Welcome back to all families, students and teachers to the 2018 School Year. I would especially like to welcome our Year 7 students and any new students who join our College community this year. I hope that you have all had an enjoyable and restful break over the Christmas and New Year period.

Changes to Daily Organisation

In 2018, the College has made some changes to the structure and organisation of the day. After careful and considerate thought, we believe these changes will have a positive impact. This year we have implemented:

• 2 Week Timetable (Week A & Week B) - This allowed us to better balance class times, as well as lessen the impact of missed days and events that occur during curriculum time
• 1 hour lessons - The increase from 50 to 60 min provides additional time in front of the teacher where more in-depth teaching and learning can take place. This small increase can result in a more effective and engaging approach to learning and allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts
• 5 lessons each day - With the move to 1 hour lessons, the College has dropped one of the lessons after second break. The afternoon time is often the most difficult time for students to maintain concentration. So one lesson here allows students to remain engaged in the teaching and learning that is taking place.
• Changes to Morning Tea and Lunchtimes: AS a result of our change to 60 minute lessons and 5 lessons per day, Morning Tea now runs form 10:50am to 11:30 am and the Lunch time begins at 1:35pm and finishes at 1:55pm.

So far, students and teachers have found these changes positive. 

Assessment Calendars

Assessment Calendars were distributed to students this week. A copy will also be emailed to all parents/carers. The live Assessment Calendars are available via the College website under the Studies & Assessment page.

Assessment Calendars are designed to:

• assist students to plan their study time
• help students to prioritise
• be an organisational tool
• communicate due dates to parents/carers and students

Ideally, Assessment Calendars should inform:

• the amount of study and assignment work needed at different points in the term
• scheduling of specialist appointments and trips around due dates where possible
• the commitments students make
• minimising of any paid work (e.g. students should cut back work during busy weeks of the term)

Copies of the Assessment Calendars are also available for download here:

Subject Changes

By this stage, students should be fairly set in the classes they wish to study for the remainder of the assessment. Changing subjects from here means that students may have missed key introductory information, and may find it challenging to catch-up on these concepts. Should students wish to change subjects, they must collect a form from the College Office, and talk to both their current teacher and the teacher of the subject they wish to change into in order to assess the impacts that moving classes at this stge might have.  A parent / carer is required to sign the form to approve the change. Once this form is completed, students can hand this into the College Office and the Subject change will be assessed and processed. Access an electronic copy of the for here: Subject Change Form

Welcome to 2018!

Again, I find myself excited for what is sure to be another fantastic school year. I would like to say a special welcome to our Year 7 students, and any new students joining the Good Shepherd Catholic College Community. I hope you have all had a restful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year period, and are returning to school with a refreshed mind and spirit. We can now all look forward to the adventures that 2018 is sure to bring.

The beginning of a school year is a good time for students to reflect on their successes and challenges from last year. It is also and important time to revisit some important school policies and procedures. As a College, we expect students to walk with us, to be a part of our community and to follow our mission and vision. By now, students would be familiar with our four very basic College expectations:

1. Respect all people and things
2. Be in the right place at the right time
3. Come prepared to learn
4. Follow instructions the first time

As signed by students and parents in the enrolment agreement, Good Shepherd students must be prepared to follow these expectations.

Uniform Policy

We have very clear uniform expectations here at Good Shepherd. Students must arrive and exit school each day in the full academic uniform, which includes their hat and diary.

If your child is unable to wear their full academic uniform, please communicate this with the Homeroom Teacher. If students are not adhering to the College Uniform Expectations the following steps will occur: (this does not apply to students who present a note from a parent or guardian).

1. Student will be issued a lunch-time uniform detention. Failure to attend the lunchtime detention will result in a Wednesday afternoon detention
2. Three (3) uniform detentions will result in an afterschool detention (Wednesday afternoons 3pm-4pm).
3. Continued breaches of the uniform policy or failure to attend a Wednesday afternoon detention will result in the student being withdrawn from class until a meeting is able to take place between the student, parent/guardian, Pastoral Leader and myself.

At the beginning of each year, students are issued with a locker (and have their lock from the previous year returned). In order for students to safely secure their belongings, a lock must be locked onto their lockers. Students without a lock will have two days to replace it before consequences are applied. Locks are available for purchase at the College Office for $20. Please note that students are not permitted to bring their own lock.

