Recently I made parents aware of a Principal in the Townsville Diocese who has been charged with a series of offences around sexual exploitation of children. At Good Shepherd Catholic College, we take all matters of Student Protection very seriously and I wanted to outline some of our procedures for protecting the young people in our care.

Student Protection Reporting: In all schools in the Townsville Diocese and across Queensland, we have mandatory reporting laws for all incidences of harm or even suspicion of harm. That means it is against the law for any of our staff to NOT report information that they become aware of where a child is being abused or may be being abused by another person.

Types of Reports: We have two types of reports that we use when reporting abuse or suspected abuse. The first is a Record of Concern, which is used for less serious matters and where there is support in place to protect the child. For more serious cases or potentially criminal matters, schools use a Student Protection Reporting (SPR) form which can be sent to the Queensland Child Protection Investigation Unit (Qld Police) and/or Department of Child Safety. All school reports are reviewed by the Student Protection unit of Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) in Townsville, a dedicated team of experts in this field.

New Legislation - All adults above 18 years of age: It is now an offence for any adult (even 18 year old students at our school) not to report sexual offending against a child by another adult to police. This means that every adult is required to report sexual offences against a child to police. An outline of the legislation can be found here.

We strongly recommend that Parents and Carers talk to their Year 12 son or daughter about this new legislation. We have provided some training to our students on this topic, provided by the Student Protection unit at TCE.

If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t: We encourage everyone in our community, including our students, to report abuse if they see it or if you suspect it is happening.

If you have any questions about Student Protection, please contact me at the College. 

Staff Vacancies

We currently have a number of staff vacancies in the College. Please click on each of the links if you are interested:

Tuckshop Convenor

Assistant Tuckshop Convenor

School Officer - Hospitality

School Officer - Industrial Arts

Absence from school

We understand that some absence from school cannot be helped especially if students are unwell. However, taking time off from school to attend festivals, weddings or other social events does prove problematic. While these decisions rest with families, missing one day of school is hard to catch up on - particularly in Year 11 and 12 - let alone missing a week of school.

As a Mount Isa College, we also recognise that travel is part of our students’ lives. At times, we have to travel to access medical appointments or family functions. While we will try to accommodate absence, it is not possible for students to simply catch up on a week’s worth of lessons. Students miss out on the discussions, collaboration and group activities in the lessons, and catching up is difficult in practical subjects.

Absence in the peak assessment times of a term, or in exam block, is even more challenging. Again, we will try to be flexible with legitimate absence but sometimes it’s just not possible.  In Year 11 and 12, the decision on whether or not students have an opportunity to submit an assignment or sit an exam rests with QCAA.

In summary:

• Absence from school is problematic and especially difficult in Weeks 6-9 when most assessments are  due.
• It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on missed class work, not the teacher’s responsibility.
• Students take responsibility for copying another student’s notes. Some teachers will not have ready made notes to share with students who are absent.
• Absence due to social events will not result in extensions.
• Teaching and learning occurs in final week of school every term.

Year 11 in 2022

This week, Year 10 students will receive an email including their webcodes which will allow access to the Subject Selection form for Year 11, 2022.  Students do not need to rush to complete their subject selections, and should carefully consider both their senior and post school pathways before completing the form. The forms will remain open until 8:30am next Monday 16 August.

From here, SET Plan meetings will happen in Week 7. It is compulsory that all students commencing Year 11 in 2022 complete a SET Plan Meeting with a parent or guardian in attendance. These meetings are an important step in the transition into Year 11, and help us to ensure students are in the correct subjects for their desired pathway. Please note that bookings for these meetings will open through Compass this Thursday 12 August, and will close next Thursday 19 August.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the College.

Getting the Most out of Compass School Manager (continued)

Managing your child’s attendance

Entering an Attendance Note

From the Compass home screen (or from your student’s profile)

• Click the Add Attendance Note item.

From the pop-up window

• Select the reason
• Enter a brief description of the absence
• Select the start and finish time
• Click the ‘Save’ button

Where possible, attendance notes should be entered prior to the absence/lateness occurring.

