This week we finally held our first meeting of the GSCC Catholic Identity Advisory Team. The representative group consists of Staff, Priests, Parents and our Student Spiritual Leader who will meet quarterly to discuss strategies for enhancing the Catholic identity of our College. The Team will analyse the data of the Leuven Surveys which we have just completed as a community (Thanks by the way! We had a magnificent response rate). We look forward to sharing with the wider community our plans for implementing these strategies.

Our College Board met for the first time this week and it was a productive meeting covering some of the following topics:

• AGM of elected members;
• School Renewal;
• Building and Grants’ Application;
• Positive Behaviour for Learning Framework and
• Annual School Improvement Plan for 2022.

Thank you to the following people for your continued membership of our College Board:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Staff of Good Shepherd for another difficult Term, plagued with Covid-related challenges. We are all hoping Term 2 brings less sickness in our community. Saying that, we have achieved great things this Term and our students, like always, have risen to the challenge to do their best. We thank our Parents and Carers for your support every day - we couldn’t do it without you.

I hope you all have a great Easter break and have an opportunity to attend one of the local Easter services. Here is a list:

Term 1 Report Cards

Today, students and families will gain access to the Term 1 Interim Report Card. 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 document below 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 and they can discuss verification options with you.

Term 2 Parent Teacher Student Interviews

Parent Teacher Student Interviews will take place on Wednesday 27 April (Week 2). Bookings for these interviews will be made through the Compass Parent Portal (either phone or desktop versions) and will open at 5pm on Thursday 31 March, after Term 1 Report Cards have been uploaded to Compass. The bookings will close at midday on Friday 22 April.

Term 1 Report Cards

Today, students and families will gain access to the Term 1 interim report card. 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 document below 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 and they can discuss verification options with you.

Term 2 - Elective Subject Changes

If students are considering an elective subject change for Term 2, they are encouraged to commence the paperwork this week. All elective subject changes must be processed by the end of Week 2 each term. After this time, no further changes will be permitted for the term.

End of Term Arrangements

As always, we will end Term 1 with a BBQ and Easter Liturgy. Families are invited to join us for the BBQ and Liturgy, details are below.

The schedule for the day will be as follows:

8:30am - 8:50am: Homeroom
8:50am - 9:25am: Timetabled Lesson 1
9:25am - 10am: Timetabled Lesson 2
10am - 10:35am: First Break
10:35am - 10:40am: Movement
10:40am - 11:15am - Lesson 3 (PB4L)
11:15am - 11:45am: Homeroom (Clean Up)
11:45am - 12:30pm: BBQ lunch outside Hospitality
12:30pm - 1:15pm - stations of the cross and dismissal

Term 2

Term 2 will resume after Easter Monday on Tuesday 19 April.

As you would be aware, at the start of next term we will miss 3 consecutive Mondays due to public holidays. Year 11 and 12 students both have a double lesson on Week A Mondays so we are going to do a timetable day swap in Week 3 to even the number of senior classes being missed.

In Week 3 (A), we will run a Monday A timetable on Friday May 6 instead of the usual Friday Week A timetable. This will be reflected on both Edval and Compass for all staff and students (I will make the change as soon as I sync the Term 2 timetable).

Yearbook Cover Art Competition

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
Week 8 Focus:  Reflection

This week our College community will be reflecting on our PB4L journey so far this year.  As part of our reflection, I would like to personally thank our PB4L Working Group and Pastoral team for their feedback on the implementation process. In Week 1 of Term 2, I will be sharing with our staff, students and families some of the data that we have been able to capture in our first term of implementation and along with the PB4L Working Group we will develop an action plan to address any identified areas of improvement.

Praise Notes Presentation

This morning our Pastoral Leaders presented certificates to students who have been issued with 10 or more praise notes this term.  Over 1800 praise notes have been issued to students by our staff over the whole school. I would like to formally acknowledge the following 37 students who were presented with certificates of achievements:

School TV – The Conflict in Ukraine and Instilling Hope in Uncertain Times

A SPECIAL REPORT: The Conflict in Ukraine

Around the world, people are saddened and devastated by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Both adults and young people alike are feeling the stresses of war from afar as they experience fear, frustration and helplessness. 

The 24 hour news cycle has shown us upsetting images raising many questions, especially for our young people, about what is happening.  Parents and caregivers need to be guided by their child’s curiosity. 

There is strong evidence to suggest that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event in a developmentally appropriate way, can actually decrease distress. It’s best to “name it, to tame it.” This will also combat any misinformation to which they have most likely already been exposed to through social media, pictures or video clips.