Mobile Phone Policy

We have a strict Mobile Phone Policy at the College that must be adhered to at all times. The policy states that: “Mobile phones are not to be used at school and students are discouraged from bringing them. However, students who choose to bring their mobile phone to school, must comply with the following expectations:

• They are not to be used at all during College hours ‒ from the first bell for Homeroom to the final bell at 3:00 PM.
• Mobile phones should be switched off and handed in at the Office.
• They should not be kept on a studentʼs person, or in a studentʼs locker.
• Should a parent need to contact their child during the day for any reason, they should contact the College Office and a message will be passed to the student.

Students who are found to be in breach of the Mobile Phone Policy will be required to sign their devices into the College Office before 8:30am for the four (4) consecutive days following the breach (they may collect the phone from the Office after 3pm each day), they will also receive a lunchtime detention.”

More serious consequences will apply to students who repeatedly breach the policy.

Responsible Thinking Process

At Good Shepherd, we utlise the Responsible Thinking Process (RTP) as our strategy for managing student behaviour. This process is reflective and restorative, which aims to build and maintain positive working relationships within the classroom. If students do not following classroom expectations, it will result in them being referred to the Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC). If this occurs, the classroom teacher will contact parents/guardians that day. At the end of each week, Pastoral Leaders will be provided with a record of who has attended the RTC. If a student has multiple referrals or seriously breaches College expectations, more serious consequences will apply.

We have six fantastic Pastoral Leaders who are here to support your family through what can be a challenging high school journey. Please feel welcome to contact us at any time.

The Pastoral Leaders for 2017 are:

Year 7 Mrs Pelly Morganson

Year 8 Mr William Morganson

Year 9 Ms Kylie McCarthy

Year 10 Miss Caitlin Conway

Year 11 Miss Jenna Martin

Year 12 Miss Jade Marinelli

Welcome back to a new school year. On behalf of the RE department, I hope that it was a restful break and a time of reflection for students and their families. As you may know, Mrs Jacqueline Warren is on maternity leave this year as she welcomes a new member into her family. I would like to wish Jacqueline, Greg, and Mackenzie Eve all the very best for this exciting time.

The start of a school year is filled with anticipation and hope, inviting us to make new choices. This year, is about new beginnings and making the new, better than the old. Isaiah 60:20 tells us, “Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.” This verse emphasises that the Lord is our light. Whether you are wishing to move past this last year or you are hoping to start a fresh, 2018 is our opportunity for new light and new beginnings.

This year, we also celebrate the importance of young people in the local church and society. The Australian Bishops have identified the liturgical year of 2018, as a national Year of Youth. Young people are called to engage in the life of the Church this year, and to renew their faith. The national launch for the Year of Youth was held at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival, 7th-9th December last year. Father Mick and the Good Shepherd Parish travelled with a group of young people, including 10 students from Good Shepherd Catholic College, to attend the festival in Sydney.

APRE ACYF

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APRE ACYF

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The theme for the festival and the Year of Youth is ‘Open New Horizons for Spreading Joy’. The atmosphere of the festival was extremely uplifting, with music ministry, plenary sessions and workshops that allowed young people to come together and celebrate their faith. I would like to thank Miss Tayla Roberts for organising and accompanying the group to ACYF, as well as Mrs Mary Wright for her hard work behind the scenes. We are extremely grateful to have such passionate teachers within our community who continue to inspire and work with our youth.

At the beginning of every school year, we celebrate with a whole school mass. I would like to invite all parents and friends of the College to our Opening Mass, which will be held next Wednesday 7th February. Please see the invitation below for more details.

On behalf of the Good Shepherd Catholic Community I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our Year 7 students and their families.

Last Monday saw the start of the school year with both our Year 7 and Year 12 students coming together on the first day. Their day began with a short welcome assembly with our Principal, Mr Scott before the Year 7 students were allocated to their homerooms.

In their homeroom classes, the students were given a “crash course” on being a student at Good Shepherd by their homeroom teachers and our Year 12 student leaders. The students were guided through the reading of their timetable; allocated their lockers and taught how to use their locks; collected their textbooks from the Library; taught how to use their diary; and then give a tour of the College. To end their day, the Year 7 students were allocated a Year 12 buddy and spent some time
getting to know them. The Year 12 buddy is someone who supports and guides the Year 7 student in their first year at the College.

This Friday, the Year 7 students will have their retreat at Lake Moondarra which will include activities such as: team building games; art; meditation and reflection. The purpose of the retreat is to build rapport amongst their cohort and with their homeroom teachers. This will set the foundation for what we hope is an exciting and successful year for the whole cohort.

Year 7

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Year 7

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The first week was very busy with lots of new things to learn however it has been wonderful to see the Year 7 students settle well into their classes and their new routines.

