23 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Gilroy on the Go

Design & Technology

This term Yr 8 D & T embarked on a design project involving designing, testing and evaluating a CO2 Drag Racer. Here are some highlights.

School Social

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

Again, it has been amazing to witness how quickly the year is going with this week being the last of Semester 1. I am sure everyone including students and staff are looking forward to a couple of weeks break from lessons, as it has been a very busy term.

During the first week of the holidays, we have our Open Rugby League Team competing in the Annual Confraternity Carnival and our Open Netball Team competing in the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Carnival. Both carnivals are being held in Brisbane this year. These carnivals are the culmination of many hours of preparation by many people. Hours of training, playing lead-up games, fundraising and overall organisation have been taking place all year. Thanks to the commitment of numerous staff members, students and parents, I am confident that the carnivals will be an unbelievable experience for all involved. Special thanks to the staff who give up their holidays to ensure that participation in these two carnivals remain a permanent fixture on the school calendar.

Term 3 begins with a bang during our Activity Week in Week 1. We have indigenous cultural activities, retreats, camps, work experience and QCS practice organised for various year levels throughout the school. The relevant correspondence has been distributed to families; however please contact the office if you have any queries. Thanks to all our staff who have organised these great activities.

On Tuesday we hosted a Parent Information Evening titled “Raising Teenagers in a Hypersexual Digital World”. It was very informative and included research and tips for parents and schools for healthy technology use. I am sure you would agree that the use of phones and other digital platforms has the power to influence thinking, threaten and not to mention waste considerable time. It is a big issue and the information session gave a great insight into strategies we all could adopt at both school and home.

The Townsville Catholic Education Office each year surveys parents, students and staff from all of their schools across the Diocese. The survey is to gauge satisfaction in our school and suggest improvements. All parents should have had the link to the survey emailed to your email account. Please take the time to respond if possible, it always great to hear suggestions from our community.

God Bless
John Nuttall
Principal

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have launched an online survey to hear the views from youth aged 16-29 on a number of topics including: the experience of being listened to, using social media and technology, friendship and influences in today’s world, opportunities for engagement with Church activities such as, outreach programs, youth masses, community leadership or parish events. This is a unique opportunity for our Yr 11 and 12 students to have a say on issues that are relevant specifically to them. Pope Francis calls all of us to take notice and listen, “Every young person has something to say to others … all of us need to listen to you!” the survey is available online at the link below and is open until July 2.

Next week is World Refugee Day. We are asked to face the reality of terror and danger that people around the world face on a daily basis and challenge Australia’s response to refugees and asylum seekers. It is therefore wonderful to see how Victoria Plantation State School are working alongside Great Lakes Agency for Peace and Development to bring families from Africa to Ingham to resettle and make safe homes for their families. It will be so beneficial to our school community to show how people in a wider Ingham community are able to show compassion and mercy to those in need and extend a welcoming hand.

On Sunday July 30, St Patrick’s Parish will be holding their Missionaries of the Poor Trip Walk-a-thon. This will start at 7:00am at Mercy Hall and travel to Victoria Mill and back. Tickets can be purchased prior to the event at student reception at the start of next term or on the morning. This is a great opportunity for everyone to support the adult mission trip, raise money and enjoy each other’s company and a well-earned brunch. All are welcome and we would love to see you there!

As we enter into the holidays and head towards a well-deserved break, I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and look forward to see you all next term.

A Prayer for Refugees

Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own;
Look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to bring them relief;
Inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that
day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

God Bless
Christine Timms

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Hello everyone,

It has been an eventful and exciting term.

There is an alternate program for Week 1 of next term so please ensure you are familiar with where your child needs to be.

OP students in Yrs 11 and 12 will also be having OP prediction interviews in the first few weeks of next term. All OP eligible students will receive an information letter outlining the procedure for this. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend these interviews if you are available to. These information letters ask parents to sign and return them to the office so we know you are aware these are happening. Both the Careers Advisor and I conduct these interviews and they have proven to be invaluable in preparing students for further studies and in career planning.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about child's academic progress please contact me and we can discuss this.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Parenting Ideas – What do you think when you hear kids swear?
BY MICHAEL GROSE

If you’re like me, you feel decidedly uncomfortable when kids of any age turn the air blue with profanities. Swearing shows lack of respect for others, and also a lack of awareness for their surroundings.

Teaching kids to use appropriate language is trickier now than in the past. For a start, standards have changed where many words, such as the F word, that were deemed inappropriate in the past are often heard on radio and seen in mainstream newspapers. And words that everyone agrees are inappropriate are frequently used in public forums, to the point that the boundaries of appropriateness have become blurred.

Standards may change, but the job of parents hasn’t altered. That is, to teach kids to use language that doesn’t offend others. Whether it’s teasing or swearing – it’s all the same. If it’s offensive, then choose other words, or say nothing at all is the message to get across to the next generation.

Socially-smart kids alter their language

Socially-skilled kids of all ages will adjust their language to suit the situation they are in. They may speak one way with their friends, but use a completely different vocabulary when they are with adults. They are aware that what works with their best friend just won’t cut it when you are in grandma’s company. This awareness shows social acuity, and a flexibility to adjust to different environments. It needs to be extended to all sorts of situations including where adults and younger children are present. Kids who constantly swear limit their social possibilities.

They didn’t hear that from me!

What do you do when you know your children swear despite your best intentions? Don’t over react. Try to work out its purpose. Children swear for many reasons, including to experiment with language; to attract your attention; to make themselves appear bigger or older than they are; and even as a challenge or expression of personal power.

Inappropriate language can also simply be a reflection of your children’s peer groups. “Everyone else swears so there’s nothing wrong with it” is a common attitude of many children and young people.

Teach them that language may be appropriate in one context or be accepted by one group but it is not acceptable in every situation. While not condoning swearing, get across to children that they need to learn to control their use of language and adjust it to suit the situation they are in.

When swearing becomes a habit

If swearing has become a habit for kids, make up alternative words to replace the swear words. One family I know had replaced certain words with fruit. They had a fruit for every situation!

Alternatively, use a penalty or fine system to make kids aware of their poor language. When you hear a family member swear fine them an agree amount. At the end of the week or month, give the money to a worthy cause. Of course, this strategy is easier to implement when parents join in as well.

Take a long, hard look at er…..yourself!

It’s also helpful to examine your own choice of language to judge if it is an acceptable model for your children. Yep, sometimes kids will pick up their parents’ language and repeat it at the worst possible time such as when relatives are over.

The job of adults is to develop a sense of social awareness in the next generation so they can easily navigate a variety of different groups and social situations. Teaching appropriate language use is at the very heart of teaching kids to be socially-skilled. That’s something we all should swear by!

Things to remember when kids swear:

1. Avoid over-reacting when your kids swear. Look for the reason.
2. Discuss with older children the concept of matching their language with the audience.
3. Nip it in the bud before it becomes habit-forming.
4. Use a penalty or fine system when kids swear in front of you.
5. Model the language you want kids to use.

A last word

Standards may change, but the job of parents hasn’t altered. That is, to teach kids to use language that doesn’t offend others. If it’s offensive then encourage them to choose other words, or say nothing at all. That’s the approach that socially smart kids follow.

Peer Support 2017

Last Friday in Period 1, we had our final Peer Support lesson for 2017. Over the last semester students from Yr 11 and Yr 7 have participated in this program which involves the Yr 11 leaders working in pairs with a small group of Yr 7 students. The Peer Support Leaders met with their Yr 7 group each fortnight and ran games and activities relating to a certain topic such as communication, relationships and co - operation.

Below are some comments from the Yr 11 Peer Support Leaders………

‘I absolutely loved this peer support unit! I found that throughout the semester long course that I developed really great friendships with so many of the Yr 7 students and ultimately that is the best part.’ Lara Gusmeroli

‘I learnt a lot about the way younger students think and I believe this is important for me as a senior.’ Emma Panzenbock

‘I hope that this program helped the Yr 7’s to feel a part of the Gilroy community and eased them into the high school routine.’ Tina Paton

‘I really enjoy seeing kids from my peer support class around the school as I always have a chat with them to see how they’re are going.’ Chase Coyne

‘My group had their ups and downs, but we would always solve one issue in the group.’ Chris D’Emden

QISSN and CONFRATERNITY

The first week of this school holidays will once again see the Netball and Rugby League players from Gilroy Santa Maria College embarking on their annual sporting pilgrimages to the QISSN and Confraternity Carnivals. Gilroy’s attendance at these carnivals is a long-standing tradition, with the Netball girls attending since 2004 and the Rugby League team since 1996. This year, both teams will travel down to Brisbane with the Netball girls playing with 60 other teams at Boondall and the Rugby League boys joining 48 teams at the grounds of the host school, Padua College. Last year’s carnivals were both held in Rockhampton and saw each of the teams exceed expectations in their respective carnivals. The Netball girls were outstanding throughout, taking out the Grand Final in their division, while the boys finished at the top of their pool before going down to Ashmore College (the eventual grand final winners) in their quarter final matchup.

This year, both teams have been transitioning through a rebuilding phase, with many of last year’s team members making way for the next wave of future champions. For the Netball girls there has been a real changing of the guard, with many younger girls experiencing their first taste of interschool netball in Gilroy colours. Young guns such as Zeia Artavilla and Rachel Morelli have excelled in their introduction to this level, while long time regulars, Emma Castles and Lisa Stokes continue to impress. The Netball girls have enjoyed a study build up to this year’s QISSN carnival with a runner up trophy at the Columba Catholic Schools carnival and a solid showing in the Vicki Wilson series against Ingham High.

The Confraternity Rugby League team has also undergone a major transformation with many players experiencing Rugby League for the very first time. Head coach Ian Schifilliti and his faithful offsiders, Paul Dezolt and Brendan Spina have worked tireless to address the steep learning curve that many players have had to overcome. While their on-field performances haven’t reflected the hard work that has been contributed by team members and the coaching staff, all parties are very confident that all of this hard work will pay off in next week’s Confraternity carnival. Players to watch include the Captain, Wesley Gangemi, number 6, Damian Goitiandia and workaholic forwards, Riley Jensen and Jarad Erkkila. The Gilroy College community wishes both teams all the best as they look to create their own slice of QISSN and Confraternity history.

GSM Cup

Tuckshop News

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!!

Tuckshop Volunteers are only needed to work from 8:30am to 11:40am.

Tuckshop Roster 2017

Please note: The lunch times are as follows:

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

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

Weekend Masses

Upcoming Events

• Corpus Christi Procession, Sunday 18 June following 8:30am Mass
• Bishop visits Ingham Parish, 1 & 2 July
• Women’s Group Spring Afternoon Tea (date to be confirmed)

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

District News

The Catholic Diocese of Townsville's Indigenous Catholic Council 2017 Reconciliation Dinner

Advertising with Schoolzine

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