Week 4 is upon us, and amongst this very busy term we have had the opportunity to celebrate so many wonderful staff and students.

Emerging Leaders Showcase

On Wednesday evening, Emerging Leaders and their families celebrated five amazing years of the program at our Emerging Leaders Showcase. These Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students go above and beyond to engage in the community, and we are so proud of what has been accomplished this year. We also need to acknowledge the parents and carers who continue to provide support and encouragement. Education is a partnership between the school, students, families and community and I am very grateful for all of the enthusiasm, effort and pride shown by all involved. 

Year 12 Farewell Assembly

On Friday, we celebrated one final time as a whole school for 2022. Saying ‘farewell’ to the Year 12 cohort is always an emotional time. These students have now finished 13 years of classes, and have three weeks of exams before our final time together in Week 7. The Year 12 Class of 2022 are

You might have seen this on Facebook over the weekend, but I want to share the prayer from Assembly, written by Spiritual Leader Sophie Greenhalgh again as it perfectly represents this time for our students.

God of joy and hope, 

We thank you for this time of graduation. 

As we prepare to take our final exams and take our final bow as the graduating class of 2022, let it be in prayerful gratitude for the many blessings that have made this moment real and filled with great potential. 

In gratitude, we pray for our families and the many who have sacrificed and worked to see us here today in this hopeful moment. In gratitude, we pray for the teachers and mentors who have challenged, cared and crafted us along this academic journey. In gratitude, we pray for fellow students who have taught us about friendship, collaboration and sharing. 

God, even as we have faced challenges and accomplished much, we understand that our lives move into a new chapter where there will be more challenges to face and more will be demanded of us in order to accomplish good things. May your grace cover our anxieties and fears so that we may stay encouraged about the future. 

Give us patience and hope as we enter into the ‘real world’, that you may help us in searching for work which makes proper use of our gifts. Give us courage to face the challenges of carving out a place in society where we might live in peace, service and gratitude. Give us strength to resist the temptations of greed, laziness, pride and envy as we strive to do and be our best. 

May your spirit guide us as we unfold the next chapters of our lives. And, may this celebration of graduation help us to enliven hope in the world and bring good things into the lives of others. 

We ask this prayer in your name,

Amen.

Mark Mappas Medallion 2022

At the Bishop’s Dinner on Thursday evening (20 October), Good Shepherd was proud to announce Mr. Col Ryder as our Mark Mappas Medallion recipient for 2022. 

A Mark Mappas Medallion recipient volunteers their time and demonstrates commitment to the local Catholic school or community.

Col is an outstanding contributor to the Good Shepherd school community through sport. He has been an invaluable member of the school’s Confraternity Rugby League coaching team. Col  has helped coach the team and often travels with them in his own time for their competitions. One of Col’s greatest strengths is his ability to develop strong pastoral relationships with the staff and students. He is a mentor and role-model to the Senior students in particular. 

Col is a very deserving recipient of the 2022 Mark Mappas Medallion, and we thank him for all that he does for our school.

World Teachers Day

At the end of this week we will celebrate World Teachers Day . World Teachers’ Day is held internationally on Tuesday 5 October; however, as it sometimes falls during the school holidays in many parts of Australia we celebrate at the end of October, this year on Friday the 28th.

World Teachers Day provides us with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the teachers who are making, or have made, an impact in our lives. Whether you're a current student, have children in school, or have been out of school for many years, World Teachers’ Day is a chance to say, ‘thank you’.

We have wonderful teachers, school officers, administration and grounds staff at Good Shepherd, so don’t forget to show them your appreciation this week (and every week!).

Year 10s reviewing your SET Plans:

Year 10s have had the opportunity to get a taste of their Year 11 and 12 subjects this semester.  Students should have a somewhat better idea of whether a subject is appropriate for them, and should review their pathways and SET planning before the end of this year. Selecting subjects that students are good at and enjoy will ensure that they successfully achieve their QCE and pathway after school. Starting Year 11 in the correct subjects will save students a lot of unnecessary stress and extra work. Students are encouraged to discuss this with their teachers, Curriculum Leaders, our Careers Officer or myself. 

Subject Changes for Year 11 close in Week 6

Just a reminder that Year 11 students have one more final opportunity to make any subject changes before we start Unit 3 and our Year 12 content and assessments.  The last date for which subject changes can be made is Week 6 of this term.  NO further subject changes will be accepted thereafter.  If students need any guidance, they are encouraged to contact Mrs Wood, Mrs Coghlan, Mr Harries or their subject teachers.

Year 11’s and 12’s

It was a very busy week for our Seniors as we said farewell to them last week only to welcome them back to the Year 12 exams. They’ve worked so hard this Year and this is where they get to demonstrate their efforts. Year 11’s exams commenced on Tuesday as well this week, they are gaining valuable experience with formal exam block procedures. 

We wish them all the best this week and look forward to seeing all the photos and stories from Magnetic Island. They’ll leave as Year 11’s and come back as Year 12’s!

