5 March 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 12 Biology Field Trip

Yr 12 Biology class attended their field trip at Paluma National Park recently. It was a hard day in the field doing transects of both rainforest and open forest ecosystems but it was all worth it for the swim at Crystal Creek and the Frosty Mango ice cream.

Transition Days

Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community

Last week the beginning of our Church’s Lenten period with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Father Mobin was our celebrant as ashes were given to everyone in our school community. Ash Wednesday takes place forty-six days before Easter Sunday where we remember the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. We are invited to repent and ask for forgiveness as a gesture to acknowledge Jesus’ suffering. Many people will make sacrifices during this time, abstain from pleasures or make a commitment to do good things for others. I would recommend a discussion at home about what everyone in the family will do during Lent. Especially those discussions about what you can do to care and help others, these conversations can only be a good thing!

Last Tuesday evening I attended the Lions Youth of the Year competition hosted by the Lower Herbert Lion’s Club. We had four seniors enter the competition, they were Josh Spina, Emily Firth, Patrick Bortolanza and Alicia Galipo. The students as contestants in the competition had to complete an application form stating their achievements and goals for the future. They attended an interview the previous Saturday and then on the evening presented a five-minute speech plus had to respond to two impromptu questions. It was a terrific experience for them, and they were all a credit to themselves and great ambassadors for our college. Congratulations to Emily who was judged the winner and to Patrick who took out the public speaking prize. Emily will now move to the next stage of the competition to be held on 28 March. We wish her the best. A big thank you to Ms Mastrippolito who coordinated our students’ involvement in the competition.

Next week I’ll be travelling to Adelaide with my wife Tracy, who is the principal at St Peter’s Halifax, to represent the Townsville Catholic Education Office at a careers expo where our aim will be to entice South Australians to come and teach in the Townsville Diocese. I’m really excited about the opportunity to sell our schools, especially considering our regional and remote schools increasingly find it harder each year to attract quality teachers to their communities. In fact, the current teacher shortage is one of my biggest concerns going forward for Gilroy and I have suggested to Townsville Catholic Education Office that we must consider assisting new teachers with accommodation in our district as they already do for western schools. This has been acknowledged by TCEO and I know they are working towards this and other strategies to attract quality teachers to our local schools.

Next Wednesday, 11 March our Gilroy Parents and Friends Association will conduct their Annual General Meeting. All parents and carers are invited to attend the meeting which is held in the Staffroom and begins at 7:00pm. I’m grateful for the efforts of our P&F, they raise a considerable amount of money each year that sponsors special events and assists us to purchase many great resources for our students. Importantly, our Parents and Friends are always looking for ways to increase participation of parents and carers within our community and they have some terrific ideas in mind for this year. You’ll find everyone very welcoming; your opinions will always be respected, and the tone of the meetings are always positive and good spirited. I hope to see some new faces next Wednesday evening.

Next Thursday 12 March, we host the Interschool Swimming Carnival against St Teresa’s Abergowrie and Ingham State High School. It is a twilight carnival, and everyone is invited to attend and support our team. Good luck to all competitors, thanks to Mrs Cerutti for organising the carnival and our team.

God Bless
John Nuttall

From the Assistant Principal
(Administration & Curriculum)

This week has started with our Yr 12 students on block exams. These students have various exams this week and we wish them the best of luck. Throughout the next couple of weeks, Yr 11 students will also sit some of their exams. These exams have been scheduled onto students’ compass schedules. Students can find what date their exam is on as well as what room they will be in. It is important to note that Yr 10, 11 and 12 students must submit their assessment on or before the due date. If a student is unable to sit an exam or submit an assessment task, they must provide the school with relevant documentation, e.g. ‘AARA/Illness and Misadventure Form’ and supporting evidence (i.e. medical certificate) as soon as possible. In Yrs 7-9, students will need to discuss any absence with their classroom teacher.

