Complete homework
• Work on assessment
• Gain subject specific tutoring with up to 3 teachers from various faculties present for student support.

Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this very generous donation of precious teacher time.

Medications—including Panadol

To ensure that all parents and students are aware of the rules regarding medication, we are publishing our guidelines. These guidelines are enforced to ensure the safety of both students and staff at the College.

It is the parents/ guardian’s responsibility to supply their child’s medication to school and to ensure its immediate replenishment after use, or when it requires replacement. This applies to all medications including Panadol.

The instructions on the medication container need be clearly labeled by a Pharmacist and must indicate specific times at which medication is to be administered, as well as the quantity of medication to be administered, and the name of the patient.

The school will render whatever aid is necessary to administer the medication, but it must be clearly understood that this aid is that of a lay person without medical training.

The school will NO LONGER supply Panadol or any medicine to any student who does not supply their own with clearly printed label by a Pharmacist.

Please note: For the safety of all students, students are NOT to keep medication in their bags.

Attendance

Every day is a great opportunity to learn at school. The more a student attends classes, the more of their potential they are likely to achieve. Our College attendance rate is good as a whole but there are a few students who have large numbers of absences. These students are being handicapped in academic terms by their regular absences. This may well limit their choices later in life.

Please be mindful that when students are away from school they miss out on work that is a foundation for the next week or next year’s work .This can be hard to catch up thoroughly, leading to weak foundations and problems later on.

The College has been working to recognize and encourage great attendance, please help us by ensuring that your child is at school on every possible day.

Tuckshop Roster

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!!

Please note: The lunch times this year are as follows:

1st Lunch – 11:15am – 11:40am
2nd Lunch – 1:20pm finish 2:05pm

Start time is preferably 9:00am until when you are available.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all again this year.

If there is any query in regards to this roster or you are unavailable please contact Sandra Benedetto Home [4776 5321] Jodie Lino Home [4776 5718]

What’s Happening in the Parish

EDGE Night for Middle Schoolers

Every Friday Night from 7.00pm to 8.30pm in Mercy Hall, we are starting a new youth program for students in Years 7 to 9. The group will meet to build friendships with each other, have fun and dive deeper into our Catholic faith. If you have any questions, please contact our Youth Ministry worker Michael Van Blerk on mvanblerk@tsv.catholic.org.au

Upcoming Events

• Mission Trip—16 –30 September

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

Advertising with Schoolzine

Would you like to advertise in our new Schoolzine eNewsletter? Currently, Dion Guthrie the Advertising and Sales Manager is working diligently to source family friendly advertising sponsors. Schoolzine will then rebate quarterly 20% of revenue back to the school.

If you are interested in advertising either contact the school office or feel free to email Dion any questions, suggestions or advertising enquiries.

Dion Guthrie email: dion.guthrie@schoolzine.com.au
P 07 5450 2710 / MB 0416 890 824