23 August 2018

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Gilroy on the Go

DATE CLAIMERS

Yr 6 Parent Information Night

Orientation Day

Compass Parent Information – Resetting Passwords

Humanities

This term, Mrs Squires 7A Humanities class has been participating in some fun, interactive activities to further their understanding of the historical inquiry process.

They have made authentic Chinese lanterns using red money bags. This activity required the students to follow instructions closely and work well in groups. The lanterns are now proudly displayed in their classroom.

As an activity to introduce students to the idea of collating historical evidence to create theories about events, an 'ancient crime scene' was staged in the classroom. The crime scene included four stations of evidence leading to the overall crime of the assassination of Julius Caesar. Students were required to use problem solving, inferring information and bringing evidence together to create a theory or come to a conclusion.

Lastly, another activity using evidence was staged. This activity included hard evidence of cross-sections from a tree to use the dating technique dendrochronology and a created section of soil strata to use the dating technique stratigraphy. Again, students were required to use problem-solving techniques and working in groups.

The activities have been useful for the students in understanding the importance of collating different forms of evidence to create theories and answer questions.

Mrs Squires

Italian Public Speaking 2018

Congratulations to Katie Groundwater who won first place in the recent Italian Public Speaking Competition in Townsville. Katie delivered a well-rehearsed and polished performance in which she spoke about herself and her family. Our Yr 7 representatives were Eve Tento, Elizabeth Price and Mickayla Coco. All of the students performed very well and should be commended for their determination and dedication.

Italian Public Speaking Competitors: Eve Tento, Katie Groundwater, Elizabeth Price, Mickayla Coco

STEM Club

Last Sunday a group of Yr 7 STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Club students attended the JCU Open Day in Townsville. They enjoyed many of the activities such as extracting DNA from a strawberry, viewing exotic tropical marine life, witnessing explosions, experiencing virtual reality first hand and handling animals such as crocodiles and lizards. The students also toured the Science and Engineering facilities and attended a presentation about current research and study options at JCU in one of the lecture theatres.

Past Student Page on Website

We have created a "Past Student" page on our website which will enable us to encourage past students to get in touch with the school.

The idea is that past students submit their details and we will generate things such as a regular past student success story or an alumni newsletter.

The page that past students can enter their details is located on our School website under Students > Past Students

Interhouse Athletics Carnival

Rice, O’Meara and McAuley took to the track on Friday 17 August to compete in the Annual Interhouse Athletics Carnival. The carnival was a great success with all the houses receiving a trophy. Overall, Rice was crowned champions of 2018.

The carnival saw two new records with Trenyce Pearce breaking the Under 15 400m record and Alana Romano setting a new Under 16 discuss record.

A special thanks goes to Jane Roati and Ian Cobb who assisted on the day due to short staff.

Congratulations to all competitors who participated, particularly to our age champions. Special mention goes to the 12-14 Yr athletes who saw the highest participation rate in the school!

2018 Age Champions

We now turn to the interschool competition on Friday 24 August.

Meagan Castellaro

Food Technology

Our Yr 9 students have been looking at the wonderful nutrition of fruits and vegetables and how to add extra servings into our daily cooking and meals. They’ve have investigated B vitamins, chlorophyll, potassium, dietary fibre, folate (folic acid), vitamin A, and vitamin C. We have explored orange vegetables and fruits and why flavonoids and lycopene found in them are so good for us. Below, Yr 9 students made a Zucchini and Carrot Beef Patty, served on a hamburger bun with a packed salad. The class thought it was very delicious!

Our Yr 10 students have been investigating Asian cooking and have dived into the taste sensation of creating, Thai green curries, stir fry and spring rolls. We have looked the array of Asian herbs that are extremely healthy and the influences of Asian migrants to Australia and the wonderful food culture they have allowed us to taste and learn to cook. Below, Yr 10 students making and rolling spring rolls.

Foodies Club

Healthy Family Dinner

Asian beef mince noodle bowl with fried egg-

(Australian Beef website.)

