I have spoken in previous newsletters about the importance of student attendance but I’m revisiting the topic as its significance to student achievement cannot be overestimated. Research suggests that while Australia compares favourably to other countries; however,  25% of Australian students miss a month of school each year. At Good Shepherd, our attendance is currently only 88% - that is on any one day only 88% of our students attend school. We are seeing a growing trend of parents not sending their children to school regularly and there are few reasons why this is concerning:

• Irregular attendance at school leads to social isolation and a lack of engagement with the school community and peers.
• Isolation from school can lead to emotional and behavioural problems.
• There is a strong link between poor attendance at school and the increased likelihood of dropping out of school.
• Any level of inattendance results in declining achievement.

Saying this, parent-authorised absences such as for religious purposes, illness, suspensions from school and bereavement are not found to have significant impacts on achievement. However, unexplained absences are more likely to impact on learning and the more absence there is, the more compounded the impact.

At Good Shepherd, we understand that there can be many reasons why students do not come to school each day, and there are always very genuine and sometimes complex reasons for student absence (Eg. medical illness). However, unless absolutely necessary, students should come to school prepared to learn everyday. If your son or daughter is struggling to come to school each day, please speak with their Pastoral Leader so we can help support them.

For more information about attendance, this is a useful resource from the Department of Education.

https://education.qld.gov.au/initiativesstrategies/Documents/parent-fact-sheet.pdf

Reference: https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/research-evidence/spotlight/11319-aitsl_spotlight_attendance_web-fa.pdf?sfvrsn=5bb0ff3c_6

Mulkadee

Catholic Education Week

Next week the schools in the Townville Diocese will celebrate Catholic Education Week and in particular, 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. 

Award Winners

Congratulations to Charlotte Coghlan in Year 12 who is the recipient of the Good Shepherd Deus Caritas Est Award. She will be presented with her award at the Catholic Education Week Mass in Townsville on Monday. Our two Spirit of Catholic Education Award winners Mrs Amy Webb and Mrs Pelly Morganson will also be acknowledged next week for their outstanding contribution to Catholic education.

Have a blessed week.

Kathleen McCarthy

Assessment Calendars

Assessment Calendars have been distributed to students during Week 2. These are also accessible via the College website under the Students tab, followed by the Studies & Assessment link. 

The 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.

NB: Parents and students are encouraged to be mindful of the assessment due dates, and to arrange for specialist appointments/holidays and trips, around these dates. Wherever possible, students should also minimise paid work/casual employment, and cut back during busy weeks of the term. 

Parents & carers with any questions or concerns in regards to subject curriculum or assessment are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher first. Following this, the Curriculum Leader for each Learning Area is available to speak with you regarding any concerns you may have.

Subject Changes/Selections

It is that time of term again, where we give a final reminder to students of the appropriate process for applying to change out of a subject. This specifically applies for senior students at the College, and students in Years 8, 9 & 10 that have chosen certain electives. Students may collect an ‘Application to Change Subject’ form from the front office. They must then consult with their current and Curriculum Leader, and future teacher to commence the process. Their teacher will then sign the form to accept the change. Once this step has been completed, the student will need to take this form home to their parents for consideration. In many cases, students will be wishing to change senior pathways, and we must ensure that parents are also aware of the implications of this. Once this process has been followed, the subject change may then be processed. 

Once approved, the student will be issued with a new timetable, which is to be collected from the front office. Students are not permitted to change classes until they have received their new timetable to ensure that this process has been followed correctly and all have been informed. 

We will be allowing one more week for subject changes this term for students in Years 8, 9 & 10. Any requests to change elective subjects must be completed by Week 2 Friday (this week) or they will have to wait until Term 4. Please note that some classes are at capacity, and therefore any requests to move into those won’t be approved.

Mrs Wood (Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning) processes all Year 11 and 12 subject changes, and Mrs Webb for changes in Years 7 - 10. 

Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews

Thank you to those families who have booked a Parent / Student / Teacher Interview for next Wednesday (28 July). Bookings are now closed for this term; however, we encourage families to communicate with teachers at any point throughout the term when there are questions or concerns.

For those who have booked interviews, please arrive 5 minutes prior to your first appointment to allow time to sign in using the Queensland Government QR Check In Code which will be located at the entrance to the LCC.

If you are unable to attend an appointment, please contact the teachers directly to let them know.

Communication with College Staff

There are many people at GSCC who are here to help you! Contact details for all staff can be found in the About Us >> Our Staff section of the school website, or you can contact us through the College Office on 4749 9400.

