Graduation Week

This is one of my favourite weeks of the year. Whilst it is a bittersweet occasion to farewell our senior students, it is exciting to watch them step off the precipice of their thirteen years of schooling into a new world; a new beginning with so many opportunities in front of them. Many of our students have already secured employment, applied for University and TAFE or are intending to take a gap year until they decide for sure. Whatever journey they take, we pray that the spirit of Good Shepherd Catholic College goes with them. Under the guidance and nurturing of their staff, our graduating students have been encouraged to do their best at school and to be a good neighbour to those around them. As they embark on their next journey, we hope that they continue to push themselves to realise their dreams and aspirations and continue to live out the mission of our College - to be ‘Christ our Light’ to everyone they meet. Thank you to Ms Nikki Dalla Vecchia who has been supporting the Year 12 students and preparing the special events of this week.

Commendable Achievement Awards

We also congratulate our students from Years 7 to 11 who this week received a Commendable Achievement Award. This award was presented to students who were nominated by at least three teachers for demonstrating impressive effort, application to studies and a positive attitude in class. Not all students will win Subject Prizes or Gold Awards - but all should strive to do their best. Well done students!

International Mens’ Breakfast

This Friday we will host our first International Men’s Breakfast at the College. This will be hosted outside the Lumen Christi Centre from 7.30 am. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and thank the special men, Dads, uncles, grandparents and male friends in our lives.

Have a blessed week.

Kathleen McCarthy

Principal

Year 7, 8, and 9 Assessments

It is expected that Year 7-9 students attend school until Friday 26th November (Week 8), even if all their assessments are completed.

There are lots of activities throughout the final week of the school year.

Please refer to your assessment calendar for the last assessments due for Weeks 8 and 9:

All the best to our Year 10s writing their exams over the next week!  

Graduation Arrivals Live Stream - Thursday 18 November 

Our Year 12s will celebrate their final school event on Thursday evening at the Graduation Dinner. Arrivals commence from 5:30pm at the Civic Centre. You can join our Arrivals Live Stream if you're unable to attend in person - https://youtu.be/zIXRlAdMJlw

Commendable Achievement Awards

Congratulations to all students who received Commendable Achievement Awards this week. Your hard work, and dedication to your studies to be commended. Keep up the great work!

Year 8 - 10 Elective Subject Selections

Elective Subject selections have now been finalised. Students will receive their first preference, unless I tell them otherwise.

For students in Year 9 (2022), the majority of elective subjects are at capacity, so there won’t be any student movement at the beginning of next year.

Year 11 - 2022

Earlier this week, Year 10 students should have received a draft copy of their 2022 timetable to check subject selection, if there are any errors please contact me as soon as possible.

2021 Report Cards

On Thursday 2 December, students and families will gain access to Semester 2 Report Cards. These report cards are issued online, through the Compass Parent Portal. We will notify parents and students when report cards have been uploaded, and you will have immediate access to them at this time. Please see the documents included for instructions.

A reminder, that to access the Parent Portal, parents/carers must come into the front office to collect login information (office hours are 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday). We are unable to provide login details unless we can see you to verify your details; this is important due to the sensitive and sometimes confidential information that you will have access to on your child’s portal. Please call the College Office if you are unable to attend in person and they can discuss verification options with you.

Do you have a passion for Netball, and are interested in coaching a team for the GSCC Netball Club next year? If yes - contact Nikki Dalla Vecchia before the end of term for more information. 

GSCC P&F Christmas Raffle

Have you got your tickets in the GSCC Christmas Raffle yet? There are some great prizes up for grabs! The raffle will be drawn at midday next Thursday, 25 November. You can purchase online, or with cash. For Cash sales, please complete the form below and drop it into the College office with your money asap.

Year 11 Leadership Retreat

On Sunday our Year 11 students will embark on their retreat to Magnetic Island.  I know that it seems fairly late in the year for a retreat however we see so many opportunities for the cohort to really come together and prepare themselves for the year ahead.

Whilst on retreat, the students will be immersed in many activities that will encourage teamwork, build on their leadership capabilities, experience activities such as a reef tour, paddle boarding and abseiling as well as filling their spiritual cup through meditation, prayer and reflection.

This year is even more exciting in that our 2022 student leaders will play an integral role in leading their cohort to being more cohesive.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Miss Louise Wiles, our Year 11 Pastoral Leader, for the many hours of work that has gone into the organisation of the retreat and preparing the cohort as leaders for 2022.  We cannot wait to see and hear about the wonderful memories made and experiences that the students will encounter next week.

Year 12 Graduation Week

As I write this article our Year 12 cohort only have two days left as current students but they will forever be a part of our GSCC community.  This week is when we see many mixed emotions from our Year 12 students which is only natural when people reach milestones in their lives. 

In whatever our graduates choose to do after their last week of high school education, we wish them all the best in their endeavours.  May God’s blessings keep them safe, happy and fulfilled in their chosen paths and may they also continue to shine their light for the world to see. 

Congratulations Graduating Class of 2021 – YOU MADE IT!!!!

On Thursday 11th November a delegation from Good Shepherd Catholic College attended the Mount Isa Remembrance Day ceremony at the Civic Centre. Mr Greg Blake and Mr Nigel Mitchell along with the 2022 Students Leaders - Rachael Scrimgeour, Amy Haddon, Sophie Greenhalgh, Darcy Webber, Anesu Chahwahwa and Will Carland - represented the College. Remembrance Day occurs on 11th November and commemorates the Armistice which ended the fighting during the First World War 1914-1918. The Day is very special as it commemorates all those who have served Australia in war and peacekeeping, in particular those who lost their lives during their service. Australians have a long tradition of this service and sacrifice and Remembrance Day is one day in the year when we can acknowledge that service. 

The ceremony at the Civic Centre consisted of a short speech from a member of the Town Council, the reading of the Ode, one minute’s silence and then wreath laying by various organisations and individuals from the community. Good Shepherd's wreath was laid by our 2022 School Captains Amy Haddon and Rachael Scrimgeour. 

A few weeks ago, Year 11 student Sophie Greenhalgh traveled down to Logan, Brisbane to spend a week with the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. Sophie was first introduced to the sisters at the 2021 Ignite Conference which she attended in Brisbane in the September school Holidays. During her visit, Sophie was able to experience the ordinary day-to-day life of the Sisters, as well as gain insight into how they serve the people within their community. 

"For me, it was a great opportunity to experience what it is like to dedicate yourself to God and be Jesus for others." Sophie Greenhalgh. 

Some of the things that Sophie was involved in throughout the week, included daily prayer, reflection, adoration and mass. This was a great opportunity for Sophie to reflect on vocations in the sisterhood as well as bring her closer to her faith. We applaud Sophie for giving up her time away from her normal school routine, for this experience. Sophie continues to search for ways to foster her catholic identity, as well as assist in developing the catholic identity of our school community.

For our 2021 Year 12 Graduates….

I wish you all the best of luck and happiness as you leave “the nest” and venture out into the world.  It is an important, (scary and exciting) step for you as young adults.

If you need ANY Careers help now or into the future please don’t hesitate to be in touch.  It would be my honour to assist you in any way.

Wishing you well,

Fiona Coghlan