If you have any enquiries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by email on pmorganson1@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au or through the College office on 47432509.

Welcome

Welcome to the first term of Year 8. I would like to introduce myself as the Year 8 Pastoral Leader along with the Year 8 Homeroom teachers Mr Chris Phillips, Ms Kylie Hahipene, Mr Keith Fainges and Miss Katherine Algie.

2018 has started off extremely well and I am very pleased to say that everyone has returned excited and looking forward to continue the great year that was 2017. Students will cover a variety topics in this year’s Pastoral care Program to allow each individual to grow and reach their full potential throughout the year.

The Year 8 team look forward in working with all Year 8 students and their families in making it a memorable and enjoyable year in their learning experiences.

If you have any enquiries or concerns, please do not hesitate contact your child’s homeroom teacher or myself at the College office on 47432509.  Additionally I can be contacted on email wmorganson1@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au.

Welcome to the first term of senior school!

I would like to formally introduce myself to you as the Year 10 Pastoral Leader for 2018 and to introduce my wonderful Year 10 Pastoral Team, Miss Tayla-Maree Roberts, Mrs Kate Thinee and Miss Sheridan Scott.

2018 will be a year filled with many new and exciting things and is a time that our students start to form their identity and begin their senior phase of education. Pastoral Care lessons in Year 10 are used to help shape the lives of our students through study skills development, career profile building and career pathway discovery through guest speakers and special guests.

To start us off, on Wednesday 14^th February, ‘Elevate Education’ will be meeting with our Year 10’s to discuss their study habits. Since 2001, Elevate has been transforming the way study skills programs are run across Australia. ‘Elevate’s high impact seminars and workshops help students improve their study techniques, increase motivation, build confidence, and lift exam performance’. This is now more important than ever as our Year 10’s will be the first to complete external exams through the new ATAR system.

Even though there are many new things, many things have stayed the same. Your child will still receive the utmost support along their journey and I look forward to being there to watch them grow into the successful young adults I know they can be.

A warm welcome from the Maths department to all students, both new and old, to 2018. We would also like to welcome our new staff members: Mr Leighton Gallagher (Yrs 7 - 10) and Mr Trent Wilkinson (Yrs 11 & 12 B & C).

All pupils have been informed of what they need to bring to class on a daily basis and what the expectations are. Please ensure that your child has the necessary stationery, especially when it comes to calculators. Years 7 to 10 and 11 and 12 Maths A students require a Scientific calculator whilst those in years 11 and 12 Maths B require a Graphics calculator.

All students are encouraged to make use of the opportunity provided during Homework club in the library on a Monday (Juniors) or Wednesday (Seniors).

Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have any queries about their progress. This can be done by contacting the office or by email.

I look forward to a successful and enjoyable year.

Welcome back to all of our new and returning students and families! We hope that you had an enjoyable and refreshing christmas break.

The Humanities & Social Sciences department are excited for 2018. We are committed to growing our department throughout the year to make our lessons even more fun and engaging. We believe strongly that families are the first and most influential educators and we as a teaching team strive to build on this.

We are already into our second week of school and it has been great to see our juniors and seniors settling into their new classes so quickly. See below for the units that students are currently studying:

Year 7: Water & The World

Year 8: Changing Nations

Year 9: Biomes & Food Security

Year 10: Environment & Change

Year 10 Legal Studies: Australia's Legal System

Year 11 & 12 Social and Community Studies: Today's Society

Year 11 & 12 Modern History: Ideas & Beliefs in History

Year 11 Legal Studies: Introduction to the legal system

Year 12 Legal Studies: Independent Research Study

Humanities Club

In 2018 the Humanities team at Good Shepherd are introducing a Humanities Club! In this club students will be provided with the opportunity to immerse themselves in learning, reading and writing about History and Geography topics with other students and teachers who have a real passion for the subject. Students will work together to learn from each other’s ideas and experiences. The scope of activities will be both planned and interest based. Keep an eye on the upcoming newsletters for more information to come.

At GSCC, we are passionate about sport and all that can offer; teamwork, leadership, confidence, motivation, determination, sportsmanship, responsibility and commitment. We look forward to an exciting year of school and representative sport that inspires our students to participate and perform at their best.

In 2018, there will be a number of sporting opportunities and pathways for students to participate in. We will maintain the GSCC Netball, Rugby League and Touch teams. In addition, we are looking to develop GSCC Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball.

Trial dates for school, club, district & regional sport will be communicated to students through the morning notices, newsletters and online.  Please click on the link below to access further information on the GSCC Sports Calendar.

