This week I thought I’d return to a discussion on some of the essential expectations that are central to the operational success of Good Shepherd. Like every institution, there are key procedural elements that ensure the relational nature of an educational organization are harmonious and respectful as well as continually focused on our vision and mission which are shaped by the determination for excellence in teaching and learning.

The four basic expectations of each student within the college are;
1. Respect all people and things – HANDS OFF
2. Be in the right place at the right time – SHOW UP
3. Come prepared to learn – BE PREPARED
4. Follow instructions the first time – HAVE A GO, DON’T QUIT

The four basic expectations of each teacher are;
1. Consistent classroom practice
2. A holistic approach – (physical, intellectual, social/emotional, spiritual)
3. Continuous and timely feedback
4. An understanding of individual learning needs

These expectations, although relatively straightforward, underpin what we believe to be essential for good management of both students and staff roles and responsibilities. Of course as partners in the teaching and learning journey at Good Shepherd you as parents and carers also have important expectations to engage with;
1. Ensure that you remain informed of what is happening at the college
2. Support your child’s learning (checking homework, assignments, co-curricular activities)
3. Stay in contact with teachers where necessary
4. Monitor absence, use of technology, wellbeing

There is always so much going on in our lives and school is no different. It is very easy to be distracted by the hustle and bustle of our lives and the myriad of opportunities available to distract us (social media being a major one) however I feel certain that if students, staff and parents are prepared to adhere to the expectations as outlined above we would ensure the success of all that our Catholic education avails us in whatever role we are engaged.

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individual. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” Marie Curie

2019 SET Planning Process

Set planning has begun with our Year 10 students as we begin to prepare them to enter Year 11 in 2019. THis week, all students were invited to join the Google Classroom which we are using to build and develop their SET Plans. This Classroom also contains links, information, and presentations on the New Senior Secondary System and useful information to better prepare students.

I encourage all parents to be actively involved in the SET planning process to ensure that we can get students in the right pathway and on track to achieve their end of school goals.

Requesting applications for extension

As we approach the busy time of term, it is important that students and parents understand the processes involved in applying for an extension of time for formal assessment.

Applications must be made in writing, using the official form (which can be collected from the College Office) a minimum of three days prior to the due date. The extension must be granted in consultation with the classroom teacher, and many factors are taken into consideration when approving an extension. Extensions are granted for legitimate reasons, and not simply because the student has not had enough time. The teacher will consider work ethic, use of class time, and whether they have approached the teach for help before signing off on an extension.

After initial discussion with the classroom teacher, the completed form is then passed onto the Curriculum Leader who will then give final approval based on the information supplied and the discussion with the teacher.

Finally, it is not a given that an extension will be granted just because an application form has been submitted. For students who are travelling away for school sport, it is their responsibility to ensure assessment is up to date before. Extensions will not be granted just because a student is away on a non-compulsory school trip.

2018 Annual College Awards Night

Preparations have begun for the College Awards Night which will be held at the Mount Isa Civic Centre on Wednesday 24th October. This, our Major Awards Night recognises various achievements of students throughout the year. For academic achievements, students are eligible for a number of awards in various categories based on their results from the entire year.  Special awards are nominated and voted on by College staff.

Later on this term, the College will publish the criteria used to determine the various awards, and students will be notified early in Term 4 what awards they are receiving. This is a fantastic night that showcases the many talents of our students - we always look forward to celebrating this with the College and wider community.

Celebrated every year on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven. As the day signifies the Blessed Virgin's passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and also considered a Holy Day of Obligation.

• Date: August 15
• Type of Feast: Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation- Holy days of obligation are feast days on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid (to the extent that they are able) servile work. A lot of people misunderstand what it means to say that we are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. This isn't an arbitrary rule, but part of our general moral life—the need to do good and avoid evil.
• Prayers: The Hail Mary
• Other Names for the Feast: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; The Assumption of Mary Into Heaven; The Dormition of the Theotokos; The Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Feast of the Assumption is a very old feast of the Church, celebrated universally by the sixth century. The feast was originally celebrated in the East, where it is known as the Feast of the Dormition, a word which means "the falling asleep." The earliest printed reference to the belief that Mary's body was assumed into Heaven dates from the fourth century, in a document entitled "The Falling Asleep of the Holy Mother of God." The document is written in the voice of the Apostle John, to whom Christ on the Cross had entrusted the care of His mother, and recounts the death, laying in the tomb, and assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Tradition variously places Mary's death at Jerusalem or at Ephesus, where John was living.

