3 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Gilroy on the Go

Welcoming our new Year 7’s

Our Year 7 students enjoying their first Maths class for the year.

Hairdressing Students

Yr 11/12 Hairdressing students were extremely excited to receive their new kits on Friday.

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all our College community back for the 2017 School Year. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and a great start to the year. I also take this opportunity to welcome all our new families to our school. We have over 280 enrolments this year, an increase of over 20 students from 2016. We are confident they will enjoy Gilroy and I know our existing students will warmly embrace them and support them.

We also welcome new staff to the College. Ms Meagan Castellaro joins our PE department and Mr Sam Wardell arrives from Colorado in the USA. Sam is completing a teacher exchange with Mr David Price. Sam teaches mainly in the English department. We also welcome back Mrs Melissa Carr who was on maternity leave and recommences her role as Assistant Principal (Administration and Curriculum) and thank you to Mrs Joan Devietti who did an excellent job relieving her whilst she was away.

This year promises to be another great year with many activities and projects planned which will continue to provide great educational opportunities for our students. One such project is a building application to construct a new drama hall and a new tuckshop. Our plan is to locate these facilities around the extremities of our MPH and therefore enclose this structure which has been a plan of the school community for many years. This is an exciting project and has the full support of the Catholic Education Office and I’m hoping it will be completed by the end of the year.

A highlight over the Christmas break were the results that our 2016 Year 12’s achieved. Their OP results were outstanding with three students receiving OP 2's, one OP 3, one OP 4. Altogether we had 50% of students who received 1-10 and again we achieved our school goal of over 85% of students getting OP 1-15. In fact, all our OP's were 16 or better which is a great result in itself. Apart from OP students, it is also important to report that all our Year 12's received a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). In essence this means all of our 2016 graduating class passed senior. This is the fourth consecutive year the school has achieved this milestone. It is testament to the excellent teaching and subject choices available at the school.

I’m pleased to report that school has started smoothly, highlighted by a beautiful Induction Mass on Thursday. It was very well attended and was a great moment particularly for our Student Leaders when presented with their badges and reciting their Leader’s Pledge.

This week we enjoyed our Inter-House Swimming Carnival and congratulations to all those involved. I urge all parents to continue to support the school as we aim to foster an active lifestyle among our students.

God Bless
John Nuttall

New Teachers

Congratulations to our 2016 Year 12 Students

Congratulations to Lachlan, Ally and Nathan who received OP2’s and our 2016 Year 12 students for the excellent OP results they received

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

It was wonderful to see everyone back after the Christmas break. It was especially delightful to watch all the eager and excited year seven students enter the gates as new secondary students. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new families to the college. We are very proud of our school and hope that you enjoy your time at Gilroy Santa Maria College.

Thursday morning, we celebrated our Induction Mass at St Patrick’s Church. This is always a special occasion for our senior leaders as they embark on their final year of secondary school. Let us hope they cherish this time, supporting and encouraging each other and the school community. Thank you to Father Damian and to everyone who made our mass beautiful. I would especially like to thank Mrs Vera Di Bella and the ensemble group for playing during mass.

Next week our school leaders will be travelling to Lake Tinaroo for their annual Year 12 Retreat. The theme for this year is “Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I going?” It promises to be a great opportunity for the seniors to come together, celebrate their talents individually and as a group and to grow personally and spiritually and to have a lot of fun.

God bless
Christine Timms

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Welcome back everyone to our new school year.

We have gotten off to a great start and it is terrific to see all the new year seven faces. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the new families that have joined our College Community.

As we begin the school year students are being given assessment and work in their subject areas. 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.

Subject Changes

If students would like to make any subject changes, please collect a subject change form from the office as soon as possible and once completed return it to student reception for me to formalise and issue a new timetable. All subject changes must be finalised by the end of week 3, Term 1. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school or via email to ask any questions.

Assessment Planner

The assessment planners for years 7-12 are currently being developed. These will become available on compass by next week and included as a link in our next school newsletter. This will contain all information for your child’s assessment throughout Term 1 as well what exams to expect at the end of this term.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Welcome back to all returning students and their families, and a big welcome to all of our new students in 2017. The return to school has come on very quick for all of us, but I am happy to report that week one has been a smooth and pleasant beginning for students and staff alike. It was very nice to have the day off on Thursday, but I must admit that the thought of coming back for one day was a hard task to get my head around.

While it was hard work getting up on Friday morning, once I got to school it was just like any other work day. Unfortunately, although this was the case for me and all other staff and a great number of students, a few of our students were absent on Friday for various reasons. While ill-health is always a genuine reason, we must always remember that as school life ends and future careers take shape, it is very important for all students to understand that the good habits of regular attendance that are developed at this stage of their life set each and every one of us up for good habits in our future careers. Indeed, I can vividly recall many times when my dear old mother would force me to attend school on particular days when it was much easier to stay home and do my own thing. Swimming carnivals, Induction masses and end of year activities were those typical days that seemed the easiest to dodge. Now that I am in the workforce it would be safe to say that I average 1 to 2 days’ absence each year. In these harsh economic times, you don’t have to be a genius to realise that employers value and retain those workers who attend regularly. As much as we don’t want to admit it, sometimes Mum and Dad do know best.

