14 September 2017

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Gilroy on the Go

Enrolment

Fun Run

Sean Choolburra

Sean Choolburra recently visited Gilroy Santa Maria College. Sean is a proud Aboriginal man who maintains and practices the cultural traditions of his father’s people the "Girramay" and his mothers people the "Kalkadoon, Pitta Pitta and Gugu Yalanji", which he draws on when he delivers cultural workshops and shows.

Business Class Recognised

This photo is from a recent council meeting. It was great for the students to be recognised publically in this way. The councillors were all keen to have chat to the students as to how they could be involved in the community.

Italian Speech Competition

August 24, we travelled to Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan to participate in the Regional Italian Public Speaking Competition. This event was very enjoyable, as we listened to students of all year levels say their speeches before three adjudicators and a small crowd. In the end we all did exceptionally well with Isabella Melara taking out 3rd for the Yr 8 section of the competition and Alna Joseph taking out 2nd for the Yr 7 section. Overall, all students competing did a marvellous job as the scores ended up being very close. We would like to thank Mrs Martin for helping us edit and rehearse our speeches and also for providing our transport to Townsville. Here are some photos we took in Townsville.

Samuel DiBartolo

Youth Mass

Our talented and artistic students did an outstanding job at providing music, singing, reading and ministering at mass.

Young Vinnies

Congratulations Caytlan Stephenson in Yr 7 for placing in the top 10 finalists in QLD in the Young Vinnies Schools' Poster Competition. The theme this year was Homelessness.

Ausdance QLD

Ausdance Qld recently came to work with some of our students and showing them dance moves and techniques.

Sports News

Northern Region Athletics Trials:

Last week saw 11 of our Gilroy Santa Maria students head to the Townsville Sports Reserve to trial for the Northern Region Athletics team. All of our students performed admirably and displayed excellent behaviour whilst participating at these trials. From this group the following students gained selection in the Northern Region School’s Athletics team to participate in the Queensland School Athletics trials in Brisbane from the 10-15 October.

Zoe Kemp – 800m
Alana Romano – Discus
Alicia Galipo – Shot-Put & Discus
Ethan Hillyard – 100m

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement and we wish you all the best at the Queensland School Athletics Trials in October

Cricket:

Recently, three Gilroy Under 14 Cricket players were selected from cricketers within this age group from across Herbert River Secondary Schools to attend the Under 14 Northern Region Cricket Trials at Ignatius Park Townsville. Ciann Mendiolea, Ryan Carr and Ethan Costabeber will attend this trial this week and we wish the boys the best of luck in gaining selection in the Northern Region Under 14 Cricket Team.

Still on cricketing news, another congratulations is in order for Alana Romano who last week was selected in the Under 15 Girls President’s XI to participate in the Under 15 Girl’s Queensland Cricket State Championships starting on the 22-24 October in Ipswich. This should be an exciting experience for Alana to test her cricketing skills against some talented cricketers from across the state. Best of luck Alana.

Ian Schifilliti

Yr 10 Food Technology

This term, Yr 10 Food Technology students have been exploring Asian cookery in a unit called “East meets West”. They have cooked and experienced the flavours of Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines. For their final cooking class this term, they designed and cooked an Asian style meal and shared this with their classmates. They made Pork Wonton Soup, Gulab Juman, Coconut Sago Pudding with Passionfruit, Beef Satay Skewers with Couscous, and Fragrant Chicken Malbi. They were very successful and enjoyed the experience.

Marie Noble

2017 GFRAS/APEN International Conference

Delegates from the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services visited Gilroy recently. A diverse group of men and women from many countries toured the Trade Training Centre where Mr Barbagallo showed them the different machines and how they worked. They then joined Mr Dezolt on a tour of our vegetable and native tree gardens where Paul explained the Rangers Program that he helps run at Gilroy. Students of GSM also attended classes and performed at the Conference over the weekend.

