30 May 2023
Important dates
Saturday 27 May to Saturday 3 June – National Reconciliation Week
Tuesday 6 June to Friday 9 June - Year 8/9 Clontarf Coober Pedy Basketball Carnival
Friday 9 June - 9am to 2pm– CMS Athletics Carnival – Head Street Oval
Monday 12 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Wednesday 14 June – Interschool Athletics
Thursday 15 June – 4 pm – CMS School Fete
Monday 19 June to Friday 23 June – CMS Celebrates NAIDOC Week
Tuesday 20 June to Friday 23 June – Year 7 Camp – Hamilton Downs
Friday 23 June – Last day of Term 2 – Mid Semester Break
Tuesday 18 July – First Day of Term 3 – Semester 2
Werte, Hello
Welcome to our school newsletter as we work together to successfully finish Term 2. On a foundation of positive behaviours and good attendance, students and teachers are focused on learning and assessment tasks.
This has also been a time of exciting activities beyond the classroom.
On May 5th, 45 CMS students from all year levels distinguished themselves in the interschool netball competition, with the Year 8 team winning the overall competition. Then on May 17th, 40 students in 6 teams represented us in the interschool basketball, winning every category. Students made us proud by also helping those from other schools still learning the rules and umpiring games as needed. Way to be respectful, responsible and fair!
While on the topic of school sports, families are welcome to join us for the Athletics Carnival Friday the 9th of June at Head St from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
Other recent co-curricular highlights include the Student Leadership Day on May 18th where our student leaders led primary school students in team building and communication activities. Congratulations also to everyone in two combined bands of CMS and CSC students whose music thrilled the audience at the Eisteddfod on the 22nd of May.
Most of us are aware of the hardworking Year 9 team who are fundraising to support students attending the camp to Adelaide later this year. Thanks to all who supported the first BBQ and car wash; stay tuned for more opportunities to contribute.
Two more important opportunities for our school community to come together are coming up. If you haven’t already done so, please mark your calendars for the CMS fete on Thursday the 15th of June. It promises to be a fun-filled event. CMS will celebrate NAIDOC in Week 10, June 19th – 23rd, with details to follow. The theme this year is “For Our Elders”.
On a personal note, I am so happy to be back at CMS where I started as a first-year teacher in 1989 and returned in the early 2000s. I’ve learned a lot from my years at CSC and in the USA, but always feel this is the heartland as I reconnect with families in this most special place and school.
Dr Glenda McCarthy
Assistant Principal – Centralian Middle School
School news and updates
CMS Emergency Procedures
All Northern Territory (NT) Government schools are required to have a current Emergency management plan that outlines the school’s response to an emergency situation.
Assessment Schedules
Here are the key assessment tasks your young person has completed or will complete in each subject area and the timeframe for when items are due. The Term 2 Assessment Schedules for Year 7, 8 & 9 are below.
Student Leadership
Student Leader Workshops
On Thursday 18th May, CMS Student Leaders hosted a leadership day with leaders from Sadadeen Primary School and Braitling Primary School. Vivica and Chelsea welcomed the students with an acknowledgement of country. Mr. Mapstone got us started with some icebreakers. We played Pattern Name Game, throwing beanbags across the circle as we said our names, which helped us make new friends and communicate effectively.
Pattern Name Game
Next, we used hula hoops to play Cross the River. We worked in teams to try and be the first ones to go across the gym.
Cross the River
At the end of each activity, Ms Forrester helped us reflect on what we were enjoying and learning about ourselves and each other as we practiced our leadership skills. Lunch was a great opportunity to hang out, play Spotto and enjoy some pizza, cookies, and juice together.
Playing Spotto together at lunch time
Hula Hut Dodge Ball was such an exciting game. We worked as teams to build huts, throw beanbag missiles at the other team’s huts, and re-build our own huts. Mr. Mapstone got us to pause during the game and think of better strategies.
Hula hut dodgeball was great for team building
Talking strategy with our teams
“The student leaders’ day was important because we connected with leaders from other schools and learned more ways to communicate while having fun.” Lucy Hocking Year 8
At the end of the day, we all reflected on how successful we were at talking positively to each other, taking on new ideas and making team work better by having as much fun as possible.
2023 Student Leadership
Year 7
English & Humanities
7.4 students are learning new words while playing new language games at the same time, so much fun!
7.3 have been working in groups on their “Research an Entrepreneur”.
Year 7’s students also had the opportunity to go on an excursion to Todd Mall for their unit on business and economics. They observed the shops and enjoyed a little treat after!
Food Technology
In year 7 Food Technology we have been learning about Safety in the Kitchen and Food in Australia, Indigenous Foods. In these photos we were making biscuits and muffins and learning how to cream the butter and sugar first. In the last photo we made lasagna pockets. When making the pockets, we were taught how to make a roux, using butter and flour for the white sauce.
