7 December 2021

Newsletter Articles

Essential Emails

From the Principal

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College community,

As this school year draws to a close, it has been encouraging to reflect on the many wonderful events we have held throughout the year and appreciate the opportunities that our students have been given. Whilst the past few weeks have been a time for celebration, acknowledging achievement and saying farewell to students, families and staff, it is also a time to welcome in our next cohort of students who will join our College in 2022. On Tuesday 30 November, we held the annual Orientation Day for the students who will be our year 7’s in 2022 and I am certain they are ready to start their secondary school journey after the Christmas holidays.

Farewell 2021

2021 has been a year of ensuring normality after the disruptions from last year. We have experienced a number of staff changes throughout the year and various disruptions, but I can confidently say that delivering quality education for students has always been, and will always be the number one focus at Gilroy Santa Maria College.

The success of this year is the result of much hard work, dedication and commitment from many people. Our students contribute by being committed to their studies and being involved in the many facets of school life, parents support and encourage students to take advantage of the opportunities provided. Staff develop, organise and deliver programs to engage students and allow them to gain new experiences. The College provides the resources, the opportunities and the governance to bring all the pieces together.

As the old saying goes ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’ and we need to continue to embrace the notion that it takes a team to develop our young people.

Farewell to Families

As we break for the Christmas holidays, I extend a very heart felt ‘Thank You’ to our families for providing us the opportunity to educate your children and work with you to prepare our young people for the future. I wish to repeat the message I recently shared with students at our whole school assembly – School holidays are a time to relax, recharge and spend time doing the things you may not have time for throughout the year. It is also a time to reflect on the past year and evaluate past performance. Ask yourself ‘could I have done better? What do I need to do to be better?’. My final message to students was to ‘spend time with family and loved ones, enjoy the break, but always be safe, be sensible and return next year ready to start the next chapter of life’.

An unfortunate reality every year is that a number of families finish their ties with the school as their children graduate from year 12. This year we see numerous families ending many years of being part of the Gilroy community. I encourage everyone to stay connected to our College and continue to be a part of our future, as we require strong community relationships to continue to provide quality education for our young people.

Farewell to staff

We bid farewell to a number of staff members who have decided to pursue other career options after spending time at Gilroy Santa Maria College. I whole heartedly thank them for their contributions to this College and wish them well in their future endeavours

Nicola Winterbourn is returning to Western Australia for family reasons after having spent the past few years here in paradise.

Andrea Groundwater has accepted a position as Guidance Officer at St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie

Ian Schifilliti has decided to take a teaching position outside the Ingham district.

Leon Stewart is pursuing a change of career and following a passion aligned to his personal life.

Mary McLaren will not be returning to GSMC in 2022 so she can tend to family matters.

Jasmine Pearce has taken up a role with a school in a Townsville. 

Megan McQuade has been appointed as Guidance Counsellor Advisor within the TCEO Student Services Team.

Siobhan Tierney has been appointed as Guidance Officer to a Townsville school next year.

Meagan Cantoni will be on maternity leave awaiting the arrival of her first child.  Meagan will return to GSMC in 2023.

New Building Update

The new M Block classrooms and the Edmund Rice Centre are progressing well to be ready when we welcome students back to school on Monday 24 January. Works have progressed to schedule after a delayed start due to continual wet weather earlier this year. Now the cabinetry and glazing has been installed the building is starting to take shape so we can appreciate what a wonderful facility we will have to enhance the Learning and Teaching of students.

Preparing for a Severe Wet Weather Event

The start of the new school year often coincides with severe weather events such as floods or cyclones so families are asked to stay informed by regularly checking details on the Townsville Catholic Education website, the GSMC Facebook page and staying up to date with Compass notifications.

God bless

Kevin Barnes
Principal

Meet our Principal Mr Kevin Barnes:

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Dear Gilroy Santa Maria College Community,

As we look back at the end of the year, there were many things happening around the school. Of course, Grad week was all about our Year 12 students, their end of year program, Graduation Mass and the Graduation Ceremony on Friday night. There were exams for the year 7's to 10's, assignments to be handed in and the last day of school activities. There is never a dull moment at our school!