Children need to know that they are being taken seriously. So, it is recommended that you don’t avoid the difficult questions. Ensure you address their questions honestly and sensitively. With less life experience than adults, young people may need help navigating news about this crisis. Use this is as an opportunity to model and encourage compassionate views towards fellow humans, regardless of distance or circumstance.

This Special Report offers guidance on how best to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

A SPECIAL REPORT: Instilling Hope in Uncertain Times

Although life is always filled with uncertainty, the levels we are currently experiencing are unprecedented and it is becoming evident that this is taking a toll on our young people. The most recent research from Mission Australia makes clear the breadth and depth the pandemic is having on our youth across the nation.

It appears that lockdowns and tighter restrictions will be with us for some time, but it is important in such times of uncertainty to instil hope and remain optimistic. Adult carers can play a vital role in helping young people reframe their worries, encouraging them to see life as it is and helping them to focus more on the things they can control, rather than those they can’t.

It is important young people remain connected with their social networks during these times as often their natural response to uncertainty is to exhibit varying degrees of fear and anxiety. With the continued disruptions, mental health concerns are on the rise and it is evident that many students may need some extra support to achieve their goals. Parents can help their kids focus more on the good bits in their life, rather than fill in the blanks with catastrophic narratives.

This Special Report outlines how adult carers can help instil hope and offer support in such times of uncertainty. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report:

Congratulations to our Year 12 students on completing their first Term of Year 12! It has been a busy past few weeks with exams, assessments and TAFE, and all students are to be commended on their application with these commitments. 

It was pleasing to finally hold our first all school assembly of the Term in Week 6. This was especially important for the Year 12 students and elected leaders, as the leaders were able to receive the leadership badges and collectively the cohort completed their pledge to be leaders within the College. 

A reminder of some important dates for Term 2 and the end of the year:

• TAFE: Week 1 of Term 2 is also a TAFE Block for many of our Year 12 students. 
• ANZAC Day: It would be great to see as many Year 12 students as possible at this year’s ANZAC Day march. Information pertaining to this will be communicated to students in Week 1 of Term 2. 
• Year 12 Retreat: Our retreat this year is called 'Leaders for Life’ and will occur on Tuesday 26th April 2022 from 8.30am - 3:00pm. The workshop will be focused around leadership, motivating and empowering students to dream big, strive for success, and assess their values as they prepare to leave school and transition into adulthood. There is no cost for this retreat. 
• Year 12 Farewell Assembly - Friday the 21st of October, Week 3. Starting at 2pm in the LCC. 
• Year 12 Graduation Mass - Wednesday the 16th of November, Week 7. Starting at 6:30pm at the Good Shepherd Parish.
• Year 12 Graduation Dinner - Saturday the 19th November, Week 7. Arrivals from 5:30pm at the Mount Isa Civic Centre. This will be a non-alcohol event.

I hope all of our Year 12 students and families have a safe and enjoyable Easter holiday.  

Tafe Off!

Yesterday our Year 8’s participated in a QMEA Physics in Flight Workshop.  Students had to design a flying object/plane and the craft that stayed in the air the longest was the winner.
Thanks to Glencore representative Peter Peterson, who is an electrical engineer, for providing some top tips on how to “engineer” the best flight.
Congratulations to “Odd Ones Out” who performed admirably on the day scoring the longest flight time of 5.03 seconds.

Here are the Champions

Max nominated for Queensland Training Awards

Year 11 student Max Pye has been nominated for the Queensland Training Awards in the school based apprenticeship category.
We wish Max all the best with his nomination.

Below are the two latest Careers Newsletters.  
Once again some great ideas and information about various job pathways.

Careers Newsletter, Term 1, First Edition 

Market Influencer
Entry into Medicine/Dentistry 2023
Early Entry into University
Apprenticeships
The Defence Industry
Tax File Numbers

Career Tools Newsletter - Term 1, 2nd Edition 

Event Planning
Medical Specialities
Engineers Australia
What is Economics?
Defence Force Gap Year 2023

Work Experience

We have many students undertaking placements this week and during the school holidays.
We wish them all the best as they learn new skills about different jobs.
Mrs Armstrong will post some pics early next term.

TAFE

Our TAFE students are busy this week undertaking their 2nd block placements. 
They will have another block Week 1 of next term, which commences Tuesday 19th April.

Have a great holiday everyone and see you next term!