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
Week 4 Focus:  Playground / Oval

Year 11 Retreat

Next week I will be joining the Year 11 students and Pastoral staff as we head to Magnetic Island for their Leadership Retreat. The retreat theme “You are called to … Let Your Light Shine” aligns with our College motto – Christ Our Light – and calls on the students to consider how they can shine Christ’s light as leaders of our College in 2023.  The goal of the Retreat is for students to have a better understanding of themselves and their peers and build stronger connections and relationships together.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr Jordan Harries, Year 11 Pastoral Leader, for all the organisation and preparation he has put into the Retreat.  I also want to acknowledge his homeroom teachers Mr Michael Roper, Mr Jarvis Miller, Mrs Claire Jones, Mr James Coghlan and Ms Jane Edmiston for the integral roles that they play in the Year 11 team supporting our students and Mr Harries.

SPECIAL REPORT: A Guide to Safe Partying

Teenage gatherings provide young people with important opportunities to interact and build on their social skills and experiences. Celebrations, partying and socialising are a fundamental rite of passage and one of the most important aspects of a young person’s life. However, it is possible for the best young person to get carried away by their peers and the euphoria of the moment.

For parents and caregivers, keeping your young person safe can at times feel daunting and is often a compromise and a challenge. Most teenagers try to do the right thing most of the time, but your leadership as a role model is crucial. Your child may appear to be physically large and mature, but this is not necessarily matched by their emotional maturity and responsibility in behaviour.

Every party has the potential to get out-of-hand as sometimes it’s hard for young partygoers to make good decisions. Communication and regular discussions are vital, particularly because young people are often faced with peer pressure to do things they prefer not to engage in. Hosting a celebration at home or at a venue can be a fun and memorable event but it is important to agree on the ground rules well before your event is announced to ensure there are no misunderstandings later on.

If hosting an event, you owe your guests a ‘duty-of-care’ and should ensure all reasonable steps are taken to keep partygoers safe. This Special Report provides caregivers with list of things to consider when planning a celebration. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

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:

I got our Christmas tree out of storage and set it up and that got me thinking back to the Christmas Liturgy I shared with the Year 8’s last year where we looked at certain events leading to Christmas.

When the Arch Angel Gabriel told a 14-16 year-old Mary she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, her first reaction was ‘why me.’

Russell Wilson wanted to play quarterback in the NFL but was told he was too short and should stick to Baseball. His father asked him a simple question, “Why not you?” Other people don’t decide the dreams we pursue, that is our choice.

Wilson’s father’s words inspired him and so he went to North Carolina College where in three years, he finished a four-year degree and represented the school in Baseball and Football. It was that dedication that impressed the coach of Wisconsin, who offered him a scholarship for his final year.

Wilson led that team to the Rose Bowl and nominated for the NFL draft despite every expert saying he was too short. The Seattle Seahawks drafted him 75th overall and were roundly criticised for doing so, his contract was for $2.9 million dollars.

Wilson impressed so much at training and practice games he won the starting job and the following year took his team to the Super Bowl where he became the shortest quarterback in history to win. He just signed a five-year $245 million contract with the Denver Broncos; when you have a dream; why not you?

Jesus, the most famous person in the history of the World was born in a stable surrounded by farm animals. Where you come from does not determine where you end up; you make that decision.

Oprah Winfrey grew up in Mississippi in a family so poor that she sometimes had to wear potato sacks because of lack of clothing. She is now worth $2.5 billion. JK Rowling was an unemployed single mother on welfare but refused to let go of her dream; she is now worth $1 billion.

Wayne Bennett came from a working-class family near Warwick but his father was an alcoholic and deserted the family when Bennett was 11. Other kids made fun of him and his siblings due to their circumstances, making him determined to succeed.

He joined the police force and played rugby league for Queensland and Australia. He then took up coaching, winning seven premierships and coaching Queensland and Australia. I saw a Four Corners episode many years ago and he was talking to a group of young boys.

They were aged between 14-16 and were either skipping school or committing petty crimes. They came from broken families and poor backgrounds but Bennett didn’t cuddle them – he ripped into them.

He called them cowards for hiding behind their circumstances and using them as an excuse not to succeed. That is the difference between excuses and reasons; one is factual the other can be changed.

You can’t go for a run tomorrow because you have a broken leg; that is a reason. You can’t because you need to go to school is an excuse because you could get up earlier or go in the afternoon. If you can change it then it is an excuse not a reason.

You can’t change the fact you have a broken leg but you can change the fact you won’t go for a run because you are too lazy, too disorganized or too disinterested.

I love the story of Australian swimmer Duncan Armstrong and his coach Lawrie Lawrence. Armstrong approached Lawrence to coach him as he wanted to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Lawrence was reluctant because he felt Armstrong was fully committed but eventually relented.