I would like to thank everyone who helped in any way and attended our special Graduation Mass on Thursday night. A special thank you to Father Damian and the words of wisdom he always imparts on the students, and Ms Paula Rand who has helped in every way possible. These events are only made special by those who are a part of it and contribute in some way. It is one of the many highlights in my job and I always feel a sense of sadness as we farewell students and bless them on their way. I extend my congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2021.

Christmas is an important part of the Catholic church calendar and Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus' birth. We are called to prayer and contemplation, asking God to strengthen our hearts for what is to come. It is also a time of joy, looking to hopeful beginnings, setting out and looking forward to new life.

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the college community for the support given to me over the past year. Any success that I feel comes from the knowledge that I have a committed, driven and effective team around me, whether that be in administration, my Religious Education Department or staff.

God bless,

Christine Timms
Assistant Principal Religious Education

2021 Reports

Please be advised that Report Cards are now available on your Compass portal. Instructions on how to access these are attached below. A hard copy has also been mailed home.

Important Information 2022

2022 Textbook collection:

Your child’s Textbooks and school diary can be collected from C-Block during the week before Term 1 begins: Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 or Thursday 20 January (school hours).

2022 Stationery List:

A stationery list has been attached below for your reference.

Office Holiday hours:

Closed from Monday 13 December
Opens on Monday 10 January 2022

Important dates in 2022:

• 2022 Term 1: Monday 24 January to Friday 1 April
• 2022 Term 2: Tuesday 19 April to Friday 24 June
• 2022 Term 3: Monday 11 July to Friday 16 September
• 2022 Term 4: Tuesday 4 October to Friday 25 November
• Year 12 Final Day: Friday 18 November

Year 7 Orientation Day

On Tuesday 30 November, we welcomed our new Year 7's of 2022 to Gilroy Santa Maria College for their Orientation Day. The students spent the entire day at Gilroy, familiarising themselves with their classrooms, teachers and participated in many activities. Our Year 11 peer support leaders were also present on the day to assist our new Year 7's. Our peer support leaders did a wonderful job running activites and ensure the Year 7's enjoyed themselves.

We look forward to supporting our new students as they make the transition into secondary school in 2022.
We hope their day was enjoyable!
It is not too late to enrol at Gilroy Santa Maria College for 2022 - please contact the College office or email admin@gilroysm.catholic.edu.au for further information.

Final Day of 2021 Fun

Thank you to our Pastoral Leaders Mrs Cantoni, Ms Rand and Mrs Cerutti for organising such a wonderful final day of 2021. The inflatable slide and obstacle course activities were enjoyed by all students in the SMC. After some lunch together, students and staff headed to the pool via buses. Although the weather was not kind at the pool, the students were still able to enjoy some time in the water with their friends. This day was a great reward for our hard working students.

Graduation 2021

Congratulations to our Graduating class of 2021! Graduation week concluded with the Annual Graduation Night. This special night went extremely smooth and the hall looked incredible. A special thank you must go to the parents of our students that assisted in the many months of planning, setting up, creating, painting etc. We also must thank Ms Paula Rand, Year 11 & 12 Pastoral Leader, for her time and dedication in ensuring the Year 12 Graduation was so special. Graduation night will hopefully be a night to remember for our students, celebrating with their families, friends and College community.

Thank you to Photographer Mostyn Swain for his spectacular photos. Here are just a few of Mostyn's photos from the night!

Brekky Club

Brekky Club Wrap!

Each Wednesday of this entire year, Mrs Martin (along with her many helpers) arranged Brekky club at the Tuckshop for all of our students to enjoy.

We recieved donated goods from Woolworths Ingham and Mick's Bakery - Thank you so much for your generosity!

This is such a wonderful initiative.

Thanks Mrs Martin.