Last Thursday evening, we had a Study and Assessment Information Night for Yr 7 students and their parents. This evening was well attended, and a lot of useful and important information was discussed. Students gained some insight into what the word ‘study’ means and how to best prepare and organise themselves physically and mentally, so they make the most of their secondary schooling. I also emailed all Yr 7 parents a copy of this presentation, as well as the links to clips shown. I hope that students and parents got a lot out of this session.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

Last Wednesday during assembly, we began the season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. During Lent, there are many discussions in our Religion classes about how we can prepare ourselves for the coming of Easter. Below is an extract from The 2020 Lenten Reflections for Young People:

To help us in our Lenten practice, the Church offers three things to guide us on our way: praying, fasting, and almsgiving (giving money or service to those in need). The extra time we spend praying during Lent leads us closer to God. We focus our prayer on the places in our lives and in our world that need improvement.

Our fasting isn’t about denying ourselves as a sort of punishment, and it isn’t even just about food. We fast from food, television, video games, computers, social media, and so on, so we can literally hunger for God. Our fasting puts us in touch with those whose hunger is never filled because they live in poverty. Finally, our praying and fasting leads us to action. Almsgiving is sharing time, talent, and treasure with those in need.

During Lent, we also have Project Compassion boxes in each homeroom, and we encourage students and staff to give money in the hope of helping the less fortunate in the world. Each week a different community project is promoted in a hope that others will be more aware of the plight of others.

Twenty-seven-year-old Phany, lives in a village in western Cambodia. Struggling to earn a living as a rice farmer, she was forced to leave her daughter behind in the village, to take up construction work in the city. In 2016, Phany joined the Upholding Community Dignity Together program, where she learned new farming techniques, how to grow vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. Phany’s community also took part in training in health, nutrition, hygiene and disaster preparedness, arming them with better strategies to cope with environmental changes. If you would like to make a donation please go to the link below and follow the links.

Last Sunday three students represented the college at Bishop Tim’s Youth Ambassadors’ Forum. Isabella Melara, Robert Giuliano and Michael Russo, along with other secondary school representatives, came together to discuss the Church and its relevance to young people in the diocese. Isabella has kindly put together a paragraph highlighting the day:

On Sunday, 1 March, Michael Russo, Robert Giuliano and I attended a Student Youth Ambassadors Forum in Townsville organised by Bishop Tim & his council. There were representatives of all secondary schools and colleges in our diocese, from the Whitsundays to Burdekin to Mt Isa. This forum was created to allow the youth’s voices to be heard and understand how the Catholic Church can become a Youth focused and inclusive church. Young people and their engagement with the Church are imperative to its future. Bishop Tim valued our input and looks forward to meeting with us again in July.
Isabella Melara

By the time you read this, I would have already started discussions with Father Damian about the upcoming Philippines Mission Trip which will take place during the September/October school holidays. Details about an information night will be sent out soon for students and parents regarding details of this trip.

God Bless
Christine Timms

Bishop Tim’s Lenten Pastoral Letter

From the Assistant Principal
(Pastoral Care)

Social media, smart phones and students

This unfortunately is growing to be one of the biggest problems schools are facing nation-wide with several Australian states banning phones in schools. Whether it is cyberbullying, online predators or students uploading inappropriate content both at school or at home, it can have irreversible effects. Mobile phones and the apps being used are certainly having a negative impact for the majority of school users.

There are many dangers with social media with some of these being:

• Starting social media too soon – There are negative emotional, social and developmental effects which we see at schools due to the use of smart phones and social media. Some effects we notice during school hours are; use in classrooms or playgrounds in a negative way interfering with work and academic outcomes, students finding them addictive which impacts on academic and social behaviour, increase in anxiety and depression, stopping students from having real life interactions, making comments on social media that they wouldn’t say to a person’s face, and the exposure to inappropriate content.
• Cyber bullying – Unfortunately, this is another major concern and something we have to deal with on a regular basis. Cyberbullying is a huge concern for most parents and with good reason. The effects of it are serious, sometimes even resulting in serious mental health issues.

Growing up and going through adolescence is hard enough as it is, and students’ self-esteem and their identity are still been developed at this stage of their life. By adding on the effects of cyber bullying it can have some long lasting negative outcomes for students.

