11 September 2024

From the Desk of the Principal

Week 10 , Term 3

Dear Families,

Thank you for a wonderful term of learning! My first ten weeks at Good Shepherd have been both busy and filled with many highlights. Our staff and students are certainly ready for a well-deserved break, and I hope that the upcoming September holidays provide everyone the chance to relax and recharge, so we can return refreshed and ready for a focused and successful Term 4.

RENEWAL NEWS

This week, we were pleased to welcome a visiting team of school principals and representatives from Townsville Catholic Education. Their visit aimed to assess whether our school review processes have been thorough and effective. I’m delighted to report that they found much to commend!

Throughout this process, we have:

• Consulted with staff, students, and families,
• Listened attentively to all voices,
• Identified common themes from the feedback,
• Analysed data,
• Reflected on current policies and practices,
• Celebrated our strengths and acknowledged our challenges,
• Pinpointed four key areas for improvement, and
• Engaged in further consultation to confirm these priorities.

Our next step is to draft clear and specific Strategic Development Goals for each of these four areas, which will guide our school improvement plan over the next four years. The four focus areas are:

1. Catholic Identity
   Ensuring all staff, students, and families are supported in understanding our Good Shepherd story, spirituality, and culture. Who are we? What are our values? How does the Good Shepherd (Jesus) guide our way of living and learning together?

2. Curriculum and Pedagogy
   Supporting teachers in using research-backed, best-practice teaching methods that engage all students. What do we teach, and how do we teach it?

3. Orderly Learning Environments
   Developing consistent approaches to student behaviour support and maintaining high expectations for all students, ensuring that everyone feels safe, welcome, confident, and engaged in their learning.

4. Inclusive and Diverse Education
   Ensuring that all students, including high achievers, those with disabilities or learning difficulties, English language learners, or those facing any barriers to learning, are supported to reach their full potential.

It has been an absolute blessing for me, as the new principal of Good Shepherd, to arrive during this review process. I’ve had the opportunity to read through all the survey feedback, engage in deep conversations with many parents, carers, students, and staff, and reflect on our shared goals. Our staff have shown tremendous enthusiasm for positive change and are eager to work together to achieve these goals. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the surveys and discussions. Let’s keep the conversation going!

PREP NEWS - Teacher Update

We extend our best wishes and safe travels to our wonderful Prep teacher, Mrs. Sharon Griffey, as she takes extended leave to move to Gove in the Northern Territory. Many of our families understand the challenges of FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) work, and Mrs. Griffey's family is excited about the opportunity to live, learn, and work together in such a beautiful and remote location.

Mrs. Griffey is passionate about Good Shepherd and will return to our school when her family comes back to Townsville. Though she will miss her Prep class dearly, she has created a detailed handover plan to ensure the continuity of their learning. Ms. Therese Cowley will be teaching Prep B for the rest of the year. Ms. Cowley, a familiar face at Good Shepherd, often works here as a relief teacher and will collaborate closely with our other Prep teacher, Ms. Pullens, while staying in contact with Mrs. Griffey. Welcome, Ms. Therese!

God bless,

Majella Lynch-Harlow

Principal

mlynchharlow3@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

R U OK? Day

Tomorrow, September 12, is R U OK? Day, an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

Schools are committed to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

SchoolTV has developed a Special Report which provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions. The report can be accessed by clicking here, or by going to the SchoolTV links on our Good Shepherd Catholic School website.

Cognitive Verb Focus - Compare

This week, the focus is on the cognitive verb “compare”.

To compare is to recognise how things are similar and dissimilar. As our ability to compare increases, our minds start grouping things according to features and characteristics. For example, students are asked to sort two-dimensional shapes according to determined characteristics.  Creating representations when comparing can help when moving into more abstract comparisons. This helps to move away from the literal similarities and differences and begin to recognise those that are subtler. An abstract comparison example may be using a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between the Red Kangaroo and the Grey Kangaroo, rather than a direct comparison of images. A process of comparing may include:

• determining the characteristics that are being compared
• identifying the similarities and differences
• summarising findings.

The cognitive verb compare is part of the analysis element of cognitive process. This element involves the ‘generation of new information not already possessed by the individual’. 

“Compare” is part of the Australian curriculum from Prep (for example, students may be asked to compare the size of two different objects) through to Year 6

Maxine Nolan

APPL

mnolan@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Religious Education

The Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Saturday 14^th September

Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also called Universal Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross or Holy Cross Day, liturgical feast celebrated on September 14 to honour the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. In the Eastern churches the feast dates back to the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the site of Christ’s tomb) in Jerusalem circa 335. It was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in the 7th century and is also observed in various Protestant traditions, including Lutheranism and Anglicanism.

The universal symbol of the Christian faith, the cross represents Christ’s victory over death. The feast celebrates the redemptive transformation of a barbaric instrument of torture into a divine “tree of life” that brings hope to humankind. In some traditions, a cross is oriented to the cardinal directions to represent the universal nature of Christ’s sacrifice and prayers are said for the salvation of all.