In Flexi Food Technology, Mary has been extending herself and her learning. In these photos she had to demonstrate patience when using Filo pastry to make Spicy Vegetable Filo rolls and Apple Strudel rolls.
Small group classes have been cooking different dishes from around the world. In these photos, students were checking that they have beaten their egg whites into stiff peaks for their Mini Chocolate Souffles.
Science
Our Year 7s are wrapping up their Chemistry unit on Mixtures. They have already demonstrated their knowledge of the particles and properties of materials inside of mixtures. In recent weeks they have practiced separation techniques and are now combining this knowledge into multi-step separations.
National Baseball Championships
"Kevin Pollard from Year 7.1 proudly represented the Northern Territory at the Intermediate League National Baseball Championships that took place over the 17th-24th May 2024 in Mildura, Victoria. Kevin's teachers and friends at CMS are proud of Kevin's hard work, commitment and dedication towards the game. Keep up the good work, Kevin!"
Year 8
Humanities Excursion
In Week 4, Year 8 Humanities classes went on an excursion to the Kilgariff Estate and Todd Mall as part of their geography assessment on urban development in Mparntwe Alice Springs. At the Kilgariff Estate, we answered questions and learned about the new housing development with 449 dwellings planned, as well as a new home for rugby in the Centre.
Students noticed units being built to provide more affordable housing options in Kilgariff
Enjoying a quick break at one of two parks that currently provide recreation spaces
In the CBD, we made field drawings of the main section of Todd Mall, noting work being done to develop greener community spaces with shade and lighting. We have been learning about how the government is addressing community shift from street facing spaces in the mall to indoor spaces such as Alice Plaza and the Yeperenye Centre.
Students adding to field notes in Todd Mall
A big thanks to Miss Forrester who did so much to organise this engaging learning activity, and congratulations to all the Year 8s who represented CMS proudly with respectful and responsible behaviour.
Year 9
Year 9’s Adelaide Camp Fundraiser
Our year 9 students, CMS staff and family volunteers are working hard to raise money towards this year’s year 9 camp to Adelaide. It's going to be a great night full of fun with live entertainment from our local musicians, including our wonderful CMS musicians. Join us on 15th June from 4pm to 8 pm. You can support us by volunteering to help in our stalls, donate to our stalls or simply enjoy the night.
Raffle tickets on sale now at Yeperenye or at CMS Front Office.
Does your car need a wash? If the answer is yes, then why not let our wonderful Year 9’s clean it for you. Sunday 18th of June from 10am to 3pm come and support our young people raise funds, all proceeds will go towards the Year 9 Camp to Adelaide, what a great way to support young people in our community.
Please help us spread the words and if you would like to help out, give us a call on 8955 2333. We greatly appreciate your support.
Transition Visit to Centralian Senior College
Our Year 9 students had their first transition visit to Centralian Senior College yesterday. Although it was a short visit, the students were excited to take a tour of the College, see what's on offer for next year and meet the College staff. Thank you to Centralian Senior College for having us. We are looking forward to our next visit in Term 3.
VET Conservation and Land Management
VET Land Management:
Our students have been focusing on maintenance, work safety and strengthening their identification knowledge for survey work. In the last few weeks, they
- have looked example of maintenance in buildings, on land/properties and within workshops
- seen how Parks and Wildlife rangers complete daily duties and maintenance of visitor infrastructure
- learnt about plant features for identification at Simpsons Gap and observed wildlife at Jessie Gap
They were also fortunate enough to experience using a fire extinguisher and have completed theory work on Support Nursery Work and Work Safely units.
Jessie Gap maintenance checks and survey
Simpsons Gap daily duties with Ranger Mark
Workshop safety and fire extinguishers at Simpsons Gap Ranger Station
Plant identification talk with Ranger Mark at Simpsons Gap
Year 9 fete is also coming up and our students have been potting up plants for sale - come down to support the Year 9's fundraising for their camp on Thursday 15 June, 4-8pm.
VET students getting some plants ready for sale at the year 9 fete
Jacelyn Anderson
VET Land Management trainer/assessor
Stars Foundation
In the Stars space as of late, we have been super duper busy!
We have partnered up with Clontarf in contact times with our Year 8s and 9 Stars students versing the fellas in a game of basketball. All played in good spirits, all students displayed great sportsmanship and respect towards one another and strengthened friendships between both programs!
Last week, our Year 7 and 8 Stars students had their last session of mountain bike riding with George from Wellness on Wheels and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This week our Year 8 students worked with Jason Lord of Arrernte Community Boxing Academy, and even though these sessions encourage active and healthy lifestyles, it has been great learning about the leadership and community values that Jason has built in his gym and how the girls can carry it into school. Our Year 7 and 9 Stars students recently worked with Ian McAdam of the Right Tracks Program, and as always, learnt invaluable values of lessons on leadership and teamwork, and how understanding their own personalities can help them work best with others. Our Year 9 Stars students have been busy, also enjoying a visit to the Alice Springs Reptile Centre for Contact Time in week 3!
