The Premier’s recent announcement that students will begin to return to school-based learning is a relief for most. Our Year 11 and 12 students all return to normal classes next Monday. At this stage we understand that all other year levels will commence face-to-face teaching from the 25th May. We will provide all details in an email to Parents this week.

While it is good to have some more certainty around these arrangements, we understand that there will still be a measure of anxiety within the parent, student and staff community about COVID-19. We remain in a pandemic. The College will be guided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) advice on reducing potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. The full advice can be found here, but below are the key strategies:

• Physical distancing
• Risks to vulnerable populations in schools
• Hygiene
• Environmental cleaning
• Psychological well-being
• Spread the word, not the disease

During this time of transition, I encourage our families and friends to consider how we might retain some of the quarantine practices that have proved life-giving to us during this time: slowing down and taking time to just ‘be’; spending time with family; cooking meals and eating around the table and checking in on those who are dear to us.

This week we learned that our dear friend Fr Mick Lowcock lost his Father Albert Colin (Col) Lowcock. He was due to turn 104 years old this month. The College sends its love and prayers to Fr Mick and his family at this sad time.

Finally, this Sunday we remember our Mother’s, Grandmothers, Aunts and other special women in our lives. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mums in our school community. Take a look at this special Mother’s Day tribute video.

Here is a special prayer for you all:

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a mother's love

Can understand our tears,

Can soothe our disappoints

And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a mother's love

Can share the joy we feel

When something we've dreamed about

Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a mother's faith

Can help us on life's way

And inspire in us the confidence

We need from day to day.

For a mother's heart and a mother's faith

And a mother's steadfast love

Were fashioned by the angels

And sent from God above.

- Author Unknown

Each week we will profile a section of our Annual School Improvement Plan for 2020. This is the document that guides our plans and priorities for the year. We prepare this document based on initiatives set by the Townsville Catholic Education Office and through consultation with our school stakeholders: parents, staff and students.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment 

A reminder that each student has been added to a ‘Google Classroom’ for each of their subjects.  This is where students access their work for the week, as well as get important information about zoom sessions and upcoming due dates. Students are issued a ‘Weekly Plan’ of their work by their first lesson of each week. All zoom sessions have been scheduled according to students timetables. 

Assessment

In years 7 to 10 assessment at Good Shepherd will run relatively normal. Our teachers have been working hard to re-design units of work to meet the current online environment. The assessment for the term was specified on the assessment calendars that were distributed in Week 2. I strongly encourage students to add these dates to their College diaries. This will assist students in keeping track of each assessment as they progress through the term. 

A reminder that changes were made to year 11 and 12 assessment, meaning that some subjects will not be summatively assessed this term. This is evident on the assessment calendars for each year level. 

Tracking Team

A tracking team has been established at Good Shepherd to monitor students progress in their senior years of schooling. This team will begin tracking students from the SET Planning stage in Year 10 through to graduation in Year 12. This tracking will highlight students strengths and challenges in students senior years to ensure they are set up for success in life beyond school. 

We have been conducting meetings with our Year 12 ATAR eligible students this term and have seen great success in this process. Thank you to the students and parents that have been engaging in this. 

Year 11 & 12 Transition back to School - tips 

Teachers often speak about the importance of developing good study skills and habits. More often than not, successful students have established clear goals, study routines and good organisation. The world of online learning has prompted students to establish a culture of study and reflection. 

We discuss the study skills listed below regularly, from Year 7 through to Year 12. Becoming an effective student is no different from becoming good at sport or music; it takes practice, skill, feedback and focus.

Students in senior often tell me that they wish they could study more effectively, or achieve higher grades. Studying is a learned behaviour, and it is very hard to all of a sudden know how to study in Year 11 or 12 when the academic pressure is more noticeable. 

I highly recommend all students reflect on their study habits and skills, particularly as they transition back to school. The following list represents a great starting point for improving your skill and organisation as a student. 

Year 11 and 12 Students Returning

Our Year 11 and 12 students will be returning to school next Monday, and this week is a good time to assist them with establishing normal school routines to make their transition back to school a smooth one.  Some routines to follow:

• Sleep routines – Students should be maintaining healthy sleep times and routines that will see them refreshed and ready for an 8:25am start on Monday morning and able to focus throughout the day;
• Daily timetable – Students should be prepared as per Week B of their timetable and ensure that they have all the equipment that they require to go to class prepared to learn.
• College Expectations – Ensure that students are back in to the College mindset and expectations are followed, this includes students wearing the correct uniform and abiding by the behaviour management policy.

Do it For Dolly Day

This Friday the 8th of May is Do It For Dolly Day which is about bringing the community together to celebrate kindness and unite in taking a stand against bullying.

At the core of everything we do is kindness. The campaign for Dolly’s Dream focusses on the belief that through kindness we all can create a sense of togetherness and community and – together – we can combat bullying.

On Friday, staff and students have been asked to wear blue to remind people to be kind to those around them. Together, we can make Friday 8 May a day of kindness. Big or small, what’s most important is to make the effort. Here are some acts of kindness you could consider:

• call to check in on a family member/friend or send them a friendly text message
• make a music playlist or card for someone you care about
• cook a meal for the people in your house
• write a positive online review for a small business
• start an online fundraiser
• get your neighbourhood involved by getting everyone to put something in their window to mark #DoItForDollyDay. Facebook groups are a great way to reach your community!
• check out The Kindness Pandemic for other community acts of kindness. 

As you would all be aware, Year 11 and 12 students will transition back to at school learning from Monday 11 May 2020. This means, all Year 11 and 12 students are expected to be at school, in full school uniform ready for Homeroom on Monday morning.

For students in Years 7 - 10, online learning will continue until further advice is given by the government, and during Week 4 (commencing 11 May) our school campus is open for vulnerable students, and students whose parents are essential workers only. 

A reminder for all students in Years 7 - 10 to continue completing the online form that I send each morning to indicate online learning intentions. This form must be completed by all students every day before 12pm  to ensure online participation intentions are recorded.

Please note: If you are not able to participate in online learning because you are unwell, parents are asked to notify the front office, or to add an attendance note in the Compass Portal.

As we have been doing for the past 2 weeks, teachers and Pastoral Leaders will continue to monitor the completion of student work, and they will make contact families if students are not participating in the online learning platforms.

It is with great sadness, we share with you the loss of Fr Mick’s Dad Albert Colin Lowcock, known to his friends and family as Col. Col passed away early on Monday morning. He would have celebrated his 104th birthday this coming 27th of May. Col leaves behind his four children, Fr Mick, Mary RSM, Janice and Colleen, Colleen’s husband Ted and their four children Tom, Julia, Lucy and Charlotte.

We pray that God watches over them during this difficult time and comforts them through their loss. 

God of love and mercy,

Embrace all those whose hearts today overflow with grief and such a sense of loss.

We keep in our thoughts and prayers Fr Mick, and his sisters Mary RSM, Janice and Colleen, Colleen’s husband Ted and their four children Tom, Julia, Lucy and Charlotte.

Grant them space to express their tears. Hold them close through the coming days.

Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

We keep Fr Mick and his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

We are now well into our second week of online learning. I would like to congratulate all Year 12’s for their resilience and positive outlook during what has been a very different and somewhat challenging learning experience. I was especially proud of our Year 12 leaders who assisted in creating our first “Virtual Assembly” in recognition of ANZAC Day. If you are yet to view this,  it has been uploaded onto our College Facebook page at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/gsccmi/videos/666703264183715/

It has been wonderful to see all of our Year 12’s continue to engage in our Pastoral Care program. During week 1 our focus was Gratitude. Students were asked to create a Gratitude PhotoWall and were asked to share a photo for each of the following questions:

Something I’m grateful for…..

• that I have owned for a long time
• that reminds me of my friends
• that makes me happy
• that I love in nature
• that was a gift from someone special
• that smells amazing
• that tastes good
• that makes a nice sound
• makes me feel loved

I very much enjoyed viewing all of the students PhotoWalls. We definitely have a lot to be grateful for!

This week, our Pastoral Care focus has been Empathy. During the lesson students were asked to share ways they can best help themselves, friends, family or any other community they are part of during the COVID-19 crisis. Here are some of their responses:

“To communicate with friends and family and validate their feelings because we are all feeling some stress, guilt and desolation. To know that someone else is experiencing this means we're not alone.”

Laura Szabadics

“Random acts of kindness, helping those who are in need, helping the vulnerable, washing your hands, practicing social distancing rules, and even helping around the house- every little bit helps!”

Alison Godfrey

“Donate to COVID-19 charities, help around the house, ask friends and family how they're going, etc”.

Panashe Tembo

“By keeping to social distancing rules and helping out around the house”.

Grace Elliott

“To help myself during these tough times, I would keep exercising to always have a healthy mindset. To help others, it could range from food deliveries or to help others out when they need something done that they can't do themselves”.

Kelsey Verhoeven

I am very proud of the way our Year 12 students have handled the changes they have been faced with. If you have any questions or concerns in relation to your child's progress, plesae do not hesitate to contact me at the College on (07) 4743 2509 or jmarinelli@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au

Term 2 has brought many new challenges and experiences for our Year 11 students. I have been extremely pleased with the way students have been conducting themselves with their online learning, and how they are looking out for one another. Some students have created group chats to remind each other when they have Zoom lessons and to help out with work etc. This is a great way to keep connected and to learn, through peer assistance - well done!

I was especially proud to hear many of the Year 11’s participating in the Anzac Day activities, completing artwork for their neighbours and joining in on the ‘Light up the dawn’ driveway service/initiative.

Patrick Roche (Yr 11)  & Thomas Roche (Yr 8)

Driveway artwork by Carly Lobegeiger (Yr 11)

In our PC lessons so far this term, we have had Mrs Kelley and Mrs Coghlan speak about curriculum, assessment and careers. More information has been provided to students via our Year 11 Classroom page. Students have also been reflecting on their SMART goals from Term 1/Unit 1, and in particular their academic goals for their subjects. 

We have also been talking about our mindset, especially during this difficult time. We looked at some motivational/inspirational quotes around thinking positive, and being thankful, and also viewed a video on failure and success. The video highlighted famous failures and stories of celebrities that have failed in life, but have then gone on to become very successful (e.g., Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, Oprah Winfrey and Walt Disney). The takeaway message from the video was, it is ok to fail (as this is part of the learning process) but it was what we do after/how we pick ourselves up again, that really counts! 

This week, we reflected on ways we can be kind and empathetic (particularly in light of ‘Do it for Dolly Day’ this Friday. Students posted their ideas on our classroom page, and I have copied/shared some of these for you below. 

I am looking forward to seeing the students when they return!