17 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Gilroy on the Go

GSM Musical

QISSN Team at Charters Towers

Last weekend, the Gilroy QISSIN team travelled to Charters Towers to complete against other Catholic Schools in the Diocese. The girls were all very excited to start the day off on a positive note. On the Saturday, we played three games against; Columba 2, St Anthony’s 2 and St Catherine’s.

The first game was played very well against Columba 2 and we defeated them 20 - 3, which was an exceptional outcome as that was the first time we played as a team. With that win up our sleeve, we were more than happy to compete at that same level throughout all our games. Our second game was against St Anthony’s 2, which again the girls played outstandingly with another win of 23 - 6 to us. Two wins out of three was good but we all knew three out of three would be better and we were ecstatic to end the day on a high.

Our last game was against St Catherine's at 6:30pm. By that time all the girls were tired from cheering on the Confro boys and the big day of sport, but we pushed through the tiredness and won the game 18 - 8. Sadly for us on the Sunday we lost our semi-final against Columba 1, but the girls played and battled from 8 below to tie and go into extra time, leaving the score at 26 - 23.

The girls and I would like to thank Mrs Giuliano and Miss Castellaro, for being there for us and pushing us to do our best throughout the whole of the carnival. Also a special congratulations to the girls that made up the team, I was proud of the achievements and actions you displayed throughout the competition.

Jess Timms

Rugby League at Charters Towers

Last weekend the Gilroy Open’s Rugby League Team travelled to Columba Catholic College, Charters Towers to compete in the Mount Carmel Shield. On Saturday the boys played four games of Rugby League against Abergowrie 2nd’s (14 – 16), Columba Catholic College (10 – 22), St Anthony’s/Shalom (6-18) and Good Shepherd Catholic College (14 -6), in hot and humid conditions. Although Gilroy did not come away with a win from these games, the team as a whole improved in both attack and defence as the carnival wore on. Sunday morning saw Gilroy play their final match against St Anthony’s/Shalom with Gilroy once again going down 16 -10. Players that performed strongly on the day were Wes Gangemi in the forwards, Damian Goitiandia in the backs whilst Chase Coyne did not stop trying in each and every game. With many new players playing their first game of Rugby League ever, the experience of playing in this tournament should stand the Gilroy in good stead for the next set of matches to be held early on in Term 2. It is important that all players continue to attend Monday afternoon training in order to improve as the Confraternity Shield approaches at the end of Term 2.

St Patrick’s Day – Friday 17 Mar

'Going Green' this Friday for St Patty's Day. It will be a gold coin donation and all money raised will go to the Manila Missionaries of the Poor Apostolate to help with the building of a third level to house to increasing number of homeless men and children in Manila. Thanks for your support.

Lion’s Youth of the Year 2017

On Tuesday, 7 March, three of our Yr 12 students participated in the annual Lion’s Youth of the Year Quest. As part of this process, the students participated in a 30-minute interview, answered two impromptu questions and finally, presented a five minute prepared speech on a topic of their choice.

This year, Michael de Leo, Jessica Timms and Andrew Pallanza took part in the first round, held at the Royal Hotel. All three students did an exceptional job in all areas of the quest, particularly the public speaking section on Tuesday. Michael, Jessica and Andrew represented the school very well and we are all proud of their achievements for the night.

Michael won the Public Speaking Award and Andrew took out the overall award for the night. As a result, Andrew will continue on to the Zone Final held this coming Saturday in Mission Beach.

We wish Andrew the best of luck for Saturday.

Monique Martino

Join the Young Christian Students’ Group (YCS)!

What is YCS?

The Young Christian Students’ group is a movement that empowers high school students to take action in their community based on what they believe.

YCS IS RUN ENTIRELY BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS! YCS gives students the chance to be agents of change themselves. When students take ownership and responsibility for the Movement it allows them to develop the skills needed to lead an organisation as well as those needed to play an active leadership role the community.

The method of "SEE, JUDGE, ACT" is used in YCS meetings and enables students to SEE what is happening in the world around them and analyse the facts. They then JUDGE this in light of their beliefs and the Gospel, and take ACTION to change the situation.

YCS is organised in local groups, who collectively take action as a region. YCS has a National Team which enables groups to work together and campaign for change across the country.

The Gilroy Santa Maria College YCS group was established in 2009 and has achieved many important actions over the years. Students work in conjunction with the Adult Assistant (Ms Sarah Dunn) and meet once a week to enact change for the better.