INGREDIENTS

• 500g beef mince
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 260g Asian style coleslaw mix
• 4 eggs
• Noodles of choice, prepared following packet instructions
• 1 long red chilli, thinly sliced
• Green onions, thinly sliced, to serve
• Steamed Asian greens, to serve

METHOD

• Step 1
  Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a frying pan or wok over medium high heat. Add mince and cook for 5 minutes, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon, until browned.
• Step 2
  Add hoisin sauce. Stir until well combined. Add coleslaw mix and 1 tablespoon of water and toss until well combined. Cook for 1 minute or until vegetables are just tender.
• Step 3
  Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan. Fry eggs for 2-3 minutes or until whites are cooked. Spoon mince mixture over noodles. Place an egg over mince, sprinkle with chilli and green onions. Serve with steamed Asian greens.

Home Gardening Tips

By Hayden Di Bella

We have been looking at creating some rejuvenating plants regrown from cuttings to start potting for next term. There are many plants or herbs which can be regrown without buying a whole new plant. Foodies club has starting growing clippings of basil and shallots left over from cooking to create new plants to sell at our Christmas stall next term. This is a sustainable practice where growing and reusing plants can be a great gift and stop unwanted and unused gifts in landfill. Receiving a potted plant for cooking or for decoration is always a wanted and loved gift.

Propagation by stem cuttings works fantastic on these herbs and plants:

• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Mint
• Basil
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Winter Savory
• Summer Savory
• Scented Geraniums
• Monarda
• Sweet Woodruff
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Verbena
• Pineapple Sage
• Peace Lilly-indoor plant

Ms Mastrippolito & Ms Coyle.

Principal

Dear Parents/Carers

Over the past few weeks our Leadership Team have begun conducting enrolment interviews. Most of the interviews have been for next year’s enrolments and it is pleasing to share that we have many 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.

Good luck to the Gilroy Athletics Team who will compete in the Interschool Carnival this week. We had a very successful Interhouse Carnival recently and the participation level was really encouraging. Since that day it been wonderful to see so many students turning up to training and readying themselves for this week’s events.

Congratulations and best wishes also to all students that have or will be participating in the Ingham Arts Festival this week. We have numerous students in a variety of categories involved and I’m sure the experience to perform or exhibit items will be invaluable. Well done for having the courage to be involved, we are very proud of your efforts. Thanks to our fantastic Arts Department staff who have organised students to be various categories.

A reminder to all current Yr 10 parents/carers and students that Senior Subject Selection Evening will be conducted next Wednesday 29 August from 6:30pm in the Function Room. Being the first students to be involved in the New QCE System, it will be important that everyone has a clear knowledge of the many new subjects being offered. If you have questions, please contact our Assistant Principal-Curriculum, Mrs Joan Devietti.

God Bless
John Nuttall

From the Acting Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Hello Parents and Students,

Term 3 is certainly ranking up towards the very busy end!

Senior Students

Last week, the Careers Advisor, Nancy Douglas and I met with all Yr 12 OP eligible students. These interviews were very valuable with discussions on current student progression, future aspirations/pathways and student wellbeing. QTAC applications are now open, students are encouraged to begin completing their QTAC applications for tertiary education. Students having difficulties with this should seek Nancy’s experience and advice as soon as possible.

The QCS test is fast approaching in week 8, Tuesday 4 September and Wednesday 5 September. Students are now thoroughly prepared for what to expect in this test. Students also received results and feedback based on their practice QCS Test conducted in week 1 of this term. Results definitely show improvements from their first practice test at the beginning of the year; however, there are still areas where each student will need to focus. Results are available online through students’ Mighty Mind portal and students are able to navigate this site. Please encourage your son/daughter to read the individual feedback provided and to actively work towards improving in their weak areas so as to be best prepared for this test.

Nancy and I have begun OP interviews with Yr 11 students this week. Currently, we are also tracking the vocational students in Yrs 11 and 12. Nancy and I have met with several students. Some of which can see the end is near and need to regain focus whilst others are

in an excellent position to graduate not only with their QCE but with also real pathways straight into the workforce. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s current progress in Yr 11 or 12 please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yr 10 Transition to Senior

The Yr 10 Senior Schooling Subject Selection evening is being held next Wednesday 29 August at 6:30pm in the Function Room. This is the second phase of transitioning Yr 10 students into senior and all students are strongly encouraged to attend. Parents and students will have the opportunity to talk to teachers about the expectations of each of the General and Applied subjects and their content and assessment. Also, teachers who are experienced in the VET certificate courses will be available. Students will be expected to submit their subject choices by Friday 31 August. From this information, lines will be drawn. The next phase includes SET Plan interviews with every student and their Parents. These will be held early Term 4 and involve reviewing the subjects selected and ensuring that each student is on a suitable career pathway.

The Arts

Currently, students are participating in the annual Ingham Junior Arts Festival. Every experience is always very valued by those who participate.

Mathematics Camp

Congratulations to the 4 students who attended the annual QAMT Mathematics Camp on Magnetic Island. Ben Jorgensen, Olivia Biviano, Ethan Costabeber and Taneisha Girgenti. This is always a very valuable and enjoyable experience.

Athletics Day

This Friday is the annual Interschool Athletics Carnival. This is a great opportunity to be a part of a great day. I acknowledge and thank the many competitors and supporters who have made themselves available to represent or support their school, their school spirit is valued.

Assessment

The second half of term is always busy with assessment. I trust that students are busily completing these tasks and revising for exams. Revision should never be left for the last weeks, it should be constant and consistent throughout the term. Successful students:

• have good organizational skills
• can manage their time well
• consistently and constantly revise practice
• seek help when needed

God Bless
Joan Devietti

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

As the term moves quickly along, the mission trip students are fully underway with fundraising and preparing for the journey. On Sunday we held a Mission Trip Afternoon Tea fundraiser. The afternoon was massive success. We were entertained by The Herbert Valley Voices led by Monica Vitale and Pam Harris and fed by mothers of our students as well as the St Patrick’s Parish Women’s Group. The crowd there was huge and showed us that we are very well supported in our community for the work we will be doing over in the Philippines. Thank you everyone for the charity and generosity you showed on Sunday.

While thinking about the roles we will be taking on in Naga City and Manila, I was reminded of the Gospel passage we heard a few weeks ago about the Feeding of the Five Thousand. Jesus and his disciples were in a huge crowd. Jesus wanted to feed them and questioned the disciples on how this would happen. In Matthew’s Gospel a young boy comes forwards, offering his own food to help with the dilemma. As the story goes, Jesus takes the boy’s food, multiplies it and everyone eats.

Too often we unfortunately feel that we cannot make a difference in the world today. Tasks appear too big and we seem incapable of looking beyond our own needs. Sometimes we don’t trust our own ideas or lack the self-confidence to voice them. This gospel teaches us many things but the one thing that stands out is that one small boy can make a difference. That if we speak out, if we stand up, if we act, then we too can make a difference.

The students and teachers on our Mission Trip are taking a chance and acting through the Holy Spirit to help make changes in the world we live in. Maybe only little changes. However small these changes may appear, Jesus is there giving us the grace to do his works, feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked and visiting the sick and imprisoned. Please continue to keep us in your prayers over the next couple of weeks.

God bless
Christine Timms

Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Just after the release of our last newsletter, Gilroy underwent its five-year, Validation Renewal Process. Validation is an external audit procedure that establishes whether we meet the credentials as an effective Catholic School. Validation is the final part of a two-step process that began last year and involved a whole gamut of evaluation, reflection, document gathering and interviews. While it is one thing to think that everything is going OK in a school, this process actually makes you produce tangible evidence of your thoughts and assumptions about life at Gilroy. As painful and nerve racking as the entire Validation was, the end result was a credit to the staff and students of our College. There were many observations by the Validation Team that were extremely complimentary towards the type of school that we have at Gilroy. The one that I took the most out of was that five years ago we were a school on the way up and now five year later, we are a school that has taken giant steps forward and are continuing to do the best by our students, staff and school community. Congratulations Gilroy!

Next week our Indigenous cohort will be attending the annual “GAMIN” camp at the Abergowrie College Diary, overlooking the picturesque river flats of the Gowrie Creek area. The term GAMIN refers to Gilroy Adolescent Mentoring for Indigenous Needs. This year students are very fortunate to once again have the services of Dion Devow, who has just been named the ACT person of the year and was also named as a finalist in the Australian of the year awards in January. Dion has many contacts in the Ingham region and his story of success is a great message to our up and coming Indigenous students. Another highlight of the camp will be an evening session with 10 of the Emerging Leaders and their staff from Abergowrie College. Both of our schools are very keen to foster a greater collegial relationship between our colleges and the sharing of a meal and a camp liturgy are two aspects that we hope will promote this process. The camp will culminate in a touch game against Abergowrie on Friday afternoon. We can only hope that they take it easy on us this year. I would like to thank Abergowrie College for their hospitality in once again making the Dairy available for our use.

