We are still coming down from the high of the Musical last weekend. It was an outstanding display of the creative talent of our students and the staff in the Arts department of the College. School Musicals are community events that build artistic expression, school spirit and a sense of personal and school pride. Thank you to the Musical Team of Emily Watson, Catherine Motteram, Jane Edmiston and Jarvis Miller. Many other staff assisted with props, costumes, serving food and designing and painting backdrops.

Pupil-Free Day this Friday

Parents and Students are reminded that this Friday 2nd September is our Staff Reflective Practice Day, therefore students are not at school. Teachers will be looking at the changes coming to the Australian Curriculum and completing some planning with their Curriculum Leaders. Our School Officers will also be involved in training; focussing on supporting students with Tourettes’ Syndrome and students with an additional language other than English.

Verification

I have mentioned a few times that next Thursday and Friday our school will be involved in a school renewal process known as Verification. Throughout the year we have been reflecting on our performance against Ten Characteristics of Catholic Schooling. We are looking forward to welcoming the Yellow Service Team from Townsville Catholic Education who will be working with us through the days. We will share the report from Verification to the community as soon as it is released.

Finally, please support the Good Shepherd Parish Multicultural Festival this Friday. It is a wonderful celebration of community, culture and cooperation. The College will be contributing prizes for the Cent Sale and running a Glowsticks stall.

Have a blessed week.

Kathleen McCarthy

Assessment Time

I just wanted to remind all students and families about some important aspects of our assessment policy, especially as we are leading into the busiest time of term for the submission of assignments. 

Assessment must be submitted on or before the due date: if a student fails to submit an assessment on or before the due date (without considerable documentation or extensions forms which have been completed and approved) their draft will be marked and reported on as their final submission. 

Plagiarism

Plagiarised work cannot be marked.  The portion of work that is the student’s own, will be the only part of the submission that will be considered.  Plagiarism will also result in an after school detention. 

At the College we have processes in place to ensure quality assurance is maintained with all assessment tasks. If a student is concerned about their level of plagiarism please direct students to their Turnitin account which provides them with a detailed percentage highlighting what sections of their assessment has been plagiarised and the sources it has come from. 

2022 Early School Leavers survey

The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2021, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.

Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2022.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

Year 12 Exam Block Term 3

Next week, all Year 12 students will be on exam block. This External Exam Preparation Block takes place from Monday 5 September – Friday 9 September 2022 (Week 9). During the week, exams will take place in D5/D6 and Study in D7. All students should be studying/completing assessment at home; studying quietly in the Study Room or completing an exam during exam block, it is not free time.

Please note: If you are absent for an exam in exam block you must:

1. Contact the College office ASAP, or your parents can contact the College office on your behalf.

2. Have a medical certificate.

These requirements are in accordance with the GSCC Assessment Policy “If a student is absent from a Senior Exam Block exam, the student will complete an alternate paper in the next available session and a medical certificate must be provided upon their return. If a medical certificate is not provided the student may not be allocated a result for that internal assessment piece, resulting in no credit for the piece / unit studied."

The final day for Term 3 is Friday 16 September. As always, with a BBQ lunch, families are most welcome to join us for the BBQ, which will take place outside the Cafe from 12pm. Families can then stay 

School will conclude for the day at 1pm. 

The full schedule for the last day of school is below:

Sports Awards Night

We are looking forward to celebrating the wonderfully talented sports people from Good Shepherd at our annual Sports Awards Night in Term 4. Mr Young will send specific details closer to the event, but please ‘save the date’.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
Week 8 Focus:  Pick Up & Drop Off Areas

A SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating Father’s Day – Sunday 4^th September

For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on.

Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.

In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care.

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:

Modest and Humble

I don’t like arrogance or ignorance; I admire modesty and humbleness. Your actions should speak for you and as they say “self-praise is no praise at all.”

Many years ago, the Brisbane Broncos went on a pre-season training camp and as part of it had a bench press challenge.    

At the time they had a champion front rower Glenn Lazarus who was 188cm (6ft 2 inches) tall and weighed 115kg. Lazarus won the challenge and beat second rower Alan Cann.

Cann was 172cm (5ft 8inches) and 96kg and no one expected him to beat a giant like Lazarus. That night Cann quietly left his room and slipped into the gym without anybody knowing.

He lifted the weight Lazarus did and returned to his room. Unbeknownst to Cann, someone had seen him and followed him to the gym. The next morning they waited for Cann to say something but he never did.

His mission was to prove to himself he could do it, not boast to others that he did it.

If you go out to the Mount Isa Golf Club you will see the name Jim Sexton on almost every honour board; and more than once on most. Jim was a great golfer who just used to hit it down the fairway and then watch others blast their ball miles past him.

Jim never boasted about his accomplishments and quietly accepted the accolades and awards. At the age of 80 he became one of the few people in the World to ever shoot an 18 hole score lower than their age. He was a man I admired greatly.