There are opportunities for our local YCS group to be involved in diocesan camps, group activities, and many other ways to have fun. So if you want to make a difference in this world and want to obtain leadership skills then YCS is for you! Please see Ms Dunn if you require further information. Meeting times will be announced in Student Notices.

Sarah Dunn

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

Like our School Board AGM, the fortnight before, last Wednesday we conducted our Parent and Friends Annual General Meeting. Congratulations and thank you to the following people for being elected to the P&F Executive this year.

• President: Mrs Tammy Castles
• Secretary: Mrs Kylie Girgenti
• Treasurer: Mrs Jane Bortolanza
• Diocesan Parent and Friends Rep: Mrs Helen Stokes

I also take this opportunity to thank Mrs Sam Espe for her service to our executive over the last few years.

The P&F provided great support to our school community last year sponsoring many great causes and assisting us to purchase some terrific resources. It’s important to note that the P&F is not a “closed shop” and everyone is welcome to any meeting throughout the year. If meetings are not your preference, then there are many other ways you can show support. This could be helping at fundraisers, functions, selling tickets and assisting at working bees. Please be on the lookout in ways you could assist this year, it will be greatly appreciated. I know the first big event that we need support is at the Catholic Deb Ball on Saturday 22 April. It is our turn to be responsible for the bar and provide service and we desperately need people to assist. Our secretary Jane, has sent out an email to all parents this week so please volunteer if you can.

Another important parent group we have at Gilroy is our Community Contact Committee. The committee consists of a representative/s from every homeroom and we meet every month to discuss school issues, listen to suggestions, share school news and special projects. Another goal for the committee is to also promote social interaction between the families in the homeroom. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday 19 April from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Please let me know if you are interested in being part of this committee.

Congratulations to our Gilroy Swimming Team who performed so well at the Interschool Carnival recently. While we didn’t win team trophies we participated strongly with great efforts from many students. There was hardly an event where all lanes were not filled, which was a big improvement on previous years. Special mention to Cheylsea Molloy who won the Under 15 Girls Age Champion. Thanks to Mr Schifilliti, Mr Groundwater and staff for running such a successful carnival.

Another big sporting event was the Columba Catholic College Netball and Rugby League Carnival held in Charters Towers last weekend. We sent Gilroy teams in both sports and they represented us tremendously well. Their performances were full of merit and their behaviour, cooperation and attitude was immaculate. I congratulate them and thank our dedicated staff for coaching and supervising them over the weekend. It was a big commitment.

Congratulations to our three seniors for participating in the Lions Youth of the Year Competition. Special congratulations to Andrew Pallanza who won our school final.

God Bless

John Nuttall
College Principal

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

We celebrated World Day of Prayer with the Lutheran Church of Ingham last week. It was wonderful to be part of this service. Our students particularly enjoyed the morning tea as it was an opportunity to catch up with the leaders of Ingham High School. Many of the comments from those who attended were how encouraging it was to see what fine young students were leading our schools and the positive relationship between them. It is always wonderful to get positive feedback from within our local community and I hope we can continue to build on the relationship with Ingham High.

We are now well and truly in Lent. Today’s reading from Isaiah speaks to us about how we should cease our wrongdoings and learn to be good. This is the essence of Lent and what God wants us to do during this time. He asks us to be the best person you can be by searching for justice, helping the oppressed, being just to all and pleading for those less fortunate. How much better would our world be if this were how we all lived our lives on a daily basis?

We will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day on Friday with a free dress day. Come in your finest GREENS and give a gold coin donation. Father Damian returned from the Philippines with news that the Missionaries of the Poor Apostulate in Manila has started building another level to accommodate the expanding needs of the community. All money raised, with an added donation from our Leo’s Club, will go towards this project.

God bless
Christine Timms

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Hello everyone,

I hope that you are having a great start to the year and that students are well underway with assessments and revision for their Term 1 Exams.

Interim Reports were posted home last Friday so all families should now have received theirs. If you haven't can you please contact the office.

Attached is the Term 1 Exam Timetable. Students and parents have been emailed a copy of this also. We have asked students to look at it carefully and ensure they are prepared and on time to all of their exams. As always, the library will be supervised when senior students do not have exams for quiet study.