SMS Link

If your child is marked as absent without prior approval you will receive a message containing a link. When you follow the link, you will have the opportunity to explain the absence.

The link will expire after you have clicked it, meaning that it cannot be used to explain unapproved absences in the future. Instead, you will receive another message containing a new link, allowing you to repeat the process.

Summary

Using Compass you can view up-to-the-minute attendance information for your child.

Notes

This sub-tab provides a list of attendance explanations for your child. From this tab you can also add absence notes (both past and future).

Daily Snapshot

Recent school news items and information relevant to you. This may include newsletters, details of upcoming events.

Explain Specific Absences

This sub-tab provides a list of all unexplained lates and absences from class. From this tab you can click to approve specific absences.

Attendance Summary

Includes a summary of attendance in each class. For full details about a specific absence, click the appropriate number in the grid. For an explanation of a heading item, hover your mouse over the heading of interest.

When students are marked ‘Not Present’ in class this can sit in one of three different categories. These include:

• NP SchlNot present in class and is explained by a school related activity.
• NP ParntNot present in class and is explained by a parent approval.
• NP Unap Not present in class with no explanation entered.

Parenting Tips for your Child’s

Online Safety - Take #3

Here are the next four tips from Safe on Social Media on how parents can support their children in navigating the online world better. 

Tip #9. Ensure they are not being moved from another social media site or game to another by someone they don't know. This is a big one that I hear about far too often. Particularly for kids under 13yrs, but it may happen to older teens also. They make "friends" in games such as Roblox. Their new "friend" suggests that they connect on TikTok. Once they are both following each other, they can message each other for free. This includes sharing videos. This can become every parent's worst nightmare in the blink of an eye.

Tip #10. Teach them to look for the verification symbol. There is a verification symbol on all social media sites that proves it is the actual verified celebrity or group. On most, there will be a little blue circle with a white tick in it next to the name; on YouTube, it is a grey circle with a white tick, and on Snapchat, it is a yellow circle with a black star. No tick, no follow. Predators can set up fraudulent accounts with a small spelling mistake or a similar version of a celebrity name.

Tip #11. Encourage your kids to speak up. Kids need to understand that an adult can help when they know what is going on and will help them without the worry of being banned from their device or game for speaking up.

Tip #12. What are they looking at? You may never know what they see, and there is a lot of graphic content, pornography, and other inappropriate content online just an accident click away. Ensure they know to get off the app immediately if they see something that makes them feel uncomfortable or worried.

Sourced:  Safe on Social Media

Winter Uniform Reminder

We are starting to see an increase in students wearing jumpers and jackets that do not align with our Uniform Policy as we deal with the cooler winter weather. Students who do not follow our Uniform Policy will be consequated with a uniform detention during the first break of the day of non-conformance. 

If your child is unable to wear the correct uniform they are to provide a signed and dated note from a parent/caregiver. It is also important to note that these temporary uniform allowances should not exceed a week. If a student requires more than a week for the correct uniform to be purchased, a parent/caregiver must advise their child’s pastoral leader otherwise the student will be consequated with uniform detention.  Any continued uniform non-conformance will result in an escalation in consequences.

Below is a copy of the Winter Uniform for Juniors and Seniors, as outlined in our College Uniform Policy:

Grey stockings are available from the Uniform Shop.

Mr Mailman

Every Thursday of Rodeo week the Mount Isa Race Club holds The Mailman Express, a 200m time trial for non-thoroughbred horses. The event is named in honour of Wally Mailman, one of the most honest, humble and respected gentlemen I have ever met.

I knew Mr Mailman through his son Lyman, who I played football with and whenever I met him he would always quietly say to call him Wally. I never did, I felt doing so would not be respectful because of how highly I thought of him.

Born in a creek bed near Augathella the same year Mount Isa was discovered, Mr Mailman is a great example of your life not being defined by where it starts. 

As with most young men back then he left school at an early age and worked. It was horses and the bush he loved and his first job as an off-sider for a horse breaker set him up for the sport that would make his name.

