“Every great and commanding moment in the history of the world is the triumph of some great enthusiasm.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was with great enthusiasm that the college opened its gates last Saturday for Enrolment Day. Much work had preceded this to ensure a smooth process and a pleasant experience for the incoming new students of 2019 and their families. It is always a significant moment each year in the history of this college, to welcome the next generation of young scholars eager to start the next phase of their learning journey. It also provides the staff an opportunity to reconfirm their commitment in this process and also to focus on those things we do well here. So what is it that we have to offer that might attract young people to our institution.

In recent months we, as a staff, have been taking the opportunity that the “new” direction that the state is taking in senior education (from OP to ATAR), to re-examine our purpose and our direction into the future. Certainly we want to offer the best educational experience available but we are also driven by a need to ensure a holistic approach (growing students physically, mentally, socio/emotionally and spiritually) and furthermore, to do so within the framework of a faith based education (in our case, the Catholic tradition).

The results of this examination has been; to reshape our vision and mission statements to position us as being more focused on a rigorous approach to teaching and learning, to consider a more careful address of co-curricular to ensure it “value adds” to the learning experience and finally to re-examine the nature of our catholic identity and how it enables a “real” and “livable” faith experience through our religious education program.

Our recent Validation by external auditors endorsed the great work we are doing here at GSCC but it also identified the future directions we need to take to address the demands of a changing educational climate which is required to meet the demands of the contemporary workplace. Young people today need to be more diverse in their skills, more capable of managing change and more socially and creatively adept. We are entering a time where young people will need to not only take charge of their destinies but also manufacture their own futures. This is an enormous challenge to us as educators as we strive to prepare students for a world that is not yet formed. That is why it is imperative that we continue to evolve the educational landscape in which we work.

What we do know is, that consistent classroom practice, regular feedback, a focus on leadership and the development of a “learning culture”, will provide a foundation for excellence that is the determination of us all at GSCC.

“If we would create something, we must be something.” Vince Lombardi

Year 12 QCS

This week our Year 12 OP Eligible students sat the Queensland Core Skills Test. This important test plays an important role in calculating the student's end of Year Overall Position (OP). As a College, we started each day with breakfast together and I would like to thank Ms Marinelli and the Pastoral Leaders for their efforts in preparing this for the students.

The students left yesterday feeling very positive about the 2 days of tests, which was the culmination of 12 months of preparation. Results for the QCS Test will be released in Late November (around Graduation time). With this now over, their focus turns to preparing for exam block which begins next week.

This is one of the most important terms for Year 12 Students, and it is important they push themselves to achieve the best possible results in their upcoming assessment and exams.

Senior Exam Block

Next week sees our Year 11 & 12 students begin the Term 3 Exam Block. Timetables have been emailed to students, and are available on the Senior Portal. Students are reminded that they must attend all scheduled exams, arrive promptly and must be wearing their Formal Uniform (unless participating in a practical subject).

I wish all our Year 11 & 12 students the best of luck for these exams.

Year 10 SET Planning.

The SET Planning Process continues with our Year 10 Students. Their next task is to select proposed subjects so that the College can generate subject lines in preparation for the interviews which will occur in Term 4. Students have been emailed with their webcode and instructions on how to access the subject selection portal.

Shortly, the College will also send a letter home to parent outione subject prerequisites for Year 11. For example, students who are currently in the General Maths Trial subject and who do not achieve a passing  grade will not be permitted to study this Maths in Year 11 or 12. It is important that students put their best into these trials to ensure they are setting themselves up for success in 2019 and 2020.

Annual College Awards Night

A reminder that the College Awards Night will be held on Wednesday 24th October. Further information and correspondence will be sent to parents over the coming week, particularly around the Criteria used to determine award recipients. It is important to note that results used to determine awards eligibility are cumulative for the entire year. They take into consideration results in their subjects across Terms 1, 2 & 3.

Next Wednesday, September 13, all Australians are asked to take the time to ask the people around them “Are you ok?”.