The GSCC Netball Trials have begun and GSCC Junior Rugby League Trials will commence next week. Basketball and Touch Trials will be held in the coming weeks.

MISSA nominations for Swimming are now open. MISSA Rugby League, Netball and Touch will be coming up very soon.

NW individual nominations for Basketball, Rugby Union, Volleyball and Hockey are closing. NW individual nominations for Soccer, Softball and AFL are now open.

Good Shepherd Catholic College Sport Contacts:

GSCC Netball – Mrs Julie Hutchinson

GSCC Rugby League – Mr Willie Morganson

GSCC Touch – Ms Kylie Hahipene

GSCC Basketball – Mr Chris Phillips

GSCC Soccer – Mr Dean Kelley

Mount Isa District – Ms Lexine O’Donnell

North West Region – Ms Kylie Hahipene

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me.” Bubba Watson

This year the Confraternity Shield tournament is being held in Charters Towers during the June/July school holidays. Whilst this prestigious tournament has a competitive element, its fundamental purpose is to place young men in a unique environment where they experience the many benefits of competition, sportsmanship and camaraderie. In addition there are many talent scouts from the various NRL teams closely observing the talent on offer.

Without the generosity and support of our sponsors, opportunities like these may not be possible for our students. With their assistance, we are able to help reduce the expensive costs involved, enabling families to allow their sons the opportunity to participate and gain valuable experience playing Rugby League at a high competition level.

If you would like to support the Confraternity Team of 2018 and help reduce the overall cost for the families of the boys attending by sponsoring the Good Shepherd Confraternity Rugby League Team, please email myself and I will send through further information and details: wmorganson1@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au

GSCC and the Rugby League Confraternity Team of 2017 would like to personally thank last year’s sponsors:

Parents anf Carers are strongly encouraged to attend the

P&F Annual General Meeting

and become active members of this very important College team. 

Tuesday, 6th February 

6pm

College Library

The College Board assists the Principal in matters of policy, finance and future directives. 

Expressions of Interest in becoming a member of the College Board are invited. 

Please contact Carrie Gall, Personal Assistant to the Principal. 

FULL-TIME APPRENTICES

Glencore has advised the following 2017 Year 12 Graduates have successfully secured apprenticeships.

Maclean Gosney, Joseph Rittner, Sam Fisher, Gage Shaw, Robert Pittis and Daniel Anderson.

We wish these young men all the very best of luck as they begin their careers.

School Leavers Program

The following former students have also successfully secured work with Glencore through their School Leavers Program.

Tegan Johns - Administration

Madeline Ahearn - Hygienist

Teaghan Goodger - eLearning Support

Jasper McLoughlin - Admin//Labour

Crissa De Sagun - Admin/Labour

Moyita Clapham - Admin Labour

We love hearing what our former students are doing.  Please feel free to send any of your good news stories at fcoghlan@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Library is an integral part of the College’s education programs. Emphasis is placed on helping students to develop research, information and literacy skills as well as enhancing teaching and learning.  The enjoyment and appreciation of reading is encouraged.  The Library manages a collection of fiction and non-fiction books, journals and iLibrary, as well as textbooks.  

Library operating hours are:

• Monday, Wednesday 8.30am – 4.00pm
• Tuesday and Thursday 8.15am – 4.00pm
• Friday 8.30am – 3.15pm

The Library can be accessed by students before school (Tuesday and Thursday only), lunchtimes and after school for research, completion of homework, printing and reading. Please note, in order for your child to be working in the Library on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, they need to return a signed contract and registered for our College Homework Help program – see Homework Help section of this newsletter.

Textbooks, English novels and other curriculum resources require checking out at the Library Circulation Desk.  The borrowing period for these is for the year or term and will need returning no later than the last day of the school year.

Students are responsible for the copy issued to them, regardless if they return someone else’s item that has been mixed up. To aid students in retaining the copy issued to them, students have been instructed to write their name inside the cover of the textbook and make a note in their diary of the resource name and copy number.  As another precaution, please ensure your child has done these two processes when they take them home.

General borrowing, including fiction and non-fiction books, is for a period of two (2) weeks and these books will also need to be checked out at the Library Circulation Desk.  An extension of two weeks is available if required.

Due to limited resources, non-fiction book loans may be restricted to one book on a particular subject.

If a student is having trouble obtaining a particular book, they can place a request for it to be reserved for them.

Replacement costs/fines for any lost, misplaced, lent or damaged Library resources will be added to your child’s College fees or invoiced.  It is the students’ responsibility to see the Librarian as soon as a problem arises with resources on loan during the period of their loan.