This week we were lucky enough to take a group of nine Stars students to Tennant Creek for the annual Oz Tag Carnival, where we competed against Tennant Creek Primary and High School, Katherine High and Primary School and Yirara College Stars academies. We are so proud of our team for having a go at Oz Tag, being inclusive and respectful to others and displaying our Stars values. As always it is great catching up and establishing connections with our fellow Stars members, and we are very excited for our next Stars Carnival in Term 3!
For the remainder of the term, we are excited to partner up with the Congress Link Up team and hear more about the great work they do supporting members of the Stolen Generation, linking up with the Stars CSC crew to begin transition visits, Stars sleepovers and more!
Polly Farmer Foundation
It’s been a great start to Term 2, so far this term students have set goals for the term and enjoyed new VR equipment. Students used the equipment to explore space, learn about the environment and human anatomy! These devices will lead to greater learning and engagement in STEM during FTD.
CMS Follow the Dream students visited ICTV recently to learn about career pathways in media and learn more about the work we do at ICTV. The students are now feeling inspired to create their own content and will work with ICTV to develop their ideas in the coming weeks. Later that week students challenged their design and engineering skills building marshmallow and spaghetti towers seeing who can build the largest tower.
Later in term 3, selected Follow the Dream students will attend the Follow the Dream STEM excursion to Adelaide taking place on Thursday August 4th to Monday, August 7th. The aim of the excursion is to build students’ knowledge and aspirations of careers and study pathways in STEM. During the excursion students will participate in the STEM Day Out at the Adelaide Showgrounds, visit the Science Space Discovery Centre, the MOD, the SA museum, participate in the Adelaide Crows STEMfooty workshop and attend the Crows vs Suns game at the Adelaide oval. To be eligible to attend this excursion students must attend both Follow the Dream sessions on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (+90% FTD attendance) demonstrate positive participation, effort and behaviour during these sessions. Permission forms and further details including an itinerary will be sent home to successful students in July. All expenses will be covered by the Foundation.
Hamish McLoughlin
Dance Workshop
For the past 2 weeks, a few of our CMS boys have been working hard with celebrated First Nations dance makers and facilitators Casey Natty and Cheeky Connell to create dance for the Healthy Relationships program, a collaboration between GUTS, Be Me Movement, White Ribbon, and The Swisse Girls on Country. These young men showed their awesome skills and performed at CSC for Mparntwe audience last Friday night. Well done fellas, we are extremely proud of you!
Community Announcements
St Phillips College Play – Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay?
When & where: Thursday 1 June & Friday 2 June | The Minnamurra Hall, St Philip's College
$10 adult and $5 child/concession Tickets available online here:
NT Writers Festival / Mwantye – le awaye (Listen Deeply)
When & Where: Thursday 1 June - Sunday 4 June | Olive Pink Botanic Garden
NTWF returns this year to Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. This stunning festival invites readers, writers and lovers of stories to explore the theme mwantye-le awaye | listen deeply.
Free Pop-up Cinema
When & where: Thursday 1 June | 5.30pm | Council Lawn
For National Reconciliation Week Alice Springs Town Council is holding a Free Pop-Up Cinema evening! Performance from members of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir followed by screening their documentary 'The Song Keepers'.
Big Day Out in Harmony
When & where: Saturday 3 June | Council Lawn
Come along and enjoy a day filled with colours, sounds, fragrances and tastes from across the world.
Free Youth Hip Hop Dance Classes
When & where: Every Monday from 5 June to 19 June (except public holiday) | Andy McNeill room, 93 Todd St.
Tatts Finke Desert Race
When & Where: Thursday 8 June to Monday 12 June – From Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) Community
Centralian Middle School Fete
When & Where: Thursday 15 June 2023, From 4 to 8:00pm – Centralian Middle School, 56 Milner Road
Centralian Middle School's Fete is a free community event hosted at the school. There will be food stalls, craft stalls, plant stalls, pre-loved items, face painting, live music, raffles (with GREAT prizes) and games. This is a fantastic opportunity for CMS to engage with the wider school community and bring attention to the hard work of our students. Raffle tickets on sale now at Yeperenye! $2,600 of amazing prizes to be won! Support our Year 9s for their camp fundraising! Tickets are also on sale at CMS front office.
Kids Concert - Meet the Cello - A live Cello Concert
When & where: Saturday 17 June | Totem theatre
Alice Springs Beanie Festival
When & where: Friday 23 June to Monday 26 June | Araluen Arts Centre
Alice Springs most quirky and unique event with 6800 handmade beanies from around the world descending on the Red Centre for a weekend of textile exhibitions and workshops, Indigenous workshops, live entertainment and homemade tucker.
Alice Springs Show
When & where: Friday 7 July & Saturday 8 July
It's Show Time! Join us over 2 days to enjoy competitions, trade stalls, Show Rides, free entertainment and MORE! Check out the link below.
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