Centralian Middle School eNewsletter

Important Dates

Tuesday 26 August	Questacon Visit
Wednesday 27 - Friday 29 August	Year 7 Camp to Ross River
Monday 1 September	Student Leader Excursion
Wednesday 10 September	Interschool Netball
Sunday 14 - Friday 19 September	Year 9 Camp to Batchelor & Darwin
Friday 19 September	Last Day of Term III

Hello, Werte!

Werte! Hello CMS families

Term three is racing by with so many excellent opportunities for our young people. Year 8s enjoyed their camp last week at Hamilton Downs. Year 7s are on camp this week and approximately one third of the Year 9s are gearing up for their camp to Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre and Darwin from the 14th – 18^thSeptember. We appreciate the extra hours of work put in by teachers and support staff to make camps possible, as they are a great way for young people to connect, unplug and develop social skills.

Students loved the lunchtime Science Week experiments as well as the Science and Engineering Challenge. Next week 55 students will be competing in the Interschool Netball Carnival, and all students are busy working on assessment tasks in each subject. Throughout the school we are also teaching and reminding young people about using kind and respectful language, as this fits with our school values of respect, responsibility, and fairness.

Cold, flu and other sickness has been affecting staff and students recently. Please remember to contact us on 89552333 if your young person is away sick or for another reason.

A huge vote of thanks to Mr Stone Lee who has now completed the All-Languages mural in the breezeway, pictured below. This was commissioned by our LEaD Committee (Local Engagement and Decision-making) to celebrate the many home languages of CMS when we checked on them earlier this year. Everyone belongs at CMS.

Finally, I take this opportunity to ask again that you please fill out the parent survey if you have not already done so. It as a vital way to share your opinions and contribute to school improvement: 2025 Parent Survey - Centralian Middle School

With thanks,

Glenda McCarthy, Principal

Science & Engineering Challenge

Science and Engineering Challenge

Year 9 students from Centralian Middle School (CMS) competed in the annual Science & Engineering Challenge, facilitated by the University of Newcastle. Our school hosted the event in our gymnasium, with each of the other high schools attending on 5 August, and almost all primary schools attending the Discovery Day event on 6 August. Every school that attended came 1st or 2nd in at least one of the activities. CMS came 3rd on the day.

Volunteers from the community supervised the activities, and the event couldn’t run without their generous support. This year we had several engineers, scientists, architects, social workers, ecologists and retired teachers helping. These volunteers were from Purple House, Ekistica, Alice Springs Desert Park, PowerWater, as well as some who were self-employed. If any parents or family members would like to volunteer at either event next year, please send your contact details to Matt Skoss on 0418 624 631.

Challenge events are designed to develop students’ teamwork and creativity while building bridges, testing water turbines, creating codes with coloured light, constructing earthquake-proof towers and optimising power distribution.

Over the next five years, 62 per cent of employment growth in Australia is predicted to come from healthcare, science and technology, education and construction. With STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates in Australia making up only 25 per cent of the entire graduate cohort, the Science and Engineering Challenge inspires students to work in STEM careers.

Students are encouraged to explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a pre-determined answer. The Science and Engineering Challenge aims to encourage students to consider a future career in science and engineering by choosing to study the enabling sciences and mathematics subjects in Years 11 and 12.

Matt Skoss

Science & Engineering Challenge Convenor

Duke of Edinburgh

Senior Citizen's Lunch!

Our Duke of Edinburgh students attended the Senior Citizens' Lunch hosted by Bill Yan and Josh Burgoyne. The students were asked to set tables, wash dishes, assist people to tables, assist in getting drinks, plating and serving meals. The students served an amazing 160 meals in 40 minutes! Students interacted with Senior Citizens' in a responsible and respectful manner, clearly demonstrating the CMS Values in the community.

Sarah France

Food Technology Teacher

Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader

On Thursday 14 August CMS welcomed approximately 300 participants from the Variety Club Bash of Victoria with their cars and customers in for breakfast. We had appearances from Ghostbusters, Top Gun, Sesame Street, Bluey, Thomas the Tank Engine, Batman and Joker and Bob the Builder to name a few. Participants feasted on a breakfast of fruit, yoghurt, cereal, eggs, bacon and muffins.

