With the easing of some restrictions, it is reassuring to know that soon we can return to worshipping at our local Parish. This period of isolation has reminded me that when we go to Church, it is as much about the communal experience as the Eucharistic one. I am looking forward to seeing our regular parishioners and hopefully some new ones from our school community. Please email the Parish and register for attendance at Mass. This is so they can adhere to their new social distancing plan. (Mountisaparish@tsv.catholic.org.au).

It was with great excitement that we welcomed some of the Year 6s from St Keiran’s and St Josephs for the start of our Arrow Program. This extension opportunity has been running at Good Shepherd for a few years now and we thank Mrs Kate Millan and Mrs Kate Thinee for running the lessons. We look forward to hearing of their fun activities. 

Our personalised tours of Good Shepherd on Friday mornings are becoming popular. If you know of someone who is thinking of sending their son or daughter to Good Shepherd, please ask them to contact Siobhan at the College to arrange a viewing.

Finally, this week we welcome the Western Principals to Good Shepherd for our Principals’ Conference - Mrs Helen Wade, Mrs Judy Bell and Mrs Claudine Dank. It will be a great opportunity to share reflections on the recent online phase of learning and to discuss learning and teaching priorities in schools. We have a great team of school leaders in Mt Isa Catholic schools and I feel privileged to work with them.

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.

Year 10 Electives 

The Year 10 students will be provided with an opportunity in Semester 2 to study electives in preparation for their subject selections for Year 11. A Google form went out in Week 6 for students to indicate which subjects they are interested in. Please note that the subjects that students selected are not guaranteed and have been requested for timetabling purposes. 

In the coming weeks students will receive information about Senior subject choices and the prerequisites of them selecting these subjects. This is an amazing opportunity to provide students with a snapshot of what to expect in Year 11 and 12. Please have some conversations at home over the coming weeks on students future career pathways and subjects that they are interested in leading up to Semester 2. 

Exam Blocks Term 3

There will be no exam blocks for Year 10, 11 or 12 students in Term 2. As students have already had quite a big disruption to their learning the decision has been made to cancel the exam blocks for this term. The students will complete the scheduled examinations in their usual lesson time. 

In Term 3 exam blocks will be back to normal. This will mean that Year 10, 11 and 12 students will have an exam block towards the end of Term 3. 

External Exam Preparation - Update 

An email was sent out earlier this week about the preparation of students for the external examinations that are coming up in Term 4 for general subjects. These examinations are created and marked by QCAA. Students' grades from the examination will contribute towards their overall subject result. The examinations for Maths and Science subjects will equate to 50% of a student's grade in that subject. 

We acknowledge that these examinations are a different mode of testing to what students have been used to in the past, so we have implemented some strategies to best prepare students for these. 

Students have been preparing for these examinations throughout their Senior schooling. Our teachers have undergone training in the cognitive verbs that will be assessed in the examinations, which have been embedded in all lessons and assessment tasks since the beginning of Year 11. Student's assessments across Year 11 have also mirrored their assessments in Year 12 which has provided them with not only the knowledge of the syllabus but the skills needed to complete this external examination. 

In term 3 we will begin an intensive program designed to prepare students for their external exams. This will occur each week in the students Pastoral Care lessons and will rotate between a numeracy or literacy focus. 

There will also be a 'mock exam block' in Term 3 which will mirror the duration and style of examinations that students will complete in Term 4. This will begin on Thursday of Week 8 and conclude on Thursday of Week 9. This was attached to the email, please contact me if you weren’t able to view the document. The school administered mock exams will be delivered within this time for each General Subjects, which have been produced by QCAA. The teachers will mark these examinations and will provide students with in-depth feedback on how to improve. 

In Term 4 students will have 3 weeks at the College before their exams begin in Week 4. These 3 weeks have been left for examination prep and skill development. 

If students are concerned about their preparation for these examinations or require additional assistance we recommend that they contact their classroom teacher as soon as possible.  

Open Night - Term 3 - Invitation 

Arrow Program 2020

We welcomed Year 6 students from St Josephs and St Keirans to our College this week for our very first session of Arrow for the year. Students will be coming to Good Shepherd each week to further develop their literacy and numeracy skills, while getting used to the school and its practices for 2021. We are so excited to be offering this transition program again and cannot wait to share some exciting things with you of what we will be doing over the coming weeks.

