30 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

Important dates

Wednesday 1 September to Friday 3 September – Year 8 Camp
Tuesday 7 September to Thursday 9 September – Clontarf Year 7, 8 & 9 camp – Tennant Creek
Monday 6 September – NAIDOC School Assembly – Heal Country
8.45am and 5.30 pm Thursday 9 September – Principal’s Tour
Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September – VET Week for Year 9
Friday 17 September – Primary School Basketball Competition
Wednesday 22 September – Alice Can Dance – Araluen Arts Centre

From the Principal

Werte! Hello

I really encourage you to take the time to complete the parent feedback survey. The survey will be used to shape our future planning. It would be great for you to have your say in all things relating to the school and how we operate. Our staff are passionate and committed and we understand that getting and acting upon feedback is an important part of what we do.

Uniforms – thank you to those families and carers who ensure that their students are dressed in the correct uniform every day. Our uniform shop is open every morning and students are welcome to borrow uniform for the day. This also includes having closed in shoes – slides and socks are not appropriate.

Social media – Do you know what your teenager gets up to online? Does your teenager have appropriate online behaviours? Social media has a significant effect on our mental health and is often the cause of misunderstandings and miscommunication which can lead to conflict. If you know your teen is being effected by online behaviour please let us know- we will try our best to support. The best thing about social media is that we are in control of who can contact us. We encourage students to SCREENSHOT, BLOCK and REPORT.

Next week on Monday morning we will be having a special NAIDOC Assembly. We will be sharing stories of culture and land. I encourage all of our families to come along if you can. We will have a special presentation followed by a gathering and morning tea in the Alice Springs Language Centre Garden where Janette McCormack, Jamahl Hayes and the team will have prepared some kangaroo tail and damper. Hopefully see you there!

Warm regards
Cassie O’Bree
Principal

Ms Cassie O’Bree

School news and updates

Year 7

Excursion to the Desert Park

Year 7 students enjoyed an excursion to The Desert Park this week as part of the Science Program on classification. Students walked in small groups to observe and record their learning after viewing the spectacular Bird Show. They will be using their findings to complete an assessment task in the next few weeks.

Home Economics

Year 7 SGC classes have been cooking up a storm this term making pizza from scratch, they made their own dough rising it overnight in the fridge and the following session they made the pizza sauce before bringing it all together to produce these amazing pizzas. Great work fellas!!

Year 9

Science

Our Year 9s have been learning about atoms this term; what they are, how they’re grouped and what’s inside of them.
This will lead us into our work on chemical and nuclear reactions.
They also made edible models of atoms last week to help us understand atomic and mass number and how electrons are arranged in atoms.
Here are some atomic models made by the students

Year 9 Camp

From Wednesday to Friday in week four, year 9 students travelled to Ross River for school camp. We had three jam-packed days of fun with activities such as arts and craft, sport, plenty of board and card games, lots of walks and so much more. On the second day, we all went to Trephina Gorge for a beautiful scenic walk around the rim, followed by games in the riverbed. Nights were spent around the campfire, playing night games, and certainly not enough sleeping (sorry teachers). Year 9 camp was a really great opportunity as friendships were made and strengthened, we all had new and fun experiences and we got to discover and learn even more of the amazing scenery around Central Australia. It was such a fun camp for our last one at CMS.

Meredith Cook – Y9 student

Year 9 Shirts

There has been much excitement with the arrival of the Year 9 shirts! The shirts were designed by our student leaders with peer consultation.

Writing Workshop

In Week 6, we had a visit from Australian Author Leonie Norrington. Leonie works full time as a journalist and writer. Her books include The Barrumdi Kids, The Spirit of Barrumdi, You and me: Our Place and more. In the workshop, Leonie guided us to write our own story, she would say things like: Write how you feel, what you can see or hear or even smell. Here are a couple of stories written by students.

Utnenge

Now that it’s getting warmer, our garden is waking up. We have been helping to take care of the Miss Margie Memorial Garden, as part of Heal Country for NAIDOC Week. We continue to help at the Community Garden.

As part of Wellbeing we have been making nature art. This gives us a chance to get out of the classroom and explore the use of natural materials in our artistic expression.

Sadly Alex and Arly have left us to do other things. Kate has recently joined us, she has moved downstairs after working in Year 7. She has strong interests in Art, Design Technology and Cycling. Ed has returned from Darwin after performing at The Darwin Festival.

This term we went to the Telegraph Station to do some Mountain Biking and we look forward to doing an excursion to Desert Park.

In week two this term Utnenge had the privilege of working with an ABC journalist on the Heywire Project. Heywire is an ABC program that is seeking stories of young people from regional and remote Australia. The students in Utnenge work with Zac the journalists to identify the challenges, strengths and powerful messages young people have to share.