Communication Flow for Pastoral  Matters 

Homeroom Teacher 

First point of contact for uniform, daily routine and  general student wellbeing matters.

Email address will be given to students on their first day of school.

Pastoral Leader 

If a matter remains unresolved, or is of a sensitive  nature please contact the Pastoral Leader as soon as  possible.

Assistant Principal (Pastoral) 

For any matters that remain unresolved you can contact Mrs. Pelly Morganson.

pmorganson1@goodhepherd.catholic.edu.au  

Communication Flow for Curriculum  Matters 

Classroom Teacher 

First point of contact for any in-class, homework or assessment matters.

Curriculum Leaders 

If a matter remains unresolved, or is of a sensitive  nature please contact the relevant Curriculum Leader  as soon as possible.

Deputy Principal (Teaching & Learning) 

For any matters that remain unresolved you can contact Mrs. Michele Wood 

mwood@goodhepherd.catholic.edu.au.

Communication with Office Administration Team 

For all general enquiries 

Phone: (07) 4749 9400 

Student absence message bank: (07) 4749 9499

Email: enquiries@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au

 Finance Matters 

For any finance questions; fee help, payment details,  payment plans 

Email: accounts@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au.

I have no doubt that in some way you or someone you know has been affected by the everchanging effects of Covid-19.  On a personal note, my husband and I had our own negative experience over the holidays when our daughter’s wedding had to be postponed due to the lockdown in Townsville.  Our advice for our daughter at that time was to not worry about things out of her control however sometimes this is easier said than done.

This week’s newsletter article are some great tips from ReachOut.com on how we can best deal with the constant changes that we are experiencing through this pandemic.  Reach Out have some wonderful resources for students, parents and staff and I encourage you all to check their website as there may be some articles that may assist you with something you may be dealing with at this time.  You can access their website on https://au.reachout.com/

A Guide to Dealing with Constant Changes of Covid-19

From the moment when COVID-19 first steamrolled into our lives, we've had to learn to deal with change, as each stage of the pandemic has changed the way we live, work and socialise.

While it's normal to feel frustrated and unsettled by all this uncertainty, there are ways you can equip yourself while dealing with life changes.

Work Out What You Can and Can’t Control

Much of the anxiety during COVID-19 comes from the reality that many decisions are out of our hands. Feeling like we're not in control of our own path is pretty unsettling, but figuring out precisely what you can and can't do will help you to maintain a sense of stability and reduce any fear or anxiety.

You can’t prevent a storm from happening, but you can pack an umbrella. Preparation is the key to figuring out what you can and can’t control. Try making a list of what’s worrying you (i.e. fears). You can then start to figure out ways to address these problems (i.e. fixes). For example:

By coming up with fixes for any fears you have, you’ll take back your decision-making power.

Practise Self Control

Chances are your self-control has already been well tested during COVID-19. Whether you’ve been studying remotely or working from home, you’ll have faced many tempting distractions – PS4, anyone? By strengthening your self-control, you'll be more comfortable if (and when) things around you change.

Set yourself mini-tasks each week to strengthen your self-control. Maybe all the time you’re spending online keeping up with the news is leaving you feeling flat and empty, but you're finding it hard to look away. Start small by committing to switch off your phone during lunch. Then, day by day, slowly increase the amount of time you spend offline.

The key to building self-control is to use small victories to work up to bigger wins. Start with a manageable goal and build on that, day by day, week by week.

Focus on the Positives

It’s easy to see the negatives when things change, but it can help to try and see the positives, too. As restrictions gradually relax, look for the upsides. For example, you might now be able to return to your favourite restaurant, even if it’s only operating at half capacity, or to resume sports training, but in smaller groups. Remember that even these small changes are a big step forward.

Practise gratitude. As the rules change and life start to open up again, practise identifying the things you are grateful for – even if it’s as simple as being able to have a coffee with a friend at a cafe!

Speaking of friends, surround yourself with positive pals. If certain friends are continually banging on about how crazy everything is, then maybe mute them for a while and focus on people who look for the silver lining. Laughing is also a sure-fire way to feel more positive when the going gets tough. 

Practising positive self-talk can also be a big help. Each week, write down one thing you like about yourself. At the end of every month, you'll then have a little list that proves you're a legend. Ultimately, the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you'll be to find the good in any situation you face.

Change your Thought Patterns

Hands up if you've had a rough day and gone straight down the rabbit hole? Often our default response to change is negative thinking. This is because there's safety in the familiar, and change feels like a threat to our comfortable setup. But learning to adjust your thought patterns will do you a world of good during uncertain times.

Having negative thoughts is normal, but sometimes the best way to deal with them is to put a limit on them. If you notice you're on a slippery slope with worries, anxieties or fears, allow yourself only a certain amount of time each day to dwell on those thoughts.

The ReachOut WorryTime app lets you decide on a time, place and length of time to deal with your worries each day. This means you can do it in one sitting, rather than carrying your worries around with you 24/7.

Live in the Now

It's easy to find yourself gazing into the COVID crystal ball and worrying about what the future might hold, especially if your school, work and livelihood have been affected. But if you invest too much time in thinking about what hasn't happened yet, you might just miss out on the moments that are right in front of you.

Try meditation or mindfulness. Smiling Mind is an Australian-made mindfulness app designed for users of all ages. It works off the idea of dedicating just ten minutes a day to focusing on the here and now.

If mindfulness isn’t your vibe, why not try to master the art of distraction, whether it's by going for a run, hitting the gym (when they reopen), jumping on the baking bandwagon and whipping up a cake, or meeting up with friends for a board games night.

Concentrating on these kinds of tasks will help to block out the noise. It's hard to worry about the state of the world when your brain is focused on something in front of you!

Source:  https://au.reachout.com/

Friends and hope, not a gang and no-hopers

I coached a ladies Softball Team in Brisbane and a player said to me, ‘you need to motivate me more before a game.’ I was absolutely dumbfounded. 

I played in a men’s team at the same time that won several premierships in succession and nobody needed to motivate us because we wanted to be the best we could be. 

She was looking for an excuse for her own failings. If you want to find the person you need to motivate you, go and look in a mirror.

Motivation comes from within, it comes from your desire to succeed outweighing your acceptance of failure; not failure in terms of results but rather performance. My school results weren’t great but it wasn’t the teacher’s fault, because I had some really good ones.

Excuses are provided by people who are lazy, jealous or ignorant and every one of those traits can be changed. 

You are lazy because you don’t want to do it; simple as that. How many times have you said to yourself ‘I should do this or that’ and then proceeded to not do it? We find an excuse to justify to ourselves not doing it.

If you hear someone putting down someone’s achievements by saying ‘I could have done that’ or ‘it's not that hard’ then know they didn’t achieve it because they were too scared. 

To achieve something requires courage and discipline. The courage to put yourself out there and risk failure and discipline to stay the course no matter how hard it is.

That’s why I don’t have time for people who hang around in gangs; they have neither courage, discipline or intelligence. They don’t have the courage to stand up for their own beliefs, the discipline to adhere to decent values and lack the intelligence to recognize that the lowest level of behaviour exhibited by any member of their gang is a reflection on them.

People join gangs to hide their deficiencies and failings and the other members accept them so their own deficiencies and failings remain hidden.

American author Haniel Long describes a gang as being like a wolf pack; ‘gang members do not use their energies in friendship, for they do not know what friendship is. If they are united, it is by the common bond of a desire to attack their world.”

In other words they don’t embrace the World and all it has to offer but stay in their own little cocoon where they are safe. Their mentality becomes such that they don’t care what outsiders think because the other members accept them for what they are.

A coward, someone not brave enough to face the world and risk failing in front of others. People in gangs would rather have the affection of losers with no wish of contributing to society than see just how far their potential could take them.

Father Greg Boyle foundered Homeboys Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the World. His view on gang violence? ‘Gang violence is about a lethal absence of hope.’

In other words, the people who join gangs have given up on themselves. They have quit and rather than experience the joy of accomplishment they tear things down because it is easier to tear something down than to build it.

Find a group that makes you a better person, that makes you feel good about yourself and contributes to society; be brave enough to stand on your own two feet. I admire anyone who does that, no matter how short they are when they do.

For that takes courage and you will quickly find yourself surrounded by people who admire and respect you and though these people are a group they are not a gang, but rather friends. 

Welcome back to another action packed Term of Sport and Physical Education at Good Shepherd. This term we see a full calendar of events for students to be involved in Sport at GSCC. Our first event this term will see our Rugby League teams take on Spinifex in the School of Origin Series. This will encompass a 13-15yrs Boys, Open Girls and Open Boys team as they battle it out in a 2 game Series to be played on Friday, 6th August (Week 4) and Friday, 27th August (Week 7). All teams have been training hard and cannot wait to compete against Spinifex.