College Expectation Focus:  Be in the right place at the right time.

This week I wanted to focus on our second College Expectation: Be in the right place at the right time.

At Good Shepherd it is important for all students to be punctual for school, classes or any event in which they are representing our College.   Punctuality is a wonderful trait of a person, one to be admired and respected and is a display of a person’s respect for people and time. Being on time is something that people expect of us our whole lives so it is worthwhile working on while you’re still in school.

Here are some tips on how students can ensure that they are in the right place at the right time.

1) Adopt a New Mindset

• Remind yourself of the benefits of being on time: less stress, less embarrassment, being viewed as reliable and diligent, and less confusion in class over topics you might have missed. 
• Being on time will also save you the time and hassle of having to catch up later.

2) Plan in Advance

• Lay out your uniform the night before. 
• Decide what you’re going to have for breakfast or plan out your route to school if you’re going to grab breakfast on the go.

3) Pack Ahead

• Pack your lunch, computer, books and whatever else you need for school, the night before and have them ready to go beside the door.

4) Leave Time for Delays

• If you have to travel a certain distance to arrive at a designated time, calculate your normal travel time then add 10 minutes. 
• Leaving home early enough to compensate for delays will ensure that, for the most part, you’re on time.

5) Set the Clock Ahead

• Try setting the time on your watch or clock ahead by 5 or 10 minutes to psychologically trick yourself into getting out the door. 

6) Go to Bed on Time

• Try going to bed early when you know you have to be in class the next morning.
• Going to bed at the same time each night helps your body get into a routine, making it easier to get up at the same time each morning.

Term 2 Senior Exam Block Update

Due to the disrupted start to the term there will not be a Term 2 Exam Block for senior students. There are only a small number of subjects to sit exams this term; these will take place in class time.

If you have any questions regarding Term 2 Assessment, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. Regular Exam Blocks will resume in Term 3.

Report Cards

Report Cards will be distributed as normal at the end of Semester 1. They will be accessible through your Compass Parent Portal on Friday 26 June. If you do not have access to your Parent Portal, please contact the College Office and we can assist.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are on the calendar for Tuesday 21 July (Week 2, Term 3). More information regarding booking will be distributed over the upcoming holidays.

Practical Driving Tests

Today, the Queensland Government has released information regarding the resumption of driving tests across Queensland.

From Monday 15 June driving tests will resume for people who meet the priority booking criteria, in line with updated health and safety advice. When car tests are available, bookings will be prioritised for people who meet the following criteria:

• had tests cancelled due to COVID-19
• require a licence for employment purposes
• require a licence to access medical treatment for themselves or a member of their family
• require a licence to get to or from their educational institution.

You can follow this link for full details.

Good luck to all students who will take this test over the coming weeks!

Organisation - keys for success

As we move towards the end of Term 2, it is important that students are organised, and prepared to learn each day. 

Here are some tips from Kids Health to help to improve your overall organisation:

Organize Your Stuff. Being organized makes everything else easier. It helps you get to work faster without wasting time looking for stuff.

Keep your assignments and class information organised by subject. Put them in binders, notebooks, or folders. If you find yourself stuffing loose papers in your bag or grabbing different notebooks for the same class, it's time to stop and reorganize!

Clean out your school bag regularly. Decide where to keep returned assignments and things you want to hold on to. Offload things you no longer need to carry around.

Organize Your Space. You need a good workspace — someplace quiet enough to focus. It's best to work at a desk or table where you can spread out your work. Have a place set aside for homework. That way, when you sit down, your mind knows you're there to work and can help you focus more quickly.

Organize Your Time. Use a planner or organization app to keep track of your schoolwork:

Write down all your assignments and when they're due. Break big projects into parts. Note the dates when each part needs to be completed. Mark in your planner when you'll work on each part. Mark the dates you'll have tests, then make a note of when you'll study for them. 

Don't leave things until the last minute — you'll only end up working twice as hard to do half as well. One sure way to reduce test anxiety is to prepare by studying (really!).

Avoid Distractions. When you multitask you're less focused. That means you're less likely to do well on that test. Park your devices and only check them after your work is done.