For Yrs 11 & 12 Students on Block Exams -

Normal school rules apply to all students on block exams. There is Homeroom in the morning and therefore it is expected that if students have an exam in Period 1 that they attend. If coming to school at any other time, students must sign in at the front office. If leaving early, students must again sign out at the front office. Students are to ensure they are in correct school uniform and that bags/phones are left at their lockers.

Yesterday, students would have taken home their student contract for block exams (also attached). Parents, we are asking that you also sign your Child’s Block Exams Code of Conduct Contract to acknowledge that you understand the privileges that come with Block Exams. Contracts must be signed and returned to Student Reception prior to the commencement of exam block.

Yrs 7 and 9 NAPLAN Practice Tests – Wednesday 19 April

Students in Yrs 7 and 9 will again undergo the NAPLAN testing in Week 4 of Term 2.

Students will complete three exams as part of this:

• Tuesday 9 May – Language Paper (45 mins)
• Wednesday 10 May – Reading Paper (65 mins)
• Thursday 11 May – Numeracy (60 mins)

To ensure our students are well prepared for these tests, students will have two NAPLAN practice tests on Wednesday 19 April (Term 2, Week 1). For both Yr 7 and 9 students, they will complete the 2016 Reading Paper Test (65mins) in Periods 1 and 2 and Numeracy (calculator) Test (45mins) in Periods 4 and 5. Students will undergo the same testing conditions as the 2017 NAPLAN testing.

Yr 11 Mathematics B & PE students External Exam Trials – June 1/2 2017

If your son/daughter is currently in Yr 11 Maths B and/or PE please read the attached document that was given to students last Friday in their classes. This document provides information regarding the upcoming external exam trials for these students.

As always, if you have any questions please send me an email or phone.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Recently I had the opportunity to attend an IYDP (Indigenous Youth Development Program) Student Gathering at Riverway in Townsville. This day had occurred at the end of a very long week for me and I must admit that my enthusiasm for driving a bus down to Townsville and attending and supervising at a conference all day Saturday was quite minimal to say the least. However, like I keep preaching to all of our students, if you never put yourself out there you will never give yourself the best chance of developing those special traits that are waiting to be used in all of us. I took some of my own advice and I put myself out there and I will happily admit that this day was one of my most enlightening professional development opportunities that I have been associated with for some time.

The quality of the presenters and the messages that they delivered were inspiring for me, let alone the students who attended. Of particular mention was the talk by Mr Brett Lee (Not the cricketer). Brett is a former Police officer who worked exclusively in the Cyber crimes department and was in constant contact with the FBI and Homeland Security in America. His talk was riveting and some of the information that he delivered about supposed “Privacy” on the internet left a lot of students with their jaws dragging on the ground. Plans are underway to hopefully secure Brett to speak to students and parents some time in Term 2 or Term 3.

Last weekend I travelled to Charters Towers with our Netball and Rugby League teams to compete in the annual Catholic Schools Carnival at Columba College. While we didn’t come away with any trophies, the weekend was another example of the great ability, spirit and camaraderie that is present amongst out staff and students. We were well represented in all of these aspects and our students were amazing in the way they conducted themselves both on and off the field. If there was one complaint from the weekend, it was that we needed to have a few more wins so that we could practice our new team/school song, “Sweet Caroline”. Neil Diamond has never sounded so bad.

God Bless
Peter Groundwater

Gilroy Santa Maria P&F News

Hello Everyone

We are calling for Volunteers to assist at the Catholic Debutante Ball please. In 2017, Gilroy Santa Maria College is running the bar.

We need:

Friday am

Help with bar setup

Saturday pm

2 security people
4-6 Bar staff
15 to 20 wait staff - including 2-4 waiters for official table
Volunteers are needed from 6pm on the evening.

Please reply to this by emailing c58.pandf@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au with your job preference. Closer to the night an email will be sent with information for volunteers.

We look forward to a great night for all the families involved

Jane Bortolanza

Event Planner

Careers

The Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT)

2017 Next Step survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Yr 12 in 2016. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Yr 12.

Between March and June, all students who completed Yr 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey.

Please encourage recent school leavers to complete their survey when they receive it. If the past student's contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2017.