Coincidentally, Thursday and Friday we held our Induction Mass and the annual Inter-House Swimming carnival. The Induction mass is a lovely Gilroy tradition that helps to celebrate the beginning of our school year and to share in the hopes and dreams of our 2017 senior leaders. Similarly, the Inter-House Swimming carnival is always a great event to start the sporting year and whether you are a competitor or a supporter the very fact that you attend will make you a winner for years to come. Rice is currently the carryover champion from 2016, but O’Meara and McCauley have recruited well during the off-season and an upset is well and truly possible. As Mrs Pietrobon always says, …. “Come on everyone, you’ve got to fill those lanes”.

God Bless
Peter Groundwater

Musical News

Linley Cerqui

Young Vinnies

Join Young Vinnies

Young Vinnies is a small group at our school that focuses on social justice issues. Our group meets about once a fortnight. We visit the residents of the Aged Care Homes and we also empty the donation bins behind Coles and beside the Vinnies centre in town. During Volunteer's Week, we made cakes and other sweets to bring in to the ladies who volunteer at the Vinnies Store for morning tea. They were really delighted to see us and we students also enjoyed going to visit them and seeing big smiles on their faces as we walked through the doors of the Vinnies Centre. Last year we used money that we raised to buy useful items to send with students going on the Missionary Trip to the Philippines. If you are or know someone who is interested in joining the Young Vinnies Group, listen for the date of the next meeting in the morning notices and come and join us.

By Natalie Biasi

Sports Update

With Term 1 2017 underway, Herbert River Secondary School Sport trials are about to begin. Below is a breakdown of the age group involved in these sport trials, when and where each of these trials will take place along with dates for Northern Region Secondary School trials. For team sports where there aren’t enough students to form a Herbert River Secondary school team to participate at the Northern Region Secondary School trials, students may be forwarded on to these Northern Region Secondary School trials at the discretion of the teachers and coaches of the respective sports.

With only a limited amount of time between Herbert River and Northern Region Secondary school trials, it is important that both students and parents use the information given in our Gilroy Santa Maria newsletter, student notices or contact our sports co-ordinator, Ian Schifilliti at the school to keep up to date with trial information.

Rugby League:

In Rugby League news, the Open Gilroy Santa Maria team will begin training this week in preparation for their upcoming fixtures as part of Herbert River Secondary School Trials, Matty Bowen 9’s Competition and the Columba Open Catholic Schools Rugby League Carnival. Below is a time table with the relevant information regarding each of these rugby league events. All students wishing to play rugby league for the school this year will need to have their parents fill out a permission note and return it to Mr Schifilliti, as well as attend training sessions. At this stage, training will be held on Monday afternoons 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm. Any parents or friends of the school wishing to help out with the Gilroy Santa Maria program are more than welcome to contact Mr Schifilliti at the school.

Swimming:

Students should have now begun training in their favourite swimming event for the upcoming Gilroy Santa Maria Inter house swimming carnival on Friday the 3rd of February. Last year, this event was well attended and students who participated had a lot of fun and success on the day. Though Rice won the overall swimming aggregate in 2016, both O’Meara and McAuley will be looking to change this result, so all students are encouraged to swim in events to help their House achieve victory in 2017. This healthy competition should help improve our overall swimming abilities in order to perform to our maximum capabilities at the following Inter School Swimming carnival to be held on Monday the 6th of March.

Finally, with so many sports being played during the school year, an expression of interest to coach, manage, train or help out in any way is being sort by HPE Head of Department, Mr Ian Schifilliti. With such a vast array of sporting talent and experience amongst our school community, any or all help from parents and friends in preparing and managing Gilroy sporting teams would be greatly appreciated by the students and staff here at Gilroy. If parents or friends of the school are interested in helping out, please do not hesitate in contacting Mr Ian Schifilliti via the school.

Ian Schifilliti

Academic Support

The Academic Support Schedule is currently being developed. This will be released as soon as possible.

Immunization Program comes to School

In 2017, Queensland Health is once again providing free vaccinations for all Year 7 students on 2 March, 5 May and 1 September, as part of Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 students are being offered free vaccinations as recommended on the National Immunisation Program to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough).

The vaccinations will be conducted by a team of authorised registered nurses.

A consent pack was given to your child to bring home last week. Please read the information booklet carefully, sign the consent card and return the consent card to the school by 17 February.

Parents are encouraged to ensure their children have breakfast on the morning of vaccination.

For more information, please contact Jane Bortolanza (School Immunisation Coordinator) 47203078

Tuckshop News

Any mothers willing to help at The canteen on Friday 3 February or If you would like to join the Tuckshop Team, please contact Sandra or Jodie.

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]

Class Reunion

The Gilroy Santa Maria College Class of 1985, 86 and 87- “The Pioneers” are holding a class reunion.

This class was the first senior class of the school.

The reunion will be held on the 8th and 9th of April, 2017.

For more information or to register for the reunion please contact Lawrence Di Bella on 47760258 a/h or ldibella@hcpsl.com.au.

What’s Happening in the Parish

St Patrick’s Parish Women’s Group

Ladies, our first meeting for 2017 will be held this Saturday 4th February at 9.00am in the lower section of Mercy Hall. Any other interested ladies who would like to come along and be part of this group are most welcome.

World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life and The Presentation of the Lord

Everyone is invited to join Fr Mick Lowcock and the Religious community of the Diocese to attend the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life at St Joseph the Worker Church in Wulguru, Thursday 2nd February commencing at 10am. This will also be a wonderful occasion to celebrate the Jubilee of a number of Religious in our Diocese and also farewell the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sisters as the leave the Diocese after nearly 70 years of service.

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

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