R U OK? Day is our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask, “Are you ok?” and support those struggling with life. Taking part can be as simple as learning R U OK?’s four steps so you can have a conversation that could change a life.

It’s important that if you’ve got a niggling feeling that someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would or perhaps they seem out of sorts, agitated or withdrawn, trust your instincts and act on it.

By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you’ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or colleague open up. If they say they are not ok, you can follow the conversation steps (below) to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are ok, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask.

As a College, we have a number activities planned for Friday September 21st to provide our students with the opportunity to talk to each other and ask “are you ok?”.

These activities will run in the morning; we then invite parents and guardians to join us for the annual RUOK? Day concert, which will take place from 11:30am - 12:30pm in the Lumen Christi Centre. From there we will serve our end of Term Family BBQ Lunch at 12:30pm and students will be dismissed from the LCC at 1pm.

The College social justice group are continuing their work and mission this term through a new initiative. Students are making blankets for the homeless from old clothes/materials. We 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 we can continue to assist the needs of others within our community. If any student would like to join the social justice group, please feel free to join us any time. We meet every Friday at first break in the sacred space. All are welcome.

This Friday the 7th September, the Good Shepherd Parish will be hosting the annual Multicultural Festival. This is a significantly important event for our community, celebrating Mount Isa’s culturally diverse population. This year, the focus of the festival is to celebrate individuals who have made a difference in Mount Isa and a hall of fame for migrants who have been great success stories. In particular, we will celebrate the contributions of the Finnish people to the mining industry.

The night will include international entertainment, craft stalls, food and drink. Stalls are set up on the church grounds selling Indian, Asian, Pacific Island, European, and Australian food. The Spring rolls are definitely one not to be missed, but you have to get in quick! There will also be music and dance groups performing from 6pm, on the stage set up outside the church on Stanley Street, which is blocked off to traffic. Our College band will also be performing on the night and would love your support. This is not a night to miss!

If any students or family members are able to assist on a stall on the night, please contact the office or email me so that we can start to fill the roster. Shifts are from 5.30pm - 7.00m and 7.00pm - 8.30pm. We are calling for anyone willing to assist, and in particular, those who have had face painting experience.

Plenary Council in 2020

The Catholic Church of Australia plans to host a Plenary Council in 2020. This was announced by the Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge. This would be the fifth major assembly for the Catholic Church of Australia and would take place more than eighty years since the last synod, which was celebrated in 1937. As Archbishop Coleridge said, “we are going through a time of profound cultural changes, not only in society but also in the Church. Archbishop Coleridge is asking us to think about how we would respond to this situation.

On the journey to the Plenary Council 2020, Parish groups are encouraged to promote Listening and Dialogue encounters, and invite people to consider the question: “What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?”. The Plenary Council agenda will be developed from the stories you share and the questions you raise. To join a small group for Plenary Council Listening and Dialogue, please contact the Good Shepherd Parish office on 4749 8555. All people are welcome – come along, and bring a friend. To learn more about the Plenary Council 2020 please visit the Plenary Council website https://www.catholic.org.au/plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/

In week 6 this term, 26 hospitality students from Year 11 and 12 travelled away to the Gold Coast to attend the LIVET hotel school program at Royal Pines Resort. Students spent the first day learning about and practicing their coffee and mocktail making skills.

Day two and three the students were split up into groups and spent time working in a range of departments including concierge, front desk, Panorama lobby café, in the kitchens, setting up and running events in banquets and logistics, housekeeping and working in the golf pro shop. The time spent in each department allowed the students to gain a hands on experience and to see how the day-to-day operations run in a big establishment. At the time of our stay there were several large functions on which meant the students were able to work with staff setting up meals and room layouts suited to each function, serving and interacting with guests on the floor and seeing how an event is looked after from the start of setting up and communicating with all departments through to taking it down.

It was a great experience seeing how a big establishment run day-to-day operations and allowed us to learn and take away lots of new skills. The students were able to dine at the in-house restaurants, enjoying buffet breakfast in the Kalinda Restaurant with lunches held at either Tee’s clubhouse or on the 21st floor in the fine dining Videre Restaurant overlooking the Gold Coast. Students enjoyed Italian dinners in the Amici Restaurant and an exciting meal in the Japanese Teppenyaki Arakawa Restaurant where students saw the chefs display their skills in fast moving knife skills and working with the Teppenyaki hotplate.

On the Thursday we met with the events coordinator for Dreamworld and learnt about the running of different events at the park. It was amazing to learn about the types of events that they run within the park out-of-hours and the timing of setting up/packing down events to ensure the normal trading at the park occurs without interruption. We then spent the day enjoying the rides at Dreamworld followed by some pretty intense shopping at Pacific Fair.

It was a fantastic week and I am sure the students came away with an appreciation for the huge operations that take place behind the scenes to run a resort and to also put on some fantastic events together from meeting the client through to putting the event on. It was great to see the inter-departments working together to ensure the events were put on seamlessly.

Students were professional in their roles with resort staff and guests commending them on their professionalism. A huge thank you to everyone who helped along with way with fundraising for the students to go away on this trip – we are truly grateful for your support and also a huge thank you to the Mount Isa Rotary Club and the College P & F for your generous donations.

Uelese completes his School Based Traineeship

Year 12 student Uelese Lafaele has completed his Certificate III in Hospitality with host employer KFC.  Uelese commenced the Traineeship in January of this year so what a MAMMOTH effort to complete within 8 months.  Nice job Uelese! You worked really hard for this outcome.

More Traineeships/Apprenticeships

The following students will commence school based traineeships/apprenticeships this week:

Renee Kelly - AMCAL Pharmacy (Certificate III Business Administration)

Kristine De Sagun - AMCAL Pharmacy (Certificate III Business Administration)

Charlize Osborne - Salon Bronze (Certificate III Hairdressing)

Sheldon Muiznieks - ADG Corporation (Certificate III Light Vehicle - Mechanical Technology)

We thank each of these businesses for giving our students the opportunity to gain real workplace skills and a formal qualification. This is a terrific start for their young lives.

AusIMM North West QLD Regional Mining Conference

Recently four of our senior students (Cameron Bowler, Henry Carland, Takudzwa Tembo and Sarah Walker) attended the AusIMM Mining Conference in Cloncurry.  This was an excellent opportunity for our students to see and hear first hand what’s happening in the mining industry in our region and to also understand the history of mining in our minerals province.

Glencore Girls 4 Mining Event

Last week Girls 4 Mining participants attended a function with guest speaker Leigh Houldsworth.  Leigh is owner of Pharmacy First and spoke with students about her journey to where she is now……..mother of (nearly 2) and running her own successful business at the age of 34.  She spoke of the challenges and self doubt that crept in over the years but worked very hard to finish her degree and then buy the business.

Her message…….never give up on yourself and alway be kind to others.

Father to Father - 7 tips for fathering success

Fatherhood is life-changing. It’s a very personal journey that a man experiences when he takes on the responsibility of parenting his kids. It’s also a vital role, and it’s all too easy to neglect the positive impact a father can have on his children’s lives.

Every father’s parenting journey will be different, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to its challenges. But Father’s Day is just around the corner, so this is a great time for some tried and trusted parenting tips to help you be the best dad you can be.

Father’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how men shape the lives of their children.

1. Play to your strengths

Fathers often parent in a more active or action-oriented way than mums, so games, play time and physical activity become important parts of a man’s parenting repertoire. Your partner may not always appreciate your more active approach, particularly if you play with kids just before bedtime and then leave it to her to calm them down.

How to make it happen: Be yourself, but be smart about it!

2. Lighten up – don’t take yourself too seriously

It’s easy to get caught up in your own importance, taking yourself and your work too seriously. For many men a bad day at work translates into poor or, at best, distracted experiences when they’re with their families. Consider putting a strategy in place, such as exercise, to help you leave work, and the bad moods it may engender, behind.