Bushman’s Carnivals were held all over the state to raise funds for the Red Cross and Mr Mailman rode broncs and bulls. He was so good that he travelled with an Australian team to compete in America and another time to his great grandfather’s home of New Zealand.

Mr Mailman met his wife Jane, a Maori Princess, and following their wedding they made Australia their home. Continuing to ride and compete in Rodeos Mr Mailman won the bulldogging at the inaugural Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo in 1959.

A decade later he became caretaker at Kalkadoon Park and raised his five children in Mount Isa. His love of horses led to Mr Mailman working for 26 years as the Mount Isa Race Club’s swabbing steward and he became the seventh Life Member in the club’s 70-year history.

One day Mr Mailman noticed $50 on the ground in the swabbing stall and told the trainer holding the horse that he must have dropped it. The trainer said no it was not his so it must be Mr Mailman’s and this exchange was repeated several times. 

Then Mr Mailman told the trainer, “I know that $50 is not mine because I bring $5 to the track each week to buy a drink and a sandwich. So, pick it up and put it away or I’ll report you to the steward.”

It would have been easy to take the money and look the other way but Mr Mailman was a man of integrity and, though quietly spoken, he carried himself with dignity and pride.

When he was competing Mr Mailman felt he wasn’t getting the scores he deserved because of his colour. Rather than make a song and dance and complain about it he had a pair of white riding boots made so the judges (and everybody else) could see his spurring action more clearly.

Whenever I met him he was well dressed and polite and made people feel good about themselves just by acknowledging them. He was comfortable in any company, whether meeting the Queen or sitting around the campfire with a bunch of hard-living cowboys. 

In all settings he maintained his values and standards and that is why I, and anyone who had the privilege of meeting him, respected him.

I see students on the path to Mr Mailman’s level of respect, students with a quiet dignity who go about change using subtle deeds rather than overbearing pressure or guilt trips.

Anesu Chahwahwa, Amy Haddon, Brodie Roberts, Patrick Roche, Sharni Pierce, Jett Guningham and Sam Winks are just some of the students I have seen exhibit the quiet strength of Mr Mailman. 

They are not loud and they do not need to be at the front of the line but quietly make sure those around them are better off, with no thought of reward or recognition. Sometimes instead of looking up to find people of inspiration we just need to look around.

Students in Year 9 will be transitioning into Senior schooling next year and will require a change of uniform. It is important that an order for these items is placed this Term to ensure stock availability for 2022.

In the coming weeks during 2nd break and after school (see below for times) we will be asking Year 9 students to come and try on Senior Uniforms. We ask that you discuss with your student how many sets you will require.

Once uniforms have been fitted, we will complete a pre-order form indicating for a November or January pickup, we will notify you at a later date when it is ready for collection. 

Your student will be looking at purchasing the following items:

• Senior Tie
• Senior White Shirt/Blouse
• Senior Girls Skirt
• Boys Grey Shorts 
• Senior Blazer(compulsory)
• Optional if required: socks, hats and sports uniforms.

Starting Monday 16th August

Monday and Friday during 2nd Break

Tuesday and Thursday 3:00pm-3:30pm

Thursday 8:00am – 8:30am

Students meet District Court Judge

As part of Senior Humanities Studies students were given the opportunity to meet with Her Honour Judge Vicki Loury QC when she attended Court in Mount Isa. This opportunity came as part of the Supreme Court Library Queensland education program. The “Judge Talk '' program sees school students sit down with a judge before court starts to listen to them speak about their role, responsibilities and the legal system.

On the 29th July, 12 Good Shepherd Catholic College students met at the Court House, were ushered into the Court Room and offered seats in the jury box. From here they were privileged to a presentation from Her Honour Judge Loury QC  who spoke on various topics including the intricacies of sentencing, criminal court cases in Queensland, decision making, career pathways and life choices. Students then had the opportunity to ask Her Honour questions, to which she provided considered and extensive answers. Thanks go to Mr Greg Blake, Legal Studies Teacher and Ms Leigh Harding, Humanities Curriculum Leader who accompanied the students. We would also like to thank the Supreme Court Library of Queensland and the Judge and her assistant for providing this wonderful opportunity here in Mount Isa. 