When South Sydney was kicked out of the premiership just over 20 years ago a bloke by the name of George Piggins stood up and fought for them. Thousands of people around Australia rallied behind him and Souths were reinstated.

Piggins was awarded an AM for services to the sport and the South Sydney community. When receiving the award he spoke of the people in the junior league community that kept the game going and were never heard about.

He also said what he really thought about certain types of awards.

"And you see the father of the year award usually goes to some bloke with a lot of money, and I think of blokes I know who have raised six kids, never missed a day's work and they never get the recognition they deserve."

Years ago I was watching the Australian Cricket team at an airport and the footage cut to a player being interviewed. In the background I watched a big name player walk past a number of youngsters and ignore their pleas for an autograph. 

When the player saw the camera he immediately turned around and started signing autographs. That one piece of footage told me a lot about this so-called hero.

By the same token I worked with a bloke named David White whose sons, Sam and Jim, came to this school. I know the mention of Jim will send a few teacher’s hearts racing but he is now an apprentice electrician and when I see him; he always takes time to say hello.

When the boys were young they were on a flight from Brisbane to Canberra to see family. Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown was on the flight and was standing by himself waiting to board.

David told a starstruck Sam to go and say hello but he was too scared so David dragged him over. David introduced himself and said Sam was a big fan and Jonathan said g’day and spent a few minutes chatting with the young bloke. 

When they arrived in Canberra and before Jonathan left he walked over to Sam and handed him his boarding pass; it was made out to Sam and signed by his hero. There were no cameras and nothing to be gained by this action; that told me all I needed to know about Jonathan Brown.

That’s why I admire the person who picks the piece of paper up because it is on the ground, puts it in the bin and continues on their way far more than the one who picks it up, waits until people are watching and then puts it in the bin.

Celebrating Books and School Libraries

Last week, 22-26 August, we celebrated The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book Week to celebrate reading and the work of Australian authors. Each year, The CBCA runs a “Book of the Year “ competition to recognize the works of Australian authors. This year’s theme was “Dreaming with eyes open”. The library has in its collection this year’s CBCA book winner and two Honours winners for older readers which you can see here   https://cbca.org.au/winners-2022. The library will be including in its collections more titles from CBCA’s book recommendations to provide good quality books for our students. Wednesday was also the first Australian School Library Day which celebrates the vital role that school libraries play in supporting the school in its educational, social and cultural needs.

Book Week          

The last day of Book Week was also the final day of submission of students’ comments about our books/new books and our Book Week lunch break activities. Their comments had been entered in a draw for snack bag prizes. All the knowledge shared during last weeks’ activities were resourced in our library’s print and databases’ collections. As Mrs. Leigh Harding said about the library and the books housed in it, “This is it. This is where all the knowledge comes from.”

Thanks to Andrew for the Science demonstration about pulleys and the multiplication of force and to Mrs. Leigh Harding of the English Department for the wonderful stories that she shared in the library. Many thanks, too, to Trent Wilkinson, Lynn Gillies-Hughes and Ann-Marie Lesca for the participation of the Mathematics, Science, and Technologies Departments in our Book Week activities.

Austraian Aquathlon Championship

Conner Boshoff was meant to compete in the Australian Duathlon Championship on the weekend but due to a crack in his bike he was unable to compete and instead competed in the Australian Aquathlon Championship. Although the last minute change and not too pleasent weather conditions, Conner walked away with second place!

Congratulations Conner, what an achievement!

Swimming Carnival

The Swimming Carnival is tomorrow, Thursday 1st September.

First race is at 8am for 14 years + 200m Freestyle (must be at Splashex Aquatic Centre by 7.45am)

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.

We are asking that students (along with parents if you like), come and try on for sizing for their Senior uniforms. Please discuss with your students 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.

The regular Uniform Shop open times are Tuesdays 8am-9am and Thursdays 2.30pm to 3.30pm and additionally at 2nd break (for Year 9's only).

Good Shepherd Striders Running Club                

When: Thursday mornings. 
Where: GSCC Oval (Enter via May St Gate).
What time: 7:00am - 7:40am.
What is it: Athletics /endurance running and or walking training.
Who is it for: All students and teachers.
Permission: Students will need to collect a permission note from the office.
Cost: Free.
How often: Come occasionally or as many sessions as you like.
Equipment: Running shoes, comfortable clothing, water bottle.
Prizes: Weekly lucky door prize of $10 canteen voucher.
Information: See Mr Guest for any information/ questions. 

Term 3 2022 Training Program:

Week 8:
200m repeats x 5 (x 3 sets - 1 min walk/ jog between repeats, 200m walk/ jog between sets).

Week 9:
3000m (alternate striding 100m, jogging 100m)

Week 10:
600m repeats x 5) x 1set - 2 min walk/ jog between repeats).