Next up we have our Inter-School Athletics Carnival against Spinifex on Thursday the 19th of August to be held at Sunset Oval. This is another opportunity for students to compete at the next level. Students who placed top 4 in any event at the GSCC Athletics Carnival have been invited to join the team. Further details will be sent home to students once the team is finalised. Training sessions will also be held prior to the event for students to work on and perfect their skills. 

Speaking of the GSCC Athletics Carnival, it was my pleasure to announce the Age Champions, Spirit Champions and Overall House Champions at last week's assembly. It was great to see so many students participating on the day. I would like to congratulate the following Age Champions and Runner Up Age Champions for their efforts on the day.

In what was a great display of Athletics during the carnival there was also a great deal of cheering, encouragement and chanting from all houses. However, one house came out on top for showing the most spirit on the day. This house always shows great enthusiasm and participation and this year's House Spirit Champions are Chisholm. 

Our final award for the day was the Overall House Champions. There was a lot of discussion as to whether Benjamin could be knocked off top spot as they had previously won the last 5 Swimming and Athletics Carnivals. It seems that Rice were up to the challenge this year, as they ran away convincingly much to the delight of Mrs Dalla Vecchia. Final scores can be seen below.

I would like to thank the HPE department for their hard work behind the scenes, all staff involved on the day and in the lead up, as well as a big thank you to Belinda Thomson and her team at Mount Isa Athletics for allowing us to borrow their equipment for the day. 

Students and teachers have returned to school refreshed and enthusiastic after the winter holidays. This week we have included an overview of the topics that students will be studying in the different year levels and Senior Subjects. 

Humanities in Junior Classes 

Year 7 Students have begun their Geography studies. The Term 3 unit is entitled “Water in the World” and is a very important topic in a world looking for sustainable solutions regarding the use of resources. In Week 4 the students will go on a Field Trip to Lake Moondarra. At the Lake they will undertake a variety of activities including sketches, data collection and field observations that will help them to investigate the use of the Lake as a water resource for the Mount Isa community and possible sustainable solutions to identified issues. We encourage all students to return their Field Study permission slips to the front office as soon as possible. Year 8 Students become Economists in Term 3 studying a unit of Business and Economics with a focus on Business Opportunities in the Australian Market. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently provided the school with a class set of booklets - Trade and Investment at a Glance 2021. These booklets include a statistical snapshot of Australia’s economy and include graphs and tables that students will learn how to analyse and interpret. Source analysis is a key skill in Humanities. In Year 9, Geography is revisited as students learn about Biomes - large communities of vegetation and wildlife adapted to a specific climate. The five major types of biomes are aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra. This knowledge will provide students with an insight into natural diversity. 

In the Senior School

Year 10

Specialisation is happening for Year 10 students who chose their Humanities electives last term. Mr Toal is teaching those who chose Geography, Legal Studies/Modern History elective students will learn from Mr Blake and Miss Morley is teaching Social and Community Studies. These electives will increase students’ understanding of specific disciplines with the Humanities and help them make subject choices for Year 11 and 12. 

Year 11 

Modern History Students collaborate while studying Civil Rights Movements

Legal Studies students (Year 11 and 12) are looking forward to an exciting opportunity this Term when they speak with a District Court Judge, Her Honour Judge Vicki Loury QC, at the Mount Isa Court House on the 29th of July. This event is part of the “Judge Talk” Supreme Court Library Queensland education program and complements the current Year 11 unit  - Balance of Probability - Civil, Contract and Consumer law. Year 11 Geography students will also be learning in the community context when they go on Field Trips to collect data regarding the make-up of the Mount Isa population in the context of Sustainability in Remote Locations. Students will focus on the demographics of the workforce and the provision of services. Field Trip destinations are yet to be finalised. Year 11 SAC students are investigating Science and Technology.  During this module students investigate how changes in technology influence how we connect and communicate as a community and society. Students will examine how we use technology to manage and record our daily lives and experiences, and how technology impacts on the ways we can participate as global citizens.

Year 12 

In the final unit of Year 12 students are preparing to take full responsibility for their studies. Time management, prioritising of tasks and motivation are essential as they engage in the final unit of work and ready themselves for the external exams. 

Geography students set themselves SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely), which they will revisit throughout the term as they learn, consolidate and revise. Their studies are focussed on Global population changes, the patterns and trends of which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Year 12 Legal Studies students continue their work on Human Rights and International Law as Modern History students extend their understanding of the Vietnam War. Social and Community Studies students explore the many facets of Today’s Complex Society. 