How to make it happen: Be present in mind as well as in body when you’re with your kids.

3. Find something in common with your child

It would be wonderful to say that you can always connect with your kids, but family life is never that straightforward. There’ll always be a child who we struggle to connect with, or a developmental stage during which the child feels alien to you. In these times it helps if you share a common interest (such as a love of sport or music) with them, so that you always have something that will bring you together, even though you may not always see eye to eye.

How to make it happen: Take an active interest in what interests your child.

4. Go easy on your son sometimes

Many dads are tough on their boys and have expectations that go way beyond their son’s interest and abilities. Remember, it takes boys a little longer to mature. Resist the temptation to turn every game and every father-son activity into a lesson and avoid giving advice when your all your son wants is to be understood.

How to make it happen: See the boy as he is now, not the man you want him to grow up to be.

5. Enjoy the outdoors with your daughter

The biological nature of fatherhood causes most men to be very protective of their daughters. But that doesn’t mean you should put your daughter on a pedestal and treat her like a little princess. Expect a lot from her. Play with her, and get her outdoors as it will do wonders for her confidence and independence.

How to make it happen: Enjoy spending time outside with your daughters on a regular basis.

6. Be ready for kids to knock you off your pedestal

Most children in the preschool and middle-to-late-primary school years look up to their dads. “My dad is bigger and better than your dad!” is a type of mantra that’s familiar to many men. Make the most of this admiration as the Superman Syndrome won’t last. Young children soon turn into adolescents, who generally go to great lengths to prove that you’re just Clarke Kent after all. Expect them to stop laughing at your jokes, roll their eyes at your well-intentioned advice and even give you the cold shoulder in public. Ouch! It can be hurtful to a man who just wants to be the best dad he can be.

How to to make it happen: Don’t take yourself too seriously, and give them room to be grumpy sometimes.

7. Give your kids a compass and a map

One day your children will become truly independent individuals. Don’t worry! You won’t be irrelevant, you’ll just be taking the backseat in a more practical and managerial sense. There are two things you can do to help your kids safely navigate the world when you’re not around. First, help them develop a set of positive values including integrity, honesty and respect that will act as their moral compass when they have difficult decisions to make. 
Second, reveal your personal story over time, as this narrative will become ingrained like personal map that will guide them when life gets tough. It’s good to know that they won’t be in uncharted territory when they finally strike out on their own.

How to make it happen: Take the time to tell kids your story and own it – don’t make them guess it or learn it from someone else.

Father’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how men shape the lives of their children. It’s a very personal reflection as each man’s experience of fatherhood is as unique as the children they are raising. Take the time to reflect on your own fathering style as well as the contribution that a father (either your own dad or else’s dad) has made to your own life.

By Michael Grose

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the best-selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.

Remembrance Day Celebrations

Our history club students have been busy constructing poppies for the 100th year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, which led to the end of the First World War. The Queensland Government have commissioned a statewide art installation, which will be a strong reminder of the importance to remember the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women. The college history club students and other members of the college made 50 red poppies to contribute to the project. The aim of the project is to collect 57,705 poppies to symbolise the number of Queenslanders who served in the First World War.

The art installation (as seen in the image from the Queensland Anzac Centenary website) is proposed to stand over 3 metres high and 16 metres long, available for viewing from October 2018.

Kind Regards,

Katherine Algie & Samantha Kelley

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about starting a Warhammer club within the College. Thanks to the kind generosity of Games Workshop, Townsville we received a large package and started on Friday lunchtimes.

The students have learnt to put their trial figures together and watched Warhammer TV (A YouTube page that shows various “how to” videos) on painting their figures. They are now undercoated and the students will soon be painting first miniatures.

Watch this space as we will then explore the games system and the joys of tabletop gaming.

Keith Fainges

Facilitator

Games Workshop School Alliance