This week I was given the opportunity to speak with the staff on the subject of the Prayer Life of Good Shepherd Catholic College.  As Catholics we believe that all creation is good and is infused with the presence of God.  School communities affirm the sacredness of everyday life by recognizing and celebrating God in the created world, in our relationship with others and in our shared events and experiences.  Prayer can provide a context for people of diverse spiritualities, wide ranging experiences and various cultures to come together to celebrate their life and identity as members of the Good Shepherd community.  Prayer assists in developing a sense of shared humanity and shared purpose.

Here are some quick and easy (and lovely) prayer sites that send little reflections each day through your email.

Dominican Sisters - Grand Rapids, Michigan  (https://www.grdominicans.org/ )

3 Minute Retreat Loyola Press (https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer/daily-e-mail-reminders/ )

Another lovely prayer/reflection that can be done as a family, perhaps before or after dinner, is 

The Examen developed by Ignatius of Loyola.  Central to Ignatian spirituality is To find God in ALL things.

Students have now been for two weeks and the school is buzzing! We are feeling great being back in the classroom and soon, the excitement of assessments will be upon us. 

Can I please remind everyone that we have Homework Help available 4 days a week and this is accessible to all students in the College Library.

Retreat Update

Due to the recent restrictions in place, a decision has been made to push Retreat back until Term 4. The tentative date booked is Week 4, 29-30 October. More information will be released next term as planning for the Retreat gets underway. 

SPOLIN (Senior Phase of Learning Information Night)

Please note the date of Tuesday 4th August, 2020 for our SPOLIN event at the College. Year 10 Students and Parents will soon be receiving your invitation to the event (including a welcome BBQ). All information regarding the Senior Phase of Learning will be presented at this event and both students and parents will have the opportunity to learn more about the senior subjects from the Curriculum Leaders. 

Pastoral Care - Week 8, 9 and 10

Over the next 3 weeks, we will be using our Pastoral Care lessons to teach students about the Senior Pathways that they will need to choose for Year 11 and 12. This information will be presented to students by Samanatha Kelley (DP - Teaching and Learning) and will be followed by presentations for the Curriculum Leaders about the trial subjects that students will be able to select in Semester Two, Yr 10. 

Students will then be able to select their Semester Two subjects at the end of P1 in Week 9. 

Last week we celebrated the return of all our students, and they were buzzing with excitement. It was great to see them all so happy to catch up with their friends and return to some kind of normalcy. During Pastoral Care over the first five weeks of this term, the Year 9 students were asked to record their thoughts, feelings, concerns & predictions about ‘online learning,’ so that in years to come they can look back and reflect on 2020, and how they overcame such hurdles and adapted to all the constant changes. Below are what some students documented.

“COVID-19 has impacted everyone's life very drastically in many different ways. My life has been impacted in many bad ways like no sports, no social interactions etc. I am beginning to get unfit from not playing any sports and I have nothing to do because I can't see friends. We can’t even go out in the boat to go fishing as the dam is closed.”

“When I first heard the news that school would be online learning for the first five weeks of term, I knew it was coming so I expected it. So many other schools across the nation had already closed with no opening date in sight, so all I could think is ‘are we next?’ I was super excited to know that I would be at home for a long time - purely because that’s me and I am such a home person. However it’s shocking what this world has come to and hopefully there’s an end to the virus soon, so we can get back to normal routines.”

“When I was told that online learning would happen for at least the first five weeks of Term 2, I wasn’t surprised, we all knew it was coming. I didn’t exactly understand how we would essentially ‘learn’ online, but I was optimistic. I have enjoyed the benefits of home learning thus far. I am still following my compass timetable like a regular school day, however, if I finish a lesson early I am granted the freedom to move onto my next task. I also like how I can actually cook myself a solid lunch, instead of snacking. In regards to the schooling, I do enjoy the program that Good Shepherd has chosen. I like how I meet with my teachers on zoom at least once a week so we can ask questions like a normal day at school would be, as well as working through slideshows at my own pace and writing extra information down that I deem necessary to my learning. I am nonetheless missing my normal school environment. I miss seeing my friends and even my teachers. I miss the hustle and bustle of walking to my classrooms and I even miss the noisiness of the locker area. It's the little things that we take for granted that we don’t realise we enjoy until they’re gone.”