Further information on Next Step is available online at the link below or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

Nancy Douglas

Kids Feel Safe

Sports News

Interschool Swimming Carnival:

The Interschool Swimming Carnival was held last Monday night with Abergowrie, Gilroy and Ingham State High School battling out for the right to be named Herbert River and Districts Champion Swimming School for 2017. All Gilroy swimmers swam valiantly on the night, with vocal support from their fellow students, but all four inter-school swimming divisions were eventually taken out by Ingham State High School. The night was not without success for Gilroy Santa Maria with Cheylsea Molloy taking out the 15 Yrs Girls Age Champion award. Well done Cheylsea and well done and a big thank you must go to all the teachers and parents who helped out on the night. Special mention to the Herbert River Swimming Club volunteers and President Kate Tento who officiated the carnival. I would also like to give a special thank you to Brenda Oats, Tammy Castles and all the QISSN volunteers who catered for the Inter-School Carnival on Monday night.

Finally, congratulations goes to all the Gilroy students who represented Gilroy Santa Maria College on the night by swimming for our school. It was great to see students willing to compete and represent Gilroy, despite in some cases, not having the swimming experience or prowess of their opponents. This is such an admirable quality that we as parents, teachers and friends of students within our school community should be fostering and encouraging. This starts with students’ accountability and acknowledgement of representing our school in not only sporting events, but every time Gilroy students wear our uniform. As role models for our students not only should we look to encourage students to represent our school when specifically chosen to do so, but encourage the concept of resilience. Resilience being that regardless of the result when our students represent our school, the important thing is that they stood up and were counted on when their school and their peers required. This is a value that Gilroy Santa Maria wants to be known for, yet we as a school community need to keep developing. Our next opportunity to develop this quality is at the Inter House Cross Country, Friday 31 March.

North Queensland Representatives

Congratulations to Emma Castles (Open Girls North Queensland Secondary Schools Netball) Alana Romano (Under 15 Girls North Queensland Secondary Schools Squash) and Mark Grasso (Open Boys North Queensland Secondary Schools Squash) for selection to the North Queensland Teams for their respective sports. All the training and hard work has resulted in selection to these teams and from all of us here at Gilroy Santa Maria we wish you the best of luck at your state competition events.

Under 12 Yrs Age Group HR Trials:

Trial dates for the 12 Yrs and Under Herbert River School’s Boys and Girls Touch Football Teams will now be Wednesday 3 May at the Ingham State High School. Trials for Boys and Girls 12 Yrs and Under Soccer Teams will be held on Friday 21 April at Ingham FC Soccer grounds. It is important for both parents of students within this age group and the students themselves, to understand that information regarding any Herbert River Sporting Trial is conveyed via whole school assembly, year level assembly, newsletter and student notices. Whilst the Sports Co-Ordinator endeavours to remind and inform students about sporting trials and nominations effectively, it is ultimately up to the students to nominate themselves to be involved in such trials. Any queries regarding this process can be presented to Mr Schifilliti as the Gilroy Sports Co-Ordinator via contact with the School Office or emailing me at ischifilliti@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au.

Ian Schifilliti

GSM Cup

Academic Support

Indigenous Homework Support

Tuckshop News

Tuckshop Roster 2017

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

Stations of the Cross / Adoration during Lent

There will Stations of the Cross in St Patrick’s Church each Friday during Lent at 5:30pm. There will also be Stations of the Cross held in Canossa Assembly Room each Friday of Lent at 9:30am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held each Sunday in St Patrick’s Church from 5:00pm with benediction at 6:30pm.

Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect Timothy Harris as the Sixth Bishop of Townsville

Evening Prayer followed by Prayer Vigil for the new Bishop – Tuesday 2 May commencing at 6:00pm at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Episcopal Ordination – Wednesday 3 May commencing at 10:30am at the Emmaus Hall, Ryan Catholic College – Morindo Drive, Kirwan. Everyone is encouraged to attend these celebrations. There will be heaps of parking and seating available at Ryan Catholic College.

Upcoming Events

• St Patrick’s Day Morning Tea, 17 March
• Easter Sunday, 16 April
• Debutante Ball, Sat 22 April
• Divine Mercy—Sunday 23 April
• Lourdes Fete Sat 6 May
• Confirmations, Mon 22 & Tues 23 May
• Feast of St Anthony, Bemerside, 11 June

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

District News

'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'

Ingham Football Club

Junior 6 a side Preliminary games will be held this Friday Night, 17 March at the Ingham Showgrounds.

Advertising with Schoolzine

Would you like to advertise in our new Schoolzine eNewsletter? Currently, Schoolzine is working diligently to source family friendly advertising sponsors and 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 Schoolzine any questions, suggestions or advertising enquiries.

Email: advertising@schoolzine.com.au
Phone: 07 5414 2361