Overdue notices will be emailed directly to students and parents regularly with a list of overdue/damaged resources and outstanding fines for replacement of lost/damaged items. If payment of these lost items has not been settled at the office within a reasonable timeframe, the replacement cost may be charged to your child/s College fees.  Students may also be restricted in the use of the Library if books are consistently returned late or are damaged.  It is therefore important for your child/ren to renew any outstanding resources if they wish to retain them past the overdue date.  This will reduce the occurrence of a fine being automatically issued through our borrowing system once a resource has been marked as lost, which is also automatic.

Lastly, the Library is a place for study, research and reading and we ask all students to respect the rights of others to work quietly and not be disturbed.  The students are responsible for their behaviour and actions and need to respect the shared environment.  Students are required to follow normal College expectations whenever in the Library.

The school offers an afterschool homework program where teachers volunteer their time to support our students academically. Homework Help has been very valuable for students who genuinely engage with the program. Due to popularity we have a booking system for students with a capacity of 40 students each day to maintain a pleasant study environment and ensure teachers can assist all students.

Homework Help is will commence in the Library in Week 3, Monday 5th February and Wednesday 7th February as per below:

Students must return the signed expectations contract which is valid for the current school year and accessible via the Student Intranet Page - see link belowWhilst Seniors are permitted to be in the Library on a Junior Homework Help day on Mondays, Juniors will be given first priority.  Seniors may be asked to leave if there is not enough space in the Library to accommodate all Juniors.  This also goes for Juniors attending Senior Homework Help day on Wednesdays.

To attend Homework Help please ensure the following steps have been completed:

(If this has not been signed by parent/carer, students will be asked to leave Homework Help until such time as a signed contract has been returned to the Library).

• Students need to register their attendance at Homework Help via the Student Intranet Page (Homework Help Website & Registration Page)

(Students that have not registered online will be asked to leave Homework Help if a particular session is at full capacity - 40 registered students).

• Upon entering Homework Help, students must sign in their attendance at the Library counter with Ms O’Donnell.

If Homework Help classes need to be cancelled during the Term, students will be notified via the school notices as soon as possible or an announcement will be made if cancellation is at short notice.  Please note that a cancelled class will not be rescheduled for a later date. Should students or parents have any queries please contact Ms O’Donnell.

For those new to the school, I would like to let you know a little bit about myself and my role at Good Shepherd Catholic College.  I grew up in Switzerland and completed my schooling there before migrating to Australia in 2000. I lived with my family for 16 years in Charters Towers and now in Mount Isa for the last 2 years. I am the mother of four children (aged 12-20) and I am currently working towards my full registration as psychologist after going back to university again later in life (Ba in Psychology with Honours). I have worked in a counselling role in the school system as well as the mental health system for 10 years and particularly enjoy working with young people and their families.

Every school in the Townsville Catholic Education Diocese is supported by a Guidance Counsellor, and our role is to support students in working to their full potential. This is achieved by assisting school staff with the removal of as many barriers as possible of an academic, social, emotional, personal or behavioural nature. This may involve meetings with teachers and/or parents, individual counselling, or facilitating group programs. I particularly enjoy building good and trusting relationships with all parties and try to be as approachable as possible.

The majority of students I work with are referred to me by the Pastoral staff (Assistant Principal – Pastoral and the Pastoral Leaders). Parents are welcome to contact me if they have any significant concerns regarding their child. Students can also make their own appointments to see me.

Kind regards

This Christmas holidays I dedicated my last week to an incredible and very interesting camp. This was the InspireU Indigenous Stem Camp, focused on providing indigenous students with an experience of life as a Uni student. This camp was based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.  Throughout this camp stayed at St. Leo’s College located on The University of Queensland campus in Brisbane. During this camp I was able to learn and experience so many things, such as using microscopes, analysing bugs, building mini rockets, taking tours and learning and observing the differences between healthy and diseased organs.

My highlight of this trip was learning about the human body and being able to see myself the difference between each organ and learning the details of a healthy organ and diseased organ. Another highlight of my camp was the gala dinner at the end of the camp where I heard from many different experts and made friends I will know forever.

Lastly, when I left on this camp I was worried that I would make no friends and would know no one, but I have came back from this camp with not just many friends but another family. So, I encourage all students to work your hardest and try your best, so you can have the great opportunity that I was given.  University is an opportunity for everyone.  If you desire and try your hardest you can get there.

Loree Martyr

Year 9 Student

Mount Isa City Council is proud to present the Sport Sign On Expo - Please see Flyer for details.