Term 4 Week 3 Friday 25th October

Important dates

Werte, Hello!

It’s hard to believe we are in Term 4 already. This is always a busy term with PAT testing, assessments, report writing and end of year celebrations. Please add the date for our Presentation Night to your calendar before it fills up – Thursday 5^th December – so we can all be together to celebrate the achievements of our amazing students.

We have had a good start to the term with a calm and positive energy in classrooms and the school yard. Most students are wearing their school uniform with pride, and we continue to see learning and wellbeing benefits from young people handing in their phones at the start of the day or not bringing them to school. This is also the time of year when we write our School Improvement Plan for 2025. Thanks to families who responded to the School Survey, as that feedback helps us plan. I’d like to share some of the progress we’ve made together so far this year.

Dr Glenda McCarthy
 Principal

2024 so far

Attendance

Our attendance has increased slightly in Term 3, with our most recent census at 66%. Our goal is to achieve 70% attendance this term. We can’t raise attendance without family support.

Please let us know if we can support in any way, and please contact us if your young person is sick or has another reason for absence: call 89552333 or text 0426308566.

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Our schoolwide focus on (re)teaching and rewarding positive behaviour is seeing significant improvements. A safe school is a welcoming place that supports wellbeing and learning. Since Term 1, major behaviour incidents such as targeted swearing and vandalism have dropped by 50%. Fights has decreased by 66%. CMS staff have done training in Restorative Practices, so we have more skills to understand and assist our young people talk out their differences and take responsibility for repairing harm. As a result of this focus on positive behaviour, suspensions in Term 3 were down by 75%.

A focus for positive behaviour this term will be looking after classrooms and spaces, putting rubbish in the bin, cleaning up and taking pride in our school.

Teaching and Learning

On Day 1 of term, staff listened to Kenny Lechleitner, a local cross-cultural presenter who helped us reflect on how to be good mentors and teachers for all our young people. He reminded us of Wenten Rubuntja’s words that all the kids born here, black and white, are yipirinya kids. We belong together and to this place. We learn together.  Kenny Lechleitner also affirmed the important work of schools because literacy gives young people power in their lives to access knowledge and the economy.

Literacy continues to be a main focus for CMS teachers. Teachers are using the same strategies to teach vocabulary, based on the best educational research. We are also encouraging our students to read in Home Group, to read for pleasure. It doesn’t matter if it is the newspaper, a magazine, non-fiction or teen fiction. Just read!

We have been focusing on the CMS Instructional Model and how to structure lessons and units to keep students interested and learning. Teachers have volunteered to have parts of their lessons filmed and these videos are shared in professional learning. This helps teachers to see outside their own classrooms and shares best practice.

Year 9 Small Groups and Flexi are continuing transition visits to Centralian Senior College this term. Transition opportunities will continue for incoming primary students, especially Gillen Primary School who were unable to join us on the whole day transition visit in Term 3.

Staffing

We continue to be fully staffed, including relief teacher capacity. We welcomed two new staff members this term:

• Mr Jawwad Ali – Year 8 English/Humanities replacing Delean Holtze
• Mr Kenny Braun – Aboriginal Education Officer replacing Rachel Abbott

We're currently recruiting a few positions for 2025. The vast majority of teachers are committed to staying at CMS.

Celebrations

Seven CMS staff are nominated for Teaching in the Territory awards: Teachers Jemma Seddon, Matthew Stephens, Vicky Howie; Support Staff Ibu Darmini, Sandrine Frapier. Two finalists are Julia Pearson for Support Person of the Year and Brad Gill for Secondary Teacher of the Year.

I am deeply grateful for the amazing CMS staff team, and I’m sure you’ll join me in celebrating their care, dedication and skill.

Dr Glenda McCarthy
 Principal

Term 4 Assessment Schedules

What's happening

Alice Can Dance

With the annual dance spectacular fast approaching, our young people have been hard at work, practising their moves and sharing their thoughts with the cameras behind the scenes as they use their bodies and minds to explore these year's theme, A World of Emotion.