It is hoped by now that Senior Students have developed regular study habits and have allocated specific time to reading, revising, researching and responding. By setting specific academic and personal goals and measuring their own progress students can ensure that they will perform to the very best of their ability when they sit the external exams. Teachers will continue to foster the love of learning and the development of study skills in each and every student. Parents are encouraged to support this process at home as well. We all want our student efforts to be reflected in their final academic achievement levels. Student wellbeing goes hand in hand with academic success. Remember to contact your child’s teacher or the Humanities Head of Curriculum if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress in Humanities classes. 

Welcome back to all students returning for Term 3. Last Friday saw the Year 9 Cohort attend their Retreat for Year 9. This year’s retreat focussed on the student’s stepping up and preparing them for when they enter the Senior phase of their schooling.

To start the retreat students attended Mass with Fr Mick at the Parish before moving into their groups and dropped off at the bottom of the lookout, where they buddied up to talk about their excitement and fears about their senior schooling.

Once at the top of the lookout all students were placed into three larger groups in their hat colors where they completed the following activities;

1. Meditation with Ms Puxty
2. Picture this with Mr Toal
3. Goals and stars with Ms Kyle

After all groups had completed the various activities the students had morning tea provided before making their way back down the lookout and trekking back to school. Students then completed three rounds of activities for team building and working together as a group. This was the most enjoyed part of the day for the students to showcase their leadership qualities.

The last session involved two games where they had to flip a tarp over to the other side without any students touching the ground this activity was won by the boys. The last activity involved a group of six students who had to balance a bucket of water balloons with their feet whilst one student takes off a sock taking it turns. 

The day rounded off with students writing their reflection on the day’s activities finishing off with 15 minutes of free time. The day was a huge success with all students thoroughly enjoying their day. 

I would like to shout out a huge thankyou to the Year 9 Homeroom Teachers, Ms Puxty, Ms Kyle, Mrs Viljoen and Mr Toal and the fifteen Year 11 students for all of their help and guidance throughout the day as well as Mrs Morganson and Mrs Warren for their time.

Where are they now?

Agatha Kinyua

Name, Graduation year and House

Agatha Kinyua, 2011, MacKillop

What did you think you would do when you left school?

I wanted to do engineering but was not sure what specialisation to take.

Did you follow that pathway and/or what are you doing now?

The first year of the engineering degree at JCU exposed us to the different kinds of engineering, and I gravitated towards Electrical Engineering. I completed my 4 year degree and have since been working at Glencore, Mount Isa Mines.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since leaving school?

I have learnt that the end or solution is not always clear at the beginning, but it is good to make a start, ask questions and be willing to learn.

Favourite tuckshop food

Burrito and chicken nuggets. 

Favourite teacher/s

Mrs D’Costa.

Best school memory or  funny story

My best memory is the Year 12 retreat at Paluma. It was a great environment to connect with the cohort.

What do you miss most about school?

I really enjoyed athletic competitions as I liked to participate in the track events.

Best piece of advice for current students

Believe in yourself, find what you are good at and pursue it.

What do you hope to be doing in 5-10 years?

I hope to progress in my career and move into management. I also look forward to having a family of my own.

Work Experience

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for TERM 3! Students in Years 10/11/12 are invited to apply for work experience again this term.  Please come and see me if you require any assistance. We will be having a Guest Speaker from Commerce North West coming to speak to our  Years 10/11/12 Students during a lunch break regarding their Retail & Hospitality Work Experience Program (details to be advised). Any students in these year levels who are interested in these industries are encouraged to attend.

Here are a few more photos taken of our students during their Work Experience placements last term. Thank you again to all the employers who hosted our students, we appreciate your wonderful support.

Liesel Armstrong

Work Experience Supervisor

Homework Club has started for Term 3. Come along to the School Library from 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Teachers will be there to support you to complete your homework and work on assessments. Bring your textbooks or a novel that you are reading in class. You may also choose to find a great book to read and borrow from the library. REMEMBER there is NO Homework club on Tuesdays. Make a choice to come along and improve your participation and academic achievement. SEE YOU THERE. 

Every Wednesday morning from 7.00am - 8.30am. Parents and Friends are invited to The Arili Thina Cafe to purchase your morning coffee and breakfast.

By doing so you are supporting our Hospitality students to achieve their competencies towards their Certificate ll in Hospitality and all profits go towards their Hospitality Camp to the Gold Coast in August. 

There are a range of coffees, cold drinks and breakfast food available. Please see our Menu. Our students are becoming fantastic baristas. Come see for yourself how good they are.