He dedicated himself until one night he went out with some friends and had a late night. When the alarm went off he found an excuse, he was tired so he turned the alarm off and went back to sleep.

That was until he was awakened by a bucket of freezing cold water hitting him in the face. Lawrence was standing over him snarling and challenging him as to whether he really wanted the gold medal. He was soon after in the pool and training and never missed another session.

At the 1988 Seoul Olympics Armstrong, ranked 46th in the World, beat swimming legends Matt Biondi and Michael Gross to win the 200m Freestyle Gold Medal. Instead of finding an excuse when your negative voice plants the seeds of doubt find a reason to succeed.

Emerging Leaders Showcase Catering

Last week, Hospitality Students from Year 10, 11 and 12 participated in catering for  Emerging Leaders Dinner. This was a great opportunity for students to achieve competency in their Certificates in Hospitality but to also showcase the skills of our Hospitality students. They prepared, cooked and served a 2 course meal for 165 guests. For the main meal there were 2 options - Roast Beef with Crispy Potatoes, Gravy and Buttered Bean or Baked Chicken Breast with Creamy Garlic sauce, Mash Potato and Buttered Beans. And for dessert the 2 options were Chocolate Mud Cake with Strawberries or Caramel Cheesecake.

I would like to Thank each student who helped on the night and to their parents for supporting this event.

The Emerging Leader Showcase

On Wednesday, Week 3, the Emerging Leader community was blessed to come together and celebrate the success and achievements of the program and each student individually.

Emerging Leaders, mentors and their families were invited to attend our showcase and awards night. Families, students and mentors were seated together to enjoy and immerse in the evening as a community.

The evening started with the celebration of student achievements. Over the past year, students have worked to reach an incentive level of Deadly participation, Bronze, Silver or Gold. Each student was acknowledged and presented their award. We could not be any more proud of our students.

Year 10 & 11 Hospitality and 2Seas Catering provided us with a two course meal. Families and students indulged in meals together. Thanks to Donna & her team for cooking for us, it was truly a highlight of our evening. During this time, our students were showcased through a presentation of achievements of each student who was involved in our program this Year. Check out some of our profiles from the evening!

After our half time interval, we announced the special awards. The first award to be announced was the community engagement award, which was given to a student who always engages positively within the school community, engages within Emerging Leader Homeroom, acts as a role model to Inidgenous Youth, participates in school cultural events with pride and enthusiasm, and contributes to the wider community through acts of service. This award was presented to year 7 students Denan Duncan & Blake Munns. Good Shepherd is honoured to have such a young group of students who showcase such Leadership qualities. This same award was given to two senior students, Pantrea Adams & Malachi Munns. We look forward to watching Pantrea & Malachi grow in their leadership endeavours throughout the remainder of senior schooling. 

Following, Abbie Pigliafori was presented with “ Five Years of Gold Excellence”. Abbie has been the only student within the program to receive GOLD as their incentive for the entire five years of the program. This is an enormous achievement and a substantial effort. Congratulations Abbie. Indigenous Education looks forward to extending our Special Awards in the following years.

We would also like to acknowledge our Mentors who have assisted our students and the program this year. Our mentors have been foundational in providing our Emerging Leaders guidance and inspiration in 2022. We commend your commitment and passion for reconciliation and recognise the impact that our mentors have had on our students throughout this program. Billi-Jean Armstrong was awarded the Emerging Leader Mentor Contribution, as voted by our students. We would also like to acknowledge Mr Jericho Young and Mrs Kate Thinee who were also highlighted by our students as active mentors throughout the year. Thank you to all involved.

It was a memorable night and it was great to see our parents mingle in our community. Thank you to our parents and carers who constantly push your kids to be as involved as possible in our program. The support and advocacy for our students is also highlighted within the voices and actions of our principals, Kathleen Mccarthy, Amy Webb, Michelle Wood, Jaqueline Warren and Pelly Morganson. Thank you for your support and making this event happen. 

In conclusion, it was a fantastic evening for all to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our Emerging Leader community in 2022.

Inter School Sport

Round 2 of our basketball Tri-series was another great turn out. Both school’s played extremely hard and saw some close games throughout the afternoon.

While GSCC came up short in most of the games, our Senior boys team came away with a win to finish the night. 

Join us for our last inter school game of the year with free entry, open canteen and a GSCC vs Spinifex staff game to cap off the evening. See you there!

Individual Nominations

Listed below are sports that students can individually nominate for. Please see Mr Young for nomination forms.

• Unless stated, nomination dates involve both Boys and Girls in different sporting codes.
• Students who nominate will need to travel independently at their own expense to attend the trial 

Year 11 Visual Art students spent 2 days immersed in an Artist Workshop with Townsville Artist Cath Meharry last week.

The workshop is a QCAA requirement for senior art students to help them discover new techniques, explore their own creative skills as well as providing a stimulus for their IA1 body of work.

All involved had a wonderful time devoting two whole days to art.

What a treat!