Last Thursday, the GSCC Senior and Junior Rugby League teams played game 1 of our 2 game School of Origin Rugby League series against Spinifex State College. The week of training leading into the games was exceptional, as students from Year 7 through to Year 12 all trained with and against each other on the College Oval. 

It was extremely pleasing to see the Senior boys take ownership of what GSCC Rugby League means and set the standards at training for the Junior boys to follow. It is clear within the Junior Team there is some aspirational footballers who look up to the Senior boys through the respect and pride that they have instilled in the GSCC jersey throughout the year.  

The Junior boys were certainly not beat on effort in their game against Spinifex’s Under 13-15yrs team, losing 30-6. Captain, Jamaron Mothe, and Vice-Captain, Cole Finter, were inspirational with their efforts with and without the ball. Whilst Year 8 students, Cooper Fahey and Ryder Soper, really stood up as players of the future against a predominantly Year 10 Spinifex side. 

A special thanks to Mr Lachlan Toal and Mr Steve Guest for stepping up to help the boys with their preparations. Junior training will continue over the next Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:15pm to 4:30pm on the Oval. 

The GSCC Senior Rugby League Team enjoyed a hard fought 18-8 victory where they really made defence the priority. Led by Captain, Chavez Hegarty, whose enthusiasm was infectious, the boys jumped into Spinifex right from the kick off and did not relent until full time. Highlights of the game included Jack Petitt running 70 metres to score a blazing solo try, Jake Russell going above and beyond carting the ball up the middle, and TJ Tapu’s excellent kicking game had Spinifex working out of their end all game.

However, the story of the game was Anesu Chahwahwa. Anesu, who played his first game of rugby league in March of this year, was awarded the man of the match for consistently tackling every player in front of him and running with fierce determination each time he had the ball. By not missing a training session and the persistence to continually improve, Anesu has become a solidified footballer.  

The final games of our series will be on Thursday the 26th of August at Alec Inch Oval starting from 4:00pm. I would like to encourage all to attend, as this will be the last game that our Year 12 boys play for the school, and they will be aiming to make it a special one. 

GSCC Senior Rugby League would like to use this avenue to once again thank Brumby’s Mount Isa, 2Seas Catering, Top Fire Constructions, Mount Isa Mining Supplies, Clancy Corporation and The Buffs Club for their valuable donations to our team. 

Latest Newsletter

Here is the link to the latest Careers Newsletter.  This edition covers:

• Radiography

• QTAC Key Dates for 2022

• Optometry Courses

• Torrens University

• Jobs you probably never knew existed.

Cooper Commences Apprenticeship

Congratulations to Year 12 student, Cooper Guningham, who was recently offered a School Based Apprenticeship with Downright Carpentry.  

He will study for a Certificate III in Carpentry.

Cooper has undertaken a number of work experience placements over the past three years to help him identify which is the best career path for him.  

Now he has found it!

Work Experience Applications Close

Friday 13th August

Liesel Armstrong 

Work Experience Supervisor 

larmstrong1@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au

Winners Circle

Olympic Library Contest

The winners will be announced on assembly on Wednesday 11 August. Each winner will receive a gift card, medal and flowers: really it will be just like they are on the podium in Tokyo!

The prize has been topped up by staff and students collecting 341 plastics containers and cans for recycling, so congratulations to all who thought about the environment as well as reading notable, prize winning Australian books.

In keeping with the Olympic theme of Tokyo's Olympic medals being made from 78,985 tons of recycled electronic devices, including cell phones, the Library medals have been made from plastic bottle tops. See below to see if you can spot the difference.

The next big event is Book Week

The theme this year is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. During the celebrations, students will be encouraged to read and explore books that take them to another world, be it real or fantasy.

Book Week’s artist is Shaun Tan and we also encourage students to borrow some of his wonderful books from our library.

Many thanks to Leonie Wilks who kindly photographed the year 12 final artworks for submission to QCAA.

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. 

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.