I am excited to announce that Meagan Waldon has been appointed  to the position of Acting Principal of the College for 2024. Meagan has 30 years of teaching experience and held leadership positions in pastoral care and wellbeing at St Anthony’s Catholic College and currently at Ignatius Park College. We welcome Meagan to the Good Shepherd and local Mount Isa community. 

Acting Principal - 2024 - Mrs Meagan Waldon

On Monday night we congratulated our Emerging Leaders for their efforts this year and awarded certificates to those students who achieved Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards. It was also an opportunity to farewell Dottie Frew and Gemma Kyle who have played a pivotal role in our Indigenous Education Team. We wish them well in their future endeavours.

Tonight’s Awards Night is our most prestigious event of the year and a wonderful way for Parents, Staff and Students to celebrate the successes and achievements of 2024. We are also looking forward to musical performances by the Vocal Ensemble and Band, lead by Ms Catherine Motteram. Congratulations to all subject prize winners and award recipients. Your dedication to your study and commitment to improvement has paid off! Thank you to Mrs Webb and Mrs Wood for your preparation of the evening and to all the teachers and school officers who support our students every day.

With only a couple of weeks remaining for the Term, we need our students to keep focussed on completing their assessments and coming to school prepared to learn every day. If you are unsure what assignments are due for your son or daughter, please check the Assessment Calendars which can be found here. You will notice that next week is particularly busy with assessment.

Unit 3 Update

Year 11 students are now well underway in their 3rd unit of study. This is an exciting time for students as they begin studying their first Year 12 unit. Students are encouraged to meet with our careers officer at the college, Liesel Armstrong, throughout their senior schooling to discuss their pathway options. 

To be eligible for a QCE, students need to have accumulated 20 points over Year 11 and 12. It is crucial that students are now again considering whether they are in the right pathway. If students have not been receiving a passing grade for their subjects, it is very important that they consider changing pathways to be eligible for a QCE.

QCE Eligibility Fact Sheet

2024 Elective Subject Selections (Years 8 - 10 2024)

Next Tuesday (14/11) I will activate all 2023 Year 8 - 10 Subject Selection Forms. On Monday, students will receive an email with their Web Codes. If they don’t receive this they must come and see me asap as this is the only way for them to select elective subjects for next year. Students will then need to log into my.edval.education next Tuesday afternoon, enter their web code, choose the relevant subject selection form and submit their preferences for 2023.

On the forms, students will be given the following information:

• When completing this form, you are required to select one subject from LINE A and one subject from LINE B. You should discuss your elective choices with your parents. 
• You are NOT allowed to study a subject on more than one line. 
• You must select a reserve subject for each Line. Subjects will fill in order of form submission. 
• If you did not receive your first preference your second preference will be used.
• If you have any questions about subjects, please speak to the Curriculum Leader, or you can access the Junior Curriculum Handbook on our school website. 
• Submission of this form is considered confirmation of subject choice.

Year 10 Exam Block - Week 8 (20 - 24 November)

A reminder that Year 10 students will sit their next Exam Block in week 8 (Monday 20 – Friday 24 November 2023).

End of Term planning

A reminder that there will be times during week 8 (which will be here before we know it!) that will be a little different to the normal school routine. I will include the schedule (below) with my newsletter article for the remainder of term. 

Effective Behaviour Surveys

Each year we try to seek feedback on how our pastoral systems are working throughout the College. With this being said, next week I am going to send out surveys to all parents and guardians of GSCC. These surveys will ask questions regarding our behaviour management processes and the data will help us to make adjustments and improvements so that we can ensure we are getting better each year using the feedback from our community. 

Please look out for these surveys in your email and let me know if you have any issues with regards to accessing the form. 

By next week, all students and parents will have access to the surveys and I am excited to be able to have our students and staff also provide feedback. 

SchoolTV: Exam Jitters

Setting a schedule is vitally important. Students need to schedule everything from sleeping and eating, to studying and exercising. It is one of the best ways to manage inevitable exam stress. Students need to look after themselves when they have big demands in their life.

When it comes to productive study, sometimes less is often more. It is recommended that students hit the books in 50-minute stints, broken up by 15-minute breaks. This gives the brain, and body, a rest. Adolescents will often underestimate the amount of sleep they need. Getting enough sleep is key to successful study practices.

Research shows that physical activity also has a very positive impact on mental wellbeing. Eating well is another crucial factor to maintaining concentration and staying focussed on the task ahead.

As the end of year is approaching very quickly, please take some time to go through the link below for guidance on how to manage stress and also some tips around exams: https://goodshepherd.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/exam-jitters

Catholic Mission - Socktober 

Our school motto calls us to shine Christ’s light of love in the world, and our community shines brightest when we actively reach out and help others out of darkness. This year at Good Shepherd Catholic College we chose to focus on the theme of “Care for Creation,” responding to the Church calling us to look after God’s Creation. This Term we reflect on Catholic Mission’s focus in Timor-Leste and the work being done to help our neighbours, by participating in Socktober.

We have spent the last few weeks showing care for our neighbours by raising awareness, with one of our Year 12 Ministry classes hosting activities at lunchtime, Homerooms making their sock balls with recycled materials, and our soccer shoot outs this week. As of today, we have raised $450, through $1 donations in Homerooms, and our Year 12 Ministry class bake sale. In addition, our school PE department has donated all our school's old sporting equipment to Catholic Mission, who have taken them to a partnered school in Alice Springs, for students from poor and vulnerable backgrounds. We have also spent time praying for our neighbours, through our Socktober Mission Month Mass and prayer in their Homerooms.  

All proceeds will benefit vulnerable young people attending a medical clinic and a children's home in Venilale. Our contributions will be helping children who truly need it to access better health, nutritional and educational outcomes, showcasing the spirit of care and compassion that defines our school community.

Christmas Hampers

Christmas is the season for family to celebrate the gift of Jesus to the world, and to celebrate the love we are called to have for God and each other. As we move towards the Christmas season in our last few weeks, GSCC will begin our Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Each Homeroom is given the list below and a basket to gather supplies for Vinnies. These Christmas hampers will be wrapped up and given as Christmas gifts to those in our community who are struggling and vulnerable. We encourage students, families and staff to contribute to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal, and join in on spreading some love to families who need it most this Christmas. Please add an item for the hampers into your shopping trolley this weekend.

This week, students will be issued with a list of items they have borrowed from the library, including textbooks or technology. All items need to be returned in good condition, or an invoice will be issued for their replacement cost. To help celebrate World Teachers Day, many students created personalised bookmarks for their teachers. Christmas crafts will also be happening in the library during lunch breaks for the last week of school, an enjoyable way to keep out of the hot sun outside.

Arili Thina Morning Cafe 

Arili Thina Cafe is open every Wednesday Morning from 7.30am - 9.00am, the cafe is located behind the LCC next to the Hospitality Kitchen.

Offering a range of espresso Coffees and cold drinks ; milkshakes, frappes , Iced Coffee. There is also a selection of food : Ham and Cheese Croissants, Bacon and Egg toasties and Smashed Avocado on sourdough, this may change weekly.

Our Year 11 and 12 Hospitality Students run this Cafe to achieve their competencies towards their Certificate ll in Hospitality and also fundraise for Hospitality camp.

Year 7, 8 and 9 Students are welcome to Cafe if accompanied by a parent or adult.

We encourage everyone to dine in.

We look forward to seeing you at the Arili Thina Cafe.

Cheers Mrs Cole and senior Hospitality Students