4 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

Important dates

Wednesday 4 August - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
Wednesday 11 August to Friday 13 August – Year 9 Camp – Ross River
Wednesday 11 August to Friday 13 August – Year 7 & 8 Clontarf Leadership Camp – Tennant Creek
8.45 am and 5.30pm Thursday 12 August – Principal’s Tour
Wednesday 18 August – School Council Meeting
Wednesday 1 September to Friday 3 September – Year 8 Camp
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.

We had a fantastic start to the term. Students and teachers returned from the school break refreshed and ready to learn. We have a wide range of opportunities for students to participate in this Term – camps, carnivals, excursions and events! Friday last week we had our Cross Country event which was a very warm (for this time of year) but very fun day.

Year 7’s went on an adventure in Week 1 to the Earth Sanctuary for their overnight camp. I would like to thank the Year 7 staff for the wonderful experience! I would also like to acknowledge the staff out at the Earth Sanctuary- it was incredible out there. Year 8’s and Year 9’s will head off on their camps later this Term. Camps are a great opportunity for our students to create memories and new friendships.

We would like to increase the number of our students attending 100% of the time. Currently there are 112 students at CMS who consistently attend school every day. This is fantastic! BUT – we can do better. Students need to be attending school EVERY DAY. Participating in school every day gives teenagers the best chance of achieving their goals. A student’s level of school attendance is a major influence on their achievement. Talk to your teen about their goals and the role schooling will have in achieving them. Having conversations about the importance of going to school every day will show them you value education. If you are having issues with getting your teen to school every day we have staff here to help. You need to also ensure that if there is a valid reason for missing school, like being sick, please notify the school.

Your opinions matter and we want to hear from you- our school survey will open in Week 5 of this term. Please take the time to give us feedback about what we do well and how we can improve.

You are also welcome to contact me directly at any time. We will also be sending out details for our student/teacher conferences which will also happen in Week 5.

We said farewell to two long term staff members this week. Ian Shepherd has had a long career at CMS teaching Mathematics to many students over his time. Ian has resigned and will be moving down to South Australia to be closer to his family. We thank Ian for his service to our school community. We also said goodbye to Carol Turner. Carol is a respected Arrernte elder in our community and we were lucky to have her as a CMS staff member- keeping language and culture strong. We thank Carol for her service and wish her all the very best for her next adventure.

We also welcomed a few new staff members to our community this Term.

Janette Cook- Special Education Teacher
Zachary Wilcox- Special Education Teacher
Richard Riley- ICT Administrator

I look forward to another great term of learning!

Warm regards

Cassie O’Bree
Principal

Ms Cassie O’Bree

School news and updates

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability.

Assessment Schedules

Each term we provide you with Assessment Schedules so that you know the key assessment tasks your young person has to complete in each subject area and the timeframe for when items are due. The Term 3 Assessment Schedules are below.

If you have any questions, please contact your young person’s teacher.

Cross Country Carnival 2021

Friday last week, the whole school travelled to the telegraph station for our Cross-Country Carnival. We had a fantastic day out with our students, celebrating their many talents.

Big congratulations to Earth & Air who both came first in the event, followed by fire and Water. Also big congratulations to the following champions in each year level:

Year 7:

• Mason Tilmouth
• Emily cook
• Mya Marriot
• Frank Goryan
• Malakai LeRossignol
• Lara Duncum

Year 8:

• Asher Lennie
• Kalaea Schwalger
• Noah Hangan
• Harper Raja
• Oliver Phelps
• Thea Barron

Year 9:

• Meredith cook
• Max Barron
• Charlie Goryan
• Daniel Briggs
• Charlotte Rowan
• Izayah Harrison

Our fastest runner on the day was Asher Lennie – Well done Asher!

A new way to reach us!

CMS can now be reached by texting 0480 031 511 (calls cannot be made to this number). This is a fast and easy way to let the school know if your young person is unwell and not attending school for the day, don’t forget to type their name in your message!

Year 7

Camp @ the Earth Sanctuary

A spectacular time was had by all on the Year 7 camp at the Earth Sanctuary last week. Students were treated to a range of activities including damper-making while blindfolded, rescue from snake bite and tug-of-war. The full moon was so bright it almost blinded us as we looked through the big telescope but we were able to see craters and features on the surface on the magical moon. Local Arrernte elder Pat Ansell-Dodds came out to speak to us about country and culture and our Earth Sanctuary hosts gave us a tour of their sustainability projects. Emma Lake was kind enough to set up an arts space and creativity was on display, including on teachers’ faces! Lying out under the stars at night always induces wonder – a characteristic we also foster in the classroom. Thanks to all the parents and carers who supported their young people to attend camp and share in this experience.

Science

Year 7 Science has begun Term 3 learning about life and how we group (classify) it.

For example, shops like Woolworths and Coles don't have a big pile of random food for us to dig through - they group things with similar characteristics, like fruit and vegetables, the bakery or bread aisles, the frozen section etc. This makes it easier for us to find and understand things. Similar things are found closer together.

This week we've started creating classification keys - road maps or steps for breaking a big group of things into smaller groups. By following a key's instructions, we can work out where something belongs.

Utnenge

Utnenge would like to wish Carol Turner a very happy retirement and thank her for her time working with us in our classroom. This term we have a new teacher in the space named Arly.

Arly is on a working travelling trip around Australia and we are lucky that she is able to spend some time with us in Alice Springs.