We celebrate many important days and feast days at the College, including and also recently the Feast Day of Australia's first Saint, Mary MacKillop which was on the 8th August. These days help to remind us of our Catholic Identity and culture and are very important. The social justice group are using the words of wisdom from Saint Mary MacKillop and that is to ‘never see a need without doing something about it’. They continue their work and mission this term through a new initiative. Students are making blankets for the homeless from old clothes/materials.

The social justice group are calling anyone who may have any material or clothes, blankets etc that they would like to donate, to please bring into the front office so that they can continue to assist the needs of others within our community.

At this time of term when school work, assessment and other responsibilities are at their busiest and most stressful, it is important that we all remember to be kind to each other. As a College, we often reflect on the four expectations displayed in each classroom. The first expectation is that we “respect all people and all things”; being kind to each other is a perfect way to enact this. Being kind to each other in not just an expectation, it’s a way to ensure we are happy in all that we do. Below are the details from an article I read earlier in the year that explores five reasons why being kind makes you feel good!

1. Contagious smiling

Being kind is likely to make someone smile and if you see that smile for yourself, it might be catchy. A key theory about how we understand other people in neuroscience suggests that seeing someone else show an emotion automatically activates the same areas of the brain as if we experienced that emotion for ourselves.

You may have been in a situation where you find yourself smiling or laughing just because someone else is – why not set off that chain of good feelings!

2. Righting a wrong

The same mechanism also makes us empathise with others when they are feeling negative, which could make us feel down. This is particularly true for close friends and family, as our representations of them in the brain physically overlap with our representations of ourselves. Doing a kind act to make someone who is sad feel better can also make us feel good – partly because we feel the same relief they do and partly because we are putting something right.

3. Making connections

Being kind opens up many different possibilities to start or develop a social connection with someone. Kind acts such as a writing someone a thoughtful note or starting the day by giving someone a compliment, in itself this is linked to improved mood. Similarly, charities offer the opportunity to connect with someone to improve their life. Volunteering also opens up new circles of people to connect with, both other volunteers and those you are helping.

4. A kind identity

Most people would like to think of themselves as a kind person, so acts of kindness help us to demonstrate that positive identity and make us feel proud of ourselves. In one recent study, children in their first year of secondary school recognised how being kind can make you feel “better as a person … more complete”, leading to feelings of happiness. This effect is even more powerful when the kind act links with other aspects of our personality, perhaps creating a more purposeful feeling.

5. Kindness comes back around

Work on the psychology of kindness shows that one out of several possible motivations is reciprocity, the returning of a favour. This can happen directly or indirectly. Someone might remember that you helped them out last time and therefore be more likely to help you in the future. It could also be that one person being kind makes others in the group more kind, which lifts everyone’s spirits. Being kind may boost your mood, but research has also shown that being in a good mood can make you more kind. This makes it a wonderful two-way relationship which just keeps giving.

You can read the full article here: Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good – according to science

It is so important that when life becomes difficult that we all remember to be kind, particularly when there are so many associated benefits!

End of Term Family BBQ - Save the Date!

Once again, we will host a Family BBQ with students, staff and families to celebrate the end of Term 3. Save the date for Friday 21 September! This term we will have some additional activities on this day - so stay tuned for more details.

QCS Count down

This week our Year 12 OP-eligible students participated in a day long workshop to enhance their skills in completing the QCS test. The test is taking place on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th September. With only three weeks until the test I strongly recommend our OP-eligible students engage in the following preparation:

• Continue practicing QCS questions in the QCS Test Workbook or on the QCS site
• Focus on the test that challenges students the most and complete practice questions
• Compare answers from practice tests to exemplar answers on the QCAA website under QCS Test Retrospectives
• Practice writing PEEEL paragraphs using linking words and examples from the text/image/stimulus
• Ensure students understand key vocabulary we have come across in practice tests e.g. apt, redundant, juxtaposition, superfluous
• Revise PEEEL for effective paragraph writing in the Short Response Test
• Be familiar with the QCS Key terms and Meanings e.g. evaluate, present, prove, discuss, transcribe and expound
• Understand the difference between the stem and cue in short response items
• Revise the Writing Task tips & conventions that Lindsay Williams highlighted for us

Are you in Year 12 and need help figuring out what to study or do next year?

I would like to remind parents and Year 12 students that they are welcome to book a time to come and see me to discuss study or work options for 2019.

The transition from Year 12 to the world beyond can be daunting and we want to make the process both smooth and successful. I encourage our Year 12s to begin considering their options carefully and to seek advice or help if they are uncertain or concerned.

QTAC Application

QTAC applications are now open for Year 12 students. Over the next week, Year 12 students will be provided with information on how to successfully complete their QTAC application for tertiary study. These sessions will be taking place during Pastoral Care lessons. QTAC applications close on the 28th of September. I encourage all students who are looking at commence tertiary study in 2019 to ensure they are looking through the QTAC guide and outlining potential courses to study. Parents and students are able to book a meeting to further discuss the QTAC application process.

The GSCC Athletics Teams were acknowledged on assembly last week. The 12 years team of Taryn Drewe, Brock Phillip, Jameron Mothe, Olivia Lee, Takudzwa Mandizvidza, Isobella Sloan, Mollie English and Shekeda Crebbin participated and performed wonderfully to be Overall Winners against Spinifex State College. The 13-19 years team included Nathan Abdy, Connor Baker, Patrick Baker, Logan Bell, Anika Boonzaaier, Conner Boshoff, Courtney Boshoff, Jayden Boshoff, Conor Bowden, Thomas Bowden, Madison Clauson, Abigail Constantinou, Caitlan Horton, Xavier Keise, Michael Kelly, Jayden Kerr Burrell, Breanna Waerea, Rico Waerea, Darcy Webber, Maddisyn Webber, Janelle Wolland‑Rophia, Rochelle Cremer, Lochlan Dew, Ebony Duncan, Dean English, Remmy English, Hayden Gibson,  Amy Haddon, Lachlan McFarlane, Tinotenda Mandizvidza, Lewis McCoy, Abbey McKavanagh, Breana Mothe, Kadea ODonnell, Charlize Osbourne, Jack Pettitt, Brodie Roberts, Phoebe Ryder, Rachael Scrimgeour, Mateusz Skora, Alex Smith, Alyssa Smith, Ralph Supan, Sienna Te Wani, Mitch Thinee, Nicholas Thinee, Patrick Wade, Trey Hahipene and Chavaz Hegarty. Well done for putting in a great effort team GSCC!

From the 11 records broken on the day, 7 of these were by GSCC students. Rico Waerea (High Jump) 1.54m, Dean English (High Jump) 1.64m, Ebony Duncan (High Jump) 1.40m, Mitch Thinee (1500m) 5.20.00, Jayden Boshoff (1500m) 5.07.00, Breanna Waerea (Shot Put 11.49m and Discus 28.47) are the best in Mount Isa for their events!

We also had Mount Isa District Age Champions, these are most consistent performers of the Carnival:

13 years Girls Kadea O’Donnell

14 years Boys Rico Waerea

17 years Boys Patrick Baker

Runners up - Sienna Te Wani, Darcy Webber, Connor Baker, Jayden Kerr Burrell

Mulkadee 2018

Earlier this term 33 of our talented music, dance and drama students attended the Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival in Townsville. Students workshopped over a 5 day period with industry professionals to create a spectacular show with the theme of Alice in Wonderland. The performance took place in the Townsville Convention & Exhibition Center to an audience of over 2,300. The College had standout performers with a number of students selected for lead roles and vocal solos.

A screening of the Mulkadee Concert will be taking place on Thursday the 30th of August from 5pm in the College Library. Please email me on jmarinelli@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au if you would like to attend.

Career Coaching for Parents

We all want our children to have a happy and successful life.  But how can will help direct them in the right way?

The following link is a Parent Guide to help you talk to your teenager about their future.  Many children are unsure about what they want to do when they leave school so this guide might help to start “career discussions” with your child.

https://www.careertools.com.au/resources/career_coaching_parent_guide_aug_18.pdf

George Fisher Mine Open Day

Recently several students had the opportunity to attend the George Fisher Mine Open Day.

They went on surface and underground tours to gain an understanding of what the Mine is about.

“I found that the excursion was very informative and that the people were very friendly, it was really cool being able to go underground and experience what those workers go through on a day to day basis.”   Gabriella Cooper-Stevenson, Year 11

“I really enjoyed my experience at the George Fisher Mine.  I was surprised when looking and learning about the big machines.  My favorite part was the underground experience and learning about what happens on site.”  Will Potter, Year 11

Congratulations Shannon!

Last week Year 10 student Shannon Anderson commenced a School Based Traineeship at Westpac.  

Shannon will be studying a Certificate III in Business.