In the chaos and global distress about COVID -19, we can rely on our inspirational Pope Francis for guidance. In an interview recently he reminded us to turn to prayer in difficult times. "Prayer helps us understand our vulnerability”, he says. “It is the cry of those who are sinking, who feel they are in danger and alone. And in a difficult, desperate situation, it is important to know that the Lord is there to cling to".  Even though our Churches are now closed for worship, we can still turn to God. This Wednesday on the Feast of the Annunciation, we are sharing in a global prayer. Pope Francis is calling on all Christians to pray the Our Father to show solidarity for those who are in suffering.

Online Learning

How powerful is this quote by Paul Levinson below? We are currently living in a time that is unknown to many of us, which has led to the training of teachers and students in online learning. The current pandemic may bring short term changes to the way students and teachers facilitate both teaching and learning. The world may have thrown us an obstacle, but the resource of online learning has thrown us a lifeline. The teachers at Good Shepherd Catholic College have all been trained in Google Classroom, which is an online platform that will be utilised to facilitate the teaching and learning cycle if need be. 

Below you will find a step-by-step guide for students on how to use Google Classroom. This will proactively assist families in preparation for online learning.

NAPLAN 2020 – Cancellation
Good Shepherd received some important information last week in regards to the NAPLAN tests in 2020 which has already been emailed home to parents and caregivers. A COAG Education Council meeting took place last week with Commonwealth, State and Territory members, in which the impact on the upcoming NAPLAN tests was reviewed.  

The decision was made that NAPLAN exams and practice tests will be cancelled in 2020 due to the widespread disruption to schools caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. I would like to thank all parents, caregivers, students and teachers that have been preparing for the upcoming test. The skills that students have received in this time will be beneficial in classrooms and beyond. 

Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme

Following on from last Tuesday's Parent Information session please find the following information in regards to the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme at Good Shepherd in 2020: 

• All Indigenous students need to have completed a registration form submitted to Townsville Catholic Education Office by the end of this term. Here is the link http://tiny.cc/2020ELIS *Please note: you need to complete 1 for each child at the College*.
• Please ensure that your child has completed their Personal Leadership Agreement (PLA), and set their Personal Incentive Goal (PIG) for 2020. This then needs to be returned back to school with all required signatures. If you need another Personal Leadership Agreement sheet, please contact Ms Dottie Frew on 47432509 or via email on dfrew1@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au
• Once the PLA and PIG are completed, your child will receive a 'Welcome Pack' from Townsville Catholic Education that will have further information in regards to your child's PIG and Mentor, along with a brochure.
• Funds will be released to the College to be added to your student account in Term 2. Please arrange to meet with Joanne Davis in the Office if you have a Health Care card or if you have ABSTUDY so that discounts can be organised.
• Even though we are in uncertain times, please continue to send your child to school unless they are unwell. 

How to Cope with Stress Related to COVID-19

Everyone responds differently to stress and this will also be the case for our students particularly now with the ongoing releases of information about the Covid-19 pandemic happening across the globe. We are all being challenged with the uncertainty of this pandemic and how it affects us. However, it is important that we ensure our young people are well informed and are able to find ways of coping with the stress that can be related to COVID-19.  Attached is a link to a useful fact sheet from Headspace “How to Cope with Stress Related to COVID-19”. https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/headspace-Fact-Sheet-Coping-with-COVID-19-Stress-v1.pdf

Mount Isa City Council G’day Neighbour Call Cards

Yesterday the Mount Isa City Council released to their website and social media pages, information about G’Day Neighbour Call Cards calling on locals to make a positive difference in our community.

If you can help any vulnerable members of our community or those with special needs such as elderly neighbours or disabled persons in your street or neighbourhood, Council encourages you to offer assistance, as they may really need it during this time.

Council have produced a calling card template which can be downloaded and printed from this link https://www.mountisa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/989/covid-19-calling-card .  On the card you write messages and deliver to the mailbox of your neighbours and people in your community to let them know that you care, and that you can help.  

This is such a wonderful way in which we can all contribute positively to our community in the midst of the uncertain times ahead.  In the wise words of Saint Mary Mackillop “never see a need without doing something about it”.

At the end of Term 1, students will receive an Interim Report card. These report cards are issued online, through the Compass Parent Portal. We will notify parents and students when report cards have been uploaded, and you will have immediate access to them at this time. Please see the document below for instructions.

A reminder, that to access the Parent Portal, Parents/Carers must come into the College Office to collect login information (office hours are 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday). We are unable to provide login details unless we can see you to verify your details; this is important due to the sensitive and sometimes confidential information that you will have access to on your child’s portal.

Please refrain from coming into the College Office to collect your login information if you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days or if you are feeling unwell.

For returning parents, if you have forgotten your password please see the steps on the document below to reset it.

During these uncertain times we have been asked to limit our social interaction which also includes not attending church services. Please see the letter below from Bishop Tim regarding a dispensation.

From Bishop Tim

Due to restrictions that have been put in place by the Australian Government in response to COVID-19, we are unable to hold the Year 12 Senior Formal on Friday 26th June, 2020 as initially scheduled. The Year 12 Senior Formal is a significant event on the College calendar and to ensure students do not miss out on this celebratory occasion, it will now be held on Wednesday the 18th of November, 2020 at the Mount Isa Civic Centre.

The College will continue to hold the Farewell Assembly, along with the Graduation Mass & Dinner as previously outlined. Please refer to detailed information in relation to each event below:

 Formal Dinner: Wednesday 18th November, 2020

The Year 12 Formal will be held at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 18th November, 2020. After the arrival parade, parents will be invited to attend canapés in the foyer between 5pm – 7pm on the evening. Following this, students and their Formal partners will be served dinner along with DJ entertainment. The event is alcohol free and will conclude at 10:30pm. Tickets will be available for purchase for Year 12 students and their Formal partners for $80 each from the College Office closer to the date.  Please note, students will not be required to attend school on Wednesday the 18th of November and Thursday the 19th of November.

Farewell Assembly: Friday 23rd October, 2020

This event we will recognise and celebrate our Year 12’s journey at the College. It will take place in the Lumen Christi Centre during assembly from 9:50am and will be an opportunity to wish our students well for their external examinations. Families will be invited to attend this assembly, followed by a morning tea.

Graduation Mass & Dinner (Friday 20th November, 2020)

After students have completed their external assessments, all Parents and Year 12 Graduates will be invited to attend Graduation Mass and Dinner. At this event, students will be required to wear their formal uniform. Graduates will receive their certificate and will reflect on 6 years of high school together with their families. At this event, we will continue our tradition of having a parent & student dance. The Graduation Mass will commence at 6pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, followed by the Graduation dinner at 7:30pm which is being held at the College. Each graduate will be allocated 3 tickets (approx. $45 each), including their own which will be available for purchase from the College Office closer to the date.

As a College, we are looking forward to sharing this final chapter for your child’s high school journey.

Townsville Catholic Education regrets to advise that this year’s Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival has been postponed until July 2021 due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  

The Federal Government’s advice about non-essential gatherings during the COVID-19 outbreak has led this decision.

Stay tuned for updates - but rest assured we will be back, bigger and better in 2021! 

The Year 7's have worked very hard this term - learning all about classification, using their skills to complete their assessment focussing on individual species and the comparison of those in an ecosystem - good job everyone!!

Moving on we have started to look at ways we can use and apply our knowledge to classify unknown organisms and objects.

7C used the skills of dichotomous key construction to “classify” things that were on their desk and in their pencil cases. Ensuring they had clear questions with yes or no answers only, allowed them to make sure no assumptions were made only facts used to classify. 

Have a look at the great work going on.

Accessing and borrowing eBooks

Students can borrow eBooks, simply by signing in, using their College username and password.

Select the Library icon.

Select the Sora eBooks icon and from the dropdown menu choose ACEN Member Collection. After putting in your username and password, select Townsville as our location.

There are also audio books available.

If students have any issues signing in, they can go to the TCEO Resources page and select Change Password Portal. You do not have to change your password. Simply put your password in 3 times and it will resync with all available applications, including Sora eBooks and Clickview.

What are we reading at Good Shepherd?

Here’s a list of the most popular books borrowed during the last month

Fiction

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
2. Footy Fables by Suzan Hirsch
3. Diary of an awesome friendly kid : Rowley Jefferson’s diary by Jeff Kinney
4. Into the game by Nick Eliopulos
5. Night of the bats by Nick Eliopulos
6. Ninja clones by Anh Do
7. Theophilus Grey and the demon thief by Catherine Jinks 
8. The burning sea by Paul Collins
9. Dear sweet pea by Julie Murphy
10. Eagle down by Carl Bowen

Most popular series

1. Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney
2. The Treehouse series by Andy Griffith 
3. Dog man series by Dav Pilkey
4. Tom Gates series by Liz Pichon
5. Graphic Novels by Raina Telgemeier

Non-Fiction

1. A guide to plants in inland Australia by Philip Moore 

• Guinness World records 2017

1. Minecraft guide to creative by Craig Jelley
2. Ultimate necklace maker by Dorothy Wood
3. Adolf Hitler by Richard Tames
4. Animal rights by Penny Tripp
5. Beautiful cats by Darlene Arden 
6. BMX Racing by Angie Peterson Kaelberer 

Top Homeroom Borrowers 

1. 7C
2. 7D 
3. 10A
4. 7A
5. 8C 
6. 7B
7. 12C
8. 12A
9. 8B
10. 9C

Easter Raffle

The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 25 March. So far we have 123 entries in the draw. Students receive an entry every time they borrow a book. The winner receives an Easter Basket full of chocolate and a 2nd basket to donate to a worthy cause.