19 February 2025

From the Desk of the Acting Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I am pleased to share that we have all successfully completed our first full week of learning for 2025. With the recent rains now behind us, the ovals have dried adequately, allowing our students the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills. Additionally, the sand in both the junior and senior playgrounds has been raked and checked, ensuring they are ready for use. I would like to commend our students for demonstrating remarkable resilience in adapting to new expectations regarding behaviour, uniforms, and classroom rules, especially considering the wet weather that limited their outdoor playtime during breaks.

Last Saturday, the school board convened for a four-hour induction meeting via Zoom hosted by Townsville Catholic Education. This meeting provided me with the opportunity to meet some of our parents and to listen, discuss, and determine the best path forward for our school. It is through collaboration with parents and the parish community that we can cultivate a thriving school environment that upholds the mission of the Church. Our school motto of love, faith, and learning remains foundational in our decision-making, guiding us in enhancing curriculum delivery and supporting all students in a nurturing learning atmosphere. We are reminded that every student, as well as ourselves, is made in the image of God and we are precisely where we are meant to be at this time.

During our Professional Development Week, held before the school year for students commenced, I had the pleasure of introducing the staff to the work of Macklin and Zbar (2020) on Driving School Improvement, which has been embraced by TCEO in recent years. Schools that have implemented this framework have demonstrated significant improvements in academic outcomes and student behaviour. The preconditions for whole school improvement fall into four key areas:

- Strong leadership that is shared

- High levels of expectation and efficacy for both staff and students

- Ensuring an orderly and supportive learning environment

- A focus on what truly matters

Keeping these preconditions in mind, adjustments made to class routines and break times resonate with the principles established by Macklin and Zbar. Our staff is dedicated to creating classrooms that are not only happy and welcoming but also calm and organised. This environment helps students understand what is expected of them, the routine of the day, and any necessary changes due to staffing and rooming. We believe that providing visual reminders of daily activities will benefit students, particularly in giving them the time to process and inquire about any changes. Beginning each session with prayer, silent reading, and/or Christian meditation, and concluding with prayer, allows students to centre themselves and prepare for the learning ahead.

If you or someone you know has an hour to spare during the week, we would greatly appreciate your assistance with one-on-one reading in Years One and Two. Our students would benefit from additional attention, and this is a wonderful opportunity to engage within the classroom while expanding your social circle and connecting with staff and fellow volunteers. Please feel free to contact the office, and we will guide you through the Volunteer induction modules as a group before introducing you to the teachers and students you will be supporting.

I would also like to gently remind everyone about donating any outgrown uniforms in good condition to the office. A heartfelt thank you to the families who have donated socks as well. The office is still happily collecting both items, so please consider dropping them off or having your children hand them in. Every contribution, no matter how small, significantly impacts the lives of others.

Once again, thank you for the support of our school. I look forward to collaborating with all of you whether through the school board, a chat during morning or afternoon duty or an appointment made with me, through the office. I am keen to create a rich educational experience for your children  that reflects the gospel values of love, hope, faith, and community.

With Blessings,

Annette

Acting Principal

apoulsen2@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

CARPARK REMINDER
Student safety is paramount, and the pick-up zone is one area where we need your
assistance to help keep our students – your children – safe.
Please remember, when using the pickup zone, to wait in the queue and pull as far forward in the pickup zone for children to get in the car. Children should be getting in from the path in front of the sliver seats, not going along the line of cars through the carpark.
If you choose to park, please walk across to collect your child, rather than calling for them to run across the carpark to you.
No children are to be collected from the front of the school, or the area near the bus zone.
Thank you for your cooperation with this.

NAPLAN
NAPLAN will be held in Term 1 this year, starting on March 12 (week seven of school). All students in Years 3 and 5 participate in NAPLAN. There are four tests, for writing, reading, conventions of language and mathematics. Writing must be conducted on the first day of the testing period (March 15) and is paper based for Year 3 students only. All other tests, including Year 5 writing, are conducted online via the NAPLAN Secure Browser. Tests take no longer than 50 minutes and we schedule only one main test session per day. Students requiring catch-up tests may need to complete more than one a day, however there will be a significant break between tests.
If you have any concerns about NAPLAN, please speak to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Parents can choose to withdraw their children from some or all of NAPLAN, however you must complete a form for this to happen. If your child is away on the day and has not been officially withdrawn, they will be required to complete the test during a catch- up session.
On NAPLAN days, as with all other school days, it is important that your child arrives at school on time, well rested and having eaten a nutritious breakfast.

EARLY YEARS SCREENING
Students in Prep and Year 1 have recently taken part in Early Years Screening. This screening is completed one-on-one, with the teacher and student sitting together to answer questions. The Early Years Screening provides evidenced based feedback to parents, teachers and students, and valuable information across the areas of numeracy, oral language and literacy.
Results from the screeners are used by teachers to identify areas of strength and opportunities for further development. A second screener will be conducted later in the year to help track student progress.