250 of Central Australia’s most talented young people will take to the stage at Araluen Arts Centre for two shows only on November 15th, to illuminate the human experience that connects us all - our emotions and how we understand them, feel them and use them. Tickets are on sale now, so be sure you don't miss out!

Date: Friday, November 15th
Time: 5:00pm and 7:00pm
Where: Araluen Arts Centre
Tickets: Available now from www.araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au     (Adult: $12, Concession: $10, Student: $6, Family: $30)

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Year 8 exploring Country

Our year 8 small groups classes have hit the ground running this term with all three classes already expanding their classroom learning with excursions to learn more about Country.

8.1 and 8.2 visit Ntaria

Year 8.1 and 8.2 spent a day travelling west to Ntaria country to visit the house of Albert Namatjira, the Historic Precinct at Hermannsburg and the Aranda Artists at the Hermannsburg Pottery. The classes were accompanied by Ms Jannette McCormack and Tamika Williams from the Language Centre.

At Namatjira’s house we learned that Albert and his wife lost a child and for cultural reasons left the property to live elsewhere. The boys were very respectful of the cultural and spiritual significance of the site.

Jarred and Lance commented that the house was quite small, however they felt compared to modern day standards, that it would be very liveable.

‘We can’t believe that 24 kids would fit into that space.’
Noah and Julian were surprised by the conditions of the boy’s accommodation at the Lutheran Mission.

LeShaun and Cedric were wondering how the tannery equipment worked.

William and Lynton were very impressed by the creative work at the pottery and hope that one day they can also creative such decorative and creative pieces.

Throughout the day the group paid respect to the culture, landscapes and people on traditional country. Students will pursue the discussions in their English and Arrernte lessons back at school.

Photography by William, Noah, Julian, Jarred and Lance.

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8.7 visited the Central Australian Museum

8.7 headed across to the Araluen Cultural Precinct this week with Culture teacher Mali to learn about the natural history of local Country and the importance of water.

Even the teachers had a great time and are always learning something from Mali's lessons.

Ms Angela

We are learning about water in the central desert. The few permanent water holes that exist serve as essential water sources for all life in the desert which we must respect and protect. 

Ms Nola

I loved seeing some of the rocks and minerals that came from Central Australia. Places I used to fossick such as Harts Range, Peterman Range and Attunga.

Stars & Clontarf

As they head towards the end of another successful year, both our academies are preparing to celebrate student achievements in 2024 with our communities.

Stars

Stars will be gathering together on Thursday November 12th for their End of Year Celebration. Starting at 6pm in the CMS school hall.

Clontarf

Clontarf is delighted to invite our partners, staff and families to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the CSC, CMS & Yirara Clontarf Academies at the Alice Springs Academies End of Year Awards on Wednesday November 6th. The event will be held at CMS and kicks off at 6pm.

Please click here to RSVP.

After School Program Term 4

Free internet for eligible families

The School Student Broadband Initiative is a Federal Government voucher system that aims to make at-home internet connection affordable for all families with school-aged children. Eligible families can access free internet until the end of 2025.

Applications need to be made by 31 December 2024.

To apply:

1. Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610, from Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm (AEDT) or visit anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.
2. Responding to questions that assess your eligibility.
3. Eligible families will be provided with a voucher they can use to connect to their chosen participating internet provider.
4. Connect before December 31st, 2024.

Halloween in Town

Get into the spirit 👻 early as the town council kicks off Halloween tonight. Head to the town library at 3pm for some spooky stories or straight to the mall starting at 4pm for the Halloween Pop Up Party.

Facebook

Facebook - Keep up to date with all our news and updates

Head on over to ‘like’ our Facebook page to keep in touch with school news, highlights and achievements of our wonderful students. We encourage people to like and share our posts.

Please read the terms of engagement before posting comments.

Community Announcements

NT Sport voucher at the Y (students over 16 only)

Students over 16 can use their NT Sport vouchers to get a 2-month membership at Kilgariff YMCA. Scan below for details.