VET Hospitality

In Term 3 Hospitality classes VET students are making sandwiches! During the first 3 weeks, they learned and practiced layering, texturing and what ingredients tastes good together, also what colours look pretty and what garnishes suit the different combinations. Now we are up to the assessment tasks, while making take away platter boxes for the public!

Stars Foundation

Stars Term 3 So Far

Stars have had a busy Term so far, we would like to thank all our students for improving their attendance and participating in all the events.

Stars have been participating in the Interschool Girls Footy Competition, it is amazing to see the talent amongst all our girls and also their positive attitudes towards giving anything a go. So far we have played games against St Philips, O.L.S.H and Yirara, families are welcome to come down and support on Tuesday afternoons, we would love to see you there. We would also like to thank Miss Sarah Steele-Park for all her support and coaching assistance.

We are very proud of Leshaye Stewart who went out to Ross River during the Year 9 camp to talk about her country and why it is so important to her and her family. Leshaye was able to welcome the Year 9 camp students and also share stories and inform them on how they can be respectful during their stay. Leshaye was supported by her peers, Regan and Nia. We are proud of her for showing a strong connection to culture and leadership.

Our students have been participating in a wide variety of activities and lessons during Stars contact time. These include; healthy lifestyles, wellbeing, games and also trying new skills such as Golf. Stars took the students to the driving range and the girls got to have a go at something new. It was lovely to see all Stars students have fun, encourage each other and learn whilst participating in activities that are new. We are looking forward to having more fun during our contact times.

The rest of the term will see students participate in the Menzies Research Program, continue with the Interschool Footy Competition, transition visits, workplace visits, contact times and lunchtime activities.

Keep up the great work girls!!

Clontarf Corner

What a ripper of a term it has been so far, from getting back into the swing of things at school to driving 500km's North to Tennant creek, "mining for gold", preparing for jobs, and most importantly attending school and remaining healthy.

After School Activities

Our students enrolled in the Clontarf program are learning plenty of life skills this term, fixing their bikes at the after-school Clontarf Bike Mechanics. We look forward to seeing the refurbished bikes in the next few weeks. Well done boys!

Year 7 & 8 Leadership & Wellbeing Camp to Tennant Creek

Our year 7 and 8 students recently attended a Clontarf leadership and wellbeing camp to Tennant Creek. Students participated in various activities, including a morning training, Battery Hill Mine employment visit, primary school visit, and a photo opportunity at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles).

Extremely impressed with the Battery Hill Mine tour, local guide Brian said, "your group of young men has been the best group I've ever had." What an excellent way to head into the weekend.

Well done, boys!

Good Bunch Lunch

Congratulations to students across all year levels today on making the "Good Bunch Lunch" at Clontarf. Students who attended school each day this week enjoyed a warm, delicious lunch.

Approximately 30 students and a handful of our outstanding teaching staff enjoyed a bowl of green chicken curry and rice. Brilliant leadership within the school community and your program, boys! Keep it up.

Health checks

This week the following students completed a full health check with the team at Congress. With over 40 boys receiving their annual health check-up this year, the health & wellbeing of our academy members have been at the forefront again this term. A terrific effort to this group of young men who are leading their younger family members to ensure they are fit and healthy.

Week 5 – Tama Wallace and Dre Wiseman

Employment

Several of our Year 9 students have been working hard after school to obtain their tax file numbers to gain employment in preparation for their journey. Congratulations to Jawyon Taylor Hiscox and Liam Turner in compiling their employment portfolios, consisting of resumes, USI's, Birth Certificates, and Medicare Cards. Well done!

Polly Farmer

This term Follow the Dream students have been involved in a number of learning and fun activities to support them in their education here at CMS. Students recently attended an excursion to the Road Transport Hall of Fame & Ghan Museum to learn about Australia's unique road transport heritage.

Congratulations to 3 Year 7 students – Lynesha, Lizzy and Tanika have been lucky enough to be selected to attend a Polly Farmer excursion to Trephina Gorge in week 7 with students from other PF Learning Clubs and FTD. The trip will be an excellent cultural experience to hear from Traditional Owners and local Rangers.

A number of new students have joined Polly Farmer this term – we would like to welcome Dre, Aesha and Lizzy to Follow the Dream. If you’re interested in participating please see Program Coordinator, Hamish McLoughlin for a permission form.

Community Announcements

Cricket

Welcome the 2021/22 Cricket Season! A week full of cricket activities to choose from- check them out below!

Alice Springs Aquatic & Leisure Centre

The Alice Springs Aquatic & Leisure Centre will be once again holding ‘Learn to Swim intensives’ over the 2nd week of the school holidays. See flyer below.

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