Dear Parents and Carers,

One of the biggest challenges facing our young people today is the dangerous use of e-cigarettes. While these are illegal to anyone under the age of 18 years, they are becoming more and more accessible due to the vaping shops in town and their availability via the internet. The health impacts of vaping are real and very damaging to users, especially children. Some of these are:

• Poisoning, seizures, throat and mouth burns, lung disease;
• Chemicals in the vapes can cause cancer in the long term;
• Nicotine and flavours inside vapes make them highly addictive - exposure during adolescence can alter the structure and function of the brain
• People who use vapes but have never smoked tobacco, are three times more likely to take up regular smoking than those who do not vape.

We have had a few cases of students vaping at school and we will take a zero-tolerance approach. Any students who are caught vaping will be immediately externally suspended and if a student supplies vapes at school, then there may be a recommendation to Townsville Catholic Education to have their enrolment terminated.This is in line with our policy on Illicit Substances.

Please talk to your student about the risks and the consequences. This is not just a concern for senior students, we are seeing cases in students in the younger grades as well. If your child is already addicted to vaping, please contact our Guidance Counsellor Ms Yvonne Van den Worm for support. This is confidential. Her email address is yvandenworm@tsv.catholic.edu.au. 

For more information about the risks please go to https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/atod/tobacco-laws/electronic-cigarettes

Here are some other Parent Resources:

Vaping and Young People For Parents and Carers

SchoolTV - Vaping & E-Cigarettes; Talking about Vaping, Alcohol and other Drugs Podcast

https://positivechoices.org.au/parents/electronic-cigarettes-and-vaping-factsheet

Assessment Calendars

Assessment Calendars were distributed to students this week. A copy has also been emailed to all parents/carers. The live Assessment Calendars are available via the College website under the Studies & Assessment page.

Assessment Calendars should inform:

• the amount of study and assignment work needed at different points in the term
• scheduling of specialist appointments and trips around due dates where possible
• the commitments students make
• minimising of any paid work (e.g. students should cut back work during busy weeks of the term)

Exam timetables will be released in the next few weeks. This Term there are 2 exam block periods:

•       Year 11: Week 6, 22-25 May 2023
•       Year 10: Week 9, 12-16 June 2023

Parents & carers with any questions or concerns in regards to subject curriculum or assessment are encouraged to contact the classroom teacher first. Following this, the Curriculum Leader for each Learning Area is available to speak with you regarding any concerns you may have.

School Photo Day

School photos will be taken next Wednesday, 3 May. If students were not at school when ID photos were taken this will be their last opportunity to receive a photo ID this year.

Envelopes were handed out in Homerooms on Monday morning. These must be returned directly to the photographer next Wednesday (at their photo). All students must bring their photo envelopes, regardless of the intention to purchase photos.

Some important notes about photos are:

• All students MUST wear full formal uniform including blazers for Yr 10 – 12 students.
• Photo envelopes MUST be returned even if families are not purchasing photos.
• No prepayment. Payment is to be included in the photo envelope to be given directly to the photographer during the student photo on Wednesday 3 May.
• New students will need to collect a photo envelope from the office this week.

If you would like students to have a sibling photo, please collect a family photo envelope from the front office this week.

Please note that all students must wear their full formal uniform for school photos, and normal hair, makeup and jewellery rules apply. All students in Years 10 - 12 will require a blazer.

Public Holiday Reminder

Next Monday, the 1st of May, there is a Public Holiday in Queensland (Labour Day). There is no school on this day.

What’s on @ GSCC

Each week I publish the What’s on @ GSCC document. This is posted to our College Facebook page, it is also sent to all parents and carers through the Compass News Feed.

Compass School Manager

If you are having trouble accessing your Compass App or desktop site, please contact the College Office. It is important that all families have access to Compass because it is how we send report cards, and how you book parent teacher interviews.

Parent | Teacher | Student Interviews

If you were unable to make a booking for Tuesday’s Parent | Teacher | Student Interviews and would like to talk to teachers about your child’s progress please contact the teacher directly. Bookings close this Friday 28 April at 12pm. All staff email addresses are linked to the Staff page on the College Website > Our College - Our Staff.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)

Week 2 Focus: Classrooms

This week our PB4L focus is behaviour expectations in the classrooms.

It is common practice for teachers to reiterate their classroom expectations at the beginning of the term or introduce their expectations if they have a new class.  

By outlining classroom expectations, students are aware of what is expected of them and the positive and negative consequences of their behaviours in each class.  

Classroom expectations can differ per teacher, the class and individual teaching styles.  Sometimes students require regular reminders of what their teacher expects, particularly because they may have classes with five different teachers on any given day.  

The goal of PB4L is to ensure that the teacher can effectively teach the class and all students are able to learn in that class.  I encourage parents/carers to ask their child about their different teachers’ classroom expectations.

School Photos

Next week on Wednesday, 3rd May Academy Photography will be at the College for school photos. Please ensure that your child is following the College Uniform expectations to have these photos taken especially focusing on hair and grooming, jewellery and make up requirements. 

Week 1 & 2 Pastoral Events

I would like to acknowledge and thank my pastoral team for the amazing work that has gone into the first two weeks of Term 2.  They have organised, facilitated and supervised a number of events in the past two weeks such as Character Builders Workshops for Year 7 and 9 boys; Enlighten Education Workshops for Year 7 and 9 girls; Year 10 Immunisations; Year 7 and 11 Mass; and Year 8 Retreat which occurs this Friday. These events target particular pastoral aspects for each year level to provide students with additional skills and strategies for secondary school.

