6 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

Important Dates

Essential Emails

Yr 7 & 8 Co-ordinator: Mr Matthew Giliberto mgiliberto1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Yr 9 & 10 Co-ordinator: Ms Meagan Castellaro mcastellaro1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Yr 11 & 12 Co-ordinator: Mrs Karen Lahtinen klahtinen@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Assistant Principal Pastoral Care: mschrodter@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Assistant Principal Administration & Curriculum: mcarr1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Assistant Principal Religious Education: ctimms1@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au
Principal: jnuttall@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au

Gilroy on the Go

Yr 7

Ingham Theatre Group

Thank you to the Ingham Theatre Group for your donation to the Drama Department and allowing our students to be a part of the One Act Plays performed at the Kelly Theatre last year. The Drama department will make good use of your donation.

Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all our College community back for the 2020 School Year. I also take this opportunity to welcome all our new families to our school. We have over three hundred and thirty students enrolled this year, with eighty Yr 7 students bolstering our numbers considerably. I’m confident that all new students will quickly settle in and I know our existing students and staff will warmly embrace them and support them.

We welcome four new staff members to our college. Mrs Nicola Winterbourn joins us from Perth and will teach in our English, Humanities and Religion departments. Joining us from Rockhampton, Mrs Mary McLaren will be leading our Arts Department. Mrs Michelle Shiels has moved from Maroon in southern Queensland and is teaching various subjects in the junior school. Finally, we welcome Mr Michael Mendiolea, who has moved this year from Our Lady of Lourdes.

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. Our new Hospitality Centre and adjoining classroom block is due for completion in late May so we will be able enjoy these great facilities from Semester 2. I’m certain, once completed everyone in our community will be impressed.

A feature for the year, especially for our senior students and teachers will be the full implementation of the New QCE System. Over the past four years, the QCAA has partnered with schools throughout Queensland to transform the senior curriculum. In 2020, and for the first time since 1972 many of Queensland Yr 12 students will sit subject-based external assessments, meaning students will sit the same exam as all other Queensland students at the same time. These external exams will commence in Week 4 of Term 4 and will be conducted over a four-week period. Students have and will be completing similar types of assessment; including mock exams which we are confident will prepare our students well for the new system.

This Thursday we conduct our Beginning of the Year Mass, which includes an Induction Ceremony for our Student Leaders. We are pleased to conduct this in the Santa Maria Centre and an invitation is extended for all parents and carers.

In what marks the end of a busy week, this Friday we hold our Interhouse Swimming Carnival, it will be great if the whole community can rally behind this event and it be well attended. We aim to foster an active lifestyle among our students where participation and having a go is the norm. The day is designed for swimmers of all ability with novelties and free swimming time complementing the formal swimming events.

A reminder to all parents/carers that we are very committed to supporting your child in every way we can, so please come and see your child’s teachers or myself if you have any concerns. If it more convenient you can email me directly at jnuttall@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au. All other staff have direct emails and these can be accessed through Compass or by contacting the office 47762888.

Back to School Tips for Parents

Last year I was asked by the Townsville Catholic Education Office to write a blog containing back to school tips for parents. For those interested parents and carers I hope you might take something away from the following:…..

Parenting has different challenges as children develop, so for what it is worth, here are some tips for parents based on my experience as a teacher and as a parent of three children now in their early 20’s.

• Be connected to your school . There is a fallacy that when a child begins secondary school, parents are less welcome. Kids want you to think that but trust me, stay interested, ask questions, attend events and be present as best you can.
• Set a routine that enables family time, down time and study time . A big challenge for secondary students is juggling time. Many have jobs, do sport or cultural activities, then try to juggle study and some down time. Set some routines and be prepared that some activities might have to go. Timetabling study times during the week is important for a child to keep on top of things.
• Monitor social media and gaming time . This is a real challenge today, so much time is wasted and much of the social media content just causes stress that could be so easily avoided. Put some rules or restrictions in place. Be tough here, this is something worth standing your ground on. Like any moments of tough love, your children will thank you later.
• Encourage them to be a good classmate . We all want our kids to be good people and treat others respectfully. Encourage them to include other children into their games and conversations. Being inclusive and looking out for those children that are sometimes on the outer is a beautiful quality to foster. Encourage them to be a person who can say sorry and be empathic to the feelings of others.
• Foster a strong work ethic . I have seen so many intelligent kids do just okay at school and so many not so gifted children perform outstandingly because they knew how to work and push through when things get tough. This is another challenging one for parents and I’m sure we would all like a switch we could flick. Suggestions would be to make sure children contribute to the jobs needed doing around the house. Importantly have the expectation that their job is done well and completed properly. Again, a bit of tough love required here but over a period of time some good habits will be formed that hopefully permeates through all facets of their life. No guarantees here as this the quality we would all like to bottle.
• Have a go and worry little what others think . I see so many secondary children not having a go at things because they worry about being shamed. Congratulate your children when you can see they have gone outside their comfort zone and taken healthy risks.

I know all these tips are easier said than done and it makes parenting one of the most challenging things we can do. Stay positive; try to remain calm when you discuss these issues with your kids. Importantly, remember they will all make mistakes and do the wrong things at times. Be there to dust them off and put your arm around them when needed.

God Bless
John Nuttall

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

Hello everyone and welcome to the 2020 School Year.

I am now back from maternity leave and eager to support students and teachers. I’d like to firstly thank, Mrs Joan Devietti, for doing such a great job over almost two years. She has worked effortlessly with students to help them achieve their goals and ambitions. She is now enjoying working part time at the College and being back working in the classroom with her students. I have been working ‘in the shadows’ with the Admin Team during this time so that we have a seamless transition in 2020. I’d also like to welcome four new teachers to our school; Ms Michelle Shiels, Mrs Nicola Winterbourn, Mr Michael Mendiolea and Mrs Mary McLaren. All four teachers bring enthusiasm, excitement and experience to our College.

This year has gotten off to a great start. Yr 7’s are moving around the school and embracing their new school environment and Yr 7 teachers are excited to teach our new and enthusiastic students. Students in Yrs 8-12 have begun the year very well; eager to start course work and ensuring their subjects selected are the best fit for them. We have also had quite a few new school-based apprenticeships/traineeships start up this year in Yrs 11 and 12, which is excellent for these students.

This year will also be our first time that students across Yrs 10-12 will study under the new QCE system, and the first time since 1972 that a large proportion of Queensland Yr 12 students will sit subject-based external assessments. Over the past four years, the QCAA has partnered with schools to transform the senior curriculum and assessment. This is a historic year for education in Queensland so there will be important messages throughout that will be shared with our parents, carers and students so that we can ensure our students are ready for these changes. As always, we want students to achieve their best results in their subjects and courses as well as enjoy and benefit from balancing their students with non-academic pursuits. As a College, we are committed to encouraging students who are starting senior schooling to choose subjects they are good at and interested in, and that align with their intended post-school pathway.

The single biggest change in the new QCE system is to the way students are assessed in General subjects in Yrs 11 and 12. Students in these subjects, all complete three school-based assessment and an external assessment. This does mean, fewer assessments across the two years, but there is therefore emphasis on quality. QCAA has already set the dates for the external assessment period, which will run from 26 October to 17 November 2020. During Term 1, QCAA will publish a timetable showing the date and time of each subject exam. This will then be communicated to students and parents so that everyone has plenty of time to plan and prepare for this assessment period. Later in the year, QCAA will release in Student Portal accounts a timetable that’s personalised for each student.

This year is going to be exciting for everyone.

2020 Term 1 Assessment Planners

All Yr 7-12 Assessment Planners will be emailed to everyone student and parent/caregiver by the end of the week. If you would like a paper copy of this also, please let Student Reception know and they will print one out and give it to your son/daughter to take home. The Assessment Planner contains important information and dates for when assessment is DUE. These help students to plan and prepare themselves so they can be organised and on time with assessment.

Academic Support

Please see within this newsletter our Academic Support timetable. I cannot stress enough how lucky students are to have this system, where teachers give up their time to help students achieve their best results. Gilroy offers both lunch time and after school tutoring as per the timetable below. This is a terrific system that students should take advantage of to improve their approach to studies and understanding of course content.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

Assessment Planners

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

Welcome to the 2020 school year and a special welcome to our new students, staff and their families. It is wonderful to see so many new faces join our community and to see everyone returning safely from the Christmas break.

As I write this, we are busily preparing for the Induction Mass on Thursday. Of course, it will all be over by the time you read this. I look forward to presenting our senior cohort with their leadership badges and listening to their pledges for 2020. I am sure it will be a beautiful occasion celebrating the beginning of the school year. It will also be an opportunity for Father Damian to introduce himself to the new school community.

Over the Christmas break, I was privileged to take fifteen of our students to Perth for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival. This was an amazing experience for the students, as well as for Mr Nuttall and myself. We spent a week praying, singing, reflecting, listening and celebrating our faith through the Holy Spirit. One of the highlights of ACYF was having the chance to listen to and celebrate with Father Rob Galea. His story was inspirational and the way in which he engaged the Catholic youth at the festival was exceptional.

Fr Rob’s motto in life is ‘do it scared’. There would be many times in our lives when we have been out of our comfort zones, doing things that we did not necessarily want to do or doing things that we were afraid to do. Many of the new students and teachers that walked through the gates of Gilroy last week would have walked through the gates ‘doing it a little bit scared’.

There will be many times during this year that our students will be asked to do and try new things. I hope that when the time comes that we all take up the opportunity and choose to ‘give it a go’, be the person who does it first and is not ashamed to be the odd one out. If we could all be that person at Gilroy, what a great place to be this year.

My prayer this week is for courage!!

God Bless
Christine Timms

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

We are finally off and racing into 2020! Welcome especially to our new students and their families and to our new staff as well. It is great to have you as a part of the College.

School and home are in the business together of educating these young people. Neither of us can successfully or effectively do this alone and we must work together.

A new school year means a fresh start for students. A break offers students the chance to begin new habits and adopt new behaviours. Here are seven ideas to help you make the most of the fresh start and make this year your child’s best year at school:

1. Getting to school every day on time
   One of the most important things you can do to ensure your child has a bright future is to make sure he or she goes to school every day and gets there on time.
2. Help kids start each day well
   A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast and some words of encouragement from you will help set up a positive day.
3. Establish work & study habits
   The most successful students are those that develop regular study habits that suit their lifestyle, their study style and their school’s expectations.
4. Make sure your child gets enough sleep
   A good night’s sleep consolidates learning, as well as assisting future learning. Children need between 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Have a 30-minute wind-down time each night and remove screens and mobile phones from bedrooms.
5. Get your kids outside for good physical and mental health
   Unfortunately, children today get less and less exercise than those of past generations, which has a negative effect on learning and mental health. Health professionals recommend a minimum of 60 minutes of exercise per day for kids of all ages. Consider increasing your child’s green time and decreasing screen time for good physical and mental health.
6. Focus on being friendly
   Schools are social places requiring students to negotiate many different social situations each day. Encourage kids to be open and tolerant; to be friendly; to be involved in lots of activities and to be social risk-takers.
7. Develop self-help skills
   Successful students are often well-organised, self-directed and self-motivated. You can foster organisational skills and self-direction by developing simple, age-appropriate self-help skills related to their everyday lives. Teaching your children skills such as making lunches, packing school bags, and organising after school schedules can be great lessons that impact on how kids perform at school.

I am looking forward to the year ahead with great anticipation and enthusiasm. My door is always open, and I look forward to talking with you.

Blessings
Matthew Schrodter

From the Business Manager

Welcome back to the new school year. I hope that everyone has settled back into school life.

School Fees will be emailed next week. If you do not receive them by Friday 14 February 2020, please contact the school. If you are unsure if we have your correct details please check on Compass, if they have changed, contact the school. The school fees will be due Friday 10 March.

A 3% discount is applicable if you pay the term fee by the due date. The amounts are as follows.

One Child - $26.35
Two Children - $46.05
Three or more Children - $60.95

There is also a 5% discount on fees if you pay the full year fees by the due date. Amounts are as follows.

One Child - $175.55
Two Children - $307.05
Three or more Children - $406.30

There are a number of ways to pay for school fees either weekly, fortnightly, monthly or by term and a number of ways to pay, direct debit, credit card, cash or cheque. If paying by direct debit please do not forget to enter your Family Code (found on your School fee Statement). If you have paid without entering a family code, please contact the school to verify payment.

BANK DETAILS are as follows:

WESTPAC Ingham
BSB - 034-187
Account Number – 145 925
Name – Gilroy Santa Maria College

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. The sooner you make contact the sooner we can work together for a solution.

Ros Giuliano

Sports News

With Term 1 underway, Herbert River School Sport trials are upon us. Below is a breakdown of the age groups involved in these sports 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 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 convenors of the respective sports. Some sports, swimming for example, have students’ times submitted to Northern Sports for selection.

With only a limited amount of time between Herbert River and Northern Region school trials, it is important that both students and parents use the information given in our Gilroy Santa Maria newsletter, the daily student notices or contact our Sports co-ordinators Mrs Erin Cerutti and Mr Mendiolea, at the school to keep up to date with trial information.

Secondary Trials Calendar Term 1 2020

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

On Friday, 7 February, Gilroy Santa Maria will be holding its 2020 Interhouse Swimming Carnival at the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre. The carnival will commence at 8:30am and conclude at 3:00pm, school buses will be diverted to the pool for both arrival and departure. Students who do not catch a bus will be required to find their own transport directly to and from the pool on the day. Students could bring their own lunch or they may purchase from the BBQ lunch provided. Access to the canteen will be available for snacks and drinks.

We look forward to a successful day where all students can cool off and enjoy the first sports carnival of the year. If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at the College.

Yr 7 Sports Day

21 Feb- TBC

Interschool Swimming Carnival

12 March - Week 7

10-12Yrs and 13-19Yrs NQ Swimming Nominations. There is no NQ school swimming trial this year, but swimmers can submit times. Nominations are due Wed 5 Feb. See Mr Mendiolea for Nomination Forms.

Anyone interested in trialling for U15 or Opens HR netball, please see Miss Castellaro at the coordinators’ room to sign up (HR Trials Tues 18 Feb Week 4 @ ISHS)

Anyone interested in trialling for U15 or Opens HR Rugby League, please see Mr Schifilliti at the coordinators’ room to sign up. (HR Trials Tues 25 Feb Week 5)

Rugby League

In Rugby League news, the Open Gilroy Santa Maria team will begin training this week in preparation for Matty Bowen 9’s (14 Feb), upcoming fixtures as part of Herbert River Secondary School Trials and the Columba Open Catholic Schools Rugby League carnival and other matches. 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 attending training sessions. At this stage, Open’s team training will be held on Monday afternoons at 3:15pm to 4:15pm. Any parents or friends of the school wishing to help with the Gilroy Santa Maria programme are more than welcome to contact Mr Schifilliti at the school.

Netball

In Netball news, Herbert River Secondary School Trials will be held at ISHS on Tuesday 18 February, in week four. Girls will need to wear their sports uniform and bring a water bottle. Below is an outline of the relevant information.

QISSN

Open QISSN netball trials were held on Monday 3 February and again on Wednesday 5 of February at second break at the SMC. All girls interested in playing netball, and who are turning 15 or older in 2020 were invited as part of the lead up to the QISSN tournament to be held in Brisbane during the Term 2 holidays.

Vicky Wilson Matches

11, 18 & 25 March

Primary/U12 NQ Calendar

Is displayed on the Sports Noticeboard or can be found on the Northern Sports Townsville website. Some U12 NQ trial dates below. HR Trials are still to be confirmed.

Netball Girls -26 – 27 April – Townsville
Rugby League Boys- 26 – 27 April – Proserpine
Rugby League Girls- 21 July – Townsville
Football Boys & Girls - 24 – 25 May – Burdekin
Tennis Boys & Girls - 27 May – Home Hill
Softball Girls - 7 – 8 June – Charters Towers
Touch Boys and Girls- 14 – 15 June – Ingham
Cricket- 9 - 10 August – Home Hill

Academic Support

PLEASE NOTE: All students welcome for Homework, Assignments, Academic Tutoring and Organisation.

Indigenous Homework Support

Tuckshop News

GILROY SANTA MARIA COLLEGE
2020 Tuckshop Menu & Price List

VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!!

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

Please note: The NEW lunch times are as follows:

1st Lunch – 10:55am – 11:20am
2nd Lunch – 12:50pm - 1:30pm

Start time is preferably 8:30am – 12:00pm or 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 [0427 765 321] - Jodie Lino [0407 904 918]

What’s Happening in the Parish

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes Newsletter

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