Rowan Cole, a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh participant did an awesome job manning the BBQ along with Ash. While Nola, Maureen and husband, Kate, Tenneil and Julia assisted in setting up, serving and packing up. Lasseter's Convention Centre came along to support with "The best coffee of the trip!"

We look forward to seeing them again next year.

Our Year 7s have been participating in a net sport unit getting familiar with the sports of Tennis and Volleyball. The students have been exceptionally positive and put in a great effort with learning some new sports, which for some, is their first time playing both. Well done to all of our amazing Year 7s!!

CLONTARF

**Clontarf Keeps Rolling into Term 3!**

Term 3 is well underway, and Clontarf is off to a flying start! Our morning trainings continue to be a highlight of the week, with plenty of energy, laughs, and dedication shown from our young men. The past week was extra special as we hosted our **Super Training** session — a fantastic morning where students from CSC, Yirara, and a number of visiting partners joined in as part of the **Central Region Experience Camp**.

As part of the experience, a select group of students from CSC and CMS were lucky enough to head out on an unforgettable 3-day trip to **Kings Canyon and Uluru**. It was an incredible opportunity to explore country, build connections, and create lasting memories.

Back in town, the fun hasn’t stopped. We’ve had a mix of engaging joint activities with CSC and Yirara, including a competitive (but friendly!) **Staff vs Students Soccer Match** at Ross Park, as well as a classic afternoon of **bowling and mini golf** that saw plenty of smiles and strikes.

Our attendance incentives are back in full swing too! The **300 Club** has returned, rewarding students who’ve achieved **100% attendance** in the first three weeks of term. For those who’ve made big strides in lifting their attendance, our **Cinema Club** is here to celebrate students who’ve improved by **20% or more** – a great way to acknowledge progress and encourage consistency.

Afterschool activities have been a hit as always, with the **Nerf War** battles and trips to the **driving range** proving popular among the boys.

In our contact times, we’ve continued our focus on health and wellbeing, with visits from the **Congress Anti-Smoking Team** and some refreshing **healthy smoothie sessions** to fuel the body and mind.

With plenty more to come, Term 3 is shaping up to be one of our best yet. Let’s keep the momentum going, keep showing up, and most importantly – keep having fun!

Daniel

R U OK?

💛 R U OK? Day – Thursday 11 September 2025 💛
This year’s theme is “Ask R U OK? – Because a conversation could change a life.”

R U OK? Day is a reminder to check in with the people around us – friends, family, classmates, teachers – and start a conversation if you notice they might be struggling. You don’t have to be an expert to ask, “Are you OK?” – just a good friend and a great listener.

Here’s how to start the conversation:

Ask – Pick a good time and place to check in.
Listen – Give them time to share without interrupting.
Encourage action – If they’re not OK, help them think about what might help.
Check in – Keep the conversation going in the days and weeks ahead.

💛 Remember: A simple question can make a big difference. Let’s look out for one another every day – not just on R U OK? Day.

For more info, visit www.ruok.org.au

Kim Richards

Health Promoting School Nurse

Bus Tracker APP

Bus Tracker APP

A new and improved NT Bus Tracker app is now available for public buses in Darwin and Alice Springs.

The new app allows passengers to:

track buses in real-time with a user-friendly interface
plan journeys including multiple modes of transport
plan future trips by setting a date/time for leaving a location, or for arrival
receive notifications for bus arrival and upcoming departures
choose different route types, such as fastest, greenest and those involving the most exercise
use a map to find the bus stops closest to you and see which routes use them.

To download the new app, search NT Bus Tracker in your app store. The new app is anticipated to be downloadable on Google Play soon.

Please note, passengers using the original NT Bus Tracker app will need to delete this app, search for and install the new NT Bus Tracker app from app store, or Google Play when available.

The app does not include school buses.

To find out more visit NT Bus Tracker app | NT.GOV.AU.

General Information 2025

Uniform Shop

Student Access (opposite the CMS Front Office) will be open for purchasing uniforms and stationery packs.

Opening hours are:

Monday - Friday 8:30-4pm

The new CMS royal blue hoodie and CMS black trackpants are available for students to wear with the cold winter weather.

It's great to see students embracing the CMS Uniform and wearing with pride and respect.

Students are reminded to wear FULLY enclosed shoes to school. Crocs, thongs or slides are not acceptable and are a safety and WHS concern. Parents/Carers are asked to remind their young person(s) to wear correct footwear.