I would also like to thank Miss Mel Puxty, our acting Assistant Principal – Religious Education and Mrs Yvonne Van Den Worm, our College Guidance Counselor, for also providing guidance and support to our pastoral teams in providing spiritual and wellbeing focuses for these events. 

Children these days seem to be going to bed later and later. Distractions such as TV, computer games, internet, texting friends and social media are all having a negative impact on a child’s sleep time. Sleep is vital to a child’s wellbeing. When children sleep well, they are more settled, happier and ready for school the next day. Sleep also strengthens their immune systems, supports overall development and their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation. Recent studies have shown that many children, especially teenagers, are missing out on vital REM sleep, which is particularly important for memory and learning.

The following link has many resources and answers to common questions you may have in regards to the sleeping patterns and benefits, please feel free to explore this website, as it has many benefits to your teenagers sleep and their health in general:

https://goodshepherd.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/sleep

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Year 7 - The Start of Term 2

We launch into term 2 after a hectic learning curve of term 1. Last term saw the quiet, scared and little people who started on the first day become very confident, knowledgeable and some taller people in 10 weeks.

With confidence sometimes comes the bending of rules - this did happen at the end of term by a few, but we are back on track and being our best!

Last week Thursday had us involved in the Enlighten Education Program with Storm for the girls and Character Builders with Lucy for the boys. Both of these programs focused on what makes you you, accepting of everyone for their good qualities no matter what the outside looks like, building friendship groups/ teams as we all join together in a new school with many people we haven’t known before and also accepting that life is not always easy, but we can get through it.

Today we shared time together with our year 11 Buddies - as the 7/11 group. It is not only an opportunity to spend time in our parish church, but also to take some quiet time and also to learn processes from our older peers. Thanks to those who have contributed by doing readings and being part of mass today.

I look forward to a great term that involves our athletics carnival and many more great times together!!

Kate

Year 09 Term 1 Insects and Flora.

Last term year 9 studied the work of Australian artist Tim Maguire who paints very large canvases of extreme close up images of flowers. Drawing inspiration from Maguire year 9 created their own close up image of a flower, focusing on colour, detail, tone and placement on the canvas.  As you can see they are all still smiling at the end of the term so it can’t have been too onerous. This term year 9 are studying Ancient Greek Pottery and will make their own pot based on Ancient Greece.

The Sports Department would like to welcome everyone to another busy Term. With a number of different events coming up, it’s important for students to pay attention to student notices and newsletters so they are aware of upcoming opportunities! 

Inter School Netball

Our Inter School Netball tri-series is back for 2023, with games on Friday’s 5th May, 19th May and 2nd June. Students interested in participating in the following teams are asked to collect a permission note from the office. 

• 13’s girls
• 15’s boys
• Opens boys
• Opens girls

The schedule will be released closer to the date, see you all then!

Athletics Carnival

The countdown is on for the annual Athletics Carnival! The Sports department is working steadily behind the scenes to make this one of GSCC’s best carnivals yet. In order for the day to run smoothly, we are looking for some extra volunteers to help run events on the day. Anybody that is interested in helping out on the day of the carnival can email Mr Young at jyoung10@goodshepherd.catholic.edu.au May the best house win.

Nomination dates for the following sports, due dates and venues are displayed below

- Unless stated, nomination dates involve both Boys and Girls in different sporting codes.

- Students who nominate will need to travel independently at their own expense to attend the trial

- Individual nominations require students to currently compete in the sport and must provide a coach who can confirm skill level

Acknowledgements

The Sports department would look to congratulate the following students who competed in the Matt Scott Rugby League Carnival in Longreach over the school holidays. The team played six games in one day and went undefeated, winning the carnival overall. Players demonstrated outstanding skill, resilience and sportsmanship on the field. Well done boys!

• Boh Ballie
• A-Tai Li-Downie
• Charlie Dredge
• Denan Duncan
• Ryan Ezzy
• Coby Lewry
• Charlie McGarvey
• Eamon McManus
• Darby Morris
• Cooper Robertson

Hospitality Dinner 12th May 

Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Hospitality Dinner, hosted by GSCC Senior Hospitality Students.Being held on Friday 12th May in the LCC at Good Shepherd. 

This Dinner provides students with the opportunity to achieve competencies towards their Certificate in Hospitality but also fundraising for their 2024 Camp to the Gold Coast. 

Tickets are $55 per person for a four course Dinner -  Starting 6pm for Canapes, followed by 6.30pm for Entree, Main , Dessert and to Finish Barista Coffee and Shortbread.

You can purchase tickets through the front Office or Wednesday morning at the Arili Thina Breakfast Cafe open from 7.30am to 9am. 

Limited tickets, so please get in quick.

Blessings, Donna Cole

Hospitality Teacher

The last week of Term 1 and the Easter School Holidays saw a number of our students participate in Work Experience placements. We are very proud of our students for giving their time to pursue these wonderful opportunities, and for the tremendous feedback we have received from their host employers.

A big thank you to the following businesses who hosted our students for work experience placements in term 1, we really appreciate your support and look forward to working with you again in the future.

Allied Health

Barkly State School

Coles

Glencore Mount Isa Mines

Healy State School

IMED - Radiology

Isa Chiropractic and Physiotherapy

Kretshmann Engineering

MAK Diesel

Mount Isa City Council

Mount Isa Courthouse

Mount Isa Physio

Sanctum

Sandvik

St Josephs Catholic Primary School

WORK EXPERIENCE IN TERM 2

Applications are now open for work experience placements this term. (Application forms available in the Careers office) Work experience opportunities will commence in Week 10 of this term and are available to the year 10’s (Benjamin & Chisholm Houses) and all the year 11’s & 12s. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns.