Week 9 Thursday 28th March

Important dates

Werte, Hello!

To our school community,

It is hard to believe that term one is nearly complete, and we are already preparing for an exciting term 2 ahead.

Our students have experienced and shared in so many experiences at school this term that have enriched their lives and there is much to celebrate.

First, we have welcomed in the new Year 7 cohort at Centralian Middle School. Year 7 students have settled in well, new friendships have formed and so much learning has already occurred. Most recently, three of our year 7 students took part in a cross-town leadership day where they acted as mentors for primary school students. The three students involved were May Salei, Helava Wulf and Nesia Ford-Wineera. All three students were commended for their attitude, enthusiasm and ability to guide younger students through a range of experiences.

Over the course of the last two weeks Cheeky and Casey from GUTS Dance Company have been facilitating a dance intensive for young men at Centralian Middle School. The focus for the dance intensive is on healthy relationships and on focusing on love. What it is and what it isn’t. The outcome will be a short film where our students will star as both performers of dance and contributors to the goal of sharing what healthy relationships look and feel like for young people in Alice Springs. Whilst there are over 30 students who have been involved, Nuer Clement-Strawbridge, Emmanuel Rudolph, Tobias Roa, Sonny Mclean and Louis Turner have been recognized for their consistent participation and leadership in the sessions. We’re so proud of our young men for stepping up, taking the challenge and getting out of their comfort zones to contribute to something very special.

One of the biggest ticket items each year for schools is to complete NAPLAN. Our year 7 and 9 students recently completed NAPLAN tests for writing, numeracy, reading and language conventions. Students across both year levels participated well in the tests providing the platform for their peers to achieve their best. Importantly, a huge commendation to Emma Forrester, our Senior Teacher of Teaching and Learning who coordinated NAPLAN as running 5 smooth days of testing requires many hours of hard work in preparation. Huge Gratitude.

Looking ahead, we have so much to look forward to. Harmony Day Celebrations will be held on Friday of week 10. These celebrations will begin with a whole school assembly during lesson 2 that will recognize the achievements of our students this term and celebrate the rich diversity that exists within our school. Following this, will be a smoking ceremony with Pat Ansell Dodds and then activities in classrooms during lesson 3 and 4. At lunch time, we will share food, music and activities that celebrate diversity.  In addition to this, all year levels will be celebrating the end of the term with a trip to the Alice Springs Cinema to see Ghostbusters. Celebrating all the hard work students have put into term. And then in term 2, only just around the corner, we look forward to our Cross Country and Sports Day Events.

Finally, I’d like to share our student vision.

To be the person I dream of becoming.

To discover new things and learn without fear.

To choose wisely in what I do and how I do it.

To make my family happy and proud.

I believe that our student vision speaks to the aspirations that are held our school community – not only our students, but their families and our team at CMS too. Meaningful words that I felt were worth re-sharing and reflecting upon.

With huge gratitude for the support of our school community, the passion and dedication of our teachers and for our students’ efforts to always improve.

Josh Mapstone,

Assistant Principal, Year 7 Team Leader

School news and updates

Whole School Professional Development Days

The NT Public Sector Non-Contract Principals, Teachers, and Assistant Teachers’ 2021 – 2024 Enterprise Agreement now states that compulsory professional learning and development days occur:

• One day before students commence the school year.
• On the first day of the second, third and fourth terms.
• On the last day of Term 4 of each year

This means Monday, 15th April, will be a student-free day. Students return on Tuesday 16th April from holidays.

Sports Voucher 

Semester 1, 2024 Sports Vouchers are now available. Parents and carers will need to apply each semester at the following website. 

Please note if the details of the young person are already on the system, a voucher will be available to print or save straight away, if the details are not found by the system a voucher will be sent to the email address you have provided within 7 days.

More information is available at the link below, alternatively you can also contact the Sport Voucher team by phone on 1800 817 860 or by email sport.voucher@nt.gov.au .

Interschool Basketball 

A group of our students represented Centralian Middle School at the Interschool Basketball Competition in Week 7. They won two divisions of the competition and were praised for their refereeing, scoring and exemplary sportmanship. 

Duke of Edinburgh 

Since the start of the year CMS has been running the Duke of Edingburgh program during year 9 contact time. Currently engaging ten students, participation in the program will encourage students to build on existing skills, gain new skills and understand the importance of giving back through community service.  Each week, students are engaged in cooking nutritious meals for the local Drug and Alcohol Services Australia (DASA). They make approximately 20 meals each week that are delivered to DASA.  Throughout the course of the year, students will also gain their Food Handling and Safety Certificate and First Aid Certificate. 

Through the program students are gaining a greater sense of self-belief and self-esteem. So far Sarah France, the teacher responsible for getting this program up and running, has seen students stepping up and following instructions and engaging in their education in a positive manner.

The students recently made spaghetti bolognaise - yum! 

Health & Physical Education Update 

During our HPE classes this term students have been activating both their bodies and minds! Throughout this term our HPE teachers have been working closely with students in developing engaging and inclusive practices to how Health & PE is run. One of the exciting things that has been happening in this space is the opportunity for “Just Dance” fitness using Nintendo Switch consoles in the classroom as an alternative sport that can be offered to students in their “choice time”. Along with this we’ve also opened a Mental Health corner which allows students the opportunity to be active not just on the courts but also in their fine motor and thinking skills through artistic expression and classroom sports.

Stars Foundation Update

The past few weeks in Stars have been busy with exciting events and opportunities! Our Year 9 students engaged in the Leaders of Tomorrow workshop organised by Melissa Cole, where they were immersed in activities that pushed them out of their comfort zones. One highlight was the session on making bush medicine, led by Tyson Carmody from Kings Narrative. Tyson not only shared his expertise but also emphasized the significance of self-pride and cultural pride. Students engaged in discussions and activities that fostered self-awareness and appreciation for their roots, creating meaningful and impactful learning experiences throughout the workshop.

We also celebrated International Women’s Day with a morning tea held up in the Stars room during Recess time. Students and teachers gathered for this special event in honour of women’s achievements and empowerment. The highlight of the event was a moving presentation by guest speaker Leela Kruger, who shared her personal journey, including the challenges she faced and resilience that drove her success. Leela’s story resonated with everyone present, inspiring and motivating them to strive for their goals and embrace their own unique paths. The morning tea served as a celebration of women’s strength, resilience, and accomplishments, creating a supportive and empowering atmosphere for all attendees.

In Week 7, the year 7- & 8-Stars students indulged in a hand on sushi making session that sparked creativity and teamwork. Some students already experienced in sushi making, eagerly shared their expertise with their classmates creating a supportive learning environment. The students expressed great pride in their sushi creations and described them as delicious, some even saying theirs tasted better than the sushi from the sushi train! Additionally in the same week, the year 9 students showcased their cooking talents by preparing delicious chicken stir fry dishes packed with lots of colourful and nutritious veggies. The delicious dishes they created not only satisfied taste buds but also highlighted the importance of healthy cooking.

Week 8 brought the cooler weather, so we introduced some fun outdoor activities at Jim McConville oval. Stars students and Stars Staff engaged in a variety of games that displayed communication, teamwork, and friendly competition. All students showcasing some impressive kicking and marking skills!

The upcoming 2024 Youth Conference at Araluen Arts Centre in week 10 is a highly anticipated event that promises engaging sessions and inspiring speakers for our senior Stars students. We are all really looking forward to this event!

-STARS

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Community Announcements

Earth Day Boot Sale 

Neighbours Every Day 

Youth Skate Workshops 

2024 Youth Conference

Westies Football 

Westside Community Garden Potluck 

Young Carers Connect Session 

K-Pop World Festival 

Lunchbox Inspiration - Let's Build Strong Bodies 

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