30 April 2020

Newsletter Articles

ANZAC DAY

Even though the ANZAC Day Ceremonies could not take place this year, it was great to see so many students commemorate ANZAC Day with their families at home. Many students and families stood in their driveways at 6am with a candle along with the rest of the community.

Our Senior students took part in a commemorative liturgy which we have made available for our Community to see at the below link. If you get the chance, please take the time to watch this beautiful liturgy:

Commemorative Liturgy Link:

P & F Committee

The P & F Committee organised lunch for the entire staff on Tuesday 28 April. This was a kind gesture to say thank you to staff for the work they have done to prepare students for online learning at Gilroy Santa Maria.

Due to current circumstances, there will be no P&F Meetings until further notice.

Essential Emails

Gilroy on the Go

Transition Days

Unfortunately, the first Transition Day 1 that was scheduled for Thursday 30 April has been cancelled.

Transition Day 2 is still going ahead at this stage on Thursday 28 May.

All Year 6 students of the district are welcome to attend.

Take a walk with us:

Link to enrolment information:

Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community,

As we return from the Easter break and begin Term 2, we find most schools across Australia are experiencing a whole new way of learning for students, families and their teachers. It has been a steep learning curve for many of us and a challenge. We have been lucky at Gilroy Santa Maria as all students have a school device to take home and our google classroom platform has made it manageable for teachers to communicate with their students, set weekly tasks and provide feedback to them. I have been invited to these google classrooms and the teleconferences that many teachers are conducting, and I am proud of our staff for the level of professionalism they have demonstrated. I know they are working harder than ever as they continually try to keep on top of the many queries and emails that they are receiving from our students, parents and carers.

As I mentioned, in a letter to parents/carers and students last week, we are tracking student’s engagement in their online learning. As teachers have the capacity to check on the work students have completed on their google classrooms, they are able to see if a student has been doing enough work during the week. If they have not, teachers have emailed individual parents and carers. If the same students are not doing enough work across several subjects, then our pastoral leaders will ring parents and carers directly. If there are any reasons why your child has not been able to engage in online learning then please contact the school, we are here to assist and support you.

As I write this newsletter article, the advice regarding schooling in future weeks has not changed. At this moment online learning is continuing in Queensland schools until Friday 22 May. However, in the articles that I have read recently, it seems obvious that the Federal Government are keen for schools to return to normal as soon as possible. The Queensland Government appears to be agreeing with this stance in recent days so I am expecting advice in the coming days of how and when we will transition back to normal. I can tell you that from my perspective and I am sure for most students, staff and parents the sooner the better.

Last week we conducted our first School Board meeting for the year, some members attended via teleconference while the rest of our members spread ourselves out in our staffroom. As it was our first meeting for the year, we also conducted our Annual General Meeting. For the second year I am pleased to announce that Ms Kristen Kernke is the Board Chair, while we also welcomed new members Mrs Annette Biasi and Dr Jane Poggio. Below is a complete list of our board for 2020.

I look forward to working with our Board as we discuss many issues regarding the directions, goals and plans for the future of our school.

This term we welcomed Mrs Simone Cook to our staff. Simone will be our school counsellor for terms 2-4 as our usual counsellor Ms Kate Stringini is on maternity leave. Simone has been a teacher in Catholic schools for many years and recently completed her guidance counselling qualifications. She also is a past student of Gilroy Santa Maria, so it is great welcome Simone back.

Closing on some other good news, congratulations to our Assistant Principal Pastoral Mr Matthew Schrodter and is wife Jess who welcomed twin girls into their family over the Easter break. Mr Schrodter will be on paternity leave for a couple of weeks.

God Bless
John Nuttall

From the Assistant Principal (Administration & Curriculum)

Hello Parents and Care Givers,

As we near towards the end of our second week of online learning, it is comforting and pleasing to see most of our students making the most of learning from home. We are tracking all our students, and it is obvious that most are trying very hard to ensure they stay up to date with their learning across the curriculum. I would like to congratulate both students and parents for making such a dedicated effort to keep the learning flowing throughout our community.

I do have some key messages to follow.

ONLINE ENGAGEMENT TRACKING

As mentioned above, we are tracking all students across all subject areas. Families are being contacted where we can see a pattern of non-engagement in student’s weekly tasks. Schooling is also still compulsory and therefore, this document is used to determine student attendance in Compass. We are very understanding of the difficulties some students do have with learning at home and we are here to support them. Our teachers are working diligently with responding to students’ questions and concerns. We hope that navigating the online ‘space’ this week becomes easier and students can focus on completing the assigned work.

TERM 1 INTERIM REPORTS

Despite some exams not happening in Yr 7-10 during the final week of school due to COVID-19, the College will still be issuing Interim Reports. These reports will be sent home on Friday of next week.

RESULTS - If students have completed any formal assessment throughout Term 1, then they will have a result indicated. If they have not undertaken any formal assessment, then they will have an NA in this column.

These reports will also, importantly, communicate to parents, their child’s effort and behaviour throughout the term.

INTERVIEWS – Finally, this report will also allow teachers to request interviews with students and parents. If teachers think a student is at risk of not achieving a satisfactory standard or is failing in their subject. Teachers may also request interviews with any of their students if they feel they have information they would like to share with you.