The Annual Interhouse Athletics Carnival was held last week and from a teacher point of view this was undoubtedly one of the most well-attended and friendly carnivals that I have been a part of. There were some great athletic displays and a genuine spirit of competitiveness throughout the day. I often speak to students and parents about the importance of attending days like this, no matter if you are a sportsperson or an academic. The benefits are many, but the one that I always highlight is that it is a student’s chance to show to their peers that they are with them and part of everything that is on offer at our school. Attending school is not just about getting good marks or achievements or a pathway to your future career. If it was just about that then I would never have finished school myself, let alone become a teacher. Friendship, social interaction, tolerance, resilience, … the list goes on. To those many students who made the extra effort to gain those extra aspects of life, I congratulate you and challenge others who chose not to attend to make it to the Interschool Carnival this Friday. Good Luck to all of our Athletes and our supporters in the Interschool Carnival. Go Gilroy!

Blessings
Peter Groundwater

From the Business Manager

REMINDER

Term 3 School Fees are due 24 August 2018

If you are paying by direct debit, please ensure you include the family code located on your statement.

As always, if for any reason you are finding it difficult to pay school fees. Please contact the Principal or myself to discuss the matter.

Missionaries of the Poor are busily fundraising for their trip in September school holidays. Please support this very worthy cause.

BANK DETAILS are as follows:

WESTPAC Ingham
BSB - 034-187
Account Number – 145 925
Name – Gilroy Santa Maria College
Detail – (Family code from statement)

Ros Giuliano

Careers

Hemmett Electrical are taking applications for Apprenticeships for 2019. Please hand in your resume and cover letter to the business located at 79 Cartwright St, Ingham.

Please see Mrs Douglas or Miss Spina if you need assistance with your resume.

Carta and Co are now taking applications for the position of Boilermaking/Fitting & Turning Apprentice. Please hand in your resume and cover letter to the business located at 27 Challands St, Ingham.

Please see Mrs Douglas or Miss Spina if you need assistance with your resume.

Nancy Douglas & Ashley Spina

Academic Support

Indigenous Homework Support

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!!

Tuckshop Volunteers are only needed to work from 8:30am to 12:00pm.

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 regarding this roster or you are unavailable to attend, please contact Sandra Benedetto Home [4776 5321] Jodie Lino Home [4776 5718]

What’s Happening in the Parish

Spring Afternoon Tea

St Patrick’s Women’s Group will be holding their Spring Afternoon Tea on Sunday, 9th September @ 2.00pm at Mercy Hall Fashion Parade by Rockmans, Raffles & Cent Sale, Cost $15.00 per person, Prize for the best spring outfit Tickets available from Parish Office from Monday, 13 August 2018. If any parishioner is able to donate a prize to be used in Cent Sale for upcoming Spring Afternoon Tea, please have these prizes into the Presbytery Office by Monday, 27 August. If you are able to make a sweet or savoury dish for the Afternoon Tea, please let Jeanette Cockburn know on 0447720740 or email: a.c.glas@bigpond.net.au Philippines

Mission Trip Cake Stall

2018 Mission Trip participants are holding a cake stall to raise funds for their September journey. Donations of cakes, biscuits and slices will be gratefully accepted. Baked goodies must be wrapped and labeled with name and ingredients and can be dropped off between 7.30am - 9am on the day of the Cake Stall. When: Saturday 8 September; Where: Coles (back entrance); Time: 8.30am- Noon Contact: Paula 47 980 14; Christine 0488 757 717

Expressions of Interest: Volunteer Visitors!

As our Befrienders ministry is expanding, we will be having a further intake of volunteers to assist with this program. If you have a spare hour or two and feel you would be able to provide a friendly visit to people in our community who are housebound and socially isolated, please contact the Parish office to express your interest.

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

District News

Youth Rally

The youth rally is a space for youth from high schools and other youth in the Diocese to come together to share faith experiences and build community.

The details for the event are:

Where: Sacred Heart Cathedral
When: Friday August 24th
Time: 6:30-8:30

Please bring along a plate of food to share for dinner.

CQUniversity Townsville Open Day

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