Rebecca Kershaw

APRE

rkershaw@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

What's Happening in Year 5

Year 5 had an exciting week on camp at Paluma and enjoyed exploring and learning about the rainforest. Students  challenged themselves and do the high ropes course with Outer Limits. It was extremely heart warming watching students encourage each other to push through their fears and then celebrate their achievements together. Students were able to demonstrate leadership qualities and make new friendships in different environments and put trust in each other while completing the sensory trail. The experience is one in which the students will remember forever.

The Great Book Swap

On Indigenous Literacy Day, Good Shepherd raised a total of  $516.70 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation by hosting our Great Book Swap. Thank you for your generous support and donations in supporting this successful event.

Guidance Counsellor

Hi Everyone,

My name is Marissa. I'm the Guidance Counsellor at Good Shepherd and you can catch me here on a Monday, Tuesday or a Wednesday so please drop in to the wellbeing building for a chat.  

Online Gaming

With school holidays coming up, it is a good idea to start discussions with your child/ren about online gaming, as we see an increase in screen time during holidays. This School TV resource discusses things to be aware of when your child/ren are gaming online.

 Young people might have a lot of fun playing online games, but parents and carers need to make sure they empower their child to make wise decisions and help them manage the risks. Numerous games can help your child become more coordinated, adept at problem-solving and multitasking, and help them develop social skills through online interaction with other players. However, it's also critical to comprehend what may go wrong and what might be harmful to your child. Carers need to play an active role in understanding and being aware of what their young person is playing online and who they are interacting with.

https://gstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Library

Story Dogs

Breakfast Club and Running Club

Both Clubs will run every morning. Breakfast Club will run from the Tuckshop from 8:10am and Running Club will be held on the Junior Oval from 8:10am as well.

The Good Shepherd Way

Term 3, Week 9

This week our Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action value is Service where I help and respond to the needs of others.

Our Service prayer is below:

Term 3, Week 10

The Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action for Week 10 will be Stewardship where I care for all of creation.

Our Stewardship prayer is below:

The GSCS Way

The GSCS Way is our positive behaviour support program here at Good Shepherd Catholic School.

All in our community are encouraged to:

• Give My Best
• Show Respect
• Compassion and Care
• Safe Responsible and Fair

Each week we focus on a different area of our matrix.

This week we are focusing on: In the community Centre. 

In Term 3, Week 9 we are focusing on: At Assembly. 

Prep Orientation 2025

Environmental Tips

Coast Care

 Protection of the Reef is a common cause for the good of all. Remember, whatever flows down our drains flows into our rivers and ultimately out on the Reef.

Tuckshop

Wednesday - Thursday - Friday

Please contact the school office or Ann-Maree at Tuckshop with any enquiries.

CUTOFF time to order TUCKSHOP
from FLEXISCHOOLS
is 8:30am.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ORDERS ARE TO BE PLACED ONLINE AT THE LINK BELOW. Please visit the website to set up your account if you are new to Flexischools.

Flexischool How To Guides for Parents and Caregivers
• Online help is available any time at Flexischools via the link below.
• Phone between 8am - 12pm (AEDST) on weekdays or on the parent phone line (1300 361 769). 

How-To Guides for Parents
Flexischool has spent some time over the holidays developing some quick how-to guides for  parents. If you'd like to see these, please click the link below.
They include: 
•    Introduction to Flexischools;
•    How to Register; 
•    How to Top-Up;
•    How to Place an Order. 

Lost and Found

Teacher Contacts

Parent Portal

If you have any problems accessing please send an email to the school office at rsmssn@tsv.catholic.edu.au. 

The Parent Portal allows you to:

View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
View up to date attendance information for your child
Enter details of upcoming absences or explain past absences or late arrivals for your son or daughter
Access your child’s Semester reports
Make bookings for Parent Teacher Interviews
View a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
Provide consent for school events/excursions
Communicate by email with your child’s teachers
Update your contact details (email and mobile phone number).

The parent portal is a web-based system that can be accessed by clicking this link:

An app called Compass School Manager is also available for both iPhones/iPads (via the App Store) and Android phones/tablets (via the Google Play Store). When you have installed the app, search for “Good Shepherd Catholic School – Rasmussen”.
The browser version of the Parent Portal contains more features than the app.  Please click the link below to access the Compass website which has an online guide and video for the Parent Portal.

Community News

Sony Camp - Saturday 14 September - Monday 16 September, 2024

Townsville Grammar School is hosting its seventh annual Sony Foundation Children's Holiday Camp this year. It is a unique respite program that sees high school and university students take on the responsibilities for the care of children with a  disability, allowing their families to have a valuable weekend off. For more information, click on the barcode on this brochure or email Mrs Aili or Mrs De Daunton if you have any questions.