Highlights of cooking have included learning how to make fruit smoothies (and special occasion cookies and cream thick shakes). This week in cooking we made 3 different types of cookies as well as cheese, bacon and zucchini muffins which lasted less than 24 hours after we made them… and we made a LOT of them.

Zheneequa is especially fond of our class worm farm and has no fear of holding them!

VET Conservation & Ecosystem Management

Check out what the CAEM vet students have been up to!

VET Hospitality

Our hospitality VET students are selling sandwiches! Please read on for more details.

During Term 3, VET Hospitality classes are training in sandwich making. As part of our training we are selling a different style of sandwich each week to experience calculating shopping needs, creating preparation lists and meeting deadlines and make sure our customers are happy. We are an energetic group of young people and we would love it if you would purchase a platter of sandwiches from us.

Platters:

• 17th & 19th Aug – Pullman (basic square sandwich)
• 24th & 26th Aug – Filled Rolls and Wraps
• 31st Aug & 2nd Sept – Focaccia’s
• 7th & 9th Sept – Open Sandwiches

Note: all sandwiches are a base mixture of meats, vegetables and condiments. Specific requirements and extras can be requested when ordering.

• Vegetarian
• Gluten free
• No butter
• Dairy free
• Single meat platter

Contact – Ordering (during business hours):

Order confirmed by 12:00pm Friday for following week.

CMS Front office – 08 8955 2333
*Limited platter numbers available
Pick up –Tuesday and Thursday between 12:00 – 1:00pm

Stars Foundation

Term 3 Stars

Staci, Sam and Kiri would like to welcome all of CMS back to Term 3. We hope everyone is feeling refreshed and excited for the term. This term Stars would like to welcome back Sam who was over at CSC completing her final teaching placement. We would also like to congratulate our Stars students Sheniqua Anderson, Tiani Andrews, Isabella Bloomfield, Saphira Brenton, Jordan Colby, Kayla Cole-Presley, Dorothy Cook, Astra Derrington, Bella-Rose Fishook, Noeline Forbes, Sarah Frankcombe, Nia Lord-Kenny, Maya Marriott, Bianca McPherson, Melissa Payne, Chiara Polaski, Keely Powell, Shakara Rodger, Isabel Short, Elizabeth Smyth, Jayda Stewart, Leshaye Stewart, Shamisha Stuart, Laylah Turner and Tahlia White, who all achieved over 80% attendance for Term 2. An extra congratulations goes to Astra Derrington with 97% and Maya Marriott who achieved an amazing 99% attendance. Keep up the great work! A friendly reminder that if students are going to be absent please notify the school or Stars.

This term at Stars we will be participating in the CAFL School Girls AFL Competition. This competition will allow students to showcase their AFL skills against local schools and community teams. If your student would like to be involved please direct them to see Stars staff. This competition will be every Tuesday afternoon, 3pm – 5:50pm from week 3 until week 9.

Term 3 contact times for Year 7 will focus on Healthy Lifestyles, Year 8’s will focus on Wellbeing and Year 9’s will focus on Employment, Education and Training. Year 9’s will be participating in workplace visits and work ready skills. We also have more amazing feeds, lunchtime and afternoon activities as well as in class support coming your way this term.

We look forward to another enjoyable and successful term at Stars. We look forward to celebrating more student success at the upcoming CMS assembly. If you would like any more information on Stars events this term please feel free to contact Stars staff anytime.

Clontarf Corner

Leading in to the long weekend, our students from Clontarf attended a Year 7 and 8 engagement and wellbeing sleepover. With new training uniforms in stock, and a range of activities, the fellas had a brilliant time.

Community Announcements

Totem Youth Theatre

Totem Youth Theatre is a performing arts program for young community members between the ages of 6 and 16. The program strives to build our students understanding of theatre by developing theatrical language and communication skills, expanding social and physical awareness, and acquiring a sound concept of theatrical teamwork.

2021 Semester 2 dates:

• 11-16 Years Class: Saturday, 24th July – 11th December
• Break: 25th September, 2nd + 9th October
• 6-10 Years Class: Saturday, 24th July - 11th December
• Break: 25th September, 2nd + 9th October

For more information please email: totemytclub@gmail.com
Or find us on our Facebook Page: facebook.com/totemtheatre

VAMPtv

A new semester and a new episode of VAMPtv

Click the link below to watch VAMPtv’s latest episode.

This episode spans the desert to the sea, starting off in Alekarenge and then we find out about an electronic music program that’s been running at Numbulwar.

There’s highlights from the Katherine Beat, a cooking video from Gunbalanya and a song from Yipirinya.

Ecofair launch: Great Science Quiz, Future X and Outdoor Cinema!

Join us to kick-off three days of exciting talks, events and workshops as part of the Ecofair. The Friday night program features: 4-6 PM - Outdoor Broadcast with ABC Alice Springs. Fabulous prizes to be won during The Great Science Quiz kicks off at 5pm (suitable for ages 10-15), a family-friendly EcoFair staple! 6-7 PM - Future X: hear from change-makers and entrepreneurs as they share their vision for Central Australia. 7-9 PM - Outdoor cinema: 2040. A feature documentary exploring what the future could look like by the year 2040. Movie tickets $5, kids under 12 free! Purchase your ticket: Food and drinks will be available to purchase from the Bean Tree Café

Facebook

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