If you have any questions about the Early Years Screeners, please see your child’s teacher.

COMPASS PARENT PORTAL
All new families and those who have not accessed the Compass Parent Portal before should have received an email with your log-in details. If you have not received the email, please check your “junk” email folder. It is important that you have access to Parent Portal, as this is the only place your child’s school reports are published to.
The Parent Portal also allows you to:
• Enter details of upcoming absences or explain past absences or late arrivals for your son or daughter
• 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 on the “compass parents” button under the “Parents” tab on our school home page (https://www.gstsv.catholic.edu.au/)
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. The Compass website has an online guide and video for the Parent Portal at https://www.compass.education/guide.

Maxine Nolan

APPL

mnolan@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Religious Education

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2025

RECONCILIATION – CONFIRMATION – HOLY COMMUNION

Congratulations to all those children who have enrolled to make the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist this year.  Kathy, from the Parish Office has emailed parents/carers notifying their Group Leaders, day, time and location for sessions.  The program starts this week; parents are to meet their Group Leader at the allocated session day, time and location to collect the student book for Reconciliation. If families do not know which group, day, time and place to meet please phone Kathy at the Parish Office: 4723 9844.

Thank you to the teachers who have volunteered to lead the groups.

Kindness is a powerful tool for nurturing the well-being of everyone at Good Shepherd Catholic School. It's a significant step towards empowering our students to be their best selves through kindness. Science has proven good reasons to prioritise kindness, backed by evidence of many physical, emotional, and mental health benefits. Many impressive benefits support teaching kindness in schools to decrease negative behaviour:

1. Happy, caring children
   Endorphins produce the good feelings that we experience when being kind. They activate areas of the brain affiliated with pleasure, connection, and trust. Acts of kindness also help us form connections with others, reported to be a strong factor in increasing happiness.
2. Greater self-esteem
   Any small act of kindness can increase happiness, uplift energy, and give an incredible feeling of hope and self-worth from the rush of endorphins.  
3. Greater sense of belonging
   Everybody has a fundamental need to belong and feel connected to the people around them. Being part of a community ensures support during difficult times and helps to increase a child's awareness of connection. Our teachers here at Good Shepherd Catholic School actively promote a culture of kindness that leads to improved friendships and feelings of belonging.
4. Better concentration 
   Kindness increases a positive outlook, so children have greater attention spans, are more willing to learn, and are better creative thinkers with better results at school.
5. Improved health and less stress
   Being kind has many physical and mental health benefits, including increased happiness and reduction of stress. 

Rebecca Kershaw

APRE

rkershaw@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

What's Happening in Year 1

Year One has had a productive start to the year. We have investigated Zones of Regulation and the different tools students can use to bring them back to the Green Zone, such as blowing bubbles, five finger breathing, going to our calm down space etc. Some time has been spent with the ‘Good Shepherd Flock’ reflecting on the Good Shepherd Gospel Values and now the weather is clearing we hope to visit our flock at the front of the school very soon. Students have participated in various hands-on activities such as making paper lanterns, reading, making patterns, and getting to know each other in order to work together as a class community. We have visited our PALs class to form new friendships and are looking forward to working together throughout the year.

We are also beginning to explore some of the mentor texts, and developing an understanding of characters, special events and what happens in the stories. So far we have read ‘Fang Fang’s Chinese New Year’ written by Sally Rippin, ‘Diary of a Wombat’ and 'Josephine Wants to Dance’ written by Jackie French. In Biology Science, students have been enjoying becoming mini scientists while they observe and describe the features of animals and habitats in class with Mrs Marciniak.

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 1, Week 3

This week our Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action value is Endeavor where I challenge myself to do my best.

Our Endeavour prayer is below:

Term 1, Week 4

The Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action for Week 4 will be Hope where I see good all around me.

Our Hope 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: On the playground. 

In Term 1, Week 3 we are focusing on: In the Eating Area. 

Enrol for 2026

Student Wellbeing

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

Sports

League Stars is coming to Good Shepherd in term 1!

 What is League Stars?

League Stars program is all play and non contact run by fully accredited NRL staff, appealing to the true nature of kids. It is fun, messy and high energy just like our kids which creates a great environment for them to have fun and learn new skills. 

 This League Stars is a 6 week program that runs on Monday afternoons Starting on the 24th of February and running until the 31^st of March.

 If you would like to sign up to league stars please head to:

https://profile.mysideline.com.au/register/clubsearch/?criteria=4815&type=player&activity=&gender=&agemin=&agemax=&comptype=contact,non-contact&source=rugby-league

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