At this stage, parent/student/teacher interviews are being proposed for week 7 through our normal mode of face-to-face; however, if school does not resume as per normal, information about what form this will take will be communicated.

TERM 2 ASSESSMENT PLANNERS

Teachers are currently populating our Term 2 assessment planners for all year levels. This information will be shared with students and parents by the end of week 4. Again, due dates for some assessment will be based upon the decision that school will resume as normal in Week 6. Therefore, if a different decision is made and home schooling is extended, then some assessment may change. Again, further communication will be made once we know what the rest of the term will look like.

God Bless
Melissa Carr

From the Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

It is a very different welcome back to Term 2. I hope everyone is keeping safe and well and has settled into the new routine that looks like schooling for this term. It has been great to see the positive response to online learning. Thank you for the support and encouragement you have shown your children, as well as the College staff as we do our best to support our students.

The Easter celebrations that occurred during the holidays looked very different to normal. Father Damian and Father Vinoj have continued to support the parish community spirituality during this time and I am grateful for Father Damian’s enthusiasm and expertise in all things technological. Remember that you can stream all masses through the parish website:

Easter, in the churches liturgical calendar, runs from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost. During this time in the bible Jesus revisits his followers, encouraging them to continue the work he started through his ministry. Jesus urges his disciples to take courage in their faith and spread the Good News. It is up to us, as well, to take courage and continue the works of Jesus in our lives. It is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic to reach out to the many people in need, those who are isolated and kept distant from those they treasure most, to spread our love and compassion and support the most vulnerable.

Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate the Anzac Day Commemorative Liturgy. Our senior leaders take on their roles at the beginning of the year with pride and their sense of commitment to the College has not waivered over the past month. I am very appreciative of the way they continue to be a part of the school community and their involvement in the service.

I sent out an email at the beginning of the week, asking for staff, parents and students to send in the small blessings in their lives. I have been overwhelmed with the responses from everyone. Please continue to send these through to me so we can paste them on our Facebook page.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the God of all compassion and comfort.

We thank you that you listen to our prayers.
We pray today for our world, our nation, our city and our church as the Coronavirus spreads.
Please bring help to all our communities according to their needs.
Heal those afflicted and strengthen all who have the responsibility for care.

In your mercy, please provide a cure and give wisdom to those seeking to develop a vaccine for this condition.
We pray, too, for ourselves.
Enable us to walk by faith.
Help us to be careful and wise in taking whatever precautions are necessary to limit and contain the spread of this virus.

Strengthen us to remain calm while vigilant;
responsible citizens seeking the welfare of others above ourselves.
At times of uncertainty and anxiety,
help our world to look to security in your Son, Jesus Christ.

And give courage to Christians as we point others to the One in whom there is always hope.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Who Will Walk With Us on May 9?

On Saturday, May 9, Gary Pinto will be hosting a free online concert for Project Compassion, bringing Australian and International music stars directly from their loungeroom, to yours.

We are overjoyed to announce some of the musicians who will be bringing their big talents (and big hearts) to the show:

• Gary Pinto
• Diesel
• Carmen Smith
• Bobbie Lee Stamper
• Matt Gresham

More artists are confirming by the day, so we will be sending updates to let you know who to expect in your loungeroom!

Walk With Me: Loungeroom Sessions
When: Saturday May 9, 2020 at 4pm
Where: Pre-register HERE

God bless
Christine Timms
Assistant Principal
(Religious Education)

From the Business Manager

As the school will continue to operate and our staff will keep working to provide continuity of teaching and learning, including online learning at home arrangements, tuition fees for Term 2 will operate as they do normally.

Invoices for Term 2 fees and levies will be issued in Week 4 of Term 2. This timing coincides with the commencement in May of some of the Federal Government’s stimulus package that will provide support to those in our community experiencing financial hardship. They will not be due until the end of Term 2.

In accordance with the mission, values and ethos of our school, we remain committed to providing an education to all of students regardless of their financial circumstances.

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 you have any questions or queries, please contact the Principal or myself to discuss the matter. The sooner you make contact the sooner we can work together for a solution.

Roslyn Giuliano
Business Manager

Careers

Please be advised that:

• All work placement / holiday work experience will cease until further notice
• The College has advised your workplace of this information
• All School-based apprenticeships and traineeships are encouraged to speak to their employer about their working arrangements

Nancy Douglas
Careers Advisor

Scott Gibson Building is hiring.

If you are interested and would like assistance with resumes, please contact the Careers Advisor Nancy Douglas.

Mulkadee

In light of the unprecedented and ever-changing situation with the global COVID-19 pandemic, Townsville Catholic Education has made the very difficult decision to postpone Mulkadee’s production of The Wizard of Oz to July 2021.

All information regarding Mulkadee moving forward will be distributed via our Mulkadee Representatives.

The Mulkadee team will continue to work on writing the music and script for The Wizard of Oz. We will also be planning a series of workshops that will be offered towards the later part of the year if possible. Please keep an eye on the Mulkadee Facebook page and TCEO website for updates.

Online Learning:

We are very proud of our students.

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:

Emergency Relief Service
Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre

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