Recently (1 March) the Courier Mail wrote an article on the new app ‘Tik Tok’. It had some great information for parents and the dangers of using current apps; it is well worth a read.

60 minutes also showed a segment on the weekend relating to parents and social media. The report highlighted a 5-year court battle that resulted from the social media incident. As parents and teachers, we should be very careful about what we put on social media and should lead by example for our children.

Although we cannot regulate the usage of smart phones when students are at home or out with friends, we do have the responsibility as a school to keep students safe both physically and mentally. Due to ongoing and recent issues both during school hours and before/after school, Gilroy Santa Maria College has banned mobile phones from when students enter the school grounds to when they leave the school grounds. Extra technology has been placed in classrooms that require it so the need for phones has been dissolved. I understand that this may mean enhancing organisation and communication in the mornings for your family so that your child knows how they are getting home that day or what activities they have on that afternoon. If anything changes during the day, you are more than welcome to ring Student Reception and a message can be forwarded on to students or they will be able to call you back. If you are a parent of a student who has been involved in the misuse of smart phones, I’m sure you will fully understand and support our approach.

If you have any concerns, feel free to contact me.

Blessings
Matthew Schrodter

From the Business Manager

School fees are due on 13 March 2020.

The Diocesan Levy of $5 is also payable Term 1 and Term 3 please do not forget to include this amount in your payments.

Discount amounts are as follows:

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
This discount is only on the Tuition fee not the subject levies.

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

Careers

Free Tafe for Yr12 Graduates

Nancy Douglas

Sports News

Interschool Swimming Carnival

12 March Wk 7- Mrs Cerutti has put a list of swimmers on noticeboard. The carnival will begin at 5:30 pm and conclude about 9:00pm. Team members are asked to assemble at the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre at 5:00 pm, to allow time to warm up before their event.

Team members need to wear their Gilroy sports uniform to the carnival. There will be food and drinks available from the canteen on the night. Any students who are not involved in the swimming events are encouraged to come along and support our Gilroy swim team.

Yr 7 Sports Day

Postponed until Term 4.

HR and NQ 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 Mr Mendiolea at the school to keep up to date with trial information. 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.

Secondary Trials Calendar Term 1 2020

Netball:

A team has been named and is in training as part of the lead up to Vicky Wilson matches- 11, 18 & 25 March and the QISSN tournament to be held in Brisbane during the Semester 1 holidays.

Rugby League

In Rugby League news, the Open Gilroy Santa Maria team has been training the past few weeks in preparation for upcoming fixtures and other matches leading up to the Confraternity Shield. 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, Open’s team training is held on Monday afternoons from 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.

NQ Rugby Union Trials

Any Opens boys interested in NQ trials come and see Mr Mendiolea at student reception during lunch times.

Primary School Sports/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.

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

HRSSA Primary School Sports Association will only be offering HR trials for these sports in 2020

ALL OTHER SPORTS WILL BE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WHERE STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO NOMINATE THEMSELVES FOR NQ TRIALS (Schools will get the Nomination forms).

Please see Mr Mendiolea at Student Reception if you are interested in trialling for these sports.

Michael Mendiolea

Let's Be More Mindful and Live in the Present

This Mindful March Action Calendar has daily-suggested actions to do throughout March 2020 to help you be more mindful and live in the present moment.

Kate Stringini
Counsellor

Academic Support

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

Indigenous Homework Support

Tuckshop News

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]

P&F

What’s Happening in the Parish

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes Newsletter

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

What’s Happening Around the District

St Peter’s Primary School Silver Circle

DATE CLAIMER: Saturday 16 May 2020

Theme this year is JUNGLE

$25.00 Single Ticket (1 x Dinner, Dessert and entry in Money Draw)
$35.00 Double Ticket (2 x Dinner, Dessert and entry in Money Draw)

Ingham Arts Festival 2020

I would like to advise that the Ingham Arts Festival for 2020 will be held from Sunday 23 – Thursday 27 August, 2020.

Friday 21 August will be the collection of Music, Art, Craft and Photography.

International Women’s Day

Teens Gouache Workshop

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