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

Over the past few weeks our Leadership Team have had the pleasure of conducting a number of enrolment interviews. Most of the interviews have been for next year’s enrolments and it is pleasing to share that we have fifty new enrolments so far in Yr 7 alone. We have many Lourdes and St Peter’s children but also many from our local State Schools including children from Cardwell. We have been really impressed with the children we have interviewed and know that they will make a wonderful contribution to our school for many years to come.

This Friday, we have our Fun Run at Forrest Beach. It really is a great day with games and activities and a walk/run along Forrest Beach. We also will be conducting our Gilroy Triathlon where we have over ten teams participating. The concluding bike and run legs of the triathlon will precede the Fun Run and add to the atmosphere on the day. I ask that families do not see this day as a chance for an early holiday and support this community and character building event. It does take considerable effort to complete the trek along the beach, but I firmly believe that best feeling you can have is the satisfaction of completing (or trying to complete) something that is hard. Special thanks to our P&F who are sponsoring the day including transport, food and drinks for everyone.

This week we had visitors from the Townsville Catholic Education Office as part of our school’s Verification. Verification is part of the five-year cyclical School Renewal Process all Catholic schools in the Diocese must complete. The visitors interviewed members of our staff, students and parent community. It is a chance to recommend the great qualities of our school as well as identifying those areas that we can improve and develop. The visitors report will eventually form the nucleus of a five-year strategic plan, which we will develop as a community over the next 12 months. The Renewal Cycle culminates when this strategic plan is presented next year to another visiting panel at Validation.

I wish all students a happy and safe holiday, remembering that Term 4 begins on Wednesday 4 October as Monday is a public holiday and Tuesday is a pupil-free day.

God Bless
John Nuttall
Principal

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

If you were there to witness our Youth Mass last Sunday night, you would have realised how wonderful it is to be a part of this school and parish community. Our talented and artistic students did an outstanding job at providing music, singing, reading and ministering at mass. If we went by the comments from the parishioners then we would have youth mass every Sunday night. Hopefully this will become a regular occurrence, looking at possibly two each term. A very big thank you to Vera Di Bella and Max Bailee who helped with the music, Paula Henderson for the organisation of Abergowrie boys, to all students who played a part and to all our school families who came along in support.

It is very easy to get to the end of the term feeling tired and exhausted and a little frustrated by people’s words and actions. Our fuses are shorter and we tend to say things we might not necessarily mean or usually say. Through our own frustrations, it is sometimes hard to forgive those around us for things done or said to us. In Matthew’s Gospel this Sunday, Peter asks how often we should extend forgiveness to those around us. Peter tries to put a number to it, however, Jesus responds by telling him there should be no quantitative amount. Jesus tell Peter that forgiveness should come from the heart, abundantly and unconditionally. It does not make a difference how many times we do it, but the depth at which it is done. Let us, during these last days of term, be willing to forgive those who do us harm so we can truly be closer to our God.

It is the end of a very busy term. I hope you all take time over the holidays to relax, enjoy each other’s company and recuperate before the last term of the year.

God Bless
Christine Timms

Open New Horizons - Youth Retreat

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Term 3 has certainly been an exciting and busy term. Students have now finished their exams and assessment today. I would like to congratulate students on their efforts towards their exams. Students who were absent for exams in Yrs 7-10 may need to catch up these exams next term if they haven’t already. They will need to ensure that they see their teacher at the beginning of next term. Students in Yrs 11 and 12 who missed any exams will need to ensure that they present medical certificates the next day they are at school to cover their absence and organise to reschedule their exam.

Tomorrow we have the Annual School Fun Run. Students will have assembly in the MPH to commence the day before being transported to Forrest Beach for their walk and activities for the rest of the day. Students will arrive back at school by 3:00pm for buses. This has traditionally been a great day, enjoyed by all our students and I hope to see everyone. It is an excellent way to end the term with friends at the beach!

As we look towards Term 4, we still have quite a bit to accomplish before the end of the year. Below is a table of some key events occurring in the first three weeks back at school next term.

I hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable break.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Term 3 is almost at an end and so too is the time that our Senior Class of 2017 has left at Gilroy Santa Maria College. Like any group of future school leavers, there has no doubt been times that each and every one of these students has probably felt like giving up and throwing the towel in. No one ever said that the journey to graduation was going to be an easy one. Sometimes this is a difficult pill to swallow for students (and adults), but I am one of those people that firmly believe that the things that are hard and require commitment and sacrifice; they are the aspects in life that we truly value. I know that there has been stressful times, yet it is in these times that we learn new skills in resilience and perseverance, that prepare us for our next battles in life. My advice for those students who can almost see the finish line, is to ensure that you keep on going and don’t stop until after you have crossed that line. Too often, there is a tendency in life to have that, “near enough is good enough” attitude to all that we do. From experience, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you have done everything in your power to ensure that you reach the end having given it your best effort. I encourage all Yr 12’s to do everything they can to finish the year so that they can experience that wonderful feeling of contentment that is gained from a sense of achievement in their lives.

For us parents and guardians, this can be a very stressful time for us as well, as we share in the highs and lows that are experienced by our children in these final weeks. While every family situation is different, I encourage all parents and carers to continue to be supportive of their child and not to shirk your duties as a parent. Remember, you are the parent or guardian that has made the tough decisions all the way through to get them to this point in their life. They are on the cusp of graduating and even though they feel like they are able to make many decisions on their own, sometimes the addition of our wisdom can assist them to make the right decision at this time in their studies. I wish all parents, guardians and their children all the best for the remainder of the year.

Blessings
Peter Groundwater

Careers

University of Queensland

A number of our students envisage their dream career as working in a veterinary role, either as a veterinarian or a veterinary nurse.

The University of Queensland has a campus at Gatton which focuses on training Queensland students in very practical ways.

Further information on their new "Veterinary Hub" is available through the following website link;

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

From 2020, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) will replace the Overall Position (OP) as the standard pathway to tertiary study for Queensland Yr 12s.

The ATAR is the primary mechanism used nationally for tertiary admissions and indicates a student’s position relative to other students.

The ATAR will be introduced for students commencing Yr 11 in 2019, who will graduate from the end of 2020 and seek entry to tertiary courses from 2021.

QTAC will calculate ATARs for Queensland school leavers.

USQ Head Start Program

Are you a motivated, high-achieving Yr 10, 11 or 12 student? As a USQ Head Start student, you can study one university subject during a semester, allowing you to start your university studies early.

QTAC information for parents

If you have a child considering tertiary study, our information for parents will help you guide their decision-making and assist them in applying.

Read an overview of tertiary study and the benefits of higher education.

Get useful hints and tips to help your child on their journey to tertiary study and beyond.

Find out when to start planning for tertiary study, and help your child choose the right course and institution.

Consider the costs involved with studying, and check out how to apply.

Investigate the support services available to students, and get information on living away from home.

Thinking of studying yourself? Learn more about applying, find out what courses you can apply for, and get information on upgrading pathways.

Investigate other resources on topics relevant to tertiary study, including financial assistance, employment outcomes, and more.

Nancy Douglas

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

St Peter's Catholic School Celebrates 90 Years

2017 marks the 90th year of St Peter's Catholic School Halifax (formerly St Therese's) educating children in the Lower Herbert district. The school is celebrating this milestone with a special event to be held at the school on Saturday November 18. Celebrations will begin with a Mass at 2:00pm followed by formal proceedings and an afternoon tea. The school then invites the community to stay on and connect with friends, past and present. Food and drinks will be available as well as activities to amuse children (big and small) including rides and jumping castles. If anyone has photographs or memorabilia it would be appreciated if these could be dropped in at the school where photos can be scanned straight away. If you live in the Ingham area items can be dropped in to Chella at the Parish Office Mon - Fri 9:00am—Noon.

Upcoming Events

• First Reconciliation—6 & 7 November
• St Peter’s School 90th Anniversary—18 November

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

District News

Cricket

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