“I find online learning a breath of fresh air. The results from it turned out unexpected but I’m not arguing. Maybe it’s because I have the window seat (lucky me), I can study on my own terms, the class is much quieter, allowing me to concentrate, or that I feel motivated to give out my best this term. “

Please also note that the Year 9 Retreat will take place on the Thursday and Friday of week 1 next term (July 16 & 17) Permission notes will be sent out next week.

I remember the day the letter arrived. It was the dead of winter, a grey, dull day that was filled with slow drizzling rain. No one expects good news on cold bleak days. And no one expects good news when a letter arrives stamped with the logo of the Australian Government. At least, I don’t. Maybe you’re different. I brewed a coffee, sat down and dunked a gingernut. The ATO had already taken their pound of flesh and I’d paid the dodgy speeding fine. Anyway, it wasn’t an ATO envelope or a Court Notice. This was different. I picked it up and prepared for the worst. The letter was brief. To the point. Formal. I read the letter once, then twice and then I reached for another gingernut. Who knew that good news could arrive on a grey day in a Government envelope? It was an invitation to attend the Royal Military Officer Commissioning Ceremony. Oh. And, the Governor General would like to know if you could join him for afternoon tea at 3 PM. True story.   

The officer who delivered the speech did so with remarkable confidence. I couldn’t help critiquing. It’s what English teachers do; nature of the beast. He spoke clearly and concisely, paused in places for dramatic effect, used discrete gestures to make a point, and maintained eye contact with his audience. It was a compelling speech about duty and honour. It was a commanding performance. And my mind drifted back to when he was in Grade Seven and had to deliver his first speech to the class. His hands trembled, his voice quavered and he struggled with pronouncing some words. He got a C. But he struggled through it and his parents encouraged him all the way. I remember his parents. They had the right touch. They understood that Grade Seven English is about learning new things and being gently challenged to do better, reach higher. They enabled his success. When he didn’t want to write the speech or deliver it, they encouraged him to have go. Do your best, don’t walk away. They were like Alf, my under 15s footy coach. “You can do it son!” He would bellow from the sidelines. And I would pick myself up and give it another crack. 

As the Officer concluded his speech, I remembered how each term and each semester and each year he struggled to do better, and do better he did. That struggling Grade Seven student grew to be the confident, capable Officer in front of me. His parents had enabled his success every step of the way. Unfortunately, I’ve also known parents that enable failure. Almost always with the best intentions; keep the little one safe, avoid stress at all costs, and don’t bother learning to spell or read or write if it seems a bit challenging. I’m a parent. I know what it’s like to struggle with my kids in Grade Seven and Eight and beyond. And I know what it’s like to see them become confident, capable adults. The challenges and the struggles made them stronger.    

This term, Grade Seven have been learning how to write a persuasive speech. Some excelled with the task, others struggled and there were plenty in between. All of them learned and grew through the experience and did so because parents like you enabled their success. Thank you.

The 21Century scientists at Good Shepherd Catholic College have shown such resilience in coping with the changes to formal education that COVID-19 brought to term 2, 2020. Many of the students and staff demonstrated persistence, diligence and fortitude when preparing and completing their lessons on line at the commencement of the term.

The return of students allowed them to continue their studies and utilise the laboratories at the College. Year 7 and 10 students have been studying forces and completed various formative and summative exercises to consolidate their learnings in this area. Year 8 students have been studying chemical and physical change and have enjoyed returning to experimenting in the laboratories. Year 9 students have studied the structure and nature of atoms.

The Year 9 appreciated the excitement of seeing electrons return to their ground state electron shell levels and giving off energy that was visible as colours across a Bunsen burner flame.

Students in Year 7 to 9 who are writing stories for the GSCC English Department Story Contest are encouraged to also enter their stories in the Courier Mail Kids News Short Story Competition. 

Parents need to sign a permission form for this, as winners’ stories will be published. Forms can be collected from the Library or visit http://media.news.com.au/multimedia/2020/NED-1650/Kids-News-Short-Story-writing-competition-2020-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf

We are just over 12 months away from our 2021 Ski Trip! A reminder that the second payment for the trip is due on the 23rd of June 2020.Please refer to the image below with all remaining payment dates.