School TV

School TV

Just a reminder to check out our SchoolTV platform on the Gilroy website homepage. This is an integral part of a whole school approach to student wellbeing. It is available to our parents and families. Each topic or edition addresses key issues using brief interviews with expert specialists, fact sheets, parent quizzes, recommended apps, books and much more.

School Based-Traineeships & Apprenticeships

Congratulations to our students that have recently secured school-based Traineeships & Apprenticeships. These students will continue to complete their senior schooling whilst completing their work at local businesses. Thank you to the local businesses that are supporting these students and giving them such valuable opportunities. If students are looking to secure School-Based Traineeships or Apprenticeships, they should see Mrs Cassandra Venturato.

From the Business Manager

2022 School Fees

As all year levels attend either a retreat or a camp we have decided to include all school camps in the general levy. This fee is not discounted if the student does not attend camp.

Previously only year 10’s were charged a laptop levy of $250 per student, however all students now have a device so an IT levy of $100 per student has also been included.

The General Purpose levy consists of:

• Subscriptions
• Technology – including licences, accidental insurance and laptop bags
• Subject levies
• Textbooks and other resources
• Camps/Retreats
• Student devices

We have also separated the Building Fund Levy of $500 per family. This was previously included in general levies but this fee is now per family not per student.

MULTI-SCHOOL FAMILY FEE DISCOUNTS

As of 2015, a new fee structure gives families discounted fees for the second, third and subsequent children across both secondary and primary systemic Catholic schools in the Townsville Diocese.

To take advantage of this extended fee discount, parents/carers should contact the principal of the primary school, informing them of older siblings attending a systemic Catholic secondary school. Diocesan Tuition fee discounts will be applied accordingly.

PENSIONER AND HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS FEE DISCOUNTS

In addition to these family fee discounts, parents/carers with a means tested Australian government health care or pensioner concession card may be eligible to receive a 70% discount to tuition fees. Card must be in the name of the parent/carer not he child/student.

Families without these cards who are experiencing financial difficulty should speak with their school principal to apply for special consideration.

No child will be denied enrolment due to financial difficulty. Parent/carers should discuss this matter with the school principal who will treat the situation with understanding, sensitivity and confidentiality.

The school office will close on Friday 10 December and we will reopen on Monday 10 January 2022. Keep an eye out on Facebook and emails for times and dates for when the library is open to collect your textbooks.

Just a reminder that our preferred way of payment is now BPAY and those details are on the statement. As always, you can pay by credit card, cheque or cash or we can set up a direct debit through Pay way.

If the statement does not look, quite right and you do not agree with balance or if you have any issues or questions regarding the statements please do not hesitate to see me.

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.

God Bless

Roslyn Giuliano
Business Manager

Tuckshop News

Download the new App to order Tuckshop online.

What’s Happening in the Parish

Ingham Region Catholic Parishes Newsletter:

Father Damian McGrath
Parish Priest
Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

What’s Else is Happening?

Council Calls for Expressions of Interest for Youth Holiday Program during School Holidays

Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from interested community members and service providers to develop a Youth Program during the 2022 Easter School Holidays.

Council aims to coordinate a program that supports:

• A safe space for local youth to gather during the school holidays;
• A reliable program of activities delivered on weekdays;
• Credible service providers to support youth needs;
• Energetic, respectful and caring people who exhibit inclusive values, free of discrimination or judgement; and
• Strong links to youth related services.

Council is also seeking volunteers to support the service provider with delivery of the program.

Volunteer’s must be available on weekdays during normal working hours.

Applicants must be over 18 years of age, hold a current Blue Card, and be willing to be inducted into Council’s Ambassador Program.

To express your interest or for further information about the Youth School Holiday Program, please contact Council on 4776 4600 or email council@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au.

Expressions of Interest close 5.00pm Friday 17 December 2021.

-Ends-

For further enquiries: Media and Communications Officer, Kayla Smith 4776 4642.

KAYLA SMITH
Acting Media and Communications Officer - Hinchinbrook Shire Council
P 07 4776 4642 - F 07 4776 3233 E ksmith@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au
hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au | facebook | linkedin

TCEO Newsletter

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